Sainthood Reps Release New Single "Blue Nothing" + Announce Signing to Smartpunk Records -

Smartpunk Records welcomes Sainthood Reps to their label roster and celebrates the announcement with a new single, "Blue Nothing," out now. This is the first taste of more music and announcements from the band coming later this year!

The new track embodies the band's signature blend of heavy grunge and dreamy shoegaze that they have been honing since the late 2000s.

Listen below.

Speaking about the new single, Sainthood Reps vocalist and guitarist Cesco Montesanto shares, "Blue Nothing is kind of the pep talk I would give myself before finally deciding to move on with my life after losing something incredibly dear to me. It's about coming to the realization that the nothingness of what's been left behind is actually a substantial part of who we are, and the path forward isn't to block out the nothingness, but to embrace it. The chorus lyric is “elegize what you’ve lost and you know is gone for good.” If there were ever a "part 2" of this song, it would probably be the elegy itself. 

When it came time to lay down vocals for the bridge, we asked our dear friend Gerry Windus (Stand Still) to take the reins. We never even considered anyone else. Turns out, that was the right move because he smashed that part."

ABOUT SAINTHOOD REPS
Sainthood Reps have been known for their unique blend of grunge, post-hard, and shoegaze since the late 2000’s. After releasing Monoculture in 2011, Headswell in 2013, and a couple of singles here and there, the band spent several years pursuing other projects before eventually regrouping during COVID. Since 2022, the band has been in and out of the studio compiling new music that marks a definitive step forward without straying too far from their signature sound. 

Sainthood Reps consists of Derrick Sherman, Cesco Montesanto, Bradley Cordaro, and Jani Zubkovs, with Chris Smith featuring in live performances.

Florida Indie-Punk Rockers Virginity Release "Fidelity Castro" EP via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' power pop darlings Virginity have released their new EP "Fidelity Castro" as a follow-up to their 2024 LP "Bad Jazz" - available to purchase here. The EP is a collection of six dynamic tracks that went from being outcasts on the album tracklist to star songs in their own right.

Listen below.

The band has received critical acclaim from the rock scene's top tastemakers, including New Noise Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, Audiotree, and more. As fan favorites at Smartpunk's SXSW showcase and Florida's beloved FEST, Virginity have cultivated a core fanbase who are foaming at the mouth for these new tracks. 

Speaking about the new EP, Virginity says, "Fidelity Castro started out being a way to just throw a couple of tunes out that had been sitting on the back burner for a while. As we assembled those, we kept returning to the live recordings we’d done in Jordan’s living room when we first started writing for Bad Jazz and felt like a couple of songs had so much life in them that we had to send them out into the world with our new recordings. We’ve also got a Shins tune on here because we’re just fans of that band and that record (Chutes Too Narrow) in particular. That was just something fun to do and a challenge, to make it our own a little. Lastly, we’ve got Love Exists, which is a song so incredibly void of any cynicism (basically an idea that’s nonexistent in our catalog) that we weren’t sure what to do with it. Should we rerecord it, make it a full band affair, or perhaps make it a proper piano ballad or something? Ultimately, we decided the magic was already there and that it should just be put out as is. The arc of this band has been about progressively getting more and more authentic. In a way, Fidelity is our most authentic release yet. There’s a real “scars and all” approach to it. We’re not being precious about any of it and, for now, that’s really inspiring and exciting for us. We really believe that some of these songs are some of the best we have to offer, and we’re so proud of this little collection."

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Virginity’s “Fidelity Castro EP” was originally supposed to be a way to release the leftover scraps from the Bad Jazz recording sessions, but as the band continued to finesse the recordings, the EP morphed into something entirely different. It took on a life of its own, and taught the band it can operate more loosely than it ever has before.

Featuring 5 original tracks and a cover of one of their favorite Shins tunes, the EP shows the band finishing three partially developed concepts from the Bad Jazz sessions as well as 3 demos of songs that never made it to the studio, but showed just as much promise as anything that landed on the album. And while the basic tracks of the demos were recorded live and raw, they show another side of the band’s abilities and yearning to experiment with lo-fi production (a la a recent obsession with Guided By Voices) and attempt to not overthink something that already rocks ass. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Debt Neglector Release New Album "Kinda Rips" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' Florida-based outspoken political punk rockers Debt Neglector have unleashed their full-length album "Kinda Rips." It is available to stream or purchase on the Smartpunk Records website. 
The record is a diverse plethora of fast, heavy-hitting tracks that mark the band's most personal release to date while still maintaining their brutally honest, personable approach.

Listen below.

It rips. Kinda.

When discussing the album, Debt Neglector vocalist Alex Goldfarb says, "Kinda Rips is 13 pissed-off punk songs about how the world is falling apart around us. Lyrically, it deals with concepts like mental health, parenthood, mortality, impending societal collapse, and how everything just sorta sucks. Musically, we tried to create something that walked the line between catchy and aggressive, pulling influences from a wide variety of some of our favorite bands.”

The band's guitarist Chris Pfister adds, "Yeah, I even stole a chord from Ren & Stimpy, because why the hell not?!"

