The Witzard

Magnolia Park (CREDIT: Jonathan Weiner) Deeply rooted in Pop-punk sensibilities while staying true to their unique style, Orlando, Florida band Magnolia Park draw from an eclectic mix of influences to experiment with elements of Hip-Hop, Emo, and Alternative Rock. Just yesterday, they announced plans for two new companion EP's dropping next month— SoulEater & MoonEater —which, respectively, represent the lighter and darker sides of their multifaceted sound. Ahead of the releases, the band shares the MoonEater lead single and accompanying music video titled "Breathing" featuring Alt. rapper nothing,nowhere. (Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Senses Fail.) In an impassioned performance video depicting Magnolia Park singer, Joshua Roberts, free-falling from the heavens, as he pushes his soaring vocals to the edge for a cathartic release of emotions. "Our music is always about creating empowerment out of negative feelings," the band comments. "In...

Magnolia Park (CREDIT: Jessica Griffith) Magnolia Park consists of lead vocalist Joshua Roberts, guitarists Tristan Torres & Freddie Criales, bassist Jared Kay, drummer Joe "Steezy" Horsham, and keyboardist Vincent Ernst. Since forming in just 2019, Magnolia Park has consciously pioneered inclusivity in the Punk world. They are dedicated to spreading the message of #PopPunkInColor to ensure that the genre is one where people of all backgrounds are represented both on and off stage. The Heart Eater EP was recorded in LA in a "whirlwind week," according to the band, with the help of producers Matt Malpass, Andrew Wade, and Andy Karpovck. Rooted in Pop-punk sensibilities while staying true to their unique styles, Magnolia Park often effortlessly incorporate elements of Hip-Hop, Emo, and Alternative Pop into their eclectic mix of sounds. In their Heart Eater era, the band finds themselves favoring production bursting with alluring synths and Tik-Tok dance-wor...

Beach Rats (CREDIT: Matthew Gere) Beach Rats were one of our favorite Punk/Hardcore super-groups to emerge in recent years and we've alays wondered if and when they would return with a proper full-length. It appears as though the New Jersey Punk/Hardcore Gods have heard and answered our prayers, as Beach Rats have announced their first proper full-length album, Rat Beat, dropping this July! Beach Rats consists of frontman Ari Katz (Lifetime, Ex-Ressurection,) guitarists Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty) & Pete Steinkopf (The Bouncing Souls,) bassist Bryan Keinlen (The Bouncing Souls,) and drummer Daniel/Danny "Dubs" Windas (A New Enemy, The Arsons, Let It Burn.) Beach Rats' 2018 EP, Wasted Time , was released on Bridge Nine Records and featured the same line-up—just with Daniel "Dubs" Windas appearing in a somewhat less official capacity. Beach Rats have now signed with Epitaph Records, an imprint owned, operated, and founded by Bake...

PHOTO CREDIT: Brent Broza (ARTWORK BY: Jim Lindberg) Most well-known for his role as primary song-writer and lead singer of Punk Rock band Pennywise, Jim Lindberg has been making inspiring, thought-provoking music since the 1990's. Musically, he is influenced by a wide array of genres from Punk & Folk to old school Country & Americana stylings. Lyrically, Jim takes inspiration from relatively anywhere, from transcendental philosophers to real-life events; always seeking to tell a story or find the answers to life's "big questions." Lindberg has shared the first glimpse of his debut acoustic solo project with "The Palm of Your Hand" produced by Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, Flogging Molly.) It boasts a band featuring David Hidalgo, Jr. (Social Distortion) on drums, Joe Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, Gang Green) on bass, and Marc Orrell (Dropkick Murphys, The Black Pacific) on guitar. Lindberg began writing "The Palm of Your H...

DRAIN are a ruthless Santa Cruz-based Hardcore/Crossover band. Last year, they released the absolutely phenomenal California Cursed on Revelation Records. It's one Hell of a ferocious-sounding album, however, I would venture to say DRAIN lean a bit more towards the Crossover/Thrash (Metal) end of the spectrum rather than Punk/Hardcore. Just a matter of days ago, DRAIN mysteriously returned with the first post-Califonria Cursed single, "Watch You Burn," out of nowhere with no prior online announcement. They've moved from Revelation Records to Hardcore heavyweights Epitaph and appear to have recruited a new bassist welcoming new member Mike Durrett into the fold. For "Watch You Burn," DRAIN have joined forces with California Cursed engineer and producer Taylor Young (God's Hate, Militarie Gun, NUDIE MAG) once more for another pure face-melter. Watch You Burn by DRAIN "'Watch You Burn" is a p*ssed off and in-your-face song that I wrote ...

