reprinted from PunkNews
Read a track-by-track breakdown for Knifetwister Records' new benefit comp, 'Not In Our City'!
by Em Moore December 17, 2025
Today marks the release of Knifetwister Records’ new compilation album Not In Our City: A Punk Compilation to Benefit NYC’s Homeless. The comp features 21 tracks from bands based around New York City (along with one band based in Las Vegas) including Rebelmatic, Butterbrain, GIFTSHOP, God’s Favorite, The Car Bomb Parade, RBNX, Trouble Bound, CHAKA, Best Bones, Coventry Carols, Spesia, MANiK, and We Might Die. All proceeds from the sale of the comp will be donated to the Bowery Mission in New York City, a nonprofit that provides shelter and hot meals for those experiencing homelessness. This comp is dedicated to Raph Copeland of Knifetwister Records’ late stepfather, who partly funded the record. Speaking about this, Raph Copeland said,
”Funding for this came from two sources. The company Dispoze-A-Bowl (Rob Coscia from the band Tomorrow’s Dream and Mike Caldarella from CHAKA) kicked in a small amount, but the bulk of the funding came from a 25-year-old forgotten piece of paper. A few months ago, my brother was going through his old papers and discovered a document nobody had ever seen. My stepfather, who died of leukemia in December 1999, apparently left his life insurance policy to my brother, my sister, and myself. My mother decided to honor his wishes and advanced me some money, which is funding this compilation. I loved him very much, and the CD is dedicated to his memory.”
The cover art was created by Chris Yee from RockToonz and is made up of several locations around the city. Speaking about the decision to include these places, Chris said,
“Pearl Paint on Canal St.- famous art store, I believe, opened on Canal in 1938, closed in 2014. The original location on Church St. opened in 1933.
The Bowery Mission- began in 1879 when founders Rev. Albert and Ellen Ruliffson opened a mission on the Bowery in New York City.
The Bowery Electric- music venue, co-owned by Jesse Malin, opened in 2009 and continues the East Village's punk-rock tradition, providing a space for both up-and-coming and established bands.
Bottom L-R:
63 Bank St.- in Greenwich Village; girlfriend's apartment where Sid Vicious overdosed. I originally thought this was in The Bowery, but thought it was too "cool" to take out.
Chinatown, which borders The Bowery.
CBGB's- no explanation needed.”
We caught up with all 21 bands on the comp to hear the stories behind the tracks they picked. Not In Our City: A Punk Compilation To Benefit NYC’s Homeless is available on CD now and you can pick up a copy right here. Read the track-by-track breakdown below!
Not In Our City: A Punk Compilation to Benefit NYC’s Homeless Track-by-Track Breakdown
1. Rebelmatic – “Peace”
Rebelmatic's signature blend of punk rock energy and heartfelt lyricism shines through in "Peace," offering a refreshing take on the modern music landscape. With its universal appeal and undeniable charisma, "Peace" is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide. -Creature, vocals
2. God’s Favorite – “Big Boot”
A song about being tired of being ground down and crushed by those in charge. A song about the struggle and stress of just trying to survive and how hard it is just to get through the day by day. -Elio, guitar
3. GIFTSHOP – “Astoria”
An homage to the Queens neighborhood that GIFTSHOP calls home. These punk rockers are not afraid to be corny, and fans faithfully celebrate their favorite band by singing back the chorus at live shows. Name dropping the Hellgate Bridge and the Broadway subway stop, lead singer Meghan Taylor cheers on her favorite NYC borough. A super catchy romp delivered with unapologetic glee.-Meghan Taylor, vocals
4. The Car Bomb Parade – “Burn”
“Burn” is a song about change. And what better way to change things than burning it all to the fucking ground? Kids like playing with matches, right? -Will E. Ramone, guitar
5. The Lousekateers – “No Friends”
“No Friends” is a song about how I never traded my weird, multi-colored punk life for the normie life, even though everyone else bailed and became a whole lot of beige, boring grown-ups. The song talks a lot about how sometimes I feel like I'm one of the last ones still playing, but at the end of the day I still have to be true to myself. It’s a quirky, loner anthem with a wink, ending on a shrug that says, ‘Yeah, I’ve got no friends…but I’m just fine.’ -Gingerval, vocals/rhythm guitar
6. RBNX – “Any Means Necessary”
Our song “Any Means Necessary” is about war profiteering. Creating war and regime overthrows that are executed for greed. Normal people die as fodder with guns in hand, or blown up as bystanders, while the rich hide and promote peace, and profit. -Mike Dietz, bass
7. Butterbrain – “Hold Tight”
“Hold Tight” is our take on the state of dichotomy and division existing in our country's current climate. We strongly wanted to release our new single/video “Hold Tight” on the important day of January 20th, as in 2025 it signified two major National Holidays - Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We felt this powerful day was the perfect one to share “Hold Tight” with the world.-Aaron “White Owl” Collins, bass/vocals/keys
8. Trouble Bound – “Nickels and Dimes”
This song was first written in 2005 and played live at shows but never got recorded until 2024. “Nickels And Dimes” was our first single in 11 years and kicked off our return to recording and releasing new music. A fast-moving, straight-up punk song about the struggles of everyday life and trying to provide for your family, working a dead end job. -Johnny No-Keys, guitar/vocals
