Embrace the Kill/ Hellmouth/ In Defence/ Opposition Rising 4 way split 7" review

Embrace the Kill/ Hellmouth/ In Defence/ Opposition Rising 4-way split 7” review

I want to like this record; I really, really do.  Four stellar bands on the same piece of wax and some artwork by Alex Awn is a recipe that sounds like it will churn out a tasty recipe of a record.  However, the result, while not bad, by any means, is a bit underwhelming. It starts off well enough, with Embrace the Kill’s track “Blacklisted” pushing its way along, delivering a heavy, hard, hopeless and bleak black metal-influenced crust tune.  The song rules, and Embrace the Kill further solidifies itself as a killer west coast crust band (among who include Tragedy, From Ashes Rise, Asymmetric Warfare, Short Changed, and loads more).  Next is Hellmouth’s “Amen Assholes”, a favorite song by a notably popular Detroit group that most in the area familiar with.  However, this song was apparently an earlier tracking of the song, and with it is a lesser level of quality.  Nothing is wrong with the song, but the levels, the mix, the sound quality… something is just not right.
Following this is the In Defence track “United Farces”, again earlier tracking of a song that would later be renamed and slightly reworked to “Corporate Bailout”.  This one suffers from the same problems as the Hellmouth track, although I liked this track of Ben Crew’s vocals better than the one used on “Corporate Bailout”.  The saving grace of this record would come in the Opposition Rising track “F.T.W.”, an oft-used acronym for a feeling that resonates in many of us.  Before deviating this into another populist misanthropic rant, I’ll return to the record:  Opposition Rising puts out probably the best track of theirs on this split (best compared to the rest of the songs on their Aftermathematics LP, which too rules).  Formed from the intact remains of Mouth Sewn Shut, the band is essentially the next chapter in the Toxic Narcotic saga.  While Mouth Sewn Shut (and Opposition Rising as well, for that matter) is known mostly for their blends of crust, hardcore, and reggae, this track is more of a hardcore track, but still retains the traditional M.S.S./ O.R. aura.

Even though I was not wowed by the two earlier tracking of these later-to-be excellent songs, there were okay, and the stellar tracks by Embrace the Kill and Opposition Rising makes this album worthwhile.

-Aunty Social

In Defence- Party Lines & Politics LP review

In Defence- Party Lines and Politics LP review

How I do enjoy this band… it’s hardcore and crossover thrash for those who can take a joke.  However, I most definitely didn’t expect as much thrash from the band as I got; I love thrash too, but I expected an LP of pit-bull vocaled, chugging, pummeling hardcore skate punk.  What I received was different than that, to a very great extent.  With high expectations amended, the band could have been like Cryptic Slaughter, and gotten better, or like S.S.D., and gotten worse…

Neither one occurred; instead, it was just as good as their previous releases (specifically Don’t Know How to Breakdance), but for entirely different reasons.  This record, much more thrash-y and heavier than ever, still has that gut-busting, jaw-breaking hardcore flow I adore, all differences and changes aside.  A song that praises The Police, on a Profane Existence album!?  They’ve got my vote.  Even when they aren’t joking, they have a very party punk, think-for-yourself vibe in their lyrics, all the while bashing out some heavy and fast crossover jams.  In three words:  This band rules.  The main thing (I believe the only thing) I can complain about is that this is a band that should be big on the Bridge Nine forums (a.k.a. 4chan’s b/ board for hardcore), and somehow, they aren’t.  Oh well, trolls naturally have bad taste.

Now you have NO EXCUSE:  Thrash-tards, b/ posters, hardcore dancers, 80s hardcore kids, unite (for) In Defence!

-Aunty Social

In Defence- Don't Know How to Breakdance LP review

In Defence ‘Don’t Know How to Breakdance’ LP review


Steve Ignorant declared punk ‘dead’ in 1977, and hardcore unofficially died in 1986. I don’t know if anyone ever declared hip-hop dead, but if no one said it, it died roughly around 1994, amidst an East coast-West coast rivalry of sorts between rappers and the decay of stalwarts NWA, Public Enemy, and Ice-T’s genre and career change. The old breakdancing, Run-DMC rhythmic hip-hop with meaning had died and was replaced by terrible party rap fused with techno and exaggeratedly optimistic and grandiose gangster rap. However, it still lives as a bacterial parasite (not a bad or unhealthy one) in hardcore punk vets from the Twin Cities, In Defence.

