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!

ALL THINGS OLD SCHOOL AWARDS - The Best Of 2022

The All Things Old School Awards is back one last time! Yes sir, set up your living room, it's time for some serious slam dancing and couch diving as this year gave us plenty of heavy music to mosh by, as old school as this website can be, these are the 2022's highlights plus the BEST OF playlist at the end. For that, I had to move back to Spotify because YouTube has been deleting my ass ruthlessly.

SKULLCRACK - ADDICTED TO THE UNDERGROUND (Indecision Records)

Hats off to Indecision Recs for their continued work with old and fresh new bands! Here they've teamed-up once again with Californian SKULLCRACK to deliver an insanse 11-track album, fast as hell! If you haven't heard about them begin by the art cover, it's the labor of love, very appealing.

They've been on my radar for awhile but Addicted To The Underground made me do several elbow drops from the couch and had me going to the nearest skatepark to steam off some of that heat entering my nervous system. Redbull can suck it go with SKULLCRACK anyday! FFO: Vitamin X, Second Opinion, WWF.

WEIGHT - VIOLENCE OF THE DIVINE (The Essence/Control Records)

Ohh yeah, NYHC hardcore by the way of OLSO CITY. The dudes in the WEIGHT got their shit together and finally brought us this masterpiece in late 2022, read more about it here.

COMBUST - ANOTHER LIFE (Cash Only Records)

COMBUST is the synthesis of All Thing Old School the difference is that they only get better with time this blog don't. Another Life is probably the hardcore album I listened the most last year.

FIREWALKER - DEMO 2022 (Self-Released)

Why everyone wasn't talking about this? I feel most people totally missed this one. Anyway, if this is the demo, whatever comes next will rule the galaxy! Sick SUBZERO cover btw.

BLOODSUCKER - SELF TITLED EP (Blindsided Records)

BLOODSUCKER (formerly known as Vexation) is the perfect breed between Best Wishes' era Cro-Mags and Only Living Witness, this is exactly the type of sound of why I still do this blog shit. Dutch hardcore represented big time in this short and sweet EP. Its release year is blurry to me, similar to the DEAD LAST album but I decided to add both in '22.

FORESEEN - UNTAMED FORCE (Quality Control HQ)

If you look through new releases with persistence you will find A LOT of great stuff, so to even make one last highlight of the year is tough but for those who are checking this blog for a few years or less may have a hint that I have a soft spot for Thrash and these Finnish guys do it with mastery. Being a trendy style or not I've been following FORESEEN's work for over 10 years already and after catching them live in Europe moshing to S.O.D. (plus the fact that recently they received the seal of approval from Max Cavalera for their previous stuff) Untamed Force was a natural choice to be featured here. Mosh like it was 1986!!

Worth mentioning here also is the consistent work of UK based Quality Control HQ, 12 years in activity never compromising with killer releases this past year i.e. TS WARSPITE, ANTAGONIZM, MASTERMIND, ARMA X... the list is long. The Queen may have passed away but I hope this label go full strength for another decade at least! One of the best in the game right now, if not THE best.

--------------------------

My final considerations are regarding the damn streaming playlist which consolidates thousands of hours of listening (again), this edition ended up being the most comprehensive, diverse and lengthiest while trying to make it cohesive to what this blog represents: bullshit-free underground music made from the chest. From heavy tunes to melodic ones reaching the dirtiest alleys of the planet, including even some hardcore-related Traditional Heavy Metal by the likes of ETERNAL CHAMPION (ex-Iron Age/Powertrip) and SUMERLANDS (ex-War Hungry). Other fun aspect while reviewing 2022 was seeing the girls stepping in in the Crossover zone which seems more male dominated than hardcore, bands like PEST CONTROL, S.O.H. and DENIAL OF LIFE are repping the gender with prime!

The biggest Honorable Mentions here goes to HIGH COMMAND (which seems to be present in almost every edition), the chilean Crossover act INSECURTY that brought a truly late 80's nostalgic sound, the australian OUTRIGHT that came back with the boldest album yet Keep You Warm, THE FLEX and BURNING LORD for keeping it real and EXHIBITION and HEAVY DISCIPLINE for the sickest promos. Also, props to many big names in the Thrash scene for putting new music out this last year, namely TANKARD, KREATOR, VIO-LENCE, TOXIK, XENTRIX, RAZOR, SODOM and even VOIVOD. Be sure to give a listen, Thrash till death.  

