In 2024, Newcastle based pop punkers Monkie Mind released a double single ‘Ocean Road’/’Surrealio’, which provided a very effective snapshot of their very melodic sound. If anything, their brand new track improves on those recordings, bringing their chorus writing into particularly sharp focus.
Tag Archives: pop punk
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #166
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time out, we’ve got the return of an up and coming singer songwriter, a quirky piece of alt-pop, a retro sounding synth banger, a solid offering from a still-new Irish vocalist, and more besides. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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SWEATPANTS PARTY – Fanno Bella Figura EP
In 2022, Austrian punks Sweatpants Party released a self-titled debut album which encapsulated a superb blend of sharp edged pop punk and classic sounding Ramonescore. It was the kind of record that seemed set to take on Screeching Weasel at their own game, but with a combination of fun songs and a frontman far less likely to punch women in public, it actually bested the Chicago veterans, paving the way to more greatness in the future. Two years on, ‘Wee Little Songs’ took the band’s sound further into Weasel territory, and by packing twelve songs into just eight minutes, the material harked back to the fun fillers on Kevin Aper’s old Apers records. If you didn’t love the Sweatpants gang after this, it’s likely you never would.
Listen: Tooth Gore releases new single ‘Scum Of The Sea’
Over the past year, one man band Tooth Gore has released some fantastic singles and a really enjoyable album. For a musician working in a DIY fashion, Kobi Joe has covered a lot of ground in a really short time, peaking with a tour of the Philippines in early 2026.
Showing no signs of slowing down, a new Tooth Gore single has just been released, and it’s one of their best tracks to date. ‘Scum of The Sea’ opens with a steady beat and a chopping guitar, initially hinting at a strong blend of power pop and surf rock, before introducing a fuzzy guitar that owes more to an old alternative rock sound. From solid foundations, a quiet verse serves up a very 60s influenced riff alongside a melodic vocal, forming one of the band’s most accessible tracks.
Watch: Tooth Gore shares new video for ‘Song Of The Birdman’
Tooth Gore’s ‘For Losers, By Losers’ was one of the best albums of 2025. The artist’s mix of melodic indie, surf rock, pop punk and 90s inspired alt rock created a varied but coherent listen, and at the material’s strongest, Kobi Joe’s command of a chorus was more than clear.