MUD From The Bottom (CD)
by marcs77
We reviewed their previous outing “Violence Against Violence”, which marked the lengthy debut from this Italian hardcore based in Abruzzo (Teramo) -their earlier releases, since band's inception in 2004, count a demo dated 2006 and a 3-song EP in 2009.
Fast forward to 2014, countless gigs in Italy and a few stints across the border, and MUD puts out their sophomore album titled “From The Bottom”.
The blend of hardcore the foursome delivers takes, in equal parts, from the East Coast sound and the more brutal metallic hardcore, at times flirting with some vicious blast-beating grindcore and more groovy beats.
There's also some shit that seems the guys drawn off that contaminated metal hardcore son of the 90's (I'm thinking of Sepultura, Downset, Helmet, Nailbomb and that's a feel more than a direct clear influence).
Around half an hour of uncompromising hardcore that proves the band knows is shit and doesn't fear to battle for a deserved bit of attention among the modern hardcore heavy-weights like Terror, Hatebreed, Death Before Dishonor, No Turning Back, Expire, Bitter End, GhostxShip, Wall Of Jericho.
The closing track “Do It Yourself”, beside being an anthem about what drives MUD, is the only song sung in Italian. A piece that would kick Hatebreed asses well.
Follow MUD, get this record, don't miss them live and support Italian hardcore.
We reviewed their previous outing “Violence Against Violence”, which marked the lengthy debut from this Italian hardcore based in Abruzzo (Teramo) -their earlier releases, since band's inception in 2004, count a demo dated 2006 and a 3-song EP in 2009.
Fast forward to 2014, countless gigs in Italy and a few stints across the border, and MUD puts out their sophomore album titled “From The Bottom”.
The blend of hardcore the foursome delivers takes, in equal parts, from the East Coast sound and the more brutal metallic hardcore, at times flirting with some vicious blast-beating grindcore and more groovy beats.
There's also some shit that seems the guys drawn off that contaminated metal hardcore son of the 90's (I'm thinking of Sepultura, Downset, Helmet, Nailbomb and that's a feel more than a direct clear influence).
Around half an hour of uncompromising hardcore that proves the band knows is shit and doesn't fear to battle for a deserved bit of attention among the modern hardcore heavy-weights like Terror, Hatebreed, Death Before Dishonor, No Turning Back, Expire, Bitter End, GhostxShip, Wall Of Jericho.
The closing track “Do It Yourself”, beside being an anthem about what drives MUD, is the only song sung in Italian. A piece that would kick Hatebreed asses well.
Follow MUD, get this record, don't miss them live and support Italian hardcore.
Check: www.facebook.com/MuDHC
SOUNDKRASH Shipwreck (7" vinyl)
by marcs77
There's that one blend of hardcore that some may think to be the free-camp for tough-macho-bruiser dudes wishing the world and the HC scene all to know their the kings of the scum, the toughest of the toughs. Well, I am not definitely one of those guys; never did and I personally despise and condemn violence, but I have always kind of had a thing for that heavy brutal beat-down hardcore some used to tag as “bulldog hardcore” some years ago.
SOUNDKRASH is a band formed in 2010 hailing from Athens, Greece and play primal brutish beat-down hardcore in the manner of lotta bands in the catalog of Goodlife recordings.
Like other punk, hardcore and metal styles you have to deliver it load, mean, and induce mosh in the pits of the holes your band play, and with this 7” vinyl titled “Shipwreck” you'll get four tracks that cannot do no wrong.
SOUNDKRASH Shipwreck (7" vinyl)by marcs77
There's that one blend of hardcore that some may think to be the free-camp for tough-macho-bruiser dudes wishing the world and the HC scene all to know their the kings of the scum, the toughest of the toughs. Well, I am not definitely one of those guys; never did and I personally despise and condemn violence, but I have always kind of had a thing for that heavy brutal beat-down hardcore some used to tag as “bulldog hardcore” some years ago.
SOUNDKRASH is a band formed in 2010 hailing from Athens, Greece and play primal brutish beat-down hardcore in the manner of lotta bands in the catalog of Goodlife recordings.
Like other punk, hardcore and metal styles you have to deliver it load, mean, and induce mosh in the pits of the holes your band play, and with this 7” vinyl titled “Shipwreck” you'll get four tracks that cannot do no wrong.
Heavy hardcore for Heavy Times.
