Ill Intent

Band’s name: Ill Intent

Location: Seattle, WA. United States

Active since: 2008

How do you define your overall style?
Fast traditional hardcore with a modern twist.

What’s your goal with this band? To keep playing shows, touring, having fun and keep releasing new music. We also want to go as far as the band will take us, as far as doing europe, Japan and everywhere else.

What do you have recorded so far?
Right now we have a 6 song demo released in 08, with a couple songs that haven't been released from that same session. We are going into the studio this month to record 8 new songs that should be coming out this fall.


Can you tell us some history about Ill Intent? How long have you been playing together and what was the reason to start a band?
Ill Intent has been a band for about 2 years, the first year, they had an 07 demo with a different singer, but that didn't work out. I joined the band last august, recorded and immediately hit the road on tour. When I joined the band, we were all living together at that time and I wasn't doing much as far as bands were concerned. It just worked out, because we were all musically and mentally all on the same page with what we wanted to accomplish with the band. At the time, I was feeling really frustrated with a lot of things that were going on with the government and in politics. So it gave me a great forum to voice those opinions.


How did you come up with that name Ill Intent? What does it mean to you?
I wasn't there for the initial naming of the band, but when I heard it, I gave it the thumbs up of approval. What it means to me is that we are a no bullshit band. Straight up and honest. You can see our name and no what we're about.

I really like the message behind the No Rest For The Weary song. Have you ever regretted your life decisions and what would you tell to the other kids when they gotta choose between the life of stability and security and following their dreams?
I haven't regretted any choice that I have made. Obviously, like anyone else, I have made mistakes, but I feel that I have learned from those mistakes and try my best to not repeat them. As far as following your dreams and a life of stability, they can be one in the same. If someone's goal is to find a stable job, buy a house, get married, live the dream, etc... then they should pursue that by any means necessary. On the flip side of that, if someone decides that life is not for them, that is perfectly fine. But either way or any choice you make, just make sure that you are making that choice because you want to, not because of what anyone thinks you should be doing. If someone were to ask me which path they should choose, I would tell them which ever one they wanted and to live life on their own terms. My life is a train wreck in every aspect. Financially, emotionally, romantically, stability-wise, but I wake up everyday happy and take each day as it comes. It's the life that I want to live, so fuck anybody that tells me I am doing something wrong. These are my choices to make.

What inspires an Ill Intent songs lyrically in general? Would you say you are a political band?
Life in general inspires the lyrics. When I wrote all the lyrics for the 08 demo, I was at a point in my life that was extremely stress free. I had a good place to live, a stable, great paying job, a beautiful girlfriend and basically smooth sailing. Emotionally, I was solid and sound. So, I did not have a lot to write about emotionally, because I refuse to ever fake passion. Hard core is fuled by anger and emotion, so the only thing that I had left to write about were a lot of political issues that really pissed me off at the time. Since I wrote all the lyrics for the 08 demo, a year ago. I have gone through a lot personally. Went through a pretty hard break up. Had lots of health problems, some of which caused us to take a 4 month hiatus. I moved to New York and failed out there, so I came back home. Had some close family members pass away. I have been homeless for the last 4 months and just had a really hard time with health and finances. So the new stuff is going to be pretty personal about struggle and overcoming adversity as well as some of the same government issues that still aggravate me.

Tell us about Ill Intent live show? What is your formula for a successful performance and how it makes you feel when the kids are feeling your music and singing the lyrics?
A typical Ill Intent show, you are going to get a high energy performance. Always. Hardcore is all about energy and every member of this band lives for it. We have all made sacrifice after sacrifice for this band and we all feel it 100% So every member of the band goes off and when people are feeling what we're feeling, they go off too. I love it when kids sing along and go crazy. Although I do not expect everybody to agree with my lyrics, I just want them to know what they are about. I want to provoke conscious thought, which is why I always provide explanations to the songs. So people know what the content of the song is all about.

What's the thing that you are most proud of in the history of the band?
The way that we all get along so well and are friends first and foremost. I love every member of this band like brothers and wouldn't do it if our bond of friendship wasn't as strong as it is. Also, in the year that we have a been a band, including the 4 month medical break I took, we were out of the road for almost 5 months. We were able to go to central america, canada and hit the states extensively. I am extremely proud of all the hard work every member has put in.

Whats playing on your stereo the most at the moment?
I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. Lots of hip hop, radio and underground. Lots of old rock bands and some softer stuff for times when I just need to chill.
Fences - My homie from seattle, it's really talented, accoustical, folk rock, pop stuff that fits every mood I am in.
Atmosphere - my all time favorite MC next to every member of Wu-Tang.
Black Sabbath - One of my all time fav bands
Cro Mags - my absolute favorite band, I also entertain their whole catalog, not just age of quarrel
Biohazard - every album except for uncivilization. yuck.
AC/DC - Only the first 3 albums with Bon Scott, I don't like Brian Johnson at all and Bon Scott is the real deal.
Do you know anything about European hardcore? Any bands? Labels?
No Turning Back is one of my fav current bands. As well as Rise and Fall. Frustration is a new band from Ireland that is KILLING IT right now.

The worst and the best movie ever made?
Best movie, the warriors. Also, classics like the first 2 godfathers, good fellas, point break. Worst movie? Anything in the last few years directed by michael bay. Hollywood and the movie industry is such garbage right now. Everything is a recycled remake with a bunch corny CGI and sweet explosions. Directors need to realize that no matter how attractive the cast is, how many explosions, or CGI animals in the movie... if the plot sucks, the movie will suck. I only watch comedies these days, because everything else is garbage.

