Diyno Mixtape: July and August 2024 releases – our suggestions
July and August 2024 releases selected for our monthly column Diyno Mixtape
Even in these months of July and August, despite the vacations, we discovered and listened to a lot of stuff, selecting for you the releases you can find in Diyno Mixtape. We will take you on a journey through Norway, France, Malaysia, the USA, Italy, Sweden, England, Japan, Germany and Lithuania. As always plenty of room for different subgenres: you will indeed find hardcore, crust d-beat, post-punk, punk rock, oi!, ska, queer punk, anarchopunk and more. Buckle up!
As you may have noticed, we have made changes to the graphics to make them more user-friendly. More changes coming from the next episode of Diyno Mixtape, which will go back to being monthly!
NB: The list is in alphabetical order by band/author and is not a chart.
Be curious and if you have advice or opinions to give us on July and August releases, feel free to contact us on our social media or via email!
If you’re interested in the physical copy of any of these albums you can write to info@radiopunk.it. Some are in our catalog, some could be available on demand.
Assistert Sjølmord – S/t (Static Shock Records | 7″)
Norway’s Assistert Sjølmord (which translated means “assisted suicide”) burst into the scorching summer of 2024 with essential, pissed-off hardcore punk. After a 2021 demo release, they are back with a 7″ vinyl consisting of 7 tracks characterized by harsh and sparse guitar, screamed vocals, and a pounded and raw rhythm section. Norwegian hardcore punk but with typical uk82 references, direct without frills so damn effective. Even the artwork perfectly expresses the energy we find inside the record, it rocks!
Bavure – Demo 2024 (Offside Records, Dirty Slap Records, L’ouïe Pleure Records | Tape)
From Calonne Ricouart, in the region of Haute-France, comes this amazing band that delights us with 9 tracks steeped in raw and powerful hardcore punk that even in the slower parts retains an explosive charge that is nothing short of deadly. The minimal black and white artwork is perfectly fitting with the musical proposal that is precisely essential and with a deliberately sparse but powerful sound. France is giving us great satisfaction and there is nothing to add except that you absolutely must press play and let yourself be carried away by this hardcore punk vortex!
Chaos Bomb – Unseen Dumping
From Johor in Malaysia comes this chaotic punk band, with very strong hardcore, crust and d-beat influences. In fact if in attitude, artwork and roughness we are dealing with a band that takes inspiration from crust punk heavyweights, in its speed and in its being edgy and explosive we trace the charge of hardcore and d-beat bands, one above all Discharge. A record with a well made sound, with an overflowing bass and vocals that make these 7 songs for about 15 minutes an excellent album that we are sure will drive fans of the most rotten and extreme punk crazy.
Dead Pioneers – S/T (Hassle Records | 12” LP)
What if the first punks were Native Americans? That’s what track 2 of this incredible album claims. Released last year and now reissued via Hassle Records, it merges hardcore punk and spoken word to create something unique, complex and innovative. Gregg Deal, artistic performer and voice of the band, sings or speaks over an unmistakably punk musical backdrop words that weigh like boulders against the capitalist society that fuels racism, homophobia, transphobia, classism and ableism. Words loaded with bitter irony against prejudices about Native Americans, who are seen either as the bad guys in old Westerns or as quaint, naive, and savage: I am a “bad Indian” because my name is Gregg and not Red Eagle, I don’t speak pidgin English, and I don’t wear beadwork. Words that hit like slogans slamming undeniable truths in the face: no one is illegal on stolen land, capitalism can only exist if there is a poor class, no one owns anything and death is real. Words that once sounded like a gloomy curse but were just a long sightedness: we told you that the thirst for power and greed would destroy the world. And they are already doing so.
Dog Park Dissidents – Magnificent Bastards (Say-10 Records | 12” LP)
A band of people from groups marginalized by ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation, in order to save the world from climate disaster, eliminates the main perpetrators (oil executives, politicians and oligarchs) to the cry of “Decarbonize or Die.” This is the plot of the graphic novel, illustrated by Matteo Montero-Murillo and written by Zac Xeper, vocalist of the U.S. anarcho-queer punk band, that accompanies this sumptuous concept album, a true soundtrack to the story. Ecological topics are thus inextricably linked to the struggle against capitalism, racism, ableism and homotransfobia. Musically, the album cannot be labeled into a genre, as we find influences from emo, rockabilly, alternative rock, ska and many others, but what is certain is that the emotional level is extremely high, between the amazing vocals and deeply poetic lyrics. Dog Park Dissidents also put their attention to the issues addressed in the lyrics into practice; in fact, they decided to use a biodiesel-compatible bus for touring and to print merch on second-hand T-shirts. Check out their website, where you can listen to the songs and read the story, and you’ll decide that this is the album – and the superhero band – you needed!
