Signifying Nothing

November 2011 Reviews

By admin on Nov. 25, 2011.

Sick Fucking O
Demo

Members of Voorhees are back with a new band that sounds like…Voorhees. Obviously, not as classic as Spilling Blood Without Reason, but good angry 82 era hardcore that will be enjoyed by fans of Voorhees for sure. Cool Devo cover at the end.

Defile
Demo 2010

Fast, angry, hardcore somewhere between midwestern style and power violence. I bet live you can hear a bit of Rorschach in their sound too. I’d like to hear more.

Slowburn
Demo

Members of a variety of NJHC bands including Spirit, Vision, and Floorpunch playing melodic, Turning Point, style hardcore. This isn’t too bad, but it’s not something I would listen to that often. The members of this band have done much better before.

Beware
Demo

Members of Stick Together and a few other PA bands doing pretty bland Chain of Strength style hardcore that has all of the flaws most 1980′s “melodic,” nearing emo, hardcore bands have. The generic 88 styling of Stick Together are way better. I’m shocked by how many people are so into this.

Bloody Hammer
Demo 2010

Moderately generic Oi! trying to sound like all of the classics. This isn’t a bad effort at sounding like Four Skins, one of my favorites, but isn’t something I will listen to much. I don’t dabble too deeply in this genre during modern times, but check this one out if you love this stuff.

Good Times
Demo

This was handed to me on the way out of a show. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be serious, but the music moves between 88 style hardcore to chugga chugga idiot metal. Add in some pretty misogynistic lyrics and this is pretty shitty.

Hatred Surge
Deconstruct LP
Rescued From Life Records

Taking cues from bands like His Hero Is Gone, Neurosis, and Mind Eraser come this LP by Hatred Surge. Brutal hardcore with alternating male/female vocals. This is one of my favorites of the past few years.

Rorschach
Remain Sedate Reissue LP
Gern Blandsten Records

While I like Protestant a lot more than this one, the first Rorschach LP is an essential part of the evolution of post youth crew hardcore in the nineties. The influence of late eighties bands like Breakdown can still be heard from their very early sound, but so can the incoming influence of bands like Bl’ast!, Voi-void, and Die Kreuzen as well. As with Protestant, the resisue is greatly aided by remastered sound.

Miles Davis
Bitches Brew Live CD

I highly doubt this is a legit release, but worth checking out. The liner notes are hilarious though: the writer acts like NO ONE has ever heard live material of Davis from this era. Tape traders have avidly passed around shows from his electronic years from a damn long time. Ignoring that is comical. There are better shows out there.

Young Republicans
Sabatoge Your Cookout 7″
More Than A Witness Records

One of the great holy grails of the tape trading circuit when I was a teenager was the Young Republicans demo. As you probably know, members of, and songs, from this tape moved to New York City and did a slightly more well known band called Youth Of Today. This demo is pretty generic early eighties hardcore that isn’t bad, but doesn’t really stand out. Worth noting is the songs that did move over to Youth of Today and eventually Project X as well, which is an interesting historical note. Just for that, I strongly suggest picking this up.

Waste Management
Get Your Mind Right 7″
Painkiller Records

Wow!!!! Serious SSD worship from this Massachusetts band. The music is more in the vein of early NYHC bands like The Abused or Agnostic Front, but the pleading, sick, Springa style vocals are unbelievable. I hear a little bit of Crucifix too (SSD meets Crucifix? Fuck.). This would have fit in nicely alongside records on XClaim! or Rat Cage. Nice cover of “Fight,” out of nowhere, in the middle of the record too.

New Lows
Self Titled 7″
Lockin Out Records

Somewhere amongst Word As Law era Neurosis and Humanity Is The Devil era Integrity comes The New Lows’ debut single on Lockin Out. this is a style can be fall apart quick because of too much chugga chugga or experimental bullshit, but The New Lows keep it together. My only complaint is a few too many kickbox style mosh parts. That shit is so corny; however, the band can’t be punished for the idiotic way a crowd way react to them.

DropDead/Converge
Split 7″

DropDead did a split with…Converge? Okay. The DropDead side of this split is pretty good, up to their usual good standards. Converge are just not a band who have ever interested me. Post hardcores love that shit.

Wasted Time
Futility 12″
Grave Mistake Records

Wasted Time come back with an excellent followup to their debut 7″, this time heavily soaked in Kings of Punk era Poison Idea and Oi! bands like Blitz and 4-Skins. Wasted Time is able to tread between an authentic old style and more modern production and stylistic values. This is one of the best records of the decade.

Innumerable Forms
Dark Worship 7″
Hell Massacre Records

Justin Detore’s death metal project is exactly as awesome as it sounds. Serious old school death metal which really stands out in a genre I don’t dive too deeply into outside of most of the classics. A lot of the newer Mind Eraser (Justin’s day job) material in somewhat in this vein, or at least heavily influenced by it. Excellent and worth tracking down.

