Latest features — browse all

2024: A Year In Review

Music / Year End 2024 • January 13, 2025

It's a new year – hooray. And things are off to a fine start, too. If the thought of corrupt governments, AI domination, unmoderated social networks and endless war is causing you to retreat into the past, we don't blame you. In fact, we encourage it! Our writers have summed up the best things about 2024 across a range of areas: album artwork, demos, photography, EPs and singles, books, and more. Read on to discover what we enjoyed most about last year and catch some things you may have missed – or the music your girlfriend recommended that you really should have paid attention to... Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2024)

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's 2025, somehow. When did this happen?! Okay, okay, four days ago. But honestly. It feels like 2012 was only … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2024

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's a SPB tradition to formally "pass the mic" to our artist and label friends to tell us about their … Read more

999

Interviews • January 4, 2025

I'm alive and so are 999! They formed in London in 1976 and quickly became one of the favourites of … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

The Cure

Songs of a Lost World
Capitol, Fiction, Lost Music, Polydor/Universal (2024)

It's been sixteen years since The Cure released their last album. I don't know if anyone really knew what to expect, but it's one of the most influential bands in history so expectations were high. The Verdict? Those expectations were met. It'd be silly to say Songs of a Lost World is a "return to form" as the band and … Read more

City Mouse

So Far Out
Brassneck Records, It's Alive (2024)

There are few bands that hit with the mix of raw emotion and musical talent as a live City Mouse show. There are even fewer bands that can capture that live feeling on a record. It’s been a long 7 years since Get Right, but So Far Out keeps it moving as if no time has passed. Of course, the … Read more

Machine Girl

MG Ultra
Future Classic (2024)

Ideally, I would be a bit more interested in art. In visual art- paintings, sketches, MS Paint monstrosities- whatever. I wish I knew more about the meaning of a brush stroke or even had the desire to know more about the meaning of a brush stroke. I spend a lot of time listening to music and, subsequently, I see a … Read more

Ekko Astral

pink balloons
Topshelf (2024)

Their music is for people “who are struggling, who are at their absolute lowest". That’s a quote from vocalist and guitar player Jael Holzman talking to The Washington Post. Am I struggling? Am I at my absolute lowest? No. Have I had a bit of a rough patch? Sure (it’s not that bad- don’t worry about it mom). Work sucks, … Read more

Additional album reviews

Build Us Airplanes

All Things Expire
Sell The Heart Records (2024)

Build Us Airplanes covers a lot of ground on this 9 song LP, All Things Expire. It’s melodic punk for the most part, but with distinct elements of emo, post-hardcore … Read more

Lustmord

Much Unseen Is Also Here
PELAGIC RECORDS (2024)

Lustmord, the reluctant pioneer of the dark ambient scene has returned with another expansive work of existential dread in Much Unseen Is Also Here. His arsenal of industrial components, field … Read more

Økse

Økse
Backwoodz Recordz (2024)

Økse is a gathering of brilliant, creative minds. The project's roster is pristine, with avant-jazz phenoms Mette Rasmussen on saxophone, Savannah Harris on drums, and Petter Eldh on bass/synths/samplers joining … Read more

Final

What We Don't See
Room40 (2024)

Justin K. Broadrick's prolific output keeps giving, and may it never stop! The latest release is one of Broadrick's earliest projects, Final, which started in the power electronics tradition but … Read more

Bambies

Snotty Angels
Spaghetty Town Records, Wanda Records (2024)

The digital files I’ve been listening to as I write this review are all tagged to begin with the band name, e.g. “Bambies Teenage Night,” “Bambies Love Bite,” etc. It … Read more

Buñuel

Mansuetude
Overdrive, SKiN GRAFT (2024)

With a stellar line-up featuring vocalist Eugene S. Robinson (ex-Oxbow), guitarist Xabier Iriondo (Afterhours, A Short Apnea), bassist Andrea Lombardini (The Framers) and Franz Valente (Il Teatro Degli Orrori), Buñuel … Read more

Night Court

$hit Machine
Recess (2024)

Forget all the stereotypes about punk. Night Court are a punk band, but they aren’t nihilistic or aggressive. Instead, they’re scrappy and DIY and -- while they are certainly cynical … Read more

Pharmakon

Maggot Mass
Sacred Bones (2024)

Pharmakon's body of work is a visceral etude on the human condition. Since 2013 with the release of Abandon, Margaret Chardier has explored the darkest sides of the human mind, … Read more

News headlines — browse all

Regal Foul gives Eyes

Posted in Records on January 15, 2025

High End Denim Records just teamed up with Banff punk band Regal Foul on a new two song EP, Eyes, featuring new tracks "Night Owl" and "Eyes on the Horizon." Mitch McCallum of the band says: "Eyes on the Horizon" and "Night Owl" are so identical it’s not even funny. … Read more

Amyl & Bob Vylan

Posted in Bands on January 15, 2025

In advance of a tour together later this month, Bob Vylan has released an alternate version of their song "Dream Big," trading off verses with Amy Taylor of Amyl and … Read more

Justin Pearson writes a(nother) book

Posted in Bands on January 13, 2025

Justin Pearson, he of many bands (such as Deaf Club, The Locust, Satanic Planet, and running Three One G record label), has announced that his fourth book will come out … Read more

Cloakroom sets the table for new album

Posted in Records on January 12, 2025

Cloakroom gave us a new song this week, "Bad Larry," which is part of the upcoming new album out next month. Last Leg of the Human Table will release on … Read more

"Violet" from Violet by L.S. Dunes

Posted in Records on January 12, 2025

L.S. Dunes are preparing to release new album Violet at the end of the month, out Jan. 31 on Fantasy Records. It's the second album from the group, a follow-up … Read more

Drowns and The Gamblers updates

Posted in Labels on January 12, 2025

Pirates Press has two new record updates this week. First, The Gamblers will soon release their second 7" single, "Boom! Boom!" The project is described as a boss reggae outlet … Read more

Scare dates

Posted in Records on January 12, 2025

Québec City hardcore band Scare has announced In The End, Was It Worth It?, out Feb. 21, self-released on vinyl from the band. It is the band's second LP and … Read more

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