New reviews: SETBACKS, MIRA, ANTI HERO and QUESTIONS

I know, it's been a really long time since last review-post. Meanwhile, a new passionate writer named Chill•HC joined the team and he has contributed with not fewer that 3 reviews out of the four we're featuring here. Read on and have fun! 

SETBACKS Oceans Apart (CD)

by Chill•HC

SETBACKS are a quintet from…all over the world. Yes, all members live in a different continent strewing from Australia to US passing through UK and South Africa. Although these tough circumstances would have put anybody else off the project, despite all the odds, they managed to release their debut album "Oceans Apart" on Morning Wood Records!

MR Records must have bet quite a high stake to get them on their roster because the musicians are pretty talented and the influences from the full length will please a wide range of tastes from punk-rock to skate punk without forgetting fast-melodic-hc.

Reviews: IGNITE, HUMAN TOUCH, EARL GREY, NEW REAL DISASTER, SOMETHING HIGHER COMP, HOLLOW SONS, HARM DONE, KYLESA, VOID 00, ATTALUS, THE DISSONANT CHOIR VOL#4 and PHEDORA

Tons of stuff coming in on a daily basis, it's like an unrelenting flood. Read on reviews for some records we did like more and thought them worth writing about...

IGNITE A War Against You (CD)

by marcs77

It took like some 10 years to have a brand new record out for Orange County, CA crew known to the punk-hardcore world with the moniker IGNITE. But if you're a bit accustomed with what the band is all about, and its work ethics, this pretty huge lapse of time between the former album, the highly praised “Our Darkest Days” out in 2006, and this new opus titled “A War Against You” (out worldwide on January 8th 2016 on Century Media records) cannot come much as real surprise, though I myself must admit I had almost lost my hopes that the foursome fronted by Zoltan “Zoli” Téglás was to release any new full-length albums in the near future or any future.
Was it worth the long wait? Well, if you've been cool enough to go and listen to their first single “Nothing Can Stop Me” up on youtube I guess you would definitely agree with me and shout a big huge loud YES! -and as I did write somewhere on the socials this single isn't even the best tune of the album...
Quality vs the risky routine of releasing new stuff just for the sake of having something out to tour on.
“A War Against You” is 14-track job to be taken in in its entirety and a flawless collection of songs that wouldn't disappoint you at all -especially whether you're into this band.

Back to school reviews: ROUND7, CARNERO, TEAR THEM DOWN, AUGUST BURNS RED, ANCHOR, YORKSHIRE RATS, OFF THE HOOK, BAD COP / BAD COP, SADIST, MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, WHAT I WANT, TERROR, FAT MUSIC VOL.#8

ROUND7 No Excuse (CD)

by marcs77

Beginning of June I received the latest stuff from Indelirium records and again the Molina Aterno, L'Aquila, Italy based DIY label confirms itself to keep its standards high thanks to a ever growing roster of very good and passionate bands and an enviable bunch of cool releases; these include a 10-track split featuring My Distance and The Memory, two Italian modern hardcore bands, whose previous outings have been reviewed here on gotanerve-zine -since, this time around, I won't be reviewing “Bridges” I just warmly suggest fans of modern hardcore that mixes melody, energy, chuggy riffs and heavy breakdowns to check this record out (The Memory has always a Comeback Kid feel to them while My Distance dirtied their sound with some heavy grooves and rockish influences).
Indeed, in this review run, I'm gonna feature two other interesting releases from Indelirium; one being ROUND7's debut full-length “No Excuse” and the second YORKSHIRE RATS' new album “Sea Of Souls” -the Brits return after a 9 years hiatus.
Let's get down first with Vicenza's Round 7, who follow-up their “United Kids” EP, out in November 2013, with this lengthy 12-song record entitled “No Excuse”.

