Detain- State of Emergency 7" review

Detain- State of Emergency 7” review

Simple knuckle-dragging hardcore with riffs for days; take Madball, mix it up with modern hardcore/metalcore, and you’ve got Detain.  Mid-tempo heavy beat, gruff vocals, simple lyrics, well-recorded; everything about this EP screams simple- music for lifting weights, drinking heavily, fighting (although it isn’t as good as Neanderthal’s Fighting Music), fucking (if you can find a mutant willing to do so), or taking out your anger on a bad day.  Make no mistake, Detain is among the best at what they do- if you want to sweat in any way, Detain is for you.  Just bear in mind that it resonates much more with the id rather than the ego or superego.  It’s nothing new, just something good.

-Aunty Social

Kingpin- 2013 demo review

Kingpin- 2013 demo review

I’ve always goose-stepped with 90s-style hardcore, being that I’ve always preferred fast over heavy, but this is one exception to that rule.  This is just awesome- a Leeway, Marvel, and Robocop reference all in one demo and band!  This is before I even listen to the music.  However, it got better when I did.  The production on this is very raw, and in a type of hardcore known for over-production, I am extremely pleased to see a return to simplicity and self-recording.  The metal influences on the songs are noticeable, but this is no doubt a hardcore demo, no a metalcore one. The first track ‘Former Glory’ is a catchy number with some toe-tapping riffs, and a breakdown that will make even the most introverted, quiet of hardcore souls go off and unleash a catharsis on mosh pits worldwide.  ‘Choking Dust’ is a longer song, but it keeps one’s attention; it’s much more of a fun song than an angry one, though there still is some anger in the words.  At long last, ‘Bitches Leave’, even though it does sound misogynistic, is merely a Robocop reference (+1 for Detroit) and relates to people one hates, both sons of bitches and bitches alike.  This one has got to be a crowd pleaser, because even I would happily do a Cold World finger point and chant to this song.  It also does not let up on the speed either- everything I ever wanted in a hardcore song, here.

This is one hell of a band to look out for, on the real!  Can’t recommend this demo enough.

-Aunty Social

Hit List- You’re Next EP review

Hit List- You’re Next EP review

This EP makes me want to rip my dick off, throw it at skinny people, and proceed to beat the fuck out of everyone weaker than me.  Not shoot, not stab, but punch; choke; slam; kick; skull bash; strangle.  Baseball bats could also be considered acceptable in this situation.  Imagine if Axel from Streets of Rage went on a huge ‘roid rage- that’s what this EP is like.  It exaggerates every part of straight edge hardcore to the most ridiculous lengths, and it’s awesome.  Not gonna lie, these are some real crowd-killing, hate-moshing, clean-up-your-life-while-you-mop-up-the-mosh-floor jams.  Guttural grunts, burly bass lines, garbled grinding guitars, awesome alliterations, and simple but very direct and uncompromising lyrics.  This straight edge cuts to the chase, not to the veins.  Recommended.

-Aunty Social

Poison Tongues- The Hard Right Way CD review

Poison Tongues- The Hard Right Way CD review

Composed of MIHC veterans on all fronts, Poison Tongues already starts off with a little prestige (Lenny, the singer, was in Earthmover and still sings for Nightbringer sometimes).  However, it doesn’t take long before that prestige is found to be unnecessary for the quality of the music.  This is a mix of Cold as Life and Earthmover- it has that gritty, rough feel Cold as Life is known for, and it has a lot of the musical qualities of Earthmover, i.e. the two guitars, slower breakdowns, deeply introspective lyrics, etc.  The mix is an effective one, and it has the distinct Nietzschean, blue-collar Detroit man philosophy:  alone, angry, yet relatable and not unkind.  The gang vocals are an addition new to the members of these bands, for the most part, but it’s fitting and seldom-used.  The lyrics are always interesting, often either anecdotal or generally philosophical.  Not all songs have “the breakdown” most contemporary hardcore is known for using, and there’s even a blend of songs to sing along to, two-step to, hardcore dance to, and get into it period… to.  This was a huge step up from the demo, and sounds well-produced, though not necessarily overproduced.  In an age of hardcore where everyone wants to be bros and community is what’s emphasized, Poison Tongues is here to remind one that the hard, albeit right way of living is that of individualism and personal autonomy.  The classic Detroit punk rocker isn’t dead yet!

-Aunty Social