icoulddietomorrow

Trey's Best of 2011

2012-01-31T12:00:00.009-05:00

Notables:

The Game - The R.E.D. Album

There are very few fads in hip-hop that I really get into but for a while I could just not get enough of rapers repping the bloods and other gangs. Sadly, when Kreayshawn starts doing it, it's time to give it up.

Maybach Music Group - Self Made Vol. 1

I was worried when Officer Ricky signed Wale. But when you drop a dud like Attention Deficit you gotta do a lot to get the public eye again. Fortunately for the dc native, Pill (ATL), and Meek Mill, Rick Ross can do no wrong. The beats were obviously left over beats that Ricky didn't really want so he passed them to his team and layed down a hook for good measure.

Washed Out

The year of the fuck jam. Listen to "You and I" and try to not get wood or moist.

On to the countdown.

10. Kendrick Lamar - Section 80

Hate him or love him, Drake has paved the way for the (semi) conscious rapper to get more exposure than they could've gotten in the last 10+ years. See J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., and Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick's talent has been acknowledged by all of his fellow California peers. He has worked with Dr. Dre and The Game in the last year. Section 80 has a lot of conscious themes. Not too many rappers in the spotlight right now are willing to criticize the drug trade and talk about how it has hurt our generation. But just when you think he might be too high up on his soap box, you hear "Spiteful Chant" and "Ronald Regan Era"and it all balances out. "Rigamortus" is a straight banger.

9. Wiccans - Skullduggery

Let me start this out by saying I'm not a Katorga Works jocker. Friend rock is serious problem in hardcore today. So when I heard this LP I was very worried about how much I liked it. I really just a sucker for anything that sounds remotely like 86 Mentality.

8. Give - I Am Love 7"

I really wasn't a fan of Give for quite a while. I always enjoyed seeing them live but would go home and give them another try and be disappointed. So when I stumbled across this single I stoked to finally like them recorded. Some (Adam) say that the B-side, "Solid White", is better. Although I think that song is great, I think they (he) are (is) nuts. If it weren't for Total Control I'd say it's the catchiest punk song of the year.

7. Diamond - Don't Lose Your Cool

Marketing geniuses. Big twitter push by all bands associated with them (Trapped Under Ice, Down To Nothing) and friends made everyone that should know about this feel stupid for not already having it. On top of that its a completely solid 90s style Alt-Rock EP.

6. Creem - Good Riddance b/w I Hate You 7"

Upon writing this I realized that I might be suffering from friend rock but fuck it. This shit is banging. Pissed off, hard nosed hardcore. Did I mention I like things that sound even a little bit like 86? The new shit they've been playing and recently recorded is going to fuck you up. Most likely will make my list next year.

5. Holy Other - With U

I guess this is what the kids call witch house. Honestly, I don't give a shit what they call it. Some really chill dance music is what it is. Definitely sexy. Please give "Touch" a listen. I can't get enough.

4. ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveASAP

My favorite Hip-Hop release of the year. That's saying a lot because I think 2011 was a great year for hip-hop (except watch the throne, BARF). If this mixtape was instrumental it would still probably make my top 10. On top of those tasty beats comes an emcee from NY that draws heavy influence from Houston and Bone Thugs. Could I ask for more? Clams Casino bridges the gap between "witch house" and hip-hop flawlessly.

3. Total Control - Henge Beat

Mixing catchy punk with new wave jams. This record is perfect and infectious. These Australians need to get their asses back to the states. If you can deny "The Hammer" or "Love Performance" I don't want to know you.

2. War Hungry - Self Titled

A new song writer has transformed this band from some riffy ignorant as fuck hardcore to heavy ass metal. There are creepy samples, solos and synths all throughout. Fans of modern hardcore and Obituary need to get their ears fucked up by this.

1. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

Abel Tesfaye was music's most valuable player in 2011. Dropping 3 completely solid mixtapes of completely original music (except a cover of "Dirty Diana" by MJ that rivals the original). All 3 mixtapes could be on the list but that would just be too boring. I'd suggest getting them in the order that they came out. House of Balloons was the first and my favorite. It's the only one that has an actually single on it. Among the single "What You Need" highlights are the beginning of the titled track (a song that samples Siouxie and The Banshees. I wish he didn't try to rap at the end though), "The Morning" and "The Party & After Party". In all seriousness, this is mixtapes has no duds.

As I said, the year of fuck jams.

-Trey

Forever Catching Up: My Favorite Records of 2011

2012-01-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

As usual, I spent more time looking into old records rather than consistently staying up on new releases, but you should go into this post knowing that most of the new stuff I scoped was either in the shoegaze or oldschool-styled death metal realm. I also realized that I’m more and more into records that are 40 minutes or under.

Honorable Mentions

Angel Olsen - Strange Cacti
Recorded largely in one day, this lil’ tape EP is manages to sound mysterious and old-school despite being done up entirely in Garageband. Warbling, lo-fi folk from Chicago. I’m curious to see where Ms. Olsen goes with this project if she gets signed. I’m also hoping she’s alright with my posting this since, from what I can tell, the tape and LP are entirely sold out.

Download Here

Circle of Oroborus - Eleven Fingers
This Finnish duo mixes a lo-fi black metal aesthetic and vocal approach with an unabashed love for Joy Division. This record often sounds like one big song recorded underwater, as if their melancholy was audible but still just distant enough.

Still Corners - Creatures of An Hour
Whispery female vocals over quality instrumentation? You sold me.

Tamaryn - The Waves
I’m interested to see where this band goes. This record is way solid, but stops just short of that special spark. They were a blast to see live, and frontwoman/project visionary Tamaryn is well on her way to becoming a dream pop chanteuse-- she already has the dark presence of Nico and the just-hushed-enough delivery of all your favorite Creation Records ladies.

Top of Records of the Year

Drugs of Faith - Corroded

Richard Johnson is, to me, a fascinating individual. Routinely showing up to grind and punk gigs in a button-down shirt and Vibram Fivefingers, he’s about the last dude you’d see and think “ah, he probably played in Enemy Soil and now does vocals for Agoraphobic Nosebleed.” But Drugs of Faith are a different animal from both these endeavors as well as other big grind names, because they simply (in this writer’s opinion) know how to do songs. I love grindcore’s energy, but I want something that will stick in my ear. Sometimes that doesn’t even need to be a riff-- it can just be a scrapey guitar noise played for almost the entire song. Richard and DoF approach their catchiness very much from a “rock” perspective, but are just as likely to go straight into a blasting section or a little bout of weird, Voivodian chords. All the while, Ed Spode’s capable drums support Taryn Wilkinson’s carving basslines and Richard’s forceful guitar. The instruments are beautifully balanced in the mix, but all would be for naught if Richard’s vocals weren’t as honest, impassioned and completely intelligible as they are.

At 28 minutes, Corroded is also the perfect length-- a cohesive, precise record that’s so together you immediately want to throw it on again. I don’t know of any other album I heard this year that came together this well.

Buy Here

Raw Radar War - On A Field Of White 7"

Long before it happened, Trey called it years ago, and I’m ashamed I questioned it in the first place: “Entombedcore” is now a thing. But in a world where fans of underground heavy music are at once smitten with and hating on hardcore kids jamming oldschool death metal, cranking Boss HM-2s and trying to sound like Nails, Raw Radar War stands out. Not because that’s ICDT (read: Asa) favorite Jonah Jenkins on the mic-- his growls here are the antithesis of about 90% of his previously cleaner vocal approaches-- but because they’re exactly who they are: hardcore OGs who love Bolt Thrower, and have been demonstrating this love for a number of years. With five songs in eight-odd minutes, these vets get in, apply combat boot firmly to teeth, and get out.

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Whirr - June 7”

Two songs of the Norcal shoegazers’ newer, more outrightly “pop” direction. The effects use and dreaminess remain intact, but there’s a push in the A-side “Junebouvier” that the lauded Distressor EP only briefly hinted at. Having just signed with the resourceful but inconsistently-rostered TeePee records, not even a dumb name change will stop this sextet in 2012 .

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Yuck - S/T

A huge band this year, Yuck make fuzzed-out ‘90s tunes that are blatantly derivative but freshly executed. Who can fault them? This record is so good I jammed it something like six times in one day. The next record will be more telling as to their staying power, but these kids are unashamed to wear their influences on their sleeves and are doing a pretty good job emulating them.

Listen/Buy Here

40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

More than just trad-doom revival band Warning with a different drummer, 40 Watt Sun dropped an absolute opus this year with The Inside Room. Its five long-form songs may go at a steady trudge (this alone took me numerous playthroughs to get past), but the record simply reeks of honesty and heartbreak. To his immense merit, mainman Patrick Walker is channeling clear non-metal influences with aplomb-- when I saw them live, they opened with a Codeine cover, and his songwriting style has made his work just as palatable when played acoustically as they are in their full, distorted album versions. Hunt this one down and take the time to let it envelop you.

Buy Here

Absu - Abzu

Okay, so Absu’s subject matter-- intense, verbose occult and ancient mythology-- is inherently pretentious. The music is not, and has never been anything less than a tightly-honed mix of a handful of extreme influences headed straight for your throat like a spear. With that said, Absu don’t often slow down much in their songs, and after an hour-plus of this ferocity things can begin to blur together. Abzu remedies this swiftly from the opening scream. With just eight songs in 35 minutes, it’s a distillation of their best parts and, like the aforementioned Corroded, immediately demands repeat listens.

Broken Water - Peripheral Star EP

Olympia, WA, has always been a place of complete weirdness and great, original ideas, and if you don’t believe me you can scope one of the 10,000 house shows that occur there on a weekend basis or just read the first part of the Beat Happening entry in Our Band Could Be Your Life. As of late, bands like Milk Music and these guys keep the ‘80s and ‘90s musical preoccupations of their/our/my generation at the fore, but still manage to have enough of their own take. Now, to be controversial for a sec: I think the very talented ladies and dude in Broken Water write terrific songs, but not, as of yet, terrific records. There’s an absolute abundance of awesome on every damned one of their releases to date, but also a lack of togetherness tiying all the tunes together to form a cohesive whole. Peripheral Star is probably their best to date in remedying that. Here, “Heart Strings” bashes shit down and drives throughout, but then the album’s energy gets dialed down for the slow and creeping “Kansas.” It’s “Okane No” and “Stop Means Stop” that sound out of place here: the former has cool ideas but winds up overly repetitive, while the latter’s anti-rape focus is fantastic lyrically (“I’ve never known your privilege/You’ve never been without”) and but musically, it comes off as an odd punk shuffle on a record otherwise consisting of far more atmospheric songwriting approaches. Still, Broken Water have another LP on the horizon and I couldn’t be more stoked. They toured for like a month and a half straight in the summer/fall and I’m pretty sure not too many DIY bands can maintain that lifestyle if they’re shitty.

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Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations

Despite what this list might make you think, I’m less and less into metal these days. Negative Plane still get me jonesed, though, in spite of both this and my general distaste for black metal. They take the genre’s hellish riffage, add Mercyful Fate demoncy, horror film keyboard interludes, and drench the whole shebang in cold, distant reverb. Live, they’re also magnicifent-- no corny between-song banter, corpsepaint or gratuitous stage setup. Like Absu’s Abzu, Negative Plane brilliantly distill classic and new metal sounds into their own darkened atmospheres.

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Vastum - Carnal Law

Three-fifths of Acephalix, a different drummer and the hyper-talented Leila Abdul-Raif (Saros, Amber Asylum, Hammers of Misfortune) bring the fucking death metal rugged and raw, but (thank goodness) put a slight twist on their Autopsy/Carcass/Bolt Thrower worship. They can swing like Chris Reifert and bend creepily like Bill Steer, but what aids this murky darkness is their sexual lyrical bent. This is no rapey Cannibal Corpse bullshit, but rather the subversive, psychosexual meditations of Georges Bataille.

Download Here
Buy LP Here
Buy Digital Here

Tycho - Dive

This fall, I was very bummed to show up to a Decibel Fest event to find out that dream-pop/electronica-blending wunderdude Ulrich Schnauss had to cancel his headlining spot at quite literally the last minute. My sticking around for his replacement, California’s Tycho, was unquestionably the right choice. Despite its obviously electronic origins, Dive seeps with an organic warmth as well as dude’s meticulous attention to detail. The word “chill” can be cheaply bandied about with any record that’s remotely subdued, but here Tycho’s output is more than deserving.

Listen/Buy Here

Meg Baird - Seasons on Earth

I was generously given this LP by a bandmate on my birthday and it’s quickly grown very close to my heart. I’m no folk scholar, but I feel that many newer artists hyperbolically hailed as “the new Nick Drake!” lack something their ‘70s predecessors had. I’m hesitant to label that thing as “soul” or “a spark,” but I can say this: Meg Baird (also of east coast freak-folkies Espers) has it in spades. Her unpretentious, gifted playing and warm, contemplative voice channel the perfect amount of dat feel from her yesteryear influences, but still leaves room aplenty for her own style. Neither a genre innovator nor a simple worshiper, she made one hell of an album in Seasons on Earth.

Listen/Buy Here

Soft Kill - An Open Door

I’m not here to address controversies, just music. Former Blessure Grave mainman Toby Chan aka Tobias Grave has made an excellent post-punk/goth record here, excellently channelling the minimalism of Joy Division and early Cure. Definitely a late addition to my list, but the level of songwriting quality on this album is consistently robust.

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Aghast - Blood Opinion

2012-01-27T14:02:00.000-05:00

Artist: Aghast
Album: Opinion
Release: 2011

Label: Distort Reality

Tracklist:

1. Blood Opinion

2. Dead Cities

3. Bring Us The Head (Of Joe Arpaio)

4. Dust

5. Fingerprints

6. The Wolf

7. Water Wars

8. 67 Dead

9. Rage

10. Incoming Raids

11. Revolt (Asocial)

To be honest, I used to not like Aghast at all. Granted, this was something like six years ago when I first heard them, a time when my ears weren't at all in-tune with the pre-noise-not-music sound that this crasher crust band has pushed and developed since then. That being said, I started to relisten to them a few years ago and realized that "hey, this band ain't so bad...they're pretty sick, actually!" (yes, I think like this, unfortunately).

It helps that the band is currently at its peak and Blood Opinion might be their best material yet. The recording is certainly incredibly noisy, but it's also not entirely lo-fi or unintelligible, which I think only enhances each song's strengths, such as the incredibly catchy leads that come in on songs like "Dead Cities" and "67 Dead." Still, I think my favorite part of the record is the drumming, which pushes these songs into mind-melting territory. Each time I put this record on, I end up spinning it at least two times.

Lebenden Toten gets all the love (and they do rule), but Aghast, baby. Aghast!

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-Adam

Lilys - In The Presence Of Nothing

2012-01-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

Artist: Lilys
Album: In The Presence Of Nothing
Release: 1992
Label: Slumberland/spinART

Tracklist:

1. There's No Such Thing As Black Orchids

2. Elizabeth Colour Wheel

3. Collider

4. Tone Bender

5. Periscope

6. It Does Nothing For Me

7. Snowblinder

8. The Way Snowflakes Fall

9. Threw A Day

10. Claire Hates Me

Man, where to start with this record. Well, you’ll read everywhere that’s it’s total My Bloody Valentine worship, or the follow-up to Loveless that they never got around to recording. The former, I think, is far more true than the latter, but if anything Kurt Heasley and company seem to be more focused on the songcraft of MBV than toying with rack units, tremelo arms and reverse reverb. Sure, opener “There’s No Such Thing As Black Orchids” hits with the same whoosh you might have felt when hearing your first MBV song, and “Collider” further cements that vibe, but the hook in “Tone Bender” is pretty darn heavy and “Threw A Day” has a jangliness you wouldn’t find in the Valentines’ catalog.”It Does Nothing for Me” also dials down the idolatry for a sec in the chorus...to introduce a guitar/bass figure that pretty much nails the Gish-era Smashing Pumpkins sound. “Claire Hates Me” has become one of my favorite ‘90s songs ever put to tape, and contains a musical tightness rarely heard in bands of a gazey nature.

The only thing, really, that stops In The Presence Of Nothing from being flawless is the 12-minute filler of “The Way Snowflakes Fall.” There is absolutely no reason for it to exist on a record of what is otherwise essentially phenomenal pop songs with the guitars layered and cranked up over the vocals. Why Heasley decided to attempt a long-form, repetitive ambient piece, I don’t know, but the mood I’m in when I want to hear Ambient 4: On Land is certainly not same as that of ITPON. If you’re willing to give it a shot, this is one of the most sought-after shoegaze gems of the genre’s initial heyday (way out of print), and while it’s easy to call it derivative, it’s also easy to enjoy.

Download Here

-Asa

Crust Never Sleeps TONIGHT:

2012-01-24T18:05:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, Adam from the blog will be appearing on the local NYC radio show "Crust Never Sleeps" to play some of his favorite non-NYC records of 2011. Here is what the host, Reed, has to say:

"Tonight on Crust Never Sleeps we have guest DJ Adam of the great Katorga Works NYC record label and icoulddietomorrow, the most viewed post-9/11 hardcore punk mp3 blog. Spinning "good songs of 2011." Tastemakers in the house. 10pm eastern Tuesday 1/24/12"

Post-911, eh? LOL. Tune in and hopefully no one is let down!

http://shithawkpunks.blogspot.com/2012/01/crust-never-sleeps-tonight.html

Tune in, dummy.

Nazi Dust - Wretched Hour 12"

2012-01-23T13:36:00.025-05:00

Artist: Nazi Dust
Album: Wretched Hour 12"
Release: 2011

Label: Vinyl Rites

Tracklist:

1. Suffering

2. Wretched Hour

3. Flourish/Voices

4. Static Art

5. Disease Of Flies

6. Doomed For A Loss

7. Empty Thoughtfuls

8. Self-Worth

9. Catharsis

10. Dull Regard

Just when everyone thought Nazi Dust was dead and gone, Tampa's most hated hardcore band returns with their definitive statement, a one-sided 12" (haha). Made to be economical, this 12" has no insert and features only music on the A-side, but it's still at 45rpm, so it's nice and loud. Oh, and the band can play their instruments now! The band takes their love for SSD and other fast, 80s Boston hardcore bands, strips the straight edge element from them, and introduces incredibly trebly and industrial-sounding guitars, which really reflects their roots in Tampa. Most importantly, though, the songs are just much better written and are far more memorably than their prior material; "Suffering" is one of the best hardcore songs I heard in 2011. Total banger status. But really, while I quite liked their demo and their 7", this is definitely the material I'll be revisiting the most often. You need to get this from Vinyl Rites.

Download Here

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-Adam

Pinkshinyultrablast - Happy Songs for Happy Zombies

2012-01-21T14:06:00.000-05:00

Artist: Pinkshinyultrablast
Album: Happy Songs for Happy Zombies
Release: 2009
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Blaster
2. Deerland
3. Honeybee
4. Ode to Godzilla

Okay, so it’s no secret by now: both we at ICDT and our readers/commenters are way down with most things shoegazey.

St. Petersburg, Russia’s Pinkshinyultrablast take their name from noisenik Scott Cortez aka Astrobrite’s record of the same name, but don’t head down the same path of lo-fi cacophonoy. Instead, they take the classic Creation sounds and add a hefty dose of punkish propulsion. “Blaster” is a pretty ideal opening jam, with Luba’s melodious voice floating over the effects-submerged guitar. “Deerland” naturally continues this formula, but offers a more demanding hook riff.

While this is possibly the post I’ve put the least amount of effort into writing up ever, please take this away from this: there are a deluge of shoegaze “bands” who pirate VST software for easy-bake Slowdive delay/reverb tones, add awkward programmed drums and throw a 70-minute record on Bandcamp calling it art. PSUB are four kids from across the world who can’t even get solid amplification because of shipping costs and eBay embargos, yet they still know how to keep things hooky, fresh and concise. They don’t reinvent any wheels, but they got heart. That counts.

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-Asa

Potty Mouth - Bad Bad CS

2012-01-19T12:00:00.003-05:00

Artist: Potty Mouth
Album: Bad Bad CS
Release: 2011
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Drip-Dry

2. Dog Song

3. What's A Snipe?

4. Vacation Gone Bad

5. Virgin Enemy

Western Mass' second hardest band behind Hoax, Potty Mouth is an punky indie pop band of "4 grrls, 4 ever." I guess they are kind of self-fashioned as a riot grrl band, but I never thought much of the riot grrl revival, but whatever. I'm also getting a huge early Hole vibe, which is so welcomed, because that's some of my favorite music. It's just sloppily played, ultra-catchy pop with a punk edge. There's a pretty naive c86 twee pop vibe, as well, which are my favorite parts of this demo.

One of the things that drives this over the edge is the guitar lines, which I feel like are a big step up from normal fare of this type of music. The first two tracks, "Drip-Dry" and "Dog Song" are incredible and make the remaining songs pale in comparison. I LOVE these songs. The others are cool too, but I find myself listening to the first two songs on repeat. DOG SONG.

Quite the name, huh? If someone came up to me and asked if I had heard the new Potty Mouth tape, I'd say "no and I never will, fuck you." Well, clearly that's kind of a lie because I did end up listening to it and, gee willikers I'm glad I did! Still, they should change their name to one of these FAR superior names: Tanktop Trouble, Cool Chick #69, Maidenhead, Ruby Soho, Obama Youth, White Man, Hard Cell, and Lotus Fucker. Choose wisely, girls!

