Thursday 22 March 2007

reviews1

SICK TERROR/MIGRA VIOLENTA - SPLIT 7"
Absolutely stunning split 7" from these two, long standing, South American bands. Both have a host of releases already behind them and this new 7" just cements how awesomely brilliant they are and how essential they are to the world wide international DIY scene. SICK TERROR, total blast beat grind/hardcore, in the vein of DROP DEAD and early NAPALM DEATH and a nod towards INFEST/MONSTER X. Really stunning heavy bass licks, tommy gun drumming, fret burning riffage and totally spazzed/tortured vocals. MIGRA VIOLENTA just power through their 5 songs, from the opening rif to the dumbstruck sound as the last song finished. Super fast blastbeat drumming, ala HERESY, RIPCORD and mouth melting bass licks akin to SIEGE and again RIPCORD. All the songs are played in the same roller coaster speed at these bands, with loads of essential breakdowns, tempo changes and the odd stop go, stop go fury to give you air to breathe. It's essentially the brutal vocals the makes MIGRA VIOLENTA sound different from these bands, where they go for the gnarly roared/spat vocals ala INFEST, and when you mix all powerhouse sounds together and given the fact that this band seriously knows how to create as kick ass tune - then if you're like me you'll playing this non stop and baying for more. Floored and stunned is what I fell, in total awe. Their lyrics deal with stereotypes (lack of love amongst those within the scene?), if you want change - then you have to do the changeing and power struggles. Each band's songs are in their native language, but translated into English. It's pressed on blood rey vinyl, but as it states on the accompanying poster, "this is not a souvenir". In true co-operation, this release is a collobration between 11 labels - it was Flox of FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND who sent me this, so I'm going to use his address this time for your contact point.
FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND, FLOX SOYEZ, 47 AVENUE GILBERT ROUX, 03300 CUSSET, FRANCE.

SOCIALIZED CRUCIFIXION - 'MORE THAN A GLANCE' 7"
A pretty special and totally inspiring little ole record from this LA band. From their pictures they look like your average gutter, patch wearing crusty punk kids. But behind the cover of this book, are the hopes and dreams of 4, articulate, vegan straight edge punk kids - who are reclaiming the edge from the jocks and adding their own blend of anarchist political lyrics. 5 songs, of mid paced, but with some nice fast hooks and brutal tempo changes contained with in. A mixture of d-beat punk, metallic crust riffage and passionate anarcho punk is the order of the day. Mainly caustic female vocals, with male backing vocals add to their potent, quality sound and their anger and passion just leap out of my stereo speakers. Some catchy metallic riffage ala AMEBIX, NAUSEA, SACRILEGE, coupled with the tuneful upbeat sounds of WITCH HUNT, CONFLICT and AUS ROTTEN, make for an awesome mix and absorbing record. Their views in their lyrics is one of caring, working together, thinking for yourself and not getting trapped by the capitalist system that enslaves so man. It's also pressed on blood red vinyl, the remains of those last drop of blood went to keeping the materialist capitalist system working. Very worthy release.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM

SEVEN GENERATIONS/GATHER - SPLIT 7"
A gathering of minds and simiar musical appreciation. Two very outspoken bands from CA, both very similar in quite a lot that is presented here. Both have two songs, play heavy chugga, chugga metallic hardcore. Which is slow to mid paced and both seem to be inspired musically be the likes of VEGAN REICH and EARTH CRISIS. I have to say SEVEN GENERATIONS have a more chunkier sound, but both bands ooze such passion you can only imagine them paring together here. Now I'll not beat around the bush, this is a genre that you either love or hate and I'll be honest when I say that both bands don't stray too far of the beaten path, but if you love it - then you'll dig this. If you don't, well there's plenty of food for thought in their lyrics. SEVEN GENERATIONS; first song is Atonement - which is their disgust at the Catholic Church, and I'm sure Christianity in general, and their destruction of cultures that differed from themselves. Their other song Rising Of The Sun - is a hatred of how capitalism is fucking up our world. GATHER; first song is New Forms, which pretty much is the go to school, work etc lifestyle, Gather question this and help you open your eyes. While Who Belongs? deals with sexism within the hardcore scene, it will make you think - hopefully it will help you change your train of thought. Both bands songs have long interesting explanations and by the time you have read them all you'll have played this record more than a few times and will definitely be hooked. It's all laid out really good, with the back page full of addresses on where you can get involved.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM

EXTINGUISH - 'DOWNFALL OF CIVILIZATION' 7"
EXTINGUISH, from Italy (I'm guessing here, as there's no postal address), with 3 songs on this clear vinyl 7". Metalcore is the order of the day. Lots of tempo changes and a ballistic sound going down. Good lyrics, with explanations on the planet, global politics and animal rights.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM


THE SILVER SHINE - S/T 7" (COM29)
From Hungary, The Silver Shine, have already been going 10 years - but this is my first time hearing them. The guys from this band come definitely from the hardcore / youth crew scenes, are already in other bands, but here they add a difference. A grooving, psychobilly sound, coupled with some punk and hardcore sensibilities make for an interesting release to say the least. That aside, I just keep thinking of early MISFITS, it's just the way the vocals are so sung with the music. Plus these guys sing about horror movies and such (another similiarity), along with anti drugs etc themes. So if you're a lover of sXe youth crew and the Misfits, then you're gonna love this one.
COMMITMENT RECORDS, KLEIN MUIDEN 38, 1393 RL NIGTEVECHT, THE NETHERLANDS.
WWW.COMMITMENTRECORDS.NL

