I got a promo CD-R of the upcoming split LP/CD between Uncurbed and Warvictims the other day, and I’ve been doing my best to wear it down these last few hours. Both bands offer eight tracks each, and you’ll get what you expect from these two bands.

I do believe Uncurbed have put out better stuff than this, but they’re still keeping the banner high (ehm, sorry about that one). And it’s hard to deny the fact that the opening “Under the bridge” is a damn fine piece of hardcore punk. It feels like this could grow on me, time will tell if I’ll have to retract my opening statement or not. This is the final recording with TB on vocals by the way.

I still think the best Warvictims material to date can be found on the Flyblown split LP, but this is holds the same level of quality, or higher, as their most recent two full lengths no doubt. Especially worth mentioning are their tracks “Döden på larvfötter” and “The end”.

Other than that, and nothing I’ve heard yet, they have a 7” with the band Krossa on the way (“raw and brutal d-beat from Japan which never leaves anyone DISapointed”) and they recently joined in on co-releasing the debut 7” from Swedish hardcore/rawpunk band Glöm Dä! along with Fight Back Records and more.

I might have some more news for you later on, but are not at liberty to disclose this information just yet.

dbeatrawpunk.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/warvictims
www.myspace.com/theuncurbedfamily
www.myspace.com/krossssssa
www.myspace.com/glomda

Mirek of Phobia Records informs me that there's a new hardcore punk webzine started called PERIFERIA.

"The whole webzine is written in Czech language, but anyway you can send us your info e-mails with new releases, plans etc. Of course don't hesitate to send your records for reviews or we can trade your banners for ours. Website is updated daily!"

www.periferia.cz

I love the hardcore, the noise, the d-beat… but to solely try to survive on this diet wouldn't be very healthy, so once in a while there's some other tasty treats that manages to pass below the radar to help nurture me.



TRIBULATION The Horror LP
I don't own too many of them, but this local Arvika band did definitely put together the best death metal album I have in my collection. I'll spare myself the embarrassment of trying to go more into details, but this is fucking brutal!

www.myspace.com/soultribulation

ACCIDENTS Stigmata Rock'n'Rolli 10"
I've always liked the Accidents very much, on all their outputs, but I'm the first to admit that they might have lost a little of their initial spark after their second full-length Poison Chalice, and have been a bit questionable on their most recent 7" releases. But with this 10" they have steered right back on track again, and they're going at full speed. I won't call it their best material, but it's definitely on par with their self titled 10" and debut album All Time High. If you're able to sit still to this kick ass greaser punkrock'n'roll you're boring!

www.myspace.com/theaccidents

AGUIRRE Calvaire LP
Pitch black, slow, agonizing despair that creeps in under your skin. The soundtrack to the end, whispering promises of eternal loneliness in your ear. Aguirre invites you to the abyss of doom.

www.myspace.com/aguirrederzorngottes

Just as with Japanese bands, the Swedish ones keep knocking me out as well. These records prove that the veterans still have it, and the "new blood" is keeping up without any problems whatsoever.



MAKABERT FYND s/t 7" and MAKABERT FYND/NICE IDIOT split 7"
Not to talk down on Nice Idiot, but they have nothing on Makabert Fynd who completely blew me away with their tracks on here. "Folkfascist, halvnazist" is probably the best track to be carved into vinyl in 2009. There's only so much you can do with raging hardcore/råpunk, but Makabert Fynd manages to make use of it all with their intensity, memorable riffs, and just pure rage.

www.myspace.com/makabertfynd
www.myspace.com/niceidiot

KRIG I HUDIK s/t 7"
"All tracks are great, but what really excites me is that the two new tracks are absolutely scorching and reminds me a somewhat of early Totalitär, but of course it's hard not to compare a ripping hardcore band that has Poffen on vocals with Totalitär. Either way, cover versions or not, this is a killer 7" release!"
That's what I wrote in the review of this 7", and I've got nothing to add other than to underline that I've got good taste!

BOMBUS first 7"
I knew nothing of the band. They play I style I can't say I'm too familiar with. I still have a hard time describing their sound. But damn this is good! I've referred to them as garage-sludge-in-a-rock-tempo and I've scaled it down to simple punk rock fuzz - both are true and both are false. Not too many copies were made so make sure you don't miss out.

www.myspace.com/bombusmusic

As always, there are a lot of great records coming out of Japan, and 2009 was no exception.
Some records become instant classics just because they're sold out in anything from a couple of hours to a couple of days, which can make them a little too hyped a little too fast. But let's face it... most of the time it is well deserved as there really are a huge number of kick ass records produced in the land of the rising sun.



NAGOYA CITY HARDCORE compilation CD
Two of the best compilations I've heard in a very long time were presented to the world last year. MCR Company gave us this one which has three songs each from CLOWN, REALITY CRISIS, ZILEMMA, D-CLONE, and DEMOLITION. Agipunk are working on the vinyl which is something to look forward to as it truly will give the awesome cover art justice.

www.nchc-clown.com
www.myspace.com/zilemma
www.myspace.com/dcloneofficial

YOTSUVA Japanese Noiz Cruster compilation LP
I got this a couple of days in on this new year and… holy hell! ISTERISMO, DEATH DUST EXTRACTOR, ZYANOSE and LASTLY unleash the chaos - packed with killer riffs, rampant rhythms, and great blown out wall-of-noise production. Sick!

PAINTBOX Trip, Trance & Travelling 2xLP
First Paintbox released the Genseki 7" as a taste of what was to come, and if my expectations of their third LP hadn't already been through the roof this would have done it. Then it came, the monster that is the Trip, Trance & Travelling double LP. Even though I've heard it before (over and over again) - when the riff to "Cry of the sheeps" begins I got goose bumps all over my body as if it was the first time I heard that excellent tune. I find it hard to explain Paintbox in words, but it sounds like nothing you've heard before, and packs an insane amount of energi into each track. It simply must be heard to be believed.

