playlist: the best punk songs of august 2025

It’s Labor Day. There’s a see/saw-presented show headlined by Ekko Astral happening at Leona’s, the great Eau Claire pizza place, tomorrow night (9/2). Our apple tree’s branches are buckling under the weight of a massive harvest, so my mom and I picked probably 20 pounds worth, peeled and sliced half of them, and threw ’em in the slow cooker to make apple butter. The two other humans living in my house are heading to school this week as the toddler goes to daycare for the first time. The world at large is a fucking nightmare. It is a moment of transition and processing.

We did our best to take a breather before our collective schedules fill up, which is why I climbed into a giant fish sculpture’s maw wearing the Panel shirt and blogged about it. Otherwise, in times of upheaval, it’s helpful to ground myself in the art of international weirdos dropping loud and wild music on Bandcamp from week to week. It was such a great month for new punk records, established and brand new artists alike, and the act of engaging with dozens of records on the podcast and column is legitimately steadying.

It was a complete honor to speak with my hero Julie Klausner about punk records. I loved Martin Douglas’ wide-ranging and earnest chat with Fugitive Bubble. Alex Stillman is such a hero for providing an on-the-ground account of Twisted Teens’ UK run. The see/saw jukebox with Drew Ailes was extremely fun (and is the only place you’re gonna hear a preview of the upcoming Citric Dummies album).

see/saw did all of this stuff while I was working a day job and parenting a toddler. My mom’s in town and asked me if I’m still enjoying all this punk coverage stuff, and before she could finish the question I was blurting out “yes.” Maybe one day it’ll get tedious, but in this shifting moment, punk’s an anchor. Thanks for reading and listening, please subscribe if you’re into this kind of thing.

[Listen to the playlist in the browser or find it here.]

the best punk songs of august 2025

American Muscle: Crime for Love
Surto Coletivo: DCOK7
No Peeling: Can I Pet That Dog?
1-800-MIKEY: Lost in Translation
Abi Ooze: B Wif Me
Shox: Hung
Vaguess: Take It or Leave It
Carnivorous Flower: All the Time
Sharp Pins: (I Wanna) Be Your Girl
Dorothy Fuzz: I Wish
Bootcamp: Asylum
Recall: Corpse
Wiccans: Vermiform (In a Perfect World)
Baby Tyler: The Pressure
Fen Fen: In Yer Sights
Deletär: La balance et le glaive
Revanche: Rives
Black Eyes: Pestilence
Cool Sorcery: fast cars
TTTTURBO: Modern Sound
Lebende Tiere: Poltergeist
Mr. [Redacted]: Jittery Joe
Retain Mind: Jolt
Sick Thoughts: The Doom
An Slua: Dry Shite
Laundry Bats: Cruisin’ on Fumes
Dick Move: Nurses
The Prize: In the Red
Leatherman: Love Really Hurts Without You
Sex Mex: (Who Cares) Time to Die
Primitive Impulse: Dogs Will Hunt
S.M.I.L.E.: My Rules (Void)
fléches: violence
Yuasa-Exide: Land Speed Recorder
Dragnet: Red Square
Useless Eaters: Work
Detester: Dumbfucks
o-d-ex: talents
Osees: Protection
Misere: Abrieb
The Antics: Takings
Champ Gauche: Protection du voisinage
Necia: Want
Dog Lips: Brain Feeder
Gripper: SEANCE
Brin Damage: Out of Quarters
Richard Root & the Fancy Band: Bruna
Medium: Calling Is the Time
Higher Selves Playdate: Take Me With You
Giant: Thumpman
Hunx and His Punx: Bad Thoughts
Bugg Music: Dumpster Baby
Grifterz: Cannibal Rights
Addled Brains: Fetterman
The Burrow: Dance Dance Revolution
Retail Simps: Alligator Man
Segundos Auxilios: Profe no nos de clase
Monda: I, I, I, I
Top Secret Nicho: Dining Nothing
The Sleeveens: Downtown
Starburst: Good RX
Jobber: Nightmare
The Boojums: Wings of Fire
Primitive Ring: Rolling Greed
Die Spitz: Punishers
SNIDE: Shop
Mini Skirt: Pottsville River
TEE//VEE: Neat Rats, Neat Clothes
Bront: #9
Furia Fatal: Combo Breakr
Maitatu: Class Trap
Big Laugh: Numb
Fuck Money: On the Nose
Snarewaves: STIMMY
Ack Attack: Bag Fries
Hyperdog: Smartphone
morkvag: Thrown My Away
Switch Hitter: Batting for Both Teams
Worse: Fed Up
Total Flesh: In Control
Fan Club: Roach Motel
Psyclop: Invertebrate
Camouflage: POWERS OF HORROR / FUTURE SOLDIER TRAINING PROGRAM
Normativ: Papers Back
Bronco Libre: La fin
DREAM: The Book
Bottled Violent: viva la palestine!
Traidora: Disforia Eterna
GAMMA: Vain Impulse
Plastics: Masochist in Love
PATROLTIME: violento
Cross Bottle: Spreading Lies
Fog: No Fate

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