Willing Victim - 2014 - Demo

Willing Victim is a hardcore punk band from Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada. Demo is their debut ep. Willing Victim play a noisy, chaotic brand of hardcore heading in a powerviolence direction. They are garnering comparisons to other classic Canadian hardcore punk bands like Left For Dead, Cursed & The Swarm. If you like your hardcore to feel like it's about to fall apart but always remain pummelling and heavy, Willing Victim's Demo will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit.

Deadends - 2014 - Demo

Deadends is a hardcore punk band from Kingston, New York, USA. Demo is their debut EP. These are three slabs of heavy, hardcore punk bringing elements of powerviolence and an surplus of blast beats. These three songs make me interested in where they will take this sound they are developing. Reminds me a little of The Day Man Lost with that really heavy powerviolence sound. If you like your hardcore punk to beat you over the head brutally only for short, intense bursts, Deadends' Demo will serve well.

Mariner - 2014 - Demo

Mariner are a five piece punk pop band from San Fransico, Californa, America. Demo is their debut EP. Mariner play a catchy brand of punk pop, the singer can have a surprisingly gritty shout and the band can peel off catchy riffs one after the other. Reminds of Polar Bear Club, Make Do And Mend and Iron Chic as they are moving towards that orgcore sound. If you like pop punk, Mariner's Demo will definitely scratch that itch.

Nobody, Ever - 22

Nobody, Ever is a four piece emo band from Leicester, England. They have released to date two excellent, highly recommended EP's, Everyone Stood By The Side Of The Road and This Wall Is Dedicated To Liam And His Mates. 22 is an unreleased song recorded a little bit but only unveiled recently. It's a big, reaching anthemic song that picks up where they left off while still moving forward on it's own terms. Highly recommended as always.

The Stasi - 2014 - Demo

The Stasi are a hardcore punk band from Philadelphia. Demo is their new EP. The Stasi play a thrashy, straight forward brand of hardcore punk. No frills, no solos and no lofi production are the rules here and The Stasi make a compelling hardcore noise. If you like your hardcore a little noisy but always driving, The Stasi's Demo will serve well. Thanks to Mind Disease.

Mold - 2014 - Demo

Mold is a three piece power violence band from Georgia, USA. Demo is their debut EP. Mold take a chaotic, noisy brand of power violence, added a little bit of grindcore and then recorded the resulting insanity on a dying boom box three houses down from where they were playing. If you like your grindcore as low fi and chaotic as possible, Mold's Demo will serve well.

Hexis - 2014 - Abalam

Hexis is a five piece band from Copenhagen, Denmark. Abalam is their new EP. Hexis plays a crushing brand of black metal that has learned lessons in heaviness and straight forward attacks from hardcore punk. For a little bit of context Abalam is another name for the demon king Paimon from the Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King and all the song titles are in latin, only adding to the dark, occult vibe Hexis are masters at conjuring. The structure and form of this music is black metal, either at blast beat speed or a mid tempo sludgy crawl. informed by hardcore punk in the even more balls to the wall attitude.

 The second half of the album after the instrumental title track is when things really kick into high gear, the first half is good but the second half is where everything comes together and really bashes your brain in. Hexis is garnering comparisons to Celeste and Pop Matters described them as "Ampere or Angel Hair scraping their way through Portal’s demented discography."  Each song is just a wall of raw blackened metal coming straight at you with no opportunity to run or hide. Highlights include Sequax, Tenebris, Abalam, Immolobant, Exhausit, .  If you like your black metal turned up to 11 then Hexis' Abalam will serve well.

Bluntshit - 2014 - Demo

Bluntshit is a hardcore punk band from Berlin, Germany. Demo is their debut ep. Bluntshit play a very straight forward brand of hardcore punk with a thick layer of crust over top. Don't know much about this band or this EP other than it it rips hard aside from a couple of questionable vocals. Highlights include 60€, GMRE, DBSB and Revenge Of Stench,   If you like your hardcore punk with a nice layer of crust with some razor sharp production, Bluntshit's Demo will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit

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Barren Hope - 2014 - Anaffa

Barren Hope is a hardcore punk band from Haifa, Israel. Anaffa is their debut ep. Barren Hope play a crusty brand of hardcore garnering comparisons to bands like Protestant, The Holy Mountain, Centuries, and Masakari.



Barren Hope blast through these 8 songs in just over 20 minutes going back and forth between full speed hardcore and a more mid tempo sludgy stomp all the while covered in a layer of distortion and crust. If you like hardcore punk to be crusty and heavy, Barren Hope's Anaffa will serve well.

