Album Review: Dear Life by My Altamont

My Altamont is the project of New Jersey/Philadelphia based musician Chris Tull, formerly of bands such as Erotic Novels, Jantones and Hellstroms. Influenced by the likes of The Ramones, Superchunk and Jawbreaker, in November My Altamont released a brand new EP titled Dear Life. I came across it thanks to Bandcamp discovery and I'm always keen to feature new bands on CPRW so here's my review.

The opening track on Dear Life is named Love And Affection. Instantly I can hear The Ramones influence on My Altamont. The buzzing guitars and simple but driving drums and the Joey Ramone-esque vocals really grabbed my attention. The song is about how your actions and behaviour, even if you don't mean it, can have big effect on your relationship. I thought a really nice touch was to include a female backing vocal (provided by Sandra Bullet) on the song. It helps the track play out like it's a conversation between the two of them. Gravity's Staircase is a slower song that's also really sad. It's about the life of an astronaut and how when you're in space everything is fine but being back on Earth you suffer heavily with depression. It's really interesting song topic that I've, unsurprisingly, not really heard before. My Altamont does a wonderful job of painting this picture that really allows you to imagine what's going on.

The third song on the EP is titled My Whole Life. Picking the pace back up, the song is a bit retrospective as My Altamont looks back at things they've done in their life and comes to the conclusion that they've been wasting their life. Despite the general glum feel to the song, it actually sounds quite upbeat and is packed with hooks and will get stuck in your head pretty quickly. The penultimate song is named The Greatest Day. That title is pretty misleading as it's another really sad song. On this track, My Altamont talks about being in a car accident, being hurt and believing that it's the best thing for everyone. Sad, sad stuff. My Altamont just broke my heart on the track, one of the saddest I've heard in some time. The tempo is again picked up for the final song, Sad Summer. Obviously, from that title, it's fairly obvious what it's about. On the track, My Altamont looks at what it's like when you're struggling with depression, not being able to get out, or even up out of bed during the summer whilst everyone else is out having a lovely time. I do prefer My Altamont when they are playing this more uptempo style, probably because I'm a massive Ramones fan. The big chorus at the end of the track is the perfect way to finish this fantastic EP.

Stream and download Dear Life here: https://myaltamont.bandcamp.com/

Like My Altamont here: https://www.facebook.com/MyAltamont/

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Album Review: Return Of The Infamous Four by Drunktank (by Brett Coomer)

Drunktank released Return Of The Infamous Four all the way back in July of 2019, their first album since 2010’s Infamous Four. I had never heard of the band before picking up this review, but when a band is described as "energetic mix of skatepunk and 80s metal" my interest is immediately piqued. With a name like Drunktank and a tagline of "damaging ears and drinking your beers since 2003", it's clear that the band members have a sense of humour, don't take themselves too seriously, and have a lot of fun doing what they do.

Drunktank are a four-piece band from The Hague, Netherlands, that formed in 2003. By 2010 they’d released 4 EPs as well as their first full length album, and described themselves as fast, melodic and singalong 90s skate punk with a pinch of 80s metal. Since I hadn't heard of the band before, I decided to listen to their debut album to get a feel of the kind of music they've played over the years. I found that it leaned more towards skate punk with small touches of metal, featuring riffs and a tone similar to early Lagwagon.

Return Of The Infamous Four’s stylised artwork reminds me of the mid-2000s Adult Swim animated series Metalocalypse which I never really watched to be honest, but it immediately made me think this album would feature a heavier metal influence and I was not disappointed. Drunktank’s latest album dials up the 80s metal guitar riffs and solos without forgoing the fast skate punk promised by the band’s self-description – providing listeners with plenty of head-banging and singalong moments throughout the album. Even with some member changes since the release of their first album, Drunktank have stayed true to their theme, sense of humour, and the diverse set of influences.

