Atomik Clocks – Death Funk EP (2016)

Atomik Clocks Death Funk EP 2016

Atomik Clocks Death Funk EP 2016 Atomik Clocks it’s a jazzcore band from Firenze, Italy. They are pushing the so-called envelope over the edge to widens the unexplored borders of music.
Some people make music because they need to express their feelings and thoughts, some people make music for fortune and fame. Sometimes this two things are come together, sometimes not.
Art is not always audience friendly. And this is just cool.
Atomik Clocks makes music, they give artistic expression to their untainted feelings.
They made some giant steps forward since their previous release. “Death Funk” kind of reminds me of Frank Zappa.
It’s vivid, bold and have a good sense of humor. Read more Atomik Clocks – Death Funk EP (2016)

’68 – In Humor And Sadness (2014)

'68 - In Humor And Sadness (2014)

'68 - In Humor And Sadness (2014) I admit, I was afraid this will be another noiscore/crossover post-hardcore whatever album, but fortunately I was wrong. If you miss the raw energy and fury of the Bleach era Kurt Cobain, but you’re even more hardcore and garage punk oriented, it’s very possible that “In Humor And Sadness” might be your next very best friend. It’s neat, it’s wild, it’s in your face, still quite musical and hitting instantly, getting under your skin quickly and for good.
’68 was formed in 2013 by guitarist and vocalist Josh Scogin formerly of Norma Jean and The Chariot and drummer Michael McClellan. They released same year a self-released EP titled “Midnight” including two tracks: “Three is a Crowd” and “Third Time is a Charm”. The initial pressing of Midnight sold out in less than one day, and the indie label No Sleep Records re-released it with new artwork on April 1, 2014.
In May 2014, ’68 announced they signing to Good Fight Music and eOne Music for the release of their debut album, “In Humor and Sadness”, due to be released on July 8, 2014. To promote the album, ’68 released a pair of YouTube videos, which had to be played in unison in order to hear “Track Two: E”. Such a wild idea, isn’t it??! The song “Track One: R” was also available for online streaming ahead of the album’s release. Read more ’68 – In Humor And Sadness (2014)

(hed) p.e. – Evolution (2014)

(hed) p.e. - Evolution (2014)

(hed) p.e. - Evolution (2014) I had falling in love with (hed) p.e. a lifetime ago when drunk in a bar I heard for the first time their song “Bartender”. I write about that when they released in 2009 the killer album entitled “New World Orphans” and mention it again, one year later when they delivered “Truth Rising”, their eighth studio album.
Four years might feels like another lifetime, but Jared Gomes is back and he is furious, maybe even more determined then ever. Those wicked riffs, those dub and reggae flavored grooves and hardcore rooted intensity are always refreshing, although sometimes some of them are sound quite familiar.
Hed PE, also known as (hed) Planet Earth and stylized as (həd) p.e. was formed by Vocalist Jared Gomes, also known as “M.C.U.D.” (MC Underdog), and guitarist Wes Geer in 1994 and released the self-financed extended play, “Church of Realities” only one year later.
They signed with Jive Records, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1997. Unfortunately, due to the label’s contractual terms and the disappointing sales of the album, the band found themselves unable to repay the cash advances given to them by Jive. Gomes is quoted as saying “We had these romantic visions of the music industry, and we thought it would be cool to be a punk band on a rap label. So we fulfilled that dream, but it was also probably the worst thing that could have happened. We’ve had offers from Sony and others that we can’t take because we owe Jive so much money.” Read more (hed) p.e. – Evolution (2014)

Anti-Flag – A Document of Dissent (2014)

Anti-Flag – A Document of Dissent (2014)

Anti-Flag – A Document of Dissent (2014) “A Document Of Dissent” it’s a collection of 26 tracks spanning the best of the last 20 years (1993-2013), of the band who have partnered up once again with the FAT Wreck Chords for this release. So, if for some weird reason you missed any of the Anti-Flag’s eight studio albums, this is quiet a decent way to right that mistake. I have fall in love with Anti-Flag with their fabulous 2009’s album “The People or the Gun” and since then they are my reference point for still alive and kicking punk-rock, keeping the spirit of The Clash fresh and alive.
Forget about Green Day, this is the real thing!! And…. “you’ll gonna die for your government, die for your country…. that’s s*it!!”
While this seems to be a limited edition, it’s a good idea to pre-order it now.
Anti-Flag was formed in 1988 by singer/guitarist Justin Sane and drummer Pat Thetic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band is famous for political activism mainly focusing on anti-war activism, anti-imperialism, class struggle, human rights, and various sociopolitical sentiments. Although I’m not a fan of the left-wing ideologies, Anti-Flag managed to get me. Ant that’s because their irresistible songs and simple, straight, honest messages. We have some things in common I guess. I’m still angry, old and poor. 😆 I’m only “guilty” for being born on the left (wrong?) side of the world…
They also known for their advocacy of progressive political action groups such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International and most recently, the band has declared solidarity with the global Occupy Together movement. Read more Anti-Flag – A Document of Dissent (2014)

Body Count – Manslaughter (2014)

Body Count – Manslaughter (2014)

