Overreact - Self Titled (Knives Out Recs)

The debut ep from France’s Overreact does not disappoint. If bands like Integrity, Ringworm, Vitality or Kickback are your shit, this ep will be a dope front-to-back listen as it showcases the band just wrecking shit through 4 tracks with a real nice vibe on the 90’ evil and grimey metalcore tip. Some real hard shit on this one. Those dudes ain’t ashamed to admit they’re heavily influenced by old school metalcore sound which seems to be a kind of hype in some circles. But make no mistake, this ep hits so many right points that it’s clear they’re not some new jacks jumping on bandwagon but real dudes with sincere love for the art of hardcore.

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Forgotten Classics: Stormcore

France was a hot bed of sick, evil and heavy hardcore bands in the late 90s and Stormcore was one of the finest of the pack along likes of Kickback, Trapped In Life and Drowning.

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Review: Raw Justice - We don't need your friends

Raw Justice - We don't need your friends (Straight & Alert, Ugly & Proud records, Life To Live) - If you’re into bands like Floorpunch, Ten Yard Fight, No Tolerance or The Rival Mob, that’s your shit right here. It’s as fast and pissed off just as it should be, Raw Justice stick to the pure hardcore formula and keeps it simple, aggressive and fast. The vocalist Alex’s delivery is on point and the band can hold their own musically. The result is an ep that many hardcore kids can feel.

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Cut Loose - Straight Edge pride from Paris

I gotta give props to my ma Alexis from Straight & Alert distro for this one: Cut Loose have just recently dropped a demo which is available in a stricly limited quantity here. If you're not into tapes, bust still want to check out this band, go to this link where you can listen to all the songs and even download it for free. They advertise it as youth crew hardcore in vein of Youth Of Today, Step Forward and Minority Unit. The band has been around since the beginning of this year and features SxE dudes who play or used to play in Get Lost, First Failure, Last Quiet Time, Black Spirals, Jack Move or DIG.

Get Upstart and Frist Try split for free!

Upstart and First Try have released free digital split. Upstart is the local newcomer into Lyon hardcore scene and joined the recording studios to produce a split with First Try, oldest still-alive hardcore band and playing since 2004! First Try shared the stage with bands like Walls Of Jericho, Knuckledust, Reign Supreme, 50 Lions, Folsom, Arkangel, Providence, Final Prayer, Apocalypse Now, Settle The Score, Primal Age, Out For The Count, Life As War, Wake The Dead, The Setup and many others. The split is available for free download here.

Providence joins Eulogy Records!

Paris' Providence has inked a deal with Eulogy Records! Rarely you see a band that's as hard working and dedicated as those dudes, so they truly deserve the recognition. As far as beatdown goes in 2013, they're on of the few remaining bands that got it right! Readers of this blog should be familiar with the band, but for those living under the rock, the official press: Formed in 2005, Providence come from the depths of filthy Paris and play dark and brutal hardcore, full of crushing breakdowns. Since their beginning the band sought to innovate rather than imitate, intending to create a combination of social/political awareness and aggression. Providence’s style is huge, metallic and epic, yet manages to be efficient and straight up at the same time. The hoarse-growled vocals that complete this already potent formula are complimented by monstrous gang backups, spitting out venom on a variety of topics including politics, economy and the craziness of the world, yet maintaining a poetic turn of phrase. The band will tour intensively this year: Asia tour is planned for April/May 2013; Russia week-end tour will take place in June 2013; and Canada tour in July 2013.

Danforth - Built 2 Shred

This is the third video the band has made for the 'Crime In Hell' album. Check out their facebook,

Morpain to release new 'Deny The Truth' EP

Morpain, a french Métal Hardcore band, will release new EP " in a week or two. Here's a teaser of how it's gonna sound. It will be a digital release, available for free streaming and download on bandcamp.

