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Fascists, regimes and state sponsored genocide and it isn’t even 1939. 2025 is currently in a scary place and it has been mentally draining for most of us that are watching this all going down. Music has been a salvation and politically charged tracks an anathema to throw our ire and rage into. Schkeuditzer Kreuz have released the single “Sirens Of Death” from the new album Swan Grinder that drops at the end of August.

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Beware the dogs of war and if you don’t like harsh rhythms and screaming electronics, only matched by the vociferous bald man, Kieren Hills, then maybe sit this one out. The beats are the rattling of the machine guns and the klaxons herald in the injustice of conflict on huge scales. ‘We have always been at war‘ is the observation, which is carried through in the amazing video, that over the last hundred years the world has seen so much unrest and the cycle is continuing.

For those that say music should not be political, you can renounce any alternative ties you have and then fuck off with the Nazi scum. There is no middle ground and this world needs voices of dissent. Hills is one of those genuine people that feels everything and in true punk style, tells it like it is. Previous Schkeuditzer Kreuz music has been more like blunt force trauma, but this single is more like cold fuelled angst, funnelled into a controlled tsunami… powerful and undeniable in its fury. “Sirens Of Death” is the industrial synth d-beat we need and Schkeuditzer Kreuz delivers.

Swan Grinder | Schkeuditzer Kreuz

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Some things are worth staying up for which includes horror filled Midnight Feature, and by luck, the UK trio have released a new single called “Rite Here.” The spirits are going to rise with this one.

Is that a cowbell? Oh, there should definitely more cowbell in our punk rock, and so behold the bell from the beginning of this track. It rings in the sawing guitars as we go down to swamplands, infested by creatures of night as they bide time in their place of rest, because it is ‘Rite here, rite here, buried in the graveyard,’ and they await your arrival.

Midnight Feature always seem to have a lot of fun when writing and performing their tracks, possibly because they don’t take themselves too seriously whilst immersing themselves in the gothic B grade movie thrillers that ignite their imagination. It’s “Rite Here” and right now, so get on down with the ghouls of Midnight Feature. And more cowbell!!

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𝑴𝑰𝑫𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬 (@_midnightfeature) • Instagram photos and videos

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Matt Webster is a composer and musician from the heart of Bradford, UK, where life isn’t always easy and stories in songs are forged in the fires of the daily struggle. His project is Signia Alpha and often incorporates like minded music types such as Paul Gray, bass player of The Damned, and they have released the new full length player, the fairy-tale Wonderland.

The cool, almost reggae beginning to title track “Wonderland,” is married to the seemingly disinterested vocals, which makes this track curiouser and curiouser. The dual vocal by Webster and Harris are taking us down the rabbit hole to a world, our world, where big brother is in control, and are offering a pill to fix your head, or a pill to fix your health. The guitar work is light, but the vocals illicit feelings of restlessness. There is a play of words in regards to Star Trek in the track “A Slave To Enterprise.” Harris gives us vocals that are suitably disenchanted, wavering between the spoken word and the sung chorus, along with the smoky guitar, as they throw up that everything benefits the wealthy. This leads to the Bond inspired instrumental, “For Your Ears Only,” which feels whimsical and an escape into a world of spies, fast cars, faster women, and martinis, shaken, not stirred. It is a mixture of organ like keyboard and duelling guitars that blend magnificently. Paul Tunnicliffe provides his honey rough vocals for the empathy filled “Anyway.” Grungy and stripped back, “Anyway” plays to its strengths and the harmonica makes you think of America in the 30s and 40s, when the homeless often rode the trains for free to eek out an existence.

Returning for the track “Starlight,” Tunnicliffe croons with that gravel worn voice, over psychedelic guitars, stretched sax, and fluttering flute. There is something delicate and magical about “Moonlight” and it hints of a Damned influence. There are delightful guitars reminiscent of the sound of the Damned, Damned, Damned album (though the band says The Black Album…. potato/tomato), sculking saxophone and an air of just letting go in order to enjoy life, and this is possibly my favourite track. “Killing Flies” is one of the first singles and has the dulcet tones of Webster serenading you. Between the story of why they are murdering those buzzing winged creeps in the middle of an English summer and being drawn in by the acoustic guitar, this is an amusing tale. Maybe sleeping in a squat is not such a good idea, but the track is a memory of misguided youth spent in Czechoslovakia.

At the beginning, I say this album is a fairy-tale, as Wonderland is where Alice disappears and in a round about way, finds herself. Most fairy-tales are often based in real life and they don’t really end happily ever after. This is what we experience. Life and it isn’t easy for the common folk with juggling money, time, mental health, aging and a litany of other parameters. Wonderland is the every day, where its joys and flaws are perfectly shared through a myriad musical styles, blended together, with the lynch pin being Matt Webster.

Wonderland | Signia Alpha

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The Texan psychobilly ghouls, Tricie and the Phantom Punks, dropped their second EP, I Look Good In Dead, in November on the UK label We Are Horror Records. If you haven’t guessed by now, it is all about the horror darling…….

