Worsen - 2014 - Blood

Worsen is a black metal band from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Blood is their debut EP. Worsen is a part of the AC//13 Collective and shares members with Young and in the Way, Ayr and Votnut. Worsen play a desolate, frozen brand of black metal as exemplified on Collect Their Skulls, Leave Their Bones, only occasionally allowing some melody to sneak in on Open Vein. Mortal Sin is a more typical straight forward black metal song, all shrieking and whirling spikes and closer and title track Blood wears you down underneath frigid, hypnotic riffs. If you like black metal, Worsen's Blood will serve well.

Your Weekly Madness S02E02

Your Weekly Madness is the new name of the former radio show Who Programmed This?!?. Now exclusively a podcast, Your Weekly Madness aims to present a mix of eclectic music, radical politics and comedy.You can download this week's episode here and subscribe to the RSS feed here. This week the show starts off with Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band performing Why Is It So Hard live from SXSW in 2011



Next up is a mashup, James Brown VS Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Sex Machine

]

Dirty Vegas - Days Go By



Yello - Oh Yeah, which some of you might know from Ferris Bueller's Day Off



Basement Jaxx - where's your head at



Red Dons - Walk Alone


Gross - It's Better This Way


Red Hot Chili Peppers (Jon Daly) - Abracadabralifornia



From Curb Biters Demo, Dayglow and Bitch In Heat




 The Cassus &  ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! Split



 From Black Veins debut EP, The Cycle Will Cease To End and Stone Sun

Home - 2014 - Bound To Gravity

Home is a punk rock band from Innsbruck, Austria. Bound To Gravity is their debut LP. Home plays a heavy brand of music in an intersection where sludge metal, stoner metal, noise rock and post-hardcore meet. Home comes barreling out of the gate at top speed with the off kilter raging slab of anger that is Hole, while the followup track Next To Last starts off a sludgy lumbering beast and only sinks deeper into that noisy sludge. Home keeps it heavy and brings in the post-hardcore with No Way Out My Friend and things continue in that eclectic vein throughout the whole album. Home brings together a variety of sounds, throws them in the blender and rides that askew mix into the ground. If you like your music heavy with no regards to genre conventions, only songwriting and heaviness then Home's Bound To Gravity will serve well.

White Lung - 2014- Drown With The Monster

White Lung is a four piece punk rock band from Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. Drown With The Monster is their single, the first for London based Domino Recording Company. Drown With The Monster continues where Songs of The South left off, unrelentingly heavy and ferocious with a distinct aesthetic. Exclaim! suggests Domino will release their forthcoming third LP, but for now this song is being released as a 7" with Snake Jaw as the b-side

Vindensång - 2014 - Alpha

Vindensång is a three piece ambient band from Pennsylvania, USA. Alpha is their second LP. Vindensång play a darkly atmospheric brand of ambient music influenced by post-rock, a little doom and a little black metal.



This really is an album more suited for headphones in order for the atmosphere Vindensång summons to really engulf you. These songs take an enchanting atmospheric and ambient base and build towering, intense songs bringing together post rock and black metal.



 The singer has a voice that would serve well fronting the coldest of black metal and musically Vindensång stitch passages of experimental rock together, binding them with the darkened atmosphere. If you're ready to put your headphones one and travel through this world, Vindensång's Alpha will serve well.

Off! - 2014 - Hypnotized - Video

Off! is a  four piece hardcore punk band from Los Angelese, California, USA. Wasted Years is their new LP, Hypnotized is a new song from that LP. It's vaguely political with references to conspiracy theories and continues to wave the flag for modern hardcore punk. Off! consists of Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats, Steven McDonald, Mario Rubalcaba who have played in bands like Circle Jerk, Black Flag, Midget Handjob, Buglamp, Burning Brides, Redd Kross, Tourists, Tater Totz, Sparks, Beck, Earthless, RFTC, Hot Snakes, Clikitat Ikatowi.

Almenara - 2014 - Desestructurando lo Aprendido

Almenara is a five piece punk band from Valparaíso, Chile. Desestructurando lo Aprendido is their third EP. Almenara play a catchy, fast brand punk pop and do roughly the same thing on acoustic. The guitars are smooth and whip fast, the singer has a forceful short and there are no shortage of background Whoa oh oh's. Every song on this all too short EP introduces itself forcefully, makes itself known and then vacates the stage just as quickly. The last two songs are acoustic punk songs that seem constructed for everyone in the pit to sing along with at the top of their lungs. If you like fast punk or have a soft spot for some acoustic punk, Almanera's Desestructurando lo Aprendido will serve well.

