Spider Crew - Still Crazy But Not Insane
Trends come and go but you got to have respect for bands that do their own thing throughout the years with no fucking compromises. And I guess Spider Crew never had it easy, just try to remember how not even long ago it suddenly wasn’t cool to wear your hair short or go to the gym or you were almost a social outcast for not reading poetry to sleep every day and your pants were not tight enough. In times like this, when hardcore scene is in danger and the forces of evil have already raised its ugly head, albums from Vienna bands like Spider Crew, Only Attitude Counts and their countless other projects are like islands of sanity. This new album from Spider Crew, Still Crazy But Not Insane, is nothing you have not heard on their previous releases, but by no means I gonna hold it against them. I somehow knew what to expect and I got what I wanted. The music is still strongly NYHC influenced, bringing to mind bands like Agnostic Front or Madball. I mean, the title says it all, right? After latest Terror album, this is another brilliant tribute to Raybeez and his music and legacy. That’s all about good old school values in life - brotherhood, self respect, loyalty, perseverance, hardcore and tattoos. That’s what it is about – we all love when hardcore bands go more serious on what’s happening in the world, but I guess sometimes it’s also important what kind of person you want to be and how you want to live your life. It’s hard to point out a single best track. I definitely dig the title track, with a catchy chorus and strong vibe in general. Blue Blood Warrior and Egomaniac are also killer tracks, definitely something you want to smash faces to. Not to mention fast, pissed off songs like Revenge Day or My Life/My Rules, with up tempo beat and sing along craziness. Definitely a solid release from a great band!
Review by Dloogi
Label: WTF Records
Year:2011
Sicker Than Most signed to Goodlife!
Sicker Than Most formed in a house in Trenton NJ and were brought together by a series of horrible events that made us what we are. Since then we've grown into one of the heaviest bands to come out of New Jersey. Some have moved on but the ones who remain, are dedicated to bring nothing but songs that turn the dance floor into a warzone, topped with crowd pleasing sing alongs of a message that comes from our hearts. Full length CD coming soon on Good Life Recordings. Expect quality beatdown hardcore featuring ex-members of Clubber Lang! Check out Where We're At featuring James Ismean aka Stikman from Fury Of Five! [from mailbox]
New Blood: Lockdown
Lockdown represents Virginia hardcore scene with a heavy-ass sound which makes you think of bands like Bulldoze or Merauder. They already got pretty cool demo out, Born Guilty, which gives a good showcase of what they're capable of. Combined with some dark, but mean lyrics, you know it is worth checking out. We caught up with Matt, band's guitar player, to let us know the story behind Lockdown, future plans and other stuff typically discussed during hardcore interviews. Enjoy!
Lockdown represents Virginia hardcore scene with a heavy-ass sound which makes you think of bands like Bulldoze or Merauder. They already got pretty cool demo out, Born Guilty, which gives a good showcase of what they're capable of. Combined with some dark, but mean lyrics, you know it is worth checking out. We caught up with Matt, band's guitar player, to let us know the story behind Lockdown, future plans and other stuff typically discussed during hardcore interviews. Enjoy!
Who is who in the band and how has Lockdown came into being?
Lockdown is a 4 piece band. We have Dan doing vocals, Myself(Matt) playing guitar and vocals, Charlie on bass, and Dave on drums. We started in 2010, one of my older bands broke up and we got together and just started jamming some songs together and made a demo, and just been going from there.
Tell us something about Born Guilty? Why kids should check it out?
Born Guilty is the latest thing we recorded. If your into some sort of heavier hardcore its definitely something you want to check out. If you like Merauder, Bulldoze, Dying Breed, bands along those lines you will probably enjoy this.
What do you write your lyrics about?
Our singer Dan writes all the lyrics to the songs, but what I can tell you is that they are something that everyone can relate to. He sings about stuff that has happened in his life. They are all just very powerful, raw, and real.
Born Guilty is easily available for free download, but are there any plans to release it on a physical format?
We recently just put Born Guilty up for download, shortly after we got a couple emails from some people interested in putting it out. We are just waiting to hear back from them. Hopefully in the next couple months we will be able to say that we will have it out on vinyl.
Virginia has been producing some great bands in recent years, just to mention Naysayer, Fire And Ice or Down To Nothing, and the local scene seems to be blooming right now. What do you attribute it to?
Virginia does put out and has been putting out amazing bands. Down to Nothing, Fire and Ice, and Naysayer are all great bands, and doing really big things. I think its awesome to say I'm from Virginia and be part of this scene, I love it. I think what we attribute to it, is simply being from Virginia Beach. A lot of really good bands come out from the Beach, but not many people know about. So any way we can spread the word about them we do. There so many different sub-genres of hardcore that comes out of Virginia that there is something for everyone, which is really cool. We play more of a Hardcore/Metal Beatdown style, so I think thats the other thing we attribute to it.
Has it made it any easier to get their name out for bands like yours? And what are some of the bands who people from outside Virginia might still not know but they should check out?
A lot of really good bands coming out right now. Dead & Dreaming from Woodbridge are something you do not to sleep on, one of my favorites personally. Our friends in Paper Trail from VB just some new stuff out called, "Raw War," if you like heavy straight up hardcore check this out. Tough Luck, Break Away, and Upper Hand from Richmond are all doing really cool things right now. I could keep going cause there are so many good bands here.
