DS Staff Picks: Dylan’s Favorite Punk Albums, EPs & Things of September, 2023 (Presented by Punk Rock Radar)

American Television
Scars

This sophomore album from Washington, DC punks American Television is very nice. Some songs are straight up melodic punk, other songs remind me of the Dopamines, a few are kinda orgcore-ish. Buy the record!

RBNX
Nothing Here Is Yours

By now anyone who reads these monthly columns is aware of my affection for ska, especially that which is of the skacore variety. RBNX messaged me on Instagram to check out their new record. I did, in fact, check out their new record, and it’s quite fantastic. For fans of Against All Authority, Leftover Crack Cocaine, and all things crusty. Buy the record!

CONTRA CODE
Friday Junior

Surprise, surprise – Dylan’s got a skate punk record on his favorite albums list again! Ay listen, this is a bad ass record. Vancouver, BC’s almighty Contra Code returns with their first new album in 8 years! Friday Junior rips; it’s like A Wilhelm Scream meets Megadeth. Buy this record.

THOUSAND OAKS
Remnants

More skate punk! Italy’s Thousand Oaks (ft. ex-members of another great band called Jet Market) put out an insane new record earlier this year – go back and check that one out if you missed it. Remnants is a bunch of old songs from EPs and shit; it’s pretty good! “Nest of Vipers” is my favorite song on here. Get it on CD here / digital download on Bandcamp.

RANDOM HAND
Random Hand

Random Hand is an excellent ska band from the UK. These guys never disappoint and their new album doesn’t buck the trend. It starts strong with “The Cycle” and only gets stronger from there. This is a bad ass record from a bad ass band. Get it on pretty colored wax.

THE SUBJUNCTIVES
Let’s Try Again

The Subjunctives are a pop-pop-punk band from Seattle, fronted by Sicko’s Ean Hernandez. This is their second record. If you like Sicko, early Green Day, or The Muffs, you’ll like this. Buy the record!

WITH HONOR
Boundless

In a surprising turn of events, I have picked a melodic hardcore album as one of my favorites of September. Connecticut’s With Honor has been around a long fuckin time but this is the first album I’ve checked out from them. I’d say it’s a good hopping on point! Balls to the wall, full throttle, whatever contrived saying you prefer to use… this shit makes you wanna run through a wall! Buy the record.

SKEETCH
Skeetch or Die

German skate punks Skeetch pop off on their third EP Skeetch or Die. These four songs are fuckin awesome. No nonsense Epifat style melodic skate punk. These guys even have a theme song – that’s how you know they’re not fucking around. You can’t buy this record anywhere unfortunately But you can listen to it:

TRY AGAIN
Still Trying

Here’s another 4 song skate punk EP; these guys are from Quebec City though, not Germany. I think I’ve had a People of Punk Rock Records release on every one of these Best Of lists so far this year. Here’s another one!

NORMY
What The Fuck Planet Are These Guys From?

Normy proves that some good things do occasionally come out of the desolate wasteland of sadness and despair that is Cleveland, I suppose. The band’s new EP What The Fuck Planet Are These Guys From? (early frontrunner for best record title of 2023) picks up where their debut EP left off. More early 2000’s infused melodic punk, with anthemic songs like “Idiot” and fast shit like “Right Place, Wrong Time”. I like this record. You should buy this record.

REASON TO LEAVE
Rise and Grind

Continuing to flaunt my ever-eclectic music taste, I have opted to include one last skate punk EP on my Best of September listicle thingy. Bri’ish punks Reason To Leave have a new EP out now; it’s called Rise and Grind. These guys kinda remind me a lil bit of Consumed. I guess Pennywise would be a more prominent band I could compare them to as well. Buy the compact disc!!!