Deez Nuts signs with Mediaskare Records

Mediaskare Records has officially signed a North American deal with Australian hardcore/punk band Deez Nuts. Fronted by ex-I Killed The Prom Queen drummer JJ Peters, the band's latest release, "This One's For You," will be available later this summer (the effort is currently available in Australia via Roadrunner Records).

Pushed Too Far

Pushed Too Far from Belgium have just released their third album, Up For Grabs, and if you like hardcore done raw, check it out! Here's something on new album, hardcore, band's plans for the future and life!

Pushed Too Far from Belgium have just released their third album, Up For Grabs, and if you like hardcore done raw, check it out! Here's something on new album, hardcore, band's plans for the future and life!

I’ve heard the new tracks from the upcoming record and I am most definitely digging them. Could you tell us how representative are these songs for the rest of the material?

They are very much representative, though some songs on the album will be a little bit darker, slower or faster, there's a pretty good variation on the CD. Two more tracks have been posted up our myspace, so go check them out and let us know what you think of them!

What would you say is the biggest difference between the your previous releases and "Up For Grabs"? What’s the direction you’re going with for the album?

For most people the biggest difference will probably be the change of vocals. But nevertheless the rest of the music has changed too, the easy "beatdown"-parts have made way for another way of releasing the anger, more in the breakdown direction. I guess we simply matured...

What are some musical influences that have shaped the band over the years? Who are some hardcore bands that you look up to?

Different bands will come to mind, ask any of us this question and you will hear 5 different answers, but if you ask me, I'd say Madball, Bulldoze, Judge, Ryker's and a slice of Skarhead! As for bands I look up to, that's a hard one, since there's so many to mention, but I'll try to keep it brief. Madball & Biohazard, for getting me into Hardcore, Krutch & Judge, for the aggression, Neglect, Blood For Blood & Sheer Terror, for the nihilism, and Next Step Up, just for being Next Step Up. Also mad props to No Turning Back for doing what they do, haven't seen much bands living it like they do!

What about the lyrical content? Is there an underlying theme you’re trying to stick with?

Well, not really, though some things do come back. It's about what we see & do, what/who we love & don't, it's about Hardcore, about being betrayed by friends, it's the way we see the world...

Do you get political in your songs? How important do you feel it is for hardcore bands to speak out about political movements and ideas?

The only song a little bit about politics would be "Bread & Circuses", and it's mainly about how it doesn't do a lot for us, and tries to keep us blind from the real problems in the world. I mean, we are from Belgium, and our federal government just fell, because they couldn't agree what language people need to speak in an area around Brussels about 20KM2... We have a worldwide crisis, growing poverty and unemployment, racial problems... You'd get disappointed in politics pretty fast then. The newest scandal here is about religious people molesting little children, and they don't even get prosecuted for it, they even get to keep their pensions, because it happened more than 5 years ago... But still, even without a government worthy of the name, this country has been going on for 3 years, with the rich getting richer, and the poor just trying to get by... I don't think Hardcore should be (only) about politics, but it's not a bad thing to see the bigger picture every once in a while, and getting your views out.

The guest list on the album is pretty impressive. Who you got on the album and how did these collaborations come about?

Well, it's a long list for sure, and we all choose them because they have been friends of us for years. Tito from Surge of Fury sings on two songs, and he mainly is one of my best friends, the same goes for Buske from One Step Beyond, when friends become family there's really nothing much more you need. We also have BartV from For My Enemies (RIP), who we did a tour with last year, Andrew from True Valiance (UK) because he became a very good friend, Maarten Trail of Hope, who has been supporting us for years, and Joeri from Enough Said & Gebo from Strike With Vengeance, the new blood! Nicho (our guitar-player) does a few lines too, and the backing-vocals have been done by 30 people I guess, just because it was fun to all hang out at High Lake Hill Studio!

What’s your label situation? Who will release "Up For Grabs"?

The album will be released on our own label, Clenched Fist Records, which has already put out all our previous Cd's, as well as a few others. We discussed looking out for another label, to maybe get a bit more exposure or something alike, but in the end Hardcore still is, and always should stay, DIY. Most of the new bands try to get on a label as fast as possible and think they will conquer the world because of it, but when you do it yourself, the satisfaction is much bigger.

