POISON RUÏN (USA) + SOMATIC ANXIETY (Pt)

Poison Ruin formed in Philadelphia in 2020, beginning as a solo recording project that soon evolved into a full band. Their style blends classic anarcho/crust punk with influences from oi!, American post-punk, NWOBHM, and dungeon synth. They heavily utilize dark medieval imagery and anarchist lyrical themes. They released a compilation of their 2020 demos in 2021 and the EP Not Today, Not Tomorrow in 2022.

Their sound is dark, intense, and melodic, with raw punk energy, gloomy atmospheres, and electronic/synth overtones. The music is chaotic and pogo-friendly, but also catchy enough to sing along to. They draw inspiration from bands like The Wipers, Modern Warfare, and A Touch of Hysteria, combining harshness with a melancholic and evocative feel.

Somatic Anxiety debuted with Glass Prison, a work that represents a painful inward plunge. Inspired by female writers, the title symbolizes life as a mental prison from which one cannot escape. The lyrics question socially accepted identity and critique an oppressive patriarchal society, exploring a woman's struggle with mental health issues: anxiety, sexuality, suicide, paranoia, and the harsh expectations placed on women. The vocalist, an autistic woman in a neurotypical society, expresses the sensation of a claustrophobic environment through howls.

Soundwise, the band blends punk and black metal in a raw and somber version, influenced by bands like Bone Awl and Raspberry Bulbs, with touches of more cerebral noise rock.