Decades - Cigarette Burns

New song from Decades, Fort Worth, Texas based hardcore with a dirty punk rock twist.

Show Of Force - Pressure

This is new song from Show Of Force and it's tough as f&*k. Those guys obviously know how to play NYHC influenced tunes and I wish more kids would pay attention to what they're doing!

Edge Of Spirit - Destroy

Edge Of Spirit is one of the best hardcore bands that Japan got currently to offer. This is Destroy - a new song off their 4th album "Edge Of Spirit" which will be out on December. Stay tuned!

Overlord

I've never been into 'ex-members of' hype but when you got guys from one of the most respected bands in European hardcore teaming up for a heavy, mosh driven hardcore, you gotta pay attention. Overlord is made up of people who played previously in Born From Pain, The Setup, Diablo Boulevard and Leng Tch'e. Their mission is to deliver the heavy, metallic hardcore sound the way it was played when Under The Knife came out.

Introduce yourself to the world… who is who and how did Overlord come about?

Nicolas: I'm Nicolas and I play bass in Leng Tch'e and Overlord. I joined because all the guys in the band are longtime friends of mine and I thought it would be fun to play in a no-nonsense straight up hardcore band for shits and giggles. And what do you know, people actually enjoy it.
Dries: Overlord is also Andries (guitar+backings), formerly The Setup (co-founder) and Born From Pain and currently main songwriter in Diablo Boulevard. We’ve got Serch on drums (and also hitting hard in The Setup and Bear) and myselfs on vocals (I used to do vocals in The Setup). Actually Overlord was already formed about 4 years ago when Andries, Serch and Nicolas wanted to do a no-nonsense heavy hardcoreband together. At the time Kris (who now sings for The Setup) was doing vocals. They rehearsed for a while and even recorded about ten songs but those never were released and the project never really took off. Last winter we decided to breath some new life in the project and I (who at the time had decided to quit The Setup) was asked to do vocals. Right now we’re finishing off 4 songs from the old recordings but with the vocals from Dries and we hope to release them as a 7” or MCD pretty soon. We’re also playing some shows to get out there and kick some serious butt.

Born From Pain, The Setup, Diablo Boulevard, Leng Tch’e – this list is pretty impressive. How Overlord is different from what you did in your previous bands?

Dries: I think the biggest difference is the way we see Overlord. It’s a spontaneous project without any pressure, ambitions or “musts”. Most of the guys play in bands with heavy touring shedules so we play whenever we can but most importantly whenever we feel like it, without any pressure. The band’s got simple rules: we want to play heavy hardcore, it has to be real good but we keep it simple and we don’t over-rationalize when we write songs. That keeps it all really fresh and fun.

Do you feel any pressure because people might expect more from you because of your past bands?
Nicolas: Personally I don't because my other band plays in a radically different scene and I don't see those two scenes (extreme deathmetal/grindcore and hardcore) crossing paths anytime soon.
Dries: of course people got expectations when they learn about the people involved in this band. Because of our past and current or previous bands we owe it to ourselves to try at least NOT TO SUCK?. But since this is a project we do just because we love hardcore and we don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone we just enjoy it and don’t care too much about expectations and what not..

Your music doesn’t bullshit around anything and is pretty much delivered in a raw and straight up heavy way. What inspired you to play this kind of music?

Overlord: We all have our roots in hardcore, most of us got into the scene more then a decade ago and we all share a mutual love for heavy hardcore and heavy music in general. We draw influences from the heavy NYHC bands, Hatebreed (Under the knife, Satisfaction, Perseverance-era) but also metalbands like Crowbar, Down.. We just wanted to do a band without too many frills, a band that’s just straight-up heavy. We enjoy playing together and it’s just a great outlet for all of us.

Is there any lyrical theme behind Overlord? Do you feel that playing in a hardcore bands is like some kind of mission to get your message across to the listener?

Dries: The lyrics are the music and vice versa so don’t expect any lightness or happiness there? Overlord is an outlet for anger, the more dark emotions. That can of course mean anger about socio-political issues but also stuff that’s coming from a personal point of view. I mostly write about the world I know but in Overlord I sometimes experiment with the lyrics and more specifically with the point of view and address some issues that aren’t necessarily mine. It’s not all too artistic but for instance I wrote a lyric about the mind of serial killer, which was damn fun to do and a lyric that can also be a metaphor for other issues but a lyric that doesn’t mean I wrestle with same thoughts?