Check: www.facebook.com/soundkrashband
MAZE Tracce Evidenti (CD)
by marcs77
Hardcore Lives shouted out loud Madball strong of their high ranking in the game, a position that got the New Yorkers under the worldwide hardcore punk spotlights, a status they've earned over the years through hard work and dedication to this scene and music. But Hardcore Lives even away off the spotlights and fame, at a definitely more underground level, with bands like the one I'm gonna review today.
Milano's MAZE are the living proof to above statement. A punk hardcore band that toddled in the Milan hardcore punk scene when the 80's, the decade that put Italian punk hardcore on the map, were gonna give ground to the 90's and the contaminations that came along -their first EP "Dentro Di Noi" dates 1991.
So these guys are still around and now grown up dudes (2/3 of the band actually) but with that flame well burning in their hearts.
This new record, follows-up to 2009 “Maze” (out via Youth Crew records) is totally self-produced and released and features 12 tracks in the best tradition of Italian punk hardcore with poignantly beautiful lyrics sung in Italiano.
No frills fast throbbing punk hardcore in the vein of Crash Box, Negazione, Raw Power, Indigesti, Impact like only the Italians punks know how to deliver.
The today's line up features a young new mind-boggling bass player in the person of Adam that fits damn well in the mix together the unrelenting fast and meticulous drumming, harsh-dry and crazy guitars and in your face razor-sharp vocals.
“TRACCE EVIDENTI” is gonna leave a clear cut mark of what old-school punks can be capable of. The young kids, which today chock their mouths full of slogans, should go listen to records like this, go see MAZE live and support those who work their asses for Hardcore to live on.
I'm thankful Dario Dharmavit (Safe, Fumbles In Life Youth Crew records) handed me this CD (his own copy) at the show Maze played together with Safe last October.
Check: www.facebook.com/mazemilano
LAG WAGON Hang (CD)
by marcs77
“Not ready to burn out in style”, well, punk rock legends Santa Barbara, CA resident LAG WAGON are still far away from that as long as they'll be putting out fine tunes this new effort, titled “Hang”, is packed of and playing high energy, emotion driven and fun shows.
Over the last 25 years, like many long-running outfits has got their highs and lows and their fair share of line-up changes -the latest line-up includes RKL's survivors Joe Raposo (on bass), Dave Raun (on drums) and Chris Rest (guitar); the uncles join the band of their favourite nephews- with the result that giant-sized guitarist Chris Flippin and singer Joey Cape, the latter being the trait d'union between early days hyper technical Lag Wagon (“Duh” 1992 and “Thrashed” 1994) to their matured self, more pop sensible, of the end of the 90's (“Double Plaidinum” 1997 and “Let's Talk About Feelings 1998) to 2014.
The voice of Joey together the one of dearly missed Tony Sly forged a punk rock style labelled as skate punk, melodic punk, melodicore, Cali punk rock and today it's really one of the invaluable strengths of this band.
Is that a case that they open “Hang” with a brief emotion-driven, heart touching acoustic number titled “Burden Of Proof” to launch head down into the crunchy mid-beat-up-beat rockish punk of “Burning Out In Style”?
“Drug” its Lag Wagon (great vocals and Cali punk backing-ups) with a modern guitar sound and an Iron Maiden influenced riff sliding in after the break-down where Joy shouts the title of the track.
“In Your Wake” at some point in gets more rockish has a Foo Fighters feel to it -and some Foo Fighters influenced vocals are there also in the song coming up next “Made Of Broken Parts” or even more clear in the almost tribute of “Western Settlements” -in a Altpress “Hang” track-by-track feature Joey Capes states “I think it is a dark “rock” song. It almost reminds me of a Dave Grohl song. That was not intentional, but okay with me”.
“The Cog In The Machine” is the one odd number in this album where Lag Wagon meets stoner and 70's fuzz rock.Lyrically, these are really well written and there's lotta stuff to think about and hopefully many kids will pay enough attention on to draw inspiration and start questioning their life, the society and world we live.
I know when it comes to band with such lineage the expectations are always high, like it's always the case some out there would expect the band to go back to their roots and unleash a “Thrashed” part #2, but with “Hang” Lag Wagon proves how good they are at being Lag Wagon 25 years into their career, and this isn't something to be taken lightly.
Ah, I hope all that mentioning Foo Fighters here Foo Fighters there doesn't get you thinking Lag Wagon have become some Dave Ghrol clones. Rest well that isn't gonna happen in like other 25 years or more.
