Although “Quickness” is the fourth studio album by Bad Brains, it was the first I had listen at the beginning of the 90’s and several songs from it still echoing in my mind. “The Messengers”, “Sheba”, “No Conditions”, “Silent Tears”, “The Prophet’s Eye” are only a few of the 11 (plus outro) killer tracks of the album.
“Quickness” is 34 minutes of pure essence of Bad Brains delivering the best of their unique hybrid of raggae-punk and hardcore-funk. Released on 14th September, 1989, 22 years ago, these songs sounds still fresh and… quickening. Who said white man can’t jump and black guys can’t rock? Read more Bad Brains – Quickness (1989)
hardcore
Gay For Johnny Depp – What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You (2011)
It’s the perfect balance between not taking themselves very seriously and taking the music absolutely seriously. And they know how to write extremely catchy hardcore songs, while the lyrics might bring a smile upon your face, the riffs will blow your head off definitively. Just as they sing it: “We Are The World? Burn It Down!” That’s what it’s all about: humor and hardcore. Kind of… Nine Inch Males… or something. 😀
“What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You” is the band’s second full-length album and the funny lyrics and song titles are served with high energy, pumping, sometimes quite chaotic (“Pink Flag”) hardcore. Let’s just say: Cum On Feel The Noize! Read more Gay For Johnny Depp – What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You (2011)
Bury Your Dead – Mosh N Roll (2011)
Stripped to the core, this is hardfuckingcore with heavy riffs, high-level fury and explosive, unleashed energy. Pantera/Machine Head like groove metal collide with Biohazard/Sick Of It All hardcore and the result is quite convincing. This is nothing, but “mosh’n’roll”, pure, pumping metalcore without any useless ornament, senseless sophism, just kick ass themes, cutting riffs and raw vocals.
Formed in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, in 2001, as a side project of the band Hamartia featuring Brendan “Slim†MacDonald – guitar and Mark Castillo – drums and recorded and released their debut album titled “You Had Me At Hello” in March 2002. After several tours, the band break up for a few month, but bass player Rich Casey re-unite Slim, Mark and they bring to the microphone Mat Bruso.
Since, the band been through several line-up changes, Bruso left the band in 2007, he was replaced by Michael Crafter for a short period, then by Myke Terry till January 2011 when Bruso came back and Terry was fired. Read more Bury Your Dead – Mosh N Roll (2011)
By My Hands – Growing Older Getting Colder (2011)
They said “Too Hardcore for the Metal kids .. and Too Metal for the Hardcore Kids” and this band from Glasgow, Scotland, UK sounds just like – in the most positive sense – any other furious gang from Brooklyn, especially they reminds me of Biohazard. Actually I was afraid of some cheap Metallica copy, you know – “Die by my hand, I creep across the land, Killing first-born man”, but it’s not the case, their 90’s crossover it’s just fucking great, they have groovy riffs, deep growling basses, pounding drums and raw vocals, it’s just bloody nice that they don’t have clean – pussy – vocals and don’t shoot the same boring screamo/metalcore cliches, By My Hands it’s nothing about, but rage and pure unleashed energy. Read more By My Hands – Growing Older Getting Colder (2011)
Jasta – Jasta (2011)
Jamey Jasta (born James Shanahan) best known as the lead vocalist of Hatebreed and Kingdom of Sorrow, owner of Stillborn Records, and also the “rock themed apparel” line called Hatewear, released his first solo album featuring guest appearances by Phil Labonte from All That Remains, D. Randall Blythe and Mark Morton from Lamb of God, Tim Lambesis from As I Lay Dying, Zakk Wylde and Mike Vallely, and the album will be released on July 26th, 2011 via eOne Music and Century Media.
