Straight from the planet of the apes...
CHEAP FRAUD
I’m closer to death with every next breath
So I know I shouldn’t waste my time but
DECEIVER I spit in your face
I tried to look on the bright side
Now it’s time to hate again
Review: Selfish Hate – Today Tomorrow Forever
Hardcore Gem: Stormcore - 'Last Warning' (Agnostic Front)
Stormcore playing 'Last Warning' with Matt Henderson and Freddy Cricien. Thanks to KDS Legacy for posting this.
On heavy rotation this week...
Buy it HERE.
The band actually put out this album in 2012, but although being much into their recent ep I never really had a chance to pay this one the attention it deserves. Turns out I was really missing out, cause this is first rate beatdown hardcore with tons of that sweet 90' sound. The vocals are sick, the songs are packed with hooks and twists, and the execution is flawless.
Buy it HERE.
Take Offense is back on the scene with this highly anticipated album. This is a killer record that perfectly blends in-your-face hardcore with creative song writing and superb musicianship. The vocals go from hard to melodic and definitely are one of the highlights here. Through I feel their previous ep had more stand out tracks, this is still good listen from start to finish.
Buy it HERE.
Clearview plays raging hardcore that sounds like combination of the best elements of Madball, Terror and One Life Crew. The tracks go from fast to groovy, but they all bang and there's a serious sense of purpose in each of them. Paura's side of the split is kind of heavier and slower, not as good as Clearview but still decent.
Honesty Interview
Honesta is an international hardcore band with members coming from Paris and Belgrade. The band has its roots i Onesta, a name most of you might be familiar with, but because of line-up issues they changed their name in recent times. Musically, it’s similar NYHC influenced vibe, but they kind of added a strong socio-political theme to their lyrics. One of the things that caught my attention about them is their commitment to the issue of homelessness, with one of the members being a volunteer for Paris Red Cross Association. Anyway, check out the interview for more info about this!.
True Spirit Tour #2
True Spirit Tour #2 is happening right now! Make sure you check one of the shows if you're anywhere around. No Turning Back, Anchor, A Strength Within and Light It Up - the line up is dope and I'm sure each gig gonna be hell of a fun! Peace!
Assorted News: Backtrack, Piece By Piece, Represent, Backfire...
As a reminder: Backtrack have teamed up with Revelation Records for new LP due out in 2014.
Backfire will drop new ep in 2014! As stated by the band, ”Where we belong” will be released in 2014 digital and on very limited vinyl only.
Ultra-rare Breakdown "Running Scared" demo tape from 1988. Out soon on limited (1,000 copies) vinyl from Painkiller Records. Also includes NYU Crucial Chaos live radio set from 88 and Giant Studios demo.
New ep from Piece By Piece is called Primite As Fuck and gonna drop via Solid Bond Recs. You can place your pre-order here.
Rucktion has released new CD by Cali's Hammerfist: Raw and angry, fast and ultra-heavy hardcore from these West Coast veterans, who are about to celebrate a decade in the game! Featuring Tom Tactic (Skare Tactic) on bass. Guest vocals by Dre (Donnybrook) and Davie (Force Of Change)! Includes 5 new tracks + their 7-track "Dead Dreams" EP, previously unreleased in Europe.
Check out new track from Benchpress taken off of the upcoming split with Martyrs Tongue. Click here.
Reaper Records plans inclunde: NYHC Compilation 7", new Sheer Terror LP, new Born Low 7",
According to Reaper Recs newsletter: Stigmata just got added to 2014s Breast Fest in NC and to the BNB Super Bowl as well. The guys are currently taking some time to write songs for a new record. Vinyl re-issues are also being discussed.
Erie straight edge warriors xRepresentx are streaming new track. Give it a listen here!
Too Old To Die Young is a title of the upcoming album from Vienna,Austria-based Spider Crew. It is due out in 2014 through One Voice Records.
