A HUGE update today, since we haven't had one over here in over a
month :( New stuff has been streaming in since February, so here's an
extensive recap of all of those bangin' new records. Some of these are
already running low, so act fast! I'll make my run down of what's new as
brief as I can ...
RED DONS "The Dead Hand of Tradition (Euro Press)" LP (Taken By Surprise Records)
Five
years after their seminal "Fake Meets Failure" LP, Red Dons return with
their junior album "The Dead Hand of Tradition," set to be released
August 10th on Taken By Surprise Records in Europe and later this summer
by Deranged Records in North America. A lot has happened in those five
years. Two of the band's core members Douglas Burns and Hajji Husayn
left their hometown Portland, Oregon behind, for Chicago and London.
They recorded and released a slew of singles on labels like Grave
Mistake and Dirtnap (including a collaboration with TV Smith of UK punk
legends The Adverts). Despite the distance between them, they’ve managed
to tour regularly in North America and Europe. In January this year
they reconvened in Portland to record "The Dead Hand of Tradition" at
Buzz Or Howl Studios, the same establishment where they recorded the
album's predecessor. "The Dead Hand of Tradition" features ten new
tracks of their signature dark, driving, melodic punk rock sound. The
formula of their distinctive songwriting hasn't changed, but has matured
as a result of having five more nomadic years under their belts. These
new experiences have only added to the themes of alienation, emigration,
and loss present in their music. With Red Dons stalwart Richard
Joachim on drums and recent recruit Ruby Sparks of The Stops (Dirt Cult
Records / Sabotage Records) on guitar, the band just finished a Midwest /
Canadian tour including an appearance at the Ottawa Explosion Fest last
month and is returning to Europe for five weeks in the fall.
SHEER MAG "III" 7" (Wilsuns Records)
"Well,
here’s a nice surprise! The Philly band Sheer Mag, who sound like Thin
Lizzy if Thin Lizzy were DIY basement punks, have a brand-new EP out
right now. Last month, the band shared a kickass new song called “Can’t
Stop Fighting,” and that song is the first of four on their new 7″ III.
Sheer Mag released their first two EPs on Bandcamp in similar fashion,
but that was before they racked up the sort of buzz that has them
playing Coachella next month, so it’s cool to see them sticking to what
brought them here. The EP is as raw and hooky as we’d hope from this
band." - stereogum
RUZ "S/T" 7" (Lumpy Records)
Ripper of an EP from this St. Louis group. Ragin HC no bs.
GLITTER "S/T" 7" (Lumpy Records)
Excellent deranged hardcore from Calgary.
UROCHROMES "S/T" 7" (Lumpy Records)
The
classic hits "TOAP", "I don't wanna be like me", "Ugly", "Two Men" + 2
more, pressed to wax. Don't think you can top that cover.
CHROMA "Cuerpos Dociles" LP (Hysteria Records)
Chroma
is a new band from Barcelona consisting of 3 ladies who formerly and
currentyl played in Las Otras, Rakta, Invisibles, Siega and others.
Churning, mechanically, repetitive, primal, haunted-factory music. Too
punk to fit the mold of their industrial influences -Dripper World.
SIN MOTIVO "El Desierto" LP (Not Normal Tapes)
True
Believers, allow a moment of vulnerability from the venerable. I've
dreaded this moment, this release for some time, not because there was
any chance of it being a bumbling bargain-binner, quite the opposite; I
knew that my attempts to describe this long-awaited long-player would
inevitably fall short. Where you start with this Texas five piece, a
group that has consistently defied expectations and flouted attempts to
whittle them down to just these three influences, that same old x,y,z?
They're certainly heirs to their Texan lineage, that weirdo strain that
counts rock 'n' roll maniacs like Roky, Soxx, Floyd, Kerr, Biscuits,
Really Red, Mydolls, the Stains, etc among its number. There's that Is
This My World-ian wall of guitar, that disorienting, Shatter-Loosian
blend of wonder mixed with contempt. But what's past is past, and Sin Mo
is here, a dazzling future given shape for feeble present tense minds.
HELTA SKELTA "Beyond the Black Stump" LP (Deranged Records)
Helta
Skelta is the newest face of Australian punk - there I said it.
Granted they already have an album and a few singles under their belt,
Beyond the Black Stump sounds very different from previous outputs and
believe this is the album people have been waiting for them to write.
It's hands-down their strongest batch of songs, and the recording does
them complete justice. The various elements of this album have always
been there, swirling in the soup of varied influences and ideas these
guys soak in, but this album smacks of a band getting its ducks in a
row. In particular, Jon's vocals have mellowed from an earlier, more
aggressive hardcore delivery into a brilliantly snarky, deadpan,
sardonic drawl that draws easy comparison to EDDIE CURRENT SUPPRESSION
RING or X. The guitars are tight, choppy and bright, the bass and drums
pin the beat down with straightforward but rock-solid rhythms.
CRETINS "Meat" 7" (Deranged Records)
CRETINS
rear their ugly heads yet again with six new cuts of destructive
hardcore punk on "Meat". This is a completely savage recording that
harnesses the pure hatred of Poison Idea and depraved genius of
Cleveland's finest into one crushing EP. This is not the safe,
easygoing, or experimental garbage that has crept into HC punk in recent
years. CRETINS' approach here is simple - hard hitting and forceful
songwriting with lyrics that espouse a clear distaste for humanity.
