Chile’s Blaming Bad deliver a full-throttle album with With the Underdogs, a record that doesn’t slow down, doesn’t drift, and doesn’t pretend to be anything other than fast, committed punk rock. Clocking in at roughly 25 minutes, the album runs straight through on momentum alone, built around speed, consistency, and relentless rhythm.
The sound is deeply rooted in 90s punk influence, pulling from melodic hardcore and skate punk traditions without leaning into nostalgia. The guitars stay sharp and driving, the drums rarely drop tempo, and the bass locks everything together with constant forward motion. It feels closer to the era of burned CDs and warped vans than modern studio punk.
Melody plays a big role, but never at the expense of urgency. Choruses hit quickly and repeat just long enough to stick before the band charges into the next track. There’s very little downtime across the album, giving it that classic “press play and don’t touch anything” flow.
Vocally, the delivery balances grit and clarity. The vocals push hard but remain melodic, sitting right in that sweet spot between hardcore intensity and skate punk accessibility. The tone fits the music perfectly, aggressive without becoming chaotic.
What stands out is the album’s cohesion. With the Underdogs feels like a single continuous burst rather than a collection of songs. Each track feeds into the next, reinforcing the sense of movement that defines the record.
Production stays tight and punchy, clean enough to keep the riffs clear but raw enough to preserve the band’s edge. There’s no overlayering or unnecessary effects. Everything exists to support speed and drive.
Blaming Bad sound fully committed to their lane. There are no experiments, no genre detours, and no attempts to modernize the formula. Instead, the album thrives on discipline and execution, showing how powerful classic punk structures can still be when played with conviction.
With the Underdogs is the kind of album that works best in one sitting. Short, fast, and relentless. A straight shot of melodic hardcore and skate punk energy from start to finish.
