ALL THINGS OLD SCHOOL AWARDS - The Best Of 2019

Photo: Angela Owens

For starters this whole thing of "Best Of" can be a very personal matter (empathy vs talent), is hard not to take sides. That's why this year I decided to do more of a retrospective of all releases that got my attention in Hardcore, Punk, Thrash and some stuff in between! (Probably the last one I will ever be doing)

Of course there were some highlights this year that I have to point out like WHO THE HELL IS WILD SIDE? Man what a record, the exact kind why I still listen to hardcore, stoked that they pulled it off after many years of wait. In general, the crossover scene dominated again this year with great releases by DOMINANT FORCE, HIGH COMMAND, SPIRIT CRUSHER and DEAD HEAT to name a few. Other highlight would be the Hungarians in TOUCH with their new album The Darkness Reflects (tip from my buddy Pingua), a powerful hardcore masterpiece, not to mention the new albums by B'URST!, GAZM and BATTLE RUINS.

Some labels ruled the old school music business this year with plenty of strong releases, headed by TRIPLE B and Quality Control HQ and a good amount of albums were out in late november and december, making it out of many best lists out there, for instance SKOURGE on Lockin' Out Records.

To improve this journey through all these releases plus many more here's a Spotify Playlist (naysayers flip-out!), bad grammer included. Selected bands coming from all corners of the globe, from Indonesia to Peru, Canada to South Korea! Of course not everything is on that platform, albums by RATED X, SUBVERSIVE RITE and MURO were left out along some other new albums. As they are added in I will be updating as I did for the 2018 playlist.

There should have been more post surprises before the year ended but my PC stopped working, eventually they will be up in January/February. 

GROOVE MASTERS - Vol.2

A follow-up to the Groove Masters series, most of the bands from volume uno have new material out!

After the well-received Time & Space album by TURNSTILE in 2018 by major audiences, it's time for HIGHER POWER to savor their moment in the spotlight, so it seems as they also signed with Roadrunner Records and added plenty of Deftones elements into their new music, as you may have checked in their new video clip. Opinions are divided on this one, but who care$? The groove must go on!!


NO BRAINER - Out Of Mind

Not long after they released their debut EP, NO BRAINER put out this 2-song beauty and they didn't stop there, a brand new full-length is getting completed to be out next month, all on Best Wishes Records.


JUST ICE - Prime Time

Straight from Québec, JUST ICE kept the ball rolling in 2019 with this single, next year you can expect more bouncy music and Euro Tours!!


FOOTSTEP - Не идеал

The Russians are back after a long time-out from the studios. Check their unique blend of funk metal and hardcore on this new 8-song album yooo!


SHELF LIFE - Shelf Life

The Italian representatives of the groovey return with a less funk offering, nonetheless still very interesting. A co-release with Assurd Records, I Want To Believe Tapes and the Venetian label Youth Of Today Records.

While visiting the labels bandcamp, don't forget to the check this new great italian melodic punk act MOTHER, sharing members with Shelf Life!


LIFE'S QUESTION - A Tale Of Sudden Love...

From the land of Uncle Sam I found about these dudes in LIFE'S QUESTION, playing 90's inspired NYHC with a variety of styles thrown-in in their music, specially in this new EP out on New Morality Zine. Caaaan yoou dig it???

DOWNLOAD [volume 2]

That's it for now, I probably forgot a band or two. I'll likely post more stuff before the year folds! Stay tunned!  Droopy art by Swaggshooter.

DON'T TRUST A SOUL - Demo '19

Location: Poughkeepsie, US

Release: DIY, 2019

Dudes in MINDFORCE, COMBUST and RULE THEM ALL are now jamming under the name DON'T TRUST A SOUL, dope side project with a strong 90's groove Hardcore flavor! Read more about it on the article hosted by NOECHO.



Mindforce has become one of the main forces in todays hardcore and some of the guys behind it were involved in a much lesser known band a couple years back, LIVING LASER!

They started in 2010 with a final EP in 2015, in which they show clearly the direction they were heading as they already sounded quite Mindforce-ish! But on reality this band swam on a bigger pool of influences which were narrowing down to a more crossover sound until Mindforce was formed in 2016. Jay's vocal and performance on stage only got better through the years!

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WESTERN FRONT RECORDS - Discography

Yo back on my quest to upload small label's discography for the one and only purpose of documenting the early 2000's hardcore punk history. First one was about Ambassador Records. These labels were all active during the same period, right when I was eager to know more new hardcore bands and was acquiring everything I could put my hands on (lol).

Western Front was a Los Angeles based hardcore label with a total of 10 releases, from 2001 to 2005. What a better way to find about new cool bands then to track down a labels catalog? AS you know, back then there was no bandcamp, discogs, spotify nor decent content on youtube.

