Watch Your Back - Last Man Standing
Hammer Bros - Sleep Forever
I’ve been hearing a lot about this band lately and was eager to check what’s this hype is all about. As far as I know, the band has a couple of releases out already but this 7” is actually the first thing I’ve heard from them. So, does it live up to the attention they’ve been getting? Honestly, this stuff is straight up mind blowing. Heavily influenced by a classic, straight forward hardcore sound, Hammer Bros take things to another, more brutal level.
This 7” is a perfect representation of the gritty hardcore that is practiced as it was originally intended - raw and uncompromising. You get five songs full of anger, violence and manic destructive ways. This album works because band proves they’ve got their own way of doing things and can make a good use of classic hardcore moves to create something fresh and powerful. The breakdowns are crushing, the vocals insane and the adrenaline level never comes down. The best tracks here are mid-paced New Found Ends and thrash fused Sleep Forever, but all in all, every song here makes for a good listen. Check this album and their other releases!Review by Dloogi
Label: Arrest Records
Year: 2010
Band's website
Ill Omen - S/t
I remember posting their first demo on this website and now, when I listen to this new 7”, I am pretty much impressed with the progress this band has made. Ill Omen brings four tracks of heavy, reckless hardcore with a slick, metallic edge that puts them somewhere between New York and Cleveland sound.
There are a lot of good things to be found here and all the songs come with a solid dose of exciting hooks, dope riffs and there are even solos from time to time. The rhythm section is on point and provide the right amount of groove. Their biggest strength is how they easily mix up different influences while staying focused on straight up in your face hardcore executed with a lot of energy and finesse. There’s nothing forced here, it can be heard they know what they want to achieve with their sound and how to get there.Putting any more dopeness into these songs would probably result in exploding as this is some high-quality stuff. I definitely hope to hear more from these guys in the future. In the meantime, I am gonna cop their new split they’re putting out with Get Stitches!. I hope Ill Omen will be soon picked up by some serious label for their debut album so they will have the opportunity to finally connect with a wider hardcore audience.
Review by Dloogi
Label: Poolside Records / Killing The Legacy Records
Year: 2010
Band's website
Terror - Keepers of the Faith
This is an exclusive Reaper Records teaser before the new Terror lp. Well, here it is. I was a little worried with production being handled by Chad Gilbert of NFG, but alas, it was for naught. I am sure Nick Jett had his hand in the mix enough to ensure Terror's sound stayed intact. And what? Like these dudes would go soft? I get anxious sometimes...
But they deliver and beyond. i love this band. Hardcore in sound and spirit. These guys have a passion and tour relentlessly. They bring hardcore - which they have all been involved in since early 1990's - to all corners of the globe. i am proud to have them rep USHC. Two new members since the last release and actually their 1st without doug weber. sad - but we must forge forward.1. "Stick Tight" - The song is the sound that Terror has encompassed and executed brilliantly. Taut, brash riff-based mistempo stomp hardcore. it ends with a Mike Dijan-esque/Leeway/SubZero \riff driven breakdown nice and tight. Lyrically, we have a "defiance/ftw" vibe, with that being a reason to "stick tight to my friends".
2. "Keepers of the Faith" - this one slows down a little, but has several gang vocals written into it - sure to still keep the kids moving. a nice bass line is highlighted mid-song, then the gang vox layer in and we get a slow breakdown to round out a solid song. This is an ode to the kids out there (and adults...) that still carry on the pure spirit of hardcore.
Side B of mu gold wax is centered around a pic of Raybeez! "All you kids out there, always KEEP THE FAITH"
3. "NSYFA" - the token 'backstabber' son - but it comes in with a metal wail - which pops up here and there throughout the song. The tempo in general is quicker and an infectiou upbeat, bouncing feel. A quick bridge leads us into another breakdown that i look forward to A nice swinging riff closes out the song. Time changes and tough lyrics are the strength of this song - only on this 7".