Forklift – Forklift (Rebound action Records, Uellingtone Records, Walkman Records | 12″ LP)
Hardcore punk made in Trentino. This already creates a minimum of expectation that arouses curiosity, an expectation that is absolutely fulfilled from the first ‘tupa tupa’ of the first listen. The album cover faithfully reflects the band’s name. This hardcore forklift transports six tracks of HC with an old-school flavour: ‘simple’ structure, direct and rhythmic music and good production. Just the right amount of anger and just enough politics, which stands out especially in the track 07/05/16… (if the date doesn’t ring a bell: on this day there was a huge ‘no border’ riot at the Brenner border). In short, a great recipe for just under 15 minutes of madness. Great start for the band from Rovereto!
GEL – Persona (Blue Grape Music | 12″ LP)
If confirmation was needed that the New Jersey band is in good shape, here it is with this gritty EP that follows the justly acclaimed “Only Constant,” a full-length from 2023. Sami’s singing is as devastating as ever and accompanies these tempo changes to perfection, unleashing power in both the more cadenced songs and the faster, pounding ones. A very fine artwork embellishes these 5 amazing tracks for 12 minutes of great fresh and original hardcore punk. Small footnote: they are great in the studio but go see them live, you won’t regret it!
Kinetic Orbital Strike – The True Disaster (Phobia Records | 7″)
Recorded during the same session as their demotape, come in 7″ these 5 songs that will make your ears bleed, with sharp riffs, pounding drums and blazing rhythms. From Philadelphia come back to pleasantly slaughter our eardrums K.O.S. with their fast and impactful hardcore punk / d-beat proposal that draws on genre cornerstones such as Discharge, Anti-Cimex, Disclose. Thanks also to the artwork with skulls and death and the screamed and desperate vocals we have the perfect background for an apocalyptic scenario. Simply devastating!
Malakili – S/T (Black Water Records | 12″ LP)
This new lineup from Portland, a territory that as far as hardcore is concerned is undoubtedly among the brightest, offers us 12 tracks coming out on one of the most representative labels in the hardcore sphere, namely Black Water, and lo and behold, it is actually from Portland. This album is a mind-blowing cannonball, classic sounds and riffs of the old school hardcore punk made in the USA in the 80s that also appear in the Scandinavian “house.” The lyrics are the perfect soundtrack to these bleak times with a more than realistic view of the downward spiral our society is facing, and the very old school cover art is emblematic of what the band wants to say. Having members from bands such as Dead Hunt, False Ritual, Isotope and Myconid expectations were high, but they were far exceeded!
Rixe – Tir Groupé (La Vida Es Un Mus | 7″)
We’ve been anxiously waiting for it for a while, and here it is finally out, the latest work by French band Rixe! The Ep “Tir Groupé” becomes iconic from the first listen, with its unmistakable drum machine supporting interesting and super catchy riffs. 4 tracks of French Oi steeped in dance punk all seasoned with a sound that oozes 80s from every pore. In fact, you will feel like you are listening to something from the past, something that set the standard but at the same time you will also be struck by the uniqueness and freshness of each individual track. Very nice also the video for the song “Tir Groupé” with which they presented the ep, which reflects this 80s dance-pop mood combined with the classic asphalt and city bound Oi imagery. Truly a great record!
Sikm – Now I Must Comply (Beach Impediment Records | 12″ LP)
The first thing that comes to mind after listening to this record is that we are dealing with an album that can bring together people with rather different tastes. Indeed, it may appeal to lovers of rougher post-punk, fans of the new wave of French oi! punk and the Blitz of “Second Empire Justice,” but even those devoted to the cause of UK82 may find them decidedly interesting. In fact Sikm, a band from Atlanta, puts out 6 very 80s punk songs with multiple influences and styles resulting original and unique at the same time. A fresh and very interesting album with highly charged visuals. Definitely worth listening to!
Warcollapse – Deliberate Indoctrination (Bye Bye Productions, Phobia Records)
Our Swedish heroes, active since 1992 and led by the motto Crust As Fuck Existence, are back in full force. Their excellent discography speaks for them and this new 10-track album reflects the great career of this incredible band. Their massive and overwhelming Crust punk with stoner punx echoes here and there and with the unmistakable sound of the Scandinavian school tears and torments our souls thanks also to a formidable vocal performance. The rhythm is lightning fast and when it slows down, as in the tracks “Projecting Their Power” and the last gloomy “Shadowed Clouds Overhead” it is functional to the dark and apocalyptic atmosphere that has always distinguished the band. Simply mind-blowing record!