First track, “Haunt Me,” is an expression of love, even if they are some dead poltergeist trying to murder you. It is fast and furious in that cutesy sort of homicidal way. True horror is real life, and Tricie coos and whoops her ode of (un)dying love to serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as The Night Stalker in “Darling Richie.” They reference Disneyland which is a nice touch, as the bass and drums thunder, and guitar crashes. The music video is a wonderful bonus.

The first, self titled EP had the track “Graveyard Party” on it and the band has resurrected it in the form of an acoustic version, which is raw and unapologetic. Sticking to the American serial killer theme, a tribute to the woman who had enough of men’s shit, a song about Aileen Wuornos in the form of “Ho Lee.” I think Wuornos would have appreciated the punk attitude and not painting her as a victim, which lines such as ‘forever scarred‘/’forever hard.’

Like all good punk releases, all four tracks sit between two and three minutes long, but they pack a lot into those few minutes. Tricie has a very distinct voice that sets her and the Phantom Punks up as being very distinguishable when it comes to other female led horror punk/horrorbilly groups. They are punks by name and undead by nature, and everyone needs a little bit of supernatural stabby stabby to spice up their lives.

I Look Good In Dead | Tricie and the Phantom Punks

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November has seen the release of the split single from Schkeuditzer Kreuz (Aust) and Decide Today (USA), with the vinyl on Nambour label Bad Habit Records, in the wilds of the Sunshine Coast, North of Brisbane.

“Last year, mid-winter, I did a quick tour run up to Bellingen and Lismore (NSW, Australia). The Lismore gig was something we booked in a Hall out of town and was kind of a make-up gig for one that got scuttled by the plague a couple years earlier. On the bill was Sniffer Dog and Toecutter – someone I had met in Melbourne when he played with Dark Horse, and someone I was keen to make noise with again. At that gig he said to me “you have to meet my friend Robert – your music, your attitude, your touring all match each other so well” and he gave me the contact. So, I reached out and Robert jumped straight in.” – Kieren Hills/Schkeuditzer Kreuz

  • Schkeuditzer Kreuz
  • Decide Today

The one track from d-beat, synth-crust master, Schkeuditzer Kreuz, is the cloying “Choke,” and this slower track feels like the air is being dragged out of your lungs. It lurches zombie like at times, and then becomes full of rage and destructive conviction as Hills lets us into his head and what clinical depression can be like when it isn’t a good day.

Decide Today has two tracks, with the first being “Revolutionary Reason (Worldwide Intifada),” and you can smell the sweat in the swarming mosh pit as the beats come in thick and furious. The indignation is palpable with a whole bunch of cleverly cut sound clips strung together, culminating in the powerful hushed tones that the genocide of the Palestinian people is wrong. The second track “The Shit Punx Hate” hits you full throttle, making you start, and then you are serenaded by the list of things that punks dislike such as racism, authoritarians and Nazis, while the rhythms have nail bombed into your psyche and pierced your head.

“Toecutter must have met Kieren and insisted we start talking. Our common ground in
music, and the culture surrounding it, was immediately evident. Earlier this year Kieren
proposed the split 7” via Bad Habit, which of course I had to say yes to such circumstances, and I mentioned also wanting to get back to Australia at some point. The next day Kieren asked if I was for real, and started planning the tour. I am incredibly thankful to my new friend, Borg at Bad Habit, and Dave (Toecutter) for getting us connected.” – Robert Inhuman/Decide Today

Baron Von Borg is the bloke that runs Bad Habit Records, who is a punk, a punk musician and a connoisseur of music from the top of his head, to the tips of his toes and someone I have a lot of time for. It isn’t surprising that he is in the middle of this whirlwind.

This is a marriage of ferocious punk attitude, punching with a fist full of electronics.

Schkeuditzer Kreuz split EP with Decide Today | Schkeuditzer Kreuz

Facebook – Schkeuditzer Kreuz

Music | DECIDE TODAY

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UK record label, We Are Horror Records, have released the debut single for psychobilly band Midnight Feature, which is called “From The Grave.” Following in the great tradition of horror rockabilly groups, the band has four members with amazing names. There is Joshua Alucard (vocals/guitar), Markus Aticus (bass), Dr. Richard K. Straker (guitar) and THE BRAIN (drum machine). Well, okay, technically the drum machine isn’t alive, but after all, it is a horror outfit.

You are greeted with the famous line from Frankenstein (1931), ie ‘It’s Alive!!,’ so you already know you are going to be on a winner. You are then hit by the, frankly, coercively silken crooning vocals of Alucard, the wonder axe wielding and devastatingly thumping bass… oh, and of course The Brain keeping that undead heart beating.

