Punk Rock Saturday
We have considered the idea that some of you may not have access to fireworks, so we’re gonna help you close out the year with as big of a bang as we can… Welcome to the final Punk Rock Saturday of 2022!
Awhile back, Flatspot Records announced an upcoming compilation, The Extermination Vol. 4, which will feature exclusive tracks from their roster of artists– including “Attitude” from Chicago-based Buggin. Coming in at under a minute in length, this thing skips straight to giving your ears an ass-kickin’ and will get you pumped the F up for both the pit and the skatepark– whichever is more readily available. “Attitude” has “influenced by Bad Brains” written all over it, so crank the hell out of this jam and prepare yourself to be flooded by its message. Vocalist Brynanna Bennett adds: “I was really struggling with my mental health and feeling motivated to even create anything so it just made sense to pour all my bad feelings into a song that I hope others can relate to and feel inspired by.”
If you dig on the pop punk vibes of ALL, Descendents, MXPX, and Saves the Day, then LA-based punk rock outfit NOT are going to completely blow you away. The band met at the funeral of So-Cal punk scene legend Stewart Teggart and, through their shared love of the music, they put together their hearts and minds to create a brand new LP, Stop the World. This album is a collection of “14 hyperactive, caffeine-fueled pop songs boasting hook after hook choruses about love and heartache whilst battling wild guitar solos and frantic bass energy.” The title track, “Stop the World,” is the reason for which we have gathered here today. Freshly squeezed from Wiretap Records, this two-minute-and-thirty-one-second scorcher will check off every single box of your punk song “must-have” list. For a description of the band’s sound, Guitarist Brenden Scholz offers: “We certainly aren’t re-inventing the wheel, more so celebrating and paying tribute to the bands that helped define the pop punk genre. So If you like pop punk, you’ll love NOT.” This is easily one of the best punk songs we’ve heard all year:
Look, man… We haven’t been a blog for very long, but this is the first time we’re hearing of any kickass punk music coming out of Connecticut. And with a name like American Thrills, these guys are sure to see bigger and better things coming in 2023– especially with their new LP, Parted Ways, tucked proudly underneath their arms. But even though we haven’t been around long enough to brandish our street cred, we are educated enough to know that if a submission has Wiretap Records attached to it, the chances of it completely kicking ass greatly increases. We’re not sure if it’s the Vinnie Vincent running through Connecticut’s water or what, but American Thrills certainly have a more rock-and-roll way of delivering unto us the punk rock goods. So when you press play on the video for “Sinking,” you’re gonna get a face-full of distorted guitars and gritty vocals, as well as an homage to one of their favorite hometown watering holes:
Closing it out, we have more of a ‘new skool’ vibe with the latest release from Aryia. Freshly signed to Velocity Records, he has brought us “Losers,” an “anthem for anyone yearning for more out of their life.” Aryia wrote this song after becoming completely frustrated with his living situation and it is filled to its tippy top with lyrics in which anyone will find glimpses of empathy– especially those who have longed for the world outside of the one in which they reside, whether it is because they are trapped or simply because they have settled. Aryia explains that: “Being annoyed is an understatement. I hope if people feel stuck at where they are at in their lives they can get at least a moment of relief listening to this song. Truthfully we are all just losers doing the best we can to get by. This song and music video was my catharsis of this realization. And I hope that the people who are sick of their hometowns can relate and bang their heads to this angsty song." Aryia’s Viral EP will be available everywhere on January 27.
Have a safe and happy New Year, folks! And don’t forget that you can stream our Punk Rock Saturday playlist any day of the freakin’ week:
-TM