What started as a bold idea from East Bay punk outfit The Strange Ones has evolved into a full-blown movement. Rather than releasing a traditional five-song EP, the band proposed something different: five split releases with five different local bands. It was a move rooted in community, collaboration, and a desire to create something bigger than themselves. That idea quickly gained traction within the local scene—and now it officially begins with the first release: a split 7-inch, The Strange Ones with fellow Bay Area band Delta Wave.

The record, available on limited-edition vinyl, features one track from each band, recorded DIY-style and mastered by Trevor Gabriel at Cactus House Recording. Gabriel, a friend of the label and member of the band Dark Satellite, lent his expertise to give the raw recordings a final polish, while keeping the edge intact.

On Side A is “Radiation” by The Strange Ones, a fast-paced blast of urgency and resistance. The track, clocking in just under two minutes, channels a fury that feels both personal and political. The band describes the song as “ultimately about the recklessness of bad leadership—the kind that moves full speed ahead without considering the consequences of its actions, changes the rules to serve itself, and calls it ‘progress’ while leaving the rest of us to deal with the fallout.” The song is lean, aggressive, and charged with frustration, delivering its message with teeth bared and fists clenched.

Flipping the record to Side B, Delta Wave answers back with “Misfortune 500,” a scrappy, hook-laced anthem that turns personal chaos into kinetic fuel. The band tracked the song themselves in their garage in Pittsburg, California—true to form for a group that thrives on grit and self-reliance. “Misfortune 500 is about getting stuck in a repeating pattern of self-destruction,” the band explains. “Like a fucked-up Groundhog’s Day full of bad habits, hard luck, and wasted time.” The result is a track that bursts with energy and honesty, carried by riffs that cut through like shattered glass.

Pressed on 7-inch black vinyl and spinning at 45 RPM, this split marks the beginning of something larger than either band. Only 250 physical copies have been made, and they’re available directly through Minor Chord Records on Bandcamp, as well as through each band’s individual Bandcamp pages and at their live shows. The first boxes just arrived from the plant, and according to everyone involved—they look killer. Available August 1 – which is set to be a bandcamp Friday

But beyond the music itself, this release is a declaration of purpose. What began as a simple alternative to a solo EP has transformed into a platform for connection and shared spotlight. The Strange Ones, in inviting other bands to take part in this format, have created more than a record—they’ve built a bridge. Each upcoming release in the series will feature a different pairing of local acts, offering a rotating spotlight for voices often overlooked in the broader music ecosystem.

In an era of endless digital noise, this project reminds us of the power of tangible music and collaborative spirit. There’s something visceral about holding a 7-inch in your hands—about knowing it was made not by algorithm, but by friends in garages and basements who still believe in music as resistance, community, and catharsis.

The Strange Ones and Delta Wave have lit the fuse. Where it leads next is anyone’s guess—but if this first release is any indication, the scene is in for one hell of a ride.