beastii – B.E.A.S.T.I.I.

Taking cues from various proto-punk bands, the riotgrrrl stance of the 90s and a classic, fuzzed up garage punk core, beastii’s music is immediately familiar. That’s not to say it’s either tired or safe, however, since the US band attack each riff with an energy and attitude that ensures their material often has a real edginess that punk fans will love.

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MUSCLEGOOSE – 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Musclegoose Mountain

What would happen if you allowed the drummer from garage punk band Wirms a completely free rein to record whatever he wanted with some friends? You’d get a cassette of punk noise, showcasing a handful of songs that take a loose and childish inspiration from various film titles. …And he’d then decide that Musclegoose would make a fitting name.

Bonkers.

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THE STOOLS – Milk River Blues EP

Detroit three piece The Stools take the guts of garage rock and pull at them until some of the uglier elements of the genre are the dominant force. Despite its title and despite their location, you shouldn’t expect their 2018 cassette ‘Milk River Blues’ to be overly concerned with drawing from bluesy elements; nor should you approach them thinking that either the legacies of MC5 or The Stooges strongly apply. The Stools are slightly unhinged and are probably best approached with caution.

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SPEED BABES / ARSENE OBSCENE – split cassette

Chicago’s Speed Babes have released several DIY records since 2015 – two full lengths and a staggering five EPs, to be precise – very much taking the Robert Pollard inspired route of capturing the moment. Sometimes the energy of a performance can be more important than perfection.

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THE WIRMS – Dig These Four Songs With The Wirms EP

Self confessed “manic punk” duo The Wirms hail from the Ozark region of the US. To the outsider, that might not seem like the very epicentre of punk, but back in the 90s, the Ozarks spawned it’s own underground scene. [The DIY nature of punk always allows for scenes to spring up anywhere. Aberdeen, WA is in the middle of nowhere…and just look what happened there!]

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