Diyno Mixtape: the best of July and August 2025 releases – our suggestions
July and August 2025 releases selected for our monthly column Diyno Mixtape
As usual, also in July and August, we discovered and listened to a lot of stuff, selecting for you the releases you find in Diyno Mixtape. As always, ample space for different subgenres and bands from various countries around the world. Happy listening!
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.
Ska Punk
Now Leaving Space – EP 1
Excellent debut for this sextet from Gainesville, Florida. The EP consists of five tracks of ska-punk with progressive rock suggestions and that jazzy touch, dominated by a solid and compact horn section, which gives the style of the record a somewhat retro feel. Also notable is the striking cover artwork, created with the hand-collage technique by artist Goldie Moretti. Keep an eye on this band, because it shows great promise!
Foolish Relics – Somebody Please Just Wake me up (DIY | CD/12” LP)
A snapshot of a dead tree seen by chance serves as the cover of a record that, like a photo album, captures life moments, thoughts, feelings, observations. A sincere, authentic record, brimming with humanity, which translates into poetic lyrics and highly original melodies. All at a ska-punk rhythm that is colored from time to time with reggae, country, folk tones, with the addition of instruments such as banjo, fiddles, mandolin or bagpipes. This second album by the band from Tampa Bay, Florida, is a real gem that hits straight to the heart: don’t miss it!
Modus Fire – The Weary & The Wise
Time flies by and with each additional candle on the cake we feel more “weary” than “wise,” feeling more the fatigue of living and carrying on with our daily inner and outer struggles than the feeling of having found answers to our questions. That’s the point of this incredible first full-length by the band from Sydney, Australia, which calls its music “prog-punk powerhouse with a driving brass section” and actually draws heavily from 70s rock, punk and metal, but creates a highly original sound with the addition of elements of ska, dub and jazz. And if we also consider the lyrics, which show remarkable skill in story-telling and juggling with words, we know we are dealing with a record of the highest quality, capable of delighting the most refined palates. Outstanding!
The Guillotines – Parcel of Rogues (A Little Off the Top | CD/12” LP)
From the very first notes, this fourth album by the Scottish quintet will catapult you under a stage, where you’ll find yourself moshing and screaming at the top of your lungs. More than an album, it’s an arsenal of 11 tracks, each more explosive than the last, and a veritable political manifesto. Yes, because, true to their name, they incite rebellion against power: capitalism, the monarchy, the new right, and the new media. They define their music as “punk ska oi!” and indeed, in their very personal sound, cheerful and angry at the same time, the rhythm and horn section characteristic of ska coexist with working-class themes, vocal timbre, and anthemic choruses typical of oi! All performed with remarkable skill, including delightful solos on various instruments. An absolute masterpiece!
Space Monkey Mafia – Death of the Party (Jump Up Records | CD/12” LP)
“Wake me up when the empire ends”: this line, an ironic semi-quotation, sums up the meaning of this masterpiece by the Minneapolis band that leaves us speechless from the very first listen. The party is ending, the capitalist empire is crumbling, but we don’t stop dancing, knowing that there is a better world worth fighting for. A strong political message, indeed, but also a lot of introspection and an invitation to self-care and self-love, in lyrics of the highest literary and poetic quality. And the music? Ska-punk, of course, but with strong jazz and swing influences and a touch of metal, with exceptional vocal and instrumental performances that literally give you goosebumps! A sublime delight for the ears and the soul, it rightfully ranks among the best albums of the year!
Legal Disaster – So, Here’s The Thing… (No Time Records | CD)
Crystal Rock Steady: this is how the Californian band likes to describe its sound, and it is also the title of the beautiful single released at the beginning of the year, which preceded this first full-length album. Well, the expectations created by the single were not disappointed: nine tracks (eight plus intro) of very energetic ska-core with some folk influences, with lyrics ranging from political/social (first and foremost the condemnation of capitalism) to personal. A really good album, don’t miss it!
Punk Rock
Cios – Caveman Traditions (Abbruch Records, Smith&Miller, Pasidaryk Pats, NoPasaran | 12” LP)
Seventh studio album by the band from Khmelnytski, Ukraine. An album with strong political connotations, as always for a band that is openly anarchist, anti-fascist and opposed to its country’s government. The protagonist is inevitably war, which sows death, destruction and fear and creates dystopian scenarios. “We’ve poured our vision, emotions, and anger into this album. – they declare. – In these dark times of lies, hypocrisy, and deceit, we want to be as honest as we can with you.” Musically the record is a mix of classic punk rock with hardcore and streetpunk elements, and the lyrics are sung some in Ukrainian, some in English. An excellent record of great importance in the current historical moment, capturing the original sense of the essence of punk: a weapon and not just a style!
