Cementing The Seams: hardcore

7:08 PM

Pine Barrens - Demo (2010)

I've been listening to this for a few months now, and every time I do it just gets better. Pine Barrens are from Manchester, UK (there is evidently a Pine Barrens from Philadelphia) and play a mix of dark hardcore and black metal. A bit like Tempest meets Bone Awl. Anyway I finally found the tape for sale in the US a few weeks ago so I picked it up and remembered how good this demo is. I'm surprised this shit isn't more hyped to be honest.

FFO: Drainland, Bone Awl, Darkthrone

Stream, Download and Buy via Bandcamp

7:45 PM

Bacchus - Self Titled LP (2011)

I was certain that the Masakari/Alpinist split LP was going to be the best thing to be released in this genre this year. I was wrong. This is better.

FFO: Alpinist and Masakari

Stream a track at Bandcamp

Pre-order the US version from Cavity (when it happens) or Buy Euro from Distroy

11:05 PM

Gasmask Terror - Like Daggers EP (2011)

I don't feel the need to justify this to anybody. Suffice to say that it is the perfect follow up to "Black Sun/Fake Gold" and Gasmask Terror are unfuckwithable. Get on it!

FFO: Skitkids, Ripping, Wailing, Shredding

7:03 PM

Ghostlimb - Infrastructure (2011)

So this finally came in the mail, which I suppose means it's about time to say a few words about it. "Infrastructure" is the latest LP by California hardcore 3-piece Ghostlimb, and it is one of the stand-out records of the year. Ferocious hardcore punk with an abundance of great riffs, subtle melody and a train load of pure energy, "Infrastructure" is far and away Ghostlimb's most realized, well-rounded effort to date. Honestly this album caught me by surprise, as I suspected it to be merely good. A lot of hardcore bands that get way more attention are trying pretty hard to write a record like this. Ghostlimb rip through 11 tracks and leave everything else in the dust with a final song aping hip folk punk bands like Against Me. And they do that better too.

FFO: Graf Orlock, Punch, Unless, the bay area

Ghostlimb at Bandcamp

Buy it from Vitriol

6:24 PM

Tempest - Passages (2010)

More dark hardcore, this time by way of Vancouver, BC. This LP came out sometime last year but the band is currently awaiting a fresh crop of wax to sell to the masses, and I'm hoping I can get my hands on one. Tempest previously released a crazy good 4 song demo tape in 2008 and a 7" containing one song from the demo, one exclusive and (weirdly) the title track of their new LP. Anyway this is really good and this post has been open in my browser for a week. Apparently it won't write itself, but "Passages" will speak for itself.

FFO: Surroundings, Planks, Finisterre

Stream and Cop at Bandcamp

2:48 PM

Planks - Solicit to Fall (2011)

Planks follow up their 2010 full length "The Darkest of Greys" with a 4 song 12" of songs leftover from sessions recording their LP. Planks are from Germany and play a mix of crust-punk inpired hardcore with a heavy black metal feel. Anyway, this EP doesn't feel like a collection of b-sides as much as a stand-alone record in the same vein as the previous album. "Solicit to Fall" definitely holds its own in comparison to "Greys". If you're into the sort of thing that labels like Vendetta (Germany) and Halo Of Flies (US) are doing then you should check this out.

FFO: Northless, Protestant, Black Freighter

Listen at Bandcamp

11:34 AM

You Wretch - S/T EP (2011)

You Wretch (YOUWRETCH) are a hardcore band from Minneapolis who play dark crustcore in the style of His Hero Is Gone and their progeny. Styled in the past and polished in future, You Wretch deliver a completely solid EP from beginning to end. Great riffs here, any fan of this genre should enjoy this. Out on Fan The Flames records.

Listen at Bandcamp

6:19 PM

Sound Check - Herds

I got the newest Herds 7" in the mail today and it and I'm way stoked on it. Herds are a punk band from Chicago who play a version of roots hardcore with a grim modernity. Residue Records (the Chicago label responsible for the last two Canadian Rifle releases) just released the band's Michigan EP. Give it a listen and pick it up.