Nausea - 2014 - Condemmed To The System

Nausea is a four piece grindcore band from Los Angelese, California, USA. Condemmed To The System is their new LP. Members have also played in Terrorizer, Phobia, Majesty, Exhumed, Chemical Bitches,  Murder Construct and Intronaut so you know roughly what to expect. This slab of pure, uncut grindcore has both new songs like   …And We Suffer and Hate and Deception as well as previously unreleased songs like Falsely Accused and Does God Need Help?



 Nausea isn't reinveinting the wheel by any means but if there is one thing they know how to do well, is play unrelentingly heavy political grindcore. The political messages embodied in song titles like Condemn Big Business and Corporation Pull-In are about as subtle as Oscar Garcia's vocals are cryptically growled. If you like grindcore, Nausea's Condemmed To The System will serve well.

Young Thug & Bloody Jay - 2014 - Black Portland

Young Thug and Bloody Jay are rappers from Atlanta, Georgia. Black Portland is their new collaborative mixtape. Young Thug has been attracting some attention for his unique, idiosyncratic style of rap and Bloody Jay just released Blatlanta II:Brazy. The beats on Black Portland for the most part are mainstream beats that you would hear on the radio or in the club, once Young Thug lays down his vocals they become part of his weirdo, twisted world.



 Rarely do I hear rappers doing so many other things vocally than just rap, Young Thug's vocals include shouts, lazy mumble mouth, accenting punctuation, and sometimes just vocalizations. Highlights include Signs, No Fucks, 4 Eva Bloody, Movin, Paranoia, No Love, Danny Glover & Lets Go Play. If you like your rap to sound like the mainstream but bending that to suit their own personalities and style, then Young Thug & Bloody Jay's Black Portland will serve well.

Accidente - 2014 - Amistad Y Rebelión

Accidente is a punk rock band from Madrid, Spain. Amistad Y Rebelión is their second LP. Accidente play a melodic brand of punk fronted by a woman with an excellent voice. They cite bands like The Vicious, Massysteri, Leftover Crack, Lost World, The Assassinators, Decisión, Kartón de Zumo, Minor Threat, The Clash and are garnering comparisons to bands like The Libyans, Strike Anywhere, Terrible Feelings, and Against Me! I would list my favourite songs but there's no point in listing every single song. If you like your punk rock with a clear melodic sense but never forgetting how to rock, Accidente's Amistad Y Rebelión will serve well. Thanks to Manic Compression for the link.

The Redefiners - 2014 - Chapter 2: Creating Luck

The Redefiners are a hip hop duo from Chicago consisting of ATM and Mentality. Chapter 2: Creating Luck is their new mixtape. Both ATM and Mentality have fast flows and they can trade verses back and forth with no problems, each has their own unique style but their voices are also similar enough for the album to feel cohesive. Production by Relta, Derrick Thomas, Arturizzy, Gin Jacket, NB, 6ix, CmR, Da Vinci, Omito, All Stars, Da and Soul and guest verses from SwizZz, Cam Meeskins, Taylor Bennet and KiDD The Chicagoan.





They cite artists like De La Soul. Tribe Called Quest, Big Pun & Kendrick Lamar. Stylisticily and production wise this album doesn't stray very far from a flow focused, almost gangster hard type beat but The Redefiners tend to stay away from the gun play seeming to prefer a more conscious, positive vibe. Highlights include Blue Dream, Absurd, Mind In The Clouds, The Heavenly Three Ft. Cam Meekins, Candy Shoppa, Lingo Ft. KiDD The Chicagoan, October's Diary, Take Flight and Spit Flow. If you like hip hop or rap, The Redefiners' Chapter 2: Creating Luck will serve well.

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Bleak Bulge - 2013 - Bleak Bulge

Bleak Bulge is an extreme band from Amsterdamn. Bleak Bulge is their debut EP. Bleak Bulge play a hard to pin down brand of extreme music that melds together hardcore punk, black metal, powerviolence and noise punk into one loud, lofi, overwhelming beast of terror. Sometimes Bleak Bulge play take no prisoners, powerviolence speed hardcore punk wrapped in multiple layers of noise and distortion with a singer who could just as easily front a depressive black metal band and then sometimes Bleak Bulge slow things down a little bit to a sludgy stomp layered under distortion and just a hint of a melodic guitar line breaking through the layers of noise. The faster bits remind me of a more distorted, black metal influenced Superjoint Ritual. Highlights include Destroy Your Body, Bleak Bulge, Bulge Rising, Media Culture Decline and Untitled (Bonus Track). If you like extreme music you will probably find something great in Bleak Bulge's Bleak Bulge. Thanks to Manic Compression.

