3 POINT TURN: Lovesong Unabomber
6 song 7” - € 3
3 Point Turn are from Hoogeveen, home from bands like One Day Closer, Point Of Few and Gabriel’s Despair (3 Point Turn feature some former members of this band) - on their debut-7”, 3 PT mix melodic punkrock (especially in the singing) with melodic old school in the style of Atari and Oil.
5de MENOS : Avanzando
13 song CD on Dreccion Positiva / 78 Life - € /$ 6
NYC-style hardcore from Colombia, with lyrics in Spanish.
97A: Abandoned Future E.P.
19 song CD on Coalition - € 7
What you got on this little silver disc are the 12 songs of the "Better Off Dead" 7" - remastered, and 7 new songs, in the same furious hardcore style.
512 ANOS DESPUES EL SAQUEO CONTINUA
34 song CD on La Bruja - € 7
Benefit compilation for the Pemón Indigenas of Venezuela with bands from Venezuala, Switzerland, Colombia, Belgium, Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, France, Poland and the USA. Some names: Los Crudos, Cólera and Apatia No.
A WILL TO INSTINCTION COMPILATION
9 song compilation 7" on Disoppress - FREE (water damaged)
International compilation with 9 songs of powerviolence, crust and grind. Some of the band names are almost unreadable, but I was able to figure the following band names anyway: Ebola (UK), John Bender (USA), Disabuse (Canada), Dead End, Soul Compost, Stigmata Uno (Italy), Gobal Holocaust (Canada), Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (cool name, unfortunately, they don't sound like The Smiths at all - Canada) and Idi Amin (USA).
ABSENCE: From The Bloodshed
4 song 7" on Cycle - € 3
New school vegan warriors from Torino, Italy. Earth Crisis style-hardcore. Good produced and a powerful sound.
ABUSIVE ACTION : Fueled EP
4 song 7” EP on Not Just Words
Continuing where they left off with their selftitled debut, Dutch sXe-ers Abusive Action deliver four brand new songs, definately their very best so far (how cliche but how true). Take their previous stuff, add some more groove, heaviness, Breakdown and (early) Madball influences and you know what to expect.
AGE : The Age
6 song 7" on Commitment - € / $ 3
Polish straight edge band The Age (aka Second Age) make their vinyl debut with this 6-track 7" EP. After a CD EP and a
full length CD album, that was released on Refuse Records in their homecountry, this is also their first
'international' release. Mixing youthcrew with melodic hardcore, adding lyrics focusing primarily on
scene-related issues and straight edge, The Age clearly show why they are considered as one of the leading
East European straight edge bands. The record, that is a benefit for a local horse shelter, comes in a
stylish sleeve.
ALCATRAZ
4 song 7" on Opale - € / $ 3
Higly political emo-core from France, in the style of Undone.
ALL FOR NOTHING: Solitary
5 song 7” on Demons Run Amok - € 3,50
All For Nothing is a hardcore band from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, formed in 2002. They play high energetic hardcore songs with female vocals, tons of sing-a-long choruses, punishing beatdown passages and melodic riffs all based on various influences.
ALONE: Kiss Dreams Goodbye
5 song 7” on Refoundation - € 3,50
Passionate melodic modern old school in the vein of Unbroken, Turning Point, Verse and The Get Up Kids from Italy, with personal lyrics.
ANCHOR: First Year
8 song CD on Self True - € 6
Previous released and unreleased material of this vegan straight edge band from Sweden with former members of Damage Control and Set My Path.
ANCHOR: Relations of Violence
4 song 7" - € 4
The label writes: This is a surprise release since it wasn't announced before and here it is! 4 brand new songs of one of the most hard-working current bands in Europe. This Vegan Straight Edge HC band from Sweden already has done several European tours and recently a North American tour. This new 7" is following their "The Quiet Dance" full length on Refuse and Catalyst. "Relations of Violence" brings a darker, but also more intense approach to what the band has done before. There's still a strong 90's hardcore influence in there, but we can definitely also hear some influences from the best cuts of Swedish hardcore punk history (for example, bands like Anti-Cimex) or recent dark heavier bands like Cursed. It's all served up in original and unique way, sounding like a perfect combination with a powerful impact where message and content is still important.
ANIMAL INSTINCT: Stick Like Glue
5 song 7” on Take It Back - € 3,50
The debut EP by Switzerland's ANIMAL INSTINCT features ex-members of Solid Ground and sounds like classic New York-style hardcore in the vein of Breakdown, Outburst, and Killing Time/Raw Deal. The vinyl version is very limited. Possibly the best hardcore band coming out of Switzerland these days.
ANNIHILATION TIME
8 song CD on Head On - € / $ 7
Black-flag inspired hardcore from California, with some guitar lyrics that remind of the first Suicidal Tendencies record. Lyrics deal with TV preachers, pollution of the sea and dealing with depression.
ANOTHER YEAR – DEATH IS NOT GLAMOROUS
4 song 7” on Soulcity / Cycle / Take The Risk - € 3
Two brand new songs by each band. Another Year from Sweden deliver their heartfelt straight forward hardcore full of melody and energy. Another Year from Sweden and Death Is Not Glamorous from Norway share two songs on this split 7”. Death Is Not Glamorous features members of Damage Control and plays melodic hardcore punk that sounds like a hybrid of Lifetime, early Saves The Day, late Turning Point and Shelter.
ANXIETY ATTACK (Added September 2011)
8 song 7” on Build Me A Bomb a.o. - € 4
The label says: After an early Boston hardcore influenced demo tape, this young band from Lille (France) brings some fast punk hardcore with some youth crewish parts that reminds Life's Halt or DS-13. Clear red vinyl and silkscreened cover!
APPROACH
4 song 7” on Amendment - € 4,50
The label says: Ex members of Remission and Remains To Be Seen playing 90's influenced hardcore a la Judge, Strife, Mouthpiece and Against The Wall. Comes with download code.