Black Knives - The Rise

I know how much uncool is to be into the ‘ex-members of’ type of bands just because the members were in some other dope but now defunct band, but I gotta admit that the thing that got me interested in Black Knives in first place is that it features guys from 8Control. I wasn’t even aware that 8Control is no more, I really liked the metallic hardcore the band used to deliver. Shit happens, I just hide my tears, try to stand strong and put that new 4-song mini-album, The Rise, into my stereo.

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Strictly Business: Alexis from Straight & Alert on running a distro

Recently it was Darin from Westcoast Worldwide discussing how to take care of business when running a hardcore label, and it’s time to continue with our ‘strictly business’ series. This time Alexis from Straight & Alert dropping a knowledge how to run a hardcore distro without losing a fortune on it. This is integral part of hardcore but a hard work to do in a times of digital downloading, but Alexis knows how to hold its own. Check it out!

Recently it was Darin from Westcoast Worldwide discussing how to take care of business when running a hardcore label, and it’s time to continue with our ‘strictly business’ series. This time Alexis from Straight & Alert dropping a knowledge how to run a hardcore distro without losing a fortune on it. This is integral part of hardcore but a hard work to do in a times of digital downloading, but Alexis knows how to hold its own. Check it out!

Hello Alexis, can you introduce Straight & Alert distro and tell us how did it get started?
Hi Dloogi ! Straight & Alert is a distro I've started during 2009 summer. I've been into vinyl records since 16 years old and going again and again to the local metal / hardcore record store made me want to start my own distro . Around May or June 2009 my friend Simon with whom I was playing in a band had a small distro but he had to stop doing it because he was moving to UK to finish his master degree. So we agreed on a deal and he gave me his leftover records, so I just had to place a couple orders to some labels and start my own distribution ! I started with a few 7"s and a list on a blogspot.

To be precise Straight & Alert is a hardcore punk mailorder / distro but we also carry some old metal / thrash / death & crossover records and a couple of indie / post hardcore stuff too. We're trying to have a wide selection of records, from classics to the last new hype ***band members*** side project.

What led you to run a hardcore distribution? What was the vision you had in mind when starting Straight & Alert?
Like I said it before, I'm into vinyl records for a while now and it has always been a real pleasure to drive from my hometown to the closet big city to get to the local record store. By this time I was a kid and I thought it would be so cool to have my own shop one day. Who is into vinyls would'nt like to spend his days listening to records, talking about music and maybe sell a bunch of LPs?

Also I felt ( and still feel) doing a distro is playing an important role in the (local) hardcore / punk scene. Since I'm into this music I've always wanted to get involved one way or another. It's a small scene so YOU have to make things happen, and it's up to everyone to build something the way they want it to be.
I've done a fanzine, played in bands ( still do !) so I just wanted to try something new.

Basically when I've started Straight & Alert my ultimate aim was to open a record store quite quickly. I've started working on this project with a friend but life and things forced to him to slow down and eventually it didn't work out. So I decided to do continue to work on that alone and continue to chase that dream. And at the end it's probaly better like this ! In fact I'm not sure it would have worked out so fast… I'm not even sure a record store could be a viable project now. Maybe I'll figure it out one day !

However I'm currently thinking about some alternatives to a "real" record store. I will keep going with the mailorder as it is and also try to do like "Straight & Alert HQ open house" days once or twice in a month.
The fact you can't talk face to face with the people is the anoying part of running a mailorder.

Sending an email is obviously less pleasent than have at talk about the last cool band or whatever else. That's why I love having a table with S&A at shows or festivals. Meeting and sharing with new people is essential to me.


Does it take a lot of time to run this business? Is it hard balancing the so-called regular life and the distro?
Yes it does. Currently it takes me between 25 and 35h a week in the mean, depending on many orders I recieved and all. Besides i'm working on a regular job 35h a week too. So weeks can be pretty long sometimes yeah. So far it's kinda hard to balance between doing a mailorder and the regular life.

