November 2014 - #378

Top Ten:

SLAG-Mindslave-EP
XYMOX-Subsequent Pleasures-LP
BLOOD ROBOTS-LP
DEPARTURE KIDS-On The Go-LP
EXECUTIVE SLACKS-12"
PROTES BENGT-Påskstämning-EP
INSTITUTE-45/WIPERS-45
KNARK/KRÜGER-split EP
OVENS-EP/FRAU-EP
POIKKEUS/SBSM-live

SLAG – "Mindslave" EP
This is just so fucking on point. Proudly waving the banner of San Jose Supremacy, this first 7" launches SLAG straight into the pantheon of South Bay powerviolence alongside IN DISGUST (an obvious touchstone), GODSTOMPER, DEADPRESSURE, and T.A.D.R.O.E.V. Endlessly heavy with relentless blasting and some expertly blown-out production, this record emphasizes the best elements of crust-tinted grind with not a moment of filler. Great high and low vocals too; the only bummer worth noting is the lack of a lyric sheet. Tut tut, I could have at least used that to help set a cop car on fire. Fans of new-school grindviolence from ARCHAGATHUS to YOUR ENEMY: this is your new favorite shit. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)

VÅLDSAMT MOTSTÅND – “Gamla Goda Värderingar” EP
Swedish crust that bounces between death metal-infused chugging and
driving D-beat, complimented at times by an odd sense of melody. The
first song opens up with the death metal equivalent of a cheat beat,
but gets more bearable once the tempo kicks up, and the more hardcore
songs in the middle of the record are quite solid if you appreciate
epic vibes in this style. Unfortunately the band slows down again for
the plodding "Snake People", which has sick lyrics ('There will be no
burial for you in the lotus garden') but no real drive, ultimately
resolving into a mega-breakdown that’s about three sizes too tuff for me.
The two halves of their sound, which are never satisfyingly integrated, make this feel like a band that’s trying to pull from a smattering of influences, but still finding its own voice(s). (WB)
(Högre Tempo!)

RORT – “Warpath” LP
Manically riffy death-flavored grind from Melbourne, Australia, the fourteen tracks of RORT’s debut LP blur relentlessly into one another, making for an exhausting, almost nauseating listen (in this genre, not at all a bad thing). Precision drumming and brilliant tremolo leads win the day here—these guys know how to mine the noodle-y glory of ye old school death metal to perfection, and it makes the whole affair miles more fun than your run-o’-the-mill blastfest. There’s a more anthemic hXc element that occasionally comes to the fore, with some of the vocal hooks bringing a slightly moshy feel. Wrathful lyrics take on societal disgust as well as individualized hatred, a bit metal/hardcore word salad for my taste but it matches the music rather perfectly. Modern grind heads and hardcore kids who yearn for the glory days of MORBID ANGEL should not hesitate to pull the trigger on this one, and I can only imagine that these guys slay live. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)

IRON HAND – "Injected Fear" 12"
Seven tracks of tense d-beat hardcore from one of the best bands to come out of Connecticut in recent memory, this is IRON HAND's first full-length following two 7"s and an absolutely unreal demo tape from back in 2008. Three years have passed since their last release, but the basic M.O. is more or less unchanged: driving crust of the latter-day America-goes-Scandi variety, offset by forays into anthemic hardcore in the vein of RAW NERVES. Powerful stuff! I used to live in the same town as some of these dudes back when they still played in the underappreciated THEY AND THE CHILDREN, one of the first "modern" hardcore to resonate with me, and both bands share a lyrical and musical intelligence that easily sets them apart from the pack. Sadly, I moved across the country a few months before they played their first shows… still kicking myself for never catching the chaos live. (WB)
(Safety Meeting)

September 2014 – #376

Top Ten:

KLAXON-EP
ALERTA ROJA-Algo Esta Cambiando…… Y Muy Violentamente-LP
NAPRED U PROŠLOST-Komunizam-EP
CONTORTURE/AHNA-split EP
DEGENERATE-Destreation-CD
ELECTRIC FUNERAL-2xLP/SUFFER THE STORM-side of split
NIGHTFELL-CD
BLOODSTAINS ACROSS BUFFALO-comp
EU’S ARSE-EP + split/KONTAMINAT-EP
KRUEL/BLAZING EYE/ARGENTAVIS-live

CONTORTURE/AHNA – split EP
Handle with care, this is fuggin’ deadly. Göteborg’s CONTORTURE goes straight for the jugular with their raging feminist käng, expertly toeing the raw/melodic line that has come to define Swedish crust in the last decade. Lyrics revisit familiar themes of autonomy, rape culture, and watching those around you age out of punk, but with a personalistic approach, and the lead vocals remind me of Kate from SCHIFOSI in all the best ways. On the flip, leading Canadian powerviolence freex AHNA lays out two more doses of their noisey blackened filth, sounding yet again like they’ve managed to record in one of the lesser pits of hell. This is actually a lot less blast-centric than their older material, with crusty rhythms offsetting the murky metalloid gloom, and the opening sludge of “Living in Fear” channels the headbanging glory of BOLT THROWER to perfection. Already a serious contender for my favorite split of 2014, this is nothing short of mandatory for all you metalpunx. (WB)
(Neanderthal.Stench/What Is Making Us Sick/Active Rebellion/Into the Abyss)

DEGENERATE – "Destreation" CD
Now this one is a blast. Thirteen years and a few comp tracks into
their existence, Osaka's DEGENERATE have dropped this fifteen-song
mindbomb, a dazzling collection of Burning Spirits HC with seriously
old-school vibrations. Somewhere between a stripped-down PAINTBOX and
the rock-n-roll flair of TETSU ARRAY, this is about as close as I'd
ever want to get to calling a hardcore record uplifting, but there's
definitely a infectiously soaring quality to the whole thing. You
better believe that there's some sizzlingly wankadelic leads in there,
but you know what? They fucking pull it off. Really though, that
guitar player is a goddamned ace, and thankfully he chose punk over
the ZEPPELIN-esque hard rock band he was probably destined to play in.
Don't pose, DEGENERATE is the real deal in 2014!! (WB)
(Bronze Fist)

SON OF MAN – "Call of the Morning Star" EP
Alright people, you asked for more chugging "Holy Terror"-style
hardcore, and here's another dose, with a pretty neat black metal edge
to sweeten the deal. The latter definitely helps to avoid the monotony
that plagues so many bands in this niche, and lot of the more punk-y
riffs almost sound like 80s UK crust, but I still didn't find a ton to
get excited about here. The prettier and/or catchier guitar parts
definitely had me excited a couple of times, but they always seem to
resolve into the same bo-o-ring cheaty drum part. And I'm sorry, but I
can't get behind any hardcore band that's never played a live show.
Seriously, why? (WB)
(King of the Monsters)

SUFFERING MIND/GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM – split EP
The ol' slow vs. fast band split trick: does it ever get old? Poland's
reigning grind heroes SUFFERING MIND tear their way through three
burners, touching on power violence, crust, ripping black metal and
good ol' fashioned hardcore crush, preserving the lineage of greats
like MASSGRAVE and ASSÜCK. Some of the best material that I've heard
from 'em, these guys really hit a groove a few years back and seem to
be more or less unstoppable at this point. GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM
offer up their take on the whole TRAGEDY meets NEUROSIS thang, and
while that's generally one of my least-favorite microniches, they do a
better job than most, reminding me of a less indulgent LIGHTBEARER.
Could the split seven-inch be the saving grace of the whole post-metal
trend? A girl can dream… (WB)
(Back on Track/Caramba/Halo of Flies)

