Overcome has returned

Official band's statement: Overcome has returned. But, this is not a reunion. This is a new era of the band. As time moves on life will always have its challenges and changes. Jason Stinson the front man and main song writer for Overcome lead the band through 7 years of these challenges and changes. All of them rewarding. For the last several years it was time to focus and do "life" apart from this band. Now a new opportunity has once again become a reality and Overcome has returned with new members and new music. More important than all of this isn't what has changed, but what hasn't and will never change. That is our purpose and our message. Be ready... a new flame is burning.

New Providence song: Vengeance Over Victory!

French war machine Providence has posted new song online on its Myspace some time ago. The new track is called Vengeance Over Victory and is taken from upcoming 7" King Of Klubz/Providence split which is due out in January 2011 on On The Attack Records. This will be limited edition! Mastered by Len Carmichael ( Shattered Realm, Nothing Left 2 Mourn, Barricade, CDC, Steel Nation, Barricade...) Providence has also announced "Time For Grievance Tour" in February, when they gonna play Belgium, France, Germany and Poland to promote this release.

Think Fast! signs No Turning Back - "Take Control" out April 19th!

Think Fast! Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of European's reigning hardcore kings, No Turning Back. The band just wrapped up recording their new full length effort, "Take Control" which will see a release on American soil on April 19th.

"I've known Martijn (vocals) for many years and have always admired his inability to slow down" comments Think Fast! co-owner Ryan O'Connor. "He doesn't seem to let anything or anyone keep his band from moving on and you have to respect that. We're very much looking forward to working with Martijn and the rest of the guys for the U.S. release of their new album."

Having previously released a slew of noteworthy material, including two albums under the belt of Bridge 9, No Turning Back is no stranger to the american hardcore/punk scene. The band has also logged countless miles of tour history, including support for modern contemporaries and legends alike - Sick Of It All, Hatebreed, Ignite, Gorilla Biscuits, Terror, and Bad Brains to name a few. Territory has never been hard to cover either. Last year alone, No Turning Back became one of the first ever European hardcore bands to hit exotic locations like China, Costa Rica, New Zealand and even South Africa.

Describing the album and meaning behind the title, vocalist Martijn Van Den Heuvel notes: "The record really is about us taking control not only as a band but also as individuals. This last year we had band members starting a van rental company for bands, a booking agency and even a workshop for custom built drum kits. The music and the lifestyle have become absorbed in our day to day lives. We feel Take Control is us documenting growing up and becoming adults while still remaining true to the ideals we had as 15 year old kids playing rudimentary music in our parents' garage."

With the release of "Take Control" on limited LP and digital formats, look for the non-stop work ethic to continue to be a driving force behind No Turning Back. Stay tuned for tour updates and more details on the release. Also, as a side note, this marks the first release of a European band on Think Fast! Records. United Worldwide.

Worlds Below - 7" and merch available now!

Worlds Below is a hardcore band from San Antonio, Texas with a members of Hardside. The band plays hardcore with a dash of metal, just in time for winter. You can pick up the Worlds Below hoodie,shirt, and 7 at Irish Voodoo Records webstore.

Pre-order for Hardside - Crucified 7"

Pre-orders are up at the Hellfish Family store for Crucified, the debut 7″ from Hardside. You can check out the title track on the 6131 Records blog. The release date is set for January 11th. The official info: Hailing from San Antonio, TX, Hardside play a no-frills version of their favorite bands like Biohazard, Meurader and Leeway. Bursting onto the scene in 2009, their demo spread like wildfire online and captured the attention of many the world over. Poised to release their debut seven inch entitled "Crucified", this will surely be at the top of many year end lists.

Boruta - Try To Tread Us

I don't know much about the band except they're from Poland, have not been around for long and this is their first demo so far. The cover artwork is one of the coolest I've seen lately - more creative way to let you know this is not a stuff for sissies than putting a big brass knuckle or a machine gun. When it comes to music, there's not much thinking to what they do - Try To Tread Us is in your face hardcore with a metallic twist, shouting vocals and all the usual stuff. Not to say that I don't like it, Boruta is not that bad but it's plain they need to put more practice and thought into their effort. The potential is here, let's see what can they do with it in the future. For now, this demo is ok, but could be better. Download it!