The band has a sound mixing pummeling 80s skater hardcore, newer breakdown hardcore, and hip-hop, the latter taking root primarily in the vocals. The album is absolutely a cocaine addict’s friend and a pot toker’s buddy, simultaneously; the sound is tried and true, but not a generic derivative or rehashed vomit of old styles of music. It is moreso an homage-paying sound managing to be fresh yet familiar. The vocals are hip-hop influenced tough-guy hardcore rapid-fire greatness, the guitars are regular power chord prestige, and the rhythm section stops on a dime, backs up, picks it up, and goes again. I’m amazed that the band has kept such a strong, steady vibe through two LPs and multiple 7” EPs; they are amidst recording a 3rd LP that I believe will be just as good as this one was. The only complaint I could file is that the sound wears on me after a while, after a few listens. This didn’t really damper the record for me, though, it just has lower replay ability.

Minneapolis used to be a haven for phenomenal punk: Havoc and Profane Existence put that into place, and In Defence has continued to fly the banner that they sported for so long (and still do). Since Brett Favre didn’t work out, In Defence will be a more than suitable replacement.

-Aunty Social

In Defence interview

In Defence interview


1. When and where did you guys get started?

Tony: In Defence started in 2004 with Ben Crew writing the songs for the first 7" before there were any other members. From there he recruited John Mitchell (drums) and Paul Audette (Bass). Soon after that Jason Lupeituu joined on guitar. After the first 7" was released Marc Hanou (Amsterdam native) joined on second guitar. This line up released a second and third 7" and wrote most of the first lp 'Don't know how to breakdance'. During the writing Marc moved back to Europe and Tom Burt joined on guitar and John left and was replaced by Will Makin. After the next 7" release Will and Paul left the band and Jeff Nicolas (drums) and Tony Hoff (bass) joined. Two more 7" and our second lp 'Into the sewer' were put out with this line up. Jason left the band and was replaced by Jimmy Claypool.

Ben: We played our first show in February of 2006. It was a benefit for a local Minneapolis hardcore/punk comp called "Bring It Together" that we were spearheading.

2. What was Twin Cities hardcore like when you got started? Did you help to pick it up at all?

Tony: The Twin Cities has a very diverse scene. Usually bands from different genres will play together. I feel like we have had an impact on the scene, there are more hardcore bands playing 80's style fastcore and more bands playing a cross over type thrash.

Ben: The scene had different factions pop punx, garage/82 style hardcore, crust, street punk and mosh core. The comp was a way to try and bring everyone together. We played mid-late 80's style hardcore punk/thrash. Nobody else was doing that style at the time. We kind of came in with a humorous approach and tried to mix it up at shows. We would book shows with cruist, hardcore and street punk bands. we wanted people to get over their dislike/fears of other punk cliques. There was a fight at one of the shows. But over time I think we tried to spread the message that punks and hardcore kids need to stick together.

3. Is Minneapolis or Minnesota in general good place for a touring band to stop off? If it is, would you be willing to host a touring band?

Tony: Minneapolis is a great place to tour. For some reason a lot of bands skip over it. I think mostly touring in the winter is hard to do. But we have a lot of bars, venues, and houses to play. We hook bands up all the time, after touring and getting helped out it's something we feel must be done. It helps other local bands meet new contacts and the network of diy punk expand.

Ben: There are a variety of places to play like The Triple Rock Social Club, Memory Lanes and a variety of basement venues. Bands tour through minneapolis a lot. When we do a show for touring bands we always try to show them a good time, make sure they get enough gas money, some food and a place to stay. We tour a lot so we know how it is.

4. What material have you released so far? Is there one you’re particularly proud of?

Tony:

1. Twin Cities Hardcore 7"

2. Guns and Rosa Parks 7" split

3. Birds of a Fether 7" split

4. Don't Know How to Breakdance LP

5. Black Market Fetus 7" split

6. Into the Sewer LP

7. Part by the Slice 7" split

8. Motherspeed 7" split

Loads of comps.

