Domination to release 'Reality is Hell'
Domination drops new track
Strictly Business: Darin from Westcoast Worldwide Records
If you have been into hardcore longer since last week you probably know Westcoast Worldwide Records. The label has been responsible for bringing you albums by likes of Hoods, Out For Revenge, Brawl or Hammerfist and they worked with classic acts, just to name Folsom, Lionheart or Above This World among others. None hardcore kid who respects themselves can deny these are some dope bands that know (or knew) how to deliver that hardest edge of this music. This is interview with Darin, who in charge of this lucrative enterprise when he’s not fronting Out For Revenge.
If you have been into hardcore longer since last week you probably know Westcoast Worldwide Records. The label has been responsible for bringing you albums by likes of Hoods, Out For Revenge, Brawl or Hammerfist and they worked with classic acts, just to name Folsom, Lionheart or Above This World among others. None hardcore kid who respects themselves can deny these are some dope bands that know (or knew) how to deliver that hardest edge of this music. This is interview with Darin, who in charge of this lucrative enterprise when he’s not fronting Out For Revenge.Let’s start from the beginning. How did Westcoast Worldwide come to be? Where did the first idea come from to start a record label and what were the goals back then?
Westcoast Worldwide was started in the late 90's by Mikey Hood, who we all know as singer/guitarist/general rad guy of the legendary band Hoods. The original purpose of the label hasn’t really changed much since then. It’s all about getting quality bands that are staffed with quality people heard, and that song pretty much remains the same today. We do things with ethics, and integrity, and we feel that that is something really important that we not only owe the scene, but to ourselves and our bands in return. We exist more like a family then anything, and that’s an element that remains very important to us. We believe our roster is stocked with some really talented people, who above and beyond all else are personally great people that can do great things for the world.
What do you feel is the driving influence behind the label nowadays?
I’d say what keeps us going is more or less the guys that were there before us, that paved the way, and trying to live up to what they created, while at the same time watching the new kids make and create things that continually keep us inspired.
Can you tell us how WestCoast Worldwide operates? Who is behind the label? It was started by Mike Hood, but with him being on tour so much time, it’s you who runs the business?
Well, Mike owns the label, and he gets involved whenever he can. Right now he is in the process of opening a barber shop in Sacramento, California called True Blue Barber and Shave Parlor, and that keeps him very busy in addition to Hoods. I basically run the day to day shit, and recently Brandon Wells (Vocalist from Havenside) joined the team, and he handles a lot of the web based promotion stuff.
What has been the hardest thing as an independent hardcore record label?
You have to make a lot of personal sacrifices. It’s basically a full time job that you don’t really get paid to do. Doing something like this is huge hours, and its hours that we don’t get to spend with our friends and families. I’m lucky that I have a home office that’s pretty comfortable, so me and my wife (who by the way is cool as shit, and extremely patient) spend a lot of time chilling out in here, but it’s tough when the phone is ringing off the hook at 4:00 in the morning, and a band is having van trouble, there was drama somewhere, or a show got cancelled or something, and you have to deal with it right then and there. My phone rings pretty much 24 hours day 7 days a week and that gets a little trying sometimes. I also don’t get to go to as many shows as I’d like to anymore because of the time this takes up too, but the way I look at it is that if I have to miss a show I wanna see so that thousands of kids all over the country can see their favorite WCWW bands play in their town, it’s worth it. I’ve been to probably a good 3500 shows in the last 12 years or so, so I’ll survive. I wanna make sure kids have the options available to have experiences like that for themselves too. I really do love doing this label, and was a huge fan of it before I got involved with it, and I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by awesome people so that makes it even better. I feel very honored that I get to do this most of the time.
Everyone throughout the music industry says that the record sales are dying in the modern digital age. How are labels like yours addressing this challenge?
It’s totally the truth. Record sales will never be a real financially stable means of revenue ever again. The standard has been set, and it will most likely never be broken. Right now it really breaks down to an album being nothing more than just a really expensive business card for your live show, or your clothing line. That’s really what it’s about right now. You have to sell a tangible product in order to get there now, and as backwards as it sounds, in most cases music has now become somewhat of an intangible. However one of the things that’s great about the hardcore scene (and seems to have died out in most other genres) is the fact that kids will support you financially if they like you and/or what you do. Sure they might steal your album off the internet, but if it’s something they connect with they will turn around and buy things from you, and they will support you in whatever way they can, which is a true testament to what the hardcore scene is really about. This also places major importance on artwork. Artwork and the lure of holding something tangible in your hard is one of the only factors left in somebodies decision either to buy something, or just steal it. Having a complete product that has obvious quality has never been more important than it is today.