What are your expectations for the CD when it comes out?

May it crush everybody! Seriously, we hope a lot of people pick it up, and like it as well. We've put our heart in this, and we feel like this is the best one yet, so we sure are proud. As far as downloads go, because it's a soft spot in the current music industry, we certainly prefer people buying our CD, though we realize it might be hard for some people. But still, nothing compares to having the CD in your hand, seeing the artwork (done by Joe Glorybound Tattoos & BSK_NMC) and putting it in your radio. I personally take a lot of pride in my ever-growing Hardcore collection (+1200 Cd's, records & tapes).

You’ve gone through some line-up changes lately. Who are the new people in the band?

Since the last CD the only change has been on the vocals. Our previous singer decided is was time to take a turn in his life, and DMZ filled in the spot! But this is also the first CD written with all of us together, since Nicho only joined the band right before the previous CD was written.

And how did Pushed Too Far get together in the first place?

It started out in 2003 as just a few kids that needed to let some steam off, and after 1 year and a half a demo-tape got released, ever since Pushed Too Far have started and kept playing shows all around. A half year later a mini-cd got recorded, but things only started to go the way they were supposed to after the release of "The Anger" full length. In the beginning there wasn't a very big scene at this part of Belgium, certainly not in the "Beatdown"-style, so we played the H8000-area regularaly (had some of the best shows with Retaliate RIP and Die My Demon RIP), it was only after "The Anger" got out and a few other bands started (like Johnny Unstoppable) that things over here got going. After that, we took a second guitarplayer, which did a great deal to our sound, and released a split-cd with Point Of View, shortly followed by another full-cd called "Fools Never Move On". Now last year the original vocalist left the band because of issues with his girlfiend, and we replaced him by DMZ, who had been following PTF since the beginning. We released another demo, and now this year we got our newest full-cd out, entitled "Up For Grabs"!

When you look at the scene, what do you think hardcore is lacking?

Dedication, respect & history. People tend to forget what has happened in the past, and what people have sacrificed to get the "scene" to where it is now. With more respect, downloading wouldn't be such an issue, since you would simply buy what you like, knowing the band didn't make it for free either. People wouldn't trash the venues, leaving their garbage at the door and harassing neighbors. And dedication, because a lot of people just get into it, and drop out a year later, when they hop on the newest trend. It takes dedication to be in a band, ask anybody that is about his girlfriend and you will already know why. And I might even add passion and unity, because fighting each other is a stupid thing, when we should be fighting the system.

What are your favorite current hardcore bands from Belgium?

We got a pretty vivid scene over here, with a bunch of new bands, and old ones picking up again. Without having to pick my favorites, you should definitely check out Surge Of Fury, Strike With Vengeance, One Step Beyond, Trail Of Hope & Enough Said, just because they helped us out with the vocals on the album, and because they all are great in what they do. Other bands and friends of ours would include Angelskin, Saviour (new CD coming out!), Headshot, The Setup, Johnny Unstoppable, Tear It Down (new CD on the way), Murderhorn (just released the CD), Point Of View, Crossed The Line (just released the CD) & Accept the Change. And of course there's the well-known ones like Arkangel, Length Of Time, Out For Blood who recently reformed... really, things are good over here! Sorry for those I missed, but there's always too many to mention!

What can we expect from you guys in the near future? Are you have any goals set for the band or are happy to just go with the flow?

Well, the release-party was last week, and we're playing with Hoods in Holland this week, followed a bunch of other shows. We'll be going through Europe with our friends in Headshot (looking for a show on the 3rd and 7th of July, hit us up!). After that we just continue to play shows, and will start working on new material again, for a release somewhere next year... We'll pretty much go with the flow, so hit us up if you'd like to book us!

Closing comments for readers?

Check out the new album and come out to one of our shows of course! Check out all the bands mentioned, support your local scene, because you need it more than you think. Buy music if you can, go out to shows, dance and sing along! Thanks go out to everyone that supported us in any way, Bart at High Lake Hill Studio and Nicolas Decleve for doing an amazing job on the recording, and ofcourse to the Hardboiled Blogspot for letting us do this interview! Bring back stagedives! Pushed Too Far 2010

Check out band's Myspace.

