Human Ruins - 2013 - Demo

Human Ruins is a five piece hardcore band from Melbourne, Australia. Demo is their debut. Human Ruins play a brand of hardcore that can do sludge as well as hardcore speeds while remaining as heavy as they can.



The EP slow burns with the heavy thud of Pandemic but the title track picks up speed which never fully leaves. In The Deep is a real highlight with a spiraling riff and some vocals that could be in a black metal song. If you like your hardcore with a little sludge stomp, Human Ruin's Demo will serve well.

No Crosses - 2013 - Demo

No Crosses is a hardcore punk band from Denver, Colorado, America. Demo is their debut EP. No Crosses play a noisy brand of hardcore punk with some ugly vocals and members also play in Negative Degree. They rip through these five songs, leaving only some gristle and well chewed bones behind. A contender for one of the best EP's of the year. The vocals are buried into the mix and distorted to the maximum and No Crosses are garnering comparisons to band like Strangers, Pukeoid, Aerosols & Sweet Tooth. If you like your hardcore fast and indecipherable, No Crosses' Demo will serve well.

WVRM - 2013 - Despair

WVRM is a heavy band from Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Despair is their debut EP. WVRM (or maybe WURM or WORM) play a brand of grindcore that brings in elements of death metal and powerviolence. The singer has a voice that would be equally at home fronting a death metal band and the guitars would only need to be less thrashy and they could easily play death metal. As it is they switch back and forth between fast grindy hardcore and mid speed thrashy hardcore all while the vocalist screatches and grows like a Nordic demon. I'm not quite sure what to label this other than as extremely aggressive and intensely heavy. If you like your heavy music eclectic but never forgetting to to truly bring it, WVRM's Despair will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit.

Vessel - 2013 - God.Queen.War.

Vessel is a five piece hardcore punk band from Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. God.Queen.War. is their debut LP courtesy of Wasted Life Records. Vessel play a progressive brand of hardcore that brings in elements of progressive metal and metalcore but never lets them outweigh the hardcore base. Vessel cites bands like Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan and Eyehategod while garnering comparisons to bands like Botch, Reproacher, Seizures, Convul, and Bone Dance. If Killswitch Engage didn't have a melodic component it might come out like this. A strong contender for one of the top LP's of the year, I would list my favourite tracks but that would be pretty much every one. If you like your hardcore to be a little progressive but never leave their hardcore roots, Vessel's God.Queen.War. will serve well. Thanks to Manic Compression.

Danger! Danger! - 2013 - Of Death

Danger! Danger! is a hardcore punk band from Tübingen, Germany. Of Death is their debut EP. This album is being released by Spastic Fantastic and Crapoulet records



They blaze through these six songs in about nine minutes, the longest barely breaking two minutes. This is politically charged hardcore and not afraid of wearing their ideologies on their sleeves.

 

 Reminds me of Napolean Dynamite if they had the political opinions of the Class War Kids instead of playing excellently silly pop punk.

Infest - 2013 - Days Turn Black

Infest is a four piece hardcore punk band from Valencia, California, America. Days Turn Black is their first new release in over a decade. They broke up in 1991 and reunited this year and are playing new shows. Days Turn Black isn't new music, the music was recorded summer 1995, vocals the subsequent next year and all these tracks are left over from original "No Man's Slave" sessions."



If you know Infest, you know what you're in for, if you don't and you like powerviolence, you are in for a treat. Thanks to We Last Longer.

Trauma Harness - 2013 - Dead And Loving It

Trauma Harness is a three piece punk band from Belleville & St Louis, USA. Dead And Loving It is their third release. Trauma Harness play a synth heavy, reverb drenched brand of moody post-punk. These songs are content to plod along at medium speed while conjuring demonic drones. Throw in a cover of Alice Cooper's (He`s Back) The Man Behind The Mask and what more could you ask for? If you like your post-punk with no artifice just lots of dark synths, Trauma Harness' Dead And Loving will serve well.

Dejection - 2013 - Dead Earth

Dejection is a one man instrumental heavy metal band from England. Dead Earth is their debut EP. Dejection plays a melodic, progressive brand of death metal that brings a djent sound to the table. These songs are heavy but never at the expense of the songwriting or the fluid riffing. Dejection cite bands like Veil Of Maya, Born Of Osiris, Auras and The Faceless. If John Petrucci's Suspended Animation had more of a death metal, djent feel to it it would sound like this. All of these songs combine traces of melody, sometimes with keyboards, alongside a focus on being crushingly heavy. If you like your metal blackened and with some djent, Dejection's Dead Earth will serve well.