You guys have been here for some time now, I wonder how do you feel about the hardcore scene in Europe nowadays?

Overlord: When you’ve been around as long as we are you notice (big cliché coming up) things go in cycles. We had amazing times with local European bands drawing tons of people to shows and shit going through the roof but right now, for instance in Belgium, less people are involved in the scene, there are not that many shows and only big festival-shows (like the Persistance-tour) or really big bands like Terror, Madball or Hatebreed draw a big crowd. It’s not something to worry about. Young kids will always be attracted to hardcore cause face it, not everyone can relate to the world portrayed in popsongs or R&B or whatever. People are looking for stuff that says something about their live and hardcore will always be there for kids looking for an alternative, an outlet, a positive way to channel anger and frustration about stuff. Hardcore and punk will always bounce back.

The lamest thing about hardcore nowadays is…

Maybe it’s more superficial than it used to be. Kids nowadays don’t have to put in the effort to learn about hardcore and his history. It’s like you can become a hardcore-kid overnight. It’s all there on youtube, the internet.. Maybe that’s the reason why most of them don’t stick around for more than a few years. Maybe they get more easily bored, loose interest because they’re not really touched by the essence of what hardcore means…But then again, this could also be the talk of a jaded old bore so maybe all of this is just plain BS?

What are some European hardcore bands you would recommend?

Overlord: In our region (Antwerp) there are still a bunch of cool bands in all areas of hardcore: Your Highness (think High On Fire), Johnny Unstoppable and Pushed Too Far (both mosh/tuffguy), Bear (mathcore), …Other Belgian young guns like Poison my Blood (metalcore), Hessian (a bit like old Rise and Fall but with a twist), Black Haven (clevo meets sludgy metal), Violent City (NYHC), Get Wise (old school), Generation84 (melodic HC), Golden Bullet (Length Of Time, Congress), Midnight Souls (on Reflections),Trail Of Hope (old school).. Other cool and promising bands: All for nothing, Blood Trial, By My Hand, we all love State of Mind (underrated!), No Turning back (best european hardcoreband), Deal With It, For The glory, of course The Setup and Born From Pain ... Luckily there’s still a lot going on in Europe and luckily all sorts of bands..

What’s your opinion on the new Madball and Terror albums?

Dries: I totally love KOTF! I think it’s a brilliant record. Unlike a lot of people I know I also loved The Damned, The Shamed and I think KOTF is the ultimate mix between that album and the older stuff. It’s one big rush of adrenaline, energy and power but with enough influences to keep it edgy and interesting. The embodiment of the true hardcore-spirit. Like most of us I totally love Madball but I’m just plain honest with you: I don’t listen that often to the more recent albums. Not because those aren’t good or even great albums but it’s a curse for an iconic band like Madball: you get to know them with the classics and you seem to stick to those because they represent a certain era in your life, a certain feeling you associate with those records and unfortunately the new records never seem to grasp that same feeling. But nevertheless, I’ll be checking out the new record anyway.

Hardest hardcore band ever?

Hatebreed (especially end 90’s early 2K) and the usual suspects Cro Mags, Madball. Today Terror.

What can we expect from you guys in the future?

We’re finishing our first 7”/MCD as we speak so expect that one to drop pretty soon. We will keep on playing shows whenever we can and we’ll be writing new stuff. But knowing the agenda of all members we will never be the most productive band on the planet. Our main goal remains: kicking it hard on stage, having a great time doing so and enjoying hardcore to the fullest.

Check out band's Myspace

Crowned Kings

Crowned Kings is a new band from Melbourne, Australia with a tough, heavy sound. Those guys are influenced by some of my favorite bands, like Death Threat or Madball, and are pretty good at what they do. If you're into straight up aggressive hardcore, this one you must check out!

Could you introduce Crowned Kings to our readers and tell us something about the history of the band?

Crowned Kings was started when a group of mates in early 09' from different types of bands throughout Melbourne and had noticed the lack of straight up hardcore bands in our area. We wanted to go watch these type of NY/LA/straight up hardcore style bands, so we thought we'd start our own.

What have you released so far and how would you describe your style?

We recorded a 5 track demo with Samuel Johnson (50 Lions, Samsara, Toe To Toe, Against, etc) at 3 phase studios in Melbourne a few months after we started jamming.
We like to think that our style is tough, in your face hardcore., but we'll let you decide.

