Anxious

2025 seems to be a slow year as far as new releases are concerned, or a least new releases by bands I like. One of the few records I was actually looking forward to was the new Anxious LP. The previous one, Little Green House, was so good. Definitely one of my favorite records of the 2020s. So when I read that Anxious was going to release a new LP, I was very happy. Ordering a copy from the US was a no-go thought and the versions available through the European store weren’t that nice to look at. However, the version exclusively available through Devil Dog mailorder out of the UK looked very good. I shot a message to Marcus to ask him if I could have delivered this record (and a couple of others) to his place and then have one big parcel sent to me eventually. Gentleman that he is, he’d offered that service before, but I just wanted to make sure. Once that was sorted out, I could go on and order the record(s). 

I was in no hurry to get the record(s), even though it meant I wouldn’t be able to listen to the record for a while because certain records I want to listen to on vinyl for the first time. I’m old-fashioned that way. Anyway, an opportunity of saving on shipping arose when a very good friend of mine told me he was going to do merch for Bane again and one of the shows was going to be close to where Marcus lives. I checked with Marcus to see if he was going to be at that show and sure enough he was planning on going. So my friend took some records I had for Marcus and Marcus gave him the records he had for me, which my friend in turn gave me a couple of days later when I caught Bane on the same tour. Good old punk mail still works in 2025. 

So about three weeks ago I could finally listen to Bambi. As much as I liked the predecessor, this album hasn’t grabbed me at all as of now. It sounds too polished. Maybe it’ll grow on me, who knows. I actually hope it’ll grow on me because I really liked all the Anxious material so far. But for now this is a let down for me. I don’t know what to make of the art work either to be honest. The best thing about the record is the vinyl color. That looks amazing. 

1st Press on Clear w/ Glitter on Run For Cover /300 (Devil Dog Exclusive)

Close up of the record. Just beautiful. 

Found

Question: Can one ever have enough Walter Schreifels related records? Answer: No. Found was supposed to be the second Rival Schools album, but it never materialised that way because the label didn‘t hear a single. Well, that pretty much should tell you everything about major labels. Some of them songs were leaked or had been played live, but they weren‘t available on vinyl. That was until 2013, so only about 10 years after the songs were written. Fast forward another 12 years and I finally listened to these songs as well. 

In addition to Rival Schools original songs you also get a nice Buzzcocks cover to end the album. I really like the printed inner sleeve with the United By Fate artwork. That‘s a nice touch. 

3rd Press (2024 Repress) on Half Olive / Half Cream on Run For Cover /700

Fan Boy

Towards the end of last year I saw Quicksand for the first time and thus crossed off one of my main wants on my bucket list of bands/artists I want to see. They opened with Omission and for the next 45 minutes or so I was completely captivated by the band, and in particular Walter Schreifels. He’s just such a talented musician and you could clearly tell he was having a great time. Dude couldn’t write a bad song if he wanted to. 

After the show I made the resolution to buy any Walter related material I didn’t have already. I’ve had United By Fate for quite a white and it is a a great record. I don’t know what kept me from buying the second Rival Schools LP for so long, but here we finally are. Not quite as good as United By Fate, but Petals is another excellent album. The artwork fits the name of the album really nicely and the vinyl color is chosen really well. I’m very glad I was able to add this to the collection. 

2024 Repress on Clear Pink Swirl on Run For Cover /1000

One Step Closer

When I picked up the last One Step Closer record last year I wrote that I was afraid of the their musical progression on their next output, meaning going even more pop. Yet they did just that and somehow I like All You Embrace more than Songs For The Willow. I'm not sure if my taste in music has changed or they are just really good at what they're doing, but it's funny how that goes sometimes. Be that as it may, I really enjoy the songs on this record. 

The artwork is kinda meh, but the packaging is excellent. Run For Cover always goes the extra mile. Big poster and a giant booklet, all printed I color. This kind of packaging actually justifies a slightly higher price. Good job by both label and band. 

1st Press on White on Run For Cover /1200

More Clarity

What makes a very good record store an outstanding record store? A great second hand section, and that’s exactly what Clarity has! Experienced crate diggers will tell you that heading straight is the only right move when going to a record store with a used punk / hardcore record section. 

First up is Delinquent Songs by local Adelaide band The Personalities. Music = ? Footy, the owner of Clarity Records, also happened to sing for this band. The music is very much punk. Going by the name of the band, the release, and the song titles, you might have already guesses that. It's not my go to kind of music these days, but I really enjoy this record. As an avid record collector himself, he put in extra effort to make the record unique. As you can see there’s a flap on the right hand side / at the bottom of the sleeve if you open it. This makes it slightly inconvenient to store, because the flap makes the sleeve a tad bigger than regular sleeves. But it is a cool feature and I appreciate the creativity. Marcus will frown at the next statement, but black vinyl is really the best choice of color for this release. It looks so classy with the artwork. 