4. "Boxed In" - one of my favorite SubZero songs get the homage treatment. pot on - buty it sounds like a Terror song. perfect. - only on 7"
BOTTOM LINE: no need to dread the Chad G production - looking at the credits, many hands in the pot. In fact, this has a better sound to it that the last album. The songs are more down to earth, a little 'looser' if you will. While i think Zeuss brings out the best in Full Blown Chaos, Hatebreed, Madball - i thought "Underdogs" was a little constrained, a touch stiff (great songs...) Where as "ATHW" is amazing and has a stronger feel. "Always..." has the perfect balance of metallic and punk - and this harkens back to that style; a more hardcore feel. This returns to that after "TD&TS" did whatever it did. While the general speed has slowed since "LOTL"; the mid tempo masters of the chug deliver again. This is up there with "ATHW" and "RATC". a grittier production definitely helps. And again, i am swayed by the passion. Where as some people criticize this band for sounding repetitive and monotonous - hey - it's HARDCORE. Tough guy, metal influenced hardcore. And what counts, what gets me and hundreds of others to jump in a frenzy and point our fingers and lose our voice is the heavy, hard music with alienated lyrics. Terror continues to do that better than most in the game today. if you want innovation only in your music, stick to real metal. if you want intense furious music that is there as a base for the lyrics that unite us isolated souls, and are okay with little variation, then listen to this
Raybeez is proud.
Review by Hutch from Empty Hands blog
Label: Reaper Records
Year: 2010
Band's website
Naysayer - No Remorse
My favorite hardcore city keeps delivering! RVA's Naysayer offers up this brutal slab of wax. Definitely before i investigated these dudes more - i lumped them in the CroMags/Metallica worship - cookie cutter stuff so prevalent these days. But this 7 inch helps elevate these dudes to a level of more than that.
I mean, those are ABSOLUTE influences, but these guys move beyond that. Lots of mosh parts and slow crawling breakdowns. This is insane hardcore that i think is exceptional.. They do it all right - they execute the cliche stuff very well and add enough of their own personality into it.BOTTOM LINE: tough mosh-a-plenty hardcore - late 80s NYHC, not afraid to enjoy crossover, but mainly hardcore (not a MW follower)- not too thrashy. Stomp beats with fists flying in the windmill to sid-to-side parts too.
FFO - All That Shit - Forfeit, Trapped Under Ice, Cruel Hand, Mind Eraser, Alpha & Omega, Bitter Mind; but ALSO equal parts Iron Boots, Terror, Madball and Breakdown.
Review by Hutch from Empty Hands blog
Label: Reaper Records
Year: 2009
Band's website
Harm’s Way - No Gods, No Masters
Whoever said hardcore can’t be dangerous no more obviously hasn’t heard No Gods, No Masters by Harm’s Way. There are no cheap tricks here. The band gets down to the business straight from the start and does not let up right to the end. This EP is all about primitive, sinister, cold and raw hardcore spiced up with thrash influences done in the right way. Everything is presented with such force that your respect is taken for granted.
Some of the names that pop to my mind when listening to this are Integrity, Poison Idea, Discharge and Napalm Death, but it’s really hard to pin down what’s going on here. Musically, they can’t be touched. Their style is pretty much straight forward and they are taking no prisoners. Most of the guitar work is very catchy and the drumming is on point and marks up the music’s rhythm to perfection. The vocals are dark and vicious. This guy’s hateful and deep voice is capable of raising the hair on the back of your neck. I like the obscure sound of this and the dirty and cold production is fitting the music perfectly. Grim hardcore straight from the mouth of hell mingled with mid to fast passages and enough diversity to keep you interested all the way. I fail to find anything to dislike here. These dudes must rip on stage!Author: Dloogi
Label:Closed Casket Activities
Year: 2010
Check out the band at their Myspace
Smashrooms - The Wind Of Tomorrow
With The Wind Of Tomorrow from Italy owned Smashrooms brings 4 tracks of traditional hardcore which is aggressive and raw but still maintains some level of melody. It’s not the type of stuff I’d go out of my way to listen to but I’m pretty sure they will get a big and loyal following among the kids who are oriented more on the positive side of things and dig bands with political message in the lyrics.
