Signifying Nothing

Winter 2012 Reviews

By admin on Jan. 20, 2012.

Nomos
Demo

Great 82 style hardcore from this New York band. There are a lot of modern influences on this band’s demo including Cold Sweat, The Snobs, and other, hey, early 00 bands. I would like to hear more.

Our Side
Demo

Really raw, late eighties, influenced hardcore in the vein of Release, Youth Of Today, and Four Walls Falling. With a better recording, I sense this band could be pretty good. I want to hear more.

Pigsticker
Demo

I really like this demo. Pigsticker reminds me a cross between Circle Jerks and Necros with sloppy, raw, production values that sounds pretty authentic to the early eighties aesthetic. I’d really like to hear more from this band.

Critical Point
Demo

Wow, this band really wants to sound like the “88 in 96″ era Crucial Response bands. I am reminded here of Mainstrike and especially Eyeball. Heavy, straight forward, Straight Edge hardcore. This is pretty good.

The Icemen
The Iceman 7″

The fucking Icemen! One of the best of the second tier, second wave of NYHC bands has been active online in recent years. Double Cross interviewed a member, and their one, and one time Underdog, vocalist Carl has been around as well. These early demos see their sound beginning to come into place. I think their eps are the best document of the sound they were trying for, but this is a good start. Perhaps a nice discography could put together all of the pieces. The Icemen have a ton of songs that were only played live.

Gasmask Terror
Like Daggers 7″
Flower of Carnage Records

Burly Discharge style hardcore from this French band. It’s really that simple; this is just really good. A candidate for record of the year. They also have a new CD discography of their previous work out, but this is a great introduction to the band.

Iron Age
Saga Demos 7″
Cyclopean Records

I’m glad Iron Age are done, because at this point they have totally lost me. This is soulless heavy metal with lots of cheesy melodic parts. A formerly excellent band that has really fallen off on their last few releases.

Low Profile Threat
Product #2 LP
Deep Six Records

After years of scattered rumors and two compilation tracks that barely reach 45 seconds in length between them, Low Profile Threat have put together an LP that is pretty disappointing. The pedigree is extremely strong here with members of Infest, No Comment, and Lack of Interest. The music isn’t super far off from these bands, but while Infest and No Comment thrived in the briefness of their discography, Low Profile Threat’s songs tend to drag on for too long. The 15-30 second early compilation songs were so strong because they got straight to the point. While most of the songs on this album are good, they tend to go on for a chorus or two too many. It’s not that it is bad, it’s that I would rather put on Hacked To Chunks or Judge Me instead.

Stick Together
No More Games 7″
Back To Back Records

Not surprisingly since they have some ripoff shirts of these bands, but the next generation of Wilkes-Barre Straight Edge bands sees Stick Together heavily influenced by late eighties bands like Release, Four Walls Falling, and Turning Point. This band said some questionable shit on stage when I saw them, but this record is pretty good. I am looking forward to hearing more. Members of this band are in some big pop punk band too. Whatever.

Double Negative
Raw Energy 7″
Sorry State Records

Three more excellent songs of early Corrosion of Conformity meets early Corrosion of Conformity filtered through some noisy, almost “indie,” filters. I’ve always been surprised they dsidn’ty take off with the post hardcores and Serious Adults. Great stuff.

Negative Approach
7″ Reissue
Touch & Go Records

Best record ever.

Hoax
Self Titled 7″
Deranged Records

This heavily hyped band reminds me a bit of a mix between Impact Unit and maybe Die Kreuzen. Cold Sweat might be the most modern comparison, but not quite as unhinged as that band. This is good, but not as incredible as others say. Worth checking out, but I’m still bummed they don’t sound like Beyond.

No Tolerance
No Remorse, No Tolerance 7″
Youngblood Records

The best Straight Edge release in years by far. Combine the best of Confront, SSD, and Brotherhood for some monstrous hardcore with hard mosh parts. This genre is absolutely horrible these days, filled with either corny “hawd” bands or cheeseball positive bands. No Tolerance is pissed off and play great hardcore. Members of this band are also in Mind Eraser, The Rival Mob, Waste Management, and others.