May reviews: A THEORY OF JUSTICE, ROTTING OUT, COUNTERPUNCH, GOOD RIDDANCE, NO BRAIN, NO SHAME split, ADOLESCENTS/SVETLANAS split, M.O.R.A., NAPALM DEATH, FINAL PRAYER

A THEORY OF JUSTICE A Theory Of Justice (CD)

by marcs77

This new EP from Lodi resident A THEORY OF JUSTICE is out, as you perhaps have noticed, since last December (I've actually been at the release party they played at Clam) and it was really about time to make some deserved justice to the sophomore effort these guys worked hard on.

Their first DIY released recording “Athena” crossed the thin lines laying between new school hardcore and metalcore while, coming as a clear surprise for some, the new work shows up a sharp change in direction toward a sound that at very first listen reminded me of two of the most exciting bands in the damn forward-moving roster of Trustkill records; I am talking about that metallic angular (post)hardcore played by the likes of Nora and Poison The Well.

New reviews, finally: MUD, SOUNDKRASH, MAZE, LAG WAGON, DRÅP, FIGHTCAST, BEDTIME FOR CHARLIE, NO BRAGGING RIGHTS, STORM{O}, THE KENDOLLS, CJ RAMONE, OVERSEAS, CAMICHES, DIGER and OLD FLINGS

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).

New reviews: BANE, NINE ELEVEN, FOUR YEAR STRONG, DARKEST HOUR, HUMAN TOUCH, MASKED INTRUDER, ULTRAMANTIS BLACK, ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES, IRON REAGAN

BANE Don't Wait Up (CD)

by marcs77

“DON'T WAIT UP”, needless to say, this title wasn't ever really meant to be a solicit for the lazy reviewers to type out they thoughts on the last farewell full-length album from Worcester, Massachusetts based five-some BANE. What a fucked up thought! But, I admit, I kept this review lingering so long after the kind dudes at Equal Vision records have sent me the promo and it was about time to pay my humble dues to this great band.
Yes, you read it correctly, this is the final record through which, and together with a string of “good-bye” live dates, Bane wraps up this venture they kicked off around 1995 as a side project featuring Aaron Dalbec and members of hardcore monster act Converge.
“Don't Wait Up” won't definitely disappoint those into this band that has never been about putting out new records for the sake of giving the kids new stuff or as a pretest to heading out on tour -this new album is their fourth full-length and their discography counts other 4 extended plays as well.
“Don't Wait Up” lists 10 songs in the late 80's early 90's old-school hardcore vein. A blast of feverish energy and integrity made up by  tight solid guitars (with some angular riffing of Converge's legacy), slow build ups, heavy breakdowns and gang-vocals to singalong with, which proudly wear the colours of Bane -one of the main features being, inevitably, the raucous voice of Aaron Berard.

Now reviewed: X-STATE RIDE, A WILHELM SCREAM, ASTPAI, ALL FOR NOTHING, BUIO IN GOLA, BAYSIDE, EDWARD IN VENICE and NUX VOMICA

X-STATE RIDE Self Titled (CD)

by marcs77

You look at the cover artwork, inner photos (picturing views of NYC) and listen to the fast angry punk hardcore contaminated with ample doses of fine melody and metal prowess and perhaps find yourself thinking X-STATE RIDE is a band hailing from the U.S.A. How could you be more wrong?
X-STATE RIDE is a 100% Italian outfit, around since 2001 and with other two lengthy works under their belt, and with this third self-titled outing they're back to prove, if necessary, that the lesson of the likes of Propagandhi, Strung Out, Belvedere or RKL taught to the hardcore punk scene won't be easily watered down, and particularly that burning need to speak out and take a socio-political stand the Canadians never hold them back to make it a staple of their delivery.

Now reviewed: TEAR THEM DOWN, NOFX, HOLLOW SONS, KIDS INSANE, NOISEFUL SILENCE, BEARDOWN, CHIXDIGGIT and SOULFLY

TEAR THEM DOWN Their Faults, Our Problems (CD)

by marcs77

Shit! A really cool and poignant title for this debut on the lengthy distance by Göteborg, Sweden's newest punk sons TEAR THEM DOWN.
The corrupted leaders of countries and those in power make mistakes that have catastrophic impacts on the lives of many but in the end it's never their problem.
The young foursome started out in 2010 and already released an EP entitled “This Is A Mutiny” in 2011 (they sent it to us for review but we missed to do our duty, sorry!) and a single song titled “Nothing” in 2012.
Tear Them Down play punk rock with some street attitude touchings, a good deal of melody and soaring singalong inducting vocals. There one single mellow number “Oh, The Irony” that gives you time to breathe before the next installment of fury.
Totally in line with the album title the lyrics deal with sociopolitical themes and the uncompromised love for punk music.

