NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS – RECOVERY LP out now!

SURPRISE 048 | NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS – RECOVERY LP
Here’s the first proper full length album by this California powerhouse. After a slew of singles and EPs, this Long Beach, CA based quartet develop their style of aggressive Dangerhouse Records meets early 80s SoCal Hardcore even further. Yes, the L.A. Times called them a “female fronted BLACK FLAG” – it’s that band. 12 new cuts, might be your feel bad record of the year, including hits like ONE WASTED YEAR (it’s about a year that was wasted), SUBURBIA (pretty self explanatory) or THE PHARMACY IS CLOSER THAN THE LIQUOR STORE (this one’s about geography and drugs). You’re not a dummy, right, so you will buy it.

The North American version will be out on DERANGED RECORDS.

Limited screenprinted sleeve version available here.
Regular pretty stellar looking version available here.

NIGHT BIRDS EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR 2014

Here are the NIGHT BIRDS summer tourdates for Europe! I’ll be tagging along for all the shows, come say hi!

31.07. – Amsterdam – Winston
01.08. – Hamburg – Hafenklang
02.08. – Leipzig – Zoro
03.08. – Brno – Kabinet Muz
04.08. – Budapest – Trafik Klub
05.08. – Tolmin – Punkrock Holiday
06.08. – Bologna – Freakout
07.08. – Schaffhausen – Neustadt 52
08.08. – Paris – La Mécanique Ondulatoire
09.08. – London – The Black Heart
10.08. – Ieper – Ieperfest
11.08. – Helsinki – Kuudes Linja

First song from the new HYSTERESE LP is streaming now!

Howdy,
here’s a first song from the upcoming second HYSTERESE LP called “ANGST”.

 

The record will be out for their tour in June, check the dates below and get your ass out to the show. This release will be another cooperation with Sabotage Records. Our buds at Dirt Cult Records will release it in the USA, so yankees keep an eye out for it!

HYSTERESE EUROPEAN TOUR SPRING 2014
Fr. 06.06. 2014 / Karlsruhe / Alte Hackerei /w Modern Pets + Weird Owls
Sa. 07.06. 2014 / Mannheim @ Pfingstfest / Juz
So. 08.06. 2014 / Ravensburg @ Obtrusive Farewell Show / Jugendhaus
Mo. 09.06. 2014 / Brno / Vegalite
Di. 10.06. 2014 / Zagreb / Grey Room (AKC Medika)
Mi. 11.06. 2014 / Graz / tba /w Tragedy + Boredom
Do. 12.06. 2014 / Linz / Kapu /w Tragedy + Boredom
Fr. 13.06. 2014 / München / Kafe Marat /w Gride
Sa. 14.06. 2014 / Wien / EKH /w Born For Slaughter
So. 15.06. 2014 / Köln / Az Köln
Mo. 16.06. 2014 / Lille / Centre Culturel Libertaire (CCL) /w Bakounine
Di. 17.06. 2014 / Nijmegen / De Onderbroek
Mi. 18.06. 2014 / Münster / Gleis 22 /w Neighborhood Brats + No More Art
Do. 19.06. 2014 / Hamburg / Hafenklang /w Tragedy + Suicidas
Fr. 20.06. 2014 / Berlin / Kastanienkeller /w Minus Apes
Sa. 21.06. 2014 / Mülheim a.d.R / Az Mülheim /w Mr. Burns

New WEBSTORE! MOTHER’S CHILDREN – LEMON LP and NO PROBLEM – ALREADY DEAD LP are out now!

Servus,

I hope you all survived Record Store Day 2014 and got the 180g Deluxe repress of the LP you can buy for 5 bucks at the second hand store. I spent it walking along the Thames in the sun drinking a Brew Dog Punk IPA with good company and did not go see Adam Ant. Anyway, back to the real talk.
The brandnew TBS webstore is finally up and running just in time for the release of the MOTHER’S CHILDREN – LEMON LP and the NO PROBLEM – ALREADY DEAD LP! Big thanks to my main webman Keith Bayer, this new thing features all your online needs, carefully calculates and includes your shipping money and let’s you pay directly via PayPal or bank transfer. I managed to transfer all your login data from the old store so you don’t even have to create a new customer account.
Find it here: www.takenbysurprise.net/store place an order or two and let me know if you encounter any bugs. Oh and if you have any, make sure to tell your friends…

That being said, two new releases are here, here’s what’s

OUT NOW!

