What are the best new punk bands?

Discovering New Sounds: A Night with The Hives and a Deep Dive into Bad Nerves

I saw The Hives in concert the other night — one of my favorite live bands ever! I also saw them last year at Brooklyn Steel, and that gig might be up there in my top five live shows of all time.

After the show, a writer friend asked me, “You didn’t catch Bad Nerves? I mean, The Hives, yeah, but Bad Nerves … they blew everyone away!”

This got me thinking. I constantly find myself going down rabbit holes on YouTube and Spotify, searching for the best new music. I’m even in talks with a few labels — let’s see where the future goes! But rarely do I come across an act that I consider my new favorite.

Bobby Nerves of Bad Nerves. London 2023. (Photo by Patrick Ford/Redferns)

[Update: This month, I ended up seeing what’s now my favorite punk band on the planet, Bad Nerves. I’m sure that when you see them for yourself, you’ll agree with me. If you haven’t checked them out, I highly advise it.]

When I want to listen to one of the greatest punk rock records, I turn to The Distillers’ Coral Fang. Brody Dalle is one of the most underrated singers of our time. At times, her sound reminds me of a heavier, punkier Hole, but the songs are fantastic, the execution is top-notch, and she is the real deal.

Tracks like “Drain the Blood” and “Dismantle Me” prove this is one of the greatest punk albums of all time — one that actually has songs! The band’s tightness on that album makes every song feel like a punch to the face.

So when I look for music that rivals it, I don’t think there’s much out there at the moment, so I’ve once again asked my friend Gabbie from New Bands for Old Heads for a little help.

My picks

I like Amyl and the Sniffers as a band and their vibe, but I’ve never connected with their songs in the same way. And as I’ve already mentioned, I’m obsessed with The Hives. Whether it’s their old or new stuff, it’s all outstanding. Turnstile is also on my radar. Their fusion of multiple genres and catchy songs puts them as potential successors. I also enjoy Fontaines D.C., but I’m not obsessed. And while IDLES is badass, I just can’t remember their songs the way I can with that Distillers record.

It’s rare for me to find a band that not only sounds great but also looks the part. I come from the era of Guns N’ Roses, Oasis, and The Rolling Stones — where I like my bands to embody rockstar charisma. Faceless music from big alt bands? Not my cup of tea. You know the songs, but if you paid me three million dollars to describe the singer, I couldn’t.

Recently, I took a deep dive into the Bad Nerves catalog. I had heard “Can’t Be Mine” before and added it to one of my playlists featuring great new artists, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

These UK boys look fantastic and have star quality. Check out this live studio version of “Baby Drummer” and tell me this band shouldn’t be bigger! The YouTube comments echo my sentiment: “Best band ever! How are they not bigger?” I agree. Tracks like “Can’t Be Mine,” “Baby Drummer,” “Antidote,” and “You’ve Got the Nerve” — all bangers with star potential.

But don’t take my word for it. I’ve attached a clip below of Billy Joe Armstrong claiming they’re his new favorite band. He must know something, right?

@lowly.officialBillie Joe Armstrong of Green Day with the Bad Nerves shoutout 🤘 (🎥: SiriusXM Canada)

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Gabbie’s picks

I love the challenge when somebody tells me that they can't really connect with new music. When Scott Lipps says he wants new punk bands, then new punk bands he shall receive!

IDLES and Fontaines D.C. are two of my favorite newer bands (the latter have an incredible new record out that is a critical darling already, so Scott certainly isn't the only one to enjoy them), but there's a good reason they aren't hitting the spot. They are (post-)post-punk to the core, and they just don't have the same intensity, energy, or simplicity you need when you're truly craving punk rock.

For someone who wants the in-your-face acidity of punk, but Amyl and the Sniffers aren't landing, why not turn to another Melbourne band? Cable Ties released an excellent record last year called All Her Plans whose brand of punk has inherited elements of Sleater-Kinney and AC/DC.

For a more vintage sound, turn to Alien Nosejob, yet another Australian punk outfit (they're really killing the punk game lately). This is a far more lo-fi affair, inspired by late '70s acts like X-Ray Spex, with all the attitude and scruffiness that you'd expect from a home recording. 

On the other side of the globe, French punks We Hate You Please Die are a little harder to pin down. Their latest album Chamber Songs features moments of garage, nu-metal, and pop-punk woven through their explosive riffs. Chloe Barabé is no Brody Dalle, perhaps, but her powerfully deep vocals are perfectly matched to the music.

I'll leave off with a slight genre diversion into egg punk, which I think deserves more attention. If the traditional, aggressive punk we're used to listening to is "chain punk," then egg punk is its ridiculous, deeply unserious twin. Always upbeat and likely to sound like some strange Devo castoff, bands that fit this mold generally give off a hyperactive impression. My favorites are Snõõper and Gee Tee.

Check out our punk playlist below. On it, you’ll find a few classics, like from my all-time favorite, The Distillers, and some new goods. Let us know — Are we right?

Also, check out this cool punk history read: Punk turns 50!

Let us know what you think.

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