WFR-01  THE DAMAGE DONE - Damage Done

First release (aka Demo aka "California") by this melodic hardcore from SoCal with that late 90's SXE sound similar to In My Eyes and Champion. Read more about them in this article, written by one of the band members which was also the guy behind Rivalry Records.

WFR-02  AMMUNITION - S/T

Virgina Beach hardcore 2002 represent! Features dudes from IRON BOOTS and TARPIT. Artwork by Linas Garsys. For download we have the CD version with 2 bonus tracks!

WFR-03  OUTBREAK - Eaten Alive

First record by this well known fastcore band, later signed to Bridge9 and Think Fast! Records (vocal's label). Artwork by Mike Bukowski! Contains bonus tracks!!

WFR-04  SAY GOODBYE - Anti-Social EP

Another great fastcore release by the label, introducing SAYGOODBYE. A band previously featured on this blog, more info here.

WFR-05  THE DAMAGE DONE - Never Wash Away

Their sick debut EP, much more personality when compared to the demo. File under criminally underrated album! A co-release with Rivalry Records of sorts.

WFR-06  THE MIRACLE MILE - Where The Heart Is

Another good add to the label's hoster, great melodic hardcore in the vein of American Nightmare. As a bonus I'm adding their 2004 EP The Future History out on Sell Our Soul to show how hard they rocked!

WFR-07  SAYGOODBYE - Say Goodbye LP

Label's finest release, check the special post about them here.

WFR-08  DROP IT - What The Hell?

The only Western Front release I don't own a single copy, pretty solid record tho.

WFR-09  DIE! - I Hope You Die

Awesome skatecore band from Italy, youth's gone thrashin'! Label's final release.

WFR-10  SAYGOODBYE - Misanthropy

update: Western Front number Ten! Last release for both the band and label.

DOWNLOAD [Discography]*

*except the records by SayGoodbye which were featured on the blog before!

SCHIZOID - You're To Blame

Location: Nantes, France

Release: Straight & Alert Records, 2019

This blog is slowly dying, but not just yet, the same goes for Alexis and Straight & Alert, he's back with his one man project SCHIZOID.

He did all by himself, including recording/mixing, DIY til the last drop! Sonically he aimed for that Boston/Cleveland straight edge sound most of us can't get enough from.

Tapes and shirts are now available on the label's resurrected bigcartel! There you can also find material for another band he is in, INSECURITY.

DOWNLOAD

STEP FOR CHANGE - Summer Teaser

Location: California

Release: Forever Never Ends Records, 2019
Artwork: Jasmine Mostafa

Is it thursday already? It doesn't matter coz STEP 4 CHANGE and their throwback sound are back!

They've been cookin' this next release for a while, last one was a Promo Tape on Mosher's Delight 3 years ago. It will definitily be their best material, as you can hear from this cassingle teaser for the new album CA STORM, out pretty soon by Statement Records and also Advanced Perspective (?) 

DOWNLOAD

On this link you will find everything they've put out so far, except the 2015 EP which was posted here.

SUDDEN IMPACT & 80's Canadian Skatepunk

It's hard to believe SUDDEN IMPACT is getting some (deserved) praise these days. From re-releases to reunion shows, not only them but the 80's Canadian rich underground scene in general are benefiting (at a certain extent) from current social networks, exposing them to newer audiences!

Through their not-so-extensive carrer, SUDDEN IMPACT's musical style went from this rad skatepunk in the early 80's to a ripping crossover sound as the decade unfolded, two of my favorite styles. All very catchy to the ears and easy to get pumped by!

They hail from Newmarket (near Toronto) and just the other day they performed live at this year's 77' MONTREAL FEST alongside Pennywise and many others. Both their LP's (No Rest From The Wicked and Split Personality) got reissued on CD with extras a few years back by Marquee Records from Brazil and it seems their demo Freaked Out will be pressed on 12'' for the first time by Supreme Echo!

Last year (aka 2018) they were also featured in this amazing book about the roots of Toronto Hardcore scene called TOMORROW IS TOO LATE with many other local bands. A limited 7" compilation was issued to go along with the book, listen to it here.

That right there is already another good source to dig for more great off-the-radar bands, but today we're going to focus and what I consider are one of the very best early Canadian's skatepunk groups and their respective albums from that era:

Starting off with MICRO EDGE, featuring one or two Sudden Impact members. They've put out a handful of demo songs dating back to 1983, Ugly Pop Records came along and released these songs on 12" format this very year, just gnarly! Those sold-out fast.