Anything you want to add, tell us about or give any general shout outs too?
Lots of upcoming bands. power, decades, persistence of time, hit the bricks, vanguard, gone but not forgotten, putrid brew, horizons, grave maker, rotting out, fences, sojourner, poverty bay saints, odd rule, rebuilt and the whole northwest scene right now, it's better than it ever has been in awhile. Shouts to 10Deep, Survie Apparel, Life of Villains, Winners Circle and The Cool in Tacoma. Fice, blue sky black death and northwest hiphop. Thanks for the interview! I hope you are well and taking care of yourself.


Catch 'em at:
http://www.myspace.com/illintent206

Go For It! - Reading Between The Front Lines

Go For It! - Reading Between The Front Lines
DIY 2009

I had never heard of the band before this review and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. A lot of music here may well be what you would expect from an old school hardcore album – some NYHC influenced grooves with typical fast parts and breakdowns now and there.

I was personally very fond of the tune of the album, because while staying true to the roots of hardcore, it does have a decent punk rock and metal influences which adds a right amount of heaviness and aggression. There are 8 tracks here which clock in about 16 minutes so they keep it tight. The production is heavy giving the songs pretty beefy sound. The compositions in themselves are generally fine with some hits and some misses. One of the things I didn’t like is the inconsistency of the album – the good moments broken up by the not so good moments. It doesn’t bother me that much cause the record is short enough not to get boring but they should work on it when writing the stuff for the next record. Generally, Go For It ! is a good example of a band not trying any new tricks but getting the most out of a simple concept. Reading Between the Front Lines doesn't contribute with anything that hasn't been done by others by despite its flaws, the album possesses many high points and is worth checking out if you’re an old school fun.

Author: Dloogi

Go For It! at Myspace

Danny Diablo vs. The Vendetta feat. Ceekay - Snow White

Pushed Too Far - Fools Never Move On

Bravestar - A Warriors Heart

Bravestar - A Warriors Heart
DIY 2009

Beer. BBQ. Party. Brotherhood. Party. Hardcore. Party. These are some of the random thoughts that surface in my mind whilst listening to the debut album by Germany based Bravestar. Not only their sound is reminiscent of New York hardcore at its best, but they are also bringing this laid back attitude and fun with their music which automatically sets them apart from all the depression and stress ridden hardcore bands of today.

The band’s debut album is something between NYHC a’la Madball or Agnostic Front with some modern influences like Death Before Dishonor or Terror. If you like these bands, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t dig Bravestar. A Warriors Heart is one of those records that have just about every element needed to make it cutting edge: catchy choruses, angry vocals, gang shouting, melodic parts, reckless breakdowns, thrashing drums and heavy riffs. They can go fast and aggressive and they can go slow and heavy, adding slick, mid-paced grooves to now and then. The album gets right down to business with “We Will Not”, fast paced slab of hardcore and one of the most powerful tracks on the CD. The other songs on the album follow in a similar vein with Bravestar BBQ being the one that stands out the most. As the titles of the songs may suggest, the key theme of the record is mainly party, friendship, hardcore, scene, pride and having good fun basically. If you like explorations of social issues, they also got song about Nazis and how they’re not welcome at the hardcore scene. I know there are kids out there who will hold the lack of socio-political agenda against them, but I say fuck it – hardcore is also about fun so let’s fucking party! At the end of the day, Bravestar’s A Warriors Heart is good to mosh or just listen carelessly to.

Author: Dloogi

Bravestar

Portrayal Of Vengeance

Band’s name: Portrayal of Vengeance

Location: We're based in Melbourne, Australia. Me and our bass player are originally from another city called Adelaide, but have lived in Melbourne for a few years now.

Active since: We did the first real demo songs in December 2008, but the concept of the band was in the works for probably close to a year before that.

How do you define your overall style?
Heavy hardcore with a metallic edge.

What’s your goal with this band?
To play hardcore with a message, for kids that stand for something. It seems that in the hardcore scene today, mass-appeal or marketability has taken a backseat to really taking a stand on an issue or using hardcore as an outlet for genuine outrage and aggression that we all have inside us.
No diss at all to bands who are doing well for themselves or bands who are playing a different styles of hardcore, but it's always something that i've appreciated and have noticed fewer and fewer bands in recent years that are down with that kinda thing.

What do you have recorded so far?
Right now we've only got one legit recording. It's just two songs that I recorded before I had any sort of line-up to speak of. I played everything except drums, which were played by our friend Dan Jones (ex-Stronghold). I knocked them out after hours in a studio back in Adelaide in half a day and just kinda took it from there.
They're kinda rushed and aren't really a true representation of the band. We've got a bunch of jam room recordings of newer songs that we did with a different drummer that we've just been showing friends and people who were tentatively interested in joining the band.
Hopefully we manage to sort out our line-up soon, because it'd be sweet if those songs could see the light of day.

Your myspace profile doesn’t offer much info about the beginning of the band. Could you tell us how did you guys get together to form Portrayal Of Vengeance?
To cut a long story short... I wrote some songs and recorded them myself with the idea of putting a band together around them. Everyone that's been involved with the band at this point have been old friends that were down to help out with it.
Even though we haven't really gotten the whole thing into motion yet, it's been fun and that's what it should be about, right?

Who are the members of the band?
The line-up as it stands is... Chris Jervis (Vocals), Stu Manuel (Bass) and Bob Tate (guitar).
Right now we're still in the process of finding a permanent drummer and possibly adding a second guitar to the mix, as well. If anyone based in Melbourne is down with this sorta thing, hit us up... haha.

What are your main influences?
I guess the bands that we could be most compared to would be stuff like Another Victim, Earth Crisis, Merauder and Strife. They were all bands that I've listened to and respected for a long time and I guess you'd call them influences on me personally.

