THE RESTARTS (UK)
Street Punk from London
The Restarts, formed in 1995, are a tight three piece, multi-genre punk outfit based in East London. They play thrashy, anarcho, power chord punk laced with Ska breaks and pogo inducing basslines earning them a loyal following of punk lovers of all ages.
The Restarts have been hammering their way through the squats of Europe and DIY house shows across North America with reckless abandon. They lend amplification to unheard voices, playing benefit gigs for various social causes and keeping the DIY spirit of punk rock alive and well.
Their years of hard graft is recognised by them being requested to play along side such heavy weights as Steve Ignorant's Crass, Jello Biafra & GSM, Millions of Dead Cops, The Casualties, Star Fucking Hipsters and The Subhumans.
After several tours over Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and South Asia and over 9 releases the Restarts have found themselves playing a small part in a large world wide network of DIY Punk Rock. They are punks first, musicians second. They feel the social importance of Punk Rock takes priority over the "marketability" of a rehashed trend.
In 2019 they published a split 7" with the Subhumans and their new album "Uprising".
Reviews
Die RESTARTS spielen vor einem total vollen Saal. Kieran, der Sänger schreit seine wütenden Punktexte in die Menge. Die RESTARTS machen Punk mit klarer politischer Ansage weil: 'there are a lot of assholes out there'. Sie spielen immer noch so zornig, wie Anfang der 90er in den besetzten Häusern."
- Useless Fanzine, Live Review, Rebellion Festival 2012
Gewürzt mit einer ordentlichen Prise Streetpunk strotzen die Songs vor Rebellion und Aggression. Der Sound ist rau, grob, melodisch und sehr eingängig. RESTARTS sind weder müde noch leiser geworden... Diese Hoffnung ist Antrieb. RESTARTS geben mit diesem Album Mut, den eigenen Weg weiter zu gehen, und das ist mehr, als viele Bands heutzutage schaffen."
- Wahrschauer
"The Restarts first crawled out of the North London Squat scene nearly a decade ago. Serial dole scroungers the lot of them, they named their band after the dreaded 'back to work' interviews and set about touting their stroppy four-chord punk to spiky-haired audiences around the world. Yelling out barbed diatribes against the state over chunky metal guitars, they've slowly but surely clawed their way to the top of the underground pile."
- Terrorizer
"This is dance in the basement, spanner in the works, back porch drinking, bomb in the police station punk!!! I never knew Steve Ignorant had pregnancy-inducing sex with all of POISON IDEA, but this is some cute baby they had. Oh, also good people. They played at a house in West Oakland last month, and rocked us with energy and astounded us with their good manners!"
- Maximum Rock'n'Roll
"Abrasive yet catchy UK punk with raw vocals and plenty of chorus sing a longs. The razor blade throated lead vocalist give this plenty of raw edge while through most of it the music has a much more uplifting energy to it... Oddly enough, it seems rare to come across the bands that play straight forward old-style punk rock and so this is a refreshing cause they've been at it for like a decade. Cheers guys. Good catchy shit."
- Slug and lettuce
"I've seen them play many times in London and always rated them pretty highly as a live band but never really got to hear their stuff on record yet. Things have changed now as I got a copy of their latest album. It seems I've been missing out on something very big. This album is the dogs bollocks! This goes right into my top 20 albums of all time I reckon. 12 songs of punk rock how it should be played."
- London Punks.co.uk
"I caught the mighty RESTARTS at Brum punx picnic & they rocked the house down w/ their abrasive punk rock... Raging punk rock w/ honest social commentary shows that THE RESTARTS are one class act!... As usual THE RESTARTS win another battle of the bands."
- Punk shocker, Newcastle Fanzine
"With ex members of Coitus, Armed and Hammered, and Assrash UK, it was no surprise that the RESTARTS kick-ass!! All three members share the vocals and each deliver them powerfully... These guys plan to tour the US this summer!...I can't wait."
- Profane Existence
Upcoming shows
No shows booked at the moment.
