Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The fourth full-length from Mexico's post-metal-tinged melodic crust-punks Habak follows on from two previous collaborative efforts with also Tijuana-based post-rockers Fractal and Los Angeles crust-punk outfit Lagrimas, marking their first sole studio full-length since 2020's Ningun Muro Consiguio Jamas Contener la Primavera. Expanding their diverse, abrasive sonic palette more than ever before, drawing on elements of late 90s "skramz" era screamo, blackened hardcore and shoegazing post-rock, yet all coalesced under the black breath of their obligatory crust-punk sound, Mil Orquiideas en Medio del Desierto illustrates a band reaching the peak of their prowess and potential while offering a unique perspective on all of the above mentioned subgenres, with just that tincture of Mexican folklore for that added, incomparable aura.

Review: Coinciding with their upcoming 40th anniversary tour and the imminent premiere of a documentary on their history titled 'The Most Australia Band Ever', I Like You A Lot Getting Older shall serve as the latest full-length from the most recent iteration of legendary Aussie hardcore/snot-nosed/power-pop punk mob Hard Ons. The third LP from the group since enlisting Tim Rogers (You Am I) on lead vocals, the record follows on from 2021's I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken, and 2023's Ripper '23; further expanding this newly revitalised era since the messy departure of original drummer/vocalist Keish de Silva in 2021. Proudly described by guitarist Peter 'Blackie' Black as - "Our best collaboration so far", the increase of melodious psychedelia offered by Rogers, yet still retained within the band's now signature sugar-punk gems, offer up sonic hard ons across the entire runtime.

Review: Following on from 2023's acclaimed debut full-length All Gas No Brakes, Bristolian noise-punks Heavy Lungs return with the definition of an antithetical sophomore LP with Caviar. Clocking in at under 30 minutes (significantly less than their initial outing) and recorded live in dingy church rehearsal spaces to capture the unhinged intensity of their live performances, this is the sound of a band vehemently disinterested with mainstream appeal, exposure or playing the game by any terms apart from their own. While vocalist Danny Nedelko would be the named subject of one of the biggest singles from fellow Bristol natives Idles' 2018 breakout second album Joy As An Act Of Resistance, where his peers have expanded their sound and embraced myriads of melody, Heavy Lungs are poignantly going the opposite route, full speed towards oblivion with only chaos and anarchy on their collective minds.

Review: Michigan based emo revivalist pop-punks Hot Mulligan have grown over the past decade from impressionable upstarts eager to make a dent in the scene they admired so greatly, to one of, if not the definitive leaders of the latest wave, taking up the mantle initially passed from the likes of New Found Glory to The Wonder Years. Sharpening their balancing act of twinkling math-rock noodles with angst-riddled, throat-shredding hooks, 2023's third full-length Why Would I Watch marked a maturity and refinement with heightened intricacy and more succinct compositions, while lyrically delving into confessionals regarding familial addiction, the fear of inherited drug dependency, and the rigors of living life on the road, while the heart-rendering acoustic ode to deceased feline 'Betty' offers the most intense emotional (cat) gut-punch.

Review: Gone Dark, the sophomore album from Human Impact, pushes the boundaries of noise-rock with a fiercer, more streamlined approach. The band, composed of Unsane's Chris Spencer, Cop Shoot Cop's Jim Coleman, Made Out of Babies' Eric Cooper, and Daughters' Jon Syverson, delivers a potent blend of taut grooves, jagged guitar riffs, and raw vocal intensity. This release is not merely a cry from the void but a powerful declaration of defiance against a world teetering on the brink. Following their self-titled debut, Gone Dark represents a significant evolution, capturing the visceral energy of their live performances. Spencer emphasises the band's intent to create something rawer and more aggressive, which is evident throughout the album's tightly interwoven tracks and interstitial pieces, mirroring the flow of a live show. Recorded with co-producer Andrew Schneider at Austin's Cedar Creek Studio, the album benefits from the newly solidified rhythm section, with Cooper and Syverson's contributions adding heft and precision. The result is a cohesive, relentless sonic assault that showcases the band's full understanding of their identity. Gone Dark is a potent, focused statement from a group that continues to refine its craft, delivering an album that is enduring, resilience and aggressive.

Review: A slice of superbly rare OG hardcore punk to separate the posers from the lifers. Hailing from Long Beach, California, Hypnotics were another group of snarling youths in the early 80s scene with a bark and bite to match peers who would grow into legends of their own such as TSOL and Circle Jerks. Originally released in 1983, Expendables would serve as their second full-length LP, but due to label Enigma Records imploding in the interim, the members themselves were forced to press a minuscule batch of 100 copies, which as you can imagine have been requesting a pretty penny on the Discogs marketplace for far too many a moon. Limited to 540 copies (five times as many as the OG!) and complete with a four-page booklet of photos and artefacts for that authentic hardcore time capsule vibe.