Demos (and promos) are the essence of Hardcore/Punk, the rawness and lack of pressure by external demands (like label contracts) allows a band to go loose, risk free, not rarely rewarding us with the wildest creations. In some cases a demo turns straight into a Debut EP which I believe is the case of NEW WORLD MAN or FUGITIVE, new "super" groups that are bringin' the ruckus... or sometimes a band needs a second demo, like the dudes in BURNING LORD, to improve the group's tightness on the slightest just to score a record deal or simply to keep that rawness (DIY vibe) on cassette format for another touring season.
The following are what caught my attention in the first half of 2022 in Demo Zone styled news:
DEFECTIVE CHAIN - Demo
Hard not to appreciate a band coming out of the blue with a strong solid demo such as this one by DEFECTIVE CHAIN, reminds me of some killer productions from Painkiller Records and Mosher's Delight back catalog. A.C.A.B.!
NEW WORLD MAN - EP
When a side project like this appears I'm always prone to think it will become their main thing, maybe not like Turnstile accomplished but the competence factor is surely there. Led by the Rhine duo from Life's Question, they borrowed the guitar talents from Regulate and Mindforce and drummer from Invoke to form NEW WORLD MAN. Streets Of Hate promptly came along to release this on cassette and gave them the best description "FFO: Crumbsuckers & Nuclear Assualt".
DOOMSDAY - Promo
Bay Area Crossover still bustin' in 2022, newbloods in DOOMSDAY dropped earlier this year one hell of a promo Riff City, including an Iron Age cover, full-length to come out on SLAM Records / Creator-Destructor.
FUGITIVE - Maniac
The selection of bands listed here are almost all Crossover ones or related to Thrash Metal at a certain level, but what can I say? The absolute majority of new demos/bands coming up recently are 90's "chug-chug" metalcore/beatdown... AGAIN! Therefore FUGITIVE was an easy pick, with Blake from Power Trip leading this pack you get riffs for days, joining forces with other dudes coming from Skourge, Creeping Death and ANS you get a legit new Texan Crossover act about to invade boomboxes worldwide.
THE EXECUTED - Demonstration
Formed by 2 dudes from Arizona with a grindcore background, THE EXECUTED bring some mean hardcore with nods to Oi!/Street Punk, this a short but very promising demo!
The drummer also plays in SYCOPHANT in case you're in the need of some UK82 kick, impressive D-Beat hardcore that came out last year.
FORCED DOWN - Demo
Trevor Vaughan is back in all its MA Glory, after he ditched Peace Test and let it have it's own life without him, it wouldn't take him long to start another project. In fact, you may not like his work but you've gotta reckon his prolificacy, a true non-stop music machine! Sonically FORCED DOWN floats around Straight Razor and Peace Test, a must check for any 625 Thrashcore/Sound Pollution fan.
But... if you're really into that Rival Mob/Straight Razor sound then you may dig STONE FLEET, another project with Tyler from Caught In A Crowd that came out last year through Blind Rage Records.
DOWNLOAD [all demos]
