Diyno Mixtape: February 2024 releases – our suggestions
February 2024 releases selected for our monthly column Diyno Mixtape
After a January with several interesting new albums, here are February 2024 punk releases!
Why Diyno Mixtape? Diyno is a pun between dinosaur (our mascot is a magenta tyrannosaurus) and DIY – do it yourself – since this is our ethos, our compass, our method and guiding spirit, our world. Mixtape is to give the idea of a collage, of a varied set of content not only in music, but also possibly in fanzines, books, films, various projects.
So in this February 2024 Diyno Mixtape, our crew represented by our dinosaur is going to mix a few little things from punk and diy world! In addition to what we consider literally unmissable, at the bottom you will find a section called “Also keep an eye on…” where we will include other gems that we are keen to mention. Here you will find, for example, albums that we liked, but slightly less than the ones described above, but that we still recommend because you might love them. You will also find demos, videos, other special projects, reissues, content that we did not have time to explore because we discovered it late or was released at the end of the month, and more.
NB: The list is in alphabetical order by band/author and is not a chart.
Be curious and if you have advice or opinions to give us on February releases, feel free to contact us on our social media or via email!
If you’re interested in the physical copy of any of these albums you can write to info@radiopunk.it. Some are in our catalog, some could be available on demand.
Canal Irreal – Someone Else’s Dance (Beach Impediment Records | 12″ LP)
Lately we have been talking about several albums that combine hardcore and post punk, so when we encountered Canal Irreal’s “Someone Else’s Dance,” we expected to hear something similar to the much-in-vogue French wave. Yet this time the rules of mathematics are subverted: by mixing the addends the result changes, and big time! The Chicago band, on its second album, literally blows our minds with its full-bodied bass lines that create interesting melodic interplays with those of the guitar. A sound that harks back to Husker Du but remaining highly personal, thanks in part to the vocals of Martin Sorrondeguy, a historical and prominent personality of the DIY scene involved with such well-known bands as Los Crudos and the cornerstones of queercore, Limp Wrist. The artwork, in perfect mood with the sonic progression of the record, is the icing on the cake of this masterpiece!
The Chisel – What A Fucking Nightmare (Pure Noise Records | CD/12″ LP)
Highly anticipated record behind the scenes of Radio Punk, we planned to reserve a space in a Diyno Mixtape to talk about it, once the record came out our predictions were confirmed, in short, here we are talking about this great record! We’ve always liked Chisel for their direct, pounding, political, screaming, gas-guzzling punk… this latest work finds them in perfect shape. The tracks slide fast one after the other, a perfect mix of street punk, sweat, oi!, beer, a bit of hardcore and blood. The overall theme is well summed up by the title, a summary of what everyday life can be, a fucking nightmare!
Haven’t listened to it yet? Get it now!
Corrective Measure – Not For You, Not For Anyone (Designated Moshers Unit | Tape)
Coming from Maine is this extraordinary fast, furious, old-school hardcore punk band. We are greeted, giving us some beautiful thrills, by a cover with a boot labeled “Maine Hardcore” crushing a Nazi with an idiotic swastika flag. After an intro, which is the prelude to the storm, we hit the ground running with 8 more tracks all aggressive and the kind that drag you not into one of those pathetic moshes for macho-men showoffs but into one of those where you crush yourself under the stage taking care that those around you don’t get hurt, with your index finger raised and anger in your face. Anger that is also quite evident from the social issues the band deals with, in a visceral and heartfelt way, such as the fight against violence and bigotry both inside and outside the hardcore scene and the recognition of access to health care as a basic human right. Highly recommended for those who like bands like Agnostic Front of “Victim in Pain,” Youth Of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Turning Point, but also bands from the Cleveland scene of the 1990s or the Boston scene of the 2000s. On loop for days!
Deponi – Angrip! (Ond Sirkel | Tape)
About ten minutes divided into 6 songs is enough to make us jump out of our chairs for Deponi, a very young band dedicated to a hardcore crust punk with icy and disruptive sounds. Started in 2022 as a 15-16-year-old quartet consisting of Cecilia, Nathalie, Anthony and Camilla, it has since become a quintet with the addition of Geir. The band native of Stavanger, a city located on the west coast of Norway, sings in Norwegian 5 of these tracks while using Spanish in the song “Hærverk” because of singer Anthony’s Chilean origins. Lyrics written by Anthony and Cecilia (drummer) deal with various political issues in this EP, such as in “Sensur”-which deals with the issue of censorship during the Chilean dictatorship then expanding it to censorship in general around the world-or as in “Uteliggeren” where the band deals with and satirically criticizes the socio-economic reality of their community, since Stavanger is known as the oil capital of Norway. A crust punk d-beat EP with just the right aggressiveness that we highly recommend, you will be positively shocked!
Lèpoka – Dios está borracho (CD/12” LP)
If you love the foray into punk of unusual instruments such as violin, flutes, gaita and bouzouki, this new album by the band from Castellón, Valencian community, is for you. The definition of folk punk seems a bit restrictive, because we find metal, reggae and ska accents, but the geographical identity can be heard loud and clear. From the track in Valencian Catalan “La nit és nostra,” featuring Adrià Salas from La Pegatina and Artur Martinez from La Fúmiga, to the title track that in the refrain is vaguely reminiscent of the famous Catalan resistance song “L’estaca.” The lyrics are about social injustice and inequality – if there were a God, given the way the world is going, he would surely be drunk – but with a purposeful attitude of call to action and even, why not, “fiesta.” A las calles!
