Epitaph Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Serving as a self-analysed response to 1998's ska and reggae-oriented Life Won't Wait, as well as growing criticisms that the band were slowly morphing into some form of Diet The Clash, punk legends Rancid would come to cave skulls at the turn of the new millennium with their second self-titled LP (after their 1993 debut), with many fans referring to the project as Rancid (2000) or simply Rancid 5. Reuniting with Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion to handle production duties (a collaborative role he has maintained with the group ever since), the project easily serves as the most aggressive offering in their entire catalogue, drawing on elements of hardcore and Oi! and imbuing them into their established ska-punk formula, moving far away from any Clash comparisons, and sharing more of a sonic kinship with the type of aggy, scuzzy, brassless hardcore ska of Choking Victim. At 22 tracks spread out over a near-40 minute runtime, you do the chaotic math.

Review: Philadelphia based emo-tinged indie-punk outfit Mannequin Pussy return with their highly anticipated fourth full-length I Got Heaven. Following on from 2019's critically acclaimed Will Yip-produced Patience, and the 2021 Perfect companion EP, the band have linked up with The Paper Chase's John Congleton (Future Islands, This Will Destroy You, Thrice) to craft their most sonically sprawling yet definitive statement to date. Leaning further than ever into their dream-pop meanderings and shoegazing machinations, whilst simultaneously increasing the fuzz, levelling up the gain and distorting their aggressive edges to nigh-on noise-pop-punk territory, the LP appears set to cement Mannequin Pussy as one of the quintessential voices of the modern emo/indie/alt rock wave.

Review: Originally released in 2003 and now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Indestructible served as the sixth full-length from punk legends Rancid. While initially criticised upon release due to the "poppier" sound certain fans took umbrage with, time has grown kind to the project which boasts some of the most personal penmanship from primary songwriter Tim Armstrong (of Operation Ivy), delving into his divorce from The Distillers' Brody Dalle (now divorcing Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age), as well paying homage to two influential heroes who died during the recording process: Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer, with the latter even being mentioned in the title-track. Known to be the final album with original drummer Brett Reed, and even featuring one of the most underappreciated cuts in their catalogue with closer 'Otherside', written by guitarist Lars Frederiksen about his brother Robert who tragically passed away two years prior, Indestructible deserves your reappraisal as it's slowly become the forgotten gem in the Rancid crown.

Review: Swedish skate punk survivors Millencolin have been doing it since the early 90s and they've scaled some great heights in their time. One such peak was undoubtedly 2008 album Machine 15, which features some of their most immediate earworms but also some of their sharpest harmonies and songwriting. 'Detox' is an irrepressible, bouncy blast of melodic punk that would have been a global radio hit in a just world, but then Millencolin do just as well as legends amongst their peers on Epitaph. Remastered and repressed on grey vinyl, it's 15 years young for this seminal slice of pop-punk-rock.