punk this week: wiccans, pigeon pit, cosmic psychos + 15 more

Hey, it’s Punk This Week, see/saw’s weekly punk and rock'n'roll recommendations column. This time we’ve got the return of Austin’s Wiccans, a surprise drop from pigeon pit, an ode to beer from Aussie pub rock legends Cosmic Psychos, an unearthed and exceptional live album from Teengenerate, and more incredible punk records from around the world.

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Wiccans: Phase IV [Unlawful Assembly/Drunken Sailor]

The return of Wiccans is one of punk’s best surprises of the year. The Austin rippers’ last album arrived eight years ago, and the new one arrives with a bulldozing clarity. It’s a hardcore record with bite and churn delivered via production that makes the vocals clear and the guitars crisp.

Their recording approach is somewhat unexpected for a record that leans more heavy on beef than flash (though there are plenty of superb licks up in this). “Belly of the Beast” exemplifies its burl, while the doubled-up harmonic guitars on “Prison Planet Bios-4” give a glimpse into their more ambitious and borderline prog impulses. It’s heavy shit that’s as thundering as it is dexterous—where you can really hear the human beings behind it while they weave a fantastical yarn.