However running S&A is one of my favorite activities, it's an hobby over all. So I'm ok with sleeping a few hours during night and wake up at dawn to work on S&A before going to work. I'm fine but people around me feels it takes me too much time and so I don't have enough to hang out with my girlfriend or friends.

Fortunately I'm quiting my regular job mid August to focus on Straight & Alert and other work / personal projets. I'm somebody who likes to do everything by his own and having a boss telling me how things have to be done isn't something I'm enjoying so much. Besides I've always (more or less) made choices that set me appart during my life. It's not at all something I take pride in but it's just how it is. So I feel I don't fit in the " work – eat – sleep routine" mold. I need something more.

I've been running the distro this way for 3 years now and I feel it's time to turn S&A into a full time activity. Hopefully it will work out, if not I'll find alternatives but I'm pretty sure Straight & Alert will last long, in a way or another. It's just up to me.

Now I will have more time to focus on what's really important, make S&A evolve and enjoy life a bit more with people I care about.


What's the process for what records you choose to carry in your distro? What are your favorite albums you carry right now?
Well it's petty simple. If I really dig a record I try to get it to distribute over here. It doesn't matter if it's the last album of american heavyweights or a local band's demo tape. The point is I have to like the record. I can't really sell to people stuff I don't like at least a bit. Off course I also carry stuff I don't particulary appreciate… If Madball or Terror put out a new "metal-called-hardcore" album I have to distribute it, but it's far from being my prority.

The 2 last records I'm really glad to distribute is THE HOLLOWMEN "Three Betrayals Toward Modern Man" 7' and the SHORT DAYS demo Tape.
I didn't know those bands band before they emailed me to know if I could help them to distribute their stuff and I had a blast listening to both of them !

THE HOLLOWMEN comes from Spain and is like RINGWORM mixed with IN COLD BLOOD and INTEGRITY. Heavy stuff, listen to it !

SHORT DAYS is the french version of THE OBSERVERS, incredibly catchy.

I'm also glad I could have a few copies (15) of the BOSTON STRANGLER LP. It was sold out on my webstore in just few hours. This is an awesome record but I don't really understand the frenzy about this LP.

What more …
The new xDIGx 12" is pretty rad. They friends from Paris playing Hate-edge hardcore, influenced by Violation, Guns Up, One Life Crew and mid-80's NYHC. The last NOOSE 7" is dope too ( even if what happened during their tour sucks). The TWITHCHING TONGUES "Sleep Therapy" LP is probably one of my favorite records of the year. The last POWER TRIP 7" is crazy too.

I'm also always glad to have in my shelves old hardcore classics like YOUTH OF TODAY, IN MY EYES, MINOR THREAT or even great old metal stuff like DEATH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, POSSESED, or OBITUARY.



A word of advice for kids interested in starting their own distro or label - looking back, what was the best decision you made when setting up the S&A?
First : Have fun doing it. Second : Work hard. Things happen if you are dedicated and don't give up.

Doing a distro (or a label) is a wonderfull experience. It's all about doing something you like, meeting new people, sharing and building something that you care about. It feels great when you achieve something by your own. There is no rules, just yours.


Concerning the best decision, well I hope it will be the one I'm doing right now : to turn it into a full time activity. I'll find out pretty fast haha.
It's always hard in this scene to try to keep doing things balancing between ethics and "business" . I don't want to run a "random-$$$-rock-n-roll$$$-mailorder" but you sometimes have to do some things like publicity or stuff like this if you want to do a bit more than deal 3 or 4 local bands' 7"s. If you are cool with the DIY-Punk-Police talking shit about what your doing it's fine.

And what is the worst choice you have ever made when getting the S&S going? What hardcore entrepreneurs should avoid doing on their road to riches?

The worst choice is to work with cheesy label owners.
Just to name a few ( the worst ! ) there is the guy from DOUBLE OR NOTHING records who stole over $200 from me and a LOT of people, including some friends.