ABOUT DEBT NEGLECTOR:
Formed in 2016, these Florida punks have spent the last 8 years honing a sound that showcases their ability to blend catchy hooks with a vicious attitude. With four releases firmly under their belt, the “Atomicland” LP (2017), “The Kids are Pissed” EP (2018), the “Bad Faith” EP (2020), and the “Dirty Water” LP (2021), the band has already established themselves as a group that pulls no punches in their pursuit to call out injustice. Just to name a few, the band has screamed, shouted, and sang about systemic failures and distrust of the government, the fear of impending nuclear war, loss, depression, illness, and the USA’s sick obsession with assault rifles. And they’ve put their money where their mouth is by using their releases to double as fundraising efforts for organizations like the ACLU. Musically, their influences cover a lot of familiar and legendary punk rock ground. Taking notes from punk favorites the Descendents, Dillinger Four, and Bad Religion among others, Debt Neglector aren’t afraid to put their own spin on things. Their music keeps both a reverence for the past and a foot firmly placed in the present. The end result allows the band to craft songs with ripping fast drum beats, sing along choruses, quirky chord changes, and headbanging breaks. With past tours covering the US, Canada, and Europe, the band has set their sights on bringing their brand of pissed off punk music to whoever is ready and willing to listen. Debt Neglector are also no stranger to the festival scene with several appearances at The Fest (FL) and Sing it Out Loud Festival, and a showcase at Pouzza Fest (MTL), they have managed to share the stage with the likes of Propaghandi, Descendents and more. In 2024 Debt Neglector returned to the studio to follow up their past releases with a batch of new songs that has now become the “Kinda Rips” LP (Smartpunk Records – 2025). Their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Wounded Touch Announce New Album "A Vivid Depiction Of Collapse" + Release New Single "Consequence and Broadcast"

WOUNDED TOUCH ANNOUNCE UPCOMING ALBUM "A VIVID DEPICTION OF COLLAPSE" VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Smartpunk Records' metal heavy-hitters Wounded Touch have announced their new full-length record "A Vivid Depiction Of Collapse" out on May 16th. The album marks a vital chapter in the band's growth as an eleven-track saga detailing the eleven stages of grief and acceptance, set to an unrelentingly heavy soundtrack.

Listen to the new single "Consequence and Broadcast below.

Vinyl Pre-Orders available here.

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new single, "Consequence and Broadcast" Wounded Touch says, “Musically this wasn’t the first song written for the record, but it was the first song we’d completed with everyone as a band. It’s our trail of breadcrumbs from the last record to this one, and everything we’ve wanted to touch on musically between then. As much as we’re a bunch of hardcore and metalcore fans, we all grew up just as much into the posthardcore bands of the aughts and that very specific sound. The middle section and ending of the song was something that naturally developed when we wanted to lean in to some of the more melodic and poetic sounds of our influences (stuff like Hopesfall and Alexisonfire) without knowing what direction the song would go in and by the time we finished the record, it felt like a perfect encapsulation of the band’s current and past style.”

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases. Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Debt Neglector Release New Single "Tough Luck, Kid" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' outspoken political punk rockers Debt Neglector have released their new single "Tough Luck, Kid!" from their upcoming full-length album "Kinda Rips," which is set to release on April 4, 2025 via Smartpunk Records. 

The track taps into a more personal and vulnerable side of the band as they explore the pressures and fears of fatherhood. The lyrical themes are set to the backdrop of Debt Neglector's signature fast-paced, anthemic punk sound.

Listen Below:

When discussing the single, Debt Neglector says, "This song is about the fear and insecurities I have after becoming a father. I’m so scared of passing on my anxiety and depression to my son. I’m trying so hard to be a good dad and want him to have an easier time than I did growing up. But are some of my issues hereditary? Is it completely unavoidable? Was I selfish for having a kid at all? I worry about these things literally all the time."

ABOUT DEBT NEGLECTOR:
Formed in 2016, these Florida punks have spent the last 8 years honing a sound that showcases their ability to blend catchy hooks with a vicious attitude. With four releases firmly under their belt, the “Atomicland” LP (2017), “The Kids are Pissed” EP (2018), the “Bad Faith” EP (2020), and the “Dirty Water” LP (2021), the band has already established themselves as a group that pulls no punches in their pursuit to call out injustice. Just to name a few, the band has screamed, shouted, and sang about systemic failures and distrust of the government, the fear of impending nuclear war, loss, depression, illness, and the USA’s sick obsession with assault rifles. And they’ve put their money where their mouth is by using their releases to double as fundraising efforts for organizations like the ACLU. Musically, their influences cover a lot of familiar and legendary punk rock ground. Taking notes from punk favorites the Descendents, Dillinger Four, and Bad Religion among others, Debt Neglector aren’t afraid to put their own spin on things. Their music keeps both a reverence for the past and a foot firmly placed in the present. The end result allows the band to craft songs with ripping fast drum beats, sing along choruses, quirky chord changes, and headbanging breaks. With past tours covering the US, Canada, and Europe, the band has set their sights on bringing their brand of pissed off punk music to whoever is ready and willing to listen. Debt Neglector are also no stranger to the festival scene with several appearances at The Fest (FL) and Sing it Out Loud Festival, and a showcase at Pouzza Fest (MTL), they have managed to share the stage with the likes of Propaghandi, Descendents and more. In 2024 Debt Neglector returned to the studio to follow up their past releases with a batch of new songs that has now become the “Kinda Rips” LP (Smartpunk Records – 2025). Their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Reconciler Release "Three Songs" EP via Smartpunk Records

Reconciler's new EP "Three Songs" might be short but it packs a mighty punch of punk. The band, previously featured on Kerrang!, Idioteq, and more continues to deliver bold lyrical themes set to visceral soundtracks as this EP marks the next phase of their musical evolution.

Merchandise, vinyl, and other products for the EP release are available here.

The band's vocalist Joseph Lazzari explains, "Three Songs offers a heavier, more visceral side of Reconciler’s heart-on-sleeve approach that contemplates grappling with mental health as the credits roll on the American Dream."