ARMA CONTRA ARMA: Let No One Deceive You
7 song 7” on Lengua Armada - € 3
One of the first Lengua Armada-releases, in the style of Los Crudos, from 1997.
AS WATER FALLS FROM THE SKY #3 - € / $ 2
Third issue of the ‘krishna edge’ fanzine that first was known as Quest For Certainty. It contains good and interesting interviews with Big (ex-MLB, ex-Mainstrike and now No Denial), Strung Out, Darwin and, besides the usual stuff like reviews, writings about ‘many different topics dealing with an insightful life such as yoga, gaudiya vaishnavism’, as editor Tim puts it himself. Recommended reading.
ASHFALL - CONTRITION - MIASMATA
6 song 3-way split-7" on Threesome - € / $ 3
This record is on Threesome, so you know what to expect: quality metallic hardcore. Ashfall was a project of some Mallorn-members with a singer, who puts a strong christian message in his lyrics. Miasmata's lyrics are more political, while the music is very heavy. Contrition lyrics are really dark, and the music fits the lyrics allright - allmost black metal.
ASPIRE
6 song CD on Self True - € 6
Aspire is from Odessa, Ukraine, and is one of the newer straight edge bands from the former USSR area. The band started at the end of 2008, sing in Russian (but the lyrics come with translations in English) and play passionate, socio-political, conscious vegan straight edge in vein of Outspoken, Strain, Unbroken. This is their debut EP.
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
8 song 7” on Havoc - $ / € 3,50
Assembly Of God is from Oklahoma, and features members of Brother Inferior, Burnpile and Subsanity, and in sound resembles especially Brother Inferior - which means fast traditional hardcore with angry shouted vocals. Lyrics mostly deal with reflections of our current capitalist society.
AT HALF-MAST – TO THE EMBERS
4 song split-7” on Goodwill - € 4
At Half-Mast offers one song of over 6 minutes of heavy oldschool newschool mix with screamed vocals. To The Embers is a new band from Italy, presenting 3 songs in 6 minutes of abrasive fast/slow HardCore that both draws influences from the distant (Chain Of Strength, Battery) as well as recent past (Shai Hulud, Champion, American Nightmare, Stay Gold). This record is part 2 of a series of 4 split-7”’s with artwork of four different international artists, that together tell a story. Blue vinyl.
AUTORITÄR – TOTALITÄR
8 song split 7” on Yellow Dog - € 6
Two Discharge-type bands team up on this 1999 split 7”.
BACK FROM THE DEAD – 4 WAY SPLIT
26 song compilation CD on Refuse - € 8
This record compiles four Polish bands. The Age is featured with the six songs of their Commitment EP: six songs of melodic straight edge youth crew hardcore. Crush All Fakes follow which seven songs that were supposed to be a MCD on Refuse. Next is Insurrection, a band inspired by 90s new school hardcore with the six songs that were also released as a 12” on Rebellious Records. Last is X's Always Win, a straight edge band that was around in 2005 and 2006, with their demo songs.
BACKSIGHT – KIDS ON THE MOVE
12 song CD on Kawaii / Nothing To Prove a.o. - € 7
BACKSIGHT is from France and Kids On The Move from Malaysia!! These two bands play modern and passionate oldschool hardcore, in the way of bands like COMEBACK KID, VERSE, HOLD TRUE, CHAMPION, BANE and NO CHOICE ON THIS MATTER.
BAD FORM
5 song 7" on Mad At The World - FREE (water damaged)
The cover reminds me of The Misfits, while the music is a mix between early 80s hardcore, rock 'n' roll, blues and garage - the production adds to the early 80s sound. The band features Dan who does Mad At The World fanzine/records and the drummer of Tear It Up (formerly of Dead Nation and Fast Times).
BAN THIS!: Creepy Crawl EP
12 song 7” on Stress To Death - € 3
This 7” EP documents the first year of Ban This!, a hardcore thrash band from Italy. The first side 7 songs recorded in 2005, the second side 5 songs recorded in 2006. The sound of Ban This! is inspired by early 1980s hardcore bands like S.O.A. and Black Flag, but they also remind me of Stark Raving Mad (partly because of the voice). Lyrics are very pissed off, and deal with dead friendships, wanting to kill kids at school, skateboarding, depression and glam girls. Good stuff!
BAN THIS: How To Destroy A Quiet Sleep
4 song 7” on Agipunk / Don't Need - € 3
Last 7” of these straight edge trashers from Italy. This is definitely in a league with their countrymen in Smart Cops and Anti You, but Ban This have a lot more variation in their sound than those bands. There's a definite California punk influence, though, and one track even has a killer Agent Orange-style surf-punk riff.
BENEFITS TO MINCE CORE ACT FOOD NOT BOMBS
22 song CD on Mince Act - $ / € 7
3 band grindcore bands do a benefit for the Malaysian Food Not Bombs chapter: Agathocles from Belgium, Ravage from Malaysia and Comrades from Italy. The booklet contains information about Food Not Bombs, photos of hardcore kids giving food to homeless people and of course the lyrics to all the songs.
BETERCORE - OLHO DE GATO: Fuck The Borders!
12 song 7” on UPS / Balowski - € 2
These bands have three things in common: they are both from the Alkmaar-area in The Netherlands, they share the same singer (former Boycot-shouter Billi) and they play fast to very fast hardcore. Betercore is already around for some years, and give us 5 songs of youth crust, as they themselves name it: a mixture of crust, powerviolence and crust with dual vocals - Reinco screams, Billi shouts. Ohlo de Gato play more traditional fast hardcore - some people would call it thrash, but I don’t like that trendy term too much. Both bands recorded in the Bunt studios, so you get top notch hardcore with a top notch sound quality. Slightly water damaged, that's why they are going for a reduced price.
