Canadian punk is a rich tapestry of angry delights, and as long-time fans of our northern neighbors’ rock’n roll output (don’t forget the powerful punkish glam of Nick Gilder’s debut LP, too), we’re absolutely chuffed to bring the Lowlife ‘Leaders’ 7” EP back into the fold. Released in 1979 and known as the first punk release from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lowlife were a band with a lot of blanks to fill in, and if you did not become exposed through their reissue appearances on the Smash the State Vol 2, or Screaming Fist compilations as most of us youngsters did, you’ll revel at the brazen punk bravado, barreling off the rails and bursting with agitated urgency in each of the three tracks here. And although this EP’s release just made it across the line for inclusion in the 70s, all three screamers on this release seem to careen recklessly toward an obnoxious early 80s hardcore punk vibe, although still melodic enough to draw comparisons from the Dangerhouse bands, Negative Trend, Dils, and the Authorities.
Lowlife bassist & founding member Richard Duguay would later join Canadian punk band Personality Crisis and produce the debut EP for Stretch Marks, as well as playing guitar on Guns ’n Roses’ cover of The Damned’s “New Rose” on their Spaghetti Incident LP, and he currently performs in Mike Hudson’s modern lineup of The Pagans.
This is one of those albums where I have a different favourite track every week, and it's been like that since the release that is now a year ago. What a massive album, starting out with fist pumping chants and gradually getting more electro but always with that punk grit attitude. Top 3 of 2023. Gijs van Soest
Dead Cross, Retox, and Qui members dish out subversive hardcore with an indignant smirk; come for the riffs, stay for the synth experiments. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 31, 2024
Knockout debut from a Buffalo, New York-based hardcore band who like their riffs sick, their drums fast, and their choruses sticky-sweet. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2024
New York hardcore meets classic thrash metal meets Jane's Addiction-esque alternative on the Brooklyn crushers' sensational debut. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 13, 2023
RIXE hits that soft spot of nostaligia I have for old school French punk while being unmistakably and unapolegictally unique. Every track fuken shreds deen_du_nord