Bastard
Controlled In The Frame 7″ Reissue
540 Records

In time for their reunion show last year comes this reissue of the first Bastard ep. I first heard Bastard when Devoid of Faith covered a song on this record circa 1999ish. Conveniently, there was a CD bootleg of their releases (including the massively mandatory Wind of Pain LP). I like Wind of Pain more, but this ep is great. For newcomers, think, seriously this time, Age of Quarrel era Cro-Mags. Seriously. Raging, slightly metallic, hardcore with thick, loud, production.

Void
Sessions 1981-1983 LP
Dischord Records

There have been some pretty stupid reviews of this online, so let me be brief. Void is one of the most unhinged, ugly, hardcore bands ever. This CD collections their demo recordings (which I greatly prefer to the split recording) from the Condensed Flesh demo, the Flex Your Head compilation, and other misc recordings. There is also a few live tracks. This is an essential reissue. I can’t believe I even have to say this or justify it. 2012 sucks. I hope their first demo and the unreleased LP eventually get proper reissues as well.

Omegas
Psycho Dives On Slam Skank Anthems Tape
Powered Records

This Canadian band reminds me of early Die Kreuzen or Necros with some NYHC mosh parts. I was really late to hearing this one, but it is great.

Technocracy
Diary of a Terrorist 12″
Guerrilla Records

Raging hardcore from Japan in the “early COC meets early COC” vein. Only two songs here, but they are long ones with lots of different parts that remain interesting despite their length. Definitly making the top records of the year list.

Give
I Am Love 7″
Triple B Records

Seriously ILL hardcore from DC in the vein of Swiz. I really like this, but it is kind of a bummer how they are doing so many seven inches instead of just one full length. That’s a lot of $5 records that could be a $12 LP.

Outlaw Order
Dragging Down The Enforcer LP
Seasons of Mist Records

Members of the mighty Eyehategod doing a side project…that sounds exactly like Eyehategod. This is really good and holds up next to EHG’s work.

Omegas
Blasts of Lunacy LP
Parts Unknown Records

If Die Kreuzen were from New York City, they would sound like this Canadian band. Ugly, brooding, NYHC that reminds me of Krakdown at some points, but also with darker hinges of Die Kreuzen and Bl’ast! as well. Easily one of the best records of the year.

Give
Boots of Faith 7″
Deranged Records

On this seven inch, Give are reaching some middle point between Rites of Spring and Swiz. Both songs are melodic like the Revolution Summer era bands, but heavy and fast like later eighties bands like Swiz and Ignition. Great stuff.

Signifying Nothing Best of 2011 Podcast

By admin on Jan. 18, 2012.

Cro Mags-We Gotta Know (Age of Quarrel)

New Lows-Last of The Rats (Harvest Of The Carcass)
Citizens Arrest-Soaked In Others Blood (Soaked In Others Blood)
Waste Management-Too Much Unity (Power Abuse)

No Tolerance-Empty Words (No Remorse, No Tolerance)
Technocracy-Aggressor (Diary of a Terrorist)
NYC Mayhem-Want Authority (Crossover Days)

Bastard-Defective Chain (Controlled In The Frame)
Soul Swallower-Burning For The Ultimate (Devoured)
Give-I Am Love (I Am Love)

Void-Condensed Flesh (Sessions 81-83)
Scapegoat-Bleach (Self Titled)
Death Evocation-Relentless (Self Titled)

Vaccine-Drug War (Crimes In Blood)
Mauser-End Of The Line (End Of The Line)
Omegas-Excessive Force (Blasts Of Lunacy)

Faith-Untitled (Subject To Change Plus First Demo)
Gasmask Terror-Dead End (Like Daggers)
Negative Approach-Kiss Me Kill Me (Friends Of No One)

Cockney Rejects-New Song (Greatest Hits Volume One)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Best of 2011

By admin on Jan. 2, 2012.

2011 ends as a pretty strong year for new releases. Wading through the bullshit in hardcore seems to get harder and harder each year, but here is a list of the top records in various formats I enjoyed this year.

