Demo Daze: Spirit Crusher - Demo 2015



Spirit Crusher outta Germany take their inspiration from NYHC, the 90s and the Straight Edge. This combination is a huge promise, but thankfully they didn't fuck it up. Vibed out hardcore with a slick riffing and sweet, intense groove, and on top of that you get vocals that really try hard to sound like classic NYC bands. If I could point any European reference, I'd say Icepick and True Blue. There are bits and pieces that could be improved, but overall that demo shows potential. I know this type of sound is THE SHIT nowadays, so I guess many of you will dig it.

You can cop it on tape here.

DOWNLOAD | FACEBOOK

Video: Wisdom In Chains - When We Were Young



Wisdom In Chains, the band responsible for some of my all time favorite hardcore tunes. This is a type of band you will never most likely find yourself get tired of. Unconcerned about trends and fads, they always keep their standards high even if I dig some of their albums more than other.

This video is for When We Were Young which for me is a highlight of their recent album, hard-hitting hardcore with a healthy dose of nostalgia. That is the type of stuff I want to hear.

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Download: Juggernaut - Overlooked



Juggernaut is heavy 90's influenced hardcore from Buffalo,NY. Fans of Despair, Earthmover or Strife style should give it a try.

If you ask me, that is a killer band's name and I am surprised nobody had used it before.

FACEBOOK / DOWNLOAD / BANDCAMP

Video: Agnostic Front - Old New York



My understanding is that hipster fucked up New York for good. God damn. I don't know. I really don't know if I could hate these people even more.

New music: Race Riot 59 - Banned in Cleveland



Race Riot 59 has uploaded 3 new tracks to their bandcamp. Can't say it's their best shit, I still dig Smash Nazis ep the most, but no doubt I would choose listening to a bad Race Riot track any day over a lot of the current critically-acclaimed punk acts. This is raw and straight up dangerous music with hard-hitting, but honest and relatable lyrics. I totally respect the outcast vibe of this band, this is what we need more of in this scene.

A criminal is all that they see
excessive force is their policy
a criminal is all that they see
I don't fuck with cops, but cops fuck with me

Review: Cold World - How The Gods Chill



Given the average wage in the country I reside in, every decision to cop contemporary hardcore record is made after hours of deep economical consideration. Being an adult means you gotta do some heavy thinking and reason pros and cons of every move you make, cause at certain age moshing in your room on empty stomach has much less appeal than it had during your salad days.

But grown man problems aside, slowly I am catching up with all the overdue reviews of records I got in recent months but because of some stupid shit I didn't write. This time it's Cold World and How The Gods Chill. With records like this one, I doubt there’s a point in getting too deep into its content, The record has already been discussed by greater minds than mine and everyone has already heard it and got their opinion made up.

How The Gods Chill tries hard to uphold the legacy of Dedicated to Babies..., and it just might. Kids will be arguing whether it’s better than their previous shit, but truth is this is Cold World and they still got it.
Musically, it’s still rough hardcore stuff with whole arrays of sick riffs over pounding drums. Tracks like Never Knows Best or No More Fun And Games are nothing short of a winner. There’s an obvious NYHC influence and the way this band lays down that heavy groove of Crown Of Thornz or Life Of Agony is unbelievable. The guitar work is on some next level shit, and just the fact that some of the riffs makes me straight up excited says a lot. I get this feeling from like one in hundred albums I listen. Work of a genius. It’s one of those gems where you can sense a lot of thought went to each track of the album. I wouldn’t go too far saying that Cold World are a rule-breaker, they work within the hardcore tradition but they also put their own stamp on it. Every time you hear Cold World’s track, you know it’s them.

The vocals by Dan Mills are on point as always, he has an incredible ability to ride the groove of each song no matter if it’s fast or slow. His trademark gritty, harsh hardcore vocals mixed with hip-hop vibe are on constant display here. I remember I had hard time getting used to his vocals on previous records, but once it clicked I can’t imagine anyone else fronting this band. Dude is all over the album. The confidence and force in his flow is something that set him apart from most of the current hardcore vocalist. The lyrical content is another highlight. The overall tone of the lyrics is really down to earth, but it’s far from cheap gimmick. There’s a darkness to these tracks in a way they are describing everyday situations and hardships with brutal realism.

The guest appearances from both hardcore and rap people are cleverly used at different points of the album. I mean, god damn, Kool G Rap? I know it's probably the matter having the right amount of cash and you can have anyone rapping over your shit, but still the choice of rappers they invited to the project and the quality of rhymes is quality stuff.

Hard record for hard times. I put it on the list of my top records for 2014 and I still stand by this decision.

Deathwish, 2014

Download: The Worst Doubt - Demo 2015



The Worst Doubt
states Soul Search, Merauder, King Nine and Kickback as their main influence and that's enough to get me interested. Background story: the band started in 2014 and features members of Backboned, Mad At The World and Raw Justice who obviously wanted to create something heavier compared to their previous bands. The demo has 5 tracks of powerful and ruthless hardcore with the heavy twist, while gritty production only enhances the overall experience. Straight & Alert is releasing this one on tape.

DOWNLOAD / FACEBOOK / BANDCAMP

New music: Shadow Of Doubt - Deceive



My people from Shadow Of Doubt have just dropped new track 'Deceive' which features Jose from Mizery. The band represents heavy, metallic hardcore with realness. I suggest you check this one out as it is one of the names you are gonna hear for a mean minute.

This one might serve as a teaser for the new record that is still yet to materialize, at least I hope so.

Video: Higher Power - Higher Power



Really dope track and video, I gotta check out more about this band.