Tag Archives: Earshot Media

Album Review- Horace Pinker / Raging Nathans Split EP

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Four men stand on a music stage backlit by the spotlights.

Horace Pinker band photo Dee Dee Kohl

Now this is a great idea for a split EP and I was happy to hear about it from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media.   I have previously reviewed Horace Pinker and as mentioned there they have released some music which still remains on my favorites list.  If you have not checked out Copper Regret yet well…there is a mission for you.  I have also heard that their 2022 album House of Cards just got a physical re-release from People of Punk Rock.  As for The Raging Nathans, they run quite a ways back with me also.  I believe I heard parts of Losing It early in 2015 and songs like “Free Parking” and “How To Validate Anything” are high points there.  Rad Girlfriend Records re-issued that album in 2024 although I have not listened to that version.  Their self-titled EP from 2012 is also a great 7-song set including what I consider to be the best version of “Going Down” (which also appears on Losing It).  They have an extensive catalog which you can check out on their Bandcamp page.  

The first two tracks on this release are from the Nathans and they start off with “Running in Place” which has a fantastic and buzzy guitar intro that is soon followed by fast, heavy drums.  That rhythm section keeps up a relentless energy that defines the sound and vibe of this song.  Next is “The Devil’s Watch” which has a pretty groovy cyclical beat and a few interesting vocal moments.  

A black and white photo of four male musicians playing music on a stage.

Horace Pinker starts their set with “Another Way” which jumps out fast and does not slow down.  The final thirty seconds on this song were the highlight for me, kind of a musical breakdown / crash out that mirrors the lyrical theme.   They close out the EP with “Redeemer” which features a prominent rhythm line as the drums and bass weave in and out to provide a punchy texture.  The guitar provides the lighter side of the sound here, kind of an echoing, shimmering vibe that rounds out the tone very well.  

Put together these four songs make for a solid release featuring these two standout bands.  

This split EP (on Red Girlfriend Records) is out now! 

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Streaming link:

And you can order this right here: 

https://radgirlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-6

Check this video for Horace Pinker’s “Three Against Me” which is not on this EP but was part of their Now and the Future album from last year. 

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/horacepinker47/

https://horacepinker.bandcamp.com/music

https://theragingnathans.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.instagram.com/theragingnathans/

Prior review links 

Song Review- Horace Pinker- “Call It a Day” from the album Now and the Future

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Belvedere – Crimson from the upcoming album Seven Years of Bad Luck

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Four casually dressed men stand in front of a tall fence and a wall with colorful graffiti.

Photo by Dominic Gendron, album artwork by Seb Theriault (SterioDesign) 

This great band from Calgary (Alberta – Canada!) goes way back to the mid 90’s although I did not pick up on anything from them until either 2016 or 2017.  This would have been their album The Revenge of the Fifth which was released in early 2016 and first heard by me on a now defunct Internet radio station.  Several songs from that album (“Years,” “Red Pawn’s Race” and the tittle track) still remain in various rotations and playlists for me to this day.   Getting the heads up that this single dropped on April 21st and that a new album will follow was definitely good news.  

This track has a nice loud start before dropping into a strong vocal offset by a sharp drum line.   Throughout the song you get a healthy dose of buzzy guitars and an aggressive bass that has a few prominent moments all to itself.  Belvedere’s sound is a little more refined than prior releases but they give up nothing in regard to energy and maintain the sense of a real driving purpose behind the music.  This is a really great melodic punk song and the full album will be released on June 19th via Thousand Islands Records.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are:  Casey Lewis (drums, vocals), Dan Wollach (guitar, vocals). Steven Rawles (vocals, guitar) and Ryan Mumby (bass, vocals).

Streaming and pre-order here! 

https://bfan.link/belvedere-crimson

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://belvederepunkrock.com/

https://www.instagram.com/belvederebandofficial

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Gottlieb – “I Started Carrying a Knife Today” from the upcoming album The Far Fallen Fruit

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Four casually dressed men stand under a bridge.

Band photo by Alex Webster

Although I had heard a few bits and pieces of info about this band prior to getting the chance to preview this single (thanks to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media) I had not given their music much extended listening time.  The one prior release I had spun a few times was “Sidewalk” (2024) and that was a pretty dense song, both in tone and message…good but heavy.  