Siega - 2014 - Demo Tape

Siega is a four piece hardcore punk band from Barcelona, Spain. Demo Tape is their second EP. Siega play a speedy brand of hardcore punk. The singer has a forceful if somewhat strained at times shout and the band behind him is playing somewhat noisy, groove filled hardcore. The only track on here I don't like is the shortest track which just thrashes around aimlessly, otherwise this EP is straight ahead heavy hardcore. If you like your hardcore heavy and unafraid of a fucking up a groove, Siega's Demo Tape will serve well. Thanks to Ruido.

Big Ups - 2014 - Eighteen Hours Of Static

Big Ups is a four piece punk rock band from New York City, New York, America. Eighteen Hours Of Static is their debut LP. Big Ups play a frenetic brand of emo incorporating elements of noise rock, hardcore and post-rock, they are a band wound very tightly, exploding as carefully as they can.



This is the sound of a band in a dank, dark basement somewhere hammering out their tunes. Big Ups goes from wirey emo to muscly punk pop to slacker style indie rock and back without missing a beat while the singer is able to conjure hooks seemingly out of nowhere, shouts like his life depends on it and brings some energy to the talk singing parts. Highlights include TMI, Disposer , Justice, Goes Black, and Fine Line.



 If you like your punk rock to gleefully skip between genres while staring at and directly confronting the darkness and evils in life or just like some songs to jump and down to, Big Up's Eighteen Hours Of Static will serve well.

El Hambre - 2014 - El Hambre

El Hambre is a powerviolence band from Valencia, Spain. El Hambre is their debut EP. EL Hambre plays kinetic brand of. powerviolence that specializes in spinning like a jagged jackhammer, spewing crusty hardcore fragments everywhere at lightning speed. At times they incorporate a groove or throw in some hardcore for flavouring but mostly El Hambre seem focused on obliterating any life that might be in their proximity. If you like your powerviolence short and jagged, El Hambre's El Hambre will serve well.

New Lows - 2014 - Abhorrent Endings

New Lows are a five piece hardcore punk band. Abhorrent Endings is their EP courtesy of Deathwish Inc. New Lows play an extremely heavy brand of hardcore punk that is never content with what you might consider to be heavy. Members have played in Think I Care, So Be It, The Prowl, Riff Raff, and more. If you like your hardcore to be unrelentingly heavy and dark, New Low's Abhorrent Endings will serve well.  Thanks to Elementary Revolt

Brain F≠ - 2014 - Empty Set

Brain F≠ is a garage punk band from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Empty Set is their second LP. Brain F≠ (pronounced Flannel) play a catchy, raggedly melodic brand of garage punk where it feels like everything might fall apart at any second but the energy and momentum keep the shaggy dog rocking forward Members have also played in bands like Yardwork. Grids,  Double Negative, Joint Damage and Logic Problem.  I quite enjoy the combination male and female vocals over top the noisy garage rock, they "sing together as if they’d rehearsed separately, creating a captivating chaos." If you like your punk with a little indie rock and a whole swirl of noise, Brain F≠'s Empty Set will serve well.

Off! - 2014 - Hypnotized

Off! is a  four piece hardcore punk band from Los Angelese, California, USA. Wasted Years is their new LP, Hypnotized is a new song from that LP. It's vaguely political with references to conspiracy theories and continues to wave the flag for modern hardcore punk. Off! consists of Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats, Steven McDonald, Mario Rubalcaba who have played in bands like Circle Jerk, Black Flag, Midget Handjob, Buglamp, Burning Brides, Redd Kross, Tourists, Tater Totz, Sparks, Beck, Earthless, RFTC, Hot Snakes, Clikitat Ikatowi. Thanks to Stereogum

You Blew It - 2014 - You & Me & Me

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. Below is the official video for You & Me

Losing Traces - 2014 - EP

Losing Traces are a five piece punk rock band from Brianza, Italy. EP is their debut recording. Losing Traces play an emotional brand of post-hardcore that strongly reminds of bands like Touché Amoré. If Losing Traces are capable of growing and expanding on this excellent foundation I will be listening, otherwise there are other bands doing this same thing. When Love Burns is a real highlight as well are Asphodelus and Farewell. If you like your hardcore with a hint of melody and a heaping of emotional desperation, Losing Trace's EP will serve well. Thanks to Manic Compression.

Sagrada Familia - 2014 - Demo

Sagrada Familia is a four piece punk rock band from Madrid, Spain. Demo is their debut EP. Sagrada Familia play a catchy brand of punk that can smash you over the head as quickly as the songs get stuck in your head. They put backing vocals to great use on Dejad De Hablar, Ya Es Mi Dia and Enterrado closes the album on a bass heavy, head banging note. If you like your punk a little shaggy but still rocking, Sagrada Familia's Demo will serve well.

