Neanderthal - Fighting Music

A true hardcore masterpiece from 1990. Featuring future members of the almighty MAN IS THE BASTARD and a member of INFEST, "Fighting Music" is the genesis of the power violence sound. Taking the groundwork laid by the aforementioned Infest, bands like Neanderthal, No Comment and Crossed Out carved out a sound never heard in extreme music that has been aped to death ever since.

If you are into modern "PV" bands like Mind Eraser (who take their name from this record!), Weekend Nachos or Iron Lung then do yourself a favor and snag this for a little history lesson on where the sound originated.

Some other great early bands to play this type of hardcore are the previously mentioned Infest, Crossed Out and No Comment as well as early Crom, early Capitalist Casualties, adn Despise You.

Neanderthal - Fighting Music

*download link and cover image "borrowed" from icoulddietomorrow be sure to check them out, they have a great blog with a wide variety of music!

Victims/From Ashes Rise Split

You like face-pummeling crusty hardcore? You like this. GET IT.

VICTIMS/FROM ASHES RISE split

Give

Give plays super powerful, melodic post-hardcore. Rites of Spring meets Swiz. I came across these dudes blog-walking one day and download the Boots of Faith 7" on a whim. Hardcore band with a daisy flower as their logo? I couldn't resist. And as I hoped, the daisy flower logo and the name Give are very telling elements to this bands sound. The tone and feel for most of there songs tends to be very positive and progressive, a unique quality in hardcore and post-hardcore. This band deserves some recognition, because they are doing something truly interesting and fresh with their sound. Highly recommended if you're into genre-blurring bands or melodic hardcore. The download below contains:

Boots of Faith 7"
Heaven is Waiting 7"
Self Titled LP

Give - 3 records (DOWNLOAD!)

Orchid

I'll start off by separating the real heads from the noobs... if I say screamo and all you think about is The Used and Hawthorne Heights, then you are sadly on the wrong track. But luckily Uncle Mitchypoo is here to fix you right up. With roots in DC hardcore and post-punk, REAL screamo started long before the ridiculous form of swoopy-banged fashioncore. Starting their evolution in the early to mid-90's and culminating in late 90's, bands like Orchid, Pg. 99, and City of Caterpillar were crafting a chaotic, cathartic sound previously unparalleled and rarely matched since then. Comprised of unrelenting drumming, being driven by thrashing guitars, melodic and melancholy, and topped with throat-searing, heart wrenching screams (lyrics usually based on philosophy, idealism, and DIY-punk ethics), Orchid is certainly one of the masters of their style. No other way to put it into words so just listen to the songs in this youtube compilation video and if it's your thing, get these two records.



Orchid - Chaos is Me
Orchid - Gatefold

Owen Hart - Earth Control

This band is called Owen Hart. Your argument is invalid.

Seriously, these dudes are fucking heavy as shit. Chaotic hardcore death thrash extravaganza.

Owen Hart - Earth Control (2010)
For their other stuff check out their bandcamp, though it seems it hasn't been updated in a while.

Weekend Nachos

I'm hard to please when it comes to hardcore. In the shitty town I live in, there was a short lived Collective venue, which was one of only two worthwhile venues for independent music this place ever had, and I sat through many a sloppy, contrived hardcore band. So to gain my attention and respect, you gotta be doing something groundbreaking or unique. That being said, Weekend Nachos has snagged me by the nuts. They play a gnarly, rifftacular blend of classic, balls to the wall hardcore and power violence, with occasional shifts into the slow and sludgy.  Lum told me about these dudes months ago, but when I finally listened to their newest release, the Black Earth 7" out on Relapse Records, I was immediately hooked. So for your listening pleasure, here's most, if not all, of Weekend Nachos jams in 2 easy files. Fuckin' dig it.

Torture EP (2006)
It's A Wonderful Life EP (2006)
Punish and Destroy (2007)
Unforgivable (2009)
Bleed EP (2010)
Black Earth 7" (2011)

Here's some.
Here's some mo'.

The Degenerics - Generica

The best hardcore record from the past 15 years that you have never heard. It's probably better than 99% of the ones that you have. Released on deadalive records in 2000, this record was clearly inspired by the Bad Brains. No, it doesn't sound exactly like the HR and crew, but listening to it, you can tell that the Brains were a humongous influence. So many horrid records are revered from this time period while a gem like this has gone largely unnoticed. I guess i should just be thankful that I have had the chance to listen to this for over a decade now, and hopefully anyone that grabs this will get the same enjoyment I have. Hands down, the best NJ hardcore since 76% Uncertain or the Misfits.

Jam

GET THIS SHIT AND RAGE YOUR FUCKING FACE OFF!

Glasses

I came across these guys yesterday while blog surfing, and I was so impressed and stoked I had to repost this for you guys. Glasses is a genre-blurring German hardcore/crust band in the vein of Tragedy, Ghostlimb, and Kylesa. While thrashy and punk as fuck, these dudes drop some unexpected riff bombs every few minutes, giving a much appreciated changeup from your standard paint-by-numbers hardcore. Though female-fronted, I don't think any listeners will complain, as her scream is pretty fuckin' filthy. If you are into hardcore, punk, or the metals, I highly recommend checking this band out. They are a serious standout in a sea of Discharge clones.

Here is their self titled debut from 2009, and the follow up from late 2010. Dig it.

Glasses - Glasses
Glasses - The Ills of Life

Harpoon - Double Gnarly Triple Suicide

Harpoon plays grindy thrash metal, with drum machine drums. While not a big fan of mixing synthetic sounds in my metalz, there are a few exceptions to the rule, and Harpoon are certainly one of them. They play around with their sound quite a bit throughout the album, which makes it stand out a little more than your standard thrash band, and aside from the occasional shrill electronic hi-hat, the production is fuckin' tits! This record will punch you in the dick if you're a fan of thrash, grind, or hardcore. Riff bombs will get dropped, so be prepared!

FRUIT PUNCH 'EM IN THE DICK!

The National Acrobat - Complete Recordings

Featuring many known suspects from the ever fertile Louisville hardcore/punk/whatever scenes, TNA managed to wallow in relative obscurity while an active, touring and recording outfit, only really gaining any kind of notoriety after their demise. Taking their name from a Sabbath song and drawing on influences from varied and pioneering acts such as Black Flag, Born Against, Jesus Lizard, and Nation of Ulysses. Taking the sounds of those bands and filtering them through that unique Louisville mindset that has created some of the most memorable bands in the last twenty or so years.

The National Acrobat along with more well known bands like Cave-In, Dillinger Escape Plan, Isis and Botch were part of an important reaction to the stagnation of the hardcore scene in the late 90's. Not content to recycle the the same riffs and posturing, they chose to take the foundations that made punk rock and hardcore revolutionary to them and shape it in their own image. A true sonic fury that fans of any of the previously mentioned bands should be able to enjoy.

Get it here!