Executed much faster and tighter than previous material, if there's one
CRETINS release to end it all to, "Meat" surely wins out.
DESGRACIADOS "Humanidad en la Obscuridad" 7" (Deranged Records)
Talk
about left field – a blazing Spanish hardcore punk band from
Calgary/Vancouver – who knew? Absolute scorching hardcore punk – no
frills no gimmick. A solid 4 song EP that will definitely please fans
of international hardcore punk. Art by Matt Bellosi
OAF "S/T" 7" (Deranged Records)
Debut
7” from newish Vancouver hardcore band. Evil riffs, raw tone, driving
beats and manic vocals. Expressing the stress anxiety and rage of living
in an insane world. Stuck in a web of violence and oppression, on the
bottom of a hierarchy where capital is the sole representation of power
and influence. Seeing the game for what it is and understand that in a
dying world you must CHEAT 2 SURVIVE.
TENEMENT "The Blind Wink" LP (Deranged Records)
The
repress of Tenement’s second album, The Blind Wink courtesy of Deranged
Records. Their first album Napalm Dream was heavy on the high octane
catchy punk, and definitely great but The Blink Wink is where the band
found their confidence and compiled a very distinct and mixed sounding
album’s worth of material. From the Replacements, the Descendents, and
the Lemonheads, the influences are obvious and the delivery spot on. I
am not sure how a band that is so deeply rooted in hardcore punk ends up
creating such a diverse and strong album so early in their ‘career’ but
Tenement have managed to comfortably move beyond the confines of the
punk song and keep us captivated.
WAVELESS "Spirit Island" LP (Deranged Records)
WAVELESS
is a three piece living in MPLS, playing layered reverberating music.
Finding inspiration in the likes of Slowdive, Neil Young, and Sonic
Youth, “Its moody without being saccharine and sincere without being
self-indulgent.” Previously playing together in the short lived noisy
punk band TOTAL TRASH and forming in it’s demise.
TV FREAKS "Bad Luck Charms" LP (Deranged Records)
As
fans of TV FREAKS might expect, "Bad Luck Charms" offers the perfect
marriage of blistering hardcore and ear-splitting garage. It's a
relentless record that just might burn some calories if you listen to
the whole thing. The brain-busting anthems were also given the ultimate
treatment before reaching wax. The 13-track LP was recorded by the
Sadies/Career Suicide member Dallas Good, mixed by Shadowy Men on a
Shadowy Planet's Don Pyle and mastered by Total Control's Mikey Young.
LA SERA "Music for Listening to Music" LP (Polyvinyl Records)
The
title of La Sera's fourth album says a lot by saying so precious
little: Music For Listening to Music To. So, in other words, "music."
After the punky heft and wildness of 2014's Hour of the Dawn, an LP that
thrashed against expectation, Katy Goodman returns with a set of songs
that double down on solid simplicity — the power of wry lyrics, glorious
guitar, driving backbeat, and the occasional pump organ groove. And as
the record cover gives away, Goodman isn't alone. La Sera is a duo now —
that's guitarist/cowriter/new husband (!) Todd Wisenbaker standing up
there. And Ryan Adams joins to produce the fruit of their union, La
Sera's first live-recorded analog album, featuring 10 tunes about good
love, bad love, dead men, and confused kids.
GANG GREEN "Sold Out / Terrorize" 7" (Taang Records)
Debut
7" from this seminal Boston band."Prior to a long tenure as one of the
globe’s leading celebrants of unbridled alcohol intake, metal-tinged
skate-punks Gang Green existed as a trad hardcore outfit, with their
strongest attribute the exhibition of almost ludicrously blistering
speed. That velocity is crucial to “Sold Out,” easily the crown jewel
from the original lineup. It alternates parodic yet appealing elements
of melody with stabs of breakneck momentum, and “Sold Out” stands as one
of the best HC songs (which were frankly at a premium) of its period."
LAST RIGHTS "Chunks / So Ends Our Night" 7" (Taang Records)
"Featuring
legendarily notorious vocalist Jack “Choke” Kelly after the dissolution
of his first band Negative FX and before the rise of the apparently
still extant Slapshot, Beantown HC nuts surely know Last Rights well,
and those cuckoo over indie-rock might actually recognize them for
“Chunks,” a song fellow Massachusetts act Dinosaur Jr. tackled on the
flip of their “Just Like Heaven” 12-inch (Last Rights’ sole gig was with
D.Y.S., Outpatients, and Deep Wound, the latter the HC unit of J Mascis
and Lou Barlow pre-Dino). Given its marriage of density and gargantuan
hard-rock riffing, it’s no surprise “Chunks” ended up in Dinosaur’s book
of covers. Not nearly as strong but still agreeable (i.e. a solid
b-side) is “So Ends Our Night,” which succeeds mainly due to the
sing-along elements of its chorus being enveloped in ample guitar
residue. Like “Chunks,” its lyrical concerns do point to the
testosterone-soaked sensibilities that caused many to leave HC behind,
but “So Ends Our Night” persists as quite effective, and it completes a
killer one-shot 7-inch."
