03/2011 | HARDBOILED | hardcore webzine

Agnostic Front - That's Life

Rise From Above - Phoenix

The album starts with a solid, groove driven passage which immediately brings to mind my favorite hardcore albums when I was a kid. The music has this classic feel to it reminiscent of old crossover records like for example Cause For Alarm by Agnostic Front. But it’s also not only about the past, the music has been updated so to stay in line with what currently make hardcore kids go crazy. I guess the Wolf City or Lionheart merch they’re wearing on the inlay photos gives you some kind of hint what their influences are. I never heard the split with Stay Cold so I cannot say if the band progressed or not, but this CD is very good. For the most part Rise From Above knows what to play and how to play it. The riffs are good, the songs are skillfully put together and the vocals do the job as well. The songs are mostly fast, but there’s some room for slower, groovier parts as well. The vocals are strong and spit out lyrics full of anger and conviction. There's good vibe and energy in what the band is doing, but they could put more variation in it to make it a bit more interesting. Nonetheless, if you’re out for tight and in your face hardcore delivery, there’s no reason to complain. I actually enjoy these songs more than some of the albums by the bands that are being heavily hyped on the scene nowadays.

Review by Dloogi
Label: District 763
Year: 2011
Band's website

Xibalba - Cold

Agnostic Front to tour Europe this Summer

Agnostic Front will be touring Europe in July. Dates are as follows:

24/06 Munchen, Germany @ Backstage
25/06 Unterrohr, Austria @ Saint Sinner Festhalle
26/06 Ferrara, Italy @ TBA
27/06 Roma, Italy @ TBA
28/06 Milan, Italy @ Carroponte Sesto S.G.
29/06 Athens, Greece @ TBA
01/07 Roitzschjora, Germany @ Full Force
03/07 Sulingen, Germany @ Reload Festival
05/07 Pecs, Hungary @ Rockmaraton Festiva
06/07 Brno, Czech Republic @ Faval
08/07 Gavale, Sweden @ Gateway Rock Festival
14/07 Friedewald, Germany @ Festhalle
15/07 Koln, Germany @ Underground
16/07 Dour, Belgium @ Dour Festival
17/07 London, UK @ TBA
18/07 Manchester, UK @ Moho Live
22/07 Schloss Holte, Germany @ Serengeti Festival
24/07 Helsinki, Finland @ Tuska Open Air Metal Festival

New album by Truth In Needles out now on Pride Over Pain Records

Truth In Needles’ new cd "Turning Gray Black" out now from Pride Over Pain Records. Recorded at Method Of Groove studio in Brooklyn NY, produced by Joey-Z(Life Of Agony). The follow up to their first release "Hardcore Liberation Front" which gained worldwide acclaim for its raw and aggressive songs, produced by Don Fury. Both can be found on itunes and digital stores. Check it now with first music video "All Bets Are Off!"

Plead The Fifth joins Arrest Records

Sacramento, CA’s Plead the Fifth has signed to Arrest Records! The band formed in 2007 and play bouncy energetic late 80′s NYHC influenced hardcore. PTF is currently in the studio recording a new 7″ for Arrest Records which is being recorded and produced by skinhead OG Mike from Pressure Point. Please check out their social networking site and online store below and be on the look out for their new record this summer!

Strike Back - Still Holding On

It’s good to hear the NYHC sound is getting more popular In France. Until recently, bands from out there that I was most familiar with were mostly into heavy stuff, like Kickback, Primal Age or Out For The Count. Can’t say I don’t love this sick, brutal shit that only French are capable of, but a little diversity is always a plus and makes things more interesting, right? Strike Back is one of the bands that made me change my perception of what’s going on over there. The band is totally into fast and aggressive hardcore in New York vein, with a strong vibe and some slight metal touch to keep things sharp. They are totally at home with this style and creep through these ten tracks with vicious flows and catchy hooks. It’s not ground breaking, I don't get that shivers-down-the-spine feeling which I get when I pop any Madball or Breakdown album, but I can assure you it’s damn solid. Nothing fancy, no messing around, no technical wankery, just getting down to business from start to finish. This is a type of approach to play hardcore I’m totally down with! Lyrically, the band explores the themes of friendship, self pride, integrity and getting by despite the bullshit everyone gets, whether from the scene kids or the society in general. They must have a beef with a lot of people in their local scene as ‘fuck the scene’ attitude is present in more than one song in here. You shouldn’t take it too serious though, Strike Back is and will always be a hardcore band, but if you’re getting tired of bullshit politics and phoney preaching in the scene, you can relate. All in all, Still Holding On is a solid album that delivers its share of aggression and energy. It’s a good soundtrack to these hard times we continue to face and gives you a sense of meaning, pride and direction.

