(Don't Sleep!) Cold Reality

Budapest posse comes through with a new dope record. I recall I really liked their 2013 demo, but this new tracks are banger after banger. They were good with their shit before, but now they're beast with it. The band blends heavy NYHC in vein of Madball or Merauder with more recent influences somewhere along the lines of Bitter End or Soul Search. It can be rough round the edges sometimes, but it doesn't bother me that much really cause the overall feeling is positive. No Escape was released via Powertrip Records (Hollow Truth, Reapers Path, Eisberg...) as a 7 inch and tape.

Review: All For Nothing - What Lies Within Us

All For Nothing - What Lies Within Us (GSR) - If you follow what’s happening in the European core scene you must be familiar with this band. They’ve been going strong for some time already and put in some real hard work and dedication. It all resulted in couple of tours and albums under their belt already. I have respect for bands that keep it real like that.

Stylistically ‘What Lies Within Us’ has all the markings of a NYHC-styled hardcore. It has its qualities, and there are moments when the band shines. The guitar work is slick and the dance parts are intense, but some tracks just feel like a the band keeps repeating the same thing time after time. I guess the sooner you realize that generally cliches play big part of hardcore the sooner you will start to enjoy this slice of European core. What drags it down a bit to me are the vocals, but it’s just my personal taste and it got nothing to do that it’s a girl singing.

On the other hand, the record has some heartfelt hard-knock life lyrics that I think many kids will find very inspiring. Musically, Hold Fast is definitely a highlight, that songs is too powerful! All in all, this is a solid record if you’re into bands like No Turning Back or Madball.

Down For Life Interview

Down For Life hails from Los Angeles California and delivers a nice blend of traditional hardcore with oi! sound for fans of Patriot, Discipline, Bruisers, Agnostic Front and so on. You get the picture. The band knows their craft and I am really into their recent record called Comin' Out Swingin' so it's cool they said yes to the interview. Everyone should read it, but especially those of you who are currently unemployed, drunk or on the run from police.

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Ad of the Day

More about 'In the Eyes of the Lord" re-release

A389 Recordings

This was a record that changed my life. Of of the realest and the most punishing hardcore bands I've ever encountered. I just upped all the scans for the art/layout and the audio is off to mastering. 2xLP will contain the full IOTEOTL album as well as all the demos and comp songs with Bruce on vocals. I even found a clean DAT rip of 'Straight To Hell' from the CTHC comp c/o Dave who used to run East Coast Empire!!! Anyone else stoked or will I be moshing alone at home with my dog?

(Don't sleep!) Brain Fracture

i am the decimator.

still consuming the weak

i am the wolf,

in your nation of sheep

Brain Fracture is a new band from Billerica, Ma area with members of Hammer Bros, Off With Their Heads, Roadrunner and Fake Boys. They've just got one track up on their bandcamp and it is so hard I gotta share it. 'Decimator' is really tight and has me anticipating more music from them. Crush your enemies to this shit!

Demo: Hollowed Out

Sick two-track demo from Saint Louis,MO-based Hollowed Out. If you're down for heavy-ass, thrash-infused hardcore you need to check this one out. There's even some Clevo sound to be heard now and there, but basically they're working with a solid hardcore foundation and add bunch of thick and brutal metal influences on top of it. The vocals are sick and vile as well. Gran it by clicking the link below, or just go to their bandcamp.

DOWNLOAD

Classic Shit: Hoods - Once Again

This track is taken from my favorite era of this band. Don't get me wrong, I love the newer albums, but the early shit they put out, like Once Again or Alone ep, is pure fire.

Download: Wild Side - Promo'14

This is short but slick demo by this new Canada band. There's a nice classic NYHC flow to it and Warzone comes to mind immediately when listening to these tunes. I don't have to say it's never a bad thing. All Bark, No Bite is a stand out, but actually both tracks are great. You can get the demo on tape here.

DOWNLOAD IT

[Cover art] Last Dayz - Ready To Die

I am pretty sure this ep is going to be one of the hardest records to come out in 2014. Last Dayz. Ready to Die. Don't sleep, fruits!

Kingpin Interview

Kingpin hails from Odessa, Ukraine and comes through with pretty slick hardcore that is heavy on groove and feel. Their new ep 'What Man Is A Man...' is really, really good, bringing vibe similar to that we all love on any Crown of Thornz or Fire & Ice record. I urge you to check it out for yourself as it is now available for a full stream via band's bandcamp (see below). The band talks a lot about their music, future plans and stuff that motivates them, but since it's hard to pretend that Ukraine is not in some serious shit right now, we also discussed the complicated situation in their country from the perspective on regular people. I hope this interview will shed some light on what this conflict is about.

