Life Of Agony limited pre-order
During the next couple of weeks you can pre-order the "20 Years Strong | River Runs Red: Live In Brussels" release with an exclusive "20 Years Strong" t-shirt for only 19.99. A beautiful digipak package, with foldout poster, holding a full length CD and DVD of Life Of Agony's 20th anniversary performance in Brussels, Belgium. The DVD also features bonus material and the "20 Years Strong" documentary.This is a limited and exclusive offer so take advantage of this great opportunity today. Place your order here. Pre-order ends on July 9th in Europe and July 16th in the rest of the world.
Killing Time - Three Steps Back
Well. 14 Years later, we have a new Killing Time. I wanted to put this in before the interview, so as to eliminate all bias. Here we go. Overall, this music kicks ass. That could be the review: plain and simple; direct and blunt; no frills - like a Killing Time album.
The songs are all under 2 min; no emo singing, no experimentation, no post-hc influence, no gimmicks, no leaps of faith. The fact that they are the original 4 plus one - solidifies this classic ensemble. (Anthony Comunale, vox; Carl Porcaro, gits; Anthony Drago, drums; Rich McCoughlin, gits; Chris Skowronski, bass)Responsible for the first Breakdown material, Raw Deal demo, and the Hall of Fame "Brightside" lp, this line-up has written music together for 25 years. And it comes across with a blistering slap as they synchronize seemlessly. The production holds the tough feel, while leaning towards a crisp sound that lends itself to each individual's actions and a cohesion that melds indistinctly. This lp is mixed so well. I can pick out the bass, which frequently deserves the spotlight. Nothing is done on those four strings by the numbers here. Decisions in writing and in mixing let the nuances perk up with flair. The guitars play well together. Often, we have a solid, focused riff; while simultaneously leaving space for the lead to play around and wander. Vocals are flawless. Not aged one bit. No stupid ass singing. Just a spoken, fierce delivery of throaty sage to explain what's fucked up with this world and the ugly ways in which people interact with each other.
To do the "for fans of" thing; in case you are new or haven't tuned into Killing Time in 20 years... First off, i think of the much younger, Philadelphia based
The Virus. The vocals are dead on and the music is the same. Anyway, since these dudes sparked this style, lets compare. Think Ag Front- LAJFA/One Voice. Murphy's Law fast spite and spunk mixed with Inhuman's stark stomp with a dash of Cro-Mags. True NYHC. Think Poison Idea - BVBO/FTD and The Pist. Maybe KYI hopped up on steroids and sarcasm. Maybe Bane and The Wretched Ones have a quickie in the men's room while MOD watches? Think when NRSV plays a 'catchy' song... i don't know. Did you get Colletti's "Loved & Hated' or the mighty Against the Grain? This is like just a step away from that. the perfect amounts of Terror mixed with Gorilla Biscuits. Anyway - if you like any of these bands, kneel and pay homage to Killing Time.
This is a true collaboration, all members are credited with music and lyrics; coupling up and writing solo. A true group effort.
This isn't "Brightside Pt II". But it isn't "The Method Pt II" either. This album would have felt like the natural, gradual step in between the two. There is a maturation in this album, but there are tons of "Brightside" moments. More than moments, this is actually pretty akin to "Brightside". There's no denying that these guys honed in on the 'method' or, er, sound, that they created. This album could have been recorded in '88. Rest In Pieces/AF/Breakdown/Killing Time feel, through and through. There are some metal parts, some rock parts, mostly punk parts; but they are all liberated by the heavy hardcore that these dudes originated. Killing Time has grown, but not changed.
welcome back.
thanks guys.
1. "Flight Plan" kicks right in with a straight 4/4 drum beat, quick riffing, and some screaming guitar. Anthony Comunale comes in with his voice in the same exact shape as any other KT output. the riff is heavy and fast. This is pure NYHC. No apologies. at 1:20, we get a vicious breakdown that rivals any band of kids that grew up on this shit. The lyrics are peppered with a refrain of "fuck them!". It is a phrase that is a flippant response to anyone that might degrade those of us that live a hardcore/punk lifestyle; eschewing all the benefits of productive responsible lifestyles. We get some pretty damn good benefits out of this life. Tangible, visceral ones that feed people's desires that they do not reflect on til they fuckin retire.
2. "Spaceheater" jumps right in with NYHC old-school flavor; a touch of late '80s but not too crossover. Some slow sludgy parts provide a nice kickboxing soundtrack in between the comfy riff that propels the fast parts. This is classic.
3. "24" jumps in with a quick riff that is laid with what is followed by a dissonant lead the elevates the tune. The drums pounds away with speed. This tune is a touch more punk. It has a bounce to it. This tune blazes by at 1:44, not a second wasted. The vocals bounce with the sound; and gang chants are added to bring that punk feel home. Amazing.
4. "Cropduster" continues on the hardcore punk trek. We get beaten with a pummeling, gritty beat and moments of the bass being jiggled at chaotic speeds. A clean riff carries the song through what we want; 2 quick verses and then a rolling breakdown with gang chants. It picks up and builds at the end to culminate into an exhausted exhale.