Review: Desperate Times - New Course Of Action
Desperate Times - New Course Of Action (Ratel/Last Warning) - Both musically and lyrically, this album is a beast entirely and definitely some of the most powerful stuff ever recorded by a Polish band. There have been some line-up changes since their previous ep and this is first record with new vocalist, but it didn't hurt them a bit. The music is tight from start to finish and vocals rip it.
Overthrown Interview
It’s always cool to learn about hardcore bands from different parts of the world. Not only you can discover tons of great music, but it also kind of gives you a sense of being a part of something big and important. So, this time it's Singapore. Although I just recently came across Overthrown, it turns out they have been churning their brand of heavy but no-bullshit hardcore since mid 90’, becoming one of the stalwarts of the local scene. Each band that keeps it DIY and manages to put out several releases and tour across Asia and Europe deserves respect. I hope this interview will shed some more light on the band for those not familiar, as well as make you check out their albums..
RoughneckMedia: Power Trip footage from Germany
I just realized I haven't posted anything from RoughneckMedia for some time already, but these dudes are not slowing down and have been steadily putting out dope vids to their youtube channel. Here's one taken at Power Trip show in Bochum, Germany.
Ad Of The Day
Trivia: Gas Powered Records was started by Chris from In Effect fanzine and Nick from Coldfront. This classic album came out in 1996 and as far as I know, this was label's only release. The album was recorded at Motherwest Studios in Manhattan and produced by Mike Dijan.
Pizza Mental Attitude
Face Your Enemy is back with Pizza Mental Attitude, a homage to the finest of what Italian cuisine has to offer. Caserta region of Italy has a reputation of being a place where you can get some of the best pizza the country has to offer so these dudes know what they're talking about. Very dope way to set the tone for the upcoming release 'Toxic Vendetta' EP and bonus points for the Italian lyrics giving this song a cool vibe. If you wanna give FYE some support and cop some fly gear, check out their merch here.
Demo Daze: Manipulate, DisXease, Last Warning
Last Warning - Last Warning
Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil hardcore, suckaz!
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Manipulate - Demo MMXIII
This is the band everyone has been talking about recently and although I hope each one of reading this is already familiar with Manipulate, I gonna post this demo just for the sake of decency. This is real NYHC full in your face!
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
DisXease - Demo 2013
Sao Paulo/Brazil hardcore from the dudes who used play in I Shot Cyrus / Newspeak / Pointing Finger. Fast hardcore with furious riffs and pissed-off vocals, it might sound played out but this demo is tight as hell!
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Review: Last Dayz/Cornered - Split 7”
LLast Dayz/Cornered - Split 7” (Ratel) - It’s been some time since this one came out and I have already reviewed the new ep from Last Dayz some time ago, but this split is too dope to get unnoticed. Last Dayz comes blasting with 2 tracks, of which both are nothing less than crushing. They can be best described as hard as nails PAHC-styled core that packs enough vicious breakdowns to make you wanna hurt random people with no reason.
Listen to Backtrack's 'Lost in Life'
Here’s a new dope track from Backtrack to have you prepared for the release of 'Can't Escape' 7". The ep gonna drop on December 17th by Bridge Nine Records.
Video: Human Animal - Dark Days
Human Animal have released visuals for Dark Days:
"The video features many of our favorite spots in our beloved city of Erie, PA. The vacant lot where all of the band footage was shot is actually the former location of an old venue called Shooters. Many of us saw some of our first live Erie hardcore shows there over 2 decades ago. Now we can say we played there as well even if there’s no walls or floor!"
This is a title track from their debut ep - if you like it, you can download it for free from band's website or cop it from Holy Mountain Music. Eire hardcore in your face!
Assorted News
Some recent relevant news from the wonderful world of hardcore:
Ressurection from UK got a new album out. 8 tracks of old school hardcore, you can cop it here.
Backtrack will drop new album via Bridge 9 in early 2014. It will be called 'Lost In Life'.
