Disobey- Human Suffering in Five Moments tape review

Disobey- Human Suffering in Five Moments CS review

Extremely heavy and mystic, the only band I can truly compare these guys to is His Hero Is Gone, whom they sound like an unrefined demo version of- nothing wrong with that.  These songs are mostly mid-tempo and focus more on the brooding, dark tone than the speed or the breakdowns.  That being said, this sounds like a 90s era Cold As Life worship band just discovered HHIG (or Tragedy, or anything the Burdette brothers do, for that matter) and decided it was their new favorite band.  This is definitely off-kilter for a crust band to play, and it’s pretty damn good.  Not over or under-produced, everything is mostly clear in tone (although my tape deck gives a little fuzzy feedback that unpleasantly distorts things), and not everything is linear and straightforward.  If nothing else, these guys get credit for being able to fit on a hardcore crusty punk bill without too much difference between the bands they’d probably play with.  Not on a Tragedy or a Civil D level, but well worth tape trading and listening to.

-Aunty Social

Down Down Down/ DGR/DWN split tape review

Down Down Down/ DGR/DWN- split tape review

This is some oddly charming melodic hardcore laced with something in between pop punk and plain old punk rock.  Down Down Down sounds a lot like Frank White if that band had ever gotten serious (note- this is likely because there are two members out of three who used to be in said band).  The passionately angry yet melodic vocals, catchy and memorable choruses, and an underlying sound not far off from Bad Religion, all are parallels from Frank White and Down Down Down.  Whether the newer of the band will be as inspiring and well-known as the older one was remains to be seen, but they are certainly on the right musical and social path.  DGR/DWN (pronounced Dagger Down) has a mix of melodic punk and emotional hardcore that, while brand new to me, is a new-ish trend following bands like fordirelikesake and others like them.  Though not particularly my cupt of tea, I found myself digging these two tracks- catchy, simple, and raspy vocals are hard to go wrong on.  Overall a very enjoyable, fitting split for these two bands- they’ve successfully caught my attention for now.

-Aunty Social

Dip Shit System- demo tape review

Dip Shit System- Nine song demo tape review

Not unlike Positive Noise, this band features Ryan Cappelletti (of Punks Before Profits Records and Grand Rapids’ collectively run Bartertown Diner) as a member, and it also features fast hardcore punk with some mid-tempo and slower parts.  This is hardcore circa ’82- political fast, DIY, and youth-driven (though it’s notable that no walls were broken down in the kids’ eyes here).  This is simple, nothing new, but music like this will never not be at least a bit enjoyable.  For those who like fast but hate grindcore (or if you like grindcore, but why you would is beyond me).  Worth jamming a few times, no doubt.

-Aunty Social

Sectarian Violence- Conflict of Interest demo tape review

Sectarian Violence- Conflict of Interest demo tape review

Sectarian Violence is the international, newer, slightly more political version of Coke Bust.  I won’t even complain about the sounds being similar; it’s fast when needs to be fast and mid-tempo when it needs a slower paced beat.  Singer Nick Tape is a venomous rapid fire voice-box with a lot to say- he makes the band what it is, so to speak (though the other four members are undoubtedly important parts as well- they work in the background while Nick is the face of the band).  The two-guitar approach is a noticeable change that separates SxV and Coke Bust, who only has one guitar.  Though this distinction is not as easy to hear on this tape, it’s very apparent live.  No song really stands out above another, but none need to- it’s fastcore fury with a bit of youth crew, shown in the breakdowns.  This tape is more raw than the 7”, but that’s to their benefit, and it’s to be expected.  For anyone who likes fast music or Straight Ahead and the hundred bands who’ve ripped them off (Sectarian Violence is not one of them).  I prefer this on tape, since it can repeatedly loop, and it does so often, since it’s short of seven minutes long.  Killer.

-Aunty Social

Negative Degree- demo CS review

Negative Degree- demo CS review

This band has former members of Guns N’ Rosa Parks, and that similar influence shows through here.  It’s raw, garage-y 80s hardcore that sounds like it was produced in a basement in exchange for a 24-pack of Coors.  It shouldn’t sound any other way, especially with bare bones hardcore like this.  Lyrical topics are a bit diverse, covering hatred of work, hatred of one’s hometown, hatred of the service industry… there’s a legitimate pattern here.  A return to the absolute hardcore basics, indeed.  The guitar sounds a little different, like the amp was barely using any distortion at all- very strange.  This is a solid demo from a solid band, to be certain.  The tapes aren’t easy to find anymore, but the 7” with the same songs is.  Grab one.

-Aunty Social

Sawchuk- Blackened Minds, Blackened Hearts EP review

Sawchuk- Blackened Minds, Blackened Hearts EP review

This EP is a good example of what modern hardcore is about, in both good and bad ways.  It’s good in that the lyrics are not cookie-cutter and don’t necessarily rhyme- this is big in writing poetry, but lyrics usually have rhythm that forces rhymes.  Here, that is not so.  Also, the guitars are heavier than most punk.  Here’s where the only real negative part comes in:  There are hardly any fast parts to this EP.  The band’s last 7” had a balanced amount of fast and slow parts, as they complimented one another.  This new sound is a big change from that.  The only fast parts are in the beginning of “Hate and Destroy” and “Tormented”, and that makes it feel as though the song is dreary and sludgy- good for breakdowns and outros, but not for the beginning and verses.  That’s the only missing part of the music here.  Still stellar, but speeding this music up even by as little as 10% would bring more energy to the sound (I tested this out, and it’s true).  Good for skulking around the pit, waiting to whirlwind dance.  I like it okay, but I need more fastness.

-Aunty Social