The Counterforce - Issue 14

Columna Marginal #6

2026-11-01T17:26:32.000-05:00

Why would a punk use AI for a flyer if they can do it by themselves? They don’t have time, some may argue. Others will say they just don’t have the skills to make one. When was punk about having any skill or making “good-looking” (honestly, they look horrible) things? I don’t have answers for these questions.

The point of punk, in my opinion, was always to create something personal, something yours: it doesn’t matter how “good” or “bad” it was. I want to see your personality, your interests, I want to be part of a place made of real people. Those who use AI aren’t thinking about the benefits of learning something and improving or finding their style over time, because it takes years. Instead, they are finding a short-term solution, as if it were some kind of boring paperwork that has to be done but they don’t want to do it. That’s absolutely normal in our society, but with almost no extra effort, we could do way more than that.

Think about everything you do as something that will enrich you! And something that will enrich all of us too, contributing to a shared culture, with a DIY ethos, with a communal perspective. We have a big lack of long-term imagination, and the responsibility for improving it is ours. The system is fucked, but will the system ever change if you keep doing what it expects from you?

Punk historically stood up against big companies, call it McDonald’s or Amazon, Meta or Bayer, it doesn’t matter. And the reason why you don’t have time for anything, or why there’s scarcity of certain goods, or why you’re addicted to that screen is because these big corporations decided that, in that way, the world (and ultimately, you) would be more profitable for them. But also us, those same punks, we started to accept immediacy, the algorithms and the companies behind them many years ago, then it ended up being hard to find any punk outside of these spaces. Now it’s difficult, but not impossible, to imagine a different landscape.

Algorithms and machines that make things for us have become part of our everyday lives and they generate a huge lack of autonomy. The only way to confront big corporations is outside their services. Don’t feed the machine, it doesn’t matter if it’s a flyer or a text, don’t normalize the use of that software for things we always have done ourselves. Let’s imagine our future together instead of letting some companies decide how to think about it for us.

LUMPEN - Progreso?

An essential band from Barcelona that have perfected their style over the years. I’ve seen them a thousand times, and every time they sound even better, how is this possible? “Progreso?”" is another step in their search of their own UK82 sound, this time questioning the progress of this society and the so called peace that creates more war. The EP will be released by their own label (of one of the members) Chaos Tribes Records, I really recommend their releases.

Bandcamp: https://lumpenpunx.bandcamp.com/album/progreso

Progreso?, by LUMPEN - PROGRESO? EP (2026)

4 track album

Lumpenskill347

ROTURA - Una y otra vez

ROTURA are one of my favorite melodic punk bands. These three lovely people, who have a new drummer, just released a new album that follows the path they already started in 2020. ROTURA already have a radio-formula of their own that it always works, with certain types of songs that I’m always happy to find again but this time they are more fined tuned, better aligned and probably sounding more tight and way faster. The lyrics of this band always been balancing between sharp knifes against big powers, a critical view against the environment where we live, a remembrance of those who need support and hopeful anthems for changes towards a more free world. It’s very important bands like these exist in punk.

PS: Their lyrics are translated to English in their Bandcamp!

Bandcamp: https://rotura-punk.bandcamp.com/album/una-y-otra-vez

Una y otra vez, by Rotura

9 track album

Roturadcdirkzwager

INDIKATOR B - S/T II

In my opinion, INDIKATOR B are one of the most interesting projects that exist right now in the European punk. Resembling an 80s band from the compilation Izgubljena Alternativa, specially to some songs of QUOD MASSACRE, in a style that may seem simple but it’s not. Making simple things that sound good it’s hard, but they are actually extremely good musicians and you can feel it in each of their releases and their live shows. INDIKATOR B are, nowadays, a synonym of quality. I also recommend a lot the label Doomtown Records, managed in part by one of the members, that also releases their music.

Bandcamp: https://indikatorb.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ii

S/T II, by Indikator B

4 track album

Indikator Bmywifeisgoingtokillme

PUGNAS - Demo

2026-10-26T14:13:56.000-04:00

Fast hardcore punk from Barcelona, more in the Swedish style than the USHC style. The last song, "Dónde están", is the most mid-tempo song and is somehow quite melodic. Really evil-sounding crusty lead vocals. No lyrics though, but from the write up and the people involved I suspect a strong current of anarchic resistance. Amazing cover art too. This is the kind of demo I love getting from friends across the ocean. Punk music by real punks. Recorded one of the former movie theater rooms of La Cinètika. Love live punk and anarchy!

