Onno Cro-Mag and Roger Miret launch Strength Records

[Official press release] One must be insane to start a new record label in these days of ever decreasing music sales. Two guys who were there from the very beginning just pulled it off! Onno Cro-Mag and Roger Miret (Agnostic Front) were brought together by the love for hardcore and punkrock 25 years ago. After teaming up on the successful “Worldwide Tribute To The Real Oi!” albums they had a dream of starting a new record label together. Here we are in 2012 and the dream has become reality. Strength Records stands for honesty, dignity and friendship. It will go back to the times when hardcore and punk was pure and without bullshit. Back to the roots and basics of the scene and is bound to become a family for bands out of all genres.

Strength Records is proud to announce the first two releases:

- The return of the old school warriors Hard Resistance (Belgium). Strength Records presents you their new album Lawless & Disorder on the 19th of May 2012. Hard Resistance have developed their own form of hardcore and metal with punk and crust elements, hard hitting riffs and up tempo songs what results in a massive wall of sound with aggressive, in-your-face vocals. The bands brand new songs will lead the old school term all the way to a present new sound.

- As a follow up of the successful “Worldwide tribute to the real oi!” albums, Roger and Onno now compiled a sampler with the best bands around today going back to their roots and covering the songs of their youth. Strength Records presents: “Respect Your Roots Worldwide”. Featuring: Terror, Rancid, Napalm Death, Evergreen terrace, Beowülf, Dropkick Murphys, Peter Pan Speedrock, The Generators, The Bones, Hard Resistance, No Turning Back, Hudson Falcons, Biohazard, The Unseen, Agnostic Front, Wisdom In Chains, Flatfood 56, Good Riddance, Deafness By Noise and many many more. Release date TBA.

No One Is Safe - Strike First Strike Hard

As a general rule, every hardcore band that got at least one member with tattoos on his head is bond to get a good review on this website. Luckily, No One Is Safe’s music would hold its own even if they were bunch of skinny jeans-wearing hipsters. But they’re totally not. On both musical and lyrical side, the album boils over with pride, anger and testosterone. Even though the production is quite slick, everything is raw and uncompromising as it should. From the fast parts to breakdowns, everything seems to be in the right place.

The heavy as fuck beats and massive guitar work provide a good foundation for dual vocal assault of Jouko and Timo. Those guys have both strong and aggressive voices which they carry with confidence and charisma. The things get even more intensive when they get couple of their mates to lay down vocals in some of the songs. Resist Forever is a monster of a song with bunch of people, like Matti of Cutdown, Abu from Third Man Down, Ville of Breamgod and Finnish rapper Eme, contributing their vocals. I like this type of crew mentality. The lyrics makes the package complete. No sissy stuff, it’s all about holding your own and standing up for your family and friends. Nothing too ignorant, but no poetry either. Bands like Cutdown, Bolt or Ratface have already proven that Finns got knack for this type groovy and aggressive brand of hardcore. No One Is Safe quite pretty well with those bands and I didn’t even suspect that album gonna be that good.

Review by Dloogi
Poolside Records, 2011

New Blood: 9th Step Interview

9th Step is a relatively young band out of Salem, Oregon that brings straight in your face music which draws as much from the roughest classic hardcore sound as from the meanest punk rock. So you can hear in their music familiar elements from bands like Agnostic Front or Negative Approach and even Discharge or Last Resort. Even if they are not at the level of any of those bands yet, they still go hard tho. I hope every one of you has checked their demo which we recently uploaded, Tear Me Down track is a banger plus you get ACAB cover as a bonus.

9th Step is a relatively young band out of Salem, Oregon that brings straight in your face music which draws as much from the roughest classic hardcore sound as from the meanest punk rock. So you can hear in their music familiar elements from bands like Agnostic Front or Negative Approach and even Discharge or Last Resort. Even if they are not at the level of any of those bands yet, they still go hard tho. I hope every one of you has checked their demo which we recently uploaded, Tear Me Down track is a banger plus you get ACAB cover as a bonus.

