"We remember when Hardcore wasn't a fashion show and bands weren't trying to get famous playing it. For us it isn't and never will be about any of that. We just want to play as many shows as possible and have fun and meet some cool people while we're doing it."
Introduce your band to our readers and tell us where your bands from.
Yo we're And All Was Silent, from Woonsocket Rhode Island. Victor (vocals), Jimmy (Bass), Brandon (guitar), Brian (drums).
How did the band start?
(Brandon) In 2005 Brian originally played guitar, I sang, and we had another drummer. We started out playing high school battle of the bands, and breaking shit.
Can you tell us why No Turning Back is worth a listen, and what should kids expect from it?
(Brian) I think its not your average cookie cutter hardcore cd, its a straight up beatdown record, with mad breakdowns, and sexy 2 step parts.
(Jimmy) Its a good album and after you listen to it your gonna wanna come out to a live show.
With song titles like "Put this in your mouth" and "Better off dead" it seems you're not beating around the bush when it comes to writing lyrics. How would you describe the lyrical content of the cd and where do you find your inspiration?
(Victor) The content is simple and straight to the point, my inspiration comes from everyday occurances and situations. I hate people who talk shit but cant back it up, thats what "Put this in your mouth" is about, and "Better off Dead" is about people who were served a silver spoon and have never changed there mentallity, thinking they are better than everyone else.
So what is your label situation and where can kids buy your EP?
(Brandon) Our EP is self released on our own label, Hit The Deck Records. Its available at andallwassilent.bigcartel.com, interpunk.com, and off our myspace myspace.com/andallwassilentri . Were looking for label support and distro in europe, and as well as a label for our next record which is ready to be recorded early 2010.
You guys are working with japan based Retribution Network, how did this collaboration come about?
(Jimmy) We started selling our EP on ebay, labeling it for fans of Boston Hardcore, a few people in Japan bought it. Shortly after Retribution contacted us requesting a bunch of merch, because kids in japan were asking for it.
"We remeber when hardcore wasnt a fashion show and bands werent trying to get famous playing it" is a quote off your myspace page. So how do you feel about the hardcore scene today? Do you think that media recognition helped to spark a revival of the genre or rather made it just another trend?
(Brian) I think the recognition of hardcore bands is good for a few reasons to bring new kids to shows, theres nothing wrong with that, but in my opinion the genre of hardcore is over used and not understood. Im sick of all these shitty little kids wearing chicks pants, crying into the microphone, having a shaggy haircut, and playing breakdowns and thinking there a hardcore band. Real hardcore isnt about how many people can see your nuts in the pants your wearing, and real hardcore isnt just about breakdowns, which most kids dont understand.
What is the hardcore scene like in Rhode Island?
(Brandon) All the venues got shut down, so now its hard to even have shows. When there is all ages venues shows go well theres a decent amount of kids who still care.
What are the bands plans for the future?
(Victor) Keep doing what were doing, play as many shows as possible, and record a new full length cd. Also we want to play outside the USA, and get fucked up!
Anything else you would like to add?
(All) Check out our stuff on myspace if you like it buy it help us out, we would also like to thank Dloogi for hooking us up with this interview. Shout outs to our boys in RI, MA, and All in Crew in CT.
Boxcutter -The Ill Testament
Polite, sensitive, mature, gentle ...Boxcutter is none of these things and less. The band is known for the hip hop tinges to its music and this is what separates them from your regular hardcore band. To kick things off the CD opens up with Kingz Of Thugz, which is purely rap joint with violin-filled beat where the band is flexing their lyrical skills to give you idea how it is in their world and what type of topics you’re about to experience on the rest of the material.
Things haven’t changed that much since their last album and their delivery is still rugged and raw meaning that they didn’t try to change their attitude to fit the scene. With all the rap going on, the band has struck a fine balance so there’s enough hardcore breaks here to get you moshing. And when they get heavy, they’re at the top of their game! The biggest banger must be Crown Of Righteousness, one of those songs that you'll listen to several times, before you proceed with the rest of the album. James Ismean’s son features on a joint and he kills it! It’s rude and outrageous and packs a lot of adrenaline. I also must mention BLF Soldier and Get Up as songs that seriously get my blood pumping. What I like are the references they make both in hardcore and rap tracks to the classic hip hop acts like Mobb Deep, Biggie, Run DMC, Slick Rick among others.