TORCH RUNNER - "Committed to the Ground" LP
A repress of the 2012 full-length from these North Carolina crushers,
Committed to the Ground stands near the apex of a certain type of
blasty dark hardcore. In all honesty, it makes perfect sense that
they've made the move to Southern Lord alongside DEAD IN THE DIRT et
al, and the kids who go nuts for FULL OF HELL will eat this right up.
While TORCH RUNNER still finds its center in ugly, ripping grind, they
expand that core to include some crusty chugs and more than a couple
forays into SABBATH-worthy sludge, making up for what they sometimes
lack in dynamics with a well-honed sense of rage. Relentless touring
has given this band a degree of precision and focus that really
carries over here, and fans of modern heavy hardcore are definitely
starting to take note. (WB)
(Southern Lord)

VIVISEKTIO – "Mausoleumi/Noitavaino" 45

Definitely a cool story here: after lingering in relative obscurity
since their 80s heyday, Finnish vets VIVISEKTIO reunited and went
right back at it, releasing the 1984 LP a few years ago and now this
new single. The sound here is mid-tempo, latter-day anarcho with
rolling drums, but it's a bass-heavy, meatier-than-average
interpretation with just a hint of Italian hardcore in the vocal
department. While "Mausoleumi" takes a plodding pace and could stand
to benefit from a bona fide hook, the b-side here is the real gem,
following a similar formula but adding cool guitar harmonics and
powerful, shouted dual vocals on the chorus. It's worth noting the
excellent cover art, which puts a new twist on the classic psychedelic
watercolor/Wicker Man/nuclear reactor formula. At the end of the day,
this is a damn fine record, and it's always rad to see a band pick up
after twenty-plus years without losing any of their energy or
creativity. (WB)
(Kämäset Levyt)

July 2014 – #374

Top Ten:

GOOD THROB-Fuck Off-LP

PRIMATE RESEARCH-Final-EP

RADIOACTIVITY-LP/DISTURD-45

GAS RAG-Beats Off-LP

AHNA/CETASCEAN-split LP/OSK-10"

CONFRONT-LP/LUBRICANTS-45

ELSINORES-Dreams of Youth-LP

'O' LEVEL-Pseudo Punk-LP

ZYANOSE/FRENZY/ABSOLUT/ZANNA NERA-live

HIGH FUNCTIONING FLESH/CRIMSON SCARLET-live

GENTLE ART OF CHOKIN/RESURRECTIONISTS – split LP

Two sides of first-rate Euro-style emoviolence, this is a must-have

for fans of modern-day heavies like SVFFER and LENTIC WATERS. I beg

the reader to see past GENTLE ART OF CHOKIN’s terrible name (I guess

it’s a reference to some fancy gold plates you can buy on TV or

something?) in order to see that they’re making some seriously fierce

grind/screamo/crust, ending up sounding somewhat like German

hardcore’s answer to CLOUD RAT and SIXBREWBANTHA. RESURRECTIONISTS

bring their own mathy take on a comparable sound, trading in some of

the manic overstimulation of the flipside for a focus on precision and

to-the-gut hardcore. Not a wasted note on either side, just firm,

efficient grind for the brutal kids. (WB)

 (IFB / React with Protest / Moment of Collapse)

ROBOCOP/DETROIT – split LP

This is a repress of the 2012 split between two newer bands making

waves in the North American power violence scene, titled Dead

Language, Foreign Bodies. ROBOCOP stay true to genre form with a

chunky take on the traditional hardcore blasting, adding some

intelligence to the lyrics that I can't say I expected from a grind

band named ROBOCOP. They veer a little too far into metallic hXc for

my taste at times, and that major-scale riff on "Room 641A" kinda hurt

my soul, but they also manage to pull off a pretty sweet sax solo on

the tongue-in-cheek "Feminism Über Alles", and I really liked the,

ahem, experimental pastiche "Zapruder Frame 265." DETROIT take a far

more shit-fi approach to the whole thing, fusing punishing-yet-thin

breakdowns with blurry fastcore and some straight-up punk beats in

there for good measure. The vocals sound desperate and pained in the

best way, adding a slightly screamotional appeal, and they even

stretch into under-two-minute melodic epicness on "Into You".  Hearing

this split is making me nostalgic for Squamish's infamous Fastcore

Fest, maybe I'll have to head up there again this year… (WB)