What is the band’s stance on drugs and alcohol? Is anybody in the band sXe?
I am straightedge and have been for a number of years. So is our bass player Stu and our guitar player Bob. We're still looking for a permanent drummer and possibly adding a second guitarist and we're not really actively pursuing other sXe members.
It's something that means a lot to me and obviously I have my options, but i've always considered it a personal thing. I'd rather judge a person on weather or not they're a decent and sincere person, sXe or not - it's all good, right?

If yes, what is it about straight edge that made you follow this lifestyle?
In the city I grew up in, recreational drug and alcohol use from a pretty young age was pretty much the norm. I messed around with that sorta thing when I was a lot younger, but quickly got over it and found myself feeling at peace with separating myself from that kind of destructive behavior.
At the same time I was listening to bands like Earth Crisis, Another Victim and Strife a lot and getting more and more into the hardcore scene in Adelaide, which at the time had a lot of vegan-straightedge crew. Being surrounded by like-minded people really cemented it for me.
A lot of people have come and gone since then, but I never looked back. haha.

Who was the best edge band ever, in your opinion?
Earth Crisis. They had a massive impact on my life and still stand for everything today that they always have. Much respect to them.

Are you guys vegetarians or vegans and do you support this ideas?
I am vegan and have been for many years now. The band collectively isn't though.
One of the songs on that two song demo actually does address the issue of animal liberation and general contempt for the industry that abuses animals. I didn't really have to factor in anyone else's opinions or thoughts other than my own when I wrote those lyrics.
I've always been down to do a vegan band, so I guess that was my chance... haha.

How many shows have you played so far? Give me an idea of what one would expect from your live show.
We've come close a bunch of times but have yet to actually play a show.

Last words/final thoughts/anything you would like readers to know about you?
Thanks for the interview. Shout outs to all Adelaide and Melbourne crew and vegans and vegetarians everywhere.
If anyone is interested in a hard copy demo or is interested in stepping up to play drums, get in touch... portrayalofvengence@hotmail.com.

Portrayal Of Vengeance at myspace.

Limited edition Integrity tshirts

Sick!

Relentless merch

The new desings from the Relentless are brilliant - love both of em. Go to their Big Cartel store and get yourself some of this goodness!

http://dogfightrecords.bigcartel.com/

And if you don't know:

Relentless are a five piece hardcore band from Sydney playing aggressive in your face music. They have been together since mid 2006. They have finaly got a secure line up with all five members commited and are all level minded about the music they are playing.

Overcome

"We think the name speaks a little bit for itself. It`s a message of unity, continuous effort in order to face the day-by-day issues and taking advantage of all the good things life gives you."

To those who don’t know: Overcome is a hardcore band from Lisboa. You guys started in the summer of 2005. What else should be known about the band?
-Pedro - We`re 5 guys that know each other for years and decided to make a band. We all shared the same musical interests and convictions.

Your latest album called "Positive Thoughts, bring Positive Moments" is about to be released. What do you feel when listening to these tracks? Has your album lived up to your own expectations?
- Pex - Being the first real album (we made 2 demos on cd-r ) we feel we got the job done. Despite all the troubles we had in the recording phase we feel we got into a new stage for ourselves.


So, for all the kids who haven’t check it out yet, what makes your new album, "Positive Thoughts, bring Positive Moments", significant and what can kids expect from it?
- Sen - We think the name speaks a little bit for itself. It`s a message of unity, continuous effort in order to face the day-by-day issues and taking advantage of all the good things life gives you.

If you had to compare your musical style to any other band, what would it be?
- Tiago - There isn`t any band we can relate 100%. But you can hear some influences of bands that left their mark in all of us like the late Omited Gr and Criminal Waste from Portugal and Biohazard, Madball, Strife among others.

Are lyrics important part of your music? Is there any message you are trying to send through your music?
- Sen - We say whatever goes down in our minds. Like we said before we talk about unity, friendship, respect effort and energy, the basic day-by-day issues.

A lot of kids are saying that hardcore is not as it used to be, it got too commercial, too nice or too metal these days. What are your views on the current hardcore scene?
- Pedro - The scene is strong. There are many bands, many shows and many people doing their part. There are also variations within the portuguese hc scene. From the SxE Youth Crew, to the oldschool hardcore and also the new influences mixing oldschool hardcore and metal. Basically it`s in very good shape. It has everything to get even more stronger.

Where do you think the hardcore is heading? What's next for the scene?
- Noia - It will appear lots of new people and lots of people will go away.The real will still be here doing their part.

What’s the scene like out there in Lisboa at the moment?
- Pedro - It`s strong. New promoters, new bands, new faces, lots of shows. The evolution is quite visible.

What has been the most unexpected part of your experience in this band?
-Sen - All the setbacks we had during the recording stage. We were forced to delay the release due to personnal issues.

What can we expect from Overcome in the future? What goals would you still like to achieve?
- Noia - We want to keep on playing, play more shows, promote the album, getting back on studio to record some new material and spread the message. Play for more and different people.

Well, is there anything else that you'd like to expound upon?
- Pedro - Thank you very much for doing this interview and helping promote the cd. Thank you also for being one of those who do their part.
To all the people reading this, go to shows, support the bands and the people who put on shows. Hardcore unity worldwide!

http://www.myspace.com/overcomeband

1125 - Break The Wall

Olde York - False Idols

Still Proud Clothing

Still Proud Clothing is an upcoming brand which should appeal to both hardcore and hip hop kids. So far, the designs are amazing! The guys who run it have been around for some time so you know that when buying their stuff you're supporting the scene not some new jacks trying to cash in on hardcore.

