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!
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
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
Hobson's Choice - Indivisible
New Hobson's Choice (Bosna Herzegovina) output brings hard and heavy hitting hardcore with dual vocals and tough as nails riffs. The music is not your average beatdown, NYHC or deathcore shit. They take a lot from classic thrash or even some old school death metal sound and blend it with 90' hardcore influences (there's also cover of Reflections by Trial here!). Invisible is pretty much solid offering after all. It's not gonna be a classic, but doesn't disappoint as well. If you're in a mood for some metallic hardcore that's not that ground breaking, but at the same different than a lot of stuff you here nowadays, Indivisible might be a good choice. Download it!
Edge Of Spirit - Edge Of Spirit
If you know anything about Japanese hardcore there’s a big chance that the name Edge Of Spirit rings the bells. The band has been around since 1997 and during that time has released a shit load of material – four big albums, couple of splits and appeared on countless compilations. With their fourth, self titled album, Edge Of Spirit brings to the table one of the more violent metalcore albums I’ve heard in a long time. It is packed with rage filled riffing, double bass played like an assassin, soul raping vocals and ultra mega breakdown grooves. The songs are complex and excellently executed. The band is focused on all-out brutality, taking you on a ride down the memory lane to the times when passion and honesty were a must in a metalcore game. They might be not the most technically skilled band around, but somehow I can’t be bothered by that. The guitar work here is pretty impressive anyway, delivering shredding riffs as violently as possible, but also laying some groove now and then throughout the album. There's a pretty heavy melodic, Swedish influence going on in the riffs as well, but they still know how to make it bite. Throat ripping vocals only boost the level of adrenaline, while the rhythm section is precise and on point. Production and sound are top-notch with every instrument and vocals having the great placement. I also gotta mention that the whole stuff is packed with a dope artwork.The band may not be pushing any boundaries, but they surely know how to unleash a beast of an album. I am not that familiar with their previous releases, but it would be hard for me to believe this new album is not their strongest effort yet.
Review by Dloogi
Label: Demons Run Amok
Year: 2010
Band's Website
Reprisal's Boundless Human Stupidity re-released by Customcore
France-based Customcore Records has re-released the classic Reprisal album - Boundless Human Stupidity. This new exclusive digipak edition comes with new master and 2 bonus tracks in ! This is how the label describes it: Reprisal blow away the competition with their awesome technical Edgemetal. Somewhat similar musically and lyrically to Arkangel, " Boundless Human Stupidity " attacks the idiocy of mankind destroying our planet. This is what I would call real dance music, infectious to the bone, " Boundless..." calls for a massive pit !
Rise After Defeat - Maieutica
I have always had a soft spot for the Italian hardcore - no matter if it’s Negazione, Wretched, Reprisal, Da Sect or whatever. It seems that no matter what style of hardcore, Italian guys almost always get it done right. Rise After Defeat is from Cagliari and aims for heavy, metallic sound that bridges the intensity of hardcore and a good amount of metal. Despite being around just since the 2008, they already have released a full length in 2009 which I reviewed some time ago on this website. Ok, so I wasn’t blown away by their self titled debut but I still wanted to give Maieutica a try.This EP has been released in October and contains 4 brand new tracks. What is immediately apparent is that the band has made a big progress since their previous album. I’m glad to say they’re moving into right direction - Rise After Defeat finally delivers a solid piece of hardcore and gives a valiant performance throughout the majority of this short MCD. Their sound has much more focus this time, something that lacked on the previous material. Maieutica demonstrates some good ideas backed by a foundation of solid technical skills. Maybe it's thanks to way better production, but the music is sounding much heavier. The band crafted a fair dose of decent thrashing riffs, double bass, breakdowns and creative drumming. This is metalcore, but the type of metalcore you'd listen to when going to war not when going to buy tight pants or get a douche haircut. For the fans of metallic hardcore sound, this is generally a EP to check out. And all the vinyl freaks keep in mind this shit has been released on 7 inch format!