(Give Praise)

PROSPERITY DENIED/SIX SCORE – split LP

A dual slice of metallic hardcore rage from Austria, these bands take

different approaches yet fit together quite well. Wien’s SIX SCORE

blast through eleven tracks of grinding dark hardcore, adding samples

and a nice touch of death metal to the proceedings along with the

requisite double-kick d-beat. If you can hang with the metallic side

of grind you’ll find a lot to like here, although I found the vocals

and overall production to be kind of a grating after a few songs. They

definitely lost me with some of the moshcore breakdowns on the second

half, oof. Speaking of death metal and dubious mosh parts, PROSPERITY

DENIED from Mödling get points for naming a song “Fermented Grapes of

Wrath”, but a more punk XIBALBA is just not something I’ve been

looking for. Why anyone would want to use a PARLIAMENT bass-synth on a

metal record is beyond me, and the DANZIG-goes-melodic-hardcore

experiment on the closing track? No, thanks. (WB)

(Bloody Lips)

WAKE/REHASHED ­– split EP

Where the goofy meets the grind. REHASHED hail from Saskatoon,

layering their fun, throwbacky palm-muted hardcore with a whole mess

of thrash leads, unconcerned with who they make giggle in the process.

To be fair, these guys are about as tight as it gets, and definitely

know how to shred, even if they haven't made the crucial realization

that it doesn't always actually make the songs good. Calgary's WAKE go

through the usual grindcore motions, but in the absence of any

dynamics, tasty riffs or interesting vocals it gets pretty monotonous

pretty fast (no pun intended). Completists will no doubt want to hear

this for themselves, but for the rest of us this is honestly a pretty

inessential offering.  (WB)

(Give Praise)

CLOUD RAT/ORGULLO PRIMITIVO – split EP

If you haven't heard Michigan's CLOUD RAT by now, I don't know what to

tell you; this is probably the fourth or fifth time I've written about

them in these pages, and they've been consistently putting out some of

the most compelling grind and atmospheric black metal-infused hardcore

to come out in years. The material here builds on the massive Moksha

LP, with a harsh, crisp production that gets downright beautiful at a

moment's notice, only to drop back into a smothering whirlwind of

blasts. The slower parts on "Skin Flowers" make their recently outing

with THOU make a whole lot more sense, but CLOUD RAT are nothing if

not a band that refuses easy comparisons. The flipside by ORGULLO

PRIMITIVO ("Primitive Orgasm") is a out-and-out experimental fuckfest,

moving as seamlessly as one could possibly hope between spastic bursts

of multi-voice spoken word poetry, solos for drum and vibraphone (!),

and some seriously creepy drum-and-vox "black metal". Zoinks! (WB)

(IFB)

PRIMATE RESEARCH – "Final" EP

Man, it's been a minute since I heard an American band that went for

the early 2000s neocrust thing and just fucking nailed it. No skramz,

no post-rock buildup yawn fests, just siqq'n'brutal d-beat-centric

punk played with intelligent fury and an unquestionable influence from

the scene that produced DEATHREAT and HIS HERO IS GONE. A power

violence element reveals itself a few tracks in, adding some extra

speed along with a sharp-yet-primal sense of dynamics. Personnel from

COMBATWOUNDEDVETERAN and HOLY MOUNTAIN make the success of this

Tampa-based unit a no-brainer, and if you need any more convincing,

they also manange a fucking great take on DISRUPT's "Squandered" with

the singer from SACRIDOSE. (WB)

 (Financial Ruin/All We Know)

February 2014 – #369

Top Ten:

PETER GUTTERIDGE-Pure-LP

CØNDITIØN-EP / LIFE CHAIN-EP

LAKES-Blood of the Grove-LP

KOSZMAR-Jeniec Wojenny-LP 

RADIOACTIVITY-EP / 440-EP

ATTACK SS/FRENZY-split / MANATEES-45

SUFFERING MIND/SIXBREWBANTHA-split

AUTONOMY-lathe+split

KOROVA-lathe / WAU Y LOS ARRRGHS-LP

LAUDANUM/LOTUS FUCKER-live

LE KRAKEN – "Exalt" LP
Oh bands of this world, hear my cry: no more ISIS crust. There was a time not too long ago when incorporating the post-rock dynamics of bands like KINSKY, PAIK and, yes, GODSPEED, into heavy punk seemed like a great idea, pushing back on genre conformity and expanding the palette for a new generation of bands to the explore. Montreal's LE KRAKEN are one of these bands, raised on a steady diet of CULT OF LUNA (blech) and epic crust, but like many of their peers, they simply aren't bringing much that's noteworthy to the table. For a style that's so serious and self-consciously arty, too much of this feels like an excersize in cookie-cutter songwriting, from genre-standard throaty growls to the largely predictable chug>spacey>chug>breakdown song arcs. As is often the case for bands of this ilk, I actually just wish they would play to their strengths, ditching the metallic side of their sound and going for full-on po-ro. But what do I know, I don't even listen to NEUROSIS. (WB)
(L’Oeil du tigre)

440 – "Nailed Down" EP
Did you even wonder what that NERVESKADE 7" would sound like on 78, but can't afford a new turntable? Miami's 440 are here to help. Seriously, this might have the best/worst production in recent memory, an unapoligetically filthy affair that will probably burn holes in your soul if you aren't careful. Under all that hiss, these anxiety-inducing miscreants manage to conjure up some savagely chaotic grind/power violence that's sure the sate the blast freaks, and they just might win over a raw ponk or twelve in the process. Definitely a standout. (WB)
(Regurgitated Semen)

SWORDWIELDER – "Grim Visions of Battle" CD
And the dark Lord said, "Let there be Stench!" After a couple of demos, this is the debut full-length from these Gothenburg death dealers, and they've really outdone themselves here. This might as well be titled Hails to England for it's allegiance to the model carved out by 80s stalwarts like DEVIATED INSTINCT and AMEBIX, creeping chorus-drenched riffs and all, but SWORDWIELDER does an admirable job of modernizing their inherently retrograde approach without ending up sounding like a false. The guitar work is top-notch, inventive and peppered with just the right amount of gloomy clean bits, while the vocals are spot-on throughout. This album has grown on me with every listen, easily worth rallying the hordes near you and giving it a spin. (WB)
(Cubo de Sangre)

CONSPIRACY OF DENIAL – LP
Racing, expansive d-beat/crust with lyrics in Greek and English, CONSPIRACY OF DENIAL have cranked out an impressive debut here, incorporating melodic elements  and epic breakdowns without losing the driving pummel that makes for a great hardcore record. I'm admittedly a sucker for well-executed dual vocal crust, and this band knows just how to push my buttons in that regard, all the better when these are matched with articulate, introspective lyrics. Fifteen years into the 2000s, a lot of punks have understandably grown weary of melodic crust, but fans of bands like SCHIFOSI and FROM ASHES RISE would do well to hunt this out. (WB)
(Scarecrow/World's Appreciated Kitsch)

January 2014 – #368

Top Ten: 

HARD SKIN-live
LANDVERAAD-live
DESTRUKT-live
BACCHUS-live
VITRIOLIC RESPONSE-live
RUINED FAMILIES-live
CIORAN-live
INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL-live
WARPATH-live
DEAD RAMONES-live

