The Godfather of NYHC invites you to a lower east side NYC walk. Storytales from his time among mobsters, punks and a lot of artists of the NYC hardcore and punk scene. Vinnie Stigma born on 3rd December 1955 is known as being the founder of the legendary NYHC band Agnostic Front and one of the earliest punks from the area being around CBGB, Electric Circus, Max’s Kansas City. The book has memories of Vinnie’s growing up in Little Italy and doing a team with the Cuban born vocalist Roger Miret to form Agnostic Front. Stories from the 1970;s NYC from his early jobs to sing on the world biggest stages. He is not only a guitarist on Agnostic Front (besides he is having his other band Stigma and other projects), but he is also a cook and for some years he was into professional wrestling, acting and martial arts. Nice stories to read on 272 pages (hardcover book) out on Permuted Press. Not to say the foreword is by Roger Miret. PS. the book has as well some personal old photos of Stigma even some cooking recipes from Italian cuisine.
Fucking Angry are back with a new album. The band formed in 2013 in Bonn (Germany), and they have released a DIY EP in 2013, Doin Alright, in 2015 it was the time for their debut album: Dancing in The Streets and in 2019 a new 7inch EP Lack Ab, and now is the time for …Still Fucking Angry, 12 tracks in a punkrock the way we like it with hardcore influences. The lyrics are about various social and political problems with a strong antifascist and antiracist message, both in Enligsh and German with an amazing voice of Beckx. The album has a nice video for the song Broken and you can check them out on all platforms as (fucking angry). The album as well has some new elements from a banjo in the song Broken, some samba drums in the track Darkness even some reggae-dub elements on track Peace X Love. Something to listen and check it out. The album is out on RilRec/Rookie Records. Cheers
Hey guys, here is FOR I AM a nice punk rock melodic from Belgium and we had the chance to talk a bit about their new album and some interesting facts. Enjoy.
Photo Credit: Mateusz Delmański
Hey guys, this is MirceONE from mptyzine, how are you?
Hi MirceONE! We’re doing great! Hope you are too!
For those who don’t know you, please tell us a short bio of the band
We are For I Am, a 5 piece melodic punk rock band from Belgium. We’ve been around for about 10 years now (wow!) and we’ve released 1 EP and 3 full albums, the latest of which – The Righteous & The Wicked – was released on April 19! We’ve been lucky to have been able to tour internationally quite a few times (EU, Japan, UK) and play shows with some of our heroes such as Frenzal Rhomb, A Wilhelm Scream, Propagandhi, Lagwagon etc. We love playing catchy tunes, spreading positive messages all over the world and we are a tight-knit framily unit! So, hi! That’s us!
Congrats for the new album The Righteous & The Wicked, that is released by SBAM, tell me more
The Righteous & The Wicked was indeed released on SBÄM, as well as on Double Helix Records (US), Pee Records (AUS) and Bearded Punk Records (BE) and it’s already been a wonderful collab with all of them! The album to us feels like another step on the punk rock ladder, as we’ve combined the catchy uplifting vibes we’re commonly known for with some darker tunes and with this record, even more so than in the past we’re trying to speak out against injustices in today’s world. We’re really happy with the way it turned out and we’re hoping punk rock listeners out there will agree!
You guys have been on festivals like Groezrock, Brakrock or Punk Rock Holiday, where you feel that you connect with the public? what you prefer a small venue or a festival?
Difficult one, haha! Like all punk bands, we started out in the smaller venues and we’ve always loved playing them and still do today. When you play a smaller venue, it kind of feels like people are really there specifically for you and your music, so you can just feel the love. Though at festivals you definitely get that love too, in a different form. It’s just the best when people after a festival show come up to you at the merch table and tell you they’d never heard of you before, but really loved the music. So, different experiences, both amazing in their own ways!
You have been all over Europe in UK and Japan, what are the next steps and plans to promote the new album?
We’re definitely planning on getting out there as much as we can! Talks are ongoing about doing another international and maybe even inter-continental tour, so hopefully we’ll be able to tell you more about that soon. We’ve got a couple of cool release shows lined up in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Germany, so if you’re around, feel free to drop in on one of ‘em!
Photo Credit: Luna Terweduwe
Tell me about your influences and lyrics
So, as I’ve said before, the lyrics on the new album speak out against injustices in today’s world and mainly the message we’re continually trying to convey is one of trying to understand each other’s perceptions. Everyone grows up in their own environment and we’re all different. Instead of going to war or trying to hurt each other, we should try to get a better understanding of why we view the world in our own ways. That doesn’t mean it’s all political though, some songs just talk about the joys of life like travelling (Shoestring Sailors) and wanting to live your life making a difference, even if it’s just for one other person (Bonnie). Basically, positive messages overall. Lyrics wise we weren’t really influenced by any bands in particular, I’d say when it comes to instruments, you can here those influences more clearly. Bands we were influenced by are No Use For A Name and New Found Glory to just name a few.