Review by Dloogi
Label: Strikedown Records
Year:2010
Band's website
Overcome has returned
Official band's statement: Overcome has returned. But, this is not a reunion. This is a new era of the band. As time moves on life will always have its challenges and changes. Jason Stinson the front man and main song writer for Overcome lead the band through 7 years of these challenges and changes. All of them rewarding. For the last several years it was time to focus and do "life" apart from this band. Now a new opportunity has once again become a reality and Overcome has returned with new members and new music. More important than all of this isn't what has changed, but what hasn't and will never change. That is our purpose and our message. Be ready... a new flame is burning.
Parasitic Skies
In a brief description, Parasitic Skies is about veganism, straight edge and 90's metalcore throwback sound. The band has released a 7" Ep and full length album for Seventh Dagger where they execute some grim and gritty hardcore which takes as much from Earth Crisis as from straight up metal. Hardboiled caught up with the guys for a short interview about the new album.
In a brief description, Parasitic Skies is about veganism, straight edge and 90's metalcore throwback sound. The band has released a 7" Ep and full length album for Seventh Dagger where they execute some grim and gritty hardcore which takes as much from Earth Crisis as from straight up metal. Hardboiled caught up with the guys for a short interview about the new album.First of all, thanks for doing this interview. What is the latest in the life of Parasitic Skies?
Mike: Well we are trying to put together a couple tours for this coming year. We will have a short NW tour soon followed by a larger East Coast tour w/ Withdrawal and another small NW tour in there as well. Hopefully we will also get to some other places we havent been to yet. But we will see.
So let’s get right to it – your new album is called The Descent. What brought about the name?
John: The Descent is the name of one of the instrumentals on the record. The song best represents the feel of the rest of the record and we didn't want to use one the names of the lyrical songs.
What did you want listeners to be able to pull from this album in particular? Do you think you have any social or political role as a band?
John: I don't really want to make people to feel good, I want them to be uneasy and unhappy with themselves. If you eat animals I want you to feel like shit about it. Our socio-political role is that we think we're right about everything and we want to rub everyone's faces in it.
How do you feel straight edge changed your life for better?
Mike: Well for me its the only way I can live. I was a drug addict and alcoholic when I was a teenager,So besides my distaste for it for other reasons. Its simply not an option. Moderation isnt something I can do.
John: Like Mike said, I can't do moderation. So straightedge keeps me focused, keeps me alive.
Your music is heavily rooted in metal sound, but in the way hardcore bands were doing it couple of years ago. Were there any specific bands or albums that influenced the writing of The Descent?
Mike: I listened to alot of Sepultura, Crowbar, Morbid Angel and Slayer and just created our own sound combining different influences.
And what currently active bands you admire these days?
Mike: I would never use the term admire. But I like alot of hardcore these days. Bands like Harms Way, Withdrawal, Lockstep, Losing Skin and Wolf City are all really good. But I still love bands like Earth Crisis, All Out War and Disembodied. There is just alot of good music going on right now in hardcore. I listen to alot of metal as well. Bands like Crowbar, Bolt Thrower and Immortal.
John: Burning Love.
Do you have any hardcore quotables that you live by? Any song lyrics that deeply touched you?
John: Our own.
How do you feel about the state of hardcore nowadays? And what do you think about the Seattle scene in particular?
Mike: Like I said before there is alot of really good music. Nothing revolutionary but
just good music. Seattle and the NW in general have alot of really good bands right now. Bands like Losing Skin, Unrestrained, Envision, Cascabal, the Helm, Heiress, Ill Intent, etc...And alot of newer bands coming up as well..
Seventh Dagger is a label that is in hundred percent dedicated to promoting sober, drug free lifestyle, did this play into your decision to work with them?
Mike: Not really, we dont necassarilly need to be on a label that we have much in common with, but its nice to have some similarities. Seventh Dagger treats their bands really well. And thats really important Because I have had some bad experiences in the past with labels.
John: Danny's a good guy who also knows how to run a business. That's exactly what I want from a label, that's all they have to be.
Is there any band you would like to see reunite?
Mike: I would love to see Prayer for Cleansing they never played the westcoast. And I could never make it out to their east coast shows. Other than that maybe Until the End. Alot of older bands I would want to see,I dont wanna see them as sellouts,so it wouldnt really work. Most bands that I like I have already seen. So there isnt much out there that I wanna see reunite. I am more stoked on current bands.
John: I already got everything I wanted.
What should we expect from Parasitic Skies in the future?
Mike: More touring here and there and eventually more music.