Zatopeks – Loitering & Sauntering (Stardumb Records | CD/12” LP)
Take some old-school punk rock, add a dash of 1950s rock’n’roll, pop-punk and folk, mix well and you get the very special sound of the British band, which is back after several years with this new work. But that’s not all. The most striking feature is that catchy and seemingly easy tunes conceal poetic, ironic lyrics loaded with historical, political and literary references. And so we discover that “Fine Sunny Day” is inspired by the last words of the young activist Sophie Scholl before she fell at the hands of the Nazis: It is such a splendid sunny day, and I have to go. What does my death matter if by our acts thousands are warned and alerted? Or that “Jarama Valley” is an adaptation of the traditional song “Red River Valley” in Woody Guthrie’s Spanish Civil War version. And if you still haven’t gotten the curiosity to listen to this brilliant record, know that a couple of the tracks have Vic Ruggiero’s hand in them!
Also keep an eye on…
Various Artists – Fuck Your Barbed Wire – Benefit Compilation (Substance D records | Tape). Benefit compilation featuring 40 bands in support of the French collective AutonoMIE, which legally supports underage migrants in order to have their rights as minors recognized while preventing them from being unfairly considered as adults of age. Info about the project here!
Various Artists – Punx For Gaza – Benefit Compilation For Mutual Aid In Gaza (Sentiero Futuro Autoproduzioni | Tape). Benefit compilation for mutual aid in Palestina with 19 bands: Comunione, Attack, Narkan, Kobra, Mirage, Glass, Astio, Piombo, Lucta, Morgana, Vida Muerta, Cimitero, TV Dust, Golpe, Kalashnikov, Polina Suffer, Festa Del Perdono, Porta D’Oro, Cerimonia Secreta. The tape is expected to be sold-out, you can donate through the purchase of the digital format!
Citric Dummies – Trapped In A Parking Garage (Feel It Records, Turbo Discos, Idiotape Records | 7″, Tape). These three crazy guys from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) are back with an EP with 4 tracks one more insane than the other. Fast, direct and chaotic garage-influenced hardcore punk, a real barrage of songs with self-ironic lyrics! Also catch up on their previous works (including the latest full-length we already told you about in November) because they rock!
Codename: Rocky – Foundation (Wiretap Records | 12” LP). New EP by the California ska-punk band, released on 12” along with their previous EP ‘Blueprint.’ Four energetic and engaging tracks with two outstanding guests: Brenna Red from The Last Gang and Tahlena Chikami from Bite Me Bambi.
GAVL – Beat E.P. (DIY | tape). Three pure street oi! songs that immediately harken back to other American bands such as Violent Way, The Stress and Harrington Saints above all. Straight to the point songs with a raw and strong impact sound!
Guillotine – Demo (1753 Recordings | Tape). 4 songs of furious hardcore punk heavily contaminated by d-beat and kängpunk. This debut work by the Los Angeles band is flawless!
Hey-Smith – Rest in Punk World Edition (Bad Time Records | LP 12”). Bad Time Records doesn’t miss a beat and grabs the reissue of the sixth album by Japanese ska-punk legends Hey-Smith. Compared to the first edition, released last year, there is an extra track and all the songs have been remastered. Energy and rhythm in full swing, lovers of the genre don’t miss it!
Klavo – Demo (RoachLeg Records) Hardcore punk from Berlin, tight riffs, raw bass and clenching drums, powerful vocals with Oi references! Three songs really full of power and anger as in “No Good Ones” against the police, cool as hell!
Nowitschok – Niedrige Beweggründe (Contra Records | 12” LP). From Freiburg, 10 tracks of mean and dirty streetpunk sung in German for lovers of bands like Drinking Squad, The Lads and Brutal Bravo. Free pig mask and bottle opener with the record!
Sipas – Buitinis Konfliktas. Make a statue for Bandcamp introducing us to this amazing band from Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. 5 tracks for lovers of the most frenzied hardcore punk with grunge influences that here and there remind of the most punk Nirvana songs. The vocals and riffs are devastating and multifaceted, run out and listen to them!
Subdued – Abbattoir (La Vida Es Un Mus | 12″ LP). The London band unleashes these 8 tracks of anarcho-punk with a fresh, dark and original sound and just the right amount of melody. An excellent work!
Tenia – Anime Sconvolte. Tenia return with a new album of great quality. As with their first work, the list of co-producers is long: Annina Records, Entes Anomicos, Lanterna Pirata, Malammore, Pattada Records, Poison Hearts, Radio Punk, SEDATION, Shove Records, Soundtown, Tifone Crew, Tuscia Clan, Wrong Disc Records… (yes you saw right, we’re there too!). Don’t miss this treat and be on the lookout, physical copies will be released in the autumn!