Vinny Vegas - 2013 - The Big White Whale

Vinny Vegas is a five piece progressive rock band from Baltimore, Maryland, America. The Big White Wale is their debut LP. Vinny Vegas play an expansive brand of rock that incorporates post-rock, soul jazz and a heavy dosing of keys make for a melodic groove that various members can solo or create atmosphere in. I like this more than I like of progressive music because this is firmly based in rock and roll and never strays
far from that.



The Big White Whale opens with the longest track Highs & Lows and continues in that vein for the rest of the album. Highlights include Rubber Sternum, Patterns Weave, Claws, If you like your progressive rock to not forget how to rock but still stretch out with melody and instrumentation, Vinny Vegas' The Big White Whale will serve well.

Iron Mind - 2014 - Iron Mind

Iron Mind is a five piece hardcore punk band from Melbourne, Australia. Iron Mind is their second LP courtesy of Flatspot Records. Iron Mind play a riff heavy brand of hardcore that manages to be both limber and heavy. At their best Iron Mind bring together agile hardcore riffs but imbue with with metal heaviness and flesh it out with a singer who sounds like he's barely able to escape the demons that pursue them. If you're interested in some riff heavy, pit focused hardcore that rarely decelerates then Iron Mind's Iron Mind will serve well. Thanks to Music Approved By A Banana

Slippertails - 2014 - There's A Disturbing Trend

Slippertails is a punk rock duo from central New Jersey. There's A Disturbing Trend is their new LP. Slippertails play a noisy brand of lofi punk rock garnering physical and sonic comparisons to Frank Black. The singer has an atonal talking style capable of an emotive whine but never ventures much beyond those territories while the guitar churns out somewhat melodic, generally very distorted old school punk rock. These songs are as interested in crawling along at glacier speed wallowing in distortion and noise as they are in saddling a mid tempo, shifting riff with distorted vocals and riding it into the dust. Highlights include Hip New Jerk, Walk, Will Peel You Open and Altar Wine. If you like your punk with a little sludge and a focus on doing what feels good, Slippertails' There's A Disturbing Trend will serve well.

Chalkboards - 2013 - Chalkboards

Chalkboards is a two piece chiptune band from Austin, Texas, USA. Chalkboards is their new EP. Chalkboards play a lush melodic brand of chiptune, finding the melody using two 1989 Gameboys and then filling out the sound with more "standard" instruments. Chalkboards manage to conjure an atmosphere that is equal parts Air, Brian Eno, Anamanaguchi and shoegaze indie rock. These songs have dual functions, you can put your whole attention towards it and absorb every nook and cranny of what Chalkboards is trying to do or you can let it receed into the background and use it as ambient music floating in the background providing atmosphere. There are definitely other instruments at use here than just the Gameboys but everything else is shrouded in lovely distortion and subsides into the background. Highlights include This World Is Not Yours, Splitting The Room In Two, My Favorite Show Is On The Television, The Sickets Kickflip You've Ever Seen, There's Twentytwo Fireflies In My Jar and The World Belongs To Us. If you like your chiptune catchy and dreamy, Chalkboards` Chalkboards will serve well.

Absolut - 2014 - Punk Survival

Absolut is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Punk Survival is their debut LP. Absolut play a speedy brand of hardcore influenced by bands like Anti-Cimex and Gauze. The vocals are incomprehensible screams of a demon being tortured, the guitar ranges from tight, noisy hardcore riffs to wild, Slayer-esque screaming solos and the drums are never anything less than utterly chaotic. The lofi production only serves to heighten the hardcore pummeling, this album is  best played in a room full of people with multiple strobe lights flashing. If you like your hardcore to be absolutely pummeling with no mind for anything else, Absolut's Punk Survival will serve well.

Robb Flynn & Friends

Friday (Jan 17) saw the ‘Rob Flynn And Friends’ benefit gig take place in spectacular style, with the likes of Robert Trujillo, Chuck Billy and Robb himself all thrashing out some badass covers of classic Black Sabbath tracks.


The concert was organised by Forbidden and Spiralarms guitarist Craig Locicero in honour of a good friend of many of the bands from the Bay Area scene who’s suffered a heartbreaking tragedy.