From S&A: CLEAN BREAK is Faro’s new Straight Edge sensation, formed in the summer of 2013. After a handful of practices, David and Armando decided to record a demo at the band’s practice room with the 4 songs they’ve been working on. The demo tape was released in August 2013 on Salad Days Records. The band is now working on 7 new songs for an upcoming release. Behind this new band are Faro / portuguese hardcore veterans who used to play in Broken Distance, Critical Point, Pointing Finger, The New Blood or Pressure. Straight & Alert records will team up with David’s label Salad Days records (Portugal) to repress CLEAN BREAK demo tape on a one sided 7″ limited to 200 copies.
Grim will drop a new record called The Seeds Of Love. Shit's gonna be heavy! You can pre-order it from Open Up Recs.
Flatspot Recs are running pre-orders for the upcoming Cold Stare 7" called The Circus. Order your copy here.
Tacoma, Washington’s Cowardice have called it quits. Check out Rat Path though, which has members of Cowardice and already Mean Streets 7" out!
Toe To Toe have announced a new 7 inch titled “Still Fighting” to be released on the Old School Cartel. It will have guest appearances from Madball’s Freddy Cricien and Sick Of It All’s Lou Koller and Craig Setari.
Friend Or Foe - Outsider 7" is out via Trible B Recs! Check out the stream here.
Ressurection from UK got a new album out. 8 tracks of old school hardcore, you can cop it here.
Backtrack will drop new album via Bridge 9 in early 2014. It will be called 'Lost In Life'.
From S&A: CLEAN BREAK is Faro’s new Straight Edge sensation, formed in the summer of 2013. After a handful of practices, David and Armando decided to record a demo at the band’s practice room with the 4 songs they’ve been working on. The demo tape was released in August 2013 on Salad Days Records. The band is now working on 7 new songs for an upcoming release. Behind this new band are Faro / portuguese hardcore veterans who used to play in Broken Distance, Critical Point, Pointing Finger, The New Blood or Pressure. Straight & Alert records will team up with David’s label Salad Days records (Portugal) to repress CLEAN BREAK demo tape on a one sided 7″ limited to 200 copies.
Grim will drop a new record called The Seeds Of Love. Shit's gonna be heavy! You can pre-order it from Open Up Recs.
Flatspot Recs are running pre-orders for the upcoming Cold Stare 7" called The Circus. Order your copy here.
Tacoma, Washington’s Cowardice have called it quits. Check out Rat Path though, which has members of Cowardice and already Mean Streets 7" out!
Toe To Toe have announced a new 7 inch titled “Still Fighting” to be released on the Old School Cartel. It will have guest appearances from Madball’s Freddy Cricien and Sick Of It All’s Lou Koller and Craig Setari.
Friend Or Foe - Outsider 7" is out via Trible B Recs! Check out the stream here.
Behind The Camera: Interview with Taylor Rambo
Taylor Rambo is a talented photographer from upstate New York responsible for tons of great pics from random hardcore shows. The dude was so kind to let me use his photos for the Concrete interview, and I was so impressed with his work that I thought it would be dope to follow up with a short interview where he could shed some light on his work. So, here it is! Plus, check out the cool pics of TUI, Backtrack, Malfunction, Vehement Serenade and couple other dope bands.Review: Clearview - Pure Mayhem
Clearview - Pure Mayhem (Caustic) - Holy shit, this is powerful! Clearview reps Brazil hardcore scene and comes from the school of angry and aggressive hardcore that goes heavy but never too much metal.
'Scared To Death' by King Nine coming soon via Mass Movement Recs
I've already posted about it, but since then some new info surfaced to shed a little more light on the beast that is the upcoming debut full length from Long Island's hardest, King Nine. Mass Movement records have started taking pre-orders for "Scared To Death" that will drop on November 12th so if you dig no bullshit metallic hardcore and got couple bucks to spare, order your copy now. Release show will take place 11/24 at SRC (Sayville Republican Club) in Sayville, NY. Also, check out new track - Still Anticipating...:
Demo Daze: Big Contest, High Card, Chains
Hardcore punk from Long Island, New York
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Big Contest - Demo 2013
Hardcore out of Boston and Wilkes-Barre in vein of Warzone, Negative Approach, Krakdown, Breakdown and such!
DOWNLOAD
Bologna, Italy straight edge commando playing rugged '80s American hardcore punk.