HARDCORE NEWS 16 "Demo Zone 2.0"

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]

HARDCORE NEWS 15.5 "Demo Zone II"

More demos more demos more demos more demos more demos more demos more demos more demos more demos more demos demos more demos more demos more demos more demos... from the year 2021

BURNING LORD - Demo #1 (Tribe Dream)

Unsurprisingly, once again a huge amount of newer bands are being drawn by 90's metalcore and the beaten ol' path TERROR/Hatebreed formula, kids holding guns in the usual gang photo cover, the whole shenanigan repeating itself, like it was widely discussed in Zack Nelson's podcast: in the end of the day, it's a fun and easy to be attracted to style. So when bands like BURNING LORD come along and keep it raw and simple, in the true old school hardcore essence, not unlike that LAYBACK band featured here last time, they usually stand out from the pack. Demo #2 scheduled for 2022 with already a certain anticipation building.

S.M.I.L.E. - Just S.M.I.L.E. (Delayed Gratification)

These dudes, reppin' Rubber City hardcore (Ohio), also tried something slightly different in their sound and boom, I got hooked! Got me thinking of 2010's Detroit hardcore and the whole Ghoul Gang collective. Tapes can be ordered here.

BIG SHOT - Demo (Tambores De Guerra)

Hudson Valley group bringing the right amount of metal in their hardcore, rooted in the 80's, almost Crossover Thrash like Dead Heat. It would be a shame if they stopped here, more please!

SMASH N' GRAB - Buffalo Hardcore (Edgewood)

Edgewood Records managed to build a name around them with not many but steady solid releases over the years and their newest signing by these newcomers from Buffalo keeps it going strong, demo tape out now.

STEDFAST - Willing To Give (Core Club)

Crunchy guitars check, mean Mike Judge-ish vocals check, gang/sing-a-longs check, you moshing check, hooded edgeman drawing check, Tampa Youth Crew into 2022 and beyond check. 

DOWNLOAD [all demos]

HARDCORE NEWS 15 "Demo Zone"

Who remembers the great DEMO ZONE section hosted at Straight & Alert Records' website? In only a few minutes you were exposed to a bunch of cool new stuff coming from all corners of the globe. To save some time and sort of paying homage to Alex's label, here's a mini Demo Zone 2021:

LAYBACK - Demo (England)

I got a strong feel of NYHC: Where The Wild Things Are meets Leeds HC with this one, also couldn't help to compare them to fellow countryman in MASTERMIND. This project has the full old school hardcore package, including the raw production demo, very promising.

SUSPECT - Demo (Germany) 

 

Man... there's a new label/zine in Germany and they mean business! I'm talking about Collective Memory Records and their sick debut release with the also german dudes in SUSPECT followed by Tides Denied and Exhibition newest dope records, all killer no filler.

COSMIC JOKE - Demo (USA) 

 

This demo rocks hard, fast/short hardcore with slightly melodic parts not unlike Gorilla Biscuits and Kid Dynamite under a more modern take, it's COSMIC JOKE from Los Angeles.

OUTFACED - Demo (Germany)

From the same label that brought us Powerage comes OUTFACED, more quality raw pissed german hardcore. This one got me thinking of ALLxILL, fast with mean breakdowns.

SOUL HARVEST - "S/T" Demo (UK) 

 

Closing up this Demo Zone revival a tasty 3-song Crossover offering by SOUL HARVEST from Newcastle upon Tyne because Crossover bands are never too much... never enough!! All hail riffs galore!

DOWNLOAD [all demos]

ALL THINGS OLD SCHOOL AWARDS - The Best of 2020

Later than usual The 2020 All Things Old School Awards is here (despite what was said in 2019) highlighting the best in hardcore, punk and thrash. I will skip the part where I'd comment what a lousy this year was for a lot of people (me included) and go straight to music productions, which surprisingly didn't slow down and helped us cope through 2020.

