ULTIMATE GUIDE To Old School Hardcore (From 1980s to 2010s)

I've said over the years "this bands sounds like (insert old school band name)" a thousand times, but what the heck IS the old school hardcore sound? The fast and angrier cousin of punk rock. I'm gonna leave this article for future generations as a statement of some of the realest groups that ever played this sub-genre in this very tiny corner of the internet, dedicated to the old school.

For the 13th and final anniversary of ALL THINGS OLD SCHOOL I came up with the Ultimate Guide To Old School Hardcore (or Old School HC for dummies) picking up my favorite 13 songs (+2 bonus) by decade, naming the best and second best from each. First of all, I know the correct measure of a decade is year 1 to 10 (i.e. 1981-1990) but I'll be using the "usual" wrong measure (1980-1989) because it made things easier for me to make decisions. Secondly, I kept the metal influence to a bare minimum (especially the Crossover Thrash thing) on my selections. Also, in my view, lots of bands dubbed as hardcore are actually early Cali-punk rock (i.e. Black Flag, Circle Jerks and TSOL). Hardcore IS punk but not the other way around. 

With that clear I also used the system of match-ups between bands to make my critical decisions, as the slots were quite limited, based on my personal tastes and the general impact on the sub-genre at the time of release. Enough with the bs, let's check the damn list:

1980's (1st - BAD BRAINS / 2nd - Straight Ahead)

The blueprint of hardcore for me is called Black Dots (aka The Zientara Sessions) whose material was written by BAD BRAINS between 1978-1979. This selection could as well end here, the rest are just following along. But.. that wouldn't be much fun, would be? For second I picked the almighty STRAIGHT AHEAD with members having passed in some of the main names of NYHC including Youth Of Today that would be my third option.

The match-ups I had to do for the 80's were insane, like Patrick Dubar's bands Uniform Choice vs UNITY (win), I can't have both on the list. But the one I will get burned the most is probably leaving off Minor Threat out of the selection, not to mention Cro-Mags which lost to Leeway (win). The fact is that I was never a Ian Mackaye (teenie weenie beanie) type of guy and JJ blew it during the pandemic, I'm team Flanagan... whatever that means.

Also props to DK and Misfits for picking up, at the time, the new hardcore trend and releasing one HC album each and with that they blew the competition away (i.e. S.O.A. and Void) in my humble opinion.

1 - LEEWAY - Rise & Fall (1988)

2 - BAD BRAINS - The Regulator (1982)

3 - NEGATIVE APPROACH - Ready To Fight (1982)

4 - AGNOSTIC FRONT - Last Warning (1983)

5 - THE MISFITS - Wolfsblood (1983)

6 - DEAD KENNEDYS - Moral Majority (1981)

7 - SIDE BY SIDE - Side By Side (1988)

8 - KILLING TIME - Wall Of Hate (1989)

9 - STRAIGHT AHEAD - My Problem (1986)

10 - OUTBURST - No Choice (1989)

11 - BROTHERHOOD - The Deal (1989)

12 - YOUTH OF TODAY - Slow Down (1988)

13 - UNITY - PMA (1989)

(Bonus #1) AGRESSION - Intense Energy (1983)

(Bonus #2) SIEGE - Conform (1984)

1990's (1st - FLOORPUNCH / 2nd - Proclamation)

What's to say here? Even crust punks like Floorpunch, the kings of revival old school of the 90's, speaking of it, here we can notice a huge gap between the beginning and end of the decade as the old school production fade out, so all the props to bands like Redemption 87 and Better Than A Thousand for giving it a push.

Also worth mentioning is the addition of Warzone here in not before (in the 80s), the re-recorded version of Lower East Side always blew my mind but then again, the so-called experts that say hardcore died in '84 and the best Warzone album is the demo without Raybeez, not here!

