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.