First I'd like point out the increased (and needed) partake of women in the underground/DIY scene, they can be seeing not just holding the mic speaking their minds but also picking any instrument and hammering it down in any given style, after all this is not just boys fun.

In 2020, besides the usual newcomers arriving each year, a great deal of veteran bands put out something this year, both in metal and hardcore punk. The problem is most of them lack the excitement and criativity it once had, more suitable for diehard fans, these are some of the big names that didn't make the list: Terror, Subzero, Cro-Mags, D.I., No Redeeming Social Value, Stalag 13, Adolescents, The Spits, Cruel Hand, Testament, Buried Alive, Field Day... There was also these slick throwback compilations, featuring new tracks by a bunch of first-wave Oi!/Street-Punk bands released by Pirate Press.

The full list of some of the finest releases from Youth Crew to Crossover Thrash to Street Punk can be listened on another damn streaming playlist, tons of tracks were heard and filtered down to a minimun, even so it passed the 100th mark, check it to see if you slept on something:

All Things Old School is a webzine about the pioneers of raw, fast and aggro music and those who carry on this sonic force through the decades. A new decade just started and somehow this blog survived an entire one, inevitably it will cease to get updates eventually, thanks to the few (and proud) dozens who stood along all these years, stay safe!

RATED X - UNITED FRONT (Painkiller Records)

It goes without saying "I told you so" but T.Pimlott did it again and United Front was the album with the most rotations here this year and most likely in other boomboxes out there. It's as old school as you could possibly get, mosh for days in a brute and vibrant soundtrack back to back! Shouts to Heavy Discipline and their obliterating new LP also on Painkiller Records.

INSIGHT - REFLECTION (Mission Two Entertainment)

Technically a reissue but it also features 4 glorious new songs plus a few extras. Reflection was one of the biggest (positive) surprises of 2020, bringing back such a crucial band that was INSIGHT.

CHANGE - CLOSER STILL (React! Records)

LegitimateBros are 4ever! This supergroup brings the best from the 00's Youth Crew revival era while managing to keep Closer Still with a contemporary feel rather than just another copycat, the same goes for the Swedish in Speedway and their killer debut EP.

FUSE - THIS SEGREGATION WILL END (Quality Control HQ)

These girls (and guy) bust hard and they are here to stay! More and more asian countries like Singapore are offering new hardcore acts that are reaching ears all over the planet, now with FUSE they've put Lion City Hardcore on the map for good. The impressive "classic" sound of This Segregation Will End comes from their conjunct work with both Howard (Obstruct, Insist) and Killingsworth behind the soundboard, the result brings you back to the late 80's dirty streets of NY boosted with stomps of modern era hardcore and defiant lyrics.

CONQUEST FOR DEATH - A MAELSTROM OF RESENTMENT & REMORSE (Refuse Records)

Another welcome surprise from 2020, the multinational group CONQUEST FOR DEATH, led by Devon from What Happens Next? brings their trademarked infectious thrashcore back to the studio after a long hiatus with over a dozen new slabs of self-described "sporadic bursts of intense activity". On a close tie, the Hungarian in Crippled Fox represented the thrashcore nation at the highest level with their new LP In The Name Of Trash.

EXPOSURE - ATONEMENT (Street Survival Records)

Mannheim was the birthplace of one of the illest crossover albums out in 2020, EXPOSURE stepped up the ugly game by blending UK82 with Thrash/Death Metal, more than 2 years on the making, the Atonement!

THRASHWALL - THRASHWALL (Firecum Records)

Boombastic Thrash Metal heading your way straight outta Portugal, courtesy of THRASHWALL debuting at maximum outpout, I'm still trying to figure out how they got to this level right out of the gate, this album is the autobahn of Thrash, no speed limit!! For more Portuguese assault check Mindtaker.

ETERNAL CHAMPION - RAVENING IRON (No Remorse Records)

The moment the album starts you realize the 4 year wait was damn worth it, the prodigal son of Irong Age and Power Trip returns fully charged in Ravening Iron with 8 epic tracks of NWOTHM finest.

CUERO - CABEZABOTA (Mendeku Diskak)

Black Metal Skinheads baby, CUERO proved that more bands other than Battle Ruins can mix Metal and Oi! and come out with amazing results. This is a band you should pay a closer attention to in 2021!