9. iLL RAiSED – “iLL WiLL”
We thought we’d offer up the song “iLL WiLL” in the name of ‘good will’. It’s about not having any iLL WiLL, when gettin’ loco in the pit. No one likes a party shitter, yo. -Julez, guitar/vocals
10. No Call No Show – “Computer Hands”
The song is a thrashy punk tune inspired by my distaste for people who are constantly on their cell phones or laptops. You know the kind of self important dickhead who was wearing a Bluetooth in the early 2000s and has now upgraded to the one Airpod in the ear all the time. Or the person who does not understand to put the phone down when they are driving their car so they can merge lanes appropriately. The musical influence on this one is rooted in thrash and hardcore drawing rhythmic influence from bands like Carnivore and Minor Threat. -Mike DelFino, guitar/vocals
11. CHAKA – “It’s Not Human”
Lyrically, “It's Not Human” is about the discovery of an ancient tooth and the fascinating findings of the geneticist who determined its Neanderthal origins. It is also about the mapping of the human genome, the DNA double helix, and the survival of mankind during prehistoric times. -Mark “CHAKA” Sokoll, bass guitar/vocals
12. Dr. Ex And The Break-Ups – “Jeepers It‘s The Creeper”
With “Jeepers It’s The Creeper”, NYC garage punk phantoms offer up a twisted tune that answers the question … what would it sound like if The B-52’s got drunk with The Mummies at Max’s Kansas City circa ‘78?! -Justin Melkmann, guitar
13. Fake Lighters – “This Is The End”
“This Is The End” is basically a break-up song. It’s a song about breaking up with the negativity, the bad habits, the things that are holding us back in our lives and preventing us from living in happiness and positivity. It’s a celebration of being able to put the past behind us and welcome the promise of new beginnings. -Nelson Brolly, guitar/vocals
14. Black Suit Youth – “Break N’ Enter”
“Break N’ Enter” kicks in with a relentless surge of energy, blending razor-sharp riffs with a pounding rhythm that refuses to back down. The track showcases Black Suit Youth’s talent for turning raw aggression into a catchy, adrenaline-fueled anthem. It’s a high-stakes, high-voltage blast that captures the band’s signature mix of chaos, precision, and attitude. -Bryan Maher, guitar/vocals
15. General Grievance – “Burned Up”
“Burned Up” is the opening track on General Grievance’s inaugural EP, I Before EP. The song’s fast, gritty sound is inspired by Poison Idea with The Ergs style lyrics. -John McGrath, vocals
16. E.T.C – “Ayer”
One of E.T.C’s most aggressive and fast-paced tracks, with dynamic tempo shifts that heighten its sense of urgency and tension. Its bilingual lyrics move from raw Spanish repetition to a final English outburst of defiance. Musically, it leans hard into a punk-meets-grunge energy. It's fast, unfiltered, and confrontational, refusing to bow down to expectations, beliefs, or fate. -Carlos Doig, drums
17. Best Bones – “Times Not Waiting”
This song is about being young and not realizing what was in front of me. We spend so much time worrying about other people (people we should or shouldn’t be worrying about), but not worrying about what’s going on with ourselves. So I wrote it as a sort of anthem of looking back on my life while trying to look forward and not making the same mistakes again. -Brendon Conroy, guitar/vocals
18. Coventry Carols – “Anxiety Flowers”
“Anxiety Flowers” was written during COVID quarantine like most of our first record. The song deals with panic and stress and constant conflicts within humanity. -Jon “Soda” James, guitar/vocals
19. Spesia – “Forest Martyrs”
“Forest Martyrs” was written to honor the fallen activists who put their lives and futures on the line in defense of Mother Earth and all the beings that dwell on her. During the writing of this music Forest Defender, Tortuguita, was slain by the Atlanta police for saying no and standing up to governments and big business destruction of the Weelaunee Forest. We honor his legacy and message through this song. -Jess M., vocals
20. MANiK – “Today’s Your Lucky Day!” (live)
“Lucky Day” spins a wild, true tale born in a dive bar somewhere in New York City. It follows a guy stuck in a streak of bad breaks, the kind of life where nothing lands right until one drunk night when he forgets where he parked his car. In the chaos, he crosses paths with a girl who offers him a ride… and the next thing he knows, he wakes up naked beside her, head pounding and memory gone. Just as he’s trying to sneak out, her girlfriend roommate walks in, and somehow the night spirals … that’s the madness behind “Today’s Your Lucky Day!” -Jeff Free, guitar
21. We Might Die – “Get Out Of My Scene” (bonus track)
"Get Out of My Scene" was written about this guy who dated a few of my friends. He ended up taking advantage of one of them and assaulted many girls at my school. He parades around school and claims to be so "punk" or "alternative." Everyone assumes he's such a good guy and all of the teachers love him, but none of them know what he's really like and what he's done. It made me so furious that he claims to be a part of the scene that I'm in because he IS NOT punk. So I wrote the song in ten minutes about him, but really, it's about anyone who has this faux punk mentality, where they just look the part. They have the battle jacket and the mohawk, but they don't actually get the purpose of it. They don't support the ethos or culture. They don't share the same ideals. It doesn't matter what you look like - the image is irrelevant. Assholes like him need to get out of my scene! -Liv Shirley, bass/vocals