What did you miss in 2020? Punk suggestions for punx. Volo. Bucharest, Romania
Intro:
Volo. Bucharest, Romania.
Drummer in Cold Brats, used to play with Bastos and Void Forger. Active in the Bucharest punk scene, since 2012. Been releasing records and doing DIY shows as Summercide Recs. Doing art stuff as Gravedweller sincer forever.
Osees — Protean Threat
Label: Castle Face
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Seminal garage punk turned kraut rock, psychedelic, you name it band, Oh Sees (now spelled Osees), are back with a new record, following last year’s lengthy Face Stabber. I don’t even know if this should be on a punk list, but it’s such a rollercoaster of genres, so well blended together, that it might as well just be punk. I still hate myself for missing their show last year in Vienna, sorry Mihai, but I made it a life’s mission to see one of their shows when things presumably go back to “normal”.
Favourite song: If I Had My Way
Kobra — Confusione
Label: Iron Lung Records
Location: Milano, Italy
There’s no secret that right now Italy is the hot spot for the best punk coming out of Europe, and Kobra from Milano, make no exception. I wasn’t a big fan of their first EP, but their debut LP, Confusione, just swept me from under my feet. Raw, chaotic, yet very well calculated songs, complimented by a freaking saxophone, that just turns these songs into a rare gem in the current punk scene, think of Crass Records, meets The Flying Luttenbachers! Really hope they tour, would be a shame not to.
Favourite song: Confusione
BIB — Delux
Label: Pop Wig Records
Location: Omaha, NE, USA
This band has been teasing everyone with EP’s for such a long time, that I thought I’d never see the day they would put out a full length, but here we are, nothing can surprise me in 2020 anymore. Since I first heard the teaser track The Fool back in late 2019, I have been eagerly awaiting this album, and oh boy, it did not disappoint. If you liked what they released so far, this album is more of the same, but sometimes more of the same is not a bad thing. I don’t know if they ever toured Europe, but my body is ready.
Favourite track: The Fool
Satanic Togas — X-Ray Vision
Label: Goodbye Boozy Records
Location: Sydney, Australia
I have never had so much fun with a record like I did with this one. Snotty, funny, in your face garage punk with a love for everything Devo. This one popped in my Instagram feed on a hot summer day, and I was instantly intrigued, so I shot Gregorio from Goodbye Boozy a dm asking him what is that, because I want it. A few months later it landed in my mail box and since then, the needle never left the wax. If you’re not dancing, you love Jesus and it shows.
Favourite track: No Luck
Sweeping Promises — Hunger For A Way Out
Label: Feel It Records
Location: Boston, MA, USA
I was late to the hype on this one, it came out in August, but I think I finally decided to give it a shot all the way in October. And on that day I only listened to this record, all day, it’s that good, probably the next day I did the same. Catchy hooks, a bit melancholic, sometimes it’s kinda 80s, sometimes it’s kinda 90s, overall an unexpected release from what it seems to be the band’s first release. I don’t know that much about the band, don’t know if they will play live, but I sure hope so.
Favourite track: Cross Me Out
Bonus: Fav EP ♡
Powerplant — A Spine / Evidence
Label: Static Shock Records / Dreamland Syndicate
Location: London, UK
Devocore is the new thing, and kids totally love it, so do I!
Favourite song: Evidence
