DAY DRINKER: Into An Early Grave: CD

Finally a full album after a handful of EPs and split releases, this is a welcome album. Tight streetpunk that is non-stop fun to listen to. The band is tighter than a frog’s ass in water and add in gang vocals, dual male and female vocals and you have a great mix. As soon as I put this CD on, I started to smile, nod my head to the tracks and thought how great this will sound in the car. Not only are their originals great, but you get a blistering cover of The Bruisers “These Two Boots Of Mine” and a song in German. Turn it up loud.–Rick Ecker (rebellionshop.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/day-drinker-into-an-early-grave-cd/

HEATSEEKER: Illusion Of Will: 7” EP

Some blazing hardcore from Warsaw, Poland that blows your hair back and rips a hole in your walls. One insanely fast song after another and after waiting for five years, fans will eat this up. Tight plating and impassioned vocals make for a great EP. If you want your hardcore hard, this is the one to pick up.–Rick Ecker (refusemusic.net, refuserecords.bandcamp.com, heatseekerhc.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/heatseeker-illusion-of-will-7-ep/

BART AND THE BRATS: Only Fair: 7”

This is a one-man recording project but full-on three-piece live band that hails from La Rochelle, France. If you like the Ramones, you will like this since it has that feel to it, but gets a little harder sounding than they usually did. This single has four songs that really grabbed me and since this is a one-man band, I was impressed with the playing and quality of the songs. –Rick Ecker (bartandthebrats.bandcamp.com, 14thfloormusic.co.uk, dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com, roaringblood.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/bart-and-the-brats-only-fair-7/

DANCE DANCE: Metropolitan Surfer: CD

This is another great reissue of this lost power pop new wave band from the early 80s. The guys in this trio were teenagers when they recorded this demo, hoping for success, but it never came their way. For a demo, this sounds pretty damn good and everything is catchy, well-played and has great vocals. Very upbeat and something that has a summer feel to it.–Rick Ecker (pig-records.rocks, pig-records.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/dance-dance-metropolitan-surfer-cd/

DDT: Brave New World: 7” EP

Another score! More reissued hardcore from 1983 that kills! This is the first release from DDT and after the opening cover of the theme to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, you get some blistering hardcore. It also has a touch of post-punk in the mix and it all works so well. I was always interested in hearing more of this band after a taste on Killed By Death #7, and now I can listen to a bunch of songs by them. This was a treat. –Rick Ecker (chunklet.com, chunklet.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/ddt-brave-new-world-7-ep/

DETENTION: Dead Rock ‘N Rollers: CD

This is a fantastic reissue of their first single, some album tracks and unreleased songs that sound just as good now as they did back in 1983. Great hardcore before it became the tough guy/metal mix that still is around now. It makes you want to jump into a pit and dance your ass off all night. Every song is a delight and makes me miss seeing bands like this. Hunt this one down. –Rick Ecker (leftfordeadrecords.com, leftfordeadrecords.bandcamp.com, detentionnjpunk.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/detention-dead-rock-n-rollers-cd/

BAD IDEA USA: Home: Cassette

This trio from Salem, Massachusetts has a gritty, dirty edge to their pop punk songs. Five songs on this tape and all are peppy and have a bit of a CUB sound to them. The vocals remind me of the singer in Veruca Salt as well, but still have their own sound. They throw on a cover of REM’s “The One I Love” which is good, but their originals are the reason to grab this one. The band is gritty and their playing adds to the sweet vocals to make this one a definite keeper. –Rick Ecker (badideausa.bandcamp.com, Self-released)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/bad-idea-usa-home-cs/

THE TRAVOLTAS / THE YOUNG ROCHELLES: Split: 7”EP

The Travoltas from the Netherlands have been kicking around since 1990 and are still making some of the best pop punk around. The two tracks are amazing, catchy as hell and they made me want to jump around the living room when I was playing them. On the flip side you get The Young Rochelles who started in Long Beach, New York on January 2013. Their Ramones core sound is pretty tight and peppy, and fit well with the first side. You get two great pop punk bands on one disc, what a great deal. Grab this and play it loud, especially since it sounds like the summer and now its winter. –Rick Ecker (Striped Music, stripedmusic.com, travoltas.bandcamp.com, It’s Alive, itsaliverecords.com, itsaliverecords.bandcamp.com, travoltas.bandcamp.com, theyoungrochelles.storenvy.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/travoltas-the-the-young-rochelles-split-7ep/

BAD ANXIETY: Self-titled: 7”EP

This solo project from Hampton Martin, out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi has ten old-school hardcore songs that sound like the stuff I listened to back in high school, around 1985 or so. Fast, short and blistering blasts with some political lyrics, what more do you need? Get this one and play it loud. –Rick Ecker (Refuse, refusemusic.net, refuserecords.bandcamp.com, Feral Kid, feralkidrecords.storenvy.com, feral-kid-records.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/bad-anxiety-self-titled-7ep/

WAKE IN FRIGHT: Around Every Corner: 7”EP

Wake In Fright is a punk rock, with an emphasis on the rock part, trio from Portland, Maine featuring Micah Blue Smaldone (The Pinkerton Thugs) on guitar and vocals, Jonas Eule on drums, and Greg Bazinet on bass. They formed in 2022, taking the name as a nod to the Ted Kotcheff film. The band is tight and really has a mid-seventies sound to their punk rock, which as stated before is more rock-based, but is just so damn good. The band really shines on these four songs and I had to spin this EP a few times, I just couldn’t stop listening to it. Good stuff.–Rick Ecker (wakeinfrightband.bandcamp.com)

Also posted on https://razorcake.org/wake-in-fright-around-every-corner-7ep/