The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble servants, ready to sift through those filters for you, presenting you the best demos we have encountered. We sincerely hope you will check out the demos we present you here and keep an eye for these bands. These could be your new go to band! Who knows.
Bull Nakano - Demo tape
If you search for Bull Nakano you'll find out about a Japanese wrestler and golfer (weird combo, but I dig it). She played the villain role and did that well enough to be introduced to the hall of fame. Nice to know, but this is not the Bull Nakano we are talking about today. This Bull Nakano hails from Vienna, Austria and is here to destroy you with their pretty brutal sludgy metal-punk hybrid. Their sound at times reminds me a bit of Herder ("One Of Us" sounds like Herder crossed with Shooting Daggers). The singer sounds pretty brutal, her rough vocals are the stuff of legends and remind me a bit of the singer of Death Pill. There's a couple of great songs here, take for example the second song "You Lose," which starts a bit slow, but near the end speeds up which is done superbly. Well, actually, all six songs are absolute bangers. With six songs and around fifteen minutes of great music it leaves me wanting more.
Ritualize - Demo 2025
I am late to the show here as this demo was released over a year ago. In fact, I am so late to the show that the band already released an EP (November 2025). Still, this demo is so good that I want to include it in the column. This band is also from Austria, but plays in a different ballpark. Punk is a common denominator, but this is hardcore punk, there is no metal to be found on this demo (or the EP). The production is very clear, but also very '80s feeling, which fits, as this would have made some waves back in the day. Just listen to the start of "Don't Talk" and how the vocals kick in and you can hear the '80s asking for their break back. Talking about the vocals, I really dig them. There is a certain desperation that I hear, and it is palpable. The band tends to overuse their riffs a bit, making the short songs feel longer than they actually are, especially the end of "Sick" is overly long. An issue I hope they will fix on future releases (the two songs on the EP seem to move in the right direction).
Punio - Demo 2025
With this demo, as with the demo from Ritualize, I am a bit late to the show. Demo 2025 was released in September last year. It's the second demo from Punio in 2025. The two tracks from they were released on their January Demo are also on this demo. I don't know if these two tracks were rerecorded. I think that might be the case: I don't hear a clear difference between the first four tracks and the last two in sound quality. Punio plays garagy punk with a great sense of melody: sometimes upbeat, sometimes a tad melancholic ("Fata Morgana," for example). A weird comparisson perhaps, but when I try to imagine Kothi Tuhoa playing more melodic and slower (punk instead of hardcore), it starts to sound a lot like Punio. I am sure this is not just because both band sing in Finnish and have awe-inspiring singers. All in all, this is surely a band to keep an eye on.
Screaming Target - Demo 2025
I stick to 2025 yet again as we move From Finland to Australia and find Screaming Targets doing some great rocky punk with a sound Australia must have patented by now. You know the kind: massive hooks, rock 'n' roll licks thrown around like it's nothing, and more than enough swag. There are traces of oi!, but The Ramones are never very far away. I can see these folks playing concerts with the likes of Stiff Richards or Split System and make it a night to remember. Not every track is a winner yet ("Surveillance" sounds longer than it actually is, which I contribute to it being a bit too slow and lacking energy), but if there is more material underway I'll be on the lookout for it.
Snipers Nest - Demo
On Fortress Records (where I also found great demos by Strikeforce and Barricade) I discovered Snipers Nest, who released a four track demo. Six minutes of music is not a lot to go on, but the band does everything right to make these six minutes count. This Vegas based band reminds me a bit of a Dutch band from 20 years ago, Remain. They probably shared the same inspiration, as I hear a lot of NY influences in both bands. I enjoyed the very natural and clear drum sound on this demo a lot. The other main selling point is the vocals. They are on point for this style: rough, but clear and with just the right amount of echo on them (meaning just a little bit). I could do without the tough guy lyrics like "Cross my way and you'll fucking pay," but I guess it comes with the style.
World Instinct - Demo 2026
Just to show you I am not that out of date I'll include a demo here that released this year. Released on STTW Records, this German band is on to something. With only four tracks and a little over five minutes of music, this is over before you know it. In these five minutes you'll find a throwback to '90s hardcore. There are great two-step parts, there's talk of hardcore pride -- it has it all and it must be pretty explosive live. I didn't know I was longing for this style until I listened to this demo a couple of times. I dig the vocals on this one (as well). They are a bit rough around the edges and have this bit of amateurish sheen around them, but also sound like someone really, really loving this style and just had to give this a go.
The Follow Up
Some of the bands we discuss here will continue to release an EP or full-length. Because I enjoy seeing how bands evolve and progress I want to point these out to you here. Mind you, I might be late to the show or completely miss them. Still, when I see one of these promising bands take a next step towards world-domination I will report here!
Bajo Control / Compete - Split
In the first installment of this series I also reviewed Compete. This youth crew band is back with new material. They partnered up with Bajo Control. Bajo Control kick of this split with great youth crew. This band from Madrid released an excellent EP, Libres De Drogas in 2024 and it is good to hear from them again. They deliver unbridled energy spread out over three tracks. "No Somos Lo Mismo" is my favorite track here. This fast track reminds a bit of Floorpunch, which is just awesome. Up next is Compete who basically keep up the energy. These bands play in the same ballpark, so more youth crew is what's up. Compete also has three tracks to prove what they're worth. Both bands employ a female singer, something we don't see enough in hardcore if you ask me. Both also know how to play a style that's tried and tested again and again without sounding stale or boring. That is quite an accomplishment this day and age. I highly recommend this split to well...everyone who even slightly likes hardcore. Compete also released a promo with two new songs only a couple of days after this split was released. If you can't get enough, add that one to your basket as well.