Return Of The Infamous Four wastes no time kicking into gear, with ‘We Want More’ and ‘Hammer Of Justice’ setting the tone for the rest of the album with gang vocals, harmonised guitar riffs and a catchy singalong chorus on ‘We Want More’. The third track, ‘Waste Away’, is where the album really hits its stride though. The song features a strong melody and some satisfying harmonised guitars and vocals, highlighting the best of Drunktank in just under 2 minutes. The quality continues with ‘Green Button’, which has some resemblance to Propagandhi and, of course, guitar solos.

The 80s metal dial is turned up to 11 on ‘Hellraisers’, with squealing pinch harmonics and an anthemic chorus which I can imagine being belted out by a leather-pants-wearing lead singer with long but perfectly prepared hair (from what I’ve seen on YouTube, the Drunktank members are neither long-haired, nor do they wear leather pants on stage, but it wouldn’t be completely out of place). ‘Courage Of The Few’ stands out as one of the songs with a political edge, about coming together to fight injustice. The lyrics aren’t on the level of Bad Religion, Good Riddance or Refused but it’s nice to hear a more serious side from Drunktank.

‘Raising The Bar’ is more straight-forward punk and unfortunately does not live up to its title. It’s not bad but is definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album. Thankfully Drunktank return to top form with ‘Army Of Darkness’, a fast and relentless track about an army of undead warrior assassins which could be construed as a bit cheesy and/or fun depending on your feelings about the zombie apocalypse.

The album doesn’t let up going into the final two songs. ‘Darker Side’ showcases what the band does best, mixing melodic punk and metal with some nice guitar work and harmonised vocals. The titular final song is a reminder of the band’s mission statement of damaging ears and drinking your beers, and has a cool guitar solo that fills most of the final minute. It’s a strong finish to a good album and makes you want to answer the call to raise your fist and make this scene better than all the rest.

Return Of The Infamous Four is pretty much a continuous onslaught of metal infused fast-paced melodic skate punk, but there are a few aspects that help to set it apart in the genre. And although the music will definitely appeal more to fans of skate punk, there is enough here to draw in people who like metal, hard-rock and fun in general. Hopefully it’s not another 9 years before we allow Drunktank to damage our ears with a new album.

Stream and download Return Of The Infamous Four here: https://drunktankpunk.bandcamp.com/

Like Drunktank here: http://facebook.com/drunktankpunks

This review was written by Brett Coomer.

Column: 2020 Is Going To Be Great!

2019 was another wonderful year for CPRW. We continued to showcase many of our favourite DIY punk bands and discovered plenty more which we happily told you all about. We visited a new festival – Booze Cruise Festival in Hamburg – and went along to some old favourites, such Manchester Punk Festival and Level Up Fest, and had a smashing time watching great bands and hanging with the best people. We also celebrated our fifth birthday in June by releasing a 125 band compilation album showcasing so many of the friends we have made through CPRW. Again a huge thanks to everyone who contributed, shared and bought the comp – we have raised £670 for Mind (so far). You can still get it here. We had a great year in 2019 and we're planning an even better 2020.

Hopefully you've seen by now the biggest news we have about CPRW for 2020. Following the success of our fifth birthday comp, I have decided to start up CPRW Records. I had a lot of fun putting together the birthday comp and enjoyed communicating with bands and getting it all put together so I figured it would be good to make it a more regular thing. The aims of CPRW Records are simple – showcase some of our favourite bands and raise money for charities we care about. We are planning to release a new comp every two months, all based around a different theme and raising money for a different charity. The first two themes are based around Positive Communities and Bands With Less Than 200 "Likes". The Positive Communities comp is out on the 24th of January, pre-orders will be up soon and the Bands With Less Than 200 "Likes" is scheduled (in my fancy new Star Wars calendar that my sister got me for Christmas) for March 20th. More details on that, including a much snappier title, will come at the beginning of March. If you have any ideas for future themes or you would like to get involved in some way, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us at hello@colinspunkrockworld.co.uk.

