Smashin' off/Get rad split
this 7” is short and sweet. Too be honest I only really bought this because of the Smashin' Off recordings (dont have the tape). Both bands play fast hardcore punk, so there ain't a lot of variety plus its over in rather shortly, but its still (as they say) all good. Smashin' off who were well known for their “creative” shirt designs and wild stage antics kick off the split with 'narrow streets' which descends into madness after a spooky bass line. The intensity doesn't let up with the second track 'death rides a horse' which is also lightening fast. The energy kinda reminds me of black flag. Second side (the get rad side) is no pun intended, rad. Seems a bit better recorded and also has a real 80s feel too it. Perhaps the more creative side to the split, with some interesting song dynamics thrown in, ie a strange inclusion of a keyboard/piano. Worth picking up, as its pretty cheap and fun to listen to.. 3/5
- Simon
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Rag Men - S/T
This isn’t a new release by any means, but I feel it is one which is often overlooked. A lot of bands in my eyes seem to have trouble when it comes to adding melody whilst still retaining a hard edge to their songs. Ragmen however pull this off perfectly bringing in a tuneful aspect to the vocals you wouldn’t expect from a band of this style which seems to work perfectly. The songs are well structured which isn’t surprising since this band features current and ex members of Skarhead, Merauder and Hatebreed . Generally introspective lyrics are the norm for this album, although the song Tierra features what appears to be about the ruination of earth by man. For the most part this album steers clear of any “tough guy” clichés and even when it does begin to lean that way it doesn’t come across in any way artificial. The only real faults I find with this album is the change of quality in the recording half way through, but that is soon forgiven.
Not bad for a side project to say the least. If you’re a fan of heavy NYHC with a whole lot of groove and haven’t heard this yet, you’re missing out.
- Matt Moore
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H2O – Nothing to Prove
H2O were one of the first bands that got me into hardcore stuff, after hearing them on surfing video “The Show.” So they definitely have a special place in my heart. This album plays a lot on the pop punk sensibilities, whilst managing to blend in some of that New York style to their mix, making it quite reminiscent of their first album. If you enjoy guest vocalists get psyched.. There are vocal contributions from legends like Roger Miret, Freddy Madball, Lord Ezec, Civ, Lou Koller and others. Despite the fun sound to the music, a lot of the lyrics seem to be quite serious for a band that sounds so posi. For example, the song 'Sunday' is a vivid account of the birth of Toby's son and the death of his father. For me though, the sincerity that shines through the upbeat music makes this album stand out. The second half of the album is probably stronger than the first. From the straight edge anthem 'Still here' to the spiralling chorus of 'Mitts', the second half of the album delivers H2O at their best yet. However H2O save the best for last with 'What Happened'. I bet the song is a live favourite already. The song is basically an attack on the current state of the hardcore scene with some points that I think are pertinent even in the New Zealand underground. Unfortunately this song includes the voice of the singer from Alkaline Trio, which seems to take away the edge that Lou Koller gives to the song. This album is definitely worth picking up, and was probably one of the better hardcore releases in 2008. 4/5.
- Simon
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Boxcutter - The Ill Testament
Featuring Stickman of Fury Of Five and Mad Joe Black of Wisdom in Chains (not to mention ex members of Krutch and Mushmouth) Boxcutter is band you’ll either love or hate. Personally I’m all about this kind of thing so naturally I was excited to give this its first spin. Basically this band is a fusion of hardcore and hip hop, but don’t let that put you off it, the songs that lean towards a more traditional hardcore sound are still hard as nails. I would imagine anyone into their previous material would not be disappointed by this release. Lyrically and musically its not a whole lot different from Thug Rock or Pitbull Ways and that’s the way I like it.
There are some weak tracks but these are generally the songs where hip hop is the main focus, and the song “Crown Of Righteousness” featuring vocals from James Ismean’s son is one you will soon find yourself skipping over. However when this band gets it right there aren’t many others doing this style of hardcore who can touch them. If you’re into bands like Fury Of Five, Body Count and Mushmouth then this is well worth a listen.
- Matt Moore
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Integrity - Walpurgisnacht
Cleveland's finest are back with a jaw dropping two song effort. Despite the letdown of Integ2000 and a move towards a more industrial style in 'Closure', Integrity have returned to their classic Melnick-era sound (perhaps closest to their masterpiece 'Systems Overload'). The music is as brooding as the cover art, featuring Charles Manson as a Lenin-esque demon figure. The 7" kicks of with the title track 'Walpurgisnacht' and immediately the song drops into a frenzy of blistering guitar work, followed by the brutal mid paced assault so typical of Integrity. Dwid's obsession with the occult, mystery and unknown are promiment in this release, howling 'reality conflicts in waves of human darkness' and 'see what is not to be seen, believe what is not to be believed.'This dark feel is echoed by the last 2 minutes or so of the song, which is comprised of a dreamy as well as haunting acoustic outro. The second track 'Mirror in Reverse' follows and is equally strong as the first track. I like how reverby Dwid's vocals sound in this track, as it makes parts of the song more sludgy. I guess if you wanted to be critical, you could say both tracks are a bit samey in structure... but to be honest this criticism overlooks what is essential to Integrity - a classic metal vibe, mixed with early 90s hardcore and a bit of experimental shit. I can't wait to hear a new full length. 4/5
- Simon
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Mean Streak Demo
Mean Streak feature members of MOT, RWTP, Problems and The Warpath, and sound like a mixture of Wisdom in chains, Blood for blood and Death threat. The demo itself reflects the obvious fact that they are a new band, and the quality of the music is perhaps malnourished by this fact. For example. the guitar sounds a bit sloppy and the rest of the band aren't amazingly tight either. Even so, it is definitely an enjoyable listen. My favourite track is the last track 'lost hope' which is a hard hitting anthem about the pitfalls of new zealand society and humanity. Dylan's lyrics are honest, hateful and in your face. Not only does he have an ability to spitefully convey social issues, but also tell a great story. 'Growing up' is a great example of this. Whilst i don't think this demo is great and i think a better introduction to Mean Streak would be at a show, it is a good effort at getting something out there.
- Simon
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