Modern Problems [Cassette]

Ripping hardcore punk from these Winnipeg lads and lassie? Think Necros, Die Kruzen, and Deep Wound. Saw them in the spring and enjoyed the set thoroughly. This tape has the recordings of the "Trainwreck" 7" that was supposed to be released by Firestarter, but hasn't happened yet due to a lot of delays and bullshit. They also slapped a live recording of most of the 7" songs and a Wipers cover on the B side. Contact at their myspace I guess. Enjoy.

download here.

Getting Even - Demo 2009

A bunch of old hardcore dudes playing hardcore punk like they were 18 again. I wanna say Getting Even are a spark to this burnt out scene in Minneapolis. Even though most of these dudes are in their 30's (the oldies were in Holding On, Pandamonium, Kill Sadie, plus more) they still know how to fucking rip. I'd best describe Getting Even as playing mid-tempo hardcore punk in the vein of Bl'ast, Damaged era Black Flag, and some Age of Quarrel hardness. Lot's of cool Ginn riffage (band name is from a Greg Ginn album?). All I can say is that this is a really solid hardcore demo. Dig it. No they sound nothing like Infest like the logo may suggest.

If you want a tape send $3 ppd to
PO Box 141048
MPLS, MN 55414


download here. (re-uploaded, not corrupted for pc users anymore)

The World Itself Is A Bad Dream

I've been meaning to share since it came out about a month ago. Released by the great Drugged Conscience. This comp-cassette has 6 of hardcore's youngest and unparalleled bands in 2009. Half the bands on here are from Florida. Nazi Dust - Cult Ritual members. Panzram - from the ashes of Merkit, ex-Divisions. Bad Year - members of Dead Friends/Religious as Fuck. Dead Stare from Tacoma - I don't know anything about them. Chicago's Duress have the best track on here--they have a 7" out soon. Rational Animals from NY also have an awesome song. The tape just recently sold out from Drugged Conscience, some bands may have copies, contact them if you wish.

download here.

Vile Gash - Leech

Bought this at the MK-Ultra Reunion Pre-Show with Raw Nerve, Manipulation, and Duress. This 'cassingle' is certainly not as good as the last two demos, but it's worth checking out if you're into the other stuff. I think the problem is that the cassette itself stinks, and you can't hear shit. 3 songs. Two very brief new ones and an awesome YDI cover. Not sure if the band has any left. Email charred_remains@yahoo.com for contact. Apparently the new 7" on Youth Attack is great. Released soon. Don't sleep.

download here.

Dangerloves

Toronto's punk scene is amazing. Some of my favorite bands live there (Urban Blight, Career Suicide, and all the great shit members of Fucked Up are doing; especially Jonah's band Mad Men--check out the demo here). Anyways, another great band from Toronto are the Dangerloves. Female-fronted power pop of the catchiest mold. Dangerloves formed in 2006 and broke up about a year ago- probably to dedicate more time to Urban Blight, Reprobates, and Career Sucide. They released three 7" singles, on Fashionable Idiots, Dead Idea, and Static Shock. Pretty sure they're all sold out from the labels but I've seen the first two 7"s in a million used bins for super cheap. I'm uploading two of the singles, find the Static Shock one on your own. You'll be playing these singles over and over and over.

download here.

No Balls 7"

"No Balls is usually Drajan Bryngelsson and Dan Råberg from Brainbombs but this 7” is just Drajan. Monotonous protopunk with some No Wave hints. Drums and guitars. Some vocals and trumpets occasionally. The sound is raw, intense and in your face. Kind of like a mix of Ruins, DNA and Brainbombs." This 7" came to me a few days ago. Paid 15 dollars to ship from Sweden on an whimsical guess that it would be great; Brainbombs are one of my favorite bands. The record is okay, I thought it was a little boring but if you're into repetitive, sludgy, noise rock; it's worth a listen. 7" is sold out, but a No Balls LP is out soon on Release The Bats(pre-order here).

download here.

Minutemen - Buzz Or Howl Under The Influence Of Heat

With "Buzz Or Howl" the Minutemen cement themselves as the funkiest band in 80's hardcore (tho one could make a argument for the Big Boys).  Really hitting their stride this album is a great setup to the quintessential  "Double Nickels On The Dime". Taking a cue from Wire the Minutemen play some very oddly structured songs, for example, "Dream Told By Moto" which finds Mike Watt and George Hurley showing off why they are the tightest rhythm section in town, and just when you think its just going to be them jamming for the duration of the song, D. Boon chimes in for a single sentence about what he's going to do when WWIII starts, before the song fizzles out... awesome. This record shouldn't be that hard to track down, but you could always buy it from SST. Quit slacking and download this.