And “Jasta” is a modern, colourful metal album with different aromas, but full of intense metal riffs and hardcore attitude. Read more Jasta – Jasta (2011)
Tess – St. Charles – DVD Data Discography (2011)
32 titles, 46 videos, 1375 photos – “St. Charles” is the collected retrospective of this French band formed in 2006 and by two new, previously unreleased songs, it’s also a looking into the future. After a first EP entitled “D’un battement d’ailes” (Of a beating of wings) released in April, 2006, it is in April, 2008 that the band delivers its first album, “La dame de Coeur” (The Queen of Hearts) recorded by Yann Klimezyk ( MyPollux). In summer, 2009, Tess records his second album, more aggressive than never, definitively more in a post-hardcore mood, “Les autres” (The Others).
The band will record in September, 2010 two new tracks – “My Very Own War” and “Le Menteur a Dit” – which complete the list of the tracks included on “St. Charles” released on 28 March, 2011. Read more Tess – St. Charles – DVD Data Discography (2011)
Ringworm – Scars (2011)
Formed in Cleveland, Ohio, back in 1991, Ringworm delivering powerful, straight, good-old-fashioned Hardcore with scratching (Thrash) Metal inputs, reminding me the classy sound of Biohazard up-lifted with some tasty Pantera strength, being classy and modern, cutting simultaneously. “Scars” is filled up with powerful riffs, pounding drums, anger and murderous grooves. The current line up consist of Human Furnace – vocals, Matt Sorg and John Comprix – guitars, Danny Zink – drums and Mike Lare – bass/vocals while vocalist Human Furnace also plays in Gluttons, and his solo project Holyghost.
Released on July 19, 2011 “Scars” is their third product for Victory Records and already seems to be a classic, all those straight and strong, groovy and cutting riffs and pumping basses, crushing drums have both in their vein that retro taste, but still sounds fresh, electrifying. Read more Ringworm – Scars (2011)
Rotting Out – Street Prowl (2011)
Fast and furious. 6131 Records promised “energetic, fast paced hardcore in the vein of Striking Distance and Black Flag” and it’s reminds me of Billy Milano’s M.O.D. (Method of Destruction) with less thrash infusion, but still on the same crossover/hardcore punk direction. And it’s something here also from the unfamous Billy’s humor, one of their best song being “Laugh Now, Die Later”. Walter, Carlos, Tank, Jorge and Ben comes from Los Angeles, California and their hardcore punk is fast as it is possible, still melodious, two decades ago for sure I would mosh out my ass on it. This high-energy, pumping, straight and powerful approach has its indisputable charm and live, down at the club, there’s nothing proper than this loud and angry, spitting right in your face approach. Read more Rotting Out – Street Prowl (2011)
Harm’s Way – Isolation (2011)
I don’t have a clue if the novel by James Bassett written in ’62 inspired this guys from Chicago or not, but “Isolation” is definitively heavy as a cruiser on a seek-out-and-destroy mission. They delivering kind of old-school but excellent hardcore merged with some sludge and doom after-taste moments and sounds, filled with cutting and crushing groove metal riffs, pumping drums and howling basses that will tread you to the ground. Not to compare it with, but it reminds me of Biohazard’s “Urban Discipline” (1992), it has the same groove, strength and unpolished freshness and raw, but also incorporated the power of Pantera and their best riffing without actually copying anything. Usually I don’t get too easily excited, but Harm’s Way quite made me bang my head. Read more Harm’s Way – Isolation (2011)
Destruction Of A King – Consumed (2011)
Alex – vocals, Diego – guitar and Justin – bass comes from Los Angeles, CA, said about them self that they are the “dirtiest band alive” and they delivering grinding, up-beat hardcore sometimes mixed up with thrash and groove metal and imputing few experimental moments, breaks, they have the energy and cutting edge riffing of Pantera and the rawness of Biohazard. The 12 tracks “Consumed” seems to be their second full-length album after releasing their self-titled debut and two EPs, “World Of Disease†and “Anthemsâ€.
They play explosive, fast and raw metal with roots both back to hardcore and metal, but looking forward into the now days so-called metalcore. Read more Destruction Of A King – Consumed (2011)
