Fake Names Deliver 'Punk Ruins'
(Epitaph) Fake Names release their third studio album, Punk Ruins, alongside a lyric video for the title track. 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 - Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzen (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 70s 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.
Fake Names will be heading out on tour in early 2027, with stops across Europe and the UK starting January 26. The US leg kicks off February 18 in Brooklyn, with stops in Washington D.C. (2/19), Los Angeles (2/23), Chicago (2/27), and more.
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