As we are talking about influences, please make me a top10 of your favorite bands
Oooooh, that’s super difficult, haha! But I (Hanne) will try. So, bear in mind this is my personal top 10. Cannot speak for the guys, of course, haha.
In random order, I’d say: No Use For A Name, Less Than Jake, Bad Religion, The Menzingers, New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, Yellowcard, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Frenzal Rhomb
You have been opening for names such as Satanic Surfers, Propagandhi, Lagwagon or Frenzal Rhomb, if you have to choose a band to make a split EP what band will be (old or new)
Off the top of my head I think it would be very cool to do a split EP with our buddies in Melonball and CF98, as we’ve become close friends. Even though we don’t see each other more than 3 or 4 times a year, we always hit it off immediately as we’re kind of in the same boat, women supporting women! So, a girl power EP would be cool!
Please tell me a few words about the scene in Belgium
Well, to be honest, it was more alive before covid came around, so the smaller shows seem to have become rarities. Bigger festivals and club shows are still thriving, so people are definitely still interested, but I feel like the Belgian government makes it quite hard for small show promoters to put up shows, as there’s little to no funding available for it. That’s part of the reason why we play in Germany way more often than we do in Belgium nowadays. On the other hand, our friends in punk have been super supportive and are always ready to dance whenever we’re playing locally. And we love them for it, big time!
Without Google, what do you know about the punk scene in Romania
Oooh, unfortunately not that much really! Sorry! Do you have a lively punk rock scene? Would be very interested to listen to some Romanian punk rock bands! Hopefully we will get to play together with some of them someday!
Where can people can listen and connect with you? i see that you are everywhere on social media:)
Yes, the socials are definitely a place where you can reach us easily. Just type in “foriamofficial” on insta or Facebook and you’ll find us. We also have a new website with all kinds of info and a link to our webshop. The address is www.foriamofficial.com. And of course you can listen to our music via all streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, etc!
Guys, thank you so much for your time, please if you have something else to add please feel free.
Thanks so much for taking an interest in our lil’ old band, we appreciate it very much!
A short message for our few readers.
Hopefully we’ll be able to come to Romania one day and play some shows over there, would be great! We’re all for supporting the local scene! Please feel free to give our new tunes a spin and let us know what you think! All the love!
Get social with the band: FB / IG – Thanks to Nick and For I Am.
1984 are back with their 3rd studio album. Nothing Will Ever Change will drop in May and is available for pre-order via Dirty Punk Records and Coretex. This is the band probably best album and has 11 tracks in their mix of Oi and Streetpunk with sing along choruses for your Friday night madness. Imagine Stiff Little Fingers punk rock and a bit of Clash style punky reggae. Check them out and don’t miss this from this French band. Oi and Punk at it’s finest.
Music video by Nineteen Eighty Four performing Never Forget (2018)
You were looking for some punk? look at new SNUFF album: Off On The Charabanc via our friends from SBAM Records. I must say that this band dosen’t have the credit that they deserve and it is a shame. They formed back in 1986 in London and for sure it is a band that every punk listener should have it in the playlist. The new album it is PUNK (yes the way should be), it is fast, it is melodic and is honest. Go Easy the first song starts amazing and the album continues like that on all 15 tracks, oh well…from track 9 to 15 there are acoustinc versions (and SNUFF are no stranger to the acoustic versions as they had various materials on this), it is a proper sing-a-long album. Children Get Ready also bring some ska influences with horns and keyboards. Like they say we need to slow down a bit and enjoy life and the simple things, specially in the fast world of non-values promoted and the social media “trends”. This is still punk, still honest and still SNUFF. The album is fresh, came out in March this year so go and grab your copy or stream it online on all the platforms. Cheers.
Oi! you, from the Greater Wallachia region in Romania, all the way to Aztec land, I received the StrgOI fanzine. It is hard for me to write an objective review as I’ve known Cezar for a long time, back in the days when we were exchanging lists of music on ODC and having MySpace, but I will try to write something honest. The name Strigoi refers to a type of supernatural creature or undead being, often associated with vampirism or revenants. The concept of Strigoi varies in different regions of Romania, but generally, they are believed to be souls of the dead who have returned from the grave, possessing some form of malevolent intent. Cezar is also known for his old fanzine: No Bollox Just Oi! and Strigoi brings the same Oi, Punk, and metal music back into the center of attention.