What bands had the biggest influence on your sound? It seems like you’re really into American scene, NYHC in particular – is that correct?

We like Madball, Terror, Death Threat, 25 ta life, Gravemaker, Donnybrook, Trapped under ice , Blood for Blood, No warning, etc etc etc you get the idea haha

Reading your lyrics it becomes apparent that you’ve got something to say to the listener. What are the most important issues you deal with in your music?

Some of the lyrics are about how the hardcore scene has changed, and how the label and word of hardcore has lost its meaning a little, with so many bands claiming the label of hardcore to their music without actually living or appreciating what hardcore stands and started for. We want to bring back the friendships and fun of going to shows and that feeling of being accepted no matter who you are or where you're from.

Does it feel like a mission for you to drop some knowledge on the listeners, or it’s more like an outlet for a personal feelings and issues?

Its a little of both, its mainly personal issues and whoever wants to listen can take what they want from our lyrics. Some songs will have different meaning to different individuals.

You guys are unsigned for now. Are there any plans for finding a label?

We are writing now and looking to record a full length next year at some stage.
Wanna sign us?? haha www.myspace.com/crownedkingshc

Give us some info about the Australian hardcore. Are there any bands over there you’re stoked on?

These are some of the bands we think have kept true to their hardcore music and we love watching them when they are touring through Melbourne
Mindsnare, Toe to Toe, Against, Miles away, 50 lions

What are some of the albums that really made an impression on you in 2010 so far?

Terror's new record is on high rotation with all of us. New Donnybrook, Toe to Toe and Miles Away are all fucking good as too

Any bands outside of hardcore genre you listen to?

Midnight Oil
Cold Chisel
Aussie Hip Hop
Rap

What are some future plans for the band? What should we expect from Crowned Kings in the upcoming months?

Playing plenty of Shows and planning our first national tour, keep an eye on our myspace for dates.

Check band's Myspace.

Terror - Keepers of the Faith

First off, i love Terror, so if you hate...why read this. i still can be objective, and will list where their strengths and faults are. A quick synopsis to gage my opinion verse yours...

they came out, i ignored them. i hate over hyped "ex-members of" shit. Then i saw them. I am a judgmental asshole. this band kills. I have loved each Scott V band, anyway. "Lowest of the Low" rules. "Underdogs" was awesome, but felt a little stiff in production; but an incredible album. "Hard Way" - perfect. "RATC" was a great release to tide us over. I play it frequently. "TD,TD" i go back to it the least. a solid release, but i think the Zeuss production tried to push them into something they weren't. Although that said, "Voice...", "Relentless...", "Never Alone", "What I Despise, and "Let Me Sink" are some of their best songs. and i never subscribed to them falling off when Carl or Todd left. Buske and Frank 3 Gun, and Martin are some of my favorite personalities in hardcore.

Songs like "Push It Away", "Out of My Face", "Lost", and "Disconnected" are my tops from these dudes.

SO - i loved "KOTF" 7" that came in July.
and let me also preface this with i was this biggest, loudest naysayer of Chad Gilbert. i was frightened. and again, i am a judgmental asshole. i was fuckin' wrong. This man produced what maybe the best Terror album. "KOTF" find these cats at the peak of their game.

This album is loud, fierce, and angry. Scott's voice has(miraculously) remained strong through 2 decades of screaming. His lyrics won't challenge Keats or Joyce, but he has matured and still loves representing hardcore. I love hardcore (at age 33) and i love seeing other dudes my age still engaged; never mind dudes still enraged and shouldering a scene.
Another aspect i always appreciate of Scott is the lyrics included; with a prose description/explanation *(so buy the bitch - do not just download it). Perspective and personal experience make it uniquely Terror. I feel a kinship through his words. This hardcore scene; this quagmire of outcasts and outsiders become something purposeful and beautiful. Scott's focus of lyrics are decrees and pacts to his family, friends and 'fans' (for lack of a better term). But that's the point of hardcore - 'fans' become brothers and peers. And these denouncements of society's sheep, these clones, these weak ones - our universal derision and condemnation of those types is our bond.

