Punk Rock Saturday!
This week, we’re hitting three bands, three cities, and three different ways to set your nervous system on fire: Old Sparky, Mouth Washington, and Bayline.
Old Sparky – “It’s On Us”
From Münster, Germany, Old Sparky encourages listeners to smash racism with “It’s On Us,” and if history has proven anything, they are using a very effective mode of delivery: angry guitars and provocative gang vocals. This thunderbolt of righteous chaos doesn’t even waste time with an intro, and by the eight-second mark we're already being bombarded with the first chorus. Miraculously, they still find time to cram in a bridge amid the all-gas-no-brakes tempo. “It’s On Us” is proof that sometimes important messages come in very aggressive fifty-five-second packages. Connect with Old Sparky: Spotify | Bandcamp | Instagram
Mouth Washington – “Battle”
Portland, Maine-based Mouth Washington's “Battle” does something extraordinary that caught us off guard: it crams some top-notch hardcore between two melodically experimental bookends. This effectively keeps the band from being pigeonholed as just another post-hardcore act. Don't get me wrong... For most of its runtime, “Battle” does exactly what it says on the box, with a relentless ebb and flow between double-time and half-time rhythms, but what they are doing is surrounding that aggression with atmosphere rather than simply bludgeoning the listener. This two-minute monster is f’ing perfect. Connect with Mouth Washington: Spotify | Bandcamp | Instagram
Bayline – “State Of Despair”
Hailing from the Netherlands, Bayline has recently released “State Of Despair,” the closing track from their new EP of the same name. For those of you who didn’t have time for that second cup of coffee this morning, this tune is the sonic equivalent of six shots of espresso. From the melodic verses to the fire-breathing choruses, “State Of Despair” sounds like it was recorded with an actual budget in an actual studio. Even though it’s missing that lo-fi DIY roughness around the edges, it more than compensates with razor-sharp musicianship, massive hooks, and enough momentum to turn a tour van into a projectile. Connect with Bayline: Spotify | Website | Instagram
See ya next week. Or maybe not. Mysterious AF.
Follow the playlist:
Further reading: The First Punk Rock Saturday!, Punk Rock Saturday 2, Punk Rock Saturday 3, Punk Rock Saturday 4, Punk Rock Saturday 5, Punk Rock Saturday NYE, Punk Rock Saturday 7, Punk Rock Saturday 8, Punk Rock Saturday 9, Punk Rock Saturday 10, Punk Rock Saturday 11, Punk Rock Saturday 12,
-O.Meaney