UPDATE: This band is going on tour starting TODAY and here are the dates:

1/19 ALBANY - 17 New Scotland ave
3 DOLLAR THURSDAY @VTINES - MONSTER MOVIE . BOURBON SCUM . KROWE

1/20 PHILLY - Emoda Gallery, 3rd and Moore
Rock Show at Emoda Gallery January 20th

1/21 BROOKLYN - 330 Melrose St
OUTDATES / POTTY MOUTH / DIPPERS / IN SCHOOL @ SUBURBIA

1/22 PROVIDENCE - email for address: zepelinrules@gmail.com
OUTDATES, POTTY MOUTH, DUNGEONEERS, and WRECK ROOM SUN JAN 22

That is it! Go pick up one of their demos. I'll be at the Brooklyn show, moshin'.

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-Adam

Leather - Wretch 7"

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Artist: Leather
Album: Wretch 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Fan Death

Tracklist:

1. Hunger Artist

2. Idolator

3. Flower Of Our Youth

4. Moyamensing Killers

Well, here's a surprise that shouldn't have actually been too surprising: Leather finally admits to themselves that they're a full-on rock band. Well, not entirely, but I've always felt their music hinted at something a bit outside of the hardcore realm (which they seem to have strayed from with each release, poseurs) and on Wretch, their first record on Fan Death, the band almost fully deviates from it, particularly on the A-side.

I suppose to achieve thematic continuity, the band put their most "out-there" songs on this side, not quite understanding how side lengths and speeds work, as they are also the two longest songs on the record and needlessly prevent the 7" from being 45rpm. Curse you, Leather! That being said, it makes sense and these two songs rule. And yeah, we get it singer-man, you are clearly a trained singer, because he does some shit with his voice that I couldn't even conjure up in my dreams. The B-side songs are shorter and more like their older material, furious. I think I actually prefer the A-side songs more, especially when he belts out his vocal parts. Those parts were my favorite from the last 7", as well.

Leather has an LP coming out soon, also on Fan Death. While I'm not entirely sure how it will sound, I am fairly certain it will be excellent.

Download Here

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-Adam

Putrid Evil 7" Flexi Compilation

2012-01-16T13:46:00.000-05:00

Artist: Civil Dissident, Septic Death, The Stupids
Album: Putrid Evil 7" Flexi Compilation
Release: 1985

Label: N/A

Tracklist:

1. Civil Dissident - Tell Me The Solution

2. Septic Death - Poison Mask

3. The Stupids - Sleeping Troubles

4. The Stupids - This Is The Norm?

5. The Stupids -I Am Ill

Killer compilation that shows three bands at their peak. Civil Dissident come off with a great track that has a really cool build up and then goes into full on HC mode, probably their best material other than their contributions to Cleanse The Bacteria. The always-amazing Septic Death shows just why they're one of the best and most original USHC bands of all time with the completely manic and incredibly raw "Poison Mask". The Stupids round out this comp with their original take on the USHC sound. I know Pushead was a big fan of the Stupids so it totally makes sense that they were on a comp with Septic Death.

A great comp that has surprisingly good sound quality for a flexi. Please excuse the pops from this rip, even if it is the best looking or sounding flexi it is STILL a flexi!!!

A little bit of fun trivia: this (along with the debut Heresy flexi) are pre-Earache releases.

3000 copies of this gem were pressed all on red vinyl and all can be had for under $15 so start scouring the used bins!

Download Here

-Branden

Singer of ACxDC Needs Your Help!

2012-01-14T12:00:00.035-05:00

If there's one thing we can agree on, it's that powerviolence, unless abused (it often is), is fucking awesome. This universal truth, unfortunately, acts as a segue to some sad and unfortunate news: The newborn daughter of Sergio, the singer of Socal PV unit ACxDC, was born with a heart defect that will require her to undergo heart surgery, which, as we all know, is a terrifying ordeal.

Not only is the actual surgery itself a huge concern, but the cost itself is almost insurmountable. A way in which we can help assuage the tremendous and inevitable debt the family will undertake is by donating to Sergio. Here is what he has to say about it:

"This is my daughter Savina (Azellea in the background). Savy has to have heart surgery and it's going to cost a lot. If you'd like to help you can donate via PayPal at sergioamalfitano@yahoo.com or buy ACxDC albums on our bandcamp or buy some merch well be making or attend some benefit events in the upcoming months. It would mean a lot if you could spread the word. Any support is much appreciated."

Don't be a turkey, find a way to get your money over to Sergio and his family.

Brain Slug - Distort New York 7"

2012-01-12T14:34:00.001-05:00

Artist: Brain Slug
Album: Distort New York 7"

Release: 2011
Label: Hardware

Tracklist:

1. Gag Reflex

2. Distort New York

3. Crunch Time

4. My Rites

5. Red Circle

Just when you thought the scales were tipping in a more raw direction in NYC, Brain Slug unleash their debut 7" to even things out for the NYHC team. Granted, the band plays a type of hardcore that is definitely more influenced by Boston than NYC (traitors, turncoats, defectors), but I'm just going to let that one slide for the time being. On their demo, I had a hard time distinguishing song from song, but on this EP, the band's songwriting has become more dynamic and has improved tremendously, so now their brand of mid-paced hardcore is far more interesting. My only complaint with the EP is that the A-side has all the quick bangers, while the B-side is a bit more subdued. Still, you're moshin'. A great piece of hardcore to round out 2011.

If you live in NYC or in a nearby city, you should come out to the Brain Slug 7" release show on January 20th at the Stolen Sleeves Collective, where the band will be playing with Crazy Spirit, CREEM, and Goosebumps.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

Warchildren - Self Titled 7"

2012-01-10T16:52:00.000-05:00

Artist: Warchildren
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011
Label: No Patience

Tracklist:

1. Them From Warchildren

2. Get A Job

3. Trouser Gallery

4. Cheatin' Bitch

Today is a sad day, for it marks the last post of my xenophobic review series on the great Australian No Patience records. But what a post it is! Based on their name, I was actually expecting a fist-pumpin' d-beat record, but I've been fooled again! Instead, Warchildren play some whacked hardcore in the vein of all those weirdo and anomalous 80s hardcore bands we all love. Featuring members of Teargas and Insurgents, this might be the most "real" band of the four No Patience bands I've posted! The band churns out three faster, more classic cuts on the A-side, then Sieges it up with some saxophone on the longer, yet still manic, "Cheatin' Bitch" on the flip side. A future classic right here, maybe even a future bonzer!

Warchildren is a gang.

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Buy Here

-Adam

Milk Music - Live at WFMU

2012-01-08T14:35:00.000-05:00

Artist: Milk Music
Album: Live at WFMU
Release: 2011
Label: N/A

Tracklist:

1. Thrashing In The Unknown
2. I’ve Got A Wild Feeling
3. Violence Now
4. Beluga
5. Fertile Ground
6. Interview

All the good tunes coming out of Olympia make me a proud Washingtonian. Whether it’s lo-fi death metal like Bone Sickness, shoegaze/post-punk like Broken Water, or the ‘80s SST fuzz attack of these longhairs (and one beardo), the state capital is home to bands that are alike in approach, not sound: DIY, plenty of heart, and no need for tacky aesthetics.

Milk Music blew up the blogosphere last year with their Beyond Living 12”, a six-song collection of disenchanted outsider jams possessing-- in addition to, you know, the songs being quite fantastic in and of themselves-- some of the most monstruous, warm tube guitar sounds this side of Neil Young or J Mascis. The band’s purposeful Ludditism bodes mystique, and mystique boded many people asking “No, seriously, who are these dudes?” upon discovering they had little web representation other than a Last.fm page. Brandon Stosuy’s semi-recent interview with mainman Alex Coxen remedied this to a satisfactory degree, and additionally offered five well-engineered live-in-the-studio cuts recorded during the band’s well-recieved spring 2011 tour plus a 4-minute “interview” that merely confirms 1) dudes clearly toke 2) they don’t have any hair grooming advice.

If they plan to continue releasing DIY 12” records, color me stoked.

Download Here

-Asa

The Logjammers - Self Titled 7"

2012-01-06T15:53:00.000-05:00

Artist: The Logjammers
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2010
Label: No Patience

Tracklist:

1. Hit 1
2. Hit 2
3. Hit 3

Garage punk isn't usually my thing. Often, I hate it and the people who produce it. Maybe I'd hate the members if the Logjammers too, though I think I'd hate most Australians, really. Actually, I doubt this band consciously refers to themselves as garage punk, so kudos to them for that. This more resembles noise punk to me (like a less pervy Wankys). Straight, up, this band sounds like "Sex Boy" come to life as a band, right down to the fear of being lathered in peanut butter and that's awesome, even though "Sex Boy" is almost unlistenable. This isn't unlistenable, though (I think?), just stupid and awesome. "Hit 3" is my personal hit.

JK guys, I've met like eight Australians and only disliked two of them! Y'all rule.

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-Adam

Septic Death 12" Comparisons

2012-01-04T15:08:00.000-05:00

Artist: Septic Death
Album: Need So Much Attention/Acceptance of Whom 12" & Now That I Have The Attention What Do I Do With It 12"
Year: 1984, 1985
Label: Pusmort

Tracklist:

Need So Much Attention/Acceptance of Whom 12", 1984, Pusmort

1. Sweat of a Nightmare
2. Core of Reality
3. Quit
4. Child
5. Mental Cancer
6. Gore Story
7. Control
8. Advantage
9. Never Trust
10. Fear
11. Hardware
12. Negative Threat

Now That I Have The Attention What Do I Do With It 12", 1985, Pusmort

1. Quit
2. Dream Silent
3. Child
4. Burial
5. Terrorain
6. Thaw (Cold World)
7. Poison Mask
8. Hardware
9. Silence
10. Sweat of a Nightmare
11. Core of Reality
12. Negative Threat
13. Never Trust
14. Mental Cancer
15. Fear
16. Advantage
17. Control
18. Gore Story

Septic Death was one of the bands whose name I first heard when I started listening to punk and HC but whose music I didn't actually get a chance to hear until years later. It really is a pity that this material has been out of print for so long because it really is some of the most original and manic HC to have ever been made.

The original mix and release for the debut LP from Septic Death was called "Need So Much Attention/Acceptance of Whom" and was released on Pusmort in 1984. This version contains a completely different mix than what ended up being repressed on discography CD's and bootlegs over the years and to my knowledge hasn't really received a proper re-release.

The remix was released as "Now That I Have The Attention What Do I Do With it?". For this rip I resequenced the tracks so it matches the track order of "Need So Much Attention..." so you can compare the differences in the mix. The "Now That I Have The Attention..." 12" also has 6 songs that either appeared on compilations, later records, or are exclusive to the record but I have left them out of the rip simply so people could see the differences in the mix. If you really want to hear "Now That I Have the Attention"...in its unaltered form I will be ripping that in the near future, or you can find a used copy. They are relatively cheap.

If anyone is looking to sell a copy of "Need So Much Attention" on colored vinyl please get in touch with me. I would gladly buy it from you! videodisease77[at]gmail[dot]com

Download Here

-Branden

Bloodclot Faggots - Self Titled 7"

2012-01-02T12:52:00.002-05:00

Artist: Bloodclot Faggots
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2010
Label: No Patience

Tracklist:

1. Big In Adelaide

2. How High Can A Punk Get

3. Total Dicktator/Mental Satisfaction

4. Moshmallow

5. Total Life Fuck

6. Old Bastard

7. This Is Living

Bloodclot Faggots (from Adelaide, Australia) have one of the best and most brave referential punk rock names I've ever encountered and produced (among some tapes) a 7" of music that's almost worthy of the name. What could be, though? Led by head ingrate Lewis, this record is the sound of a bunch of lanky Australians flailing about your living room, knocking over your mother's vases and your youth wrestling league trophies from the bookshelf. Surprisingly melodic and catchy guitar lines manage to keep the band from incurring too much parental wrath, though. Lyrical topics include: bad moshers, drugs (and secret sippers maybe? I can't read), and the restoration of land to the Pintupi people of the Gibson desert. Oh wait, that last part was Midnight Oil. Nevermind!

Apparently, this band is straight edge, making them the best straight edge hardcore band in Australia to ever exist. RESPECT, unless their edge claim is something ironic, in which case THEY'RE NEXT.

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Buy Here

-Adam

Asylum Party - Picture One

2011-12-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

Artist: Asylum Party

Album: Picture One
Release:1988
Label: Asylum Yield

Tracklist:

1. Julia
2. Together We Fall
3. Sweetness...of Pain
4. Before the Smile
5. White Light

Call me trendy, but recently I’ve really been getting into ‘80s goth/post-punk/coldwave and the like. Asylum Party are easily one of the best bands I’ve ever heard come out of the land of snootyness and baguette, and this EP is a gem perfect for the icy, grey environs of winter.

“Julia” was and still is a song that demands repeat listens the moment after it first graces your ears. It also sets the tone for the duration of the record-- the droney floating of the drum machine’s clicky ostinato, Cure-style chorused bass tones, dreary guitar melody, lushly ‘80s keyboards and the right amount of heart and coldness in the vocals. “Together We Fall” offers despair where “Julia” had yearning, honest love; “Before the Smile” is easily the best song on here with a bassline that sounds like a Faith outtake and a solemnly gorgeous chorus. Not even an awkard cowbell sample at every fourth bar of “White Light”’s verses can take away from its pleasant darkness. If you’re into the aforementioned genres and are a quality-over-quantity person when it comes to songs and record lengths-- which, if you read ICDT, you probably are-- this is a crucial bunch of jams.

Download Here

-Asa

Shock Value - Yellow Peril 7"

2011-12-29T14:52:00.000-05:00

Artist: Shock Value
Album: Yellow Peril 7"
Release: 2010
Label: No Patience

Tracklist:

1. Green Machine

2. The Only Way Is Up/Nothing Life

3. Ah! Real Monsters

4. Nothing

5. Dead Society

To preface this review, let me say that this will be the first review of a series of four focusing on releases from Australia's No Patience Records, run by a "bloke" named Lewis.

I choose this 7", Shock Value's Yellow Peril, first because it's kind of the black sheep of the batch, not only in sound (this is straightforward, Boston-style hardcore as opposed to noisy punk), but that the members of the band are a family of Laotian immigrants to Australia. Fuck yes.

SS Decontrol is the first band I feel most people use to contextualize this band's sound and I'm not inclined to disagree, though the vocalist sounds BURLY-as-hell. I'm pretty sure the songs are both about being a jock and hating jocks, but I'm scared of their lyrics sheet because there are too many skinheads on it. Actually, on "Green Machine," the band sounds like they've unintentionally rewritten "Nada" by Olho Seco and it rules. "Nothing Life" is the hit.

Maybe because I'm a hardcore kid at heart, I like this the best out of all four of the records.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

Long Pigs - Self Titled 7"

2011-12-27T12:00:00.025-05:00

Artist: Long Pigs
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011
Label: SMRT

Tracklist:

1. Cut Off

2. Worms

3. Abetment To Suicide

4. No Tolerance

5. Negative Pattern

6. Death Is Death

This is the debut vinyl release from this Brooklyn hardcore band by the guys who run the inimitable Toxic State Records. Staying true to their demo, this EP contains six songs of desperate bleak noisy hardcore, only the recording is far superior to that of the almost-unlistenable demo. While I certainly enjoyed the demo, I had kinda wished the production values were higher and often wondered what these songs would sound like with a better recording.

Well, my prayers (which, according to Will from Rational Animals, happen five times a day) were answered! This sound is just as noisy and maybe even a bit more ear-piercing, but the drums and bass sound fuller and hit harder, while the vocals are just as snotty as ever. The 7" takes the best songs from the demo and throws some newer, better songs to the fray.

This comes highly recommended. You should also buy it, as the packaging is next level.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

And Nothing Else To Do

2011-12-25T00:00:00.005-05:00

Just letting everyone know that we'll be resuming our regular programming (we've been pretty good lately, right?) after the new year. Not only will we have a plethora of new reviews, but we'll also be posting our top ten lists of 2011 sometime in January. Thanks for your continued support!

David Allen Coe - Penitentiary Blues

2011-12-21T14:08:00.004-05:00

Artist: David Allen Coe
Album: Penitentiary Blues
Release: 1968
Label: SSS International

Tracklist:

1. Penitentiary Blues
2. Cell #33
3. Monkey David Wine
4. Walkin' Bum
5. One Way Ticket To Nowhere
6. Funeral Parlor Blues

7. Death Row

8. Oh Warden

9. Age 21

10. Little David

11. Conjer Man

My first experiences with David Allen Coe involved Colman forcing me to listen to some of his more notorious material while packing records. It wasn't particularly pleasant, though I did find myself laughing at how much Colman enjoyed those recordings. I was completely ignorant to his earlier material until my friend Trevor played me the title track of his 1968 debut, Penitentiary Blues. I was actually more shocked at how this sounded than by his x-rated/racist material.

First off, it's outlaw country only in theme. Musically, it's far more bluesy than his most of his records; blues aficionados, like my mother, would even say that this record was more indebted to Chicago blues than classic outlaw country. While there are moments of embarrassing cultural appropriation, there is also a heavy element of realness to this. When Coe is singing about prison blood tests, suicide, copious drug use, and saying his goodbyes to his dead girlfriend, it is pretty emotionally heavy, which is something lacking in his other material.

Download Here

-Adam

Thee Cannibals - Suburban Sex 7"

2011-12-19T16:52:00.001-05:00

Artist: Thee Cannibals
Album: Suburban Sex 7"
Release: 2006
Label: Cowabunga

Tracklist:

1. Suburban Sex
2. 714 Mentality

3. Born For Hell

Although this record isn't to old, it definitely reminds me of a better time in southern California punk and hardcore. Now, I am good friends with the parties responsible behind Flat Black records, but I have to say that for me some of the bands that were on Flat Black were not nearly as good as their contemporaries: Harpoon Guns, Street Trash, and this band, Thee Cannibals. Unfortunately, these bands got little to no exposure outside of southern California while a lot of the generic Flat Black bands did, giving people the impression that southern California was a musical wasteland of 16 year old skate rats who play generic riffs and pump out boring 7”s with skeletons on the cover. Thee Cannibals were different than that. They had a great fuzzy punk sound that really reminded me of “Darby Crash Rides Again” era Poison Idea. Their live shows were always violent and unpredictable. The drummer would have his own microphone just so he could talk shit on the people in attendance, and in the middle of a song would throw his floor tom at whoever was unlucky enough to be standing near him.

With a 1000 copy press run, odds are this ripper is lurking in a dollar bin near you. Nick Sick over at Cowabunga really found a diamond in the rough and to date this is still my favorite record he ever released. A few demos and rehearsal recordings of Thee Cannibals exist somewhere, but this 7” is easily their best material. Forget what you know about southern California punk and hardcore and give this a spin. I really hope it can shed some light on one of the most underrated and often overlooked punk scenes of the last few years instead of being remembered as the breeding ground of unlistenable generic hardcore.

Download Here

-Branden

D. Vassalotti - Book Of Ghosts

2011-12-17T17:52:00.060-05:00

Artist: D. Vassalotti
Album: Book Of Ghosts
Release: 2011
Label: Vinyl Rites

Tracklist:

1. L'Incipit

2. Death Will One Day Rob Us All

3. Imaginary Boy

4. L'Ange De L'Assassinat

5. Graves

6. Jacob's Ladder

7. Mirror

8. The Last Days Of Hart Crane

9. That Misery Of Yours

10. Beatrice

I will try (and, ultimately fail) my hardest not to rant and rave and gush about this record, even though it is my favorite record of 2011. For those unaware, David Vassalotti is the one of the most talented people to emerge from Tampa's surprisingly fertile music scene and is known for his contributions to many punk and non-punk acts to grace the American circuit in recent years, my favorite being Merchandise, unsurprisingly.

After his first vinyl release under the moniker of ( ), D-Vaz returns with Book Of Ghosts, a far more complex and literary (someone went to college!) work than his last single. The A-side of the record has all of the "hits" on it in that it contains the most accessible and traditional songs on the record. "Death Will One Day Rob Us All" kicks off the record in classic David form with an incredible guitar line, "Imaginary Boy" has the best guitar solo of 2011 in it, and, while some might be put off by the acoustic fragility of it, "L'Ange De L'Assassinat" is heartbreaking.

After the bass-heavy "Mirrors," the B-side kind of throws traditional song-structure to the wayside and is far more difficult to penetrate, but once this has been accomplished, it's clear to see that this side is just as good as its predecessor. "That Misery Of Yours" reminds me of a more fractured and discordant, yet more royal version of "Mass Production" by Iggy Pop. It's truely hypnotic and it's a song like this that makes me curse the time limitations of vinyl.

This record is filled with Dave's brilliant guitar flourishes and shy vocals. Vinyl Rites described this record as sharing a similar atmosphere to that of Felt and I'm not inclined to disagree at all, only this record is clearly the work of someone far less narcissistic than Lawrence of Felt, for better or worse. I cannot recommend this record enough, it's a real thing of beauty and, until I finally listen to my copy of Bastard Noise's Skulldozer, this is the best record I've heard all year.