Polar Bear Club - 2013 - Death Chorus

Polar Bear Club is a five piece punk rock band from Rochester and Syracuse, New York, USA. Death Chorus is their new LP. Polar Bear Club play a melodic brand of punk rock, this album moving into pop punk territory. Think more poppier brighter Make Do And Mend or Iron Chic and you won't be far off. This is an incredibly solid album, great song after great song though it is front loaded a tad. Not only will these songs bury their way into your ears just try sitting there and not singing along. It can't be done. An easy contender for album of the year. If you like your punk rock with a little gloss and excellent songs that reach for the rafters, Polar Bear Club's Death Chorus will serve well.

Stras X Ser - 2013 - Crowdkillcity

Stras X Ser is a four piece hardcore punk band. Crowdkillcity is their new EP. Stras X Ser play a sludgy brand of metallic hardcore. They rip through these five songs in less than five and a half minutes and with song titles like Welcome To Crowdkillcity and Monday Crowdkill have a clear focus on people beating the living shit out of each other in the pit. They cite bands like Xibalba, Harms Way, Nails and are garnering comparisons to bands like Harms Way, Weekend Nachos, and Trap Them. If you like your hardcore sludgy and metallic, and to serve as the backdrop for you beating the crap out of people at live show's, Stras X Ser's Crowdkillcity will serve well

Childish Gambino - 2013 - Because The Internet

Childish Gambino is a rapper from Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. Because The Internet is his new LP. You might also know Childish Gambino by his birth name Donald Glover. He was a part of Derrick Comedy, wrote on 30 Rock, and co-starred on Community as Troy Barnes. He released his first EP in 2008, signed to Glassnote Reocrds in 2011, released his first LP Camp for them that year. Because The Internet finds Childish Gambino working with Ludwig Göransson who also collaborated on Camp and features guest spots from Chance The Rapper, Jhené Aiko and Azealia Banks.



Childish Gambino reminds me of Aesop Rock, Sage Francis and Death Grips because Gambino can be incredibly insular and cryptic, is stretching hip hop out and drawing in people who might not traditionally like hip hop and he uses sounds and samples that most other artists aren't using. The production on this album will be a block for some people. Childish Gambino is obviously a talented producer but these songs jump around too much, the beats change too dramatically too frequently. The highlight of that is the beats come from the worlds of pop, psychedelia, dance music and R&B. This album falls to the same thing that held me back from ultimately loving Camp, all the ingredients are here and they are excellently done but it just never explodes to me like it feels like it should. That doesn't mean I won't be listening to this consantly though, Because The Internet is chock full of great, catchy songs.

If you're willing to learn the intricacies of these songs there are treasures to be found but it's probably not a first listen kind of thing. Highlights include WORLDSTAR, Shadows, The Worst Guys Ft. Chance The Rapper, Telegraph Ave ("Oakland by Lloyd"), Shadows, 3005, Sweatpants,   If you like your hip hop of the underground variety Childish Gambino's Because The Internet will serve well.

Cassus - ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! - 2013 - Split

Cassus is a four piece screamo band from Norwich, England. This split with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! is their second EP. Cassus play a take no prisoners brand of screamo. Right from the moment go they never let up for a moment until their closing track. If Loma Prieta weren't so chaotic it might come out like this. Highlights include Trilogy 1: Ostrich Hearts, Trilogy 2: A Thousand Tiny Explosions Of Glitter and Trilogy 3: All We'll Ever Need. If you like your screamo fast and heavy, Cassus's side of their split with ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! will serve well.



¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! is a screamo band from Madrid, Spain. The split with Cassus is their fifth EP. ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! play a lofi brand of screamo that draws from some slightly more melodic places than Cassus. I enjoyed their songs on both the demo and the 4 Way Split W​/​Todos Caerán, Book of Caverns and Lizards Have Personalities and these songs do not disappoint. These songs have time to stretch out and breath, allow a moment of melody before descending into complete chaos (Potentia Absoluta Dei (Unclean Version)). Highlights include Ser Humano & Il Est Bien Vengé Aka Miguel. If you like a distorted sense of chaos and melody in your screamo, ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!'s side of their split with Cassus will serve well.

Dream Caste - 2013 - A Calmer Room

Dream Caste is a screamo band from California, USA. A Calmer Room is their debut EP. Dream Caste play a brand of screamo that pulls no punches. They incorporate bits of melody and gang vocals to great effect. There is little chaos here, only emotional carnage, desperate screams and raging guitars. Members have also played in Ezra, Summer Vacation, Ten Thousand Leagues, Moldar. La Bella and Wilderness. These five songs blaze by all to quickly, make sure to pick up a tape from either KYEO Speaks or Dreamdiver . Admittedly this demo does not sound the greatest but on the other hand I have come to almost prefer the lofi, garage demo sound. If you like your screamo scrappy and explosive Dream Caste's A Calmer Room will serve well.

