The Casualties are the voice of the disenfranchised, the disillusioned and the dispossessed of this planet. The band originally formed in 1990, but these street fighters are still angry, still political and are still keeping the heart and spirit of punk alive. Founded on a mission to revive the sound of punk pioneers like The Exploited and The Sex Pistols, they lyrically weave in scathing denouncements of authority into frantic anthems of resistance, totaling to eleven studio full-lengths, three EPs and three live albums so far. The Casualties are David Rodriguez (vocalist), Jake Kolatis (guitarist), Marc “Meggers” Eggers (drums) and Doug Wellmon (bass).
The Calamatix is the self-titled debut album from reggae-rooted, punk-flavored quartet, The Calamatix. Pulling influences from Jamaican rocksteady, and old-school ska, the heart of The Calamatix’s sound is lead singer-songwriter, Raylin Joy. Born in Ventura, California, Joy grew up in Scotland and moved back to the US when she was 23. Joy’s writing and the life experiences that inform it, propels The Calamatix’s triumphant songs about love and life. The contrast between the optimistic spirit of these songs and the struggle that produced them gives each song a real power and weight.