Archive for hardcore

Cancer Bats on the “Deathsmarch”, new music video

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always envied the the prolific and seemingly “tight-knit” Toronto/Buffalo hardcore-punk scene; its no secret that there has been a long line of stellar bands to from this region, and this post is about the latest. The brand new “Deathsmarch” music video is pretty much quintessential Cancer Bats, a Toronto band of gritty punk rockers that is quickly gaining notoriety. “Deathsmarch” may be a bit more mid-paced than usual from these guys, but at its core it’s still the enthralling, disgusting, southern infected hardcore that they are known for. While perhaps a bit cheesy at times (though I think that probably has more to do with the overly enthusiastic fans than anything else), the video is a pretty awesome clip. It’s a really well-shot piece that could easily be mistaken for one of their lives shows if it the edit weren’t so clean.

When they are at their best, there is no one better at what they do. The over-the-top riffage and impassioned, engaging vocals that make their live shows so fun are also exactly what make “Deathsmarch” a great aural piece for this type of clip. Enjoy!

(featuring a guest appearance from Wade of Alexisonfire)

These Arms Are Snakes plan split release with All The Saints (on Touch and Go?)

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Ryan Buege

These Arms Are Snakes are pushing the art of the split release like no other these days, and have announced plans to put out a limited split 7″ with upcoming tourmates, All The Saints. This is the fifth split they’ve planned in the last two years, and right now it’s one of two that are expected this year (the other is the Minus the Bear split that was already announced).  Despite releasing an amazing new album at the end of last year entitled Tail Swallower and Dove that provides enough furious and progressive post-hardcore to satisfy those looking for new material, TAAS still isn’t able to sit still and just tour like normal musicians.

On this split with All the Saints, These Arms are Snakes side of the split features the track “Washburn” (a Japan-only bonus from the Tail Swallower.. album) in addition to artwork from Alicja Trout. Apparently, Touch and Go Records will be releasing the split within the next month or so, but there’s no word whether the massive (and very sad) cuts that Touch and Go announced today will hold up this release. My guess is that the vinyls have already been pressed, but who knows?… Hopefully it will be available in time for when TAAS comes through Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis with All the Saints and Darker My Love this Thursday, February 26th. Either way, it’s been a few years since I’ve had the chance to catch their gig and I’m looking forward to a wild show.

Keep reading for all the band’s upcoming US tour dates… Continue reading

Video: Burnt By the Sun first studio recording sessions for final album

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , on Friday, February 13, 2009 by Ryan Buege

We were on the ball in reporting this a few months ago, but if you missed it, there’s a newsflash: Burnt By the Sun has reunited to record one final album! Apparently, after Dave Witte and Mike Olender heard some of the material that Jon Adubato and Ted Patterson had been recording after they left, they were simply compelled to rejoin with them and make one last record together. Witte has been having great success playing drums for the incredible Municipal Waste during the last few years, and it’s not like he really needed to go back to BBTS. So, with that in mind, I’m predicting that this is some of BBTS’s most incredible material to date. Right now, this world needs more BBTS, and I’m hoping that their final album, Heart of Darkness, will help earn and solidify the prestigious place in the history of hardcore and metal that they rightly deserve.

Keep reading below to watch their web video featuring interviews with Witte and Olender and the studio recording of the song the sparked the reunion, “Goliath”: Continue reading

Ozzfest is officially over, but who really cares?

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Ozzfest, Rest In Pain

As Blabbermouth reports today, Ozzy’s too busy with his shitty new reality show and half-assed music to put on another Ozzfest this year, but we don’t really need his shitty festival anyway!

Ozzfest has had its time in the sun, and after a year of hard economic times it’s not surprising that an expensive touring package of this kind would have a hard time succeeding unless it’s extremely well put together. Although I admittedly have not been to the show since 2001, I have heard many rumors that the recent experience was not nearly up to par with what I experienced and certainly not comparable to the shows’ glory days of the mid 90s.