“A good friend of ours and all around great person, Nikki Davis, was in a motorcycle accident with her husband Jeff,” explains Craig. “Sadly, Jeff died at the scene. Fortunately, Nikki survived but she was unconscious for a few days. She awoke to the daunting reality that her husband, soulmate and best friend had passed away. It was heartbreaking to all of us in the Bay Area scene. Robb Flynn and I have known Nikki for at least 25 years and she is a huge supporter of the Bay Area’s metal and punk scene. I wanted to help Nikki out a year ago, but most every band was busy on tour and unavailable. A few weeks ago, I had approached Robb about doing a benefit for Nikki and he thought it was a great idea.



“Robb has gone above and beyond to help bring together something very special and memorable to help Nikki on January 17th. He’s been the catalyst for getting this thing off the ground so quickly and Nikki is very thankful. We hope to raise enough money to help Nikki continue to get back on her feet because the healing is not finished. She still has medical bills to pay and we want to do anything we can to help our old friend.”

Living Ghosts - 2014 - The Thought Of Giving Up

Living Ghosts are a four piece emo band from Oxnard, California, USA. The Thought Of Giving Up is their second EP. Living Ghosts are garnering comparisons to bands like  Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), Citizen, and Old Gray and feature former members of HRBRS. Living Ghosts plays an eclectic brand of emo. In the first three tracks of The Thought Of Giving Up Living Ghosts move through emo that would be reminscient of Foxing if Foxing where even more quiet and reserved on Like The Sea, a  somewhat discordant up tempo emo song that breaks part and barely rebuilds on Arrows and an even more melodic, straight forward emo sound on Falling Apart (Featuring Jazzmine Brazil). Highlights include Falling Apart Ft. Jazzmine Brazil, Arrows, Light,  If you like your post-hardcore to be progressive and genre mixing but not pretentious, Living Ghosts' The Thought Of Giving Up will serve well.

Battle Ruins - 2014 - Battle Ruins

Battle Ruins is a heavy metal band. Battle Ruins is their new LP. They play a straight forward brand of heavy metal that would not be out of place next to NWOBHM bands in playing a brand of thrash and citing Vengeance and Fortress as influences. Think 3 Inches Of Blood without any speed metal influences and it would come out something like this.




There are lots of heavy guitars that pull out melodic solos and the singer has a voice that can do the high melodic parts as well as the gruffer parts. This is a surprisingly strong set of songs for songs that sound like they could have been written thirty years ago, this LP could easily pass for a recently discovered long lost masterpiece.



 I would list my favourite songs but I would end up listing all of them. As it stands Battle Ruins Battle Ruins is a very good thrashy old school metal album.

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - 2014 - Iller Than Most

Del tha Funky Homosapien is a rapper and producer from Oakland, California. Iller Than Most is his eleventh solo album. Del tha Funky Homosapien is an underground rapper with impeccable lyricism that manages to be conscious but still fun and party making. The opening track Leader is an outright banger and one that I will add to the ongoing rotation. His production style on this album seems a little more raw and brings in more noises that tend towards the discordant side of things, garnering comparisons production wise to bands like Death Grips. As a full length solo album this is a tad disappointing but as a new mixtape between full lengths it's quite good. There are some genuine great songs on here like the aforementioned Leader, Mental Fitness, Militant, Wreckin The Upside, and Grand Royal but this album is more uneven than I've come to expect from Del. If you like your hip hop coming from the underground, wise but never forgetting to have fun, Del tha Funky Homosapien's Iller Than Most will serve well.

Truman - 2014 - Truman EP

Truman is a four piece screamo band from Richmond, Virginia, USA. Truman is their debut EP. Truman play a straight ahead brand of screamo that aims itself carefully and then explodes at full speed. Multiple vocalists scream their lungs out while the distorted guitars rage, providing a basis on which to expand. There is perhaps an overrelliance on sound clips, every single track on here has audio from somewhere else and really only A Declaration puts the clips to good use.



Splitlip comes raring out of the gate and never lets up while Lolo Ferrari gives the riffs a little bit of breathing room before everything explodes. Euler's Circuit has a bit of a hardcore stomp to it, A Declaration is an excellent revolutionary sound collage set to a tight riff and closing track Lamplighter brings things back around with more traditional screamo that opened the ep. If you can put up with some lofi demo production, Truman's Truman is solid ep by a band to watch.