Don't worry fans of words! Even though we're expanding, we won't be neglecting our album and gig reviews, top tens and columns. These are the things that are the foundation of CPRW and we will continue to post these articles as regularly as ever. We still retain a great passion for sharing releases we love with you and hoping that you enjoy them as much as we do. We're also planning on adding some different features to the blog which we think you will enjoy and create some interesting discussion among the punk rockers. If there's one thing we love, it's a passionate discussion about music. We've got a few new contributors joining the CPRW team to help with the workload and give fresh perspectives on different topics. They’re as passionate and excited about punk rock as we are and will be great additions to our already brilliant team. Look out for new articles from them. Also, if you're passionate about punk rock and fancy writing about it get in touch – we love welcoming new folk to the team. Our email is hello@colinspunkrockworld.co.uk.

We're looking forward to some new releases from our favourite bands in 2020. 2019 was a great year for new releases and, with all the great bands all over the world, we fully expect the coming year to be the same. There's nothing we love more than getting excited over new albums and we can't wait to hear what bands are going to release in the coming months. We're also looking forward to another year packed full of gigs and festivals. First up for us is Do It Together, an event we're excited to put on with our best buds Paul from Be Sharp Promotions and Sarah from Shout Louder and Lockjaw Records. Tickets and details are available here. I'd buy tickets if I were you, it's going to be a special weekend. Speaking of our best bud Paul, Be Sharp Promotions have an incredible year lined up and I really suggest you give their Facebook page a like to keep up to date with some of the incredible things he's got lined up for the New Cross Inn.

Festivals are always a big highlight of every year in punk rock. We're excited to return to Manchester Punk Festival and Hamburg Booze Cruise in 2020. We're also going to some festivals we've never been to before – the Bristol edition of Booze Cruise, Kaiser Fest in Belgium and Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia. We can't wait to check out some new bands and make some new punk pals in the summer.

2020 is going to be another big year for DIY punk rock and we're looking forward to attempting to cover as much as it as we possibly can!

This column was written by Colin Clark.

Top Tens: Colin's Top Ten Albums of the Decade (2010–2019)

At the end of every year it's tradition to get reflective and think about your favourite things and, in the case of CPRW, our favourite albums of the year. It's also the end of the decade so it's only natural to look back of your favourite albums of the decade so here are my top ten favorite albums that were released between 2010 and 2019. Enjoy.

10. The Anachronist’s Cookbook by Will Tun & The Wasters (2015)

This was my album of the year in the first CPRW albums of the year list. Will Tun & The Wasters were a collective from Bristol who combined ska, punk, hip hop, gypsy and folk and played social and political music. When I first heard The Anachronist’s Cookbook it was like nothing I had ever heard before and I was all for it. This is an album where you not only learn things but truly have the best time. It's an educational party. I love an album which emits a lot of energy and that can certainly be said about The Anachronist’s Cookbook. It just makes you want to dance and sing. Before writing this list, I hadn't listened to it in ages but hearing it again gave me that nice feeling I had when I first heard it.

9. We Cool? by Jeff Rosenstock (2015)

When Bomb The Music Industry sadly decided to call it a day, it was a pretty sad day. Thankfully, Jeff Rosenstock carried on releasing music under the his own name, but with a backing band. We Cool? was the second release under that name but a release that really seemed to make people, away from just the DIY punk community, worldwide really take notice. We Cool? actually finished below The Anachronist’s Cookbook on my 2015 list but I've placed it above on this list because it has stayed with me much longer. I feel like this album helped shape some of my tastes for the decade, with a more chaotic sound but also with lyrics about growing up and trying to work out what you're doing with your life when you hit 30 years of age.

8. I Was Broken When You Got Here by Call Me Malcolm (2018)

This is the most recent album on my list. For me, it's the album that revitalised the current boom in the UK DIY ska punk scene. Call Me Malcolm blew all expectations out of the water when I Was Broken When You Got Here was released. I can remember being told just how good it is before I had the chance to listen to it and being sceptical. Moral of the story: I shouldn't be so sceptical. Adding a bit more crunch into their sound than was previously found on their debut but also retaining the upbeat and catchy melodies, I Was Broken is an album that looks into mental health with the band being brutally honest with their struggles throughout the lyrics of the songs. Listening through the album now, every time a song begins I just grin with excitement with what is to come.

