GAZM / CELL / WAX - Montreal Scene Report

Location: Montreal, Canada

The year is 2018 and hardcore punk is pounding strong in the Great white north, more specifically in Montreal (home of Omegas) 3 bands are doing some local ruckus and they are about to TOUR in support of their new material!

GAZM being around the longest of all the 3 bands is on their third release, a 4-way split with other foreign punk bands. They bring an interesting mix to their sound from crust elements to stomp parts that makes their 2016 EP Menace To Tha Earth something to be reckoned with.

CELL presents their 2nd EP Rules Of The Game (plus a 3-song tour tape), they picked up right where they left off: guitar distortions, reverbed vocals and slamming tempo changes. Features members from Vile Intent, canadian powerviolence excellence!

Then enters WAX, filling the void of the old school canadian hardcore (alongside Offside) left by bands such as those hosted by Climbin'Aboard  and Blank Stare records. Demo tape is on constant rotation here (art by Spoiler), all very promising!

The label behind Wax is LSC Records, based in Montreal, visit their page as they are releasing tons of awesome canadian hardcore.

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ps: WAX didnt go on tour to Europe this time!

DISCOURAGE - Self Titled 7"

Location: Berkeley, US

Release: CoinTossRecords, 2018
Artwork: Bill Hauser

Powerful youth crew by californian newcomers in DISCOURAGE, 6 fast paced and heartfelt tracks co-released by a bunch of cool labels, housed in a brilliant packaging.

They began their journey in 2016 and since the demo their music has grown a lot but always maintaining the high energy!

PURCHASE USA/GERMANY/UK

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[EP + Demo]

BLACK TRAIN JACK - Demos & Rarities

Location: New York City

Release: Roadrunner, 1992-1996
Artwork: Ernie Parada

What a band, the've built quite an audience that ranges from regular rockers to hardcore moshers sending everyone back to the days of yore!

They were active, recording music around the mid 90's (but they still play live from time to time), this post is about BTJ rare tracks taken from compilations and singles plus both their demos:

1992 - Five Songs Demo

01. No Reward
02. Guy Like Me
03. Who's That Man
04. It Doesn't Matter
05. Back Up

1992 - 5 Big Hits
01. Time
02. Someday
03. The newest one
04. My Discipline
05. One Love

1993 - Someday Maxi-Single
01. Someday

02.  This Is The Way

03. If I Can

1994 - Handouts Maxi-Single
01. Handouts (LP Version)

02. Handouts (BTJ Sing Along Choir Version)
03. No Use
04. Guy Like Me (featuring Jackie B & The A-Trains)

1995/1996 - Compilations
01. Gratitude (from Flipside R.A.F.R., 1995)
02. Catalina (from Homage - Lots Of Bands Doing Descendents' Songs, 1995)
03. 700 Club (from Punk Uprisings, 1996)

DOWNLOAD [new link 2021!]

After Black Train Jack they went on separte ways and formed many other projects following that same catchy melodic punk formula such as Grey Area, Nine Lives and Higher Giant but what not everybody knows is that Rob Vitali (vox) teamed up recently with dudes in Buried Alive and Maximum Penalty to record a demo under the name American Monster, take a listen:

credits: Orville Dunworth

ULTIMATE - Demo 2018

Location: Washington D.C. + Maine

Release: DIY, 2018

Braden from Corrective Measure just hit me with a new joint, together with dudes in STAND OFF (rip) and HOT SHOT, here is ULTIMATE!

3 tracks of raw hardcore inspired by Life's Blood, SSD and alikes. Tapes can be ordered through ultimatexband@gmail.com  

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DC DRUG FREE