GLUE- demo 7" review

GLUE- demo 7” review

This is everything you could want in a hardcore 45- a furious intro, a singer who sounds like he’s on drugs (notably here, the band’s namesake), catchy words, energetic riffs, a visually pleasing layout for the cover and insert, and a certain simplicity that causes one to immediately remember everything the band is about.  This is hardcore for the freaks by the freaks, as it always was, is, and always shall be (hopefully we weirdoes can survive a little longer in the modern era).  It’s the soundtrack to a nervous breakdown and the fits accompanying it- approach at will, and with caution, or eagerness, as the case may be.

-Aunty Social

Worshit- Blessed USA Tour 2012 promo tape review

Worshit- Blessed USA Tour 2012 promo tape review

High-pitched yet gruff vocals by a Russian singer fronting a Russian band, sounding snotty as ever; for them, the 80s never ended, and what a glorious racket they make with their Eastern interpretation of 80s hardcore sounds (the last song is a Minor Threat cover, and one not commonly covered at that).  It’s nothing unique, but the fact that it came from fucking Russia and that it features such fucking weird and awesome artwork is more than enough to catch my attention.  This is a little treasure trove of hardcore that would otherwise have been lost to time and tight information flow control.  A fantastic little find indeed- check it out, as John Brannon might say.

-Aunty Social

Drug Dogs- s/t EP review

Drug Dogs- s/t EP review

Sounds like S.S.D. and 86 Mentality getting into a street brawl in a reverb-drenched room- it’s burly, short burst hardcore punk with a heavy emphasis (for hardcore, at least) on the reverb for vocals, and a slightly quieted sound on the instruments, a la Pick Your King.  You could say it is a short, sharp, shockwave of simple sounds, serious yet sober and cynical.  This is yet another piece of a fantastic hardcore punk scene happening right now in Texas.  If this were recorded in a more professional way, it would either jet this band to be ten times better or ten times worse, depending on the engineer.  This debut has promise, and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for Drug Dogs.

-Aunty Social

Correction- demo tape review

Correction- demo tape review

This hits hard from start to finish- burly, fast, gruff straight edge hardcore punk from France.  This has both fast and slow parts, no weak parts or B-sides or anything to suggest that it is anything short of stellar.  Lyrics are straight to the point, vocals gruff grunts of boiling rage, the bass is very distinct and plays a large role in the band’s sound, the drums thump away, never to miss a beat, and the guitar seems tuned down a step or two, but not notably so, at least in the mix.  The hardest song on this tape is the self-titled one, but regardless, this is as close to a flawless demo as one can get for modern hardcore punk, all songs included.  If you can, grab this ASAP.

-Aunty Social

Payload of Atomic Warhead Nightmares- demo tape review

Payload of Atomic Warhead Nightmares- demo tape review

Feedback-laced, noise-drenched, d-beat drum beat filled punk rock.  Walking the line between homage-paying and creating unique sounds, P.A.W.N.’s sound is akin to the likes of Assrash, State of Fear, Disclose, and Confuse, but doesn’t blatantly rip off the music created by these bands.  The lyrics are what one might expect given the name of this band:  Nuclear holocaust, ruins of the aftermath of said occurrence, the ignorance of politicians and those who put them into office, etc.  You’ve heard this time and again, but it never ceases to be fun and at least somewhat informative.

-Aunty Social

Zero Progress- The Void EP review

Zero Progress- The Void EP review

Classic hardcore punk influenced by the legends and the initial purveyors of the genre, but still managing to put a unique aesthetic and vibe to the entity of the bands, this EP is one hundred percent USHC.  It’s catchy, fast, and stagedive-able to the max.  Or, put more concisely, THIS is fucking hardcore.  Nothing complicated, deviant, or experimental about this, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing.  For all the uniqueness that bands strive for in an attempt to find their own sound, sometimes simplistic, bare-bones, in-your-fucking-face hardcore is all you need.  This… is that.  These are the champs.

-Aunty Social