Now reviewed: INDIAN, SPIKNYKTER, FALLSTAR, HEARTSOUNDS, ZERO MENTALITY and INGESTED

INDIAN From All Purity (CD)

by Michela A.

Forget the bright colors of the upcoming spring, forget sun, daisies and blues skies...‘cause INDIAN new and 5th full-length “From all purity” out on Relapse on January 21st is here to bring you back to a dark and gloomy Hades. The Chicago-based sludge/doom quartet featuring ex member of Wolves In The Throne Room Will Lindsay is back with an extremely raw, harsh, disturbing 6-track album which will leave you with an aftertaste of inescapable oppression. Raw sound, dead-march alike rhythm section, black metal-influenced vocals and oppressive riffs, all trademark elements of all Indian previous releases, are here violently pushed to breaking point.

ITALY Special, now reviewed: SAFE, DOGS FOR BREAKFAST, MY DISTANCE, STRAIGHT OPPOSITION, DEAD MARKET, THE DISGRAZIA LEGEND, DAMN CITY! and AS OCEAN / COLLAPSE

Okay, we have an ITALY SPECIAL review run. This wasn't actually planned but considering that we had already a few reviews ready about Italian albums I thought I could pay homage to the scene adding a couple more releases picked out from the stuff filed under "to be reviewed". 1, 2, 3, 4 Let's go...

SAFE Ride A New Season (MCD)

by marcs77

Okay, this one hit my mailbox (the good-old-fashioned one) with a perfect timing to make it to be added in this “Italy special” reviews run.
And let me say that this 6-track EP comes pretty much as a real surprise has far as the music style goes.
Milano's SAFE is not a toddling new band or a side project thing by ex-members of (actually they populate this band too if you know Half My Time and Fumbles In Life) but they've actually been around 11 years, though primarily as a studio project deeply wanted by Dharmavit Das e Marco Mantovani, who, this time around, have Dem on drums.
Well, what did surprise me so much? You know, Safe are known to be a Krishna-Core combo, and forgetting the “core” tag for a moment and the ethereal beatific Krishna imagery of cover-artwork and back-artwork, listening to their older stuff you could say their sound well-fitted among the hardcore tout court, melodic HC okay, but now their songs have more of a punkrock feel to it (perhaps the border is subtle and it's just my personal feel).

Now reviewed: KID ARMOR, LIGHT YOUR ANCHOR, SPLEEN FLIPPER, SILVERSTEIN, MASKED INTRUDER, DECREW, MADISON AFFAIR, MORNING GLORY, MINUS TREE, FIGHTS AND FIRES, DYNASTY, NOTHINGTON/PAPER ARMS and OLD MAN MARKLEY

KID ARMOR Better Days (7” vinyl)

by marcs77

Steel armor-clad and with a ripe juicy orange in hand KID ARMOR are fearless fully geared up to face the Troma's Toxic Avenger-like greenish junky tree-headed monster and unleash their freshly-hand-made blend of Judge, Gorilla Biscuits hardcore punk and So-Cal punk rock onto the dangerous mutant and make it pass-away and harmless.
KID ARMOR is a Mission Viejo, Southern Orange County, CA based straight edge five piece that formed in 2010 and “Better Days” is their first 7” and follow-up to 2012's “KXA” demo.
I just loved this wax since the very first listen for the freshness positive energy and cool mix of the more pissed-off old-school formula with the sun-kissed bounciness of So-Cal punk rock likes of Adolescents, Angry Samoans, Fear and also early The Offspring.

