I stumbled onto Tiikeri back in 2023, and ever since I have had a soft spot for a band that takes the punk ethos seriously and plays with a sincerity and lack of cynicism that feels rare. Their latest is a four-song 7″ that is no-brain add to wantlist.
These songs, which I ran through a translator as Tiikeri sing in their native language, channel outsider frustration into pure DIY defiance. Punk shows up here less as a genre and more as a way to stay sane, both shield and fuel. A translated line from Parempi kuin tänään says it best: “I know punk’s message alone won’t change the world, but it gives me hope, and I won’t give up.”
For Tiikeri, punk is love. In a world that increasingly rewards self-interest and a lack of empathy, that kind of openness feels quietly radical. It might even be the most punk thing here.
Sonically, this is classic Tiikeri. Late ’70s-leaning, melodic punk for fans of Undertones, Buzzcocks, and the Good Vibrations scene. Fast, catchy, and full of heart.
7″ out now on General Speech, Tiikeri Records, and Vox Populi.