It was back when the STEEL NATION LP was about to be released. He took preorders and then said the record was delayed at the pressing plant. After a while and tons of message to know what was up with the LP he started to email everyone with messages such as " yeah i've sent the records, i've sent the records" to eventually recieve nothing.

Also the guy behing THIRTY DAYS OF NIGHT records who told me like 4 times in the same month he sent my HANG THE BASTARD records for at the end give me the money back. I guess he didn't send them but at least he refunded me ! Several people told me he's doing this really often.
The ugly thing is you don't know they suck before they rip you off !

I don't feel I've doing other really bad choices so far.

What are some of the downsides of running a label or a distro? Does it ever happen that stuff gets stolen at the show or some records you've paid for are not sent to you? How to avoid being ripped off?

Except the fact you need a lot of time to run a label or a distro and cheesy label owners I don't see other downsides.
Like I said, it's all about fun and doing something you like. As S&A isn't a label (yet) I didn't have to deal with all the problems related to pressing a record, I guess it's a mess but i'm impatient do struggle with pressing plants ahah.

I also noticed lately ( since like a year) that I recieve a lot of records with damaged covers. I don't know if shipping compagnies treat packages worst than before or if labels try to save on shipping costs by sending lighter packages but it's kinda anoying ahha. 90% of the time labels send replacement covers but it's another loss of time.

I don't know if records got stolen at shows, it probably happened a few times but I didn't realize.
Concerning not recieving some records you've paid for I've said all I had to said in the previous question ! Unfortunately I guess there is no perfect solution to avoid to be ripped off. Bad people are everywhere, even in the hardcore scene. Life isn't pink !


As hardcore rarely pays the bills, running a distro is usually considered a hobby and keeping an eye on the costs is always important. Any tips of how to promote your stuff on budget?
DO IT YOURSELF. Learn new things.

If you need a website do it by your own. If you need flyers print them at work. There is tons of ways to save money. Just don't be lazy and ask people around you. You probably know a lot of people good in doing something, ask them how to do and do it by your own.

For instance I've did my own website when I didn't know anything about how to do it. I've just found the right tools on the right boards ( google is your friend). It took me more than 3 months but now it's working fine since almost two years ! I think I've learnt more things that I use and need everyday in 3 years doing a distro than in 3 years of highschool haha.

Looking at bigger trends, it seems that everything is moving into digital world with kids rather paying for mp3s than for a real record. What’s your opinion about it? Do you see the same trends among hardcore crowd?
Well first of all I think CD- era is over. Fortunately vinyl is trendy again since some years. Even big majors / mainstream bands put out vinyls now.
But as far as hardcore is concerned I don't know if things have ever changed. I'm incapable of being objective about it that much because I didn't leave the pre-internet era in the hardcore scene.

But I think labels were really clever to start adding download cuppons with vinyl records. With that you've got the best deal : the physical and digital version.
I guess kids in the hardcore and punk scene buy vinyls records since the begining and keep doing it over the years. Paying for a record is more than just getting a piece of wax. It's helping and supporting a band, a label, a distro… It's another way to keep the scene alive. Without them, there is NO scene.
Records nerds need more than an mp3 file !

Before we wrap up, ever thought about turning Straight & Alert into label?
Straight & Alert should turn to be a label too this year, maybe early 2013. I have some plans since a long time but it's always postponned, mainly because of a lack of money but I'm really impatient to start to work on a first Straight & Alert release !

Plans for the future?
A lot ! The first one is to buy a van to go with S&A across France and Europe, to festivals, shows or tours with bands. Then the label thing is something I'm really looking forward to doing it. Eventually maybe open a real record store. We'll see how things are going but I've got new ideas every month, it's sometimes hard to focus on one. As far as I'm concerned I'm supposed to start on or two new bands with some friends in September. 2013 should be a great year for Straight & Alert! Thanks a lot for the interview, I had so much fun doing it.

