Charger Announce New EP – Last Call

CHARGER ANNOUNCE NEW EP LAST CALL & LEAD SINGLE “BREAKOUT”

FIVE NEW SONGS FROM EAST BAY ROCKERS FEATURING MATT FREEMAN OF RANCID

Oakland, WA – July 24, 2026 – Pre-orders are underway for Last Call, the new record from the East Bay’s mighty Charger…just in time for your motorcycle trip to Hell! The EP is scheduled for release on October 23, 2026 via Pirates Press Records, and features the 5 new songs recorded by Chris Dugan at Studio 2200 in Sausalito, CA – the legendary Bay Area studio formerly known as The Record Plant. Pre-orders available from Pirates Press Records (as well as Coretex Records in Europe & Plastic Head Megastore in the UK). The lead single “Breakout,” is now streaming on all major platforms!

Charger members hail from legendary punk bands such as UK Subs, Rancid, & Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine, just to name a few, but make no mistake, this band is its own entity with its own sound forged together!

The record is an incredible showcase for bassist/vocalist Matt Freeman’s signature all-over-the-neck bass playing, guitarist/vocalist Andrew McGee’s dynamic riffing, and drummer/vocalist Jason Willer’s distinctive brand of powerhouse drumming. Lead single “Breakout” – now streaming on all platforms – is one of the tracks to feature the inimitable keyboard style of Kephera Moon, a past member – along with Willer – of pioneering Swiss Krautrock band Brainticket, as well as playing with Hedersleben & Nik Turner (Hawkwind).

In addition to the core band members, Lars Frederiksen (Rancid, The Old Firm Casuals) & Wayne Lozinak (Hatebreed) dropped by the studio to contribute vocals, and Frederiksen has co-writing credits on two songs.

To complete the package, the infernal artwork of Santos looks truly incredible across the massive gatefold jacket of the vinyl edition!

The five songs on the Last Call EP will take you on a powerful journey. If you’re a fan of heavy music in any configuration, you’ll find a lot to like on this release!

Pre-orders are available NOW in the PPR webstore on 12″ Ruby Ghost Vinyl (/250), 12″ Blue Smoke Vinyl (/250), and 12″ Blood Red Vinyl (/500), plus digipak CDs and a limited run of Cassette Tapes! Get your favorites while they last!

Joshua Lanes – The Dance Thunder EP

(c)2008 Spillway Records

[rating:4.5/5]

dancethunderThe Dance Thunder EP is strange and good and cool…reminds me of weird early 90’s bootleg tapes that we’d listen to in the high school photo lab, or mid 90’s albums you’d hear wafting through dorm halls on move-in day.  It’s a bit Pixies, a tad Modest Mouse, a smidge mellow Sonic Youth.  The songs have that fun sound of indie tracks peppered into Chuck or this-season’s-Juno movies.

I adore what they say on their press sheet: “Joshua Lanes never proclaim to be creating music that has never been done before, like so many of the delusional bands today. All Joshua Lanes want is to play music that they enjoy rocking out to on a daily basis and play it for the world.”  Play on.

-HK-47

The Loved Ones – Distractions

(c)2009 Fat Wreck Chords
[rating:4/5]

lovedonesdistractions Philly punkers The Loved Ones dropped this 6 track EP earlier this year, needing to give fans something to hold between whirlwind touring.  Half originals, half covers, it performs well as it stands. EPs should leave you wanting more than their scant offerings, and Distractions does just that.

Starting with a powerful song of a woman overcoming domestic violence, rocking through to a drunkard’s lament, and punking out on an awesome weekend anthem, the original tracks show promising writing and talented performances.    The covers are mixed: a wonderful electric version of Bruce Springsteen’s Johnny 99 (just as moving in today’s economic climate), Billy Bragg’s Lovers Town Revisited, and Joe Strummer’s Coma Girl.  While they fit the feel of the album, I love to hear a more original interpretation in covers than just excellent reproductions.  For an EP, Distractions impresses, and I am eagerly awaiting a new full-length.

-HK-47