*               SPECIAL MENTIONS             *

Big Laugh - Maniac Revision (11PM)

Honey - Nightmare Come To Life (Self-Released)

Peace Test - Uniform Repression (To Live A Lie)

Weight - Weight EP (The Essence)

Pillars Of Ivory - Genesis Demo Twenty-Twenty (Streets Of Hate)

Sanity Control - War On Life (Seeing Red)

Big Cheese - Punishment Park (Quality Control HQ)

Decimator - Alienist (Thrash Or Death)

Dregs - Built To Rot (Refuse)

Sand And Salt - Thrive! (Drone Attack)

  

ALL THINGS OLD SCHOOL AWARDS - The Best Of 2019

Photo: Angela Owens

For starters this whole thing of "Best Of" can be a very personal matter (empathy vs talent), is hard not to take sides. That's why this year I decided to do more of a retrospective of all releases that got my attention in Hardcore, Punk, Thrash and some stuff in between! (Probably the last one I will ever be doing)

Of course there were some highlights this year that I have to point out like WHO THE HELL IS WILD SIDE? Man what a record, the exact kind why I still listen to hardcore, stoked that they pulled it off after many years of wait. In general, the crossover scene dominated again this year with great releases by DOMINANT FORCE, HIGH COMMAND, SPIRIT CRUSHER and DEAD HEAT to name a few. Other highlight would be the Hungarians in TOUCH with their new album The Darkness Reflects (tip from my buddy Pingua), a powerful hardcore masterpiece, not to mention the new albums by B'URST!, GAZM and BATTLE RUINS.

Some labels ruled the old school music business this year with plenty of strong releases, headed by TRIPLE B and Quality Control HQ and a good amount of albums were out in late november and december, making it out of many best lists out there, for instance SKOURGE on Lockin' Out Records.

To improve this journey through all these releases plus many more here's a Spotify Playlist (naysayers flip-out!), bad grammer included. Selected bands coming from all corners of the globe, from Indonesia to Peru, Canada to South Korea! Of course not everything is on that platform, albums by RATED X, SUBVERSIVE RITE and MURO were left out along some other new albums. As they are added in I will be updating as I did for the 2018 playlist.

There should have been more post surprises before the year ended but my PC stopped working, eventually they will be up in January/February. 

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.

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

ALL THING OLD SCHOOL AWARDS - The Best Of 2018

Getting old sucks, it makes you jaded, outdated, it's inevitable, part of life. The truth is after reading many Top-whatever Hardcore/Metal/Punk albums of 2018 I feel clueless, most I wouldnt even consider as part of these sub-genres! Headed by VEIN and it's KORNVERGE trendy style full of chaotic noise and electronic shenanigans just won't get into my head, when it comes to Hardcore my mind is way too Bad Brains/Cro-Mags oriented. If these websites are calling these albums "refreshing new wave of metalcore" I'm officially now a knucklehead, not to mention all those wanna-be-in-lollapalooza indie groups listed as "best punk". My notion of a possible Hardcore's new direction was assured on bands like Mil-Spec and Higher Power.

Just when I thought that Pop Wig and its array of cool bands would set the tone once again they got ran over and only Turnstile pulled off, according to these critics.

Neverthless, 2018 saw the release of new music by many BIG names in hardcore and melodic punk: SOIA, Madball, Leeway, Terror, Slapshot, American Nightmare, Pennywise, Millencolin, No Fun At All, Satanic Surfers, 88 Fingers Louie... most of them around since the 80's and 90's plus releases by all those new super-punk-groups like Fireburn, Don't Sleep, Beach Rats, For Pete's Sake and Winds Of Promise. It seems there's a general increasing interest in punk rock lately.  

Anyway, it's been a while I last did a top list, you always forget something, but I felt compelled to make one this year, for the sake of Old School. Big shout out to Freddy Alva/Urban Styles and InEffectHardcore for keeping it REAL.

LP HIGHLIGHTS:

1. BATTLE RUINS - Glorious Dead (Rock 'N' Roll Disgrace)

THIS is refreshing metal, capisce?

