Mulligan (Dominican Republic)

Fresh off last week's assignment in Kyrgyzstan, Punknews international correspondent Tim Krysko took the earliest direct flight from the former Soviet republic to the Caribbean for this week's report:

Chung Ho Records out of the Dominican Republic is going to great lengths to foster the punk rock scene in their little Caribbean country. In March, they hosted Belvedere on their South American tour and this summer they're planning the Mala Pasta 04 tour specifically to bring local punk music to new towns in the Domincan Republic. Here is Mulligan, one of the many bands serving their country musically, and their song "You'll Get Nothing and Like It".

Mulligan - You'll Get Nothing And Like It (MP3) Recent Spotlights: Shugar (Kyrgyzstan), The Psyke Project (Denmark)

Shugar (Kyrgyzstan)

Ever so conveniently following the previous story, our International Spotlight returns to the former USSR. Here's the info from Tim Krysko of Punk International:

Just this week my good friend Luk at Tian An Men 89 released his five newest additions to his fine discography of global underground punk music. Among the releases is a 7" compilation of bands from the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, called Bishkek Is Burning. And among the plethora of fine Kyrgyz punk outfits is this band, Shugar. And since I'm sure there's many readers who have not even heard of Kyrgyzstan let alone of its punk scene, I highly recommend listening to this song "Leto".

Shugar - Leto (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: The Psyke Project (Denmark), The Invisibles (Brazil)

The Psyke Project (Denmark)

Our spotlight's back in Europe this week. Here's the scoop from Tim of Punk International:

One of the many great unsigned bands of the world, Copenhagen's Pyske Project are promoting their first proper album Samara the good old-fashioned way. This song "Blood Red Sun" is pretty characteristic of what they're all about. Their sound reminds me of Minus on their Jesus Christ Bobby album, and that suits me just fine. Hear more Scandinavian noise like this at the band's own website.

The Pyske Project - Blood Red Sun (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: The Invisibles (Brazil), FC Five (Japan)

The Invisibles (Brazil)

This is the third or fourth time we've visited Brazil with our Spotlight. Here's Tim from Punk International:

The Invisibles have been one of my top 3 favorite Brazilian bands since their debut album Summer in 2001. Their second effort is titled Fireworks and it's finally available in North America and beyond through Interpunk, released o n Urubuz Records. They're more or less a pop punk band, but they're set apart because most of their influence comes from 90s alternative rock instead of California pop punk. Check out the intro track "Hello" and see what they're all about.

The Invisibles - Hello (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: FC Five (Japan), Weeshirt (Andorra)

FC Five (Japan)

We're in Japan again with this week's spotlight. Here's Tim from Punk International:

One of my favorite CDs of the past few weeks has been the re-released Final Countdown Five EP from FC Five out of Ibaraki, Japan. The original pressing of this CD was the inaugural release for Hong Kong's Godschild Music, and the new version has new artwork and three additional songs added to it. FC Five is doing their first tour of the US this July sharing the stage with Stretch Armstrong, Bane, and Give Up The Ghost. So, if you plan on seeing those bands this summer, check out this track from FC Five and set aside a few dollars for the Final Countdown Five EP.

FC Five - New Greed (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Weeshirt (Andorra), 911 (Colombia)

Weeshirt (Andorra)

We're back in Europe this week. Here's the info from Tim Krysko of Punk International:

Today we visit a country so small and ignored that it's often left off of maps of Europe altogether: Andorra. I don't know what kind of music scene thrives in the country of 64000 people, but there's one band there for sure, and they're called Weeshirt. They've made a few demos that can be heard on their website, so go on over and have a look.

Weeshirt - Euthanasia (MP3)
Weeshirt - Turtle (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: 911 (Colombia), Grazhdanskaya Oborona (USSR)

911 (Colombia)

We're off to South America this week. Here's the scoop from Tim of Punk International:

911 comes from Medellin in Colombia. Their label, Two Many Records, recently hosted Belvedere when they passed through Colombia (making them the first North American band to pass through that part of South America). I mention that because I notice a lot of similarity between 911 and the Canadian mates. 911's new album Esta Musica Es Para Ustedes is sung part in Spanish and part in English, it's on sale now at Interpunk.

911 - Por Una Mujer (MP3)
911 - The Other Side Of My Mind (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Grazhdanskaya Oborona (USSR), The Killing Flame (USA by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Grazhdanskaya Oborona (USSR)

Tim from Punk International really outdid himself this week. I wont say much more, so here's the scoop:

I spent the last couple weeks researching the history of punk rock in the Soviet Union, and I found way more interesting material than I ever imagined. The first Soviet punk bands appeared around 1979, and the scene really exploded after 1985 under Gorbachev. I stumbled across a song, originally in wav format, by the iconic Siberian punk band Grazhdanskaya Oborona (Civil Defence). I can't say with absolute certainty what the song is called, or when it was recorded, but the band seems to have done its recording between the years 1985-1990. The quality of this mp3 isn't stellar, because it likely originated on cassette, then was transferred to CD a decade later. But, it's raw, real old-school Soviet punk at its finest.

The US-based music store RussianCD.com sells tons of Soviet and Russian punk, usually at a very low price ($10-$12 per CD). Even better, nearly every album I've seen is available to stream online. It's pretty much impossible to navigate if you don't know the names of the bands in the Cyrillic alphabet, but I can always suggest some direct links to any interest parties. Anyway, the entire G.O. discography is available here.

Grazhdanskaya Oborona - "Vse Idyot Po Planu" (All Going Right) (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: The Killing Flame (USA by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil), Delux (Mexico)

The Killing Flame (USA by way of São Paulo, Brazil)

Now this is a little bit unorthodox, but hey, it's a punk rock website. This is the first US band to end up in our International Spotlight, but we felt that the label makes it worthwhile. Here's the details from Tim Krysko of Punk International:

Highlight Sounds is a label in São Paulo, Brazil that puts out a lot of foreign records (mostly from the USA and Sweden) in their own local market. They've handled the Brazilian release of bands like Samiam, Millencolin, and Refused. Their latest release is Nine More Lives from the recently-resurrected Killing Flame, a classic Orange County hardcore band (comprised of ex-members of Ignite, No For An Answer) that released their one album, Another Breath, on Equal Vision in 2000 (plus a couple EPs before that). So far, there's no word on a North American release of this record, but you can win a copy of the Brazilian version right now at Punk International's current Pick Your Prize giveaway.

The Killing Flame - We Are the Patriots (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Delux (Mexico), Aim (Italy)

Delux (Mexico)

We're back in the Americas this week with our International Spotlight. Here's the info from Tim Krysko of Punk International:

The debut self-titled full-length by the unsigned Tijuana-based band Delux has got to be the most infectious piece of pop punk I have heard in the last few years. Here's the opening track "Abre Los Ojos". Incredibly, the entire album is this good.

Delux - Abre Los Ojos (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Aim (Italy), Stepson / Suffer (Czech Republic)