Review by Dloogi
Label: Self released
Year: 2011
Band's website

Violence Approved - No Free Rides

Violence Approved has been already eight years in existence and through all this time they stuck to the concept of delivering straight in your face, no frills hardcore. Their style is all about pure old school sound in vein of Agnostic Front, Only Attitude Counts or Backifire. You basically know what to expect – irresistible hooks, easy-to-sing gang vocals and impossible-to-forget choruses with dirty aggressive guitars and pounding rhythm section all over. The band delivers sharp as nails performance and approaches each tune with a sense of mission to give listener what they want. They also bring a sense of unity and hardcore family with guest appearances from Agnostic Front, The Warriors, Anticops, Dead End Tragedy and Bleed Into One. All the guys laying down the vocals fits pretty well with the vibe of the album and basically do the great job.

My only gripe with this album is that I don’t really hear anything new or particularly innovative here, and with little diversity between the songs, at the end of the album the energy start to burn out. Don’t get me wrong, I am usually the last one to expect hardcore bands to be original or creative. This specific style of hardcore has been done million times before and I know playing good hardcore is not about reinventing the wheel, but it never hurts to keep some of your own personality and style in the music. On the other hand, it might not be memorable or awe-inspiring classics, but they still deliver that rawness and energy hardcore album should have.

Overall, this is a worthwhile release that though not the most ground breaking you will ever hear, still delivers some nice dose of an unrelenting power and intensity.

Review: Dloogi
Label: District 763 Records
Year: 2011
Band's website

Twitching Tongues

Twitching Tongues is new addition to BDHW Records family and will surely appeal to those who like when bands combine hardcore with some weird influences, like in this case Type O Negative or Black Sabbath. In nine out of ten cases this is just a poor excuse for playing some lame ass music for college nerds, but thankfully Twitching Tongues keep it tight with right balance of aggressive and fancy parts. And while we wait for the band to hit Europe and deliver their debut album sometime this year, here's the interview!

Twitching Tongues is new addition to BDHW Records family and will surely appeal to those who like when bands combine hardcore with some weird influences, like in this case Type O Negative or Black Sabbath. In nine out of ten cases this is just a poor excuse for playing some lame ass music for college nerds, but thankfully Twitching Tongues keep it tight with right balance of aggressive and fancy parts. And while we wait for the band to hit Europe and deliver their debut album sometime this year, here's the interview!

For those that don’t know you, please introduce yourself and tell us where you’re from? What do you want people to know about Twitching Tongues that they may not know?

My name is Colin Young, I am from Los Angeles, California. I want people to know that this band will be touring full-time from now on, and we've got an LP finished titled "Sleep Therapy" that we're waiting to release. Twitching Tongues is thankfully not a side-project and is the band I've always wanted to do.

Tell us something about the upcoming tour in Europe? What are your expectations for these shows?

I'm expecting a lot of people who might not have heard the demo yet, but hopefully enjoy what they hear! I still expect every show to be fun though. Europe appreciates everything and I love that.

What are kids going to experience at your shows, that they won’t experience from just listening to your demo on MP3?

I think all of the songs and the new songs hit a lot harder played live. There will definitely be some people who will write it off right away because of the clean vocals and what-not but thats pretty standard. Very much looking forward to Europe and the US hearing all of the new stuff we're playing.

How did you hook up with BDHW for the debut release and what should we expect from the upcoming album?

I also play drums in RUCKUS, whom they took an interest in early on, and put out a record for. I sent them some Twitching Tongues tracks and again, they were interested. The EP they're putting out is two new songs, the demo, and a Pentagram cover.

Your music, with a strong mixture of various influences, really stands out against today’s trends in hardcore. How did this sound originally evolve?

I'm not really sure how to answer this one, bands try new things I suppose. Mixing hardcore with clean vocals was inevitable. We aren't re-inventing the wheel really, but I'd like to think there aren't many active/current bands that sound like Twitching Tongues.