Wednesday 21 March 2007

reviews

KISMET-HC/HAPPY BASTARDS-SPLIT 7"
This is certainly what you would call global co-operation, a band from America, one from England and a label from France. UK veterans KISMET-HC start things going and burst into a spray of fast paced frantic hardcore, I actually thought I had this on the wrong speed. But, no, right speed and the continue on their high speed chase. 3 frantic, rampant songs of pent up fury - at the hands of the scorching female vocalist Zanne - in a word brutal. Melodies? Hell no, just pure unadultered hardcore where you don't even get a chance to catch your breath. "Botox Beauty ...." is about some of societies vain arseholes who cannot cope with how they look and take the easy way out of plastic surgery, hell there's been enough TV programmes on that show how fucked up these people are. They also sing about the daily life of grafting, or not too graft, along with the fucked up bullshit of Hierachy. HAPPY BASTARDS, from America and you can tell from the front cover that they have got a sense of humour - kid with a can of beer and headphones one and a crazed happy look to the wee mites face. They happily complement their label mates, again having a female singer - who certainly has a cool voice range going from tuneful melodies, to crazed screams - yes!! Their songs are quite varied, full of tunes, great meoldies that crash into scorching hardcore riffage. They've got the best of APPLE, DIRT and NAKED AGGRESSION all rolled in one. Political songs on religion and more are the name of the game. Totally excellent 7".
FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND RECORDS, FLOX SOYEZ, 47 AVENUE GILBERT ROUX, 03300 CUSSET, FRANCE.
http://www.f-f-y-m.org
WWW.MYSPACE/FFYMRDS


BIRDS OF A FEATHER-"OUR AIM EP" CD (CRR68)
This is a re-release of the 7" that came with the zine Voice Of A Generation, plus two additional songs, one of a comp and an unreleased one. Boasting 3 ex members of the legendary Mainstrike, Birds Of A Feather shows a continuation of that band, but bringing their sound firmly up to date with plenty of modern sensibilities. "Our Aim" is saturated with catchy melodies, crushing breakdowns and loads of galloping incediary hardcore riffage. Taking cues from Youth Of Today, Wide Awake and Straight Ahead, and adding that European slang to it makes for a welcome return from these elder statesmen of the European straightedge scene. Despite their age, they're still sXe and singing about it with pride. The old age is getting a look in with the song "Make It Last" and with a lot of the other songs offering people to take a look at their lifestyles, to think what is right for them. All done in a positive way, with a caring human essence to. Worthy release.
CRUCIAL RESPONSE RECORDS, KAISERFELD 98, 46047 OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY.
WWW.CRUCIALRESPONSE.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/XBIRDSOFAFEATHERX

FIGHT FOR CHANGE-"JOIN THE FIGHT" 7" (COM28)
Wow, is all I can say. I've always liked FIGHT FOR CHANGE, who hail from Portugal, and their passionate hardcore. But this, their 3rd 7" and their 2nd one with Commitment Records really does cement my love for them. Including the intro, there are 8 songs of in your face total hardcore. I'm not even going to try and compare them to anyone at all, because in an age of mediocre bands this 7" stands out head above the shoulders of so many bands out there. It's fast and furious, but each song is bursting at the seams with incdendiary melodies, scorching riffage and heart felt passion. The have a raging old school feel, with a subtle and crucial nod to some good youth crew beats and breakdowns. The cover is an eight page booklet, the cover being in full colour and as with every release on Commitment looking totally awesome. Four pages of lyrics, complete with explanations. Songs that are scene related, they are sXe, being part of the scene and not the scenery etc. All well thought out, full of sincerity. An amazing 7" and too bad they've already split up, now that is so sad. Fed up with wasting your money on tired, lifeless records - then snap this pup up and have many inspiring moments and great songs. If anyone knows if they are in any other bands please let me know.
COMMITMENT RECORDS, KLEIN MUIDEN 38, 1393 RL NIGTEVECHT, THE NETHERLANDS.
WWW.COMMITMENTRECORDS.NL
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/COMMITMENTRECORDS



END OF IT ALL-“SAME SHIT BUT DIFFERENT” CD (CAHRECS047)
Oh man, I’m just in heaven what with all these amazing Swedish bands to review, courtesy of C.A.H. and END OF IT ALL continue to totally amaze me. The more I listen to this CD, and it’s been quite a lot, I always find something new and interesting here and there. The basics of END OF IT ALL is a totally heavy, down-tuned sounding bass thumping licks and hoarse primal guttural vocals. These vocals alternate between blatantly spat roars, with pain being etched into every word. It throttles along as an average pace, but throws a curve ball every now and again with some seriously heavy breakdowns. Each song, while having a END OF IT ALL vibe going, is totally different and take different twists and turns. An atmospheric melody is soon shattered to pieces with crushing blows of doom laden feral crust. This too is sliced at times with some upbeat d-beats and manic crust core. I’ll probably be totally predictable here and cite TRAGEDY, but fucking so what, I hear people saying that it’s a played out genre – well if you think that then you haven’t heard END OF IT ALL. These guys are from Sweden, the homeland of this fabulous sound. “Same Shit But Different” shows aspects of humanity in all it’s horrible guises. You may think this is the same shit, but hell I think it’s different – just stunning.
$9.00 ppd USA, $14.00 ppd WORLD.
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY RECORDS, PO BOX 1421, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54702, USA. WWW.CAHRECORDS.COM