Dead Reprise - Signs Of Reality

Here's the track from band's upcoming album!

Lazare - This Is For Hardcore

This is new track from the upcoming Lazare MCD for NBAB. They've been around since 2008 and this is gonna be their first official release. If you're into metallic hardcore done right, keep an eye o them!

State Murders - Es La Hora

Down to Nothing - All My Sons

Can Reaper Records put out a bad release? No. No they cannot. Before all you kiddie had this myface crap - way back in 2000 - we had simple websites, where bands could post demo tracks, if you were lucky. i had picked up DTN songs back then. Then "Save it for the Birds" came out on Thorp and i could not stop playing it. Now in 2010, these RVA SXE dudes are still crushing.

Most people are not sxe that were in 2k - never mind sxe and still in the same band! take that dave peters and most of boston. This band is stronger than ever and ripping through through speakers and touring hard.

now - as a caveat - i have not loved all their releases. "...Birds" is pure gold. The KLU split was solid; leading to "Splitting Headache", which was a little unfocused - solid but not quite my favorite. then, they got signed to rev; i was proud. i had hoped for the best. "Higher Learning" 7" dropped - it had a 4 Walls Falling cover, and the other 2 songs seem to grab that influence. It was good, but not quite that magic that "Birds" had. So when "The Most" came out, i was hesitant. like a moron. I eventually grabbed it and it pounded me. Fierce strong delivery of pissed vocals and music. Then, "Hen Hem" 7" came out - i thought, "Let's Go!". i do not know if it is ironic hipster crap or what - but this sucked. maybe i just don't get the joke...

SO NOW WE HAVE: "ALL MY SONS"

So fucking good. "Birds", "Most" feel - back to 100% movement; angry, fast, strong sxe 'core. They add the DTN twist - a little rock, a little metal - this isn't straight youth crew. They're a thousand bands that have been spawned in this sound now-a-days - but these guys help solidify it as a sound and do it better. This had that stomp that will get the kids moving from side to side and flying all around the stage.

These 6 songs are heavy, mid-tempo sxe gems built for moshing side to side and having pile-ons. your fingers will point despite ability of motor activity and you will bob your head. All the cliche adjectives will work here - punishing, crushing. They have clear vocals shouting frank, positive lyrics (not hippie crap, but like crown of kings, "6:15")

These guys do not let up for a second of this e.p. - i hope they gain even more momentum.

Author: Hutch

Check out Emptyhands, blog by Hutch with lots of hardcore goodness!

Label:Reaper Records
Year: 2010

Check out the band at their Myspace

Cowardice

Cowardice are the proof that Tacoma hardcore scene is going strong! Pounding grooves and real life lyrics, that's what you can expect when picking up their newly released split with A Better Hope Foundation. We spoke about this and some other topics with Jeremy, the voice behind the band.

Name: My name is Jeremy.I sing in Cowardice

Location: Tacoma, Washington

Active since: December 2008

How do you define your overall style?
We just play pretty straight forward hardcore. I am horrible at answering that.

What’s your goal with this band?
Hopefully that someone can get out of one of our songs what I have gotten out of others. Show that hardcore can be more than just kids being angry. Being angry and having reasons behind it and trying to do something about it.

What do you have recorded so far?
We have a demo that is free for download on our myspace(myspace.com/cowardicewa). We also just put out a spit 7" with A Better Hope Foundation on Anthropogenic Records.

To the readers out there who aren’t familiar with Cowardice, give us some run down on the band’s history and some basic info.
We are a hardcore band from Tacoma, WA. We started around December 2008. The band already existed under another name. But when my old band broke up Josh(who sang at the time) switched to bass and I took over vocals. We changed the name and wrote some new songs and became Cowardice.

The split with A Better Hope Foundation should be out some time soon. Give us some details – what should we be expecting to find there and how does your music differ from the demo days? 
The split just came out on Anthropogenic Records. It is a split with A Better Hope Foundation from California. We have three songs on it. The songs are just stronger than the demo songs in my opinion. The songs on the demo were more personal and about me lyric wise. This one varies more on topics. A song about dealing with alcoholism in my family, one about the music thse days not having much substance, one about people taking more personal accountability in the actions they take.

