February 2013 – #357

Top Ten:

SEA OF SHIT/WATER TORTURE-split EP
FORWARD-War Nuke and Death Sentence-LP
KRIGSKONTRAST-Prostituterad Natur-EP
WASTELAND-LP
PURITY CONTROL-EP/GOD'S WILL-EP
BLOODKROW BUTCHER-Anti-War-EP
SEX CHURCH-LP/DIVORCE-LP
LA MISTERIA DE TU ROSTRO-LP/POISON PLANET-EP
TEMPEST / TRANSIENT / KRÜEL - live
MUNDO MUERTO / HOAX / CONDITION - live

HELLBASTARD/DRESDEN – split LP
Still going strong after all these years, HELLBASTARD are known as one of the first wave of UK bands—alongside AMEBIX, AXEGRINDER, DEVIATED INSTINCT, etc.—to fuse hardcore punk with heavy metal, lending the nascent genre its name via their “Ripper Crust” demo along the way. Their contribution finds the band mining the classic HELLBASTARD sound while occasionally taking it into some pretty adventurous directions that they manage to totally fucking nail. It's gritty, political, and anthemic as all hell, and there’s a decidely throwback, heshin’ thrash feel to a lot of what’s here (which is what will separate the haters from the appreciators). The opening track “Wolf Song” is a definitely standout, a bit of dark punk in the vein of ALARIC and NEW MODEL ARMY that slowly ratchets up tension before the metallic siege, and I really dug the atmospheric choral vocals that emerge at the end of their side. Dis-consin warriors DRESDEN rip through a more modern d-beat/crust sound without a moment wasted, setting themselves apart with some standout dual vocals, down-tuned Swedish death metal tone, and copious amounts of double kick to match. It’s kind of a trip to hear guitar solos this soaring on a release that's otherwise so apocalyptic, but if you grew up on speed metal like I didn’t you'll probably eat it right up. Well worth checking out for fans of either band and anyone with a fondness for aggressive, vocally-driven crust. (WB)
(Unleash Hell)

DOPESTROKE – “Wet Brain” EP
This record kind of has me scratching my head: every time I’m about to write it off there’s suddenly a part that totally rips…then again, it’s all uphill once I hear you rhyme “sobriety” with “society.” Sing-a-long punk from Philly with melodic tendencies and a decent cheeseball factor, there’s a good supply of rad 80s hardcore riffs in there—hell, the slow chunk from “Social Loathing” could pass as some pretty decent UK anarcho-punk—but why you'd choose do gang vocals for the entirety of almost every song is beyond me. I could see this being a fantastic beer-soaked mess live, but also kind of doubt I'd end up in the bar that they'd be playing in. Pretty weird seeing this on a label with AIDS WOLF and SHIT & SHINE, but I suppose stranger things have happened. (WB)
(Badmaster)

WASTELAND – s/t LP
As if the world needed more evidence that Western Mass is one of thee great American punk locales of the last decade, WASTELAND have emerged from the ashes and released their long-delayed LP. Featuring members of AEROSOLS, SOUL CONTROL and RELICS (along with countless other bands, duh), this record was finished back in 2008 but lingered due to the band’s ill-timed breakup. Totally worth the wait! Distilling a million and one influences into a sound that's inventive and distinct yet instantly familiar, WASTELAND touch on d-beat, screamo and good old ‘murican hardcore, and results are nothing short of brilliant. This vinyl release was apparently made to coincide with their reunion set at AMPERE’s ten year anniversary show, and rumor has it they fucking destroyed. A bunch of folks from this band now play in MEAN MAN'S DREAM, whose demo I am happy to say is also—surprise, surprise—totally rad. (WB)
(Clean Plate)