Hardcore

Baptists – Bloodmines Review

By Roquentin on October 14, 2014 in 2014, Canadian Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 2 comments

“Bushcraft, the first album by Vancouver’s Baptists, was a record that I fancied quite a bit. Clearly inspired by the likes of Converge and Botch, the band delivered some fine metallic hardcore with various subtle influences mixed in, from crust to noise rock. It was raw, angry music, just as expected from bands in the genre (and from comparable groups on Southern Lord). A year later, they’re back with their sophomore release, again produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou and promising “fast, exhilarating music of rage, oozing with genuine raw emotion and punk rock fury.”” But are promises kept and rage delivered with emotional fury?

Sick of It All – Last Act of Defiance Review

By Dr. Fisting on September 18, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Hardcore, 2 comments

“Having formed at the tail end of hardcore’s first wave, New York’s Sick Of It All is one of the few HC bands — possibly the only one — that not only still exists, but continues to make powerful, relevant music. Decades after most of their contemporaries have imploded in a cloud of drama and/or poor judgment (oh hi, Cro-Mags), SOIA is still at it. They’ve never gone soft, never staged a “comeback,” and haven’t had a lineup change since Clinton’s first term.” NYC hardcore…is there any other kind? Nah, not really.

Columbian Necktie – Twilight Upon Us Review

By Lord Doom on August 23, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Sludge, Hardcore, Sludge Metal, 0 comments

“Colombian Necktie: A slit across the neck under the jawline that makes the tongue fall out of said slit. That’s pretty metal, right? Totally. And before you get any ideas, Los Angeles’s Colombian Necktie have already secured that band name. You may be quick to say “Obvious death metal band is obvious,” but you’ll be happy to know that Colombian Necktie are a self-described sludgecore band, which sees them combining sludge riffs and progressions with hardcore songwriting styles.” Terrible name, but an interesting hybrid style. You can’t win all the time.

Atara / Miserable Failure – Hang Them Review

By Madam X on July 26, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Doom Metal, French Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Kaotoxin Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Hardcore, 1 comment

“French grind with hardcore and black metal influence that screams of being “the noose that’ll suffocate your dry throat in an auto-erotic maelstrom of hatesphyxiation” – well now, don’t mind if I do!” Madam X can never say no to a nice noose. That’s why she works remotely and not at AMG headquarters.

The Drip – A Presentation of Gruesome Poetics Review

By Madam X on April 8, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Crust Punk, Grind, Hardcore, Relapse, Reviews, Hardcore, 1 comment

“Looking for some seething death grind that attacks you like a horde of rotting zombies crudely ripping your intestines from your gut? Of course you are, who wouldn’t be!” Can The Drip deliver the zombie-tastic carnage or are they just another brain dead clone? That name certainly isn’t helping them any.

Hexis – Abalam Review

By Madam X on January 11, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Halo of Flies, Hardcore, Musicfearsatan, Releases, Reviews, Black Metal, Hardcore, 7 comments

“Danish band Hexis have been torturing the masses since back in 2010. Up until now, their tales of atheism and abstract thought have been dished out via a bunch of demo’s, EP’s and splits with the likes of French post-metallers As We Draw, Russian atmospheric, post-hardcore band Euglena and Danish post-black metallers Redwood Hill. Now, as the new year kicks into full swing, Hexis have finally grabbed the demon by the horns and they’re all set to deliver their first full-length consisting of 13 stripped down abominations that bring to mind the harrowing events of an exorcism.” Demonic possession and metal go together like beer and another beer, so on paper at least, this seems like a marriage made in Hell. Madam X tells us if they need counseling.

Poison Idea – Kings Of Punk Review

By Dr. Fisting on November 14, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Hardcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Rating, Releases, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 3 comments

The phrase “underrated” gets thrown around a lot, but it’s a pretty apt description for legendary Oregon punks Poison Idea. These guys somehow never got the respect or notoriety that their contemporaries did, despite having their songs covered by everyone from Turbonegro to Machine Head to Pantera (yes, that fucking song from The Crow). Led by larger-than-life frontman Jerry A. and equally huge guitarist Pig Champion, PI were a force to be reckoned with, both musically and physically (legend has it that the band weighed over 1,300 lbs. at the height of their substance abuse days). Here’s a weighty slice of classic hardcore for you, re-released with many bells unt whistles. Mr. Fisting rubs the belly and tells us what kind of sounds to expect from this seminal punk crew.

Strangelight – 9 Days EP Review

By Alex Franquelli on November 2, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Hardcore, Post-Rock, Reviews, Hardcore, 0 comments

““Anyone with a deep record collection will understand that Strangelight aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, just taking the dust jackets off the old classics and melting the vinyl down for fun.” This, together with the name Fugazi, pretty much sums up the review of this EP. The rest of this page could be used to appeal for donations to the Flying Spaghetti Monster movement and nobody would complain. Any other lost cause worth campaigning for? But we’re good people and we can’t help but say a few other things. Like, for instance, that when you mention Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto’s band, you are implicitly referring to that musical trend which, from the late 1980s onwards, literally changed the way we see, consider and think about indie music. Thus, providing the listener not only with the musical attributes, but also with the exact artistic context is a mistake, because disappointment is always behind the corner and it will stitch you up at the first occasion. But Strangelight are a bunch of confident people.” Alex breaks down where this “super group” slots into the musical neighborhood and how their arrival raises or lowers property values therein. It’s all about location, people!

Primitive Man – Scorn Review

By Alex Franquelli on August 24, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Relapse, Reviews, Sludge, Hardcore, 3 comments

Oh the pleasure of punishment without guilt, of terror without a motive, of sadistic pain with too much uncontrolled joy and salty drops of unrequited love. Primitive Man call the bluff we all know as life by showing the vulgar side of our existences. Our bodies reek when in fear because the matter doesn’t lie; we do; it doesn’t. If less than 40 minutes of raw, filthy music played without compromises may sound like a sonic déjà-vu, don’t worry: you may be right. Primitive Man’s music is, in fact, an end to itself: an epic journey through punishing dissonances mostly played at an excruciatingly slow tempo. Eyehategod? Maybe. But more than 20 years after an album like In the Name of Suffering graced our ears, the demise of black metal, the growth of drone-based trends and the evolution of what some term ‘extreme music’ all give us an updated version of that masterpiece. It hurt then as it does now and the bleak landscape remains the same. Hate doesn’t evolve; it just gets bigger.” Alex is here to discuss life’s ugliness and pain, glorious pain. Apparantly this album makes him go on like Pinhead in a bondage bar.

All Pigs Must Die – Nothing Violates This Nature Review

By Noctus on August 4, 2013 in 2.5, 2013, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 0 comments

“I suppose incorporating sludge and black metal into hardcore punk is the logical way to bring it to even more intense heights, all the while making it delectably filthy to those who like their metal abrasive, raw and covered in grit. Of all the bands to catch wind of this style, All Pigs Must Die have been in the forefront with a couple of really great releases under their belt – their short and sweet self-titled EP along with their more ambitious and equally impressive debut album, God is War. Both releases are absolutely furious, pummeling you with the huge, fast riffs reminiscent of grindcore and hardcore punk in one of the most in-your-face and take-no-prisoners approaches in recent memory.” How does the latest piece of filth from All Pigs Must Die hold up against their earlier works? Join Noctus and find out!