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.
Tag Archives: ramonescore
ALREADY DEAD – I Think It’s Time To Leave… EP
The first new music from the Boston punks Already Dead in almost a year, the band’s 2025 EP ‘I Think It’s Time To Leave…’ is in danger of being over as soon as it’s begun. Packing five high octane numbers into a little over ten minutes, the release barely gives the listener time to catch their breath, let alone provide an ideal opportunity to take stock of what they’re hearing. In terms of blending the classic Ramonescore sound with some old school, sometimes very British sounding punky thrills, the material really hits the mark, though, regardless of the release’s obvious brevity.
SEITANS – Vegan Nights
Featuring members of The Furies, Seitans are an Italian punk band with a pre-occupation with Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy…and vegan food that gave them “the shits”. On this album, they take a classic Ramonescore sound and push it into overdrive, whilst aiming to entertain genre fans with a bunch of tales that involve a lack of animal products, perilous dates, Alice Cooper name checks, purse snatching and picking up a girl in a bar who might or might not be a famous actress.
MALADROIT – Real Life Super Weirdos
Back in February 2020, just before the world went utterly tits up and various things became far more important than punk rock, French band Maladroit released a great EP entitled ‘Steven Island’. Its four songs blended simple punk hooks with Spielberg obsessed lyrical themes, and although it was all rather silly, it showed off a band that could knock together a catchy tune or three. Obviously, that EP subsequently got lost in the noise, but as with all good music, it’s never too late to check it out retrospectively. You’ll be glad you did.
PROTON PACKS – The Concept Of Infinity / Psychokenesis
In 2018, Italian punks Proton Packs contributed a couple of tracks to an excellent split EP with fellow Italians The Livermores which acted as a superb primer for both bands. The Livermores had already started to gain traction with their Ramones obsessed sound, but for a lot of people in the UK and the US, that split provided a superb introduction to their space-obsessed friends.
Throughout the tricky years that followed, Proton Packs weren’t especially prolific by “usual” punk band standards, but they trucked on, and their subsequent full length release ‘Paradox’ cemented their obsessions with old Ramones riffs, b movies and cheap sci-fi. It was a great record; however, it still wasn’t enough for them to get the regular name checks alongside The Apers, The Manges and Mega they so deserved.