SURPRISE 045 | MOTHER’S CHILDREN – LEMON LP
From the mean sour streets of Ottawa, Canada comes the second full length of MOTHER’S CHILDREN aptly entitled: LEMON! 12 new tracks of stompy and glammy powerpop with that old wham-a-lam-bam-thanks-ma’am attitude that we’re used to from those four mouseketeers. Get your fix of Vitamin MC from the sweetest fruit that grows in Canada.

First press are 100 on mellow yellow vinyl and 400 on back in black vinyl.

Order it HERE!

US press to be released on RESURRECTION RECORDS.
CAN press to be released on MAMMOTH CAVE RECORDS.

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SURPRISE 046 | NO PROBLEM – ALREADY DEAD LP
Another Canadian addition to the TAKEN BY SURPRISE family from Edmonton Oilers town, Edmonton: NO PROBLEM! After their stellar debut AND NOW THIS (Deranged / P.Trash) they deliver a sophomore LP that takes their frustrated and paranoid hardcorepunk to a new level. Still taking cues from BLACK FLAG, D.O.A. or TSOL, they add darker and more melodic elements to the mix.

“This is music for maladjusted adults who are too old to be able to relate to teenage problems, but whose feelings of alienation have in no way withered with age, and are looking for something that musically and lyrically captures the frustration of adult punk life in the same way that, say, so many ADOLESCENTS songs are a product of teen angst.  One of my favorite things in the world is bands effectively fusing hardcore with catchy yet aggressive or paranoid melody, as bands like SOCIAL CIRCKLE and DEEP SLEEP have done in recent years.” – MAXIMUM ROCK’N’ROLL

First press are 500 copies on black vinyl. First 100 copies come with a nice 1.5×1.5″ button.

Order it HERE!

NORTH AMERICAN press to be released on DERANGED RECORDS.

NIGHT BIRDS EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR 2014!

I’m really happy to announce the NIGHT BIRDS EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR 2014!

We tried our best to cover as much ground as possible on only 11 dates. Check the dates below and see you on the road!

The poster artwork was done by CHRIS SHARY of DESCENDENTS art fame!

31.07. – Amsterdam – Winston
01.08. – Hamburg – Hafenklang
02.08. – Leipzig – Zoro
03.08. – Brno – Kabinet Muz
04.08. – Budapest – Trafik Klub
05.08. – Tolmin – Punkrock Holiday
06.08. – TBA Italy
07.08. – Zürich – Klubi
08.08. – Paris – La Mecanique Ondulatoire
09.08. – London – The Black Heart
10.08. – Ieper – Ieperfest
11.08. – Helsinki – Kuudes Linja

New track from MOTHER’S CHILDREN – LEMON LP!

 

Here’s a first track entitled TALK TO HER from the upcoming MOTHER’S CHILDREN – LEMON LP that’ll be out soon, enjoy!

PISS TEST – BIGGEST BAND IN EUROPE LP and THE MANDATES – S/T LP out March 17th!

SURPRISE 042 | PISS TEST – BIGGEST BAND IN EUROPE LP
Portland, Oregon, tolerant Oregon, is having yet another supergroup taking the punk world by storm. After a debut 7″ on JONNYCAT and a split with FIST CITY on DRUNKEN SAILOR, they finally spit out their first full length LP. Fronted by arguably Portland’s angriest man Zachary Brooks (RED DONS, SCOTT BAIO ARMY, SODA POP KIDS) and backed by fellow PDX stalwarts Samantha (DOTTIE ATTIE, NEO BOYS, WIPERS) and Rodrigo (RED SHADOWS, POISON IDEA, AUTISTIC YOUTH) they deliver 13 snotty punk jams that tackle EVERY topic that needs to be tackled. They are the biggest band in Europe. By far.

