Review / 200 Words Or Less
Oak & Bone
Oak & Bone

Hex (2009) Michael

Oak & Bone – Oak & Bone cover artwork
Oak & Bone – Oak & Bone — Hex, 2009

Oak and Bone hail from upstate New York, but when you listen to their debut 7" you would definitely not assume that by any guess. While their history is rooted in hardcore punk, the three-piece from Syracuse take a different approach to the style.

The 7" opens with "On Your Own or Not at All," which is a sludgy punk/grunge tune reminiscent of The Melvins. It's heavy and got a nice groove to it. "Build Walls" is faster and has some awesome chugging guitars; it highlights the band's hardcore background much more than the previous number. "Atavistic" is okay, but I definitely enjoy it least of all the songs. "Momentum" is another cut that boasts a sweet groove; I hear a bit of the very first Queens of the Stone Age record in there. It's definitely my favorite of the four songs found here.

I like the unique approach Oak & Bone take. It's a great combination of punk, metal, rock and roll, and hardcore. And the best part is that it's not really any of those genres. It's a mish-mash

an enjoyable mish-mash.

7.5 / 10Michael • July 29, 2009

Oak & Bone – Oak & Bone cover artwork
Oak & Bone – Oak & Bone — Hex, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Place Position

Went Silent
Blind Rage Records, Bunker Park, Poptek, Sweet Cheetah (2026)

There’s a certain kind of band that makes sense immediately once you see them live. Place Position is one of those bands. Before Went Silent ever landed on my speakers, I caught them at a show I played in Dayton, and they were the kind of band that quietly steals the night. There were no theatrics, no posturing, just total … Read more

Twenty One Children

After The Storm EP
Slovenly (2025)

Hailing and wailing from Soweto, South Africa, rising from the ashes After The Storm comes pounding like a fierce berg wind. Don’t let this trigger your ancraophobia; they are only here (hear) to rip your sagging, middle-aged flesh from your living corpsicle sonically. Ah, Daddy—yes, Son—tell us about a time when punk was raw, dangerous, and would generally stomp your … Read more

Awful Din

Anti Body
We’re Trying Records (2026)

There’s a certain honesty that only comes from bands who’ve spent years playing to half-filled rooms, basements with bad wiring, and bars where the PA is optional. ANTI BODY, the new LP from Brooklyn emo punks Awful Din, sounds like it was built in those spaces. Not as a gimmick, but as lived experience. This is a record that feels … Read more