What musical groups, or musical directions, have influenced the development of the band’s sound?

Type O Negative, Only Living Witness, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Agents of Man, tons of R&B. The band is named after an Only Living Witness song. Check it out if you haven't!

Share a bit about some of the topics, some of the stories you want to get across in your music?

It is my personal stupid belief that everybody's gonna get their heart broken at least once in their life. If I can write a song about my experience with that, and ONE person can relate to it on a serious level, then I'll feel like I've done a good job.

What is the hardest part about being in hardcore band?

There are tons of things that are difficult about being in a hardcore band. Being in a hardcore band in general is hard. Booking tours, making sure your demo gets out, paying for things out of pocket. Hard knock life, ya' know?!

Anything you would like to add before we finish?

We can't wait to go to Europe, we can't wait for our LP to be out, we already can't wait to go back to Europe. Check out other cool California bands:
Minus, Downpresser, Take Offense, Xibalba, Soul Search, Sleepwalkers. Thanks for reading!

Lifeless

Lifeless hails from New Jersey, US and plays that heavy style of hardcore that is tough as nails but also fresh and interesting. There are some Merauder, Strength For A Reason and even Bulldoze influences in it and that's not a bad thing in my book at all. Keep your eyes and ears open as the band just got signed to Harvcore, USA and Filled With Hate, Germany and plasn to release debut album called "NLFTW" this year!

Let’s start with the beginning, how did Lifelesss come together?

Our two prior bands (When These Days End/Dead and Buried) weren't really going anywhere and always playing the same shows together. A lot of laziness and conflict played into them not going anywhere... it just seemed like the right place at the right time to join the positive elements from both bands that were and roll with that. the formula seemed to really work, so we went with it and here we are today.

For those unfamiliar with the band - what do you want people to know about the band and your music or message?

We're real hardcore kids who aren't involved in the politics and poison ivy that infects the hardcore scene... we just do us and don't represent anyone's interests but our own. as for our message... i guess when you give up on everything and lose hope, life isn't so disappointing. there's not much good left in this world, so we'll do this because it's pretty much the only thing that really keeps us going in our otherwise dead end lives.

For those who have not heard anything from you how would you describe band's playing sound?

A wild cross between 100 demons and merauder. heavy, aggressive, real and mean. we want our music, by itself, to pretty much speak for how we feel overall about everything and everyone everywhere.

What are some key elements and influences that have shaped the band style? And where do you draw your inspiration from when it comes to the lyrics?

Our own personal struggles... whether having to deal with shit we're currently going through or shit from our past that haunt us. dealing with bullshit every single day from fake people who put up fronts and try to be somebody they're not.

What have you released so far?

A demo that no one's ever really heard and a newer 2 song demo that we handed out at This Is Hardcore 2010.

What is your current label situation?

We are currently on Harvcore out of West Chester, PA and Filled With Hate out of Germany. Both labels have been a great help to us and we appreciate what they've done.

Being a relatively young band, what are some of the road blocks you just remember?

Not having a van REALLY sucks and is holding us back a lot. we hate being the band that has borrow everything when we play far away but it's our only option right now and we're just lucky to have had so many people and bands willing to help us out along the way. we all pretty much live paycheck to paycheck and it's hard to afford the things that would help us the most... but we're trying to make it work the best we can.

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned in hardcore?

When you're younger, hardcore kinda influences you that your friends are there for you no matter what through everything... then they stab you in the back and let you down. so overall, you realize there aren't many people you can really trust. Just be REAL don't be one of those politically correct, try to be liked by everyone type of people. be 100% yourself and just like anywhere else in your life don't settle for less or let anyone walk all over you.

What are the next steps for the band? Plans, gigs and releases planned for the upcoming months?

We are releasing a full length on Harvcore/FWH "NLFTW"... we are trying to play as many weekends as possible as far out as we can before we go to europe in late may. we will probably record mid to end of summer for either and EP or a handful of splits. sometime in fall or winter we plan to try and do the US for a month (maybe a lil less) with Ruckus.

Domestic War - Ad Noctum

I highly recommend this. This album is fucking great. I admit that xSeventh Daggerx can get repetitive. And i do not love most of Facedown or Strike First, as they tend to get too metal - or too christian. Well, this is hardcore. Straight up and down. Just heavy fucking hardcore.