NEGATIVE FX "VFW" 7" (Taang Records)
Five
tracks from their LP. Negative FX was a hardcore band from Boston,
formed in 1981. Though the band lasted only a short time, playing a
total of five shows (six flyers exist), the band was well known for
their involvement in the local straight edge scene of the early 1980s.
Along with members of the bands DYS and SS Decontrol (SSD), Negative FX
was part of the "Boston Crew", a group of social friends who traveled
around the country with SSD and other Boston hardcore bands. Negative FX
played fast and unmelodic hardcore punk that often featured shouted
gang vocals on the songs' choruses. The band members consisted of
Patrick Raftery on guitar, Rich Collins on bass, Dave (Bass) Brown on
drums, and high-profile vocalist Jack Kelly, who frequently went by the
name of "Choke". Kelly went on to form the bands Last Rights and
Slapshot.
LEMONHEADS "Laughing All the Way to the Cleaners" 7" (Taang Records)
"The
Lemonheads’ “Laughing all the Way to the Cleaners” EP was first issued
on vinyl through the Huh Bag/Armory Arms label, though TAANG! was
involved in the record’s distribution and signed them properly shortly
thereafter. And before they became a big alternative deal, the
Lemonheads were but one in a serious influx of ‘80s acts unthinkable
without the precedent of The Replacements and especially Hüsker Dü.
Sounding better now than they did circa ’87, a time when many of us were
experiencing intense Mats/Dü fatigue, the songs comprising their debut
EP are far from carbon copies (some might disagree), with great gobs of
punk snot torpedoing around the four tracks. In particular, the snarling
riffs of “I Like To” and the heaving libido purge of “I Am a Rabbit”
turn “Laughing all the Way to the Cleaners” into a retroactively
appealing proposition."
WOOLF "Posing/Improvising" LP (La Vida Es Un Mus Records)
It's
been four years since Woolf unleashed their debut album, The Right Way
to Play also on La Vida Es Un Mus and described as a “pungent spit on
the face of musical normality”. Now they're back with a dystopian
revision of feminist queer punk. Born out of South London's squats and
social centres, all but erased in recent years by the Tory government,
the four-piece have produced an album conveying alienation and activist
fury, the opening track “Civilisation” setting the tone with the
(rhetorical) question “is this what they call civilisation?”. Wall of
sound guitar distortion provides a backdrop for a commanding, minimalist
bass and insistent drums, with vocals that straddle the line between
anxiety and paganity. It’s 11 unsettling songs in 11 uncompromising
minutes, recalling the experimentation of no wave bands such as UT
distorted by a raw punk aesthetic. (Melissa Steiner) The black &
white sleeve has been designed by singer Colette and the record includes
a insert with song lyrics as well as a download code._
ORDEN MUNDIAL "El Nuevo Sonido Balear" 7” (La Vida Es Un Mus Records)
Tour
EP originally released in time for the ORDEN MUNDIAL November 2015
USA/Canada mini tour. Three new songs following ORDEN MUNDIAL'S template
of high energy hardcore with insanely huge punk riffs, a massive rhythm
section and angry, to the point vocals. Two hardcore bangers on the A
side and a massive stomper on the flip which proves yet again that there
is much more in the Balearic Islands than Ibiza and soft techno.
BRASS, THE "Desperation" 7" (Sydney Town Records)
With
one boot firmly planted in an urban setting of industrial decline and
the other kicking through a landscape of desperation and loss, THE BRASS
deliver 4 tracks of some of the best oi! to come out of NYC in a long
time. Picking up where their Rugged Cross demo left off, this bruising
debut EP takes everything you like about the savage growls of early
Boston hardcore and combines it with the tough, dark melodies of French
oi! bands like CAMERA SILENS. Clay’s unrestrained vocals compliment a
brutish soundtrack that is appropriately unhinged, on edge and ready to
pull you out of your safe apartment and throw you into the dark streets
of New York City.
SODA BOYS "Burgers & Fries" 7" (Total Punk Records)
Top
notch American rock n roll, in the spirit of the almighty Gizmos and
Dictators, from the world’s #1 Soda Pop band. Two tracks off of their
self titled demo on Lumpy Records about burgers and fries, girls, and
doghouse regret. Shredding guitars, vocal hooks galore and 100% TOTAL
PUNK.
LANDLORDS, THE "Fitzgerald's Paris" LP (Feel It Records)
Long
before it began sprouting Americana bands on every corner, the sleepy
college town of Charlottesville, VA boasted a punk rock scene whose
ferocity belied its small size. The Landlords, along with Lackey Die and
the Beef People, stood at the epicenter of the action. After releasing
the highly regarded Hey! It's A Teenage House Party! LP in 1984, The
Landlords returned to the legendary Inner Ear Studios over the next few
years to record their second album, Fitzgerald's Paris. Restored from
the original master tapes and released after almost 30 years,
Fitzgerald’s Paris offers seventeen tracks of pure rock and roll mayhem.