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Review: King Nine - Scared To Dead [Ratel]

This shit is made so you get inspiration to harden the fuck up. This is heavy metallic East Coast hardcore done just like it was meant to be done from the start. All the tracks on this one feature a gritty heavy sound, with stomping grooves and aggressive (and pretty skilled) riffing topped off with seriously harsh vocals. There are no funny-style reaches on the record, no clean vocals, melodic riffs or any of this shit. Being from NYC you can tell these dudes soaked up One Second Thought, Fury Of V and Bulldoze. You can tell where band’s influences are, but King Nine is bringing it to the forefront with their own unique style and personality.

If you need something to put you on the champion mindset, this is it. Scared is a blistering listen which easily muscles its way into the upper echelon of hardcore heavyweight league. Listening to this makes me think about crazy shit like gorillas beating each other to bloody mess over who’s the baddest mother fucker in the jungle! Nasty stuff!

If you're dead broke and can afford to buy just one album this year, make it this one. Or steal it if you really have it, I don't care, just get it! There's something in that East Coast water that breeds these animals!

New 100 Demons and other news

Here's some stuff to keep you updated with important things that are happening in hardcore:

Cheat Death is the name of new Bent Life 2-song ep due out via Bad Teeth Recs.

Fuck, I almost missed this info: A389 will drop new 100 Demons! Well, not a full length though, we're talking split with Black Dahlia Murder, but still. Just pretend BDM is not there.

Reality Recs will drop self titled 7" by Blind Beliefs (Antwerp, Belgium). Check out new track called Salvation on their bandcamp.

I know many kids waited for this: new full length by Turnstile will be called Non Stop Feeling and should drop this winter. Reaper of course.

Revelation Recs re-released Nothing But A Nightmare by Soul Search, a record that for a long time was practically impossible to get. Order your copy here.

Bloodstained posted new track 'Treat evil with evil' from the upcoming album Headless Kingdom. Listen to it here.

NYC legends Bulldoze are working on a new record, at least that's what rumor has it.



No Zodiac are now part of BDHW family. New album is called 'Eternal Misery' and should drop later this year.

PA hardcore legends Dysphoria are back and got big plans for the future! Every band that has been long enough to have dealing with Back Ta Basics in their CV deserves respect. If you don't know, check out their Stereokiller page for some music and more info about the band. Deathless is hard as fuck!

Split ep between Sworn Vengeance and St Hood will mark the 6th release from Knives Out Recs. The record will have 6 tracks with both bands doing a cover of some throwback 90' shit. This run will be released at 300 limited and numbered picture disc 10" vinyl with 3 high quality sleeve packaging (pre-order, classic and the deluxe edition).

Coldside - Outcasts, Thugs and Outsiders

This track is from band's upcoming album 'Outcasts, Thugs and Outsiders' on Strength Records. Roger Miret and Freddy Madball are dropping guest verses on this one.

Ad of The Day

S&A to drop new Raw Justice and Social Damage

Straigth & Alert is dropping two releases that I am really excited about: new Raw Justice and debut ep by Social Damage. Listening to some joints from both eps that are available on S&A I gotta admit both bands rip. SC goes hard with in-your-face, raging NYHC among the lines of Judge or Side By Side. Raw Justice sounds even more pissed off than on their debut, both vocals and music are tight and seriously powerful. Even if the music sucked, I still would buy these two just for the dope cover art.

SD is a cooperation between S&A and Life To Live records from US, and it's gonna be three colors limited in total to 600 copies. I don't know if it's only S&A or both labels though. RJ gonna drop with 3 different covers. Both eps should be available in mid October.

Video: Madball - Doc Marten Stomp

Except for Freddy's haircut, everything is perfect about this track and video.

Desperate Times - Looking for Solution

Desperate Times are back with another knocking track. All I can say about it is that it rips and really sets up anticipation for the upcoming record. Tough hardcore on steroids not unlike Bitter End or Clenched Fist. There's been even more thrash influence in their recent stuff compared to the first ep, and songs are getting more complex, but they never really crossed into metal territory. Thanks god, last thing we need is another hardcore band going pussy metal.

Looking For Solution is a teaser for the upcoming ep that's gonna be released via Rater Records. There are gonna be some shows when the record drops, stay tuned! Members of the band are scattered between Poland and USA, so you gotta respect the fact that they still keep it going.

