When a TGEFM staffer just doesn't have the time to write up a full review for an EP or LP, they can do a quick one for the Drive-by Reviews feature. Think of it like a Cliff's Notes for reviews– You'll get the gist of it without all of the verbiage.
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Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs
Rise Records – 26 Jan 2024
For the first time in too long, the Trio and specifically Matt Skiba are back with their killer tunes a bloodlust that feels sincere and fresh.
Why you want it: Derek Grant leaves his drum duties behind on this one and he goes out on an absolute high for the Chicagoans. If this is what happens when you get let go by pop-punk giants, its well worth it. What a return!
Why you don't: Don't bother if you can't imagine getting into songs of beer gone so good you don't want to put it down and love gone so wrong you almost spilt your beer stuffing an ex in your trunk.
Top Tracks: “Break” “Hot For Preacher” “Teenage Heart”
Review by Bad Dad
Bad Blood – Septic Shock
14 Jan 2024
British punk with progressive lyrics and a vintage sound. The album has 8 songs and a 19 minute interview.
Why you want it: Grungy, distorted, fast, and it kicks ass.
Why you don't: Some tracks are live records and the interview is one track.
Top Tracks: “American National Bullshit Pride”, “Faces”
Review by RIZCHEX
Bricheros – Sloshed EP
19 Jan 2024
I didn't know anything about Bricheros before listening to this, which I solely chose to do so based on the name. I read they are a three-piece out of Peru that now call Denver (Colorado) home. This EP follows their debut LP Making Our Way To The USA in 2018 and a live album in 2021.
Why you want it: Simple, hyper melodic, singalong songs. If you like Screeching Weasel or the Queers.
Why you don't: You don't like Screeching Weasel or the Queers or getting sloshed. Also, one track is sung in Spanish, y no hablas Espanol.
Top Tracks: “Gary”, “Faint”
Review by RIZCHEX
Casey – How To Disappear
Hassle Records – 12 Jan 2024
Welsh rockers who manage to be completely original while incorporating all the best elements of The Early November, Funeral For A Friend and The Snake, The Cross, The Crown.
Why you want it: Auditory therapy that is nuanced, mature and utterly technical. Brilliantly brilliant and then some.
Why you don't: Apparently this is a band with a history I don't know and one that supposedly is much more aggressive than what's found on How To Disappear, so temper your expectations for a brilliant little indie record instead of something louder. I don't know if its true or just internet bitching… but its a thing to keep in mind, I guess.
Top Tracks: “Unique Lights” “For Katie,” “I Was Happy When You Died”
Review by Bad Dad
Various Artists – Dam-Nations January 2024
Dammit Records – 01 Jan 2024
Dammit is a low-key record label from the UK and this is a 10-track album featuring 10 different bands.
Why you want it: Good variety of punk, pop-punk, melodic, thrash, and hardcore.
Why you don't: There is a low-fi production sound that I was not a fan of.
Top Tracks: “Bougie Punk”, “Go One Better”, “The Plague”
Review by RIZCHEX
Doc Rotten – Doc Rotten
Havoc Underground – 11 Jan 2024
Jersey punks making Jersey punk sounds with huge heaps of singalongs and sneer, piss, vinegar and everything else that makes the Garden State grow.
Why you want it: An absolute blast of good time raucous rock. Unapologetically punk, unapologetically Jersey and fuck you if you don't get it.
Why you don't: Remember 2 seconds ago when I said fuck you if you don't get it? I meant it, I can't explain why you aren't enjoying it, I just don't want to be around you and your shitty taste.
Top Tracks: “Y.S.F.U.” “Working Poor” “Maggie Mayhem” “Rotten Radio”
Review by Bad Dad
Eevie Echoes and The Locations – The Cons Of Being A Wallflower
Ska Punk International – 10 Jan 2024
This album came out of nowhere on me and made sure 2024 started real fucking strong thanks to deeply personal lyrics, hints of grunge, ska, punk,power-pop and a fully daily dosage of energy in just 33 minutes.
Why you want it: This is by far the best album so far of 2024 with a large lead, if this is only the start; I'm fucking stoked for the next chapters. Like the Pokemon of a similar name, each track comes from the same entity but evolves into so many different and powerful tracks about the alienation, uncertainty and emotions of being young, queer and alive in spite of late-stage capitalism and the world's obsession with douchebaggery and inequity.
Why you don't: Are the insecure type of toxic cockbag that got your boxers bent because of a football player dating a pop star or an influencer using their influence to sell piss-water beer? Don't bother with this record, put on some Kid Rock and “Bawitaba” yourself repeatedly into a wall. You're not ready for this one.