Gasmask Terror
Black Sun Fake Gold LP
Solar Funeral Records

Gasmask Terror are an interesting band whose sound falls somewhere between UK82 and D-Beat styles. I think this LP drags a little bit, but I think I have a general distaste for longer records in this style from most bands outside of the heavyweights like Discharge. This is definitely worth checking out.

Waste Management
Power Abuse 7″
Painkiller Records

Yes!!! Brutal SSD style hardcore from members of Mind Eraser. This record takes the best of early Boston and New York with some seriously raging lyrics (especially “Too Much Unity”). A definite contender for record of the year.

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Signifying Nothing Episode 04×03

By admin on Aug. 5, 2011.

Talk Is Poison-Right To Die (Self Titled)
Youth Brigade-Snow Job (Demo)
Voorhees-A Cure For The New Disease (Spilling Blood Without Reason)

Necros-Youth Camp (IQ32)
Mind Eraser-Manhood (Glacial Reign)
Sacrilege-A Violation of Something Sacred (Beyond The Realm of Madness)

Rorschach-Hemlock (Protestant)
Corrosion of Conformity-Holier (Animosity)
Blessed Offal-Bottomless Grave (Demo)

Misery-Class Warfare (Who’s The Fool)
Neurosis-The Choice (The Word As Law)
Slang-World of Lunacy (Life Made Me Hardcore)

Indian Dream-Silent Screams (Orca)
Mauser-New Threat (End of the Line)
Black Flag-Best One Yet (Loose Nut)

Whirl-Blue (Distressor)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Ferret’s Review: New Lows-Harvest of the Carcass

By admin on Mar. 14, 2011.

New Lows
Harvest of the Carcass LP
Deathwish Inc Records

Death, gore, apocalyptic breakdowns…..amazing!!! Album art is great and the song titles match the style. Don’t get your panties in a bunch just yet; this sound has been done before. Think early 90′s Integrity meets The Word is Law era Neurosis. Maybe a bit of Converge in there too. It’s doomy, experimental at times and pummeling at others. Lots of tempo changes make things interesting and I didn’t find myself falling asleep (which says a lot). So, for this style I would say that it’s not incredibly groundbreaking, but it still fucked my ear hard (in a good way, if that’s possible). I would actually not only seek out when they are playing, but also go out and see this band – again a very arduous task, so that tells you something.

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Hatred Surge-Isolated Human

By admin on Oct. 11, 2010.

Hatred Surge
Isolated Human EP
Painkiller Records

Until about a year ago, I wasn’t too familiar with this band. I am, however, very impressed with what I am hearing from them. Hatred Surge have duel male-female vocals that trade off similarly to bands like Antischism and Nausea. Musically, I hear a very heavy influence from His Hero Is Gone, Cop Out, and other bands from that era alongside the above mentioned bands and others like Neurosis and Discharge. This is one of the best records I have heard in awhile.

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Top 100 1990′s

By admin on Apr. 12, 2010.

