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.

GROOVE MASTERS - Vol.1

Representatives from all over the globe are bringin' funky fresh metallic music to the masses, from past pioneers in LEEWAY and 24-7 SPYZ to present days, where we can witness the rise of some (Higher Power / Turnstile's Real Thing video clip is dopey) and the fall of others (Fire & Ice), this style of hardcore is secured for another decade with a new wave of groovey bands!

JUST ICE (Canada)

The canadian JUST ICE (not the rap group) started out with a full-blown self-released EP in 2017 (pictured above). Sometimes flirting with beatdown elements they sure deliver a good amount of mosh-inducing moments, loaded with fat ass basslines! Props to the cosmic funky artwork.

JUST ICE's 5-song self-titled EP is up for download here (link at the bottom), their brand new 2-song Promo tape is being handled by LSC Records.  

NO BRAINER (Australia)

Another damn cool group from Perth, NO BRAINER brings a tight mix of Lion Crew, Turnstile and The Others, LOC Sound meets Planet Perth! A lovely surprise from Australia which is currently dominated by grinding death/noise core.

For download we have this new 3-song EP out on Best Wishes Records, their demo (out last year) can be found on Bad Noose.

SHELF LIFE (Italy)

New Venetian sensation, SHELF LIFE yo! Judging by the cover art one of their influences speaks out plus a dope intro makes everything fall into place apparently, but it doesn't end there, they draw their main influence from 90's metallic and heavy Biohazard sound which makes everything more interesting!

Their 7-song EP was released earlier this year by Youth Of Today Collective, check the page for more info on italian scenery and, eventually, physical copies of this record.

FOOTSTEP (Russia)

Although it's not new, Russia's answer to this style is the killer FOOTSTEP and their Boomerang EP from 2016. All sang in russian, they manage to keep on a high level of enjoyment from start to finish, a 2-steps delight! The planet deserves a new record in the near future!

This band came across my way through Arty from Straigth On View 2.0

SOLAR MESSIAH (Ireland)

The Irish hidden gem!! I found about SOLAR MESSIAH through another irish act, Hollow Truth which they shared members with, now that the latter called it quits maybe it leaves room for a new recording with Solar. Their latest EP Lucid Dreamz is from 2016, out on tape by Never Meant Records.

The melodic elements they added to their groove sound gave them a distinct-diverse musicality, truly a nice surprise.

SLOPE (Germany)

SLOPE was featured here in the blog years ago and proved that sometimes promising bands does break through, in 2017 they released the dope af Losin' Grip EP on BDHW, the record is massive.

In support for the album they did a small run of fun artsy video clips. Turn it up and move those feet!! 

DOWNLOAD - Volume 1
[Just Ice / No Brainer / Shelf Life / Solar Messiah / Footstep / Slope]

Check back regularly for a possible vol.2, bands like Violent Stomp are up to somethin'!


Bonus: KINGPIN (Ukraine)

This band is so freakin' awesome that I had to add them here with a special "so-far-discography"! KINGPIN has been quiet lately, their last record is a single from 2016, anyway they put out a far out collection of songs in 4 years as a band: 3 EPs, 1 Demo and 1 single in total. That Cold Front cover is ace!!

 DOWNLOAD - Kingpin Discography




Many other funk metal-oriented hardcore acts were already featured here throughout the years such as the excellent POWER WRENCH (USA), WILDFLOWER (Belgium) and SLOW BURN (USA), look it up.