7. The New International Sound Of Hedonism by Jaya The Cat (2012)

It took me a while to really ‘get’ Jaya The Cat but when I did I knew this was an extremely special band. The New International Sound Of Hedonism was the album that introduced me to Jaya The Cat and eventually started a love affair that continues to this day. Containing fourteen reggae punk songs that all make you want to dance and sing along, every time I listen to it it gets better and better – even seven years after it was released. Despite a lot of the content not being something that I would endorse, you can't help but get swept away with the album. Whether it's a chilled out song or a riotous party banger, Jaya The Cat have this brilliant way of capturing the audience's attention on each track.

6. On The Impossible Past by The Menzingers (2012)

If I hadn't have included On The Impossible Past on this list, I'm sure I would have had some pretty angry reactions. I can't think of another album released in the past decade that has put a band more on the map than On The Impossible Past has for The Menzingers. Featuring Menzingers classics such as Good Things, The Obituaries, Gates and Casey, this is another album that looks at growing up and finding your place in the world. Such a big theme of this decade for me. The Menzingers do an amazing job of painting pictures with their lyrics and generally just making you feel that you can relate to every word they sing. The passion that this album creates in people is truly amazing.

5. Throw Me In The River by The Smith Street Band (2014)

2014 was without a doubt the hardest year of my adult life and the first time I really came to terms with the fact that I suffer from mental health issues. Of course, I found help in music and, in particular, a band from Australia that I had recently became obsessed with – The Smith Street Band. Throw Me In The River is just incredible from start to finish. It's just so powerful and emotional. It takes you on a journey of ups and downs for anyone who suffers with mental health problems and I really held onto it. This was the first time I think I really related to music on a level like this rather just thinking it's got a nice beat and makes me smile. Albums like this made me realise why I love music so much and why it's so important.

4. Fail Forward by Wank For Peace (2014)

French punk rockers Wank For Peace are the perfect band for why you shouldn't ever judge a band by their name. Fail Forward, which sadly turned out to be the band’s final album, was a real grower for me. It's a raspy vocalled melodic punk/hardcore sound that gets me more pumped up than any other album ever. This album is forever my pre-football match soundtrack. It's one of those albums that never fails to get me moving in some way. Musically it's very powerful, not only does it make you want to move around but the messages in the songs are inspiring – with songs about mental health, personal growth, political and social justice and friendship among other things. I heartbreakingly never got to see these songs live but the band have been back playing the odd show in 2019 and I'm hoping they play the odd show somewhere near me in 2020.

3. London by Apologies, I Have None (2012)

I don't think there has been a more definitive album from the UK punk scene in the last decade than London by Apologies, I Have None. The band started off as an acoustic duo before gradually becoming a full band and London was their first full length release as a band. The combined vocal and songwriting talents of Josh and Dan really make this album what it is. Emotional punk rock with catchy pop hooks and life affirming lyrics. Having two different songwriters and singers gives London this wonderful dynamic where you really get the best out of both performers. Seeing these songs played live always elicits such a passionate response from a crowd and I do consider myself very lucky to have been able to seen Dan's songs live before he sadly left the band.

2. Not Like This by Iron Chic (2010)

Think back to pre-2010 and before Not Like This was released, how many bands sounded like Iron Chic? Now think again, in 2019 how many bands sound like Iron Chic? The New Yorkers were probably the first gruff punk band I ever got into and have been a big reason I have become a fan of so many others who have formed since Not Like This was released. Not Like This features ten absolutely perfect tracks. Like a lot albums on this list, the album is packed with songs about growing up and trying to find your place in the world. There are so many tattoo worthy lyrics throughout the album, it’s absolutely staggering. I imagine there is someone, somewhere who has the lyrics to the entire album on their (probably quite large) back. The way in which Lubrano delivers the vocals is brilliant, it's pretty slow paced but packed with intensity. The slower pace really allows the listener to pick the lyrics up very quickly and shout them straight back at the band. Iron Chic are one of those special bands who become one with their crowd.

