Release Date: 28th February 2025
Record Label: Reel Muzik Werks Publishing
LA’s South Bay born & raised alternative artist, MEGG, blends her love for pop music with her punk rock roots to create a fearless sound for the tomboys, loudmouths, romantics, and all the misfits in-between. MEGG’s voice blends the fiery energy of Hayley Williams and the raw edge of Joan Jett, all wrapped in a nostalgic, early-2000s vibe. She dropped seven singles in 2024, follwed by this, her first of 2025, ‘The End‘, and now she’s gearing up for her fourth EP this autumn. AND she’s playing Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach, CA for the first time this summer on July 26 & 27! Regarding the new single, MEGG says, “We wrote ‘The End‘ about some mental shit I was going through. This song is about the battle between two versions of myself in my head: the fun, happy, stops and smells the flowers kind of girl and this other crazy bitch who tries to tear everything apart. I wanted the music to feel unhinged yet familiar, something we can all scream and dance along to, as I imagine we’ve all felt this way in some capacity.”
Stream / Download HERE
Release Date: 1st March 2025
Record Label: Bullet Teeth Records
Northeast England’s Hi Fi Spitfires are a three piece punk rock band who formed in 2008. They play all their own original melodic punk rock, and have been described by one journalist as “a band who would fit comfortably in a record collection between ‘Give ’em Enough Rope‘ by the Clash and SLF‘s ‘Inflammable Material‘.” Now, ‘3 Volt Love‘, the second single from their latest album ‘Off The Radar‘ is available on limited edition yellow vinyl. If the catchy as hell, riff-fest that is ‘3 Volt Love‘ doesn’t have you jumping up and down, we’ll eat our hats! The band can’t wait for you all to hear the (B) side ‘She’s a Wrecking Ball‘ which has never been released before, or played live.. The album was released last summer to huge and well deserved acclaim, gaining rave reviews across the board. Hi Fi Spitfires have been invited to play at Rebellion Festival later this year, and will be touring across Europe as they frequently do! The band are: Steve Straughan (until recently with UK Subs) vocals & guitar, Tony Taylor bass & vocals, and Dean Ross drums & backing vocals.
Release Date: 5th March 2025
Record Label: Smartpunk Records
Nashville femmecore outfit The Dreaded Laramie return with the new single ‘Agency‘. The track is the band’s first outing since their July 2024 debut album ‘Princess Feedback‘. ‘Agency‘ finds singer/guitarist MC Cunningham contemplating the double-edged promise of freedom. Backed by the band’s trademark irrepressible guitar hooks, Cunningham wrestles between both the utopian possibilities of her own freedom, as well as the very real dread that arrives when one accepts responsibility for their own destiny. While keeping the sticky pop hooks that have been the hallmark of The Dreaded Laramie’s catalogue, listeners will feel the volume being dialled up to 11 as the group push into new territory, particularly in the dizzying key-shifting duelling guitar solo break. ‘Agency‘ captures the feeling of life coming at you fast, and the constant battle to take, and keep, control. They say “This release is really special to us – it marks a new chapter for the band after a period of a lot of growth and change.” Catch their debut at SXSW!
Stream HERE
Release Date: 14th February 2025
Record Label: Slf released
Skacore is a thing – and if Ill Gotten Gains new EP ‘Odes To The Troublemakers‘ is anything to go by – it’s bloody great thing! This 5 piece band from Basingstoke, SE England, have been around since 2013, but it’s been a while their last release, a self-titled album in 2015.. We’re stoked to see Ron (Vocals), Spoonie (Guitar & Vocals), Add (Guitar & Vocals), Dave (Bass) and Si (Drums) return with five totally banging tunes in this collection. Taking aim at the things happening in the world which shouldn’t be, from nuclear weapons and bad relationships in ‘Miss Fire‘, to ignorant political decisions in ‘Never Learn‘, poor mental heath in ‘Tin‘ and ‘Let it Go‘ and preventable poverty in ‘Eat or Heat‘. Punktuation is looking forward to catching the band at a sold out gig with Random Hand in Reading on 15th March!
Download / Buy CD HERE
Release Date: 7th February 2025
Record Label: Dödstil
SLICERRR is a four-piece garage / punk band from Helsinki, Finland. The band’s sound is straightforward; brutal and chaotic. The songs are bass-driven and catchy. Rumour has it that the members of SLICERRR have also played in some other bands, but who cares? The only certain thing is that we’re undeniably on a knife edge here.. SLICERRR’s self-titled debut EP rocks – if strong bass is your thing, you’ll love it! Thematically, the songs deal with, amongst other things, the challenges of modern life and the hectic nightlife of Italian cities. The SLICERRR EP has already gained airplay on popular Finnish radio station YleX. We think it deserves consideraby more attention! I hope we hear more from Tuomas Kotialho (bass), Juho Talja (guitar), Jukka-Pekka Talsi (vocals) and Feniks Willamo (drums) soon!
Stream / Download HERE
Release Date: 7th March 2025
Record Label: Smartpunk Records
The new EP, ‘Three Songs‘, from Atlanta, GA post-hardcore band Reconciler drops today! The band first hit a stage together in the summer of 2016. Harkening to a sound alternately Southeast and East Bay, their previous EP ‘Art For Our Sake‘ was a catalyst for great success, including their first UK/Europe tour and a big wave of discovery via editorial playlists across streaming services. First single from this new EP is ‘Stockholm Syndrome‘, which uses the well-known phenomenon as a metaphor for our brainwashing under the guise of the American Dream and work ethic. The band identifies as post-hardcore punk rock. ‘Three Songs‘ offers a heavier, more visceral side of Reconciler’s heart-on-sleeve approach that contemplates grappling with mental health as the credits roll on the American Dream.
Buy HERE
Usually found jumping around down the front at gigs, I also relish taking photos and videos, singing, speaking with fellow music fans, and asking musicians the questions nobody else does. Writing about my favourite bands and connecting with people who love music too keeps me more-or-less sane! I’ve worked for over 25 years at a video production company, mainly filming live music events, therefore I have an additional backstage perspective on the scene.
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