Tuesday 26 January 2010

Zero Boys - Vicious Circle


I don't think enough people are aware of the brilliance of Zero Boys. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana they surprised everyone with one of the best Hardcore Records of the 80's (1982). With the hardcore scene being centred around LA, Washington and New York, Zero Boys came of out of nowhere with their buzzing guitars, soaring choruses, teen angst and socially aware lyrics. You could describe them as a faster, harder Ramones. They set a precedent for hardcore punk bands today and will continue to influence bands for many years to come.
Download this seminal record below. I reckon/hope they will come to the UK soon, they headlined No Way Fest last year and the live videos look insane.
One of my favourite records ever. Hope you love it as much
Welcome to the vicious circle

Wasted Time - Band of the Week

Wasted Time are in my opinion one of the best hardcore bands of our generation. Another rad hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia and on Grave Mistake Records one of the best labels in the US. They play fast, no bullshit and angry as fuck hardcore and i cant be bothered to say what they sound like i just urge you to download the discography ive uploaded below. I could not believe it when i got to see them last year in Brighton year and they totally stole the show over Government Warning. Listen to Hostage, track 1 on the 'No Shore' EP and prepare to mosh. I really hope i get to see them again as its a treat. Mark has kindly allowed me to upload everything they have released. So below is their 2 7"s and debut LP which came out last year and if you don't suck buy them from Grave Mistake and support Alex who runs that label and played in Wasted Time when they came over to the UK. http://www.gravemistakerecords.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=2fa417919b8e5aa914e913942a7b80fe&keywords=wasted+time&osCsid=2fa417919b8e5aa914e913942a7b80fe
Im looking into Going to Chaos de Tejas in Austin, Texas in May to see them with a bunch of other amazing bands including Marked Men. You should come!
EVERYDAY I BECOME MORE INSAAAAAANE

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Urban Blight - Band of the Week

I don't know whats in the water over in Canada but i want some! So many rad bands: Career Suicide, Tranzmitors, Urban Blight, Statues, Marvelous Darlings... i could go on forever. www.myspace.com/urbanblight are from Toronto, Canada and released one of my favourite releases of 2009 with debut LP 'More Reality'. Clocking in at just under 12 minutes, from the first chord and drum beat you are immediately thrown into a frenzy by the most frantic, energetic and angry songs and when i first heard it i just thought 'this must slay live' Im not that knowledgeable on this sorta hardcore but id say they sound like Negative Approach, SOA and ive been told, Agnostic Front. All i know is this LP from start to finish rips and is an aural assault and its fucking brilliant. its been my record of choice for a while when im really pissed off and need to let off steam and its helped a lot. John Falco of Career Suicide fame produced this too so you know it sounds great. You can buy it from Slasher Records HERE: http://slasherrecords.com/index.html and ace distro 'Static Shock' stocks it too: http://staticshockrecords.vstore.ca/product_info.php/pName/urban-blight-more-reality-lp/cName/distro-lps Michael from Urban Blight has kindly allowed me to upload it for your listening pleasure. I do urge you to buy it though coz its seriously good and will make you mosh in your room. http://www.mediafire.com/?ymoqmmmwdzm

Coming over end of the summer i hope i can put em on!

I HATE THIS FUCKING LIFE

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Can't Relate

Can't Relate are righteous (i'm trying to bring it back, i'm failing) They play Straight Edge in a Limp Wrist, Siege, Negative Approach vein and are about to release their debut ep. From London, you will usually see them opening at tough guy hardcore shows and they are wasted on these kinda bills which is a shame. Can't relate have some super poppy guitar lines but the raging vocals make you want to strangle things. One of the best things about this band is the lyrics. 'No means no' being very poignant and talking about rape. There are no gimmicks or bullshit with these guys. This is straight up passionate, no frills hardcore addressing real and important issues and i fucking love it. First saw them in a house and thought they were awesome and then helped them get on the Reagan Youth Kingston show. Im putting them on in March with a bunch of rad hardcore bands so keep your eyes peeled for that one. These guys are all friends, diy as fuck and just want to play shows. They formed because of Punch and live for that band. Not much else to say apart from here is their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/xcantrelatex and here is that song i mentioned above from their soon to be released 'inhumane ep' http://www.mediafire.com/?wl4c4ydnfmm
Go see em live and if you are a promoter reading this, please put on em a Comadre/Punch show if you got a date. They would be seriously stoked

Friday 15 January 2010

Brothers


Brothers are another super good band from Exeter who play real good punk rock. I had never seen them until Punk N Bowl last december and i was very impressed. Think None More Black vocals and guitar lines, the best bits of New Mexican Disaster Squad coupled with some sweet female backing vocals. Total winner. They have just embarked on a mini tour and i am seeing them tomorrow in Portsmouth which will be fun. This tour ties in with the release of their debut ep which they have kindly put up for download on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brothersofexeter you should check it out. I hope to see a lot more of this band in 2010, definitely one to keep an eye on. A band totally after my heart too as they cover Weezer, i screamed along to 'El Scorcho' at P n B. The singer Ben was the drummer in Dead City Stereo who i have already posted about and Rez the Drummer also drums for Sauna Youth who i have also posted about so if you havnt already, check both of those bands out too.