So first of all, what inspired you to start your brand?
I was motivated to start Still Proud Clothing after some years of involvement in the hardcore scene. I’ve been in bands, booked shows and also ran a music section for my college newspaper when I was in school. Clothing seemed like the next logical move as I like the fact that it has the power to convey such a powerful message and I also felt that I could bring something different to the table with SP.

How do you think your designs stand out amongst the plethora of other hardcore brands?
While there are many clothing companies out right now, I don’t think that many of them have as wide approach as Still Proud. Most are geared towards certain niches ( straightedge, posi, etc.) whereas with SP, I’m aiming for the hardcore and hip-hop scene as a whole. Our designs are merely observations of the different walks of life within our scene.

Who creates the designs for the shirts?
I (Gavin) come up with the concepts and have a graphic designer with Mammoth Graphics translate them into the designs you see on the shirts.

Is there a theme to Still Proud Clothing, such as SxE or hardcore, or you’re open to various ideas?
Still Proud will always be a brand rooted in the Hardcore and Independent Hip-Hop community but that does not mean it’s exclusively for those individuals. I decided to go with the name Still Proud because pride is very much a strong attribute in these genres and regardless of your cause (god-free, posi, christian, straightedge etc.), it is something that everyone can relate to. I put out clothing for individuals who are strong willed and passionate about their beliefs no matter where those fall. With the first release, I was looking to make a bold statement and based upon the responses so far, I think I’ve made a mark. There will always be people who disagree and I’m not expecting everyone to catch on but those that support us get what we are aiming for and for that I’m very grateful.

Can you give us the meaning behind Keep Metal Out tee?
First off, I will say that it’s all a matter of personal preference that we can argue all day long and thus you will either love it or hate it. When I first got into hardcore, metal was starting to really saturate the music and take it away from its punk foundation and I know that there are many people tired of this, which is why we put this design out. Obviously, metal has made its mark and is not going anywhere, but for those that want to make a statement for the latter, have now got an outlet to do so. That’s not to say there are no bands out there past or present that merge the two well, but overall I’m sure we can find some common understanding that hardcore has changed which metal (among other things) appears to have more than a hand in.

What is your personal favorite tshirt design (done by you) and why?
My personal favorite design would be the FCK Fighting shirt. Fighting at shows is always a problem and having been a promoter and lost many venues to it, I wanted to create something to convey my feelings on the matter. It also has a broader appeal and can be wore in just about any setting which is why I wanted to release it and based upon that observation, has shown to be one of our best sellers.

What are some of the bands you are working with and what was the reason to choose them?
We currently have three sponsored artists: Outerspace (PA), Knock Em Dead (FL) and Thick As Blood (FL). I decided to sponsor these three because besides being fans of their music, I know that they are hardworking individuals that mesh well with what we are trying to do. I’ve personally known Knock Em Dead and Thick As Blood over the years and have watched them grow to the level that they are currently at and Outerspace drew me in because of their awesome sound and appeal. The artists I sponsor don’t need to be exclusively hardcore but as long as they embody that sentiment , have a hard work ethic and are pushing the envelope , I’m likely to work with them.

What has been the hardest part of this business? The best?
The hardest part about running a clothing company is the amount of time it takes to market the designs. I literally spend hours online through the various social media applications (Myspace, Facebook, Twitter) spreading the word about SP, but being unemployed at the moment has allowed me to get it off the ground. The best part is certainly running your own business and interacting with like minded individuals on a day to day basis. This music has been an integral part of my life for some years and being able to give something back and see people’s positive reactions, in itself is rewarding. So far, the companies started off on the right foot with various orders coming in from around the world (including a recent purchase of 18 shirts to Japan) and of course support from the U.S has been solid and is gaining ground regardless of the grim economy we’re all facing.

Are you sticking with shirts only or will you expand?
I have a lot of plans to expand the line to other articles of clothing such as hats, sweatshirts, b-ball shorts in addition to better quality fabrics but first and foremost I need the help of our community to get there.

What else can we expect from Still Proud Clothing in the future?
You can expect to see SP everywhere as we are just getting started. I’m planning to work with bands across the globe and even have some design ideas in the works with certain organizations that I think many in this scene will appreciate. In the meantime, please visit our store and pick up some t’s: http://stillproudclothing.bigcartel.com/. Every order comes with a custom SP hangtag sticker and I’ve also partnered up with some awesome record labels (Thinkfast, Rhyme Sayers, Significant, Caboose (Japan) and Deathwish) which have given me some rad extras for my orders. Also note that we ship WORLDWIDE!

You can also stay up to date with us on the following sites:
http://www.stillproudclothing.com/
http://www.myspace.com/stillproudclothing
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Still-Proud-Clothing/118810700672
http://twitter.com/StillProud

Hatebreed - Thirsty and Miserable

Shinto Katana merch

Australian moshers Shinto Katana just dropped 2 new designs and I'm really liking it! Click here if you want one or here to listen what these guys are about!

New King Of Clubz merch

To Celebrate the signing of the Mighty KING OF CLUBZ, Goodlife just released a new, killer full color design available in black or white and as T-shirts in all sizes and Hoodies ! The Design was made by bandmember and bassplayer John Kautz and the print of it is HUGE. Check out their site for more info!