How did you hook up with Anthropogenic Records? What are your thoughts on the stuff they’ve been putting out so far? I’m hyped how good Wreak Havoc 7” is! 
We put on a show for A Better Hope Foundation last fall and they had a show fall through the day after. So we put together a last minute free show for them at our venue and a bunch of kids showed up and went nuts. They were excited that people cared enough to help out a touring band. In the past my old band and ABHF talked about doing a split but it never came worked out. So they approached Cowardice and asked if we wanted to. They said they had a label that wanted to do it already and it was Anthropogenic. So we said, hell yeah.

You’re serious about your lyrics. Care to tell us where do you find your inspiration? What are some of the songs that feel most personal to you?
To me, lyrics are just as important as the music. Lyrics can make or break a band or a song for me. I remember my earliest experiences with music sitting in my room listening to a CD for the first time and reading the lyrics along with it. I have learned so much from the music I listen to. I feel that not enough bands these days take what they say with enough importance as they should. There are very few times in your life you can say something and have it have a chance to change or affect what the person listening thinks or feels. Playing music and singing in a band is one of those times. I have seen what the power of your words can do. I have felt what they can do. I find the inspiration in everything around me. People ask me why I am so angry. My response is always, why are you not? Or, why do you hide your anger. My words may not be happy, but who is happy all the time? Because I have this outlet I am able to release that and not hold it in. If you met me in real life and only knew my music you'd be surprised. I am one of the most laid back people you will meet. But I just take those moments when you hurt, are angry, are sad and put them to paper. Every single person has those moments. Whether it is being unsatisfied with your life, losing a relationship, a death of someone close, seeing the horrible things that surround us every day and wanting to do something about it. Those are things that every single person will experience at one point in your life. Hardcore is just an outlet to not forget those moments and to deal with them. Your chance to have a voice and maybe say something someone will relate to and realize they aren't alone when they feel what they are feeling.

For me, the song Grandfather off of our 7" means the most to me. Mainly because what it is about is still going on. My grandfather was an alcoholic and drank himself to Alzheimers. The last time I went to see him he shook my hand when I left and said "it was nice to meet you." I've known him since I was born. To see someone spend their entire life just to forget it in the end is hard. An entire life to wake up in a world with no family and no friends, honestly and truely alone is terrifying to me.

I really like the story behind Shadow lyrics. In these economically unstable times it seems like more and more people are hitting hard time. Since you’ve been there and done that, what would be your advice for them?
First, here are the lyrics and my explanation off of our myspace to the song Shadow.
"I saw the light turn into darkness. Put out the fire and choked on the ashes. I struggled to catch my breath and almost lost my life. There is failure in the shadows. It's all I've ever known. Losing faith in everything makes you find yourself.
I got to a point in my life where I had given up on everything. I had lost my job, my own place to live, my relationship and I was left with nothing but myself. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Losing everything forces you to find yourself, who you are and what you want to be."

I wrote those lyrics after I had lost what felt like everything. So all I had was myself living back at my parents house at the age of 24. I spent time with just me. I thought about giving up on life. But realized that everything I thought I lost wasn't really much at all. I was so caught up in the idea that I needed all these other things to survive when all I really needed was myself. When you have faith in nothing else all you have is yourself. Which is the first thing you need to have faith in to survive.

Many of the songs you wrote speak about hardcore scene. What does it mean to you to be a part of it? What’s the essence of hardcore for you?
For me, hardcore isn't a scene. It is so much more, as cheese as that sounds. Hardcore is something you can be not only a part of but you can make a difference with it. You can start bands, put on your own shows, write your own zine, you can go to shows, you can sing along, you can talk to the members of the bands. The kids writing the songs are the same kids going to the shows. The kids jumping on your head are the same kids putting on the shows. As cliche as it is, it is who I am. What I have gotten from it I will take with me the rest of my life.