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-Adam

New Katorga Works Release: Warrior Kids - Les Enfant De L'Espoir (30th Anniversary Edition)

2011-12-15T00:00:00.028-05:00

Artist: Warrior Kids
Album: Les Enfant De L'Espoir (30th Anniversary Edition)
Label: Katorga Works (Originally 77 KK)
Release: 2011 (Originally 1985)

Tracklist:

1. Personne

2. Ceux Qu'on Oublie Jamais

3. Ville Morte

4. Soldat De La Paix

5. Rafale

6. Nouvelle Jeunesse

7. Marseille Tombe

8. Cirage (Le Menteur)

9. Adolescent

10. Espoir

11. [Untitled Track]

We here at Katorga Works are proud to announce our most exciting release to date: the reissue of a classic French skinhead classic, Les Enfant De L'Espoir by Warrior Kids. Here is what we have to say about this previously-too-expensive-to-own record:

This is the official U.S. reissue of the classic debut LP from Marseilles, France's Warrior Kids. This comes at a very crucial time, as it marks this classic skinhead/oi band's 30th year of existence. Appearing on various classic oi compilations, the original incarnation of Warrior Kids released a 7" single and this phenomenal LP, Les Enfant De L'Espoir. Warrior Kids remain one of the archetypical French oi bands, alongside Camera Silens and Komintern Sect and this long out-of-print/expensive LP is now made available to the record buying public once more. Remastered by Josh Bonati. Comes in a beautiful gatefold jacket with 24"x12" poster.

In conjunction with the release of this record, the band is going to be coming to the U.S. in May/June, touring all the way down from NYC to Austin, TX for Chaos in Tejas, and then back up into Canada. Here is the tentative schedule (bands and venues will be filled in ASAP):

5/18 NYC
5/19 Boston, MA
5/20 Easthampton, MA
5/21 Providence, RI
5/22 NYC
5/23 New Brunswick, NJ
5/24 Philadelphia, PA
5/25 Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD
5/26 Richmond, VA
5/27 Raleigh, NC
5/28 Atlanta, GA
5/29 New Orleans, LA
5/30 Houston, TX
5/31 Austin, TX (Chaos in Tejas)
6/1 Austin, TX (Chaos in Tejas)
6/2 Austin, TX (Chaos in Tejas)
6/3 Austin, TX (Chaos in Tejas)
6/4 Denton, TX
6/5 Oklahoma City, OK
6/6 Kansas City, MO
6/7 Chicago, IL
6/8 Toronto, ON
6/9 Montreal, QC

Download Here

Buy Here

So yeah, we implore you to check out this magnificent record. Unlike our other releases, this one's already stood the test of time! If you're a store/distro/label and are interested in wholesale copies, hit us up at katorgaworks[at]gmail[dot].com, or if you just have any general questions. Thanks!

-Adam/Colman

Siamese Twins - Demo CS

2011-12-13T12:00:00.007-05:00

Artist: Siamese Twins
Album: Demo CS
Release: 2011

Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Illusion

2. We Fall Apart

3. Don't Forgive Lightly

4. Broken Pieces

5. Ascension

6. Siamese Twins

This is the best demo I've heard in as long as I can remember, so much so that I've been listening to it almost regularly for the past two months. Siamese Twins consists of three ladies from around the punk block playing vaguely gothy, post-punk tunes. At least, that's what the production strives for and succeeds at. I might just be looking for this, but when I listen more closely, I get a sense that the songwriter(s) has a gift for writing solid indie pop songs, as well. I wouldn't hesitate to label this dark twee.

Vocal duties are split between two members, one of higher (Liz) and one of lower register (Meghan) and I think both are great. Meghan's vocals are naturally strong, while Liz gets a LITTLE wild with her melodies. I know some might be turned off by some of the more eccentric vocal melodies of hers, but I happen to think they're solid and, on occasion, gorgeous.

While I did say that this was the best demo I had heard in a minute, I won't pretend that it's perfect. The quality of songs isn't entirely consistent, with half of the songs being just pretty good, while the other half are incredible. It's kind of a shame, because my least two favorite songs on the demo are the ones Meghan sings on ("Illusion" and "Broken Pieces"), but that falls on the songs themselves and not her vocals; They're pleasant, albeit unremarkable. That being said, when the Twins hit their stride, they're unstoppable. "Don't Forgive Lightly" and "Siamese Twins" tower over the aforementioned weak moments and "We Fall Apart" is undoubtedly my favorite song of the year.

I cannot recommend this enough. Be on the look out for a 7" out soon on Labor of Love. I myself cannot wait!

Download Here

-Adam

Reagan Youth - Youth Anthems For The New Order [Original Mix]

2011-12-11T14:55:00.002-05:00

Artist: Reagan Youth

Album: Youth Anthems For The New Order [Original Mix]
Release: 1984

Label: R Radical

Tracklist:

1. New Aryans

2. Reagan Youth

3. (Are You) Happy?

4. I Hate Hate

5. Degenerated

6. U.S.A.

7. (You're A) Gonowhere

An undisputed CLASSIC punk/HC record from NYC! I will be completely honest I was never really big on NYHC, but this record ALWAYS clicked with me. Maybe it was the bands political message or the fact that it was HC with a healthy dose of punk. For whatever reason, whenever I think of classic NYHC I go for this record.

Unfortunately the folks who reissued this classic (New Red Archives) BUTCHERED the mix!!! The original 12” has a rough and tough mix, while the mix on the reissue takes away all the punch. A shame really, as the reissue has unreleased songs from the same recording session. It should be a crime to mess with original recordings no one has heard yet!

So I present to you, in all of it's full raw glory, “Youth Anthems For The New Order” the way it was meant to be heard.

For you collectors the first press sleeve has a “rough” texture, the second press has a glossy texture. There is a bootleg floating around, but I haven't heard it to compare the sound quality. Don't be fooled!

Download Here

-Branden

Felt - Ballad Of The Band 12"

2011-12-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

Artist: Felt
Album: Ballad Of The Band 12'
Release: 1986
Label: Creation

Tracklist:

1. Ballad Of The Band

2. I Didn't Mean To Hurt You

3. Candles In A Church

4. Ferdinand Magellan

I've been on a huge Felt kick lately. Every so often I become completely obsessed with them for about three months and then forget about them for over a year, only to continue the cycle and hit them hard. During this current obsession, my most listened to record of theirs is actually a single and not a full length.

Proof that 1986 was their best year (Forever Breathes The Lonely Word came out this year), Ballad Of The Band is a perfect pop single. The A-side consists of two of their best songs, period. The title track is essentially the indie pop equivalent of a diss track, tackling the departure of their guitarist Maurice Deebank. It's definitely the stronger of the two, but "I Didn't Mean To Hurt You" cuts just as deep, especially to all of us out there who are shitheads in relationships and then feel guilty! The B-side is actually comprised of two instrumentals, but filler they are not. Instead, they exist as piano-driven minimalist pieces. There's a definite Satie vibe going on, though it's a bit more busy than his work. Long story short: I'm not skipping this side.

Download Here

-Adam

Dan - Where Have All The Children Gone?

2011-12-07T15:54:00.003-05:00

Artist: Dan
Album: Where Have All The Children Gone?
Release: 1987
Label: Meantime

Tracklist:

1. Ploppy's Revenge
2. Deliverer
3. Into The Field
4. Conversation
5. Cut The Cord
6. Possession
7. Pressure Point
8. The Cull
9. Lust Is Greed
10. Office Boys And Cats
11. I Think I Should
12. Wall Of Fear
13. The End

DAN is an odd band out among self-styled anarchist bands of their day. Two years before Rudimentary Peni was beginning its descent into more overt madness, a year after Uncarved Block, Where Have All The Children Gone? is a strange record. DAN's style fits American Hardcore, early metallic punk sounding guitar elements and "anarcho-punk" into a neat hardcore package. Where Have All The Children Gone? is an incredible record with back-to-back memorable songs that highlight excellent guitars, powerful vocals and a political edge. If you're a fan of '80s hardcore that leans toward the melodic, political aesthetics, or post-punk this is a must listen. DAN released several singles, a few LPs and appeared on many compilations. All-in-all a great record that has endured the more the than two-decades since its release. My favorite songs are "Deliverer", "Into The Field", "Possession" and "Lust Is Greed".

Download Here

-Colman

The Creamers - Slow Burn 7"

2011-12-05T13:59:00.000-05:00

Artist: The Creamers
Album: Slow Burn 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Secret Beach

Tracklist:

1. Slow Burn

2. Gut Reaction

3. Glass Eyes

4. ID Me

Finally, a band that actually sounds like Black Flag. Kidding! For some reason, I thought that starting the review off with that would be funny and I was clearly mistaken.

Anywho, the Creamers are a relatively new punk band from Austin, TX, a city that has long forgotten how to mosh. Still, the Creamers refuse to let that stop them from knocking beers out of unprepared hands, much to the dismay of the elderly. In actuality, the Creamers aren't REALLY a moshy band at all, but instead are a very melodic (in the vein of old TX punk) hardcore punk. I feel as if KBD as a descriptor gets thrown around a lot with their name (I am just as guilty of this, on a flyer, specifically), but that's not entirely fair to either party.

The Creamers are hard to pin down soundwise, but I feel like two things really stick out: the incredibly melodic and all-over-the-place guitar lines and the strong yet snarky vocals and their accompanying rhythms. Admittedly, when I saw them live in NYC, they left a lot of us a bit confounded as to what we just saw, but after hearing them recorded, I get it and love it. The title track is the best example of this band's sound, which even features a hard mosh part. As good as it is, "Glass Eyes" is the strongest song on the record and one of my favorite punk songs of the year.

Can't stop listening to this 7".

Download Here

Buy Here

Buy 1st 7" Here

-Adam

Katorga Works New Katorga Works Release: Hounds Of Hate - No Redemption 7" + New Website + HYS01 (Boom Boom Kid 7")

2011-11-15T00:00:00.027-05:00

Artist: Hounds Of Hate
Album: No Redemption 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Intro/No Redemption
2. Blood From A Stone
3. Cast Out
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. Born Alone

Greetings! Colman and I have released yet another record! Here is the stock description of it:

"We are proud to announce the Katorga Works release of the debut 7" of Braddock, PA/Brooklyn, NY's Hounds of Hate. Featuring current and former members of CREEM, Natural Law, and Pissed Jeans, Hounds of Hate plays unrepentantly straight edge hardcore in the vein of late 80s NYHC, particularly that of Sick of It All and Warzone with a production striving for a sound akin to the Free For All comp. Forget their demo, No Redemption marks a turning point for the band. Unbeatable."

Truth be told, this is a special release for us, not only because we really dig the music, but because the band features two original members of the blog and good friends of ours, Trey and Flynn.

We at Katorga Works also have a large distro update, featuring (mostly) new records from: Altars, Bastard, Belgrado, Boom Boom Kid, Crazy Spirit, the Creamers, the Kotaro comp 7" (Nomad, Cervix, Bloodkrow Butcher, Earthpig), Nerveskade, Noothgrush, Zatsuon, and many more!

Distros and stores, please email us to discuss wholesale. Let it be known, there are only a little over 100 copies of the record left, so act fast.

Hounds of Hate is also embarking on a tour in late November, early December. Here are the dates:

11/26 Cleveland, OH @ Tower 2012 w/ Heartless, Full of Hell, Plague Mother, Homewrecker, Grin and Bear It
11/27 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project w/ Heartless, Full of Hell, Confidence Men, Old Accusers
11/28 DAY OFF
11/29 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Brown Sugar, + more
11/30 Washington, DC @ Asefu's w/ Sick Fix, Brown Sugar, +1 TBA
12/1 Philadelphia, PA @ Little Bar w/ Brown Sugar, Stockpile, Dry Spell
12/3 Brooklyn, NY @ The Stolen Sleeves Collective w/ CREEM, Haka, Go Deep

Download Here
Buy Here

We'd also like to announce that after more than a year of existence, we finally broke down and made a website for ourselves. It can be found at the simple URL of http://katorgaworks.com. We figure this will be the easiest way for you to find out the latest news from the label, to get into contact with us, to see our physical discography, to download our releases for free, and to see which distros and stores might be carrying records from us.

In related news, our roommates have started their own label (can two labels coexist in the same apartment???) called Hysteria record, focusing (non-exclusively) on South American releases. Their first release is the Boom Boom Kid 7". Here is a description for the record, which is a real banger:

Artist: Boom Boom Kid
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Hysteria

Tracklist:

1. Del Absoluto Vacio Surge Este Capricho
2. Y El Hospice..
3. Mirandome Al Espejo
4. 24 hs
5. En BSAS

"Latest release from legendary Argentine punk figure BOOM BOOM KID. You can hear his previous band FUN PEOPLE's hardcore punk influence tinged with a power-pop sensibility. Vocals ranging from growls to wails weave through surf punk guitars, punching through frenzied melodies that stick in your head."

This release is coming out in support for his unmissable US tour, those who have seen his unapologetically fun and frenetic shows already know what to expect. Most of the tour is already over, but here are the remaining shows:

11/15 - Davis, CA @ Bike Forth
11/16 - Reno, NV @ TBA
11/17 - San Francisco, CA @ Thrillhouse Records
11/18 - Watsonville, CA @ Youth Center
11/19 - Monterrey, CA @ American Burger
11/20 - Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman"

This is a great debut record from a label with great potential and you can also download it for free from their webstore. We are going to have a few copies of it, but you should order it from their webstore. If you would like to order copies at wholesale or potentially trade, you can email Lauren and Santi at hysteriarecords@gmail.com.

Download Here
Buy Here

-Adam & Colman

Up Next (In vague order)

KW-015: Natural Law LP (split release with Deranged)
KW-011: CREEM - Good Riddance/I Hate You 7" repress
KW-013: Warrior Kids - Les Enfants De L'Espoir... LP (30th Anniversary Edition)
KW-016: Merchandise - Children Of Desire LP
KW-006: Weed Hounds LP

WNYU Radio + Blog Reboot

2011-11-07T14:55:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! Writing here to let you know that the blog will be posting new music in about month. We're all hard at work writing reviews for a lot of (to us) cool music. We want to get a lot of these done before we start posting, so that way there is a lot going on on the site for awhile. Sorry we've been lame and absent. Life sucks lol.

Also, Colman and Adam will be guest DJing on WNYU's New Afternoon show this Thursday the 10th of November, where they will play a bunch of new music (they won't let them play old music) that hopefully you will find cool. The show is from 4:30-7:00 pm and can be streamed from wnyu.org. A quick warning: we aren't actually showing up until 5:00pm, but you should still listen for the first thirty minutes. Again, this is on November 10, 2011.

Thanks!

Katorga Works: Hoax and Avon Ladies 7" represses

2011-09-19T12:24:00.004-04:00

Greetings!

We are proud to announce that we have repressed both the Avon Ladies - Guns & Gold 7" and the Hoax 7". These sold out too fast last time, so now is your chance to get copies yet again! Actually, the two bands will be playing together on Hoax's upcoming tour with Neo Cons, where they will both have copies of this 7", as well as a new 7" on Youth Attack. Be sure to check them out if you were on that side of the country:

Sept 28th - San Francisco, CA at Submission w/ Gehenna, Cardboard Funeral, Neighborhood Brats
Sept 29th - Riverside, CA at Division 9, (3850 Lemon St) w/ Knife Fight, Harness, Dissapproval
Sept 30th - Las Vegas, NV at The Aruba (1215 Las Vegas Boulevard South)
Oct 1st - Phoenix, AZ w/ Avon Ladies, & more (Venue TBA soon)
Oct 2nd - Long Beach, CA at Que Sera, w/ Low Places, Nasa Space Universe, Francis Harold & the Holograms.
Oct 3rd - Bakersfield, CA at Munoz Gym w/ On Parade, Carciogenz, No Funeral
Oct 4th - San Francisco, CA at Hemlock Tavern w/ Yadokai

We at Katorga Works also have what is possibly our largest distro update, so be sure to check that out, as well. Lots of cool stuff and a few NYC exclusives...BUY BUY BUY.

Distros and stores, please email us to discuss wholesale on Avon Ladies. Unfortunately, due to the small amount of copies of the repress, the Hoax 7" is available for mailorder only.

BUY BUY BUY BUY

Hope you enjoy!

-Adam & Colman

Upcoming Releases:

Merchandise 2nd LP
Natural Law LP
Warrior Kids - "Les enfants de l'espoir..." LP 30th Anniversary reissue
Weed Hounds LP

NYC: Anasazi, Rosenkopf, Teardrops, Zatsuon

2011-08-25T17:09:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone, the blog is slow-going yet again because Colman is on tour and my laptop (Lappy Pappy) has died, but we'll hopefully hit you with another barrage of new music, as well as more NYC show listings. Speaking of which, here is a flyer for a sick show that is happening TONIGHT:

Anasazi (I have no idea who this band is. I'm assuming they're not the French prog-metal band that I am looking at on last.fm right now)
Rosenkopf (look out for a 7" and LP on Wierd Records soon!)
Teardrops (Brooklyn trio featuring one of the dudes who do Burn Books)
Zatsuon (noise punk supergroup featuring members of Perdition, Nerveskade, Nomad, and many others you pay too much for their records)

@ Goodbye Blue Monday
1087 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

Check this show out, locals. Will I be there? Nope! I wish, but I got video games to play...

Support the Roboto Project in Pittsburgh!

2011-08-10T14:30:00.002-04:00

We don't normally post about stuff like this (nor will we make a habit of it), plus we hate the idea of Kickstarter, but this particular fundraiser is proof that the website/concept is not inherently evil! The Mr. Roboto Project is a cooperatively run music and art space that has existed in the "great" city of Pittsburgh for over a decade and has remained a mainstay of Pittsburgh punk and hardcore. As far as we know, it closed sometime over a year ago and they are trying to raise funds to complete their move to a new space.

While not massive, the Pittsburgh "punk" scene has produced some of our favorite bands from the past ten years and we know how important this space was to people involved in those projects and others, so we'd like to help out by bringing this to your attention. Thanks and hopefully you find it in your cold hearts to donate.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Canadian Rifle - Three Seven Inches

2011-08-05T12:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: Canadian Rifle
Album: Health 7", Self Titled 7", Facts 7"
Release: 2007, 2007, 2010
Label: Squirrel Heart Records, Criminal IQ, Residue

Tracklist:

Health 7" (Squirrel Heart, 2007)

1. Follow the Leader
2. Health
3. In A Land Of Flakes Nothing Sticks

Self Titled 7" (Criminal IQ, 2007)

1. Cinderblock
2. Creep
3. Loved By Weaklings
4. Hug My Blood

Facts 7" (Residue, 2010)

1. Blank Trade
2. Choke On Foam
3. Historic Landmark

As usual I make a habit of ignoring new music as it comes out. It's always a few years after the fact that I will discover something that excites me - usually during the swan-song stage of band's life. I slept on the first few Canadian Rifle records, but luckily woke up and am happily seeing them next month!

Canadian Rifle are a three piece punk band from Chicago that have been around since 2007. They have released four 7"s, one a split with American Cheeseburger. There sound is reminiscent of American punk monolith Dillinger Four, minus the sing-along style plus big, washy chords like many Leatherface songs. Of the three records posted here it is the band's self titled EP as well as the Health 7" that shine brightest. All of Canadian Rifle's recordings have a fuzz-drenched, lo-fi sound but on the two records mentioned above the mixing captures a few more of the frills and subtleties that make Canadian Rifle so engaging: vocals slightly higher in the mix, with lyrical hooks that mesh well with the cadence of the music ("block, block") and high-end leads that break out of that fuzzy underbelly a little. The entire discography is worth multiple listens but these two records match my qualifications for modern, classic American punk. "Hug My Blood", "Creep", "Cinder Block" on the self titled 7" and really all three of the tracks from Health are beacons in our dark, musical universe.

Download Here

-Colman

New Katorga Works Release: Avon Ladies - Guns & Gold 7"

2011-08-02T00:00:00.024-04:00

Artist: Avon Ladies
Album: Guns & Gold 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Cyanide Lactater

2. Hang 'Em High

3. Quality Programming

4. Power Failure

Colman and I have released yet another record! Here is the stock description of it:

"A dark and twisted mess of a band consisting of the legendary h100s and the underappreciated-yet-awesome Pigeon Religion. With their unique and depraved brand of hardcore, Avon Ladies has become one of the most exciting bands to come out of the Arizona in a long time. We're not one to emphasize the prior acts that the bands we release are/were affiliated with, but this time we couldn't help it! Jacket will be printed with gold foil over the white on the cover."

This is one of our finest records, both in terms of music and packaging. You should act fast on this, because this one won't be around for very long. Or, just download it! Whatever. Either way, you should see the band play on their tour, where they should have these 7"s:

Wed. Aug. 10 / Chicago, IL @ The Dunk Tank / Manipulation, Rational Animals, Divine Rights, The Outs
Thurs. Aug. 11 / Columbus, OH @ Carabar / Cider, Vile Gash, Rational Animals, Human Boys
Fri. Aug. 12 / Cleveland, OH @ Now Thats Class / Ruiners (third show in 12 years), Vile Gash, Lucha Eterna
Sat. Aug. 13 / Pittsburg, PA @ Belvederes / Skull Fest III w/ Perdition, Midnight, Crazy Spirit, Cider
Sun. Aug. 14 / Philadelphia, PA @ Kungfu Necktie / Iceage, Nomos (2nd to last show?), Salvation, Give
Mon. Aug. 15 / Brooklyn, NY @ 538 Johnson / Dawn Of Humans, Nomos (last show?), Bortgang

Come out and witness the madness.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam/Colman

Zyklome A - Made In Belgium

2011-07-31T12:00:00.041-04:00

Artist: Zyklome A
Album: Made In Belgium
Release: 1984
Label: Punk Etc.