Gottlieb is known as a political band but this new track definitely is a personal one with a deep message centered quite literally on the song title.   Although the music starts off with a little bit of a peppy bounce it is quickly covered by some tense, tight guitar playing and a thundering rhythm section.  Accompanied by an urgent and angry vocal this song is tempestuous as hell, a 2:27 minute release of coiled energy.   

The full album is set for a May 1st drop via Quite Panic.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Streaming link:

https://orcd.co/istartedcarryingaknifetoday

Pre-order some limited edition vinyl right here:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/gottlieb_punk/

https://gottlieblosangeles.bandcamp.com/

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂

Album Review- Ultrabomb – The Bridges That We Burn

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Three casually dressed men stand looking toward the viewer. They appear to be happy.

Band photo by Greg Norton

I was definitely super excited when I got the chance to preview this album, especially as the bands that the musicians here have been associated with (Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum and Social Distortion among others) are integral parts of the sprawling soundtrack of my life.  Outside of their work with those groups I have also followed and been a fan of their other projects and seeing them all together on this Ultrabomb release is basically epic in my opinion.   

The lead-off track here (“Darwin Awards”) is a real powerhouse that comes in on blazing guitars and is soon joined by an energetic vocal.  This one runs on full power all the way through to the end.   The next song “Divert / Deflect” picks up on a nice, heavy drum line, something you can feel coming right through your speakers.  A punchy guitar riff carries along with it from there and combines with a chanting vocal to give a protest anthem vibe.   “Artificial Stars” is next (prior posted review here) and then you dive into an amazing wave of bass on “Zombie Zeroes.”  That texture lays a great foundation for a spirited, run-around the stage kind of musical composition…I bet it plays great at a live show.   

My favorite is up next (“No Cap”) and I have to say I had a whole flashback experience every time I played it.  There are distinct parts to the song’s arrangement and for me they were a kind of perfect kaleidoscope of the sounds and energy of the 1980’s punk / alternative scene, especially in the Twin Cities area.  I will just leave it at…this one is awesome. 

The number six track on this album is “Sicko Rants” and it is a pop-punk rocker all the way through; from melodic guitar lines to jumpy drums and a sassy vocal performance.   Following along after is “Checked Out” which starts on an urgent, demanding rhythm sound interlaced around a cascading guitar riff.  While that driving force remains in place throughout the song, there is a nice counterpoint provided by a more mellow vocal track on the verses.  There is also an excellent, multi-part bridge that runs from 1:45 – 2:33.  “Looking Forward In Anger” (very cool bass in this one also) is followed by “BSS” which has a heavy groove and a conversational-style vocal until the chorus.  At that point it switches into a brief but wild breakdown with all instruments at max power.  This one is indeed about BS and it is not happy about it at all. 

The final two selections are “Last Time” (a swinging punk tune and standby for the cool guitar solo at the 2:00 mark) and “Mosquito Crucifixion.”  This last song comes out of the gate fast and loud with a tight, well-played instrument combo.  It is nothing less than a triumphant sound explosion to cap off a very strong set of eleven tracks.  

Overall The Bridges That We Burn is an excellent album from these accomplished musicians.  They have an innate sense of how to craft powerful, interesting music that stays mostly in the punk lane but has some extra depth and a few nice side-steps along the way.   Picking up a copy of this one is highly recommended!  It is out May 1st via DC-Jam Records / Virgin Music Group.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are:  Greg Norton (bass, backing vocals), Derek O’Brien (drums, backing vocals) and Ryan Smith (lead vocals, guitar)

You can check out the “No Cap” video here:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://linktr.ee/ultrabomb

Prior review links 

Release Alert! Ultrabomb – “Artificial Stars” off the upcoming album The Bridges That We Burn

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Pleasure Pill – “Feel Alive” from the upcoming EP Alive 

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Five men sit on a cement stairs boarded by a black brick wall.

Before you jump on checking out this new song from Pleasure Pill…if you want to hear something pretty darn good from their back catalog check out “I’d Rather Be” which came out in 2024.  