BFH : Burned From Hope
12 song tape on On Point - € / $ 2,50
Second album of BFH - more varied than their first tape, not only mixing old and new school, but also emo and rock-influencing, giving BFH a real sound of their own.
BFH: Burned From Hope
12 song CD on On Point - € 5
BFH was a new school hardcore band from the hardcore-scene in Varna, Bulgaria. This is their second album - more varied than their first tape, not only mixing old and new school, but also emo and rock-influencing, giving BFH a real sound of their own.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Chapter 5
5 song 7” on Commitment #36 - € 3,50
Birds Of A Feather is band with many familiar faces from the Dutch straight edge scene. All members are over 30 and still keep the straight edge flame burning. Manliftingbanner, Mainstrike, Crivits, X-Men, Betray, the zine Value Of Strength, to mention some of the many projects the BOAF members have been involved in. These five songs, recorded during the sessions for their debut-album, show that being over 30 does not mean that you have to become watered down: fast, to the point, energetic, taking inspiration of the classic straight edge bands from the late 1980s. The lyrics reflect on life, looking back, but especially looking forward, staying true to ideals, growing as a human being with compassion and gaining insight.
BLACK SPIRALS: Consuming The Rests (Added August 2011)
7 song 7" on Defiant Hearts - € 4
France was not known for bearing great hardcore bands during the last years but at times there are some really promising and fresh bands on the rise. And Black Spirals from Paris tops them all with their uncompromising sound. Their music combines different hardcore styles at which the most obvious influence is TRASH TALK - fast parts, heavy breakdowns, agressive vocals - but all played with an originality and a variety that makes the songs very diversified. An exceptional record far above average.
BLADE: Lambs To The Slaughter
4 song 7” on Ugly And Proud - € 4
Blade is a Belgian straight edge band with a heavy and metal-influenced sound, but still keeping it hardcore, instead of metal-core. The band mixes influences of Cro-Mags, Ringworm and Integrity into a sound of their own. Recorded at Midas, so you know it sounds great. Lyrically, the band celebrates hardcore, questions base instinct of people and critizes edge breakers and war. Comes in very professional looking fantasy inspired artwork. Recommended for people who like 90s inspired straight edge hardcore.
BLANK STARE: Suicide
3 song 7” on Refuse - € 3
With their self-titled debut 7” that came out in 2005, Blank Stare impressed many, including the labels Third Party Records and Refuse Records, who both offered them to release their next 7”. Both 7”’s were put out at the same time, both include three hard-hitting aggressive straight edge hardcore anthems. The first song, Suicide, does not deal with suicide, but with the Suicide Girls: “Think its dirty hard raunchy, but its tame (…) Just handing over identity to those they should replace. This new punk iconography is bullshit. Its pornography. There’s no empowerment. No restitution. Its useless”. Cool that finally some hardcore band speaks out! The song ‘Violence’ deals with the two-faced relationship man has with violence and the last song ‘Cowards’ is another strong stance against sexism. Very highly recommended!
BOILING MAN : Roadkill Museum
7 song 7" on Six Weeks - € / $ 3
Crusty hardcore from New Haven, Conneticut with political lyrics.
BRANCH DAVIDIAN - GRG: Split (Added August 2011)
7 song 7" on Defiant Hearts / S.B.S. - € 4
DH08 is a split 7" from US trashcore bands GRG (OKC/Oklahoma) and Branch Davidian (Austin/Texas). The labels calls this the "massacre record"...remember? 1993 Waco (Branch Davidian sect) and 1995 Oklahoma (Timothy McVeigh) ...nuts! The music of both bands is a massacre, too!!! Trash to the bone...
BRAT PACK: Hate The Neighbors
13 song CD on Crucial Attack / Ha-Ko Bastards / Dirty Faces - € 9
Hailing from the eastern part of The Netherlands comes a band that you would expect from the western and sunny side of California. The band started in 2006 and not long after that they recorded a demo which was well received. With ex- and current members of Beans, Antillectual, My Reply and Citizens Patrol they have a wide variety of musicians in the band and that's something you distinctly hear in their sound. Influences vary from the melodic sounds of Nofx ( take note off the melodic guitar intros), Bad Religion, No Use For A Name but with a harder edge than any of these bands using influences of hardcore bands such as RKL, Stalag 13, 7 Seconds en old New York and DC hardcore bands like Minor Threat and Urban Waste. Brat Pack delivers 13 songs of full excitement and loads of melodies which will have you dancing in no time.
BREAK-IN : This Ends With Us
6 song CD on Dead & Gone - € / $ 6
The most heavy release on Dead & Gone Records so far – six songs of heavy hardhitting straight edge hardcore from this Canterbury, UK, five-piece. Nice artwork.
BREAK ME : The Sun Is On Its Rise Again
7 song MCD on Kill Me Twice - € / $ 5
Aggressive and powerful melodic hardcore from Västerås, Sweden. Lyrics deal mainly with betrayal and friendships faded away.
BREAK IT UP : Demo 04
5 song 7" on Anger Management - € / $ 3
The demo of this youth crew band from the UK put on vinyl by Anger Management Records. 5 songs of midtempo to fast youthcrew hardcore, with personal lyrics. They cover a Beyond song.
BREAK THE CHAIN: A Time We’ll Remember
7 song 7” on Rebellious – € 4
Debut 7” of Break The Chain from Southern California, USA. Pissed off straight edge hardcore in the classic 88 style. Angry lyrics that deal with personal issues and addiction. Good stuff!.
BRUTAL ASSAULT: Fuck You, Motherfucker!
16 song CD on Constipation - € 4
How many Israel hardcore bands do you know? Well, you can add another to the list, because Brutal Assault is (or better, was, as they have broken up unfortunately). The band plays fast early 80s hardcore with powerful vocals. They cover Faith, so that should say something about the style of hardcore this band is playing!