The Ill Testament is best when it goes in hardcore direction musically, while the hip hop tracks don’t appeal to me that much. It’s peaks are very high, but the rap joints on the album seem to be filler to some degree. That’s the problem, there are some great hardcore tracks here where the band’s delivery is fat and forceful but they are broken up by rap tracks that are formulaic and occasionally boring, very often begging for a faster, more dynamic flow. To my surprise, the hip hop track I’ve found most entertaining is The Recipe, which blends club beats with some gangsta swag and while I’m not much into this type of stuff usually, this song is ain’t that bad at all. I guess it’s because compared to the rest of the hip hop material it’s rather up-tempo and fast. Still, I don’t want these criticism detract from the truly impressive work that this album is. It has it flaws but it doesnt take away from the fact that The Ill Testament is a solid effort.
Author: Dloogi
Label: Goodlife/Screaming Crow
Year: 2009
Boxcutter at Myspace
Screaming Crow
Goodlife
Bad 2 The Bone II documentary
Strength For A Reason/No Turning Back - Split 7"
You can’t go wrong picking up two of the best hardcore bands from USA and Europe on a single piece of wax. And hell yeah, this is some real shit!
Strength For A Reason takesa side A with two songs lifted from their latest full length. Both of them kick ass and what you can expect is that the band gets right to the heart of what hardcore is. There’s really something fucked up with the world today and those guys are seriously pissed off about it. Next comes No Turning Back which probably is the most known European band nowadays. All I can say is that they totally deserve all the attention they’re getting. Not only because they worked hard for it, but just for the fact that when it comes down to it, they know how hardcore should be played. The musicianship is top notch and the compositions are full of aggression and intensity without losing a sense of melody. The lyrics are honest and something every kid can relate to.
Both bands represent everything that epitomizes what hardcore is about. Dope lyrics, powerful music and somehow positive vibe despite the aggressive delivery - everything a hardcore kid could ask for. And if you are a record collector you will surely appreciate the superb artwork of this picture disk.
Author: Dloogi
Label: Filled With Hate
Year: 2009
No Turning Back at Myspace
Worth The Pain at Myspace
Filled With Hate Records at Myspace
"The King of Fighters" is being made into a movie
If you love cheesy kung fu flicks with really bad acting and outdated special effects, you might get stoked that 'The King Of Fighters' game is being turned into a movie. Looking behind the scenes, there's gonna be some real B-rated action extravaganza!One Step Down
Band’s name: One Step Down/OSD
Location: Bury St Edmunds!!!
Active since: OSD first started killing people's ears back in 2002/2003
How do you define your overall style?
Since starting 6 or 7 years ago, things with OSD have changed. One thing being our sound. We get chucked into allsorts of catagories like, punk, hardcore, metalcore, metal, thrash, metallic hardcore... WE JUST BOUNCE!
What’s your goal with this band?
I dont think OSD have a goal, in terms of makin many or selling out arena shows. If we do have a goal, its to try and play a new show in a new town or city every month. Not alot to ask for, is it?!
What do you have recorded so far? Jeeze, i've lost count! I think OSD have recorded about 5 demo's, and 1 full length (which never got released). We' were never bothered if our records didnt make it into peoples music collections or onto their ipods, we just like'd getting a feel of being in a band that spent time in a studio! But the last 2 records we made have started to appear in peoples record collections and ipods. simply because we started to play more shows, giving a CD to someone everytime they brought a t-shirt. I still listen to the first OSD demo and the latest, and its amazing! There's so much change, but you can still tell its OSD.
Could you tell us how did you guys got together to form a band?
Well it all started with Lew, Adam & joe. Lew and Ad are brothers, and Joe rides bmx with Ad, and they were just really friends from school who shared the same interested in music and bands and wanted to start a band! Lew used to sing and play bass. Then Joe's sister's boyfriend, Dom, came in to play bass. Later on, Ad went to uni, then i stepped in to play drums. A couple of years later, Ad came back and we wanted him to get involved again, so i stepped onto 2nd guitar and Ad went back on drums to make it a 5 piece. Dom left not so long ago, and then our good friend Chris stepped in on bass!
Who are the members of the band?
Lewis Blythe-Vocals, Joe Embrey-Guitar, Adam Blythe-Drums, Chris Davies-Bass & Sean Griffin-Guitar.
What are your main influences?