Tracklist:

1. Belgium

2. Change Your Life

3. I Hate This World, But I Love My Life

4. Last War

5. Atomic Powers

6. Sick Administration

7. People Die

8. De Bommen Vallen

9. Computerized World

10. Angry Faces

11. Abort All Wars

12. Te Laat...

13. Different Kind Of People

14. School

15. In The Night I Feel Free

16. The End

I'm by no means a Belgian punk scholar, but if I were to place a safe bet on what would constitute as the best punk record from a country known for its Ritter Sport chocolates [Note: This is apparently German, not Belgian,] its egg-heavy waffles, and its Spoiler, I would say it was the lone LP of Zyklome A. Following a split 7" with the band Moral Demolition, Made In Belgium is one fine slab of fast, crusty hardcore. It's so fine that I also count it as one of the few, thirty minute-long punk records that I can breeze through effortlessly. Despite each song being incredible intense, the record never actually gets stale or monotonous. Almost every song is an anthem in and of itself. Try not combination headbang and fist pump during "People Die." ¡Que clásico!

If this isn't the best punk rock record to come out of Belgium, then I don't know what is. Really. I don't, so please enlighten me!

Download Here

-Adam

The Aborted - Wolf Dog 7"

2011-07-30T00:00:00.006-04:00

Artist: The Aborted
Album: Wolf Dog 7"
Release: 2001
Label: Puke 'N' Vomit

Tracklist:

1. Wolf Dog

2. I Need Pills

WOLF DOGGGGGG!!! WOLF DOGGGGGG!!! Hands down one of the best, if not THE best, HARDCORE single from Orange County in the confusing time period that was 2000-2009. To my knowledge this band STILL plays, and after this record they managed to put out a handful of mediocre to just plain BAD records. Still, this thing is a god damn classic.

I used to work for the guitar player of this band. When I first started working with him, he handed me a huge stack of records that he had released. I didn't like most of the stuff he gave me (I kept two or three records out of a stack of twenty something), but this record blew me away. The first thing I thought was "this sounds like a lost h100s/Clevo scumbag record," and I eagerly awaited putting on the next Aborted single, but was dissappointed to find that nothing was ever going to be as good as WOLF DOG. I asked him about the WOLF DOG 7" and asked him how they recorded it, and he told me that everything was recorded in one take to a 4-track in an open garage. 300 copies pressed, all on red vinyl, and as far as I know the label STILL has copies. There is a tour cover as well (limited to 14? or 24? I can't remember, it's in a box somewhere) and, of course, test presses.

If you are ever in Orange County, see if the Aborted is playing, as far as I know the singer is still shoving nightsticks up his ass while the band belts out such modern classics as "WOLF DOG" or "I NEED PILLS." AMAZING.

Download Here

-Branden

The Scrotum Poles - Revelation 7"

2011-07-28T12:00:00.051-04:00

Artist: The Scrotum Poles

Album: Revelation 7"
Release: 1980
Label: One Tone

Tracklist:

1. Why Don't You Come Out Tonight?

2. Night Train

3. Pick The Cat's Eyes Out

4. Helicopter Honeymoon

5. Radio Tay

I first heard about the Scrotum Poles from a reader of our blog when he introduced me to the Auchmithie Forever LP from 2009, a collection of home and demo recordings from this obscure and almost-forgotten Scottish post-punk/indie pop band.

Before we go any further, though, let's get the obvious out of the way: this band has one of the worst names ever. I know it's mind-numbingly stupid, but I implore you to look past that shortcoming to realize that this 7" truly is a pop gem. The record is curiously paced, with each song being more intense and energetic than the one before it, from the lethargic "Why Don't You Come Out Tonight" to the catchy punk of "Radio Tay."

These songs are great (though, I still have no idea what a Radio Tay is), but it's what lies in between those bookends that make up the real meat of the record. These three songs are some of the catchiest songs to come out of Scotland. The real hit is "Pick The Cat's Eyes Out," which rivals the best from fellow countrymen Orange Juice and Josef K. Seriously, it's one of the best pop songs I've ever heard in my life. Expect it on any mix I make from 2010 and on.

If you wanted to own this, you no longer need to fork over hundreds of your hard earned/inherited dollars, as this 7" was FINALLY reissued by Dulc-I-Tone records. Surprising it took them so long, as their release of Auchmithie Forever was greeted primarily with the warcry of "but what about the Revelation???"

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

Lust For Youth - Solar Flare

2011-07-27T00:00:00.044-04:00

Artist: Lust For Youth
Album: Solar Flare
Release: 2011
Label: Avant!

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Dreams

3. Ruins

4. Solar Flare

5. Sickness

6. Eternity Now

7. Far Away

8. Black Death

9. Strings

10. Falling

11. Taste Of Skin

12. Red Lights

Lust For Youth is a synth heavy/dark lo-fi two piece from Sweden. Their brooding debut LP Solar Flare is one of my most heavily-rotated records this summer. You’ll find yourself nodding along to the cadence and noise that you’ll carry for days. Some of the tracks feel like they could almost be danceable at time, with pop melodies making brief appearances throughout. The beats are buried below layers of fuzz, though, as are the vocals. Contrary to what the album title might convey, the atmosphere on Solar Flare feels cold and despondent; each track seamlessly flows into the next and I love it. For me, this is the perfect album for collapsing on relentlessly hot summer nights.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Clinfardo

Leather - Sterile 7"

2011-07-25T12:00:00.002-04:00

Artist: Leather
Album: Sterile 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Jade Tree

Tracklist:

1. No Motivation

2. Zek

3. Relapse

4. Novitate

Philly's most hated (or ignored?) punk band returns with a new 7" on Jade Tree of all labels. After a kinda cool demo and a pretty good debut 7" (that song "Prince Of The Salon" still kills it), the band achieves something that the potential of earlier releases hinted at.

The first thing that makes this record better than past efforts is the recording. It sounds cleaner and fuller than that old stuff, which works to its advantage. It took me a second to realize this and I found myself mildly offended by the recording, at first. Ultimately, though, it really accentuates the vocals, which have been a huge point of contention with this band in the past. Either you love 'em or hate 'em...I happen to love 'em. This dude's weird caterwauling is so good that I'm actually convinced that this guy has had plenty of vocal training and is actually a good singer. The music is also getting better and better. The much-improved rerecording of the demo cut "No Motivation," while cool, pales in comparison to the three newer songs. That's definitely a testament to the improvement of their songwriting.

My pet peeve with this record is that it's two short songs on Side A and two long songs on Side B, making the record a 33rpm 7" instead of a 45rpm 7". FUCK YOU, LEATHER. Why???

Make sure to check this out. Philly is actually pumping out good music for the first time in forever! Well, just Leather and Sickoids. Sickoids is so fucking good.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

Gatecrashers - Desillusioned 7"

2011-07-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

Artist: Gatecrashers
Album: Desillusioned 7"
Year: 1980
Label: Irmgardz...

Tracklist:

1. Spectator
2. Desillusioned
3. Idols

Awesome single from Denmark's Gatecrashers. Unfortunately, I don't think this band ended up doing anything other than this 7". The A side was comped on Bloodstains Across Denmark, but for some reason the B side wasn't. It's a damn shame to because all the songs on this record are great. I swear if more sessions or unreleased material popped up from this band I am pretty sure I would cream my pants; this single is just too fucking good for there not to be more material out there. I LOVE the keyboard that this band uses and I usually HATE keyboards and "New Wave" in general, but the keyboards on this record are way to damn fast to be classified as "New Wave". Although it doesn't pop up for sale to often, this record doesn't command a high price so it shouldn't be to hard to get and it is definitely worth the price of admission.

Download Here

-Branden

Perdition - Self Titled 7" [Toxic State]

2011-07-22T12:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: Perdition
Album: Self Titled 7" [Toxic State]
Release: 2011

Label: Toxic State

Tracklist:

1. Wrath

2. Corpse Of Life

3. Silence

4. Violent Peace

Finally, the new Perdition 7" has arrived! Coming hot off the heels of an excellent side of a split 7" with Nerveskade (wet dream for noise punk aficionados, myself not included in that camp, thank god), Perdition has released what is probably their finest material to date. If you've never heard one of NYC's greatest contemporary punk bands, the best way I can describe them to you is as a conglomeration of UK82, Japanese, and Scandinavian punk stylees. I'd say more heavily on the European side of things.

If you've followed Perdition in the past, the first thing you'll notice about this material is how much noisier it is than previous efforts, even that last split. It kind of caught me off-guard, though having witnessed their live show for awhile now, I shouldn't have actually been that surprised. Honestly, I wish the production fell somewhere in between the 2nd 7" on Distort Reality and this where this sound lies.

Still, I feel like with this EP, the band has probably accomplished what they set out to achieve in terms of sound, making this the quintessential Perdition release, as of now. The characteristic this band possesses over most contemporary acts of this style is pure songwriting skill. Yeah, you can rock that white noise guitar shit all you want, but if you don't have a good song under it, I don't care. Perdition manage to write incredible songs, ergo they are incredible. This batch of songs is amongst their best, with "Violent Peace" rivaling "Devour" for position of "Best Perdition Song" in my heart :).

You should not hesitate to download this. Perdition have put out what is definitely one of my favorite releases of the year, both in terms of musical product and packaging. This 7" looks reaaaal good, though don't all Toxic State releases as of late? There might be cheap imitators popping up (off their bikes) across the country, but know that Perdition are the real deal.

Download Here
To buy, email toxicstaterecords@gmail.com

-Adam

Crazy Spirit - I'm Dead 7"

2011-07-21T00:05:00.001-04:00

Artist: Crazy Spirit
Album: I'm Dead 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Mata La Musica Discos

Tracklist:

1. I'm Dead
2. This World Is Not My Home

3. Knives

The Crazy Spirit I'm Dead 7" is the first release of new material by this gaggle of NYC local toughs since their much-heralded debut 7" of last year. Despite this being put out by the LA based Mata La Musica Discos, the physical record is similar in quality and style to Crazy Spirit's wonderful first 7" and keeps up the matted, inky Toxic State look.

The signature Crazy Spirit gallop blazes through these three songs in the fashion we all know (and love). "I'm Dead" is a hold-over from the band's demo but is recorded with new loudness and intensity that brings out the haunting, sustained guitar that makes this band a tasty oasis in the raw punk desert. "This World Is Not My Home" (my favorite track) is definitely the most sincere Crazy Spirit track to date. The lyrics, I've heard, are borrowed or altered from a Christian spiritual or folk song but when combined with this churning, longer jam make it classic. Really creepy though, as the vocals and lyrics ask you to join their singer in a voyage to an alternate plane. "Knives" blasts through in just over a minute with a mournful lead.

An excellent, very dark record.

Download Here

-Colman

Hank Wood & The Hammerheads - Self Titled 7"

2011-07-19T22:15:00.006-04:00

Artist: Hank Wood & The Hammerheads
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Toxic State

Tracklist:

1. Shoulda Listen (To Mommah)

2. Fever Breaks

3. I'm Hungry

Successfully following up the release of two of last year's hottest punk records (the Crazy Spirit and Dawn Of Humans 7"s) would seem like a daunting, if not impossible, task, but not for Toxic State, who has quickly ascended into the role of the best punk label in NYC. The Toxic State bois have just released three bangers: the newest Perdition 7", a tape version of the soon-to-be-SMRT-released Long Pigs 7", and this curious 7", the debut Hank Wood & the Hammerheads record.

This record is definitely the black sheep of this batch of records, as it doesn't fit comfortably in the punk/hardcore realm as well as the other releases do. Actually, this record has more in common with garage rock than it does hardcore. Still, it's actually, by far, the most infectious of these new records. These three songs are insanely catchy, keyboard-drenched, punk stompers fronted by a Sephardic miscreant known only by the mysterious handle of Hank Wood. This record possesses such snarky, yet dangerous attitude. While listening to this, I imagine some coked-up hooligan marching down the streets of the Lower East Side, cat-calling women and trying to pick fights with lowly nerds, such as myself. I hate it. These songs contain elements of danger and sketchiness that not many punk records actually possess these days.

Avoid introducing these boys to Mommah. Except the bassist, he seems completely friendly and, just maybe, husband material.

Download Here

To buy, email toxicstaterecords@gmail.com

NYC/Brooklyn: Three shows you should go to...

2011-07-14T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, we're gearing up for a blitzkrieg of new posts, including some from a new poster! Exciting! Until then, if you live in the NYC area, let us shamelessly promote two shows that are happening very soon that overlap. These shows are for Wiccans and Rational Animals, which are both a part of the Katorga Works roster, have released their debuts LPs, and who are both on big tours.

AND

July 14th

Wiccans
Fleshtemple
Shingles
DJ JK

@ Bruar Falls
245 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY

July 15th:

Rational Animals (LP Release/Tour Kickoff)
Wiccans
Hoax
CREEM
+ maybe Hank Wood & the Hammerheads (we shall see!)

@ Tommy's Tavern
1014 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY

July 16th

Nomos
Leather
Rational Animals
Pygmy Shrews

@ Union Pool
484 Union Ave
Brooklyn, NY
21+

New Katorga Works Release: Rational Animals - Bock Rock Parade LP

2011-07-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

Artist: Rational Animals
Album: Bock Rock Parade
Release: 2011

Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Crumbling Buildings

2. Guess What? (Crunch)

3. Darker Shade Of Blue

4. Someone Like You

5. Thought Debris

6. My Treat

7. Toy Box

8. If Only You Could Hear Me Now

Colman and I have released yet another record! Here is the stock description of it:

"A true heavy metal band" from Rochester, NY, Rational Animals have exceeded even our overly-generous expectations with their debut LP, Bock Rock Parade. The band made a name for itself on its first two 7"s with its modern stylings on late-era Black Flag and general Greg Ginn-worship, but it's clear that the band has come a long way from that point. Incorporating a wide variety of newer influences into its already atypical hardcore blueprint, the band has developed and progressed its sound into something absolutely fresh and essential.

Despite the numerous delays, this record came out SO good. We're absolutely in love with it. Hopefully you will fall for it, as well.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam/Colman

Hounds Of Hate - Demo CS

2011-06-24T01:00:00.011-04:00

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

2011-06-15T00:00:00.022-04:00

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

2011-06-13T12:43:00.001-04:00

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!

Hummingbird - Diamond Nights

2011-05-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Artist: Hummingbird

Album: Diamond Nights

Release: 1977

Label: A&M

Tracklist:

1. Got My "Led Boots" On

2. Spirit

3. Cryin' For Love

4. She Is My Lady

5. You Can't Hide Love

6. Anaconda

7. Madatcha

8. Losing You (Ain' No Doubt About It)

9. Spread Your Wings
10. Anna's Song

Hummingbird was an interracial, British funk band from the mid-1970s. Yes, I know that that combination of elements already has a lot of things going against it and you're probably expecting some dad-funk, but...well, actually the final album by these limey bastards, Diamond Nights, is chock full of straight-up dad-funk. That doesn't mean, however, that it's necessarily bad. On this album, the band alternates between some hard funk moments and total soft rock, dad-funk moments. Songs like "Anaconda" and "She Is My Lady" will make you think you're waiting on-hold with Comcast, but there are some real gems that make up for that. The opener of "Got My "Led Boots" On" is pretty awesome funk with walking basslines and scorching guitar solos. The uncontested winner of this record is the "You Can't Hide Love," which is complete with one of the coolest, psychedelic-tinged keyboard solos I've ever heard. This song alone is worth downloading the entire record. And hey, if you're a dad, you've actually got a lot of "good times" to celebrate with this record!

Download Here

-Adam

School Jerks - Control 7"

2011-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Artist: School Jerks

Album: Control 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Cowabunga!

Tracklist:

1. Screamer/Control

2. Ready To Die

3. Moral Addiction

4. Ugly Minds, Ugly Faces

5. 4-F

Toronto's True Gods of Savage HC are back with a bang, this time with their third and, just maybe, best 7" offering yet. What makes this particular 7" of theirs standout is that its production values are much better than the past two 7"s. Still, this is far from clean, but it's nice to have a slightly fuller sound to their songs. The songs themselves are also amongst their best and I would say that it rivals their first 7".

If you haven't heard School Jerks before (shame on you), they could totally fit in on the west coast in 1981, both in style and recording quality. Two areas that really make the band stand apart from their contemporaries is that the drums are amongst the tightest and most interesting around, and that the vocalist is completely unhinged. I really mean that too; I've never seen him without blood on his face or with more than one shoe on at a time. I hope he doesn't step on anything nasty! Also let it be noted that "4-F" is my favorite School Jerks song yet. So catchy!

Check this out if you haven't already heard it. Also, these are mp3s straight from the band, not a vinyl rip. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam

New Katorga Works Release: CREEM - Good Riddance b/w I Hate You 7"

2011-05-20T10:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: CREEM

Album: Good Riddance b/c I Hate You
Release: 2011

Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Good Riddance

2. I Hate You

We've been busy here at Katorga Works (hence the inactivity on I Could Die Tomorrow) and we'd like to present to you yet another release of ours. This particular 7" is from a hometown band called CREEM, which actually features ICDT poster/KW labelmate/Natural Law guitarist/Ayn Rand-enthusiast Colman! Anyway, here is our stupid description of the record:

"Members of Nomos and Natural Law combine forces to being you the best Boston band not from Boston. The band plays early 80s style hardcore not unlike Last Rights or other Choke projects with a heavy dose of Blitz influence in there. These two songs are their newest and best material to date, with no clear winner emerging between the hardened "Good Riddance" and the anthemic B-side of "I Hate You." This is the first of a planned series of 7" singles for the band."

We're really proud of how this turned out. This is also our first of six releases that we hope to have out by the end of August, the others being the Wiccans LP, the Rational Animals LP, a Pollution 7", an Avon Ladies 7", and the Weed Hounds LP (two years in the making!!!). Also with this release comes a huge distro update, so be sure to look out or some new, amazing records there, including some from Hank Wood and the Hammerheads, Perdition, the Men, Cult Of Youth, Lust For Youth, Contrepoison, Neon Blud, the Wankys, and more!

Download Here

Buy Here

-Adam & Colman

Anhedonist - The Drear

2011-05-19T22:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: Anhedonist

Album: The Drear
Release: 2010
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. The Insatiable Hole
2. Despond
3. Ouranophobia

Seattle death/doom metal quartet Anhedonist have everything going for them. In the first place, this fantastic demo tape has already sold out, and is now available on limited vinyl. Second, they’re already doing a pretty-close-to-full US tour, with certain eastern dates featuring them opening for the likes of Hooded Menace, Negative Plane and up-and-coming giallophiles Ilsa. Oh, and lest we forget-- when was the last time a band got on the roster of a festival as kvlt and serious-busiiness as Rites of Darkness on the basis of a three-song demo? Come December, they’ll be playing alongside an incredible bunch of bands including Mortuary Drape, Demigod, Mournful Congregation, Root and Tribulation among many more. Not too shabby, to say the least.

And on their sole release, Anhedonist have recorded more than your ears’ worth-- at over half an hour, The Drear is longer than many other full-lengths released in recent years. While the music itself doesn’t reinvent any wheels, this is almost certainly not what the band is trying to do. Rather, they tacfully blend the mournful, sickly melodies of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and their ilk with the more recent, bleak stylings and incredibly low tuning (G# !) of funeral doom such as dISEMBOWELMENT and the aforementioned Mournful Congregation. Under the subterranean growl of frontman VB, guitars lumber and ominously ring out, but also flexibly etch tuneful single riffs. Yet Anhedonist aren’t trying to constantly suffocate-- they know how properly imbue their songs with just enough light to conrast the dark. Halfway through “The Insatiable Hole,” the guitars drop out to make way for shimmering clean tone, round bass and careful drums. Yet everything is still going in one direction: down. When the heaivness kicks back in, VB’s screams sound far more anguished than the growls the song opened with.

While this tape is sold out, Parasitic records has re-pressed it on LP in a limited run of 500.

Additionally, Anhedonist are on tour right now and you should damn well see them! Dates are below with the download and buy links.

