Twenty years is a long time – much longer than many relationships last. So it’s an accomplishment when a band can stick together through life and social changes. DeeCracks, a poppy punk band from Austria, threw a two-day festival last year and released a 28-track retrospective to mark their anniversary in late 2023 (20 Years: A Frantic Effort, Pirates Press). But we wanted more, so we asked the band to share some insight about songs that are core to the band after all these years. We wanted to know about the songs that make every set list, but also some of the inspirational tunes that continue to shape the band today. Photo: Johannes Wartberger It might seem to be easy to pick 10 songs (5 DeeCracks and 5 by other artists) that mean something to me/us, one may guess, but looking back on 20 years with the band, and a life heavily influenced by music as well, makes this quite a challenge. Those familiar with DeeCracks probably know where we are coming from so maybe some songs won't surprise you. Anyway, I tried my best to make this list as interesting and maybe even as revealing as possible so here we go, in no particular order. “Beach 90” (DeeCracks) This is one of the earliest DeeCracks songs and has been included in our set ever since then. It's a love letter to New York. I wrote it there. It's one of those songs that pretty much write itself. It was … Read more
Acathexis – Immerse (Amor Fati/Extraconscious Records) Acathexis’ self-titled debut from 2018 is one that still bears repeated listens, personally, many years later. … Read more
I was a teenager in the early '90s when a single song from a little punk trio out of the … Read more
Horrorpunk comes in many shapes and forms and I have been fortunate, doing this feature, to chat to many talented … Read more
I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more
City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over their career, City Of Death has a heavy carnival influence to it which I have to say I really like. It's interesting just how much more sinister things sound when you pump eerie, jingly circus sounds amongst very dark, heavy, … Read more
The opening track on Somehow, We Are Here is a statement. Yes, Faulty Cognitions is a punk band with members of Low Culture, Shang-A-Lang, Nocturnal Prose,and more. Yes, this shares a lot of commonalities, but it’s also a new band with a new sound. The band humbly says they were going for an early, jangly R.E.M. vibe but self-confess that it has more of a Replacements thing going on … Read more
Jim Mroz is no stranger to the darkest dungeons of the human mind. These locked doors of the psyche are a common destination for his project Lussuria, through which Mroz has quietly amassed an impeccable discography. And so another immersive chapter of harrowing music sprouts forth with Under Crumbled Stairs, with Lussuria extending their phantom limbs to touch upon numerous sonic … Read more
Some bands are visual, yeah? You need to see them live, in person, to truly experience them. You need to see the costumes, the theatrics, the flashing lights and, yes, the sweat … Read more
What I enjoy most about the Jesus and Mary Chain is arguably also their biggest flaw. The band’s slacker energy meets wall of feedback with a surprisingly melodic twist has … Read more
Since the demise of Sonic Youth in 2011, Kim Gordon has stayed active through multiple outlets, through all of which she has rejuvenated her experimental outlook. Alongside Bill Nace in Body / Head, … Read more
Somehow I never reviewed Viva Belgrado before, even though I have followed them since their debut album Flores, Carne. Somehow I was always a bit late to the show and thought: ok, this … Read more
Do you like rock 'n' roll music? We like rock 'n' roll music. And today we're debuting a brand new video for "George Romero Got Flesh Right" from The Triceratops, a duo with a misleading tri-name from Brooklyn, NY, and recent signee to Learning Curve Records. The combo of Josh … Read more
Each month at SPB we feature a new record on the site. While we like to talk and write about music, the common is goal is simply sharing music with … Read more
A self-titled record is coming from Alaram!, the Stockhold, Sweden-based band that reunited last year. The band features three members of Victims, plus Henrik Lindqvist (Outlast) on vocals. The 9-song … Read more
Longtime OSEES drummer Dan Rincon is throwing us a different kind of beat on his new solo LP, Spotlight City, his first solo record. The concept of the new record comes … Read more
A one-off single from a band calling itself GBI will release a 7" single, The Regulator, on April 20 for Record Store Day (Megaforce Records). The GBI of the band stands … Read more
Feel it Records is prepping for a May 17 release date of Outsider, the debut from Bermuda Squares -- a not so mysterious Minneapolis, MN band founded by vocalist/guitarist Tony … Read more
Richmond, VA has a new festival coming up. Sponsored by Persistent Vision Records and Yr Screaming Youth, Dark Days Bright Nights will take place Sept. 13-15, 2024 at The Broadberry … Read more
Looking for the SPB logo? You can download it in a range of styles and colours here: