ALBUM OF THE DAY: Black Ends, “Psychotic Spew”

When you name your style of music “gunk-pop,” it has to be good. But Black Ends don’t disappoint. While genre revivalism is a dime-a-dozen these days, the Seattle band has the cred and bonafides to give grunge the shot in the arm it’s needed since the days Creed and Nickelback were topping the charts. Psychotic Spew is a genuine achievement for a style that’s been frozen in the ‘90s, led by Nicolle Swims’s addicting laconic drawl and the arresting rhythm section of Ben Swanson and Billie Jessica Paine.

Black Ends Share an Anthem for the Hopeless with New Single “Pretend 2 Be (Protect Me)”

Seattle grunge-punks Black Ends make a compelling point with regard to the inescapable trappings of a rotten society on their latest single, “Pretend 2 Be (Protect Me).” Continuing to define their self-described “gunk pop” sound with something that can really only be described as “gunk pop,” the track is both catchy and cathartic, playful and full of sobering truths.

Interview: Nicolle Swims of Black Ends Talks ‘Psychotic Spew’

The self-tagged “gunk pop” group Black Ends embodies the spirit of both words. Their indie-fied take on grunge is delectably dirty, though we have more hooks than a Candyman-themed Halloween party. Vocalist/guitarist Nicolle Swims infuses the record with defiant stories of being othered throughout life and seeking community. Like their genre tag, it’s messy yet beautiful. All of this makes for a record brimming with heart and hope, an open hand instead of a fist.

Black Ends - "Bent" | Post-Trash Premiere

Seattle’s Black Ends have spent the past five years establishing themselves as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting new bands. Known for both explosive live shows and their uniquely corrosive take on grunge, punk, and noise pop that they’ve lovingly dubbed “gunk pop,” the trio have long been one to watch, and they’re about to up to ante with their long awaited full length debut, Psychotic Spew. Due out on October 11th via Youth Riot Records (So Pitted, Wimps, Gal Pal), the record is built on abrasion and abstraction, stomping and churning between warped distortion and an ever present need to rampage.

Wanda What – Bye Bye

“It’s no surprise then that Dyke TV vacillates between moods—playful and serious, ironic and sincere—but what makes the project so exciting is its willingness to embrace this duality.” So we wrote of Wanda What‘s forthcoming full length on Youth Riot Records. An album which sees Harmony Reynolds build upon the ‘dyke rock’ of previous releases to capture the ambiguous, conflicting nature of any one personality.

So Pitted’s Cloned is a Heavy, Ripping Ride

I’m glad I’m not the only one who has consistent feelings of existential dread. Not that I really thought that I was the only one, but it feels good to know other people are feeling the effects of the overall state of the world with late-stage capitalism, climate change, etc. I think it would be fair to say that, based on their new album, So Pitted has been feeling it too.

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE: SO PITTED TALK NEW LP ‘CLONED,’ SHARE VIDEO

From the growing social divisions, political polarization, stratification between rich and poor, and fragmentation that social media and other evils have thrust upon us, everyone can agree that we’re living in a mad, mad, mad, mad world. It’s true in both senses of the word: anger and insanity are at previously unimaginable degrees, and there appears to be no end in sight.

Dad Rock Is Dead, Long Live Mom Punk

Wimps are back! It's been five long years since Seattle's funnest punk band released new music, and The Stranger is very proud to premiere the video for "Mom," the band's first single from their upcoming album, City Lights (out October 13 on Youth Riot Records).

Wimps Heart Seattle”

It’s early July, and Wimps, the Seattle punk trio of more than 10 years’s existence, are running through songs in their Belltown practice space in preparation for a number of summer gigs. These include a set at the revitalized Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival and a “secret” opening spot for the one-night reunion of erstwhile local punk heroes Pony Time. Like Bumbershoot, though not quite as substantially, Wimps predate the current perception of Seattle as a hellscape built with the devil’s tech money.”

Enumclaw Wants to Be Everywhere

ast year was a banner year for Tacoma-based rock band Enumclaw. After dropping their first single "Fast N All" in early 2021, the band blew up, nabbing features in the Seattle Times, KEXP, Pitchfork, and The Fader before playing any public live shows. In April, they dropped their debut EP Jimbo Demo to rave reviews.