Raleigh’s Tizzi are off to an exciting start. The band started just before COVID hit and even the release of their demo was delayed. Let’s hope the delay hasn’t hampered their enthusiasm, but listening to their demo, it’s hard to imagine that it has. The four piece blast through six short tunes that are influenced by early West Coast hardcore, UK82 smashing, and even some Crass records style dischord. That is, they play fast and mean.

Despite that, they know the secret to making great hardcore/anarcho music- they keep the musicality buried underneath the noise. THe songs might rip off the tape in a mess of distortion, but underneath the din are fantastically written songs. The band focuses on the negative aspects of modern life. Presumably, “Oh Shit” is about getting your ear chewed off by an oppressive presence. (Lyric sheets please!) “All day I work for little money” has its thesis right there in the title and the tracks punches like something off Penis Envy. There are few higher compliments in my opinion.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about Tizzi is that while they are built from the parts of punk past, it feels like they are pushing into something new. The ferocity is here. The bounce is here. The message is definitely here. And not only that, while the punk hallmarks are here, it sounds like they might be about to do something that no one has done before. I’m betting they will. Let’s hope they used the time in lockdown to record an LP.