These guys are one of the funniest bands around, but they ain't playin' when their songs take on issues like misguided nationalism or technology or Midwestern despair. We think they have the best bullshit detector in the scene. But this foursome is a little weirder, a little smarter, and a little heavier-sounding than your average punk band, and they have 13 new ones on "Sick Of Space". Just look at the goddamn song titles and tell us you don't wanna party with this LP?! "Sick Of Space" will be their third album on Red Scare and that's usually when our bands achieve mainstream success, so get on board while they're still cool!

TRACKLIST:

1. The One True Freak
2. The Fort
3. Cave Trash / Dumpster Embassy
4. Pardon The Light
5. Trauma Czars
6. Sick Of Space
7. Shitty Little League
8. Kings Of The Dust
9. Guy Shit
10. America's Riff
11. Led Zeppelin III
12. Mommy, Can I Go Out And Chill Tonight?
13. Ancient Memes

Who are the culprits responsible for these 5 songs? Line 'em up: we have Direct Hit! from Milwaukee and The Brokedowns from Chicagoland. Straight outta the Midwest, these bands are two of the most wild and irreverent groups in today's punk scene and they're out to bring a little slice of Midwest culture to the rest of the world. What culture, you ask? Well Francis, we're talking about blocks of cheese, suspicious encased meats, smartass social commentary, brutal weather, and accursed sports teams. More than all that bullshit, these two partners in crime are all the evidence you need to prove that the Midwest has some of the best punk rock music around.

TRACKLIST:

Side A:

1. The Brokedowns "Kings of the Dust"
2. The Brokedowns "Crowns and Gowns"
3. The Brokedowns "Runnin' the Front (TTK)"

Side B:

1. Direct Hit! "Chemical Ability"
2. Direct Hit! "Avert Your Eyes"

Perfect. I’ve been waiting for this record since it was announced last year. It’s a match made in heaven. Take the lyrics of my favorite Brokedowns song, “Done with Funk,” where they sing, “Slow death! We’re all choking on the slow death!” In my humble opinion, the Brokedowns can do no wrong at this point. It’s been three years since their last LP, but they’ve tided us over with splits with a number of fantastic artists. The roster of bands that have done splits with the Brokedowns is better than most modern record labels. The Slow Death provide a nice counterpoint to the heavy hardcore-inspired punk that the Brokedowns lay down, but even The Slow Death seem pulled into the sonic vortex of The Brokedowns, offering three of their heaviest offerings I’ve heard from them. If you are a fan of modern punk and you haven’t checked out either of these bands, you are doing yourself a great disservice. Grade: A.

–Bryan Static (Red Scare)

Alright here's a release from It's Alive Records that I just had to get in. Both bands on this split absolutely rule! The Brokedowns are an insanely underrated band from the mid-west of the United States who play a gruff yet melodic brand of punk rock that is utterly their own! Keep a beer on standby when listening to these dudes.

Vacation Bible School have sort of a 90's pop-punk/punk rock sound. It's a little more straight forward than The Brokedowns (who are very difficult to describe as it is) but bloody hell, they do what they do well! Raspy vocals, fast paced, snotty.

This split is an awesome match up of two truly overlooked bands.

Release #: IAR-67

Release Date: May  2013

Track Listing:

This Future Sucks (The Brokedowns) Sean, Bless This Shit (The Brokedowns) The Same Mistakes Endlessly Repeated (On Repeat) (The Brokedowns) All To Blame (Vacation Bible School) Middle Son(g) (Vacation Bible School) Left Behind (The Kirk Cameron Story) (Vacation Bible School) Pressing Info: 

300 black vinyl, 200 white vinyl on It's Alive Records.

New Brokedowns songs are always welcome in these parts. You gotta keep up with how they’re gonna turn the gruff punk genre on its head. Song structure? Fuck it. Who shackled us up in these verse / chorus / verse / bridge / double chorus chains anyways? I hear a new album is in the works, but until then check out the three tracks on this 7”. Innovative and catchy, like if D. Boone grew up listening to D4 and Tiltwheel. Wide Angles also know how to hold it down with honest, heartfelt melodic punk that pines but never whines. These songs leave you wanting more, which is good ‘cause it looks like they also have an LP coming out soon.

 –Daryl Gussin (Cassette Deck) - Razorcake

The Brokedowns are a humble and oft-dormant quartet from right outside Chicago that somehow stole the punk rock spotlight in the last year (and that's where opportunist jackoffs like us come in, wink wink). They toured with Dillinger Four, landed on the cover of Razorcake Magazine, and released a killer 7" on No Idea Records. Their new 13-song full length, Species Bender, is proof of all the great progress they've made as a band and will firmly plant 'em alongside the genre's best. We're talking about a truly rockin' record, and The Brokedowns are one of the few bands still playing traditional punk rock and playing it well. On top of all that, they package it with hilarious, biting lyrics: songs that reference the Octo-Mom, wizards, Jersey Shore, Kid Rock, etc. That's what I call a good time!</span></span>

Species Bender

CD Only September 7, 2010 Red Scare Industries (CCCP-140)