News from Panda Claw Recs

Panda Claw Recs, a new DIY hardcore label located in California, is about to drop a split 12" between Drag Me Under and Rat Path: "There are 3 colors being pressed for this release and 1st pressing is out of 500. It has 2 new songs from each band and has a etched b-side. All preorders have a chance to win a free test press and comes with a digital download. You can preorder single colors or as bundle pack and save a couple dollars." Both bands rip, so don't sleep on this one! You can get your copy here.



The label will also release ​Life From The Gutter 7" by These Streets, aggressive and heavy hardcore from Modesto,CA. Check it out below:

Video: Knuckledust - Foundations

Taken from the Foundations Built From Blood 7" due out on GSR Music.

Ready to die

I realize most of the activity on this blog recently has been just posting new music, but what can I do when great stuff keeps on popping up almost every day? This time it's Last Dayz, one of my favorite bands at the moment who unfortunately announced they will be calling it quits later this year. But before that sad day comes, there's gonna be a farewell 7" ep and you can listen to 2 tracks off this one below. Throw ya gunz in the air!

The Pain Of Rebirth by Warbrain

Warbrain reps Australia which seems to have a dope scene right now, I could name couple bands from over there that are totally killing it. Band's previous album Void of Confusion was definitely solid, so when I heard these dudes are putting out new music I was more than stoked. The Pain Of Rebirth 7" is already out via Washed Up Records from Melbourne, Australia and my hardcore spider sense was right, every song on it is a banger. Play it loud, let your neighbors mosh to this shit as well!

FFO: Bitter End, Desperate Times, Naysayer, Bleak Reality, Last Dayz

Survival drops ' Forged In Iron' ep

New Survival ep is streaming on their bandcamp! Vinyl version to drop via New Instinct Records and Powered Records.

A working class kid
Parents did the best they could
Teachers didn’t get paid enough to give a fuck
Blamed his mistakes, on something else
Youth passed him by, left by himself
24 years with fuck all to show for it
Never listened to anyone, didn’t have the time for it
He always knew best, it’s the only thing he did
Trapped inside the man is the same ignorant kid
Time for change
Born with backs to the wall
Expected to waste this life
Strength above all
Won’t go down without a fight

New Blood: Väistä

Vaista is a new band from Turku (Finland) with some of the members from now unfortunately defunct Alley Gods. I was big fan of that band, but Vaista is very cool as well. They still keep it 100% core, it's fast and in your face stuff that begs for circle pits and stage dives. On top of that, they sing in Finnish which is also pretty dope cause how many bands you know which do that?

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New track by Mizery

New song by Mizery from the upcoming 7" on Lion's Share Records. The band cought my attention when they dropped Survive The Vibe Promo early this year, and now they're working on a follow up. This new track sounds very promising and I have a strong feeling the ep gonna be a banger. Stay tuned for more info!

Also, don't miss their ' Injustice 4 All' track on the upcoming The Extermination vol.2 compilation along Backtrack, Power Trip, Cruel Hand and more.

Power Play live video

MAYAK FEST 19/07/14
Odessa, UA

Ashkenazi - Nature of The Beast

I don't know much about this band except it features members of Hounds Of Hate. While I think HOH is solid, I gotta say Ashkenazi is more down my lane. Nature of The Beast is 4 tracks of classic hardcore with a slick Maximum Penalty/Underdog vibe and cool vocals. The harder part remind me even of some of the early Cro-Mags stuff, or 80' NYHC in general. This one dropped some time ago, but it's so good that I will share it for those who just like me have been living under a rock. Play it loud!

you beg on your knees

but I can’t release

it’s the nature of the beast

you beg and you plead

but I can’t coincide

It’s your sorrow on which I feast

The Harder They Fall

When bands like Steel Nation drop new music you know you gotta leave whatever you're doing and listen to this shit. The Harder They Fall, the title song from the upcoming record, is up on band's Stereokiller. I don't know how to embed this shit so you just have to click this link: http://steelnation.stereokiller.com/

Review: Reality Returns - Reality Returns 7"

Reality Returns - Reality Returns (Take It Back Records) - Reality Returns was formed by dudes from Teamkiller and Coldburn who wanted to play more traditional, in your face brand of hardcore. Don’t expect the band to break new grounds on this record, but they do a good job of recreating the sound of classic Merauder, Madball or Killing Time tunes.

The group comes correct with their fresh yet aggressive style and the short ep overflows with that distinct style of 90’s heavy hardcore. The record kicks off with a groove-ridden intro with the whole crew shouting Reality Returns on repeat, classy! What follows next is 3 tracks of fast, hard-hitting hardcore that have been done many times before, but who cares when it sounds so good! They throw in some heavier parts at times too, but it never goes too much into metal direction which is always cool in my book. Check out this well crafted and catchy.ep whenever you have a chance.