With The Wind Of Tomorrow from Italy owned Smashrooms brings 4 tracks of traditional hardcore which is aggressive and raw but still maintains some level of melody. It’s not the type of stuff I’d go out of my way to listen to but I’m pretty sure they will get a big and loyal following among the kids who are oriented more on the positive side of things and dig bands with political message in the lyrics. Author: Dloogi
Label:Epidemic Records
Year: 2010
Check out the band at their Myspace
Down to Nothing - All My Sons
Can Reaper Records put out a bad release? No. No they cannot. Before all you kiddie had this myface crap - way back in 2000 - we had simple websites, where bands could post demo tracks, if you were lucky. i had picked up DTN songs back then. Then "Save it for the Birds" came out on Thorp and i could not stop playing it. Now in 2010, these RVA SXE dudes are still crushing.
Most people are not sxe that were in 2k - never mind sxe and still in the same band! take that dave peters and most of boston. This band is stronger than ever and ripping through through speakers and touring hard.
now - as a caveat - i have not loved all their releases. "...Birds" is pure gold. The KLU split was solid; leading to "Splitting Headache", which was a little unfocused - solid but not quite my favorite. then, they got signed to rev; i was proud. i had hoped for the best. "Higher Learning" 7" dropped - it had a 4 Walls Falling cover, and the other 2 songs seem to grab that influence. It was good, but not quite that magic that "Birds" had. So when "The Most" came out, i was hesitant. like a moron. I eventually grabbed it and it pounded me. Fierce strong delivery of pissed vocals and music. Then, "Hen Hem" 7" came out - i thought, "Let's Go!". i do not know if it is ironic hipster crap or what - but this sucked. maybe i just don't get the joke...
SO NOW WE HAVE: "ALL MY SONS"
So fucking good. "Birds", "Most" feel - back to 100% movement; angry, fast, strong sxe 'core. They add the DTN twist - a little rock, a little metal - this isn't straight youth crew. They're a thousand bands that have been spawned in this sound now-a-days - but these guys help solidify it as a sound and do it better. This had that stomp that will get the kids moving from side to side and flying all around the stage.
These 6 songs are heavy, mid-tempo sxe gems built for moshing side to side and having pile-ons. your fingers will point despite ability of motor activity and you will bob your head. All the cliche adjectives will work here - punishing, crushing. They have clear vocals shouting frank, positive lyrics (not hippie crap, but like crown of kings, "6:15")
These guys do not let up for a second of this e.p. - i hope they gain even more momentum.
Author: Hutch
Check out Emptyhands, blog by Hutch with lots of hardcore goodness!
Label:Reaper Records
Year: 2010
Blackout Rage - American Straight Edge
When it comes to straight up aggressive straight edge hardcore, you can always expect Seventh Dagger to drop some of the hardest in the game. Blackout Rage is no exception here and even this short EP proves that all the kids out there who are still hungry for raw yet no bullshit hardcore should pay attention.
The band is dead serious and constantly aims to step up their game. Every note is played with maximum strength and every vocal line is spat out with extraordinary aggression. The singer Pauly Edge is touching on a subject of resistance to the corruption and depravity of the modern world, while the rest of the band serves a slick yet rugged soundtrack to his message, well infested with drums that hit hard, and riffs that snap necks. Fitting in between the crushing heaviness of Merauder, and the mosh madness that Throwdown once were famous for, band’s music carries one hell of a punch. They didn’t name the band like that for no reason.
I like the fact that Blackout Rage is not afraid of having an opinion and are open with their beliefs no matter what some scene kids gonna think about it. In an era where it’s common to find bands selling out their integrity or softening their message just to get a record deal or just play shows, Blackout Rage delivers this skinny-jeaned brat that hardcore has become a much needed a kick in the bollocks. In conclusion, along with a heap of killer releases coming out recently from Seventh Dagger, Blackout Rage is most definitely at the top.
Author: Dloogi
Label:Seventh Dagger
Year: 2009
Parasitic Skies - Embers
I’ve been listening to Embers off and on for some time now and to be honest, it didn’t really jump out at me right away, but the more I listened to this, the more I liked it. The sound on the EP is raw and dirty, but at the same time pretty catchy, and I definitely like it that way.