Bitchmouth - 2014 - Cassette Demo

Bitchmouth is a four piece hardcore punk band from Richmond, Virginia, America. Cassette Demo is their debut EP. Bitchmouth plays a rocking chaotic hardcore that manages to find a groove and ride it out before self destructing into noise. Kelsey Hulvey has a piercing shreak on Red Fingers, Bed Of Filth rocks the stop and start rhythm while Black Candles is nothing less than a kinetic freakout. If you like your hardcore a little shaggy but never less than going full speed ahead, Bitchmouth's Cassette Demo will serve well.

Major Kong - 2014 - Doom Machine

Major Kong is a three piece doom metal band from Lublin, Poland. Doom Machine is their third EP. Major Kong play a riff focused brand of doom metal that comes out adjacent to stoner metal, the guitar has a snarling fuzz that lures you in. Major Kong would go perfectly with bands like Sleep, Fu Manchu, Kyuss, Dozer, Unida, or a lot more bands on Man's Ruin in the 90's. There are no frills or niceties here, just hypnotic riffs that refuse to let up. These are 5-9 minute metal riff orgies and if that doesn't sound appealing to you then move on. But if you need a soundtrack to your next session or just like heavy riffs, Major Kong's Doom Machine will serve well.

††† - 2014 - †††

††† (Pronounced Crosses) is a three piece electronic rock band from Los Angelese, California, USA. ††† is their "new" LP. †††  consists of Deftones singer Chino Moreno, Far guitarist Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom.



They have released two EP's prior, both of which are included in this LP. ††† play an brand of synthesizer rock that feels built for a stadium garnering comparisons to bands like Nine Inch Nails and through iconography only is very reminiscent of witch house. I find this  LP frustrating because it immediately contrasts hard hitting, wall of noise Rob Zombie style electro rock but then follows it up with layers of synthesizers that never go anywhere. In their softer moments †††  reminds me of bands like Air or The Neverending White Lights.




This outfit clearly has the ability to make turn-it-up-to-11 style anthemic arena rock but they get mired in layering slow synth over slow synth and the droomy atmosphere drains all energy from the proceedings.This album being an LP seems off to me because of the only five new songs, old fans will know most of these songs already and it becomes unwieldy and uneven when stitched together into this "new" LP.

My favourite songs are spread pretty evenly across all three releases, †his Is A †rick, Bitches Brew, †hholyghs†, The Epilogue, Fron†iers, Op†tion, Blk Stallion and Prurien†. If you like your rock electronic and not averse to wandering through layers of synths, †††'s ††† will serve well.

Against Me! - 2014 - Transgender Dysphoria Blues

Against Me! is a four piece rock band from Gainesville, Florida, America. Transgender Dysphoria Blues is their sixth LP which I have been sleeping on for far too long. It is also the band's first album after their lead singer transitioned to Laura Jane Grace, which hasn't frankly changed Against Me!'s sound at all. Lyrically Transgender Dysphoria Blues is intensely personal as Laura sings and screams about the homo and transphobia she experiences but musically it simply continues the transition from punk to mainstream that Against Me! have been working on.

 If Laura can completely abandon both radical politics and radical openness then Against Me! can take their punked up, catchy energy and use the dying mainstream music industry to get those songs out there. Green Day would be a pertinent example except that Against Me! actually had political opinions and wrote songs about them at one point. Regardless of how punk these songs are, they are catchy and while some fail to ignite there is a lot of gold here. I would list my favourite songs but there's no point when that's virtually all of them. If you enjoy intensely personal music blasted at high speed and volume, Against Me!'s Trangender Dysphoria Blues will serve well.

The 24th Street Wailers - 2014 - Aim To Please

The 24th Street Wailers are a four piece blues band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Aim To Please is the first single from their upcoming LP Wicked. Awesome as always, this song gets me excited for the new album.

Juanito Piquete - 2014 - Bajo El Foco

Juanito Piquete is a punk rock band from Barcelona, Spain. Bajo El Foco is their new EP. Juanito Piquete play a muscly brand of punk rock and handily walk the line between catchy and driving. If The Demonics weren't such a surf punk band it might come out something like this. The female backing vocals on Del Tedio a la Traición are a nice melodic touch, Castigo has a rock solid foundational riff and Dolor en Tierra flows and grows . If you like your punk melodic but never forgetting the social consciousness or how to rock,  Juanito Piquete's Bajo El Foco will serve well.

Acousma - 2014 - Acousma

Acousma is a hardcore punk band from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Acousma is their second EP. This is another unreleting slab of screamo influenced dark hardcore with a little more powerviolence in the mix. These songs feel more chaotic, about to fly apart at any moment than Acousma has in the past. The singer still has a great high pitches screach and the band can kick up an absurd amount of noise and crusty hardcore. Buy it here and support awesome independant hardcore.