Parasitic Skies

In a brief description, Parasitic Skies is about veganism, straight edge and 90's metalcore throwback sound. The band has released a 7" Ep and full length album for Seventh Dagger where they execute some grim and gritty hardcore which takes as much from Earth Crisis as from straight up metal. Hardboiled caught up with the guys for a short interview about the new album.

In a brief description, Parasitic Skies is about veganism, straight edge and 90's metalcore throwback sound. The band has released a 7" Ep and full length album for Seventh Dagger where they execute some grim and gritty hardcore which takes as much from Earth Crisis as from straight up metal. Hardboiled caught up with the guys for a short interview about the new album.

First of all, thanks for doing this interview. What is the latest in the life of Parasitic Skies?

Mike: Well we are trying to put together a couple tours for this coming year. We will have a short NW tour soon followed by a larger East Coast tour w/ Withdrawal and another small NW tour in there as well. Hopefully we will also get to some other places we havent been to yet. But we will see.

So let’s get right to it – your new album is called The Descent. What brought about the name?

John: The Descent is the name of one of the instrumentals on the record. The song best represents the feel of the rest of the record and we didn't want to use one the names of the lyrical songs.

What did you want listeners to be able to pull from this album in particular? Do you think you have any social or political role as a band?

John: I don't really want to make people to feel good, I want them to be uneasy and unhappy with themselves. If you eat animals I want you to feel like shit about it. Our socio-political role is that we think we're right about everything and we want to rub everyone's faces in it.

How do you feel straight edge changed your life for better?

Mike: Well for me its the only way I can live. I was a drug addict and alcoholic when I was a teenager,So besides my distaste for it for other reasons. Its simply not an option. Moderation isnt something I can do.

John: Like Mike said, I can't do moderation. So straightedge keeps me focused, keeps me alive.


Your music is heavily rooted in metal sound, but in the way hardcore bands were doing it couple of years ago. Were there any specific bands or albums that influenced the writing of The Descent?

Mike: I listened to alot of Sepultura, Crowbar, Morbid Angel and Slayer and just created our own sound combining different influences.

And what currently active bands you admire these days?

Mike: I would never use the term admire. But I like alot of hardcore these days. Bands like Harms Way, Withdrawal, Lockstep, Losing Skin and Wolf City are all really good. But I still love bands like Earth Crisis, All Out War and Disembodied. There is just alot of good music going on right now in hardcore. I listen to alot of metal as well. Bands like Crowbar, Bolt Thrower and Immortal.

John: Burning Love.

Do you have any hardcore quotables that you live by? Any song lyrics that deeply touched you?

John: Our own.

How do you feel about the state of hardcore nowadays? And what do you think about the Seattle scene in particular?

Mike: Like I said before there is alot of really good music. Nothing revolutionary but
just good music. Seattle and the NW in general have alot of really good bands right now. Bands like Losing Skin, Unrestrained, Envision, Cascabal, the Helm, Heiress, Ill Intent, etc...And alot of newer bands coming up as well..

Seventh Dagger is a label that is in hundred percent dedicated to promoting sober, drug free lifestyle, did this play into your decision to work with them?

Mike: Not really, we dont necassarilly need to be on a label that we have much in common with, but its nice to have some similarities. Seventh Dagger treats their bands really well. And thats really important Because I have had some bad experiences in the past with labels.

John: Danny's a good guy who also knows how to run a business. That's exactly what I want from a label, that's all they have to be.

Is there any band you would like to see reunite?

Mike: I would love to see Prayer for Cleansing they never played the westcoast. And I could never make it out to their east coast shows. Other than that maybe Until the End. Alot of older bands I would want to see,I dont wanna see them as sellouts,so it wouldnt really work. Most bands that I like I have already seen. So there isnt much out there that I wanna see reunite. I am more stoked on current bands.

