Saturday, June 20, 2026

SMARM - self titled


Cincinnati has been an underrated hotbed of punk rock for pretty much as long as I've been following punk rock. The latest sensations from The Queen City are called SMARM, and their debut EP is totally ripping and super-promising. While SMARM is a very new band, members Drew Decker, Liam Dolan, Sam Richardson, and Eric Stein are veteran players who really know what they're doing. Taking inspiration from classic American punk and garage rock, SMARM dishes out an attack that's a tad heavier than your typical garage punk. These songs are muscular and riff-driven while still giving a whole lot of Midwestern grit and attitude. I love that this band doesn't sound like every other garage band out there but will still appeal to anyone who digs tough and bruising punk rock 'n' roll. DMZ, Consumers, Radio Birdman, Union Carbide Productions, and Rubber City Rebels are some stated influences, and that's a nice mix to be working from. For a new-ish band, the songwriting is remarkably well-developed. SMARM has hit the ground running, and surely we will be hearing many more good things from this band!

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Unicorn Dogs - "Bogus Journey"/"One Disaster Away"


As they near the release of their new album Closer To Death, Baltimore's Unicorn Dogs are back with another sneak preview single. And as the album title suggests, you ought not to expect light songs about frolicking in the park or basking in fairy tale happy endings. What we have here are a couple more dark songs for dark times — delivered with an energy and catchiness that make these bitter pills remarkably easy to swallow. Unicorn Dogs, simply put, are one of the greatest pop-punk bands going these days. I now cease to be surprised any time their next release is even better than their last. On this latest single, they're not trying to be overly dramatic or deliberately morose. They're just dishing out a heavy dose of real talk. "Bogus Journey" is an unflinching reflection on living in a modern world characterized by "a dearth of kindness" (an observation that's on the money, I'm sad to say). The song plays on the timeless "Life's a bitch, and then you die" theme and notes that no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. Depending on your perspective, that truth will be either really depressing or oddly comforting. "No one gets out alive" is the song's refrain, and that's no lie. 

"One Disaster Away" is more specifically in the social commentary category. At a time when one party's political power is reliant on millions of normal people believing they are just one big break away from being rich, this song goes the other way and notes that we're all just one misfortune away from losing everything. The idea that we could ever be part of the elite class is pure delusion — as is the notion that we're "better" than people who are serving time or living on the street. So yeah, this is not exactly easy listening. You're probably not going to cue up these songs at your next house party (and if you are, I probably would want to party with you!). But when it comes to making meaningful music with all the conviction in the world behind it, Unicorn Dogs are hard to beat. They play pop-punk with guts and soul. They're inching even closer to Closer to Death, and I can't wait!

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The Riffs - "You Doin' Alright"


Well after 20 years, we finally have new music from The Riffs, and somehow this band did not miss a beat! The Riffs, from Portland, Oregon, released three full-length albums and five 7" records from 1999 through 2006. With their '77 punk meets gritty street punk meets tough rock 'n' roll sound, they were a cornerstone band of two of the best punk rock labels of that period: Pelado Records and TKO Records. And now they're back on another iconic label, the mighty No Front Teeth Records. The new 7", "You Doin' Alright," is classic Riffs through and through. Why bother turning back the clock to 2003 when you can take it all the way back to 1977 or earlier? The sound here is anthemic, powerful, and timeless. Even if they hadn't covered "Join the Professionals," The Professionals would have been one of the most obvious references along side the Sex Pistols, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, the New York Dolls, Cock Sparrer, and The Boys. What an inspired return! The songs kick ass, and the production is massive (befitting that Jonesy-inspired wall of guitars). You could argue that this rivals the best of The Riffs' original releases, and it's a must-purchase for anyone who geeks out over '77-style punk rock the way I do. Grab your vinyl before it's gone!

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Doghouse Rose - "Born To Break Even"


In advance of its forthcoming album Born To Break Even (due out July 31st on Stomp Records), Toronto's Doghouse Rose has released the title track as a teaser single. "Born To Break Even" is definitely giving me all the '90s melodic punk feels with a touch of the more polished side of pop-punk. This style and sound are a hit-or-miss thing with me, but man, this song really hits. Sarah Beth on lead vocals has the perfect mix of guts and charm with likeability that's off the charts. And I love that this is a terrific melodic pop song above all else. You can hear other influences at play beyond '90s punk. The lyrics are incredibly relatable. The song is about the futility of trying to get ahead in life when setbacks seem to be unavoidable and constant. Just when you think you're standing tall, something comes along and knocks you down again. "Push and pull till my poor back is breaking/While pretending everything is fine" is a lyric that will resonate with most people. And ultimately, the message of the song is that we have to keep grinding even if break-even is the best-case scenario. What other choice do we have? Born To Break Even will be this veteran band's first release since 2023's Unlearn. The vinyl is already up for pre-order on Bandcamp with eco-cherry and eco-lavender color options!

