Cisco Pikes - Cisco Pikes (2025) Hi Res

According to the press release, Cisco Pikes hail from "...the dark, pulsating cellars of Nuremberg...". Founded in 2013, the band is now a quintet consisting of singer Mark Lee (who also plays percussion and harmonica), guitarists Zattl and Robin, and the rhythm section of Chris on bass and Alex on drums. This fall, the group released their self-titled debut album, a wild yet refreshing blend of punk rock and post-punk that's sure to shake the walls of home music rooms. Their previously released single, "Scummy In The Summer," garnered initial and significant attention online. Cisco Pikes have also, as the press release states, secured a solid following in the live music scene. But let's get to the new album.

The record opens with the one-minute track "Think," presented as a poem with (quirky) background music, which initially only hints at the sheer power and invigorating energy to come. "Uniform" is a killer rocker and just as compelling as the preceding track, "Chelsea Toulouse" (a great play on words, if you're thinking of football). With "Enema From Space," however, the band rocks out with a wonderfully irreverent energy, promptly followed by the short, spoken-word piece "Mr. Vincent's Epilogue." In a mere 71 seconds, "Sub Censura Tikus Tokus" dismantles the internet platform TikTok, and as if one highlight were following another, the hit single "Scummy In The Summer" is immediately thrown into the mix. The post-punk and new wave influences are seamlessly woven into the raw punk rock sound, creating a truly cool and infectious blend that's simply a lot of fun. The vocals are also very distinctive, and it quickly becomes clear that Mark Lee is British (I'd even guess Scottish, but I'm really no expert), which adds an extra layer of color to the music and the lead vocals.

No one's playing it safe here; there's no highly paid producer involved, no polished, record-company-approved producer focused on sales figures and radio airplay. But that's precisely what makes this album so special, giving it its freshness, its carefree attitude, its raw energy, and ultimately, its greatness and its seal of quality. "Don't Worry 'bout It Mate," for example, is so captivatingly simple yet simultaneously thrilling and infectious it just goes down like a dream. After the powerful "Strangled," the frontman's superb harmonica makes another appearance in "Jane Doe," ceremoniously opening this further raw rocker. This debut album concludes with the brilliantly rocking "Sharp Teeth" and the atmospheric and captivating "ghost story" "Mister Hoobie." The reviewer's next step? No questions asked, no doubts just immediately starting the album again. Thumbs up!

Cisco Pikes' debut album offers 15 tracks and a runtime of nearly 36 minutes of hearty and refreshing post-punk/wave/punk rock from a band whose carefree songs (lyrics aside) leave you wanting more. This reviewer is completely hooked and will be on the lookout for the band's concert dates. Speaking of which, according to their label, the five-piece's concerts are far more than just ordinary gigs, regularly transforming into genuine "performance art shows." This is truly an album that begs to be discovered, especially for those who don't always want their music polished and run-of-the-mill. Absolutely fantastic and a breath of fresh air in a sometimes overly sterile and sanitized music industry!