Seasoned Punk singer-songwriter Dan Andriano is a man of many talents and a vast array of influences ranging from Melodic Punk to Americana. He is most known for his role as bassist and co-vocalist in Chicago Punk Rock band Alkaline Trio with whom he has released nine studio albums to date. He has, also, previously released two solo records under the name Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room, as well as material with Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids.) In addition, Andriano has played bass in the Rock super-group The Damned Things along wth members of Fall Out Boy, Anthrax, and Every Time I Die since 2019. Plus, Dan has done stints over the years in Ben Weasel & His Iron String Quartet, Flowers, Slapstick, The Falcon, and Tuesday. Just yesterday, Dan Andriano announced the sheer existence of his new band, Dan Andriano & The Bygones. It features brothers Dylan & Randy Moore from buzz-worthy San Jose, California-based Punk/Rock band, Get Married. Along with the announcement of ...

Nearly 25 years after releasing their mysterious, heavily veiled debut full-length, Surf-N-Burn, The Blue Stingrays' members have finally been revealed. Surf-N-Burn's faux liner notes framed The Blue Stingrays as "a legendary instrumental band founded in the late 1950's whose sole album was lost for decades, due to the band members' desire for anonymity." Claiming they formed in 1959 and were among both the earliest and most influential Surf Rockers; who, after tiring of the exploitation of surf culture, moved to a small South Pacific island. In all reality, The Blue Stingrays have now officially been revealed to consist of guitarist Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, The Dirty Knobs,) bassist Ron Blair (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,) and drummer Randall Marsh (Mudcrutch.) Although, various materials from The Blue Stingrays' original "run" list Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench , III as thei...

Quicksand (CREDIT: Annette Rodriguez) One of Walter Schreifels' many active bands, Quicksand have returned today with quite a few announcements: they dropped a new single, "Missile Command," from their upcoming fourth studio album, Distant Populations, and announced a 22-date US tour for this fall. Schreifels has spent most of his time since 1986 playing with Dead Heavens, Gorilla Biscuits, Moondog, Project X, Quicksand, RIVAL SCHOOLS, Vanishing Life, Walking Concert, Warzone, and Youth of Today, as well as solo music under his own name. Quicksand's bassist, Sergio Vega , has spent his career working with Absolution, Champions of Sound, Collapse, Deftones, Moondog, and Project Kate. While curent drummer Alan Cage has played music with Beyond, Burn, Enemy, New Idea Society, and Seaweed. Quicksand released their self-titled EP on Revelation Records and followed it up with Slip & Manic Compression on Polydor & Island Records, respectively. Quicksand broke...

The Crew 18x24 Acrylic/India Ink (CREDIT: Ryan Callisto @moonofjupiterart) Just yesterday afternoon, we recieved word the world was gaining one more Los Angeles-based Punk/Hardcore super-group. The Crew somewhat amazingly features Punk Rock lifers Fletcher Dragge & Byron McMackin of Pennywise, Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, and Tim Armstrong & Matt Freeman of Rancid. The Crew's debut single, "One Voice," is being billed as "a rousing Punk Rock anthem about unity." Vocalist and guitarist Fletcher Dragge shares: "collaborating with Tim Armstrong, Mike Muir, and Matt Freeman has been an awesome experience; obviously, Byron McMackin & I go way back. Byron & I had a demo of "One Voice" laying around for couple years and I thought it would be cool to bring a couple old friends on board to breath some new life into it." Fletcher continues, "watching these guys lay down their own personal trademark styles on this song wa...