You Blew It! - 2014 - Keep Doing What You're Doing

You Blew It! is a three piece emo band from Orlando, Florida, America. Keep Doing What You're Doing is their new LP courtesy of Topshelf Records. You Blew It! play a brand of midwest emo garnering comparisons to bands like American Football and Braid. It's not that they're doing anything new, melodic noodly guitars, shouted but still melodic vocals and an overweening sense of meloncholy aren't ground breaking but there's something to be said for a band that can pull all those things together into an album that practically demands re-listening. Highlights include Match & Tinder, Regional Dialect, A Different Kind Of Kindling, Rock Springs, You & Me & Me,Gray Matter and Better To Best .  If you like your emo straight ahead with a clear melodic sense, You Blew It!'s Keep Doing What You're Doing will serve well.

Beatriz Carnicero & Chulo - 2013 Split

Beatriz Carnicero is a hardcore punk band from Uraguay. The split with Chulo is their fourth release. Beatriz Carnicero play a speedy brand of hardcore influenced by power violence. The longest of these songs is barely over a minute long and that's only because of a long audio clip. They get in, smash you over the head with the riff, rip your guts apart with the tortured vocals and then move quickly on to the next musical ambush



Chulo is a three piece grindcore/powerviolence band from Bogota, Colombia. Their split with Beatriz Carnicero is their eleventh release. Chulo play a supremely heavy brand of power violence that is as interested in chugging along a riff as they are exploding like a pipe bomb showering you in shrapnel. They cite bands like Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Man is the Bastard, Infest, Napalm Death. The singer has a completely incomprehensible screech whether guttural or high pitched and the saw blade guitars are out of control. 

Have it All - 2013 - Changes

 Have It All are a five piece international hardcore band with members based in Padova, Italy) & Dusseldorf, Germany. Changes is their second EP. Have It All play a brand of hardcore that instrumentally owes a debt to both emo. The singer has a solid desperate shout and the guitars bring just the right amount of melody to enhance the crunch and squeal. The guitars on Circles remind me of Thoughts Paint The Sky and in general there is a tendency towards a heavy brand of hardcore that is heading in the direction of metalcore. These songs are usually very heavy  but they counterbalance that by bringing a sense of melancholy melody. Highly recommended. Highlights include Side By Side, Untitled, Circles and Create. If you like your hardcore heavy and fast while still leaving room for some emo, Have It All's Changes will serve well.

I Kill Giants - 2014 - No One Will Ever Leave You

I Kill Giants are a four piece emo band from Boston, Massachusets. No One Will Ever Leave You is their new EP. I Kill Giants play a mathy, slightly noodly brand of emo with lots of tapping and desperate shouted vocals. Even though this was released on January 2nd, the middle of winter, this feels like a very summer record, it should be blasting from a car stereo as bunch of friends drive to the beach. The opening track Slaughtering The Wolves Like Sheep is classic I Kill Giants, easily melding indie and math rock into a noodly, some what discordant catchy tune. The next two tracks don't break a minute and both Classic Riptide and In Response have irrepressible catchy rhythms and melodies. And Butcher Shoppe/////Machine Gun close things out on a little more pop punk vibe but run through I Kill Giant's mathy filter. This EP show's a band reaching and developing their own unique sound and this EP leaves me wanting much more. An early highlight of 2014. If you like indie, emo or math rock, I Kill Giant's No One Will Ever Leave You will serve well.

Self Defense Family - 2014 - Try Me

Self Defense Family is a punk band from the United States of America. Try Me is their fourth LP, the first since changing their name from End Of A Year. Self Defense Family play a dark, brooding yet still energetic brand of post-hardcore. One piece of this album that is getting a lot of press, aside from the usual justified hype of a new Self Defense Family record is the near 40 minute two part interview with former porn star Angelique Bernstein describing her trouble filled life. While these songs are nominally post-hardcore they are more accurately described as punk based meditations on various personal issues. You could mosh to this album if you really wanted to but that would kind of be missing the point. This is intense, personal music at it's finest, it won't be for everyone but those that it touches will find an beautiful piece of art. Highlights include Mistress Appears At Funeral, Nail House Music and more.  If you like your post-hardcore willing and able to explore the reaches of itself, Self Defense Family's Try Me will serve well.

lovechild - 2014 - "In Heaven, Everything is Fine."

 lovechild is a hardcore punk band from the United States of America. "In Heaven, Everything is Fine." is their new LP courtesy of Mayfly records. Lovechild features members of Cerce and Debaser and play a noisy brand of hardcore that borrows from the screamo side of things. They are garnering comparisons to bands like The Nerve Agents, Panic and Some Girls. For the most part this LP is straight ahead hardcore punk with some very noisy guitars and a particularly desperate singer. Highlights include Perfectionist (Perfectionism), Oh, Love.,  If you like your hardcore punk to feel like it's about to fall apart at the seems but is going too fast for that to actually happen, lovechild's "In Heaven, Everything is Fine." will serve well.

