XNo MoreX- demo tape review

XNoMoreX- demo tape review

This Midwest XVXers play classic hardcore punk with a mix of youth crew and political 90s hardcore sensibilities never straying far from their steadfast beliefs in a better way of living, that being a sober, poison-free one.  Though the lyrics are pointed and invective and that sort of thing can be very valuable, the serious use of the term “bloodmouth” is rather cringe-inducing, similar to the way a band would ask you to “check them out on Myspace” or do a Minor Threat cover.  Despite that, it still provokes some thought and manages to bring the mosh.  It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it spins it just fine.

-Aunty Social

Poison Planet- Boycott Everything 12' review

Poison Planet- Boycott Everything 12” review

Though this EP was previously released on a 7”, it has been re-released on a much cooler format- the 12” EP.  One side is screen-printed with a “We Can Fight, We Can Win” quote atop some cool imagery, the quote being from the chorus of the band’s signature song “Boycott Everything”.  The 12” also comes with a lyric sheet and an extensive explanation of the band’s philosophy, which after reading made me stop and consider sobriety and vegetarian/ veganism (still in the process of making that decision).  For the visually oriented, there is also a 24x36 poster of the band playing- killer.  On the music side of the 12” are five pointed, speed driven anarcho hardcore punk attacks on the contemporary capitalist system.

“Liquor Flesh Trade” is about the liquor industry, how it links into establishments that serve it, and how these bars/ taverns/ pubs are creating a breeding ground for predator/ prey battlefields within (with ladies nights and men on their never ending quest to get some tang and whatnot).  “Boycott Everything” is a push pit masterpiece, being anthemic, fast, concise, and poetic, all at the same time.  It’s the band’s signature song, and it’s the center of their philosophy, that being to understand the power a consumer has, which lies in their pocketbook/ checking account, and to object to the abhorrent actions of companies by refusing to pay for the products they offer.  A thought for any knowledgeable consumer to pose to oneself.  “I Hope You Choke” is a very quick song about the power words can have, even whilst joking, and how it can apply to insulting those already under the scope of oppression.  “Border Fences” is another anthemic tune, this time about the border fences in the United States, and how they must be torn down.  The first half of the song is the usual fast verse/chorus/verse stuff, then the tempo shifts, slowing just a bit to break it down, so to speak, and the singer goes on about how “We build these walls… and we must tear them down.”  He makes an interesting point in the explanations on the lyric sheet, and his point in those few words- definitely thoughts worth considering.  The last song “Tidal Leveling” is a short song with half of it being a build-up (the song is already only around fifty seconds long to begin with).  It’s a song about how natural disasters tend to hit hardest n the poorest areas of the world, and how such areas are often the last to be taken care of in these cases.

Overall, the instrumentation is pretty much high speed 80 hardcore, but the singer is a rare blend of snot, righteous anger, and bulldog hardcore that really sets the band apart from the other bands who sport the vegan straight edge.  I may not be in 100% agreement with what the band says, but I absolutely believe they have a philosophy that everyone should consider.  A very righteous, radical, ripping album.

-Aunty Social

Captive Bolt- Rape, Slaughter, Slavery, & Vivisection 7" review

Captive Bolt- Rape, Slaughter, Slavery, and Vivisection 7” review

The first thought I had when I heard this was that it sounded like U.D.I. added a couple breakdowns and went vegan; in retrospect, this is somewhat accurate, though not entirely so.  This music is a bit asymmetrical, and it works.  Their rhymes are slanted, their time signatures are a little off, and their timing is not exact; it doesn’t even matter (I prefer it this way), because the vocals on this record are so accusatory, venomous, and snotty that it feels like the proverbial finger is being pointed directly at you.  Musically, this is asymmetric 80s hardcore as it should be- young, fast, and snotty.  There’s nothing to complain about there.  The lyrics are relatively usual vegan punk stuff, but one line really caught me for some reason or another, and it set the band’s lyrics one notch above their contemporaries:  “I’d call you a sheep, but that is much too kind.”  Burn!  “Justified Arson” also has an appropriate, killer breakdown towards the end; 80s hardcore doesn’t usually do well with breakdowns, but this particular one ruled.  The band finished the record with the Gorilla Biscuits cover “Cats and Dogs”- an unexpected surprise, and a pleasant one at that.  This record fucking rules, especially for a first 7” release.  Captive Bolt is already on the rise as a stellar band- look out for ‘em.

-Aunty Social

Noose- It's Your Time. 7" review

I’ve never really been in touch with the straight-edge/ youth crew scene; don’t get me wrong, I love the shit out of a lot of those bands (Youth of Today, XPlaguedwithragex, Ten Yard Fight, etc.), but I am not one with the guys who play it, and they are not one with me.  Though I am on friendly terms with most straight-edge folk, that deeper connection to a person and their music is simply not there; the way they live and the way I live rarely intersect, and without some kind of similarity or mutual understanding and respect, there is no deep connection, only a superficial/ social connection that keeps me out of the loop for good straight-edge hardcore bands.  I happened upon this straight-edge/ vegan hardcore band from the Windy City early this year (March 2011) as the band passed through Ann Arbor’s Metal Frat.  The live set was not particularly exciting, but it passed, at least enough for me to buy a 7” and see what they were like in the studio.

Tough I wasn’t amped the first time or two I heard these songs, I suddenly started digging the fuck out of this album; they were doing something different, something their colleagues didn’t quite do.  The bass tone is very punchy and dominant, moreso than a usual bass; here, the guitars seemed to support the bass and drums, rather than the other way around (as it usually is).  Secondly, the music is uncompromisingly fast and doesn’t have to stop for breakdowns to achieve its power; the songs all speak for themselves, which leads me to a third point…  Third the vocals are a definite change of pace for youth crew-style punk; they are very low-pitch when translated to recording.  The vocals are done at a distance, giving a sort of spacious feeling that turns higher-pitched vocals down a couple notches, and given the intensity of the singer’s voice, I don’t blame them for spacing/ dialing back the vocals a bit.

This is not your dad’s youth crew; these guys are high… on life and energy, and are essentially an American, straight-edge, and vegan version of Infest, with an equally cool name (because, come on…Noose… that’s just awesome).  These guys are the punch-you-in-the-balls hardcore kind of intensity that got D.R.I.’s first album all that much-deserved attention.  Though I know I don’t see eye to eye with these guys philosophically, I can feel that they feel same fire-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach anger and emotional rage that makes hardcore worthwhile.

-Aunty Social