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Video: Naysayer - Infiltrator
I kinda missed it when this video came out in late August, but since Naysayer is one of my fav bands, I gonna post it anyway.
Check out new Deadly Visions track!
Video: Rust Proof - All Or Nothing Days
Rust Proof hails from Australia and features members of local bands like Tenth Dan, Blood Money and Speartackle. If you like this song, head to their bandcamp for couple more tracks.
Cut Loose - Straight Edge pride from Paris
I gotta give props to my ma Alexis from Straight & Alert distro for this one: Cut Loose have just recently dropped a demo which is available in a stricly limited quantity here. If you're not into tapes, bust still want to check out this band, go to this link where you can listen to all the songs and even download it for free. They advertise it as youth crew hardcore in vein of Youth Of Today, Step Forward and Minority Unit. The band has been around since the beginning of this year and features SxE dudes who play or used to play in Get Lost, First Failure, Last Quiet Time, Black Spirals, Jack Move or DIG.
HB Radio #11 - Hard Times
New issue with cool bands like Bluesbreaker, Raw Justice, Honesty, Wretched, Blind Justice, Ego Trip, Guidance and more. Don't miss Australia's Blood Money who come ripping with the cover of the classic tune by Grim Reality. If you like any of these bands, I encourage you to dig more info about them, cop their album or show support in any other way! You can click at the song name below and jump around playlist. It wasn't easy to make it do it, so take advantage! You can also open it in a pop-up window for more convenience.Break Of Chain Interview
When it comes to Japan and hardcore, I mostly associate the scene over there with beatdown or edge-metal bands that I have come across over the years. Names like Creepout, TJ Maxx, Dying Grace, Numb or 43 Urban certainly ring a bell. But truth be told, I don’t really follow what’s happening over there on regular basis. So when I got contacted by Break Of Chain, I had no idea who they were. My mistake, cause it turns out the band has been doing their brand of rugged old-school hardcore for over 10 years now and got couple of releases, comps and splits under their belt. If you’re into heavy-ass hardcore with a NYHC-twist, check them out! Here’s the interview with Danzaki, who handles the vocals for the band.Upcoming Compilation with Sao Paulo Hardcore
Video: Cruel Hand - 3S
Brand new vid from Cruel Hand for 3S, which is a new track from the upcoming 7" Born Into Debt, We All Owe A Death. I still can't decide if it's rad or not, but you do your judgement anyway.
Demo Daze: Higher Power Trife Life, Pulled Under
Higher Power - Higher Power Demo
Melbourne hardcore, members of Most Precious Blood, 50 Lions, Hit List & Outsiders Code. Dirty and rugged hardcore with punk vibe.
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Trife Life - Neighborhood Watch
... got me thinking like an animal. NY hardcore, pretty dope cause they don't mess around and keep it aggressive and straight to the throat all the time.
DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK
Pulled Under - Demo 2013
Hardcore from Dallas-Forth Worth area with a mission to go back in time and bring back that 90' metallic hardcore back to life. Fans of Disembodied or Martyr AD check it out!
DOWNLOAD|FACEBOOK
Reviews: Last Dayz, Life After Death, No Second Chance, Isolated
Last Dayz - Fatality (Ratel) - One of the Poland’s finest hardcore bands comes back with yet another dope ep. After the split ep with Cornered which was already great, these new tunes shows a lot of progression. The basic formula on Fatality remains the same - the tracks are as arrogant and grisly as you would expect but everything just sounds better and harder. The band seems even more focused and forceful than on the previous eps. The lyrics span from personal to general topics like life and hardcore scene, everyone can relate to it. I saw these dudes live on couple occasions and every time it was a crazy experience with people throwing random stuff around and beating crap out of each other. Shit is real! Fatality is one of the slickest hardcore releases this year, no doubt.