1. Holy Shit by Davey Dynamite (2016)

Holy Shit by Davey Dynamite is not only my favourite album of the decade but my favourite album ever. I can still remember the first time I ever heard it. I was sitting in my bedroom at my mum’s house looking for new albums to review, I was on dyingscene.com and they were streaming Holy Shit. I clicked play out of curiosity and was blown away. There was this powerful and raw sound that I hadn't heard since the first time I heard Against Me!. I remember having goosebumps as I listened to the album again and again. No other album ever has moved me in such a way as Holy Shit. It's not just about wanting to move around and dance or that kind of business though. It's the messages packed into the album that really hit home. Davey talks about appropriation, homophobia, politics, social injustice and generally standing up and fighting for what you think is right. Davey pulls absolutely no punches with the lyrics on Holy Shit. They're frank and blunt showcasing such an intensity that makes you really believe in everything that they're singing and it's so powerful. I truly believe that you can listen to this album and want to be a better person, to just go out and join the fight to make the world a better place for everyone. It epitomises what I think punk has really become this decade – it’s about coming together, helping one another despite constantly being held down by "the man." Punk’s always been as much about being a movement as it is about the music, Holy Shit displays what is best about both of those things. Thank you Davey, for writing this album.

This top ten was written by Colin Clark.

CPRW Playlist: Best Of 2019

CPRW Playlist: Here's the CPRW team’s favourite songs of 2019!

Merry Christmas From Filthy Militia!

Our good pals in Filthy Militia have released a video for their new song Jesus. The band went along to Hermitage Works Studio to record the track. (Sound by S. Evans and N. Ridley, Vision by J. Clay)


Check out Filthy Militia here and Hermitage Works Studio here.

Brett's Top Ten Albums of 2019

2019 has been another great year of music, and once again thanks to the folks here at CPRW I have been able to discover and explore more new music than I did before. Choosing a top 10 this year proved more difficult than I expected, with so many great albums released from some of my old and new favourite bands, and I had 5-way tie for 10th for a long time. After many weeks of listening and a lot of swap outs, here is the list of my favourite albums released this year (but I reserve the right to change it if asked in future).

10. Diffuse by Waterweed

Waterweed have been around since 2003 and, although they are fairly big in Japan, they have only recently started to build a reputation in the UK. Their second full length album, Brightest, and their set at MPF 2018 were met with much deserved high acclaim. Waterweed have an original sound and their style pushes the boundaries of what you’d expect melodic hardcore to sound like. Diffuse is not only a great melodic hardcore album, but a great punk rock album in general, featuring a wide range of dynamics in which you can feel the passion and emotion of the songs being sung and screamed into your ears.

9. Railer by Lagwagon

I think if you told me last year that Lagwagon, Good Riddance, and Strung Out would all release new music this year, I would have put money on all three making my top 10 list. As it turns out, Railer by Lagwagon is the only album that made the cut. Railer may seem like more of the same tried and tested sound with super tasty bass lines, great guitar riffs, and classic Lagwagon melodies but it’s just so good that it makes you want to put it on repeat and listen over and over.

8. Operation Exodus by Adrenalized

It’s no secret that I love fast technical melodic punk rock, and Adrenalized deliver some of the best I’ve experienced. Seeing the band live at MPF was one of my highlights, the band looked like they were having so much fun on stage and the music was tight while looking effortless. I had been anticipating Operation Exodus for a long time, since it had been 6 years since their previous album and I’d been listening to it for a few years already. Operation Exodus picks up right where they left off and delivers 12 blistering tracks of technical punk with a strong sense of melody, and that all sounds difficult to play in just under 40 minutes.

7. Grow Up Trash by Problem Daughter

Thanks to Colin for bringing Problem Daughter to my attention early in the year. I pre-ordered Grow Up Trash after hearing only a few songs on Bandcamp and then had to wait a few months to collect it while attending MPF with Colin and Emma. Because of the time and the sheer amount of music we brought back from MPF, Grow Up Trash was put on the shelf almost to be forgotten, but only almost. I got into it a little while ago when I started going through 2019 releases to begin building a top 10 list. The influences are hard to pin down, the song structures are interesting but catchy, and the vocals are gruff and melodic; all the things that make for an album that is a lot of fun to listen to and won’t be so easily forgotten again.