How do you see modern technology, like Facebook, mp3s, youtube etc., affecting the way you run the label?
The internet really has two sides to it for a label like us. On one hand it allows your artists to be exposed to a much larger audience much more quickly, which is awesome. However on the other end, it pretty much ensures that you are never going to make any real money for your efforts as a label if you do things honestly. The second part of that is sort of irrelevant to us though. WCWW isn’t about making money. It’s about the bands, and the kids, and doing something right and honorable for the scene. It seems like lately that a lot of people are flooding the scene looking for a paycheck, and I think a lot of good bands and good people get fucked over in the process of people like that figuring out that theres no real money in hardcore. Sure we like to see our bands make as much money as they possibly can. It keeps them on the road, and making merch, and generally doing their thing, but I think for anybody that’s actually doing it for the right reasons, getting your message or opinion out, and letting your music be heard is the most important thing. From a label standpoint that doesn’t do much for us, but it’s good for the bands. We always want to see them get paid before we do, and things like bigcartel, and bandcamp have provided them with ways to accomplish that with more convenience, and it’s easy for us to help them by driving traffic to those types of sites. We as a label basically lose money 100% of the time, but we really don’t care. This is a labor of love for us, and the internet really helps with that end of things. So yeah, it has affected us a lot, but the bottom line is for a label like us, we see it as being a very useful resource.
From Hoods to Give Em Hell to Brawl, your rooster is quite diversified stylistically. How do you choose artists to work with?
Hardcore is a very diverse form of music, and we like WCWW to reflect that. We all love a lot of different styles of hardcore, and we know most people who are into this music do to, so we just try and represent all sides of the genre, and try and offer something for everybody. As for how we choose artists, they need to meet three basic sets of criteria. First, they need to be great at what they do musically. Second, they need to share the same passion for hardcore that we do and demonstrate a work ethic that we can respect. Third, (and in some respects the most important part) they need to be quality people. This means if you wanna run around and start shit everywhere you go, we aren’t the label for your band. If you have some giant shitty attitude, we aren’t the label for your band. If you wanna half ass everything, and let your fans down either musically or personally, we aren’t the label for your band. Character is a major thing for us. We put a tremendous amount of work into the bands on this label, and we don’t have time to waste on assholes or drama queens.
You often mention that a band has signed to Westcoast Records. What does signing to Westcoast Records entail?
It means you are member of our family. We work with you to make a better product, we hype you, we help you with shows, and stuff on the road, and we push your music world wide. Same thing any other label does I guess. haha
Any words of advice to bands trying to contact you and submit a demo?
Not really other than the standard stuff. Make a quality demo, go play shows, make somewhat of a name for yourself, and then hit us up on www.westcoastworldwiderecords.com I guess. Nine times out of ten we don’t sign bands from demos. We do a lot of research and generally we know what’s out there most of the time. we usually directly contact bands were interested in. however I don’t want to discourage anybody from hitting us up though. If you got something great, we for sure want to hear it!
What’s your standpoint on artwork for releases? I am asking cause I really do like the visual aspect of your albums. From cover art to photos on your website, everything looks professional and with a keen attention to details.
If you really break it down music is art, and so we feel those things kinda go hand in hand with each other. Ultimately a huge part of your product is visual appeal, and most times that is the first thing that the listener is going to be exposed to with a complete package like a cd/mp3/website/etc. We basically want to set the right initial tone for the listener, and make it a more complete experience for them. That’s something we really try and push on our artists too. Don’t just write a bunch of songs and glue them together. Try and make a complete experience for anybody that’s going to fork over their hard earned money for what you have made. Listening to one of our bands we feel should be an all-encompassing type of thing that you not only see and hear, but also feel. One of our biggest goals as a label is to make sure that a listener is gonna feel like they got more than their monies worth when it’s all said and done, and we don’t feel like we have done our jobs until that goal is achieved 100%.
What are your goals and plans for 2012? Have you got any forthcoming releases on your label? Anything else major on the horizon?