We're proud of all of our releases. They all say something different and it really shows our growth as a band. Also our first four releases are out of print.

Ben: We have released around 7 or 8 split 7"s and two full length LP's "Don't Know How To Breakdance" and "Into The Sewer". We are currently working on a new LP for Profane Existence Records called "Party Lines and Politics".

5. “Don’t Know How to Breakdance”. Hm. Does the band have any original hip-hop influence? If so, who?

Tony: Ben did a solo thing called 1-2-Go Crew where he rapped straight edge hardcore songs over hip hop beats. It was awesome. I think he should bring it back. But 'Don't know how to breakdance' comes from the song Boombox Crew which is about Ben growing up with his friends pretending to be a tough gang type but obviously not being that.

Ben: Before I knew about punk I use to listen to groups like The Fat Boys, 2 Live Crew, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Sugar Hill Gang and Grand Master Flash. This was back in the 80's. I'm white but I grew up in a mostly black community. Back then, in my neighborhood, there was still a big division between groups. If you were a black teenager you listened to rap. If you were white teenager you listened to heavy metal. I had friends on both sides so listened to both. I remember when Run DMC and Areosmith came out with the video for "Walk This Way". They combined rap and heavy metal. Then Anthrax did the "I'm The Man" e.p. It doesn't seem like much now becuase we have since seen the creation of bands like Rage Against the Machine but back then that was revolutionary.

6. Have you ever been on tour? If so, where did you go and how did it go?

Tony: To date we've done about 10 tours. We've done Midwest tours, East coast, West coast, and Europe. Tours for us just keep getting better and better. We're currently planning a Midwest tour after our third LP 'Party Lines and Politics' comes out. Then we'll be going to Europe again in the fall of 2011.

Ben: Yes. We have tour throughout the U.S. and played 13 different countries in Europe. Touring is a lot of fun and a way to share your music directly with other people. It's also a great way to make new friends.

7. What kinds of venues are big in Minneapolis (i.e. high-end bars, dive bars, collectives, house shows, warehouse shows, etc.)?

Tony: Oh boy, I'll give this a shot. 1st avenue and the cabooze are the big venues in town. 7th street entry (smaller room in 1st ave.), Triple Rock Social Club, Turf club, Hell's kitchen, Cause, Big V's, Hexagon bar, Memory lanes are a few bars/venues that will do punk shows. The Fallout, Club Med, the Beat coffeehouse, the rathole, the Gnarwhal, Dingus house, the cube, getthefuckoutofmyhouse are some of the houses/colective type places.

8. What are some of your favorite fellow bands to play with?

Tony: As far as out of town bands: ANS, Ramming Speed, Disaster Strikes, Motherspeed, Cross Examination, Noise Noise Noise, Fix My Head, Black Breath, Brokedowns, Off With Their Heads, Wasted Time, Dark Ages, Lord Green, Hercules, Coke Bust, Pyroklast, Deep Shit.

Local bands: Getting Even, Much Words, Ponx Attacks, Annalise, the Manix, Slow Death, Sundowners, Max Ether, Dios Mio, Arms Aloft, Dillinger Four, Assrash, Misery, Fuzzkill, Terrordactyles, Burn All Flags, Question, Useless Wooden Toys, Hamberger Help Me, Birthday Suits. There are more.

Ben: ANS, Dios Mio, Black Market Fetus, Wartorn....

9. Did you ever open for any relatively famous bands? If so, who and when?

Tony: Gorilla Biscuits, Bouncing Souls, Dillinger Four, Agnostic Front, Christ on Parade, Warcollapse, Resist, Terror, M.O.D., Modern Life Is War, Weekend Nacho, Trash Talk, the Bronx, Pulling Teeth, Blacklisted, The Unseen, A Wilhelm Scream, Youth Brigade, He Who Corrupts, MDC, DRI, Riistetyt, Skarhead, Hjertestop, Sista Sekunden, Rainbow of Death, Masshysteri.

Ben: Gorilla Biscuits, Dillinger Four, Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Bouncing Souls, Youth Brigade, MDC, MOD, 7 Seconds, Star Fucking Hipsters...