John: I already got everything I wanted.

What should we expect from Parasitic Skies in the future?

Mike: More touring here and there and eventually more music.

John: We're going to be a lot more focused with our activity this year- touring smarter not harder. It's gonna be a really good Summer.

Do you have any shout outs or anything that you would like to say?

Mike: Thanks to our friends and anyone else who has ever come to a show or helped us out on tour. And to anyone that does or supports direct action. Veganthis.org

Hardside

There is a long list of great hardcore bands that came out of Texas and Hardside is to make sure that flame never dies! Taking cues from bands such as Merauder, Life Of Agony and Madball, Hardside blends fast, aggressive riffs with a tight groove and sick hooks. The band is currently on tour across USA so make sure you check them out if they come any near your town.

For those unfamiliar with the band - what do you want people to know about the band and your music or message?
We are a hardcore band from San antonio texas, playing old school hardcore. no bullshit

How did you all meet and how long have you all been a band?
We've been friends for a while now, since fall 2009

What's the toughest struggle for the band like yours?
I guess it would be there is so many new bands and alot of bands touring so just getting out there and people giving us a chance.

What's the biggest wall to get over?
Probably it would be touring it s hard to tour when your a smaller bandwhen your doing it on your own its even harder.

For those who have not heard anything from you how would you describe band's playing sound?
Id say we sound like a mix of leeway desperate measures and merauder master killer if that makes any sense ha.

What have you released so far?
We have released a demo (welcome to hell) a two song cassette and a new 7 inch coming out in January on 6131 records called crucified.

Who are your strongest musical influences and why?
We all like a bunch of different kinds of music, some hardcore some not as a band id have to say kinda what we sound like.

And where do you draw your inspiration from when it comes to the lyrics?
Lots of different things man, past experiences to just things going on in the world today.

Tell me about band's performance element – what should kids expect from your live show?
We defiantly do our own thing something you just have to see for yourself i guess ha.

Tell us what you have coming up that we can check for. Plans, gigs and releases planned for the upcoming months?
We got a west coast tour coming up in december with our 7inch coming out in january then a run in march with our brothers in bitter end.

Any closing thoughts?
Thanks for the interview man. keep doing what your doing i support it

Keep It Real fanzine #10 out now!

The 10th issue of Keep It Real fanzine is out now! And what's inside? 52 A4 pages with colored cover and tons of hardcore goodness. Interviews with Fucked Up, AC4, Antimob, Lemuria, Ruined Families, Integrity, Bitter End, Throats, Glasses, photo report of the last Endstand & Manifesto Jukebox show in Finland, and perspectives featuring people from the scene writing on a topic they choose. Tons of reviews and usual stuff as well. Circulation: 700 copies. 3 euros for a single copy, 2 euros in wholesale.

Defiance, new album from Tear It Down out now

Tear It Down has come a long way since their first rehearsal somewhere in 2003, yet the line-up changes and different influences made them what they are today: a metal-core band that’s not afraid of trying out new stuff and blending different styles of music. With a lot of shows and 2 tours of Spain done, you know they’re skilled enough to make every show a fucking great one. You like trash, you like hardcore, you’re into beatdown, you like metal in every way…you found the band! 2010 will be an important year for TID: a demo, an MCD and a PromoCD were their first little steps towards the ‘bigger picture’ but this year they proudly present their first full length album Defiance! Recordings were done at the brand new Red Left Hand Studio by Sven Janssens (Aborted, The End Of All Reason, etc…) and mastering by Kris Belaen at CCR studios. The album is a mix of slow, fast and mid tempo. So you can expect a lot of alternation in and between songs. The album also features two guest-vocals being Wim (Crimson Falls) and Gebo (Strike With Vengeance). This also gives a whole new dimension to the band.The album is released on Clenched Fist records.