THE FOG - Into The Fog

Location: Berlin, Deutschland

Release: SFR-Hardcore / Refuse Records, 2020

Age of Quarantine, day # 69 - From the people who have been providing the best ugliest things on hardcore for last couple of years, SFR-Hardcore (in conjuntion with a bunch of other labels) presents the sequel for the Berlinese band THE FOG.

The band's rawness sound remains but the production in Into The Fog is up a notch, 6 tracks perfect to bust into the dancefloor swinging chains, reminds me of Firewalker in some parts.

If it wasn't for the pandemic they should've been on tour around Asia promoting the album which got a cassette version by Malaysian Pissed Off Records!

GET THE 7"

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Also while visiting the SFR-Hardcore's page don't forget to check 2 new Deustch/North-american joints URBAN VOID and CHRONIC ABUSE! 

YOUTH COLLAPSE - New Form EP

Location: Nashville, USA

Release: From Within Records, 2020

Age of Quarantine, day # 65. Quick post just to get the ball rolling in here. YOUTH COLLAPSE is the new band led by Greg Falchetto, this time around a bit more similar to his first well known project THE MONGOLOIDS if compared to his other ongoing band World Demise, the singering at least because the sound has huge doses of dope crossover elements! Bands like Retaliate came to mind. 

The production was handled by Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues) so expect killer guitar solos and darkened world-class grade music.    

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER - The Past, The Present (+ Mainstrike)

Location: Nederland

Release: Refuse Records, 2008

Age of Quarantine, day # 45 - Part two of my humble tribute to Roland "BIGMA" Roller, like I said on part one a full profile/discography on him would be quite an effort as it is a tad extensive. This time around I bring the full-length by BIRDS X OF A FEATHER, comprised by some of the nicest long time scenesters from The Netherlands and then MAINSTRIKE, another band featuring Bigma on vocals from the late 90's revival Youth Crew era and one of my all-time fav european bands!

The Past, The Present LP was quite a record release 12 years ago (damn, already?) as it came with a huge book about the History of the Straight Edge in Europe up until that moment, it even got a South American edition (without the book). A good friend of mine brought the vinyl with the book to me directly from the hands of Robert Refuse in Berlin, so it holds a special place in my collection.

I found this interview that reveals everything behind this memorable album, the band's background and personal views by Jean-Paul (bass), Marc Hanou (guitar) and Lord Bigma (vocal).

xxx

Now rewind to 1994. MAINSTRIKE was one of those bands that had a big impact during my formative years, listening to their music when I was 17 back in the late 90's had the same importance as Youth Of Today and Inside Out to me. Reinforcing the "punk values" inside hardcore, not just the aesthetics and dance moves some posers rely on. It didn't take long for me to quit the meat and start questioning all kinds of consumption behavior back then. However they represented a way more toned-down political band when compared to Manliftingbanner, the group Bigma left to start Mainstrike.

They played their final show in 1999 at their pinnacle as a band but... for the surprise of many they reunited exactly 20 years later for the Sound Of Revolution and Can't Keep Us Down festivals!! For download I added the Commitment CD which is a compilation of both their EPs (94's Times Still Here + 99's Self Titled) plus songs from the DEMO sessions. Pay a visit to their newly created bandcamp to download all records for FREE!!

DOWNLOAD these gems:
Birds Of A Feather - The Past, The Present (Refuse Records, 2008)
Mainstrike - Commitment (Crucial Response, 2002)
VA - What We Share 7" (Reflection Records, 1998) 

Credits: Record collection photo by Elmar. Be sure to check Mainstrike's new page and the merch available at Crucial Response!