Check: www.facebook.com/lagwagon
Check: www.facebook.com/soundkrashband
MAZE Tracce Evidenti (CD)by marcs77
Hardcore Lives shouted out loud Madball strong of their high ranking in the game, a position that got the New Yorkers under the worldwide hardcore punk spotlights, a status they've earned over the years through hard work and dedication to this scene and music. But Hardcore Lives even away off the spotlights and fame, at a definitely more underground level, with bands like the one I'm gonna review today.
Milano's MAZE are the living proof to above statement. A punk hardcore band that toddled in the Milan hardcore punk scene when the 80's, the decade that put Italian punk hardcore on the map, were gonna give ground to the 90's and the contaminations that came along -their first EP "Dentro Di Noi" dates 1991.
So these guys are still around and now grown up dudes (2/3 of the band actually) but with that flame well burning in their hearts.
This new record, follows-up to 2009 “Maze” (out via Youth Crew records) is totally self-produced and released and features 12 tracks in the best tradition of Italian punk hardcore with poignantly beautiful lyrics sung in Italiano.
No frills fast throbbing punk hardcore in the vein of Crash Box, Negazione, Raw Power, Indigesti, Impact like only the Italians punks know how to deliver.
The today's line up features a young new mind-boggling bass player in the person of Adam that fits damn well in the mix together the unrelenting fast and meticulous drumming, harsh-dry and crazy guitars and in your face razor-sharp vocals.
“TRACCE EVIDENTI” is gonna leave a clear cut mark of what old-school punks can be capable of. The young kids, which today chock their mouths full of slogans, should go listen to records like this, go see MAZE live and support those who work their asses for Hardcore to live on.
I'm thankful Dario Dharmavit (Safe, Fumbles In Life Youth Crew records) handed me this CD (his own copy) at the show Maze played together with Safe last October.
Check: www.facebook.com/mazemilano
LAG WAGON Hang (CD)by marcs77
“Not ready to burn out in style”, well, punk rock legends Santa Barbara, CA resident LAG WAGON are still far away from that as long as they'll be putting out fine tunes this new effort, titled “Hang”, is packed of and playing high energy, emotion driven and fun shows.
Over the last 25 years, like many long-running outfits has got their highs and lows and their fair share of line-up changes -the latest line-up includes RKL's survivors Joe Raposo (on bass), Dave Raun (on drums) and Chris Rest (guitar); the uncles join the band of their favourite nephews- with the result that giant-sized guitarist Chris Flippin and singer Joey Cape, the latter being the trait d'union between early days hyper technical Lag Wagon (“Duh” 1992 and “Thrashed” 1994) to their matured self, more pop sensible, of the end of the 90's (“Double Plaidinum” 1997 and “Let's Talk About Feelings 1998) to 2014.
The voice of Joey together the one of dearly missed Tony Sly forged a punk rock style labelled as skate punk, melodic punk, melodicore, Cali punk rock and today it's really one of the invaluable strengths of this band.
Is that a case that they open “Hang” with a brief emotion-driven, heart touching acoustic number titled “Burden Of Proof” to launch head down into the crunchy mid-beat-up-beat rockish punk of “Burning Out In Style”?
“Drug” its Lag Wagon (great vocals and Cali punk backing-ups) with a modern guitar sound and an Iron Maiden influenced riff sliding in after the break-down where Joy shouts the title of the track.
“In Your Wake” at some point in gets more rockish has a Foo Fighters feel to it -and some Foo Fighters influenced vocals are there also in the song coming up next “Made Of Broken Parts” or even more clear in the almost tribute of “Western Settlements” -in a Altpress “Hang” track-by-track feature Joey Capes states “I think it is a dark “rock” song. It almost reminds me of a Dave Grohl song. That was not intentional, but okay with me”.
“The Cog In The Machine” is the one odd number in this album where Lag Wagon meets stoner and 70's fuzz rock.Lyrically, these are really well written and there's lotta stuff to think about and hopefully many kids will pay enough attention on to draw inspiration and start questioning their life, the society and world we live.
I know when it comes to band with such lineage the expectations are always high, like it's always the case some out there would expect the band to go back to their roots and unleash a “Thrashed” part #2, but with “Hang” Lag Wagon proves how good they are at being Lag Wagon 25 years into their career, and this isn't something to be taken lightly.