1 - PROCLAMATION - What Is True (1999)

2 - CHAIN OF STRENGTH - Too Deep Until Now (1990)

3 - INSIDE OUT - Burning Fight (1990)

4 - BATTERY - I Won't Fall (1993)

5 - SHELTER - Enough (1990)

6 - CONFRONT - Wrong Choice (1994)

7 - FLOORPUNCH - Not For Me (1998)

8 - COMMITTED - Arbitration (1999)

9 - MAINSTRIKE - Hopefull Days (1999)

10 - TIME FLIES - Ultra! (1999)

11 - SICK OF IT ALL - What's Going On (1991)

12 - WARZONE - Will You Ever Come Back (1996)

13 - REDEMPTION 87 - About Face (1996)

(Bonus #1) BETTER THAN A THOUSAND - Self Worth (1998)

(Bonus #2) NO REDEEMING SOCIAL VALUE - No Regrets (1994)

2000's (1st - BONES BRIGADE / 2nd - Carry On)

Bones Brigade has always been the perfect hardcore band for me, great lyrics, great attitude and shit. I used to visit the drummer's (Mullet) website a lot in the late 90's and early 00's where I got to know lots of cool stuff, including Carry On.

1 - WHAT HAPPEN NEXT? - Those Who Own The Streets (2000)

2 - A.N.S. - Down The Habbit Hole (2009)

3 - SHARK ATTACK - Enough Of You (2001)

4 - DESPERATE MEASURES - Never Enough Time (2004)

5 - LIGHTS OUT - Get a Life (2005)

6 - BONES BRIGADE - Each Waking Hour (2003)

7 - VICTIM - Revenge (2006)

8 - INTERNAL AFFAIRS - No Good Game in HC (2007)

9 - IRON BOOTS - Who Laughs Last (2004)

10 - RAMPAGE - Physical Therapy (2007)

11 - RESTLESS YOUTH - Make It Burn (2005) 

12 - TRUE COLORS - Focus On The Light (2007)

13 - CARRY ON - Set The Pace (2000)

(Bonus #1) NO JUSTICE - Political Scheme (2000)

(Bonus #2) SSS - Warhose (2006)

2010's (1st - THE RIVAL MOB / 2nd - Wardogs)

That's where it all began for this blog, exactly in 2010, without doubt it was a lot of fun to be a part of. I started doing this so I could offer my spare merch and records that I bough in doubles to save on shipping and stuff like that, 13 years has passed and here we are, it's time to leave for the next generation to pick it up and keep it alive... on instagram or whatever mind buggin social media they will come up with next.

1 - DEAL WITH IT - Eyjafjallajokull I... Dark Skies (2010)

2 - TRUE VISION - Morality (2016)

3 - THE RIVAL MOB - Fake Big (2013)

4 - FREEDOM - Cut You Down (2014)

5 - THE FLEX - Bad Faith (2014)

6 - FIREWALKER - Barking Up The Wrong Tree (2017)

7 - WILD SIDE - Then & Now (2019)

8 - VIOLENT REACTION - Disorder (2015)

9 - UNIFIED RIGHT - When Will You Learn (2015)

10 - BIG TAKEOVER - Selfish (2016)

11 - CONTROLLED - Afraid To Change (2014)

12 - MINORITY UNIT - Unsure (2011)

13 - WARDOGS - The Wrong Way (2011)

(Bonus #1) SELECTIVE AGRESSION - Uniform Thought (2017)

(Bonus #2) CORLD WORLD - Cracks Of Hate (2014)

DOWNLOAD [all decades]  - NEW LINK!!

I had a lot more stored to post before I called it a day but that's how it goes, I'm moving to Dublin and if you're in the area give a shout in the FB page, I will leave it active for a while. THANK YOU FOR READING/SHARING stay true to yourself!

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR MOTHER MADALENA

I will miss you until my last breath

March.1949 ~ April.2023

ACT LIKE A MANIAC - An Underground Thrash Metal Compilation (1986 - 1993)

12th anniversary of All Things Old School compilation edition (originally due out in 2022) - We have quite a handful bands in the hardcore punk nowadays surfing the Thrash wave, which is dope (and they should keep that way) but their sound were most likely not solely based on the so-called Big Four of Thrash. A lot happened so that we can now stage dive to Dead Heat, High Command and Foreseen. My aim for this compilation is to shed light on the GOLDEN ERA of underground Thrash Metal scene which, in my humble opinion, lasted from 1986 to 1993.