Abject Pax - 2013 - Abject Pax

Abject Pax is a hardcore punk band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Abject Pax is their debut EP. They play a brand of hardcore that takes some influences from the goth rock school of songwriting. The basis for these songs is hardcore but there is such an atmosphere of theatrical dread and doom that they take a left turn at some point. The music is all standard hardcore punk but flourishes like the melodic backing vocals in Mind & Body create an atmosphere where anything dark might happen.  Highly recommended and a strong contender for EP of the year. Highlights include Abject Pax, Not Morals, the aforementioned Mind & Body. If you like your hardcore with a little flourish, Abject Pax's Abject Pax will serve well.

Drugs Of Faith - 2013 - Architectural Failures

Drugs Of Faith are a hardcore punk band from Washington, DC, USA. Architectural Failures is their new EP in advance of a new LP in 2014. Drugs Of Faith play a brand of hardcore that has learned all the right aggressive, abrasive lessons from the grindcore school of songwriting. The guitars have a harshness and jumpy mathy riffs that recalls bands like Botch or Comadre in what they do to the hardcore base Drugs Of Faith starts with. They might have started with hardcore punk but they also cite Voivod, Napalm Death, Killing Joke, Entombed and Enemy Soil as influences. Highlights include Placing Bets and The Incumbent. If you like your hardcore unrelenting and abrasive, Drugs Of Faith Architectural Failures will serve well.

Beatriz Carnicero - Pudrëtë - Split 2013

Beatriz Carnicero is a hardcore punk band from Uraguay. The split with Pudrëtë is their third release. Beatriz Carnicero play a speedy brand of hardcore influenced by power violence. The longest of these songs is 48 seconds long. They get in, smash you over the head with the riff, rip your guts apart with the tortured vocals and then move quickly on to the next musical ambush.



Pudrëtë play a more straight forward brand of hardcore. Their songs are equally short but are of a more lofi 80s hardcore punk style. These songs bury everything under a layer of distortion but they still have the same speedy attack as Beatriz Carnicero. Personally I prefer the first half as I dont have as much tolerance for lofi hardcore as I used to, but there is some good noisy hardcore here.

Brain Corruption - 2013 - Artifacts Of Humanity

Brain Corruption are a two piece grindcore band Germany. Artifacts Of Humanity is their debut EP. Brain Corruption play a hard hitting brand of grindcore that focuses on d-beat and blast beats but also brings in some crust in the overall sound. The singer has an excellent shout that goes from a cleaner shout to a lower, distorted growl that would not be out of place in a death metal band. They blast through these 10 songs in just over 12 minutes including a cover of The Cancer Grows On by Ulcerrhoea, never pausing or slowing down, they continue to rain fast, brutal grindcore from the tortured heavens. If you like your grindcore uncompromising and fast, Brain Corruption's Artifacts Of Humanity will serve well.

Posture & The Grizzly - 2013 - Calling All Creeps (or The Passion Pit of Mel Gibson Jesus Christ and the Adam Sandler Movielife)

Posture & The Grizzly are a three piece emo band from Willimantic, Connecticut, America. Calling All Creeps (or The Passion Pit of Mel Gibson Jesus Christ and the Adam Sandler Movielife) is their debut EP, released by Broken World Media. Posture & The Grizzly play a scrappy brand of punked up emo that fits nicely in the Algernon Cadwallader school of shouty, somewhat noodley emo. The singer has an excellent gruff shout with some melodic backup and the guitars are suitably noodly and not particularly twinkly. These three songs are an excellent basis on which to grow and hone their own voice. If you like your emo punked up with just the right amount of noodle, Posture & The Grizzly's Calling All Creeps (or The Passion Pit of Mel Gibson Jesus Christ and the Adam Sandler Movielife) will serve well.

Black Veins - 2013 - The Cycle Will Cease To End

Black Veins is a three piece hardcore punk band from Birmingham, England. The Cycle Will Cease To End is their debut ep. Black Veins play a brand of hardcore that has feet in both sludge and powerviolence. The EP starts with the monstrous sludge stomp of To Break Their Control, followed immediately by the title track, hardcore played at powerviolence speed and the rest of the EP follows suit. Stone Sun incorporates a tad of melody and a the best vocals on the album for a perfect middle piece, while Collapse has barking vocals and a nearly ceaseless driving energy that Black Veins can destroy and rebuild out of sludge. If you like your hardcore alternately sludgy and speedy, Black Vein's The Cycle Will Cease To End will serve well.