Unchained

Band ‘s name: Unchained

Location: San Francisco

Active since: 07

How do you define your overall style?
Hardcore punk

What’s your goal with this band?
Record some CDs, play awesome shows, tour a little, make as many friends as possible

What do you have recorded so far?
3 Demos, only 2 were released

How did you all meet and how long have you all been a band?
Almost 3 years, we all met through mutual friends and the internet

Coming from San Francisco, did the local music scene have an influence on you?
I listened to alot of Allegiance and Lights Out and people say we sound like those bands, so i guess so haha

Do you think that because of the strong hippie movement, San Francisco hardcore scene is in any way different from the rest of Cali and USA hardcore scene?
The hippie movement died 30 years ago now its just a bunch of assholes

What are other bands from your area kids should give a listen?
DONT TRIP, Caulfield, internal conflict, grace alley, skin like iron, punch, ordstro, flat out, swank
What is the message you're trying to send with your music? Pay attention to the world around you or it will bleed you dry

You guys got a lot of old school sound in your music, so I wonder how do you feel about the hardcore nowadays? I’m talking about metalcore, deathcore etc.
That shit sucks, all those genres just cause division and breeds elitist attitudes

What can we expect in the future from the Unchained? Is there an album coming soon?
Yes, keep an eye out!

Unchained at myspace.

Built on Respect has been a mantra for alt-culture personality heidiminx for years. It graced the hang tags of her fashion line, Franky & Minx, and continues to be her driving mission, "Treating people with respect, and sewing the seeds of fairness creates solidarity"

It was with this attitude that Minx did volunteer work in Haiti, and more recently, twice this past year in Dharamsala, India.

On her first visit, Minx volunteered in two communities; she helped oversee the development of an online store that taught computer and English skills to her rural students, which ultimately saved the school from closing. In addition, she worked in the Tibetan community, teaching English to refugees at the Hope Center, a fledgling community organization.

Upon her return to the US, Minx began to explore charitable initiatives. The human rights violations she heard from her students spurned a desire to return, and to leverage and share her business contacts, her award-winning marketing skills, her DIY approach, and the support of her influential musician friends to gain awareness. Built on Respect has a fiscal sponsor for its 501 (c3) status.

On her second trip, Minx worked solely within the Tibetan community for three months. She continued to support the Hope Center, working with board members on marketing and sustainability. She also worked with Jamtse in Action, a fledgling group that supports the elders at the Jampaling elders home and The Institute for Tibetan Thangka Art; a free school that keeps traditional Tibetan art alive. In addition, she worked with two local artists to help develop their non-profits, met frequently with NGOs to discuss marketing and development, and also sponsored English classes for the monks of Ganden Monastery, all while teaching English and participating in conversation classes.

In addition, Minx worked to educate youth worldwide. She secured interviews with HH the 17th Karmapa, the head of Students for A Free Tibet, the president of the Tibetan National Women’s Association, the director of the Federation for a Democratic China, and also took footage of the political and social events occurring in the village at that time. Her continuing theme in these interviews was youth in action.

It is Minx's goal to embrace the DIY mentality, and to personally work to raise funds, and also to directly oversee their disbursement while documenting it, working side by side with different community organizations.

Learn more at:

http://www.builtonrespect.com/
http://www.myspace.com/BuiltOnRespect

Hoods - Multiple Sclerosis

The king of Italian horror is back!

Here's the official trailer of Dario Argento's upcoming "Giallo" starring Adrien Brody. The Mother Of Tears wasn't so great but I'm still looking forward to this one. It won't top Suspiria, that's given.

Grave Mistake Records news

Official news:

It's been a long time coming, but all five new releases are now available in the webstore (and sooner or later in your favorite distro). Here is what's available now:

GRAVE032 - WASTED TIME "FUTILITY" 12" - RED VINYL
GRAVE033 - LOGIC PROBLEM "NO CENTER" 7" - RED VINYL
GRAVE034 - THE LADIES - S/T 7"
GRAVE035 - GOVERNMENT WARNING - PARANOID MESS 12" - CLEAR VINYL
GRAVE036 - GOVERNMENT WARNING - EXECUTED 7" - RED/WHITE MIX VINYL

There are some left over NO WAY FEST / RECORD RELEASE versions of the GOVERNMENT WARNING and WASTED TIME records, but when they are gone, they're gone. There are also some leftover limited sleeves for THE LADIES 7" from the "ROMANTIC GETAWAY" Fest in Cleveland a few months back. And of course, colored vinyl is available for these new releases (except for all but THE LADIES 7")

I also added over 100 7"s, 12"s, and zines to the webstore ... a lot of new stuff, some brand new releases and some that have been out for several months but this can be a good chance for you to pick up anything you've missed.

http://www.gravemistakerecords.com/site/

Bottom Feeder

Name: BOTTOM FEEDER

Location: Houston, Texas

Active since: winter 07

How do you define your overall style?
Dark metallic sound with n.y. and clevo influence

What’s your goal with this band?
To get hooked up with a label and eventually have a u.s. tour.

What do you have recorded so far?
Just the demo so far. We will be in the studio again this summer hopefully layin down new stuff.


How did you guys meet together and what was the reason to start a band?
All of us have always been in and out of bands and once all of them fell through, we started to talk about starting up a dark Clevo type band. A lot of the OG hard hitters around the Houston Scene (Will To Live, Pride Kills) started to die out and we are trying to bring something new to texas.

On your demo the music bear a lot of influences from the 90’ heavy music scene with a strong dark feeling to it - is that route you are trying to go?
yes!

Things you have been through in your personal life are reflected in your lyrics and I guess that to fully understand them one has to go through a bunch of shit themselves. Is there any massage you would like to convey to the kids out there feeling down and out or it’s more like a stress release for you?
Writing the lyrics help me release my inner past, growing up in broken households you see alot of fucked up shit that you cant do anything about. the majority of us can relate to these lyric one way or another

Break down the Texas hardcore for me a little bit. In your opinion what’s interesting going on over there?
Iron Age's new record "The Sleeping Eye" just dropped and it's fucking amazing. Bitter End is holding it down, and writing a new LP.
A new band out of Houston, The Burden, just got together and are bringing a different sound (this band rules!!). Power Trip is busting out and are about to put out a new lp on double or nothing (this band also rules!)