10. Does Minneapolis have a big-city feel to it?

Tony: In a way yes, there are a lot of different scenes here, the hip hop scene is huge, rock, folk. Pick something and you can find it. But when you get down to a hardcore/punk scene it is pretty big but if you go to enough shows people start to look familiar.

Ben: Yeah but it's a small big city feel. Not as big as New York or Chicago. There is still a lot going on and a lot to do. It's big enough that there are different punk scenes here... hardcore, street punk, crust, pop punk. People for the most part still get along and go to each others shows from time to time.

11. Has anyone in the band ever actually tried to break-dance? Are ghetto blasters still in use?

Tony: We've had a few shows where we brought boomboxes to the shows but they just get destroyed. So we stopped doing that. There is a lot of cirlce pits and stage dives at our shows. We're happy with that.

Ben: I tried to break-dance back in the 80's but I sucked at it. I still suck at dancing. That's why I took to moshing. It's easier to slam into someone than it is to do the kick worm. We didn't have ipods when we were kids we had ghetto blasters. Instead of you enjoying your music through headphones by yourself you played cassettes through your ghetto blaster with your friends and forced those around you to listen to it as well. We'd go to the park, crank up the jams and annoy the piss out of people. That was fun. I still have one but it's a collectors item now so I don't take it out anymore.

12. What do you think keeps/ limits kids from getting involved in punk?

Tony: Knowing what's good, knowing how to find venues or houses. Going to a house where you don't know where it is and don't know anyone there can be intimidating. So I guess fear of the unknown. But in reality most kids in the scene are very welcoming and don't care.

Ben: Thats a tough question. I think its different for different people. But I think everyone should get involved. This scene is what we make it. If something sucks in your scene don't bitch on the internet do what you can to make it better.

13. Do you take any influence from old punk bands from the Midwest? If so, who?

Tony: Negative Approach is a big one, Naked Raygun, we draw influence from all over.

Ben: Negative Approach.

14. Does In Defence have any upcoming releases or tours planned as of yet?

Tony: We have a new LP coming out on Profane Existence called "Party Lines and Politics". We're hoping it will be out in May 2011. we've also been talking to a couple of labels looking to do 7" but no plans have been made.

Ben: we are currently working on a new LP called "Party Lines and Politics" due out on Profane Existence spring or 2011. After it's out we plan to tour the US and go back over to Europe.

15. What was the craziest band moment you’ve had so far?

Tony: We have a lot of stories but two that I like to tell go like this; on our European tour we played Barcelona and had to be in Italy the next day. So we started this crazy long drive and ended up stopping at a grocery store just inside of Italy. We go in for some breakfast stuff and Ben wonders off and the rest of us find him in line to pay with a single cucumber. We told him he had to weigh it and get a price sticker. He either didn't understand or ignored us. Then we watch him go to the cashier to pay and he tells Ben to go weigh the cucumber and come back. Ben doesn't speak Italian. The cashier calls someone to help and Ben puts the cucumber on the counter raises his hands like he's in trouble and walks backwards out the door.

A couple of years ago we played a town called Duluth it's about 2 hours north of the twin cities. It was the middle of January. We were playing the house that Dios Mio lived in at the time. We set up in the living room and the show was so crazy. Kids were circle pitting in through multiple rooms of the house. We had to stand on our amps there were so many people in the house. After the show was done the police showed up and gave everyone a lecture about having bands play in your house and they should go play a bar. No one got in trouble.

Ben: Playing a gorilla show at a Taco Johns restaurant. It's on youtube. Check it out!! We were suppose to play a basement show. The police came and shut it down before we had a chance to go on. Everyone was bummed out. Then one dude was like "I work at Taco Johns. Let's have the show there.". So we did. It was crazy. People who were there eating were like "what the hell is going on??".

16. Is skateboarding a big thing among the band or in Minneapolis generally?

Tony: Yeah, I feel like skateboarding was bigger than it is now. I think kids still skate but just don't write songs about it as much.

Ben: Some of us skate... or try to. There are several skate parks around mpls.

17. Anything else you want to include?

Tony: We're on myspace and facebook. Check those out for tour dates and other updates. Our new record should be out in May 2011 on Profane Existence. Also you can mail order merch from us at http://indefence.bigcartel.com. DYI FOR LIFE!!!

Ben: In Defence wants to play Detroit!