The hardcore scene has cranked out a lot of killer records this year, with many young bands finding ways to put fresh and exciting coats of paint on the established genre. Chicago outfit Buggin joined the ranks of those bands this year with the release of their debut album, Concrete Cowboys, a 12-songs-in-19-minutes banger that takes a fast hardcore template and adds a heavy dose of sass and attitude (credit largely to vocalist Bryanna Bennett) to the mix. The end result is one of the hardcore records you need to hear in 2023.
Concrete Cowboys kicks off with “Bug Slam,” which primes you for what to expect on the album before moving to second track, “All Eyes On You.” Featuring a guest vocal spot from Kharma’s Jordan Moten, the opening pair of songs broadcast just how fun Buggin’s music is. “Snack Run” is a tribute to bodegas and “The Customer is Always Wrong” is instantly relatable to anyone who’s ever worked a bullshit, customer-facing job (“I don’t get paid enough for this shit, none of us get paid enough for this shit / Waiting on that wealth to trickle down any day now”). “Poser Bulldozer” features the album’s best breakdown.
“Hard 2 Kill” is like a look into what Turnstile could sound like in 2023 if they weren’t on tour with blink-182. “Not Yours” and “Concrete Cowboys” steer the record in a more serious direction but “Kick Rocks” is another ode to life in the big city. The record ends with “Youth,” which reminds listeners of a key hardcore principle that effectively sums up what Concrete Cowboys is all about: “The youth will have their say.”
Buggin aren’t reinventing the hardcore genre with Concrete Cowboys; the ideas here aren’t new, but they’re executed in such a tight manner with such a sense of fun and live energy that it’s impossible not to dig. Concrete Cowboys is out now on Flatspot, so get with it.