The songs are short and vicious. Nick Jett still gets a huge sound as the backbone of this roadworn outfit. Guitars are crunching and heavy. Drums are pouncing and rigid. Gilbert really did mix this well and extract prime output from each of the players. The formula remains the same. Dance, pile on, pound the chest, and head-nod. bring the mosh and finger point. Glorious. I could have used a breakdown or two more -but this bitch moves fast forward and lots of two-stepping parts.

"You find strength in what you hold in your hand - that's not for me - i'll stay free"

And again, they expanded on the foundation of the formula - this is not hc paint by numbers. Please do not think i blur eac song together They have a formula without being formulaic. I mean, hardcore ain't ELO or Zappa. This is a hardcore album; not even a "genre crossing metal-core album". There are elements of metal - tight riffs, a few leads and dive bombs; definitely some thrash in here - bits of Anthrax/DRI/Metallica *(yeah...the "Only Death" song is an old Metallica style riff; not Motley Crue! You watch your tongue!). They just keep the foundation the same.

This is fight music. These are anthems for the hurt, burdened, forgotten, scorned, furious; those of us who see a fucked-up world and our own contributions in the scourge called 'humanity'. But with a little wisdom and experience, we can move forward and be better than the mindless. Or at least be with those like us. "These are the sounds of the underworld."

This album - whatever you may think of these dudes or there work - tour relentlessly and bring the true spirit of hardcore to the stage and disc.
Raybeez is looking down proudly.
"Always Keep the Faith"

For fans of Terror.

Standout Tracks: "Stick Tight", "Shattered", "Stay Free", "The Struggle" - ...ah, i just picked all the "S" songs....listen to them all, really - there is not a bad song on this. "New Blood" i s bad-ass and Toby2o pops in.

This review was taken with permission from the excellent Empty Hands PVD blog.

Label: Century Media
Year: 2010
Band's website

Madball - Empire

I have loved the last two Madball Albums (well, i love all of them) - but the last 2 have just been amazing. The spark of adding Riggs and Mitts has catapulted these guys into full dedication mode. Touring non-stop and 3 lps in 5 years; scan't stop, won't stop. And their live shows have been tight and energetic. But this is a new label, new drummer, and new producer.

"Empire" - well, this one is minus Riggs. He is missed. And despite Jay Weinberg NOT being in the band as i type this, he was on the album. And he does a superb job. But the chemistry of Mitts and Hoya and Freddie is undeniable. These dudes are on fire.

lyrically, Freddy continues to grow. I mean, it's still about the streets, but the streets in the context of this world, this government. The spirit remains the same, but the mouth through which these vocals are screamed is a wiser one. Freddy often is caught contemplating the struggle. He sees both sides of the coin. He sees the future and the past when arriving at a fork in the road. He can examine his old ways with lament and reason.

"And no this not about the scene, this is about the relevance in the bigger scheme of things" Freddy's social criticism and political leanings have become strengthened in the past 3 albums, and it is glorious. Good stuff. I mean, he ain't Jello Biafra or anything - but "us vs the system" has been honed in on some specifics. and nice shout of "fuck BP petro" made me smile. Speaking against the sleepwalking clones, the corporate thugs, the consumer, and the complacent.

Music: same formula - no dramatic twist. Just the best hardcore you can have. NYHC. Two-steps and gang chants for the listener to become possessed by. Fast crunching riffs; mid-tempo beats with a hip-hop bounce. Head walks and chest pounds a plenty. The mixing is classic Madball - time changes and channel drops while Freddy screams that lead into breakdowns. Not chugga chugga and breakdown saturated; the main focus is one the importance of racing forward.

That said - they got , who i guess is some Florida Death Metal guru (Cannibal Corpse, etc). He did a fantastic job. No crazy metal tendencies, just hardcore.

Some highlights: Brother roger comes on "Shatterproof"; the Paul Bearer intro to "Hurt You"; two new songs in Spanish; and "Tough Guy" - as i remark on Freddy's obvious maturation, do not take that for growing soft. and this songs harkens back to that sparkplug.

"Con Fuerza" has me throwing haymakers alone in my room and i do not know a lick of Spanish. The tracks "RAHC, "All or Nothing" that we got a peek at 2 weeks prior courtesy of Reaper Records got me picking up change. Invigorate, "Timeless", "Dark Horse" has me looking like a fool waiting for the buss as i shout at the telephone pole and point. i could go on - every song on this album kills. They are each made for the pit; and the revolution. Stand up and fight. And make sure this is your soundtrack.