Fusing musical influences as varied as Black Flag, Chuck Berry, and
Motörhead, side A’s avalanche of epigrammatic money-tunes showcases The
Landlords at their peak. Side B’s plunge into the jungle of noise builds
on the intense dissonance of Scratch Acid, Live Skull, and The
Landlords’ own infamous spinoff duo, Happy Flowers, all the while
remaining rooted in hardcore punk. No matter the style, all the tunes on
Fitzgerald’s Paris are destined to delight America’s next generation of
alienated youth, while infuriating school boards, police departments,
and town councils everywhere. Packaging includes an 11"x22" insert
containing lyrics, flyers, and unpublished photos plus a free MP3
download of bonus studio material and a live set recorded off the board
at CBGB's in September 1985.
NASA SPACE UNIVERSE "70 AD" 12" (Feel It Records)
Santa
Ana, CA's NASA Space Universe have spent the last decade or so
careening wildly through space, both inner and outer, to bring us
undeserving scumfucks the most intense, unorthodox hardcore this side of
the solar system. Alas, the mighty starship NSU has gone the way of the
Challenger Space Shuttle, exploding gloriously upon this, their final
launch. What remains, culled from the wreckage, are the ten songs that
make up 70 AD, their final EP. Ten scorched, sweat-drenched paeans to
paranoia, bad trips, and brute force, an unholy amalgamation of all the
disparate strands of punk/hardcore that you dig (be it Japanese/Swedish
hardcore, early SST, later SST when everyone was smoking dope and
listening to Deep Purple, fringe shit like No Trend, you name it)
filtered through the manic mindsets of four literate, completely
reprehensible dudes who could give a fuck what you dig. 70 AD eschews
the studio sheen of some of their past releases for what could serve as a
perfect encapsulation of the NSU live experience, minus the potential
for missing teeth and bloodied beaks. Essential listening that serves as
both a fitting send off and a stern rebuke to those who slept on this
mighty, mighty band of reprobates.
NASA SPACE UNIVERSE "The Stars My Destination" LP (Self Released)
Self-released
collection of outer-limits hardcore punk from these SoCal degenerates.
Compiles the “EGM” EP from 2014 and “Ice” EP from 2012, twelve tracks
in total. Some of NSU's best work to date.
NASA SPACE UNIVERSE "The Two Stigmata of NSU" LP (Self Released)
Self-released
collection of outer-limits hardcore punk from these SoCal degenerates.
Compiles the “S/T” 7” from 2007, “Brainrailers” 7” from 2009, and one
previously unreleased track. Remastered for the 12” format and sounding
better than ever before.
QUITTER "S/T" 7" (Blow Blood Records)
From
the ruins of Baltimore, QUITTER give us four tracks of synth-driven
weirdo punk in the vein of Killed By Death meets too many B-grade 80’s
mutant flicks. Think of Street Trash (1987) with all the characters
played by punks and DEVO does the soundtrack but all the members are
zombies on crack. Confused? Buy the record and listen for yourself, then
it'll make sense. They're just as strange live as this record is too,
this band is highly recommended in all formats!
MOTHER'S CHILDREN / MANDATES Split 7" (Taken By Surprise Records)
"When
I heard that Mandates and Mother's Children were doing a record
together, I absolutely couldn't wait for it to come out! A
Mandates/Mother's Children split struck me as an incredibly great idea.
Here you've got two of the best bands out there - friends, tour mates,
and leading players in a Canadian punk/powerpop scene that's been
setting the world on fire the last few years. Really, the only way this
collaboration could have failed would have been if the bands had
contributed sub-par material. But come on: did you really think Taken By
Surprise Records was going to sign off on a release that wasn't
absolutely killer?! On the heels of a recently completed
Mandates/Mother's Children European tour, TBSR presents a vinyl team-up
of these two superb bands. Each group contributes an A-side caliber
slice of power poppin' rock n' roll goodness. If you're a fan of one or
both of these bands, you will not be disappointed. And if for some
reason you're not familiar with these fine Canadian outfits, this split
serves as a perfect introduction to what they're all about. Warning:
this is highly addictive music. Be prepared to go buy everything that
Mandates and Mother's Children have ever recorded!" -
http://fasterandlouderblog.blogspot.com/MANDATES "Suspicion" 7" (Taken By Surprise Records)
Newest
single by Calgary’s finest powerpoppunk band following up their great
debut LP we repressed earlier this year! Recorded by Teledrome’s Ryan
Saddler and mixed/mastered by power pop genius Pat Kearns at Perma Press
Studios in Portland!
MANDATES "In the Back of Your Heart" LP (Taken By Surprise Records)
"In
the Back of Your Heart features 12 more pristine punk anthems from the
outfit, demonstrating their penchant for quick, peppy pop and
rip-roaring guitar work. If anything, it's an improvement on their past
work in that the album sounds simultaneously more polished and more
urgent. " -
exclaim.caMOTHER'S CHILDREN "Lemon" LP (Taken By Surprise Records)
From
the mean sour streets of Ottawa, Canada comes the second full length of
MOTHER'S CHILDREN aptly entitled: LEMON! 12 new tracks of stompy and
glammy powerpop with that old wham-a-lam-bam-thanks-ma'am attitude that
we're used to from those four mouseketeers. Get your fix of Vitamin MC
from the sweetest fruit that grows in Canada.
