On that fateful day that Iggy Pop turned down a job offer with Lockheed Martin, threw away his Teen Spirit stick, and bought his first tube of airplane modeling glue- punk was born. Punk has since continued to pack basements, bars, and DIY spaces full of sweaty, spikey, and exuberant young folks ready to climb the walls and ceilings, repelling off each other like shrapnel. And for more than a decade, Bandcamp has been a hub for punk music lovers and musicians to come to and share their uncontainable passion for this explosive and intoxicating artform. In August’s edition of Best Punk releases on Bandcamp, Sims Hardin highlights the stoic glare of Poison Ruin, the brutish jangle of Guiding Light, the motorik groove of JRCG, and many other new and exciting rippers!
Poison Ruïn
Confrere
Vinyl LP, Compact Disc (CD), T-Shirt/Shirt
Philadelphia’s Poison Ruin continue to march forward into battle, making endless waves with their niche and infectious medieval-stylized brand of punk. The group tastefully pull from multiple genres- including proto-metal, oi, anarcho-punk, and dungeon synth- creating a seamless sound that is timeless and unique. On their latest effort, Confrere, the group convey ideals of unity through class warfare with a handful of diverse punk new-classics. Where their previous release, Harvest, was a little more metal-leaning, Confrere is rooted 80’s punk and hardcore. Though there are some shifts stylistically, Poison Ruin just doesn’t miss. With triumphant lyrics, shields of peace, and swords forged from roses, these armored yet peaceful crusters are well-positioned to bring the capitalist pigs to their knees.
Guiding Light
GUIDING LIGHT
Cassette
Austin’s Stucco label has continuously released new and interesting lo-fi punk tapes and records over the years. Most of these releases tend to toe the line between snotty street punk and artful new wave, and Austin-based rippers Guiding Light fit like a glove. These newcomers craft jerky and jangly tunes that could be compared to bands like The Au Pairs or Aztec Camera, captured on a Tascam and played at light speed. The guitar playing is particularly intricate and dazzling, though the rest of the band is dialed in and charged up as well. The recording is tactfully understated making this a great fit for fans of modern bands like Blue Dolphin, Fugitive Bubble, and Vivienne Styg. These folks are definitely one to watch out for with their artful aesthetics and tasteful, yet wild and freaky, chops.
Peace De Résistance
Lullaby for the Debris
Vinyl LP
If you’ve been a fan of modern underground punk for the last decade, you’ve likely come across Moses Brown’s peace-punk outfit Institute and their dense catalog of diverse, singular, and memorable records. In 2020, Brown stepped out on their own as Peace De Résistance, releasing a tape of fuzzy, Zam-rock-informed lo-fi bedroom recordings, which were followed in 2022 by the first LP Bits and Pieces– deepening the project’s breadth by exploring solo Iggy Pop and Bowie-esque negative glam aesthetics. Peace De Résistance returns to the darker corners of the dance club with the third installment, Lullaby for Debris—a further exploration of socialized ideologies seen through a cryptic, yet funky, glam-rock lens. This record is erupting with soulful hooks, danceable grooves, and tasteful and tempered arrangements. Peace De Résistance’s Lullaby For Debris is a genuine and artful blend of vamps, boogie, and profound rock n’ roll energy.
Love Banana
Love Banana
7" Vinyl
Only a place like Gold Coast, Australia, could be responsible for the joyous and exuberant quirky sound of indie punks Love Banana. This group of charmers deliver 3 perfect pop-tinged songs that capture the lo-fi vibes of groups like The Clean and Look Blue Go Purple. The single “Get In” is the ideal soundtrack for a drive down the beach, into the ocean, and into an underwater society ruled by trippy claymation sea trolls. If that makes no sense, then just imagine a bright, energetic, no-frills sound with deep hooks orchestrated by shimmering organ and jangly guitars. These sounds are perfectly captured in warm lo-fi tape glow and presented righteously on 7” vinyl form- released by the great Holiday Maker Records.
J.R.C.G.