I never like answering this question, because people always assume that by saying 'influences', thats what were saying we sound like! which is not the case. If you listen to some of our earlier stuff, you'll hear alot of Donnybrook, SOIA, Madball and all that. And if you listen to out latest demo you'll hear some First Blood, Liferuiner, Knuckledust and all that! We all listen to the same music and totally different bands, and we listen to different music as well! There are us who bring in a bit of punk, and there is one who will chuck a bit of metal in there, so on and so on.
I read a hilarious quote from a review of one of your shows which says “Shaved heads, shorts, new-era hats and bullshit tougher than thou attitudes” and I gotta say it makes for a perfect advertisement of your music. Is this kind of feedback you would like to get?
No, it isnt at all. Its not the perfect advertisment for OSD, thats bullshit. That particular show... my hair was past my shoulders, lew only shaves his head because he's going grey. The dude who wrote that review was'nt reviewing, he wanted to be a critic. We dont mind critisism, but the dude was just being an arsehole. In that whole review he did not once mention on the performance or music. He seems to consider himself as a fashion guru.
So how do you feel about kids bitching about everything that’s not in line with their vision of hardcore like this band said this and that or that band is moshing too hard and shit like that?
Them kids are douchebags. They only think like that because some band have drummed it into their heads. Im getting really fed up with the kids at shows today. I think thats why alot of the older crowd dont get to shows anymore, they've realised its bullshit, and the younger kids are concentrating on being cool and tough. I have no problem with young kids coming to shows, but they need to drop the fucking attitude, some of the older kids are like that as well. The last 2 shows OSD have played, ive seen a number of kids getting violent and trying it on with other kids because they feel they need to prove themselves. Its so upsetting.
Do you think that hardcore got too soft, too nice lately?
No, i just think that some bands have wanted to mix up their love for softer and more expressive music with hardcore. And thats fine. I cant say im personally into it, but who said hardcore had to break bones and smash teeth? Its like saying... "Do you think rap music has got too soft, too nice lately... Because... artist have decided to rap about real things that happen. Its not all about weed, bitches and money". If you dont like it, its cool, stick to what you know. Let them get on with it.
On the other hand, how do you feel about the politics in hardcore? Do you think it’s possible to find a perfect balance between having fun and spreading the positive message to the kids?Politics... i would'nt bother. Politics in hardcore or any other music is just another way of getting people to listen to how you feel. Im not dissing it, nor am i supporting it. I just dont give a fuck. But spreading a positive message is different and important. You should'nt abuse your position and power of being able to get a group of 30, 50, 100 or even 1000's of people to listen to you. If you can do that, you can make a change, make if for the best!
What part of UK you guys are from and how the hardcore scene like over there?
We're for lully suffolk! Its the same as everywhere, it has its high points, and its low points. And at the moment i think were on a low. People have no money which means people cant afford to go to shows and promoters cant afford to pay bands. Its a vicious circle. But it would help if bands stopped trying to charge through the roof and promoters stop trying to make a living out of it, then we could charge L2 to get in and more people would be able to afford it!
You guys seem to be playing a lot of shows. What’s the most memorable gig you ever played?
Haha, the most memorable gigs are always the bad ones... and we've had alot of them. We always used to struggle with kids at shows. Its getting easier now, i dunno what we've done to change their minds! but, the most memorable gig for OSD would be... The Minerva, Southend-on-sea, 2007 w/ By My Hands, Your Demise & BWP. Everything went wrong. The sound guy said we were shit. One of our friends was walking around the venue giving away free CD's of us, and one dude even brought one back because he realised it was the last band who played, BEING US!
So what are the band’s plans for the future? When is the debut album coming out?
Well we dont like to make plans because things never go according to plan. But, we just wanna keep playing shows, more shows, new towns/city's, with new bands! The debut album will come out when we agree on a set of songs to put down, have the money to record it, and when someone wants to release it!
Ok, thanks for the interview. Anything else you would like to say to the kids out there?