BURDEN - AUTOMATIC : Vancouver Meets Kentucky
5 song MCD on Dead Serious - € / $ 6
Both bands don't really need an introduction. Burden present three songs from their most recent CD: hardhitting sXe hardcore/ Automatic, that features members of Mouthpiece, By The Grace Of God and Enkindel, play more melodic, even poppy, hardcore. They have included a cover of 'Surrender' by Cheap Trick... the record is 'dedicated to the sXe'.
BURN MY BRIDGES: Die Hard
7 song CD on Townhall - € 4
Hardhitting modern hardcore from South Korea – Burn My Bridges give us seven songs with influences of NY hardcore, youthcrew and modern American Nightmare style hardcore.
BURNPILE : What About You
13 song CD on Six Weeks - € / $ 7
Straight Edge jazzthrash (huh ?) from Edmund, Oklahoma - fast, raw, pissed-off, but also with a No Means No / Victims Family thing going on in the songs. As for the lyrics - the quote of the sample they use before one of the songs sums it all up ’What can be more rebellious than say fuck you to the repression of drugs and alchohol?’ - that is a rhetorical questions, isn’t it ? My only complaint is that this should have been a 7” - 15.23 minutes on a CD, what’s the use ?
BYSTORM – SAUNA
12 song CD on Take 4 - € / $ 7
Two hardcore bands from the Philippines share this CD on the label of the Take 4 Collective. Bystorm has a Feud-connection, but make a completely different kind of hardcore: slow to midtempo metallic hardcore with aggressive growling vocals, with lyrics in the local language. Sauna also wears the metal influences on their sleeves, is somewhat faster and has high pitched cookie monster vocals, with lyrics in English.
CAN’T SIT STILL #2
Zine - € 2
Second issue from this hardcore zine from St. Louis contains interviews with Die Young (TX), Birds Of A Feather, Get The Most, Struggle Against, Always Aware and Suburban Smash, articles on vegetarism and racism and the usual reviews.
CARNATED: Electrostar
6 song 7” on Eternity / Lunar - € 3
Typical Swedish old school HxC, which means screamed vocals (like Final Exit or Burning Flames) and music and lyrics that go deeper than the standard youth crew.
CARRY THE TORCH / SIGNS OF HOPE: Split (Added August 2011)
7” on Goodwill - € 4
The label writes: Carry The Torch, that debuted on Detonate Records, hail from Sacramento, California and play screaming HardCore reminiscent of Shai Hulud and Strongarm. Signs Of Hope, that debuted with their 9 song 7"EP on Goodwill records, offer here 2 new songs in their familiar pissed off Oldschool HC vein. Cover art by the almighty Brian Walsby, known for his record covers of acts like 7 Seconds, Melvins, Cinder. This comes on red vinyl ltd. To 400!!!.
THE CHALLENGE: Solid Words
6 song Demo-CD on Cycle - € 3
The Challenge is another proof that the hardcore scene in Barcelona is alive and kicking. Mid 90’s influenced hardcore done the old school style, with well-thought out personal and positive lyrics. Another winner from Cycle Records.
CHANNEL X: Come Again EP
7 song tape on Whatever It Takes - € 3
After having been around from 2002 on, Channel-X finally releases their debut EP, on both CD-R (and a couple of labels) and on good old fashioned tape (on Second Combat’s member Arwith’s label Whatever It Takes). Seven songs of youthcrew straight edge hardcore, totally 1988-style. Good lyrics that come with explanations and even one song in their own local language! Support South-East Asia straight edge and get this record!
CINDER: Que Te Parta Un Rayo
9 song 7" on Sell Our Souls - € 3
This is the long sold out and first vinyl release of Barcelona hardcore band Cinder, from 2002 - also the first release on Sell Our Soul records. Classic fast hardcore with some youthcrew influences
CITIZENS PATROL
10 song 7” on No Way / Crucial Attack - € 3,50
Citizens Patrol is hailing from the south of the Netherlands and play awesome straight forward hardcore. Imagine old NYHC like Antidote, Urban Waste mixed with some Spermbirds and a little US punk like Reagan Youth. Also could fit along the lines of modern HC like Violent Minds, Direct Control, Strung up or Amdi Petersens Arme. Political lyrics. Sounds as if it could have been recorded in 1983.
CITIZENS PATROL: Dead Children E.P.
6 song 7” on Crucial Attack - € 3,50
Citizens Patrol strikes back again with the Dead Children EP. After their debut ‘Sick Routine’, released September 2007 and a lot of shows across Europe, the band recorded 6 songs with Nico van Montfoort, just before they head off to the United States. And no way Citizens Patrol is gonna slow down, these songs are even faster, rougher and seem to let singer Kenny explode even more.
CIVIL AGGRESSION
6 song 7" on Bad Card/Ineptie - € / $ 3
Fast oi-styled French hardcore with a female singer: they sound like a more hardcore Bovver 96, and that can be considered as a big compliment. Most lyrics are in French and they take a stand against violent dancers, religion, racism and society.
CIVIL TERROR : Rising EP
10 song 7” EP on Crucial Attack
Civil Terror from The Netherlands plays fast, raging terror not unlike Infest, SSD or Judas Priest. Since their demo sold out ages ago, all 10 songs were released on vinyl. The songs have been mostly re-recorded, mixed and mastered. First releasing on the new label run by the guys behind Crucial Attack distro.
CODE 13 - DS 13
13 song split 7" on Havoc - € 3
13 songs of fast hardcore action from Sweden and Minnesota. Each band does six and one half songs. DS 13 plays fast paced 80's influenced hardcore while Code 13 plays fast paced 80's influenced hardcore. In fact you couldn't pick two more complimentary bands to share a 7". This was the last recorded material from Code 13 and saw the band drop the crust/grind influence completely in favor of straight ahead hardcore thrash.
