Video: Wilful Damage - This Is Ours
Wilful Damage, my people from Brisbane, have dropped what is their first official clip. This track is taken from band's most recent record, Pride, available for free download here. Turn it up!
New Blood: Guts Out - Moscow Hardcore
Guts Out caught my attention with the self titled ep they dropped in January - with pretty much every track on it being incredibly dope it rapidly became one of my favourites. The band doesn't break any new ground, but it works classic NYHC hardcore style with considerable skill and aggression. Take my word for it, without mentioning any names, it can give a lot of more hyped bands a run for their money. Anyway, as I want to have more bands from Europe featured on this blog this year, Guts Out were an obvious choice.Hardcore gem: 25 ta Life featuring Stephen (Kickback)
This video is pretty insane, if you haven't seen it already check it out above. 25 ta Life start playing Short Fuse and all of a sudden Stephen jumps in and totally kills it. Sick! Paris, filthy Paris, 2004.
Review: Hammerfist - Zero Stone
Hammerfist - Zero Stone (Rucktion) - Fuck, this shit is heavy! Not much have changed compared to band’s previous albums but if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. After first listen I knew I got what I expected from this album - the vocals are maniac and the riffs are massive. Much of the album has a strong old-styled metallic hardcore vibe to it that I'm really feelin. It’s kind of stuff you know from Merauder or Hatebreed albums, and it’s done so right. For more traditional, faster hardcore parts check out tracks like Carry The Weight, while Skin Change and Illusio deliver heavy breaks that weight tons.
Bolt - top of the core
Bolt must be one of my fav bands from Europe, these dudes can't be touched! Like their page is you haven't already.
Play this one loud! Open it in a New tunes from Criminal Instinct
Criminal Instinct will drop new 'Fever' 7″ and have recently posted 2 tracks to prepare you what's gonna happen when the whole record hit the streets. Both tracks are raging! Solid Bond Records is already running pre-orders for the first pressing (1000 pc / black, orange, red & white) so don't sleep on it. On the related note, the label will also drop new shit from No One Rules, you can check out this band here.
Interview with Nikolay from Ugly & Proud Recs
My man Nikolay is a brain and muscle behind Ugly & Proud Recs, a young hardcore label based in Sofia, Bulgaria that has been putting out some quality records in recent years. Roster includes bands like Blade, Lose The Life, Can't Relate, Raw Justice, Die Young and much more. As you can see, 100% legit stuff that everyone into hard and uncompromising hardcore could appreciate. This type of entrepreneurship will always get respect and support on this blog, so I thought it would be cool to ask Nikolay couple of questions about the label - how it got started, how it works, and what is the biggest headache. I hope seing the insights behind what it means to run a DIY hardcore label is something you'll find interesting.
New clip from Clearview - Times Of Distress
Clearview is without a doubt one of my favorite active bands in hardcore. They dropped their last album 'Rage Through Integrity' in 2012 and if you read my review you know I loved the shit out of it. I even managed to catch them live last summer and they're nothing but legit dudes. Here's a clip the band put together from various footage from that European tour. Quit being a loser, check out this clip.
Review: Nueva Dirección - s/t
Nueva Dirección - s/t - Self titled record by Malaga (Spain)-based Nueva Direccion is an unfortunately flawed attempt at old styled hardcore/punk. The self-titled album delivers five tracks that fixate on sound somewhere in the middle between Sick Of It All, First Blood, Terror and so on. While all the usual elements are at play here, with songs going from fast parts to breakdowns, riffs heavier to melodic, no song get close in terms of infectious vitality or catchiness to the bands they try to copy.
Unofficial clip for Redemtion Denied's ‘Lex Talionis’
Check this unofficial clip for Redemption Denied‘s ‘Lex Talionis’. Seeing these dudes live twice I gotta admit the clip does a great job at capturing the energy and dedication they bring to the crowd. Good to see hard-working band getting the recognition they deserve. The clip was put together by Idiotbox Videozine.
Cornered are dropping a new album - 'Sudden Death'
Cornered are getting ready to release a new album and today we got a taste of the upcoming material. Serve The Beast is a killer tune, if the whole 'Sudden Death' album gonna rip like that they definitely gonna get my money. For real. Check it out below.
