By: Mike Madavi

From dirty dive bars to suburban garages, Punk rock has evolved into a mainstay of the contemporary musical spread. Here at IODA we’ve featured some of punk’s greatest originators such as Flipper and the Monks, but today we’re bringing you some of the finest and freshest punk around. Here for your adrenaline bursting pleasure are the Cobra Skulls and the Riverdales (Ex-Screeching Weasel):

Artist: Cobra Skulls
Title: American Rubicon
Label: Red Scare Records
Genre: Punk : Alternative
Release Date: 7/7/09
UPC: 187223012765
Territory: Worldwide

From the world’s biggest little city comes some of the best punk I’ve heard in years. The three-piece Cobra Skulls’ new record American Rubicon is a genuine sample of everything fun and fast in punk. Reminiscent of Against Me!’s finest material but with the Irish aftertaste replaced with vocalist/bassist Devin Peralta’s occasional use of Spanish and South American revolutionary subject matter. The Cobra’s first record Sitting Army (2007 on Red Scare Records) harbored praise from fans and critics alike as a fast paced, reckless, and general fun debut album. With every song name on that album including the word “Cobra” in some facility, you could tell the group didn’t take themselves too seriously but had serious talent for such a young band (formed only in 2005). Now after sharpening their fangs by playing hundreds of show with (surprise) Against Me!, The Mad Caddies, and The Loved Ones to name a few, the Cobras have returned with a more potent and deadly attack than before.

First things first: they dropped the “Cobra” name songs and wrote up a batch of harder hitting, better structured, and tighter songs (even including a 32 second instrumental called “I Used To Like Them When They Put “Cobra” In The Titles”). This ranges across a few different types of punk rock, all great in their own right. They do great rapid-fire abrasive angry stuff like “Dead Inside” and “Muniphobia,” a number about being chronically afraid of public transportation. “Thicker than Water” hits like a great late 90’s (I use the phrase descriptively, not in reference to the now extinct genre) pop-punk with touches of the Ramones’ harmonies and vocal inflections. If you miss Eternal Cowboy/Axl Rose-era Against Me!, the Cobras serve up numbers like “Overpopulated” (where Peralta’s voice could easily be mistaken for Tom Gabel’s) and the acoustic “Timing” (the Acoustic EP anyone?). Their guitar parts have improved, their harmonies are awesome, and their new songs rock; these guys are just plain old-school punk fun. Not to be missed.

Artist: The Riveradales
Title: Invasion USA
Label: Asian Man Records
Genre: Punk : Punk Rock
Release Date: 7/14/09
UPC: 612851018426
Territory: Worldwide

Former Screeching Weasel members Ben “Weasel” Foster and Dan “Vapid” Schafer have resurrected their side project the Riverdales to record a fantastic new album and play live once again. Named after the small town of Riverdale from Archie Comics, The Riverdales formed in 1994 by members of Weasel who had broken up earlier that year. Their first album was widely praised and the guys toured with the Mr. T Experience and supported Green Day on their Insomniac tour, the stresses of which eventually caused the Riverdales’ first break up. Weasel would reform in 1996 and cause breaks in their side project but not keeping the three pieces from recording 1997’s Storm The Street and 2003’s Phase 3.

Now, 15 years after their original formation, The Riverdales are back in full force, playing select one-off shows across the nation in support of their new album Invasion USA. Their sound remains as it was; very heavily influenced by the Ramones as Foster wanted this new band to pay tribute to the legendary pop punk heroes. Featuring song-titles almost exclusively inspired by Mystery Science 3000 and a new, fuller 4-piece lineup an absolute gem in the sub-genre some have called “retardo” due to the silly nature of the song matter. The songs could be divided into Ben’s and Dan’s as they switch back and forth between lead vocal duties with their respected other forming super catchy harmonies. It all adds up to an all-around fantastic record that delivers super fun songs that basically could serve as new, quality Ramones songs. An instant classic.