Life After Death - Cuffed And Cursed (DIY) - It seems like every few years I come across a beatdown album that avoids the impulse to sound remotely modern. Instead of double bass and constant breakdowns, Life After Death comes through with that classic Bulldoze/Merauder/Hatebreed shit. I can't imagine any fan of these bands not liking this album. All the tracks on here are really dope. You get a handful of songs with that classic 90’ east coast metallic hardcore feel as well as a few that stray a bit outside of this lane. The topics of the songs are all about the stresses and bullshit of everyday life, kind of standard shit but always relevant. It’s probably the first time I paid for mp3 files but this ep is so good and the money goes to one of their folks who got himself in trouble with the law. So, help the brother out and get yourself some good hardcore music by buying it here. I wish it would be out on cd or vinyl one day.
No Second Chance - Face Reality (Rucktion) - No Second Chance is a London-based act that delivers some mosh-worthy hardcore tunes that blend chugging riffs with tons of breakdowns and vicious vocals. Generally the music carries the style of bands like Throwdown or One Nation Under, but my only problem is that it all sounds just like your average album of this style. It’s not entirely terrible, but nothing to write home about. It doesn’t help that I was never that much of a fan of this particular sound, and I can’t fight impression that it just lacks purpose and is just playing hardcore for the sake of playing music. There’s nothing pissed off, negative, or hateful about it. On the other hand, it might be due to very polished sound on this one, some more dirt would definitely give it some more force. This record is over and I can't remember this shit even playing in my speakers, that's how much of an impression it leaves.
Isolated - This is Q-Town not LA (District Records) - As much as I love eurocore bands like Only Attitude Counts, Ryker’s or Backfire, I just can’t get into this stuff. It’s mediocre and uninspired hardcore with punk and metal leanings which totally lacks the aggression hardcore should have. I would expect something more from a band which have been about 20 years in existence. Damn, sometimes I think it’s even worse than any Crushing Caspars album, but then I remember how terrible CC albums are. I'm only feelin' one or two songs on here, with most ranging from just ok to plain terrible. I'll probably never listen to this stuff again. Next.
Iron Reagan - Cycle of Violence
Not really a fan of all the weird metal stuff A389 Recordings are putting out, but I gotta admit when they drop something more in line of traditional hardcore it's always a blast. Iron Reagan is one of the bands that got my respect and this is their new clip - Cycle of Violence off of Worse Than Dead album.
New Blood: Cold Reality
Cold Reality is a new band from Budapest, Hungary that plays hardcore with tight vocals and heavy-ass grooves. They got one demo already, which came out earlier this year and I advice everyone to check it out cause it’s dope. I they keep it this way I expect cool things from these dudes in the future. Here’s interview with Balázs who handles vocal duties for the band.Stout to cancel European tour
Bad news - due to car accident involving the singer Tad the band has to cancel their upcoming European tour. Hope its nothing serious and the guy will get well fast! And of course hope to see the band in Europe when he gets better.
Grim Reality - Reunion Show in 2014
Demo Daze: Bad Attitude, Unfinished Life, Bluesbreaker
Bad Attitude - Brainfreeze
Bad Attitude are dudes from Cornered, Pantah and other local bands from Leeuwarden, the Netherlands area who teamed up for some old styled hardcore action. The demo is slated to get vinyl treatment later this year via War Inside Records (NL) and 46 Records (IER).
Unfinished Life - Expose My Demons
UKHC with tons of groove and force, all five tracks here are ripping hard!
Bluesbreaker - Arcanum
I saw this band life they were dope. Metallic hardcore with its own unique twist, you gotta check it out!
Detroit Hardcore Comp - Interview with Mike from Lost Time Recs
Lost Time Records are about to release a 7” compilation to feature couple of up and coming hardcore bands that represent Detroit hardcore scene. The bands involved in this project are Freedom, From Hell, True Love, One by One, and Retribution. Each band is contributing a brand new track! Check out the interview we did with Mike, the man behind Lost Time Recs, who shares some info about this project!!Iron Chains - Live @ Budapest
Dope live set from this Hungarian band playing at their home turf. I posted their demo some time ago so check it out if you haven't already. Iron Chains, fff: Merauder, Dead End Path, 25 ta Life, Stigmata...
