Roach Squad – Roach Squad LP (Little Rocket Records)

If you’ve spent any significant amount of time digging through the crates or scouring the digital archives of Thoughts Words Action, you know that there is a very specific subgenre of melodic punk rock that hits you squarely in the chest. It’s that grit-under-the-fingernails, gravel-in-the-throat sound that flourished in the nineties and early 2000s, often dubbed “orgcore” by the internet pundits, but known to the rest of us as just damn good songwriting. Today, I’m diving into the self-titled LP from Roach Squad, an international collective of a long-lost brotherhood finally finding its way home. When you see the DNA involved here, veterans from legendary outfits like Leatherface, The Sainte Catherines, and The Murderburgers, you already know the bar is set incredibly high. But let’s be clear, this isn’t a supergroup vanity project, but a classic sound wrapped in modern production without losing original fire. The production captures the rawness of a basement show in Sunderland or Montreal, but also a clarity that modern technology allows. This record carries those abrasive, sandpaper-textured properties of nineties melodic punk, but it’s polished just enough to let the intricacies of the performances shine through.

The guitar work on this record is, frankly, spectacular. We’re talking about a duality hard to find in modern bands. On one hand, you have these heavy, crushing chord progressions that provide a thick wall of sound, the stuff that makes you want to lean into the monitor at a show. On the other hand, there’s an incredible sense of melody. The themes, melodies, and harmonies are catchy, weaving in and out of the aggression. It reminds me of the best moments of the UK melodic scene mixed with that frantic, North American energy. And speaking of storytelling, the lyricism here is top-tier. This isn’t your standard pizza and skateboards punk rock. There is a poetic, sincere, and deeply emotional core to these songs. It feels like reading a well-worn diary of someone who has seen the world, suffered the bruises, and lived to write about it. It’s storytelling in its purest form, set to a tempo that refuses to let you sit still. You can’t talk about this album without mentioning the vocal performance. It is, in a word, soulful. There is a gravelly, passionate delivery here that instantly brings to mind the greats of the genre. It’s the voice that sounds like it’s been cured in cigarette smoke and late-night tour van conversations, yet it remains incredibly vulnerable. You can hear the sincerity in every rasp and every elongated note. It’s a performance that doesn’t hide behind effects, it stands front and center, demanding that you listen to the weight of the words.

The basslines are a particular highlight for me. They have this warm, analog growl that adds a massive amount of depth to the compositions. Instead of just following the guitars, the bass provides a groovy, melodic counterpoint that makes the songs feel full. It’s that classic orgcore warmth, thick enough to feel in your ears but agile enough to keep the pace. The drumming is equally impressive. It’s propulsive and powerful, acting as the engine that pushes these songs into new heights. There’s a technicality there that stays hidden behind the sheer force of the performance, it’s busy when it needs to be, but always serves the song first. When the band hits those high-energy peaks, the percussion makes the hair on your arms stand up. Roach Squad captures some of my favorite melodic punk rock elements: aggression, melody, and heart. It’s an album that will immediately resonate with fans of the gruff-voiced, emotional punk rock that came out of the Little Rocket Records, No Idea Records, or Jade Tree eras, but it doesn’t feel like a nostalgia trip. It feels more like a band taking the lessons learned from decades on the road and distilling them into twelve or so tracks of pure, undiluted punk rock gold.

Whether you call it melodic punk, emo-adjacent, or orgcore, the labels don’t really matter when the songs are this strong. This is music for the long drives, the late nights, and the moments when you need punk rock music that can still be sophisticated and poetic without losing its edge. It’s rare to find a record that feels this cohesive, especially with an international lineup, but the chemistry here is undeniable. It’s a must-listen for anyone who misses the days when melodic punk had some dirt on its face and something heavy on its mind. Roach Squad LP is a raw, melodic, and deeply moving record. If you’ve ever found yourself shouting along to a chorus in a crowded room with a beer in your hand and a lump in your throat, this is the record you’ve been waiting for. Don’t sleep on this one, it’s easily one of the most vital melodic punk releases of 2025. Roach Squad has the soul of the global underground. Grab a copy, crank the volume, and let these songs do what they were meant to do: break your heart and put it back together again. Head to Little Rocket Records for more information about ordering.

#EMO #LITTLEROCKETRECORDS #melodicPunkRock #MUSIC #ORGCORE #PUNKROCK #REVIEWS #ROACHSQUAD

I started this morning with a prog rock album, but I got like one song in and said to myself "I need something anthemic" so that's how I ended up playing 90s melodic hardcore/Orgcore records at 6 AM while most of my neighbors are still asleep. First Lifetime, then Richmond's own Avail.

#hardcore #punk #punkrock #orgcore

ZEPHR – Past Lives LP (Snappy Little Numbers)

Let’s just be honest here, there’s so much noise out there, so many bands trying to sound like three different subgenres at once, that sometimes you just want the straight goods. You want the raw emotion, the loud guitars, and the chorus that makes you involuntarily punch the air. That’s where ZEPHR steps in with Past Lives. Coming from Denver, Colorado, this album exemplifies why melodic punk rock is still essential. It’s an immediate, loud, and deeply sincere record that combines melody and aggression without sacrificing an ounce of either. If your heart beats faster when you hear the gruff sincerity of Hot Water Music, the unstoppable acceleration of The Ship Thieves, or the anthemic sprawl of Red City Radio, then congratulations, you’ve found your next obsession. Past Lives lives squarely in that beautiful, messy intersection where earnest emo vulnerability meets punk rock energy. This is the soundtrack to deciding you’re going to face whatever mess life threw at you yesterday, only louder and with more distortion. This is an excellent melodic punk rock band showing everyone how it’s done. The first thing that hits you, and I mean really hits you, is the vocal performance. It sounds like it’s been strained by honest living and too many late nights. The singer projects emotion with an authentic, raw power, maintaining the edge and intensity, while the underlying melodic structure ensures that every single line is memorable. This is the core of ZEPHR’s appeal, they give you the cathartic release of a scream, but with a hook that you’ll be humming for days. It’s gruff, but it’s catchy, and it carries the entire emotional weight of the album.

The guitar work here is fantastic because it knows exactly what the songs need, which is often two things at once. You get those marvelous power chords, the big, thick, driving strokes that give the music its head-down, propulsive energy. But the real skill is how these raw power chords are instantly blended with shimmering melodies. The guitars inject thoughtful, intricate melodic lines and themes that thread through the aggression. Every riff, every ringing harmony is there to serve the emotional depth of the track. They manage to be both heavy and hooky, which is the golden ticket in this style. It’s punk rock with a brain for songwriting structure. It’s an intellectually written punk rock that works to the advantage of these songs. Down in the engine room, you have the rhythm section, which acts as the warm, reliable anchor. Starting with the bass, you immediately notice the warm-sounding low ends. This is crucial because when the guitars are blasting with power chords and distortion, you need that low-end body to stop the whole thing from sounding thin and tinny. The bassist provides that thick, consistent warmth, giving the album its substantial groove and depth. These basslines are constantly moving with an intricate flow, adding detail and subtle rhythm changes that keep the listener engaged on a subconscious level. It’s the sonic foundation that allows the guitars and vocals to operate at their most aggressive while still feeling full and rounded. The drums are the pace-setter and the dynamic regulator for the entire record. It’s an intelligent, powerhouse drumming. The beats are steady, perfectly accentuated, and packed with expertly executed breaks and fills that never feel gratuitous. The drummer is constantly enhancing the groove, pushing the speed forward, and ensuring that even in the most melodic passages, the rhythmic intensity is absolutely relentless. The performance is key to combining that melody and aggression, because the drumming is the constant, driving force that never lets the energy drop, giving the aggressive shouts and melodic chord changes the rock-solid platform they need to fully explode.

Past Lives feels like a culmination of years spent sweating in small clubs and pouring genuine emotion into songs. There are no pretenses here, no studio tricks to hide behind, just four musicians delivering an authentic, high-impact performance. The way they seamlessly pivot between shouting angst and ringing melody is what makes this album stand out in a crowded field. It carries the emotional honesty of old school emo but delivers it with the undeniable, driving power of true punk rock. It’s an album that demands to be played loud, start to finish. If you’re looking for a record that will hit you hard but also give you something deeply melodic to cling to, grab Past Lives. Head over to Snappy Little Numbers for more information about ordering.

#emo #melodicPunkRock #music #orgcore #punkRock #reviews #snappyLittleNumbers #zephr

State Drugs – Parade Of Red Flags LP (Snappy Little Numbers)

Let’s talk nostalgia, but not the cheap, dusty kind. We’re talking about that specific, complicated feeling you get when a sound perfectly captures the emotional intensity and melodic genius of a bygone era, yet delivers it with the polish and perspective of the present day. That, my friends, is the experience of plunging headfirst into Parade of Red Flags, the latest full-length from Denver, Colorado’s State Drugs, released by the fine folks at Snappy Little Numbers. It’s an emotional reconnection with the best parts of the late ’90s and early 2000s emo and melodic punk scenes, refined, distilled, and served ice cold. State Drugs has successfully pulled off a high-wire act here, synthesizing the fundamental elements of that golden age of emo, think the thoughtful vulnerability of the second wave, with the haste of melodic punk rock and the anthemic singalong quality of org core. It’s a clever, cohesive blend that sounds instantly familiar while pushing the style forward. These folks reconstruct the emotional blueprint, making this an essential listen for anyone who cut their teeth on that specific brand of articulate, aggressive melancholy. Instead of the typical, lung-shredding screams often associated with the hardcore end of the spectrum, here we are treated to a consistently calm and deeply emotive delivery. The vocals possess a grounded, conversational quality that draws the listener in, creating a sense of intimate openness. It feels like a measured, passionate confession delivered directly into your ear. This emotive approach is key to channeling the complex feelings of the emo style, making sure that the listener connects with the story and emotional weight without being overwhelmed by unnecessary aggression.

The guitars are where the true melodic craftsmanship of the band shines through. State Drugs deliver a fantastic array of riffs, powerful chord strikes, and engaging melodic work. We’re talking about marvelous chord progressions, intricate, thoughtful movements that often thread complex harmonies and themes into the aggressive punk framework. The guitars move fluidly between the sheer driving force of power chords, giving the tracks their energy, and moments of more refined, ringing melodies that underscore the emotional core. The basslines are consistently warm-sounding, providing a necessary counterbalance to the inevitable distortion and sharpness of the guitars. This warmth gives the album its depth and body, preventing the overall sound from feeling too thin or brittle. The bass doesn’t just stick to the root notes; it’s active and melodic, locking in with the drums to provide a continuous, muscular groove. This combination of warmth and movement keeps the rhythmic foundation rich and detailed, proving that State Drugs understand the importance of the low-end in defining the emotional texture of the music. The entire package is driven forward by truly marvelous moderate rhythmic patterns. It’s a demonstration of power and precision executed at a pleasant mid-tempo. The drumming is excellent, steady, and perfectly attuned to the emotional dynamic of these tracks, as the drummer uses a full repertoire of expertly executed beats, breaks, and fills, all contributing to the powerful groove and pace. The rhythmic patterns are designed to propel the music without sacrificing clarity or detail, giving the tracks a driving, forward-leaning momentum. You’ll notice how the moderation in speed is key, allowing the melodic intricacies of the guitars and the emotive nuance of the vocals to fully breathe, yet never letting the energy flag.

Parade of Red Flags is an exemplary study in modern emo punk. Their successful fusion of the heartfelt, articulate songwriting of late ’90s emo with the energetic, driving nature of melodic punk rock creates an immediately familiar sound. It captures the spirit of stability, angst, and complex emotional navigation that defined the best moments of the genre, yet packages it in a concise, powerful statement that holds up under modern scrutiny. It’s not only the album for those chasing the ghost of their younger selves, but for anyone who appreciates heavy music with a deeply felt, articulate core. State Drugs brought a catchy, profound, and executed album, proving that the best songs are those that can make you shout along with a lump in your throat. Parade of Red Flags is a resounding success, a highly focused and highly emotive piece of work that deserves a permanent spot in the rotation of every true emo and melodic punk rock fan. Head to Snappy Little Numbers for more information on ordering this masterpiece on vinyl.

#emo #indiePunk #meldociPunkRock #music #orgcore #punkRock #reviews #snappyLittleNumbers #stateDrugs

Neckscars – Unhinged LP (Engineer Records, Sell The Heart Records)

Neckscars have always carried an energy you can’t fake, one that comes from years of being in loud rooms, sweating it out in DIY spaces, and writing songs that sound even better when performed live. Their new album, Unhinged, arrives as a next step for a band that has already learned what works and what doesn’t. It’s the sound of musicians who know exactly where they stand, somewhere between raw post-hardcore and melodic, emotionally charged punk rock. It’s sharper, heavier, and more self-assured than their debut, but it doesn’t lose that scrappy, human edge that made them stand out in the first place. The record is full of bite and grit, but there’s also melody running through every line,  riff, and shout. Neckscars aren’t afraid of being tuneful, they just make sure the emotion behind it stays real. Nothing feels overly polished, and that’s a big part of its charm. The guitars carry a lot of the weight here,  rich and textured, with riffs balancing aggression and catchiness in equal measure. The tones are thick, leads sharp, and there’s always that slightly overdriven edge that gives everything warmth and tension at once. The rhythm section plays a massive role in shaping their identity. The bass pushes these tracks forward with tremendous power. There’s a fullness in the low end that adds gravity to the music, while the drumming keeps everything grounded with grooves, feeling alive and responsive rather than just mechanical. That dynamic sense of movement keeps Unhinged flowing organically from track to track, giving it more sense of unity without ever feeling repetitive or bland.

The lead vocals are raw, weathered, and full of confidence. There’s emotion in every crack and rasp, but it never feels forced. The harmonies thread through the choruses, adding depth and giving these songs an anthemic feel. It simply makes you wanting to sing along even before you’ve memorized the lyrics. It’s melodic, but it’s not overly glossy, a collective experience shared through loud screaming, shouting, and singing. Lyrically, Unhinged is reflective album, heavily drenched in all its honesty. The band deals with themes that come from growing up and still trying to figure out how to keep your footing, disappointment, persistence, self-doubt, hope that keeps resurfacing even when things go sideways. There’s a vividly hearable acceptance in how the band approaches these topics. They’re not pretending to have it all figured out. Instead, they’re just saying what they need to say the only way they know how, and that’s loud and unfiltered. Sonically, the band has tightened everything without losing the looseness that makes their sound authentic. You can hear how they’ve been playing together long enough to trust each other. The interplay between instruments feels instinctive, and not overly rehearsed. These songs hit that perfect point between melodic punk, post-hardcore, and old-school rock’n’roll, but they do it without sounding like they’re trying to tick boxes. It’s not about genre, it’s about hitting the right feel. Even when the guitars are resonating and the drums are striking heart, there’s a closeness in these songs, a sense that the entire material was made to be played right in front of you, and not from behind a wall of overpolished modern production. The mix keeps things clear but rough enough to feel natural. You can hear the studio reverb surrounding the instruments and all those tiny details, nuances, accentuations, and other elements that make this album so alive.

Neckscars’ influences are clear, but they don’t lean on them too heavily. You can hear echoes of Seaweed, Red City Radio, Hot Water Music, and maybe even some Dead Chic, but these are just reference points, not blueprints. The band channels those orgcore sounds into something more contemporary and their own. They understand the tradition they’re a part of, but they’re not stuck in it. Unhinged feels timeless because it’s built on the same foundation that made melodic punk rock and post-hardcore worth caring about in the first place, honesty, melody, and heart. Unhinged is intense, but not melodramatic. The band knows how to let a song breathe, how to let dynamics do the talking instead of constant volume. When the intensity drops, the emotion shifts into a different form. That subtle control gives Unhinged a shape and depth that shows real growth in their songwriting. Every track feels like part of a larger statement, and together they make an album that has direction, purpose, and power. Neckscars are the band that believes in what they’re doing, and that belief bleeds through every riff, lyric, and shouted line. That’s what gives the record its power. It’s more about shared connection and not perfection, but it’s a perfect record indeed. These folks sound tighter, heavier, and more in sync than ever. It’s an album that feels built to last. Head to Engineer Records or Sell The Heart Records for more information about ordering this melodic punk rock gem on vinyl.

#ENGINEERRECORDS #melodicPunkRock #NECKSCARS #ORGCORE #POSTHARDCORE #PUNKROCK #REVIEWS #sellTheHeartRecords

fight me irl. – fight me irl. Mini CD (Nasty Cut Records)

fight me irl.’s self-titled debut mini CD crashes through the speakers, packed with anthemic vocal harmonies, tremendous guitar works, and energetic beats. This Copenhagen outfit has taken the restless DNA of early noughties emo and run it through the prism of modern pop punk, indie sensibilities, and orgcore instincts, crafting a familiar yet forward-thinking collection of songs. At first glance, the choice of format is telling more than thousand words. Released on a mini CD, a half-forgotten relic of physical media, the record embraces sentimentality while thumbing its nose at convention. It’s more than a gimmick. The tiny disc, pressed to look like a miniature vinyl record, forces you to remember how music was once consumed. Not streamed, not shuffled, but handled with care, placed into a tray, and given your full attention. And when you give them that attention, they’ll surprise you with their restless energy and power. The EP carries hooks that feel tattooed into your heart after one listen, but depth also lies beneath all of that. Their ability to knit together emotional candor, rawness, nearness, and spirit of the aforementioned genres gives these songs multiple layers. This is an anthemic music built for basement gigs and long walks home, and fight me irl. did it with such precision and finesse rarely found on the scene nowadays.

The vocals contribute more than necessary emotional weight. These vocal harmonies balance fragility and force, capable of breaking into a melodic murmur at one moment, and a cracked, almost shouted admission in a couple of seconds after that. There is no pretense here, no attempt to sand down imperfections. It’s emo in the truest sense, sincerity weaponized. When these harmonies arrive, whether subtle in the background or swelling in unison, they elevate the choruses into collaborative moments. Sonically, the guitars are built on that classic emo and indie punk interplay, jangly chords, thick distortion, melodic lines, and catchy harmonies; these instrumentations have it all. These are not generic power chords; they are carefully constructed motifs, full of color and movement. The basslines are warm, deep, dense, heavy, often stepping forward as a binding element that keeps everything together and tight, giving the songs their weightiness. The drumming is sharp, dynamic, and endlessly tasteful. Whether driving forward with a punk tempo or pulling back into something more measured, it always knows when to push, when to hold back, and when to break loose. Together, the low end adds a power that grounds the emotional highs and ensures that, however catchy the melodies get, the band never drifts into saccharine territory. The early 2000s looms throughout the entire record, echoing the golden age of emo and pop punk, the era when these styles ruled the airwaves. However, they take those elements and filter them through a distinctly modern lens. The production is crisp but not entirely pure. You can hear the lineage, from emo’s underground roots to orgcore’s heart-on-sleeve anthems, but it’s recombined to fit the fight me irl. signature moves. Lyrically, this EP doesn’t shy away from the emotional messiness that fuels emo and punk rock music. The exhaustion of daily life, the ache of trying to belong, the contradictions of joy and regret tangled together, but rather than drowning in those feelings, the songs carve them into hooks, turning personal struggle into collective catharsis. That balance is where this record finds its power.

Releasing music on a mini CD in 2025 is almost absurd, but that absurdity is the point. It’s a rejection of the frictionless consumption that dominates music today. It insists on a ritual, slide the disc into a tray, press play, listen. The choice mirrors the band’s music itself, raw, calculated, unwilling to be reduced to background fodder. It’s a small act of defiance, but in punk and emo, small acts of defiance are the whole point. They’ve resurrected a forgotten format, yes, but more importantly, they’ve resurrected a feeling: that thrill of hearing a band capture lightning in a bottle, of realizing you’re listening to something that matters. There is confidence in every chord, every chorus, every decision to lean into melody or distortion. If you’re willing to dig out a CD tray, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most irresistible emo punk releases of the year, a record that tastefully and boldly merges the past, present, and future of this genre. Head to Nasty Cut Records for more information about ordering.

#EMO #FIGHTMEIRL_ #INDIE #MUSIC #NASTYCUTRECORDS #ORGCORE #POPPUNK #REVIEWS

Burnt Tapes – New Lungs LP (Nasty Cut Records)

Burnt Tapes have always been one of those bands you could count on to cut through the noise. They were always one of those bands that carried honesty and avoided the current music trends. With New Lungs, their sophomore album, the London-based band takes that honesty and sets it ablaze. It’s one of those records that establishes them as one of the most important voices in contemporary melodic punk rock. From the start, New Lungs feels heavier, not just sonically, but emotionally. It is a record built on scars, personal chaos, fractured nights, and the uneasy balance between regret and renewal. What sets New Lungs apart from other records is that it never collapses under the weight of its own seriousness. Burnt Tapes take pain and alchemize it into collaborative effort, something that feels like an exhale after holding your breath for years. The title is a metaphor for the more than necessary change we need to see in the world right now.

