DS Staff Picks: Dylan’s Favorite Punk Albums, EPs & Things of June, 2023 (Presented by Punk Rock Radar)
Hello, and welcome to the June, 2023 edition of Dylan’s Favorite Punk Albums, EPs & Things! This is the column where I, Dylan aka Screeching Bottlerocket, tell you what new punk rock albums, EPs and singles I enjoyed the most this month.
This is a collaborative effort with our friends at Punk Rock Radar, with whom I’ll be doing a video version of this Best Of wrap-up each month. If you like discovering awesome new bands as much as I do, be sure to follow Punk Rock Radar on Instagram and YouTube, and keep tabs on their Upcoming Release Calendar.
Here’s our video for June (let us know what your favorite releases of the month were in the YouTube comments):
RANCID
Tomorrow Never Comes
This new Rancid record is pretty solid. Nothing earth shattering or anything like that, just a solid record. Probably won’t make my end of year Top 10 list (not that you care), but I think it’s a lot better than their last two albums.
DOWNSTATER
Cruelest Defeats
Anyone who tunes into these monthly columns is probably aware of my affinity for Canadian melodic punk. Quebec City’s is the latest band to come on my radar, with their new album Cruelest Defeats, out now on People of Punk Rock Records. For fans of riffy melodic punk heavyweights like Belvedere and MUTE.
TIGHTWIRE
Head Full of Snakes
It’s hard to go wrong with Midwest pop-punk, and Minneapolis’ Tightwire prove they’re the cream of the crop on their new album Head Full of Snakes. Recommended if you like The Dopamines, Dear Landlord, The Copyrights, etc. Buy the record and see them at The Fest.
FIVE STATE DRIVE
Five State Drive
Nagoya, Japan’s Five State Drive play super fun, blazing fast skacore-infused skate punk. Their self-titled debut album is stellar. Think Hi-Standard meets Kemuri with hints of influence from Less Than Jake, Operation Ivy, and 90’s west coast punk. Listen below, buy it on compact disc here.
JAGGER HOLLY
Rivotella
Not many bands can pull of a 29-song double album, but Austrian pop-punk powerhouse Jagger Holly does just that on their brand new record Rivoltella. I can think of many 12-song albums that have more filler than this thing; it’s a beast! Too many great songs to name all my favorites. Buy the 2xLP here (US) / here (EU).
McRACKINS
Wake the Fun Up!
A Canadian pop-punk institution since 1994, the McRackins are back with their first new studio album in over a decade. If you like Screeching Weasel, The Queers, etc. this is essential listening. Stop sleeping on the McRackins and Wake the Fun Up! Listen below, get the record here.
MERCY MUSIC
What You Stand to Lose
Mercy Music‘s new album is all over the place – in a good way! Some songs remind me of the Descendents (which makes sense since this was recorded at the Blasting Room), others have more of an Alkaline Trio-ish feel… a few sound kinda like Weezer! “Love You/Need You” and “Watch Me Drown” are bangers. Get the record here.
DON’T SLEEP
See Change
Don’t Sleep is the latest project from legendary punk frontman Dave Smalley, who you may know from bands like Down By Law, Dag Nasty, and ALL. See Change is their second LP; if you like any of Smalley’s past work, you’ll dig this. I think it sounds more like Dag Nasty than anything else. Check it out below and buy it here (US) or here (EU).
DAN CRIBB & THE ISOLATED
I’ll Follow You Anywhere
Mr. Cribb used to be in an Australian punk band called The Decline (not to be confused with the NOFX song of the same name). I’ll Follow You Anywhere is the second album he has released with his current band Dan Cribb & The Isolated. Fans of More Betterness era No Use For A Name will enjoy this record. A bunch of songs feature Nick Diener of The Swellers on guitar and vocals. “What You Believe” is my favorite track.
ALL COASTED
Never Ending Puppet Show
Vicenza, Italy’s All Coasted provides a much-needed hit of Epifat inspired melodic punk rock on their new EP Never Ending Puppet Show, out now on Striped Records. Check it out below and buy the record here.
THE GREATEST SONS
When The Music Will End
I was not alerted to The Greatest Sons’ until I heard one of their new songs on Punk Rock Radar’s New Music Friday Spotify playlist. Check out their new EP! 3 songs in 9 minutes, it’s a nice little introduction for anyone else who’s never heard of these guys. They put out a full-length album a few years ago, too.
No shortage of new singles this month! Here are the ones that stood out the most (check out the Spotify playlist below for even more):
• Diesel Boy – “Dirty Dishes” – Another song from their new album Gets Old, due out July 28th on SBÄM Records! This is one of my favorites on the record. Pre-order on vinyl (or CD!) here (US) / here (EU).
• Making Friends – “ATM” – Killer new song from up-and-coming UK skate punks Making Friends. From their debut album Fine Dying, due out later this year on these fine labels: Punk Rock Radar (US), Cat’s Claw Records (UK), Waterslide Records (Japan) & High End Denim Records (Canada).
• Chaneys – “Archangel” – The best way I can describe this is “If the Misfits were a skate punk band”. Moscow’s Chaneys put their stamp on this Samhain cover. This shit rips. Check out their Bandcamp for more like this. Start with the Brains for Friends EP.
• Clowns – “Formaldehyde” – I have no clue why it’s taken me so long to check out Clowns, but I’m kicking myself after hearing their new single. This shit makes me wanna run through a brick wall! Some people tell me they’ve got a new album on the way; I’ll be catching up on everything I missed for now.
• Borderlines – “F.B.T.” – The pride of Portland, Maine, Borderlines will be releasing their debut album Keep Pretending this summer on Hey Pizza Records (LP), Mom’s Basement Records (CD), and Memorable But Not Honorable (Cassette). Check out the latest single!
• Acid Snot – “Amsterdam” – After going 7 years without releasing any new music, Barcelona melodic punks Acid Snot just released their second single in as many months. Check it out and lookout for their TBA record on Thousand Islands Records and Lockjaw Records.
• Evening Shadows – “Beach Queen” – Eccentric Pop Records only puts out good records. That’s a hill I’m more than willing to die on. So when they launched pre-orders for record from a mysterious new band called Evening Shadows in 2021, I didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. That record was killer and their new single “Beach Queen” is great, too! Check it out and look out for Evening Shadows’ sophomore LP.
Anywho, that concludes the June installment of the column. Thanks for checking it out! Keep your eyes glued to Dying Scene for all things punk rock and follow our friends Punk Rock Radar on Instagram, YouTube, etc. Join us again next month!
Check out this Spotify playlist for for songs from all these albums, EPs, and singles (plus some I didn’t have time to type a bunch of words about):