COHESION : Lovely Hate
7 song CD on Engineer / Wanted - € / $ 6
The band is from Italy, from the Pisa area, to be more precise, but the two labels that release it are from New Jersey and Belgium, respectively. It does not surpise me that this band’s first official release it an international one, because they deliver quality hardcore. The record looks and sounds very professional: old school hardcore done the 21st century way… so with enough breakdowns and moshparts to keep it interesting for the dancers, and enough fast parts to keep the music firmly rooted in the late 1980s. The lyrics are varied and deal with respect (for the choices people make), being yourself, love, exploitation and media control (a very relevant issue for a country were the most powerful politician controls almost the complete media – both commercial and public).
COHESION – WORLDS BETWEEN US
4 song split-7” on Autumn Walker - € /$ 3
This record is a collaboration between various labels from Italy and the UK. Cohesion are from Italy and play hardhitting modern hardcore like Bane, ModernLifeIsWar and Quicksand. World Between Us from Austria play technical hardcore, with metal influences – Evertime I Die and Converge are comparable bands. Comes on transperant vinyl.
COLD INSIDE : Ends, Starts And Broken Hearts
5 song 7” on Brown / On My Own - € 3
Cold Inside from Finland started out late 2003 as Unity Murder and play well-produced heavy old school hardcore influenced by bands like Cro-Magsm, Integrity, Floorpunch and Judge.
COLUMNAS: Reanudar
5 song 7” on Amendment - € 4,50
The label says: After El Eterno Enemigo broke up, 2 of the members decided to continue composing music for a new project including former and current members of Reconcile and Nueva Etica. Buenos Aires’ Columnas embody the sound of mid 90’s hardcore bands like Undertow and Strain, adding some modern riffs to their sound, furthermore marked by a top notch guitar and drum works. Add to this, lyrics about social topics like consequences of drug traffic for our younger generations, and the right to self-determination, the result is a quality hardcore/punk release. Comes with download code.
CONTROL, THE - Sidearm
6 song 7" on Reflections - € / $ 3
The Control are a sXe-band from Buffalo, NY, features former members of Halfmast and No Reason, and play pissed-off high energy old school hardcore. The lyrics are mostly personal (and not really positive), and fit the music well.
COUNT THE HOURS – EMPTY VISION
17 song split-CD on Fields Of Hope - € / $ 7
Another example of an international teaming up of bands. Count The Hours is from the USA, Empty Vision from Germany. Count The Hours have the modern late 90s/early 2000s hardcore sound of bands like Bane and Trial – thriving mostly midtempo hardcore with breakdowns and chorus-vocals. Lyrics deal mostly with personal relationships (another trend in hardcore these days). Empty Vision are from Germany and have a little bit more metal influences in their music: double basedrums and melodic metallic guitars – but it is surely no metalcore, just youthcrew with some metal influences. Lyrics deal with friendships lost, the importance of being postive and reflections on growing older. The demo’s of both bands are also included on this CD.
COUNTRYCIDE #2 - € / $ 1,50
Swedish fanzine, features Serial Cynic, Boy Sets Fire, Theo Witsell, The Make Up, Separation, columns and reviews.
CRASH DAVIS: Demo ‘99
6 song 7” on Sike / Unity Power - $ / € 3,50
Crash Davis features former Line Of Fire members, so you know what to expect: fast straightforward hardcore, with some mosh parts and also some melodic parts thrown in for good measure. Lyrics deal with scene topics, using your energy for something positive instead of something negative and how stupid it is to be proud of your country and your race.
CRAYFISH
8 song CD on Invisible - € 4
Spanish old school Hc with a few melodic lines, and socio-personal lyrics. In the vein of Judge, Turning Point, Sick Of It All, early Crivits. The production is a bit poor but the
sound is good.
CRICKBAT: Dias De Frustracion
5 song MCD on Obsolete Man - € 4
Crickbat is from Bilbao, Spain, and plays fast and melodic hardcore with mostly personal lyrics in Spanish.
CRITICAL POINT: Trial & Error
6 song 7" on Commitment – € 4
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Portugal had a very active straight edge scene, with many active bands, that seemed more socially and politically aware than most of the other European bands. More than 10 years later, we find some of the survivors of these days in Critical Point. Started as a project band in 2009 by vocalist Rafael, former drummer of Pointing Finger, Time X and New Winds, and drummer David, who played guitar in Pointing Finger and Broken Distance, the duo was joined by some other Portugese scene veterans, recorded a demo (that was re-released in 2010 as a 7” on David's Salad Day Records) and went on a European tour with brother band Pressure (in which David and Rafael rejoined with former Pointing Finger-vocalist Diogo). Late 2010, the band entered the studio to record 6 songs for their first official 7”, for Commitment Records. Aggressive and heavy, with a sound mixing the youthcrew sound of the late 1980s and Judge's re-interpretation of New York City hardcore, angry, but still retraining a positive outlook on life, Critical Point proves Portugese straight edge is still alive and kicking!
CROSS ME : Drug Free Zone
8 song 7" on Commitment - € / $ 3
Cross Me is a Straight Edge band (what else would you expect which such a name and title of the 7') from Thionville, France, although half of the members is from Germany (yes, Europe is more and more becoming one). Cross Me plays hardhitting and powerful hardcore - along the lines of Judge. From the lyrics, it's very clear this band is Straight Edge, and still stands wholeheartly behind their way of life. All members have played in several bands before Cross Me, which clearly shows itself in the tightness with which songs are played. The 7" was recorded at Bunt's (Seein Red, Mainstrike, Deadstoolpigeon), and the production perfectly captures the energy of the band.