As your main influences you name bands from the 90’ so I wonder what do you think about what’s happening in hardcore and metal scene nowadays?
A lot of older bands are starting to tour and play the bigger hardcore fests. which is very fucking awesome. All hail the Cro-Mags.


You guys shared stage with variety of bands, some of them being big names In hardcore. What was the best gig so far and what bands are the coolest to play with?
Our favorite show so far to play was a last mintue show with product of waste, power trip, and on my side. The local venue was packed with kids flying around doing flips and singing along. The best bands to play with are the Texas locals. (r.i.p. Lie and Wait & Die Young.)

What are Bottom Feeder plans for the future?
Write new crazy material that will melt minds

Anything else you would like to add?
DANCE HARD OR DIE & smoke til you choke

Bottom Feeder at myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/bottomfeedertx

DOWNLOAD THE DEMO HERE.

Goodlife sign Chicago's King Of Clubz !

The Band's Statement :

KING OF CLUBZ formed 2002 in Rock Island, Illinois. Right in the heart of the Midwest, U.S.A. Since their inception, they have brought the beatdown to their aggressive style of hardcore "Negative Hardcore".

KING OF CLUBZ bring you the live show that they would like to see- ROWDY! With 2 EPs, a split CD with Whatever It Takes and a full length album under their belts, they have had multiple European tours and played shows throughout the States from Colorado to New York with bands ranging from 18 visions, Walls of Jericho, Terror and Madball.

Presently KING OF CLUBZ is gearing up for another European tour and are ready to go into the studio to record another full-length CD for Belgium's own Good Life Recordings, which promises to raise the bar and bring an even more punishing sound than before !
Add KING OF CLUBZ on Myspace and check the fantastic tunes they have up now.

Famine and Forced Out - Irish HC Attack European Tour

HURRY UP! BOOKING presents his first IRISH HC ATTACK EUROPEAN TOUR 2009

FAMINE (Dublin, EIRE – www.myspace.com/faminehc)
Famine is a band that writes their music collectively and because of that their music is the result of five sets of different tastes and influences coming together to create something that incorporates elements of each while trying to avoid scene trends and tired clichés. The music shifts from the fast and intense to the epic and melodic while maintaining a heavy sound. The lyrics are intensely personal and deal with issues of family, love and regret - and the emotion of these themes is mirrored in the band’s music.
For fans of: Have Heart, Verse, Ruiner, Modern Life Is War and Blacklisted.

FORCED OUT (Dublin, EIRE – www.myspace.com/forcedouthc)
Forced Out is a brand new band featuring members from Purification, First Death and Real Talk playing some heavy and pissed off hardcore in the vein of Integrity, Guns Up, Bitter End and Terror. The band just recorded a demo and is about to gear up to record its first 7”.

PERIOD: September 20th – October 04th 2009

DETAILS:
9 people needing warm vegan food, a place to sleep and some money gas.

Please get back with your offer to: booking@hurryuphc.com

SNS Records sale

Check it. FACEOFF, DTD, RFA/SC split and the Legends Stand Tall comp are all out now and there is a sale going on in the web store. Hit up the page and get some sweet deals for any cd just 5 bucks!

Embrace Destruction

"Just look around, inform yourself about the basic concepts of freedom, read any test of sociology and history and you will also recognize that we live in a kingdom of torture. Nothing is hidden really,everything is there,all the informations and all the answers...."

How are you feeling about the Kingdom Of Torture now that it’s out?
Of course we feel pretty excited, we got together only this October so for us it is a great achievement to have a full length out in such a short period of time.We are also really curious about how our message will be interpretated by the people.

What makes this album significant and what can kids expect from it?
This album its a real album with a real message.It is the expression of real feelings and real friendship and commitment. The HC kids can expect an album made of pure aggression and a message made of pure facts. Good old mosh like we grew up with 13 years ago but with some "modern" inserts as we don't want to remain slaves of our past. Hardcore,Thrash,Mosh & Beatdown,this is what you would find on the menu if our album was a "Cocktail".

Could you describe the sound of your new record?
Powerful.Working with Daniel Giordana was a great experience for us.And what would you expect from a producer that spent most of his time on the road with Hatebreed,Madball and many others? We recorded everything in less than 24hrs and then basicly without guidelines Daniel added all the ingredients we were wishing in an album. We are totally satisfied and our next album "REIGN OF TERROR" will be produced by Daniel for sure.

How does it differ from what you were doing with your previous bands?
It depends.For me personally (Luca) not much. I used to play in mosh bands or metalcore w/breakdown bands and i am the lead singer of SAMARITAN,so maybe i would say the only thing for the 4 of us is that in this band the "ignorance" is at the maximum level. We don't have much time to come up with something different as we live at huge distances from each others but also we think that this is the best way to get to the kids. As the UK band Your Demise says "Ignorance never dies"....and that is the truth!

How did you come up with the name of the album?
Just look around,inform yourself about the basic concepts of freedom,read any test of sociology and history and you will also recognize that we live in a kingdom of torture. Nothing is hidden really,everything is there,all the informations and all the answers....but in this system we simply don't have the time to retrieve those informations.

What was the overall concept?
Kingdom of Torture is a concept album that speaks about the silent enemy who enslaved the human race.This enemies are not alien reptiles but an economical system based on the debt that put in chians our souls and lately our bodies as well.

Is there a theme that runs throughout your lyrics or music?
You bet.And through our merchandise as well. A few people are deciding for the mass and they are truly convinced that their decisions will save the human race. We are just human batteries that are placed in a social mechanism to serve the machine. Our life in general has no value at all or it has no more value than an object. We are still in time to react to all this and the best thing we can do is to sensibilize other humans on what is going on around them hoping that sooner or later we will be a sufficient number to start a rebellion ,NOT A WAR, but a rebellion to free our minds and our bodies and to live our lifes by ourselves.

