If the original movement in the 70s was in response to political stagnation in the UK and the Vietnam war in the US. And the revival in the 00s in response to the US wars in the Middle East. Between Black Lives Matters, No Kings protests, and far right political parties recent win across the globe, where is the Punk movement? Where is the disenfranchised youth grinding out their anger on an electric guitar in an abandoned industrial building?
Edit: Thank you to everyone who suggested various artists. I’m going to check them all out!
I mean, Amyl and the Sniffers, PinkShift, Skating Polly (more grungy than punk maybe) BitchKiss, Stray from the path, Blood Lemon, Sorry Mom, etc.
a lot of new punk music is more pointed to RiotGrrl punk these days, but there is a shitload of new, really fucking good punk bands out there. We just lack a main stream outlet/major tour that showcases it anymore.
Great list. Check out the rat utopia experiment if you haven’t already.
Will do!
Hopefully you like them. For non-riot gurll bands, check out soul glo if you’re into slightly more hardcore stuff.
The Iron Roses. Can’t stop listening to the Molotov Nights album.
Apart from all the great bands mentioned by others, here in my city there’s a pretty alive underground scene with cheap shows which are explicitly anti fascist
It can be more alive than you’d think
Big scene in Sweden still with our own subgenre called Trallpunk (basically singalong punk). Lastkaj 14, Småjävlafötter, KSMB, Björnarna, Troublemakers, Just to name a few who are still active. Most bands are connected to a music label which was started in the early 00s to give more swedish punks an opportunity to reach out with their music SecondClassKids
Ive got two that come to mind in terms of modern punk
Zeal and Ardor - top tier punk with heavy vibes and a grandiose range
La Dispute - some of the greatest and most emotionally devastating music you’ll hear
Like so many other industries, the music industry has been thoroughly consolidated by massive record labels, publishers, and corporate interests. Much of the music we’re exposed to on a daily basis is no longer simply music it’s a commercial product engineered to generate as much revenue as possible.
If you’re looking for something genuinely specific, unconventional, or outside the mainstream, you usually have to go looking for it yourself. Unfortunately, basic searches on YouTube or Spotify aren’t necessarily going to lead you there. Their algorithms tend to reinforce what is already popular rather than uncovering the deeper corners of the musical landscape.
But that music is out there. There is an enormous amount of incredible, creative, and genuinely original music being made right now. You just have to dig past the commercial surface to find it.
Honningbarna if you’re fine with Norwegian
One major punk artist very relevant nowadays that I haven’t seen anyone mention is Jeff Rosenstock. He was very influenced by Ian MacKaye and he’s famous for making the first successful donations based record label.
He first blew up with a ska band called “The Arrogant Sons of Bitches” then moved onto his punk band “Bomb the Music Industry” until moving on to a solo career. His solo stuff have been some of his best albums, and the old ones are still good.
Lots of old punk, along with new bands putting their stuff out there.
Also, a local band I like is Orphan Riot. Met the singer Noel a couple years ago, nice guy making some good music. https://orphanriot.bandcamp.com/track/devils-work
We would need people who are willing to stand up in order to have punk. Everyone is on the ground staring at a screen. Punk is dead.
Floorpunk?
Hearing about the cancellation of the Great Vegan Festival, gave some excellent band recommendations in the article.
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2026/08/03/uklfi-great-vegan-festival/
HAWXX are straight fire.
Sum41 had shit to complain about for 30 years
Lol so true. That was corporate punk for real. Glad that shit is dead. Let it stay dead
The majority of kids under 30 are still focused on making enough money to have nice things. They were raised by parents (my generation) to think stuff is the answer to all life’s problems. That is the majority of how people think in this day and age. The biggest issue amongst a lot of individuals is not having access to enough stuff (including traveling) to fill the gaping hole inside. Unfortunately, that hole is actually caused by a breakdown in community, family and communication. The kids aren’t angry anymore, they are depressed.
“History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes.”
The fundamental aspects repeat, but the specifics are always different. Now it’s not an electric guitar in an abandoned building, it’s a bedroom rapper going viral thing. You’re not seeing it because you don’t care about that style of music, just like the adults of the 70s and 80s didn’t care about punk music
On the other hand, Joey Valence and Brae did a pretty good cover of “Security” by Amyl and the Sniffers.
Bob Vylan