We have all kinds of stuff going on in 2012. We just put out new albums from Havenside and Brawl recently, and we just signed a great band from Washington called Cowardice. We also got a bunch of new shit coming out from other artists already on WCWW this year too. We do have some additional things in the works, but you all are gonna have to wait and see on that stuff. Keep an eye on www.westcoastworldwiderecords.com. We’re pretty good about keeping people up to date on there.
Anything else you’d like to mention? Any shout outs? Message to haters?
Wed like to give a shout out and a thank you to anybody that not only supports us, but hardcore in general everywhere in the world. This kinda music can be somewhat thankless a lot of the time, but that is sort of irrelevant in the grand scheme. We do this for the kids, the bands, and the friendships, and experiences that we get out of this. This wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for all the great people around the world that love this music like we do, and that’s why we do it. It’s for all those people. As for the haters? We have no time for haters. We don’t even see em.
Westcoast Worldwide: Website; Facebook
Beg For Life Announces New LP, Releases First Single
Westcoast Worldwide Records is proud to announce the upcoming release of the “Mare Miseria” EP from Arizona based metallic hardcore masters Beg for Life. Mare Miseria is the much anticipated follow up release to 2009’s critically acclaimed “Doomed”, and is the band’s first recording with new vocalist Steven Jimenez. The recording duties were handled by producer/engineer Chris Hopkins at Earthbound Recordings in Chula Vista California.“We’re extremely excited about this release” remarks Beg for Life Guitarist Jeff Schuster. “We didn’t want to rush anything on this, and it was well worth it. We pushed ourselves to write the best stuff we possibly could, and we wanted to make a record that is unique sounding yet extremely heavy. We never want to be one of those bands that only strives to sound just like everybody else. We think that really shows on Mare Miseria. We wanted to write a record that is aggressive and hard as fuck but yet something that was distinctive.”
This statement is echoed by Westcoast Worldwide founder Mike Hood:
“Beg for Life is flat out one of the best heavy hardcore bands there is. The record is tough, and raw, and it’s got a big dose of super legit metal riffs that just knock you over. This record is a must have if you like anything heavy. Fans of many genres will be all over this thing, and it will leave them all wanting more.”
Mare Miseria by Beg for Life hits the streets by way of Westcoast Worldwide Records May 29th 2012 (May 27th in Europe via Marked for Death Records). In the meantime check out the first single off of Mare Misera entitled “Goner” below…….
Westcoast Worldwide Records Signs Cowardice
Westcoast Worldwide Records is pleased to announce the signing of Tacoma, Washington based melodic harhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifdcore band Cowardice. The band is currently hard at work at Astronauts Lounge Studios in Tacoma, Washington with producer/engineer Ahren Lanfor recording their new EP entitled “I Am Depression”.“We are beyond happy to sign with Westcoast Worldwide. We’ve been fans since we found the label through Set It Straight about 7-8 years ago and we can’t wait to be a part of it,” exclaims Cowardice Vocalist Jeremy Bushnell. “This record is being written as a whole record together, not just a bunch of songs. It is more thought out, planned and has more focus than anything we’ve ever written. The sound is more zeroed in, more aggressive and to the point. We really tried to latch on to why a lot of us found this music in the first place. It really boils down to the fact that we all found this because some part of us is not alright. This is a record about dealing with that and realizing you aren’t the only one feeling it. We can’t wait for people to hear it.”
“We are really excited to welcome Cowardice into the Westcoast Worldwide Family”, comments label founder Mikey Hood. We have known about them for a while, and they are a great band, and great kids, and they got a lot of heart. We are very excited to work with Cowardice, and we think everybody will really enjoy this record.”
Look for “I Am Depression” in late spring/early summer 2012 on Westcoast Worldwide. In the meantime, Cowardice will be embarking on a short tour of the Great Northwest, which includes a spot on the highly anticipated Rainfest 2012.
Dates are as follows…….
May 2nd / Eugene, OR @ The Venue
May 3rd / Santa Rosa, CA @ Transient Lounge
May 4th / Reno, NV @ Fort Ryland
May 5th / Norcal @ tba
May 6th / Vancouver, WA @ Pop Culture
May 25th to May 27th / Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s (Rainfest 2012 )
Brawl Interview
Brawl is Boise, Idaho-based band which delivers some straight up in-your-face hardcore with a nice NYHC touch. The band has been around for some time already and their dedication has seem to earn them a household name status amongst the local scene. Brawl has released its debut ep ‘The Bitter End’ all by themselves in 2010, which was quickly followed by a split with Black Cloud in 2011, also self released. And the band is not slowing down at all. While the new ‘Punishment’ is already available at Westcoast Worldwide and Irish Voodoo Records, the ‘Back Biter’ is expected to drop just by the end of this year.