For what my money’s worth, I would much rather go to a great destination festival of the traditional European variety. As MetalSucks reminds us, many new underground metal festivals of this kind have been popping up all over the United States during the last several years, and now many are getting quite reputtable lineups. Examples include New England’s Metal and Hardcore Festival, California Metalfest, Maryland Deathfest, Texas Metal Up Your Ass, LA Murderfest, Atlanta’s Scion Rock Fest, and even Milwaukee’s Robot Mosh Fest. With the high number of brilliant package tours being lined up as well, who really needs a bloated, commercialized Ozz-o-rama on wheels? Not me, and surely not most metalheads.

For those still craving the Ozzfest format, don’t worry! The Rockstar Energy sponsored Mayhem festival tour looks like its getting more success than ever. From the looks of their recent lineup additions for this summers tour, it will be worth every penny that you’ll pay, whether you agree with the shows corporate nature or not.

Video: Fucked Up and Jello Biafra perform “Blitzkrieg Bop”

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Punk legend Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys came out to Fucked Up’s recent San Francisco show and they invited him onstage (as I’m sure many bands do when they find out Jello is in the club in SF) to play this Ramones cover of “Blitzkrieg Bop”. Brilliant stuff!

In other news, Fucked Up just started streaming the song “Year of the Rat” from their upcoming 12″ single that will be released on What’s Your Rupture. Check it here!

Video: Bad Brains documentary preview & progress update

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, February 5, 2009 by Ryan Buege

badbrains208

The legendary (and, from both a personal & public point of view, extremely influential) American hardcore-punk group Bad Brains have posted an update on a forthcoming as-of-yet untitled documentary they are planning for future release. The band is now in post-production for the film which is being directed by Mandy Stein and Ben Logan and traces the history of the band from their formation in Washington, D.C. in 1979 to the present day. However, they’re not done yet; in the rare case that you actually footage of the band from throughout their career, please contact the directors by emailing them to let them know. So far, the film is guaranteed to featured interviews with all four founding members, as well as  from Henry Rollins, Minor Threat/Fugazi vocalist Ian MacKaye, ex-Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar, ex-Cro-Mags vocalist Jon Joseph and guitarist Harley Flanagan, Murphy’s Law guitarist Jimmy Gestapo and Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, who produced the  Bad Brain’s 2007 album, Build a Nation.

I wasn’t around for the hardcore renaissance that these guys propelled, but they have been as important to me as any band in contributing to my rejection of authority and my embrace of self-motivation. During my late teenage years, thee Bad Brains were my soundtrack, whether I was tooling with friends, jamming at a party, or chilling for a late night session; Bad Brains is music for an inspired life. This should be an amazing documentary and is very well deserved this late in their career. Anyone else excited for this? Anyone not know this band?.. well if not, shame, shame, shame on you! Keep a lookout here for a final release announcement.

Review: Jedi Mind Tricks A History of Violence

Posted in Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

jedimindtricksahov

I have to start this post off by saying that this album is very close to me. This Philadelphia trio changed my entire perspective on music with their sophomore outing Violent By Design. The first time I heard Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah & Stoupe I was instantly hooked and I needed more of their music like a fiend needs rock. I have to say that this album can not and does not stack up to Violent By Design (because in my opinion nothing really can), but next to Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell it might be their best work since. I do feel however that Jus Allah might have fallen off a little bit since the VBD days. I had heard about Vin and Jus being in the studio again with that same dynamic as VBD and was overcome with joy, I just didn’t get that feeling when I heard Jus this time.