Mégadef – Mega Zbeul Manifesto (Schlass Ball Studio)
If you love fast and powerful French punk rock with bold and sarcastic lyrics (Poésie Zéro style, to give you an idea), this album by the band from Rennes is for you. An anthem to confusion (the “zbeul” of the title, a slang term derived from Arabic), in the mind and in life, that apparent nonsense, ironic and self-deprecating, which uses provocation as a tool to throw uncomfortable truths in your face. Currently only available digitally, but it will soon be released in physical format. Don’t miss it!
Die Job – Hazards of Occupation (Kinda Cool Records | CD)
What does an electric viola do in a punk rock band? It helps create the unique sound of this quartet from Vancouver, Canada, which openly opposes capitalism, war, and discrimination and supports various social causes. This EP offers five captivating tracks that are both melodic and powerful, with poetically and politically significant lyrics that will win you over from the first listen!
Dark Thoughts – Highway To The End (Stupid Bag Records, Drunken Sailor Records | 12” LP)
After six years, the fourth studio album from the band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is here. The punk rock formula straddling 1978 and the future, as Drunken Sailor rightly says, draws us into a catchy, energetic and fast-paced dimension for 16 minutes. Eleven awesome songs that smell of leather jackets and live shows at CBGB!
Crust Punk
Desolacion – S/T
In about half an hour, the Buenos Aires band unleashes a blind fury of crust punk/stenchcore with granite-like, icy sounds and dark atmospheres. A truly interesting album for fans of extreme punk, rhythm changes, and powerful, desperate screams. They will be touring Europe between September and October, so keep an eye out for them. They will also be stopping in Italy for a gig in October!
Deadsky – Reapers Call (Profane Existence | 12″ LP)
As with Negative Charge, the cover art is by @digital_3vil, and once again, it is evocative and a masterpiece of art. In these nine songs, the Pittsburgh band assaults us with crust punk infused with d-beat, hardcore punk and dark, apocalyptic atmospheres. The anarchic lyrics speak of class struggle, genetic engineering, regressive politics, capitalist greed and genocide. A masterpiece!
Oi!
Fuerza Bruta – Ecos de Chicago (Warthog Speak Records, Mendeku Diskak | 10″)
The roughest oi blends with the impact of hardcore punk, giving life to four tracks that sound like anthems from, and for, the working class, true battle cries to raise your head and support daily struggles. The songs have just the right melodic vein while remaining raw and powerful. Great work!
NFUE – Rural Skin Oi (Chicken Attack Records | Tape)
These four punk Oi! tracks with electronic influences by the band Nfue struck us from the first listen. The project, with its strong internationalist imprint, was ‘born as an instrument of political resistance, collective expression and territorial affirmation through music’, as the description on Bandcamp points out. Musically, the songs are very rhythmic and varied, thanks to the combination of syncopated drums and electronic elements, and the alternation between voices and languages, namely Spanish, English and Italian. Awesome!
Garage Punk
Teen Mortgage – Devil Ultrasonic Dream (Roadrunner Records | 12” LP, CD)
The Washington D.C. duo releases ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’, a devastating album characterised by their unmistakable punk rock style steeped in garage punk, action rock and hardcore punk. A band that manages to leave its mark on all the tracks on the album, creating the right balance between energetic pieces and slower, almost psychedelic ones. Theirs is a trip guided by a friendly cartoon version of the spectre of death. A band and an album that are definitely not to be missed, for us, it is already among our favourites of 2025!
Hardcore Punk
NÃO – Obrigada (Symphony Of Destruction, Brainwasher Records | 12″ LP)
This international band formed between Bremen and Hamburg includes members of Inferno Personale and Vitamin X, just to name a couple of bands. If you are looking for a band dedicated to chaotic hardcore punk, leaning towards d-beat and anarchic lyrics, you are in the right place. The 11 tracks sung in Portuguese by Morgana, who also curated the collage in the booklet, are a crazy mix of relentless drumming, wild riffs, neurotic bass and sharp vocals. Cool, lysergic artwork by Juan D. Ospina (Artes Oscura). A superb album!
Negative Charge – S/T (Neon Taste Records | 12″ LP, Tape)
11 tracks with an 80s flavour, steeped in furious and aggressive hardcore punk. From Winnipeg, Canada, this incredible, fast-paced, old-school album reaches our ears, with sharp guitars, tight drums and granite vocals. The artwork by @digital_3vil is the cherry on top of this great album!
Cristø – Fragments Of The Inferno (Tape)
Los Angeles’ Cristø released this fiery cassette consisting of seven hardcore tracks with sharp, hellish and dark riffs. The energy of the vocals is accompanied by a galloping rhythm section, creating a powerful and magnetic final result. We’re sure that if Charon had a cassette player on board his ship, he would listen to this EP on repeat. Very cool!