Sadly, the album closes with "Rebel4Life 1 8" is about Hoya's wife that passed away. My condolences. That must be horrible.

This review was taken with permission from the excellent Empty Hands PVD blog.

Label:Good Fight Music
Band's website

DJ Muggs vs Ill Bill - Kill Devil Hills

So it has been 6 weeks since the release of this album. And I was waiting for months. Ill Bill was at the top of his game on "Hour of Reprisal". The variety of music and lyrical Influences were a relief in this disgusting quagmire of present pop music that passes for hip hop. On the other coast, Muggs has cranked out 3 dope albums under his "Vs" moniker. So this East to left collabo of two top performers had me stoked.

The other aspect of this that had me drooling was the talk from the two men regarding "the Album". Well, that and the proven track record from the two artists ( "Vs." x 3 from Muggs; LCN and "HOR" from Bill). my biggest complaint in hip hop - that we trace through the prior decade - is the lack of "the album". It can be seen that I do not decry in solitude by this past summer's Rock the Bells tour focusing on just that. But I would say in whole, the rap album where you can listen front to back without skipping a track is now an anomaly. Remember Cube, PE, Too Short, EPMD, Geto Boys? My analysis would render that these magical concoctions were due to producers and rappers being together. Physically and mentally. Seeing the album as an artistic product. GangStarr, Hill/House/Doobie, Wu, Beastie Boys, Tribe and certain others were products of this distinction: in-House producers that were part of the group, and hence, the creative process. Like these days, Ed O.G. & Pete Rock, JMT, Gza & Muggs, 7L & ES, M Polo & Torae - these cd's stand out. Think Primo and Guru, Sir Jinx and Cube, Kool G and Marley (or Jinx, for that matter), Ice-T & The Syndicate, PE with Bomb Squad, EPMD with Scratch, Dilated, rap-a-lot.

But these days, it is about the "single". Which has rappers paying producers to provide beats that they made alone; not specifically for a particular mc. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions through out history. Anyway, Muggs agrees and sat in a room, in a lab, with Ill Bill and they made an album. One that was a culmination of effort, energy, work, communication, compromise, and collaboration. *(damn, the "u-Massacre" lp had Meth, Ghost, and Rae record separately. And we wonder why there is a lack of chemistry?) So how did this end up....

Fuckin dope. What we get handed is classic Muggs, with a slight twist and Bill at his peak. A snare roll that opens up "Cult Assasins" morons into that marching beat that we heard on the
Muggs - Asia lp. We get a simple beat with a fuzzy bass and chants that keep that ethereal feel Muggs loves. Some space age funk twirls in and out to add atmosphere. Bill, as most of this album will be adorned with, lays lyrics obsessed with conspiracies and Illuminati and bible codes and such.

"Trouble Shooters" gives us an elaborate weaving of the same apocalyptic scenarios from Bill. Sick Jacken murders his piece. Sean Price Comes up and kicks a great verse of thug Vs brain type options. While OC rounds it out with a strong verse. Love that guy. Muggs gives a Rza type beat with that repeating stringplay enhanced by a Muggs drone and hum. Wraps it all up nicely.

"we got a black president, the aliens will be here soon" starts off "Illuminati 666". So with those "end of days" intro - you get the vibe. I'd say this is average Muggs beat, which makes it better than most still. This rocker has that synth stomp. and with introspection like "...meanwhile the mass-population consumes / i'm in a catch 22, too smart for my own good / intergalactical, too smart for my own hood / my x-ray vision sees through..." relays the scale of his thoughts and the grand weight of the mental burden this truth-seeker lays upon himself.

These songs are great, but the lp really kicks in with "Amputated Saint" with B-Real. This tune just lifts the energy level. Muggs beat is haunting with his chants and dusty drums. Crackles enter our ear to add to the ancient secrets Bill and B are discovering and enlightening us with words of wisdom. B-Real spits "they got hell to pay and i got hell to raise..." as i smile. Drugs and violence lace the entire album, and B-Rizzy sums it up: "We got the greenery and heavy machinery / life don't mean a thing to me - bitch, enjoy the scenery". The is the message encompassed. Life is a hard trek, get high and enjoy what you got. live for today.

Bill knows how to write a hook. And these paranoid warnings provide the fertile fodder for Bill to strengthen that skill. The entire cd keeps your head noddin' with provocative flows repeating.