2. WASTE MANAGEMENT - Tried And True (Painkiller Records)

Boston crew mainstays got back together from their dozens of other projects to record under the moniker WM, flawless as usual!

3. FULLMINATOR - Crackattack (Self Released)

Puerto Rico thrash motherfockers, from the future to save us from boredom and hyped metalcore bullshit!!

4. MINDFORCE - Excalibur (Triple B Records)

They met the highest expectations here, Excalibur is one hell of a record! How they came up with so many dope riffs? Hats off!

5. ROD OF CORRECTION - Lies (Indecision Records)

Took SoCal by assault and Primal Rite's place for best new punk metal group. Features dudes from Take Offense and Narrows!

Honorable Mention: NEGATIVE SELF - Control The Fear (BDHW Rec.)
Maybe I am obsessed with crossover but I couldn't let this one out, supeb production and follow-up LP, Suicidal Tendencies worship straight from Stockholm, a head dive into 80's metal glory.


EP HIGHLIGHTS:
1. C.N.D. - Can't Be Killed (Sonic Warfare Productions)

Want to hear something new and fresh? Refresh yourself with a shower of fire in your face, courtesy of CRUDE NUCLEAR DEVICE!!

2. DRK BLU - What It Is (Self Released)

I'm a sucker for Minority Unit ;-) Wally back on track!

3. MIL-SPEC - Changes (Lockin' Out)

Direct yet inventive hardcore by these canadian punks, look no further for the sound of tomorrow! 

4. MERE MORTAL - Tartarus (Quality Control HQ)

These Leeds lads know how to make music, Tom Pimlott goes thrash!

5. HIGH COMMAND - The Primordial Void (Haftvad Records)

Speaking of which, Worcester best kept secret, the latest baking out of the Paincave studios.


Honorable Mention: LINE OF SIGHT - Dissent (Youngblood Records)
I am suspicious when it comes to youth crew and Youngblood records, label's only release this year.

DEMO/PROMO HIGHLIGHTS:

1. DOMINANT FORCE - Promo 2018 (Triple B Records)

Two releases in 1 year by these soon-to-be powerhouses of NY-ish metallic hardcore.

2. STIGMATISM - Demo (Beach Impediment / Static Shock)

One of the realest demo of the year, from the streets to the streets.

3. CHAIN CULT - Demo (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Just brilliant and addictive dark-punk (without souding soppy) from Greece, subsequent 2-song EP is somehow greater, we want more!

4. PEACE TEST - Demo (Self Released)

While Rival Mob is on hold, Trevor Vaughan keeps the fire lit. Shred!!

5. SISSYFIT - Make Em Pay (Self Released)
Totally rad demo by these newcomers, abrasive hardcore riotgrrl power!


Honorable mention: REVIVAL - Promo 2018 (Self Released)
Yo, Colombia represent! Together with Raw Brigade they are making some noise. Listen the promo here, or their newest EP "Expectations".

Worth mentioning "hall-of-fame":

Vanik "Dark Season" is an instant retro Metal classic, with members of Ringworm, Toxic Holocaust +more.

Illusion "Magic With A Smile" didn't exceed their Demo but still a remarkable EP.

Protester "Watch Them Fall" another impressive record by these DC punk mainstays.

Ekulu "S/T" EP got me fooled by the cover art at first but turned out to be a massive 3-song debut, features members from Illusion, Candy and other Triple B alumni.

Diztort "Hell Is..." another release that didn't exceed the band's demo, nonetheless powerful af!

Nekrogoblikon "Welcome To Bonkers" is one of the very few featured on those many Top 10's list that I actually agreed, just too weirdly good.
Subtype Zero "The Astral Awakening" is today's answer to Def Jam-era Slayer, with no releases in 2018 by Power Trip or Foreseen, they reign supreme.
Damn Youth "Breathing Insanity" is the biggest surprise from Brazil this year, amazing anti-fascist thrashcore!


This playlist showcases top picks from that list, plus a few unmentioned great ones:

Best Re-issue:

HARD STANCE - Foundation (Indecision Records)
Technically out next year, digital audio files are ready to be acquired by this amazing late 80's hardcore outfit discography.

- DEDICATED TO TODD YOUTH, REST IN POWER -