Two Demos

Yikes, I guess it's been too long since there's been some fresh tunes uploaded on here. Fortunately, there's been plenty of aneurysm inducing tapes and records popping up over the past couple months, and I have a pair that I've been meaning to post for a while.

First up we have one of the latest Western Massachusetts disasters, formed by ex/current/whocares members of Aerosols and SQRM. Hoax delivers five tracks of ear splitting, brooding hardcore in a pleasantly gritty and abrasive fashion. Expect raw vocals, fuzzed out distortion, and the somewhat typical (yet purposeful) low-fi recording quality. This tape's been sold out for a while, so check this out if you haven't already.

Download (I heisted this from Derrick's Well Fed blog, stop by for more noise)

Midwest Wolfpack! The aptly dubbed Noose serve up their aggressive vegan straightedge hardcore stylings on their first five track demo. These guys picked up steam fast and quickly joined the React! Records roster to release a 7" version of the demo, which you can pick up here. If you're into the early Boston-era hardcore or other current Midwest bands, this is definitely worth a peek. Look for an upcoming tour with RazorxFade this month which hits a number of cities including NYC, Philly, Boston, Richmond, and more.

Download
Noose

A Pile of Wax from React! Records

Finally! An exciting delivery of inspired, positive, energetic hardcore arrived at my door the other day after a preorder I placed a while back. Colored wax, stickers, screened patches, digital downloads, and even a screened cardboard mailer were included with these three records:

Get the Most - Together
Praise - Growing.Changing.Healing.
Damages - Unrequited

While each band establishes their own particular flair and affinity for hardcore, they remain within the distinct realm of React! Records' roster, which isn't always a negative point. Fast paced, heartfelt, and aggressive, all three of these groups blaze through their records with intense ferocity and pounding rhythms.

Get the Most rides the infectious wave of newer youth crew influenced bands, playing with wild speed which threatens to derail nearly every song. After a demo and three EPs, they finally drop their LP onto anxious fans, which continues in similar fashion to the material everyone has grown to know, whether they dig it or not. 10 songs in 20 minutes, you know the deal. These breakdowns will have you jumping around like an eight year old who found their way into a case of Pixy Stix. 

Praise tap into plenty of obvious hardcore elders, playing a particular brand of straightedge hardcore which mixes everything from Chain of Strength to Champion to Bad Brains all at once. The result is a captivating four track record (its not religious, despite the band's name, so relax) which rings true to React's impeccable roster.

Damages departs from the typical fast-slow-fast formula of their contemporaries, exploring further into the depths of rock whilst generating a darker, more ominous aura. Even though their EP only contains two songs, both are over three minutes long, ensuring listeners receive enough of their stripped down sound to effectively catch the vibe. 

If the descriptions alone aren't enough to drag your mouse over to the React! webstore to buy something, then the plentiful images should do the trick. Colored vinyl, stickers, patches, digital downloads, quality sleeves and packaging round out each of these records to ensure even the most obnoxious record collector freak is satisfied. New wax is always dropping and fresh bands are always joining up with this label, so stay alert. Sorry, no downloads on this one.

React! Records

Mindset - Time & Pressure

Following the well received EP, Real Power, Mindset is releasing their second 7" wax effort on React Records. Representing the straightedge Maryland hardcore scene, Mindset lays down another installment of well put together, inspiring, positive tunes. With the record release show slated for March 28th in Baltimore, an upcoming tour with True Colors, and colored vinyl of Time & Pressure already sold out, Mindset is getting ready to explode.

Loaded with influences from all across the fast, posi-core spectrum, Mindset borrows from bands ranging anywhere from The First Step to Floorpunch to Betrayed, and puts their own charged spin on it. While most of their songs on this record are based on traditional fast drum beats, they manage to vary tempos enough to keep things interesting enough so you don't feel like the EP is just one blur of power chords. Time & Pressure is another one of those records where as soon as it kicks off, you can already see the stage dives launching as the gang vocals boom, "Hear me now!"

Mindset takes on some great lyrical topics again on their sophomore EP. Reading some thoughts and opinions from people who seem genuinely interested in our world and the horrendous things happening is incredibly refreshing, especially since there's a lack of this in hardcore lately. By all means, write about straightedge or friendship or whatever other personal junk you want, but we need more bands like this in the larger hardcore community. Obviously there's politically motivated bands around, but people need an accessible outlet that doesn't necessarily involve going to house shows in the ghettos of West Philly or sending money orders to labels that never respond and take 3 months to mail out a 7" (even though I support this 100% too).