Brawl is Boise, Idaho-based band which delivers some straight up in-your-face hardcore with a nice NYHC touch. The band has been around for some time already and their dedication has seem to earn them a household name status amongst the local scene. Brawl has released its debut ep ‘The Bitter End’ all by themselves in 2010, which was quickly followed by a split with Black Cloud in 2011, also self released. And the band is not slowing down at all. While the new ‘Punishment’ is already available at Westcoast Worldwide and Irish Voodoo Records, the ‘Back Biter’ is expected to drop just by the end of this year.First of all, congratulations with the upcoming seven inch, Punishment. Could you tell us something about the release? What can we look out for?
Thank you we are happy to have it released by two labels. Irish Voodoo Records for the 7" Vinyl with two cover options and Westcoast Worldwide Records for the CD/Digital formats. Our presale of the Test Press and bundles sold out so we couldn't be happier.
Having heard couple of new tracks at your facebook profile I must admit this shit sounds hard! What is the driving force behind your music?
We are a heavy Hardcore band. We have many influences and take a strong approach musically and lyrically to our friends, scene, politics, government, war, religion, environment, and shitty people. We spit out aggressive, no sugar coated, direct in your face lyrics.
Have you had a chance to perform those songs live? What type of response have you been getting?
We have had a chance to perform them and the response is great for us. No matter what we will play anywhere and we will always have a DIY approach to shows. We are doing a mini tour with MDK starting March 8th and we will be playing the 5 songs off Punishment plus 3 brand new songs that we are super stoked to finally play live.
How important are lyrics for the band? Did you have any specific topics in mind when you wrote lyrics for the ep?
Lyrics are important but we are not a poetic hardcore band. They are pretty self explanatory but we hit on many topics from protecting our rights, freedoms, free speech, way of life, weak ass friends who fuck over people they call friends, environmental depletion, solid friends and crew. We don't really have topics that are off limits.
How did you hook up with Westcoast Worldwide and Irish Voodoo Records for the release?
We were talking to Joey from IVR about doing a 7". Then we went on a mini tour on on the West Coast and recorded at Pitbull Farm with Pitbull Dan (Murder Death Kill, Blood Stands Still, Donnybrook). We played a show in SoCal with Terror and Alpha & Omega and he came to the show to meet us in person and here we are. Westcoast Worldwide hit us up soon after and fortunately they were cool with a dual label release. Both labels are great for us. They get it.
No doubt vinyl holds a special place in the hardcore culture. How is it important for you to have your music released on this format?
We will not do a release with any label that doesn't do vinyl or at least let IVR put out the vinyl version. It is a great newer label and we are dedicated to their growth. We are not a band in debt. We own all our stuff. This is not an option.
The ep is going to be officially available in couple of days from now and then you are going to hit the road for bunch of shows with Murder Death Kill. What is it that keeps you excited and motivated about being in band and moving forward?We love playing shows, booking Hardcore bands in Idaho, writing music, and we have all been in it for a long time. It is a way of life for us. It is who we are when we go about our day to day lives. Touring is the best when you are prepared. Meeting new kids and bands in different cities never gets old.
How do you manage to balance involvement in the band with family and day job commitments?
Well that is something we have worked on for years. We have set ourselves up in business or work to where we can make money at home while on the road. We all own businesses or work jobs during the week. We take time off when we want. We practice 3 nights a week. We spend lots of time with family and friends. They support us and understand that it is as much a part of our lives as they are. However, nothing is more important than family.
What are some other hardcore bands in your area we should follow?
Idaho is really lacking in music. Always has been. That being said we have some really good bands out of here. Not all Hardcore but we can all do shows together. Compromised, Black Cloud, Bone Dance, Gernika, Sinews, Reverie, N.F.F.U., and Hummingbird of Death are some of the best bands in town.
Before we wrap up, tell us something about Boise? Apart from right wing militias, what’s to see over there?
Boise is a family town. Very Mormon here. I am not from here but it is a great place to raise a family for the most part. The militia's don't exist here anymore. Racist extremist were all were ran out. The police force is still bullshit though and this is the drunkest city in the west so congratulations Boise.