Listen at Bandcamp

Buy at Residue

9:53 PM

Gasmask Terror - Black Sun/Fake Gold (2010)

I've slept on this long enough. Gasmask Terror are a punk band from France who play some straightforward, fast, raw punk rock with generous guitar solos ala hardcore bands like Skitkids (for one). The entire album is in the same key and tempo but the songs seldom reach the 2 minute mark. They all sound pretty much the same, but when they are this good it's hard thing to complain about. They rip through 11 tracks in just under 17 minutes, and they rip through them hard. Shit is on.

Buy it from Solar Funeral

12:39 AM

Owen Hart - Earth Control (2010)

I've been trying to decide what to say about this record for a couple days now and I still can't seem to come up with anything relevant. I don't listen to metal and never really have (save the occasional sludge joint). This I suppose wouldn't strictly qualify, but it's probably the most metal record I've really enjoyed recently. Anyway, Owen Hart is a grindcore band from Tacoma, WA and "Earth Control" is their first full-length effort. It was released by Vitriol Records in December. It's really not that far removed from Graf Orlock, though there are a lot more breakdowns, tempo changes and general guitar work (shredding, wailing, what-have-you). At first I didn't know if I was going to like it, but it turns out, that even with its decidedly metal leanings, "Earth Control" is absolutely on point all the way through.

Listen at Bandcamp

Buy it from Vitriol

12:11 PM

Unless - Letting Go of What You Never Had 7" (2010)

Evidently Unless has been around a while but this is the only material they've ever officially released. They've got a bunch of songs out there, given away on various demo cd's to people. The most recent incarnation of Unless features Val from Punch and Loma Prieta on drums, and they play some version of metallic hardcore inspired by stuff like Botch and Converge, but with their own post-hardcore stamp. They aren't a band anymore but this shit rips.

5:49 PM

Shat Shorts - Seersucker and Sundresses EP

Shat Shorts is 3 dudes from Monument (and some other dudes), that twinkly emo revival band who are releasing an LP with the always solid Tiny Engines. Now, before you go assuming shit, Shat Shorts sound nothing like Monument, which is awesome. Not because Monument aren't good, they are (like I said they are releasing their LP with Tiny Engines who are nothing if not taste-makers). Instead they play some fuzzed out blend of post-punk and hardcore. They are releasing a split 7" soonish with Baltimore band Scum Again. Check this out because it is excellent. Sorry I couldn't think of anything useful to say.

I need to work harder at this.

Shat Shorts at Bandcamp

11:11 PM

Armada - Premonitions 7" (2011)

Got an email, the contents of which included a link to the new 7" by Milwaukee hardcore band Armada who " play fast hardcore punk in the vein of Left For Dead, Extortion, xFilesx, Charles Bronson". It was a just description and I heard what I expected. And for once it was as good as I hoped it might be. "Premonitions" is 6 rapidfire tracks in 6 minutes and it fucking kicks ass. Think Like Rats if you need a frame of reference that I've actually used before. Anyway, hardcore is always best in short bursts and Armada do (does?) not disappoint. Nothing groundbreaking but totally genuine, fast, pissed and gooooood.

Armada at Bandcamp.

10:29 PM

Karoshi - Ichi (2010)

Karoshi is a hardcore band from Nashville with members of other Nashville acts like Dawn and Sanctions. "Ichi" was released last October appropriately by local hardcore label Meatcube and for some reason I waited until now to listen to it. Anyway, now I've heard it and it's pretty much the only thing I've listened to since then. If you've heard Sanctions (who are due to release their final LP soon...ish) then you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Karoshi. There is a bit more fine-tuning, precise guitar work and melodic hardcore influence. Not as raw as either Dawn or Sanctions but the idea is essentially the same. If you like all the other stuff in this vein I post on here you are bound to love this (I think).