Although this is a 4-song EP, Parasitic Skies succeed in making Embers an appealing effort. There are no fake moves here, from the start they’re getting right down to business and keeping it as hard as it should be. An Abcess is an appropriate starting point for the EP, setting the tone for what can be expected during the rest of the songs. Boasting raw and relentless riffs accompanied by a brutal drumming and deep growling vocals, the song embodies the kind of sound that was long absent in the scene. It could be best described as new school with a lot of inputs from death metal and it kind of reminds me of the 90’ when a lot of vegan straight edge bands were doing it like this. In many cases, it was plain boring and generic, and using the vegan and straight edge image seemed just like a poor excuse for lack of musical skills. Nonetheless, there was couple of bands that were doing this stuff right. Just remember names as Apostle, early Reprisal, Abnegation or Deformity and you’ll know what I mean.
The metal sounding songs featured on Embers definitely bring back memories of those days and even not being the biggest fan of this style, I can appreciate the amount of aggression and energy Parasitic Skied delivers. Mid-tempo grooves form the foundation of their music but the songs are also filled with parts where the tempo significantly increases. The tracks are detailed with good dose of breakdowns and changeups that keep them far from getting trivial and chaotic like a lot of deathcore bands today. I definitely rather listen to Parasitic Skies than to another lame ass deathcore band with squealing pig on the vocals.
It’s not the type of music that will appeal to the common taste nowadays when it comes to combining hardcore with death metal. There are no girly melodic parts in here, no clean vocals or bullshit lyrics. No cheap tricks here. Just an honest band that is serious about what they do and the message they’re trying to get across to the listener. If you are looking for a brutal and metallic hardcore give it a try.
Author: Dloogi
Label:Seventh Dagger
Year: 2009
x Represent x / The Pledge / x The War x - split EP
This short EP comes with more than its fair of sharp moments and a lot to enjoy if you like your hardcore served raw and heavy. Every band here is relentless and tight as they just pound their way through their songs.
Right from the first band it is plain to see that the album will be an engaging ride. I’ve already known xRepresentx so I knew what to expect. The band doesn’t disappoint this time with their fast and right in your face hardcore. The straight edge message is pretty clear and they don’t beat around the bush with their drug free ethics. The Pledge is the only band here I haven’t been familiar with. Their style is more traditional old school and there are more emotions in what they do compared to the rest of the pack. Although both of their songs don’t go over about 90 seconds mark, there are some good ideas going on here with nice use of gang vocals, danceable beats , slick melodies and catchy choruses. Next comes the Aussie most wanted - xThe Warx. Their songs definitely got more beefy production and sound the heaviest here. Since time is limited the band wastes no time and from the first notes dives into the moshpit extravaganza. The riffs are heavy, the rhythm section beats even heavier and the vocals downright hostile. This is the band that got a lot of potential and I hope they will get the recognition they deserve. The key word here is straight edge. I know some might say these bands are little heavy-handed or judgmental and I can agree that preachiness in hardcore can sometimes be off-putting, but in my opinion they manage to find a right balance. Every band here sounds aggressive without being boring and honest without being pretentious. The result is EP of very honest and thrilling hardcore that busts ahead and takes your attention along with it.
PS. Apart from Pledge all of these bands have released new albums in recent time so don’t forget to check them out.
Author: Dloogi
Label:Seventh Dagger
Year: 2009
Alley Gods - Alley Gods
Just when you thought the whole world gone metal, you discover a band like Alley Gods which kind of give you some hope.
It’s fast and angry but very danceable at the same time. They made sure they packed their songs with the quickest tempos and meanest dance parts. Naturally, the ep has a fantastic old school feel. These guys obviously learned their licks from the early pioneers like SSD, Agnostic Front, Warzone and Minor Threat. The music is heavily rooted in what has been done in the past, yet when you think of it, most of the old school bands nowadays wanna sound like Have Heart and there are few bands who actually deliver that pissed off style of hardcore. The A-side of this Ep contains 4 tracks from 2007, while B-side is taken from the September 2008 recording session and while there is no big difference in style between them, the newer material display the progress the band is making. While still staying true to the concept of fast old school hardcore, their songs got more complex with more hooklines and better delivery. I don’t have a lyrics sheet but with song titles like Food For The Guns or Beers & Queers it seems like off-the-wall jokes and attempts to get under everybody’s skin. Which is nice.