Fools die in 1994
Killing Time footage from 1994 and it got only 180+ views? Where this world is going to? The dude who posted this one got more dope videos so make sure you check his channel out.
Video: Intense - ‘A.C.A.B.
This is actually old news but maybe some of you missed it: Intense (Germany) dropped a video for ACAB track from their recent EP called More To Say. All cops are bastards! Check it out below:
Retribution Interview
Retribution caught my attention with their superb Consumed 7". That record was pure fire - pissed off vocals, massive breakdowns and powerful riffs combined for a definitely dark and negative output. The new stuff that the band dropped at the end of 2013 definitely lives up to the previous material so make sure you check it out. You can grab it on tape from Lost Time Records. Check out the interview I did with band's vocalist Kenneth.
Silence Over Snitching Forever
Now Crowd Deterrent tracks are up on band's bandcamp. The sound quality is rough as fuck, but if you can get pass that you'll get two really tight tunes. Predator Or Pray is CR we all love, but the real deal is Sacred Order Sacred Flesh which brings bombed out grooves and a harsh dose of reality. Hardcore gang shouts collide with tight guitar work, and the vocals are menacing as always. I admit I wasn't into these tracks at first but more I listened to it more I felt it. Can't wait for whole Silence Over Snitching Forever Ep to drop.
Guts Out - Moscow Hardcore
Moscow straight edge hardcore with kids who seem to have their hearts in the right spot. This self titled ep is the band’s most recent release since their 2012 demo. That demo was banging already, but on these new tracks Guts Out is sounding tighter than ever. Musically, it feels to me like Russia's answer to Backtrack, but there's much more to it than just being a copy cat. Guitar work is sharp and on point all the time, while the section only adds to overall awesomeness laying down strong and steady groove. Interview coming soon, in the meantime follow their facebook page for more info.
Demos worth your time
I don't have time to post about every hardcore demo that comes my way, but from time to time I come across some decent stuff that is worth sharing.
First, we got Beg To Differ who hail from Eindhoven and got started when some dudes decided there's not enought of the negative sound Blood For Blood and Sheer Terror in 2014. The songs on band's first demo are very dope with straight to the point type of vibe and a very sinister feel. There's a lot of negativity in the lyrics, and there's even track called 'The world needs real men'. Amen to that! Often when you read album reviews you see people talking about bands’ need to stay creative or break new grounds.
Street War - Greed
Sydney's own Street War just dropped visuals for "Greed" taken off their debut EP "Majority Rules". Peep it below.
Call for Unity bands no one knows nothing about
Here’s a collection of tracks I ripped from the legendary A Call For Unity comp which includes bands that sound really dope but unfortunately I know very little about. For those who don’t know, A Call For Unity was a series of 3 compilations put out by Back Ta Basics that, deliberately or not, at the times of their release represented some of the hardest bands in hardcore. The comps started to drop in late 90’, which everyone knows was the time the so called heavy East Coast sound was in its prime. Let me just say the comps included material from bands like Fury Of V, 25 ta Life, Krutch, No Retreat, Mushmouth, Next Step Up… the list goes on and on and it’s just the first issue. While the first one in the series was focused on East Coast scene, the latter had bands from diverse places, mainly Europe and Japan .Tracks that were brought together for each comp equate to no less than 70 minutes worth of hard-hitting classics. Timeless stuff, I hope to write more about it in the future.
Dead Man's Chest drops video for Hateline
As most of you already should know, Dead Man's Chest will be releasing new album on BDHW in Europe and Seventh Dagger in US. Peep the new video for Hateline below.
"Negative Mental Attitude is the crushing new LP from British HC/ Straight Edge heavyweights Dead Man's Chest, Featuring guest vocals from JonnyXplague (Winds Of Plague), JohnXmusic (XtyrantX/King of Clubz), Pelbu (Knuckledust/Bun Dem Out), Matt Spencer (Hometown Hate/Vow Of Hatred) and it also features an Integrity cover which features Integrity's own Dwid Hellion!! If you are a fan of bands like Cro-mags, Slayer, Discharge, Septic Death and Integrity, this is the record for you! Mixed and Mastered by Zeuss ( Hatebreed, Throwdown, 100 Demons)."