Demos/Tapes/CD
• Our Side
• Cervix
• Blessed Offal

Seven Inch or Less
• V/A-Brutal Supremacy Compilation
• School Jerks-Control
• Citizens Arrest-Soaked In Others Blood
• Death Evocation-Self Titled
• Waste Management-Power Abuse
• No Tolerance-No Remorse, No Tolerance
• Vaccine-Crimes In Blood
• Mauser-End Of The Line
• Give-I Am Love
• Gasmask Terror-Like Daggers

Longer Players
• New Lows-Harvest of the Carcass
• Soul Swallower-Devoured
• Scapegoat-Self Titled
• Technocracy-Diary of a Terrorist
• Omegas-Blasts of Lunacy

Reissues
• Cro Mags-Age of Quarrel
• Supertouch-WNYU
• Void-Sessions 81 to 83
• Faith-Subject To Change
• Bastard-Controlled In The Frame
• Adrenalin OD-Let’s BBQ
• NYC Mayhem-Crossover Days
• Negative Approach-Friends Of No One

Pushead Top 100 Podcast Part Two

By admin on Aug. 15, 2011.

1. GBH-Knife Edge
2. Channel 3-Manzanar
3. Youth Brigade-No Song
4. The Proletariat-Religion is the Opium of the Masses
5. Negative Approach-Nothing
6. Poison Idea-Made To Be Broken
7. Chaotic Discord-Fuck The World
8. Scream-U Suck A/We’re All Fed Up
9. SNFU-She’s Not On The Menu
10. The Fartz-Campaign Speech
11. Impact Unit-My Friends, The Pit
12. Youth Patrol-America’s Power
13. Anti Cimex-Cries of Pain
14. CIA-Commie Control
15. Youth Brigade-Violence
16. Chaos UK-Kill Your Baby
17. Cause For Alarm-United Races
18. Cro Mags-My Myself
19. The Stalin-Title In Japanese
20. Circle Jerks-Paid Vacation

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Reviews For The Week Of August 1st

By admin on Aug. 1, 2011.

Full Speed Ahead at their reunion show a few months ago. I didn’t even know this happened until I saw the video on YouTube…

Boston Strangler
Demo

Somewhere between Impact Unit and SSD (aka sounds like Fit For Abuse!) comes Boston Strangler. A quick five track demo of ugly 82 hardcore. More soon?

Gone But Not Forgotten
Seattle Crew Demo

Hey, this is pretty good! Somewhere near Confront and Floorpunch, this demo is good Straight Edge hardcore complete with hooded edgeman on the cover.

Negative Approach
Friends Of No One 7″
Taang Records

What is with the cover? A cartoonish drawing of what a hardcore show apparently looks like really takes away from the overall package here. I’m not surprised there is more unreleased Negative Approach (apparently there is even more), but I am surprised that the final lineup put these songs onto record. Recorded late in the band’s career, this record includes very raw recordings of some of the gnarly live songs they were playing near the end like Kiss Me Kill Me and Genocide. The versions on the Total Recall CD are some of the most incredible, ugly, music ever played (Dave Flynn: They sound like a hyena killing its prey) and these versions aren’t as harsh, but still worth checking out.

Force Fed
Self Titled 7″
Painkiller Records

Fast hardcore in the vein of Infest. I guess the term “power violence” applies here. Great stuff. Worth checking out.

Government Issue
Boycott Stabb Sessions CD
Dischord Records

Continuing Dischord’s series of reissues complete the complete sessions for GI’s Boycott Stabb record. I’ve never been a huge GI fan, alternating between finding them somewhat boring and pretty decent, but this session is good. I like some of the versions of older songs from their seven inches better on this version. This isn’t really essential, but worth picking up if you’re a fan.

Dusted Angel
Self Titled 7″
Corruption Records

Boring rock/stoner rock from former members of Bl’ast!. I need to listen to Power of Expression for the rest of the afternoon after this crap.

Our Gang
Uprising LP
Jack Roy Records

Collection of this late eighties NYHC band’s demos and other recordings. I love their tracks on the New Breed compilation, but a lot of their other material is lacking. The basic premise here is a mixture of Youth of Today and Breakdown, but some tracks work better than others. Their later, more rock/melodic songs are not interesting at all. Members of this band went on to be in Citizens Arrest and Born Against.

True Colors
Consider It Done 7″
Control Records

Not the New York band, but a band from Europe. Decent Gorilla Biscuits style hardcore that gets heavier on the melody as the record goes on. Not really my thing.

Career Suicide
Cherry Beach 7″
Sewercide Records

I have always liked Career Suicide a lot and this record is no exception. Snotty, early eighties style hardcore from Canada that never seems to bore me or let down. I think a few songs on here are covers.