First press is 500 copies on black vinyl.
All records come with a coupon for free digital download.
The Northamerican press will be out on JONNYCAT RECORDS in April!
FIRST 100 COPIES COME WITH A PISS TEST FRIDGE MAGNET!

You can order through our webstore or by clicking the PayPal button below (price includes worldwide shipping):

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SURPRISE 043 | THE MANDATES – S/T LP
THE MANDATES are a punk/power-pop quartet based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Formed in 2010, Matt Sikkens, Jimmy Sixx, Kirch N. Destroy and their drummer, Tahoe, have dedicated the most ambitious few years of their lives to writing the best ’77 pop punk anthems their minds can arrange. Taking cues from classic acts like TEENAGE HEAD, THIN LIZZY, NEW YORK DOLLS and THE JAM, THE MANDATES have forged through their music scene, creating something vintage and yet somehow maintaining a modern appeal. The 12″ follow-up to their first single “Take You to the Dance” Is boasting their most danceable choruses and inspired lyrics to date. This full length vinyl release, produced by Portland punk rock aficionado PAT KEARNS (EXPLODING HEARTS, NICE BOYS, CLOROX GIRLS) is a passionate and earnest endeavour.

First press is 500 copies on black vinyl.
All records come with a coupon for free digital download.
This record was originally released on MAMMOTH CAVE.

You can order through our webstore or by clicking the PayPal button below (price includes worldwide shipping):

AUTISTIC YOUTH – GRAVES 7″ out now!

SURPRISE 041 | AUTISTIC YOUTH – GRAVES 7″
Hot on the heels of their recent NONAGE LP, AUTISTIC YOUTH drop three new smashers for their pretty succesful third European Tour. They continue the path of melodic hardcore with a mature edge.

First press is 500 copies on black vinyl. All records come with a coupon for free digital download.

You can order through our webstore or by clicking the PayPal button below (price includes worldwide shipping):

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO DOMESTIC US VERSION OF THIS RECORD!

THE CRY! – DANGEROUS GAME LP PRE-ORDER!

SURPRISE 044 | THE CRY! – DANGEROUS GAME LP
Portland, Oregon’s powerpop sensation returns with their second album to date and for those of you who thought that they can’t top their stellar debut, I’m sorry to disappoint you but on DANGEROUS GAME they are taking things to a whole new level. Ten new tracks of 100% pure pop drawing influence from all decades of Rock’N’Roll.

“A breathless collection full of high energy songs colored by a punk vocal aesthetic and good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ pop chops. The hooks are strong throughout; the backing vocals are top-notch; the album flows like fine wine with a kick. I predict big things for this album. Anyone with even a passing interest in high-energy pop ‘n’ roll is going to go crazy for your latest effort!”
-Alan Haber
Pure Pop Radio

First press is 500 copies on black vinyl. All records come with a coupon for free digital download.

Street date is March 1st.

You can order through our webstore or by clicking the PayPal button below (price includes worldwide shipping):

CANADIAN RIFLE – DEEP ENDS LP up for order!

SURPRISE 039 | CANADIAN RIFLE – DEEP ENDS LP
Deep Ends is the second LP from Canadian Rifle, arguably Chicago’s best melodic hardcore band. The band plays confessional punk with brash vocals (reminiscent of Leatherface and early Jawebreaker) with themes that range from crossing lines when you know you shouldn’t, trying to keep something alive when you’re running on empty, as well as struggles with addiction. Needless to say, it’s pretty bleak in its lyrical and musical approach, but played with an angered energy that’ll keep you fist pumping for the duration. Pretty fucking great for a band with no dreams and no goals.

“For a band that’s literally been flying the banner “No Dreams, No Goals” for about eight years now, these guys sure have made a lot of music. Deep Ends keeps with the melodic (don’t call it pop-punk, motherfucker!), Midwest punk that they’re known for. This is music that’s less for the ‘shirts off, dudes on’ crowd and more for the ‘loner glowering in the back of the bar, leave me the fuck alone’ set.” – MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL

First press are 500 copies on black vinyl. All records come with a coupon for a free digital download.

SHIPPING WILL START JANUARY 29!

You can order through our webstore or by clicking the PayPal button below (includes worldwide shipping):