Mem//Brane – Subcutaneous (DIY | Tape)
Hailing from Bellingham, WA is this crust punk band with strong metal influences. Ellie on vocals and Tyler on guitar played together in a RABM band (we recommend this article if you don’t know what that is) called Ossuary Wraith. Then together with Daniel on drums, Chad on guitar, and Eve on bass they founded Mem//Brane, a band that is very attentive to queer and trans issues. The EP starts with a quote from David Wojnarowicz (“Close To The Knives”) then leaves room for raw, powerful, furious crust punk with dark, brooding overtones. The lyrics steeped in anger over the rights of trans and queer people are violently screamed into the listener’s ears, making the entire EP come across as a desperate cry for this community under severe attack in the U.S. as well as around the world. The whole thing is physically released in a cassette containing a bonus track and with artwork with anarcho-punk/d-beat vibes. Very valid and necessary EP, quoting the band, “Trans rights goddammit!”
The Promised End – For the Buried and the Broken (Sound Investment Records, Gunner Records | 12” LP)
This debut album by the Boston-based band, featuring members of Landmines, The Effort, Choke Up and Sky Tigers, is a crossroads of disparate elements. The sound, aggressive and catchy at the same time, oscillates between melodic hardcore, post-hardcore and energetic punk rock. Equally in the lyrics, with a strong political content, there is talk of personal pain, frustration with the state of politics, society and the planet but also the search for human contact and solidarity in an age of isolation and fear of the other dictated by ignorance. 10 tracks that can agree on different musical tastes and easily stay in your head after a few listens. European tour scheduled for September!
Shooting Daggers – Love & Rage (New Heavy Sounds – 12″ LP, CD, Tape)
The queercore trio from London released “Love & Rage,” a really amazing full length: a single listen is not enough, as you don’t catch all the nuances, but listening to it again it is definitely complete and complex in terms of sound. Strong 90′ grunge influences are mixed with post hardcore, dreampop and shoegaze creating a personal and unique mix, something you definitely haven’t heard recently. Queer and skate-related imagery comes overbearingly out of all pores, and the lysergic artwork, definitely reminiscent of De Chirico’s painted world, propels you into the intricate swirl of influences and melodies offered by the band.
A particularly multifaceted and richly detailed record. Listening to it you will feel as if you were protagonists of the animated series Daria, great!
Skalp – Mai Domi (Sentiero Futuro Autoproduzioni / Sistema Mortal Tapes | Tape)
With amp whistles, screams, pounding drums and a sharp guitar, Skalp from Milan come out with these 8 tracks of powerful and wild d-beat / hardcore. The minimalist lyrics angrily address social and political issues such as progress, humanity, war and the future and are screamed into the microphone relentlessly, with a deliberately lofi and raw effect. The rhythm section also gives no respite, for d-beat lovers it will be love at first listen! The last 3 tracks “Nato Nel Dolore”, “Unterwerfung” and “Senza Titolo” are recorded live at T28, a squat in Milan. A blast!
The Stress – Never Die (Pils Records | Tape)
Straight from Long Island, NY comes this incredible oi! punk band who with this 8-track album manages to combine just the right amount of venom and anger, a rock n roll edge at times hardcore and a melodic line that gets the songs right into your head without being cloying. The scratchy vocals scream working class themes in our faces, accompanied by powerful guitar riffs, pounding drums and a truly remarkable bass. On the bass it is worth lingering for a moment, because it is devastating both in sound and in the lines that at times are complex and launch into interesting virtuosity but when there is to give force it goes straight down with a club. A great album for those who like streetwise, energetic and catchy sounds!
Also keep an eye on…
Arrêt – The Madness (1753 Punk Noise | Tape) 4 tracks of raw, distorted hardcore punk/post-punk but with clean, melodic vocals. As the band themselves say: sounds best when listened to loud!
Deviated Instinct – Dance of the Plague Bearer (Terminal Filth | 12″ LP). The heralds of stenchcore rework 5 historic songs from their repertoire, giving us a granitic and massive album.
Hot Water Music – Menace/Burn Forever (End Hits Records | CD). Two new singles of great quality anticipating the next album for Hot Water Music – VOWS. Chuck Ragan’s voice always perfect, 6 minutes and a half to listen to on loop while waiting for the full album (due in May).
Igitaia – Garaituen Grina (CD). For the very young Basque quintet, music is not only entertainment but also a tool to fuel revolution. Eight oi! tracks sung some in Spanish and some in Basque, always with politically engaged lyrics. Notice the featuring of members of bands such as Harresi and Bootboys 2231 and the beautiful artwork by Motorcity Graphics.
Ikhras إخرَس – Jahanam Btistana (Quality Control | Tape + Fanzine). 5 songs sung in Arabic and English by the band based between Brighton and London. Raging hardcore with engaged themes that speaks out against religious oppression and in favor of Palestinian resistance.
Mutiny – S/T (Ska Punk International | 12” EP). Supergroup with members of Death by Stereo, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Dissidente, The Adolescents and others. On side A 4 ska-core tracks in English, on side B the same tracks sung in Japanese by members of Frail. There is also a version of the record that includes a manga.
Problem – Violence On The Metro (1753 Punk Noise | Tape) 3 tracks of impetuous UK82 / hardcore punk with some Oi! overtones for the Los Angeles band. Freakin’ punk titles, lyrics and imagery!
Worse Off – Over, Thinking (All we got! Records | CD/Tape). New York duo’s debut album “for folks who enjoy dogs and pretzels.” Melodic punk rock with (self)ironic, introspective but also committed lyrics against sexism, racism and homo-transphobia.
YAKUZA極道 – S/T (Extreme Earslaughter | 12″ LP). Don’t be misled by the name, the band comes from Athens and sings in Greek. 8 deflagrating tracks plus a Chaos UK cover, for fans of the most rotten and noisy d-beat!
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