The package came with the first 2 issues, both of them with hard covers and nice black and white prints. Both issues have some beautiful A3 posters made by Cristina (MissRhyne). The first issue has 70 pages and features interviews with: Karloff (punk and black metal from Oldenburg, Lower Saxony), Plakkaggio (punk and black metal from Italy), Hardsell (streetpunk/oi, hc from Austin), Coro from Axa Valaha (booking and underground promoter from Romania), Scandal (streetpunk/oi from Romania/UK), NapOI!ka (streetpunk from Czech Republic), Rotheads (death metal Romania), The Unborn (horrorpunk oi from Italy), Mendeku Diskas (distro and mailorder from Basque Country), Collision (postpunk oi from France), Sasha from Wrong Turn (hc/punk band tattoo artist from Romania), Toro Bravo (oi from Lithuania), Leather Brigade (fast metal from Romania), and Eroszakszervezet (punk from Hungary).
It also includes a short history of Iulia Hasdeu Castle in Campina, Romania, and an amazing artwork for the back cover made by Cristina and a nice poem. Number 2 came out this year and has 90 pages with a hard cover B5 format. It features interviews with: Live By The Sword (oi/metal USA), Trespasser (black metal Sweden), Grinder (thrash metal from Romania), FC St. Pauli (interview with the firm), The Dead Ceausescus (punk from Romania), Real Enemy (skinhead fanzine from Slovakia), The Uncouth (oi from USA), Terror Art (post-punk legends from Romania – interview in Romanian and English).
There’s also a nice article about How To Live With Death in the Wallachian style and another article about Romanian venues (Bucharest part 1). The fanzine also has some nice artworks by the same MissRhyne: The Adventures of Strigoi and Friends, and another kick-ass back cover artwork with a poem.
Both issues have the interview written in English as well as the articles. Cezar did a great job with the questions, really personal some of them, covering political issues and football among other cool subjects. Being myself a huge collector of fanzines (both printed and digital), I must give kudos for the huge work that they did, as both of the fanzines are looking professional and of nice quality print. I like the A3 poster for the second issue so much that I ordered a frame to have it on display in my office. I also love that both issues have a nice layout with 2 columns and nice photos; all interviews have different feels and like I said, really crafted questions.
As a small critic, I must say that 2 interviews were a bit hard to read as the background artwork with the black text didn’t go well together, but all in all, this is something to have for any fanzine lover out there. Please do check them out and order directly from them this amazing zine.
Hey guys, MirceONE here and here are my personal picks for 2023. (in no particular order) i have choose some albums that i have listened in 2023 from punk, ska, oi and hc. Cheers!
Violent Way-this is for us / Stage Bottles-we need each other / Sekta Core – simfonia del caos / Rancid – tomorrow never comes / The Porters-to the good times and the bad / Mustard Plug– where did all my friends go? / Hold My Own – in my way / Evil Conduct – 10 tracks no bullshit / Omnigone – against the rest / Anti Flag -Lies They Tell Our Children
Oi you! Here is another short number of our zine, number 54. I have been busy and didn’t have a lot of time to put this together but i am glad that you are still reading it. Still alive and still going to concerts so this will be the message for this number as well, go to concerts, buy merch and music from the bands and labels, try to support the movement and always play it nice. Stay close to your family and friends and do not forget to breathe. Always stay yourself and remember Love Music, Hate Fascism, nobody is ilegal and we aim for a better future. Until next time friends.
This zine is free, however if you want to give me a coffee you can do it here
Well this is a hard one, as I just love Rancid. They have been in my top10 for many years so it is hard to write something about them. The Bay Area punks are back with their 10th studio album, and yes they still kick some ass. The new material, Tomorrow Never Comes is out on Hellcat Records. I will not start to write about their history and their side projects as they are many. 16 new tracks, short and in the pure punk rock. They are still independent, the music still is talking about politics and social issues, they carry on the traditions of the punk bands that were before them and they have become an inspiration for the new bands that came after. The album has already few videos out and 3 singles already out, the album was produced by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion and what else? Oh yes…is punk rock the way should be and really short, running time 28 minutes. Play it loud.
Hey guys, this is something awesome from Montreal, Canada. Offside are back with their new album: Back To The Streets. The album is out on Double Turn Records from Canada and is a return to the old school of NYHC style with crushing guitars and fast riffs with raging vocals. Straight to the point and in your face old school the way should be. The band formed in 2015 and shared the stage with bands like: Agnostic Front, Sheer Terror, Madball, Wisdom In Chains, Slapshot and more, on this EP are 6 tracks just a bit more than 12 minutes of force and attitude. You can check them on their Bandcamp here https://offsidemtlhc.bandcamp.com/
mpty zine 