CRUCIAL UNIT: These Colors Get The Runs
20 song CD on Six Weeks - € 8
Crossover Thrash of this Pittsburgh band – 11 songs of the ‘These Colors Get The Runs’ LP and as a bonus 9 songs of the split LP with Municipal Waste. Price for the best song title: ‘I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For No Screamo’.
CURRAHEE
5 song 7” on Double Crossed - € 3,50
Currahee is a fairly new straight edge hardcore band from Manchester. This is their debut-7” with five songs of hardhitting straight edge hardcore.
CURRAHEE: Why We Fight
7 song 7” on Commitment - € 3,50
The Buzzcocks. The Fall. Joy Division. The Smiths. Manchester brought us so many great bands, and here is another one! xCurraheex is a straight edge band that has been around since 2006, released their debut 7” in 2008 on Double Crossed Records from the UK and, after some line-up changes, have recorded their second 7” at the end of 2009. Seven songs of positive, yet aggressive, straight edge hardcore in the tradition of all the great straight edge bands from the late 1980s and late 1990s, brought with conviction and spirit. The 7” comes packed in great artwork from Javi.
CURRAHEE: Back On Track (Added August 2011)
5 song 7” EP on Commitment – € 4
Manchester's straight edge troupee xCurraheex has been going through hectic times in the last two years, with a lot of membership changes, causing delays with recordings and cancelled shows. But these times belong to the past – vocalist Smit and drummer Mike are now joined by Mike Wright and Adam on guitar and bass respectively and are back on track! Hence, the title of the record! This 7” contains five songs, partly recorded more than over a year ago, that were only recently finished by the new line-up. Compared to their previous release, the 'Why We Fight' 7”, the guitar work is a bit more experimental, with quite some tempo changes and breaks, but despite that, it's still 100% energetic and fast straight edge hardcore. Artwork is again done by Javi and the record comes on green vinyl!
CURRAHEE: Prohibition X (Added September 2011)
17 song CD on True Spirit - € 7
This CD on the Brazilian label True Spirit compiles the three first Currahee 7””s: the debut 7” that was released on Double Cross Records, and the 'Why We Fight' and 'Back On Track' 7”'s that were released on Commitment Records. Perfect way to check out this great Manchester youthcrew straight edge band for people who don't have a record player.
CZOLGOSZ – OPUS DEAD
6 song split-7” on Lokos a.o. - € / $ 3
With a name like Czolgosz and a song called ‘Fuck Lukashenko’ you would expect that the first band on this split-7” would be from Belarus or at least some Eastern European country – but they are from Boston, MA. Self-labelled ‘anarcho-absurdo punk’, to me it sounds like classic early to mid-1980s hardcore with highly political lyrics. The other band on the split, Opus Dead, is already around for some time, making them one of the leading Spanish political bands. They present three songs of fast hardcore with lyrics in Spanish, dealing with the SGAE, the war on terrorism and the destruction of the environment. Good split!
DAMAGE DEPOSIT
7 song 7” on Havoc - € / $ 3,50
Damage Deposit, with Felix Havoc on vocals, is a fast, early 80s influenced hardcore band from Minneapolis. This is their demo put to vinyl - a fast hardcore attack with lyrics that deal with keeping conservative views out of hardcore, the state our society is in at the moment, drastic solutions for wiping criminals off the street and violent dancing.
DAMAGED GOODS
6 song 7” on Not Just Words - € 4
Damaged Goods are from Belgium and play fast hardcore punk like it was played in the Eighties, in the style of Venice-bands like No Mercy and early Suicidal Tendencies. The artwork is done by no one less than Ric Clayton aka RxCx (former No Mercy bassist).
DAMAGES: Love's Labor (Added September 2011)
6 song 7” on Life To Live - € 4,50
“Love’s Labor” combines various musical influences from all members, with obvious comparisons to early 2000's hardcore, into 9 minutes of manic, mostly straight-forward, fast hardcore punk. The subject matter is that of depression, loss, and heartbreak.
DANDRUFF DELUXE : Satan Is Real
3 song 7" on X-Mist - € / $ 3
Lurid swinging lounge-bar-jazz with a weird touch, comes in a luxurious foldout-cover. Only for people with an open mind.
DAR A CADA UNO LO QUE ES SUYO: Inconformidad
11 song CD on Direccion Positiva - € 5
A strange name for a band - I don’t know what it means, as I don’t speak Spanish, but at least it’s an original name that this band from Bogota, Colombia, came up with. The band features former members of Exigencia, and play the same style of hardcore: a muxture of traditional old school hardcore, a little bit of metal and NYC hardcore, coupled with political lyrics in Spanish.
DARK INTENTIONS: Remorse Will Die Today
5 song CD on Pure & Simple - € 4,50
Angry and aggressive hardcore from the South of The Netherlands. Dark Intentions mix NYC moshcore and metalcore/death metal, with both fast parts, breakdowns and even some guitar solos (well, how metal is that!). Lyrics reflect a positive view on life, although they also have the usual ‘it’s my revenge’-song.
DAYBREAK
6 song 7” on First Puch Records - € 3
Debut-7” of Daybreak. Although the singer wears glasses, this band from the Cottbus-area in East Germany does not play poppy emo at all - on the contrary, youthXcrew is what you get ! From what I hear of bands that played there, the sXe scene in the East of Germany is one of the strongest of Europe at the moment, so it was only a matter of time before we were confronted with a 7” from a band from that area, that, until now, was mainly known because of the strong metal scene. Daybreak does not any new things to the youthXcrew sound, but they are good at what they do, and that’s more than enough.
DEAD END: Killing The Messenger
9 song 7” on 625 / Underestimated - € 3
Ex-members of the extremely popular (now broken up) Swedish band Outlast. And yes, you can tell... Fast old-school hardcore with some melodies. Catchy as hell.
