Mild Chaos Records – ‘Touch of Chaos Vol. 1’ [Album Review]

Orange County, California-based punk indie label Mild Chaos Records recently unveiled their inaugural compilation album, Touch of Chaos Vol. 1, a 12-track collection of songs from independent punk artists.

Mark Kravitz, the founder of Mild Chaos Records, says, “I fell in love with punk after my dad brought home The Clash’s Sandinista! when I was 8. I don’t have a background in music. I’m just a huge fan of the punk scene, and this is me giving back to the music I have loved since I was a kid.”

Kravitz started the label last year and describes his job as “everything from the janitor to the CEO.” He is also the label’s A&R person, and he put together the compilation from submissions selected from “punk bands wanted” social invitations. Eventually, Kravitz hopes to release a second compilation volume along with split 7″ EPs.

From a purely subjective viewpoint, entry points on Touch of Chaos Vol. 1 include “Benton,” from Local Bylaws, featuring raw, heavy guitars radiating hints of pop-punk merged with straight-ahead punk. Pennington’s snarling vocals infuse the lyrics with just the right amount of sassy impudence.

A personal favorite because of its sleazy, noir country tints and vocals dripping with oily venom, This is a Revolver’s “Unearth” surges with barely suppressed dark energy. Whereas Cowboy Destroy’s “Sex & Weed” conjures up suggestions of Lou Reed covering Marcy Playground. There’s a primal sensuality hovering over the undulating melody.

“Marauder,” the low-slung, creeping song from J. Graves, features edgy guitars, tight percussion, and surprisingly nuanced vocals, at times dark and urgent, at other times smoldering with voluptuous flavors.

This Is A Revolver, photo by Rudy Lopez

Imagine Thin Lizzy covering early Fall Out Boy, and you’ll have an idea of what AP Tobler’s “Mercury Twin (Re-Recorded)” sounds like – pop-punk lowlighted by occasional tangs of country essence and highlighted by a dazzling, visceral guitar solo.

Roiling with grand surfpunk aspects, NUMBSKULL FREAKSHOW’s instrumental track “Night of the Snake” travels on an electrifying, driving rhythm topped by dual layers of guitars, one layer growling and ominous, the other incandescent.

Saturated in the bratty, rebellious sensations evoked by punk music, Touch of Chaos Vol. 1 is loud, angry and anything but banal.

Touch of Chaos Vol. 1 Track Listing:

1. Welcome – Western Conference
2. Benton – Local Bylaws
3. Chris Pratt Is An Invasive Species – Countless Thousands
4. Unearth – This is a Revolver
5. New Normal – Scarboro
6. Sex & Weed – Cowboy Destroy
7. Marauder – J. Graves
8. Pyro – The Gringoz
9. Mercury Twin (Re-Recorded) – AP Tobler
10. Night of the Snake – NUMBSKULL FREAKSHOW
11. Crime Scene – MJ LaVine, Brendon Miller
12. Ain’t Not Bad – Grahzny

Run Time: 32:34
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Record Label: Mild Chaos Records