In a time without proper internet, when tape trading was king, new releases surely took some time to reach out the audience in a global scale. Making copies and shipping tapes, digging after the stuff you liked, hearing that Thrashy sound that ignited the desire to start your own project. It's safe to say a new dawn for Thrash Metal was about to happen after 1986, the year albums like Reign In Blood, Master Of Puppets and Peace Sells were released. New acts from all over started to pop up like a wet Gizmo, from Chile to Canada and from Spain to Japan, the following years saw a tsunami of underground releases flooding the planet's ghettoblasters, headbangers united by Thrash.

From there you get 2 types of metal bands: the serious (often satanic) type and the well-humored (sometimes goofy) type of groups, regardless of the approach most of them tackle social issues in their lyrics and for some reason dental problems were a common concern. Either way I tried to mix a bit of everything in this comp, just by checking the song titles you'll know what I mean. Also another key element here for me to pick bands was that they were all under 2000 listeners (or close to that!) according to last.fm, they use that tag there and I never found use for it until now. Note: a fair amount of these recordings were recovered straight the cassette demo tapes and they sound rough. >

With that in mind I ended up leaving out many underground cult groups as the idea was really to spot the underrated and the obscure, lost gems of the shredding technique. This may sound way to familiar with that write up I did about the 80's Crossover but I guarantee these are no punk related groups, except maybe by EVOL, Sacrilege B.C. and Tyrranicide but then again the best metal bands for me are usually the ones whose members do listen to punk! Act like a maniac, whiplash!!

Tracklist - CD1:

ACROPHET - Corrupt Minds [USA, 1988]

FALLEN ANGEL - Dental Surgery [Sweden, 1992]

AFTERMATH - Going No Place [Greece/USA, 1987]

BLOODCUM - Death By A Clothes Hanger [USA, 1988]

STYGIAN - Seconds 'Til Death [USA, 1990]

ARMOROS - Autopsy (Dementia) [Canada, 1987]

NECROSIS - Prayer (Demo) [Chile, 1987]

FORCED ENTRY - We're Dicks [USA, 1991]

DECADENCE - Deadly Dreams [Belgium, 1989]

AGONY - Madness Reigns [Sweden, 1988]

FATAL AGGRESSION - Words Unreal [USA, 1991]

PRESTIGE - Force Of My Hate [Finland, 1989]

CHARGED - Inquisition [Finland, 1989]

FUCK OFF - Another Sacrifice [Spain, 1988]

DEATH SQUAD - Mind Fuck [USA, 1991]

POISON - Requiem / Alive (Undead) [Germany, 1987]

EXPLICIT HATE - From The Jungle [Brazil, 1990]

QUICK CHANGE - Plowed [USA, 1988]

RE-ANIMATOR - Re-Animator [UK, 1989]

AFFLICTION - Peace Through Violence [USA, 1992]

CD2:

TYRRANICIDE - Pull The Plug (USA, 1989)

SLAUGHTERED GRACE - Twins of Sin [USA, 1990]

HEADCRASHER - Sk8 Life [Italy, 1989]

DEAD SERIOUS - It's a Nice Day [Belgium, 1991]

PROTECTED ILLUSION - Swimming in the Moonlight [Finland, 1990]

ACID STORM - Scourge Of The Gods [Brazil, 1989]

DOMINANCE - This Is Only A Test [USA, 1990]

MORFEUS - Humam Degradation [Brazil, 1993]

EVOL - Cyco-Self [USA, 1990]

SILENCE - Vision [USA, 1991]

OBLIVION - D.O.A. (Dead On Arrival) [USA, 1990]

SACRILEGE B.C. - Victimized [USA, 1986]

MANDATOR - An Invisible Disease Strikes [Holland, 1989]

ASPHYXIA - One Big Family [Belgium, 1991]

LAWSHED - Don't Urge Disorder [Japan, 1991]

MEZZROW - Prevention Necessary [Sweden, 1990]

WITCHHAMMER - On My Own [Norway, 1991]

OPPRESSION - Parasites [Finland, 1988]

OBLIVEON - Fiction Of Veracity [Canada, 1989]

DENIAL - The Awakening [USA, 1990]

DOWNLOAD

Which one was your favorite? Drop me a line in the comments if you're having a hard time trying to find the whole album of a specific release. This compilation title was also inspired in the 2007's iconic comp THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC.