Top Tracks: “Odd Man Out” “24 (The Growing Pains of Capitalism)” “People Pleaser” “Braindead” Fuck it…just listen to this one start to finish, and often.
Review by Bad Dad
Green Day – Saviors
Reprise Records – 19 Jan 2024
You've probably never heard of these guys before but their name is Green Day and they've been beating around the underground for a bit and have amassed a humble following with pop-punk Dookie and the occasional “Time Of Your Life.”
Why you want it: Listen, you know what you're getting here. They're the elder statesmen of the scene for a reason, and have had the staying power because they can put a hook to a song in a pretty killer way. It's not their best, but its certainly not their worst and like all of their good and great records… its a ton of fun to bop around to.
Why you don't: They haven't reinvented the wheel, they've been doing this stuff for decades now and you know if Green Day is up your alley or not.
Top Tracks: “Coma City,” “Bobbie Sox” “The American Dream Is Killing Me”
Review by Bad Dad
Heavy Seas – Distortion Days
Rad Girlfriend Records / Little Rocket Records – 26 Jan 2024
Remember the first time you heard Get Up Kids? Quicksand? The Pixies? Now imagine if those mind-blowing moments all happened at once and you'll get a small sense of what this outfit is bringing to the table on this one.
Why you want it: Its got all the vibes of Midwestern Emo with a DC seriousness and tinge of proggy rock. Punchy guitars, meaty lyrical content and unique infusions of its influences to create something quite new.
Why you don't: This isn't a record for those who like to play it safe in their music. If you've found your musical groove and have not listened to a new record since, this will either force you to change your entire outlook or cause a meltdown with the vastness of the tracks.
Top Tracks: “Distortion Days” “The Depression Industry” “Idle In Life”
Review by Bad Dad
Lucky Guy – Lucky Guy
Self-released 01 Jan 2024
I believe Lucky Guy is a solo act that used to record under the name Grim Deeds, but I'm not positive on that. This is short, fast, Ramones-core punk, with vocals that remind me of Screeching Weasel.
Why you want it: Songs are fun, fast paced, and it's only five bucks for five songs, that's like a dollar a song.
Why you don't: Songs might be too simple for you. Recording and production aren't bad, but simple also.
Top Tracks: “Penny for Your Thoughts”, “What I Want”
Review by RIZCHEX
Mad Caddies – Baby
SBÄM Records / 55 Rose Records – 18 Jan 2024
I heard this new track described as punk rock polka with a horn, a country rock song, and also polka ska, the last of which is what I would call this. I mean there is no accordion in it (maybe they need to call Eric Melvin), and it does start off with a country rhythm feel, but I'm calling this polka ska.
Why you want it: It's different, fun, and gets you moving.
Why you don't: You have to have some accordion in your polka ska.
Top Tracks: “Baby”
Review by RIZCHEX
The Menstrual Cramps – Abortion
26 Jan 2024
The Menstrual Cramps are a DIY, queer, anti-fascist, anti-racist, and of course pro-choice punk from Bristol, UK. I believe they recently went through some line up changes so if you haven't checked them out in while, this two song EP is a good place to start.
Why you want it: If you like your punk to have a strong feminist message but delivered in a cheeky, freedom fighting kind of way.
Why you don't: You got confused and thought this was a tribute to The Cramps band.
Top Tracks: “Abortion”
Review by RIZCHEX
Mountain Caller – Chronicle II: Hypergenesis
Church Road Records – 26 Jan 2024
In their Bandcamp bio, Mountain Caller refer to themselves as “Heavy instrumental prog 3-piece from London. Telling stories with sound.” So I figured “sure… I can put on an instrumental as background music while I focus on other things.” Wrong. Engrossing and absorbing, this is a powerful set of tracks. “Dead Language” has vocals, and is a sonic tour de force.
Why you want it: It's a stunning piece of work that, despite the length of the tracks (all but two are 6+ minutes), doesn't wear out its welcome.
Why you don't: Heavy prog ain't your bag. You like short songs.
Top Tracks: “Dead Language,” “Hypergenesis”
Review by Jeff “the white drew carey” Sorley
Stank Finger – Three Finger Discount
Self-released – 19 Jan 2024
UK Ska-punk brimming with catchy hooks and the type of sing-alongs that will be swirling in your dome for hours.
Why you want it: This album is a great fucking time. The up-strokes go straight to your hips and suddenly you're shaking your ass all over your shitty job.
Why you don't: This is a pure Warped Tour sound and some people just don't dig those vibes. I do.
Top Tracks: “Help Yourself” “Jolly Rancher” “Radio”
Review by Bad Dad