NARCO ESTADO "S/T" 7" (Going Underground Records)
Narcoestado
is a punk band from Mexico City playing dark Melodic Punk / Oi! in a
unique style and fashion. Blending some of the best influences from the
Uk and Spain Punk scene of the 80's and bringing back into vogue today.
"No disco beat, no pretension, no pseudo darkness, just power chords,
real lyrics and proper punk drumming. Narcoestado is by punks for punks
and from the 3rd world, a disappointmenting, anger inducing and
frustrating world. These losers play in bands like Tercer Mundo, Muerte,
Mujercitos, Ratas del Vaticano, etc. All good rock and roll bands from
Mexico Df." Vinyl issue of there quickly sold out demo tape. 400 Copies
pressed on black. Hand stamped center labels, glued pocket sleeves.
ISOTOPE "Midnight Soldier" 7" (Rust and Machine Records)
Debut
single by Oakland's ISOTOPE is finally seeing the light of day. ISOTOPE
has already completed 3 tours of US covering the West and East coasts
as well as hitting parts of Canada with nothing but a demo tape, yet
they have already created quite a commotion and their first time on
vinyl represents them at their best. Blasting, hard hitting, gutteral
"burning spirits" style hardcore punk with heavy nods to Japanese greats
such as DEATH SIDE and BASTARD, yet with their own nasty spin on the
genre of course. this record is LOUD. Recorded by Phil Hasha and
mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door with cover art by the great
Hal Rotter. Members are some Oakland vets that already played in some of
your favorite bands and this one is no exception.
SPLIT VEINS "S/T" LP (Godzilla Records)
Debut
album bu 2/3rds of NAILBITER picking up where they left their previous
band. 8 Distorted hardcore punk tracks with lots of delay which takes
BOTH the golden era of Japanese and Sweden hardcore as template. One of
the best London releases in a long time.
SOUL CRAFT "The Legacy" 7" (General Speech Records)
5
fresh tracks of traditional Japanese Hardcore from Soul Craft, who have
been the HC stalwarts of Kumamoto City, Japan for the last 17 years.
Fast and tight hardcore with even faster ripping solos, gang choruses
and all the trappings of traditional 90's Japanese HC style. This is
their first full EP in 10 years since their Reverse Sorrow EP on
Bloodsucker, and it does not disappoint! 7" + free pro CD version
JAVLA "S/T" 7" (Society Bleeds Records)
Brand new 7" from DC D-Beat outfit, JÄVLA. Band features members of Pure Disgust, Red Death, Stand Off, and Protester.
STERILE MIND "S/T" 7" (Self Released)
Hailing
from the Bay Area, Sterile Mind delivers their debut EP drawing on a
variety of influences that range from traditional d-beat to the
meandering, angular, fucked up breakdowns and articulated political
venom of the '90s heavyweights to forge their own brand of fast,
stripped down hardcore that plays outside of trend or convention. No
overplayed production tricks or reliance on gimmickry, just fast
intentional hardcore played with a sense of urgency.
DAILY RITUAL "S/T" LP (Sabotage Records)
DAILY
RITUAL coming from a small DIY hcpunk community in the Island city-
(police)state of Singapore. Started in 2013, making simple,melodic,dark
and catchy political punk music influence heavily by 80's punkrock and
anarcho punk. DAILY RITUAL could be perceived as their own escape from
their other existing bands like Vaarallinen,Snaggletooth,
Pazahora,Yumi
etc. DAILY RITUAL lyrics are mostly about dealing with the anxiety of
living in a modern totalitarian state. A demo tape was released in
January 2014 followed by 'Depressed State' ep 7" on 4490 records. Coming
up next will be a split 7" with THE STOPS (pdx) and the full length LP,
both on Sabotage records and 4490 records.
NO///SE "Lower Berth" LP (Man in Decline Records)
After
delivering one of the best records of 2012, ИO///Sé returns with their
sophomore LP, “Lower Berth”. Lower Berth is comprised of songwriting
prowess backed by killer riffs, infectious melodies, an impervious
rhythm section, and absolutely no filler and fluff. The final product is
13 tracks of stick-in-your-brain groove that varies from stomping
anthem (e.g., "One Step Behind") to DANGERHOUSE or BUZZCOCKS-esque pop
genius (e.g., "Buried Alive"). Unlike many bands that are currently
hyperfocused on copying one particular band or sound, ИO///Sé mixes a
wide array of disparate influences and creates something familiar but
original. There are elements of old classics like WIPERS and X
(Australia) along with newer bands like RED DONS, THE ESTRANGED, and
MARKED MEN. If you are familiar with the first LP, Lower Berth will feel
like a natural progression. If you’re new to the band, welcome and
enjoy. For those keeping track, NO///Sé contains ex-members of YOUTH
BRIGADE, GLASS & ASHES, and YOUNG LIVERS.MID023
NO MORE ART "Sorrows of Youth" LP (Man in Decline Records)
Finally!
No More Art delivers a much-anticipated full-length LP after tempting
us with a handful of fantastic 7″s (including the split 7" with DOOM
TOWN released on MAN IN DECLINE RECORDS). For those unfamiliar, No More
Art plays dark, driving melodic punk that embodies the spirit of THE
WIPERS and combines it with the execution of THE AVENGERS, and old LA
band, THE BRAT. Guitarist Will Kinser spent some time playing in RED
DONS, which comes through in the songwriting and execution, and they
also share a kinship with bands like MASSHYSTERI and VANNA INGET. Pick
this up if you like downstroked classic punk with minor chords and
strong female vocals.
