Built on a Weak Spot

Slavescene are certainly doing more than enough to grab my attention. They made an appearance not too long ago here on the blog as part of the split cassette they did with MLU featuring a ripping live set. This single is one of the bands more recent releases out now on Deranged Records. They also have a new demo that was available on tour; however there is a full download of it over at the excellent I Could Die Tomorrow blog. This single features two new cuts from the band that actually has sees them slowing things down a bit instead of some of the more blistering paced songs that were on the bands other demo Heaven Only Knows. I must say I like this direction, the b-side “Shit Gait” is especially pounding and should alleviate some of the Drunkdriver comparisons that some of the earlier material garnered them. I would gladly take either but these newer songs, both here on this single and the ones found on their most recent demo, hint at what could be some very exciting future material to come from these guys.

Slavescene – Shit Gait [MP3]

For those looking to pick this up, it appears that Deranged is still selling them…so I assume they are still available. 500 on blue, so pick this up while it’s still out there.

Probably should have had this mentioned among my favorite singles this year, however kind forgot that it got the vinyl treatment thanks to Desensitized Records. I keep thinking of it as a cassette, which is what it was originally released on/as. But yeah, let me clear it up now and say that this SHOULD have been listed as well, because this thing rocks. Pollution does some good old fashioned nasty hardcore/noise-rock through five songs on this 45, although for those lucky enough to have the cassette version…it contains a pretty great cover of the Lush song “Downer”. They get points for that choice alone. Things on the A-side get loud and have a bit of an AmRep-ish ugly quality to them and there is not a bad thing to say about a song as head stompingly heavy as “Fuck Hope”. The B-side mixes in a more standard hardcore number with “Reds” followed by an interlude/noise piece of sorts with “Ashes III”. Pollution doesn’t stop there and figures to cover more ground by turning up the metal a bit for the final song “D-IX”, just listen to the riffing. No matter what they choose to do, they seem to be doing it rather well. This shouldn’t be missed.

Pollution – Fuck Hope [MP3]

The band also has a 12” floating about through Feast of Tentacles that if you can get a copy of that, would be much recommended. For the n.s. Drugs 7”, it would appear that both Deranged and Sorry State have copies of these still available in their distros. Get on it while they are still out there.

Apologies for the unannounced absence in which the blog took this past week as I didn’t feel too hot come last Sunday when I normally get around to do doing such things as writing/listening to some stuff. After that work just became a bit busy and vioila…lost week. However I am back and going to do my best to get some stuff done this week despite the holiday.

I really don’t much about either of these bands featured on this recently released split tape on Lower Me Into My Coffin. Slavescene is apparently made up of various people from Cult Ritual, Body Rot, etc. so you kind of know what you’re signing up for if you’ve heard either and that is some very noisy and blistering hardcore.

MLU is a duo from Nashville, TN consisting of just drums and a guitar; however this probably ends up being the noisier side. It comes as no surprise that these guys will be putting out a split LP with The New Flesh here soon hopefully as a joint effort between a number of labels, which seems like an incredibly good pairing after hearing the MLU side of this cassette. Consider me very amped to hear that one when it comes out.

Slavescene side (stream)
MLU side (stream)

Although limited to 250, there are still some available through Parts Unknown and Troubleman. So if you like what what you hear, definitely grab one before they are gone.

Not quite sure, but I think this is the third single from Pittsburgh’s Kim Phuc. I wrote a small bit about their last one awhile back after it completely steamrolled right over me when listening to it. This here single pretty much does the same exact thing by instilling the same tense and fear inducing rhythms that have made them one of my absolute favorite active bands right now. Released on Dear Skull Records just a short while ago, I think many have probably already heard the A-side “Weird Skies” a few times now, however it sounds real good finally getting to hear it getting pumped out of some actual stereo speakers off of a 45. The song does so well in creating a threatening atmosphere while not forcibly making it apparent…it just sort of creeps along until you begin to look over your shoulder a bit. Great stuff. “Suicide Circle” rolls along in the same fashion while featuring some guest female vox from their past drummer adding to the overall vibe and dreariness a bit. Really can’t get enough of what these guys are doing right now and am extremely looking forward to hearing a future full-length.

Kim Phuc – Weird Skies [MP3]

For anyone wishing to pick this up I would suggest hitting up Dear Skull Records or be on the look out in various distros for it.

I’ve mentioned Sideshow at length on the blog awhile back. For a bit more information on the bands background you can view that post here. To quickly recap however, Sideshow was the band fronted by Caulfield Records founder Bernie McGinn and the band was actually pretty much the catalyst for starting the label altogether really. With fellow members Paul Tisdale and Rich Higgins the band released a couple albums, EP’s, and singles during their run through the 90’s. However before they were known as Sideshow the band was called Peer Puppet and their first single and the first for Caulfield was actually pressed as such with that name. However, a name change occurred and thus all the labels needed to be altered, which resulted in black permanent marker crossing out the Peer Puppet name and a freshly stamped Sideshow took its place above it. This single is also quite interesting as it shows the band as a quite different one from what people would come to hear on later singles/albums/etc. These four songs are pretty much straight up hardcore/punk with very little resemblance of what they would go on to do, however the single remains to be a neat glimpse into where everything began. So, for your listening pleasure I bring you Sideshows debut single. Enjoy!

