Throughout December we at PT:HQ are bringing you end of year lists from bands, labels and promoters. We’ll have a new one for you everyday so keep your eyes peeled for them! See all the lists here.
Disconnect, Disconnect Records
Top 3 albums of 2014
Counterpunch – Bruises
Counterpunch are great. Having released their last album, the great ‘Heroes & Ghosts’ in the UK, I was really looking forward to their new album (and first for El Hefe’s ‘Cyber Tracks’ label), and Bruises didn’t disappoint. 11 tracks of hard hitting, yet melodic punk rock, ‘Bruises’ is an essential album for fans of bands like Rise Against, The Swellers and NOFX.
Class of 86 – Future on Fire
This band pretty much came out of nowhere for me. Having been around for over a decade, and despite releasing their awesome self-titled album in 2009, Class of 86 have somehow slipped under my radar until they were recently picked up by Paper + Plastick for the release of ‘Future on Fire’. This album is so great – think Propagandhi meets A Wilhelm Scream and you’ll be close to Class of 86’s melodic hardcore / tech skate punk sound. If you want an idea of what they’re all about, check out the riff-tastic ‘Dudes Chillin’ Death’s Creepin’ – then buy the album.
Rust Belt Lights – Religion & My Ex
Is it wrong to put your own releases in your end of year list? Not if it’s as great as Rust Belt Lights! I was really lucky to help these guys out with the UK release of this great album, and it quickly became one of my favourites I’ve done with the label. Combining breakneck fast punk rock with great pop punk melodies, Religion & My Ex was a big step up for Rust Belt Lights, and if there’s any justice in the punk scene, should see them start to rise up to the level of bands like Such Gold and The Story So Far very soon.
Top 3 Tracks
Darko – Timepieces and Lock Shaped Hearts
One of the UK’s best bands released another awesome EP this year (Sea of Trees), with this song in particularly showcasing both their amazing skate punk musicianship but with an increased sense of melody, creating a fast, heavy, singalong classic.
Lagwagon – One More Song
Lagwagon’s first full length in 9 years was a welcome return to one of punks most loved bands. With a mix of their early thrash sound with their more melodic late 90’s sound, it was perhaps fitting that a standout track on the album was ‘One More Song’ dedicated to the late, great Tony Sly of No Use For A Name.
Mad Caddies – Bring It Down
Another of the classic Fat Wreck bands making a welcome return, Mad Caddies released their great new album ‘Dirty Rice’ in May. With the band mostly retaining the chilled reggae based sound found on 2007’s ‘Keep It Going’, ‘Bring It Down’ showed that the band can still step it up a gear and write some great, catchy ska-infused punk rock songs.
Top Tip for 2015
Local Resident Failure
These Aussie punks had a great 2014, with a full Euro tour, followed by opening for NOFX and Frenzal Rhomb on tour in their homeland. Having just released their great new video for their tour inspired new song ‘Around The World’, if their new album (‘This Here’s The Hard Part’) is full of songs as good as this, it wont be long until Local Resident Failure join bands like Frenzal Rhomb and Bodyjar as the next big Australian punk rock band.