Now reviewed: TERROR, M.O.R.A., END OF A SEASON, THE WONDER YEARS and HOPE FOR THE DYING

TERROR Live By The Code (CD)

by marcs77

If you were asked to name a recent times hardcore band that made it for his name to the level to proudly stand among the likes of crucial-history-relevant-well-enstablished 80's and 90's HC names for long time on, who would that be?
Well, looking back at the recent history Los Angeles' TERROR are in my view definitely one of those bands. And, like their music and what they stand for or not it's really not possible just turning your back on them without giving these Americans the credit they deserve for what they've achieved in 10 years.
“Keepers Of The Faith”, the second record out on Century Media in 2010, was a kind of mission statement of what this band is all about starting from the title and simple but effective cover black artwork with the white lettering of the title, and the follow-up “LIVE BY THE CODE”, out last April on Victory / Century Media, hits that direction possibly moving one step ahead (or perhaps one backward toward their roots...).

Now reviewed: BOY SETS FIRE, SHAI HULUD, HOT WATER MUSIC, THE USED, RISE AGAINST, THE BOUNCING SOULS and SNUFF

With this review entry we welcome our new team member from Italy who nicknamed himself K.Reid -he will write the reviews in Italian language. A couple of reviews are in English as well so have a good read...

Con questo reviews post accogliamo nel nostro team K.Reid che scriverà i suoi pezzi in italiano. Buona lettura...

BOY SETS FIRE While A Nation Sleeps (CD)

by K.Reid

Ci sono molti gruppi, che mescolano generi come: Post-Hardcore, Emo, Alternative Rock. Quasi tutti lavorano sulla stessa linea…Beh i BOY SETS FIRE riescono sempre ad uscire dagli schemi, ed usando questi generi, riescono ad essere un gruppo molto particolare.
Il quintetto di Newark attivo dal 94’, dopo sette anni di digiuno, sforna l’album “While A Nation Sleeps”. Il disco con sonorità più sul metal, evidenzia il cambiamento di stile che la band ha sempre modificato nel corso degli anni, distaccandosi (mai abbandonandolo del tutto) sempre più dall’ HC e Post-HC e avvicinandosi sempre di più all’ Emo e all’ Alternative Rock.

Now reviewed: STRENGTH APPROACH, HANDS UPON SALVATION, THE MEMORY, TERMINAL SICK and MARK MY WORDS

all reviews by marcs77

STRENGTH APPROACH Roma Hardcore State Of Mind (7” vinyl)

From this band, that has been under my radar for a time longer than the average 3/4 years threshold which most great HC bands seem cannot outlive, in the recent times, I got to review only “Stand Your Ground” MCD (yes, I pitifully missed the follow-up “With Or Without You” dated 2012 and out on GSR Music) but now I have finally still the chance to share some thoughts on the latest effort delivered by Roma's hardcore old-school style gladiators STRENGTH APPROACH.

The foursome fronted by Alexxx recorded three brand new tracks together with a cover of “Hood Crew” by Roma's 90's cores Growing Concern -look for some stuff from this band.
“ROMA HARDCORE STATE OF MIND” is a title which clearly suggests that their tight bond within Roma hardcore-punk scene is really something that exceeds the music, the fashions that come and go and other bullshit but it's something that involves you at a higher and yet deeper level. Something perhaps they let grow day by day over these 17 years as a band.

Now reviewed: RISE ABOVE DEAD, IDLE CLASS, NoM, ONWARD TO OLYMPAS and CAPTAIN PLANET

by marcs77

RISE ABOVE DEAD Stellar Filth (LP)

I could tentatively label this band, hailing from Milan, Italy, post-something (be it post-hardcore, post-metal...) but I guess they'd be happy to label their project post-RISE ABOVE DEAD if really a label has to be cast upon this mammoth of sludgy heaviness and obscure tense atmospheres they deliver through the 7 tracks that make up “STELLAR FILTH”.
This new vinyl, released last June 2012, follows-up to their debut EP “Human Disintegration” dated 2010.

