Mittens XVX
I write about punk bands with a message and publish a zine, sometimes book shows
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Lower Than Low: An Exercise in No-Budget, DIY Punk Zine-ism
Lower Than Low: An Exercise in No-Budget, DIY Punk Zine-ism
If youâre looking for a glossy, high-production guide to the best punk music in 2026, youâve arrived at the wrong place. Lower Than Low started as something its authors describe as âone crappy no-budget DIY punk zine too many.âPublished by old punks
G.A.Z.E: Playing Hardcore Without Fear of Breaking Limits
G.A.Z.E: Playing Hardcore Without Fear of Breaking Limits
Iâve been hooked on Helsinkiâs G.A.Z.E. ever since their so-called âsuper dimensional hardcoreâ Sielun Tuli demo dropped right in the middle of pandemic restrictions, when there was plenty of new music to absorb but no live shows in sight. It felt li
Verrat: Fear Is the Driving Force in a Polarized, Distrustful Society
Verrat: Fear Is the Driving Force in a Polarized, Distrustful Society
20 (International) Hardcore Punk Demos & EPs You Might Have Missed
20 (International) Hardcore Punk Demos & EPs You Might Have Missed
The hardcore punk scene is truly international, and Iâm still amazed by the sheer number of records coming out from every part of the world. Itâs one of the reasons Iâve kept publishing punk music reviews since my teenage years, and among all kind of
11 Football (Soccer)-Themed Punk & Oi! Records to Enjoy
11 Football (Soccer)-Themed Punk & Oi! Records to Enjoy
This article wasnât planned at all. After reviewing the third issue of Strig:Oi! fanzine, which has a pretty heavy football theme running through its interviews, figured itâd be fun to feature bands like Cantona and Straight Red on the site. Then my
Lists
One-Paragraph Hardcore Punk Reviews: A Listening Log Vol. 1
One-Paragraph Hardcore Punk Reviews: A Listening Log Vol. 1
Hello to readers and curious punx everywhere! As I mentioned in my final article of 2025, the past year was a record-breaker for DIY Conspiracy in terms of readership. It was also the year we reviewed more records than at any point in the siteâs hist
15 Great Hardcore Punk LPs of 2025 (That We Didnât Review⌠Until the Very Last Day)
15 Great Hardcore Punk LPs of 2025 (That We Didnât Review⌠Until the Very Last Day)
It is another end of the year, though this one comes heavier than most. For many people it has been relentlessly hard, and the current global political situation feels so bleak and volatile that even attempting to summarize it risks sounding inadequa
7 DIY Punk Tapes You Probably Have Slept On
7 DIY Punk Tapes You Probably Have Slept On
Iâve said it plenty of times already: I love getting tapes in the mail, I love picking them up at shows, and I love that tapes are still cheap and easy to make. Perfect for when you just want to knock out 50 copies for the people who actually care ab
Reviews
Plasma â Mua Et Voi Omistaa | Review
Plasma â Mua Et Voi Omistaa | Review
I first discovered the Finnish hardcore punk scene as a teenager through the classic Propaganda Records comps and barely readable pages of black-on-black ink xeroxed zines, often in languages I couldnât understand. That didnât really matter since ban
Book Review: Dear Smash Hits, Weâre From Scotland!
Book Review: Dear Smash Hits, Weâre From Scotland!
Dear Smash Hits, Weâre From Scotland!: An Alternative History of Zines & DIY Music Culture (1975â2025) arrives at a moment when punk history risks collapsing under its own accumulated weight. We already have deep dives into specific eras and subg
Slang - Rest In Misery | Review
Slang - Rest In Misery | Review
Slang are a veteran hardcore punk band from Sapporo, Japan, formed back in 1988. They consistently released crushing material throughout the â90s and early 2000s, and the bandâs singer, Kø, now more punk-looking than ever, has been a force of nature
Sivilisaatio - Ei Luovuteta Koskaan | Review
Sivilisaatio - Ei Luovuteta Koskaan | Review
As 2025 came to a close, I kept thinking about how many great hardcore punk releases sung in languages other than English I had completely failed to give their due. One of the most glaring examples is Sivilisaatio. This is an all-star Finnish lineup,
Anedonia - Il Tempo di un albero | Review
Anedonia - Il Tempo di un albero | Review
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