When it comes to hardcore-punk, who is your favourite lyricist today?
One of my favorite of all time is Greg Bennick from the band Trial/Beneath Earth & Sky. The words he put out on the CD "Are these our lives?" changed how I thought about music and the power of what you say can have. To me, the best lyrics can stand alone without the music.

How is the state of hardcore scene in Tacoma ,what are some other bands from your hometown we should pay attention to?
Tacoma is awesome. We have built something that blows my mind. The hardcore kids here have gotten together and built something great. We have our own venue(VIADUCT), our own fest(RAINFEST), kids that print shirts for bands, kids still putting out zines, a lot of kids that volunteer and make this all work. Not just in Tacoma, but the surrounding areas are just as good. Dangers wrote a song about a house in Bremerton that put on shows. Within an hour in different ways there is Olympia, Bremerton and Seattle. All have there own little communities that have a lot of kids and kids doing things.

How does the near future look for the band?
We just lost our original Guitar play, Donny. So we are getting a new guitar player, Caleb and getting him up to speed. We are working on writing and recording by June. Hopefully a full length. Just taking time and writing and making something we are proud of. I have a lot I want to say and am putting a lot into the new songs.

Anything you would like to add?
Thanks for doing this. Check out these websites for more info on what is going on in our area.
http://www.viaductvenue.com
http://www.nwhardcore.com
http://www.oursound.net

Abandon

Abandon is a California based Vegan/SxE band with a strong socio-political drive. Their newest release, "The Death of Urgency", was released on vinyl at Death of a Modernist records. For the CD version, contact xCatalystx Records.

Abandon is a California based Vegan/SxE band with a strong socio-political drive. Their newest release, "The Death of Urgency", was released on vinyl at Death of a Modernist records. For the CD version, contact xCatalystx Records.

How did you get hooked up with Death Of A Modernist and Catalyst records?

Death of a Modernist is run by a friend of ours, and it's a new label. Our upcoming LP is going to be their first release, and we are really excited about this. We talked to xCatalystx about releasing our LP on cd format, and they had heard some good things about us so they agreed to do it. Unfortunately, we've taken longer than we wouldve liked releasing our record but so far everything is going good.

Is it important for you to have it also available on vinyl format as well?

Some of us like to collect records and prefer the way music sounds on vinyl, so we thought that we would rather release it on vinyl and cd rather than just cd.

What's behind the title "The Death of Urgency"? It there any deeper meaning behind it?

"The Death of Urgency" is a line taken from one of our songs. The song itself deals with the topic of straight edge, and living a sober lifestyle as being more than just a choice but also an idea with radical potential. The lyric from the song states "the death of urgency is at the hands of diversion", and what we meant by this is that the urgency and yearning for a better world sometimes dies at the hands of intoxication and addiction.

Songs I've heard from you reminds me a lot of some of the stuff I was listening back in the 90', like Culture, Endeavor… Would you agree with this comparison and do these influences go beyond the music? I mean, most of those bands had a strong sociopolitical drive and the same could be probably said about Abandon.

Thanks for the comparison, it really means a lot to us. Some of the Bands from the mid-90s are some of our all time favorite bands. The influence of these bands definitely go beyond the music and into the realm of ideas. All of the members of abandon identify themselves as part of the vegan straight edge movement, and were all involved in different kinds of political and social activism.

How would you sum up the main message you as a band want to get across to the listener?

All of our songs have different messages, and deal with different topics, but our main message is that there is a better world, a better future for all of us: a life in a world and society that is free of oppression and discrimination, where egalitarianism and cooperation take precedence over individualism and competition; a world where it is possible to live in harmony with ourselves, with each other, and with our planet, and that it's a thousand times better than the bleak nightmare of a future that it's being currently created for us. The struggle will be enormous, but it lives on.

What do you guys do to get your message to the kids who haven’t heard about veganism or straight edge and not to falling in a trap of preaching to the converted?

You know what, I personally haven't thought much about this lately, but there have definitely been talks about starting to book shows and gigs with different styles of bands, so that we can reach a wider audience, especially here in southern California.

So tell me about a typical Abandon live experience and why kids who are not VSE should check out your band? What do you guys think about violent dancing?