InVolucian - 2013 - Cementerio De Sueños

InVolucian is a three piece thrash metal  band from Marín, Pontevedra. Cementerio De Sueños is their new LP. Members of InVolucian have also played in Ratxa Mala and Mother Skull. InVolucian play a brand of thrash metal that has learned the right lessons from thrash metal and can head in a crossover direction. The album starts off in a more hardcore direction but by the time Intifada makes its riffy entrance the future course is clear. None of these songs overstay their welcome, they speed on by with riffs to spare. Highlights include Cualquiera, A Lo Bonzo, Kbron, Democracia De Que, Intifada, La Resignacion, Va Por Ti, Vacaciones En El Palomares and InVolucion. If you like your thrash speedy yet still melodic, InVolucion's Cementerio De Sueños will serve well. Link courtesy of Ruido

Beastmilk - 2013 - Climax

Beastmilk is a four piece rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Climax is their third release. Beastmilk play a dark brand of rock they have branded apocalyptic death-rock.



If you were a fan of Terrible Feelings from a little while ago you will find similar music here. Generally Beastmilk play a dark tinged style of rock and roll drawing large influence from post-punk bands garnering comparisons to bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and Rocky Erikson. I would list my favourite songs but what's the point when it's almost every song. If you like dark, post-punk tinged rock Beastmilk's Climax will serve well. Link courtesy of Elementary Revolt. 

Blister Unit - 2013 - Christ Ape

Blister Unit is a two piece grindcore band from Prescott, Arizona, America. Christ Ape is their sixth release. Blister Unit play a straight ahead, take no prisoners brand of grindcore. They come roaring out of the gate at turbo speed on opening track Indigenous Nudity and continue in that vein  until Taung Child, the most melodic, post rock piece on this whole album, full of epic solos and quiet, ambient space. And then it's almost immediately back into the hardcore and grindcore of earlier. Highlights include Our Gang, Thing Baby, Coconut Collider, the aforementioned Taung Child and Indigenous Nudity, Christ Ape,  If you like your grindcore fast with just a hint of melody, Blister Unit's Christ Ape will serve well.

City Hunter - 2013 - City Hunter

City Hunter is a hardcore punk band. City Hunter is their new EP. I don't know what to say about this really, there's not much info about the band that I can find. The EP is released by Blackout Rage records, produced by Will Killingsworth and you can see more of the interesting packaging here. This release is three lofi songs that showcase a very thrashy brand of hardcore punk that isn't afraid to stretch a little in the chaotic noise they make, Stab & Repeat being the best example of this. Easily one of the best EP's of the year. If you like hardcore punk and are willing to suffer the lofi production, City Hunter's City Hunter will reward you.

Distaste - 2013 - Black Age Of Nihil

Distaste is a three piece blackened hardcore band from Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. Black Age Of Nihil is their third release.  Distaste plays a dark brand of hardcore that borrows liberally from grindcore and death metal in building its savage attack which makes it hard to categorize. Members also play in Afgrund, GodHateCode and Underground Groove Front, The basis for these songs is hardcore punk but they are built into terrifying colossal songs that create an atmosphere of dread and raw brutality. Highlights include Enslaved, Einsamkeit, Force-Fed Lies,Regress,   This whole album is played at turbo speed which only adds to the frantic energy. If you like your hardcore super fast and with liberal doses of both black metal and grindcore, Distaste's Black Age Of Nihil will serve well.  

Make Do And Mend - The Flatliners - 2013

Make Do And Mend are a four piece post-hardcore band from Boston, Connecticut, USA. The split with The Flatliners is their seventh release. They have also put out a split with Touché Amoré and have toured with bands like  The Wonder Years, Set Your Goals, Shook Ones, Comeback Kid and Title Fight Polar Bear Club, Fireworks, Balance and Composure and Such Gold

The Flatliners are a four piece punk from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The split with Make Do And Mend is their 11th release. They have put out splits with bands like The Snips, Dead To Me and ASTPAI and toured
with bands like

Braille - 2013 - Braille

Braille is a four piece hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Braille is their third release and their second self titled album. Braille play a melodic, noisy brand of screamo with the vocals low in the mix. Braille is capable of both driving melody and moments of spastic noise. Abate Of Florida starts with a squeal but evolves into a hard driving dissonant riff before stopping and starting again right where it left off while White Braille and Sensitive Teeth never stray far from their melodic, over driven roots. Highlights include Trane Fake, White Braille, Sensitive Teeth and Hong Kong Means Freedom. If you like your screamo some noise, Braille's Braille will serve well.