1. 1.6 Band, Self Titled LP, USA, 1992
2. Acme, Self Titled 7″, Belgium, 1994
3. All Chrome, Flounders Flyers College & Canada LP, USA, 1999
4. Arms Reach, Self Titled 7″, Australia, 1998
5. Assuck, State To State 7″, USA, 1993
6. Aus-Rotten, Fuck Nazi Sympathy, USA, 1994
7. Bastard, Wind Of Pain LP, Japan, 1990
8. Bikini Kill, The Anti-Pleasure Dissertation 7″, USA, 1995
9. Born Against, Industrial Relations Department 7″, USA, 1990
10. Breakdown, Blacklisted LP, USA, 1997
11. Burn, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1990
12. By The Grace Of God, For The Love Of Indie Rock 7″, USA, 1996
13. Charles Bronson, Youth Attack LP, USA, 1997
14. Citizens Arrest, A Light In The Darkness 7″, USA, 1990
15. Chopping Block, Grizzly Fetish 7″, USA, 1991
16. Cop Out, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1993
17. Crossed Out, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1991
18. Crown Of Thornz, Train Yard Blues 12″, USA, 1995
19. Dead Nation, Face The Nation 7″, USA, 1998
20. Deadguy, Work Ethic 7″, USA, 1994
21. Death Side, Bet On The Possibility LP, Japan, 1991
22. Devoid Of Faith, Purpose: Lost 10″, USA, 1999
23. Disclose-Tragedy LP, Japan, 1994
24. Down But Not Out, Demo, USA, 1998
25. DropDead, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1992
26. Electric Wizard, Come My Fanatics LP, England, 1996
27. Eyeball, Talkin’ Straight 7″, Germany, 1998
28. Eyehategod, In The Name Of Suffering LP, USA, 1992
29. Face Value, Coming Of Age 7″, USA, 1990
30. Fastbreak, Where It Lies 7″, USA, 1997
31. Fit For Abuse, Mindless Violence 7″, USA, 1995
32. Floor, Dove LP, USA, 1994
33. Floorpunch, Goal Line Stand Demo, USA, 1995
34. Four One One, This Isn’t Me LP, USA, 1991
35. Fu Manchu, The Action Is Go LP, USA, 1997
36. Full Speed Ahead, Demo, USA, 1998
37. Gauze, Kao O Aratte Denaoshite Koi LP, Japan, 1997
38. Get High, Demo, USA, 1996
39. Gordon Solie Mother Fuckers, Chairshot Politics 7″, USA, 1998
40. H-100’s, Distort Cleveland 7″, USA, 1995
41. Hatchetface, Volume Two LP, USA, 1995
42. Haywire, Private Hell LP, USA, 1990
43. Heroin, Paper Bag 7″, USA, 1992
44. His Hero Is Gone, Fifteen Counts Of Arson LP, USA, 1997
45. Huggy Bear, Don’t Die 7″, England, 1993
46. Human Remains, Using Sickness As A Hero CD, USA, 1996
47. The Icemen, Rest In Peace 7″, USA, 1991
48. In My Eyes, Demo, USA, 1997
49. Infest, Mankind 7″, USA, 1991
50. Inmates, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1995
51. Integrity, Humanity Is The Devil 10″, USA, 1996
52. Into Another, Ignaurus LP, USA, 1994
53. Jello Biafra With DOA, Last Screams Of The Missing Neighbors LP, USA/Canada, 1990
54. Judge, The Storm 7″, USA, 1991
55. Kiss It Goodbye, She Loves Me…She Loves Me Not LP, USA, 1997
56. Laughing Hyenas, Crawl 7″, USA, 1992
57. Leeway, Desperate Measures LP, USA, 1991
58. Los Crudos/Spitboy, Split LP, USA, 1994
59. Madball, Dropping Many Suckers 7″, USA, 1992
60. Mainstrike, Times Still Here 7″, Netherlands, 1995
61. Man Is The Bastard, Sum Of The Men 12″, USA, 1992
62. Man Lifting Banner, Ten Inches That Shock The World LP, Netherlands, 1992
63. Mouthpiece, What Was Said LP, USA, 1994
64. Mukilteo Fairies, Closet Check 7″, USA, 1993
65. Neanderthal, Fighting Music 7″, USA, 1990
66. Neurosis, The Word As Law LP, USA, 1990
67. No Comment, Downsided 7″, USA, 1992
68. No Escape, Demo, USA, 1990
69. Out Cold, Self Titled LP, USA, 1994
70. Paintbox, Screaming Shouting Crying LP, Japan, 1999
71. Poison Idea, Feel The Darkness LP, USA, 1990
72. Puncture Wound, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1999
73. Quicksand, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1990
74. Ringworm, Demo, USA, 1991
75. Ripping Corpse, Dreaming With The Dead LP, USA, 1991
76. Rollins Band, The End Of Silence LP, USA, 1992
77. Rorschach, Protestant LP, USA, 1992
78. Rupture, Righteous Fuck 7″, Australia, 1991
79. S.D.S., Scum System Kill 7″, Japan, 1996
80. S.O.D., Speak Swedish Or Die 7″, Sweden, 1990
81. Saint Vitus, Die Healing LP, USA, 1995
82. Selfish, System Kills 7″, Finland, 1993
83. Septic Death, Theme From Ozobozo LP, USA, 1992
84. Skewbald/Grand Union, Self Titled 7″, USA, 1991
85. Sleater Kinney, Dig Me Out LP, USA, 1997
86. Sleep, Sleep’s Holy Mountain LP, USA, 1993
87. Spazz/Black Army Jacket, Split 7″, USA, 1997
88. Speak 714, The Scum Also Rises 7″, USA, 1999
89. Sportswear, It Runs Deep 7″, Norway, 1998
90. Supertouch, The Earth Is Flat LP, USA, 1990
91. Talk Is Poison, Straight To Hell 7″, USA, 1998
92. Team Dresch, Personal Best LP, USA, 1995
93. True Blue, Demo, Germany, 1998
94. Turning Point, It’s Always Darkest Before The Dawn LP, USA, 1991
95. Verbal Assault, On 12″, USA, 1990
96. Voorhees, Spilling Blood Without Reason LP, England, 1994
97. Warhead, Cry Of Truth LP, Japan, 1991
98. Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! – The Record, Compilation 7″, International, 1991
99. Forever, Compilation 7″, USA, 1991
100. Rebuilding, Compilation 7″, USA, 1991

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