Canon To A Whisper (South Africa)

Here's Tim Krysko with our International Spotlight:

A few weeks ago I opened up a new section of Punk International to devote to the many bands in South Africa's independent music scene. Here's one of my favorites so far: Pretoria's Canon To A Whisper. They're signed to a label called Nifty Records, and have an EP available that came out in July. I expect good things from the full-length they're now working on.

Canon To A Whisper - The Ghost Of Phase (MP3) Check out South Africa's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Tripped And Falling (Trinidad), Husking Bee (Japan).

Tripped And Falling (Trinidad)

Here's Tim Krysko with our International Spotlight:

The little island in the Caribbean called Trinidad is one of the many places a lot of people wouldn't expect to find a punk scene in (and some might not have heard of the place at all). But the four guys known as Tripped And Falling are having a go at it, combining influences from a variety of punk and alternative rock sources into a pretty catchy pop punk concoction. They have a DIY EP called End Is Now, and this is the title track. It's got quite a chorus on it.

Tripped And Falling - End Is Now (MP3) Check out Trinidad's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Husking Bee (Japan), Beatbrats (Austria).

Husking Bee (Japan)

Here's Tim Krysko with our International Spotlight:

Around this same time last year, my girlfriend went to Japan and brought me back the latest Husking Bee CD of the time (though it was a year old by then, The Steady State Theory). Thesame happened again this year, and she brought me back 2004's Variandante. Produced, recorded, and mixed - like most of their albums - by the great Mark Trombino, Variandante once again makes me mad that nobody has stepped up to license Husking Bee CDs for North America since Doghouse Records stopped after putting out the amazing 4 Color Problem. Buy that album. And regarding Variandante, as soon as I heard this track, "Just a Beginning", it became my instant favorite Husking Bee song ever.

Husking Bee - Just A Beginning (MP3) Check out Japan's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Beatbrats (Austria), Nikmat Olalim (Israel).

Beatbrats (Austria)

Here's Tim Krysko with the return of our International Spotlight:

A heavy work schedule, a family vacation, and a Punk International server move have kept me out of commission for a couple weeks, but it's time to get back on track. To start with, here's a band that's been in the queue for a while, as I've been waiting for some news to come out of their camp before I post their song. Here's the Beatbrats from Austria, and a song from their 2002 album Tainted. It's a great punk rock record and I can't wait for something new from these guys.

Beatbrats - 12 Feet 10 (MP3) Check out Austria's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Nikmat Olalim (Israel), 99Anger (Korea/Canada).

Nikmat Olalim (Israel)

Here's Tim Krysko with this week's International Spotlight:

Israeli political hardcore punks Nikmat Olalim have been making headlines lately, so now's the perfect time to get a track of theirs online for all to hear. This comes from their latest CD, Battle Legacy, which came out on their label Boshet Records - your home and mine for anti-Zionist Israeli punk rock.

Nikmat Olalim - Talking Activist (MP3)

Check out Israel's country profile. Recent Spotlights: 99Anger (Korea/Canada), Ilegality (Slovakia).

99Anger (Korea/Canada)

Here's Tim Krysko with this week's International Spotlight:

Back in January of 2003 I featured the Korean punk band 99Anger and their mp3/video for the song "Stay Far Away" off their CD Who Comes First. The two permanent members Sean (guitar) and Nicole (bass) have since moved to Vancouver, Canada, but recorded a brand new EP back in Seoul earlier this year. Now 99Anger is officially a Vancouver-based band getting ready to make a go out of promoting this EP called The Anger & The Sadness

99Anger - I'm Not Afraid (MP3)

Check out Korea's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Ilegality (Slovakia), Falcongate (Hungary).

Ilegality (Slovakia)

Here's Tim Krysko with this week's International Spotlight:

I got to hear this band on a split CD with the Czech band Svine that came out the Czech label Pohoda Records. They're from Slovakia, they sing in Slovak, and their website is all in Slovak. But punk rock knows no borders: their half of the split with Svine is called Kto je Kto and it absolutely rips.

Ilegality - Spasitel (MP3)

Check out Slovakia 's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Falcongate (Hungary), Street Bulldogs (Brazil).

Falcongate (Hungary)

We've been hopping from one side of the Atlantic to the other for more than a month now. Not to break that pattern we follow up last week's visit to Brazil with a look at Hungary. Here's Tim Krysko with our International Spotlight:

Falcongate is a veteran band rocking Hungary for over ten years. They've released numerous demos, EPs, and albums, and 2004's Blood Red Roses is their latest. The album is full of catchy tunes, like this one called "Wrong Way".

Falcongate - Wrong Way (MP3)

Check out Hungary's country profile. Recent Spotlights: Street Bulldogs (Brazil), Protest Urban (Romania)

Street Bulldogs (Brazil)

From Romania last week to Brazil this week, here's Tim Krysko with our International Spotlight:

Well, there's so much good music coming out of Brazil that I could easily sustain a weekly Brazilian spotlight. Street Bulldogs are one of the many bands from south of the equator I wish could catch a break up here in the north. They have a new album called Unlucky Days and here's one of the tracks, "Sweet Threat." Have a gander at their label's website, 13 Records.

Street Bulldogs - Sweet Threat (MP3) Recent Spotlights: Protest Urban (Romania), Mulligan (Dominican Republic)

Protest Urban (Romania)

Punknews international correspondent Tim Krysko took the first direct airship from the Dominican Republic to Romania for this week's assignment. Here's his report:

Romania is definitely a developing country when it comes to its underground music scene. They were one of the last former-communist countries to produce punk and hardcore bands. Protest Urban is a band from the Black Sea coastal city of Constanta, and they're working hard to promote Romanian independent music, touring to bring their aggressive style of music to different parts of the country. They don't have a CD yet, but here's one of their songs, "Schimbare."

Protest Urban - Schimbare (MP3) Recent Spotlights: Mulligan (Dominican Republic), Shugar (Kyrgyzstan)