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@nowplayingatmrr

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LPs, CDs, tapes, zines, etc. that your Maximum Rocknroll reviewers/contributors/shitworkers are currently digging!

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I’ve been buried underneath a pile of new releases the past few weeks (not a bad thing) and wanted to keep it short and sweet today with a quick palette cleanse with what is possibly my favorite 80’s punk LP, the one and only “Is This My World” by JERRYS KIDS.

23 minutes of totally berserk energy with what may be the greatest drumming I’ve heard on a hardcore record. That’s not meant to be hyperbolic, Brian Betzger seriously set the standard here and just bursts through the speakers. It truly has to be heard to be believed.

That’s all I’ve got, this record speaks for itself more than most. Now to listen to “Crucify Me” for the 100th time.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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2 days ago

Wife / Triclops (15 yr anniversary show)
@bottomofthehillsf 10/12/2026 by @nowplayingatmrr

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4 days ago

Another week, another total ripper on the turntable. This time via the ever reliable La Vida Es Un Mus and RAT CAGE, one of, if not my favorite, modern punk band from the U.K. (that changes almost daily so ask me again tomorrow who my favorite is).

After playing the shit out of their 2023 LP “Savage Visions”, I was so stoked when this album was announced and after patiently awaiting it’s arrival, I’m pleased to say that in my opinion, this is their best material and a record currently in my top spot for album the year. Again, that could change any day, especially considering what’s still in store for this year including the upcoming new KOHTI TUHOA LP, also on LVEUM.

But I won’t get ahead of myself, “Not Asking For Much” is an incredibly dynamic and incredibly cohesive record with excellent song writing. @sorrystate did a fantastic write up and dive deeper on specifics than I’d care to here, but trust me when I say this is an all-timer and essential listening for even the most critical of ears.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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9 days ago

After a few weeks of K.O.S. and EARLY GRAVE dominating my turntable, the new TOTALITÄR has taken over in the most played department.

It’s not often you hear so much acclaim for a legacy band’s new material after 20 or so years. Typically in rock music there seems to be a “play the hits” attitude and last I remember, no one was clamoring for say, new Rolling Stones songs.

But that isn’t the case here; the new TOTALITÄR fervor has been real and is very well deserved. To my ears they sound as massive as ever, giving any new band playing this style of hardcore (that they developed) a run for their money.

I knew there was a reason I use TOTALITÄR as often as I do as reference points in my reviews; they wrote the god damn playbook.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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16 days ago

Today we’re getting an underappreciated 2020s release selected by Erika Elizabeth:

Rocky
Rocky LP
Lulu’s Sonic Disc Club 2023

Gentle post-punk / indie pop out of Melbourne featuring Raven Mahon (Grass Widow) and Xanthe White (Primo, Terry). I (Alex) can attest to the underappreciated-ness of this record because I’m a huge fan of these folks prior bands, and I didn’t even know this record existed until I saw it pop up on just a couple of folks YETTs. Go give it a listen!

#underappreciated2020srelease #maximumrocknroll #punk #postpunk #indiepop by @nowplayingatmrr

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21 days ago

Not to be hyperbolic, but the past few months have me feeling like 2026 will be a year looked back on as a landmark year for hardcore and punk music.

I mean, the 1-2-3 of K.O.S., RAT CAGE, and this EARLY GRAVE LP is enough to make it a milestone year, and that’s not including TOTALITÄR and a slew of other heaters I’ve had the pleasure of bursting my ear drums to in the past 10-ish month. Who knows what else the end of the year has in store.

ANYWAYS! Not sure what’s going on in Philly but the city consistently produces some of the best punk records coming out, including this insane EARLY GRAVE LP. I was totally hooked on their 7” earlier this year but this thing is a total beast that will be vying for the top spot of my end of the year list.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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23 days ago

Lately there have been two reoccurring themes in my conversations about music: 1) it seems like music is getting more disposable; and 2) it often feels like everybody is hyping the same handful of bands. To combat both of these issues, I’m starting a new series to allow MRR shitworkers to highlight 2020s releases they think are overlooked/underappreciated.

