Releases

Saturated

Beautiful ethereal Post wave punk, driving guitars and atmospheric bass lines accompanied by Brandi’s vocals make a perfect combination. It’s the type of record you’ll want to hear in a club or just sitting at home. Seriously is beautiful! Comparisons to bands like Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil come to mind at times on this record, however Rhythm of Cruelty takes the beauty of those two artist of the past and give a harder, darker, post punk edge and ambience.

Rhythm of Cruelty are Brandi Strauss & Ian Rowley
Cover collage created by Brandi Strauss for Static Control
Insert collage creted by Ian Rowley
Layout and design by Ian Rowley & Brandi Strauss
Recorded and mixed by Ian Rowley
Mastered by Daniel Husayn at North London Bomb Factory

Zawsze Nasze

Political dark punk from Moscow Russia. The CRISIS and MOB influences are clear and the grim sense of hope that these bands portrayed is reiterated in Sierpien’s music in a way I haven’t heard in so long. Simple and immediately catchy despite the Russian language this is a peace punk album for the modern times. Classic in approach but with a strong emphasis on the current state of conflict/apathy in Russia and beyond. For fans of classic dark peace punk such as FALL OUT, THE MOB, ZOUNDS, and CRISIS as well as Polish “Zimna Fala”/ “positive punk” from the mid 1980s.
From Will Bloomquist of Maximumrocknroll magazine
“Wow, this is such a gem, already a record-of-the-year contender for me and it’s still only spring! Moscow’s SIERPIEN may have recorded this album last year, but it could easily pass for a top-of-the-class recording from 1982, blending and transcending a slew of influences like CRISIS, SIKIERA and the MOB in their quintessentially Eastern European take on dark punk. A studio-only two-piece masquerading as a power trio, the proceedings here are consistently anthemic as all hell; usually cold and yearning, occasionally funky and danceable, and, on songs like “New Middle Ages,” approximating a more anarcho SAD LOVERS AND GIANTS. I could blather on forever—it really is impossible to capture a perfect record in mere words—but trust me when I say this is not the kind of thing you can afford to miss. Simply genius.”

Lost Souls

Finally available on CD! Those of you following the Returners saga would remember that this release was due out awhile back but was delayed when the Returners had their equipment stolen from their van and all the funds set aside to release the album were put towards replacing what was stolen. This release is the epitome of the Returners’ blend of Punk, Gothic, Hardcore, and Psycho, a haunting collection of songs that speak of Love, Death, Hope, and Despair. Lending a hand in the it’s rendering, Lost Souls features the recording and production work of Brent Clawson (Bullets And Octane, Wednesday 13, Black Presidents), Dave Klein (Agent Orange, Ghastly Ones, Bomboras), and Paul Miner (Bleeding Through, Terror, Nerve Agents).

Continuity Breakout

Southern California’s explosive punk rock ‘n’ roll quartet the Last Gang tears it’s way onto vinyl with this limited edition pressing of their “Continuity Breakout” ep. Lead by their abrasively alluring frontwoman Brenna Red and lead axe Devin D the Last Gang craft a gritty pop laden aria with a street level attitude reminiscent of the glory days of Punk Rock. Fans of the Clash, Avengers, and Vice Squad take heed and take a copy of this record and glue it to your turntable!

Carnivorous Lunar Activities

After five years, two EPs, and numerous tours, Chicago by way of Los Angeles terror punk band Dirty Dead has unleashed their debut full length record. On “Carnivorous Lunar Activities” Dirty dead delivers 26 tracks of terrifying horrorpunk blending elements and aesthetics of sickening death metal, haunting melodic vocals that echo back to Glenn Danzig era Misfits, at breakneck speeds to create an album unrivaled in intensity and unheard since the days of Earth AD. Not so surprising is the lightning fast cover of Hybrid Moments, a fan favorite from their first EP re-released on this album, the unexpected is an amazing horrorpunk cover of Hall and Oates “Man Eater”. An absolute must have for fans of evil punk rock.

“Who needs the washed-up, pathetic new version of the Misfits when we have bands pumping out fantastic records like Carnivorous Lunar Activities.” – Aggresso! Punkrock Radio

“Dirty Dead not only sound like the Misfits, they play fast, coming across like they should be on the “Earth AD” album. Horror Punktastic, and I like it!” – Suspect Device (Tony)

“Kind of a beefed-up Misfits with fast, hard drumming and guitars, but with Danzig-like drawling vox, campy horror punk imagery and wonderful whoa-oh-oh’s. A thrashy version of the Misfits could’ve been messy and aimless, but Dirty Dead make it work very well.” – Read Junk (Adam Coozer)

“Their originals are rad however the real mind-blower is their Misfits-style cover of Hall and Oat’s “Maneater.” “Watch out boy she’ll chew you up” gets a whole new meaning.” – Razorcake (MP Johnson)

The Amanda Ep

The third Ep from Southern Californian gothic punk outfit the Returners featuring Dave Klein from the Ghastly Ones / Agent Orange / Bomboras on keyboards. Side one is a 50s doo wop influenced love song vamped up to punk speed while side two is the Returners take on the classic 50s hit This Magic Moment. Both tracks were featured on the independent Canadian film “the Academy” by Idiom Films.

  1. Amanda
  2. This Magic Moment