Westcoast Worldwide Records Signs Cowardice

Westcoast Worldwide Records is pleased to announce the signing of Tacoma, Washington based melodic harhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifdcore band Cowardice. The band is currently hard at work at Astronauts Lounge Studios in Tacoma, Washington with producer/engineer Ahren Lanfor recording their new EP entitled “I Am Depression”.

“We are beyond happy to sign with Westcoast Worldwide. We’ve been fans since we found the label through Set It Straight about 7-8 years ago and we can’t wait to be a part of it,” exclaims Cowardice Vocalist Jeremy Bushnell. “This record is being written as a whole record together, not just a bunch of songs. It is more thought out, planned and has more focus than anything we’ve ever written. The sound is more zeroed in, more aggressive and to the point. We really tried to latch on to why a lot of us found this music in the first place. It really boils down to the fact that we all found this because some part of us is not alright. This is a record about dealing with that and realizing you aren’t the only one feeling it. We can’t wait for people to hear it.”

“We are really excited to welcome Cowardice into the Westcoast Worldwide Family”, comments label founder Mikey Hood. We have known about them for a while, and they are a great band, and great kids, and they got a lot of heart. We are very excited to work with Cowardice, and we think everybody will really enjoy this record.”

Look for “I Am Depression” in late spring/early summer 2012 on Westcoast Worldwide. In the meantime, Cowardice will be embarking on a short tour of the Great Northwest, which includes a spot on the highly anticipated Rainfest 2012.

Dates are as follows…….

May 2nd / Eugene, OR @ The Venue
May 3rd / Santa Rosa, CA @ Transient Lounge
May 4th / Reno, NV @ Fort Ryland
May 5th / Norcal @ tba
May 6th / Vancouver, WA @ Pop Culture
May 25th to May 27th / Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s (Rainfest 2012 )

No Zodiac - Chaos Reigns

If you're a fan of obscure horror movies, don't sleep on this one. And all you kids talking shit, you need to chill and don't take life so seriously.

Irish Voodoo set off pre-orders for Desensitized , CodeXred and KDC

Irish Voodoo Records has launched pre-orders for new seven inches from CodeXred, KDC, and Desensitized. Each release comes with different set of colors and with CD which contains all the songs.

Desensitized

2011 finds Desensitized well-poised to capitalize on the lack of young, fast, pissed-off NYHC bands who actually call NYC home. Already planning their first Midwest tour, they show no signs of slowing down. Their 2010 demo was released as a limited-run cassette tape by Section 8 Records (based in Cape Cod), which quickly sold out of the original pressing. A 2nd pressing was commissioned, and shortly thereafter, the band was contacted by Southern California’s Irish Voodoo Records, who agreed to release Desensitized’s first 7-inch record in the fall of 2011.

CodeXRed

CodexRed is a straight edge hardcore band coming out of Reno, Nevada. CodexRed is Alex Haller – Vocals, Adam Farnsworth – Bass, Adam Chism – Guitar, Brian Bernard – Guitar, and Brian Vega- Drums. Starting about 2 years ago with a slightly different line up, but with the same goals, play a lot of shows, have a lot of fun, and get out of town as often as possible. In the Summer of 2010 CodexRed recorded a 4 song demo that has received a lot of positive feedback and they are anticipating the release of 5 new song 7″ vinyl in 2012.

KDC

KDC was formed in 2005 in Yauco, Puerto Rico. After a number of demos, local shows, and line up changes throughout 2006 and 2007, they went to record Epidemic Ambition, which was released on Southground Records in 2008. KDC toured the east coast of the United States in the summer of 2009 and in the summer of 2010. After coming back from tour, KDC went on to record a seven song EP called “Good Mourning” which was self released in October 2010. After releasing their EP, Casper and Juanki decided to leave Puerto Rico and continue KDC in Buffalo, NY to be able to tour and make music freely and more consistently. While in Buffalo, KDC recorded a three song demo and added two new members from the local area. KDC creates raw, emotional and passionate music that strives not to fall in into any typical genre. ”I was handed a demo of KDC and was hooked the first time Heard this music come out of my speakers” ” One of the best demos of 2010″ Joey VooDoo.

Ablaze - Dead to the World

Ablaze´ first Song on the new split CD with The Black Path (on Marked for Death Records)

HB Radio #1

Here's the first installment of the podcast series I gonna publish now and then with the purpose of bringing you the hardest and the realest in hardcore. While the next one will definitely feature a mix of some well known and more upcoming hardcore bands, I wanted to set it off with a bang! That's why the first issue got some of my favorite songs that send chill down my spine everytime I listen to them. Enjoy this stuff after the jump or open the playlist in a pop up window.

Backtrack - United Blood 2012 Footage

Complete footage of Backtrack playing at United Blood 2012 Fest

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).