ABOUT RECONCILER:
Reconciler is a band from Atlanta, GA first amplified in the summer of
2016. Harkening to a sound alternately Southeast and East Bay, they released their debut LP, Set Us Free, in February of 2019 to critical acclaim. A split 7-inch with the legendary Gainesville outfit, Ship Thieves followed in January of 2021. With a solidified new lineup and a refined focus, Reconciler went to work completing their sophomore album, Art For Our Sake, released on Smartpunk Records in the U.S. and Gunner Records in Europe in February of 2024. The band followed the release with their first tour of Europe and The U.K. Art For Our Sake’s singles were featured on editorial playlists, and widely played on college radio. The album’s title track became the most-played song on Sirius XM’s Faction Punk station for several months. On March 7th, 2025, Reconciler will release a limited 7-inch, Three Songs, ahead of a southern tour and SXSW appearance.Three Songs offers a heavier, more visceral side of Reconciler’s heart-on-sleeve approach.

Debt Neglector Release New Single "Apocalypse Soon" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' outspoken political punk rockers Debt Neglector have released their new single "Apocalypse Soon" from their upcoming full-length album "Kinda Rips," which is set to release on April 4, 2025 via Smartpunk Records.

Listen here.

When discussing the single, Debt Neglector says, "What if there was a war in America? This song is about watching your neighborhood burn because we let fascists and oligarchs take over the country. Will our authoritarian leaders deploy the national guard to squash any protest or dissent? Will we look back in regret because we didn’t do more to stop it all when we had the chance? Things are getting more destabilized in America by the day, and this could be our actual reality before we know it."

ABOUT DEBT NEGLECTOR:
Formed in 2016, these Florida punks have spent the last 8 years honing a sound that showcases their ability to blend catchy hooks with a vicious attitude. With four releases firmly under their belt, the “Atomicland” LP (2017), “The Kids are Pissed” EP (2018), the “Bad Faith” EP (2020), and the “Dirty Water” LP (2021), the band has already established themselves as a group that pulls no punches in their pursuit to call out injustice. Just to name a few, the band has screamed, shouted, and sang about systemic failures and distrust of the government, the fear of impending nuclear war, loss, depression, illness, and the USA’s sick obsession with assault rifles. And they’ve put their money where their mouth is by using their releases to double as fundraising efforts for organizations like the ACLU. Musically, their influences cover a lot of familiar and legendary punk rock ground. Taking notes from punk favorites the Descendents, Dillinger Four, and Bad Religion among others, Debt Neglector aren’t afraid to put their own spin on things. Their music keeps both a reverence for the past and a foot firmly placed in the present. The end result allows the band to craft songs with ripping fast drum beats, sing along choruses, quirky chord changes, and headbanging breaks. With past tours covering the US, Canada, and Europe, the band has set their sights on bringing their brand of pissed off punk music to whoever is ready and willing to listen. Debt Neglector are also no stranger to the festival scene with several appearances at The Fest (FL) and Sing it Out Loud Festival, and a showcase at Pouzza Fest (MTL), they have managed to share the stage with the likes of Propaghandi, Descendents and more. In 2024 Debt Neglector returned to the studio to follow up their past releases with a batch of new songs that has now become the “Kinda Rips” LP (Smartpunk Records – 2025). Their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

Reconciler Announce "Three Songs" EP + Release "Stockholm Syndrome"

Reconciler is delivering high-energy punk on their new track "Stockholm Syndrome" as a catalyst to announce their upcoming "Three Songs" EP coming out on March 7, 2025.

Merchandise, vinyl, and other products for the EP release are available here.

The band's vocalist Joseph Lazzari explains, "Stockholm Syndrome describes a phenomenon where captives bond with their captors. Some captives may even aid in carrying out the causes of their captors. It's a grey area that may or may not exist where victims aid in their own victimization. This song moves like an assembly line - sharp, fast, metallic, and unforgiving. It contemplates the 'American Dream' as a version of Stockholm Syndrome. We’re brainwashed to sacrifice our lives to buy second and third homes for our bosses and we take pride in calling it a work ethic. We fall asleep with big dreams about what tomorrow will bring and we wake up with aches and pains we can’t afford to fix. We call ourselves number 1 and we worship our leaders like heroes because it's easier that way. It's comforting to believe that the hard times will amount to something. Johnny Thunders knew he was born to lose, but baby, the rest of us were too."

ABOUT RECONCILER:
Reconciler is a band from Atlanta, GA first amplified in the summer of
2016. Harkening to a sound alternately Southeast and East Bay, they released their debut LP, Set Us Free, in February of 2019 to critical acclaim. A split 7-inch with the legendary Gainesville outfit, Ship Thieves followed in January of 2021. With a solidified new lineup and a refined focus, Reconciler went to work completing their sophomore album, Art For Our Sake, released on Smartpunk Records in the U.S. and Gunner Records in Europe in February of 2024. The band followed the release with their first tour of Europe and The U.K. Art For Our Sake’s singles were featured on editorial playlists, and widely played on college radio. The album’s title track became the most-played song on Sirius XM’s Faction Punk station for several months. On March 7th, 2025, Reconciler will release a limited 7-inch, Three Songs, ahead of a southern tour and SXSW appearance.Three Songs offers a heavier, more visceral side of Reconciler’s heart-on-sleeve approach. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they’re a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' "Mutiny" and Gameface's "Good,” they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds—putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake’s Anthem, Nominee’s Lowlife, RIVALS’ Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest."

Wounded Touch Release Double Single "The Damning Variable & "Choleradio" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch are giving us a taste of new music with a double whammy of new singles, "The Damning Variable" and "Choleradio."

Listen to both new singles here.

Watch the music video for "The Damning Variable" below:

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new single, "The Damning Variable," Wounded Touch says, "The song is about the use and impending mandate of A.I. technology for artwork. It’s scabbing on a soulless and irredeemable level, using technology that should exist to perform mundane tasks and alleviate human suffering, but serves only as a way for talentless tech bro types to penetrate the last bastions of the internet they were gatekept from until now. And they’ll never understand that the flaws, the intentional imperfections and the general bad ideas that come from the imprecise ears, hands and eyes of an artist is what makes it art. A machine (and those typing the prompts) can’t suffer the need to create. It can only replicate. It feels like a pathetic way to differentiate the two, but the song is about the human flaw that makes art what it is. Being able to include our friend TJ from Still Remains on the song was a special moment for our younger selves that also felt like it lent credence to the subject."

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases. Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Debt Neglector Release Double Single + Announce Upcoming Album "Kinda Rips" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' beloved punk rockers Debt Neglector have released two new singles as the sneak peek at their upcoming full-length album "Kinda Rips," which is set to release on April 4, 2024 via Smartpunk Records.

Listen below.

In true Debt Neglector fashion, their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

When discussing the lead single "Adios Amigos! Or How To Self Sabotage Without Even Trying", Debt Neglector says, "This song is about how, as a species, our proverbial goose is pretty much cooked. We’re slaves to an economic system that requires infinite growth on a planet full of finite resources. We’ve elected octogenarian politicians with short-sighted vision who only act in the interest of their corporate donors. And people have become increasingly divided, suspicious of their neighbors, and cruel to each other. Where is our sense of self-preservation? Where is our sense of community? It feels like it’s all eroding around us and the western world is quickly and quietly heading towards collapse."

ABOUT DEBT NEGLECTOR:
Formed in 2016, these Florida punks have spent the last 8 years honing a sound that showcases their ability to blend catchy hooks with a vicious attitude. With four releases firmly under their belt, the “Atomicland” LP (2017), “The Kids are Pissed” EP (2018), the “Bad Faith” EP (2020), and the “Dirty Water” LP (2021), the band has already established themselves as a group that pulls no punches in their pursuit to call out injustice. Just to name a few, the band has screamed, shouted, and sang about systemic failures and distrust of the government, the fear of impending nuclear war, loss, depression, illness, and the USA’s sick obsession with assault rifles. And they’ve put their money where their mouth is by using their releases to double as fundraising efforts for organizations like the ACLU. Musically, their influences cover a lot of familiar and legendary punk rock ground. Taking notes from punk favorites the Descendents, Dillinger Four, and Bad Religion among others, Debt Neglector aren’t afraid to put their own spin on things. Their music keeps both a reverence for the past and a foot firmly placed in the present. The end result allows the band to craft songs with ripping fast drum beats, sing along choruses, quirky chord changes, and headbanging breaks. With past tours covering the US, Canada, and Europe, the band has set their sights on bringing their brand of pissed off punk music to whoever is ready and willing to listen. Debt Neglector are also no stranger to the festival scene with several appearances at The Fest (FL) and Sing it Out Loud Festival, and a showcase at Pouzza Fest (MTL), they have managed to share the stage with the likes of Propaghandi, Descendents and more. In 2024 Debt Neglector returned to the studio to follow up their past releases with a batch of new songs that has now become the “Kinda Rips” LP (Smartpunk Records – 2025). Their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Wounded Touch Release New Cover of Finch's "Worms of the Earth" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch are violently busting back onto the scene with their rendition of Finch's original track "Worms of the Earth," out now. The cover is a nod to one of the band's most significant early influences.

The track, recorded and mixed by Andy Nelson (Pain of Truth, 200 Stab Wounds, Harm's Way) at Bricktop Recording and mastered by Ryan "Bart" Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, Walls of Jericho), is the band's first release following up their dynamic split EP Traumatic Entanglement with FallFiftyFeet from earlier this year.

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new single, Wounded Touch guitarist Mike Poshedly says, "We come from a time where compilations, samplers, video game, and movie soundtracks played a huge part in how we discovered new music growing up. Finch’s 'Worms of the Earth' was featured on both the Atticus Dragging the Lake 2 compilation and on the Underworld movie soundtrack. We had a short list of potential covers we wanted to explore but chose 'Worms of the Earth' because for us. It's an influence/song that encapsulates that era of how we discovered new music. The fact that the studio version of the song isn't streaming anywhere other than the music video on YouTube and the live version on Spotify further solidified the cover choice. We knew this would be a cover that would put us outside our comfort zone but we had a lot of fun revisiting an early influence dating back over 20 years ago."

WOUNDED TOUCH RELEASE COVER OF FINCH'S "WORMS OF THE EARTH" VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS - LISTEN

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases. Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Smartpunk Records Drops Roses Are Red "Conversations" 20th Anniversary Vinyl Re-Issue

Roses Are Red's iconic emo/melodic rock album Conversations was first released on September 21, 2004. Two decades later, the band is celebrating the milestone with three vinyl variants re-released via Smartpunk Records.

It is available on vinyl for the first time via Smartpunk Records here.

During the era of its original release, the band took the emo scene by storm on the Vans Warped Tour in 2004 and 2005, the Take Action Tour in 2006, on tours with My Chemical Romance, Alkaline Trio, and Hawthorne Heights, and in features with Alternative Press, Revolver, Outburn, and more. 