Holy - 2013 - The Age Of Collapse

Holy is a four piece hardcore punk band from Milano, Italy. Age Of Collapse is their sophomore LP. Holy play a crusty brand of d-beat unafraid of spinning into some powerviolence chaos. They are drawing comparisons to bands like Left For Dead and and Needles. They blast through in 14 songs in just 23 minutes, all of these songs are abrasive, heavy and as in your face as possible. Highlights include War, Ramparts, The End Of All Hope, Old Habits, Restart and Restless If you like your hardcore crusty and relatively straightforward, Holy's Age Of Collapse will serve well.

Kato - 2013 - Buried With The Rain

Kato is a hardcore punk band from Charlotte Hill, North Carolina. Buried With The Rain is their debut EP. Kato plays a thrashy brand of hardcore punk that carries itself with a blackened metal personality. These songs are just as likely to get stuck in some grinding doom as they are speedy hardcore. If you like your hardcore with some blackened metal influences, Kato's Buried With The Rain will serve well.

Baron Samedi - 2013 - Baron Samedi

Baron Samedi is a three piece garage punk band from Zaragoza, Spain. Baron Samedi is their debut ep. Baron Samedi plays a brand of garage rock that owes as much to Roky Erikson and the 13th Floor Elevators as to surf music and to the sixties in general. At their best Baron Samedi can crank out some shaggy garage rock with their freak flag flying high but at their worst all they do is refilter some psychedelia.  Indian Eagle (Skating Like Bullshit) has a classic freak out middle portion and never rises above shaggy dog status after opening with a hardcore rager Radio Sucks. The Frog (R.I.P.) apes their influences well but never rise above them.  Highlights include Radio Sucks, D.R.U.G. and I'm A Posh. If you like your hardcore sloppy and from the lofi confines of a garage with a fearless throwback vibe Baron Samedi's Baron Samedi will serve well.

Industrial Park - 2013 - Cold White EP

Industrial Park is a two piece post-punk band from Portland, Oregan, America. Cold White is their second album. Industrial Park play a cold, driven and deadpan brand of post-rock. If Interpol relied more on droning noise to conjure atmosphere  it might sound like this. There is some Sonic Youth influences in the dead pan vocals and the abrasive guitar noise. These songs range from straight forward repetitive drone to a louder, harsher, oppresive drone. Highlights include Parallel Lines, Hollow Walls, and Cold White. If you like some cold, dark post-punk, Industrial Park's Cold White will serve well.

Fallstreak - 2013 - The Feels

Fallstreak is a four piece post-hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland, USA. All The Feels is their debut EP. Fallstreak plays a brand of post-hardcore that heavily incorporates emo into their soundwriting, citing bands like Defeater, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Moving Mountains and Pianos Become the Teeth. Highlights include Hollow, Pressure, Trap and Change. If you like your post-hardcore with some noodly emo influences then Fallstreak's All The Feels will serve well.

Makeshift Shelters - 2013 - The Cautious End Of Things

Makeshift Shelters are a four piece emo band from Washington, DC, USA. The Cautious End Of Things is their debut EP. Makeshift Shelters play an indie rock influenced brand of emo. The title track brings in lots of driving, melodic guitars underneath a melodic female voice and is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time meanwhile Thin Yellow Line intertwines multiple vocalists over twinkly riffs spiraling upwards. This EP is bookended with the more driving songs, with the twinkle and ambient pieces in the middle. Highlights include the title track and Overflowing. If you like your emo with a plaintive female singer and alternatively twinkly and driving emo then Makeshift Shelter's The Cautious End Of Things will serve well.

Akupunktura - 2013 - Akupunktura

Akupunktura is a hardcore punk band from Madrid, Spain. Akupunktura is their debut LP. They play a raggedy brand of hardcore that liberally sprinkles in ska and street punk. Akupunktura is able to jump fluidly from hardcore punk into ska on songs like Asesinx, and Terrorcracia while working the hardcore side of the street on songs like Tripalium. Reminds me of Leftover Crack in the vearing from raggedy straight ahead into ska and right back again. If you like your hardcore with some horns and skanking, Akupunktura's Akupunktura will scratch that itch.

Heartless - 2013 - Certain Death

Heartless is a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Certain Death is their fifth release. Heartless plays a crusty brand of hardcore punk that borrows liberally from the grindcore and powerviolence side of things. They blaze through these 8 songs in 12 minutes, leaving me wanting more. If you like your hardcore with some crust Heartless` Certain Death will serve well.

Volatile - 2013 - Chin Check

Volatile is a four piece hardcore punk band from North Eastern Connecticut, USA. Chin Check is their debut EP. They make short work of these three songs, the singer is capable of spitting words quickly and shouting with power. The guitars are excellent at both the raging speed of D and the downtempo stomp of Play For Keeps. Highly recommended. if you like your hardcore to pull no punches and get the job done quickly Volatile's Chin Check will serve well.