EIGHT LEGGED DREAMS

Perspex Flesh- "Ordered Image" 12" EP (Static Shock) 
First Pressing, 2015 
Black Vinyl /??

Most recent offering from UK interlopers Perspex Flesh with their "Ordered Image" 12" EP. Gripping, depressing Hardcore Punk. I have been sitting on this for months now and as with their previous full length, it's still not grabbing me as much as their first EP, but it's still very solid display in despondent, anti social, angry guy music.

TRIALS IN NIHILISM

Genocide Pact- "Forged Through Domination" LP (A389)
First Pressing, 2015
Purple Vinyl /??

Debut long player from DC's Genocide Pact. More of the same from this excellent band- plodding Death Metal played in old school Floridan spirit. One of my favourite records from last year. If there's one complaint, it's that there's not enough music on offer here.

HUMAN HUNT

Convict- "Barred Life" Demo Tape (Painkiller)
First Edition, 2015

Members of Bone Sickness playing a fuzzed out blend of Scando-ish Hardcore punk with a thick American stomp. There are conflicting reports as to the status of the group at the moment. I hope they record some more in the future.

COUSIN KISSERS

Coffin Birth- "Necrotic Liquefaction" Single Sided 10" (Dead Heroes)
First Pressing, 2015
Black Vinyl, Etched B-side /??

This has been out for more than a year now and I've probably had it in my possession for that amount of time. Supreme quality Grind from Brisbane mates with a noticeable Death Metal lean. Single sided release with an etched b-side.

BURN IT

Ajax- (1st) s/t 7" (Katorga Works)
First Pressing, 2014
Black Vinyl /850

More excellent material from Ajax. This is their debut 7" from 2014. As I have mentioned before, I didn't learn about this band until after their 2nd EP proper and sometimes I wonder why I missed them for that long as all of their material is superbly grizzly hardcore punk, the kind of stuff that rarely goes under my radar. Everything this band has released is excellent and I really have trouble trying to pick my favourite amongst any of it. Essential music.

MONEY OF FOOLS

Ajax- "Bleach For Breakfast" Demo 7" (Even Worse)
First Pressing, 2014
Pink Vinyl /??

Vinyl pressing of the Ajax "Bleach For Breakfast" demo, originally released as a tape. As with their entire catalogue thus far, this is just excellent, gruff hardcore from New York. Certainly one of my favourite bands of the moment.

NO PARADISE

Crown Court- "The English Disease" 7" (Rebellion)
First Pressing, 2015
White Vinyl /200

2nd EP from Crown Court, three more songs. Minor progressions to note- probably the cleanest and most 'Oi!' recording to date and as a result their most 'Oi!' sounding material so far. Excellent stuff again, but nothing can touch that demo.

STYLE IDENTIFIED

Crown Court- "Ruck And Roll" 7" (Rebellion)
First Pressing, 2015
Clear Vinyl 270/300

Though a release from last year, this record presents the debut EP from London's Crown Court. Have been sitting on this since it first came out. More catchy, stompy Oi! from members of the wider current UK hardcore scene. Probably not quite as catchy as the bands excellent demo from 2014, but it's not far off. Managed to land the limited clear vinyl pressing.

NO SYMPATHY

No Tolerance- "You Walk Alone" LP (Painkiller)
First Pressing, 2015
Black Vinyl /982

Lots of excitement around this new LP from Boston elite, No Tolerance. This is a regular black press from PKR, the limited red press from this label now fetches big bucks. Quality Control handled the Euro pressing, and likewise, that labels limited blue colourway also fetches princely sums. All I have read and heard is nothing but praise for this album, but I must say, it's not living up to my expectations. By no means a terrible release- it's solid Boston style hardcore, and there's even a couple re-do's of previously released tracks, but it's just not grabbing me in the same way the bands earlier material - particularly the demo - did. Possible the slightly less punchy recording? Maybe. Worth grabbing I suppose though.

LAST GASP

Hard Stripes- (2nd) s/t 7" (Triple B) 
First Pressing, 2014
Black Vinyl /700

2014 was a strong year for EP's and along with two or three other 7"s from that time, this 2nd vinyl release from Hard Stripes has been receiving regular weekly plays from me via itunes since I first heard about it. For just as long I've also been trying to get my hands on a hard copy for a reasonable price and for the same reasons I'm always complaining about on here, horrible postage rates had just been making it impossible. I bit the bullet few weeks ago and committed to a purchase from an Australian seller along with a handful of other stuff to reduce that sting.
KILLER Hardcore from Richmond Virginia that mixes elements of the good East Coast shit with flourishes of some catchy Oi! and street punk with a few of the bouncy riffs here and there. A total step up from their previous release.