This pressing includes the band’s cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock" and a demo version of "Time Signals Progress." The band will also be performing a special "20 Years of Conversations" show on September 21, 2024 in Rochester, NY. The band’s second album What Became of Me has also been pressed to vinyl for the first time, and will be available September 21.

Roses Are Red is actively releasing new music in 2024 with their first release in 18 years, with "Memento" embodying the modern nostalgia of the elder emos.

Listen to "Memento" below.

When asked about the anniversary release, vocalist Vincent Minervino says,"Revisiting Conversations and the scene around it feels like reconnecting with an old flame. We all have those butterflies in our stomach, just like seeing a DM request from your first love. The entire experience means so much to us, and we couldn't have been more thrilled when Smartpunk approached us about a vinyl pressing to celebrate the 20th anniversary. We can't wait to play the songs again on stage with our old friends, and we are super excited for this new chapter of the band."

ABOUT ROSES ARE RED:
Blurring the line between aggressive melodic rock and hook-driven emo, Roses Are Red came together in late 2002 in Rochester, NY. Claiming influences ranging from Jimmy Eat World to Def Leppard, the quintet debuted in 2003 with the ten-song Handshakes and Heartbreaks on Enterprise Records. Touring behind Handshakes, the band caught the attention of Trustkill Records, signed in early 2004 and entered the studio that summer with Chris Badami (The Starting Line, The Early November). A stint on the summer's Warped Tour preceded the arrival of their label debut, Conversations, that September. Roses Are Red stayed on the road, hitting Europe with Underoath and Silverstein, and returning to the U.S. for 2005's Warped. Sharing stages over time with bands like My Chemical Romance, Story of the Year, and Bullet For My Valentine helped their fan base grow even further. Working with Brian McTernan (Thrice, Circa Survive), the band's next effort, What Became of Me was released in June 2006 as one of Alternative Press's "Most Anticipated" that year. The band participated in the Take Action Tour 2006 alongside Matchbook Romance, The Early November, and Chiodos. In 2024, the band reformed after a 17-year hiatus to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Conversations and released brand new track "Memento."

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Wounded Touch Release "Traumatic Entanglement" Split EP with FallFiftyFeet via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch embrace elements of 2000s metalcore and mathcore in their short but densely-packed, majorly heavy new split EP. The band's featured tracks include "Submitted For (Dis)Approval" and "In Mouths Wielding Silence" (featuring Chris Colohan of Cursed and Left For Dead).

The band recorded their tracks with Matt Marquez from Norma Jean and they share the tracklist with fellow metal band FallFiftyFeet. 

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new EP, Wounded Touch says, "We’d been getting anxious in between releases and started writing to pass time and try stuff out, especially with some new pedals and experimental tunings. So we wrote a few tracks and took our friend Matt Marquez from Norma Jean up on an offer to record us at his new studio and we’d been talking for a while with FallFiftyFeet about wanting to do something together, so we decided to do a split with them since they also had two tracks they’d been sitting on. Arif from Wormrot did the artwork which tied it all together and we decided to release it on CD as the physical format after numerous requests for that specific ‘dead format’ while on the road. All this results in the release of ‘Traumatic Entanglement"

Artwork: Arif Suhaimi of Wormrot

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

M.A.G.S. Releases New Album "CREATOR"

Smartpunk Records' indie rock prodigy M.A.G.S. has released his new album CREATOR via Smartpunk Records. It is an accompaniment and reimagination to last year's fan-favorite album Destroyer. 

Each song from Destroyer has been reconstructed and bent into new forms to create a new tracklist on CREATOR that is an exploratory showcase of M.A.G.S.'s imaginative, diverse capabilities as a multi-instrumentalist.

When discussing the album, Elliott Douglas (the man behind the moniker) says, "With CREATOR, I wanted to subvert the expectations of my listeners and bend my genre to a nearly unrecognizable extent. There was a moment a few years ago in the music industry where it was sort of this novel trend to be a black person in rock music, like it was some completely new concept that black people could play guitar and be in bands that sound like Paramore or The Strokes. I’ve been on my own wave for the majority of my career and CREATOR is the perfect example of what happens when I choose to create what feels right to me and not what is expected. With the help of 2 of my most talented friends, we reimagined my previous album ‘Destroyer’ over the course of 9 days in an apartment in Chicago in late 2023. Constructed entirely from my acoustic demos, we experimented and collaborated our way into a sound that goes far beyond what I ever thought M.A.G.S. was capable of."

CREATOR was conceived and mixed by Elliott and was produced in collaboration with Jeremy Strange and Ehmed Nauman of Chicago's This House Is Creaking.

M.A.G.S. also announced October tour dates. Those are posted below.

M.A.G.S.:
WITH BARELY CIVIL:
10/10 — Los Angeles, CA  —  The Paramount
10/13 — Los Angeles, CA  —  El Rey Theatre*
10/15 — San Francisco, CA  —  Bottom of the Hill
10/16 — Reno, NV  —  Holland Project
10/17 — Portland, OR  —  Swan Dive
10/20 — Boise, ID  —  Shrine Social Club (Basement)
10/21 — Salt Lake City, UT  —  Urban Lounge
10/24 — Denver, CO  —  Marquis
10/25 — Kansas City, MO  —  Encore
10/27 — Minneapolis, MN  —  7th St. Entry
10/28 — Milwaukee, WI  —  Cactus Club
10/29 — Chicago, IL  —  Subterranean (Downstairs)
*Supporting American Football

ABOUT M.A.G.S.
M.A.G.S. is the solo moniker for Buffalo-bred multi-disciplinary artist Elliott Douglas. His style seamlessly glides between genres ─ from funky garage rock to minty alt-pop with a punk-inspired energy. The release of his third full-length album Destroyer in 2023 via Smartpunk Records pushed Douglas into a more textural direction, dripping with flavors of post-punk while keeping his genre-bending melodies. Written by Douglas and produced by Jay Mass (Defeater), the album is about having to destroy yourself in order to grow and move forward — an extremely relatable phase in one's life.