Download Here
Buy Here

Remaining May/June Tour Dates:

-Thursday, 19th, New Orleans, LA @Siberia
w/Pallbearer, Grave Ritual

-Friday, 20th, Nashville, TN @Rutledge
w/Pallbearer, Loss

-Saturday, 21st, Chattanooga, TN @Anarchtica
w/Pallbearer, Otis Reaper, and 2 TBA

-Sunday, 22nd, Asheville, NC @The Get Down
w/Hour of 13

-Monday, 23rd, OFF

-Tuesday, 24th, Harrisonburg, VA @house show
w/Ilsa +2

-Wednesday, 25th, Washington, DC @TBA
w/Ilsa, Oak, and Midnight EYE

-Thursday, 26th thru Sunday, 29th, OFF

-Monday, 30th, Philadelphia, PA @Blockley Pourhouse
w/Hooded Menace, Ilsa, High Priest, and Oak

-Tuesday, 31st, Brooklyn, NYC @Union Pool
w/Hooded Menace, Negative Plane, Ilsa

-Wednesday, June 1st, Indianapolis, IN @The Melody Inn
w/Kata Sarka, Coffinworm +1

-Thursday, 2nd, Milwauke, WI @River Horse
w/ Kata Sarka

-Friday, 3rd, Lansing, MI @Mac's Bar
w/Kata Sarka, Wastelander, Genocya

-Saturday, 4th, Ft. Wayne @The Brass Rail
w/Kata Sarka, Deep Coiler +1

-Sunday, 5th, Lawrence, KS @TBA
w/TBA

-Monday, 6th, Denver, CO @Old Curtis Street.
W/Acephalix, Undergang, Dodsfalla, Roskopp

-Tues, 7th, Salt Lake City, UT @South Shore
w/Acephalix, Undergang, Yaotl Mictlan

-Thursday, 9th, Seattle, WA @The Black Lodge
W/Society Nurse, Acephalix, Undergang

-Asa

A.R. Kane - When You're Sad 12"

2011-05-18T15:26:00.001-04:00

Artist: A.R. Kane
Album: When You're Sad 12"
Release: 1987
Label: One Little Indian

Tracklist:

1. When You're Sad [Long Version]

2. When You're Sad

3. So Far Away

Over the years, A.R. Kane have become one of my favorite bands. At this point, they'd probably make a "top five" list, if I were ever to haphazardly construct one. I completely stand behind all of their material sans a few remixes and a good portion of their last LP, New Clear Child. It ain't great. Who cares, though, when the band started off incredibly strong, though, with this 12" single, When You're Sad.

This 12" is one of my favorite dream pop records. Unlike some of their later, poppier stuff, this is completely drenched in feedback and white noise. The single features two versions of the title track, a "regular" version and a "long" version, the long version being quite different in that it's not only longer, but is a bit more stripped-down. Both versions of this song are masterpieces of the genre and it would be fruitless for me to decide upon one as being greater than the other. "So Far Away" ends the 12" perfectly on a somber note, with a track a little less upbeat than the other two.

Not all can appreciate this band, but I feel like their early singles are very much up the alley of anyone who likes 80s noise pop stuff like Jesus and Mary Chain and early Cocteau Twins. It's one of my favorite singles ever, at least.

Download Here

-Adam

NYC: Upcoming Shows in May/June

2011-05-05T00:00:00.005-04:00

Here are more shows happening in the NYC area. Many of these are booked by the fine people at Hardcore Gig Volume, Undead Gig Volume, Dan-O with the Van-O, Girl/Queer shows, Mosh Pit City, and the less-than-desirable Stolen Sleeves Collective.

May 6th:

Slobs (sick hardcore punk from Montreal. members of 0megas)
Panzram (disgusting two-piece from FL. ex-Merkit)
CREEM (GET CREEMED with Nomos and Natural Law alumns)
Cervix (female-fronted raw punk attack)
Syphilitic Lust (Brooklyn, primitive black metal like Hellhammer, kinda. Members of Pollution and Battletorn)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective

$5, 8pm, NO BOOZE

May 6th:

Boneblack (montreal)
Death First
Theses Days (mems of Hiretsukan)

@ The Acheron
$7, 8pm

May 6th:

Shellshag
Twat Sauce (TN)
Homewreckers
Surrogate Activity
Aye Nako

@ The Silent Barn
8pm

May 7th:

UNDEAD GIG VOLUME #34
Amelia & Marcus' Birthday Bash

Brain Killer
Germ Attak
Nomad
Lost Tribe
Panzram
Slobs

@ The Acheron
$7, 8pm

May 7th:

The Measure (SA) (last show ever)
Big Eyes
Bad Banana
Death First

@ Death By Audio
8pm

May 10th:

Napalm Raid (Nova Scotia)
The Dipers
Cauldron (914 thrash)

@ Tommy's Tavern
$5, 8pm

May 14th:

Masakari
Black Kites
Grudges
+1tba

@ ABC No Rio
$7, 3pm

May 15th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #160

A.N.S. - Thrash punk from all over, Tank Crimes
Seasick - Hubcity Hardcore
Sickoids - New Punk band from Philly members of Government Warning and Witch Hunt
Long Pigs - Local Hardcore Punk

@ The Acheron
8pm

May 18th:

RVIVR (WA)
Shellshag
Aye Nako
Worriers

@ 538 Johnson
8pm

May 21st:

Dawn of Humans (return to NYC gig)
Brain Killer (Boston fucking kill!)
Earthpig (Boston punk CONFUSion)
Long Pigs (Mateo's dick)

@ ABC No Rio
3pm

May 21st:

Scapegoat (mean as shit fucking violence from Boston!)
Perdition (split 7" release & Toxic State 7” release)
Crazy Spirit (return show / 7” release)
Nomad (youMAD)

@ Ask a fucking punk (and no, don't email ICDT because we're not punks and don't know)
$5, 8pm (show over by midnight)

May 23rd:

Nazi Dust (Tampa hardcore heroes, on tour)
Brain Slug (LIHC)
+2 more

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 8pm
May 27th:

FREEWHEEL BOOKING PRESENTS

Doom - UK Crust
Dropdead - Rhode Island
Teargas - Brisbane, Australia

@ Europa
$10/$12, 6pm

May 24th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #154

Miasmal - Metal from Sweden
Hatred Surge - Brutal Violence from Texas
Mammoth Grinder - HC punk Metal from Texas
Innumerable Forms - Metal from Boston/Austin, Members of Mind Eraser & Mammoth Grinder
Internal Rot - Grinding Violence from Melbourne, Australia

@ The Acheron
8pm

May 31st:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #157

Tragedy - T-Beat pioneers
Citizens Arrest - Hardcore!
Teargas - Brisbane, Australia
Night Birds - Catchy Hardcore Punk from NJ/Brooklyn

@ Europa
$10, 8pm

June 7th:

Brilliant Colors
+more

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 8pm

June 9th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #155

0MEGAS - One of my favorite Hardcore bands! MONTREAL.
Dry Spell - Hardcore Punk from RVA
Mad World - Also from Virgina
DBCR - Brooklyn

@ The Acheron
8pm

June 11th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #161

RZL DZL - From Detroit, Party Time!!!
Face Reality - From Detroit on Youngblood Records
Build and Destroy - Members of RZL DZL from Detroit

@ The Acheron
5pm

June 11th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #156

Kieltolaki - Hardcore Punk from Finland, X-Selfish
Brain Killer - Boston
Nomad - NYC

@ The Acheron
9pm

June 12th:

Run With the Hunted (Arizona HC Panic Records)
Black Kites (Jersey metallic HC)
Grudges (Brooklyn Grind)
Rattling Cages (Brooklyn Hardcore)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 8pm, NO BOOZE

June 15th:

Milk Music (BEST BAND)
The Men (Brooklyn punks, new LP on Sacred Bones)
Nude Beach (NAIDEAU!)
The Marsh Hens (four harsh men, Brooklyn's best kept secret)

@ Don Pedros
8pm

June 15th:

See You In Hell
xbraniax
Grudges
Mutant Supremacy

@ The Acheron
$7, 8pm

June 17th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #159

Origin of [M] - From Japan, ex-Gudon (!!!)
Agitator - Brooklyn Punk
+ more tba

@ The Charleston
8pm, 21+

June 19th:

Werchandise comes to NYC

Merchandise (Post-Punk from Tampa, first real tour)
Pollution (Brooklyn hardcore veterans)
Lotus Fucker (DC noisy hardcore)
Shoppers (Queer Art Punk from Syracuse)

@ Death By Audio
$7, 8pm, All Ages

June 20th:

mWerchanov comes to NYC

Merchandise (YOU KNOW)
White Lung (Vancouver punk attack on Deranged)
Nu Sensae (two piece on tour with White Lung)
Hubble (solo guitar symphonies)
Ascensions (Brooklyn drone w/ help from The Men)

@ The Gutter
$5, 8pm, 21+ (possibly)

June 25th:

Pink Coffins
Distress Signal
Death First
+2tbd

@ 538 Johnson, #210
8pm

New puzzle pieces Releases: Four Eyes and Bad Banana EPs

2011-05-03T15:06:00.002-04:00

Since shameless self-promotion is the name of the game around here, I figured I'd join in on the fun. Breaking the pace of the Katorga Works gentlemen, puzzle pieces is a little more about being a wimp, being a queer, being a girl, or just being into pop punk. With that, I bring you the first two puzzle pieces records releases:

Four Eyes - Towards The End Of Cosmic Loneliness 7"

Artist: Four Eyes
Album: Towards The End Of Cosmic Loneliness 7"
Release: 2011
Label: puzzle pieces

Tracklist:

1. Back To Life
2. Pilgrim
3. Carol Stream
4. SOS

I've plugged Four Eyes before, and I'm doing it again. With their second EP, Four Eyes bring more emotionally raw indie rock in the vein of Dinosaur Jr. with a dose of twinkle in their riffage. Recorded this time with Justin Pizzoferrato, Towards The End Of Cosmic Loneliness has a bit more of a lo-fi feel than their first record, but they stick to what they do best: writing short, catchy pop punk songs.

Artwork by Paige Young.

Download Here
Buy Here

Bad Banana- Cry About It 7"

Artist: Bad Banana
Album: Cry About It 7"
Release: 2011
Label: puzzle pieces

Tracklist:

1. Cry About It
2. Teleport Tonight
3. Boys With Girlfriends
4. LeAnna

With Cry About It, Bad Banana tame the frequencies of their demo without compromising any of its urgency. The Crutchfield sisters-- joined here by Kyle from Big Soda-- continue their '90s-inspired, stop-and-go pop punk. Songs of drunken friendship, whining, and so forth.

The A-side packs a somewhat cynical punch with both tracks clocking it at under two minutes, as on the record's title track Katie mocks "if it makes you feel better." "Boys with Girlfriends" provides a change of pace, sounding almost more like a P.S. Eliot song though providing the same pop hooks of Bad Banana. "LeAnna" may be my favorite track track of theirs yet. As "ANXIETY" rings in, Allison has solidified her status with me as an awesome pop-punk writer. The best moments of the record come as everything drops with "we go DOWNTOWN/you buy the first round" and "create a detour/create the future." Song writing credits go: Katie, Allison, Katie, Allison, which I find somewhat evident as each twin sinks into her own style.

Artwork by Jason Roy. Letterpressed at the Bow & Arrow Press in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Download Here
Buy Here

There is also a package deal where you save a bit on shipping. Aside from puzzle pieces records releases, I'll have a growing distro stock, so far including 7"s from Merchandise, Vegetable, Pink Nightmare, Billy Raygun, and more to come.

P.S. Other blogs, feel free to share the download links, just please use ours and include a link for purchase. That would be much appreciated!

-Catherine

Nomad - Shigiru 7"

2011-04-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: Nomad
Album: Shigiru 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Vinyl Bloodbath

Tracklist:

1. Kogeki Kaishi

2. Shi Ne

3. Deguchi Nai

4. Ashita Wa Nai

5. Zembu Uso Da Ta

6. Tataka-e

Nomad's debut 7", Shigiru, is the latest entry in the "New York On Top" unofficial series here at ICDT. This particular band, comprised of Perdition (the Great) and Cervix folks, is one of my current local favorites, even if they don't play shows nearly enough. The band sticks to the essential elements of the noise punk formula and really do nothing to hide their worship of raw crust classics such as Confuse and Disclose and that's part of their very charm. Guitarist and vocalist Tye's echoed vocals in Japanese are not Nomad's only link to their Eastern brethren; their brand of ultradistorted punk insanity is so sincere in that they take their love of their influences to levels rivaling Japanese contemporaries such as D-Clone and System Fucker. OK, maybe that's veering into hyperbolic territory, but still...

While this EP is awesome in its own right, the band is releasing a 7" flexi of even better (written and recorded) material, so be on the look out for that. While I personally hate flexis (especially in 2011), this band's favorite Japanese records were released on this format, so I suppose it makes sense for them to do it. I GUESS :/

Download Here

-Adam

Escape The Day - Ghostless

2011-04-28T13:34:00.000-04:00

Artist: Escape The Day
Album: Ghostless
Release: 2005
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Hallways
2. Ghostless
3. Days
4. The Hour Undone
5. If I Told You
6. Still
7. This Wave’s Length
8. Last Words

The stories behind the making of albums are often as affecting as the music contained within. Would AC/DC have seemed as ragged if Bon Scott’s pre-vocal tracking ritual (doob, line of blow, bottle of whiskey) wasn’t public knowledge? Doesn’t Loveless seem more strange because of the insane studio tales of Kevin Shields and his obsessive methodology?: What about that one supposed time where ODB did the horizontal mambo with a lady on a studio’s kickdrum, then used the recorded rhythm for a beat? These tales, whether true or not, affect how we listen to records.

Escape the Day’s Ghostless is one such record. A very musically knowledgeable friend of mine first told me of this band and album a year ago. He’d begun corresponding in 2004 or 2005 with EtD’s Florian Rehnse. Over the subsequent months, many letters were exchanged, culminating in my friend receiving a huge box of EtD merch, CDs and rare compilation records from Florian. After this came a note in which Florian wrote that he would soon be taking his own life, and that he appreciated everything my friend (who’s in a band of note) had written, sent, and recorded.

While technically unfinished from the point of view of Florian’s collaborator, Lars, Ghostless is nonetheless the band’s only release, distributed for free and dedicated to the love and life of his friend and bandmate. While the band does consider itself post-rock, there is nothing here that even remotely resembles the peak-and-valley dynamics and EitS/GY!BE worship one might assume. Rather, as said by Lars on the band’s fanpage, the music is “for lonely walks, hangovers or just falling asleep.” And indeed, Ghostless’ eight tracks are perfect for times of, well, escape-- whether to solitude, sleep or sobriety. Greyness abounds. Clean guitars intertwine with a haunting, jangly clarity, not even touching a distorted sound until halfway through the record. Sullen piano melody and the ebbs in and out like a tide. Whispery vocals tell of loss, vulnerability, and distance.

Let this record soak in, revel in the duo’s expressions of sorrow, and honor the dead.

Download Here

-Asa

CREEM - Demo CS

2011-04-25T13:40:00.003-04:00

Artist: CREEM
Album: Demo CS
Release: 2011
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Sick Of You

2. Wasted Time
3. Problems

4. A Mean Day

Have you ever wondered what the combination of Blitz and Slapshot would sound like? Probably not, but curious minds from Brooklyn's Nomos and Natural Law have come together to exhibit just what that may sound like. Playing definite early-80s Boston-worship, CREEM plagiarize their way through the beantown hardcore goodbook (Negative FX and SSD come to mind, at least on the opener "Sick Of You") and come up with an amazing four-song demo. The vocals, in particular, stand out with a certain gruff ferocity with interesting vocal patterns. And don't worry, kids, there's plenty of chorus pedal!

Are you hard enough to be in the CREEM CREW? If so, get this tape and keep an eye out for a soon-to-be-released 7" single.

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-Adam

Doughboys - Whatever

2011-04-21T13:21:00.010-04:00

Artist: Doughboys
Album: Whatever
Release: 1988
Label: Cargo/Spahn Ranch

Tracklist:

1. Tradition
2. Stranger from Within
3. Can’t Find the Day
4. The Forecast
5. You’re Related
6. I Remember
7. Senseless Murders
8. You Don’t Know Me
9. I Don’t Wanna Know!

All good things must end, and my postings of my favoritest pop-punk band, Montreal’s Doughboys, is no exception. While I wouldn’t say I’ve saved the absolute best for last, I’ve certainly saved one of the more obscure releases; upon investigation in the mid-2000s, drummer Brock Pytel discovered that the master tapes had burned in a warehouse fire sometime before. There will be no remaster.

Whatever is the Doughboys’ very energetic, if slightly unoriginal debut LP. It’s not hard in the least to hear the blatant influence of future tourmates the Descendents and Husker Du (and, occasion, perhaps their fellow Canucks The Nils). Combining the youthful brashness of the former with the honesty and major-key melodies of the latter, John Kastner, Pytel, Jon “Bondhead” Asencio and Scott McCullogh rented gear in order to cut these nine songs and tour pretty darned nonstop. While the quartet’s tunes aren’t as rock-solid as they’d eventually become, these tracks are still abuzz with energy.

“Tradition” blazes out of the gate, with Kastner quipping “I’m more at home/here out on my own/competing foes/why don’t we just get out of here?” “Stranger From WIthin” doesn’t drop a beat and continues to narrate his struggles as guitars careen everywhere. While McCullogh’s leads never proved as strong as his longer-lasting successor Jon Cummins, his licks in songs like “Stranger” still stick very well.

After “The Forecast” rounds out the opening four tracks of faster, Kastner-penned snottyness, we get a taste of the Husker-like songwriting split the Doughboys had. Brock Pytel, more than capable of singing lead from behind his kit, nails “No Holiday (From Living) with a soaring chorus. And not unlike the Hart-Mould dynamic, his gritty croon and thoughtful lyrics seem more contemplative than Kastner’s throaty vocals and equally powerful adolescent aggravation: “There’s no holiday from living/There’s no shelter from it all/There’s no escape from dying, no one sees you when you’re standing tall.”

With Pytel once again at the helm, the band returns to faster speeds on Side 2 with the sole single for the record, “You’re Related.” The video is particularly awesome. Rounding out Whatever are a pair of breakup songs (Kastner’s “I Remember” and Pytel’s “You Don’t Know Me”), the seemingly-political “Senseless Murders” and “I Don’t Wanna Know!” whose initial chord progression seems curiously similar to “Celebrated Summer.” But if a band apes a really good band they idolize really well, who’s to complain, really?

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-Asa

Merchandise - Es Muerte 7"

2011-04-19T12:00:00.081-04:00

Artist: Merchandise
Album: Es Muerte 7"

Release: 2011
Label: Drugged Conscience

Tracklist:

1. [Untitled Track]

2. Dallas (Silver Jews)

For Record Store Day 2011, mWerchanov and Drugged Conscience quietly dropped this newest piece of uniquely-Tampa kitsch. Limited to only 50 copies and intended for their RSD show with Blank Dogs. Apparently, Blank Dogs fans are idiots and most of these didn't actually sell at that show, but were made available for mailorder before selling out in a matter of hours. Obviously, most people won't be able to own this, so that's where we come in!

This release is very much so a Record Store Day release, the A-side being an original and the B-side being a Silver Jews cover. The untitled A-side is one of Merchandise's most challenging moments, a song based around a sample of a single guitar riff from Heresy side-project Meatfly. "I Locked the Door," this is not. It's Werch's most cacophonic moment. It took me a bit to come around to it, but once I did, I realized that there is a fully-formed and very rewarding song hidden underneath all the immediate clatter. Still, my favorite moment on the 7" is their inventive cover of Silver Jews' "Dallas." It's one of their finest moments as a band, a fragile pop gem with bubbling synths and Carson's punk crooning.

Who knows where Merchandise is headed to next, but both of their post-LP 7" singles have really blown me away and I absolutely cannot wait for their upcoming material. Until then, enjoy the digital version of this 7" and, if the most strikes you, watch the video the Werch Rockerz made of "Dallas."

wMerchanov - Dallas(Silver Jews) from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

Download Here

-Adam

P.S. Eliot - Sadie

2011-04-18T00:00:00.025-04:00

Artist: P.S. Eliot
Album: Sadie

Release: 2011

Label: Salinas

Tracklist:

1. Talk

2. Cross Eyed

3. Sadie

4. Asphalt

5. Pink Sheets

6. Untitled

7. Shitty And Tragic

8. Jesus Christ

9. Peach

10. Diana

11. Dead Letters

12. Mood Ring

13. Watch On Mute

Do you remember the creative energy you had when you were really young? You’d run around outside with near-endless energy, have a constant desire to draw, think about crazy ideas or stories constantly, and ultimately had access to that “spark” whenever you needed it. I know this was pretty much my case when I was a youngin’, but now I spend my days in front of a computer eight hours a day (though admittedly, at a job I enjoy) and when I get home I want to do nothing. This isn’t my white whine about my life being horrible (it ain’t), but rather I’m trying to make a point here-- when you grow up, that drive isn’t around so naturally anymore. You gotta work to maintain it, to keep it healthy, to stay inspired and push yourself.

And P.S. Eliot have managed to do this with an incredible consistency in their short lifespan as a band. In addition, they’ve maintained their identity with aplomb. Their Bike Wreck!!! demo was a few songs of lo-fi fun with some serious lyrical skill lurking underneath the distortion and tape hiss. A few months later, Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds saw the sisters Crutchfield bringing in new bass talent and a second guitar, and now their hinted-at songcraft talents were far more clearly on display, thanks to a cleaner production job. While many (including but not limited to Adam) complained of the total change in audio quality (and thus, to some degree, aesthetic), the tunes-- eloquent tales of romance, friends, and good ol’ life -- stood on their own, no matter the method they were captured to tape/a hard drive with. Spring 2010’s Living In Squalor 7” EP found the band in an angrier, more intense place than prior material. The melodies still stuck in your mind, but the angst itself was hardly sugar-coated.

Which brings us to Sadie, a record that in some ways is a bigger step of departure than any previous record-to-record difference in the aforementioned three releases. While the previous albums were anythng but childish, there is an unquestionable air of poise on Sadie that wasn’t as present before-- just the right amount of confidence. Bouncy midtempo (“Sadie,” “Asphalt,” “Jesus Christ”), the band’s proven strength, abounds as before, but in addition to the quality of everything on Sadie is the variety contained within. “Pink Sheets” waltzes steadily forward, with just the right amount of sway. “Untitled” might be so because of the aggravation it contains; Katie opens by telling the song’s subject to “take your name off the list/your static presence goes unmissed.” Towards the end of the record, “Diana” introduces a quieter, coolly contemplative side of PS Eliot as she sings in more of a darkened whisper over a sole clean guitar.