Cassette released by Attemptat Sonor. Listen here: https://atemptatsonor.bandcamp.com/album/pugnas-demo

Client Challenge

COMPACTORS - 2 Songs

2026-10-26T14:39:40.000-04:00

Two very quick 4-track bedroom punk solo project tracks about being a garbage man, but from an actual garbage man (Victor from PUFFER). It feels unfair to say egg punk, because egg punk it would be by a poser who isn't actually a garbage man. But it's fast catchy lo-fi drum machine punk with a synth. The tape is almost over before you start! I wish it was longer. Maybe this winter COMPACTORS will deliver a longer release. I would like some songs about sidewalk snow-clearing as well.

MARTIN - Noise Teen Superstar

2026-10-26T14:23:25.000-04:00

I have deliberately avoided listening to this Pittsburgh band until getting a tape in my hands. It's not every day you get to listen to a band that shares your name. If I was a band I don't think anyone who knows me would expect it to sound like this. As the title suggests it's pretty noisy, a lot of noisy guitar, great heavy bass tone that cuts through, fast drums. I'm really in love with the bass tone, it's not my usual flavour but it works so well and sometimes it goes low that reminds me of when I played in a band where the bassist had a 5 string and used the low string maybe twice in the whole set for emphasis. And I love the guitar feedback/noise. Perfect. Very snotty vocals that remind me of BRUTAL KNIGHTS at times. Is the vocalist named Martin? Is the band name after the bird? I can't help how strange it would be to stand next to someone wearing a MARTIN shirt. What if I was compelled to wear one myself?

The tape was delivered to me by punk post, and I believe it is self-released? For now you can listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbDRjHgXUDE

Interview with Eulogy

2026-10-25T20:17:02.000-04:00

Interview first featured in La Chaîne #41.

When and how did EULOGY start?

DAVE: Maybe October or November of 2024?

PASK: Eulogy started as a studio project for fun just to record some of Sticker’s songs he wrote during the pandemic but never recorded. Sticker asked Dave and me to join as drummer and bass/lead guitar to record his songs, then it became more steady. So Sticker and Dave asked Matt to join as bass so I fully can focus on leads. Then when time came to find a singer I suggested and insisted to have Vince and he nailed it right away.

MATT: When I joined they had been jamming a bit and already had 4 songs.

What were your particular inspirations or reference points when starting the band? Has that shifted at all since you’ve been playing and writing?

PASK: The inspiration of the band is pretty much swedish 80s hardcore punk such as TOTALITÄR, etc. When the band was still a studio project for Sticker’s songs / riffs it was more D-beat-ish then when Matt joined the band, bringing some of his riffs it started sounds more scandinavian hardcore and also our sounds now.

MATT: At first I was just learning the songs they had already written but when I started contributing riffs I was seeking influence from scandinavian hardcore.

DAVE: Yes, the Kängpunk influence is heavy, but I think a little bit of early POISON IDEA and BLACK FLAG sneaks in there, especially with Pask’s guitar playing.

VINCENT: I don't have a ton of experience has a singer so it took me a while to figure this out, but I'd say, that Gözzel, SVART PARAD’s vocalist, is a big influence for me, at least on our newer songs.

I’m curious to hear about your songwriting process, because I think
the songs are really well written. Can you tell me about how you write?
Is it one person bringing riffs or songs to the group, or is it more collaborative?

PASK: The songs writing is pretty much Matt, then Sticker and Dave will say their opinion and idea and they will work it. Vince and I add our spice and sauce on top.

DAVE: It’s an ever-changing process. We try to be as collaborative as possible. Every component is essential.

MATT: Sticker and I write the riffs and we all tweak and structure them together.

VINCENT: For vocals I pretty much just mumble stuff during rehearsal to figure out the structure, after I’ll write the lyrics within the patterns I’ve decided to use.

EULOGY at A Varning From Montreal XVIII

Between all the members you have a lot of collective experience playing in lots of great bands – have those experiences informed your approach? Do you have advice or hard-earned lessons to share with less experienced rockers?

DAVE: Don’t be a punker-than-thou gatekeeper to younger people, you were young and clueless at one point too. Think about your place in the world, your actions and the environment that you’re creating, and how you can maybe do something to make our increasingly shitty world a little less shitty. Don’t take your community for granted, but also remember that there are way more important things in the world than being punk.

PASK: Don’t let the bastards bring you down!

VINCENT: If you get the occasion to be part of a cool project, go for it. Especially if it’s outside your comfort zone, you’ll figure it out. And prioritize benefit gigs as much has possible.

MATT: Always try and be patient and let everyone have a voice.

Vincent, you did the artwork right? Do you have anything to say about
that process? And what’s your secret to that perfect crunchy high contrast look?

VINCENT: I really like the kind of super blown out Xerox artwork like on DISCLOSE’s ‘Nuclear Victims’ EP or the ‘Aspect of War’ 10inch, so that was the main influence.

