Here are the results for the Skatepunkers Record Of The Year Award 2012.
1. Propagandhi - Failed States (247 votes)
'Failed States' willfully careens between brazen metallic tendencies and the ragged punk rock roots of Propagandhi's earlier work, further raising the lyrical and musical bar set by their critically-acclaimed 2009 release, Supporting Cast(e).“Our goal is always to create a no-holds-barred, forward-thinking, tip-of-the-hat to the giants -- Voivod, Rush, NoMeansNo, SNFU, Sacrifice, Razor, Guilt Parade – that have gone before us,” says vocalist and guitarist, Jesus H. Chris. “We are in their debt and take the mission seriously. Even when we're singing about liking Kurt Russell as Captain Ron, we take the mission seriously. Failed States is our most formidable – and to me personally, our most surprising -- attempt at conjuring the numinous from the quotidian. Yes, I had to look those words up.”
The result is one of the band’s most forward thinking and musically varied albums to date. Failed States is not simply proof of Propagandhi's continued dedication to pushing their musical boundaries, but an evocative (and provocative) meditation on human nature, meaning and life under an expanding, planet-wide technocracy. Ranging from dynamic, progressive rock of “Note To Self” to the accelerated heaviness of “Duplicate Keys Icaro (An Interim Report)” and blazing thrash cuts like “Hadron Collision” and “Things I Like,” Propagandhi has created a truly monumental sixth album.
2. Pennywise - All Or Nothing (245 votes)
Notorious Southern California punk rockers Pennywise are back in full force and swinging harder than ever. The band who have inspired many throughout the world with their hard charging songs of self-reliance and perseverance, prove themselves once again with All Or Nothing, one of their most powerful and heartfelt albums to date. “We knew we were up against a lot, and we needed to write the best record we’ve ever written,” says Bassist Randy Bradbury. “And I think we may have just done that. That will be for the fan’s to decide but we are really proud with the way this record came out. I haven’t felt this excited about a Pennywise album since Full Circle."
“It felt like we got to go back to our roots in the songwriting process,” adds guitarist Fletcher Dragge. “There was a lot of passionate discussion between everybody. In the old day that’s how our best records got made, lot’s of yelling and smashing s***. And as a result the music started sounding like an old school Pennywise record. At the end of the day this is just a loud hard fast aggressive punk rock record and that’s what we do best.”
Formed in the South Bay of Los Angeles, a neighborhood with a rich punk rock history, Pennywise began in 1988. The band would go on to amass an international following through relentless touring and a melodic high energy sound merging melodic surf punk, blistering hardcore and the classic punk of their youth. The group has solidified their place in punk history with songs like the raging “Fuck Authority,” “Alien” and the band’s now legendary ode to brotherhood and departed friends “Bro Hymn.”
“Our music has always been about persevering against all the odds,” Dragge says. “We love doing this. There's nothing more important to us than being on stage in front of our fans and having them sing our lyrics back at us and feeling that energy."
3. Symphony Of Distraction - Call It Off, John (172 votes)
Symphony of Distraction is basically your favourite skate punk band on fast forward. With a heap of brilliant melodic lines and a singer with a set of vocal chords that would make most punk bands envious, Symphony of Distraction are definitely something to keep your eye on. In 2010 Symphony of Distraction leased an EP, ‘Pudwack’, that captured the hearts of all who lent it their ear, but definitely didn’t get around to securing the band a huge fan base. However, signs point to their next release going above and beyond anything they’ve done before. [Source]
4. NOFX - Self Entitled (97 votes)
After more than a quarter century as a band, not only are NOFX not slowing things down, but they’re actually getting more aggressive. It’s like they’ve got some sort of Benjamin Button shit going on. Self Entitled is NOFX’s 12th studio full-length, yet it feels as potent as any material they’ve ever released. Rather than drifting off into a land of forgettable and mindless rehashes of their older material like many other veteran acts, NOFX approached Self Entitled with a reinvigorated virility. The 12 tracks fully embrace the hostile early LA punk sound while maintaining just the right amount of that trademark technical and melodic sound that NOFX is renowned for. As with all NOFX albums, the subject matter on Self Entitled is diverse (politics, religion, s&m, etc.), but there is a more cohesive mood this time around. The majority of the songs display a more personal perspective from Fat Mike, which lends a more intimate feeling to the album overall.
5. Lipona - Networks (92 votes)
Taking their skate punk roots and adding their unique atmospheric and experimental stylings, Lipona combine the aggression and technicality of Propagandhi with the emotion of Brand New to create one of the best and original punk rock records of 2012.Networks is the follow-up to Lipona’s critically acclaimed 2009 EP, Pigeonholed (available for free download), as well as the band’s debut long-player, Atlas (2008). While previous releases have been outward-looking and pseudo-philosophical, Networks finds the four piece treading more personal waters, such as coping with loss and the delicate balance of musical ambition with the transition into adulthood.
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