Call for Unity bands no one knows nothing about
Here’s a collection of tracks I ripped from the legendary A Call For Unity comp which includes bands that sound really dope but unfortunately I know very little about. For those who don’t know, A Call For Unity was a series of 3 compilations put out by Back Ta Basics that, deliberately or not, at the times of their release represented some of the hardest bands in hardcore. The comps started to drop in late 90’, which everyone knows was the time the so called heavy East Coast sound was in its prime. Let me just say the comps included material from bands like Fury Of V, 25 ta Life, Krutch, No Retreat, Mushmouth, Next Step Up… the list goes on and on and it’s just the first issue. While the first one in the series was focused on East Coast scene, the latter had bands from diverse places, mainly Europe and Japan .Tracks that were brought together for each comp equate to no less than 70 minutes worth of hard-hitting classics. Timeless stuff, I hope to write more about it in the future.
Lifeless to release new 7" on Harvcore
The new 7" Ep by New Jersey-based Lifeless is called 'If I Could Be Anyone But Me' and should be out this September via Harvcore Records. The band has put the new songs on their Stereokiller profile so go there and make sure you give this band a proper support they deserve. Ffo Merauder, Fury Of V, Bulldoze....
Razorblade Handgrenade interview
Since NJ Bloodline I haven't heard anything that fresh and dope coming out of NJ area. Razorblade Handgrenade combines catchy as hell songs with attitude-filled vocals to make music that makes me wanna mosh around my room like I'm young again! The guys has just put out their second full lenght, it's called Tales from the Bricks and all the signs on heaven and earth suggest it's gonna be one of the dopest albums of this year!
Since NJ Bloodline I haven't heard anything that fresh and dope coming out of NJ area. Razorblade Handgrenade combines catchy as hell songs with attitude-filled vocals to make music that makes me wanna mosh around my room like I'm young again! The guys has just put out their second full lenght, it's called Tales from the Bricks and all the signs on heaven and earth suggest it's gonna be one of the dopest albums of this year!
Can you tell me the story behind your new album Tales from the Bricks?
The name itself is a play on tales from the crypt, which much like that show the album is dark, definitely darker and heavier than the first album. THe songs on the album are street tales of past and present times. It's not a concept album or anything but more of a looking glass into a day in the life, living in Newark, NJ. Much like our first album TFTB is a mix of different styles, we have a punk oi joint on there called "We all Grew Up," a hip hop influenced "Page 472," which we also have a video for and 8 other Old school NJ/NYHC hard hitting joints like they were recorded in 88.
With your new album that will drop in matter of days, how do you see the evolution of the band? Will fans of your previous album get the traditional sound or are there some new experiments we can prepare for?
We have been experimenting with different sounds and trying some new shit as far as writing goes while not deviating far from our core sound. The album isn't a exact repeat of the first but rather a more grown continuation.
We went back to Wild Artic in long island city, NY to record with Dean B, who is pretty much on top of the hardcore game. To us the new album should satisfy our core fans and at the same time bring in some new listeners.
Your style runs from hardcore to hip-hop to punk rock including plenty of other influences. Where do you get the inspiration to write the type of material you do?
All the members in RBHG have different tastes in music but all love punk and OG NYHC e.g. Cro-Mags, Breakdown, Agnostic Front, especially Warzone, and many more. But seperately Sean(bass) and Wes love Hip Hop while Frank(drums) and Joe Pop(guitar) are into more metal type shit. It's a culmination of sounds and styles.
What is the writing process like when it comes to working on your music?
When we write we try to stay away from that formulaic process of creation where, we have to do this type of song or have a song that resembles some music fad. Mostly someone will come up with a riff and we will build from there. It's funny a lot of our songs will come from something randomly played in between songs during practice. Wes will be like play that shit back and than we will build it up from there.
I’m guessing from the album title that it ain't no fairy tale. Is there any main lyrical focus on Tales from the Bricks?
The main lyrical focus is on our last four years and the conclusions of our lives and music. We aren't the same kids we were when we wrote the first album. Were not trying to be hard or fit into any catagory, just stand out on our own. Hardcore music isnt about being an asshole to anyone around you. Hardcore music is what you see and believe in your life.
What are some of the topics you spit about this time? How do you go about writing lyrics?
Our song titles are like chapters of my life. We speak about alot of different shit on this album. Some things I care to talk about it and somethings I won't. So, go out get the album and read the lyrics. I think you won't be disappointed by the musical content and lyrical flow. I'm going to quote myself on this one, "My blood pumps concrete and my heart beats bricks and that's what it is." Brick City Hardcore style to the casket drops.
How does coming from NJ shape your attitude to the music and hardcore culture in general? How much of an influence was the environment you grew up in, on your music? What’s the hardcore scene like out there in New Jersey at the moment?
NJ is kind of a hard place for shows. There's alot of DIY type shows at VFW and any other rentable spaces but few really good spots. With this lack of good venues comes an inconsistent scene as far as people coming out to shows. Don't get me wrong there are cool spots like Dingbatz in clifton which always has great HC bands and shows. We used to get alot of people who thought we were a NY band because we were always playing the city when we first started in 2006. All of us grew up going to shows at the cove(rip) in roselle, NJ. Seeing great jersey punk/HC bands like One4One, Etown Concrete, NJ Bloodline, Mainstreet Mayhem, thulsa doom, The Usual Suspects,Bulldoze, For the love of, and many many more influenced us to start making our own music. NJ gets alot of shit because people think it's all suburbs or something or everyone out here is rich, which anyone who lives in North Jersey knows this isn't true. Hardcore is street music and coming from Newark and Elizabeth has definetly had a heavy influence on us. Plus there is alot of newer Jersey bands out killing it right now like Hub City Stompers, Suburban Scum, Plan B is Dead, Mongoloids, and Homicidal just to name a few.
What can we expect from the band in the near future?
Lots of shows and more music. We plan on putting out a cover album with our verison of songs that probably you wouldn't expect us doing probably over the summer. But look for us on the road this summer to support the album. Right now we are playing a couple random shows like Feb. 27th with DRI at Starland ballroom in NJ, and Jan 22 with Wisdom In Chains and Maximum Penalty at Moosehead lodge in Brick, NJ. Keep checking the facebook and myspace if peeps still do that.
So, final question to wrap up the interview: what's your pick for best hardcore release of 2010?
The new Bulldog Courage holds shit down.
