Anika “Abyss” 2025. Sacred Bones Records, limited edition black/burgandy/white smash variant. Grungy + noisy psychedelic post-punk, Anika hails from Berlin (we didn’t purchase this album there!) and recorded Abyss at Hansa Studios (which we did make a pilgrimage to, famed spot of Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, Iggy, etc.). It looks like Abyss is her sixth LP, though it’s the first in our collection I believe. It’s noise-laden, bass-heavy and hypnotic: not a 60’s hippie trip (however “Buttercups” does lean that way a bit), rather dank late night Euro-club strobes  – think My Bloody Valentine vibes but with more options to dance. My top tracks include the title track “Abyss,” the chaotically ass-shaking “Out of the Shadows,” While the album is mostly dense and dark material, there are some lighter, sweeter moments like on “Walk Away” (the lyrics: not so much tho) and sparser/lo-fi tracks like “Into the Fire” and “Oxygen” upon which Anika seems to be channeling her inner Nico.

The Obits “Die at the Zoo” 2021. Outer Battery Records, yellow vinyl. Live, loud garage punk, from a show on August 26th 2012 at The Zoo in Brisbane, Australia. The Obits recorded this when they were on tour between their second and third albums for Sub Pop and Die at the Zoo includes tracks from those two LP’s like “Widow Of My Dreams” and “I Want Results,” plus single releases like “One Cross Apiece” and “Refund.” One of my top picks is the bendy, slightly sinister stomper “New August,” another is the snarling punk stomper “Talking to the Dog.” “Pine On” is great (but the video for the original single freaks me the fuck out – it’s linked below). The recording quality of Die at the zoo is really stellar (but not over-produced allowing for the band’s raw/real vibe to come through) and the crowd noise is minimal, just enough between songs to prove it is, indeed, live.

The Crosses “Outlier” releases officially tomorrow, April 17th 2026. Triple Eye Industries exclusive yellow vinyl variant. Die Kreuzen’s Danny Kubiniski new(ish) band, their first full-length release featuring original Crosses material. We headed over to Wiggle Room last night for the record release spin: here a couple of poorly photographed images, one of Martin (of Triple Eye) and Danny spinning records and one of Martin and Fran (also Triple Eye plus the LP cover artist). Outlier is a mix of sludge and speed, noisy punk’d and metal’d hard rock with shreds galore, soaring vocals (Danny’s voice is still incredible all these years post-Die Kreuzen) and heavy beats (from the hype sticker “Great sounds and performances all around. The mix is amazing, drums are everywhere and vox scream!” — Kim Thayil, Soundgarden). Side A has three Crosses originals/new material: the thundering opener “Nails” – no easing into this release!, the speed punk “Hate Market,” and the growling “Natronium” that includes a wicked guitar solo (Jim Potter).  Side B has two covers including Die Kreuzen’s “Man in the Trees” (from the 1986 album October File) and Hüsker Dü’s “I’ll Never Forget You” (from Zen Garage, 1984). Both are just as loud and fast as the originals but have much superior and modern production sound. I’m super stoked to catch The Crosses at a secret show next weekend.