The Day Man Lost - 2013 - Split with Prolefeed

The Day Man Lost is a hardcore punk band from Preston, England. Their new EP is a split with Prolefeed. The Day Man Lost play a speedy brand of hardcore punk with elements of grindcore and powerviolence. These songs have the consistent fast menace of heavy riffs played at top speed. The vocals are indecipherable screams and are in the middle of the mix leaving lots of room for thrashy guitars and rumbling drums. Even when there are oh so brief moments of calm, you know it's only moment before you're crushed under the weight.I would list favourite songs but why list all of them. If you like your hardcore unrelenting and heavy, The Day Man Lost side of their split with Prolefeed will work well.

Curb Biters - 2013 - Demo

Curb Biters are a four piece hardcore band from Houston, Texas, USA. Demo is their debut. Curb Biters plays a sloppy brand of hardcore punk featuring members of Vipers, Ex Gfs, Back to Back, Stagnant Youth, Secret Prostitutes and others. These are rageddy hardcore songs that somehow manage to stay together and bash something coherent together.



The vocalist has a snearing shout and the lofi production only serves to make the distorted guitars louder. Curb Biters don't seem interested in taking things slow or getting to know you, they only one know speed. This could be described as mysterious guy hardcore if the singer wore a mask or they weren't on social media. If you can stand some production and mixing issues, Curb Biter's Demo will serve well.

gross - 2013 - Demo

gross is a hardcore punk band from Orlando, Florida. Demo is their debut. gross play a speedy brand of hardcore that brings in both noise and powerviolence. If gross decides to slow down for a moment they bring in lots of noise and synths to create a terrifying atmosphere as they to to great effect on There Is So Much Celebration. Otherwise they play a fast, straight forward brand of hardcore buried under extra layers of distortion. The singer has an excellent demonic yell that would also work in some metal bands. If you like your hardcore fast and noisy, gross' Demo will serve well. Thanks to Manic Compression.

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.

Psychic Teens - 2013 - COME

Psychic Teens is a three piece post-punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. COME is their new LP. Psychic Teens play a noisy brand of post-punk, layers of distortions and synths everywhere with an expressively droney vocalist. The singer does a talk singing thing not too far from Iggy Pop or Lou Reed. On songs like H#TE and RIP Psychic Teens conjure a electronic tinged garage punk noise storm hides it's surprises under layers of guitars. If Destruction Unit weren't focused on harshing your buzz they might sound like Psychic Teens. Highlights include LESS, COME and the aforementioned H#TE and RIP. If you like your post-punk with liberal doses of noise then Psychic Teen's COME will serve well.

Coke Bust - 2013 - Confined

Coke Bust is a four piece hardcore punk band from Washington, DC, USA. Confined is their sixth release. Coke Bust play a ragged straight edge brand of hardcore punk. They blast through these 9 songs in less than 9 minutes and it's a miracle they don't fall apart at any time. These songs are designed for maximum carnage and heaviness. Highlights include Identity Destruction, Confined, Red Line and Sent In Circles. If you like your hardcore a little lofi and a pissed the fuck off, Coke Bust's Confined will serve well.

Iron Chic - 2013 - The Constant One

Iron Chic is a five piece punk rock band from Long Island, New York, USA. The Constant One is their new LP.  Iron Chic play a brand of pop punk that has equal footing in pop punk and the other in emo.  Think along the lines of RVIVR or Make Do And Mend with  with gruff but still catchy vocals and you won't be far off.  Iron Chic also remind me of The Menzingers with the little indie rock thrown in occasionaly. There are multiple melodic guitar riffs go every which way and the whole album seems written as if to be shouted along with. A strong contender for album of the year on some lists. Here is where I would sometimes list my favourite songs but I'm not going to list almost every song on here. If you don't mind your emo wearing the clothes of pop punk, Iron Chic's The Constant One should serve well. Link and discography courtesy of Cut & Paste.

Peace Be Still - 2013 - EP

Peace Be Still is a four piece post-hardcore band from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Untitled is their new EP. Peace Be Still play a brand of post-hardcore heavenly influenced by the emo side of things. Their debut LP 64 had a more pop punk vibe to it while this new EP focuses on a more post-hardcore sound, even verging to hardcore at some point. Highly recommended. If you like your emo with some post-hardcore influences, Peace Be Still's new EP will serve well.

