Another State Of Zine...

Scanner was born in a hail of phlegm, defiance and attitude as an A5 print zine back in the Summer of 1998, in the English hamlet of Ipswich, Suffolk. It ran for near-on five years, culminating with a 92-page whopper in January 2003, which featured the likes of AVAIL, Exene Cervenka and Winston Smith.
From small beginnings - the first issue was a comparatively small 40-page minnow - the zine grew steadily in stature with a final print run of over 1,000 and distribution throughout the UK and in various parts of Europe and America plus Australia and New Zealand with further readers in Japan and South Africa.
The zine stopped not due to my personal lack of interest in the world of Punk Rock, or any kinda burgeoning disillusionment in an overtly commercialised and tame Punk Rock scene. Admittedly, I was getting tired of generic releases from say-nothing bands and ‘Punx’ who cared more for the shade of their hair dye and brand of sneaker than they did for the ideals behind MDC or SUBHUMANS. Thankfully, this was constantly countered by bands like FOUR LETTER WORD, DILLINGER FOUR and many bands like them that released vital, energetic, intelligent and out-spoken releases. Of course, the old faithfuls - surely I don’t need to name names - always revitalised the soul and scorched the ears.
Nope, Scanner in print form stopped due to a life-changing move. In March 2004, I packed my bags and headed to New Zealand. At the time I had no idea whether it would be a long-term move. I sure wanted it to be, but due to seemingly limitless bureaucratic red tape bullshit from the Immigration Services, I had to wait a year to see if my future here in NZ could be even semi-permanent. During that year I set up this website in an attempt to continue where the zine left off.
Move forward to August 2005... My application for Residency in NZ was approved and here I remain with no plans of leaving. From here, Scanner on-line continues and will continue until I either go back to a print form zine or get so disillusioned by the whole bloody world of Punk Rock and its seemingly increasing links to the safe, corporate and sponsored world of mainstream society that I would rather vomit all over my crotch than face another tiresome safe, major label band desperately wanting to be ‘dangerous’ and/ or ‘cool’. Fuck ‘em!
Where is this website gonna go from here? Well, I hope it’s just gonna get bigger and better, just as the print version did. I did have a ‘News’ section, but due to lack of release news etc being forwarded, I ditched it. Except for a few notable labels - Fat Wreck, Revelation, Household Name, Recess and Alternative Tentacles in particular - I had no release news sent despite requests and adding myself to mailing lists.
You can forward all review material to the address above that’s shadowed by The Replacements. For electronic contact, hit this LINK and send me an email. My review policy remains the same - all releases sent WILL be reviewed, but anything on a major label does not run parallel to my ideals of Punk Rock. Period. Get over it and concentrate on your lucre-lusting contracts.
Also hit the LINK if you wanna join the mailing list to receive emails of each and every update as it happens. OK - get on with it - self-explanation over. Enter and enjoy....

Latest Updates

June 18th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of REBELLION: New Band Stage 2018
June 16th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of THE SHADRACKS
June 15th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of BAD SPORTS
June 14th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of Down Town Spaghetty Accident compilation
June 8th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of FLOAT HERE FOREVER
May 31st - TOP SOUNDS - Review of SIGNAL CRIMES
May 30th - READING MATTER - Review of No Apocalypse - Al Burian's book
May 28th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of MARKED MEN
May 27th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of SMIERC
May 24th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of THE ROYAL BEGGARS
May 22nd - TOP SOUNDS - Review of CORNER BOYS
May 21st - TOP SOUNDS - Review of REVEREND BEAT-MAN AND IZOBEL GARCIA
May 19th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of COLUMNA
May 17th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of HOLLY GOLIGHTLY
May 13th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of GIGLINGER
May 11th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of THIS IS NOT A DRILL
May 10th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of YOUR PEST BAND
April 27th - TOP SOUNDS - Reviews of REDD KROSS
April 26th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of FUCKED UP
April 23rd - READING MATTER - Review of WASN'T THAT A TIME: The Weavers