What is happening nowadays it's just the result of a precise plan” – could you expand upon it a little?
Eh eh eh ...it would take me 3 or 4 pages to do that but i will try. Thousands of years ago already a plan was developed in the way that the keepers of the hidden knowledge would remain secret to the masses.A few will decide for the others in order to control and preserve the human race.The objective is not money but power,control and many things can be used to achieve this.The most smart ones historically were WARS, and the creation of the CHURCH ,followed by the division of the Religions. With the developement of the human race and mind those instruments were not sufficient anymore and so the modern Social Machine was created.The latest smartest move of all was the creation of the FEDERAL BANK in 1913.This monetary system related to the social system finally put in chains the human race.The smartest thing of all is that in ALL cases were the human themselves to ask for it ,driven by fear.Who asked for the FED? The population..Why?Driven by the fear of an economical crisis created by the bankers themselves. Lately....who asked for the patriot act?Who asked for cameras everyewere,for the control of private communications,for the chip implantations? The population...once again driven by the fear of terroristic attacks made by the governaments themselves.People has to win their fears,wake the fuck up and see who is the real enemy.That's why EMBRACE DESTRUCTION exists and that's why at our age we still make albums and play everywere we can.


What do you mean by that and who do you think is pulling the strings?
I mean that they achieved so much control that they don't need to hide anymore.Nowadays everybody knows who is part of skull and bones and who is part of the Bildenberg group.But nobody says anything. Everybody knows that the privatization of the water was forced to the 3rd world countries by a small number of private bankers with the promise of reducing the national debt,as everybody knows that the codex alimentarius will control every type of food that humans will consume. Isn't it enough? It should...but think about this also.When you are squeezed in a life in which you need to work as an animal just to survive,when you need to pay mortgages for houses,cars,fridges and everything else...who do you think have the time to think about things like that?
This is the apology of the control,this is why they are winning.This is why is our responsability to sensibilize people.

What emotions do you hope the band’s music evokes in listeners?
We tried to keep our lyrics as much simple as possible but EVERYTHING is documented.We also send bulletins on myspace with video informations.So we hope that our music will drive people to think with their own mind,to get to their own conclusions. It can also be that the conclusion is " this 4 guys are 4 fucking crazy nuttcases" and we will accept that as long as someone rediscover his individuality,his own thougths. This is also what we do during our shows,we don't want to force people to think about certain things talking for hours on stage.THIS IS WRONG.But our message is so clear and documented that is not easy to escape ,is not easy to don't stop and think just for one minute.And if this happens we achieved our goal. You don't even know how happy we are when we receive mails from guys from all over the world that ask us to explain them what we mean in this or this other song.There is still hope!

So what is your label situation?
We really cannot complain.Kingdom of Torture will be released in Europe,USA and Indonesia so far. We are still looking for releases in South America,Australia,Asia and Africa.

Why is your record being released by 3 different labels?
Actually as we speak the labels are 5 and we hope that the number will increase during this year. The reason is really simple.For us the most important thing is the message.So if we release with one label the distribution wont be able to spread the message as much as we want.Also if a label lets say in South America wants to release our cd they will need to buy the copies from a European distributor and with their economy this will kill them.
What we do instead is to offer our master (of course for free|) to the different labels interested so they can print the cd in their own countries at their own prices,we think that this is the most fair thing to do and also is the best thing to do if you want your message to be spread all over. As we said we hope to release also in countries that nobody cares of...we do and we do allot.


Your album will be also released digitally. Do you see MP3's as the way forward? Do you think CD's are still relevant?
We signed with Believe Digital because they can spread our message really everywere. For sure the MP3 will be the future and the present of the music but we still think that the CD is still important.In this digital world made of No Contacts and Virtual Realities it is still important to "touch" a cd,to open it and see the booklet,to feel what the artist want to transmit to you.If i like a band i want their cd no matter if i have the all discography in my IPOD.

Embrace Destruction consists of members from Italy and Holland. How did you guys find eachother and decide to start a band?
We know each other since a long time.We never had the occasion to play together.So it was easy for us to decide to do finally something together ,to share our ideas in a common bond.It was the right time to do it...for all of us.

Has the fact that you guys come from different countries been difficulty throughout the making of the band?
Not really.With the technology nowaday distances do not exists anymore.We write everything on the PC and we talk in conference via skype.I think we reharsed 3 or 4 times in total.We already wrote half of our next album,soon we will place an home recording on myspace. For the rest..we are not afraid to drive.We made so many kilometers during our tours with the other bands that driving 1'000km is a joke,even better if you can take a cheap flight eh eh eh.

Any plans of a tour or shows this summer to promote the new album?
Indeed there are.Kingdom of Torture Euro Tour 09 will start in August 7th.We are booking all the shows ourselves as we do for the rest of the things that regards ED.We are lucky enough to have a crew of friends that believe in what we do and in what we say and they help us allot. We want to do this tour to spread our message as much as we can and to give exposure to our cd as some labels are putting allot of effort into us,we think we need to give them something back.Many shows are still available so don't esitate to contact us.


Any major plans for the rest of the year?
We will record Reign of Terror in the spring of 2010 and we will release it in October/December 2010.It will be even more violent than Kingdom of Torture and we will try to talk about other topics always related to our beliefs. For the rest no major plans,we don't want to dominate the HC world ,we don't want to be the next "this" or the next "that" as we are too old for this crap.We just want to keep doing what we do best=tearing down stages. Come and check one of our shows to have the live proof.
Thank you guys for the space that you gave us here and for supporting the HC underground scene.If some of you readers are interesrted in our message please contact us on our myspace or google WILLIAM MILTON COOPER.

