Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford, drummer and restaurant owner Mathias Wakrat and guitarist Laurent Grangeon proves that hardcore-punk it’s not dead and there is a future!
Wakrat (pronounced “wok-rat”) is finishing their as-yet-untitled debut album. Stay tuned!
hardcore punk
Gallows – Desolation Sounds (2015)
Gallows it’s the perfect mixture of the Aleister Crowley originated mysticism and healthy, punk rooted hardcore. Definitively one of the most interesting and solid Brit acts of the last decade and a band with the power and talent to deliver further exciting releases.
After the release of their debut album, Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz named “Orchestra of Wolves” as one of his favourite albums of 2007, praising it as being the best hardcore album since Refused’s “The Shape of Punk to Come”.
In 2007 the band won the Kerrang! Award for best British Newcomer.
They signed to Warner Bros. Records for a £1 million contract for one album with option up to three, were dropped after the release of the first one, “Grey Britain”. “Grey Britain” was a killer album, but probably not commercially successful enough for the Warner Bros. expectations.
Lead singer Frank Carter left Gallows in July 2011 and formed his own project with ex-The Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File guitarist Jim Carroll named Pure Love.
Former Alexisonfire guitarist/vocalist Wade MacNeil replaced Carter shortly after Alexisonfire announced their disbandment.
They launched their own record label, Venn Records, and the eponymously titled third album “Gallows” on 10 September 2012.
In February 2013 the band announced that they would be continuing as a four-piece, with Steph Carter leaving to focus on his other band, Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Their fourth album, titled “Desolation Sounds” was released on 13 April 2015. Read more Gallows – Desolation Sounds (2015)
Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died (2015)
The album begins quoting George Carlin: “The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it” which synthesize perfectly the state of facts and the perception of America today. We might consider it a joke, but it’s a deadly serious issue.
If you ask me, I think the American dream was gunned down in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 PM Central Standard Time on Friday November 22, 1963, but a huge machinery of propaganda made it looks like it was still alive till more recent times. Make no mistakes, we, the citizens of this world, are the victims of manipulation and propaganda both from Vest and from East. I’m living a nightmare because I’m caught in the middle and I was seriously abused by both sides, although believing in the “American dream” kept us alive while the other part made our life a living Hell. Now Hell have no boundaries and it’s hard to tell on which side of the planet the lie it’s bigger…the dream it’s deader. Read more Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died (2015)
’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)
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)
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)
No Omega – Metropolis (2012)
Extreme and brutal, dark and raw sounding, this Stockholm based post-hardcore band will rip your head off with tones of ferocious riffs and their chaotic, contorted, furious music. Both rooted to punk and metal, this pounding, post-hardcore genre became quite popular lately and many exciting new bands proved true creativity widening the borders of the extreme, avant-garde music. They call their music “hopeless and heartbreaking doomsday hardcore punk”, which actually covers quite consistently the noisy butchery and beautiful poetry they create.
No Omega manage to define their own sound and find their own path of express their fury and desperation, although, they are recommended for fans of Touché Amoré, Dead Swans, Killing the Dream, Meleeh, Oceana and Rise and Fall.
They are also promote and support vegans and vegetarians, as well as they incorporates political ideas and civilization criticism into their lyrics. They spreading these ideas in a very open and relaxed way, but you can still enjoy their music without agreeing with their views and opinions. Best thing come last, “Metropolis” can be downloaded even for free (“name your price”) from their Bandcamp page, or can order from there the hard copy, CD for 6 Euro, respectively the 12″ vynil for 10 Euro. As I always say, artist need and deserves our support and encouragement! No Omega it’s definitively a name to keep in mind! Read more No Omega – Metropolis (2012)
Hatebreed – The Divinity Of Purpose (2013)
Jamey Jasta and his killing machine are back with their sixth studio album. “Put It To the Torch” explodes literally and the merciless butchery begun. With solid roots back to Pantera, Sepultura and Machine Head, this is a dangerously groovy and modern metal mixed with brutal and intense hardcore. “Honor Never Dies” could easily fit in on any Cro-Mags, Biohazard, Madball or Sick of It All album. And everything after it’s a furious, unstoppable mixture of hardcore intensity and brutal, bone cutter metal riffs and the nervous, spitting vocals of Jamey Jasta.
“The Language” starts as one of the most incisive Slayer songs. And each and every song it’s memorable, groovy, no fill, no useless shit, but killer riffs and 101% intensity thought! “Indivisible” it’s a true hardcore punk anthem; “Dead Man Breathing” it’s the perfect Slayer/Pantera mixture!! Read more Hatebreed – The Divinity Of Purpose (2013)
Gallows – Gallows (2012)
Brutal, raw, merciless hardcore punk. Nothing fancy, nothing polite, nothing for the sake of the compromise, no sell-out. Singer Frank Carter left Gallows in July 2011 and former Alexisonfire guitarist/vocalist Wade MacNeil replaced Carter in August 2011. The result of this fresh blood infusion, the third Gallows’ album it’s a very nervous, very intense, aggressive and loud record. No fills, no breaks, no This “new” Gallows are picking up from where The Exploited left out, although this is less metal flavored and heavily hardcore fueled punk with a good sense of Brit indie rock infusion. “Outsider Art” it’s an excellent sing-a-long type of punk rock anthem with a brutal hardcore breakdown. Simple and brilliant. Memorable and brutal. And this spirit it’s running throughout the veins of all the 11 tracks of the new release and grinding you into the ground. Can run, but can’t hide, Gallows will get you! Read more Gallows – Gallows (2012)
Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind (2012)
Sick as f*ck, fast and loud, Converge, one of the most creative and explosive metal bands emerged from the underground in the last decade it’s back with their eighth and deadliest album. Playing an extremely innovative blend of hardcore punk and modern, death and groove fueled extreme metal, Converge not only opened the path for a new generation of furious metallers, but also inspired and influenced a brand new generation of bands and consistently contributed to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.
Their previous album, the 2009’s “Axe to Fall” peaked at number 74 in the Billboard 200 and the expectations were pretty high regarding their new release.
“All We Love We Leave Behind” it’s a new milestone in the history of the metal. This is metal f*ckers! True, raw, unpolished, stainless metal. Not that kind of s*it that the media call it metal(core) nowadays and the industry sell it labeled as “the real thing” to the naive teenagers. Surprise!! No electronic layers, no bass drops, no borrowed, Skrillex type of contortions. Fortunately! Read more Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind (2012)