M.A.G.S. released his first solo record in 2015, an EP titled Cellophane, and his self-titled LP arrived two years later — securing a seat amongst the most prominent indie/alt-rock artists. With his new batch of music, Douglas displayed marked growth in vocal prowess, overall musicality and lyrical bite through the release of 2020's Lost Tapes EP. Dougals' universal appeal feeds his success, and it's never at the expense of his art. Elsewhere in his blossoming catalog, songs like "MVP" and "Hi Tops" zig-zag from visceral, gnarly heavy metal to lo-fi folk-rock, respectively; his musicianship is a marvel to witness, each entry building on the last with refreshing acrobatics.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

M.A.G.S. Releases Atmospheric Single "Sequence 07" + Announces Upcoming Album "CREATOR"

Smartpunk Records' indie rock prodigy M.A.G.S. has released his new single "Sequence 07" in anticipation of his upcoming album CREATOR, set to release on August 23 via Smartpunk Records. It is an accompaniment and reimagination to last year's album Destroyer. 

When discussing the track, Elliott Douglas (the man behind the moniker) says, "This was the very last song we recorded during our time together and we had limited time because Ehmed was scheduled to leave town that evening. We woke up early and just dove in head first. My nugget of inspiration was to recreate the feeling I get from the verses of 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None The Richer. I've loved that song since I was a kid, and honestly, I chase that feeling with so much of my music. There are a few songs that give me feelings I continuously reference, I think it's one of the reasons people call my music nostalgic all the time. I just love songs that sound happy and sad at the same time, like maybe the lyrics are kinda sad but the music slaps. That's definitely my thing. We had this one mostly done in about 3 hours. I think we really just wanted to make sure everything got done and pushed really hard right from the start of the day, also by this time the 3 of us were a well-oiled machine, and getting a vibe to build from only took a few minutes."

CREATOR was conceived and mixed by Elliott and was produced in collaboration with Jeremy Strange and Ehmed Nauman of Chicago's This House Is Creaking.

The experimental track, "Sequence 07," showcases a reimagined and reinvigorated side of M.A.G.S.' sound that exudes soul and a plethora of emotions that invigorate listeners with happiness, sadness, and nostalgia all at once. It is a first glimpse at the musical journey that lies ahead on the full album.

Speaking about the upcoming album, M.A.G.S. says, "I've been on my own wave for the majority of my career and CREATOR is the perfect example of what happens when I choose to create what feels right to me and not what is expected. With the help of two of my most talented friends, we reimagined my previous album Destroyer over the course of nine days in an apartment in Chicago in late 2023. Constructed entirely from my acoustic demos, we experimented and collaborated our way into a sound that goes far beyond what I ever thought M.A.G.S. was capable of."

Artwork Credit: Daniel Shahbazian

ABOUT M.A.G.S.
M.A.G.S. is the solo moniker for Buffalo-bred multi-disciplinary artist Elliott Douglas. His style seamlessly glides between genres ─ from funky garage rock to minty alt-pop with a punk-inspired energy. The release of his third full-length album Destroyer in 2023 via Smartpunk Records pushed Douglas into a more textural direction, dripping with flavors of post-punk while keeping his genre-bending melodies. Written by Douglas and produced by Jay Mass (Defeater), the album is about having to destroy yourself in order to grow and move forward — an extremely relatable phase in one's life.

M.A.G.S. released his first solo record in 2015, an EP titled Cellophane, and his self-titled LP arrived two years later — securing a seat amongst the most prominent indie/alt-rock artists. With his new batch of music, Douglas displayed marked growth in vocal prowess, overall musicality and lyrical bite through the release of 2020's Lost Tapes EP. Dougals' universal appeal feeds his success, and it's never at the expense of his art. Elsewhere in his blossoming catalog, songs like "MVP" and "Hi Tops" zig-zag from visceral, gnarly heavy metal to lo-fi folk-rock, respectively; his musicianship is a marvel to witness, each entry building on the last with refreshing acrobatics.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Wounded Touch Release New Single "Submitted For (Dis)Approval" + Announce Upcoming Split EP via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch embrace elements of 2000s metalcore and mathcore in their short but densely-packed, majorly heavy single "Submitted For (Dis)Approval." The band recorded the upcoming split EP Traumatic Entanglement with Matt Marquez from Norma Jean and they share the tracklist with fellow metal band FallFiftyFeet. 

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer and New Noise.

Speaking about the new single, Wounded Touch says, "'Submitted For (Dis)Approval' shifted from an intro riff into a whole song right before we played the Furnace Fest '23 kickoff show while putting new material together for the set. Thematically, it's about the artist's relationship to the audience and being willing to do anything for their applause and approval, including self-harm and death. We just tried to not think too hard and have fun jamming something out after deciding we wanted to have a 'Go!' mosh call in something."

The band announces upcoming split EP with FallFiftyFeet, titled Traumatic Entanglement, via Smartpunk Records on August 23, 2024. Pre-save here.