Heavily oppressing vocals and sloooow-doom-ish thick riffages that could have sparked right off the down-tuned guitars of Toni Iommi or "Wino" Weinrich (you know these dudes, right?).

Now reviewed: HATEBREED, BORN FROM PAIN, GRAND THEFT AGE, FICTION REFORM, FEAR THE SIRENS, ALL TIME LOW and GRAVEYARD

by marcs77

HATEBREED The Divinity Of Purpose (CD)

This is one of the record I've been on quite kinda interesting await-mood for a while when its release date was close and posts + various ads/news were taking over the net channels.
I had left HATEBREED at the times of “Supremacy” (Roadrunner - 2006) and after that I had just listened to the random songs here and there (not a loyal behaviour, right?).
Then, what actually triggered all this anticipation on the new album from Bridgeport, New Heven based metallic hardcore heavy weights? Was I waiting for a modern variant of Hatebreed highly roadtested trade-mark hardcore (read about the Celtic Frost hardcore thing)? No really, don't worry, I didn't and I'm not spending all these words to say they actually did either.
“THE DIVINITY OF PURPOSE” is 100% Hatebreed

Now reviewed: ALECTÓ, LAST DAY BEFORE HOLIDAY, SAMIAM, LESS THAN JAKE, WITHIN YOUR PAIN, EARLY GRAVES

by marcs77

ALECTÓ Minyma (7” vinyl) 

ALECTÓ hails from Volos, Greece and made themselves known in the HC-punk scene with another moniker -originally they formed as Eternal Hated in 2007.
The new band's moniker (taken off the implacable Furie/Erinya of the ancient Greek mythology the punisher against all moral crimes. Eternal wrath against the lack of morals) perfectly fits both the lyrical and overall concept/message behind the current incarnation of the project and the furious assault they manage to deliver in the form of metallic noxious hardcore punk bastardized with some mathcore-mind-boggling metrics and other more rockish elements.

Now reviewed: HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, SUBWASTE/STABBED IN BACK, DROWNING IN PRECONCEPTION, TITLE FIGHT, APOLOGIES I HAVE NONE, DANKO JONES

by marcs77

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS Hope (MCD)

The guys from Ohio are already in studio recording the follow-up to the record I'm gonna review here.
"HOPE" is HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS album no.6 (don't consider the info at wiki since this time they are really outdated).
The 8-track MCD "Hope", released last year, follows-up to "Hate" and keeps a trait d'union with the former starting from the opening track "There Was A Kid pt.2".

NEGAZIONE Il Giorno Del Sole CD-book review

by marcs77

What's the point with writing a bad review? And why do this when you haven't even been required to write the piece in the first place?
Well, I thought of this point and gave second thoughts to this as well, and I finally decided to stick with my guts and vent what I think of about a music related product I made sure to buy just upon its release and which I had really high expectations on.
Okay, I'm getting to the actual review.
Last summer I bought CD-book entitled “NEGAZIONE - Il Giorno Del Sole”. Nothing like an official biography or the fully-detailed history of this 80's Italian punk hardcore band but as clearly stated by the authors “a short story that aims to explain what Negazione has been all about over the three years span and little over between 1984 and end of winter of 1988; the years when the songs featured in “Little Dreamer” (1988), “Lo Spirito Continua (1986) and “Condannati A Morte Nel Nostro Quieto Vivere” 7” (1985)” -the  the compilation CD sold in the package includes these tunes.

Reviewed today: DEADBEAT HERO, TEQUILA & SUNRISE GANG, REBELS BAY, SOME MISTAKES, TURN AWAY and EVERYTHING IN SLOW MOTION

Reviews by marcs77

DEADBEAT HERO The Evil Rock Machine (CD)

DEADBEAT HERO plays some solid and screaming hardcore that hits you straight in your face since the opening track "MANIFESTO". The song also features, among the lines of its lyrics, the album title "it's time to let loose all our steam, to show some bad-ass attitude, LET LOOSE THE EVIL ROCK MACHINE".
The second track “R.I.P.” let's in some post-HC influences in a fast paced and angry number.