What have been the high points and low points of being in hardcore scene?
Being in hardcore I've only had high points really. Meeting and becoming friends from all over the country is easily one of my favorite things about hardcore. Being able to see all my friends at a show in one place is awesome. Just the overall vibe that comes out of hardcore is awesome.
What do all the band members do outside the band and how is living in Virginia Beach like?
Aside from Lockdown, we all work and some of us go to school. We are actually kinda spread through out VA. Some of us live in Williamsburg and some of us live in Newport News. We don't actually live in VB anymore, but its were we go to all our shows and its where we call home.
I’ve heard you’re already working on some new tunes. Care to tell us something about it?
We are working on 2 news songs which we plan on recording in December for a split 7 inch with our friends in Dead & Dreaming. These two songs are easily the best songs we have written yet. They are heavier, faster, and harder. If you enjoy beatdown and heavy hardcore, our new songs are something you will want to check out.
Any last comments or shout outs before we finish?
Just want to say thanks for taking the time to do this interview with us. Check out all the bands coming out of VA, and keep and ear out for our new stuff. Hardcore Lives.
Alcatraz to drop full length on Demons Run Amok Records!
Alcatraz are back with their first Full Length! After releasing one MCD and a split 7” with Berlins very own Final Prayer, “Smile Now, Cry Later” will hit the stores 18.11.2011. Having an South America Tour and a short Europoean Tour with First Blood under their belts, “Smile Now, Cry Later” will be the next step on the Alcatrazs way to Olympus! Influenced by the likes of Death Threat, Ringworm, Integrity, Hoods and Buried Alive! “Fast, loud, aggressive, just the way we like it!” Pure and raw Hardcore without an placed attitude – but with passion and anger! Alcatraz featuring current and ex members of First Blood, Embrace The End, Execution Style, Allegiance, In Memoriam, Set Your Goals, and Breaker Breaker."The CD/LP contains also their long sold out Demotape!
Check out the shop for different colors: www.demonsrunamok.de
150 in Silver!
150 in White!
200 in Black!
Nails and Skin Like Iron to release split 7"
Bringing two energetic but diversified contemporary hardcore acts together in one pure and primal slab of wax, Nails and Skin Like Iron will collaboratively self-release a split 7” EP this January. San Francisco’s Skin Like Iron have already become a well-known entity in modern hardcore with nearly ten releases on such admirable dissident hardcore labels as Six Feet Under and React Records. The split leads off with two tracks of their melodic, yet abrasive hardcore, boasting an ambitious and emotive energy that many similar contemporary acts lack in severely.The B-side of this crushing joint venture is owned by NAILS, hailing from Oxnard, California (the same town as the legendary Dr. Know), and undoubtedly one of the most devastating acts within the present expanses of hardcore. As on their Southern Lord debut LP Unsilent Death NAILS get in, kill, and get out, just as fans expect on these two tracks, which are in fact a preview of what is to be expected of their upcoming full-length, now being constructed for release via Southern Lord in the first half of 2012.
This one-time pressing of 1000 copies will be split between a publicly available reserve of 900 copies on black wax and 100 copies on blue, available from the bands only. The artwork was handled by SKIN LIKE IRON’s Alex Capasso who has handled the art duties for previous releases for the band.
Stay tuned for preorder info, an exclusive stream of the release and more in the weeks ahead.
SKIN LIKE IRON & NAILS Split 7” Track Listing:
* 1. Skin Like Iron “Disappear”
* 2. Skin Like Iron “The Parade”
* 3. Nails “Annihilation”
* 4. Nails “Cry Wolf”
End Begins - One Step Forward, A Lifetime Back
For years Full House records has been responsible for putting out some of the finest hardcore from Finland. Let’s just mention records from bands like Bolt, Ratface, Cutdown or Down My Throat which all bring some real heavy hitting rhythms. The sounds of End Begins fits pretty well alongside those bands. While the main focus seems to be on keeping it heavy, the songs are varied enough to offer some groove and catchy hooks. It’s hard not to be repetitive playing this type of stuff and band’s influences are clear for all to see, but the album has managed to keep my attention from start to finish. First of all, although this is their first album, the band has been around for couple of years now and you can sense they got time to learn how to use their gear. The song are pretty complex, but thankfully not too sophisticated and there’s no overload of technical wankery. If I had to draw any comparisons, I would say late Madball, some Hatebreed, maybe some Merauder influences also thrown in for a good measure. Basically, you get the idea. The first track kicks things off with tough as nails riffs and pounding drums which basically establish the mood for the rest of the songs. Thematically, they are not breaking any new grounds, but it’s still some verses to bench press or hit heavy bag to. Plus, I give them mad props for boxing themed artwork!Review by Dloogi
Label: Full House Records
Year: 2011
Band's website
Bottomfeeder demo 7-inch out in November on World vs Cometh
World vs Cometh are taking pre-orders for Bottomfeeder demo on 7-inch format. Here's what to be expected from this release: "They wield the same devastating hammer as bands like Ringworm, All Out War and Palehorse." The band hails from Newark, Delaware, and includes current or former members of Dead & Buried, My Turn To Win, Antikythera and Set Ablaze.