DEAD HEARTS
3 song 7” on State Of Mind - € 4
Buffalo, New York's Dead Heart's speed onto the Eastern front with their debut EP, released in 2005. Featuring ex-members of Control, Alleged, and Can I Say front-man Derek on vocals, the straight forward hardcore, like in past projects is once again evident in Dead Heart's sound. Their melodic edge is easily viable, the blend of old school and new school hardcore ensues its onslaught of cathartic breakdowns and plethora of gang vocals to keep the kids singing along.
DEAD RECKONING : Hate Comes Easy
6 song 7” on Burial - € 3
Remember hatecore? I guess this description fits this Belgium band well. And with an EP-title like that, and songs called ‘Walking On Hate-Mode’ and ‘Frustration O.D.’ you of course ask to be labelled like that. Angry fast hardcore with mosh-parts and lyrics that deal with the frustrations of everyday life. The last song ‘Bike Lock Attack’ talks about how skinny little bike kids get their revenge on ‘big midlife-crisis machos’ with fancy cars. Now, that’s a song that I can relate to ;o)
DEADLY RHYTHMS FROM THE PRODUCTION LINE
34 song compilation CD on Take 4 - € 8
This 4-way split features two bands from the Philippines and two from California, although Eskapo is definitely a Pinoy hardcore punk band. Istakus Over Disneyland kick off with their own brand of fast and at times melodic politically-charged hardcore punk straight from San Fernando, Pampanga. Songs about war, the influence of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Philippine policies, minimum wages bring Dead Kennedys to mind. La Grita comes from California and blaze through nine tracks of fast hardcore punk with Spanish language songs about the capitalist system, propaganda machinery of the rich and living in the USA as Hispanci minority. Definitely comparable to such as Los Crudos and Huasipungo, in music and lyrics alike. Kill Ratio is up next and they play 7 tracks of From Ashes Rise/Victims inspired fast hardcore. Songs about poverty and war with the lyrics painting a dark imagery of the chaos to come. Eskepado present 7 tracks of more fast hardcore punk to close the CD. Songs about military oppression, the International Customs Enforcement, the effects of World War II and greed.
DEAL WITH IT: World Coming Down
5 song 7” on Dead And Gone - € 3
Intense and hard straight edge hardcore from this new straight edge band from Leeds. Deal With It get their inspiration from the harder New York bands, like Breakdown, Cro-Mags, Killing Time and Raw Deal, which also translates in the lyrics, that are quite dark, although, here and there, I see a spark of hope. Lyrics deal with the demise of this world, drinking culture, the trap of 9 to 5 working life and violence.
DEAL WITH IT - NEW MORALITY: Fear The Birdman
4 song split 7” on Demons Run Amok - € 4
A split 7” of two bands, on the occasion of their European tour early 2010. New Morality is from The Netherlands, was formed late 2004 and has already put out a bunch of record, among others a full length on Reflections Records. New Morality combines the heaviness of New York's Breakdown with the hardcore soul of Crown of Thornz, but somehow always stuck to their musical roots and kept that punk attitude in their sound. Deal With It from the UK creates a burst of hugely aggressive nihilism and contempt, taking a leaf from such bands as Cro Mags, Judge and No Warning, but creating a sound all of their own which bleeds with malice and negative intentions.
DEBASER: Rich White Boys
3 song 7” on Just Another Day - €4
Debaser is a Straight Edge band from Soughton, MA. Rich White Boys is their Debut EP. It has three tracks that takes influences from likes of The Nerve Agents, Dead Kennedys and the Trouble. Too hardcore for punk. Too punk for hardcore. Boston's black sheep. One of the best hardcore records from 2010 so far!
DECADES: Shelter From The Swarm
4 song 7” on State Of Mind - € 4
The label says: "Shelter From The Swarm" plays out like the diary of a madman on the brink, careening between moral conviction and blatant disregard. Staying true to the melodic intensity they have come to be known for, Decades continue to push the limits with a newfound reckless abandon that is as gritty and raw as it is honest and direct. For fans of Modern Life Is War, Dead Hearts, American Nightmare and The Suicide File.
DEHUMANIZE : Restore The Sacred Order Of Nature
2 song 7" on Surrounded - € / $ 3
Dehumanize, part of the Rome sXe legion, play pure metal on this 7", and couple it with the typical apocalyptical lyrics of 1990s metal sXe bands - lyrics that only make me laugh... although I don't think that was the intention of the band. The music is very well produced, so for those into sXe metal, this record is recommended.
DELIVER: Deliverance
Picture disc 7” on Demons Run Amok - € 4
The label says: Stuttgart has always been a melting pot of subcultures and hardcore bands that had something to say. After the loss of some important bands spokesmen in recent years, the same old generation is going to take on the word again. Demons Run Amok is extremely proud to present you DELIVERs EP DELIVERANCE on vinyl. Not in black vinyl, but as a worthy limited to 300 Picture 7 ". This is the first Picture 7" of this alliance and the beginning of a series of 7”es DELIVER will release on DRA. Deliver and DRA will put out all three to four months another Picture 7” and build up a whole album in different variations with an outstanding artwork and free download. Think of Cro-Mags meets Comeback Kid!
DEPRESSIVE STATE: Total Annihilation
5 song 7” on Thrashbastard - € 3,50
DEPRESSIVE SATE from Leipzig featuring members of SHUT THE FUCK UP, THE TANGLED LINES and SCREWED UP! They deliver 5 tracks of sharp, back-to-basics sound with a clean, slashing guitar tone and agitated vocals. Disillusioned, angry and pissed. Yet, they’re not a retro act. The sound is updated and moving forward. Fast without being tuneless. Tuneful without being limp. This is the soundtrack for all hardcore lovers with a fable for early ’80 hardcore-punk!