1st Press (?) on Black (self-released)

In the 2000s, Youngblood Records was a safe bet for releases I liked. The Lights Out LP has always been a record that I really enjoyed, but their only 7” Get Out had always eluded me. Listening to this record, not picking up a copy sooner was clearly a poor decision on my part. Especially considering that his record is easy to find and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. This kind of music will always grab me. 

1st Press on Black on Youngblood Records /???

Latest God is an Australian band, made up of scene veterans I’ve been told. I’m getting very strong Dag Nasty vibes on their s.t. debut on vinyl. Cool record. 

1st Press on Maroon on Life.Lair.Regret /???

Shook Ones is one of those bands I rarely listen to, but whenever I do, I tell myself that I need to listen to them more often. Too much music, too little time. Anyway, I didn’t have a copy of Merriweather Post Pavillion yet, so buying a copy sitting right in front of me wasn’t a particularly hard decision. 

This last record, a split between Adventures and Pity Sex, I picked up for two reasons: 1) the Adventures LP is awesome and I listen to this a lot when working at home and 2) they cover Behind This Wall by Turning Point. Which, as it turns out, is a phenomenal cover in my opinion. The other song by Adventures is also really good and I also enjoy the Pity Sex side a lot. Very poppy, but the good kind of poppy. This split may be my favorite of the whole lot. 

2nd Press on White and Orange on Run For Cover /1000

The B-Side looks pretty cool as well. Also, imagine doing a second press of 2000 copies in total for any record nowadays, let alone a split 7”! Crazy how the vinyl landscape has changed in the last 10 years.  

All in all, the trip to Clarity Records was as good as it could be. Makes me wish for a cool record store in my area too, though. 

Myself In The Way

A couple of years ago, some friends and I did a Mosh Madness for the 2010s, a period in hardcore whose first half was a dark age for me. I wasn’t a big fan of the change in sound back then and consequently didn‘t check out that many new bands back then. During the Mosh Madness I was exposed to a lot of bands I‘d never given a chance before and I actually discovered a lot of bands that I really liked. Hindsight is always 20/20 I guess. 

One of those bands was Turnover. Not a hardcore band at all, but I really fell for their indie / pop punk tunes. Very relaxing music I enjoy listening to while working at home. Myself In The Way is their 5th full length and while it‘s not their best material, I really like this record. 

First Press on Cream /unknown quantity according to the RFC website

As you can see, the record sleeve comes with a bunch of random holes, but once you insert the ‘dust sleeve‘, you get the actual cover. 

                                          

Death Is Nothing To Us

Fiddlehead have been one of the best bands in recent years. Call it hardcore, call it adjacent. Doesn‘t matter, because they simply make awesome music. Death Is Nothing To Us is another really good album that Fiddlehead put out, but it had to grow on me a little bit. The album title is quite daring, but that has probably to do with age creeping up on me. 

Side note: I ordered that record directly from Run For Cover in the US. I rarely do so these days because shipping overseas is crazy, but every once in a while I will splurge the extra money if it‘s a band I really care about. The other reason I almost never order directly from the States is that the customs office has been much stricter the last few years, so on top of outrageous shipping costs, there‘s usually also customs fees. So, while all of that sucks, I knew what I was getting into when I ordered the record. What I didn‘t know was that the customs office would keep the record for about 2.5 months before they actually processed it and I finally received the record about 3 months after it was mailed.  

It was all worth it though, because I really like this variant. Also, I will always love a huge poster that comes with a record. 

1st Press on Blue Swirl /900 (Run For Cover Exclusive)

One Step

I love when friends tell me not to pick up certain records because a) that means they know my taste b) I might be getting a record for free and c) I have good taste in friends. I was talking to a good friend of mine and during the conversation he dropped the not very subtle hint to not pick up the new One Step Closer record, which had just been announced then. Fine by me. I am a very patient person, so I didn't mind waiting to get a copy. Best of all, the record was delivered in person by said friend. Thanks again. 

One Step Closer has been of the better bands of the current wave of melodic hardcore bands. From Me To You, their 2019 release, is still a record I reach for fairly often. Songs For The Willow is also a really good record, but that's as far as they can take the pop sensibilities for my taste. The record sounds a little too polished to my ears. I really liked their style of being a little rough around the edges while also being very melodic. I can still enjoy this record, but I'm a little afraid of the next step they might take sound-wise. 

First press out of 300 copies on this colorway. 

Sinking Ships

At the Mindset / Praise show last weekend someone had a box with used records with him, so I took the opportunity and grabbed a few other things. I had a copy of Sinking Ship's Meridian 7" exactly like this a few years back, but I traded it away. I actually had the intention to pick up another copy right away. But for some reason that never happened, despite the fact that I really like this band and this release. Really glad I had the chance to get this one back finally, and at a bargain price too. 2nd press on sea foam green out of 1000.