Zanders - 2014 - Been Better

Zanders is a three piece indie pop band from Connecticut, USA. Been Better is their debut EP. Zanders play a catchy, high energy brand of keyboard driven indie rock. The singer reminds me of Kate Miccuci of Hall & Oates and on the whole the band reminds me of a less dancey, more indie rock Matt & Kim. If you like your singer songwriters to play keyboards and backed by a tight, bouncy rhythm section, Zander's Been Better will serve well.

De La Soul Release Discography For Free

Go to De La Soul's official website http://www.wearedelasoul.com/ to download their complete discography

Death Grips - 2014 - No Love

Death Grips is an experimental hip-hop group from Sacramento, California, USA. With the usual lack of fanfare they released a new song/video on youtube. Voila.

Brody Dalle - 2014 - Meet The Feotus/Oh The Joy

Brody Dalle is an Australian born singer, songwriter and guitar player. She has played guitar and sung in the bands The Distillers and Spinnerette. She has a new,as yet untitled, solo album coming out produced by Alain Johannes with guest appearances by Shirley Manson of Garbage, Nick Valensi of The Strokes, and Warpaint’s Emily Kokal. She just released the first track from the album on soundcloud.

Off! - 2014 - Void You Out

Off! is a  four piece hardcore punk band from Los Angelese, California, USA. Wasted Years is their new LP, Void You Out is the debut single. It's vaguely political with references to conspiracy theories and continues to wave the flag for modern hardcore punk. Off! consists of Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats, Steven McDonald, Mario Rubalcaba who have played in bands like Circle Jerk, Black Flag, Midget Handjob, Buglamp, Burning Brides, Redd Kross, Tourists, Tater Totz, Sparks, Beck, Earthless, RFTC, Hot Snakes, Clikitat Ikatowi. Highly recommended. Song actually starts at 2:51

Digital Dynasty #28 Hosted By Pharoahe Monche

Digital Dynasty is a digital mixtape compilation initially compiled and hosted by Tha Advocate and available from ballerstatus.com and datpiff.com. This edition is hosted by Pharoahe Monche and features tracks from rappers around the world, from luminaries like Fabolous, Action Bronson, Papoose, Killah Priest and Lords Of The Underground as well as newer, not as well known rappers like GDZ, Bosch, Snap. At almost three hours and over 50 songs there's a lot of music here and it's a tad overwhelming but that also means if you have a soft spot for hip hop or rap of any kind I guarantee there's something you will latch onto here. Highlights include GDZ's Forever True, Snap Ft. Joey Loax and Tha Advocate - Game Of Chess, Bosch Ft. Young Noble Outlaw - Retribution, Fist Of The North Star's Beautiful Hater, SlaughterHouse's Party.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Canyons - Creepers - 2013 Split

Canyons is four piece hardcore punk band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The Split with Creepers is their sixth release. Canyons play a heavy, riotous brand of hardcore that manages to conjure catchy riffs but never forget the energy of hardcore garnering comparisons to bands like Bleeding Kansas, Engineer, and Kiss It Goodbye. Canyons are capable of creating an off kilter, dark atmosphere and a vocalist with some excellent shouted vocals but still remaining crushingly heavy and surprisingly limber. Highlights include Double Enchandra, Because I Make It My Duty, and Heatin' Up. Thanks to Manic Compression.



Creeper is a five piece hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Split With Canyons is their fourth release. Creepers play a noisy brand of hardcore, bringing elements of noise punk and some post-hardcore to flesh out their attack. Their brand of hardcore is similiar to Canyons but Creeper go in a crustier, noiser direction. The vocals are filtered and harsh and there's nary a guitar tone that isn't distorted to hell and back. Highlights include Privileged, Drag and Trunk Buffet. The similarities between Creeper and Canyon are easily overstated and can make it hard to distinguish between the two bands but it also makes for a much more cohesive split, each band clearly expressing their take on hardcore punk. If you like your hardcore punk a little crusty or just straight heavy, Canyons' & Creeper's 2013 Split will serve well.

Waxahatchee - 2013 - Cerulean Salt

Waxahatchee are a three piece indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Cerulean Salt is their second LP. Waxahatchee is the solo project of Katie Crutchfield who has also played in P.S. Eliot and Bad Banana. Cerulean Salt is indie rock in it's most singer songwriter, acoustic, confessional best, even when they spin into some harder rocking sounds like on Coast To Coast it comes out like 90's fuzzy indie rock. When these songs are humming along at their best Waxahatchee remind me of a more singer songwriter, less punk rock focused old school Tegan & Sara and even when the songs don't grab me they remind me of a less folk influenced Po' Girls. Highlights include Hollow Bedroom, Blue Pt. II, Coast To Coast, Lively, Waiting, Swan Dive and Peace And Quiet. If you enjoy acoustic singer-songwriters or fuzzy indie rock Waxahatchee's Cerulean Salt will serve well. Thanks to the Elementary Revolt.

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

.

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.