Body Count – Manslaughter (2014) It was five years before “Three Dollar Bill, Yall” and 16 years before “Swan Songs”, the debut Hollywood Undead album. One year after the controversial self titled debut album, the soundtrack of the film “Judgement Night” bought together several rock and rap/hip hop artists and set a new trend in mixing opposite musical genres. Body Count, the rock/metal band of the (in)famous rapper Ice-T it’s definitively one of the reference points of crossover. Although, they might be inspired by artists such as Bad Brains, Living Colour, Mordred, Suicidal Tendencies, Faith No More, etc they inspired and bought to life a generation to follow.
The debut album was originally set to be distributed under the title Cop Killer, named for the song of the same name, which criticizes police brutality and after the release the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas launched a campaign to force Warner Bros. Records to withdraw the album finally entitled Body Count and released on March 10, 1992 – just months before the L.A. riots. “Body Count” it’s a flawless album where punk, rap, rock, hip hop and thrash metal are melting into one.
It was followed by “Born Dead” in 1994, “Violent Demise: The Last Days” in 1997, with a considerable gap “Murder 4 Hire” in 2006 and now we’ve got chapter 5, “Manslaughter” (smart reference back to “Body Count”) released on June 10, 2014 by Sumerian Records and produced by Will Putney (credited for working with artists such as Asking Alexandria, Poison The Well, Thy Art Is Murder, Miss May I, Came As Romans, etc). Read more Body Count – Manslaughter (2014)

Black Futures – Chemical (Official Music Video)

Black Futures

If you think dubstep it’s dead, you might be right if you’re considering dubstep that mainstream bullshit the media selling so… extensively. But what about something called future punk? Unfortunately, one of my favorite bands, Subsource have officially split. Fortunately Read more Black Futures – Chemical (Official Music Video)

Backtrack – Lost In Life (2014)

Backtrack – Lost In Life (2014)

Backtrack – Lost In Life (2014) Pure, furious, edgy and old-school hardcore. There is nothing fancy, nothing meaningless, nothing just to fill in or fill up, but brutal riff, energy and honest, reasonable anger. And while honesty and being not a clown of the media and a dumb trend follower it’s quite rare, almost exceptional nowadays, Backtrack is an exceptional band with roots both back to punk and metal.
The Long Island bangers are stepping in the footsteps of their predecessors as Minor Threat, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Biohazard – and delivering some raging anthems filled with killer riffs and upbeats. Let’s be honest! Nobody want to re-invent the hardcore, there is no secret, underground revolution going on, fans just want some loud and headbangable songs and pretty much that’s what Backtrack delivers more then fairly. Read more Backtrack – Lost In Life (2014)

Mustard Plug – Can’t Contain It (2014)

Mustard Plug – Can’t Contain It (2014)

Mustard Plug – Can’t Contain It (2014) Lighten up and have fun! – in few words this is the essence of what Mustard Plug delivers on their eighth studio album. In August 2013, Mustard Plug used KickStarter to fund the recording of their new album. “Can’t Contain” will be officially released by No Idea Records yesterday, January 14, 2014. We’ve got 14 high-energy, groovy ska-punk anthems. The album feature cover art by Jeff Rosenstock of Bomb the Music Industry, which, in my opinion, it’s pretty inexpressive, but fortunately, the music compensate. But honestly, in a CD shop lost between million of albums, I would definitively skip this one.
The album starts like a party and it’s a party throughout! “We Came To Party” will be definitively a party anthem with its “hey ho” chorus. It have a more edgy punk vibe then the rest of the tracks, felt a tie back to Dead Kennedys, but with a ska outfit and flavor. Cool. Read more Mustard Plug – Can’t Contain It (2014)

Iggy and The Stooges – Ready to Die (2013)

Iggy and The Stooges – Ready to Die (2013) Iggy Pop and James Williamson on a record again was one of the ultimate rock’n’roll dreams. The Stooges ever playing again was another one. Then dreams came true. The fourth Stooges studio album, “The Weirdness” was recorded and released 34 years after its killer predecessor “Raw Power” and features founding members Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), and Scott Asheton (drums) along with new band member Mike Watt (bass guitar), but also guest musician Steve Mackay (saxophone), who also appeared on the Stooges’ 1970 album, “Fun House”. And the album was engineered by Steve Albini.
Unfortunately, Ron Asheton was found dead in his home on January 6, 2009 and any further The Stooges performance became – once again – improbable. Iggy released a smooth incursion into a jazzy world with his 2009 effort “Préliminaires”, then last year released a covers album entitled “Après”, which featured renditions of songs by Serge Gainsbourg, Henri Salvador, Harry Nilsson, Georges Brassens, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Yoko Ono.
But Iggy Pop stated that “although ‘the Stooges’ died with Ron Asheton, there is still ‘Iggy and the Stooges’ and somehow managed to convince James Williamson to return as guitarist. Williamson, who was responsible for the seminal guitar sound on 1973’s “Raw Power”, gave up the guitar and worked as an electrical engineer before becoming Vice President of Technology Standards at Sony. Read more Iggy and The Stooges – Ready to Die (2013)

Suicidal Tendencies – 13 (2013)

Suicidal Tendencies - 13 (2013) Mike Muir and his gang of suicidal maniacs are back!! This is the 13th Suicidal Tendencies release (although, the ninth studio album), with 13 new songs, 13 years since the last album (“Free Your Soul and Save My Mind” released in 2000), but the first without guitarist Mike Clark since 1987’s “Join the Army”. And it’s ferocious! Right between the classic Suicidal maniacal grindings and the killer Infectious Grooves flavour. As always. Although, last time was a lifetime ago and probably most of the nowadays headbanger kids don’t have a clue what the heck I’m talking about.
But once again, I have to notice that these “old guys” have a criminal sense of memorable melodies, have the guts to deliver killer and powerful riffs and murderous grooves, while most of the nowadays formed bands only delivering over-produced, but absolutely forgettable mass of noises. By the way, kind of sad, scary and alarming. Read more Suicidal Tendencies – 13 (2013)