Embrace Destruction at Myspace

Jaguars

Name: Rob Hood

Band Name: Jaguars

Location: Sacramento, CA

Active since: July 2008.

How do you define your overall style?
Old school hardcore with some new school influence. Just heavy ass shit that you can't help to bang your head to.

What’s your goal with this band?
Well I started the band up when I left hoods back in the middle of '08, and the goal originally was to put together a new lineup of old friends and newly found friends to possibly tour or just make some killer tracks.

What do you have recorded so far?
We originally did a 3 song demo under another name with different members in December '07. Then we recorded the "On The Prowl" EP in the middle of '08, and then recorded 3 new tracks just a couple months ago.

So, basically, when and why did you guys decide it’s a right moment to start a band?
Well I originally started the band up as a side project, but it quickly became my main project, and was always a main project for the rest of the guys because it was their only band. I was just ready for something fresh and to write my own shit.

Musically, how does Jaguars measure up to what you had been doing as a members Hoods, Suffokate & Havenside?
First off, no one else from either Suffokate nor Havenside have contributed to this band musically other than maybe 1 partial song. I'd say it has a lot of Hoods influence with the old stuff because I was in the band and a long time fan. I'd say it sounds like a lot of different bands, but still stands out on its own.

Let's talk about your latest EP 'On The Prowl’, where did that title come from and how does it apply to the content?
I'd say it kind of fits the theme of the band name. I also found it to be rather fitting because I felt that it was our first real release and it was us breaking into the world and our shit was on the prowl to capture peoples hearts.

Share a bit about some of the themes, some of the “topics” you sing about. Is there any message you want to spread to the listeners?
Well, we touch a lot on a lot of common topics that other bands do, but mainly talking about bitches, cops, fake friends and other hateful topics like that. However, the topics in the new tracks are as real as it gets. Some people will love it, some people will hate it, either way, it'll blow everyone's minds.

What is your main inspiration when writing?
I write whatever I think will sound hard, its hard to explain. Musicians will understand what I mean.

It seems that there are a lot of new bands coming out of Cali recently and most of them are really good. What’s your opinion on the hardcore scene in your area nowadays?
I have seen a lot of good bands popping up, which is definitely awesome. The hardcore scene around here is a bit dead because people are lazy and don't come out to shows. There are a lot of good cali bands coming up that everyone should check out, such as, lionheart, hammerfist, give em hell, take pride, martyrdom, 5 victims 4 graves, in clear sight and a lot of others that I can't think of off the top of my head.

What was your first introduction to hardcore?
I got into hardcore after listening to punk. I think I was around 10 years old or so. I used to go to shows at westcoast worldwide all the time, it was like a second home for me for many years. I can't imagine playing another type of music, because no other genre will ever capture the adrenaline fueled rush that hardcore brings.

In which direction would you love to take hardcore in the future?
There really is no direction I want it to go. I feel like we're making it our own, just like a lot of bands do, and I hope that everyone can stay original in some way shape or form. I'm tired of seeing local bands all over the US every single night basically playing For The Fallen Dreams covers, so to speak of course, or trying to be Hoods. Shits annoying, no one takes the time to be creative anymore. I'm tired of seeing some shitty bands gain popularity by biting off of other bands originality.

Whats next on your agenda?
Probably write another 7 songs and make a full length, or just jam out on some shows, who knows.

Any last minute shout outs?
All our boys from all our friend bands. All the people I've met all over the world over the last few years. Thanks to all the people who listen and rep our shit, means a lot of all of us. Keep spreadin that shit, you have no idea how much it helps us out.

http://www.myspace.com/sactojaguars

Stillborn Records signs Abolish

Official press release:

Stillborn Records has signed South Florida's up and coming Abolish to their roster. The metallic-hardcore band has entered Connecticut's Dexter's Lab Studios with engineer Nick Bellmore (Hatebreed, Death Threat) to record their debut full length, "Beyond Redemption," which is slated for a fall release.

The band commented: "We are very excited to be working with Stillborn, a label that is so well respected and has released some of the staple records in the hardcore and metal genres. With our new record, we wrote songs with the heavy groove we wanted to hear. We hope everyone enjoys the record as much as much as we do. See you on tour."

Stillborn owner and Hatebreed/Kingdom of Sorrow frontman, Jamey Jasta added, "I'm excited to be working with Abolish. Their sound is as hard as their work ethic!"

Check the band out at myspace.com/abolishkills and catch them on tour this summer and fall.

Goood Old Days - Only Attitude Counts split CD out now

Click here to order!

New merch from Providence

New merch by Paris heavy weights Providence. Click here to get in touch with them.

Summer of Hate '09

Summer of Hate '09
Saturday July 11th @ The Vineyard in Kent, Oh

Expect the same as always... the hardest bands form NEOH/Western PA region plus some of the best HC bands the rest of the US has to offer for a reasonable price... plus all the BBQ you can handle. The show is right around the corner from Samoan Rob's DEFIANCE TATTOOS so there will be plenty of BBQ and fun!

Confirmed To Appear:
STOUT (MD)
CROWD DETERRENT (OH)
KNOW THE SCORE (FL)
BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT (IN)
CONVICTED (IL)
AMERICAN WEREWOLVES (OH)
SUBURBAN SCUM (NJ)
TASTE THE STEEL (PA)
NO END IN SIGHT (MN)
ENEMY MIND (PA)
EMPIRE (OH)
DEATHRIGHT (PA)
NOT WITHOUT RESISTANCE (PA)
THROUGH TRIALS (KY)
RELENTLESS (MN)
Plus Special 2 Guests!!!

MORE INFO: http://www.myspace.com/summerofhate2009