AGENT ATTITUDE "Deranged Realities" LP (Man in Decline Records)
Sweden
has a long history of producing amazing hardcore with a distinct sound
that often veers toward the heavy and down-tuned. This tradition
continues today with amazing bands like DISSEKERAD and INSTITUTION
continuing the trajectory of the Swedish sound. Recently, a few Swedish
hardcore bands (e.g., DAMAGED HEAD, with whom Agent Attitude shares
members) have broken tradition and have begun to draw from U.S. hardcore
influences with great results. AGENT ATTITUDE is perhaps the
longest-running, most prolific, and hardest touring of these U.S.
style-hardcore bands. To date, they have released a demo, three 7"s, and
an LP and they have toured Europe extensively along with the U.S. east
coast. Their second full-length LP, "Deranged Realities", serves as a
testament to their talent and exudes all the handwork that has proceeded
this new release. Each song builds on the last and they seamlessly
weave mid-tempo punk bangers with all out fast attack in a way that
should make other bands study and take notice. On Deranged Realities,
singer, Jakob, seems to be channeling BLACK FLAG-era Rollins (both in
tone and anger) without trying to ape the style. Musically, there are
nods to early LA hardcore like CIRCLE JERKS, ANGRY SAMOANS and non-LA
bands like POISON IDEA and URBAN WASTE. In short, if you like your
hardcore with a heavy dose of punk and nihilistic despondency, this
record will fit nicely in your collection.
MASSENGER "Peeling Out" LP (Burger Records)
Esteemed
independent record label Burger Records is pleased to present
Massenger's killer new album Peeling Out. Featuring eleven crazy good
garage punk hits straight out of Ventura, California recorded by Joel
Jerome (Cherry Glazer, Peach Kelli Pop, Dios). The excellent album
artwork comes courtesy of the amazing Dale Dreiling.
BRATMOBILE "Pottymouth" LP (Kill Rock Stars Records)
The
first and only full-length album Bratmobile released during its initial
period of activity -- in the '90s, the indie music scene was really all
about the 7," the format on which Bratmobile made the most of its
abilities -- 1993's Pottymouth neatly encapsulates everything Bratmobile
was about. At heart, this means that Pottymouth is about the early-'90s
indie scene, about the D.I.Y. life in the post-Nirvana age where it
seemed like anything could happen. Like many bands formed around the
Olympia scene, the three members of Bratmobile were as much or more fans
as they were musicians: it is not an insult to say that any three
committed punk rock fans in and around the K Records/Kill Rock Stars
orbit could have made this album, but merely an affirmation that these
edge-of-chaos blurts of upfront sexuality, rancorous anger, and --
occasionally -- goofy humor sound like diary entries from the early
'90s, when punk rock was just on the verge of taking over the world.
RIPCORD "Fast 'n' Furious" 2xLP (Boss Tuneage Records)
For
the first time, UK Hardcore Punk legends RIPCORD have all five of their
recorded demos compiled as a stand alone release (including their
second demo, which has never officially been released until now).
Featuring 42 tracks of classic UK Hardcore punk, this is a must for all
collectors of mid to late 80s hardcore punk. All tracks digitally
remastered by Baz and John from the band at the legendary Whitehouse
Studios in January 2014. To make this release ultra special, the
strictly limited edition pressing is on coloured vinyl, with a 24 x 12"
insert featuring unseen photos and liner notes and lyrics from the band,
plus the CD version (with bonus track!) also included in a PVC wallet.
Coupled with the wonderful artwork by Welly (Artcore Fanzine) this is a
must own for any fans of the era, archiving recordings that are almost
three decades own into a wonderful, must own package! STRICTLY LIMITED
EDITION DOUBLE COLOURED VINYL LP IN HEAVYWEIGHT SLEEVE, WITH 24 x 12"
PRINTED INSERT, CD IN PVC WALLET - FIRST PRESSING LIMITED TO JUST 500
COPIES WORLDWIDE AVAILABLE IN TWO VARIANTS!
STUCK PIGS "Bleed Like …" Demo Tape (Out For Blood Records)
New HC out of DC! Frantic hardcore ffo Koro and Void
GAS RAG "Discography" Tape (Doomtown Records)
European
Import. In their short existence as a band, these four Chicago punks
blended classic Scandinavian & Midwestern hardcore influences in a
very refreshing and interesting way and left behind a few killer EP's,
all of which are collected on this little plastic fucker. Perfectly
executed powerful riffs filtered through a sharp guitar tone, well
structured fast and short songs, lyrics filled with nihilism,
mind-melting drumming and a Touch & Go-ish aesthetic backed with
some nice drawings. It was really exciting to follow the releases of a
band that merged the raging spirits of my fave classic hardcore EP's
like Pick Your King, Jan's Room & Vengeance, Raped Ass and Swedish
hardcore giants - Totalitär. This ultimate collection of golden hits is
pressed on 150 pro-dubbed tapes in yellow, black and red color. Each
tape comes with a two-sided foldout J-card insert. Grab 'em now or
regret later!