Thick, strong, no bones about it, Metallic SXE HC ("Put the fucking bottle down!")Lyrics are a bit more elaborate than typical SXE platitudes; but the subject matter is the same. Angry, vengeful, bitter, unapologetic lyrics. Killer, vicious riffs; fast to breakdown, kung-fu inspiring madness. I anticipate being scared at a show. And, amongst all these breakdown bands shoving Christian rants down my throat, i applaud Track 7 - decrying the ultimate crutch, that Jesus guy. Also, i like them reppin all 3 X's, and not letting that 3rd one slip. Calling out fools who do not abide to the SXE credo of self-respect. *("Fucking everyone you see. "Don't smoke, Don't Drink, Don't Fuck." - What is it that you don't understand?")

FFO:
More Next Step Up than Strife for song 2; but that goes away. Buried Alive. Path of Resistance on Steroids. xTyrantx and Seventh Star, obviously. Thick as Blood, Figure Four. Harm's Way.

Review by Hutch (Empty Hands blog)
Label: Seventh Dagger
Year: 2011
Band's website

Bad Brains working on new album

Official press release: The iconic punk band Bad Brains will make an appearance for the first time in the band's career at SXSW 2011 at Van's Showcase at Emo's Main Room on March 16, 2011. Bassist Darryl Jenifer comments on the forthcoming experience: "There should be a SXSW in every city, everyday. Austin is a great music town with positive vibes."

The band is also pleased to announce that they have recently been holed up in NY with all original members working on new material for a 2011 release.

Nothing is conventional with Bad Brains, nor is the writing process. So, the band is jamming and reaching for something epic and different. "Stand by for the 'realist' we have ever written," continues Jennifer. The album is said to be channeling progressive elements and Megaforce Records expects the album to be released in late-summer 2011.

Considered to be the "holy grail" of punk rock, Bad Brains are one of the definitive American punk groups who garner the same respect as Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Ramones and The Clash. Produced by long time fan, Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys), the band's last album, Build A Nation, was a return to form for the band that helped define American Punk and Hardcore music. The album featured all the original members of the group: HR, Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know and Earl Hudson.

Hierophant - Self Titled

This is a debut release from this Italian band and it brings an otherworldly experience of dark, cold, grimy and almost dehumanized hardcore. The band is being often compared to the likes of Trap Them or His Hero Is Gone with a dose of that evil Cleveland sound but they do branch out to the other genres a lot with much more some seriously fucked up shit going on. What I like about Hierophant is that while they do bear some similarities to those bands, they definitely got their own ways of doing what they do and it comes across as being totally natural and not forced in any way. The songs are very diverse and experimental, with style ranking from slow and atmospheric to fast and evil and you basically never know what’s gonna happen next. There are a lot of slower, sludgy parts and interludes, but they also know how to amp it up to almost blastbeat tempos. The album takes as much from hardcore in its most chaotic and heaviest form, as from sludge and black metal. It's a combination that works and the songs are powerful and dynamic. There is also a guest appearance from no one else but Dwid Hellion on As Kalki so I guess it makes it an album to check out for all the Integrity fans.

This is not the album that grabs you up front, it took some time in my case to get into this but the patience really paid off. When you combine clever and creative songwriting, and willingness to experiment you’re bound to have a crushing release. It is a very well constructed, strong and engaging.

Review: Dloogi
Label: Demons Run Amok
Year: 2011
Band's website

Line Of Scrimmage interview

The new album, Denounced, from these Brooklyn heavyweights has just been released by Filled With Hate and it's must have for all the kids into heavy side of hardcore. The label describes it as a mix of traditional New York beatdown a'la Bulldoze or One Second Thought with the modern sound in vein of Shattered Realm or even First Blood. Check for yourself what bands got to say about these new songs, the mindset behind the album and some other interesting stories!

The new album, Denounced, from these Brooklyn heavyweights has just been released by Filled With Hate and it's must have for all the kids into heavy side of hardcore. The label describes it as a mix of traditional New York beatdown a'la Bulldoze or One Second Thought with the modern sound in vein of Shattered Realm or even First Blood. Check for yourself what bands got to say about these new songs, the mindset behind the album and some other interesting stories!

It’s been some time since we heard from Line Of Scrimmage. What has been happening with the band since the split with Enemy Mind came out?