HYPE, another great act from that era, put out 2 albums in the mid 80's, the second one "Burned" being their best stuff. Also, just recently, both records got remastered and reissued on CD. Even though it can be, at a certain degree, debatable of what or where Skate-punk really stand as a music sub-genre I feel this band and SC.U.M. (sonically) falls right into what was being made in SoCal and Nardcore scenes at that same time, like B'LAST, J.F.A. and AGRESSION to name a few, all dubbed as skatepunk bands.

S.C.U.M. released one hell of a LP back in '85 "Born Too Soon..."! The cover art can be very unappealing but the skatepunk music is dead on! Their acronym means Society Controlled Under Murderers and represented an stance against the Montreal Police Force, as it's better explained here. This album got a needed reissue on CD with bonus tracks in 2006, including a version of the song Exit Death with their previous singer, previously featured in the comp It Came From The Pit from 1985!

DOWNLOAD I includes:
Sudden Impact - No Rest From The Wicked + Freaked Out Demo (Fringe Product/Diabolic Force, 1986)
Sudden Impact - Split Personality (Fringe Product/Diabolic Force, 1988)

DOWNLOAD II includes:
SC.U.M. - Born Too Soon... (Psyche Industry Records, 1985)
MICRO EDGE - '83 Demo
HYPE - Burned (Fringe Product/We Bite, 1987) 

INHUMAN NATURE - Promo + Other Realms

Location: London, UK

Release: Injustice Records, 2019
Artwork: Andrei Bouzikov

Yo, Injustice Records has brought one of the hottest releases from UK this past summer: INHUMAN NATURE debut LP!

They came a long way from their first EP/Demo "Other Realms" and now, 2 years later, they bring 8 tracks of full-throttle crossover madness, matching up to the highest calibers of US recent thrash acts.

The artwork may look cheesy but after a quick listen everything comes together (after all it's a Bouzikov), a great looking LP that is.

PURCHASE LP
DOWNLOAD [Promo + EP]

SEED OF PAIN - Promo 2019 A.D.

Location: South Florida, US

Release: Plead Your Case, 2019

Catching up on fresh releases, Plead Your Case presents SEED OF PAIN new offering, a promo for what is going to be their debut LP, eyes peeled for this next one!!

This band got many people's attention (including mine) with their debut EP Champions Of Chaos also on Plead Records, very powerful SFHC with a heavy dose of Clevo style in their formula. The covers on the promo are dead on!

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CHAINED DOWN - Who We Are

Location: Salt Lake City, US

Release: DIY, 2015

Just came across this one by chance and I got stoked! CHAINED DOWN plays sxe hardcore in the vein of early Carry On and other bands of the Positive Numbers Fest era type of hardcore. Also No Sweat came to mind.

Who We Are is their second and final record, all done DIY. They used to share members with another hardcore act SPEAK OUT.

DOWNLOAD

 

STRUCK NERVE - Two Song Promo

Location: Philadelphia, US

Release: Youngblood Records, 2019

While Triple-B keeps dominating the scene, my personal favorite labels like Youngblood and Lockin' Out has been keeping it low profile with one release a year!

Next in line is STRUCK NERVE debut LP, a nice surprise from both the label and band. From what we can hear from this promo it sounds right in the alley of early days of Youngblood Records, like Desperate Measure and Knockdown!

The band started in 2018 and their demo was pressed into vinyl by none other than War Records. They also share members with Pain Strikes and Jesus Piece.

COPE A T-SHIRT

DOWNLOAD

ILL BRIGADE - Demo

Location: Sydney, AUS

Release: Common Bond Records, 2007

There is this cool movement of labels in Australia trying to digitalize the history of hardcore/punk of its country, many of those releases you only heard about (if even that) can now be listened and downloaded in proper quality.

For instance, ILL BRIGADE's demo!! One of the main powerhouses of aussie old school from the past decade. Featuring members from mighty Vigilante, Bad Blood and Cop Gestapo.

DOWNLOAD

The label behind this one is Black Wire Records and thanks to them, you can also check the band prior to the existace of Ill Brigade, called ILL!

PROMO TAPES & STAGE DIVES

Sorry for the lack of updates, to compensate here's some cool PROMO tapes of upcoming and recent released records.

DOMINANT FORCE - Promo 2018 (Triple B)

The long awaited sequel to their demo, 2 of the 3 tracks on this Promo are now available in the LP Cosmic Denial!


SPIRIT CRUSHER - LP Promo Tape (The Essence)

Another very antecipated album, crossover still ruling in 2019! The 2 tracks featured here are available in the smashing new LP Whispers Against The Roar Of The World.


EXPOSURE - Atonement Promo (Power & Equality)

Another great act from Germany, new LP holds promising. Metallic hardcore Clevo style!