What I like about what Alley Gods are doing is that they are really holding it up for the true pissed off hardcore sound. No bullshit, just a high-energy slap of hardcore.
Author: Dloogi
Label: Poolside Records
Year: 2009
Alley Gods at Myspace
Strength For A Reason/No Turning Back - Split 7"
You can’t go wrong picking up two of the best hardcore bands from USA and Europe on a single piece of wax. And hell yeah, this is some real shit!
Strength For A Reason takesa side A with two songs lifted from their latest full length. Both of them kick ass and what you can expect is that the band gets right to the heart of what hardcore is. There’s really something fucked up with the world today and those guys are seriously pissed off about it. Next comes No Turning Back which probably is the most known European band nowadays. All I can say is that they totally deserve all the attention they’re getting. Not only because they worked hard for it, but just for the fact that when it comes down to it, they know how hardcore should be played. The musicianship is top notch and the compositions are full of aggression and intensity without losing a sense of melody. The lyrics are honest and something every kid can relate to.
Both bands represent everything that epitomizes what hardcore is about. Dope lyrics, powerful music and somehow positive vibe despite the aggressive delivery - everything a hardcore kid could ask for. And if you are a record collector you will surely appreciate the superb artwork of this picture disk.
Author: Dloogi
Label: Filled With Hate
Year: 2009
No Turning Back at Myspace
Worth The Pain at Myspace
Filled With Hate Records at Myspace
Human Demise/Worth The Pain - Split 7"
Human Demise/Worth The Pain - Split 7" WTF 2009
Here’s the split 7 inch of two very promising European bands. Human Demise is a classy blend of fast and upbeat hardcore metal crossover with powerful riffing and gruff vocals. Along the way the Clevo influences are quite present in these songs s and since nowadays it seems like there are millions bands playing this evil style of hardcore, Human Demise is doing it the right way and is a good listen for those who can’t get enough of this kind of stuff.
The beats are aggressive and grimy, the vocals are on point and the lyrics are more than adequate. Worth The Pain, hailing from Finland is next with two tracks. The band hasn’t disappointed with their take on metallic hardcore. They manage to combine the heavy side of hardcore with the old school vitality into a total package. The music is metallic, groove oriented with tough, gruff vocals. Both the music and lyrics are incredibly well-written and I can't even find anything that bugged me. The production is raw but clear, making it easy to hear what's going on, and this goes to Human Demise side of the record also. All in all this is a split record with some good things happening. As far as I know both bands are planning to release more music in the near time so I suggest you keep your eye on them.
Author: Dloogi
Human Demise at Myspace
Worth The Pain at Myspace
WTF Distro at Myspace
Still Screaming - Reality Ain't The Truth
Still Screaming - Reality Ain't The TruthWTF 2009
Still Screaming deliver heavy handed hardcore with four songs of their own and a Warzone cover (which I think I remember from the tribute album). ‘Reality Ain’t The Truth’ lies heavily on classic old school sound with fast tempos, catchy but aggressive guitars and pissed off dual vocal attack spitting out honest and real life lyrics.
The beat is a most of the time straight-forward, old-school arrangement but they do spice it up with some metal vibe or kinda rap styled vocals now and there. This music is definitely dated, but with a strong foothold in the roots of the genre and that’s the main reason I like it so much. The lyrics are very honest and packed with the stuff like believing in yourself, hardcore pride and real life situations. The package of the record is awesome, with a hard cover and an artwork drawn by Spiller with a strong hardcore feeling to it. This type of stuff really adds a value to the overall offering. This is a 7” that deserves a shot from anyone who likes the old school sound. ‘Reality Ain’t The Truth’is an aggressive, attention-grabbing piece of hardcore.
Author: Dloogi
Still Screaming at Myspace
WTF Distro at Myspace