HARDCORE NEWS 17 "The Demo Zone 3.0 - Florida Assault"

The DEMO ZONE is back one last time folks, hitting hard on the chin with another batch of freshly angry old school demos/promos from the first half of 2023. It seems the Florida scene is planning a worlwide assault, invading the boomboxes of many hardcore knuckleheads out there, crude music for crude people:

CALIBER - Demo (Fortress Records)

Wow! If you are longing for the next Painkiller Records release, pressing F5 on their page constantly, FORSTRESS RECORDS may be the medicine you're looking for. Straight forward mean and fast hardcore is what is ahead of you here, zero bullshit.

COLLATERAL - Demo #1 (Fortress Records)

Whatever I said above, South Florida BUST IT! Cope tapes here.

YIELD TO NONE - Demo (Core Club)

More Florida hardcore, what's going on in there lately? They are eating BREAKDOWN songs at breakfast and OUTBURST at lunch to then deliver us some glorious old school music, more pleazz. (Also from Tampa, check the amazing DIFFUSE).

SUBMIT - Demo (Rebirth Records)

Okay, enough with the FLHC right? Wrong! As I was writing this, looking up from where SUBMIT are based out of... bam! Pensacola. They play even faster than the previous bands here, taking cues from Boston hardcore.

DEAD TO RIGHTS - Demo (Northern Unrest)

Scottish hardcore... for a change. DEAD TO RIGHTS bring to the table that late 90's/early 00's urgent sound, I dare to say they play a mix of Floorpunch and Right Brigade. Promising AF.

CONTEMPT - Demo (Advanced Perspective)

Chicago straight edge back on track! These dudes already got the attention from Revelation Records, don't sleep on this.

INTIMIDATION - Promo 2023 (Mr. Face Records)

Good ole Oi!/Street Punk done right in 2023. With members hailing from NJ to NYC, they are cooking up their debut EP to be served still this very year. The 2-song promo is one hell of a teaser and features a Bruisers cover.

SMASH N' GRAB - Promo (Yuga Dharma Press)

The Buffalo soldiers of hardcore are back with a 3-song promo, featuring members of EXHIBITION and VIOLENT WAY. Tapes can be ordered here soon. (For more Buffalo underground music and Violent Way side projects, check BIG DOG)

TIME X HEIST - The Odds Against Tomorrow (Crimewave Records)

There's no proper Demo Zone without a sick Youth Crew debut and Colorado's TIME HEIST delivered it big time. They hit the ground running as this is their first output, is it a demo turned into a 12" EP? Anyway, it gives me total Youngblood/React! Records vibes.

SENTINEL - Promo (Raven Records)

Dudes in Mindforce, Age Of Apocalypse, Restraining Order and Mutually Assured Destruction gave birth to SENTINEL in 2021, playing thrashy-dark-hardcore with superb production and above the cut musicianship, new full-length to come out through Colorado's Convulse Records.

DOWNLOAD [all of the above]

There's plenty more going on, killer newcomers are popping every week, for instance the French in MENTALITÉ 81, the Australians in RAT BAIT, the Germans in MORTAL FORM and WONDERFUL WORLD (the latter a little more on the new school side), Indiana's COLOSSAL MAN and Tony Foresta's new thing HEAVEN'S GATE made quite an entrance for themselves. There's also this hot new compilation that just surfaced by SCHEME RECORDS that for me it's the Memories Of Tomorrow equivalent to this decade - Scheme Until It's Your Reality!