And let's not forget the DEATH DUST EXTRACTOR 8 songs 7", D-CLONE/MÖRPHEME split 7", FRAMTID/PISSCHRIST split 7", CROW/SEE YOU IN HELL split 7", CONTRAST ATTITUDE Apocalyptic Raw Assault LP, SYSTEM FUCKER 4 songs 7"… the list goes on.

Alright, so this isn't your regular top-whatever list, even though I gues it would fall under that category. It's a bunch of great records from great bands that was released during 2009 that you really need to check out, and since we now have this "Tip of the day" cateory, we'll use it.



BARONESS Blue Record 2xLP
For some reason I skipped their "Red album" as reviews and other comments made me think that they had gotten way too "progressive" for my taste. How wrong I was, and I think it was after one or two minutes into one of the tracks you can stream from the Relapse website that I ordered it. A true masterpiece.

www.myspace.com/yourbaroness

LOUD PIPES Downhill Blues LP
OK, so it's a re-issue, but if it had been released in 2009 it would have gotten the number one spot so I'll ignore the rules and include it even though it's an old one. Fast and furious and fucking excellent!

www.myspace.com/loudpipessweden

So far in this post we have one record that's all over the place as far as influences go, and one that's all over the place as far as speed goes. Then I guess we'll need some melody as well...

EDELWEISS PIRATEN Blizna LP
Lots of aggressive riffs, lots of sharp edges, a ton of speedy melodies - all topped off by raspy female vocals. Fast, melodic, and explosive hardcore from this Polish band that I think have some connection to Utopia among others.

www.myspace.com/edelweisspiratenband

www.disarmamentrecords.tk

I received a mail:

Greetings,
Below is the info regarding my new book "THE BIG SHINY PRISON," which I'm offering to the underground as a FREE PDF. In short, it is a combination of counterculture music journalism with the classic autobiographical road novel, emphasizing foremost the strains of radical punk/extreme metal - but weaving in elements of every other fringe in America as well.

Since this announcement is being sent to punk territory, I want to make something clear (since I'm sure to be called out on it) - I had no idea who Aaron Cometbus was until I was nearly done with this odyssey. When I set out to live on Greyhounds for a year non-stop, targeting major cities with a no backup but a tape recorder -- I was completely ignorant of his work, and honestly thought I was offering a new approach. Therefore I'm sure comparisons will arise. I refused to read the Cometbus anthology until I was done with this manuscript, just to avoid any cross-contamination of influence.

Although on surface it appears a music book, it's more a Trojan Horse -- a panoramic study on subculture tribalism. It essentially "fictionalizes nonfiction," jumping between straight journalism and an "extreme tour diary" of everything as it happens. The interviews are meant more to be read as dialogue in a linear novel. It has more in common with "Air Conditioned Nightmare" "Maldoror", or "The Book of Disquiet" then a monkey-see/monkey-do "On The Road", "American Hardcore" or "Fear & Loathing." Like everyone, I enjoy Kerouac and Dr. Thompson, but my vibe is of a wholly different plateau.

Hope you can take a moment to skim through it. Never was in it for money, and I assure you, it's a quality piece of work. All I wish is that it be circulated to its intended audience. Feel free to forward the PDF to anyone of interest. Any help insofar as a news mention or review would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Ryan Bartek

Direct download via www.mediafire.com/?bxmozxt4jom

Before the old Blog/News section gets deleted in favor of this new one I thought I'd go over the content and repost some of the material so that it's not all completely lost.

In March 2008 I talked about the crustcore band Kontrasosial from Indonesia, who have since added a touch of metal and are now sort of comparable to Martyrdöd. A good band that I wanted to shine the light on again.

www.myspace.com/skitpunks

To be honest I don't know how active the Malaysian zine Punk//Ping//Ponk are since I haven't been in touch with them in a while, but I noticed that issue #2 and #3 are still available from Disarmament Records so hopefully there's a 4th issue on the way.

disarmamentrecords.blogspot.com

While we're on the subject of zines, don't forget to check out More Noize. The title says it all.

morenoizerecords.blogspot.com

I have reviewed a couple of Dispose releases, but I've also mentioned them in the News section and I don't want the mention of their "The Warsounds E.P." to be removed to I'll add this here as well. No MySpace, no website...
If Swedish Disclose worship is something you'd be interested in I suggest you read the reviews of the CD-R releases Apocalypse Approaches and Nightmare on Earth

Even though I'm not gaga over all of their stuff myself, the Destructors from England have infact sent me pretty much everything they've released and since I haven't reviewed it all it's only be fair to mention that apart from the stuff that I actually have reviewed they also have the following stuff:
Quisnam Vigilo Vigilo CDEP
split CDEP with Danger's Close
split CDEP with Dirty Love
split MCD with The Ruined and Punky Rebel Media
split CDEP with March to the Grave
"Malleus Maleficarum" CDEP

www.myspace.com/thedestructorsuk

Posts from the old News/Blog section will still appear if matched when you Search the site, and will be so for a while.

Posthumous complete discography release from this NY crustmetal legend. Twisted and freaking brutal grind mastery formed in the early 1990's by members of CITIZENS ARREST, ASSUCK, and BORN AGAINST, and was essentially a raging motor-grind version of Citizen's Arrest. Aargh! This record includes 3 brand new tracks recorded at the end of 2003, and these new tracks are PURE INSANITY, like an awesome mix of INFEST, old INTEGRITY, and ASSUCK, a KILLER power-violence death assault.