Picked Clean - Tape EP

So it would appear my recent obsession with the Midwest is continuing. Although, if bands keep dropping tapes like these I'm going to continue buying them and consequently annoying my neighbors. Another quality release here from Not Normal Tapes by Indianapolis' Picked Clean. Fast, crunchy hardcore with gritty recording and some sweet old school flavor. Black pro tapes, stickered labels, blue case, and a j-card with lyrics complete the packaging.

Oddly enough, the vocals are some of the cleanest I've heard on a tape recording lately, despite the less than stellar quality. The bass drum approaches the blown out level at points, although everything seems to meld together during the wild 60 second songs, creating a chaotic, rough vibe. People are flying side to side during this rager for sure.

Somewhat similar to other Midwest bands, there's a boatload of 80s hardcore influence, as Picked Clean blast through their six songs in a shade under 7 minutes. Borderline uncontrollable feedback squeals in between the tracks while the music almost never ceases its assault on your ears. Expect plenty of distortion, thumping percussion, as well as some socially and politically conscious lyrical content.

Not Normal Tapes continues its reign of hardcore dominance, churning out more quality tunes with each blistering cassette. I wish the quality was a touch better, but that's my only real complaint about this release. Pick it up for $3 today or regret it later, as this is a one time pressing limited to 100.

Download
Picked Clean
Not Normal Tapes

Pukeoid - Demo

So just yesterday I was going on about how it's nice to listen to records where bands are tight, well practiced, and obviously rehearsed. Then again, the imperfections and apathetic musical attitudes in some bands are what makes music unique. If you're looking for razor sharp, blisteringly complex hardcore, Pukeoid definitely isn't in your wheelhouse. However, if gut wrenching, sound splattering, noisy hardcore punk is your thing, this is the next demo that belongs in the tape deck for the next week or so. Packaging layout includes white pro tapes with blue print, plus j-cards and a lyric sheet with strange artwork and hand written words scratched out all over the place.

Barking vocals, sloshing guitar riffs and furious drumming blast at semi-maxed out levels throughout the duration of this demo, which stays on the rough, yet still listenable side. Pukeoid reminds me of older punk demos you might come across mistakenly at shows, only it's surprisingly decent. The quality can become a little bothersome at points but anyone who frequents hardcore demos or live tapes shouldn't have a problem with getting through this one. Eight songs clocking in at five and a half minutes isn't half bad either.

Lyrically, this is some pretty tormented content, filled with depression and anger that approaches the near suicidal level. Clay seems pushed to the fringe of sanity during "Suffocate" while screaming "Can't take this world/Pressure building up/I just want to suffocate." The next song, "Gimme Death" oddly reminds me of an old Blood for Blood track, even though Pukeoid doesn't really sound anything like them. The lyrics continue in similar fashion here with "Sick of living/It's always misery," and so on.

Pukeoid churned out a pretty vicious demo which assuredly announces their pissed off, enraged arrival onto the Indiana hardcore scene. Filled with plenty of "I don't care" and "enough is enough" attitude to ruin your day, this isn't the cure for those after work blues. There's some sloppy and repetitious qualities on the tape, but that's not always a negative thing, right? If you like the download PLEASE SUPPORT THE BAND and buy the demo from Not Normal. Seriously, its three bucks.

Download
Not Normal Tapes
Pukeoid MySpace

RazorXFade - Demo

One of the latest in a growing line of aggressive Chicago hardcore bands, RazorXFade, recently released a demo on Not Normal Tapes, ran by Ralph of Raw Nerve. This baby comes with pro black tapes, fold out insert with lyrics, and j-card all in a slick black and white color scheme. Don't let the name fool you, this is straight-up, no nonsense, balls out hardcore.

The demo wastes absolutely no time, firing six potent bullets of musical fury from their magazine that rip through you like a .45. Reaching high speeds, but in a maintainable fashion, RazorXFade combines different tempos in each song to keep you waiting for the next track. Influentially, the band smacks of Jerry's Kids or other old X-Claim bands, along with some Antidote-era NYHC. Carlos' rough, shouting vocal style fits the grainy music pretty well, ranting through the lyrics at a nearly inaudible pace at times.

After the first two songs, it's crystal clear what this Chicago four piece is shooting for. A quick 56 second song to kick it off, followed by a little intro riff which leads into the second song, as Carlos growls "Straightedge!" right before "Last in Line" explodes from your tape deck. Building guitars and drums leads into a nice mid-tempo breakdown before the vocals gasp "This world thinks in dollar signs/If you don't prepare to be last in line." My personal highlight is probably "Choke," which threatens to completely spin out of control while the guitar mashes its way through chords in between screeching harmonics, to your ear drum's dismay.

Each song seems to attempt to raise the bar from the last one, resulting in an exciting listen from beginning to end. There's an interesting element of social consciousness to the lyrics, touching on kidnapped children, war, greed, scene preachers, and more. I was a bit amused by the 17 different X's on the tape and packaging (yes, I counted), but thankfully these dudes don't waste half their demo screaming about the edge. Find seven minutes to set aside in your busy day and rage with this tape, you won't be disappointed. The first run of tapes is sold out already, but expect a second press soon from Not Normal.

RazorXFade Myspace
Not Normal Tapes Myspace