Hounds of Hate- s/t LP review

Hounds of Hate- s/t LP review

This record mixes up the ’88-era hardcore with that of the contemporary style focusing on slower, more gang vocals and chug-oriented sounds, and it’s pretty stellar.  The slow parts are heavy as shit and the fast parts thunder away as singer Trey spits out his thoughts and ideas, which cover a pretty wide array of topics, from drug addiction, a new world order, interpersonal problems, to a few where I’m not entirely sure what the song is about.  Four of the songs on this LP were on a promo tape I nabbed in late 2012, and it’s safe to say that this LP lived up to my expectations and more.  Secret Knowledge, Pound of Flesh, Brotherhood of Night, and Untouchable are my favorite tracks, but none are bad, unbalanced in their respective mixes, or out of place in any way.  It’s very friendly to hardcore kids and punks alike- it’s not as pointed as the EP, but it is damn close.  Sing-along, two-step, ninja mosh, it’s all good here.  Packaging is stellar as always- Painkiller does it right.

-Aunty Social

Blood Red- Seize You EP review

Blood Red- Seize You EP review

Politicized ’77 style punk with a bit of hardcore and noise rock influence.  Rarely picking up faster than mid-tempo pace or so, this is no doubt a chance from the two bands sharing members with them (those being Pissed Jeans and Hounds of Hate).  However, like most side projects, the sound of the band is vastly different, albeit with a few parallels.  In terms of this band, I did not take a great interest in the sound, but I did like the uniqueness of it, and the song “Die Trying” was pretty good.  Definitely more of an alternative sound than a strictly punk or hardcore one- rent before you buy, but not shitty to check out.

-Aunty Social

Hounds of Hate- No Redemption 7" review

Hounds of Hate- No Redemption 7” review

THIS is hardcore, folks.  The individualist, the pessimist, the lone warrior syndrome is the focal point of the lyrics- though a bit of a stretch, one could say that this is Nietzschean in nature, the music of the Ubermensch, if music were a virtue to him.  There’s nothing to dislike about that.  The music is hardcore circa ’88- fast and slow parts are constantly alternating, and when there is a breakdown, it’s fitting, not just thrown in for the sake of itself.  A rougher, tougher, grittier version of Slapshot, the guitars are powerful and tight, the bass is crunchy, and the drums are steady as can be.  So, for NYHC or 90s-style hardcore, this is one of the most stellar EPs you’ll come across.  Why isn’t this band being hyped up like every other hardcore band from Pennsylvania and New York?  This is one of the few bands who would actually deserve it.  One of the best hardcore EPs I’ve heard in a good while- nab it ASAP.

-Aunty Social