Artwork: Arif Suhaimi of Wormrot

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Florida Indie-Punk Rockers Virginity Release New Album "Bad Jazz" via Smartpunk Records

VIRGINITY RELEASE NEW ALBUM BAD JAZZ  VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Physical copies of the album available here

Smartpunk Records' power pop darlings Virginity have released their long-awaited album Bad Jazz.  The release is a follow up after achieving great success with their previous album POPMORTEM, which recieved acclaim from Audiotree, Brooklyn Vegan, The Alternative, and more.

Their third album's title and approach are inspired by the improvisational spirit of jazz - specifically, improvisation born out of necessity. The songs on Bad Jazz come from a place of musical tangents, digressions, and what-ifs. A place of realizing that sometimes your best ideas are the ones that start as jokes. The album is about going with your gut, taking the mistakes and running with them, and letting curiosity take the lead. Singer Casey Crawford has said that Bad Jazz is the record where Virginity became, in his words, “a real band.”

Alongside the album release is the focus track "UR GODZ," which is a tongue-in-cheek commentary about religion in modern society.

Speaking about the new album, Virginity vocalist Casey Crawford says, "Bad Jazz is Virginity finding an identity as a band. I know for myself it's as close to true collaboration as I've ever gotten. It took all four of us to make this thing and if someone had been absent, it simply wouldn't be the same. We pushed ourselves really hard to make the best songs we possibly could on every front. More than anything we wanted this record to have a beating heart. We wanted it to be wholly organic in nature and I think that's why it was so important to us to track it live and to keep the songs alive and malleable all the way up to the moment they were being tracked. It's not a perfect record, but rather a snapshot of us right now. A byproduct of keeping things real and trying to sort of consciously stay in a mindset of creativity is that we had an absolute blast making it. I never had more fun making music than the days we spent writing and tracking this record. When people listen to Bad Jazz I really hope that's what comes through the most."

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Bubbling up from the swamps of Central Florida, Virginity are an indie/power punk band that really just kinda wants to be Superdrag.

Formed in 2018, the band is an attempt to grapple with the existential dread of entering one's 30s (and 40s) with plenty of baggage. Led by the duo of singer/guitarist Casey Crawford and drummer/producer Jim Dreffen, Virginity quickly found infectious melodies and confident songwriting in steady supply. Joined by bassist Jordan Shroyer and guitarist Chris Pfister, Virginity's sound embodies the dark humor of the modern world.

Their debut LP, 2019's With Time, crafted more as a therapy session than a record, caught the attention of FEST legends, Dikembe, who eagerly championed the album under their Death Protector label. Wasting no time, the cathartic Death to the Party EP followed in 2020 (Wiretap Records), which spawned the fan favorite "Bad Call." A third release in as many years, POPMORTEM, (2021 Smartpunk Records) further cemented their reputation for catchy tunes with poignant lyrics and forever looking to subvert expectations.

2024 brings more Virginity to the masses: a new full length record this summer (Smartpunk Records); a second trip to SXSW, the band's first international dates at Pouzza Fest in Montreal, and a slew of dates around the U.S. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

NORTHBOUND Releases New Pop-Rock Single "Baby's Breath" Via Smartpunk Records

NORTHBOUND'S UPCOMING ALBUM JUNIPER  ARRIVES JULY 12 VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Pre-order the album here

Northbound have released the new single "Baby's Breath" — listen Below.

The latest heavy-hitting pop-punk single by Northbound showcases a more heartfelt, confessional side of his upcoming LP release. It's a master class in effortless songwriting and the juxtaposition between heart-breaking lyrics and sing-along-worthy melodies. 

After touring worldwide with acts including Simple Plan, State Champs, and more, Jonathon Fraser (the man behind the moniker) is poised to share his most realized iteration of the project on Juniper, which is set to release on July 12.

Speaking about the new single "Baby's Breath," Northbound says, "'Baby’s Breath' is one of the first songs I wrote for this album. Writing this song had the magic that you look for when creating. It popped out of my head and into a demo session with zero effort. I knew I had found a very important piece of the album puzzle when I finished this one. The bridge is one of my favorite moments on the record. 'Baby’s Breath' is about a rather inappropriate emotional triangle that got extremely complicated. This song helped me process a lot."

Speaking on the album, Northbound says, "Juniper is my fourth album under the moniker of Northbound. After a few years of laying low and flying under the radar, this album is a bold statement of return. My most focused record to date, Junipertakes heavy influence from the early 2000s era of pop punk with a clear intention: to feel nostalgia for the moment you're currently in. It's fun to listen to, yet simultaneously invites the listener to feel things. It's a record about change, pain, and joy. Juniper doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it does spin it in a way that hasn't happened for a while."

ABOUT NORTHBOUND:
"Some flowers never get to bloom," a sentiment that has become all too familiar to Jonathon Fraser. For better or worse, this has fueled Northbound, the emo-tinged rock outfit born out of Boca Raton, Florida. Since 2012, Northbound has established a committed following through several releases and an extensive touring history in the U.S. and overseas. Their resume includes hitting the road with the likes of Simple Plan, State Champs, and many more of the scene's most respected bands. Whether it's at a house show or the 02 Forum in London, Northbound has proven capable of encapsulating nostalgia from the turn of the millennium with none of the cliches typically involved.

Throughout Northbound's tenure, Fraser has maintained a presence in his songs that feels like an open door to his lived experiences — all bark, all bite. In early 2023, Fraser dug up his lifelong Florida roots and transplanted them to Los Angeles — with something new to prove. 