For the first entry, I’m highlighting:

Warm Red
Decades of Breakfast LP
State Laughter 2020

One of my favorite releases of the decade for sure. Sounds like a mix of A Frames and Diamanda Galas. No idea why it didn’t get the hype it deserved. Probably didn’t help that this came out at the tail-end of one of the worst years in modern history. In any event, it’s so fuckin good! by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago

After last year’s excellent MASSACRED LP, I’ve been eagerly awaiting @active8_records’ next releases. Needless to say I was not disappointed a few weeks ago when they announced two new 7”s, one being this scorcher from HÄVITTÄJÄT. Finnish-style hardcore via Melbourne? What more could you ask for?

For real though I love everything coming out of Melbourne/Naarm; bands like HACKER, ENZYME, PHANTASM (and countless others) are all so good. I’m of the opinion that the region really goes pound for pound with any other punk scene at the moment.

Anyways, this thing is so good, I implore you to grab a copy as it isn’t streaming anywhere online (maybe the way it should be, but I’ll save that for another post). Looks like copies are still available via @active8_records, but @sorrystate is sold out, a surefire sign that these won’t last long. Don’t sleep!

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago

Currently listening to the latest episode of MRR radio!

Featuring:

HALF JAPANESE – Double Trouble
Don’t Believe What They Say Anymore
CALIFORNIA LIGHTENING – Basement
ALPACA BROTHERS – The Lie
PLEBS – Corporate War
TEAM WORK – I Burnt My Tongue With F-icience This Morning
SPORTEN ÄR DÖD – En Pistol Och Glas
MARS – Look at You
DELTA Z – Der Arbeiter
SHADOWLAND – Fire & Silver
SHRINES – Cathartic Life
EX-DIEL – Fishtank
ALISON’S BIRTHDAY – Further Than the Moon
DRUM BUNNY — Rhapsody in Purple
SPREAD JOY – Vindicated By
SCREAMING SNEAKERS – Abnormal Reflections
DADDY’S BOY – Polite
SPLITTING IMAGE – Unwilling Participant
SOFT SHOULDER – The Ballad of a Mechanical Lull
MONOTON TID – Vågorna
SECOND LANGUAGE – On the Edge by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago

Whew, this K.O.S. record is a doozy...and has been arguably one of the most hyped up records to come out this year. As soon as “The Terrifying Power Of Bombardment” was announced I saw way more buzz around it than your usual hardcore album, which isn’t surprising considering the following this band has amassed over the years.

The question then, does it deliver on the hype? I didn’t listen to it until I got my copy about a week ago and since then I’ve spun it maybe four times or so and to me, it absolutely does.

I don’t know what anyone would expect other than a ripping/blistering/insert-adjective-here crusty d-beat record but “TTPOB” is all of that and more. Great production, great riffs, and insane-o drumming that isn’t exactly the same song after song.

I could go more in depth but you get the picture. If anyone needs a reason to get excited about this sort of thing in 2026, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago

Circuit / Odor Eater / Drugs
At @thrillhouse_records 9/6 by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago

Since inundating myself with 80’s USHC records these last few weeks, it feels appropriate to fast forward 40+ years to SHAVED APE’s “Loveletter To Hardcore”.

A one person project from Vince K of countless other bands, it’s clear that Vince not only adores this subculture but excels at producing some of the best punk in recent years. Lo-fi, fast as fuck, and channeling some of the best in the genre, there’s not much to say about this other than that it fucking rules.

Including the year’s gnarliest insert from the one and only @keithcaves and wrapped in a photo of a young Riky Barnes joyfully ollieing a deck in presumably 1980-something, this is the real deal and arguably the closest you can get to the genuine article in 2026.

I know this is only a whopping five months old, which these days feels like a lifetime, but god damn, if you haven’t listened to this one yet you’re missing out. Excellent proof that punk is not in fact dead.

#vinyl #punk #record taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nowplayingatmrr

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a month ago