But while Katie is basically the primary songwriter, it’s the whole band that brings these works to life. First and foremost, Allison is to be lauded for her drumming on this release. While she’s steadily improved over the past few years, her playing on Sadie stands head and shoulders above anything the band’s done previously. You can hear the confidence in her hits. Katie, of course, holds her own lyrically as always. But her singing approach seems markedly more inventive and dynamic here, as well. Everything somehow lodges in your brain more than before. Her decision to double her vocal tracks in select places is tastefully executed, and only thickens and sweetens the whole mix. Katherine Simonetti’s bass playing and tone has gone from boominess on Living to having some grit here thanks to some solid distortion. The now-departed Will Granger’s lead guitar seems to be mixed somewhat softly in the mix, but still gels perfectly.

“We’ll cut off all this mess,” sings Katie on “Diana,” “If you wanna take me/I will surely go.” Like a last day with your friends before school or work or some other huge responsibility looms, Sadie feels like a bittersweet departure or transition.

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-Asa

New Katorga Works Release: Hoax - Self Titled 7"

2011-04-14T00:00:00.010-04:00

Artist: Hoax
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Deranged/Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Fagget

2. Endgame

3. Dead Weight

4. Leech

We here at ICDT are proud to announce the Katorga Works release of debut 7" from Western Massachusetts ruffle duffs, Hoax. Following in line with their demo, this 7" includes 4 tracks of buzz-saw guitars, bludgeoning drums, and breakdowns that scream "kiss me on my bloody head." This record is officially and objectively "way better than the demo" both in terms of songs and sound. Featuring a new, punishing drummer. Art by Jaybo and E. Kohlman. Features a double-sided, six-panel fold out, 19.5" by 13" standard paperweight poster. A slick looking record.

This is a split release with the legendary Deranged Records in Canada. The band is also going on tour tomorrow, so, if they are coming to your city, be sure to go see them and pick up this record from them!

4/15 Cleveland w/ Salvation, Masakari, Flies, Leech Bed
4/16 Chicago w/ Raw Nerve, Salvation, The Ropes, Risk
4/17 St. Louis w/ Sweet Tooth, Cobrangutan
4/19 Columbus w/ Vile Gash
4/20 Pittsburgh w/ Drug Lust, Amarock, + more TBA
4/21 Detroit w/ Bad Indians, Telephone Callers, Curious Mystery
4/22 Toronto w/ School Jerks, Molested Youth, Total Trash
4/23 Syracuse w/ Shoppers, Hunger Pains, Lake Forest

We at Katorga Works also have a large distro update, featuring records from: Arctic Flowers, Bloodclot Faggots, Blue Sabbath Black Cheer, Cider, Death First, Francis Harold & the Holograms, Free Clinic, Gasmask Terror, Government Warning, GRIDS, Gun Outfit, Host, The Log Jammers, Low Threat Profile, Milk Music, Neo Cons, Night Birds, No Comment, No Comment, Nomad, Noose, Noveller, Picked Clean, Pig Heart Transplant, Pollution, Reckless Aggression, The Rival Mob, Ruined Families, School Jerks, Shock Value, Slobs, Sucked Dry, Sweet Tooth, Thieves, unFact, Warchildren, White Walls, Worlds, Yadokai.

Hope you enjoy!

Download Here

Buy Here (From Deranged)
Buy Here (From Katorga Works)

Omegas - Blasts Of Lunacy

2011-04-11T12:00:00.003-04:00

Artist: Omegas
Album: Blasts Of Lunacy
Release: 2011

Label: Parts Unknown

Tracklist:

1. Modern Glory

2. Psycho Circles

3. Kill For Control

4. Disgusting Fun

5. Blasts Of Lunacy

6. You Ain't Nuthin

7. Excessive Force

8. Peasant Dance

9. Absurd Visions

10. F.S.O.M.

11. Slam Skank
12. Sex Hero

Montreal-based, lords of slam-skank Omegas have to be one of the best bands in hardcore at the moment. Their brand of anthemic hardcore gives devotion to their NYHC influences with a uniquely snarky street punk attitude, all of which is filtered through a little crazy, making the title of their debut LP, Blasts Of Lunacy, all too appropriate.

If you've ever been to one of their live shows, you know that they consist of pure aggression, unmatched excitement, and, unsurprisingly, copious amounts of slamming, skanking, and general pitting. Despite being chaotic and near-incomprehensible, they're one of the best live bands around and, until this point, I didn't think the band quite captured that greatness on record. I absolutely loved their 7", Sonic Order, but I felt the style of production bled some of the energy from the incredible songs on it. However, with this LP, the full-bodied recording manages to strike a nice balance between the raw, demo recordings of Psycho Dives On Slam Skank Anthems and the oddly clean Sonic Order.

Blasts of Lunacy is twelve tracks of hardcore wizardry. This particular release sees the band emphasizing their NYHC influences even more than on previous material. With this 23-minute LP, the band has proven that it is able to maintain momentum through an entire full length and that their particular brand of over-the-top hardcore, that for some reason that I cannot explain, never veers into stupidity or inane absurdity. When a band is able to get you to chant "Taste the street meat" or "You got your first shocks of manhood," they must really have something special going for them. These sound ridiculous, but they fit the context of the band's aesthetic, the songs themselves, and their respective records.

The band delivers hit after hit, banger after banger. It would be pointless (and unnecessarily boring) to analyze each track on here, but I will say that my favorites (as of now) are "F.S.O.M." (the new "Street Meet"), "You Ain't Nuthin," and the band's credo, "Slam Skank." Ultimately, this is definitely one of my favorite LPs to come out this year and I can't see why this won't be considered one of the best hardcore records of the year. It's just too addictive.

Parts Unknown has just released this mammoth of an LP. If you live in the U.S., you can pick it up from them or various distros. If you live outside of the U.S., you can purchase from No Way and Painkiller.

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-Adam

Red Alert - Third And Final 7" EP

2011-04-06T23:27:00.006-04:00

Artist: Red Alert
Title: Third And Final 7"
Release: 1980
Label: Guardian Record N' Tapes

Tracklist:

1. Third and Final
2. Border Guards
3. Sell Out
4. District Boredom

If you're at all familiar with income tax debates you undoubtedly have considered the dubiousness of the so-called "double tax"; the tax on both earned and unearned income generated by investments (trust funds, stocks, and so on.). The fact is that people are taxed for all sorts of things like food, property, and general purchase. It is only ever REAL INCOME that is affected. If the majority of your wages escape income taxation when you file, whatever you hold on to is taxed again when you go to buy a shirt, a sandwich, whatever it may be (depending on your state/country of course). In any case, I was having a conversation last night about the current tax rate of those earning $200,000 or more. It hovers, I think, around 35%. Of course, many people would have this already comparably low tax rate for the wealthy driven down even more -- absurd. Especially given that the dividend tax rate in the U.S. (something like 15%) is already low.

So we're all taxed. Over and over and over again. Taxing dividends is just one more dip in the pocket. It just so happens that the people who most benefit from non-earned income (trust funds, stocks, etc.) are "at the highest levels of income" (From the Wall Street Journal quoted by Citizens for Tax Justice). Support equality promoting tax functions!

Now all of this decidedly un-punk conversation made me mad. I had to listen to what I thought was appropriate. This is a wonderful 7" from 1980. The first release by the U.K.'s Red Alert, before their ventures with the No Future institution. I bet that you haven't heard as good a street punk song as "Sell Out" or "District Boredom" in ages. Seriously awesome stuff.

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-Colman

Drop Nineteens - National Coma

2011-04-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

Artist: Drop Nineteens
Album: National Coma
Release: 1993
Label: Caroline

Tracklist:

1. Limp
2. All Swimmers Are Brothers
3. Skull
4. Cuban
5. Rot Winter
6. Martini Love
7. 7-8
8. Franco Inferno
9. My Hotel Deb
10. Moses Brown
11. Superfeed
12. The Dead
13. Royal

Adam is, surprisingly, right about a lot of things. He helped hype one of the better hardcore releases of the past few years. He’s the biggest shoegaze scholar I know, especially for someone who was in diapers when that whole scene happened.

But there’s simply some areas where Adam’s totally wrong, and that’s in his praise of the Drop Nineteens first album, Delaware, calling its single “Winona” awesome among other offenses, and calling National Coma “tepid indie-rock.” This is simply and empirically untrue. The band’s second album shits all over that stupid attempt at aping MBV. It shits all over Adam. It even shits all over Weezer and their first two dumb records which are held in the hearts of millions of whiny kids, most of whom haven’t realized how completely awful the Rivers Cuomo And His Swinging Douchelords Band have become.

Whether the triumphant drum intro to “Moses Brown” or the stirring lyrical choices of “Cuban,” Drop Nineteens proved on this record that they weren’t some dumb cookie cutter indie band, or merely the shoegaze jocks they were on Delaware. "7-8" even demonstrates that early on, hip-hop elements could be easily fused with twee sounds! A cohesive, stunning piece of ‘90s obscurity, National Coma is a tremendous work by a truly versatile band.

Pinkerton? Nah, brah. National fucking Coma.

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-Asa

Brain Handle - Baseball 7" (Record Store Day)

2011-03-31T12:00:00.002-04:00

Artist: Brain Handle

Album: Baseball 7"
Label: Self-Released/Mind Cure

Release: 2010

Tracklist:

1. Baseball [Live]

2. Trapped In A Toilet (Beautiful Member)

3. Shocking Pee (Club Ed)

This curious lil' Record Store Day 2010-exclusive release (limited to 200 copies and given away by the band at a show) might end up being the last release of one of the most underrated contemporary hardcore bands, Pittsburgh's Brain Handle. I will always maintain that they are one of the finest hardcore bands of the primes (2000-2009), even if they suffer from the dreaded No Way overpressing syndrome and one can find their records in dollar bins around the country. Let's just consider that a blessing to all those out there who want great music for cheap!

Anyway, this record features two "new" songs from the band and a pseudo-skit. Part of what made Brain Handle so great was not just their oddball take on fast 80s hardcore, but their ability to write insanely catchy, midtempo stompers, like "Wallet Sniffin'" and "Cold Pavement." This 7" highlights this gift with a stomper on both sides.

The A-side is a live version (I think?) of "Baseball," a song that I believe was supposed to end up on their aborted 12". As you can tell, I'm not so clear on the details because the packaging (a term I use lightly) of this record is absolutely retarded (and erroneous), complete with a weird brainbiker and oddly-placed Facebook photos of one of the guitarists. Ultimately, though, it's the music that really matters, and "Baseball" is one of the finest songs the band ever wrote, with the band plodding forward with headbanging force and sick soloing. The B-side is a cover of "Trapped In A Toilet" by the legendary Beautiful Member, a band so good that even I've never heard them. It's more of the same, which is to say it's awesome. The side is rounded out (with locked groove and all) with a recording of one of the band members peeing into a toilet and electrocuting himself. I sincerely hope this did not affect his procreative abilities.

Brain Handle might not exist anymore, but at least they can say that they went out on both a ludicrous and satisfying note. How apropos. Also, I'd like to add that this rip and cover image comes from Harry's Rex. Thank you, as I was not able to rip the vinyl or scan the cover myself because my friend Pat has had my copy for months. I gotta get that back...

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-Adam

Bark Psychosis - Blue 12"

2011-03-30T02:49:00.001-04:00

Artist: Bark Psychosis
Album: Blue 12"
Release: 1994

Label: Circa

Tracklist:

1. Blue

2. Hex

3. Big Shot (Alice's Cheshire Cat Mix)

Sometimes, I forget just how much I love the late 80s/early 90s British experimental rock scene. Many of my favorite bands of all time come from various groups put out their best material on Rough Trade, Che/Cheree, 3rd Stone, etc. Of the many pioneering acts of the time, Bark Psychosis stand out as one of the finest. Their first four 12" singles and Hex LP are nothing short of revolutionary, and even their 2004 comeback album ///Codename: Dustsucker is phenomenal, albeit poorly-titled.

One release of theirs that kind of gets lost in the shuffle (though, not as much as their three-way split flexi 7" with Spacemen 3 and Fury Things) is their 1994 single, Blue. Blue's fate may have something to do with the fact that it came out a few months after Hex. Also, it's just not as good as their first four singles.

Still, it's an amazing record. The title track is the perfect hybrid of their aforementioned peers and the forward-thinking, early 90s ambient techno scene in Britain. "Hex" might be the highlight of the record, as it combines walls of noise with a pulsating drum machine and cascading synths, all before dying down into a gentle, synthy drift with the occasional trumpet flourish. The remix of the Hex standout "Big Shot" is done by Rudy Tambala of A.R. Kane (who are quite possibly my favorite band!) and it also fails to disappoint. It's both serene and elegant without drifting off into coffee house, trip-hop bullshit.

I can't ever say enough of this band or of their contemporaries, as this time period in Britain is one of my favorite sources of music, so don't hesitate to check this out.

Download Here

-Adam

Slobs - Look Busy, Do Nothing 7"

2011-03-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Artist: Slobs

Album: Look Busy, Do Nothing 7"
Release: 2011

Label: Cowabunga

Tracklist:

1. Technophile

2. Weapons Free

3. The Slob

4. Assembly Line

Hailing from Montreal and sharing a member with the mighty Omegas, Slobs are one of the finest purveyors of stupid baby music in all of Canada. I was lucky enough to see live a year ago. I thought they were tight, but, being the scatterbrain I am, I forgot to ever actually pursue any of their recorded output until I was given their new 7" at the Government Warning/Omegas show and, let me tell you, I haven't stopped listening to it since.

Slobs play a punky style of (B)east coast-influenced hardcore garnished with some classic retardation. The band also has a curious pedigree: their guitarist Yannick is actually one of the girls from the popular No Joy. Can you guess which one? Back to the band, the first thing I noticed about their live show was how warm and open the guitar tone was and that little detail is also true of their debut EP, Look Busy Do Nothing. The 7" is comprised of four songs that blow by so quickly that they demand repeated listening. My favorite track is the second song "Weapons Free" which has one of the catchiest guitar lines I've heard in awhile.

I highly recommend checking out this 7", which just came out on Cowabunga Records, along with two other winners in the form of new School Jerks and Sweet Tooth 7"s. A label that does what it wants, I don't always like every release Cowabunga churns out, but dude KILLED it on this most recent batch of records, so be sure check out all of them.

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A-1 - After School Special

2011-03-19T16:20:00.001-04:00

Artist: A-1
Album: After School Special
Release: 2010
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. 5 More Minutes (Intro)
2. The Price is Right
3. Charizard
4. All That!
5. Family Matters
6. Black Ranger
7. Golden Girls
8. Reading Rainbow
9. Goosebumps
10. Doug (Funnie Bitch)

Variety is the spice of life, and I’ve broken a cardinal rule of mine on ICDT: to never consecutively post records of the same genre. So after three heavy ones (Raw Radar War, Tribulation, and Anacrusis), I wanna switch gears entirely.

As established, hip-hop is not my biggest point of musical knowledge. While I am one of those whiteboys that loves Wu-Tang, and I have in fact met and conversed with Chuck D, I’m just not as up on the genre or its history as I should be. That said, I do occasionally browse around for stuff and have been stoked on a Milkcrate Breaks comp lately.

But I digress. A while back, this free tape popped up on Tumblr. The concept sold me immediately: A-1 pulls the classic “5 more minutes” routine, then gets to play hooky and watch all the best Nickelodeon and other kids shows if you were that age in the early/mid-90s. Through this conceptual lens, he flows fluidly about growing up, youth, and relationships over the album’s nine songs. “All That!” of course sees A-1 rapping over a beat taken from that show’s theme song, and damn if it don’t sound pleasantly familiar after something like 15 years off the air. “Black Ranger” is more a speed trial, but is still plenty entertaining as that wimpy guitar and corny synth of our favorite stolen Japanese superheroes rev up behind A-1’s voice. The songs are short enough that the simple “take a TV show theme, rap over it and draw parallels to my own life” doesn’t get aggravatingly repetitive.

Throughout After School Special, A-1 is vibrant , humorous and most definitely not trying the tuff routine. This isn’t the next Flockaveli by any means, but it’s a fun (and maybe slightly nostalgic, depending on how much Nick you watched as youngin’) bunch of tunes.

Download Here

-Asa

Lotus Fucker/Penis Geyser Split 7"

2011-03-18T14:00:00.076-04:00

Album: Lotus Fucker/Penis Geyser Split 7"

Release: 2011

Label: SPHC/Solar Funeral

Tracklist:

1. Lotus Fucker - The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail

2. Lotus Fucker - Wind

3. Lotus Fucker - Deep Inside, I Heard A Voice Call Out To Me

4. Penis Geyser - Penis Geyser Side

One of my most anticipated releases of early 2011, the Lotus Fucker/Penis Geyser split 7" fails to disappoint. If you've followed this blog in the past, you'd know that the Lotus Fuckers of Severna Park, MD is a huge favorite of ours, but I'm guessing most have not heard of the other band on the split, Ohio's Penis Geyser, some of the finest purveyors of noisecore in the world, not that that's saying much...

For this split, Lotus Fucker's gives us both one of their finest and weakest moments as a band. "The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail" might be my new favorite Lotus Fucker song. The song (and split) opens with a loud exclamation from frontman Kamikaze Dan, which, upon first listen, made me jump in my seat. The song then kicks in with the catchiest drum beat attempting to pry apart a vicious battle between the "music" guitar and the "noise" guitar. I guess there's bass in there too, I guess. Lyrics about eternal returns and priomoridal unity propel this into the top echelon of Lotus Fucker material.

The song is immediately followed by one of their weakest songs, "Wind," which practically acts as filler to bride between the final track, "Deep Inside, I Hear A Voice Call Out To Me," a song I struggle to not change the second part of the title to "...I Am Crying." Shut up. It should be noted that despite being filler, "Wind" is still a Lotus Fucker song and it's still pretty good. Just unremarkable when compared to their other material. Still, "Deep Inside," finishes off their side of the split effortlessly with a powerful call-and-response vocal part.

Now, for the difficult part of the record (and my review). Here is where I come off as even more of a charlatan than I already am. My experiences with noisecore are very limited and include jamming early Anal Cunt 7"s and flirting with other, more contemporary nosiecore acts that are showed to me by friends more into this sort of thing. I'm also guessing that most of this shit is pretty terrible.

Really, me talking about noisecore or Penis Geyser's side is pointless. It's six minutes of insanity and it certainly successfully repels most people away, which is probably the point. I actually enjoy their side, which is probably comprised of over 100 songs and multiple recording sessions, but is obviously meant to be taken as one coherent piece. I've heard people refer to Penis Geyser one of the best noisecore bands in the world and that this side of this split as "beautiful," which is probably true considering I actually enjoy listening to it in between viewings of Lady GaGa and Rage Against the Machine YouTube videos.

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Anacrusis - Manic Impressions

2011-03-17T12:30:00.015-04:00

Artist: Anacrusis
Album: Manic Impressions (‘06 Remix)
Release: 2006

Label: Self Released

Tracklist:

1. Paint A Picture
2 I Love The World
3. Something Real
4. Dream Again
5. Explained Away
6. Still Black
7. What You Became
8. Our Reunion
9. Idle Hours
10. Far Too Long
11. Tools of Separation (Bonus)

St. Louis’ Anacrusis were a band that put the progress in the “progressive” descriptor. They began as young rubes playing pretty paint-by-numbers thrash metal and, with the continued addition of melody, musicianship and a variety of influences, ended their career as a truly unique entity, albeit an all-too-unsung one.

If you’ve read my posts on the site, you may notice that while I dig a lot of technical bands, I’m really big on strong songs. Anacrusis absolutely nail this-- there are hooks everywhere, memorable choruses, and excellent structure throughout. While the band do have a certain “coldness” to their production, frontman Ken Nardi makes sure that they still retain soul, and lots of it. Over the B-tuned guitars and powerful drums, his vocals change from a growly shriek to earnest melody and many points in between, sometimes all within a verse. Their cover of New Model Army’s “I Love The World” was as close to a calling card as they got, but it blends so well with the tone and style of the rest of the record that you’d never notice it wasn’t an original composition without researching or being a fan of NMA in the first place. Elsewhere lurks the chunky groove of “Still Black,” the soaring “Dream Again,” (whose second solo initially resembles the Mario jump sound! Ha!) and the contemplative “Our Reunion.” Even the admittedly tacked on demo of follow-up and final album Screams and Whispers song “Tools of Separation” doesn’t sound out of place here-- that’s how consistent the band’s sound was.

This record might take some initial getting used to-- I know it did for me-- but I think it’ll be worth it in the end. OPEN YOUR MIIIIIIND.

Props to Ken for properly remastering his own record so well (the original sounded like ass, apparently), and adding in the handful of parts Metal Blade Records chopped out from the original studio DAT tapes.