6.  Cut & Stitch by Petrol Girls

In a CPRW review of MPF 2017, Petrol Girls are described as a shouty hardcore band with strong feminist, humanitarian, and anti-fascist views, and at that point in my life it was exactly what I was looking for. Their debut full length, Talk of Violence, was full of powerful lyrics and songs that resonated with me immediately and it became one of my most played albums. I have been eagerly waiting for their new album with anticipation since then and Cut & Stitch did not disappoint. Each song is carefully constructed and there are some moments that remind me of early Refused, post-hardcore at its best with an important and meaningful message behind every lyric. Music like this cannot be ignored.

5. Age Of Unreason by Bad Religion

There isn’t a lot I can say about Age Of Unreason, other than it’s released by Bad Religion who are still so consistently good after nearly 40 years. This was always going to be on my list considering Bad Religion, No Use For A Name, and Propagandhi are constantly trading places in my personal list of top 3 bands ever. The album is filled with topical and politically conscious lyrics, three-way vocal harmonies, and of course fast songs. So really it sounds like a Bad Religion album. After nearly 4 decades and a fair number of albums, Bad Religion have pretty much perfected their sound and are able to consistently deliver without feeling stale or outdated, and Age of Unreason is no exception.

4. Set Us Free by Reconciler

Set Us Free was an instant favourite from the moment I heard it. With hints of Smoke Or Fire and Against Me!, Reconciler are able to create a catchy and familiar Fest-core sound without coming across as generic or insincere. Considering Set Us Free is their debut full length album, I can only imagine what the future holds for Reconciler and expect them to go on to release a few more favourites of mine. Until then, I am quite happy to keep spinning Set Us Free and singing along in my car on the way to work.

3. Flash Gordon Ramsay Street by The Decline

I can’t deny my love for The Decline, they are some of the friendliest guys and have yet to release something that I don’t like. Their brand of melodic skate-punk filled with vocal harmonies and catchy melodies speaks directly to my soul and takes me to a happy place every time. Flash Gordon Ramsay Street doesn’t stray too far from The Decline’s formula but does feature a more equal share of vocal duties between Pat and Ben, some varied song compositions, as well as more personal lyrics in some songs. Flash Gordon is skate-punk of the highest quality, featuring some great guest vocals, and is littered with (even going as far as two songs made up entirely of) pop-culture references.

2. Deals, Deals, Deals! by Ramona

To save on shipping when I’m ordering from labels overseas (they’re all overseas), I try to order multiple records. So, while browsing the A-F record store I found Deals, Deals, Deals! by Ramona which was a band I’d never heard, but the name was familiar due to Colin’s review on CPRW. I listened to a few songs on Bandcamp and thought it was quite fun, so I added it to my cart and checked out. After adding it to my library, I was barely able to stop listening. Ramona are probably my favourite discovery of the year and Deals x3 is the type of album that makes you happy to still be listening to pop-punk in 2019. It’s the new benchmark of what pop-punk should sound like going forward.

1. Get It Together by MakeWar

I missed the MakeWar set at Fest 15, as well as their 2016 album Developing a Theory of Integrity, so I feel a bit late on the MakeWar train but better late than never. I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I didn’t pay much attention to MakeWar until their album on FatWreck Chords was announced, but after I heard Oh, Brother I knew that the album would be great. Get It Together manages to bring a diverse range of influences together to create a dynamic album that also fits perfectly within the Fat catalogue, featuring some elements of grunge and hardcore, crisp production and just plain great song writing. A lot of people may think it doesn’t measure up to their previous work, but Get It Together has been my favourite album of the year.

In addition to the albums above, there have also been some great EPs released this year. I didn’t listen to nearly enough to fairly create an entire list. Chicago’s Much The Same released Everything Is Fine on Lockjaw Records living up to all the hype built up since their 2015 return from hiatus. Cape Town’s Crossfire Collision released Deadlock and All This For Nothing (ATFN) from Pretoria gave us Reverence, proving that even though the shows are small, punk rock is still alive in South Africa.

This end of year list was written by Brett Coomer.