This new single, out in advance of the April 24th full EP release on Quiet Panic, definitely rolls out on a very comfortable, easy-going groove that leads into a dreamy-style vocal line.  Pulled along by a strong multiple-guitar wall of sound and drums that come out on top at just the right moments this song has a nice kind of buzzy energy.  If you have a few extra study moments you can spend some time following the bass line as it weaves around the sonic structure here, adding a nice, pulsing foundation.  This track grew on me the more I listened and is a great peek at what is to come on Alive in a couple weeks.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

You can check out the video for this now right here: 

Streaming link:

https://orcd.co/pleasurepill-feelalive

Pre-order the limited edition vinyl here:

PLEASURE PILL

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/pleasurepillusa/

https://www.instagram.com/pleasurepillusa

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂  

Song Review- Mad Tab – “Awake” from the upcoming album Alas! The Bomb Voyage…

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Four men standing against a graffitied brick wall look slightly downward toward the viewer. They appear a little defiant and edgy.

Band photo by Roxy Wheeler

Well, I had not heard of this band before getting the heads up from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and am quite happy that I got the chance to listen to it early (it is out now via Norwood Fisher’s InnaNuttshell Reekordingz).  Along the road to learning more I also was able to read a very interesting bio on this group who go all the way back to 2006 and a gig at a bowling alley.  I am sure they can tell their own story much better than me but suffice it to say that there has been a colorful history and it is very cool to see them now ready to put this new single (and soon the full album) out into the world.   They have a few other songs out there if you want to check out some historical sounds.

Coming in on a slightly muted, melodic bass groove that has kind of a comforting feel to it this track quickly picks up a nice, heavy drum line and a lively tempo.  The choruses have some nice group vocals and the guitar sound is loud and poignant.   An interesting and unexpected element on this tune is added by some keys that add a unique foundation to the sound.   I really enjoyed listening to this and am looking forward to the album release.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Dave Tab, Gram Tab, Scott Beattie and Rob Wheeler 

You can stream this here now: 

https://orcd.co/MadTabAwake?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Check the high energy video out here: 

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://beacons.ai/madtabmusic

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Release Alert – Big D and the Kids Table – Whiplash – from the upcoming album The Good Ole American Saturday Night

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Six men stand and are looking slightly upward toward the view. Most of them are dressed in black and are set against a black and white checkerboard background.

Band photo by Alacrity Photography

If you have previously heard any music from this epic ska-punk band (legends I would say) you may be as pumped as I am to hear about this upcoming LP.   It has been awhile for sure (five years since Do Your Art) and I had been wondering when we might be getting some new music.  This single drops today and will be followed on June 12th with a full album release via SideOneDummy Records.  

Musically this track lives up to its name twenty seconds in as a slow-paced, light and melodic intro turns abruptly on a nice sound explosion at that mark.  All the energy, powerful beats and clever mix of instruments that have been trademarks of the band are present here in spades.  I would even say they sound edgier and a little more pumped up than what they delivered on Do Your Art.  This song is a great preview and I will be looking forward to when that full LP drops in June. 

If you have some time and the inclination you can also check out the album that introduced me to this group back in 2011.  For The Damned, The Dumb and the Delirious is an eighteen song set that is full of ska-powered fun, a little humor and much energy.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

You can check a cool video (shot and edited by Mike Rickshaw) for this here on YouTube:

Pre-save the album (this helps out a lot!):

https://bigd.lnk.to/whiplash

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

Homepage DYA

https://www.instagram.com/bigdandthekidstable

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Album Review- Homebase – Close To Something

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Five young men, casually dressed and sitting against a brick wall. Two of them hold stringed instruments.

The new EP from New York / New Jersey alt-punk upstarts Homebase comes after the release of their prior singles “Bold” (2025) and “Nuff Said” (2026) which was the first song I had heard from them.  I reviewed that one here in January of this year.  Both of those tracks are part of this EP and they are joined by three other solid tunes that have a lot of energy and style.  

“Close To Something” leads off with a bit of an off-mike rhythm solo before dropping into a hammering groove with the drums and bass upfront and on-point.  The arrangement stays just a little off the expected path also which I thought was pretty refreshing and interesting.  Joining up with that song on the cool and different path is “Start Over” which is a two-part experience.  The first forty-five seconds are full of loud, distorted guitars and heavy rhythm.  It then drops out into an atmospheric, slightly hollowed out strumming guitar and plaintive vocal for the second half of the track.  It took a few listens to appreciate the message but it was worth it.  