Check out Straight & Alert website/Facebook

Alea Jacta Est - Today You Die

The official video for ' Today You Die' (from Gloria Victis album).

Black Knives - A Big Part

Song is taken from The Rise album.

Danforth - Face A Face

Video promoting band's first album, Crime In Hell. Directed by Alex&Niko.

Danforth released Crime In Hell album

New Danforth album, Crime In Hell, contains 13 new Heavy Hardcore songs, a blend of Hardcore, Punk, Hiphop and Thrash-metal in an urban and incisive style. The voices alternates English and French, screaming and hiphop phrasing. Lyrics without concessions invhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifite listeners to share the rage of the band. Featuring US Hardcore Legends such as Danny Diablo (backings by Skarhead : AK Ray, Matty Pasta, Brett Evans, Brooklyn Larry) and Stikman (Fury of Five / Boxcutter / Full Metal Jacket). Recorded and mixed by Sébastien Langle at 8-ball Studio/LoutaProd, master by New Alliance East Mastering (Terror, Converge, Lofofora, ...)

MPO - Deny Life

MPO, previously known as Monsieur Po, has been active in the vibrant Paris scene since 2002. Still under the previous name, they have released ‘There Was Life’ MCD and split with Una Vida which I reviewed some time ago. Deny Life is not only their debut release as MPO, but also the first full length recording overall.

Band’s music is best described as metalcore, but the one along the lines of All Out War, Sentence or Arkangel and not the one which is about tight pants and pig squealing bullshit. It might not deliver the apocalyptic atmosphere as the mentioned bands, but still it doesn’t lack a bite. Since the first notes on the album the band lays out pretty dynamic and heavy sound coupled with intense and forceful vocals. All the elements seem to blend together seamlessly and the music is thought out and well played, but sometimes it lacks some catchy hook to hold on to. MPO can write really incredible and complex tracks, but what this album needs is more diversity between the songs as sometimes it’s hard to tell one from another. But that doesn’t take away that Deny Life is a solid effort. MPO isn't really breaking new ground here, but the mosh parts are solid and do the job and in the end, it’s good to see that metallic hardcore can still be played with a focus on passion not fashion. Anyone into that type of sound should give it a try, there are good odds you will find something you like.

Giant Leeches Attach, Cruzade Records, 2011
Review by Dloogi

Onesta to release 'The American Dream' full lenght on Goodlife

Onesta are releasing their new full length CD, 'The American Dream' at the end of this February! It is now available from Goodlife Records store as a pre-order. Special Guests on 'The American Dream' are AK Ray from Vietnom/Skarhead, Jacob Bredahl from Hatesphere and Butch from the band Barcode. The band have just finished a successful tour of South East Asia, playing in many countries and are getting ready to play tons of shows all over Europe.

Interview: Raph, Body Seasons Authentik Tattoo Studio

As cliché as it might sound, hardcore is much more than music. It might be a lifestyle centered around music, but it goes deeper than that. Started by a bunch of angry kids, the culture has spread to so many things over the years. Important ideas and politics of all kind have been introduced to the scene, but also more down to earth stuff like fanzines, dance, books, tattoos help to preserve the spirit and identity of the movement. We’re going to focus on the tattoo aspect right now. Here’s interview with Raph, French tattoo artist working for Body Seasons Authentik studio whose style and vision is deeply rooted in old school tattoo fashion.

As cliché as it might sound, hardcore is much more than music. It might be a lifestyle centered around music, but it goes deeper than that. Started by a bunch of angry kids, the culture has spread to so many things over the years. Important ideas and politics of all kind have been introduced to the scene, but also more down to earth stuff like fanzines, dance, books, tattoos help to preserve the spirit and identity of the movement. We’re going to focus on the tattoo aspect right now. Here’s interview with Raph, French tattoo artist working for Body Seasons Authentik studio whose style and vision is deeply rooted in old school tattoo fashion.

Hello Raph, well first of all can you quickly introduce yourself ?

