Since most of the Punknews.org staff is from North America, it seemed appropriate to enlist the aid of our friends at Europunk in order to spotlight some acts making waves on the other side of the Atlantic.

This update comes from Tom Adriany editor of Europunk and a native of Brussels, Belgium:

Austria is where it all started for me, with Remedy Records releasing the first full-length from RedLightsFlash, and since then there's been a whole string of Austrian bands rocking my world. Rentokill, Jan Feat U.D.S.S.R., Antimaniax, Random, Estate and more recently the undeniable Ephen Rian, whom delivered an astounding debut with their "Heroes Don't Ask Why" demo. The band just signed to Italy's Wynona Records, where they will be releasing their debut EP, "The Special Referendum", the 24th of October. With pounding "metallic" rhythms that will appeal to fans of Strung Out and Thrice alike, mosh-able breakdowns, and enough melody to slap across the back of the whale, the band is fast growing to be one of my favorite contemporary outfits.

Two tracks are available on the band's myspace page.