We put a lot of effort, energy and emotion into our performances, so the shows are ussually very energetic and definitely loud. For kids who are into hardcore but are not VSE I would say that we also sing about different topics, such as religion, isolation, and the culture that we live in. We xo not support dancing that it's too violent and out to hurt people or create fights, as we see that this creates problems and rifts within our community, and makes some people feel unwelcomed in the hardcore scene, but moshing without being out to hurt people is fine.

In a time when it's hip to do drugs and celebrities like Paris Hilton are role models for the young generetion, do you think SxE is still a force that can bring some positive change in young people's lives and keep them from doing a lot of mistakes?

Definitely, it's still a powerful movement, and when I was growing up drugs were also cool and role models were terrible (I don't think there's been a time when this hasn't been the case) and straight edge helped me out immensely to stay away from drugs and not make bad mistakes when I was younger.

And personally, what was your reason to get involved? what do you think abstaining from drugs and alcohol changed in your life?

I remember having gotten a hold of a couple of Crass and Conflict records, which at the time blew my mind. Their message about social control and the way the elite and ruling classes can benefit from a drugged and doped population to stay in power really struck a chord with me. Eventually I also got the Minor Threat records, and absolutely fell in love with them. Around this same time one of my closest family members drank themselves to death. From this point on I decided to live a co pletely drug free life. As time went by, I saw some of my closest friends fall into the downward spirals of addiction and ruin their lives in the process. Abstaining from drugs and alcohol has helped me avoid all of this, it has given me a different outlook on life itself, and the role that intoxication has within our culture and our communities. It empowered me at a young age to make decisions for myself rather than fall to peer or cultural pressure, and it has saved me quite a bit of money, hehe. It has definitely been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

How do you feel about hardcore scene nowadays? What is the most interesting aspect of being a part of it?

It definitely retains the potential to be an incredible thing, but as of right now I feel as if the hardcore scene is underperforming. The most amazing thing is the dedication that members of the hardcore scene display towards their communities outside of shows and gigs.

Who are some underrated hardcore bands that you think deserve more attention?

I am originally from Chile, and I've been living in the states for about 7 years. Two of my favorite Chilean bands are Contra Todos Mis Miedos and To Feel Alive. Another band that I think is absolutely amazing is The Separation from northern California. I am currently on tour with them, and they are incredible individuals. One of my all time favorite straight edge bands that I also think is really underrated is the now defunct Time For Change from southern California

Anything you would like to add?

Go vegan! And if you have questions, feel free to write to me.

Band at Myspace

Shut The Fuck Up - Scumbag

Shut the Fuck Up are from Indiana and their style places them somewhere between classic NYHC sound like Breakdown and hateful style of One Life Crew.

First Blood touring Europe in July and August

First Blood will be touring Europe this summer. Here are the dates:

July 16th Schweinfurt, GER – Alter Stattbahnhof
July 17th Hartberg, AUT – Burning Season Festival
July 18th Cluj-Napoca, ROM – Irish & Music Pub
July 19th Presov, SLO – V-Club
July 20th Krakow, POL – Face2Face
July 21st Poznan, POL – Pod Minoga
July 22nd Siegen, GER – Vortex
July 24th Linkoping, SWE – HC Festival
July 25th Hamburg, GER – Logo
July 28th Trier, GER – Exhaus
July 29th Lille, FRA – La Chimere
July 30th Viveiro, SPA – Resurrection Fest
July 31st Karlsruhe, GER – Stadtmitte
August 01st Bologna, ITA – Blogos
August 02nd TBA, SWI – TBA
August 03rd Zurich, SWI – Werk 21
August 04th Ingolstadt, GER – Paradox
August 06th Essen, GER – Filled With Hate Festival
August 08th London, UK – Underworld
August 09th Manchester, UK – Star & Garter
August 10th Southampton, UK – Joiners
August 11th Plymouth, UK – White Rabbit
August 13th Villmar, GER – Tells Bells Festival
August 14th Torgau, GER – Endless Summer
August 15th Prague, CZE – 007 Club
August 21st Amsterdam, NET – Winston
August 22nd Landgraaf, NET – Oefenbunker Landgraaf
August 27th Greifswad, GER – Baltic Sea HC Fest
August 28th As, BEL – Vlamrock