Born Low's Refuse To Beg/Hunger Within combined on CD

Ratel Records will be releasing a collection of two Born Low's eps on a single CD - Refuse To Beg and The Hunger Within. It's 12 tracks in total. If you're familiar with this band already you know this probably one of the hardest that NY hardcore got to offer right now. No jokes! If you're not familiar, you really need to cop this album to truly get how dope it is.

Manipulate live in Brooklyn, NY

Cold World come back hard!

The first song I heard from the album was "Hell's Direction" and I gotta say it, it blew me away then and still do each and every time I listen to it. So you can't only imagine how stoked I was for the full album. Now that 'How The Gods Chill' is available for free streaming in all its glory, after couple listens I shake my head in disbelief at the dopeness this albums delivers.

After short intro, on the powerful opening track Blind the band brings heavy and aggressive groove, complete with crunchy riffs and tight drums. The strong vocals sounds right at home there no matter if it's classic, rugged hardcore delivery or more clean type of singing.

The rest of the tracks are equally dope. I can't pick my favorite one yet, they all sound damn near perfect to me. One of the thing I gotta give the band credit for is how they incorporate elements from various hip-hop classics, like the bass part in Cracks OF Hate which is the same as on Mobb Deep's The Realest. I am pretty sure the deeper you dig into this album the more you find stuff like that. All in all, it feels like a hardcore tribute to classic albums like The Infamous, Magnum Force or Dah Shinin'. Very dope!

Not to mention guest verses from Kool G Rap and Mayhem Lauren, to have these dudes on the album must have costed a fortune so don't be greedy and cop that album when you got a chance.

That new track by Backtrack rips

Extermination comp vol. 2 is about to be even harder than the first one. Due out via Flatspot Recs, pre-orders are up already and they got some nice bundles as well.

Vibing on that Street Lights demo recordings...

The debut demo from these Polish cats brings dynamic, hard-hitting and groove-heavy tunes that every serious hardcore kid will appreciate. If the band’s name makes you think of that Trapped Under Ice song, that means your mind is going in a right direction. No doubt that Baltimore band had some influence on the way Street write and execute their songs, but the band also pours a lot of their own ideas and energy in the songs. Not once listening to the demo you got an impression of them being second rate copycats. As for the lyrics, they’re bleak but in a down-to-earth way so you don’t have to work at getting to the crux of what a song is about. It definitely doesn’t mean there’s a lack of depth, the author is a truly tortured mind and it shows.

All in all, this is an undeniably good demo, with a dope combination of ideas, skills and genuine aggression that add some more depth to the stripped down hardcore tracks. The band has kept on getting better since this one came out so I hope to hear more from them in the future. If tapes are your thing, cop it here.

Human Animal - new video and 7" split

Ain't no slowing down for Human Animal dudes. The band has just released a split with Buffalo, NY’s Wreckage via Head 2 Wall Recs. Two tracks from each band, you can give it a listen here. This is some true aggressive hardcore shit right here! Banger!

[split] Conrete / Hammerfist

My peeps in Concrete and Hammerfist hooked up for a split 12" release due out via Irish Voodoo Recs. Two tracks from the record have been unleashed to the net and you can check 'em out below. Look out for the LP to hit the streets later this summer.

Summer Tape 2014 from Hardside

These two tracks are hard as hell and definitely live up to the expectations I had for any new music from these dudes. Hardside is one of my favorite current bands and both Lawless and Forever are absolutely one of their top joints. The combination of harsh, agressive vocals with gritty singing parts get the job done as always, while musically this is one of their tightest job ever.

Hell's Direction

This is fresh joint from Cold World and it makes me even more hungry for band's upcoming album. I know this song dropped couple days ago and has been featured on virtually every hardcore blog out there, but this track is so hard I can't resist posting it anyway. Plus, I am pretty sure everyone who's rap education hasn't ended on Drake or Lil'Wayne recognizes the opening riff. Music make this thug calm down!

Life For A Life Interview

You might remember Life For A Life from an interview I did with these dudes back in 2012, but the band has been doing some cool stuff lately with music and shows so I thought I might catch up with them again and ask about some recent stuff. It took me about two months to post it, but here it is. Read the interview and then head to band's facebook and bandcamp to check music and keep yourself updated on the band.

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Introducing: Down For Life

Down For Life interview is in works, but in the meantime check out band's new album: Comin' Out Swingin'. If you like what you hear, you can order it here, it should start shipping soon.