Punk mainstays Fake Names release their third studio album, Punk Ruins, alongside a lyric video for the title track; watch it here. The record brings this epic punk collective together to bridge their D.C. post-hardcore roots with elements of power and jangle pop, delivering sharp criticisms of fascist ideals and propaganda through punk philosophy.
Fake Names – ‘Punk Ruins’ (Lyric Video)
Fake Names – Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, The Faith), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside), and new drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt, Off!) recorded Punk Ruins at Chicago’s iconic Electrical Audio studios with producer Matthew Bernhardt (Superchunk, Bob Mould). Recording at the residential community kept the collaboration feeling unforced and organic, capturing a moment instead of trying to recreate a certain era. “There are no guardrails or perceived direction here and this just comes out,” shares Baker, emphasizing, “this album is a collective expression, and a lot of the fun is seeing how the hell it is going to turn out.”
Citing inspirations from The Cure to Chicago, Punk Ruins transcends genres from the guitar-driven power of the opener “Until It’s Normal,” to the hypnotic groove of “Diamond Buzz,” the album is an amalgam of fury and fun. Baker shares that the band’s musicianship elevated his and Hampton’s initial ideas, giving Lyxzen room to explore vocal styles. “I think that a lot of these songs give me an opportunity to sing in a way that nowadays I usually don’t,” he explains, “It’s always cool to be able to experiment with your voice, melodic sensibility and language.”
Fake Names is a “mutual admiration society,” according to Baker, melding 70’s UK punk with classic hardcore energy and dynamic guitar-driven power-pop. The band released their classic rock-leaning self-titled debut in 2020, followed by 2023’s Expendables, produced by Adam “Atom” Greenspan (IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), who helmed a sonically cleaner, richer sound for the group.
Praise for Fake Names
“’If You Could See Me Today’ carries an earthy mid-tempo rock energy against which jangle pop guitars and yearning, soulful vocals strain. Its intelligent lyrics and arrangement allow the group to pull off something that feels like Motown through the lens of Big Star.” – Consequence
“Glorious noise from punk royalty” – Vive Le Rock
“The punk plaudits of the group are on full display, with a killer arrangement made of interlocking simple parts that builds an almost operatic rock sensibility without losing its street-level punk energy.” – Consequence
Fake Names
Punk Ruins
Tracklist
- Until It’s Normal
- Good Old Days
- Punk Ruins
- Cover The Distance
- What I Tell Myself
- Diamond Buzz
- Language Lost
- Beautiful Scars
- If You Could See Me Today
- The Little Wonders
- Scream
- Paradise
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