COUPE GORGE Demo Tape (Brain Abuse Records)
Part
of the new group of killer Hardcore influenced Oi coming out of France
right now. Coupe Gorge join the likes of Rixe, Syndrome 81, and
Traitre'. Six tracks of hardcore influenced Oi. Equal parts speed and
stomp with a good dose of gang vocals. Extra bonus track on this tape
not on the self released band version.
MIND TRAP "Dresden Sessions" Tape (Brain Abuse Records)
The
Mind Trap boys are back with a new tape to stomp your boots to. The
boys rip through 6 new tracks that effortlessly jump from boot stomping
anthems to breakneck speed. An all out offensive that proves Mind Trap
are Europe's finest. 50 percent German, 50 percent Russian, 100 percent
pissed off hardcore. USA version on Brain Abuse Records. Black tapes
limited to 100 copies.
CONTRA Demo Tape (Brain Abuse Records)
Contra
come stomping out of Budapest with a five track demo of Oi! influenced
hardcore. While they hail from Hungary this demo could easily come out
of D.C. as their sound fits somewhere in between 86 Mentality and Pure
Disgust. Pissed off mid tempo hardcore. No bullshit. Limited to 75
copies on Gray tapes.
REPTILOIDS "ЦИНК" Tape (Brain Abuse Records)
These
mad men from Moscow rip through these three songs with a punishing
assault of crust infused d-beat. While I'm normally not a huge fan of
reverb in vocals, in Reptiloids case it just seems to add ferocity to
the entire recording. What keeps this demo from being lumped in with
every other d-beat band you will hear is the hardcore influence. This
isn't surprising considering Reptiloids share members with our favorite
German/Russian band Mind Trap.
CHUD "Orange Barrels" Tape (Not Normal Tapes)
Bloomington's
most prolific sons dropped two turds and named one rock and the other
roll. Perfect if you love the Gizmos or the Pagans, not so much if
you're a boring adult.
G.L.O.S.S. "Girls Living Outside Society's Shit" Demo Tape (Not Normal Tapes)
Ripping five song demo from this Olympia band!
SPUTTER "Demo II" Tape (Not Normal Tapes)
Last
transmission from this fast, stupid hardcore punk band from Chicago.
Sputter kicked around their brand of strange magic for a good year
before calling it quits, delivering a much need sense of levity during a
rather dour, dismal time for CHC. Hands down one of my favorite local
bands from the past year with some primo art designed and screened by
the Black Sheep himself, Brian Galecki. Get this shit! FFO: Early
Adrenalin OD, JFA, Poison Idea
WRONG, THE "Technology" Tape (Not Normal Tapes)
What
can I say about this band that I haven't already lavished upon them
before? Contrary to what they'd have you believe, they were the best, a
bright shining beacon in a murky sea of bullshit. A flamboyant, raucous,
irreverent, nihilistic cure for your hardcore ennui! True believers,
basements shook when the Wrong stepped up so here's your chance to bring
summa that home. Comes with one "Wrong" brand prophylactic and
screen-printed J-card. FFO: The pogo.
SEM HASTRO 2016 Promo Tape (Contra Scam Records)
Newest material from this Brazil / DC project - promo tape for an upcoming 7" on Hysteria Records.
XM2 Demo Tape (Commodity Tapes)
Hailing
from Barcelona, XM2 delivers fast, noisey and furious hardcore similar
to that of the Italian and Spanish hardcore tradition. Members of
Absurdo and Otan.
NIEGALO TODO "Absurdo Escepticismo Superficial" Tape (Commodity Tapes)
Mexican
punks from the small town of Tuxtla Guiterrez playing hardcore that
dragging at times and rapid at others. Noisey and pissed.
SYNDICATE Demo Tape (Commodity Tapes)
Catchy
and dark punk with melodies that will get stuck in your head for days.
Along the lines of No Hope for the Kids and Crisis. Member of Morpheme.
STITCHES IN MY HEAD #9 Zine (Zine)
Top
notch new issue of SIMH after a move from Cleveland to Toronto. This
issue is heavy on the Clevo coverage, featuring an interview with
PERVERTS AGAIN, top fives with Paul Schlacter, and reviews of some
recent Cleveland punk films. Also included are interviews with MUFF
DIVERS, DIGITAL OCTOPUS, and VOICE FROM INSIDE TAPES, a rock'n'roll
radio feature, tour diaries from ROYAL HEADACHE and SCAB EATER, plus a
heaping of reviews, photos, and more.
LIFE STINKS, I LIKE THE KINKS Zine #4 (Zine)
The
fourth issue of a mag about listening to The Kinks. A ritual of
degradation. Harm is inherent in extended reflection. I submit to the
fantasies incited in their songs. The placation of their harmonies
betrays grim depth. Provokes ruin. Writing on: "Wicked Annabella",
"Animal Farm", "A Well Respected Man", "Tired of Waiting", and others.
This is the last issue. Artwork by Avi Spivak. North American edition
with red cover, printed by Feel It.
