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)

Aim (Italy)

This week our International Spotlight returns to Italy. Here's the scoop from Tim Krysko from Punk International:

Aim come from Italy and a label called Inconsapevole Records. The band is comprised of three brothers and a fourth member, all residing in Milan. Their debut album Limit of Sight is on sale now: nine tracks of intensely melodic emocore.

Aim - Skyscrapers And Cathedrals (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Stepson / Suffer (Czech Republic), Oni Epik (Switzerland)

Stepson / Suffer (Czech Republic)

We're off to the Czech Republic this week with Tim Krysko from Punk International:

A double shot of Czech pop punk is on tap this week. First of all, meet Stepson, a band on Pohoda Records that's influenced by the Misfits but plays really catchy pop punk. It's not unlike Goblins, from Spain, who were featured a few weeks back. As well, we have Suffer, courtesy of Samuel Records. This band takes me back to the pop punk of the mid-90s, before emo was part of the equation. It's pretty juvenile stuff, but it's got its place.

Stepson - Die Vampire Die (MP3)
Suffer - That Night (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Oni Epik (Switzerland), Turtlehead (Scotland)

Oni Epik (Switzerland)

Tim Krysko from Punk International brings us to Switzerland this week:

Once upon a time it would have been heretical to push a hip hop artist on a punk medium. But since most of us are more enlightened than that now, here's an independent, bilingual group from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, called Oni Epik. They're on the label Condor Records, known for their hardcore bands Fullstop, Blown, and Kandyss. Fonetik is the new album from Oni Epik; about half of it is in French and half English. Here's one of the Anglophonic tracks, "The Tom, Dick, and Harry Show".

Oni Epik - The Tom, Dick, and Harry Show (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Turtlehead (Scotland), Scalping Screen (Finland)

Turtlehead (Scotland)

This week out International Spotlight visits Scotland. Here's more from Tim Krysko at Punk International:

Turtlehead is a band from Scotland that used to be on Bad Taste Records (the Swedish one, not the Icelandic one). That's where they released two albums and an EP, not to mention where they built up a solid following across Europe. Now they're independent and have a self-released album called Bleeding Hearts and Burnouts (on their own makeshift record label Leatherback Records). It's got lots catchy, melodic punk rock, like this tune "Pro Choice".

Turtlehead - Pro Choice (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Scalping Screen (Finland), Tarakany (Russia)

Scalping Screen (Finland)

For our second International Spotlight of `04 we return to Europe. Here's more from Tim Krysko at Punk International:

I've never been able to toss around names of good bands from Finland off the top of my head, but this is a good start. Scalping Screen found its way to me from, of all places, Hong Kong, where the band is signed to a label called Godschild Music. This label has bands from a bunch of different countries, none of which are Hong Kong or China. The track "No Way Out" comes from their latest album 13 Revolting Strains, full of brutal metallic hardcore like this.

Scalping Screen ~ No Way Out (MP3)
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Recent Spotlights: Tarakany (Russia), Raimundos (Brazil)

Tarakany (Russia)

We're back to Russia with this week's International Spotlight. Here's more from Tim Krysko at Punk International:

The first international spotlight on punknews.org happened on January 2, 2003. Now 2003 is about to end, so here's something new from the band that began this tradition: Russia's punk rock veterans, Tarakany. In 2002 they released a studio album called Fear And Hatred. This year they produced a 'best of' type collection of songs from their 10+ year career, called The Best is the Enemy of Good, and it included this brand new song "Reason For Hate."

The brand new Tarakany studio album Freedom Street has been released in Russia and will be distributed in Europe through Zurich Chainsaw Massacre early in 2004. Look for Tarakany back on this page in the new year.

Tarakany ~ Reason For Hate (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Raimundos (Brazil), Sun Eats Hours (Italy)

Raimundos (Brazil)

Our International Spotlight this week looks back nearly a decade to Brazil. Here's more from Tim Krysko from Punk International:

For the first time, the international spotlight is looking back almost ten years for a 'classic spotlight', so to speak. The band is Raimundos, the Brazilian legends who mixed elements of Brazilian folk music with hardcore starting with their debut self-titled record released in 1994. This record has turned into one of my all-time favorites. Every song is incredible, with melodies that are uniquely Brazilian and rapid fire rhythmic vocals in Portuguese. I narrowed the field down to two songs for this week's spotlight. Download and enjoy.

Raimundos ~ Nega Jurema (MP3)
Raimundos ~ Bicharada (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Sun Eats Hours (Italy), Goblins (Spain)

Sun Eats Hours (Italy)

Another feature I've neglected this week is our International Spotlight. This week we're headed to Italy. Here's more from Tim Krysko over at Punk International:

This band from Italy is turning a lot of heads with their new album Tour All Over. They're called Sun Eats Hours, and they've just been given a stellar review and interview at Punk International. When I heard this song, my first reaction was 'Strung Out meets Andrew WK. See for yourself, and visit their label, Rude Records

Sun Eats Hours ~ Tour All Over (MP3)

Recent Spotlights: Goblins (Spain), Sobut (Japan)

Goblins (Spain)

"Goblins are one of Spain's fine offerings to the world of punk rock, and they recently released their second album for Slide Chorus Records, called Nightmares & Landscapes. They've adopted their own custom-made Misfits-gone-pop-punk sound and they're running with it." - Tim Krysko of Punk International Goblins - Beetlejuice (MP3)

Sobut (Japan)

"This week I'm pleased to present my other favorite band from Japan of all-time. A few weeks ago I delivered a song from the excellent Husking Bee (check the archives for that), and planned to follow it up with the track you see below, but the Kemuri tribute took priority and I decided to give Japan a rest from the spotlight. Well now is as good a week as any. So check out SOBUT , one of the tightest straight-forward punk bands I have ever heard. This is a single from their album "Maximum Culture" that came out about two years ago. Go to Japan and buy this CD, and their newer albums "Road of Impulse" and "Sound Stupid". Buy one for me too; I'll pay you back." - Tim Krysko of Punk International
Sobut - We Go (MP3)