New Blood: Wolfdog
Another band from Brazil that proves the scene over there is definitely in the right place. Wolfdog hails from Sao Paulo and plays aggressive hardcore with NYHC influences. Every band that aims to recreate the same spirit as the one on classic Warzone, Agnostic Front or Breakdown albums gets nothing but love on this blog. Here's an interview with Felipe who plays guitar in Wolfdog.
Violent City - Belgium's new hope
Violent City from Belgium recently dropped visuals for their song Empty World. I am definitely digging this track, and the rest of their latest ep Fuck Your World is dope as well. One of the new European bands to look out for.
New music from Bottomfeeder
Bottomfeeder drops the first track off their upcoming full length album! It is entitled 'Dead But No Longer Dreaming' and is streamig already on their Stereokiller profile so make sure you check it out. This shit is too dope, seriously. This is definitely type of stuff we want to hear more - metallic hardcore in its grimest and hardest form. Nothing fancy, just straight in your face pitbull-like aggression.
New Taste The Steel track
With American Gestapo Taste The Steel is spreading awareness about how freedom is slowly being taken away from people in today's America. People got some comfortable and lazy they don't even care. The same stuff is happenig in Europe, bands from over here need to open their eyes and tackle these problems in their lyrics as well. Musically, the band has cooked up some real heavy-ass metallic hardcore. Rough shit! Let's hope this is a teaser for more music to come from the band in near future.
We live in a frightening era of apathy where our liberties are being swept away from us systematically through distraction, ignorance, & fear. If we as a people no longer stand up for civil liberties & basic freedoms that those before us shed blood for. Then we no longer deserve those freedoms.
Review: Bent Life - Full Skull
Bent Life - Full Skull (Fist in the Air Records/6131 Records ) - After Bent Life’s self titled 7” ep I knew this album gonna be dope. Musically, they didn’t change that much but that’s good. The album sticks to the same sound that made the ep so cool and the result is just as dope as I expected. Most of the time, Full Skull is very energetic and heavy with Bent Life coming correct delivering tons of gritty riffs and fat grooves that should get your head nodding.
HB Radio #18 - Like It Is!
The hardest of the hard, I compiled this edition with this goal in my mind. Underground hardcore that's both antisocial and smart. Play this one loud! Open it in a pop-up window for more convenience.Cutdown Interview
Cutdown is definitely one of my favorite bands I have been fan of their music for a long time and am beyond stoked to have them featured on this site. Below is an interview that I've done with band's vocalist, Esa, touching upon range of topics from band's beginnings, his thoughts on scene in Finland to recent record titled Harsh Reality and more. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did doing it.
Wilful Damage drops new ep
This one is fucking dope. Wilful Damage (Brisbane, Austria) has just dropped new ep called Pride which they share for free on their stereokiller page. The band is one of the hardest to come from Australia in recent years - the ep is heavy as hell, all the tracks rip. Don't sleep on it!
Tracklist:
Hammerfist - Skin Change
Orange County boys are back at it again. Here's a new picture for Skin Change from Hammerfist. Zero Stone is a blast, review coming soon!
Forgotten Classics: Stormcore
France was a hot bed of sick, evil and heavy hardcore bands in the late 90s and Stormcore was one of the finest of the pack along likes of Kickback, Trapped In Life and Drowning.
What's happening...
New music is to be expected from Race Riot 59: We will be releasing a new ep very soon , the proceeds will go to help our good friend Tommy, who’s little brother needs a kidney transplant…3 new jams for your listening dis-pleasure. Much respect for the band for supporting their pal. Hope things will work out for Tommy's brother.
For those who don't know yet: you can cop No Turning Back straight from the band via their official webstore. If you wanna look fly or get some dope music go check it out!
The Dead Man's Chest has inked a deal with BDHW Rec for the upcoming Negative Mental Attitude album! The release date is April, 4th. The trailer for the album streams here. The tracklist is sick and goes like this:
1: Weight Of Disrespect (Featuring Jonny X Plague of Winds of Plague)
2: Kiss The Ground (Featuring Pelbu of Knuckledust / Bun Dem Out LBU)
3: Hateline(Featuring John X Music of xTyrantx / King Of Clubs)
4: Left Alone(Featuring Matt Spencer of Hometown Hate)
5: Bringing It Back '89(Integrity cover featuring Dwid Hellion of INTEGRITY)
UK's Flex is gearing up for releasing new 12". The promo for Flexual Healing 3: T.H.E. F.L.E.X. is already streaming here. Motorhead and Discharge covers included!