CREDIT: James Reitano (TFU Studios) Honestly, it doesn't even feel like there's a proper way to elegize an eccentric and extremely talented artist such as MF DOOM, who meant so much to so many of us for so many years for so many different reasons as truly unique as DOOM himself. So, what better way to pay tribute to The Man, The Myth, THE MASK himself than by speaking to those closest to him? With a heavy heart, I proudly present Shadows of Tomorrow; a new recurring column in tribute to DOOM in an effort to re-tell the tall tales, strange stories, and lesser-known tidbits of The Metal Face Villain himself. R.I.P. Daniel "MF DOOM" Dumile Thompson. "In 2005, I was asked to create a video for an upcoming Danger Mouse/MF DOOM collaboration. The project was called DANGERDOOM and was being released by Epitaph Records with a partnership from Cartoon Network. The record was, also, going to feature the cast of Aqua Teen Hunger Force from [adult swim], CN's late n...

Long-time Descendents frontman and pseudo-mascot Milo Aukerman has re-emerged with the announcement his first-ever proper solo project, RebUke. Aukerman has been the primary vocalist for Descendents since 1980 (three years post-formation) and sporadically, yet consistently, ever since. Through the years, all the while, functioning as Descendents' frontman, Milo Aukerman conducted post-doctoral research in Molecular Biology at The Universities of Wisconsin–Madison & Pennsylvania, as well as working as a plant researcher at DuPont and an adjunct professor at The University of Delaware. However, it appears as though Aukerman has decided to forgo his aforementioned careers, as of 2016, in an effort to focus on music and Descendents and music full-time. It appears as though Milo has since amassed quite a passion for ukuleles, as his freshly-announced solo project, RebUke—emphasis on "uke"—is, of course, primarily ukelele-based. Earlier this year, Descendents (or, ...

Los Angeles Punk/Hardcore stalwarts Bad Religion have returned, as they always do, in our world's time of need with an updated version of one of their old favorites, "Faith Alone." Now, fittingly re-titled "Faith Alone 2020," this is Bad Religion's first sonic offering since their 2019 full-length, Age of Unreason. "Faith Alone" originally appeared within Bad Religion's 1990 full-length, Against The Grain , as well as re-appearing on '92 Epitaph comp. More Songs About Anger, Fear, Sex & Death, along with then-labelmates NOFX, Pennywise, Coffin Break, Dag Nasty, L7, Down By Law, Little Fingers, and Insted. Bad Religion have morphed their once raucous Punk/Melodic Hardcore track into one now complimented by acoustic piano and lush orchestral strings. Bad Religion singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, "I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom's piano." "I'...

Late last year, Los Angeles-based Punks Touché Amoré shared a mysterious new stand-alone single entitled "Deflector" in both physical and digital formats. It was a blood-churning chunk of three and a half-minute Post-hardcore/Screamo produced by Ross Robinson, whose credits include At The Drive-In, Glassjaw, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Slipknot. "We need to take a chance with the unfamiliar. Someone who would take us out of our comfort zone. Enter: Ross Robinson, a man who knows no comfort zone. I followed his career all through my youth to being a young adult. When we returned from our recent Midwest tour, we entered the studio to record a song with Ross and see if there was chemistry," frontman Jeremy Bolm shared within a "Deflector"-era press release, at the time. Right around the same time, Touché Amoré released another non-Ross Robinson produced stand-along single, "Green," as well as a newly re-recorded version of 2009 debut full-length, ... T...

Fake Names is a Punk/Hardcore super-group consisting of vocalist Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, SAMURAI,) guitarist/vocalist Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty,) second lead guitarist/vocalist Michael Hampton (Embrace, The Faith, S.O.A.) bassist Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside, New Wet Kojak,) and, sometimes, drummer Matt Schulz (SAVAK, Holy F*ck, Enon.) "I'm in a new band with some friends from elementary school(!) and a sharp-dressed revolutionary from Sweden," Brian Baker (@brianbakers) posted on Instagram Wednesday morning; of course, referring to Hampton, Temple, and Lyxzén, respectively. Again, it appears as though Schulz is a part-time members of Fake Names , having played live with the band in their early aughts, although, their newly-launched website adds, " Matt [Schulz] played the drums. No synthesizers," within, what appears to be, digital liner notes. Guitarists Brian Baker & Michael Hampton first started j...