After the split dropped we kinda just wanted to keep writing and thats what we did. We had a few songs that were kinda tossed aside so we figured we would build it from there. Aside from writing and recording we have just been playing as many shows as possible trying to spread the word.

Tell me something about the upcoming release. When it’s gonna drop and what should we expect from it?

Our new release is gunna be called "Denounced". Its currently in the mail and will be in my hands within the next few days. What you can expect is the most raw shit we have put out. We took a look back at our old stuff and saw that theres not much of what we listen to in it. For example i dont like alot of epic metal so this time we focused more on the music we would want to hear instead of settling stuff we arent 100 percent into. This cd is heavier,more pissed of and a huge step up from our previous releases.

What about the lyrics of the new songs? Is there any message you want to get across in your music?

To put it simply this cd is about myself. Alot of bands worry about how tough they look and dont write things that actually have to do with there life. Alot of the songs is me kind of calling myself out for all the wrong i have done and mistakes ive made and trying to use what i have left in me to bounce back from whatever comes my way. Instead of a 20 minute long tough guy record i tried to just go along with what was inside my head. Some songs have different topics but alot of the cd deals with my own personal war with myself.

How it is being on the Filled With Hate label?

Axel has stuck to his word and been very reliable so far. We are glad to have the chance to work with the label. Alot of our friends have put out there music on FWH and it was an easy decision to make.

What is it about beatdown sound that does it for you? What bands do you think are at the forefront of beatdown hardcore genre nowadays?

Most of my favorite bands are not beatdown bands but as you can see our music comes off very heavy and i think its easy to get into the beatdown thing if your looking for something thats in your face. If your talkin about newer bands ide have to say world of pain, ten of swords,lifeless,unit 731 and bands like that. Bands like Bulldoze and Stout are also still going strong and putting younger bands to shame. Im always glad to see alot of activity from the heavy bands.

If there’s one thing that you would want people to know about Line Of Scrimmage, what would it be?

We are here to play music and have people enjoy it without any bullshit. We also love to party and make new friends.

What are some of the moments that stand out to you when thinking back about the band’s history so far?

For me one of the best moments that came from being a part of this band was going to to the west coast and getting a good reaction. I never thought that i would ever get to travel so far for music i make and it was beyond a good time being out there with our boys in CDC. Also getting to do a small tour with first blood was pretty trippy as well.

Gigs are the essence of . What can people expect at your live show?

Alot of energy and violence.

So, apart from the new album, what are some other band’s plans for the future?

We plan to hit the ground running after this and write more. We also plan to come to Europe and do a tour after the cd has been out for alittle while and tour the states as well so look out for that.

Thanks for your time doing this! Anything you would like to add before we finish?

Support all the bands i have mentioned and buy our new cd. By the time you read this it will be available im sure. nyhckev8@aol.com for booking/info

Details on Black N Blue Bowl 2011 announced

Black N’ Blue Bowl is set to take place on May 28 at Webster Hall in New York City. This year's line-up includes: Gorilla Biscuits, Agnostic Front, Terror, Absolution, Antidote, Maximum Penalty, Backtrack, Down To Nothing, Take Offense, No Turning Back, Bottom Out and 'surprise special guest'.

Cornered to release new 7" on 6131 Records

Official press release from 6131 Records: We’re incredibly stoked to announce that we’ll be releasing the new 7” from Cornered. Hailing from the Netherlands, their new 7”, “Fuck Off”, is the follow up to their debut LP “Living the Lie” and their first release here in the US. The Limit Records will be releasing the 7” in Europe. Cornered are currently in the studio finishing up “Fuck Off”. The record will be released in time for their full US tour with Downpresser and New Morality starting in July. Be on the lookout for those dates soon. More info on “Fuck Off” coming soon!

Embrace Destruction is working on new album

Brutal Hardcore outfit Embrace Destruction will enter the studio this week to record their 3rd album Reign Of Terror. The album will be recorded at the One Voice Studios in Chivasso,IT by Danny Giordana (Hatebreed,Madball) and at the Heart Work Studios in Heerlen, NL by Stefan van Neerven (ex Born from Pain). Several old friends will be guests in this album and the names will be announced shortly. Reign Of Terror will be released in April 1st via Strikedown records / Urban Discipline and the band already started to tour Europe to promote it.

Truth In Needles - All Bets Are Off