Latest Posts

Science Man – Monarch Joy

June 12, 2025

Stage dive for cover because Buffalo’s diabolical Science Man returns with his latest hardcore punk abomination, Monarch Joy.   After a 5-year banishment touring the Rust Belt countryside, local scenester heavyweight John Toohill’s project has evolved from the lone multi-hyphenate and a drum machine to a full-blown and fully-realized ensemble. Recorded and mixed by Toohill and John Angelo, and mastered by the latter, the LP marks Science Man’s latest experiment as his most cohesive and focused work to date.   Monarch Joy is sutured together with chunks of hardcore punk, garage and noise rock and injected with expressionistic themes of moral decay, sacrifice and religion’s influence on society. Toohill breathes life into his bastard creation with barking vocals that rage with the ferocity of a feral, caged animal.   The record opens with the unsettling instrumental track, “S.C.I.M.N.” Featuring a grotesque cacophony of screeching horns, droning guitars and tumbling drums,[...]

Torture Agenda – Another Fine Day

March 24, 2025

Irreverent Buffalo grindcore favorites, Torture Agenda, have unleashed their bruising debut full-length, Another Fine Day. For the uninitiated, band members Bryan, Adria and V tangle sludge, grind, and hardcore influences together into a blood knot of raw, sonic physicality. Their brutal sound, dubbed “Rust Belt Wrath,” is confrontational and chaotic and not for the weak of heart nor hearing. Listen for Bryan’s overdrive guitar riffs quaking under Adria’s frenzied blast beats while V screams socio-conscious verses with the intensity of a rabid pitbull.   Standing at 13-tracks, 38-minutes, Another Fine Day includes abrasive new material as well as fresh recordings of oldies such as “Occupational Hazard” and “Skull Magnet.” The record opens with “Ravenous,” a foreboding ambient noise track from featured Arizona artist ScreamingLake that sets an ominous tone before kicking into high gear with the raging “Marlboro Man Smokes Turkish Royals.”   Throughout the album, Torture Agenda skillfully balances[...]

Overgrowth – Rat Shovel

March 10, 2025

Buffalo metal punks, Overgrowth, drop the sledgehammer with their pulverizing debut EP, Rat Shovel.   Comprised of vocalist Anthony Muroff, guitarists Timothy Domes and Paul Mietlicki, bassist Jake Whitefield and drummer Roy Draves, this quintet makes a great first impression with this suffocatingly-heavy five-track tour de force.   Overgrowth fuses hardcore, sludge metal, and grindcore for a punishing listen that showcases lightning-fast tempos devolving into brooding, slow-motion breakdowns. Both Domes and Mietlicki lay down cinderblock riffs over Draves riotous drums and Whitehead’s thunderous basslines. Gluing these nefarious elements together is Muroff’s commanding and impressive mixture of guttural bellows and high-pitched shrieks.   Lighting the EP’s fuse with a burst of mayhem is the opening track, “End of Time.” The song is a great scene-setter and fully encapsulates Overgrowth’s sound as it slams between grindcore noise and melodic hardcore punk before culminating in a heavy breakdown that oozes out of your[...]

Rotten UK – Age of Chaos

February 27, 2025

Grab your leather jackets and bullet belts because Rochester metal punk veterans Rotten UK are back with a vengeance on their sophomore full-length album, Age of Chaos.   Bandmates James von Sinn, Matt Sexxx, Anarchy Jake, and Fran Damage violate your speakers with their distinct style of 80’s UK crust punk forged with gothic undertones, thrashy power chords, and dominating drums. von Sinn’s vocals are straight from the depths of a London dungeon as he shouts and howls songs of revolution, horror and the occult. Their snobbish, drawling delivery adds a thick layer of anarchistic attitude that rounds out Rotten UK’s throwback speed metal sound.   Age of Chaos doesn’t waste any time melting your face off with the opening track, “Annihilation Desecration.” It’s a hyper shot of pure adrenaline that will get your heart pounding. Like a runaway rollercoaster, Damage’s frenetic kick-snare drums propel the track at warp speed[...]

Jerry Big’s World Famous Band – “Birds Got Beaks”

February 21, 2025

Strap in, or at least grab a hold of something for “Birds Got Beaks,” the breakneck new single from Rochester newcomers Jerry Big’s World Famous Band. Hot off a sold-out release show, this record is a white-knuckle thrill ride that doesn’t let up from the moment it crashes in. Expect punk-fucking-rock in the vein of Minor Threat with boisterous vocals, bullying guitar riffs, and pounding kick/snare drums. These combustible sounds crowd-surf over each other before building to a detonation of melody and chaos.   With only a minute run time, “Birds Got Beaks” is a pure, raw power rush that will make you want to beat your head against a wall. Keep your eyes and ears on JBWFB and give this whiplash track a listen.   Jerry Big’s World Famous Band’s “Bird Got Beaks” is available now on bandcamp, Spotify and all major streaming platforms.   Birds Got Beaks by[...]

Razorface – Razorface

February 17, 2025

There’s a new face in the Buffalo hardcore punk scene and it’s one only a mother could love. Meet Razorface, an enigmatic six-piece who have unleashed an unrelenting audio assault with their debut self-titled LP.   Born out of the demented psyche of Lucas Kaleta (K-Hole, Muddle, Lowest Form), Razorface has been stalking stages and terrorizing venues for the better part of a year with their killer brand of in-your-face, take-no-prisoners punk.   The band captures their special kind of mayhem on this ferocious eight-track rush that will make your head bang and your ears bleed. With help from Biff of Pallet Town who recorded, mixed and mastered the project, each crusty and spastic song feels like an all-out brawl. An example of the band’s sonic physicality is the single, “Self-Inflicted.” The song puts its boot firmly on your neck with wild outbursts of frenzied riffs and trashy drums that[...]

Harmonica Lewinski – “Rat Race”

January 10, 2025

Grab your boogie board and catch a psych-rock wave with Harmonica Lewinski’s beachin’ new single, “Rat Race.” If your new year’s resolution is to listen to more groovy music, this is the perfect place to start as these veteran Rochester scenesters and buffaBLOG mainstays kick off 2025 with a helluva luau. This instrumental track is a punchbowl of surfy guitar riffs and jungle drumbeats spiked with the band’s signature weirdness. Drink it in below and let this fun-loving five-piece bewitch you with the sounds of a party on the wrong side of the beach; the side where you might find skeletons clinking piña coladas or Uncle Fester sunbathing.   Harmonica Lewinski’s “Rat Race” is streaming now on Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.   Rat Race by Harmonica Lewinski

Ashford – Pictures of Places I’ve Been

December 16, 2024

Buffalo pop punk/emo rockers, Ashford, close out the year on a high note with their dynamo debut LP, Pictures of Places I’ve Been.   The record is a nine-track patchwork of new material and singles released earlier this year including the tracks “Temperance,” “Gorilla Glue” and “The Painter & the Patient.” Expect a variety of clean yet rough-around-the-edges vocals; powerful, overdrive guitars; and hefty, punctuative drums for a listen that will make your hair stand up.   Variety is what Ashford does best on this album. Like a pop punk buffet, the band cooks up a deeply satisfying mix of tones, textures and tempos that keeps Pictures of Places I’ve Been fresh and engaging. You’ve got your choice of softer, more poignant songs like “Bliss,” or heavier, crunchier songs like “Crown.” No two songs sound the same with each having their own distinct flavors to chew on for hours.  [...]

Gatto Black – (Not) Ready to Die

December 13, 2024

The cat’s out of the bag with (Not) Ready to Die, the bombastic new sophomore EP from feline-friendly Buffalo post-hardcore project, Gatto Black.   Featuring singer-songwriter, Sal Mastrocola (EXNATIONS, No Net), this 7-song collection is a powder keg of emotions triggered by screamo vocals, chaotic drum beats, and third-rail riffs that will shock your system.   “But the thing about cats… they’re never afraid of their shadows,” and neither is Mastrocola, as he wails introspectively on the opening track, “Bitch I’m a Cat.” The singer-songwriter wears his heart on his sleeve and spills his guts via snotty emo-punk vocals that shake with anger and sadness. Each song is impressively unique, robust and layered, and runs a gamut of feelings that wallow in angst and insecurities.   You can feel these difficult, dizzying emotions on tracks like “No One Can Ruin Me.” This absolute tornado of a tune lashes out with[...]

JEWELTONE – Visions of Heaven

December 9, 2024

Buffalo hardcore trio, JEWELTONE, bring the pain with their new EP, Visions of Heaven. Following up their demo release last year, this bruising EP features four new tracks of stripped-down, no-frills hardcore punk that will have you two-stepping and stagediving.   With an endearing band statement of unity and inclusivity, JEWELTONE have spent the last year building a name for themselves in the city’s hardcore scene. At their shows you’ll find a melting pot of all ages and backgrounds pinballing off heavy riffs, punishing drums, and howling vocals.   Consisting of Christian Adams on bass/guitar, Jordan Walker on drums and Neftali on vocals, each member brings their own unique perspective and influences to the project. These influences, acting as their north star, are wide-ranging and far-reaching, especially Nef’s whose roots are firmly planted in Buffalo’s hip-hop community.   Their spotlighted single “IDFWY,” puts all these influences in a blender for[...]

Black & White Cat / Black & White Cake – S/T

December 2, 2024

Throw on a leather jacket and mirror shades and let Buffalo deathrockers Black & White Cat / Black & White Cake be the soundtrack for your cemetery dance party with their debut self-titled album.   Inspired by the 1977 horror flick, The Sentinel, and formed six years ago by vocalist Dan Oh and guitarist John Toohill, this gothic five-piece delivers lo-fi melodic post-punk that’s cloaked in darkness and apathy. Rounding out the group and helping to bring their sound back from the dead are guitarist Dave Ward, bassist Paul Morin and synthesist Kelly Morduant.   Opening up this brooding collection of songs is the track “Useless” that encapsulates B&W Cat / B&W Cake’s macabre spirit. Oh’s cold, near-death vocals play perfectly against Toohill and Ward’s warm-blooded guitars; perfectly reflecting of the duality of life and death. It’s a great and catchy introduction to the band and their brand of punchy[...]

The Manx – “Weird Girl Stuff”

November 6, 2019

Get weird with LA-based art punks, The Manx, as they debut the visuals for their spastic new single, “Weird Girl Stuff.” Off their latest LP, Malibu Slime, this unique quintet shows off their sweet side with a romping beat that twists, turns and shivers with electro blasts and jolly vocals. Taking it to another level are director, Jennifer Ruiz, and animator, Amy Q. Huang, who punctuate the track with vibrant visuals and awesome animations that will charm your socks clean off. Do yourself a favor and give this wonderfully oddball video a watch below. For more of The Manx, check out their Spotify here and Facebook here.

Tonight: Darryl Rahn

October 24, 2019

Utica-bred, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Dylan Rahn will be returning to Buffalo this evening, performing at Nietzsche’s for the very first time. We’ve been on the Rahn train for close to two years, after discovering his heartfelt song “Still in Luv.” In his 2017 single, Rahn sings about his struggles after an encounter with a new flame who has yet to let go of their old flame. Since then we have written about two more of his singles, and Rahn continues to deliver heartfelt emotional lyrics which will be sure to be conveyed in the intimate front room setting. In addition, promising singer/songwriter Michael Heubusch will be joining him, as well as Head North front man Brent Martone. Doors are 8:30pm with a $5 cover

Tonight: koko.neetz

October 9, 2019

Allen Street is hosting an intimate night of up-and-coming Buffalo-based singer/songwriters in the front room tonight. Sharing the floor will be koko.neetz, Andrew Kothen of dreambeaches’ intricate solo works. This will be a preview of koko.neetz’ upcoming album release, due out next month. Also on the bill will be soulful acoustic act Yali, the brainchild of Humble Braggers guitarist, Bryan Zellz. Rounding out the lineup is Derick Evans, a fresh face to the local alt-Americana/indie scene. Doors are at 8:30pm and there is a $5 cover. Stay long enough to wish Kothen a happy birthday. Written by Matt Burgerhoff

Tonight: Red Devil Ryders

September 21, 2019

Get your thrills tonight on Main Street in Buffalo as the Hostel hosts an awesome lineup. Taking the stage and on the lam are Cleveland’s outlaw lo-fi power pop act, Red Devil Ryders. This trio will charm you with a catchy Southern throwback sound that will make you feel like an easy rider cruising into the sunset. Expect a stellar set filled with tangy BBQ riffs, piston-firing drums and free bird vocals. Check them out and get your engine revved. Sharing the bill and fresh off their latest tour are hometown punk rockers, Alpha Hoppers. Chaos will surely reign when these four hit the stage. Expect boisterous, experimental punk beats and in-your-face, wild-woman vocals that amount to some of the most righteous jams on the scene today. Show up and give them a warm welcome home. Rounding out the night is the Buffalo emo post-punk four-piece, Speed Dial. Doors at[...]