BESTHÖVEN/FINAL SLUM WAR – split LP

In DISCHARGE worship as in life, some things never change. Thankfully, BESTHÖVEN is one of them. Twenty-three years into staking their claim as the world’s greatest (and most prolific) one-man D-beat band, this split finds Fofäo in top form, bringing us six new tracks—including a FORÇA MACABRA cover—of his huff 'n stumble brand of brilliantly inept noize. As usual, the production is paper-thin and bass-heavy, and of course there's nothing 'shredding' or 'technical'  about the guitar solos—they just fucking rip, ok? Those seeking a crash course in how to write anthemic shit-fi need look no further than 'This World is Dying'; seriously, I think I might never get that chorus out of my head. On the flip we have Barcelona's FINAL SLUM WAR playing some charging raw punk with an obvious debt to South American hardcore. While their songs tend to blur together a bit more, there's a buzzing metallic edge to the guitar tone that I really dug, and the vocals are satisfyingly dark with nice touch of cavernous 'verb. All in all, a great split, recommended without hesitation. (WB) (Rawmantic Disasters/Nuclear Fear/Imminent Destruction) 

FALTER – "Descent" EP

Angry, oft-chugging brutal hardcore from Milwaukee, FALTER cover a lot of ground in this ten-minute slab of bad feelings, hinting at a crusty atmosphere without actually going too far down that rabbit hole. While it’s mostly aggression and straight-up grime, the pretty, downtempo breakdowns were actually the highlight for me. Starting the second side of the 7” with one? Genius. Dark ‘core kids in the FULL OF HELL/SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP camp should definitely check this out, but to be honest I’ll probably just wait ‘til they start a doom band a few years from now. (WB) (Reality is a Cult)

GERANIÜM – LP

A repress of a record that was criminally overlooked (at least in the U.S.) in 2012, this is massive, sometimes gorgeous screamo/crust of the highest order. GERANIÜM hail from France and deliver a tense, deliberate take on the neocrust sound, coming off like a more fragile AGE OF COLLAPSE. Along with a plentiful trove of great crescendos and raging D-beat breaks, the vocals are a critical component, supremely raw and with a serious sense of passion and pain—worked for EKKAIA and it works here. Every time you think you’ve figured out what they’re up to, there’s a new element that’s just as gripping as what came before it, and the riffs feel instantly familiar in a way that let’s you know this is a record to remember. So many bands collapse under the weight of their ‘epic’ intentions, but GERANIÜM know how to make every note count, and there’s a immediacy throughout that few in this style are able to pull off. I need to get my hands on the split they just put out with FINISTERRE, damn. (WB) (Dingleberry/Dream Comes True/Up The Punx/Lubic/Contraszt!/Emergence/Tanker/Subversive Ways)

KRATZER/KVAZAR – split LP

A Greco-German collaboration twice over (one band and one label representing each country), fans of modern blasting hardcore should definitely give this one a shot. Thesaloniki's KVAZAR definitely own the split for me, solidly crusty grind that manages to sounds nasty while incorporating some melodic elements that give the songs a sense of depth and variety. KRATZER start on a similar note—though the focus here is more on dark hardcore than pure grind—and I definitely enjoyed the first few songs, but as their side progresses things go in a more shimmery post-metal direction that left me cold. Oh well. I guess this is KVAZAR's final release, apparently they've been broken up since 2010! Damn, guys, I hardly knew ye. (WB) (Blastbeat/7 Degrees) 

LAVATCH – "Mental Deterioration" CD

A lot of bad decisions went into this one, oof. This group of angst-ridden souls from Cologne waver between melodic hardcore and tuff metalcore breakdowns with way, waytoo many crab vibes, throwing in the occasional spacey part for good measure. A lot of the more upbeat sections are honestly just pop-punk with mismatched screams laid over them, and really the whole thing just feels too clean for it's own good. There's no denying the sincerity of LAVATCH's intentions, and every once in a while a riff will pop up that's pretty damn awesome, but the world of polished hXc this represents means nothing to me. (WB) (Mudcore)

