The state of the world has got me all fucked up! How can the world stand by as Israel with the help of racist fucking Amerikkka bombs Palestine out of existence! We all live in a real-life horror film, and I don’t see an end in sight. I find myself listening to more and more music that sounds like the way I feel. This is why I have been blasting the new Siyahkal record Days of Smoke and Ash / روزای دود و خاکستر nonstop. This band is kicking out the kind of Hardcore Punk anthems that I can feel come from their hearts. Inside of their gnarly riffs and rolling basslines, I can hear their disgust for the corrupt system we are all existing in right now! Imagine if Subhumans, Christian Death, VEX, Sacrilege, and Crucifix all came together to form a band that was meant to be a weapon of mass change — the outcome would be Days of Smoke and Ash / روزای دود و خاکستر. As I immerse myself in the dissonant rhythms of “Zombies of Tehran / لاشخورای تهران” I can’t help but think about how the CIA destabilized my South Central neighborhood in the 80s. I love the sonic tension that is front and center on all of their bangers. Even when there are no vocals, Siyahkal can manifest an audio universe where their message is felt. As I press play on their song “Freedom / آزادی” I realize that they have put together one of the sickest Hardcore Punk Releases of 2025! I want to give a HUGE shout out to Static Shock Records for releasing this brand new underground classic, and to Siyahkal, thank you for making space in the underground for POC PUNX!