Sideshow – Out of Mind [MP3]
Sideshow – If the Shoe Fits [MP3]
Sideshow – If No One [MP3]
Sideshow – Blame Me [MP3]

Both of Sideshow’s albums are still available through Amazon used here and here, definitely pick them up…although I would listen to the tunes in my previous Sideshow post for a better representation of what they were like. However if you enjoy it, definitely give them a go!

This would be the third single from the St. Paul, Minnesota based Condominium. It finds the band working more with the sound they featured on their previous single with “Pupils”. Kind of blurring the lines between that 90’s T&G noise-rock deal and hardcore. Very cool stuff once again from this band, which in such small doses here and there has me wanting here a lot more from them. Hopefully there is more material in the near future, as the track “Barricade” shows plenty of potential for a killer full-length and I am seriously digging the direction that they are heading in. The b-side “Big Plans” seals the deal with a slower instrumental tune that holds its own. While not as ominous as “Barricade” it definitely paints a dreary picture. Solid stuff all around from the band, give it a listen.

Condominium – Barricade [MP3]

For those interested in picking this single up, then just head on over to Fashionable Idiots.

It feels like The Catalyst have a wealth of material to their credit, however after being together for several years now Swallow Your Teeth is the bands first official full-length album. After being introduced to their crushing EP Mariana’s Trench a couple years ago, they’ve remained on my radar since. Some might recall the compilation of the same name I wrote about on the blog in the past. The bands debut does not alter much, if at all, from the direction set forth on that release. Swallow Your Teeth pounds and pulverizes through 11 very very nasty sounding tracks that will perk the ear of any AmRep enthusiast or really any fan of noise-rock in general. They are said to be some kind of best kept secret among the Richmond, VA crowd, however I don’t see how something this loud and outright ugly can remain a secret for very long. I definitely wouldn’t count on it lasting much longer after enough people have chance to hear Swallow Your Teeth. If you were already a fan of The Catalyst before hearing this, then definitely pick it up as I think it easily trumps any of their previous work. It’s very well done material that toes the line of noise-rock/hardcore influence quite nicely. Check it out.

The Catalyst – Assholier Than Thou [MP3]

For those that might still be on the fence of pursuing the album further, then Scenepointblank has been kind of enough to throw up a full album stream. Anyone wishing to purchase the album can do so through Perpetual Motion Machine. They are selling it for a very reasonable six bucks on CD and a ten spot for the LP. So get on it if you like what you hear!

This is some delightfully noisy hardcore from the fantastic Pittsburgh trio Slices. Their first single which was also released earlier this year through 16oh showed some signs of this sort of crusty forcefulness, however this single on Home Invasion amps things up a bit. Slices manage to deliver quite a punch here in the 7 plus minutes that inhabit the sides of this single. There is also more to be found here underneath the scuzz than just simple blasts of distortion and low end, especially on the two lengthier tracks “His Presence Lingers Long After He’s Gone” and “I Melt For No One”. Very cool stuff, definitely up there on the list of better singles I’ve heard this year. Check it out.

Slices – His Presence Lingers Long After He’s Gone [MP3]

There four more tracks to be found on this 7’’, so definitely pick this up if you enjoy what you hear. Drop a line to Home Invasion to score a copy.

This is some pretty excellent hardcore here from the recently formed Milwaukee based band Herds. Featuring members from various hardcore/crust bands like Charles Bronson, Kungfu Rick, Seven Days of Samsara, and many many more it’s to be expected that this stuff comes at you with an almost overwhelming feeling of intensity. Sure enough, it does just that with five absolutely blazing tracks on their second single on Fashionable Idiots. If you can get a hold of it, their previous single on Deer Healer pretty much matches it as well, however I am pretty sure that was one sold out by now. The good news is that the Full Wolf Moon 7’’ is still available from what I can tell and I highly suggest picking it up because this is hardcore done right. The production is top notch and the added bonus of the finely crafted packaging makes this a no brainer. Give it a go.

Herds – Vultures [MP3]

For anyone interested in picking this up, the single is still available through both the band and the label Fashionable Idiots.

It was recently pointed out to me that maybe I have some sort of affection for Pittsburgh and bands that happen to come out of there. It makes sense in a way, the city has been considered home to a fair amount of bands that have appeared on here over the past three years, whether they are old or new. What I have today though is of the newer variety, the five piece Outclassed. I thought about for just a split second to use their upcoming one sided 12’’ EP title, This Might Be Coincidence…, as some sort of pun for this write-up, but then I realized just how lame that would be. So be thankful I avoided that. Anyway, about Outclassed and this quick but satisfyingly discordant EP…as juvenile as the cover looks it definitely resembles what is stored within the record itself. When poking around further inside there is scrawled about lyrics that are almost illegible. Again, this all goes hand in hand as to what Outclassed translate to musically and that is ferociously noise packed hardcore/punk with a bit of a mathy flair.

While the band is hardly pursuing something that hasn’t been covered before, Outclassed seem to do it quite well where as too many other bands simply fail to be creative and in turn end up with a sound that is bit uninspired. This Might be Coincidence… and its five songs manage to avoid this by pairing up the violent and unrelenting paced hardcore/emo of the past decade with some minor updating that doesn’t work against Outclassed in any way.

Outclassed – Kick God in the Face, Hail Satan! [MP3]

For anyone wishing to pick up This Might Be Coincidence… then head on over to Forcefield Records to do so. Definitely some cool stuff.