Download Here

Bastard - Wind of Pain

The second, and last release from the crust/hardcore band BASTARD from Japan. Wind of Pain (1990) is possibly the hardest record of its time. I am just now getting into Japanese hardcore and realizing that it is probably some of the best stuff that is/was out there. If you haven't listened to this yet, you have to. Legendary band, best record, however Controlled In The Frame isn't bad. After the first time you hear this record, every time it is brought up you will think "MISSSELLLLYYYY"

download

Condominium - Barricade

Third 7" from Twin Cities' uncertainty, Condominium. Of the three 7"s, this is really the best one. With each release Condominium keep moving their sound away from traditional 'hardcore' evolving into more noise, more impression, and more singularity. Two songs on this 7". First song, Barricade, is the best thing I've heard from these guys. Entirely powerful and louring. Drunks With Guns and Kilslug are here. The B side "Big Plans" is a "A sparse, laid back jam that brings to mind Black Flag and The Jesus Lizard in its winding, ugly guitar riffs, and lurching rhythms." I really can't stay enough good things about this band. Brought to you by Fashionable Idiots. I don't see this selling out any time soon. Buy a copy for you and your friend(s).

download here.

Ecoli - Judas Cradle

First real 7" from Ecoli. San Francisco's noisy, deranged, hardcore band. Released on Stress Domain records; also put out the vinyl for Ecoli's demo a few years ago. Think Void, Koro, and ripping early 80s USHC plus the wackiness of the Meat Puppets. This is one of the best and most ingenious things I've heard this year. Members of Nightstick Justice, Warkrime, Migrane, and more. Sold out for the most part. Check Grave Mistake for final copies. Upcoming cassette on Drone Errant. Enjoy.

download here.

Raw Nerve - Teens In Heat

Raw Nerve's first time on wax after putting out that demo a few months ago (here if you missed it). Released by Video Disease Records last week during the MKU reunion show extravaganza last week. I guess all 300 copies are now sold out? The record is great. Lots of Void worship, just like the Demo. Record is menacing throughout, plus weirdo Meat Puppets vocals. 4 Songs. One from the Demo, Two new songs, and a X-Ray Spex cover. I guess a few copies will be sold in the next YA! store update; Contact Video Disease to see where these puppies may be hiding. LP on Youth Attack due early next year. Looking forward to more covers.

download here.

Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker

For as much as I love the simple power chords, oompa oompa beats and rough production values of early 80's hardcore punk (easily my favorite genre) my favorite bands don't really share any of those qualities, Fugazi being a good example of that. Fugazi, made up of DC veterans Ian Mackaye, Guy Picciotto, Brendan Canty and Joe Lally, play hardcore that doesn't shy away from experimentation. In On The Kill Taker (their best album if you ask me) brings MacKaye and company back to the early 80's with songs like Great Cop, which could almost be a Minor Threat song. Of course you can buy this (recently remastered) from Dischord Records, or pretty much anywhere else. 

Download Here. 

Positive Reinforcement - The One Sided LP

Fast, snotty, no-frills, straight edge, hardcore punk. All these words can describe Boston's Positive Reinforcement pretty adequately. The catchiest early 80's riffs and best lyrics. Released on ThirdxParty records in 2006. Their discography contains a demo cassette, a few 7"s and this LP. Everything is gone (I think they stopped playing shows sometime in 07). Posiforce are a forerunner to some of the best bands in hardcore right now; members now play in Social Circkle, Blank Stare, Failures, Confines, and Foreign Objects. Couldn't find artwork online so I had to take a shitty snapshot with my phone.

download here.

The Ergs! - The Ben Kweller EP

The Ergs! were a New jersey pop-punk band from 2000 until about a year ago. Very much influenced by the Descendents most of their songs are about girls and being a dork, but also like the Descendents they don't take themselves to seriously and will throw in a joke or a Simpson's reference to show you that. One of my favorite things about this band is (while they don't really show it on this release) they were never afraid go off the beaten path of a pop-punk band and do some jazz, country or thrash songs. This EP was only available on CD until recently when Freedom School Records released it as a 12". Crank it up and have some silly fun for a change.

Download Here.

No Tolerance - Boston Straight Edge

I know this is on a million blogs now but, oh man. I can't tell you how fucking good this is. Another masterpiece created by CC and DFJ of Mind Eraser and family. I kind of looked past this demo when it first came out in late 08. After seeing the 7" at Reckless today, I decided to pick it up and give it a spin. To my surprise, it was the hardest 7" I've heard so far this year. Very much 90s NYHC influenced with some "violent noise at extreme speed". First released as a Cassette, now a 7" on 540 Records. Haven't found many e-distros with this still in stock, check over at Gravemistake, I know they have some left. Only limited to 500 copies. Equip mosh gloves now.

download here.