CHOICE TO MAKE - Promo 2019 (Streets Of Hate)

New joint from Wilkes Barre, powerful hardcore properly delivered in this 2-track promo!


WEIGHT - Crushed By The Weight (The Essence)

Not a real release yet but, representing OSLO, Weight is here to do some damage. Check these 2 amazing tracks they've just put out, to be featured on their debut EP!

DOWNLOAD

Credit: Spirit Crusher tape photo by Ricky Lions

GAZM - Heavy Vibe Music

Location: Montreal, CAN

Release: 11 PM Records, 2019
Artwork: Sebbe

Dark metallic stenchcore at its finest, GAZM return with their best stuff yet, the 14-track LP Heavy Vibe Music!

The elements they bring to the table are unsual and brilliant, filthy riffage à la Celtic Frost, frenzied singering Accüsed-style, sprinkled with NYHC pissed breakdowns. All working very well together as they dose the speed out on each track of the album, most are sheer fast tunes, but there a few mid-paced ones like "Pair 'O Dice" that does the trick for a whole nice listening experience (while burning a church).  

DOWNLOAD



Last year I wrote a little piece on the up-and-coming bands in the MTLHC scene, it turns out, from that selection, CELL is also with a new album out, the 7-tack Cassette EP "Play To Win". Highly recommended as they're meaner than never!

PRISON RIOT - Rehearsal Tape

Location: Örebro, Sverige

Release: Dollar Grin, 2016

It's the PRISON RIOT Rehearsal Tape Suckers!

Caught myself jammin' these songs the other day, a pretty solid first release by these swedish rockers. The whole concept, visuals + music is Old School to the smallest degree! Including the band members who appears that they came out from The Warriors movie, which is dope.

Last year they offered a new 7-song EP "Unity Now", same great vibe, check that! Hope they put out more stuff in the near future, Sweden (and the world) needs more bands like this. 

DOWNLOAD

STIGMATISM - Tour Tape

Location: NYC/Montreal

Release: DIY, 2019

Yo! Back with another exclusive, STIGMATISM new 3-song tape, made specially for their Euro Tour. 2 devastating minutes of streetwise hardcore.

Remaining copies of these are still available in Spolier's Laundry Room webstore, too bad he only ships to north-america.

GET A COPY

DOWNLOAD

MASTERMIND - Demo

Location: London, UK

Release: Cold Comfort Records, 2019

New South London joint MASTERMIND, playin that brand of NYHC you're used to on this blog, no gimmicks, only the true stuff! Fav track: TIME HAS RUN OOOOOUT!

This Demo was initially released last year but Cold Comfort came forward and put it on limited Cassette, long goners.

DOWNLOAD

RATED X - LP Promo '19

Location: Leeds, UK

Release: DIY, 2019

Your next fav band (since january), the not-so-secret solo project by TOM PIMLOTT, RATED X! Raw straightedge music payin' homage to the first era of hardcore, just check the covers on this new promo!

Next he will put out a full-length through Painkiller Records. The Demo was pressed in 7" by an australian label and can still be acquired here, but not for too long!

SUPPORT (more stuff soon?)

DOWNLOAD

CRUSH THE DEMONIAC - Celestial World Order

Location: Melbourne, Aus

Release: Life Lair Regret Records, 2019

Crussssssssssssssssssssh The Demoniac... finally back with a follow-up to their nothing but amazing demo, 3 years (or so) on the making!

This EP is pure power, top contender for whatever BEST OF 2019 right here. Cassette tapes almost sold out, act quick!

PURCHASE CS

DOWNLOAD

VORTEX - Demo + Promo

Location: Chicago, US

Release: Advanced Perspective, 2018

Quick post about this mad (new) band VORTEX, they came in strong with 2 releases last year playin' killer NY-inspired metallic hardcore and since november is keeping us waiting for their very anticipated full-length, due by anytime now (or not).

The band features dudes from another great Chicago punk act LURK.

SUPPORT 

DOWNLOAD

AFTERBURN - Open Eyes Long Blinded

Location: Edinburgh, UK

Release: DIY, 2019

This page represent what I feel is real, therefore bands like AFTERBURN will always have a guaranteed spot here, a new group but with familiar faces on it, filling a hole that WAR CHARGE left in the Scottish old school scene.

For those who remember War Charge know what they were up to when it came to hardcore, in Afterburn they just adjusted their pool of influences to the early 00's (Bridge9, Indecision Records) and dropped any metal vestige left, the music got faster, some of the songs inherited that sxe melodic hardcore riffage not unlike Count Me Out and others are a full speed assault like in the track Trapped, very Carry On-ish.

It will be interesting to see where they will head next with their sound, possibilities and hopes are high for Afterburn.

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