5. "Mingus" comes in with a punky-new school gallop that has me dancing in the mirror. i can see the kids running side to side and picking up change. A nice nod to the 2000-era bands that expanded on KT's sound. Every thing comes full circle, i guess. It has depth with the guitar lines. There is more going on in this song. Adding to a youth crew feel is a presence in the bass that grasps the listener. The lead guitar is allowed to go astray more and is featured. While, it is not something i always look for in my HC - it certainly does not detract.
6. "The Accident" a good mid-level stomp. the drums really push the bass, which is promoted in this mix. it diverges off the simplistic path and adds a level of groove to this joint. The vocals are fierce and contemplative. there is a catchiness to the main guitar line, especially in the chorus that will get you singing along. The bass lays this foundation well. The leads, again, add little squeals that will have Carl from ATHQ basking. "We've all been searching the wreckage" is chanted at the close and provides a nice coda.
7. "Rope A Dope" This tune leans more towards that punk hardcore feel. Not Bad Religion catchy, but Murphy's Law. All the instruments meet a nice middle ground. Each is allowed to shine and titillate in the mix , while they all complement and yield to each other. There are two parts that step back a touch - dying for a cavalry of sweaty bald guys to pick up change! and i will be right there. good shit.
8. "Inheritance" my first reaction to this was that has a splash of 'rock' in it. I mean, it's a hardcore song. And not like a Brookyn Biohazard/LOA groove, but just a little more rock than other tunes. Listening to it again and again, the parts in this have a down stroke feel to the riffing, a retarding effect, almost. it allows us to catch the riff and dance. Its good. it is a nice pause.
9. "Half Empty" No resting! Let's go! Speed picks right back up wit this one. and a chorus of chants ("Half Empty!") rest on a fierce gallop of drums and bass, as we forge a path of ash from the suckas that stood still. Boom! A solid breakdown in the middle lands expertly. Which then picks right back up to cruise throughout the rest of this strong song. Probably in the top 5 of the album.
10. "Lookout" yeah. you should. Pile on right away. Music and gang vocals paint a picture of the singer getting forgotten under like 50 kids on the edge of the stage. AC emerges from the crowd to growl over the bouncing, wiry riff. Drums concretely establish the standing beat, over which all of the instruments convene to add to the frenzy.
11. "Crouch" ..."don't be a pussy, boy!" yeah. Don't. Jump up and do your own thing. This tune crushes.
12. "AKB" Somehow they lifted a 1987 Anthrax stomp for this. it works. "Everyone's out to get me!" and "Leave me Alone" are the constant repetition of these lyrics. And the metal riffage adds to the paranoia. There is a quick, but crisp bulky breakdown in the middle. The song is harsh and tough. perfect.
Review by Hutch from Empty Hands blog
Label: Dead City Records
Year: 2010
Band's website
Suburban Scum - Internal War
After impressing demo I’m glad to say that Suburban Scum have pumped out some nifty shit with their debut album. It’s pretty much amazing how they managed to pack so much hostile, grimy and anti-social vibes into such a short record.
The musicianship is top notch and the compositions are equally skilful put together. The guitars lay down a wall of sick riffs while the drumming is downright punishing, creating very brutal songs that never go down in intensity. The songs are far more diverse than your average hardcore band without using any of that clean vocals or metalcore bullshit. They don’t go over the top with song writing though, they just keep it stripped down and vicious and that’s the way I like it. There isn’t a weak track on the album and somehow their brand of hardcore is more vibrant than anyone else’s in the same bracket. I’ve heard a lot of people comparing them to Trapped Under Ice and I could agree to some extent, but they definitely have a style of their own. I also gotta mention the awesome front cover and the whole package of this CD in general. It makes it worth investing your hard earned money into this then just downloading it off Internet.
This record is one of the best examples of what I think is one of the most promising areas in hardcore today. From old school to new school, from mosh to circle parts, Suburban Scum fuses all these elements together with skill and a sharp eye for detail so the outcome is nothing but one of the best albums I’ve heard in recent months. Hardcore is once again reckless and antisocial!
Review by Dloogi
Label: Ride The Fury
Year: 2010
Band's website
Purification reunion tour
More dates tba!
17.07 Rohr/Hartberg – Burning Season Festival (AT)
23.07 Plzen – Fluff Fest (CZ)
31.07 Aachen – Musikbunker (GER)
02.08 Paris – Pixi (FR)
03.08 Zurich – Dynamo Werk 21 (CH) + FIRST BLOOD
04.08 Augsburg – Circus (GER)
05.08 Mannheim – Red Box (GER)
13/15.08 - Ieper Fest (BE)
17.07 Rohr/Hartberg – Burning Season Festival (AT)
23.07 Plzen – Fluff Fest (CZ)
31.07 Aachen – Musikbunker (GER)
02.08 Paris – Pixi (FR)
03.08 Zurich – Dynamo Werk 21 (CH) + FIRST BLOOD
04.08 Augsburg – Circus (GER)
05.08 Mannheim – Red Box (GER)
13/15.08 - Ieper Fest (BE)
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.
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!
