So, as we kick off another year, I thought it’d be nice to look back on 2022 – a year with a few ups and downs, but some fantastic releases none the less. I’ve also asked some of the bands we’ve worked with last year to put together a list of some of their favourite releases, so hopefully there’s plenty of new music for you to enjoy.

Forever Unclean “Best”

We kicked off the year in style, with the long awaited debut LP “Best” by everyone’s favourite ‘indieskatecore’ buddies Forever Unclean dropping on New Years Day. These Danish guys have been one of my favourites since we started working with them back in 2017 for the “Float” EP and 2018’s “Woof” so we couldn’t be happier to get this one out there. It seems we weren’t alone in our love for the band, with the album appearing on plenty of end of year lists and lots of great reviews around the release.

“…the record packs punch after punch and you’ll only be glad you heard it.” Dying Scene

“With the release of Best I feel like they’ll be playing to their biggest UK crowds ever…. I cannot wait to see them again.” Colins Punk Rock World

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bigcartel.com/artist/forever-unclean

Forever Unclean’s favourite albums of 2022 (in no particular order):

Meat Wave Malign Hex

M.U.T.T. Bad To The Bone

Built To Spill When The Wind Forgets Your Name

Binboy Cat Themed Wallpaper 4k

Plosivs Plosivs

Nerdlinger “Happy Place” (Repress)

In March we teamed up with our friends at Pee Records (Australia) and Thousand Islands Records (Canada) for the repress of Nerdlinger’s 2018 “Happy Place”. The original LP had long out of press, and with songs these good, we couldn’t wait to get the record back out there. If Nimrod era Green Day meets NOFX sounds like something you’re keen on (which you should be!) then make sure you know Nerdlinger!

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bigcartel.com/product/nerdlinger-happy-place

Nerdlinger’s favourite albums of 2022:

The Flatliners New Ruin

Press Club Endless Motion

Drug Church Hygiene

NOFX Double Album

Raised As Wolves Nervous Feeling

Pulley “The Golden Life”

In May we saw the release of a new LP by So Cal punk legends Pulley, bringing us an awesome album full of that great punk rock sound we love from one of melodic punks best bands.

Thanks to the great team at Sbam, we were lucky to get a UK exclusive ‘Ocean Blue’ variant of the new record to support the band over here. Alongside the record, they’re finally coming back, with some very long overdue UK dates this summer!

“If you like anything this band has ever done, odds are you’ll like this record.” Dying Scene

“I pretty much think every song on this album is a full on banger” Powered By Rock

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bigcartel.com/product/pulley-the-golden-life

Pulley’s favourite albums of 2022:

OFF Free LSD

Hot Water Music Feel The Void

Hammered Hulls Careening

Superchunk Wild Loneliness

Comeback Kid Heavy Steps

Omnigone / Protagonist “Split”

Following hot on the heels of the Pulley LP, June brought us an awesome split between two bands I’d been wanting to work with for quite a while, California’s ska punks Omnigone, and Florida’s melodic hardcore punk rockers Protagonist. The split brought us four awesome new songs – 2 new Omnigone songs, and a new Protagonist tune, along with a ripping cover of Link 80’s “Dimestore Hoods”. There’s even another bonus Link 80 cover on the digital version, only available if you buy from Bandcamp…

The idea of the split came from a meeting between long time Link 80 fans Protagonist, and Omnigone’s frontman (and ex-Link 80 guitarist) Adam, and the rest they say is history.

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bandcamp.com/album/omnigone-protagonist

Omnigone’s favourites of 2022:

JER Bothered/Unbothered

Eichlers My Checkered Future

Frightnrs Always

Redeemon Redeemon

School Drugs Absolution

Fox Lake Fear & Loathing

John from Protagonist’s favourites of 2022:

High Vis Blending

Suede Autofiction

Hammered Hulls Careening

THE ANNIHILATED Submission To Annihilation

The Flex Chewing Gum For The Ears

Fast Around The World Volume 3

July saw the very long awaited release of the third installment of our Fast Around The World compilation series. The compilation features all new / recent and/or unreleased tracks from some of the best bands from all the over the globe. Each edition features new bands who haven’t been featured in past editions, with the aim to bring new listeners in and share great fast punk rock bands, whether they are big names in the scene or brand new bands!

The series is available as a pay-what-you-want download on bandcamp, or streaming on all major platforms, so hopefully accessible to all. Check it out and spread the word on these awesome bands!

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fast-around-the-world-volume-iii

Local Resident Failure “A Breath Of Stale Air” (Repress)

In August, we teamed up again with Pee Records and Thousand Islands Records for another Australian band repress – this time the 10 year re-release of Local Resident Failure’s classic debut “A Breath Of Stale Air”. The original artwork (by Aussie artist Ben Brown) was repackaged, along with a descriptive blurb from Smitty about the album’s history and making, plus a song by song write-up by Dal. There were two variants of the album are available; a Frosted Clear LP with Blue and Pink Splatter, and a Side A/B Black / Hot Pink colour effect.

We’re still keeping our fingers crossed we may be able to see some of these songs (and those from their excellent follow up “This Here’s The Hard Part”) live again one day!

Buy: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bigcartel.com/product/local-resident-failure-a-breath-of-stale-air

Dal from Local Resident Failures’ favourites of 2022:

Pulley The Golden Life

The Chats Get Fucked

NOFX Double Album

The Interrupters In The Wild

Trashed Again Broken Bones

American Thrills “Parted Ways”

We wrapped up our releases for the year with the excellent debut LP “Parted Ways” from Connecticut’s American Thrills. These guys have been one of my favourite new bands since their debut self titled EP and follow up Old Things, with their knack of writing super catchy singalong melodic punk rock anthems. The album picks up where the EPs left off with 9 superb tracks which are sure to please fans of bands like The Gaslight Anthem and The Get Up Kids.

The limited first pressing of the record very quickly sold out, but we’ll have news on the second pressing very shortly, so watch this space and get ready for your new favourite band.

Buy (second pressing coming soon!):  https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bigcartel.com/product/american-thrills-parted-ways

American Thrills’ favourites of 2022:

Ways Away Torch Songs

Hot Water Music Fill The Void

Timeshares Limb

A Wilhelm Scream Lose Your Delusion

Signals Midwest Dent

This year, we’ve got a few things planned, and as always are looking for new opportunities for bands to work with, labels to partner with, and generally try to understand the UK and global punk rock scene post Brexit, post COVID, and current in a UK cost of living crisis! We’ve got a few exciting things on the horizon, but support of the label is more important than ever, so if you like what we do, please make sure you’re following our channels, and help spread the word by sharing links, showing off your new records and getting down to live shows so we can keep this punk rock dream alive!

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