Ever wonder what the folks who run Dying Scene have been listening to lately? We’re going to pretend you said “yes” to that question and feature a curated playlist from a different DS editor each week with the intent of exposing you to some new (sometimes old) kickass punk bands. This week we’re featuring a list hand picked by Dying Scene founder and head honcho Dave Buck.
Discover some great new tunes, and find out what makes him tick by streaming Dave’s personal picks below.
1. La Vasa – “Forgive And Forget”
As much as I’d like to say I’ve heard every single band we publish stories about on Dying Scene I’m afraid its just impossible to listen to that much music. Luckily there’s the Dying Scene Radio weekly podcast to highlight some of each week’s great releases and that’s how I discovered California punk act ¡La Vasa! who just released their debut full-length “Quest”. This track is the first on the album and its by far one of the best punk songs I’ve heard this year. I love its speed and almost rap like verses.
2. Torches To Triggers – “Clay Minds”
“Clay Minds” is a tune off Canadian melodic hardcore act Torches To Triggers‘ new album “Modern Day Monsters” and I love it for its awesome riffage. It was a must have addition for this week’s playlist.
3. Stabbed In Back – “Missing Pieces”
There isn’t a single song on Stabbed In Back‘s debut full-length “Dasvidaniya” that I don’t love, which is why I spent a year trying to convince the band to let me release it on Dying Scene Records. Like most great albums, it’s definitely a grower and “Missing Pieces” is maybe the first song that really hooked me. It’s speed and intensity epitomize what I consider an ideal punk song.
4. Stray Bullets – “New Prisons”
There’s a reason Stray Bullets new album “Ghost Town Rockers” is the most successful album on Dying Scene Records. From start to finish its one of the best ska-punk albums released in recent years and “New Prisons” might be my personal favorite from its long list of stand out tracks.
5. Rusty Things – “El Toro Con Allas”
Rusty Things have become my favorite folk-punk of the year. They’re a little less “punky” but I absolutely love every song on their full-length as well as their recently released EP The Hypocritopotamus. “El Toro Con Allas” is from the EP.
6. Western Settings – “Get It, Got It”
OK, yes, another Dying Scene Records band but come on, there’s a reason I put these albums out! It’s because I absolutely love the music. Period. “Get It, Got It” is a short but fantastic tune from Western Settings debut full-length “Yes It Is” and if you dig it I highly recommend you check out the rest of the album.
7. Entropy – “Crazy Eddie’s Business School”
Anybody familiar with New York’s Entropy knows they’re a hardcore punk band, but for this playlist I had to choose the band’s one and only ska-punk song. It’s so good and if you haven’t guessed by now I’m a sucker for ska infused punk rock! Now if they would just record more of these types of songs…
8. Raised Fist – “We Will Live Forever”
I try to keep my lists to bands most of you readers won’t be familiar with already but I couldn’t resist putting this tune from Raised Fist‘s new album “From The North” in the mix. Overall I wasn’t blown away by the Swedish hardcore punk act’s latest release but this song was definitely a stand out track for me.
9. Flirting With Disaster – “Good Night”
For those of you not in the know, Flirting With Disaster is Chazz Rabble of New Zealand punk act The Rabble’s new band. Being a big fan of his former group I was chomping at the bit for this release and must admit I was a little put off initially by its poppier direction. I think I was hoping for The Rabble’s heavier street punk vibe but once I was able to accept this release for what it really was (a pop-punk album) I grew to really enjoy it. “Good Night” is one of its more catchy, poppier tunes.
10. Supergirls – “Righteous Flags”
Surprise flashback to 1997! Even if you’re old enough to have been into punk back then there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of Supergirls. They put out one album, “Not My Country” through Liberation Records and then straight up vanished. Liberation itself sort of faded away shortly after it began so its not surprising this album didn’t get the exposure it deserved but I shit you not its one of the best punk releases of the 90’s, and that’s a bold statement to make, I know. I could have chosen just about any of the album’s songs to wrap up this playlist – they’re all that good and unique but “Righteous Flags” holds a special place in my nostalgic heart. I encourage you to track down this old release on Spotify and check it out for yourself.