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Sunday, June 14, 2026

The Lovebites - Tear Up Tear Down


From Nuremberg, Germany, The Lovebites are Barbara Paul, Bettina Friedmann, Caroline Hausen and Daniela Eichhorn. They have just released Tear Up Tear Down, their debut full-length album, on the iconic label Monster Zero. As you would expect from a Monster Zero release, this is really excellent pop-punk. Kevin sure does have an ear for the good stuff! What I appreciate about this band is that it crafts a classic pop-punk sound without necessarily sounding like a million other bands you've already heard. The guitars punch hard, the songs are tuneful and catchy, and those four-part harmonies are super-tight. But there are some somewhat non-typical influences (e.g. indie pop and old school punk/new wave) in the mix that separate The Lovebites from a lot of bands who are just recycling the '90s (not that there's anything wrong with that — ha!). There's a dark undercurrent to some of these songs that I find very appealing, and I love how the band channels the frustrations of everyday life into these energetic songs that are made for you to sing along with. How many people are going to hear "No Time" and immediately adopt it as their new personal anthem? I could ask the same of "To Do List." Pop-punk as a style can be hard to master because a lot of bands might come up a little short on the pop or the punk end. But The Lovebites balance those contrasting sides perfectly, and Tear Up Tear Down is one of the albums that everyone ought to be cranking loudly this summer. 

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Saturday Night Karaoke - "Escalation"/"Doomsday"


Back with its first new music in nearly two years, Bandung, Indonesia–based Saturday Night Karaoke has delivered a couple of songs for the times on the new single "Escalation"/"Doomsday." I was really impressed with Prabu Pramayougha's recent solo project Barpinson, and this new SNK single is in similar territory in terms of having something very meaningful to say. While this band is generally categorized as pop-punk, the speed and energy of these two songs practically border on thrash-punk. These tunes are fast and furious here, and that's befitting the urgency of the lyrics, which the band describes as "a snapshot of the bleak urban reality we're all dealing with right now." "Escalation" is about the way everything in your life keeps escalating and escalating, and it just keeps on going until you die. We never really escape the compounding anxiety, do we? The spastic punk rock of "Escalation" practically bottles that feeling. "Doomsday" is a little more in the traditional pop-punk lane but still kicks at a racing pace that will quickly leave you breathless. And if there ever were an anthem for Planet Earth 2026 and the role of music in our lives, I'd say these lyrics are spot-on:  

We're all fucking doomed in this shit life
Nuclear bombs and wars everywhere
Don't say we don't care
Here's to make it hurt less
Anytime you're overwhelmed
So let's just sing along

That kind of hits the nail on the head, doesn't it? These tracks were just recorded last month, so the social commentary here is very current and very relevant. I love the passion and conviction, and these songs do indeed lend themselves to singing along. If you still believe in the power of punk rock to make a difference, you need to be blasting this single and blasting it loudly.

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Andresa One Man Band - Nothing But R'N'R

Andresa One Man Band is the new band from Andresa Nugraha, formerly of The Battlebeats. How does a one-man band break up? Well, it was simply time to move on to a new project with a slightly different musical direction. Nothing But R'N'R is the debut release from Andresa One Man Band and the inaugural release on his new label, Junglestomp Records. The progression from The Battlebeats to Andresa One Man Band is not exactly a radical shift. Andresa is still in that stripped-down, blown-out garage punk lane. But in terms of style, the title of the EP says it all. This is more straight-forward, down-and-dirty rock 'n' roll inspired largely by bands from the American South like Oblivians, Reatards, and The Persuaders (who are covered twice on this release). The title track is a song about having nothing in life going for you except for rock 'n' roll. A lot of you can relate to that! "Let's Rock & Roll With My One Man Band" is essentially Andresa's new theme song, and it's glorious. "Can't Stop Thinking About You" is something you rarely if ever heard from The Battlebeats: an honest-to-goodness love song! This is a different kind of energy compared to The Battlebeats, but it's safe to say that anyone who loved The Battlebeats will be on board with this stuff. These tracks totally rip! This guy never disappoints, and I'm excited to follow Junglestomp Records as it grows into a go-to label for Indonesian rock 'n' roll!

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