Browsing Tag

Ska Punk

Not From Concentrate crashed the alt-rock scene with their ska-grunge synthesis, You & I

Posted on 5 August 2024

Not From Concentrate promises the freshest sound in the NYC ska scene and the misft powerhouse definitively delivered with the release of their latest ska grunge hybrid, You & I, which showcases the group’s ability to blend fierce pop-punk bursts with tender, vulnerable harmonies, inviting listeners to experience every shade of emotion

For anyone who has ever let their walls down only to allow regret to build them again, this queer punk anthem is the ultimate consolation. Just as the artist’s moniker would lead you to believe, there’s nothing artificial about their sound; the visceral emotions mainlined into You & I are straight from the source.

By synthesising the sludge of grunge with the infectiously uplifting staccato chops of Ska, the Staten Island-hailing trio which is deeply entrenched in the NYC scene delivered a sonic revolution which shimmers with authenticity and raw power. Rounded off with a pioneeringly innovative guitar riff, You & I is a testament to their rightful place in the queer musical pantheon.

You & I was officially released on July 19; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tommy Freed and the Sound laments his ‘Waste of a Summer’ in his surfy no-wave anthem

Posted on 8 October 2022

The solo artist Tommy Freed and the Sound treated the airwaves to another off-kilter burst of violent optimism with his latest single, Waste of a Summer. The high-energy amalgam of sunny surf rock, garagey power pop, no-wave and ska is a subversive sonic palette for the titular entropy, but we certainly aren’t complaining.

The anthemically discordant hit perfectly encapsulates the bitter regret which creeps in with the colder weather that allows you to retrospectively lament your summer existence being leagues apart from the narrations in the plastic pop tracks. Ironically, Waste of a Summer is just as catchy as those try-hard hits endeavour to be; better yet, it doesn’t leave you with any FOMO.

Waste of a Summer was officially released on September 22nd. It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get high with Monday Feeling’s ska-punk track, Dope.

Posted on 27 August 2021

Monday Feeling has been sending ripples through the Korean rock scene for the last eight years; based on their latest single, Dope, they deserve to go internationally viral.

Their old school Rancid rhythms paired with honkytonk hints of Americana and playful garage rock vibes arrange themselves to ensure euphoria floods right through this authentically absorbing release which runs you through all the reasons the relatable lyrical protagonist sells dope.

In contrast to Western punk, hitting play on Dope almost feels like listening to Ska Punk in a parallel universe, it’s familiar but there’s something that tells you that Monday Feeling is on a different frequency to the assimilators and the unauthentic. Frankly, we’re obsessed.

Dope is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dougieto rises with his debut release ‘Phoenix’.

Posted on 16 July 2021

UK-based multi-instrumentalist Dougieto made an official introduction on the airwaves by releasing the live recording of his energetically original single, ‘Phoenix’. If you can imagine what it would sound like if Leftover Crack pulled in Zach de la Rocha for vocals, you’ll get an idea of what is on offer.

With power metal buzzsaw riffs served alongside funky ska-punk staccato rhythms, one thing that Dougieto could never be accused of is being predictable. Phoenix is a progressively adrenalizing exhibition of his instrumental talent that we’re sure will see him go for in 2021 and beyond. With his ability to lay down riffs at blistering speed and seemingly make any genre his plaything, success is almost a given. We can’t wait to hear a mixed and mastered work from him to follow the epic teaser.

You can check out the live recording of Phoenix for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skunk Funk pulled back the curtain with reggae-rock ska-punk single ‘Welcome to the Freakshow’

Posted on 4 March 2021

Skunk Soup by Skunk Funk

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Insane Clown Posse grew up, gained some debonair flair and a reggae-rock ska-punk style, you’ll get a good idea of what to expect from Skunk Funk’s latest single ‘Welcome to the Freakshow’. Funk has never been more theatrical.

With sunny staccato rhythms around cutting post-punk tones and elements of surf rock and nu-metal thrown in for good measure, Skunk Funk’s sound went far beyond psychedelic and wandered into the realms of absurdity – and that’s no bad thing. Skunk Funk delivered a unifying track bound to appeal to the outliers of society who were strange before reality became a hyper-normalised recipe for serotonin deprivation.

Welcome to the Freakshow is available to stream and download via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teaser review: Kent band 3dBs Down set for Get Your Retaliation in First album release on 31st July

Posted on 14 July 2020

UK Melodic Ska-Punk Rock band 3dBs Down drop new album ”Get Your Retaliation in First” on the 31st July and this is a teaser to get you in the mood for this hotly anticipated release. The Kent band furiously showcases their new music with small clips of all the new songs and this has got me licking my lips.

The band from Gravesend tease the new song list with announcements that ”Everyone Here is Better Than You”, ”Count To A Million”, ”Light On A Dark Day”, ”Idiot Ignorant Evil”, ”Greatest Day” and ”Moussaka” will be the tracks on the new output via Indiegogo.

On Friday 10th July the band will be releasing the brand spanking new single and the first for 15 years. ”Count To A Million” will be out on all streaming platforms and is the first single out.

Stream the brand new teaser here on YouTube.

Check out the band on Facebook to find out more about upcoming gigs.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Big Fat Meanies – Meet Me at the Downbeat: Frenetically Funk-Driven Alt Rock

Posted on 20 February 2020

If you missed the seminal release “Meet Me at the Downbeat” from up and coming Alt Rock artist Big Fat Meanies, it’s our pleasure to introduce you to the frenetic hit.

With Ska, Punk, Rap, Funk, Rockabilly, Swing and Hip Hop all influencing the instrumental style, Meet Me at the Downbeat is a dynamically progressive track which really comes into its own through the stunning solos. Rather than just offering the usual guitar riffs, you’ll also hear drum, bass, and sax solos – each of them is as captivating as the last.

It was a bold move incorporating such a smorgasbord of sounds into their single. But perceptibly, Big Fat Meanies have more than enough talent and energy to pull it off. I can only imagine how immersive a live set would be.

You can check out Meet Me at the Downbeat for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast