Punk is OK previews three new tracks from Violent Affair's "Cockroach Theory"

I was lucky enough to get a preview of three upcoming album tracks from Oklahoma City punk band Violent Affair, two of which are unreleased anywhere. “Cockroach Theory” is the upcoming album that many punks and former punk radio DJs have been waiting years for. The band’s first album “Stand Trial” showed promise, their most recent single “A Call to Arms” and EP “The Pressure is Rising” showed the talent was there; “Cockroach Theory” seems to be the sign that everything is coming together for the band. I listened to all three of the songs a few times. Here are my first thoughts.

“Destroy Society” is one song that has been available online for a while, but I have to admit that I only really listened to it a couple times. After listening to it again, it surprised me how pogo-y it is. The lead guitar winds up and down the root notes as the rhythm guitarist provides a catchy riff. Dave’s street punk style vocals seem a little out of place when you first hear the song, but the more I listen to it the more I feel like it works for this spikey sing-along. One thing this song reminds me of is how much I like the interplay of vocals on recent Violent Affair releases. The variety of voices makes it feel like the gangs all here.

The next track I opened was the unreleased title track “Cockroach Theory”. The song intros with a stutter that reminds me of “Generator” era Bad Religion, and jumps into the steady street punk beat backed by Ryan’s no-bullshit drumming. The politically charged punk winds up and down in tempo before ending abruptly. This song feels straightforward at first, but the second time through, you start to notice all of the space in this song. The guitars, vocals, beat, and bass all go in and out to give the song a really different feel than your standard street punk track. Harmonized guitar solos and riffs make it a little reminiscent of the metal influence in old VA tracks. It is pretty easy to understand why this is the title track.

As a bassist, I am a sucker for a simple bass and drums intro. “Stronger Than Before” gives me a tingling feeling within the first 2 bars. Zach’s bass riff just sounds mean, I don’t know how else to put it. The line isn’t anything technical, but the tone and notes just make me want to clinch my fists. This track is probably the most recognizably Violent Affair sounding of the three I have, but it still has its share of breaks, guitar riffs with space between notes (ie not just constant strumming), and winding solos. The aspect that stands out for this track is the gang vocals. I can see the fists being raised live every pre-chorus.

These are just three songs from “Cockroach Theory” but they really show a developing sound for Violent Affair. Violent Affair has added a bit of originality to the street punk scene. It almost feels a little risky to step away from something that has been proven to get people moving, but the added creativity and variety in their emerging sound works. With these tracks, and plenty more that I haven’t got a chance to hear yet, I think Violent Affair is starting to come into their own. With the talent there, the songwriting solid, and the studs aplenty, who knows how far these guys can go.

The Dirty Mugs Ready First Full Length

The Dirty Mugs have made their way out of The Woods and into the studio, currently working on their first electric LP Wild Fire. The hardcordian wonder punks are working up 16 songs to release by the end of the year. Rumor has it they are hoping to have it finished and released by the end of September.

The band is currently in the editing and mixing stage, with most of the songs lacking only one or two vocal parts. Wild Fire is being mixed by Mugs guitarist and lead singer Eric "Grampa Friday" Coates and accordionist and  backup vocalist WreckinBall Duvall.

Although the band hasn't officially released a tracklist for the album, a sneak peak to yours truly showed there are mostly songs that have been written in the past year, skipping most of the older songs, as well as a traditional song arranged by the band. The songs come together with a good amount of variety. Some tracks blast out fast punk riffs while others growl along at the pace of a waltz.

For fans of the band, and I speak from experience in this regard, this album is well overdue. For those who just can't be satisfied with the acoustic sound or wish Weigh Anchor had more tracks on it, Wild Fire could prove to be well worth the wait.

Album Review: Night Birds - Born to Die in Suburbia

People who swear off of punk because “all of the bands sound the same” are lazy. Simply put, they’re lazy. It is easy to find 4,000 bands that sound alike; but if you dig deep and get lucky you might find a band like Night Birds. I was lucky enough to stumble on them just as they released Fresh Kills Vol. 1 on Grave Mistake. Since then I have pretty much drooled over anything they have released like it was an old Bad Brains album I’d never heard before.

Night Birds return with their second full-length record “Born to Die in Suburbia”. It is hard to believe that this album is only technically a sophomore release, following four EPs and their debut LP “The Other Side of Darkness”, also on Grave Mistake Records. Born to Die sounds like the band is hitting their stride nicely. Fresh off a release with Fat Wreck Chords for their Maimed for the Masses EP (of which the title track about wrestler Mick Foley also appears on this album), it would seem that they are headed in the right direction of gradually gathering fans while sticking to a sound they have developed.  

The songwriting is a mix of angsty songs about self-loathing and hating Christmas gatherings, surf-punk instrumentals, and tracks about pop culture (the continued references to John Carpenter don’t hurt a thing). The album as a whole feels more hardcore influenced than their previous works since it is much more driven by the vocals. That being said, the guitar work is still just as catchy as ever.

There are a few things that have unjustly pigeonholed this band since “Killer Waves”: the fact that East Bay Ray was somewhat influenced by surf guitar, causing everyone to compare them to DK; and the fact that Joey Erg is one of the founding members, forcing the comparison to The Ergs. This album will hopefully cement Night Birds as a band of their own, not one defined by their influences.

Born to Die has some of the same surf punk influence that helps set the band apart, but reaches a bit further to include a large variety of songs. The fast songs are much more aggro than any of their previous releases. The vocals go over the top with energy and anger. The slow songs bring on feelings of angst and tension, before releasing it in the first few beats of the next track.

If someone tells you that punk is dead, I would suggest that you hand them a copy of this album. It is somehow a perfect mix of modern and old school. To me, the biggest downside of the album is that there are only 14 tracks, and two of those are instrumentals. I would love to have a longer album to see how deep the band can really dig when writing songs. That being said, “Born to Die in Suburbia” is not for everyone. It isn’t spikey punk, but if you’ve ever enjoyed 80’s hardcore, Dick Dale, or good loud fast music, give it a listen.

The album will be out tomorrow (July 8th). 

Album Review: Sunny Side Up - Paradise in the Sky

Ever get the urge to bust out the checkered vans, checkered sunglasses, checkered skinny tie, checkered hat, checkered (insert black and white accessory)?  Oklahoma City’s Sunny Side Up is here to make sure the third wave never dies in Oklahoma. Bands like The Ceiling Tiles, Tell It to the Brass (who turned into The Last Slice), Third Grade Scuffle, and others like them will never be forgotten in the ska scene; but after a while the ska/punk scene just died out in Oklahoma.

The album is a throwback to the mid-90s, with all of the standard ska-rock songs: a girl being cooler than you, not making it because you’re a ska band, being in a ska band, and so on. Combine the ska styles with the band’s love of anime and Japanese culture and you should hardly be surprised that they have comic style artwork, their own four part comic book series coming out, and Jun Senoue playing guitar on a track.

The sound of the album is very impressive for (what I understand) is mostly a DIY album. The two piece horn combo sounds powerful, and helps to direct the songs. The guitars drive on the rock parts and sound natural and pop on the skanky ska parts. On top of the sound, the album is just fun to listen to. I've said the word catchy a few times already, but it really does describe some of the songs. I currently have "Hipster Girl"on repeat.

A few critiques:

• the vocals are a little too overdone and layered too think for my tastes, but they make for some catchy choruses
• MORE BASS!
• four or five songs are from a previous EP. They’re some of my favorites, but people might already have half of the album.
• not enough songs about saying “fuck you” to hipster girls

This album is not reinventing anything, and it doesn’t really need to. Ska/punk in Oklahoma has been null for a long time. I am glad to see someone trying to keep it alive, and, so far, succeeding at it. Along with Classy San Diego, these guys have a pretty decent chance of making sure the punky skanky horn driven rock genre never goes away in the OK. This album is for the ska kids, by the ska kids. Not something recommended for the punx, but if you want to unwind and have some fun listening to catchy local music check, give this one a chance.

EP Review: Night Birds - Maimed for the Masses

Fat Wreck Chords have introduced Night Birds to a little bit more of the world with their new EP Maimed for the Masses. This is inevitably just another step toward the band’s complete world domination. I can’t think of a band to come out of the past 5 years that I have liked more, and everyone who listens to them seems to be getting just as attached as I am.

With Maimed for the Masses they face one of their first tests as a growing band: being released on a bigger label. Whether you call a band “sell-out” or not, it is hard to deny that bands tend to change their sound when they get the opportunity to spend some money on recording and post-production. The first thing I was very happy to hear was the gritty reverb-tinged lead guitar line that has come to be Night Bird’s signature sound. As the full sound kicks in, the title track “Maimed for the Masses” feels just as energetic and catchy as “Killer Waves”.

The intensity gets kicked up on the second track “Barred Out”, a song about being on the all –too recreational prescription drug Xanex. This second track is full of energy, anger, and angst. This track is a juxtaposition of every person I have ever met who does bars. The lyrics aren’t anything special, but the music makes me want to get up and break stuff. I think that this is the only thing that saves the song from being just alright. Then again, I have never done “zanies”, so this song just really doesn’t speak to me from the start, probably one reason why it was cut from the full album.

“Last Gasp” brings the Birds’ surf sound to the forefront with a winding guitar rif, whammy bar, and enough reverb to make your brain to feel like it’s shaking. Once again, this song feels a little bland for Night Birds, which explains why it is a B-side on an EP of songs that didn’t make the full length. There just isn’t much catchy about the song. The way I hear it, the emphasis of the song is placed on the reverbed staccato guitar hits that start the song and separate the verses.

The EP closes with a raucous instrumental surf song like Night Birds tend to close with. This track is good. If "Boat Trash" is the instrumental they dropped from the full length, I can’t wait to hear the ones that made it.

Overall, this is an EP leading up to an album, so you can’t put too much pressure on these songs. After all these were the songs that didn’t make it on the LP, but if you give it a few listens you really don’t get that from it. It feels like a standalone release. The single “Maimed for the Masses” is a great song, the B-sides don’t let you down, and the instrumental just kicks ass. This is a good way to get the public ready for their upcoming album.

written by Tip Toasty

New Violent Affair Song off Upcoming "The Cockroach Theory"

Jailhouse Records have posted a song off of the upcoming Violent Affair full length titled "The Cockroach Theory".

You can stream the song by clicking here.

This song gives a good impression of the band's latest sound. I have been lucky enough to hear previews of four songs on the upcoming album, and each of them carry the same energy from this track. "The Cockroach Theory" comes out September 10th.

Tulsa's The Shame to be Included on Upcoming Compilation

Oi! the Boat Records have announced round 2 of their VOi!ce of America series, which includes Tulsa Oi! punks The Shame. The four band compilation is available on 7" vinyl this spring.

The release also includes Colorado Springs skinhead band 99 Bottles, Denver pogo punkers The Bad Engrish, and Seattle Oi! band Noi!se. Pre-orders start May 10th at http://oitheboatrecords.limitedrun.com/

Night Birds Preview EP & Full Length With "Maimed for the Masses"

Fat Wreck Chords is currently streaming the title track from the upcoming Night Birds EP "Maimed for the Masses". The NJ punk band is set to release their second full length album mid July on Grave Mistake Records. To get set for the full release, they are releasing an EP on Fat Wreck.

The thing that I have loved about Night Birds is that they sound like the my favorite days of punk rock are still going strong. So many bands try to sound like they are '77 sound or mimic 80's hardcore. To me, Night Birds sound like they are part of the group who origniated punk, not a band started a few years ago.

The song "Maimed for the Masses" is a great return to form. Since this is the first recording released since "The Other Side of Darkness" and their first release on Fat Wreck, I was anxious to get a preview of the their current sound. The song immediately shows the reverb-tinged surfy side that is a part of many Night Birds songs. Soon enough it kicks into a speedy riff that is catchy enough that it took me several listens to figure out the lyrics are about professional wrestler Mick Foley.

You can hear the song for yourself below. Night Birds are playing at Chaos in Tejas on June 1st and 2nd.

Interview: Violent Affair's "The Pressure is Rising"

When you hear anyone talking about street punk in Oklahoma, the name Violent Affair usually comes up (or at least some variation including a “The” or an “A” at the beginning). The band has gained quite a bit of national notoriety, and even has some international fans. They have toured all over the country, and played with some mainstays of the punk scene.

Unfortunately, Violent Affair runs into the same problem that seems to plague other Oklahoma bands like The Dirty Mugs and The Last Slice; they have not released a full length in about three years. In 2012 they signed to Jailhouse Records, a punk label out of Virginia that has also released bands like Pinkerton Thugs, The Scarred, and Tenebrae. Soon after signing, they released “A Call to Arms” a 7” single that signals good things for the bands future releases.

This June, the OKC punks will release “The Pressure is Rising”, an EP which will lead up to the release of their next full length. I got a chance to chat with Zach, bassist for the band, about the release and their upcoming tour with The Casualties.

PiOK: Your sound has changed a lot from Stand Trial. How has it evolved on "The Pressure is Rising"?

Zach: I think the most interesting thing about following punk rock bands is seeing how they change and evolve over the years. I think we've grown as musicians from playing together all the time. The music definitely pushes different aspects of punk rock that we liked a lot but couldn't express as well before. The good answer is we're angrier than we used to be.

PiOK: What are you angrier about?

Zach: (Laughs) Lots of things. More specifically, other than the blitz cover none of these songs are necessarily upbeat. Each song is kind of about a different issue that really was fucking with us be it a personal song like “No Way Out”, or a kind of rally song like “A Call to Arms”. “Social Disease” is the track we did for “Punk Aid: Indonesia”, “Dead End Nights” is a preview of what kind of stuff is to come for our follow up full length "The Cockroach Theory"

(Check out Dead End Nights, which will appear on "The Pressure is Rising")

PiOK: What made you guys want to cover "Someone's Gonna Die?" What was it like recording it?

Zach: We all love blitz. We got drunk and recorded it. Jesse almost knocked over a really nice microphone.

PiOK: This EP is leading up to your next album. Was it recorded at the same time?

Zach: It was. These are all tracks we did in the mean time for various EPs and compilations

PiOK: So can we expect the sound, not just recording quality but also songwriting, to be a good indicator to what the new album sounds like?

Zach: Definitely. This is a good definite mix of what Violent Affair is doing now. It's more than it used to be.

PiOK: I’d like to switch gears a bit. You're getting ready to head out on tour with The Casualties. How did that come to be?

Zach: We've played with The Casualties a few times now and throughout our growing-up as a band they've been super helpful. They supported us and helped to get our name out and were just all around awesome dudes. They hit us up last month asking if we wanted to do a stint with them around the U.S. and we were like...how are we gonna turn that down? (laughs)

PiOK: No doubt. Now that you have this big tour and upcoming releases, where are you hoping to take the band? How far do you have to go before you consider yourselves successful?

Zach: As far as success goes, I think we're happy with where we're at right now. We all started out as young kids who wanted to be in a punk rock band. Now we get to do that and people are showing up and having a good time. We just want to spread the message to as many people as possible. We'll keep doing this until someone shuts us up, I guess.

PiOK: Thanks for taking time to chat. I just have one more very serious question. What is your current stud count?

Zach: Current stud count is approximately 250 including 2 belts and a vest. It's a casual afternoon.

PiOK: “The Pressure is Rising” is scheduled to release in June on Jailhouse Records. “The Cockroach Theory” is scheduled to come out later this year. Check out a video of them playing Blitz at The Conservatory in Oklahoma City.

New Music: Combat Crisis "No Division"

Combat Crisis just posted a new song called "No Division" from their upcoming album "System Rats" which you can check out below.



Combat Crisis are a street punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The new album is supposed to drop by the end of the month. They will also be playing in Tulsa this summer at the Fuck You, We Rule, OK festival.