Thursday, January 19, 2012

'Scum Again' 7'' by Scum Again


By Jason Duarte
10/10/2011
Rating: 3/5

Scum Again is a relatively new four-piece Baltimore punk band, formed in 2010 by ex members of Warpriest, The Squints, Diablero, Mind As Prison and Plaguewielder. My first impression based on the cover art and the fact they are a punk band I've never heard of led me to believe they were part of the scummy, crusty-punk genre. I'd say they're a cross between that and '90s DIY punk bands like Crimpshrine and The Broadways.
"Mike's Job Application" is a short, crusty hardcore punk tune with scratchy, high vocals, but the vocals vary. "Damn, Corey Haim" is the best track on the EP because it's catchy, melodic and the music has a heavier, more progressive composure. All five are relatively short tunes, keeping in line with typical hardcore songs. This is a great 7'' for anyone interested in hardcore, DIY punk or old Leftover Crack-type street rock. The art is my favorite part (the back cover is cool too), and it's on gorgeous clear red vinyl. Stream the 7'' below. It's available via Grave Mistake Records, since Toxic Pop and Firestarter's websites have been down.


First pressing: 300 on red vinyl.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

the HELL (Matt Skiba and Atom Willard) premier first song off debut EP


Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio fame and Atom Willard of Offspring, Social Distortion, Rocket From the Crypt and most recently, Angels & Airwaves fame formed the HELL last year. Thus far, the band appears to be using a Facebook page as its website, where it's been hyping their (very) limited four-song 10'', titled Sauves Les Requines, which will be released today. The HELL's debut EP will also be available via iTunes. Stream the first song, "R.R.R." here.

*EDIT 1/13/12: The 10'' is available for purchase here, by itself or bundled with a T-shirt. All orders get a digital download.

The band released this teaser video via YouTube on December 5.

Matt Skiba has been referencing another new project titled, Matt Skiba & the Sekrets, which finished mastering its debut release January 6 with Gene the Machine at Oasis Mastering in Burbank, CA. More on that to follow.

Matt Skiba's solo tour dates:
Jan 25 – Riverside, CA – The Barn at UC Riverside
Jan 27 – San Francisco, CA – Slim's
Jan 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Jan 29 – San Diego, CA – Bar Pink