Ah, I hope all that mentioning Foo Fighters here Foo Fighters there doesn't get you thinking Lag Wagon have become some Dave Ghrol clones. Rest well that isn't gonna happen in like other 25 years or more.
Check: www.facebook.com/lagwagon
DRÅP En Naturlig Död (CD/LP)by marcs77
You could mistakenly think that this record is an oldie right off the hey-days of Swedish death metal turmoil that taken over the underground metal scene late 80's early 90's.
Did any of you guys get to read that opus of a book that is Swedish Death Metal by writer musician, horror and 70's movies fine connoisseur Daniel Ekeroth?
Well, this album from Sundsvall Sweden resident DRÅP packs all grim, crust, viciousness of that pure form obscure underground, with punk d.i.y. attitude, music played by the likes of Entombed, Dismember, Carnage, Grave to name but a few.
When you hit the play button and “En Naturlig Död” blasts off the speakers it really seems like you're hauled up back in time to the days feverishly described by Ekeroth.
Anyway “En Naturlig Död” is not just a nostalgia operation but starting from the music to the lo-fi recordings to the maniacal care for the artwork you get first-hand where their heart stand.
The music is just plain crushing, heavy with a great low end and that brutal buzzsaw guitar tone the wizard Tomas Skogsberg got to trade-mark in the Sunlight studios.
Over the 10 tracks you can definitely hear grindcore and d-beat crust-punk influences from Anti Cimex and the other Scandinavian jawbreakers that definitely laid the basis to their land's death metal movement of some ten years later.
Ah, they also remind me of Pestilence's “Consuming Impulse”.
The guys released themselves a 500-copy LPs.
Don't disregard this album.
Check: www.facebook.com/drapcrust
FIGHTCAST Siamesian (CD)
by marcs77
FIGHTCAST plays that mix of modern metal which takes cues from thrash metal, the Swedish sounds of the likes of Soilwork, The Haunted, Arch Enemy, that groovy southern flavored thrash a la Pantera and reminiscences of nu-metal.
Is this kinda standard shit today? Yeah, I guess many would agree but I have gotta give credit to this Cesena, Italy five-piece for being capable to write solid songs which are varied in the humors, hooky as far as some great riffs and melodies and fresh; yes fresh.
The musicians really know their shit and I'm stoked for the guitar work which delivers some fine solos packed at the brims with feel, dynamics, melody and gusto without indulging over the usual sweep-picking nonsense you get to hear from lot od metalcore shredders.
The second song “Vulture Cult” comes blasting as a groovy beast that opens in Swedish fashion to move onto something that reminds me of Extrema (The positive pressure -of injustice), when the verse kicks in, and later on shift to Pantera-esque stuff adding more low end to get the groove heavier and vocals the good Phil used to deliver when he was top of the game.
“Susperia”, the fifth track, is the one where the nu-metal feel is in the house. Thrash, groove and vocals a Korn.
There's a rendition of a classic from the 90's, and one of my favourite track ever, that is Faith No More's “Digging The Grave” which instrumental-wise kicks ass hands down but that is, in my view, destroyed by an unfortunate low-end growls and black metal harsh-high-pitched-screams (though the latter seems to fit better). Anyway, it's cool to have young bands paying homage to one of the fundamental bands of the 90's.
These guys have been around 10 years and with this new effort they truly prove to have reached enough maturity to stand out among the bigger names out there. Let's see, because for Italian bands is a tough job; the support for local kids is always mild compared to the attention grabbed more easily by any of the US, UK or foreign outfits.
The album is out via To React records.
Check: www.facebook.com/pages/FIGHTCAST/156201669920
BEDTIME FOR CHARLIE Morningwood (CD)
by marcs77
If you didn't know anything about this band (that was just a pity, okay?) but you got to read the interview we did to Alex Gavazzi (Hell Smell recording studios) hopefully you now know he plays guitar in this four-some from Roma that named themselves BEDTIME FOR CHARLIE -last year the line-up has been completed with Jai Fournier (To Kill, Chasing Planets, Hollow Sons, Atlantic), sitting behind the drum kit to replace Domenico.
The guys have been on the map and on the road for almost a decade and counting this EP, released last March 2014 on No Reason / No Panic (sorry guys for taking this long to get down writing this review), they have out 4 works.