Sonically, the record sits squarely in the lineage of orgcore’s finest like The Meningers, Kali Masi, Red City Radio, etc. That lineage matters because Burnt Tapes clearly studied the emotional muscle those bands brought into punk rock, but they’ve sharpened it with their own particular vocabulary. The guitars bleed honesty, their interplay creating jagged and yearning harmonies simultaneously. The riffs lean gruff and chunky, but they know when to give way to atmosphere, when to stretch into moody alternative tones that add weight to the emotional terrain. This duality continuously defines the record. The vocals anchor the album in raw humanity. There’s no posturing here, no attempt to sand away the imperfections. The delivery is gravel-throated, bruised, and deeply sincere. At times, it breaks into more vulnerable, even tender, and the effect is devastating. Besides words, you’ll hear the ache that gave them life. Backing vocals weave in and out, as if the band is collectively shouting back the words to keep themselves standing. This communal texture gives New Lungs its haste. These songs are made to be screamed on gigs, and Burnt Tapes did that with the purpose.

Lyrically, the album refuses easy resolutions. Burnt Tapes don’t deal in slogans or cheap catharsis. They sketch the contours of exhaustion, burnout, mental health battles, and heartbreak with precision and finesse. The writing is conversational yet sharp, often resembling the fragments of late-night conversations you only have with yourself, where you measure your failures and try to find some redemption in the wreckage. The brilliance lies in how they make these private reflections feel universal. You don’t need to know the specifics to feel the weight. The rhythm section deserves its own spotlight. The basslines are vivid, thick, and melodic, carrying more than just rhythm. They often hold the emotional center of these songs, adding warmth where the guitars tangle. The drumming, meanwhile, is tight and considered, leaning into energy without ever overplaying. There’s a technical precision at work, and every beat feels chosen to serve its purpose during the particular moment. If their debut showed Burnt Tapes could write anthemic punk rock tracks, New Lungs shows they can write soulful anthems that bruise. There’s maturity here, but not in the sterilized sense, not the “growing out of punk” narrative so many bands fall into. This is growth that doubles down on punk’s purpose, to confront, connect, and bleed out loud. The maturity comes from deeper vulnerability, from recognizing the costs of living and still choosing to sing about it.

Though each track carries its own punch, the record feels designed to be consumed whole. It unfolds like a diary written during a long stretch of turbulence, some entries frantic, some meditative, but all entirely honest. The sequencing matters, mainly because these moments of fury give way to reflection, only to be swallowed again by crashing waves of distortion. These dynamics vividly showcase the very struggles the album addresses, the cycle of breaking down and trying to rebuild. With New Lungs, you will realize why melodic punk rock survives on bands willing to keep digging into the raw edges of being alive and to do so with enough craft that it resonates beyond its immediate circle. This album demands your attention, pulls you into its orbit, and dares you to confront your own fractures along the way. The production deserves praise as well. It’s big without being bloated, crisp without losing its rawness. You can hear every instrument with clarity, but the mix never sterilizes the haste. The distortion still buzzes, and the vocals still sound like they’re on the verge of breaking.

There is defiance here, a refusal to let despair define the final note. Even in the darkest corners, you hear the spark of strength. It’s an album about burning out and finding a way back, about acknowledging damage but still moving forward. The catharsis is real, and it stays long after the final notes and beats. New Lungs is not just a sophomore record. It’s a statement of identity, a reaffirmation of why Burnt Tapes exist in the first place. Bigger, bolder, and more vulnerable than anything they’ve done before, it positions them as torchbearers of modern melodic punk rock. New Lungs is essential listening for those who believe punk can still matter, not as fashion or nostalgia, but as lifeblood. It’s the masterpiece of a band giving everything they have left, and in the process, finding new breath. Head to Nasty Cut Records for more information about ordering this punk rock gem.

#BURNTTAPES #indiePunk #melodicPunkRock #MUSIC #NASTYCUTRECORDS #ORGCORE #PUNKROCK #REVIEWS

It's not #OrgCore, it's #DadPunk

#Punk #PunkRock