John: We're going to be a lot more focused with our activity this year- touring smarter not harder. It's gonna be a really good Summer.
Do you have any shout outs or anything that you would like to say?
Mike: Thanks to our friends and anyone else who has ever come to a show or helped us out on tour. And to anyone that does or supports direct action. Veganthis.org
Damage Done - Demo
Damage Done is Salt Lake City based hardcore with a massive heavy groove bringing to mind bands like Hatebreed or Throwdown at their prime. DOWNLOAD IT!
x A Call For Revenge x - Vigilantes
xA Call For Revengex is straight edge band with a heavy sound and vigilante lyrics from Mexico, a country caught up in ongoing drug wars. When you consider their environment, you can be sure they ain't joking about their attitude on drugs. You gotta support it!Ill Omen
Finland based Ill Omen don't play around when it comes to hardcore. Somewhere on this website I've said they're like the attitude of New York and the evil of Cleveland combined in one. Add a little bit of Detroit's coldness and you'll get the whole picture. The band has recently released 7" (read review) and split Ep with Get Stitches!
Finland based Ill Omen don't play around when it comes to hardcore. Somewhere on this website I've said they're like the attitude of New York and the evil of Cleveland combined in one. Add a little bit of Detroit's coldness and you'll get the whole picture. The band has recently released 7" (read review) and split Ep with Get Stitches!Things have been pretty busy for Ill Omen recently – you’ve got split with Get Stitches! just couple of months after your 7” came out. Are you satisfied with the way things been going so far?
Markus: The Split 7" was supposed originally to come out soon after our own 7", late 2009. We went into studio with a rush to get our songs tracked, but it turned out that Get Stitches! faced some problems and they recorded their songs in couple sessions, so it took a bit more time. I'm just happy that the record is finally out and that Get Stitches! are now getting back to active (they were in hiatus after they recorded their songs). Split turned out to be very good and we're happy with it, i hope that people will like the songs from both bands. With the split we kinda are showcasing also our hometown, Turku's hardcore scene.
I have to admit the new songs sound fucking reckless. How long did you spend on them in terms of writing and recording? Markus: I think that Dear Friends was written around time we got our "S/T" 7" released and we started thinking about writing some new songs. I had been talking about doing the split with Aku, original drummer of Get Stitches! (who plays on the Split and GS! demo) for awhile after our 7" came out. So when all the plans came reality and we decided to really do the split 7", we started working on our another song, TCHC. I think that the process was something like that.
Heikki and Teemu usually write the songs and then i write the lyrics and arrange them, but them we think of it together to make everything fit perfect. I think that TCHC was actually written little time before we had studio reserved and we rehearsed it quite a lot in very little time, but it's good since it turned out to be a real fucking bomb. Huge thanks to our brothers who came down to lay off some guest vocals, so Pirkka, Juuso and Oskari really made the song complete, bringing some true "Turku style" to the song.
We asked Ville from Breamgod to do some guest vocals on Dear Friends, couple weeks before we hit the studio and he was glad to come, so our side of the split shines because of our friends helping us out, haha. Tracking itself was done in one day, Teemu and Heikki laid down drum and guitar tracks, then all the vocals, gangshouts etc and after that Heikki did some guitar leads etc, it took one whole day. Big ups for Ansa Studios for making us sound great again and stretching their time to our use.
Your sound seem to mix up a different styles of hardcore, what are your biggest influences when writing?
Markus: I can say only behalf of lyrics, since Heikki is our main songwriter musicwise, but i think the overall sound comes from shit we all love, bands like Death Threat, Terror, Metallica, Cold As Life, Furious Styles, Merauder, Integrity and of course all the Finnish bands who have probably influenced us the most. I love so many hardcore bands, as you might have guessed, but things i write are mainly about what i see in life and what caughts my eye. I'm trying to say things i think need to be said, my view on things, good and bad. There's a lot "basic" issues about how our world is bound to go to hell. Humanity is the devil, that's the truth, we are our own devils and human's capability to doing evil is another endless inspiration, you see shit every day in news, you wouldn't ever even imagine could happen. I also draw influences from other stuff i'm into, graphic novels, horror literature, movies and things like that, there's a quote from perhaps the greatest graphic novel of all time, The Watchmen (by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons) on our song No One Watching Over Us, that's on our 7". There's also couple other quotes i've used, including something from bands i love like The Smiths, Machine Head, E-Town Concrete and so on. You'll see the contrast there, i mean we all got really broad tastes on music. Influences, quoting and loaning things are cool, but they can't be everything, so i'm just trying to have my say, you know.