Since the opening track “Snapshot” kicks off you immediately get they play melodic punk rock that draws inspiration from bands like Bad Religion, Nofx, Lag Wagon and European melodic punk hardcore bands like Antilectual, Atlas Losing Grip, Jet Market, Rentokill.
Talking about “Snapshot” the song has a big Bad Religion mark and feel stamped to it -a number which could come right off latest and finally head-turning album from the Californians, “The True North”.
“Captain Chaos”, coming as track no.#3, is just another fine number bouncing against walls with lotta energy and delivering great vocals and backing melodies of choir pomposity quality. Here the lyrics are very interesting as well.
They close this EP with two punk renditions of other artists, one being “Fallen” by Lene Marlin (I can't remember the tune but here it got punked-up for good) and the second titled “Silent Signs” by Deyarmond Edison, an indie folk band from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, I never heard of but the song fits just right in this EP.
Songwriting, musicianship, production, recording and everything is top notch and definitely can kick some serious asses to bands coming from USA and UK. An Italian band we must be proud of.
News is the EP will be released in Japan on Milestone Sounds in a special version including the previous full-length, date 2012, “Bright light city Skyline” -release date set on 2015/2/11.
Check: www.facebook.com/Bedtimeforcharlie
NO BRAGGING RIGHTS The Concrete Flower (CD)
by marcelo
Finally a positive surprise from Pure Noise records, lately often home of generic new school hardcore.
Riverside, California based No bragging arrive at their 4th release with “the concrete flower”.
The opener “strength trough struggle” serves as a pathos builder for the best song on this album “the concrete flower”, a fast melodic hardcore song reminding old Comeback kid ( Scott Wade’s era) in their gang vocals choruses and two step bridge parts.
The song is also a great preview of what comes next, as all the record is a balanced combination of melodies and aggression.
Singer Mike Perez often alternates harsh vocals in the verse to melodic parts in the choruses, surely nothing new for the genre, but still he manages to make it sound tight without being to cheesy. Other good news is from the lyrics front, not talking about Propagandhi here, but the band is surely one step ahead from their label mates as they feature thoughts on suicide, self reflection, always maintaining a positive attitude (Let's sing songs about hope/And pour our pain into every note).
In the end, taking it figuratively, this album is always walking on the thin ice of modern hard core clichè, but in the end it never does, and the result is a solid melodic hardcore record.
If you are looking for super originality just look somewhere else, but if you want some positive hc vibes, you are served.
Check: www.facebook.com/nobraggingrightsofficial
STORM{O} Sospesi Nel Vuoto Brucieremo In Un Attimo Ed Il Cerchio Sarà Chiuso (CD)
by marcs77
Wait, have Kafka reunited and released a new album?
No, this is not that fundamental Italian punk hardcore band from Genova. Yet, the singing in Italian and other things let my mind reminisce of the band that walked out of the scene around 2006.
The guys which we are gonna get reviewed here named themselves STORM{O}, hail from Feltre, North East Italy and got started out in 2005 -the use of the last vowel in between brackets could remind of drone-doom-mongers Sun O))) but if the Americans influenced Storm{O} then it's like stating countless punk rock bands drew inspiration from Ramones.
Storm{O}, throughout 15 songs and an extremely arty and concept-fitting cover artwork, paints obscure, sonically disturbed, mind-boggling scenarios and crisscrosses the extremes between suspended dream and anticipation to sheer tumultuous irrepressible rage as natural outlet for their internal turmoil.
Storm{O} walks among that breed of post-hardcore (post-black) acts like Birds Of Row, Kenmode, La Quiete, Alpinist, Calvaiire, Death Mercedes, As We Draw and let me add Selvə.
It's almost one year old (release last February 2014) but you'll never be late for album like “Sospesi Nel Vuoto Brucieremo In Un Attimo Ed Il Cerchio Sarà Chiuso” (Suspended in nothingness we'll be burning up in a blink of an eye and circle will be closed).
Check: www.facebook.com/StormOhc
THE KENDOLLS Diablo Gringo (7" vinyl)
by marcs77
Never heard of this band around since 2008 but the Swedes from Goteborg have really a Nirvana's "Bleach" sound without being one of those acts playing post-grunge.
Be this due to the lo-fi sound of guitars or drumming a la Dale Crover, Chad Channing.
Listen to the opening noises of the track no#1 "Clandestino" I thought I had mistakenly played "Bleach" or "In Utero".