Download Here

-Asa

Death Metal Double Post: Tribulation & Swallowed

2011-03-16T11:00:00.031-04:00

Artist: Tribulation
Album: Putrid Rebirth 7"
Release: 2006
Label: Blood Harvest

Tracklist:

1. Dread City Of Death
2. Zombie Holocaust
3. Imprisoned In Abhorrence
4. Churning Sea Of Absu

Tribulation are tied with Norway’s awesome Obliteration as my favorite band of the ever-increasing scene of young metalfolk jamming oldschool death metal. Their debut full-length The Horror mixed an olde-time horror aesthetic (woodcuts, Nosferatu imagery) with brief spacing tracks John Carpenter keyboard and a perfectly-executed style mixing influences both Swedish (Entombed, Dismember) and American (Morbid Angel, Possessed, Slayer). While I loved that record unwaveringly from my first listen, many a death metal purist (not least of which Arild and Sindre from Obliteration) swear this four-song, out-of-print, imfuckingpossible-to-find 7” EP is the superior record.

While far rawer and often less tight or nuanced than The Horror, Putrid Rebirth nonetheless starts with a bang. Adam Zaars and Jonathan Hultén’s tradeoff volley of disfigured solos shred flesh right from the opening of “Dread City of Death.” Yet another movie sample opens the undead march of “Zombie Holocaust” as Johannes Andersson rasps a narration of the tale, then tears off a totally sweet bass break just shy of three minutes in. “Imprisoned in Abhorrence” cranks up the blast beats further still and adds Slayerish riffing over the top. The steady, swirling menace of instrumental “Churning Sea of Absu” does indeed feel like stormy seas. While these songs aren’t as well-constructed as those on The Horror, their energy is what manages to knock this EP out of the park. Tribulation go straight for the throat on every song; it’s just that here we haven’t seen them with a perfected attack.

And yes, apologies-- while a vinyl rip, this is sadly 128 kbps. But this is really raw death metal! I had a kvlt-as-hell contact track it down for me, but if you have a better rip somewhere by all means let us know so’s we can post it for communal benefit.

Download Here

-Asa

Artist: Swallowed

Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 2011
Label: Emptiness Production

Tracklist:

1. Unsavorably

2. Black Phlegm

3. The Dying Misted In The Bloodstream

I already included this in my top records of 2010 list, but I can't rave enough about this band or this 7". Swallowed is one of the finest, younger Scandinavian oldschool-style death metal bands I've heard in a long time and are one of Finland's finest. Seriously, the image on the back art of the 7" makes the band look like they're still in high school. Maybe they are, I wouldn't be surprised.

I was shown all of their music at once by my friend CJ and I can say the band has come a long way from its beginnings (two demo tapes) of pure Autopsy-worship. Don't get me wrong, those tapes are pretty neat but don't offer much more than the aforementioned dick-riding, but this 7" takes that blueprint and injects it with a healthy dose (read: not too much) of doom metal to create something stunning and fresh. This new sound coupled with one of the best production jobs I've heard in a long time allows the band to create a foreboding atmosphere that is unsettling and insanely loud. Despite the repetition involved on the side-long, "The Dying Misted In The Bloodstream," the production and atmosphere are still able to keep the song afloat. If the band continues to create sound as beautifully crafted as this, all while tightening their songwriting a bit, they will surely be deified.

For those who don't own this 7", you'll have to do with this vinyl rip, but I urge you to seek out a copy of this out-of-print 7", as it sounds SO incredibly good on wax. Seriously, a great mastering job. That and the packaging (which includes a "Swalloweed" sticker lol) make this a total winner.

Download Here

-Adam

Raw Radar War - On A Field Of White 7”

2011-03-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

Artist: Raw Radar War
Album: On A Field Of White 7"

Release: 2011

Label: Chainsaw Safety

Tracklist:

1. This Is What A Knife Is For
2. All Arrows In
3. Warwolf
4. Defend Finland
5. On A Field Of White

I am a gigantic Jonah Jenkins fan. Whether it’s his early and classic days in the immortal and woefully underrated Only Living Witness, his fuzzy turn in Miligram or his surprisingly raw current outfit, Raw Radar War, the man is a fantastic lyricist, a charismatic presence and a musically gifted human being.

But Jonah is also one generous motherfucker and actively promotes free digital downloads of his tunes. On A Field Of White is a brand-new slab of 7” vinyl and was just posted by the man himself on Facebook last night. The EP concerns Simo Hayha, Finland’s most aggressive patriot and easily the biggest lone-gunman badass in modern military history. You can read more about him here, but for now, here’s a quick summary: One WWII sniper. 100 days. Limited daylight. One rifle. 505 registered kills. And even when the Russians finally got to him after a slew of counter-sniping and artillery fire, and shot him in the head, dude did not die. The bullet blew off a good part of his cheek and crushed his jaw, but he regained consciousness on the very day peace was declared between Finland and Russia. He hunted moose, trained dogs and lived on his own until his death at the age of 96 in 2002.

Jonah and co. do a solid job of aurally representing Hayha’s formidable marksmanship and the dark chaos of war with their sludgy, battering hardcore. While the biting guitars do draw some from Entombed, I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere to the level that bands like Nails and Black Breath do. At not even 8 minutes, these fast, loud songs get in and get out...just like the man they were inspired by.

Download Here

Buy Here

-Asa

NYC: Upcoming Shows in March/April

2011-03-10T19:48:00.002-05:00

Yeah yeah, we'll get to the regular posting soon enough, but we'd also like to start publicizing some great shows happening in our neck of the woods that locals should check out. Many of these are booked by the fine people at Hardcore Gig Volume, Undead Gig Volume, Dan-O with the Van-O, Girl/Queer shows, Mosh Pit City, and the less-than-desirable Stolen Sleeves Collective.

March 11th:

Fucking Dyke Bitches (NC)
Aye Nako
Sandy & the Rats
Invisible Prisms

@ Manifesta Loft (315 Seigel St.)
$~5, 8pm

March 12th:

The Men (New lp out soon on Sacred Bones)
Slices (Pittsburgh, still cruisin)
Rational Animals (Did you miss the rollins spoken word at joe's pub?)
The Marsh Hens (Brooklyn weirdos)
Shards (North Carolina)

@ 538 Johnson Ave
$5, 8pm

March 12th:

International Girl Gang Underground zine release show:

Slingshot Dakota
Bad Banana
Aye Nako
American Sun

@Death By Audio
$?, 8pm?

March 13th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME # 152
Deep Sleep - Baltimore, New LP out now!
Death First - Brooklyn Hardcore
FOSTER CARE - Hardcore punk, members of Ex-Humans

@ 538 Johnson Ave, #210
$5, 6pm

March 15th:

Nomos (Hardcore from dudes who probably JUST moved to Brooklyn from the Midwest)
No Class (Kansas City hardcore. New LP on Deranged)
Picked Clean (Indianapolis hardcore. New 7" on Six Feet Under)
Long Pigs (Local hardcore heroes who skateboard with 12 year olds)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 7pm, NO BOOZE

March 19th:

Kicking Spit (Dino Jr-influenced goodness)
Big Eyes (Garagy pop-punk from Brooklyn/NJ)
Occult Detective Club (Jay Reatard-style pop-punk from TX)
Rutilated Powerhaus (Gothy noise project from NYC's wunderkind Soren)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 8pm, NO BOOZE

March 19th:

New York Abortion Access Fund benefit show

The Gift (DC)
Waxahatchee (Katie from P.S. Eliot/Bad Banana)
Born in a Cent
Dear Marje
Frankie and the MoMos

@ Manifesta Loft (315 Seigel St.)
$?, 8pm?

March 19th:

The Men
Partial People
Hank Wood & The Hammerheads
Cop City/Chill Pillars

@ Death By Audio
$?, 8pm?

March 23rd:

Razor Fade (Chicago straight edge hardcore.)
Noose (same as above! ex-Duress, Poison Planet, etc.)
Bloodtype (watch out you hippies, NJ's finest have come to destroy your crop)
+1 TBA, hopefully

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 7pm, NO BOOZE

March 23rd:

UNDEAD GIG VOLUME #31

Poor Choice (CHICAGO)
Long Pigs (NYC)
Teardrops (NYC)
Spicoli (NYC)
Dipers (NYC)

@ The Charleston
$5, 7pm

March 25th:

HARDCORE GIG VOLUME #149

Tear It Up - Reunion, Nothing To Nothing line up
Last in Line - Hardcore Punk Western Massholes, Reunion
Cell Mates - New Hardcore band from Maryland, Members of Deep Sleep

@ Europa
$10 Adv/$12 at the door, 6:30pm

March 31st:

Opt Out (on tour from SF)
Death First (7" record release!)
Nomad (unrelenting raw punx, as good as it gets) ----- FUCK YES
Zombie Dogs (punx is ladies)
Sandy & the Rats (new doowoppy punk from BK)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 7pm, NO BOOZE

April 2nd:

Neo Cons (Zero Boys-influenced hardcore. ex-86 Mentality, on tour from the Bay)
Libyans (sick Boston punk)
Concrete Cross (heavy, kinda d-beaty hardcore from local veterans)
+1 or 2 more VERY exciting bands

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$5, 8pm, NO BOOZE

April 3rd:

UNDEAD GIG VOLUME #32

Defect Defect (PDX)
Night Birds (NJ)
Teardrops (NYC)

@ The Stolen Sleeves Collective
$6, 7pm, No Booze

April 8th:

Pollution - Brooklyn's finest
White Lung - on tour from Vancouver
Natural Law - Brooklyn mid-to-late-80s style hardcore

@ The Acheron
$~5, 8pm

April 9th:

Cop Problem (Philly)
Pathic Curse (Members of Death First and Mohoram Atta)
Cauldron
These Days (Members of Hiretsukan)

@ ABC No Rio
$7, 3pm

April 9th:

UNDEAD GIG #33

Aghast (RVA)
Soma (RVA)
Bortgang (NYC)

@ Tommy's Tavern
$6, 8pm

April 15th:

Benefit for C.L.I.T. Fest

Hot Mess (DC)
Dead Dog (GA)
Bad Banana
Aye Nako
Worrier

@ Tommy's Tavern
$~5, 8pm

April 20th:

Caufield (CA crushing hc)
Bear Trap (CA sXe)
Grudges (burly grind from NYC)
Pharaoh
Ruin Value (first show! ex-Mohoram Atta. Without hearing it I'm calling it death violence!)

@ Tommy's Tavern
$5, 8pm

At this point, more history than journalism. Belated best of in 2010.

2011-03-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Here is Colman's very late best of 2010 list. LOL.

NOTABLES

Double Negative - DaydreamNation LP

Double Negative superficially bare resemblance to many bands of this era, styled as fast, 80s inspired hardcore act. They stand, however, far apart from the rest of their ilk as one of the most bizarre and unique acts in contemporary hardcore. The production is very loud and raw, naturally speaking, with Stooges-styled volume on the leads, weird round bass with what is fundamentally a fairly clear sound. This is eclectic song-writing. The vocals are deranged, there are eye-brow raising lyrical themes, the guitars shred like lightening. I have never seen this band live and hate myself for it.

Castavet - Mounds of Ash CD

This is most certainly "not my thing" yet I found myself listening to Mounds of Ash on repeat this fall. Castavet's full-length is a moody and bleak "metal" record. I don't listen to metal so I have very little to say about this sadly; I have heard this called both "black" and "prog"; two descriptors that I think don't typically sit together. What can be found is crisp but fuzzy production, interesting instrumentation and an incredible rhythm section (seriously, this drummer kills it!). I am usually bored by metal parts but something about the ambiance of this record combined with catchy riffs that hit at just the right time makes this an incredible record that won't leave the, er, CD tray?

And here is my top ten, in no particular order:

The Red Dons - Fake Meets Failure LP

When the single “Pariah” surfaced shortly before this second Red Dons LP was dropped my expectations for Fake Meets Failure skyrocketed. I have played the first Red Dons album, Death to Idealism, to death and happily looked forward to more material. Fake Meets Failure shattered my expectations. The Red Dons have shed a little of the eccentric quality of their first record and written 10 tracks of driving three and four chord punk. As many jangly leads as the first record but with a slightly thicker sound and a bit more pulsing. The first few seconds of this record are sampled from the last few seconds of Death to Idealism; the eerie tinkering of a toy piano. Vocals here are a mix of fairly impressive melodic reaches and shouting. Every song on this record is worthy of being a single.

Download Here

Nomos - Notes from the Acheron One-sided 12"

I hate Nomos because they are better songwriters than I am. I love Nomos for being an instrumental part of New York's recent wave of young hardcore bands. Notes from the Acheron is a great hardcore record that doesn't exactly sit comfortably in any one sub-genre of hardcore. Continuing with eccentricity of their demo and teaser tapes Nomos' songs are a savvy blend of blasting speed and heavy dirges; 2/3 from the gut hardcore, 1/3 snot-nosed attitude. From song to song, Notes from the Acheron never disappoints, if not surprise. One of my favorite transitions is from the song "Changeling" into "O Fortuna"; from blisteringly fast into a zombie-walking, mid-tempo punk song. An incredible sounding and incredible looking record!

Download Here
Buy Here

Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7"

I am confident that Weed Hounds can do no wrong and am happily looking forward to their oft-mentioned, highly-anticipated full-length record. (Let's cross our fingers this hits this summer!) The Beach Bummed 7", in the meantime, is masterful. This record includes two minimal pop tracks that played the perfect accompaniment to my summer. Dreamily sung, hauntingly-produced with slow, sustained note changes. This is Weed Hounds best effort to date, in my opinion. The title track to this record is a perfect song, nothing short of incredible and this band deserves any and all accolades they have or will receive.

Download Here

Noveller/unFact - Bleached Valentine Split LP

I slept on Noveller for some time, though the career of Sarah Lipstate's newest project Noveller has not been terribly long. This is okay though because she has been fairly prolific in a short period of time and I have found myself replaying each record multiple times for maximum enjoyment. Am I a fan of new age? Guilty as charged, I suppose. Noveller is looped and sustained, oscillated and contorted guitar noise. Apparently Sarah has a background in harsh noise (cited in a recent Soundcheck interview on WNYC) though I haven't heard any of her earlier work. You can expect mid-length to longer soundscapes that often include delicate leads over washed-out bassy under-bellies. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for fans of ambient, drone and electronic. The unFact side is the solo bass project of one Mr. David Wm. Sims, who at one point played bass in the Jesus Lizard. A foray into a new musical direction that is certainly worth a listen.

Omegas - Sonic Order 7"

Recently a friend told me that they thought Omegas (having only seen the band live) were a mere "diagonal line hardcore" band. I'll leave the meaning of that one up to interpretation. What I will say is that Omegas do an incredible job providing a fresh take on an old idea. There sound is heavily indebted to earlier hardcore acts but revamped and twisted. Chorus-drenched but meaner than you expect. I am able to listen to this record again and again and again without boredom. The breakdown in "You Can Be Replace" is a romp!

Download Here
Buy Here

Loudon Wainwright III - Songs for the New Depression CD

This CD was brought to my attention by none other than my mother who from time to time competes for the status of being Loudon Wainwright's number one fan. Most of the time I think this title is easily captured. Don't worry though, if you're at all acquainted with L.W., I should say that she doesn't go for that early, sixties care-free nonsense. It's all about his Updike-like family portrayals and bourgeois meditations on middle-age. This may not sell most people (and others will say I'll be first against the wall) but Songs for the New Depression is an incredible album; a mix of new American folk and new takes on Depression-era popular songs. A really great record.

Milk Music - Beyond Living 12"

A late 2010 find for me, brought back by my comrades in Nomos after their West Coast tour. Milk Music's Beyond Living 12" is an astoundingly simple record. Six songs of drenched, over-driven post-punk. At some moments, this record is pure-punk rhythms, eighth notes charging on the hi-hat, at others it is Milk Music's remarkable drowning tone that leaves one feeling a drift in few sustained chords. Even though this is a simple record built on simple-chord progressions dashed with tasteful humming leads it is remarkably different and innovative sounding. A must listen from 2010.

Download Here
To buy, email milk_music@hotmail.com

Dawn of Humans - Self Titled 7" [Toxic State]

Bung lives on. I hadn't heard Dawn of Humans prior to this 7", had no expectations, had never seen them live. Listening to this record for the first time in September of last year I was so excited about punk and the new, young hardcore in New York. It is really remarkable what a couple of circles of kids have been able to accomplish with minimal equipment and recording speciality. A fucking warm and raw record. An unexpected new birth.

Download Here
To buy, email toxicstaterecords@gmail.com

Salvation - Mortality Interactions LP

Hardcore. Slower, more "death-rock" than their first record. Heavier too. The song-writing stands out as comparable to or better than that of An Unforgiving Wind. A challenging record for fans of wretched, heavy-hitting, tough-as-nails, bitterness. All the buried leads of the first record with my favorite breakdown beat (See "A Morbid Mockery"). The rhythm section departs on Mortality Interactions into a dirgey stomp. When you see the end of the road, this is the soundtrack to your long march (mosh) to the grave.

Download Here

Masshysteri - Self Titled LP

This record managed to fly under a lot of radars this year which surprised me given that I thought their previous LP and US tour a few years back was met with a lot of attention. Masshysteri's S/T LP continues with the style of the first record though the production on this is a bit crisper and definitely cleaner. Not everyone may agree with me, but I detect here a notable shift in attitude; this record feels less snarky than Vår Del Av Stan. There's less distortion, less headachey brooding and a whole lot more go-crazy pop sounding guitar leads. There are some serious masterpieces on this record and it is all-in-all amazing. "Dom Kan Inte Höra Musiken" and "När Botten Är Nådd" are my absolute favorite tracks; the first for the catchy chorus, the second for the driving lead. A great record.

Download Here

And so concludes all of the "best of" lists from 2010. Regular posting will actually resume now!

-Colman

New Katorga Works Releases: Merchandise, ( ) Singles

2011-03-01T00:00:00.003-05:00

Time for more shameless self-promotion! Colman and I have been "hard" at work getting ready to new, excellent releases for our label Katorga Works and we'd like to share them with you! Our two newest releases are both singles, a 7" from Merchandise and a 12" from ( ). Here are our lame descriptions of the records:

Merchandise - Schoolyard [Club Mix] 7"

Artist: Merchandise

Album: Schoolyard [Club Mix] 7"

Release: 2011

Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. Schoolyard [Club Mix]

2. Graveyard

The first of our two new releases is the new 7" single from the Werch City Rockers. Continuing their unstoppable ascent to the summit of general mediocrity, these two new songs propel Merchandise even further forward to greatness. As seen below, the band is at its most catchiest with the A-side and the B-side is one of their most haunting pieces yet.

Werchandice - Schoolyard(Club Mix) from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

Here is what we wrote for the record: It's 2011 and Merchandise have declared "fuck it, it's time to rave." In their bedrooms, though. Can't be seen in public! The A-side and title track of this single finds these Tampa hunks further exploring not only their beloved, established sound, but the dance pop exclamations of Lady GaGa. The B-side, "Graveyard," finds the band alternately at their most fragile and noisy. It's an incredible foil and worthy adversary of "Schoolyard." But the GaGa rules all. That's the golden rule.

Download Here

Buy Here

( ) - False Xmas 12"

Artist: ( )

Album: False Xmas 12"

Release: 2011

Label: Katorga Works

Tracklist:

1. False Xmas

2. What Shall You Say Tonight

Our other release is the vinyl version of David Vassalotti's cassingle from 2010, False Xmas. This release is definitely one of our favorite releases thus far.

( ) - False Xmas from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

We are proud to present the vinyl debut of Merch Rocker David Vassalotti's pet project, ( ). How do you pronounce it? Beats us! We like to think it's "Parenthesis Man." False Xmas was originally released as a seldom-heard tape on Cult Maternal, but when we first heard it, we knew we had to put these two tracks to wax. This particular ( ) record finds David channeling New Order through a more lo-fi lens with even worse vocals reciting emotionally devastating prose. I'm just gonna say it: these two songs make up what is a perfect pop single.

Download Here

Buy Here

As with our last big release, we have two packaged deals in our webstore that you should check out if you are interested in buying both of these releases at a discount. We also have a huge distro update including: Cervix, Chaos Destroy, Cider, Eunuch, Host, Long Pigs, Lotus Fucker, Mauser, Milk Music, Natural Law, Neon Blud, Nomad, Ottawa, Penis Geyser, Pollution, Reckless Aggression, The Rival Mob, School Jerks, and many more!

We are also repressing the Wankys/Lotus Fucker split 7" yet again, mostly for the Central Europeans, but Americans are welcome to purchase, as well! We also have copies of the Dads - Hat Creek 7", though copies are dwindling.

Anyway, we're looking forward to your continued support. At the very least, download the shit out of these!

For questions and concerns, as well as wholesale inquiries, here is how we can be contacted:

Katorga Works: katorgaworks[at]gmail[dot]com

P.S. Other blogs, feel free to share the download links, just please use ours and include a link for purchase. That would be much appreciated!

Werchandise - Schoolyard(Club Mix) Music Video

2011-02-24T13:15:00.000-05:00

We don't normally do posts like these, but Colman is taking forever to finish his top ten of LAST YEAR, so in the meantime, here is the new ~~Merchandise~~ Werchandise video of the A-side of their upcoming 7", Schoolyard [Club Mix]:

Werchandice - Schoolyard(Club Mix) from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

Dance in anticipation of Colman's sure-to-be-riveting top albums of 2010 list.