First off, tell us something about 9th Step. Who is who in the band and how long you've been around?
The idea of the band and where we all met was at a local (Salem, Oregon) all ages venue called the Wasteland. It was owned by a guy named Jared and a few others it wasn't like most venues it became like everyone's home and everyone became friends. Unfortunately, it had to close due to financial reasons.
9th Step is like a mix of a few of the bands played there. I, Tony Morse, came up with the name 9th Step because the 9th step of any "12 step program" is to make amends. I felt this would fit because everyone in the band past and present has gone threw some shit, done some fucked up things, and all you can do at the end of the day is try to make amends. I'd like to clarify that we are not an straight edge band. The line up is Tony Morse (vox) Austin Zepeda (drums) Andy Dornon (bass) Steve Smith (guitar.) I'd also like to thank past members who got the ball rolling Hyatt, "Spoon" and Sam. We have only been a full line up and playing shows since December 2011.

9th Step is heavily influenced by some of my favorite bands like Blood For Blood, Madball or Discipline. What draws you to that type of sound in particular?
Blood For Blood is personally my favorite hardcore band it embodies everything I love about music. The dual vocals work with each other perfectly, their hatred and contempt for society, and the music flows so well while staying so raw. That's where I draw a lot of my influence. But the theme behind all those bands is their raw old school, to the point, and draw a lot of influence from "oi" music, which I like hence; ACAB the 4 Skins cover. We basically take influence from all referent types of heavier music.

What about the lyrical content? Where do you go for inspiration?
Mostly feelings of struggle and oppression, battling with my own morals and with who I want to be. As well as many other social subjects but that's the basis of it.

Playing in a hardcore band can be rough, what gets you going to run 9th Step and how do you manage to balance personal responsibilities with the band?
Music is the only thing that I've really gave a fuck about, so I stay pretty motivated with managing responsibilities. We are not so good at this, Double A, Austin, and I are all jobless not counting random hustles of course. Steve is really good at this, he has a job, a girlfriend, and 3 bands I don't know how he pulls it off but I admire him for it.

What aspect or which band embodies the best of what's happening in hardcore currently?
There is a lot going on, but I would have to say Terror. They are always on tour, always putting out good albums one after the other, and keeping it raw and real! No fluff no gimmicks all while staying humble they deserve every drop of recognition they're getting.

And what embodies the worst aspect of hardcore scene of today?
Unnecessary violence! None of us are pacifists, but when it gets venues shut down and cops called its not cool, just take it down the street!

What are some other bands from Oregon you’re down with?
Get Wise (Hardcore/Punk) and Tides (Hardcore) are very promising new bands from Eugene! Proven and The Athiarchists, are also awesome bands. We played a few shows with a band called Buck Williams from Portland. Very good stuff. They deserve a lot more recognition! We also got all our Salem bands most of which not hardcore but homies all the same; Fuzzy Thunder (Psychedelic Stoner Rock) Skatter Bomb (Ska Punk,) Neversleep (Metal,) Tetramorphic (Metal,) ect.

This one is going to be hard, but what are the most defining albums in hardcore history in your opinion?
I don't know about defining but I'll put some albums that define hardcore for me; Agnostic Front: Another Voice, Blood For Blood: Revenge on Society, and Vietnom Death: Is the Outcome. There is a compilation album called The Worldwide Tribute To The Real Oi Volume 1 and 2. There are amazing Agnostic Front, Cocksparrer, Madball, Last Resort, Sick of It All, and Blood For Blood albums, the list just goes on!

Can you remember what the first hardcore record you bought was?
The first hardcore vinyl I bought was agnostic front Live at CBGB's.

Thanks for your time doing this! Anything you would like to add before we finish?
Hey thank you man your website is a real public service for bands, and your judgment and reviews are spot on. Everyone keep an eye out for our full length demo coming in the next few months. For the readers check out our Facebook. The demo is free in the download section of this sight. Thanks and as always, Fuck the police.