The next jam has LCN brothers Slaine and Everlast join Bill on an Indian sitar loop and a catchy snare clap. Chanting weaves in and out to add that spark. Bill kicks "use computers To rob commodities/ abuse technology / Produce monopolies/ google and YouTube robbery" to school the listener in a verse that is spoken to teach. Slaine slams a stellar spit and i am high just listening to the hypnotic beat. Ev kicks a simpler phrasing, but kicks it with a punch.

That next song ( is centered around an electro-synth loop that i expect Lil Wayne to jump on...i get a little apprehensive, but as soon as Bill spits i cannot deny that it bangs. i quickly adjust. Muggs still whoops out his Marching head banger feel on the beat. And some audio tweaks to some speech part helps. I also hear some metal sword clanging in the background. Ill Bill calling "Sarah Palin is a Wu-Tang fan" makes me chuckle. But the defining moment for me is Q-Unique..."in the constellation of rappers, i am the top star / superbad, mclovin', shootin the cops' cars /yeah we all loadin the clip and feelin the heat / but y'all aint' killin' the street / like Ill and Unique". Boom! and when he spits - "Fox News Room, where my sanity dies, cause i get more truth out of Family Guy". whooooo!

the slow crawl of drums and a whistle lead us into "The Owl" with a creepy guy talking some mob shit for a quick rest

The following 4 songs are absolutely incredible. Best beats one the album, bringing this shit to the next echelon.

"Millenniums of Murder" is a killer Horn march with crackles and gun shots that boost it to an epic feel. a disjointing Psycho type prickly horn carries in verse 2.
"Chase Manhattan" is a classic beat - total 70's soul tune. deep horns, wakka guitars, and layers of drums help us klisten to a bank heist story from Chef and Bill. Smoking. *( best line, "listening to Lamb of God, while i pack the Bong")
"Ill Bill TV" opens with a scream into a cloudy, dark hammond organ loop. crisp metal like pipes banging supply the head knock beat. Horns come in a little later. But the organ is so dope, it carries the whole thing.
"Secrets Worth Dying For" is another organ riff with a punch of drums. it is slower, but sick. I love organs (....hold the joke) and this is the shit. Chace Infinite guests.

This is by far the best beat on the whole thing. a somber piano with some of beat bass drums lay a foundation for a raw boom bap song. less is more. Add Vinnie Paz and B-Real on the track and you cannot lose. i feel like a bad-ass thug just listening. Intellect and bravado stomping. "The symbolism is just like a prison / i am trying to free you from your condition" - B-Real. A Gritty beat for the grittiest, Paz; with two other soldiers of the war.

We go out on a somber note, "Narco Corridos" has an eerie synth beat with pummeling drums and a haunting chant in the back. Uncle Howie often comes up with Bill and you see how the sorrow and reflection resonates with the wounded Bill. Sick Jacken comes up and tells and equally morose tale. a good song to end on.


Ill Bill is the master of multisyllabic rhymes a la Too $hort, Rakim and Kool G; or contemporaries Slaine, Eso or Apathy. This album has Bill never slowing his message or sound. His subject matter sticks with the conspiracy theory that takes up maybe half of his last album. This paranoia fuels the desire to fight the powers that be, hence the drug and gun talk; which is never brought up simply for novel effect or needless violent tales.

This album is a banger. no doubt. This album is New York. Dark, hustling, gritty, reality. And the samples, lyrics and names reflect the NY vibe and attitude. But Bill is never fettered by this, he still peers at the whole world and how he and NY fit into it. He examines the Big Picture with a fine toothed comb. Smart, articulate, and skilled rhymes are the solid pith of Ill Bill, and with a consistent producer, especially one of the tenure, talent and vibe of Muggs, is the perfect pairing. Get this now.
And then go read a book. Bill and Muggs will suggest both, i think.

This review was taken with permission from the excellent Empty Hands PVD blog.

Off! - 1st EP

Official Press Description: "The first release, the succinctly titled 1st EP, is a limited edition 7" that comes with an exclusive poster courtesy of Raymond Pettibon, the living legend responsible for Black Flag's overall visual aesthetic. LA-based OFF! features Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), Steven McDonald (Redd Kross), and Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless/Hot Snakes/Rocket From the Crypt). "

So...does the old guy still have it? Would you listen to this band even if KM was not in it? is it really good, or just good for an old guy?