Thankyou! Its been a pleasure. And there is actually... GO CHECK US OUT IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY!!! www.myspace.com/osdbsehc
In Blood We Trust - On Thin Ice
In Blood We Trust - On Thin IceFWH 2009
This album can come as a surprise for everybody familiar with band’s previous work. They definitely picked up a pace this time and the music overall got more of this classic hardcore feeling. This new formula is obviously working for them giving the songs a certain freshness and vitality. You can hear some good hooks and groove parts coupled with harsh and cocky vocals and a lot of gang action. On Thin Ice uses a lot of different kind of structures, from fast parts to beatdown breaks, and somehow it all flows naturally. The foundation of their music is still based on chugging riffs, massive bass and breakbeat style drum breaks and even if there are many ‘I’ve heard it before’ moments here, as long as they keep it fresh it’s fine with me. What I also like is the fact that In Blood We Trust are obviously having more fun this time. The feeling of the album is still of posing tough but they coupled it with more of a laid back approach and that’s what scores the points here cause if you gotta punch somebody in the face at least have fun doing it. It’s something making the whole delivery much more entertaining for sure, even though the lyrics hit all the standard clichés like revenge, backstabbers or staying true to your crew. The production is flat and too raw for this type of music which perhaps is the biggest minus. A lot of things they do over here seem to lose all of the impact it would have with a more fat and balanced sound. It has its ups and downs, but the more I think about it, the less there is to criticize about this record. They are definitely going in the right direction.
Author: Dloogi
IBWT at Myspace
Filled With Hate Records
The week wrap-up
"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." —Salman Rushdie
Some stuff you might find interesting:
Muslims Not 'Free of Being Mocked,' Danish Cartoonist Says - FoxNews.com
Europe’s Socialists Suffering Even in Downturn - NYTimes.com
Photoshopped Images Could Carry Warnings in France - Physorg.com
Oxfam launches East Africa appeal - BBC
Nestle milk link to Grace Mugabe - BBC
Iran Says It Test-Fires Longest-Range Missiles - Fox News
What Is Iran Afraid Of? - Slate.com
What's "Unlawful Sexual Intercourse"? - Slate.com
The Polanski Uproar - NYTimes.com
A Primer on Racism - Slate.com
China Is Wordless on Traumas of Communists’ Rise - NYTimes.com
China's Online Censors Work Overtime - BusinessWeek
A Human Rights Breakthrough in Guatemala - Smithsonianmag.com
The Fatal Consequences of Counterfeit Drugs - Smithsonianmag.com
Some stuff you might find interesting:
Muslims Not 'Free of Being Mocked,' Danish Cartoonist Says - FoxNews.com
Europe’s Socialists Suffering Even in Downturn - NYTimes.com
Photoshopped Images Could Carry Warnings in France - Physorg.com
Oxfam launches East Africa appeal - BBC
Nestle milk link to Grace Mugabe - BBC
Iran Says It Test-Fires Longest-Range Missiles - Fox News
What Is Iran Afraid Of? - Slate.com
What's "Unlawful Sexual Intercourse"? - Slate.com
The Polanski Uproar - NYTimes.com
A Primer on Racism - Slate.com
China Is Wordless on Traumas of Communists’ Rise - NYTimes.com
China's Online Censors Work Overtime - BusinessWeek
A Human Rights Breakthrough in Guatemala - Smithsonianmag.com
The Fatal Consequences of Counterfeit Drugs - Smithsonianmag.com
Stigmata – The Wounds That Never Heal
Stigmata – The Wounds That Never HealI Scream 2009
This CD contains two albums by now defunct Stigmata, Hymns For An Unknown God (1994) and Do Unto Others (1998) and if both of them ain’t classic, what is?
Stigmata is surely one of the bands that have left something that will stand the test of time. The band had a knack for confident and hard hitting song writing coupled with sharp lyricism. Their metallic hardcore with heavy thrash/crossover influences was one of a kind combining skilled guitar work with a rather unique vocal approach. I like this raw feeling of 90’ East Coast hardcore feel to it if you know what I mean. Lyrically, this is the dark and pessimistic documentation of the human condition at the end of the 20th century. It’s about seeing the things as they are and trying to find your way in this hopeless and cold world. I wanted to write down some quotes but there are so many throat grabbing lines on these two albums that it’s hard to decide which is the most representative. Anyway, to really connect with Stigmata’s music and get the real feeling of this albums you need to listen to it from the start to finish. If you’re sick and tired of hardcore getting too soft and too nice nowadays and want to take a trip down the memory lane when it had this feeling of something raw and dangerous, I suggest you pick up this record. If you are a real hardcore fan, then The Wounds That Never Heal has all you could ask for. There is just something so real and honest about these albums and it just gets better and better as the years roll by
PS. The reason why I Scream Records put out this record is the 20th anniversary of the band. Although they officially stopped performing in 2001, they’re doing a few reunion shows this year. Unfortunately. I’ve got no info about any plans of them doing a tour in Europe.
Author: Dloogi
Stigmata at Myspace
I Scream Records at Myspace