Two-thousand And WHEN? My Favorites Of Last Year

2011-02-16T12:00:00.007-05:00

2010 was a pretty good year of musical experiences for me, generally speaking. Concertwise, I saw everyone from Alcest to GZA to Mark Kozelek to Voivod. Albumwise, I think I did an okay job of paying attention to new releases-- if you’ve read my previous year-end favorites list, you know that I’m usually too stuck in looking into old records. In advance, thanks for your patience in reading this...you’ll find that often, my love for a record is directly proportional to how much ramble on about it!

There were a lot of good records last year. Most (but not all) of these are bands showing incredible promise, making me think their next record is when they’ll really hit their stride, or just really killer records I didn’t listen to as much as did my favorites. Here are my notables:

Das Racist - Shut Up, Dude

Only because “Rainbow in the Dark” was my guilty-pleasure jam of the year. I don’t really know shit about modern hip hop. I also can’t listen to DR for more than a few songs. But those few are enjoyable enough. I’m pretty white and I’m gonna get some h8 for this review. But it’s okay. I’ll just go listen to “Rainbow in the Dark” again.

Tears Run Rings - Distance

Despite being in three different cities and two different states, this totally awesome shoegaze/dreampop quartet have made a super-together record. TRR beautifully siphon Ride’s jangliness into Slowdive’s best and most airy atmospheres, but never lose sight of memorable hooks and hummable memories. A band that deserves more. Buy Here.

Sailors With Wax Wings - s/t

Jesus tapdancing all-star lineups! I’m not familiar with R. Loren’s work in Pyramids, but goddamn if dude didn’t assemble his favorite players from a variety of genres-- bands ranging from Swans to Slowdive to My Dying Bride have members involved. Yet inexplicably, the record sounds like on collective’s work. The concept of the record (meeting Stephen Crane’s ghost, blah blah) is sorta pretentious, but the music isn’t -- the words could be about Cam Gigandet and still wouldn’t be able to tarnish these dark, ethereally beautiful pieces.

Lantlos - .neon

A record that has received a slew of praise, .neon takes Neige’s Amesoeurs work a step further and adds jazzy flourishes to the coldwave/post-punk/post-rock/can-we-stop-with the-genre-signifiers-already-influenced blackish metal he’s known for. This is not to say that the Frenchman and his German dudebro Herbst are making a black metal Mingus Ah-Um or even Unquestionable Presence, but rather that between the usual blastbeats/midtempo switchups there’s also some nice cadences and cymbalwork in the rhythms. I think their next record might just completely nail the formula they’re going for. Available here.

Ides of Gemini - The Disruption Wit Demo

Interesting new project featuring the frontlady from Black Math Horseman (a band I have no familiarity with) and J. Bennet, Decibel magazine’s most divisive writer. It’s an interesting mix-- she croons with a beautiful mystique reminiscent of 70s psychedelia and maybe even a little Dead Can Dance. Bennet’s guitar, however, is tonally only a few notches away from black metal-- substantially thin, and often drenched in reverb. The songs are simple, but flow naturally and are a fun listen. I am interested to see where this project heads. The demo can be heard and downloaded from the band’s Bandcamp page.

Autopsy - The Tomb Within

A promising comeback indeed from the Bay Area death metallers. Chris Reifert's caveman drum rolls and and the butcher's block guitars of Danny Corrales and Eric Cutler are completely intact; Joe Allen’s rumbling Rickenbacker bass tones add perfectly to the sonic formula. My sole complaint is the lack of dusty, shambling-zombie groove that made their classic Mental Funeral record so great-- these tracks are pretty fast, and while that’s always fun, Autopsy’s best moments and riffs were always the swinging ones found here only on “Mutant Village.” Buy Here.

Castevet - Mounds of Ash

ICDT pal Andrew Hock-- who met our boy Adam via his black metal patches on a random NYC busride-- beautifully mixes a substantial amount of his favorites in this solid debut. Hock is a disciple of the strange chord, taking after his heroes Piggy D’Amour, Czral and Derek Bailey. Even in odd rhythyms and longer compositions, the hooks stay strong. Perhaps the sole area in which Castevet need to hone their chops is the vocal department; the Neurosis-style roar is now par for the course in metal and sometimes wavers in its matching the songs’ emotional depth. Still, I’d wager the followup will top this one with ease. Buy Here.

StarGazer - A Great Work of Ages

Man, Profound Lore were unstoppable this year. StarGazer seem to get overlooked in lieu of the attention that, say, Ludicra and Agalloch have been getting, but there’s no real reason to. These Aussies focus on strange occult stuff in their interesting take on dark, intricate death metal. Cosmo Lee of Invisible Oranges called them a mix of Absu and Coroner, and he’s pretty on point-- the blackened, thrashing and mythic ferocity of the former with the dynamic, hypercapable musicianship of the latter. Does it sketch me out these dudes did a split with NS death metal douchelords Arghoslent back in the day? Yes, but there’s nothing I can discern that’s remotely of racial/political concern in any of their lyrics, tunes or imagery, so I’ma enjoy this well-executed record worry-free. Buy Here.

Ceremony - Rocket Fire

No, not the California hardcore band, but rather the post-punk/shoegaze band that formed out of two-thirds of Skywave when the other third left to create A Place to Bury Strangers. Skywave had okay songs, but holy shit their distortion was ear-accosting, and not in the good way. It was MBV’s hugeness minus the warmth plus about 100 times the treble. Here, Ceremony have a similar coldness, but their completely washing out the obnoxious noise of their previous outfit makes their catchy songcraft come through exponentially better. Buy Here.

These are the records that kept my stokage levels at steady peaks when I wasn't listening to the BLOOD BROS comps:

Three-Way Tie for Best:

Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit

Agalloch undoubtedly turned some of its fanbase on its ear with their introduction of black metal double-picking on this record. Most of its fanbase were likely even more intrigued at the suddenly stark production of their analog recording approach, almost a 180 from predecessor record Ashes Against the Grain’s huge, lush guitar textures. But whereas Ashes featured accessible, produced atmospheres, Marrow strips down Agalloch to its core - the moroseness of Pale Folklore, the pedestrian acoustic narratives of The Mantle, and the catchiness of Ashes-- and then pushes forward, going for the throat. Described in its press release as possessing five “time-stretching songs,” Agalloch do exactly that. Despite being long, not a single minute of the record seems out of place. Frankly, the whole thing feels remarkably lean despite being well over an hour long. Moreso than any of their previous work, Marrow of the Spirit is a journey, and its stops are remarkable. Each song is masterfully composed in and of itself, but the work that everyone’s talking about this year is “Black Lake Nidstang,” and not without reason. Just past the seven-minute mark, John Haughm’s shrieks take on a whole new identity: a man so pained and desperate that all he can do is cry out to the skies above. Four albums in, Agalloch are still batting a thousand.

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Ludicra - The Tenant

For the three albums preceding The Tenant, the San Franciscan quintent proved time and time again how well their crusty influences mixed with that of black metal as they told the listener lurid tales of the suicides, drugs and mental instability so prevalent in the seedier areas of their stomping grounds. On this record, however, it’s quickly clear how capable the band is of mixing all sorts of classic metal vibes in with their honed style. “In Stable” thrashes, rips and grooves like Mental Vortex-era Coroner. “The Undercaste” lurches ominously like Candlemass or the slower parts of Mercyful Fate. All the while, the band is captured perfectly by Justin Weiss’ mix, literally the most organic and well-rounded production job I’ve heard in years. Even when Laurie Shanaman roars the most simple lyrics-- “Does it feel easy? Does it feel free?” on the Golden Gate Bridge suicide hymn “A Larger Silence”-- her conviction and misery tear at your ears. Christie Cather and John Cobbett toss solos and riffs back and forth with ease and confidence; Ross Sewage accents them with a chunky, gritty bass tone and tasteful note choices. And goddamn if Aesop Dekker doesn’t deliver the performance of his career, and no I’m not saying that just because he penned basically the best ICDT post ever. The man is Bill Stevenson, Dale Crover and Keith Moon in one; his catchy, playing-for-the-song style pounds, blasts, frames and perfectly complements his bandmates. His drumming on Agalloch’s newest is fantastic as well, but it’s on The Tenant that he has enough space to breathe and perfectly make his mark in a different context.

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Whirl - Distressor

I cannot possibly get enough of this perfectly-composed EP. Recorded entirely live to tape with the exception of vocals and a few other touches, Distressor’s dreamy songscapes boast a cinematic feel. The drums are simple, driving and huge; the guitars ebb and flow in, over and around each other and the vocals are simply the ideal of the shoegaze subgenre-- a brilliant carrier of melody and only so intelligible. But Whirl aren’t all floaty atmosphere; they write riffs, too, and this is the key ingredient that makes their My Bloody Valentine- and Slowdive-influenced sound feel so fresh. “Leave” feels like it is indeed carefully detaching, while “Blue” kicks into a beautiful, enchanting melancholy. Finally, like the other two entries in my top 3 records of the year, Distressor feels like one whole entity, not just a collection of songs.

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And the Rest...

Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed

Weed Hounds just get better with every release. Their demo tape was a great start, but the songs were a little long. As of this fine lil’ 7”, Laura and the boys have gotten a firm grip on quality songwriting. The eponymous A-side is a charming little love dilemma about no fun in the sun, but where the band really shines, I’d say, is the B-side, “Skating Away From The Cops.” This is a song demanding a sweet ‘90s-style video in the vein of “1979,” cutting between the band playing a packed house show and rambunctious scenes of them escaping law enforcement via skateboard and rollerskate. DO IT! I absolutely cannot wait for their full-length.

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Best Coast - Crazy For You

I’m well aware that this trio is the indie band du jour right now, but I don’t give a good goddamn. A dozen songs with awesome vocals, catchy lo-fi guitars and lyrics about boys, weed and both. Crazy for You is a wonderfully simple pleasure.

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Thrushes - Night Falls

I was blessed to do my undergraduate studies in Baltimore, where towards the end of my freshman year I was introduced to the first full-length of this fine noise-pop/shoegaze band, Sun Come Undone. Despite some filler, it was full of catchy, lovelorn songcraft. Night Falls cuts out that filler and adds maturity and darkness. After years of hearing some of these songs live, it’s so awesome to hear them on record: the heartbroken rivalry of “Trees,” the fuzzed-out powerpop of “Crystals,” and my personal favorite, the foreboding “As Much To Lose.” This is a band deserving of great things. Buy their record!

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Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernieres Pensees

Unlike a slew of other people listening to shoegaze-influenced metal stuff this year, Alcest’s new record isn’t on my list. I swear I tried to get into it-- their debut record Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde is a longtime favorite-- but I just didn’t dig. Their bass player and ever-popular graphic designer, Fursy Teyssier, however, has something really awesome going on with Les Discrets, who also indulge in post-rock and shoegazey stylings. Alcest alternate between light and shade, but Fursy and company seem thoroughly at home in a beautiful sort of grey; through the ten tracks, his voice bears a clear influence from Ulver’s Krystoffer Rygg in its tonality, but his phrasing feels pleasantly fresh. At turns nostalgic and at others melancholic, the entirely French-sung album is promising, pastoral debut.

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Nails - Unsilent Death

Fast-ass, angry metallic hardcore fronted by a dude who’s of all things an ex-Terror member? And the cover art references a Hellhammer demo tape? So down. Nails packs plenty of rage, blastbeats and Entombed guitar tone in this nice-and-concise record.

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Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises

Mark Kozelek has written sad fucking songs for 20 years. Most of them are pretty damned great. But, with certain exceptions (“Summer Dress,” “Floating,” the piano version of “Mistress,”) dude has rarely sounded as intimate as he does on the guitar-and-voice-only Admiral Fell Promises. His fingerpicking chops, already impressive on past recordings, are now the definition of rock-solid, and though there are flamenco-ish interludes here and there, the songs always remain the focal point. His open lyrical style leaves his misery anything but vague, and on songs like the title track we can see his longing gaze heavenward as he whispers “A thousand days have passed/In this house she and I were sharing/And I hate myself for it/But I have stopped caring/The Maryland sky tonight/Is so black and blue and beautiful.”

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Hans Zimmer - Inception OST

Inception was all the rage this year on so many levels. A non-franchise/adaption/remake work becoming a success both critically and financially? And the world finally recognized the handsomeness of his hawtness JGL (where were you when he did Brick?). And yeah, the still-awesome internet meme of the vuvuzella -esque musical motif. But aside from all that, there's some damned fine compositional work that contributed to the movie’s best and most intense moments. Lengthwise, it’s a lean soundtrack that never overstays its welcome. In its playtime, however, it does indeed unfold like a dream: serene, peaceful moments that loudly turn for the worse and sometimes back again.

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Atheist - Jupiter

Atheist are one of my all-time favorite bands and have been a huge influence on my attempts at musicianship. That said, I was kinda sweating their announcement of recording a new joint-- a fear only increased by the departure of bassist Tony Choy just as they headed into the studio. And while Jupiter was recorded by one Jason Suecof, who pays his bills cutting albums by jokes like Trivium, he keeps the magic intact; the record’s only glaring flaw is the lack of prominent bass in the mix. It’s no And Justice for All, but the bass parts contributed by guitarist JT Thompson can often only be heard fully when he and Chris Baker are playing higher-register riffs. Kelly Shaefer’s vocals are as ragged, charged and snarling as they were 20 years ago on Piece of Time, and Steve Flynn’s drumwork? Dude took a 13-year break after quitting music in the mid-90s and still slaughters the competition not only in inventiveness and technicality, but also restraint. The foursome’s eight catchy songs are in and out in just over half an hour, knocking this concise return to form out of the park. Meanwhile, Pestilence still can’t shake the fixation on becoming “TOTALLY BROOTAL, BRO!” Take a hint from these guys, huh Mameli?

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Merchandise - Strange Songs (In The Dark)

I don’t really know shit about post-punk. I’ve heard a little bit of the Smiths and Joy Division, and I do love the Cure. But what I’m trying to say is that I can’t talk about the genre with any degree of expertise. I do, however, really, really like this platter from Florida’s Merchandise, a duo whose approach and production are really enjoyable. There’s just enough of a lo-fi sound to the guitars without making them grating, the drums are so good you’d never guess they were programmed, and whoever’s singing is really quite vocally adept for this sort of music. Nicely done, guys.

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Maserati - Pyramids of the Sun

Maserati suffered a haymaker last year when drummer extraodinaire Gerry Fuchs fell down an elevator shaft and died. His tightness, finesse and his amazing maintenance of the instrumental quartet’s groove is a critical part of what makes their songs breathe and charge forward. Fortunately, he’d cut all of his drums for this beautiful swansong before his untimely passing. Singerless bands are a dime a dozen these days, but Maserati’s sharp guitars and strong rhythyms keep catchiness and songcraft at the forefront. Buy this goddamned record!

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P.S. Eliot - Living In Squalor 7”

While PSE did have this fantastic 7” for sale when I caught them in Baltimore last spring, I couldn’t afford to get it AND a shirt AND the Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds LP. My then-collegiate student financial struggles aside, this band’s winning streak continues, dammmmn. 5 really short bangers that seem at once more serious and more catchy than the already-infectious debut LP. The other day, Catherine and I were discussing our profuse love for Living In Squalor and, as she eloquently put it, how Katie’s unfuckwithably honest lyrics are “effortlessly thoughtful.” Why the hell did I wait until like three weeks ago to start jamming this on the regular? Why aren’t you listening to it yet? This is the best damn 10 minutes of music of last year.

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My Ten Favorite Records Of 2010

2011-02-15T12:00:00.094-05:00

In alphabetical order...

Bad Banana - Crushfield

This not-even-real release has been the most infectiously catchy, stripped-down pop release of the year for me. Despite the fact that my default mode is apathy and my default tone is monotonicity, my dear friends Milli and Jess can tell you that every so often I get really excited about a crush, and Bad Banana was lined up in this company when I inexplicably woke at 5 am one Monday morning in September. Allison captured my heart with the best crush song of the year, "Stand Next to Me," and the long-distance-makes-my-heart-want-to-melt-'cause-it's-so-fucking-cute "Celery." As the Dark Lord said in October, this recording finds its strength in simplicity. Bad Banana find the perfect edge between pop punk and fuzzy indie pop. For all you fans, Bad Banana, along with Sourpatch (see below), are taking the East Coast and Midwest by storm in February. They'll have a few copies of this on cassette with them and will hopefully have a 7" put out by yours truly, as well.

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Billy Raygun - Split CS w/ Georgian + Split 7" with Rational Anthem

This band is exactly what pop punk should be-- teenagers singing/playing their fucking hearts out in a perfectly scrappy but never veering on mall-kid punk kinda way. Billy Raygun take equal cues from Jawbreaker, their New Hampshire forefathers, the Queers, and more recent New England pop punk like Witches With Dicks (mostly the "goddamnit" shout out on "Clone" is a total rip-off). Let's talk about feelings and inane shit, sing until our cheeks even rosier than they already are, and have fun with some riffs. I'll add an honorable mention for their Seasick 7" since I foolishly didn't hear it until this year.

Download Split CS Here

Download Split 7" Here
Buy all three from Traffic Street Records

Des Ark - Third Radio Demo

If last.fm is any indication, I have listened to Des Ark more than anything else in the past ~ four years. This new demo is no let down... nine songs that break your heart, either because their truly heartbreaking or because you know you're never going to have something so beautiful written for you (or maybe both). I like that Aimee always breaks her seriousness with wit, either with charming stories or song titles like "Which One of You Assholes Ate Christmas" and "Pregnant Motherfucker." I tend to prefer the acoustic version of Des Ark, and while her side of the Battle of the Beards split is one of my favorite sides of a split LP, I think I often prefer the radio demos. Production value doesn't matter so much when you just have a girl and an acoustic guitar, but there's something that's closer, more direct about these simpler recordings. Favorites are "Le Debut de la Fin," "Giving Tree," and the aforementioned "Which One of You Assholes Ate Christmas."

Four Eyes - Self Titled 7"

My favorite not-so-new-anymore Dinosaur Jr. imitators from Somerville, Massachusetts. Emotionally raw (but not really emo) indie rock with just a small twinkle in the riffage. They've got a new 7" coming out any minute now... more shameless self-promotion.

Download Here

To Buy, email foureyestheband@gmail.com, $5 ppd.

Lac Labelle - Self Titled

I was somewhat hesitant to include Lac Labelle in my list, simply because I don't really know anything about the country/bluegrass genre. But fuck it- this is one of my favorites of the year! My friend Christa grabbed this CD at the incredible Homegrown Fest in Boston and sent it along to me. This album packs combo female/male vocals and lovely intricacy while remaining simply and distinctly Americana.

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Lazy Mary - Crazy Hairy 7"

Totally raw, grungy Heavens to Betsy-esque duo from Long Beach, California. Frantic at times, hollowed out at others, I don't know quite how to explain why I love this release so much, but since the summer I've probably listened to it at least once a week. Perhaps it's the power of simplicity with lines like "mask emotion with addiction" jutting up against loudness.

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Libyans - A Common Place

I've gotten to the point where I've already written about almost all of the releases on this list, and Libyans are the most recent in this category. Without repeating myself too much, I love how snotty this band has become. A Common Place is both a great album as a whole and a good collection of singles, particularly "Paralyzed," one of my favorite straight up punk songs of the year.

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P.S. Eliot - Living In Squalor 7"

I needed no convincing to fall in love with P.S. Eliot all over again. "Broken Record" was one of my favorite songs on the demo, and I think this rerecording is better than the songs that carried over from that release to the LP. Songs of relationship confusion and love reign supreme with this release. My favorite new track is definitely "A Bear Named Otis." Secret letters, Katie fucking howls, and when everything drops out my heart just drops with it. I think this is the most cohesive release for P.S. Eliot as a whole and is a great recording balance in terms of reflecting this band's polish and scrappiness. The cover art/design by Kate Wadkins deserves a shout-out as well... love her signature script on the back cover. I got to see P.S. Eliot three awesome times in 2010, witnessing a little preview of their LP Sadie over the summer, which is coming out soon on one of my favorite labels, Salinas Records.

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Sourpatch - Crushin' LP

Perfectly tinny indie pop. I think this might have actually come out in 2009 but at the very end of the year, and I didn't get it until 2010. It's no surprise that I love a band whose primary influence is Tiger Trap and that sings about hopelessly cute crushes: "You like cars and you like stars/You like kites and eating candybars/Warm summer days when the sky is blue/While I like everything about you." Perhaps all the ICDT hardcore kids are gagging right now (more likely they've just skipped over my entire list), but Sourpatch's sweetness doesn't ever seem contrived; it's simply propelled by jangly guitars and girly voices. Occasional boy vocals too, but mostly ones my girls, and it should stay that way. I'm not as fond of "Outerspace." I know it's supposed to be cute, but I wish this didn't have the mega creepy little kid on the first track.

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Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7" + Split 7" with Dude Japan

If I could go back in time, the Weed Hounds demo would be in my top 10 from last year, but no regrets! Both sides of the Beach Bummed single provide more of the swirly, encompassing pop we all loved on the demo. While I love the more Swirlies/MBV-style pop on the Beach Bummed 7", I love the more driven "Hard Drivin'" even more. The song has probably become my favorite by the Weedies. I enjoy seeing this band live, but I would definitely say that recordings are their strong point. Seeing them play something like "Hard Drivin'" though is more energetic... I like Adam's description of the song as "propulsive." Weed Hounds haven't missed a beat yet, and I'd say there's a good chance their LP will be on my rendition of this list next year.

Download Beach Bummed Here
Download Dude Japan Split Here