Foxing - 2013 - The Albatross

Foxing is a five piece emo band from Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. The Albatross is their fourth release, courtesy of Count Your Lucky Stars records. They play a melodic brand of midwest emo with a dash of twinkle and math. The Albatross is back loaded, it's not until Rory that things really start coming together. The guitars can have a little twinkle but it's never overwhelming, there are gang vocals for crowd shout a longs and the singer has a voice that some detractors will inevitably call whiny. The production only serves to fuzz everything into the nostalgia haze. Highlights include Inuit, Bit By A Dead Bee Pt 1 and Den Mother,   If you like your emo slow and brooding with only a sprinkle of twinkle Foxing's The Albatross will serve well.

Blare - 2013 - Blare

Blare is a hardcore punk band from Virginia, Maryland, USA. Blare is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of punk rock, heavy on the blaring distorted guitars and gang vocals. They barrel through  songs in 11 minutes and nearly all of them are excellent, speedy hardcore that sounds like they Blare is having a ton of fun. Highlights include I'm You, Reasons, Verbally Empty and Kids. If you like your hardcore blaring and to the point, Blare's Blare will serve well.

Big Eyes - 2013 - Almost Famous

Big Eyes is a three piece rock band from Seattle, Washington, USA. Almost Famous is their sixth release. Big Eyes play straight ahead brand of punk rock with a female lead singer. They sound like if The Demonics didn't play surf punk or if the Ramones played power pop and owed a debt of rock and roll styling to Joan Jett. At their best Big Eyes can crank out some high energy punked up rock and roll but at their worst the songs just sit there no matter how many times they hammer on the distortion peddle.  Highlights include Nothing You Could Say, Wanted Sometimes, The Sun Still Shines, Can't Catch A Break, I Think Of You and You Ain't The Only One. If you like your punk with some snot and straight ahead rock, Big Eyes' Almost Famous will serve well.

Rosetta - 2013 - The Anaesthete

Rosetta is a four piece from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. The Anaesthete is their fourth LP. Rosetta play a brand of metal that while loosely based in metal stretches out to include elements of post-metal and space rock. These songs are anchored in heavy metal but Rosetta's use of melody, electronics and a piano blast these songs into experimental territory. If Pink Floyd had a child with Neurosis and had it raised by Explosions In The Sky it might sound something like this. If you like your metal both heavy and experimental, Rosetta's The Anaesthete will serve well.

Dragline Speedway - 2013 - Black Thunder

Dragline Speedway are a five piece noise rock band. Black Thunder is their debut LP. Dragline Speedway features members of Killdozer, Terminal Cheesecake, Head of David, GOD, Transitional, Slab! and Laika and their LP features covers from bands like Scratch Acid, Killdozer, The Bastards, Slab! and Unholy Swill. Instrumentaly Dragline Speedway play a noisy brand of rock that owes some debt to the stoner school as well. This doesn't do a whole lot for me as the band never reaches beyond a mid tempo drone, nothing reaches out and grabs me. But if you like stoner metal and have a soft spot for Killdozer then Dragline Speedway's Black Thunder should serve well. Link courtesy of The Elementary Revolt

The Walkervilles - 2012 - Live At Mackenzie Hall

The Walkervilles are a three piece rock band from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Live At Mackenzie Hall is their debut LP. They play a soul infused brand of rock and roll that owes an obvious debt to Motown. Detroit is right across the river from Windsor so it's only natural these boys would learn some lessons in soul and songwriting. At their best The Walkervilles are a catchy, soulful trio that will swing away the night. They opened for Tedeschi Trucks Band in Winnipeg last week and blew the crowd away. Highlights include No California, Please Baby Stay, Tell Me How You Want Me, Misunderstandings (Holding You), This Morning, and Get Myself Into It. If you like your rock and roll with old school soul, The Walkervilles' Live At Mackenzie Hall will serve well.

Apocalyptic Terror - 2013 - Apocalyptic Terror

Apocalyptic Terror is a five piece hardcore punk band from Spain. These are tracks from their debut LP Apocalyptic Terror. They play a driving brand of d-beat crusty hardcore that never lets up for a moment. Think in the vein of Severed Head Of State and you won't be far off. The singer has a sharp, desperate bark of a shout that he uses constantly and the only hint of melody comes in the form of chaotic guitar solos that vanish as quickly as they came. Highlights include No Hay Futuro, Secos, Lobotomizados and El Latigo Imperialista. If you find yourself in need of some crusty d-beat, Apocalyptic Terror's Apocalyptic Terror will serve well.