"Create/Control" starts off with illusions of power and grandeur, spurned on by festering envy and greed. "Waste" takes everything a step further, challenging people and politicians to do more than make false promises and actually follow through with something positive. These themes continue, reaching the pinnacle during the final track "Witness." As the final lines are laid down, the vocals yell "When we close our eyes we close our fists/Our blindness ensures that oppression exists/Blind Eye/Blind Witness."

Time & Pressure is a fairly easy record to enjoy, especially if you're into any of React's other releases, or straightforward, uptempo hardcore. Inspired, thoughtful lyrics, and entertaining song structure that plays out fantastic during their live shows makes Mindset the real deal. The upcoming tour isn't hitting the tri-state area which sucks for me, but check out the dates to see if you're luckier than I am. This record and their first EP, Real Power are both still available from React.

http://www.myspace.com/mindsetsxe
http://www.itstimetoreact.com/

New Preorders/Releases to Get Psyched On

There's been a slew of demos and new artists popping up in the hardcore scene, with a pile of exciting new material slated for release soon. Some of this is already out or up for preorder, but I've been struggling almost daily to decide what to spend my hard earned cash on. I only wish I was able to buy everything and support all the up and comers, but here's some of the latest vocal chord shredding and guitar smashing records available.


Mountain Man - One: I swear the first time I heard this demo I felt like throwing my laptop into the wall. Fast, heavy, aggressive as hell hardcore from Worcester, MA that reminds me of a mix between bands like American Nightmare and Internal Affairs. Their sound also seems to fit in well with many of their contemporaries in the Boston area. The only thing I'm not excited about is the annoying 10" format, which never seems to fit in anywhere. The record is for sale through Mightier Than Sword records on three colors with a limited shirt and poster also available. If you're in the dark on this one, the demo is available for download on their Myspace profile, and they'll be tearing up some venues in the Northeast soon.

Get the Most - Together: After a demo and two EPs, Get the Most is finally releasing their debut full length. Offering a fast, energetic throwback to late 80s style youth crew straightedge hardcore, the band has grown quite a following since forming in 2005. Preorders actually just started today on React! Records, available on 3 different colors, with a couple great looking four-sided longsleeves. This label has been on fire lately, so I'm not expecting anything less than great from this band's first LP.

Expire - Grim Rhythm: More explosive Midwest hardcore hailing from Wisconsin; these guys are releasing their debut EP on Hellfish Records. There's been a great influx of bands hailing from the Midwest playing a brand of straightforward, honest music, and I can't wait to hear more. The vocals also remind me a little of Modern Life is War during their first EP; unpolished and raw. Their demo is also available for download on their Myspace, and the EP is still available on two colors (preorder packages are sold out already).

Fire & Ice - Grim: A fun, NYHC and rock-influenced band from the ever growing Richmond, VA scene. Triple B Records will be putting out their second EP, although there isn't a date set on this one. Gods and Devils was a good effort, and I'm confident these guys will crank it up a notch on their upcoming record. It also looks like there should be three different vinyl colors once this drops.

Raw Nerve - LP: Like taking a baseball bat to your turntable, this blazing fast Chicago hardcore act are set to blow up with their upcoming LP on Youth Attack Records. No specific release date is available but there's been a couple vague updates on the YA website stating it should be out sometime in March (at press now). After a fairly popular demo and EP, people should look forward to another vicious, blistering effort from Raw Nerve. I'd recommend frequenting the YA website often if you expect to get a copy, as many of their releases tend to be very limited, selling out in a day or less sometimes.

The Rival Mob - Hardcore for Hardcore: Mob rules all! I seriously cannot wait for this one, and this band is catching on all over the country. This should be a great release on Six Feet Under Records, hopefully with some stellar vinyl colors and packaging. The Rival Mob has a gritty, raw style and demeanor that reminds me of the old school, no frills hardcore bands of the past. If you've been under a rock recently, go pick up a copy of Raw Life from Lockin Out to keep yourself entertained in the meantime, otherwise be sure to catch them in Philly or at United Blood if you're in the area.

Now that everyone's overdrawn their bank account, get back to work so you can afford more amazing releases. These are just a handful of what's coming right now, and I'll be anxiously waiting like a cat in heat for more.

http://mtsrecords.com/
http://www.itstimetoreact.com/
http://www.hellfishfamily.com/
http://www.triple-brecords.com/
http://ihateyouthattack.com/
http://www.sixfeetunderrecords.com/site/