Anyway, in “Diablo Gringo” there's lotta more in the mix with arrangements, melody and vocals that make these four songs damn catchy, vibrant and not just reminiscent of grunge and 90's Sub Pop sound.
Garage, dirty rock 'n' roll, punk and hardcore all get ground, munched and fed back with raw urgency and such a drive to level everything standing their ground.
“Diablo Gringo”, the title track, is a solid hardcore number that stenches of old-school and Sweden hardcore.
Positively surprised, really and thankful to add this vinyl to my collection. But you know that Swedes have nothing to prove when it comes to punk rock n roll.
They're touring Europe in March. Don't miss them!
Check: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kendolls/190548474300378
CJ RAMONE Last Chance to Dance (CD)
by marcs77
Standing on a stage, singing and bass guitar with a band called Ramones is definitely more than enough to enter in the legend, isn't it? Well, that's definitely been enough but CJ Ramone, who joined Ramones to replace the great Dee Dee Ramone, had an important role in taking the punk rock brothers through 90's to the official end of their career as band in 1996 and playing on a well received, though wrapped into a more blackened and somber veil than the older cheery stuff, record like "Mondo Bizarro" (1992) -this is actually the very first Ramones record I've own- and the the last two records by Ramones.
"Won't Stop Swinging", the second track, sounds just like Ramones meets Husker Dü and that's really a rad tune with an easy yet cool 50's rockish lead guitar lick.
"Mr.Kalashikov" is a solid punk rock number that reminds and sweats of Iggy Pop.
"Long Way To Go" comes as a nice rendering of Alice Cooper's tune featured on “Love It To Death” (1971) -I don't have the credits at hand but unless there's another identical song that's definitely Alice Cooper's guitar player Michael Bruce the author.
"Cluster Fuck" closes the album in the hardcore way with a short pissed off early 80's L.A. punk number. The angry voice is filtered, the guitars are tight and sharp and the drums pound at neckbreaking pace.
LAST CHANCE TO DANCE has been introduced by the single, now opening track “Understand Me”, released month in advance to the full-length, and is honest punk rock album for those who love the Ramones, punk rock and high octane rock 'n' roll.
Not really bad for a punk rock kid turning 50 this year. Give the dude a last chance to take you out dacing.
Check: www.facebook.com/OfficialCjRamone
Don't disregard this album.
Check: www.facebook.com/drapcrust
FIGHTCAST Siamesian (CD)by marcs77
FIGHTCAST plays that mix of modern metal which takes cues from thrash metal, the Swedish sounds of the likes of Soilwork, The Haunted, Arch Enemy, that groovy southern flavored thrash a la Pantera and reminiscences of nu-metal.
Is this kinda standard shit today? Yeah, I guess many would agree but I have gotta give credit to this Cesena, Italy five-piece for being capable to write solid songs which are varied in the humors, hooky as far as some great riffs and melodies and fresh; yes fresh.
The musicians really know their shit and I'm stoked for the guitar work which delivers some fine solos packed at the brims with feel, dynamics, melody and gusto without indulging over the usual sweep-picking nonsense you get to hear from lot od metalcore shredders.
The second song “Vulture Cult” comes blasting as a groovy beast that opens in Swedish fashion to move onto something that reminds me of Extrema (The positive pressure -of injustice), when the verse kicks in, and later on shift to Pantera-esque stuff adding more low end to get the groove heavier and vocals the good Phil used to deliver when he was top of the game.
“Susperia”, the fifth track, is the one where the nu-metal feel is in the house. Thrash, groove and vocals a Korn.
There's a rendition of a classic from the 90's, and one of my favourite track ever, that is Faith No More's “Digging The Grave” which instrumental-wise kicks ass hands down but that is, in my view, destroyed by an unfortunate low-end growls and black metal harsh-high-pitched-screams (though the latter seems to fit better). Anyway, it's cool to have young bands paying homage to one of the fundamental bands of the 90's.
These guys have been around 10 years and with this new effort they truly prove to have reached enough maturity to stand out among the bigger names out there. Let's see, because for Italian bands is a tough job; the support for local kids is always mild compared to the attention grabbed more easily by any of the US, UK or foreign outfits.
The album is out via To React records.