BLIGHT

Extortion- "Obsess" Cassette (Regurgitated Semen)
First Edition, 2015

Newish cassette compilation release from Extortion that puts together all of their non LP releases, along with some unreleased demo stuff, studio sessions left overs and compilation appearances. As with a lot of Extortion stuff, probably only for the collector.

MORBID MEDICINE

Straight Razor- s/t 7" (React!)
First Pressing, 2015
Black Vinyl /350

I feel like this record didn't really receive the attention it probably should have last year. It completely went under my radar until early December and it came out something like 6 months earlier. The s/t EP from Straight Razor. 2/5's of The Rival Mob plus a couple other guys I'm not familiar with. I don't normally miss out on records that are this awesome, but for some reason I missed this one. As good as you might imagine with a line up of this caliber: no frills Hardcore that draws stark influence from a range of the bulkier East Coast 80's stuff. I was rather curious as to the status of the group, hoped for more releases too, but as you might deduct, they're a straight edge band, and I'm almost entirely sure that they've broken up at this point as there's at least one member who's no longer of the faith. An excellent legacy to leave then.

PULL THE PLUG

Death- "Leprosy" LP Reissue (Relapse)
Reissue, 2014
Black Vinyl /2500

Nothing I could write would really teach anyone anything new about this amazing band and this amazing album. One of my favourite releases of all time. Originally released on Combat Records in 1988 and subsequently reissued on various formats over the years, this is a Relapse Records edition from 2014.

2015

Very slow year for various reasons. Shitty Australian dollar. Always painful postage rates. Other life commitments. I've been lazy this year too and I think i'm just generally becoming more picky. Below is the cream of the crop though. No particular order...

Violent Reaction Photo- Angela Owens

LP's
Violent Reaction- "Marching On"
No Tolerance- "You Walk Alone"
Twitching Tongues- "Disharmony"
All Out War- "Dying Gods"
Obituary- "Inked In Blood"
Magic Circle- "Journey Blind"
Abyss- "Heretical Anatomy"
Joey Bada$$- "B4.DA.$$"
Genocide Pact- "Forged Through Domination"
Strong Boys- "Riot Shock"
Gruesome- "Savage Land"

EP's/Singles
Disguise- "Signs Of The Future"
Ajax- s/t
Perspex Flesh- "Ordered Image"
Pleasure Cross- s/t
Crown Court- "Ruck and Roll"
Crown Court- "The English Disease"
Straight Razor- s/t

Splits/Comps/Reissues
Extortion- "Obsess" Compilation Cassette
Death Sentence- "Ryan Exhumed" Reissue

Tapes/Demos
Extortion- "Live At The Reverence Hotel" Cassette
Violent Minds- "Paincave Sessions" Cassette
Rival Mob- Aus Tour Promo Cassette
Protester- "Paincave Sessions" Cassette
Obscure Burial- "Epiphany" Demo Tape
Convict- "Barred Life" Demo Tape

SPEAK WITH POWER

The Rival Mob- Australian Tour Promo Cassette (Trash King Productions)
First Edition, 2015

Australia was lucky enough to be graced with a handful of live shows by Boston elite, The Rival Mob throughout December this year. Everything you see online isn't an exaggeration, they are a total powerhouse live.
This is the tour promo tape they were selling along the way. Three original tracks and a Rampage cover. Pure excellence. If I was going to complain about anything, all it would be about is how there's not enough material here. This thing is constantly playing over and over at my house at the moment. This band never disappoints.
They also printed a handful of shirts with the same front design. I wonder how many kids realise that they're walking around in 'Sabbath shirts at the moment??

CURL UP AND DIE

Extortion- "Live At The Reverence Hotel 26/10/2012" Cassette (Asbestos Death)
First Edition, 2015

Newish (in terms of the flow of the bands releases these days anyway) live tape from Extortion, released by Blayke and his label Asbestos Death earlier this year. Relatively good recording of a spread of the bands stuff in about 15 minutes. Probably not for the fairweathered fan, this thing certainly suits the extreme fan/collector (i.e. people like me). 100 copies in total, mine is numbered 35.