It seems these lads have been brought up on a diet of Hammer Horror and B Grade black & white horror, which I admit are my favourite types. All this lends itself to the imagery of both dead and undead ladies, such as vampires and reanimated corpses, whom we all know make the best goth girls. I love this track. It moves and shakes, incorporating all the best things about the horror punk genre. A great tune and a well wicked sense of humour. Is it gothabilly or is it psychobilly? Eh, I will let you be the judge, but I really hope people pick up on Midnight Feature and give “From The Grave” a listen.

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Music | We Are Horror Records (bandcamp.com)

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We have the second single “Pills” from BURDENZ, a punk/grunge band from Aotearoa (New Zealand). The Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) based trio consists of Jimmy Coldham (guitars, vocals), Alex Ross Smith (backing vocals) and Alex Gallagher (drums).

Pealing guitars hit you from the start and soon clashes with the screaming vocals of Coldham, as each tries to bludgeon out the other, and yet the drums of Gallagher freight train through, syncing up the belting track.

For three blokes from NZ, BURDENZ sounds bigger than Ber Hur and I can just imagine seeing these guys would leave you slightly deaf, but rather pleased with the auditory bashing. So far I have no idea what “Pills” is about, I just know I sink into this track and just let it take me along for the ride.

PILLS | BURDENZ (bandcamp.com)

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Tāmaki Makaurau lays in the Land of the Long White Cloud, aka Aotearoa, aka New Zealand and is also the home base for the three piece punk rock band BURDENZ, who have released their debut single “CULTZ.” Members Jimmy Coldham (vocals, guitar), Alex Ross Smith (bass, backing vocals) and Alex Gallagher (drums) are also involved in bands such as NUGGIEZ, Coffin Club, Jang, Shotgun the Couch and Soul Stroke.

The guitars rumble, soar and dominate in “CULTZ,” winding and fluctuating along with the equally eviscerating vocals searing the air without compromise. They drop into a false lull before once again descending into the vortex of instrument versus man.

Loud and unashamedly balls to the wall punk rock, not over produced and BURDENZ really know how to play. “CULTZ” is a pretty cool debut single from the fertile music scene that is bubbling away in New Zealand.

CULTZ | BURDENZ (bandcamp.com)

https://instagram.com/burdenz.band

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As a dark subculture type, I don’t take myself very seriously and tend to love groups that share that ideal. Athens based Greek band Falooda, are a new project for members Loverman (vocals, synth), Luku luku miu miu (drums), Themis Vasiliou (guitar) and Manolo (bass), with their first release on Bandcamp ironically called Demo 2024.

The four track EP is a mix of punk and experimental noise, with the first track “Orizuru” smacking your ears with the vocals that are a mix of Reverend Horton Heat and Mr Fiend (Alien Sex Fiend), with a pinch of Tom Waits. i was giggling at the end with the gurgling duck noises.

Shake your tail feathers to “Boolean Religion” as you start to wonder if you are trapped in a Japanese movie with Cheech and Chong plus a rather large consignment of weed. “Bottleneck” is a hail of screaming guitar pushed to their limit, before the final track, “Disaster Recovery” climaxes in the self imploding ecstasy of a thousand lost souls.

The guys describe their sound as ‘noise funk dessert with rose syrup, vermicelli, milk and sweet basil seed,’ and this is possibly true should you ever meet them and try a quick lick. However, a comment on Youtube said that Falooda was like ‘listening to Mr Bungle on acid‘….. and quite frankly, I completely agree. Utterly bonkers!!

Demo 2024 | Falooda (bandcamp.com)

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Did you know that Geishas Of Doom (GOD) are a six piece punk band from the Netherlands? Me neither!! Punk has a happy little place in my heart, especially as it lent itself to the post-punk movement with its experimental stance and do it yourself ethos. May has the release of the album The First Four Tapes, which has a huge twenty four tracks, though in true punk form, most run under two minutes.

From the first track, ‘(Here Comes The) Snakestorm,” you get a taste for what this band is going for in sound. It is purposefully lo-fi in quality, giving it a raw edge that makes it feel like a live performance. The drums a loud and brash, getting a good workout every track, and pretty much, it is the guitars versus vocals that are the stars. However, you do occasionally catch the odd, possibly synth noise blip in the mix.

I think the track “Avoid The Fall” absolutely grabbed my attention with the classic post-punk guitar work in opposition to the screaming vocals, and it is a cracking song. Talking of cracks, there is the song “Crack” which is not about the drugs, but rather a split in the wall, which rather reminded me of the theme running through the Matt Smith era of Dr Who. Fans? “Pulse” is just another reason to really like these guys as it shows a different facet of their writing talent. So good.

You can hear a plethora of influences such as metal, prog rock, gothic rock, grunge, rockabilly and shoegaze, which makes the album a musical joy, as Geishas Of Doom fuse what makes them passionate, into a wonderful punk album with real soul. And honestly, who doesn’t like a band that sticks two fingers in the air and makes their initials GOD. Genius.

The First Four Tapes | GEISHAS OF DOOM (bandcamp.com)

Stream GOD – The First Four Tapes – Side A by Geishas of Doom | Listen online for free on SoundCloud