V/A – "Monomaniac, Vol. 1" EP

The concept is simple: throw together a bunch of today’s illest fast bands and have them each contribute a song (or three) in the minute-ish range. There’s some serious heavy-hitters on this 7”—THEDOWNGOING (Australia), SETE STAR SEPT (Japan) and DETROIT (Canada, confusingly) give an idea of the international intention here—and whole thing feels coherent despite the wide range of grind and black/death metal sounds it encompasses. Never thought I’d see CLOUD RAT and DIOCLETIAN on the same record, that’s awesome. I’m generally pretty compilation-skeptical—especially in the oversaturated world of latter-day grindcore—but this is just a great record from start to finish, with zero throwaway material and more than a few new bands I’m stoked to have discovered. There’s more to come, apparently, so keep eyes peeled in the future. (Blastbeat)

Demo Reviews – December 2011

SONTA – Mile-a-minute dual vocal weirdness from Jakarta. While the nuts-and-bolts riffs upon which the songs are built are fast hardcore, plain and simple, nearly everything else, from the artwork to the use of, ahem, "somber" instrumental breakdowns feels like a nod to the more kvlt realms of black metal. Add to this already fucked-up formula a schizoid penchant for sampling (the sheer quantity making it near-impossible to figure out what here is original and what is borrowed) and a hearty dose of MR. BUNGLE-style circus freakout and you might start to get an idea of what you're in for here. Seriously, the flute solo(!) on 'Obat Macho…' is still blowing my mind on the fifth or six listen. One of a kind, that's for damn sure, and one of the coolest recordings I've come across in a while.
(12-song CD-R, lyrics included, myspace.com/legionproductions97)

HELLMAISTROZ – Coming from Monterrey, Mexico, this demo promises listeners a hearty dose of "infernal crust'n'roll," and that's exactly what is delivered—the slower side of WRETCHED comes to mind, and the looming specter of MOTÖRHEAD is never too far away. Catchy hooks and deliciously gritty vocals set this apart from more forgettable offerings in this often-formulaic style, and the raw-as-fuck production couldn't be more spot on. If I survive the industrial apocalypse and find myself crossing a Mad Max-style desert wasteland, this is the band I want to see playing to a roomful of shit-faced, leather-clad bikers.

(6-song CD-R, lyrics included, hellmaistroz@gmail.com, myspace.com/hellmaistroz)

SONS OF YOUNG – Vocally-driven punk from South Carolina, this band covers a pretty wide range of styles from twangy rockabilly-punk in the vein of SOCIAL DISTORTION to R.E.M.-style college rock. 'Digin' Myself To Hell' is definitely the stand-out track here, taking things in a darker direction that instantly had me thinking of THE WIPERS.

(4-song CD-R, lyrics included, sonsofyoung@gmail.com, babymoonrecords.com)

STREETS OF RAGE – Fun, exuberant punk from Glasgow that channels the frantic energy of BIG BOYS and early MINUTEMEN. Most songs here hover around the one-minute mark, which is more than enough time for these guys to develop and elaborate hooks that worm their way into one's head more and more with each listen. Also, I can't help but note that the end of 'I'm Gone' sounds like the theme song from King of the Hill. Awesome.
(7-song CD-R, no lyrics included, harry@methodistleisure.com)

MURDER CITY HOOLIGANS – A eighteen-song live set from this Australian Oi! posse, entitled Live & Kicking Heads. These guys take the ain't-broke-don't-fix-it attitude to this mix of covers (including that most willfully dubious of choices, a cut from Skrewdriver's early years), and original material, drawing from the formula set by SHAM 69 with great success. Their singer more or less embodies my platonic ideal of an Oi! vocalist, and the crowd sounds fucking stoked to be there; too bad the whole thing comes as a single, hour-long track, a decision that's likely to test the repeat-listening patience of all but the most dedicated punx 'n skins.
(CD-R, no lyrics, c/o Barry Smith, Unit 1, 833 Marion Road, Mitchell Park, South Australia, 5043, Australia)