LP/ ALBUM/ CD REVIEWS
ABOLITIONIST - A New Militance, Ugly Feeling {1859}; THE DARTS - I Like You But Not Like That {Alternative Tentacles}; EARTH MOTHER FUCKER - I Fuck Therefore I Am, VIOLENT PLAYGROUND - Violent Years {Antigen}; HEAVY HEART - Love Against Capture {Brassneck}; LONG RYDERS - Psychedelic Country Soul, MEMBRANES - What Nature Gives... Nature Takes Away, SPEAR OF DESTINY - The Albums {Cherry Red}; MAHWRIN SKEL - Excession {Corndog}; BILLY CHILDISH - Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot, GALILEO 7 - There Is Only Now, GRAHAM DAY AND THE FOREFATHERS - Good Things {Damaged Goods}; ALLVARET - Skam Och Skuld, FLESHIES - Introducing..., PANDEMIX - In Condemnation {Dirt Cult}; STEVE ADAMYK BAND - Paradise {Dirtnap}; CJ RAMONE - The Holy Spell, CLOWNS - Nature Nurture, COKIE THE CLOWN - You're Welcome, TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET - Stay Rad! {Fat Wreck}; LEE HARVEYS - Resistance Is Not Terrorism {FOAD}; JONNY MANAK AND THE DEPRESSIVES - Anybody Wanna Skate? {God's Candy}; PAT TODD AND THE RANK OUTSIDERS - The Past Came Callin' {Hound Gawd}; TOTAL DEFEAT - s/t {Is This My World}; HIGGINS AND THE MAGIC OF THE MARKETPLACE - Dream Consumer Dream!, IDFS - January's Kids {JSNTGM}; BURNT TAPES - Never Better, FAIR DO'S - Leopards {Lockjaw}; CHARGER - s/t, HARRINGTON SAINTS - 1000 Pounds Of Oi, LENNY LASHLEY'S GANG OF ONE - All Are Welcome {Pirates Press}; BRENDAN KELLY AND THE WANDERING BIRDS - Keep Walkin' Pal {Red Scare}; MOTOSIERRA - S/t, SWEET THINGS - In Borrowed Shoes {Spaghetty Town}; DOA - 1978: Unreleased Tracks/ Singles {Sudden Death}; BONY MACARONI - S/t {TCBYML}; CASUAL NAUSEA - Demons {Uncomfortable Beach Party}; BATTALION ZOSKA - s/t, BILLYCLUB GENERATION - Time Bomb, DROOGETTES - Clockwork Girls, FATAL BLOW - Hope Not Hate, FOREIGN LEGION - Back To Basics, THE LOT - Drunk, Depressed And Desperate, OLDE TIGERS - Build An Illusion Of Safety {Violated}; E.T EXPLORE ME - Shine, THE JACKETS - Queen Of The Pill {Voodoo Rhythm}; MATT PLESS - Tumbleweed {Wembleway Music}; BERWANGER - Watching A Garden Die, DECENT CRIMINAL - Bliss {Wiretap}; BRACKISH EDGE - The Cruel Dark Sea, SINGING LUNGS - Groan {DIY};

7"/ EP/ CASSETTE REVIEWS 
GRAHAM DAY AND THE GAOLERS - Just A Little {Damaged Goods}; WEIRD NUMBERS - Minotaur Dreams {Dirt Cult}: SCHOOL DRUGS - Relative Suffering {Hell Minded}; ROD HAMDALLAH - Think About It {Hound Gawd}; CHANNEL 3 - The Bellwether {Hostage}; LITTERBUG - Countdown To Schadenfreude {JSNTGM}; EDWARD IN VENICE - Empathy {Lockjaw}; RAMOMS - Problem Child {Pirates Press}; VIOLATORS - Tied To The Tracks {Violated}; MOUNT WYCHEPROOF - Is Everybody Dead Yet?, UPPER DOWNER - s/t {DIY};

DVD REVIEWS
NOFX - Backstage Passport II {Fat Wreck}; DUST - Full Circle, PUSSY RIOT: Act And Punishment, The Color Of Noise, The US Festival, Its Gonna Blow, Records Collecting Dust II {MVD}; The Angry Brigade {PM Press};

BOOK REVIEWS
Heavy Duty Days And Nights In Judas Priest {Da Capo}; Juggalo Country {Microcosm};

ZINES
Artcore #38, Bicycle Culture Rising #4, Flashmag #3

 

HEY SUBURBIA POCAST

The Scanner zine Hey Surbubia Podcast now has a new home!!  You can still stream it direct from this site (now via a natty player) and you can still download it. Additionally, there is now room to leave comments on each broadcast, administer an 'I Like' Facebook hit and subscribe via I-Tunes or RSS. Hit HERE to access recent broadcasts. So common - leave some comments, requests or general abuse because, as Ben Weasel said, "We don't give a shit about tomorrow." Previous Podcasts can be found by clicking this link here

Gone but not forgotten...

This website will forever remember those who provided inspiration and continue to inspire.  Let us never forget those that paved the way for where Punk Rock is today and made some of the most refreshing, rebellious and raucous music ever.  R.I.P. guys...

STIV BATORS, JOHNNY THUNDERS, JOEY RAMONE, DEE DEE RAMONE, JOHNNY RAMONE, TOMMY RAMONE, JOE STRUMMER, PETE SHELLEY, DARBY CRASH, BOB STINSON, RANDY 'BISCUIT' TURNER, PIG CHAMPION, LOU REED, RON ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON, DAVE ALEXANDER, MALCOLM OWEN, PAUL FOX, POLY STYRENE, MIKE HUDSON, DICKIE HAMMOND, JOHN 'STABB' SCHROEDER, STEVE SOTO, VI SUBVERSA, IAN 'LEMMY' KILMINSTER, LANCE HAHN, DENNIS DANELL, JIM CARROLL, JEFFREY LEE PIERCE, LUX INTERIOR, NICK KNOX, JERRY NOLAN, ARTHUR KANE, BILLY RATH, BILLY MURCIA, NICHOLAS 'RAZZLE' DINGLEY, STIG, PHIL VANE, DAVE GREGG, DIMWIT, RANDY RAMPAGE, WILL SHATTER, RAYBEEZ, KURT COBAIN, WIZ, STEVO, MIA ZAPATA, MATTY BLAGG, TOMATA DU PLENTY, MIKEY 'OFFENDER' DONALDSON, ARIANNA 'ARI UP' FORSTER, PAUL RAVEN, PHILIP CHEVRON, NIDGE BLITZ MILLER, D. BOON, TONY KINMAN, DAVE INSURGENT, FRED 'SONIC' SMITH, ROB TYNER, DAVID BOWIE, NIKKI SUDDEN, PETER LAUGHNER, IAN CURTIS, ROBERT QUINE, PHIL 'PHILTHY ANIMAL' TAYLOR, PHIL LYNOTT, SID VICIOUS, TIM YOHANNON, GREG SHAW, JOHN PEEL

Individual hits since July 2004:

Geographical hits since October 2009