Avail- Over The James (Circa: 1998)

Lookout Records

Avail are one of the best bands in the world, serving up their own country fried, anthemic brand of hardcore punk…a meal which I will swallow each and every time. Ranging from fast and melodic to hard-edged and ferocious these boys tear through all their songs with a power and energy that is seldom seen outside of a nuclear detonation. Buy all of their albums, and check out this absolutely amazing band the next time they come through your town. You won’t regret it.          CS

Bear Vs Shark- Right Now You're In the Best of Hands (Circa: 2003)

Equal Vision Records

These raving lunatics have taken a new crack a what you could call the foundation of punk rock. Random lyrics followed by sporadic drumbeats with intense guitar part spell destruction... right up to the point where they drop it down about ten notches, and back into the carefree melodic. This is THE unpredictable band of the new millennium with everything from strange album art to drawing deep philosophical questions like; Who would win in a match between a Bear and a Shark? Basically if you like fast gruff music...You'll dig this.      PM

The Suicide Machines- Destruction By Definition (Circa: 1996)

Hollywood Records

The year was 1996, “Destruction By Definition” was released and thus began a decade long love affair between this cd and me. I’ve played it so many times that I wore it out, I’ve owned four copies. I instantly fell in love with the intricate bass lines, fast precise drumming, bouncy guitars and vocalist Jay Navarro’s voice which ranges from old school punk snottiness to ferocious screams. Never had a band since Operation Ivy released such an album that invigorated the ska-core sound. There’s something for everyone on this album, one of my favorite things about “DBD” is their cover of Minor Threat’s I Don’t Wanna Hear It, which truth be told…I enjoy more than the original. The band went on to record two more amazing albums (“Battle Hymns”, “War Profiteering..”) and several complete flops. But this album rises above all these and has truly stood the test of time.          CS 

Unitas- Porch Life (Circa: 2001)

No Idea Records

This record is a coupling of sounds that range from mid eighties fuzzed out punk rock to alt-country ala Uncle Tupelo. Twangy, raucous guitars lead the way into a toe-tapping stomp that’s held up by Jason Black’s always amazing bass playing. The vocals alternate between gritty and soft spoken, always spitting out heaps of venom toward pathetic “punks” caught up with fashion. Best lyrics ever: “Get up off that floor pretty boy/A catchy chorus won’t save you from this/I’ll give you something to cry about/I want that 45 minutes of my life back right now.” Classic!          CS

Combat Wounded Veteran-I Know A Girl Who Develops Crime Scene Photos (Circa:2000)

No Idea Records

If Napalm Death and Converge had a sexual liaison, Combat Wounded Veteran would surely be their bastard love child. Is it punk rock; hardcore…is it grind, I don’t know. I don’t know how to go about describing this one; all I know is that you should purchase it and decide for yourself. I can tell you this- in the course of listening to this album I alternately feel like: wearing Birkenstocks and becoming a roadie for Phish, eating my cats, killing a cowboy and stabbing myself in the face with a fork…your mind gets instantly sucked into this vortex of madness as soon as you hit play. Suffice to say, I fucking love it.          CS

Screeching Weasel- Anthem For a New Tomorrow (Circa: 1993)

Lookout! Records

The fifth full length album from song writer Ben Weasel is more listener-friendly then  the previous albums. They use a little more melody with makes the mood more catch and easier to digest for those who like there punk medium rare. Songs like "Talk to Me Summer" and "Falling Apart" make this a great first date album for young punk couple. If you can appreciate the creative and otherwise demented methods of BW, then this somewhat watered-down fifth album is a great catch. If you don't know about Screeching Weasel then download it first.          PM

Donuts N’ Glory- When Pregnasaurs Ruled The Earth… (Circa: 1996)

Liberation Records

This album is a whirlwind of snotty punk fury meshed with fast melodic guitars and even faster drumming…all cumulating into one of the silliest, most fun pop punk records ever. Donuts N’ Glory may take their music seriously but their keen sense of humor shines through on every track, with song titles like Rockstars Airplanes (Always Crash), Before Baywatch,) and the hilarious Bitches Aint Hoes… the fictious story of an incompletely reformed misogynist. This record is way out of print, so if you can find it for under thirty bucks you should definitely pick it up.          CS   

The Broadways- Broken Star (Circa: 1998)

Asian Man Records

 This record is one of the ones that will always find it’s way into your stereo on a regular basis. From start to finish this is an amazingly catchy and thought provoking album from 15 Minutes- an ode to despising the capitalist machine to the albums closing track Nautical Mile, a cry for people to unite. Covering everything from politics to the trials and tribulations of everyday life, this album will be considered one of your lifelong favorites.   This is the epitome of great melodic punk…they just don’t make albums like this anymore.          CS

Rumbleseat- Is Dead (Circa: 2005)

No Idea Records

Rumbleseat was the country side project manned by HWM guitarists/vocalist Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard with the line up rounded out with Samantha Jones. “Is Dead” is a collection of songs originally released as several 7” records and put to disk for your convenient musical enjoyment. This record consists of covers of old traditional songs, with a spot on take of Johnny Cash/June Carters Jackson and their absolutely amazing version of Uncle Tupelos Moonshiner.  Samantha’s sweet crooning voice is a perfect offset to the gruff, whiskey soaked vocals of the Hot Water boys. This is the perfect country record even punk rockers can enjoy. The only complaint I have with this album is the absence of one of Rumbleseats greatest songs- Walk Through The Darkness.          CS

88 Fingers Louie/Kid Dynamite- split (Circa: 1999)

Sub City Records

88 Fingers Louie hails from Chicago, IL and were the crem de la crème of the skate punk scene. On this record they proved once again while they deserve that honor. Solid songs like Slow Chorus Overlap and Reparation rock like traditional 88, while Out There is by far the heaviest song they’ve ever written. Kid Dynamite are the favorite sons of Philadelphia, Pa and play fast hard edged songs with a lot of melodic leanings. This release shows the usual great musicianship that the band has always shown, plus their brilliant cover of Black Flag’s Rise Above, by far this albums best track. Usually, I’m not a huge fan of split records but this, my friends, is a must own.          CS

Avenged Sevenfold- Sounding the Seventh Trumpet (Circa: 2002)

Hopeless Records

Forget what you know about A7X because they suck ass now! When I think of this album I think of an entirely different entity.  At one point in time theses guys wanted to play original hardcore/metal and they did it well. If you want to know why Matt Shadows had surgery on his vocal chords, then listen to this morbid masterpiece. This album focuses more on delicious metal riffs not Slash (G&R) rip-offs, and youthful despair as appose to washed up Axel Rose skits. Song "Seize the Day" from new album "City of Evil" makes me want to vomit having head songs like "Turn the Other Way". The only thing I like about A7X now is the fact they're not rap. Maybe not.   Send your stupid Avenged Sevenfold opinion to: patmcdaniel@diatribeinc.com.        PM

As Friends Rust- Won (Circa: 2001)

Doghouse Records

This first full length album could at the time be describe as hardcore punk for the adventurous. As Friends Rust combines slower more brutish verses into knock-down drag-out choruses. The lyrics tell stories of heartache and sacrifice. The perfect assembly for a band that was ahead of their time and followed a musical movement similar to that of Hot Water Music. If these guys were still a group they would undoubtedly be one of the essential punk rock bands of today.

PM