Hounds Of Hate - Demo CS

Artist: Hounds Of Hate
Album: Demo CS
Release: 2011
Label: BHF Records

Tracklist:

1. Excuses
2. Bo Brown
3. Too Numb
4. Brotherhood Of Night
5. A.N.H.S.
6. Loose Talk

When one hears the name Braddock, the few things they might think of (if they've even ever heard of this shithole of a town) the (soon-to-be-ex?) Mayor's appearance on the Colbert Report or the plethora of exploitative (and, to some, ego-boosting) Levi's ads that featured the newer, whiter members of the town in full effect. What they might not think of is the small, but burgeoning punk scene that exists within the town limits. Really, it's about six people with a lot of free time to start a lot of bands and host a lot of huge shows, but that's a start, right?

Hounds of Hate, to me, is by far the best of these bands. HoH plays a hybrid of fast, '80s USHC-style hardcore, 80s Oi!, and late 80s/early 90s NYHC. It's definitely heavier on the hardcore than the punk, but that influence is still present. Did I mention this band is also 4/4 unapologetically straight edge and 1/4 unapologetically Black? It true. The opening track "Excuses" even boasts "you sold out the straight edge/you let me down." This track kicks things into high gear, though the next two tracks don't really maintain the same ferocity.

Just as I was about ready to give up on the demo based on those songs (which aren't bad, just decent), the second half of the demo really saves things. These three songs are miles ahead of the first three and will have you singing along to even the most absurd lyrics. I don't quite know what the "Brotherhood Of Night" is, but you can bet that I certainly want to be a part of it!. The Big Daddy Kane-inspired (not really, I wish) "A.N.H.S.," after the tremendous buildup ("this is where it fucking ends"), has the sickest spitfire payoff. "Loose Talk" features both an incredible Oi!-inspired intro and chant part.

My only gripe with this demo other than the second and third song is the recording quality. The drums sound kinda shitty and the bass tone is a bit dull. If these songs were rerecorded, especially the last three songs, it would make for an AWESOME 7". Still, this demo rips and hearing these songs live REALLY does them justice.

I've expressed plenty of praise for many punk and hardcore bands from Pittsburgh, PA over the years on this blog, but I have yet to venture out into the weird suburbs or townships or whatever Pennsylvania as a state has within it, so let this post be legendary! Hounds of Hate is a breath of fresh air to that scene, as HC4HC doesn't really thrive in that town like other types of punk. Despite the recording issues, I REALLY like this demo. It comes very highly recommended from me. Check this out and, if you like it, you should check them out on their weekend tour coming up. The dates are as follows:

Monday, June 27th

Pink Coffins
Distress Signals
Slices
Hounds of Hate

@ Square One
229 Braddock Ave
Braddock, PA

Thursday, June 30th

Hounds of Hate
Deathbed
Cop Problem
Fruit Punch

@ Sugar House
1541 South 15th St
Philadelphia, PA

Friday, July 1st

Ceremony (you know)
Veins (YA! supergroup that barely plays shows!)
Give (one of DC's best bands)
Zero Progress (on a US tour from the Bay Area. fast, 80's style hardcore)
Hounds of Hate (Braddock SXE. Youth crew meets Oi!)

@ 538 Johnson Ave, Apt. 201
Brooklyn, NY 11237
$8-10, 8pm

Saturday, July 2nd

Wasted Time
Night Fever (Denmark)
Hounds of Hate
Black Rations

@ The Corpse Fortress
Silver Spring, MD

You can pick up the demo tape from their shows or email them at the address below for mailorder information. Also, be on the lookout for a sure-to-be-superior 7" out later this year. You can get news updates from their OKCupid account.

Download Here

To buy, email hounds.of.hate.bdse@gmail.com

-Adam

New Katorga Works Release: Wiccans - Skullduggery LP

Artist: Wiccans
Album: Skullduggery
Release: 2011
Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Ephemera

3. Pageantry

4. Rudiments

5. Witches

6. Biology Is Not Destiny

7. Crust Royalty

8. Silver Lining

9. Coven Of The White Stag

10. Key To Success

11. Disorder

12. The Third Estate

I swear to god we're going to post real music that we don't put out ourselves, we're just so fucking busy. I SWEAR. Anyway, here is a new release from Colman and I's label, Katorga Works. Here we go:

We are proud to announce the Katorga Works release of the debut LP from Denton, TX's Wiccans, who play wild and inventive hardcore. Insanely melodic guitar lines are juxtaposed with tough and unique vocals over a driving, KBD-style punk sound. Wiccans manages to balance power and catchiness in one of the best hardcore LPs we've heard in awhile. Blows away not only their previous material, but most of their peers', as well. Be prepared to pick your jaws up off the floor. One of our best releases.

We at Katorga Works also have a large distro update, featuring (mostly) new records from: Broken Water, Crazy Spirit (both the new 7" and the demo 12"!), Gasmask Terror, Go Sailor, The Marsh Hens, Mt. Sims, Nerveskade, Origin of M, P.S. Eliot, Perdition, Scorned, White Walls, and many more!

Distros and stores, please email us to discuss wholesale.

Download Here
Buy Here

-Adam & Colman

Merchandise East Coast Tour

Hey folks,

First off, let us apologize for the lack of posting around here. It will pick up soon enough in a huge burst of posts (as it always seems to do, nowadays). We've been ultra-busy with other personal projects, jobs, etc., as well as going to Chaos in Tejas. Still haven't quite recovered from that...

Anyway, here is the tour information for ICDT favorite Merchandise, who is about to embark on their first real tour, this time going up the East Coast and back down. Here are the dates:

6/17 – Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds (w/ Post Teens, Procession, and Face)

6/18 – Richmond, VA – Couch Heaven (w/ Flood Beast, Sex Of Distance)

6/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Death By Audio (w/ Pollution, Lotus Fucker, Shoppers, and Mothercountry Motherfuckers)

6/20 – Brooklyn, NY – The Gutter (w/ White Lung, Nu Sensae, Hubble, and Dream Police)

6/21 – Amherst, MA – Dad City (w/ Certain Death, Limbs Bin/Bathroom Space/Moms, and La Caza)

6/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Hong Kong Garden (w/ No Lessons Learned, Bad Dudes Rising, and Laffing Life)

6/23 – Carrboro, NC – t.b.a. (w/ HEADCASE, more tba…)

6/24 – Sugar Hill, GA – chillin’ with JW, eatin’ some ribs.

and here is the flyer for the NYC shows:

I hope many of you come out and witness the greatness that is Merchandise!