Zevk – Demo (Dirty Slap Records, A Divided World | Tape)
This demo by Zevk from Paris has absurd energy. 80s punk sung in Turkish, except for the last track, which is in English, with lyrics touching on social and political issues such as the trans and queer struggle and Palestinian resistance. Scratchy riffs and fast-paced rhythms that leave you breathless. A band with a lot of personality that we hope to see live soon!
Ayucaba – Operación Masacre (Metadona Discos | 12” LP/ Educación Cínica | Cassette)
You know when they say that an album gets stuck in your head? Well, in this album by the Barcelona band, featuring members of the Otro Futuro collective, there isn’t a single track that doesn’t stick in your mind. The explosive mix of hardcore punk with massive doses of thrash/speed metal and rock’n’roll sweeps us away like a tornado. The riffs are sharp and original, and the songs are all furious and particularly eclectic thanks to Cromi’s vocals, which spew forth all the hatred towards this unjust world. A splendid record!
Ruined Virtue – A Garden Without Birds (Televised Suicide, Crew Cuts | 7”)
The band from Sheffield, UK, releases this new EP following their excellent 2024 demo. These four new fast and powerful hardcore punk tracks are an absolute blast, thanks in part to the formula that blends metal sounds with intensity and chaos. If you like Broken Bones, Concrete Sox or Death Side, you should definitely give them a listen!
Living Dead – S/T (Sex Fiend Abomination Tapes and Discs | Tape)
This young band from Norfolk, Virginia, debuts with this album, consisting of six fast-paced, chaotic songs with an 80s flavour. If bands like Zeke, The Radsters and all the direct, no-frills old-school hardcore punk scene are your daily bread, you’ll go crazy for this album!
17 Incubi – Rullareee! (Radio Punk, Radio Bandito, HSAdiTino, Tadca Records, Rudy’s Back, Tifiamo Rivolta Co-produzioni, Lanterna Pirata, Troppa Carne Al Fuoco Rec, El Paso, I Ragazzi Fan Da Sé, Sa Manta Records, Sirboni Records, Bologna City Rockers, Nubi Records)
We couldn’t help but include this new co-production among our summer favourites, which arrived in our house in vinyl format along with a bottle of Genepì liqueur, kindly offered by 17 incubi! Starting from the physical copy, the record features beautiful artwork by Mr. Alfredo Tattoo, with a screen print on the B-side by Sericraft. The frenetic and volcanic design sets the mood for the album: fast-paced, hard-hitting hardcore punk made in Turin, the kind that hits you with a series of punches until you’re knocked out. The lyrics tackle social and political issues, but also personal ones such as friendship. The sound is simply perfect, thanks to the excellent production by Tino Paratore (Church Of Violence, Havoc, …), and enhances the splendid bass and guitar lines, the bone-crushing drums and the furious vocals embellished with powerful choruses. 13 damn hardcore punk tracks, just what you’d expect from the old school but with a fresh and charismatic twist!
If you would like a copy, please email us at info@radiopunk.it or contact the band or other labels.
Bootcamp – Time’s Up (Convulse Records | 12” LP)
Straight from the prairies of Iowa, the band Bootcamp takes a running start and throws 10 fast, direct, energetic, no-frills songs at us. Angry old-school hardcore punk! Turn up the volume!
Anarcho Punk
Baraka Face Junta – Do Piekła (D.I.Y. Koło Records | 12″ LP, CD)
The band from Kolobrzeg, Poland, gives us an original, charismatic, personal, and intense album. An album that is truly complex to describe because, although it can be classified as anarcho-punk due to its protest and resistance topics and its attitude and imagery, it breaks several molds by drawing here and there from different musical styles and genres. Imagine Conflict meeting NoMeansNo. With fast-paced rhythms, distinctive and memorable vocals, warm and hypnotic bass, powerful and melodic guitar, and saxophone, the highlight of these nine tracks, you will find yourself with an album that anyone can enjoy!
Post Punk
Sonder – Demo (45ToTape | Tape)
Very dirty and reverberating post-punk, with a slight death rock influence. Sonder from California prepares us for the autumn mood with their clear riffs, without sacrificing the punk energy provided by the powerful distortion of the bass. A very interesting album!
The Exile – A Lament (Tape)
Incense, velvet, leather and studs. These ingredients, rigorously mixed in a witch’s cauldron, give life to ‘A Lament’ by Californian band The Exile. Musically speaking, it is a death rock/new wave album mixed up with two vaguely dub/ska tracks, which divide the work into chapters. Lex’s voice is definitely worth mentioning, capturing everyone’s attention with its incredible magnetism. Recommended for anyone who loves to be bewitched by dark 80s sounds!