Bamberdöst

This Jersey punk outfit features members of bands I wrote about in the first issues of my fanzine back in the early 80’s, including Paul Mauled (Undead, Bad Whoremoans), Jack Gibson (US Chaos), and Chris Pingor (Subway Surfers, Death In The Arena). The trio has only been together a year or so, but sound like they’ve been playing for ages. As Chris Pierce once told me, old punks have a huge advantage, they know how to play and they know to get the best sounds from their guitars and amps. Bamberdost’s sound hews toward garage punk with a debt to the Misfits on “Favorite Creature” and the bumptious melodic hardcore of 90s stalwarts like Samiam or Bouncing Souls, or the “Lookout!” style of Screeching Weasel and The Queers. Most of the songs tackle typical rock ‘n’ roll tropes – broken hearts, toxic relationships – but written with much more sophistication and insight than your typical post-adolescent punk band; “no space for you to orbit comfortably/synapses yearn for my next dopamine,” for example, on a terrific track called “Simple Life.” Thirteen songs and there’s not one I’ll skip over the next time I play this. - Off Shelf

Bamberdöst - Songs About Your "Girlfriend" (bamberdost.bandcamp.com)
After a week of relishing the punk rock glory that is ,” I’m convinced that the almost fifty-year-old sound is still alive in the hearts of many. It’s been a while since I shared a minute with Paul Mauled. His love of music and raw, honest punk still resonates with me as memories of catching his former band The Bad Whoremoans at venues such as Montclair’s The Meat Locker and Clifton’s Clash Bar, where we shared fries, Cokes, and conversation about Punk Rock, recall younger days. Regardless, it’s good to hear new music from a friend who, when I last spoke to, was becoming a member of the legendary Undead.
The chorus “You’ve ruined every other for me” on the opener “Drawn In” is as real as it gets, the perfect intro into what is one of the best new punk albums known to man (and women, equally.) Bamberdost combines a confident bombast in its sound with the ability to write lyrics that remind of the term “Wear your feelings on your sleeve.” While inviting comparisons to past acts such as The Misfits, Social Distortion, and Rancid, Songs About Your 'Girlfriend' ("girlfriend" in quotes) not only registers as the best album title of all time. It’s one of the best straight-up punk albums I’ve heard in years. Favorite songs include, but are not limited to, “Drawn In,” “Tell Me You’re Safe,” and “Simple Life.” Get it, listen to it, live - Jersey Beat

Bamberdöst - "Songs About Your "Girlfriend". If I didn't know Bamberdöst was from New Jersey band, I'd assume they were from Southern California. Their album, "Songs About Your "Girlfriend"" is 28 minutes of insanely catchy punk rock! - New Jersey Stage

Live radio interview recorded on 2/5/2025. - Radio Interview

Live interview on 3/26/2025 on the Hunter College radio show, Raydio Room with host Reagan. - Live interview at Hunter College.