Grim Iconic...(Sadistic Mantra)
Vinyl LP, Compact Disc (CD), T-Shirt/Shirt
Bands like CAN and Neu are deeply rooted influences of the punk zeitgeist with their knack for linear propulsion and fearless exploration of sound and noise. Tacoma-based musician Justin R Cruz continues this lineage of dark, experimental motorik punk music with his project JRCG and its sophomore LP Grim Iconic… (Sadistic Mantra). The record’s arrangements are saturated with percussive elements, warbling synths, heavy basslines, and catchy modulated vocal melodies. While that’s not all there is, these are the guiding forces of this record. Well, that and a lot of psychotically awesome noise. The band is known for its live performances featuring nearly a dozen folks with their own warped synths and unique percussive instruments grooving intentionally in synchronicity and discord- a sight to see. JRCG is in a freaky, heady world of its own- a place where music is the psychedelic drug.
Rixe
Tir Groupé
7" Vinyl
After a period of silence, French bruisers Rixe return with a new EP titled Tir Groupé and share their love for 80’s new wavey oi aesthetics à la Second Empire Justice by Blitz. The group lean more into their experimental side by incorporating drum machines, effected vocals, and generally modulated sounds while keeping their tightly wound rhythm section, catchy no-frills riffs, and knack for memorable gang vocal hooks. The recording is a bit more polished here, though Rixe doesn’t lose their edge. These songs, informed by classic street punk and UK hardcore, are tough as nails. La Vida Es Un Mus is a magnet for interesting hardcore bands, so it’s no surprise they snagged this one. Grab your headphones, pop on Tir Groupé, and you’ll be punching drywall and crushing lagers in no time.
Total Hell
Killed by Evil
In my tiny putrid brain, it just makes sense that a sick band like Total Hell would have been born into this cursed world in New Orleans, one of the best and most insane places on Earth. Total Hell is not your typical crossover band, either. They have a natural proficiency for big hooks and sinister vocals that stylistically bring to mind bands like Venom and Celtic Frost, though there is a primitive head-bang-worthy quality that gives major early Discharge vibes. For their latest release, Killed By Evil, the band re-recorded a few classics from their previous 7” and tacked on another handful of new sinister rippers. The record is HUGE and abandons their previous lo-fi sound giving these evil tunes a proper capture. Typical Total Hell fans are actually just demons found in Hieronymus Bosch paintings, so if that’s you, you’re gonna love this record. Total Hell’s Killed By Evil is totally out on Total Punk Records- snag it or totally die!
Citric Dummies
Trapped in a Parking Garage
7" Vinyl, T-Shirt/Shirt
The world has seen many great lyricists… Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and now Citric Dummies with their song “Driving a Piece of Shit.” These Minneapolis-based punks know exactly what they are doing. They are crafting fun, fast, and ripping songs that may seem dumb, and while they kinda are, are also subversive. But mostly just fun. But that’s punk, baby! On their latest EP, Trapped in a Parking Garage, Citric Dummies piss violently into the wind with 6 minutes of fast and furious KBD-esque raw punk vitality. Everyone in this feral three-piece is turned up to 11 with fast riffs, pummeling drums, and hog-wild dueling vocals. Brainless- but secretly brainy- punk for the win. Citric Dummies are in a class of their own, and the only way to pass the class is to fail epically.
Billiam
Animation Cel
Vinyl LP
Melbourne’s egg-punk prodigy Billiam returns with his “Billiamth” album titled Animation Cell, and this young rocker blows the doors clean off with his best effort to date. Billy abandons his typical lo-fi, straightforward songwriting and instead chops it up with songs formed in a myriad of styles. Fear not, these tunes are still captured with his quintessential Billiam sound that many of us have come to love. Animation Cell has a whopping 16 songs ranging from fast hardcore pacing- to more driving Ramones-y tracks- to minimal heady arrangements. No matter the flavor, Billiam gives the listener an unforgettably good hook. Labels are lining up to put this lad’s next record out. Who will it be next? Maybe you!
Human Trophy
Primary Instinct
Vinyl LP
Reuben Sawyer of The Column and Anytime Cowboy resurfaces with yet another truly interesting and effective project called Human Trophy. Human Trophy is not just a cute name… With this project, Sawyer shows the bleak side of his mind on Primary Instinct, the second offering from this project. This record is a deep dive into an abscess filled with heavily textured metal-leaning death-rock despair. And while these songs are negative, the songwriting and hooks make the payoff well worth the sorrowful mood. The guitar playing is heavily modulated and acidic, cutting through the mix like a scythe; the drums are pushed and overdriven, the vocals layered and tastefully buried. This project is equally artful and damaged- giving the listener a corrosive, unsettling, and euphoric wave. Step off this predictable plane of existence, and step into the endless void with Human Trophy.