NUTS ZINE Issue #18 (Nuts)
Nuts!
kicks off 2016 with another newsprint blast. This time MOMMY converse
about mental health facilities and speed, Emmy from Ohio gives us his
top three musical discoveries of the past year, Jeff Caffrey of Gag
details his 86 (count 'em!) punk tattoos, Aaron Cometbus contributes a
fascinating run-down of vintage hardcore/punk business cards, and the
usual striking visuals are here in full force with a heaping of live
photos, comics, and a full-color poster.
MAXIMUMROCKNROLL #394 - Mar. 2016 (MRR)
Here
comes Maximum Rocknroll #394, the March 2016 issue! This issue features
a massive bilingual interview with Korea’s noizepunks SCUMRAID in
advance of their sure-to-be devastating visit to the US this Spring.
Former coordinator Golnar Nikpour got a chance to sit down with Hannah
Lew of San Francisco’s COLD BEAT to discuss their new record, Hannah’s
label Crime on the Moon, and how to navigate nostalgia and capitalism as
a band on the fringes of punk and pop. Scotland’s CLOCKED OUT talk
about their influences in Clevo HC and the current state of Glaswegian
hardcore, and the LANDLORDS (“true hardcore weirdos” of mid-80s
Charlottesville, Virginia) discuss their history and their long-lost
second LP. Also: CONSTANT INSULT offer up a Minneapolis punk basement
tour and a Minnesota punk ethnography; Helsinki hardcore band DARFÜR
talk about Finnish DIY projects; a trip down the psych-punk wormhole
with Buffalo’s UTAH JAZZ; a scene report from the United Arab Emirates;
and a photo spread from January’s This Is Austin, Not That Great fest.
Of course this all comes with a massive reviews section and all your
favorite columnists—in this issue, Not Normal Tapes impresario (and
singer in Chicago HC outfit The Bug) Ralph Rivera contributes a
brand-new music column to the MRR “PC Hate Vision”. This issue also
introduces new content co-coordinator Brendan Wells, who just moved in
from Minneapolis to help run the very magazine you hold in your hands
each and every month. What a time to be alive.
BIG ZIT "Electric Zit Vol. 1" 7"
BLAZING EYE "S/T (UK Pressing)" 7"
CULO "Military Trend" 7"
FRAU "Mira" 7"
FRIED EGG "The Incredible Flexible Egg" 7" Flexi
FUCKED UP "Police" 7"
GAS RAG "6 Song EP (Euro Press)" 7"
GAS RAG "Human Rights (Euro Press)" 7"
GAS RAG "On the Beach (Euro Press)" 7"
LIFE CHAIN "Uniformed Cowards" 7"
LOS CRUDOS "Cobardes" 7"
LOW THREAT PROFILE "Product Number 3" 7"
MAJOR DAMAGE "S/T" 7"
MAJOR DAMAGE "Sheer Mayhem" 7"
MISLED YOUTH "S/T" 7"
NIGHT BIRDS "Maimed for the Masses" 7"
NO COMMENT "Live On KXLU 1992" 7"
RED DONS "A Forced Turning Point" 7"
RIXE "Coups et Blessures" 7"
S.H.I.T. "Generation Shit" 7"
SHEER MAG "I (UK PRESSING)" 7"
SHEER MAG "II (UK Pressing)" 7"
SIN MOTIVO "Laberinto b/w Tierra Del Deseo" 7”
SUPERCRUSH "I Don't Want to be Sad Anymore (Canadian Press)" 7"
TOTAL ABUSE "Looking for Love" 7"
URBAN BLIGHT - S/T 7"
URBAN WASTE "S/T" 7"
WEEKEND NACHOS / LACK OF INTEREST Split 7"
A HEADS, THE "Discography 1982-2009" LP
ANASAZI "Nasty Witch Rock (UK Press)" LP
BANNER PILOT "Collapser" LP
BARCELONA "Extremo Hihilismo en Barcelona" LP
BELLICOSE MINDS, THE "The Buzz or Howl Sessions" 10"
BIG EYES "Hard Life" LP
BLOOD PRESSURE "Need to Control" LP
CAREER SUICIDE "Attempted Suicide" LP
CARRY ON "It's All Our Blood" LP
CHROMA "Cuerpos Dociles" LP
COLLEEN GREEN "I Want to Grow Up" LP
CONCRETE SOX "Your Turn Next" LP
CRUDE SS "Killing for Nothing" LP
CRY, THE "Dangerous Game" LP
DAMAGED HEAD "Tunnel Vision" LP
DILLINGER FOUR "Civil War" LP
DISCLOSE "Tragedy" LP
DISCLOSE "Yesterday's Fairytale, Tomorrow's Nightmare" LP
DYS "Brotherhood" LP
ERGS, THE "Dorkrockcorkrod" LP
EXTORTION "Degenerate" LP
EXTORTION "Sick" LP
FRAMTID "Under the Ashes" LP
FUCKED UP "David Comes to Life" 2xLP
FUCKED UP "The Chemistry of Common Life" 2xLP
HURULA "Betongbarn" LP
INSTITUTE "S/T" 12"
JERRY'S KIDS "Is This My World?" LP
JUANITA Y LOS FEOS "Nueva Numancia" LP
LA MISMA "Kanizadi (UK Press)" LP
LA SERA "Sees the Light" LP
MANDATES, THE "S/T" LP
NERVES, THE "One Way Ticket" LP