Listen at Bandcamp

Buy it from MeatCube

2:10 PM

Masakari - The Profit Feeds (2010)

I don't know why it took me so long to listen to this. More crusty hardcore in the vein of Alpinist (they are actually recording a split together soon I guess). Sorry these posts are sorta one-track and way behind but I've been playing catch-up due to unreliable internet and more unreliable laptop.

Masakari on Myspace

Buy it from Halo Of Flies

11:23 PM

Like Rats - S/T 7" (2010)

Chicago hardcore band Like Rats follow up to 2009's stellar demo EP with 5 more near-perfect crust-influenced punk rock Their metal roots are a bit more exposed this time which makes for some immense riffs. Whatever. Just trust me. You want this.

Download and buy from LikeRats.net

12:40 AM

Alpinist - Lichtlaerm (2010)

OOOKKKAAAYY!

So now that we all know that I was serious I'll just quit apologizing and get on with it.

There probably isn't a lot I can say about this record that hasn't already been said. You've probably heard it and if not you've surely heard of it. AND IF NOT, well then you are in for a treat. Earlier this year (in like September or something) German crust dudes Alpinist released their second full length LP, the much anticipated follow up to "Minus.Mensch" (probably the best record of 2009), called "Lichtlaerm" which means something in German duh. This was easily my most anticipated record of the year unless I said that before (maybe about Dolcim) and damn did it live up to my expectations. Is it as good as the first one? Probably. Do I like it as much? Easily. Are Alpinist my favorite hardcore band? Most definitely. Unless I already said that (maybe about Loma Prieta).

Alpinist on myspace

Buy it.

Get it.

12:25 PM

Drainland - And So Our Troubles Began (2010)

I want to call Drainland "devastating" or some crap like that but it seems kinda trite. The band describes it as "kinda Unruh/Cattlepress/Godflesh inspired stuff" which essentially boils down to a middle ground between hardcore, metal and punk a la Titan or Hammers. Which of course totally agrees with my taste as of late. Drainland are from Ireland and the rest of their catalog (a split 10" with Scottish grindcore band Grinding Halt, and a 3 song ep) is pretty good too, but "...Our Troubles..." is their best ouput so far. 6 songs of (fuck it) devastating hardcore that will rattle your skull from beginning to end and for the perfect amount of time.

For fans of: Hammers, Godflesh, catholicism, potatos

Stream and Download at Drainland's Bandcamp

Buy it from IFB Records

3:53 PM

Battle Of Wolf 359 - Future's End (2010)

This will be short. I've posted stuff by this band before and they absolutely shred. This collection was released on their recent US tour with June Paik on CD and contains the band's entire discography up til now. It even has their 2 tracks from their new split 7" with June Paik on React With Protest. So you've heard me go on about their LP and split 10" with Resurrectionists (in fact I'm putting this on my turntable right now), if you didn't grab those then, do it now. This is so much good hardcore in one package it's retarded.

For fans of: Alpinist, Hammers, His Hero Is Gone

Battle of Wolf 359 on Myspace

Get it.

Buy their stuff from Meatcube or Vitriol (both for US buyers)

9:44 PM

Dolcim / Hammers - Split 7" (2010)

So I realize that you've probably seen every post I've made lately coming from a mile away, but whatever. At least I'm posting something right? Anyway, this is another record I have to say something about based on the number of times I've mentioned it since it was announced. I feared it would never come out, but at long last (a pun by accident!) it has. Released by the ever-dependable React With Protest on black and green vinyl with a bunch of different color covers, the collaboration of two bands this good demanded that I at least buy two. So I did. Dolcim contributes an alternate version of "Richard (54, Priest)" and Hammers offer up two new songs that are out of this world. As much as I love Dolcim, Hammers really shine on their side of the split. As much as I hoped this EP would be good I think my expectations were surpassed. I haven't listened to the link I'm posting, so I hope it's not messed up or anything. But if it is, so what, you should be buying it right now anyway.

For Fans of: His Hero Is Gone, Alpinist,

Stream Hammers' Side at their Bandcamp

Get it.

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