The previously mentioned “Nuff Said” and “Bold” are next before the EP closes out with “I Feel.”  This track has a fuzzy, overdriven, pulsing beat that makes it quite the sonic experience. It is a non-stop heavy hitter all the way through.  

I definitely enjoyed listening to this EP and especially appreciate the range of style and method that the band brought to these songs.  They are definitely in that modern punk space but carve out some unique grooves and sounds that have me looking forward to their next steps.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are:  Chris Ochoa (drums), Dave Caruso Josh (bass), Antonio Valentino (vocals), Arturo Cordova (guitar) and Matt Valentin (guitar, vocals) 

You should be able to get this now in your usual places for a listen or a purchase as it just dropped yesterday. 

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://homebase.band/home

https://www.instagram.com/itshomebase

Prior review links 

Song Review –  Homebase “Nuff Said”

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Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Album Review – Gucci Chain Letter EP

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A black and white graphic of the band name

This is the first album from this band which was formed by members of other punk / hardcore groups from Alberta and Vancouver (Canada of course).  That info came to me courtesy of a press release from Earshot Media that also mentioned some of those associated bands.  Although I had not heard of most of them (Daggermouth, This Is A Standoff and Precursor to name a few) there was one which was familiar.  At this point I do not remember how I came across Counterfeit Jeans (Bandcamp maybe? Or Spotify?).  The name was just one that stuck with me.  I had to go look up the track I had heard and after some research I found it!  “Nervous Wreck” was a single released back in September of 2018 and it also appears on the 2019 album Good Morning.  I had a little listening session at that point for a refresher on the song (a very interesting piece of punk / alternative music with heavy drums and a unique guitar sound) and that LP (“Self Doubt” and “Material Beings” are a couple stand-out tracks).  If you have time check those out for yourself on Bandcamp for some prior Tyler Bedford music. 

This new EP hits the ground running with “Sorry Doesn’t Cut it” which has a nice, energetic lead-in on some bouncy drums and a sonic guitar riff.  The vocals are delivered with an urgent, demanding tone that reflects the message in this song.  “Every Word I Never Said” has a slightly hypnotic rhythm groove for the first 30 seconds and several different vocal styles mixed in that add a nice complexity.   The final track is “Winfield,” a melodic punk style track that changes pace a couple times…super cool.

Stylistically this album is very interesting with musical compositions that are thoughtful and which show a strong range of talents from these accomplished musicians.  Although there are only three songs on this EP I think they are a nice showcase and opening act for this band.  Hopefully there is more to come from them in the future.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Stuart McKillop (vocals), Tyler Bedford (drums), Nick Kouremenos (bass), Shawn Kilgrain (guitar)

Streaming link:

And you can also listen here on YouTube:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://guccichainletter.bandcamp.com/album/ep

https://www.instagram.com/gucci_chain_letter_/

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Release Alert- The Dollyrots – “Attention Span”

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A man and a woman lit with a spotlight and goofing off.

Band photo by Jen Rosenstein 

I have definitely been swirling around the fringes of this band for awhile – hearing their music in various places, missing chances at a couple shows, breezing through a few articles…so aware and disconnected I guess.  I do distinctly remember hearing their Arrested Youth EP (years ago…maybe 2015?) and thinking that they had a pretty cool energy and a bit of an eclectic sound that was a mix of punk, pop and rock.  It was a band that sounded authentic to me so kind of a bummer that I did not stay up on them over the years.  

They have released a lot of music since that time and you can check their Bandcamp page to pick up a few songs or albums if you have the inclination.  I got the heads up on this new single (out March 13th on Wicked Cool Records) from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and really like the way it kicks off with rowdy guitars and big crashing drums.  It then jumps into the strong vocal track that is carried along on some nice bass textures.  The guitar sound and tone do a great job of giving this pop-punk song a little bit of an extra edge.  This single is an engaging track that deserves a spot in your collection.  

The band also just jumped on tour for most of March and have a slot on the Van’s Warped Tour June 13-14 (Washington DC – Festival Grounds at RFK Campus).  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Kelly Ogden (lead vocals, bass), Luis Cabezas (guitar, vocals) and Simon Hancock (drums).

Pre-save:

https://orcd.co/dollyrotsattentionspan

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.dollyrots.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thedollyrots

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