Was it important for you to have your music released on vinyl format?
Markus: For me it is, i think all of us love vinyl records, only our bass player Ode doesn't own record player, but i think he digs 'em still. It's the most impressive and most hands-on experience when you pick up an 7" or 12", check out the artwork, lyrics and take the record and drop the needle on the plate. Nothing beats listening music like that. I think it also sounds better, only downside it that it's really damn expensive to put out a 7" or LP. I hope we put out more vinyl releases in future, but it would be cool that our stuff would be available on CD as well and i'd like to have "digital download" -coupons included, if we in future put out another vinyl release.
Do you have any goals set for the band with the split? Like playing more shows or even tour Europe?
Markus: Most important point with this Split was to get some attention to both bands. Fuck YES we'd tour Europe, if there's any interest and we get things rolling right! So any show organizers, we're all ready to come and take a chance to check out how hardcore's doing in Europe, or anywhere else! I've been talking about getting something set up in Denmark and it's pretty solid as we speak, we are going to play probably 2 shows in there in January 2011, one in Copenhagen and one in Fredericia maybe, after those shows we're heading to Sweden to play Deadfest Winter Edition 2011. Please contact us if you are interested on helping us out and setting shows four us. Only downside it that Teemu, the drummer is going to study exchange to Belgium for couple months in February 2011, but after he comes back, we're down for anything! Another goal of course is to write more material and release stuff, there’s couple new songs already and we’re trying to write more all the time.
And when you started Ill Omen, did you have a distinct vision of what you wanted the band to be or you just go with the flow?
Markus: In the very, very start i think we had some kind of vision to play heavy hardcore, but no significant direction. After we started playing together, it all just came down to what Heikki had came up with, he's making all the riffs and as i said, they build up the songs together with Teemu. Ill Omen was my first proper band, so i was just really excited to get into this, trying just roll on with what would come, learning the ropes and all. I think we just wanted to play hardcore, that was only thing we knew when we started playing.
What’s happening in Finland in terms of hardcore?
Markus: It's going strong. I've been going to shows for some 8 years now and things have changed a lot, but nowdays the scene seems to be growing bigger. There's been quite little of trend shifting, but it has happened here as well. Couple years ago everyone was into really heavy, rugged, streetwise hardcore, but nowdays it's not very cool. Some kids seem to shift "what they are into", through the years in cycles andmost do found their own place eventually, some went away and dissappeared. We got punks, metalcore kids, melodic hardcore / emometalcorewhatever kids, beatdown kids, youth crew kids and so on, but most important is that we got true hardcore kids, who like stuff across the plate and stay true to their ways. Hardcore holds so many different styles under it's label nowdays and everywhere there's always different factions, but there's no fights at shows or anything stupid, people get along but some just tend on liking their own stuff and staying with their own crowd. I think our scene is really good, there's shows happening and people travel from city to city to see shows. There’s lot of independent labels putting out records and kids keep on setting shows, so I think we’re doing fine here, I’d hope that kids all around would check out more Finnish bands!
What are some of the bands from over there we should check out?