Band
- Kieran – Bass, Vocals
- Robin – Guitar, Vocals
- Jeremy – Drums
Discography
- 2019 – Uprising, CD/LP, Pirates Press Records
- 2013 – A Sickness of Mind, CD/LP, No Label Records
- 2009 – Mobocracy, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance Split CD, No Label Records
- 2007 – Outsider CD, Dirty Faces Records
- 2004 – System Error LP, Active Distribution
- 2003 – Actively Seeking Work 1996-1998 LP, Active Distribution
- 2002 – Slumworld CD/LP, Active Distribution
- 1999 – Your World, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance split 7″, Magilla Guerilla Records
- 1998 – State Rape, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance split LP, Rejected Records
- 1998 – Legacy of Bigotry, The Restarts/Left For Dead split EP, Dead Records
- 1997 – Just Gets Worse EP, Blind Destruction Records
- 1997 – Frustration EP, Blind Destruction Records
- 1996 – Job Club Demo tape, self released
Also check out:
DEFIANCE (US)
Anarcho Punk
Defiance formed in 1993 from the ashes of three of Portland’s seminal Anarcho-punk bands, Deprived, Resist, and Unamused. The band quickly made a name for themselves with their uncompromising no-frills punk rock, straight forward political lyrics, and imagery that could have been lifted from UK ‘82. It wasn’t long, either, before the band’s chaotic nature, penchant for alcohol and other indulgences, and a bad habit of attracting unwanted attention from the law gained them a reputation as, well, a little unpredictable…
Defiance has weathered the changes and the chaos of the past years, having released four full-length Lps, numerous singles and Eps, and multiple tours of the USA, Europe, Mexico, Japan and Canada. Defiance are back with a vengeance, once again hitting the road with the lineup of Mike, Gibby (Dog Soldier), Matt (Poison Idea, Dog Soldier) and Niff.Reviews
"Portland spiky-haired, studded-leather-clad punks not to be confused with the thrash metal act of the early '90s with the same moniker are on album number three (not including numerous splits, EPs, and compilation appearances), and the band is still unapologetically churning out exactly what you expect: unrelenting punk rock that sounds like G.B.H. if they wanted to be an Oi! band, with leftist dogma that is far more seeped in turn-of-the-millennium American concerns than old-school U.K. sensibilities, à la Anti-Flag."
- Allmusic.com
"Diese Scheibe gilt zu Recht als Blaupause des modernen Streetpunks und genau deshalb thront das DEFIANCE-Logo auch auf so vielen Lederjacken weltweit. Hier gibt es melodischen, überaus politischen Streetpunk, der, ähnlich wie bei ANTI-FLAG, durch Wechsel- bzw. Sprechgesang und äußerst eingängige Chorusse vorangepeitscht wird. Der Basssound dieses Albums verdient besondere Erwähnung: klar, unverzehrt, vordergründig ohne zu nerven und vor allem gespielt als sogenannter „walking bass“ verleiht er der Platte einen ganz beosnderen Charme. Und er wird von keinem geringeren als Kelly Halliburton gezockt, der schon so etwas wie eine lebende Legende des PDX-Punks ist, spielt(e) er doch bei so illustren Kapellen wie:PIERCED ARROWS (Drums), SEVERED HEAD OF STATE, MURDER DISCO X, RESIST, DETESTATION, MASSKONTROLL, CLUSTER BOMB UNIT, um nur einige seiner Stationen zu nennen. Aktuell ist Kelly wieder bei DEFIANCE dabei.
Inhaltlich geht es bei DEFIANCE um Politik und sie standen in dieser Tradition immer mehr dem englischen Anarcho-Punk bzw. dem Profane Existence-Umfeld nah, als Bands, die einfach nur ganz stumpfe Dagegensein-Texte formulierten. Obwohl schon 20 Jahre auf dem Buckel, haben viel der damaligen DEFIANCE-Texte nichts an Aktualität und Relevanz eingebüßt. Gehört in jeden Plattenschrank. Schön, dass es die Platte wieder gibt."
- Plastic Bomb Fanzine
"Is it possible that Defiance's second album is even more visceral, scathing, and angry than their classic 1995 debut 'No Future No Hope'? Well, listening to Punk Core's reissue of this 2000 beauty and examining the biting, socio-politically aware lyrics, definitely is grounds for this surmise... No doubt these guys have some of the most incendiary messages around. And that's to say nothing about the equally riotous music, which is sheer, raving, urgent streetpunk bliss."
- Punknews.org
ALIEN FIGHT CLUB (DE)
Punk Rock
Gut ausbalanciert zwischen Punkrock, Hardcore und ihrer ganz speziellen Mischung von Erfahrungen, schrauben sich die Melodien von Alien Fight Club tief in die Gehörgänge.
Sängerin Anneke, Gitarrist Kolja und Schlagzeuger Stefan treiben schon lange ihr Unwesen und spielen/ten unter anderem in Bands wie Guts Pie Earshot, 1982, Spark Unit, Genepool und Beatrevolver. Alien Fight Club vereint diese unterschiedlichen Einflüsse mit der Leidenschaft für einen treibenden, krachigen und doch tanzbaren Sound.
Die Texte sind wütend, empathisch und manchmal sehr persönlich. Der erhobene Mittelfinger gegen alle rassistischen Ignoranten, die unsere Gesellschaft vergiften, wechselt sich mit Geschichten über Höhen und Tiefen eines Punkrock-Lebens ab. Live ist die Band energetisch und schweißtreibend und schont weder sich noch das Publikum.
Reviews
"Ausgefeilter Hardcore-Punk, der an LIFE ... BUT HOW TO LIVE IT? erinnert, mit einer hyperaktiven Sängerin und einer gelungenen Cover-Auswahl. Es ist Jahrzehnte her, dass ich zu SPIZZ ENERGY gepogt habe – und heute Abend habe ich die Gelegenheit dazu. Der Gig macht Appetit auf mehr und so freue ich mich auf die angekündigte LP und weitere Konzerte..."
- Ox Fanzine, Live Review
"Alien Fight Club ringen dem aber noch das Quäntchen Eigenständigkeit ab, das bei vielen andern fehlt und klingen dabei erfrischend ungeschliffen. Bitte mehr davon."
- Plastic Bomb
"Kurzweilige Scheibe, die vier Mal klassischen Punkrock mit emotionsgeladenem weiblichen Gesang abliefert. Kann man sich auf jeden Fall ganz gut reinziehen!"
- UglyPunk Zine
THE DIZZY BRAINS (MG)
Garage / Punk Rock / Rock
The Dizzy Brains are a garage rock band, inspired by The Sonics, as there are many around the world, except for Madagascar, one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world and the birthplace of the quartet. Founded by two brothers, Eddy on vocals and Mahefa on bass, the group fights injustice, lack of possibilities and freedom restriction in the everyday life of the islanders.
Their influences come from bands from their fathers’ generation (The Kings, The Stooges, The Vines etc.). That’s where they found their love for unbridled rock’n’roll (choosing Little Richard over Presley), garage style and psyched atmosphere. They even covered Jacques Dutronc’s "Les Cactus" in a version full of thorns. And it’s more than music. They are sharing a piece of themselves including their bravery and vulnerability.
They are the face of the opposition in their country, Madagascar’s youth trying to survive while going against the political system. This is their passion for life that shines off during their concerts.
The Dizzy Brains are regular guests in French TV and have toured in Germany, the Netherlands, France, the UK, South Korea etc. In 2019, they will bring their brand new second album "Tany Razana" to Europe, like the first one published by the French label X-Ray Production.
Reviews
"Garage rock by its nature is simple to play – its the entry point for nearly every guitar mangler on the planet and consequently can be a hit or miss afafair but when it is played with this much fire, intensity and imagination it can sound like one of the most thrilling types of music on the planet. Try and magazine watching the Stooges at their feral pre fame best complete witha skinny Madagascan hanging from the mic with his shirt stripped off like a youthful Iggy, or try to imagine the garage end of the Dead Kennedys cranked through the superfuzz of Mudhoney and that thrilling rush of early Nirvana and you are in the ballpark witha band who pique your curiosity with their home country but transcend it with their unrelenting power and twitching energy. With each song being a lesson in tension and dynamics The Dizzy Brains could actually be the best garage rock band in the world, they are that good…"
- Louder Than War, May 2017, Live Review
"Check it out. Its easy to see why they are a great band to have at any festival, as they bring with them energy, up beat rock songs to have any crowd dancing about. A young rock group from Madagascar The Dizzy Brains is capturing the imagination and attention of the music scene in Europe. The band’s unique style is a blend of punk and garage rock and their provocative lyrics tell stories about politics, power and protest in Madagascar. Since their songs challenge authority, the band was shunned from most concert venues and radio stations in Madagascar, but the band developed quite a following underground on social media and outside the country... The Dizzy Brains grabbed audiences in France after their appearance on the popular French television show 'Le Petit Journal' on April 14, 2016. During the show, one member of the band sparked a buzz on Malagasy social networks and blogs because he openly challenged Madagascar’s new prime minister, urging him on to do more for the country: 'just do your job, man!' This bold and spontaneous plea was the talk of the town in Madagascar for a while and fitted quite well with the group’s musical identity based on protest and civic engagement... The group continues to tour Europe and the young musicians continue to educate the world on their home country of Madagascar."
- 5shouts.com
"These kids absolutely rock. They are going to make the fire, I’m sure of it. Because rock, in the end, is the vehicle of rebellion, and that’s without a doubt a little lost in the West. While in Madagascar, what they’re singing has meaning. This is coming from the streets."
- Jean-Louis Brossard, director of the Trans-Musicales festival in Rennes