Necks & Ropes album by Reality Slap is out now

Lisbon’s Reality Slap goes straight for the throat with their second studio effort, “Necks & Ropes”, which has been just recently released by Hell Xis. The raging album boosts 22 minutes of early and blood curling hardcore that relights the flame and burning spirit lay down by classic acts like Cro Mags, Agnostic Front, Madball and Terror. It’s a full-on assault full of heavy and hard-hitting riffs, fist-pumping and thundering. The features include: Winston Mcall (Parkway Drive), Justice Tripp (Trapped Under Ice), Mike Ghost (Men Eater) and Poli (Devil in Me).

One Choice - Forever War

For those unfamiliar, One Choice members have did their time in other prominent SoCal bands like Time For Change, Collision, Built To Last and Her Grey Earth. After debut Ep which came out at New Age records, this is their debut full length release. By the middle of the first track, the expectations from the rest of the album are set high. After short intro, Forever War sets things off with a damn catchy hook and hell of a chorus.

When Karl of Earth Crisis takes over the microphone, I really feel like these boys nailed it. It carries strong Trial influence, something which can be heard at different points throughout the album, but the band rises above your typical 90’-worship. The guitar work is awesome and the structures of the songs are tight and focused, but don’t lack melodies and plenty of exciting twists and turns. Being in hardcore band, it’s hard to inject emotions other that hate or urge for revenge into the music without sounding pussy. I dig the bands that know how to do that. And this is one of the things I like about One Choice – from personal pain to the disgust and disappointment with the world, they can get the feeling across to the listener in a way that it sounds honest and convincing. If those songs don’t move you, you’re a cold heartless bastard.

One of the standout aspects of the album is the number of guest appearances, which include Karl and Scott from Earth Crisis, Greg from Trial, Mike from Outspoken, Toby from H20, and Andrew from Strife. From Friendship Loyalty Commitment by 25 Ta Life I haven’t heard so many guests lending their vocals on a single hardcore album. All of these straight edge all stars contribute both to the songs, as well as give a short explanation in the gatefold of the album about what sober life means to them. The variety of people involved benefits not only the music itself, but shows that straight edge scene is still strong and vibrant. Pretty good move.

Highly recommended album. I’ve heard they plan to release something new this year, so keep your eyes open!

Review by Dloogi

Seventh Dagger, 2011

Outcast Mentality tees from Crowd Deterent

Crowd Deterent has new tees up in their Crew Life webstore.

Organized Crime Records to reissue classic All Out War album

Organized Crime Records have announced it would reissue the debut full length from New York’s All Out War, Truth In The Age Of Lies. The vinyl LP version comes with expanded artwork and bonus tracks and is being pressed on white vinyl (500 copies), red vinyl (150 copies) and grey vinyl (350). The CD version also includes the band’s 1992 demo. Vinyl version includes digital download of LP plus the 1992 Demo. The demo itself is going to be released on limited 10" vinyl. Click here for more info and preorders, which are due out April 17th.

Sawchuk to Release 'Blackened Minds, Blackened Hearts' this May

Sawchuk is dropping new EP this May in collaboration with 13th Floor Records. 'Blackened Minds' will be released on both cassette and CD. Here's the message from the band: "We will have a new EP out May 25th. Here's how its gonna work. We are doing a limited number of cassettes (50) with 13th floor records. That will be called Blackened Minds, blackened hearts. Then we will also be releasing a CD version of the EP called blackened hearts, blackened minds. The cassette will have two songs that won't be on the CD. So to hear those two songs you're going to have to get the cassette. The cassette will also have a different cover than the CD. We are really proud of this EP, and are extremely excited for everyone to hear it."

Blade signed to Seventh Dagger. New album in the works!

Blade, Belgian Straight Edge hardcore band, is now part of the Seventh Dagger family. The collaboration will result in the release of band's new album, "Armed with Abstinence". Blade describes its sound as "bleak, dark and aggressive hybrid of hardcore and metal, but still staying far away from the current metalcore style. In fact everything about Blade is influenced by the earlier, angrier days of new school hardcore." The band has so far released a split with the German band Golddust on Break Out records, and a 7” named “Lambs To The Slaughter” on Ugly And Proud records.

Show Of Force posted new song, 'Left Behind'

Show Of Force has posted new song on their Facebook profie. "Left Behind" features Jonne from New Morality on guest vocals and can be heard here.