Said And Done will be also dropping new shit: We’re pretty stoked to announce that our second full length (yes, the one we took forever to write and record), called “Better Days”, will be released on vinyl by COBRA RECORDS from Germany, STRAIGHT & ALERT from France and White Russian Records from the Netherlands. White Russian will also take care of the digital side of things and Some Will Never Know Zine is branching out into a label to release the CD. We’re stoked and can’t wait to finally have it out there. [source]
Line up for this year's Northcote festival is looking sick! More details here.
Steel Nation gonna be back in Europe from 9th to 16th August. More info soon!
Australia's Life Liar Regret Records is dropping split by Melbourne's Frozen Over and Sydney's Mood Swing. Pre-orders are already running here, records should start shipping in March.
Look My Way is calling it quits! The band will play their last show in May, but before that they will record new tracks, which will be shared on bands stereokiller page as well as used for the upcoming split with Clenched Fist.
Words Of Wisdom
it will take time
keep your values strong
believe you're worth more than gold
you've made it - open up the door
we're trying each and every day
to live our lives - in a better way
striving higher for a better life
Worldwide Bond - Australia
Carrying on with our mission of supporting global unity in hardcore, it's time for some legit hardcore from Australia. First, there's Hope & Sorrow, new video from legendary Toe To Toe. Yeah, the band is still very much alive and going hard! If you're not familiar, I advice you to dig more info about this band cause their back catalog is full of dope records. Hope & Sorrow is an opening track from band's recent album - Still Fighting. They definitely still got it, the record is a killer. It's nothing personal but fuck Parkway Drive, if there's one band from down under that you need to know this is the one.
Word Is Bond - two things I like the most about this track is its title and the vocalist sporting Slapshot hoodie. Can't say I'm that much excited for this music itself, but I am sure many of you will. The song is taken from Get Rad's upcoming split 7″ with Sweet Cobra.
Word Is Bond - two things I like the most about this track is its title and the vocalist sporting Slapshot hoodie. Can't say I'm that much excited for this music itself, but I am sure many of you will. The song is taken from Get Rad's upcoming split 7″ with Sweet Cobra.
Review: Old Enemies - Old Enemies
Old Enemies - S/T (Cruzade Records) - Old Enemies is a band from Spain and this is their recent record following demo they put out in 2011. The album features a classic approach with a fine combination of NYHC-styled hardcore and heavier parts. The bands tears through each track recklessly, you can hear they are going for the classic hardcore sound where speed is a must, but solid breakdowns need to be included in the mix as well. In terms of delivery, I got no complaints, the band definitely knows how to do their job. Much of the heaviness here seems to be due to raw and metallic production, but the sounds gets fuzzy at times.
TMF Hardcore Punk documentary from 90'
This gem was posted to youtube yesterday and I advice everyone to see it. All I know is that TMF is supposed to be a music channel from Belgium which used to cover hardcore/punk music back in the days. At least this 40-minutes documentary focuses on hardcore music and culture. This stuff is great, it intercuts interviews and commentary from dudes like Freddie Madball, Lou SOIA, Choke Slapshot and Onno Cromag with live footage of bands like Cro-Mags, Sheer Terror, Sick Of It All and much more. Definitely must watch for every serious hardcore kid. Sit back and enjoy.
Favorite quote: Everyone is welcome, but it's not for everybody. Eventually, some people gonna realize that there's more to it than just a music.
HB Radio #17 - Hard To Kill
Over 30 mins worth of hard-hitting hardcore. I made sure the tracklist is strong, with tracks from Manipulate, Inner Self, Steel Nation, Piece Keeper, as well as Wreckless and One 4 One paying homage to classics.Open it in a pop-up window for more convenience.
Indication to drop XI 7" via Last Warning Records
Whoa, another hard as nails band from Poland. This time it's Indication who bring something straight up dense, agressive and dark that everyone into early Integrity/Ringworm shit should appreciate. After the band dropped awesome demo in 2013, this year it's time for a proper debut seven inch entitled XI. The band is already streaming the first song from the upcoming record and it's every bit as powerful as I had hoped. You need to pump up the volume on this banger and go crazy! More about the band here.
