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!

DOWNLOAD

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