YES! YES! YES!

This is Black Flag/Circle Jerks lo-fi craziness. Desperate screams and cursed pleas emit over strong riffs.

"Black Thoughts" taut and frantic. so-cal punk gem "I can't stop thinking black thoughts!" ...55 seconds

"Darkness" this must be a lost black flag song from '78. Incredible. Caustic howls scratch past Morris' throat over a dark riff.

"I Don't Belong" ..."i'm standing in the shadows and i'm pissing in the punch bowl". This one is a touch slower. a good creepy crawl stomp. 57 seconds of eerie and bitter.

"Upside Down" Big riff of (again) '80 level Circle Jerks feel. i guess you can say catchy - but not pop or melodic. this is gritty punk rock and roll. 47 seconds.

So. expect three more ep's at 4 songs a piece over the next three months.

Intense early hardcore punk fro the dude that helped create the sound and rebellion and energy of this distilled emotional music. Raw production and vocals bring home the paranoid and sinister spite towards nrmal society. Just as vicious and relevant as 30 years ago.

And again, it's not just sentimental. If 4 20 year olds in Texas were putting this out as their first ep, they would the same review.

and yes, cover art by Pettibon. damn.
*** and mario rubalcaba was always one of my favorite skaters and i had a deck by him i loved...new school.

This review was taken with permission from the excellent Empty Hands PVD blog.

Label: Vice Records
Year: 2010
Band's website

Ratface - Ratassed

Ratassed, first full-length of Ratface came out already in February, but since i was in hiatus during the time, i decided to do a bit late review. Ratface's first mcd Demon Dayz made huge impact on the Finnish scene at the time, bringing ultra-brutal and funny, thrashy beatdown hardcore back with a bang. Since the mcd, they have put out a S/T 7" on Fast Rock Factory and in February 2010 their first full-length came out on Fullhouse Records.

Ratassed features a good bunch of heavy, thrash-ridden hardcore, that has all the beats and breaks you would ever wish for a hardcore album. This time they got some hardcore all-stars on the board with them, starting with UK's most notorius beatdown band, Six Ft. Ditch's vocalist Peachey. On the title track Ratassed, they've taken one of the most known SFD lyrics and turned it into their own, as Peachey screams; "Get drunk motherfuckers, get drunk!". With a quite banger to start with, the album is what you'd expect it to be, energetic, metallic hardcore and with MC. Respektor's awesome, even rap-influenced screaming they're taking this shit to another level, again.

Song titles reveal more of what's to come, Nightwish 4 A War and Crazytown Coolio, won't let you down and to top it, there's markings on the artwork on every song if it's a "party-tune" or a "hangover-tune". Second featuring artist is David from Denmark's metallic hardcore juggernaut, Shatterproof, who's singing some inexplainable words, (in Denmark maybe?) on Burana 1000 and dropping a killer line in there; "Denland Finmark connection giving all you PC-kids a stupidity injection". I'm also sure there's something connected with ovaskainen räppikäinen on that song? More Booze More Sex features Pussy Rat Dolls on backup choir, it's very sing-a-long type of party anthem, heavy shit mixed with ultra fast shredding parts. Also finnish hip-hop is represented on Ratassed with King King Of Bling Bling, when Shaka drops some skilled bombs on the latter part of the song, working spectaculary well. Ending the "real" record is In Satan We Trust, with Respektor's old band mate (from Pitfiend days) Jakefiend, who nowdays sings for The Jacklads, they share some tender moments on worshipping of satan, of course, what else.

But this is not the end, hence the "Afterparty Area", where we hear hardcore band turn into a "reggae" band with I Don't Like Hardcore and welcome their last visitor, DJ Pataässä, delivering the final killing blow with; Güte Scheisse, an epic full on techno assault. Last two songs are very much at your own risk, so listen if you dare. Also note that you'll have to have a sense of humour to listen them, so tightasses (and dickheads!), don't bother. Ratface has proven that they are here to stay, they have kept on playing and having fun and there doesn't seem to be end in sight. For all fans of hardcore music in general, and who can take a joke, should really check Ratface out if you haven't yet. Ratassed is available on vinyl and cd, both formats available straight from the label, Finland's finest, Fullhouse Records.

This review was taken with permission from the excellent Killing The Legacy blog.

Label: Fullhouse Records
Year: 2010
Band's website