Check: www.facebook.com/pages/FIGHTCAST/156201669920
BEDTIME FOR CHARLIE Morningwood (CD)by marcs77
If you didn't know anything about this band (that was just a pity, okay?) but you got to read the interview we did to Alex Gavazzi (Hell Smell recording studios) hopefully you now know he plays guitar in this four-some from Roma that named themselves BEDTIME FOR CHARLIE -last year the line-up has been completed with Jai Fournier (To Kill, Chasing Planets, Hollow Sons, Atlantic), sitting behind the drum kit to replace Domenico.
The guys have been on the map and on the road for almost a decade and counting this EP, released last March 2014 on No Reason / No Panic (sorry guys for taking this long to get down writing this review), they have out 4 works.
Since the opening track “Snapshot” kicks off you immediately get they play melodic punk rock that draws inspiration from bands like Bad Religion, Nofx, Lag Wagon and European melodic punk hardcore bands like Antilectual, Atlas Losing Grip, Jet Market, Rentokill.
Talking about “Snapshot” the song has a big Bad Religion mark and feel stamped to it -a number which could come right off latest and finally head-turning album from the Californians, “The True North”.
“Captain Chaos”, coming as track no.#3, is just another fine number bouncing against walls with lotta energy and delivering great vocals and backing melodies of choir pomposity quality. Here the lyrics are very interesting as well.
They close this EP with two punk renditions of other artists, one being “Fallen” by Lene Marlin (I can't remember the tune but here it got punked-up for good) and the second titled “Silent Signs” by Deyarmond Edison, an indie folk band from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, I never heard of but the song fits just right in this EP.
Songwriting, musicianship, production, recording and everything is top notch and definitely can kick some serious asses to bands coming from USA and UK. An Italian band we must be proud of.
News is the EP will be released in Japan on Milestone Sounds in a special version including the previous full-length, date 2012, “Bright light city Skyline” -release date set on 2015/2/11.
Check: www.facebook.com/Bedtimeforcharlie
NO BRAGGING RIGHTS The Concrete Flower (CD)by marcelo
Finally a positive surprise from Pure Noise records, lately often home of generic new school hardcore.
Riverside, California based No bragging arrive at their 4th release with “the concrete flower”.
The opener “strength trough struggle” serves as a pathos builder for the best song on this album “the concrete flower”, a fast melodic hardcore song reminding old Comeback kid ( Scott Wade’s era) in their gang vocals choruses and two step bridge parts.
The song is also a great preview of what comes next, as all the record is a balanced combination of melodies and aggression.
Singer Mike Perez often alternates harsh vocals in the verse to melodic parts in the choruses, surely nothing new for the genre, but still he manages to make it sound tight without being to cheesy. Other good news is from the lyrics front, not talking about Propagandhi here, but the band is surely one step ahead from their label mates as they feature thoughts on suicide, self reflection, always maintaining a positive attitude (Let's sing songs about hope/And pour our pain into every note).
In the end, taking it figuratively, this album is always walking on the thin ice of modern hard core clichè, but in the end it never does, and the result is a solid melodic hardcore record.
If you are looking for super originality just look somewhere else, but if you want some positive hc vibes, you are served.
Check: www.facebook.com/nobraggingrightsofficial
STORM{O} Sospesi Nel Vuoto Brucieremo In Un Attimo Ed Il Cerchio Sarà Chiuso (CD)by marcs77
Wait, have Kafka reunited and released a new album?
No, this is not that fundamental Italian punk hardcore band from Genova. Yet, the singing in Italian and other things let my mind reminisce of the band that walked out of the scene around 2006.
The guys which we are gonna get reviewed here named themselves STORM{O}, hail from Feltre, North East Italy and got started out in 2005 -the use of the last vowel in between brackets could remind of drone-doom-mongers Sun O))) but if the Americans influenced Storm{O} then it's like stating countless punk rock bands drew inspiration from Ramones.
Storm{O}, throughout 15 songs and an extremely arty and concept-fitting cover artwork, paints obscure, sonically disturbed, mind-boggling scenarios and crisscrosses the extremes between suspended dream and anticipation to sheer tumultuous irrepressible rage as natural outlet for their internal turmoil.
Storm{O} walks among that breed of post-hardcore (post-black) acts like Birds Of Row, Kenmode, La Quiete, Alpinist, Calvaiire, Death Mercedes, As We Draw and let me add Selvə.
It's almost one year old (release last February 2014) but you'll never be late for album like “Sospesi Nel Vuoto Brucieremo In Un Attimo Ed Il Cerchio Sarà Chiuso” (Suspended in nothingness we'll be burning up in a blink of an eye and circle will be closed).