Stoupe’s production on this album is some of the most impeccable work he has done. I also want to mention that Vinnie Paz is on a completely new level when it comes to rhymes. I remember on VBD (Even though I still love Vinnie on that album) it would seem like Vinnie would be rhyming about nonsense, on this album that is not the case. Vinnie’s verses are full of metaphors and similes like you wouldn’t believe.

the first track on the album is “Deathbed Doctrine” and Vinnie comes out right away spitting fire over the impecable cuts of DJ Kwestion and the hard hitting murderous Stoupe beat.  If you listen to the track you will know what I mean about Jus Allah, he still has some good rhymes but his flow has totally changed from the VBD days. “Deadly Melody” is a track where Vinnie really shines when it comes to the metaphor aspect: “I’m your worst nightmare/the reversal of Christ here/the only thing you seein’ is a shadow and knife glare… Y’all are pussy, watered down like a light beer/I don’t run from it I embrace it I like fear/Call me Texas Chainsaw Massacre I invite fear/Call me Leatherface motha fucka’ I’m right here/Call me any other person that’s an evil killa’/Pazienza Pontius Pilate they call me Jesus Killa/Call me Richard Ramirez because he spill venom/I’m Mark David Chapman before he killed Lennon…”. That trend continues for the rest of the album, and although Jus doesn’t sound as “fluid” as before he doesn’t greatly affect the album in a negative manner. The shining jewel of this album is “Trail of Lies“, which in my opinion might be Vinnie & Stoupe’s shining moment as a duo (Jus is not on this track). The beat on this track is mesmerizing and the sample is absolutely beautiful. Vinnie goes off on the current trend of fathers managing their daughters and “pimping them for cash and money” and “what’s gonna happen in like 50 years, when Hannah Montana turnin’ into Britney Spears?”. If there was one reason I wouldn’t watch TV and listen to the media at all it’s because of this song, it’s very on point and very powerful.

This album is very good, like I said before Jus doesn’t really sound the same at all, but it doesn’t throw away the replay value of this album for me. This is definitely an album worth picking up and giving a really good listen to. Vinnie Paz does some of his best rhyming to this date, and Stoupe gives an excellent performance behind the boards.

8.5/10

Blacklisted begins a U.S. tour today!

Posted in Concert Dates with tags , on Monday, October 20, 2008 by Ryan Buege

Philadelphia’s premiere hardcore group, Blacklisted, has announced plans to come to a city near you. The Deathwish Records’ band will be hitting the road for the month in support of their recent incredible Kurt Ballou-recorded album, Heavier Than Heaven Lonelier Than God. While I’ve personally considered Blacklisted to be at the top of the hardcore heap since they emerged, they’ve proven to be a band that consistently improves with each album release. In my humble opinion, their most recent release being their finest to date. Even if they didn’t already have a good enough back catalog to warrant checking out the show, seeing them perform the new songs will be the biggest reason to go out and raise your fist alongside them. The tour begins today, October 20th, in Baltimore and circles around the country before ending on November 19th in NYC; support will be provided by Have Heart, Ceremony, and Letdown.

10/20 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
10/21 – Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
10/22 – Atlanta, GA @ MJQ
10/23 – Orlando, FL @ Blackbox Collective
10/24 – Tallahassee, FL @ Beta Bar
10/25 – Birmingham, AL @ Cave 9
10/26 – Memphis, TN @ Nocturnal
10/27 – Tulsa, OK @ Pinkeye
10/28 – Austin, TX @ Red 7
10/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts
10/31 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
11/01 – Berkeley, CA @ Gilman
11/02 – Portland, OR @ Satyricon
11/03 – Tacoma, WA @ Viaduct
11/05 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
11/06 – Mission, KS @ Mission Theatre
11/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
11/08 – Madison, WI @ Club 770 / University Of Wisconsin
11/09 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
11/10 – Covington, KY @ Mad Hatter
11/11 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
11/12 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabodys
11/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roboto Project
11/14 – Syracuse, NY @ Klub Polski
11/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
11/17 – Manhattan, NY @ Knitting Factory
11/18 – Maplewood, NJ @ Garden State Music
11/19 – Deer Park, NY @ Deer Park VFW

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