As for the process, it’s mainly to degrade the quality of the image you’re working on, and after to find a way to lose the grey tones either through the overuse of an old and shitty Xerox printer, and if not possible via Photoshop or GIMP. Through the latter, turn your image in dynamic object (to work in a non-destructive way, only possible in Photoshop unfortunaly), add grains (to keep a bit of details), gaussian blur (degradation), apply some threshold, adjust level if needed and thats about it. Digital gives you more control over the result you’ll get, but Xerox will always get a better result in terms of texture, unfortunaly those nice old printers are sometime a bit harder to find these day.

Does the band have plans for the forseeable future Are you guys trying to tour? Cooking any new material?

PASK: Yes we’re trying go tour for sure, maybe start with east coast mini tour and eventually go do a Europe tour. Also working on an LP to release soon enough!

DAVE: We are playing with PLEKTANI from Greece in NYC (our first out of town show ever) September 26, and also playing Fragments Fest in Ottawa in October, and in Quebec City with ANÉANTIX for their LP release show. But otherwise we have been trying to focus on writing new songs for the LP. Also, our EP (which you can get now from Broken Skull or from us) will be released in Russia pretty soon on Future Extinction Records. Looking forward to getting the LP out and touring next year!

What bands are you most looking forward to seeing at Varning this year?

PASK: Oh I’m definitely excited to see MILITARY SHADOW, DESTRUCT, PLEKTANI, MOB 47, etc... pretty much every band, Varning is a great punk fest and we always got talented bands, out of town or the country and even locals!

DAVE: For me a big one is PLEKTANI and also MILITARY SHADOW. Bands I’ve seen before and am stoked to see again – SALVAJE PUNK, DESTRUCT (who absolutely killed it last time they played Varning) and MOB 47. But more than anything I am looking forward to seeing all the friends. The community is the most important part by far to me.

VINCENT: I’m looking foward to see PSYCHO TERRORIST DESPAIR SYSTEM, I really liked their demo. NY scene is really effervecent these days, it’s cool to see so many new projects. Beside that I’m very grateful that we’ll be sharing the stage with MOB 47, MILITARY SHADOW, DESTRUCT and MUECO.

MATT: I’m stoked to see PLEKTANI, MILITARY SHADOW, MOB 47, DESTRUCT, and check out bands I don’t know.

EULOGY at A Varning From Montreal XVIII

Nuzzy Zine October 2025

2026-10-25T17:04:47.000-04:00

Ben handed me this zine along with the newest Tattoo Punk at Varning. At first I assumed this was just the latest issue of Nuts!, last seen as a huge newsprint zine I'd be lucky to find at a show or record store while visiting New York 10ish years ago. I realized that this was actually Nuzzy. I wondered, is this new Nuts!? Ben explains:

I changed the name cuz I named "Nuts!" when i was 15 and I just kinda got tired of the dick jokes. Also "Nuts!" was only about DIY punk and now i'm old and I want to make zines about whatever I want, I think the name change signifies that maybe the content won't necessarily be totally punk. haha but it's always kinda punk anyways.

It's a short magazine-style, cover colour, filled with some of Ben's and other's photography, collage, some visual content from Ergot, and a double-sided insert poster of live photos on one side and and graffiti photos on the other.

The meat of this issue if you are reading "for the articles" is an interview with NECRON 9 and an article covering the homophobic and anti-immigrant songs of NYHC of the 80s.

The NECRON 9 interview is very sweet since they are genuinely one of Ben's favourite current bands. The interview is quite and fun and digs into lyric inspirations for specific songs, and then what's good/bad about current punk and other such reflections.

"Reactionary NYHC in the 1980s - A Homophobic & Anti-Immigrant Playlist" is really interesting. Freddy Alva (an ABC No Rio main guy, who grew up in the 80s) goes on a very nuanced and critical journey though several infamous sketchy songs of that early period in NYHC, most of which were unrecorded and so only exist as rumours. He digs down through the exhaustive offline research to uncover the origins of the rumoured tracks, often asking original members of the bands who were there, and provides the whole story, not excusing anything but providing the necessary context to understand what actually happened with some of these songs as why. Really cool original research on a topic people like to talk shit about, but one really wants to get to the heart of the matter.

A nice B-side to this article is a recent interview Alva did for DIY Conspiracy: "SPAR: Skins & Punks Against Racism in Late ’80s NYC".

There's also a 2 question interview with ELECTRIC CHAIR, which you will have to read yourself if you want to know about the craziest thing to happen at an ELECTRIC CHAIR show.

I hope there will be more issues. RIP Nuts!, long live Nuzzy.

Find out where to get a copy here: https://tattoopunkfanzine.com/

Good Grief #6: "A.I."

2026-10-25T17:00:49.000-04:00

Contributed by Hobbes.