Check: www.facebook.com/StormOhc
THE KENDOLLS Diablo Gringo (7" vinyl)by marcs77
Never heard of this band around since 2008 but the Swedes from Goteborg have really a Nirvana's "Bleach" sound without being one of those acts playing post-grunge.
Be this due to the lo-fi sound of guitars or drumming a la Dale Crover, Chad Channing.
Listen to the opening noises of the track no#1 "Clandestino" I thought I had mistakenly played "Bleach" or "In Utero".
Anyway, in “Diablo Gringo” there's lotta more in the mix with arrangements, melody and vocals that make these four songs damn catchy, vibrant and not just reminiscent of grunge and 90's Sub Pop sound.
Garage, dirty rock 'n' roll, punk and hardcore all get ground, munched and fed back with raw urgency and such a drive to level everything standing their ground.
“Diablo Gringo”, the title track, is a solid hardcore number that stenches of old-school and Sweden hardcore.
Positively surprised, really and thankful to add this vinyl to my collection. But you know that Swedes have nothing to prove when it comes to punk rock n roll.
They're touring Europe in March. Don't miss them!
Check: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kendolls/190548474300378
CJ RAMONE Last Chance to Dance (CD)by marcs77
Standing on a stage, singing and bass guitar with a band called Ramones is definitely more than enough to enter in the legend, isn't it? Well, that's definitely been enough but CJ Ramone, who joined Ramones to replace the great Dee Dee Ramone, had an important role in taking the punk rock brothers through 90's to the official end of their career as band in 1996 and playing on a well received, though wrapped into a more blackened and somber veil than the older cheery stuff, record like "Mondo Bizarro" (1992) -this is actually the very first Ramones record I've own- and the the last two records by Ramones.
"Won't Stop Swinging", the second track, sounds just like Ramones meets Husker Dü and that's really a rad tune with an easy yet cool 50's rockish lead guitar lick.
"Long Way To Go" comes as a nice rendering of Alice Cooper's tune featured on “Love It To Death” (1971) -I don't have the credits at hand but unless there's another identical song that's definitely Alice Cooper's guitar player Michael Bruce the author.
"Cluster Fuck" closes the album in the hardcore way with a short pissed off early 80's L.A. punk number. The angry voice is filtered, the guitars are tight and sharp and the drums pound at neckbreaking pace.
LAST CHANCE TO DANCE has been introduced by the single, now opening track “Understand Me”, released month in advance to the full-length, and is honest punk rock album for those who love the Ramones, punk rock and high octane rock 'n' roll.
Not really bad for a punk rock kid turning 50 this year. Give the dude a last chance to take you out dacing.
Check: www.facebook.com/OfficialCjRamone
OVERSEAS, CAMICHES, DIGER and OLD FLINGS (digital 4-way-split )by marcs77
Digitally released last December 17th 2014 this 100% DIY 4-way split is the "product" of 4 rather-unknown-to-the-punk-masses but proudly honest outfits joining forces, namely, OVERSEAS and DIGER from Costa Rica, CAMICHES from Mexico and OLD FLINGS based in North Carolina, USA.
Overseas are not a new name to gotanerve-zine since we crossed our ways a few years ago, got to interview them for the zine and just kept in touch to trace what each other have been up to.
The Costa Ricans got a bit more EMO-tionality into their melodic punk hardcore delivery over the years since their debut “O Captain! My Captain!” dated 2012.
The music offered by Overseas just fits well with what the other three bands play.
Mexico's Camiches and Costa Rica's Diger songs are trade marked by the singing in their own language which gives the tunes a personal feel to them. And listening to Camiches you can't help but think of more modern melodic hardcore sounds just for the heavy break-downs they fit in the song.
OLD FLINGS play a honest 90's emo punk that may remind of the likes of Gameface, Hot Water Music and Jawbreaker. The voice of the singer is profound and vibrates of sheer emotion and it makes me think of Rise Against. A strong song.
All in all a cool split featuring four bands worth looking out for and to warmly support for the passion and hardwork they put in their projects.
I must thank Overseas' Alejandro for flying this split under my overcrowded radar.
Head over to bandcamp to download this split for free.
Check: www.facebook.com/overseasofficial www.facebook.com/camichesmx www.facebook.com/oldflings
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