The Casualties

More nostalgic than innovative, the Casualties are almost a tribute band to an aesthetic, following the punk-rock rules by the book rather than writing their own chapter. As such, the New Jersey quartet may be the most bare-knuckled, no-nonsense punk band to exist in this millenium. Obsessed with the early-'80s New York hardcore scene, the band seems to have no interest in steering away from the short/fast/loud/pissed traditions of its genre. Warped Tour stalwarts Rancid have experimented with reggae and countless other punks have adopted the use of vocal melodies, but the Casualties prefer to bash out thrashy riffs and present hooks in the form of chants of social discourse such as "No! More! Media control!" — making albums like 2006's Under Attack the sonic equivalent of middle fingers, studded jackets and wood-glue mohawks.