New Havenside album set for release in April
Sacramento, California hardcore outfit Havenside is all set to release their much anticipated new album entitled “Nemesis”, April 3rd, 2012 via Westcoast Worldwide Records. “Nemesis” is the follow up to 2010’s critically acclaimed “Recognition”, and is the bands third release. The album was recorded at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, California, and was engineered/produced by Zack Ohren (All Shall Perish, Arsonists Get All the Girls, Suffocation, Conducting from the Grave). “We really feel that “Nemesis” is more than anything, a statement of our roots”, states vocalist Brandon Wells. “This record is just a wall of sound that will make you feel like you are getting assaulted from beginning to end. It’s a big, heavy sounding record, and we can’t wait for people to not just experience, but really feel it”. Check out the lead single from “Nemesis” called “Resilient” here.
Brawl to drop new album via Westcoast Worldwide. 7" to be released by Irish Voodoo
Westcoast Worldwide Records has recently announced the signing of Boise, Idaho-based Brawl. The band recently completed its latest offering, “Punishment” at Pittbull Farms in Victorville, California with producer/engineer “Pitbull” Dan Banura (Murder Death Kill, Blood Stands Still, Donnybrook). The New album is set to drop March 6th, 2012. Irish Voodoo Records will handle 7″ duties for the release.“We couldn’t be more excited to join the WCWW family” states vocalist Eric Muniz. A lot of what we are about is old school ethics, hardcore pride, and hard work. Westcoast is totally about that too. It seems to be a great fit and we couldn’t be more in to it”.
“We love Brawls old school approach to hardcore”, comments Westcoast Worldwide founder Mikey Hood. “Friends, family, good times, and hardcore. That for us is really what it’s all about. These guys are rad. We love bands that play, and book tons of shows, and open venues, and really keep their scenes going. As for the sound, If you like bands like Death Before Dishonor, Propain, North Side Kings, or Breakdown you will love Brawl.”
Founded in 2010, Brawl has been pummeling the Northwest with two DIY releases under their belts, in addition to several tours. “Being a hardcore band from Boise is tough”, says Muniz. “There wasn’t a ton of opportunities for a band like us, so we had to make our own. We’re just four guys that really love this music and this scene, and we feel very fortunate that we get to play it, book it, be so involved in it, and enjoy it so much. Not only in our home state, but in other places as well. This really is our way of life.”
“Punishment” by Brawl will be available March 6th, 2012 on Westcoast Worldwide Records
Look for Brawl on tour with Murder Death Kill in Spring 2012
Give Em Hell to release new EP on Westcoast Worldwide Records
Westcoast Worldwide Records is proud to present the triumphant return of Northern Cali hardcore monsters Give Em Hell! As the world already knows, Give Em Hell is hardly your run of the mill hardcore band, and 2011 will further solidify that with the release of Volume 1. Anybody can release a full length album, but only a band like Give Em Hell can make it into a full blown campaign! April 10th brings forth the first offering of what should be quite an epic 3 EP series for 2011.“We just really wanted to try something different” said guitarist Jon Korn. “We felt that things change so fast over the course of modern life, we just really wanted to be able to reflect that. Plus, we wanted to do something a bit more reflective, and keep things moving in an extra current manner. Not only with what goes on in our lives but also in the scene too. We felt this was a great way to put our experiences as a band and as people on tape……as they happen.”
An A-typical approach to hardcore has become somewhat of a calling card for GIVE EM HELL. Its debut release (Westcoast Worldwide), 2008′s WE ARE THE WOLVES was a banquet of melodic riffing, complex vocal arrangements, and sonic songwriting, with a dash of stoner/southern rock, and a side crushing breakdowns thrown in just to keep it extra tasty. VOLUME 1 marks a bigger, badder, smarter and slicker GIVE EM HELL.
With VOLUME 1, we really feel like we hit our stride”, remarks Vocalist Peach Daniels. “Weve changed a lot as a band since WE ARE THE WOLVES. Weve had a few changes to the band (including the addition of drummer Craig Spinelli of HOODS fame), as well as weve lived life! We really feel that VOLUME 1 is a strong statement about both us as people and as a hardcore band, and we cant wait for people to hear it!”
This is certainly no slouch statement. This is a road tested, and tried and true GIVE EM HELL! Fans of such bands and Comeback Kid, and Bane will find it impossible to put these records down. Any fan of passionate sing-a-longs, diversely melodic attack, and foot stomping breakdowns will surely find something to love about GIVE EM HELL
