Tuesday, December 27, 2016

DEFINED BY FAILURE

Shackles/Fissure- Split 10" (Dead Heroes)
First Pressing, 2016
Black Vinyl /??

Latest material from both bands- Shackles from Byron (covered heavily on this blog), and Fissure from SoCal (my first experience with them) with their split 10". Shackles continue with their heavy, blast beat sodden hardcore, Fissure tread a similar path, arguably with a more obvious lean towards some early 90's Slap-A-Ham Fastcore influences. I'm here more for the Shackles material as always and it does the job it's supposed to. The band continue to progress and develop their own sound/identity, Mark's vocals get better and better, and the recording is pretty suiting here- thick and rough. Possibly the best stuff to come from them at this point.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

STALE AFFAIRS

Magrudergrind- "II" LP (Relapse)
First Pressing, 2016
Black Vinyl /1750

Magrudergrind have been covered on this blog pretty comprehensively over it's existence but they've been quiet for a while now. In that time they've recruited a new sticksman and signed to Relapse Records. And in that time I think I've lost a little interest in them. This is their new LP, their first new release in six years. They're still playing pretty dissonant, straight forward Grind, but I just don't find it nearly as catchy as the previous two releases. Maybe I just need more time with it.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

ON A MANHUNT

Total Reality- "Trigger Time" Demo Tape (Short Fuse)
First Edition, 2016

Excellent new band from Germany playing loud and belligerent Hardcore along the line of Reckless Aggression, Violent Reaction etc. Not a lot to say, the recording is spot on, the songs are stompy, the guitars are hard and the vocals are gruff. Worth it.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2016

MORALITY

True Visions- "Against The Grain" Promo Tape (Quality Control)
First Edition, 2016

Another week, another newish UK Hardcore band ripping it up. While I wasn't massively fond of the bands demo from last year, I'll go out on a limb now and say that this is probably the best thing to come from England in a few years. Reminds me distinctly of a combination of early Ag Front mixed with the Straight Ahead EP. I've also read people describing them as influenced strongly by YOT which is obviously a warranted comparison. As noted, it's a promo tape, to be followed by a 7" to be released by Quality Control in Europe and PKR in the USA next year. On a side note, I have 9 copies of this tape for sale in Australia. Comment on this post of you want one.

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Tuesday, December 6, 2016

RECKLESS BOYS

Reckless Aggression- 2nd Demo Tape (Short Fuse)
European Edition, 2016

So called "lost" second demo from this now cult band. Levels of misanthropy run at similar strengths to the now infamous first demo, but general eccentricities are increased a little while the recording quality is lowered considerably. As a result, I doubt that the ripples that this recording creates will achieve those tidal levels of the first tape, but it's an interesting page in the bands catalogue, considering how much of an impact they have had on Australian Hardcore in the last 6 years. This is the Euro edition, handled by Short Fuse Records, an Australian version was also released, handled by Rain On The Parade. All sold out now as far as I know.