Markus: Where do i start... let's see. St. Hood put out a new album and we were fortunate enough to play at their record release show, check that shit out it's on Combat Rock Industry and titled "For The Dead", heavy streetwise hardcore that has also cool heavy metal vibe going on. Then probably heaviest record ever came out from Helsinki is the new album Cutdown, "S/T" is out on Fullhouse Records, they are only getting better and better all the time, heavy shit for everyone who are into Dirty Jerzey shit and man do i love that sound! Last of the "bigger" bands, Bolt put out a stellar new full-length, "Behind Obstacles Lies Truth", Helsinki NYHC like they way it should be played, so good album, it's also out on Fullhouse Records. Then i gotta mention new Alley Gods album "Correcting Wrong Opinions", just out on Poolside Records and Psychedelica Records, it's hard as hell and fast as fuck old school hardcore, it's our drummer Teemu's first band, by the way. There's still more, man i could go on forever, then is You Can't Keep Me Down from Lohja, they play heavy, heavy beatdown hardcore with lotsa humor in it, not a joke band of anything, really good shit. YCKMD has a brand new split out just now with Helsinki's own H8 Inc., Third Man Down, who got little more punk-sound on the split, check both those bands out and pick the split, it's self-released. This years probably two hardest releases are Hammertime 12" and Become A Threat - Method In This Madness LP/CD, both out also on Fullhouse, check their whole catalogue! Foreseen from Helsinki (ex-In On Piece playing NYHC crossover) have gotten their 7" out too, as have Last Laugh and Remissions, so keep on checking out Killing The Legacy for latest great Finnish releases! I could go onforever dropping great names, haha. Peep also Poolside Record's catalogue from their MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/poolsiderecs
I know you’re working on the first paper issue of the Killing The Legacy fanzine. How far are you with it and what should we expect to find in it?
Markus: First issue is pretty much done, but it's still in progress, graphics and shit need to be done, i think it's out this year, hahaha, at least i hope so. First issue will feature some really random shit by me and Toni (who's doing the graphics etc.), interviews with Trapped Under Ice, Hammertime and Become A Threat + new band Fit My Crime. Trying to make it so that next issue won't take too long after the first one is out. Killing The Legacy -blog is also back on track with reviews and downloads of Finnish bands and old classics, keep on checking it. We have also Killing The Legacy Fest 2011 coming up in Turku city, it's 7-8.1.2011 at S-Osis, Turku, two day fest with some of Finland's greatest bands: Become A Threat, Hammertime, End Begins, Last Laugh, Enemyblood, The Jacklads, The Random Sickos, Ill Omen, Get Stitches! & Ronskibiitti.
Best horror movie ever made? And what do you think about Halloween 2 from Rob Zombie and the guy in general?
Markus: This is a hard one, since i'm a huge horror fan. I'd say as a best horror movie, probably Evil Dead 1, that's it classic shit. I went to see Halloween By Rob Zombie on theater and when it came out and i gotta say it was brutal. The sense of violence was there and this is coming from a dude who loves to see gore fly and guts being spilled, i think Rob made the movie disturbing by purpose. It was a good movie thought, not too shocking but somehow too dull, don't know. I liked the Friday The 13th re-make more, even lots of people say it was crap. I think Rob doesn't make very good music, but House Of The 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects were really good movies and probably i'm gonna see Halloween 2 as well, but i'm not waiting very much of it. I love also zombie movies (there's zombie samples from George Romero's Day Of The Dead on our demo), check out Lucio Fulci's movies like City Of The Living Dead and Zombie Flesh Eaters, those are the shit, George A Romero is the man as well.
Tattoos, you’ve got a lot of them! What is your favorite one? Markus: Yeah of course gotta be inked, haha. Hard to say what is my favourite, most important ones i got are my first straight edge tattoo, x'd hand grabbing my arm, gangsta-ass penguins on my leg and my still in progress backpiece.
Working gloves or tight pants?
Markus: Working gloves, mother fuckers.
How realistic is Ill Omen putting out full length album in the near future?
Markus: We got three or four songs now ready and we've been playing two of them live for some time. We've been planning on putting out an mini cd or something as a next release, don't know yet what's going to happen, but a new release will come out eventually. Were writing new songs currently and hope to record something before Teemu leaves to exchange, but we'll see. Making a full-length is really hard, but we'll do our best, what may come and I hope it’ll come out good.
Anything you would like to add before we wrap it up?
Markus: Thank you a lot for showing interest on us and making this interview!
Ill Omen / Get Stitches! Split 7" is out and available and can be ordered from Poolside Records (http://www.myspace.com/poolsiderecs). Check out "Dear Friends" on our MySpace. Check out Get Stitches! and Poolside Records, thanks to everyone who's helped us out. Anyone interested on booking us to play at your area hit us up: illomenhc@gmail.com
We have a free 3-song sampler available for download, it features “Dear Friends” from the Split and two songs off our “S/T” 7”, so feel free to download it and spread the link: http://www.mediafire.com/?mx16t15rt24plc1
Edge Of Spirit - Destroy
Edge Of Spirit is one of the best hardcore bands that Japan got currently to offer. This is Destroy - a new song off their 4th album "Edge Of Spirit" which will be out on December. Stay tuned!The Black Path
The Black Path are Cali based band which takes a lot of influences from the old time metalcore bands. You get some European influences, like H8000 styled metallic hardcore, but also some newer sound is finding its way so it all sound pretty fresh. Here's a quick interview with the band...