Well my name is Raph (Raph M. not to be confused with another French tattoo-artist), and I've been tattooing at the BSA (Body Seasons Authentik) studio in Aix-en-provence for five years now, I had been doing it for a few years at home before that but I really started my formation here, with Mr.Biz.

How did you come to the tattoo world ? What motivated you to go this way ?

I've always drawn, and I've always liked tattoos, and since I graduated in art studies, at one point I thought “why not combining the two and make it my job ?” so I started looking into it and basically that's how it happened ...



Any artist that influenced you maybe ? Not necessarily tattoo artists, people who inspired you ?

Well to say the truth, what kind of drew me to in the first place is music. Originally I didn't really have any tattoo culture, but when I was a kid I listened to quite a lot of hard-rock and metal, and every guy in every band was tattooed, and I liked it so much, that's what got me hooked up on it. So I have plenty of memories of the old shitty tattoos of Slash and Axl Rose that I liked at the time, then Kerry King, Phil Anselmo were pretty inked too, yeah that's how it started.

Any style of predilection ? Themes maybe, what do you like tattooing ?

I love old-school, I also like the chicano style a lot, but yeah I just love working on old-school pieces.

Musically, I know you're a major hardcore fan, how did you encounter this style ?

I come from hard-rock, when I was really a kid, and metal too, I'm from 83, when I started listening to hard-rock I must have been about six, because of my big sister, my friends' big brothers and everything. In secondary I started listening to stuff like Testament, Obituary, a bit of Deicide and Cannibal Corpse and all these things, but mainly I was really into the Guns'n Roses and Metallica, it was all through the big brothers actually, we would get the tapes from them, it was a bunch of old school metalheads, with patch-jackets and stuff. Then when I got to high-school I met a guy who was from a punk background, listening to a lot of skatecore and punk-rock, Pennywise, NOFX … and he was the one who introduced me to hardcore, he gave me my first tapes, Backfire, Discipline, the firsts Hatebreed … I immediately got hooked up on it, I really thought I was corresponding me perfectly, the brutal aspect of metal with this little kind of “ghetto” touch, it was perfect. Then the firsts shows, fucking shit up …



What link do you think exists between the two cultures of hardcore and tattoo ?

Well the two have always been linked I think, it is part of the culture, with origins in punk and metal, both always had been linked with tattoos so guess it's quite logical.

What does it represent to you, hardcore music ?

To me, it's all about the music, at least before anything else. I've always been deep into music. Today it's way more shared and many people, I mean I don't want to be an old cunt, but they discover this and they dig the looks, the ink, all that, but the music goes after that. For me, hardcore is music, it's passionate music. Passion before trend, that's the main value I think.

Check out: http://bsatattoo.com/

Far Beyond Our Depth, debut EP by Providence, re-released at Rucktion

Since the beginning of December you can order a re-release of 'Far Beyond Our Depth', first EP by French war machine Providence at Rucktion webstore. The album has been sold out since 2010, so if you still don't own it here's your chance. The new version includes newly improved artwork! The other news from the band are that there's a new line-up: xReggiex of the 90' legendary Parisian band Drowning (BTB, RPP) joined as guitarist and Mika168 from Third Man Down( Hellsinki, Finland Hardcore) joined as bass player. Drowning is one of my favorite bands ever so can't wait to see the band live! And while you at Rucktion webstore, check out the CD version of King Of Clubz/Providence split! Other Rucktion news: South Wales heavyweights Chains Of Hate are teaming up with Belgium's hardcore veterans Surge Of Fury for a new split CD coming out on Rucktion very soon! Watch this space.

Kickback to release new album this September!

Here's the official info from GSR newsletter: Kickback will release a brandnew record on September 15th 2011, ".. et le diable rit avec nous...", Feat.: 8 new songs, 2 covers and 1 extra track... and some very special guests! Stay tuned for more news.

8control - Our Time