Formaldehyde Junkies - Band of the Decade


If you know me at all then you would have heard me mention/rave about this band and i cannot thank Ellis the bassist of the Shitty Limits enough for introducing me to this band.

Formaldehyde Junkies were an 80s hardcore rehash band from Minneapolis, Minnesota and are in my opinion one of the best bands of the last decade. I dont think a day has passed since i got into this band that i have not listened to their first record '... are a total wreck' Its faster than anyone else, the guitar blows my mind, the vocals are frantic and snotty and the drumming is ridiculous. The songs are catchy and make you want to run around smashing shit up. I cannot speak highly enough of this band. Sadly split up now although i pray for a reformation every day i listen. The singer runs a rad label called 'Fashionable Idiots' http://www.myspace.com/fashionableidiotsrecords and a few bands i highly recommend are Retainers, Rot Shit and Out with a Bang, although you should listen to every band on that label really. Fjunkies were only around for a few years and released two 7s, a song on the 'Public Safety' Maximum Rock n Roll Comp and a demo. Ive uploaded the two 7"s for your aural pleasure. If you dig Koro, minor threat and fast as fuck hardcore you will love this. I promise. No one i have recommended this band too has had anything negative to say so get on this.

'.... Are a Total Wreck': http://www.mediafire.com/?mdlqmdem1nn
S/T: http://www.mediafire.com/?33tmuv4mh1g

Friday 1 January 2010

Cold Ones (are gonna ruin your night)

Cold Ones are another one of those bands that sum up the spirit and meaning of DIY punk. A band doing it for themselves, with their friends and having fun but being fucking brilliant all the same. They Come from Liverpool and play a unique thrash/hardcore/street-punk sound that cant really be pigeonholed. writing mainly about skateboarding, drinking (hence the name) and how messed up the world is they are a band you cannot appreciate fully until you see them live. The records are great but live they are something else. They have arguably one of the most intense, crazy and in my opinion best frontmen in the UK, shredding guitars and they always look like they are having fun when they play and genuinely glad to be playing which is a rare thing these days. They all either skate or ride BMX, most of them draw for fun and for skate companies (singer russ does this: http://www.myspace.com/sketchstance http://sketchstance.blogspot.com/ and he just sent me a sweet calender which he makes every year. They print their own t shirts, i asked for a pink one and i received a pink one, book their own tours and are some of the friendliest dudes i know. They will happily camp out in the woods after a show and they are all about the adventure of being on the road. Songs like 'Get in the Van' sum this band are up me.

One of the shows of 2009 for me was seeing Cold Ones at 1am in the tiny St Moritz Club in Soho, london. They went insane, The crowd went insane, the walls were jagged and hurt but no one seemed to care. This band will go into a frenzy and drag you down with them but you will love every second. They recently stole the show at Punk N Bowl in london and it seems people are finally taking notice who should have a long time ago. They have announced a tour across the UK supporting Jamie T, i urge you to go to a date if you can. Check out their myspace for upcoming tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/coldonesinyergut and buy their records if they have any left!

I could talk about this band all day as i love everything about them and ive had the pleasure of putting them on twice and everytime ive seen them its always been amazing. I'll shut up and let their music do the talking. I have permission to upload everything they have released so far so here you go, Happy New Years, go drink some Cold Ones:

CRACK IT DEMO: First release i think http://www.mediafire.com/?liyjmkj1jbe
S/T 7": The first record i heard by them that made me go see 'em live http://www.mediafire.com/?322wmnthyid
Stay Thirsty: 2nd 7" http://www.mediafire.com/?3lny35hwwkm
Mr Miyagi Split: Latest 7" http://www.mediafire.com/?zgwzgtgnmnw
Disappearing man: from the 5 Way Town Clock Records split http://www.mediafire.com/?tzmm4o2jzaz

Enjoy and please do go see them live!

GET IN THE VAN! THE ONLY WAY TO BE!