Can you give me a brief background on the band and what you guys are currently up to at this moment?Well we started this band around late 2009/early 2010 and formed together because both of our bands had broken up. We had all kind of been in bands together before this one so it worked out perfect. Right now we are writing for a split with a band called beg for life out of AZ which will be released in mid 2011.
What have you released so far?
A 6 song demo.
Where did the band's name come from?
The name comes from a song of the great hardcore band A Death For Every Sin (RIP) I think it suits us well.
Lyrically what kind of themes you deal with? What is the message you’re trying to present to your listeners?
(I had our singer Matthew answer these 2)
When I write the lyrics I try really hard to make them flow in a nice way musically. What I mean is sometimes I choose certain words not because of what they mean but because of the way they sound. I try my best to have different themes for each of the different songs. But within those constraints I still do my best to express myself. Of course they all deal with anger, despair, and other emotions. I'm not really trying to present a message to the listeners, it's more like trying my best to convey an emotion to them. To make them feel the way I did when I wrote the song.
Is there any social or political message behind the band?
We're definitely not a political band. I always write the lyrics in a vague way, usually because I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about haha. But also because I want people to be able to relate to a song, so even if it might be dealing with politics, people who aren't into that can still project the message of the song onto something else they do relate to.
You guys seem to be heavily influenced of old style metalcore bands, both from the States and Europe. How have kids been reacting to your music?
The reaction has been great. I remember writing these songs thinking maybe kids wouldn't be as into it as they are because it's too "metal" and I knew we'd mainly be playing hardcore shows, but it has a good variety of both genres, and it's fun to mix things up every now and then.
So what’s your opinion of what people currently call ‘metalcore’ – guys in girls jeans and crazy haircuts?
Well personally I'm not a fan of girl pants, and I don't see anyone wearing those to any of our shows, but if you wanna' wear girl clothes and listen to my band go right ahead. At the end of the day it's all about the music.
What are some Cali bands you’re down with and would recommend for everyone to listen?
Life or Death, Xibalba, Ruckus, World of Pain, Still Alive.
What's your pick for best hardcore release of 2010 so far?
All Out War - Into the killing fields, great record! The new Terror is also a really great release.
I’ve seen some rap themes at your myspace profile, like Big L poster or Gangstarr-like logo. Are you guys into this type of music? What are some rappers you support?
A few of us are hip hop heads. One of our singers Matthew is real talented in the beat making department, and I (Jonathan) listen to hip hop just as much if not more than hardcore. Mainly we're into the classics, Biggie, Nas, Gangstarr, Wu-tang, Group Home, Non Phixion, I could go on for days but you get the point. As far as rappers I support now-a-days, Evidence is killing it!
Big up's to everyone that comes out and supports The Black Path and hardcore in general, let's keep this DIY underground shit going!
Left Behind - Skin Deep
Left Behind is LA based hardcore/metal band with influences ranging from His Hero Is Gone to Sepultura to Entombed.
Full Blown Chaos signed with Ironclad. New album in 2011.
Full Blown Chaos have signed with Ironclad Recordings. The band will release their new album through the label in early 2011. Ray Mazzola, vocalist: "We have reinforced our style of writing with a more prevalent sound while keeping to our roots of audible mayhem. We are a 5 piece now so we are capable of doing so much more."
Morning Again reunion show
xStuck In The Pastx blog posted an info about Morning Again reunion that will take place in Miami on Saturday, December 11 2010! Other bands on the bill include Kids Like Us, All Hell Breaks Loose, Remembering Never, Knock Em Dead, Homestretch and Harbinger.Click here for more info about the show, venue and band's line-up.
New Life Or Death album coming soon
Abomination is a title of the upcoming Life Or Death album. If you remember Sentenced, you know what to expect - bone crushing hardcore not unlike Merauder, All Out War or Cold As Life. The band has already posted 2 new tracks on their Myspace profile!