Juniper sees the project rising to new heights — with the strongest material in Northbound's discography. The themes of the album are on full display — the mental weight that self-awareness can bring, the search for yourself in a world that often doesn't care, and waiting for love that still hasn't arrived. Fraser has no interest in feigning authenticity and refuses to hold back on Juniper. 

Northbound may be the alternative scene's best-kept secret, but those who are paying attention never stop listening. Juniper and a fresh start in Los Angeles mark the beginning of a monumental shift for the trajectory of Northbound. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Suck Brick Kid Release New Album "The End Is What I Want" via Smartpunk Records

SUCK BRICK KID RELEASE NEW ALBUM THE END IS WHAT I WANT VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Listen to the album here.

Physical copies of the album are available here.

Suck Brick Kid have mastered the art of poignant reflection amid hilarity on their latest album release.

After pulling their inspiration directly from the walls of the finest dive-bar restrooms in America, the band has reimagined these "latrine-limericks" into full-scale stories with lyrics from the perspective of the person who made the mark. These crass, comedic, and often chaotic influences are set against a backdrop of loud and fast punk music that exudes authenticity, relatability, and (sometimes) maturity. It is dedicated to those who find their home in hole-in-the-wall punk shows and the off-kilter communities of dive bar bathrooms.

Speaking about "The End Is What I Want," the band says, "After discovering this crude and desperate etching on a dive bar bathroom wall one night, the concept for this record was born as we began to dig deeper into 'what' these people were going through that led them to express themselves in this way. It really opened up the ceiling for us creatively as we were able to explore the perspectives of these 'vandals' and crafted a story for each after hand-selecting some of our favorite bathroom graffiti finds. This was also a fun challenge for us to compile these clever markings as it gave us something else to do in the bathroom besides just rip piping-hot pisses."

ABOUT SUCK BRICK KID:
With a decade of beers literally under their belt, Suck Brick Kid have defined themselves as "loud as fuck and fast as fuck." This is mainly because their vocabulary is small and rudimentary, at best. But also because they really do both of these things better than most. They don't take themselves too seriously and that's infinitely refreshing!

With a slew of conceptual albums already out, Suck Brick Kid aimed high for this new release and found inspiration in one of the lowest places imaginable...a dive bar bathroom. Bathroom graffiti is often over-looked, over-pissed-on, or even over-appreciated (I saw you draw a penis on that stick figure you dirty dog) but Suck Brick Kid wanted to tap into the mindset of some of these individuals and explore what they were (maybe) going through when they made their mark. This opened up possibilities for the songs that vocalist Grant Tchekmeian and guitarist Ian Marchionda cleverly navigated, as they crafted some of the most insane and absurd lyrical content to date. The End Is What I Want should strike a chord with any lover of punk music, dive bars, both of those things, or people who just like a cheeky poop joke — no that was not one, but you see what I did there. 

This record is sure to put this band six feet under, in wooden suits, and left for the worms.

But before that happens, they've graced stages of FEST in Gainesville, Florida, and have also toured alongside Unwritten Law, Palisades, Set Your Goals, and more. However, the band is survived by the following family members (Grant Tchekmeian on vocals, Ian Marchionda on guitar, Daniel Valery on drums, and Hayden Cler on bass).

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Virginity Release Nostalgia-Inducing Alt-Rock Single "Any Good Thing" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' fan-favorite, indie power-punk rockers Virginity, are tapping into the simplicity of white picket fences, coming-of-age stories, and old-school alternative rock on their latest single "Any Good Thing," taken from their upcoming album Bad Jazz.  The single showcases the band's signature storytelling lyricism, which put them on the map. After achieving great success with their previous album POPMORTEM and receiving acclaim from Audiotree, Brooklyn Vegan, The Alternative, and more, the band is prepared to showcase its long-awaited follow-up album on June 28.

Speaking about the new single "Any Good Thing," Virginity vocalist Casey Crawford says, "I love coming-of-age stories and movies, and this song is my little contribution to that. I wanted to write something that would be at home in a movie like Can't Hardly Wait or Empire Records. This is also my first time foraying into storytelling via song. It's really just one scene of a kid catching his older sister sneaking out of her window and wishing he'd gone with. This song is a blast to play live. It's super simple and fun to sing."

Ahead of the album release, the band is sharing their new single "Any Good Thing" — listen here.

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Bubbling up from the swamps of Central Florida, Virginity are an indie/power punk band that really just kinda wants to be Superdrag.

Formed in 2018, the band is an attempt to grapple with the existential dread of entering one's 30s (and 40s) with plenty of baggage. Led by the duo of singer/guitarist Casey Crawford and drummer/producer Jim Dreffen, Virginity quickly found infectious melodies and confident songwriting in steady supply. Joined by bassist Jordan Shroyer and guitarist Chris Pfister, Virginity's sound embodies the dark humor of the modern world.

Their debut LP, 2019's With Time, crafted more as a therapy session than a record, caught the attention of FEST legends, Dikembe, who eagerly championed the album under their Death Protector label. Wasting no time, the cathartic Death to the Party EP followed in 2020 (Wiretap Records), which spawned the fan favorite "Bad Call." A third release in as many years, POPMORTEM, (2021 Smartpunk Records) further cemented their reputation for catchy tunes with poignant lyrics and forever looking to subvert expectations.

2024 brings more Virginity to the masses: a new full length record this summer (Smartpunk Records); a second trip to SXSW, the band's first international dates at Pouzza Fest in Montreal, and a slew of dates around the U.S. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.