DICK CHENEY : Pa Mitt Rum
5 song 7” on Thrashbastard / Sell Our Souls - € / $ 3
King of the split 7”’s Dick Cheney offer us five song on their first ‘regular’ 45. The main difference between this 7” and their previous releases is that all songs on this 7” are in Swedish – and that’s not a bad thing at all. Dick Cheney keeps true to their early 80s hardcore influenced style, and come up with their strongest work to date, to my humble opinion.
DIE HARD YOUTH – LINES OF SCRIMMAGE
7 song split 7” on Survival / Voice Your Opinion - € 3
Die Hard Youth from California present three songs of well produced positive and angry youthcrew hardcore on this split 7” on the German Survival and Voice Your Opinion labels. Lines Of Scrimmage have a more traditional 80s hardcore sound with a more raw production, and rage through four angry songs.
DIEHARD YOUTH - UPSIDE DOWN: Positive But Pissed
8 song 7" on New Day - € 3
Two old school bands team up on this second release on New Day Records. Diehard Youth are from the USA, have the 88 sound - their side includes a Gorilla Biscuits cover. Upside Down is from The Netherlands, and play pissed off hardcore with high pitched vocals, including a Chain Of Strength cover. Comes in cool artwork.
DNA: Zero
5 song 7” on Rebound Action - € 3
Brutal beatdown HxC as they play in NY in the early 90's, but with Italian lyrics. From 1999.
DOC HOPPER - THIS SIDE UP : ... And Then There Were None
5 song split-7" on Vagabond Heart - € / $ 3
Both bands play melodic Epitaph style punkrock/hardcore. Doc Hopper is from the USA, This Side Up (that remind me a lot of Dutch bands like Funeral Oration and Absconded) from Italy. Besides 3 original also 2 covers on this 7": Doc Hopper cover 'Alcohol' of Ganggreen and This Side Up 'New England' by Billy Bragg.
DOMO ARIGATO : Japanese Punk
4 song 7” on Strongly Opposed - € / $ 3,50
What to think of this record: released on a label that has both a Swiss and UK address, but it says on the cover, n English ‘500 Yen No More!’, with lyrics in Japanse, but according to the liner-notes, it is recorded in Switzerland (huh?), I got it from a Brazilian distro, and it totally sounds like the British band Discharge (a sloppy version of Discharge, that is)… with a lot of circled A’s on the cover… anyway, I guess the description Japanese punk is at least right…
DOWN AND OUTS : Boys From The Blackstuff
14 song CD on Dead & Gone - € / $ 7
A rather unusual record for Dead & Gone Records. British sounding punk, with influences of both legendary 77 bands like The Damned and Chelsea, and the 82 streetpunk/oi-generation, translated to 2004. It’s nice to see a band like this on a label that so far has specialized in straight edge hardcore bands. It connects the straight edge hardcore scene and more traditional punk/oi-scenes and that’s something that deserves applause. And not a bad record either!
DS-13 : Killed By The Kids
22 song CD on Havoc - € 9
DS-13 from Sweden need no introduction, being one of the most popular European hardcore bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s - this is their album on USA label Havoc Records - 22 songs of fast hardcore.
DY66: Speech Is Silver, Silence Is Nothing!
10 song CD - € 2,50
DY66 were a hardcore band from Leeuwarden, Friesland, The Netherlands. This CD from 2000 features 10 songs of old school hardcore.
ELITE HARDCORE FANZINE #1 - € / $ 2
First issue of a new fanzine from the south of The Netherlands. Features interviews with Snapcase, Will Haven, Sky Came Falling, First Fight Down, Hundred-Demon and the New Bomb Turks, a band profile of The Day Dawned, columns and reviews.
EMPIRE FALLS : The Lines Have Been Drawn
4 song 7" on Fistfight - € / $ 3,50
Raw and heavy new school sXe hardcore with apocalypric lyrics that come with interesting explanations.
END OF THE CENTURY PARTY : Songs Dances Drums
8 song 7" on Enslaved / Refusenik - € / $ 3
End Of The Century are one of the bands out of the blooming Florida powerviolence scene - EOTCP mix more traditional hardcore in their music than most of their Floridian peers, and are better to digest for people that think powerviolence is too extreme. They will tour Europe in 1999 (that fits their name well).
ENDFLOW: Make Some Havoc
11 song CD on One Try - € 4
Hardcore from Sundsvall, Sweden, sounding like a heavier and more new school Refused. From 1998.
ENDWISE : Dedicated
4 song 7" on Alveran - € / $ 3
Melodic hardcore with DC-influences from Germany with strong sung vocals and, to top it off, good production.
EVOLUCION BOGOTA HARDCORE
24 song CD on Direccion Positiva - € / $ 7
This CD documents the Bogota (Colombia) Hardcore scene of 2002 - Twelve bands, who mostly play new school hardcore, metallic hardcore, new york hardcore or a mix of these style - so the ‘harder’ type of bands. Included are Pitbull, Caracter, Resplandor, Dara A Cada Uno La Que Es Suyo, Nueva Actitud, R.A.Z.A., Reacción Propia, Linea Recta, Punto Neutro, Ataque En Contra, Abismo and Zona Cero. This is a good introduction to one of the most active hardcore scenes in South America. Comes with a full colour, beautifully designed booklet.
EYEBALL: Talkin’ Straight
5 song 7” on Crucial Response - € 3
Debut-7” of this all star German sXe-band, featuring (former) members of Spawn and Degredation - very well produced positive old school hardcore in a luxurous layout. One of the most popular European sXe-bands from the end of the Eighties, who unfortunately already have broken up, after their singer moved to Norway.
EYES SHUT: What’s It All About
6 song 7” on Dead Serious - € 3
This vinyl-version of the MCD that was released on Keep It Alive Records is the first release on the new German label Dead Serious Records. Eyes Shut is a sXe-band from Sweden, featuring later members of Another Reason, that play youth crew HxC in the style of Eyeball, Degradation, etc.