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Sludgeworth main - photo by Tom Birch
New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: Sludgeworth return with first new LP in 35 years – ‘Second Time Around’

By Phil Withall
When Sludgeworth were formed in 1989, a side project from Chicago band Screeching Weasel, their pop punk sensibilities and infectious rhythms seemed to announce a band that had a bright future ahead of them. However, after just one album, 1991’s ‘What’s This?’ they split up. 2022 saw them officially regroup, and their long awaited (and appropriately titled!) second album Continue Reading
New Releases Punk News Reviews

EP review: Belgian HC band Caught Up drop debut ‘The End Begins’

By Phil Withall
Belgian Hardcore punks Caught Up are about to release their debut six track EP, ‘The End Begins’. Caught Up like to mix things up, there is no need for restrictions or restraint, they have enough confidence in both themselves and their audience to add something different. There’s a feeling of a band that wants to push themselves, that aren’t prepared to be confined by Continue Reading
The Downstrokes main - photo by John Burroughs
New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: The Downstrokes – ‘The Furious Hours’

By Phil Withall
Hailing from the Northeast of the U.S, The Downstrokes are a band with a lot of experience in them and that journey is evident in their latest album, ‘The Furious Hours’. The twin guitars of lead vocalist Gerry LaFemina and Robin Summerfield are complemented by the rhythm section of bassist Gred Wood and drummer Clint Higgins. Too often bands try to be/sound like someone Continue Reading
New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: The Casualties are ready to ‘Detonate’

By Phil Withall
It’s been a long time between drinks for New York hardcore crew The Casualties. ‘Written in Blood’, their previous album, was released eight years ago and a lot has changed, both within the band and in the world in general. It is that change in the state and stability in the world that led guitarist and longest serving member, Jake Kolatis to start work on what would Continue Reading
The Fake Friends main - photo by Nick Pegg
New Releases Punk News Reviews

Album review: The Fake Friends – ‘Let’s Not Overthink This’

By Phil Withall
Canadian band The Fake Friends have just launched their first full-length album, ‘Let’s Not Overthink This’ via Stomp Records, and it’s a powerful statement! The record flows, there’s a balance and continuity to it, it embraces the listener, like a mix tape made for the whole world and that is something I really enjoyed. It’s an album that doesn’t need multiple revisits to Continue Reading