Punk News Reviews

The Restarts/Śmierć, London New Cross Inn, 18th April 2026

By Alex Goose April 19, 2026

Near the beginning of their headline set, The Restarts vocalist Kieran highlights the number of women on this evening’s bill, and he makes a good point. Punk is still a male-dominated scene, and although women are increasingly (and very much deservedly) making themselves heard, there’s still a long way to go in terms of progress.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: Birdlegs – ‘Visions Beyond The Ape Cave’

By Alex Goose April 16, 2026

Yes, Birdlegs may features AFI guitarist Jade Puget in their ranks, but his ‘day job’ band hasn’t sounded this frantic or fired up since at least their ‘Black Sails In The Sunset’ period. No, Birdlegs play adrenalised hardcore punk, packing nine tracks into less than fifteen minutes on this debut album.Continue Reading

Punk News Reviews

Lightyear/Slow Gherkin, London New Cross Inn, 8th April 2026

By Alex Goose April 11, 2026

Two much-loved stalwarts of ska-punk are reunited at last! Lightyear and Slow Gherkin originally toured together about 25 years ago, during the late 90s/early 00s ska-punk boom. Back then, you could hardly move for Reel Big Fish copyists, but the two aforementioned bands always put their own spin on the genre.Continue Reading

Punk News Reviews

Shooting Daggers, London Blue Monk, 4th April 2026

By Alex Goose April 5, 2026

Ah, Shooting Daggers, what can we say about you that we haven’t said before? As ever, Sal and co play a tight, vitriolic set that takes aim at macho bullshit and hits it right between the eyes, with everything sounding twice as powerful as on record.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

EP review: Cash Bribe – ‘White Wedding’

By Alex Goose April 5, 2026

As a genre, hardcore generally isn’t known for its sense of humour, so it’s always refreshing to discover a hardcore band that likes to let its hair down from time to time.Continue Reading

Punk News Reviews

Grade 2, London Islington Academy 2, 3rd April 2026

By Alex Goose April 4, 2026

If you’re new to Grade 2, you’ve picked a great time to say hello; the Isle Of Wight trio have just today released their best album to date in ‘Talk About It’, and it gets an airing tonight.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: Poison Ruïn – ‘Hymns From The Hills’

By Alex Goose April 3, 2026

The Philadelphia quartet specialise in a highly compelling blend of punk and hardcore, steeped in medieval imagery and gloomy atmospherics, with echoes of the likes of The Damned and Killing Joke at every turn.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: Grade 2 – ‘Talk About It’

By Alex Goose March 27, 2026

As the intro guitar line of ‘Cut Throat’ bursts from the speakers, it’s clear that the band haven’t so much reworked their sound as refined it; with their trademark dual vocal attack, abrasive guitars and ridiculously dexterous bass lines all present and correct.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: Burned Up Bled Dry – ‘Next Stop…Dead Stop…’

By Alex Goose March 23, 2026

As you can probably imagine, for the most part, ‘Next Stop…Dead Stop…’ is a fast and furious affair, on which the band combine raw, 80s-style hardcore punk with a touch of power violence and a wonderfully bleak lyrical outlook.Continue Reading

New Releases Punk News Reviews

EP review: Diagnostics – ‘Thoughts To Forget’

By Alex Goose March 17, 2026

Miss the glory days of Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords? Diagnostics are just what the doctor ordered. Bridging the gap between skate-punk and melodic hardcore, the six tracks on ‘Thoughts To Forget’ see the London quartet breathing fresh life into these vintage sounds.Continue Reading