This will, likely, be a weekly—or, at least, sporadically—published loosely structured column to help spotlight new or recent Punk/Hardcore 7-inches "on wax." I fully intend for this column to regularly spotlight new. up-and-coming, and largely "underground" artists... but who knows what it ultimately end up being. As often as possible, we'll share pre-order/purchase links or download information for said featured releases. Also, if you're part of or represent such a Punk/Hardcore band, please, feel free to reach out to us directly at sharpcheddar856@gmail.com and we'll send you our mailing address to send us a review copy (or even digital files) for an upcoming installment of Punk/Hardcore On Wax . It's my hope that this very column will expose at least a few angsty young teens to some up-and-coming or ever Old School Punk/Hardcore bands, if nothing else! Sincerely, Matt "The Witzard" Horowitz Punk/Hardcore Correspondant Save Face ...

War Time Dub, Culture City (feat. Lil Ugly Mane) by CULTURE ABUSE "After spending a majority of 2018 on the world's stages alongside NOTHING, Green Day, The Bronx, and more, Culture Abuse are conquering the open road yet again—this time, for their first-ever full headlining North American Tour," reads a recent Culture Abuse/Culture City press release. Fittingly dubbed the "Culture City Funky Rock Party" Tour , Culture Abuse will be "THROWIN' A PARTY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA" and will be joined by a star-studded cast of Punkers during their 23-date jaunt including: Tony Molina, DARE, Young Guv (Ben Cook of F*cked Up & No Warning,) Regional Justice Center, RAZORBUMPS, Pale Lips, Buggin' Out, Entry (members of Touché Amoré,) Lil Ugly Mane , Army, HiGH, Slow Fire Pistol, Fake Eyes, Poison Thorn (Shane Moran of Title Fight,) Strange Magic, No Right, Jocko, Cadaver Dog, and Wild Side. Culture Abuse 's current line-up consists of frontman Da...

Landfill Crew is a fictional animated Punk Rock band set during the mid-80's heyday of the formative East/West Coast Punk & Hardcore scenes. Landfill Crew AKA LFC 's self-titled debut 2x7-inch EP was originally recorded on March 12, 1987 in Bagga's Basement , although, it was just properly released earlier this week on Pirates Press & Hellcat Records . According to the record's inserts, Landfill Crew consists of frontman Anthony "Hux" Campbell , guitarist & vocalist Bagger "Bagga Bullets" Russell , drummer Jennifer "Jenny" Arellano , guitarist Cliff "Pakman" Esmond , and bassist Horace "Baby" Harringtton . Its reverse sleeve denotates the 2x7-inch EP was produced by Tim "Timebomb" Armstrong , with artwork & layout by J Bonner , and sends a very "special thanks to Clarence for bringing the donuts." However, much in the same vein as like-minded animated Alternative Rock/Hip-Hop b...

It's a fairly simple, yet effective concept: "your favorite Punk, Hardcore & Ska albums, but with four fingers." That, in fact, is the mantra of Instagram page @simpsonsXcore (formerly @MillionsOfDeadSimpsons) whose creations can also, be found on Facebook & Twitter. sXc has tastefully re-designed both classic and contemporary Punk, Hardcore & Ska albums. The Witzard has been Following @MillionsOfDeadSimpsons/ @simpsonsXcore's Instagram since roughly September 2017 and to be completely honest, it's one of our favorite accounts! We recently had an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive interview with SimpsonsXcore, which has been lightly edited for general clarity. Make sure you Follow @simpsonsXcore's pages on Instagram, Twitter , and Facebook for regular updates and side-by-side comparisons. Additionally, SimpsonsXcore was kind enough to put together a last-minute 20-song Spotify playlist consisting of their favorite Punk/Hardcore selections ...

"Back in 2005, super-producer Danger Mouse and Hip-Hop super-villain DOOM came together for THE MOUSE AND THE MASK , a collaborative album released under the name DANGERDOOM . Among DOOM 's most successful projects both critically and commercially, the album was inspired by Cartoon Network 's late-night [adult swim] programming slate and includes appearances from Aqua Teen Hunger Force , Space Ghost, Harvey Birdman , and more. THE MOUSE AND THE MASK also features guest spots from Talib Kweli , Ghostface Killah, and Cee-Lo Green ," METALFACE Records wrote within a villainous statement; they're gearing up to unleash a 3xLP and deluxe CD edition of DANGERDOOM 's critically-acclaimed first and last album, THE MOUSE AND THE MASK this upcoming May 5th. Let me make an attempt to best convey the musical climate THE MOUSE AND THE MASK was released into (albeit, on Punk/Hardcore label Epitaph Records )... prior to forming DANGERDOOM , Danger Mouse 's las...