I've just came acrosss a merch store of Pound For Pound (which happens to be one of my favourite bands) only to discover they've got some nice tees in stock. Click here and check it out by yourself.
Providence - Far Beyond Our Depth
The raw energy and brutal heaviness of the Providence' debut full length made it pretty easy for me to get into them. If you’re feeling beatdown hardcore is getting too generic and predictable, I suggest you give those French moshers a try.
I didn’t pay much attention to their demo recordings but I’ve heard a lot of people telling me good things about them so when I popped the Far Beyond Our Depth CD in, my expectations were high. The album opens with Introblivion, a short and forceful blast of meaty guitar work, pounding drums and double bass action soon joined by insane vocals. When the galloping riffs and drums make way for a neck breaking groove part, you know this shit is for real. Providence is ferocious and brutal as any good beatdown hardcore band should sound, but it has the right groove which puts them ahead of the curve for a lot of bands that follow the same path. It’s laced with that raw hardcore with lashings of heavy breakdowns as well as some slick fast parts for circle pit action. The compositions are quite busy and the music is more detailed and richer than the average. The album is well produced with the guitar, bass and drums all blending flawlessly.
Let me also take a time to appreciate the artwork. The illustrations are done by Brice Besson and are one of the best work I’ve witnessed in hardcore recently. Totally out of the box but staying in line with the title of the album.
There are no fillers on this CD the whole package is tight from the music to the production to the artwork. If you are into this heavy heavy stuff, it is a must.
Author: Dloogi
Label: Rucktion
Year: 2009
Providence at Myspace
No Man Is Just A Number
Number 6: [referring to the chess game] Why do you use people?Chessmaster: Some psychiatrists say it satisfies the desire for power. 'the only opportunity one gets here.
Number 6: That depends what side you're on.
Chessmaster: [quickly] I'm on my side.
Number 6: [quickly] Aren't we all.
Chessmaster: You must be new here. In time, most of us join the enemy - against ourselves.
Down To This
Name: Down To This
Location: 252 North Carolina
Active since: Sept. 08
How do you define your overall style?
Bare bones hardcore ha ha !
What’s your goal with this band?
Keep it real and inspire kids to be real
What do you have recorded so far?
A 6 song e.p. On Faction Zero out this October
You guys are in the process of putting out your first ep or it might even be out already. What’s the deal with that and what people should expect from this stuff?
It's pretty much the top 6 songs from our early setlist. It's kinda diverse from rocking 2 step shit to brutal mosh without being metal.
How would you describe the ep when it comes to the lyrics? What was your main inspiration for them?
It's kind of a mix of us venting about stuff that's happened to us and the state of the fucked up "underground scene" and also there are some anthems about brotherhood and how important sincerity is in a time of trendiness and passing phases in hardcore.
How did you guys meet in the first place?
Me and the drummer and bassist were in a shitty death metal band with nothing going for it and we all kinda looked at each other and knew we wanted to do something more sincere and honest. Our bassist had been jamming with Alan in another project and they wanted to do stripped down, beatdown hardcore and since me, John and Josh wanted out of the band we were in we kinda began writing with Alan and it came together super quick.
Who or what do you feel has motivated you to start this band?
Being sick of all the flavor of the month shit going on in our scene and wanting to take it back to basics.
Is getting your music released by a record label something you'd try to achieve with down to this or you plan stick with the diy approach in the future?
We definitely want to work with a legit label that understands hardcore and also understands that we want to get rewarded for what we put into this. There is nothing wrong with taking this shit as far as possible while staying true to where it all came from. We want to expose all the kids to the way we rock ha ha. But seriously we want to go as far as possible or until we kill each other.
What do you feel the biggest events for hardcore scene were in 2009 so far and which albums do you think really stood out from the rest?
I think the $10 for $10 tour was a huge success in getting real bands out there on tour together and reppin' the real shit to a bunch of kids that may not have ever witnessed anything like that. The new Trapped Under Ice album is very unique and brutal in its own way. The new Death Before Dishonor shows a real sense of individuality and trueness to self in that it mixes punk with oi and metal in a seamless way that just keeps moving forward.
How do you feel about the hardcore music coming from the North Carolina? What are other bands from this area everybody should check out?
The hardcore scene still a very tight knit, underground kinda network that seems to refuse to let the mainstream infiltrate it. There is a huge metal legacy in this state that has reluctantly embraced hardcore so it exists but is still not getting the love it needs. Bitter peace, struck out and conquer me are a few NC bands keepin hardcore alive.
What's your opinion on the European and Asian hardcore scene?
Oh my god I fucking love the London scene! Knuckledust, TRC, and No Turning Back are sick! Any European BFL band owns! Also my boy Hiro's band Loyal To The Grave rep hardcore so hard in Japan. I feel that Europe and Asia support it way better than the states ever will. Also those dudes don't fuck around. They are very protective of the culture form what I've seen.
Thank you for the interview! Any last words?
You are very welcome. It's very flattering that you guys are even interested in a shitty band like down to this ha ha. On a final note I wanna say that this thuggish violence has got to stop at the shows. We should be fighting the bouncers, cops, drug dealers and asshole thugs and not each other. Hardcore kids need to team up to keep it going not kill it by making people afraid to go to shows.
Down To This at Myspace
Matinee: Photographs from CBGB's 1983-1985
"Photographer and film maker Drew Carolan returns to the scene of a series of photographs he made of the CBGB hardcore matinee's from 1983-1985 on the Bowery in New York city."
[Un] titled
UN TITLED is a photography book put together by 6 amateur diy photographers from European scene: Sheep, Marian Magdolen, Monika Chilmon, Jan Urant, Patrycja Gagan and Roman Laris. It should be out this winter and from you can see at their MySpace profile, it’s gonna be some top quality stuff. It will be limited to 500 copies only so don’t sleep on it. Watch for updates on their MySpace profile. It’s a shame that with some many good photographers around there are so few initiatives like this one. Let’s hope that the idea will catch on enough that we'll see some more of such goodness being released in the future.
And All Was Silent
"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.
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.
