Unaltered Perspective #1
New music from Snuffed, Haywire 617, Night Fever, Desmadre, Discontent and more.
Hardcore Rules
First rule is there are no rules. I will be changing things as I go on this thing until I get it worked out to what I like and what works well and is manageable for me. If you have anything you want to see or that you would suggest to improve I am open to suggestions. I just feel like there needs to be someone out there talking about the small bands that need to be talked about because in reality they should be the big bands. So with that out of the way enjoy the first edition(I view the first post as more like the Preview into the zine) and please go support the bands and labels. Underground music does not exist, especially in it’s current form, without people going to shows and buying the music.
New Releases
Snuffed - Lobotomy Dream (single)
Snuffed is one of my favorite Chicago hardcore bands. Their last LP was one of my top LP’s of 2022. I love this sound. Their sound is hard to describe because each song seems to approach hardcore slightly differently. Most songs lean into a roots hardcore direction but some are slow songs and some are mid tempo. Some have big mosh parts and others do a faster 2 step mosh. They can play any type of song and sound great doing it. This most recent song “Lobotomy Dream” is the first single from an upcoming EP on Another City Records. The songs has vocals immediately when you hit play. The intro and back half of the song mostly are slower hardcore. But they have a part in the middle where they go a little faster and then a drum fill followed by the beat getting even faster. It is like the perfect circle pit part. It’s like they let you know the circle pit is coming with that slow fast part so you can start moving in a circle and then when it breaks even faster the circle pit goes nuts. The EP they are putting out is called “Lobotomy Dream”. It is coming out in mid February but the pre-orders go up on January 26th so make sure you go order it then.
Discontent - Nothing Beyond (single)
Discontent Northeast Hardcore band has dropped a new song called “Nothing Beyond” and it is so good I have to talk about it. This band if you are unfamiliar plays a heavy metallic hardcore style similar to other northeast hardcore of the last few years such as Carbonite or Simulakra. They share members with Delaware band Killing Me. Discontent put out a demo last year and this song is a definite step up from the songs on the demo. They have the snare really tight which I defiantly dig that. This song starts out with drum fills and then into a fast beat then a slow bouncy chorus and then back to the fast beat and back to the chorus but on the second time around on the chorus it breaks into a 2 step part and then a mosh part then a build part into another mosh part. I love the change of the chorus the second time around to keep things fresh. They know how to make a song interesting.
Night Fever - Amen (single)
Danish band Night Fever have an upcoming new album out February 2024 on Svart Records entitled “Dead End.” They have a new single that has been released and will presumably be on the album called “Amen.” This track shreds like a metal song while still being very punk in the beat and tempos chosen. The vocals are almost singing at times. Amongst the shredding riffs and singy yells that this song has to offer I also find the most interesting part is towards the back part of the song during like a bridge section. Where the instruments settle into a slower tempo and it just seems to really help cut up the song and give it some variety. Can’t wait for this record to come out.
Haywire 617- Conditioned for Demolition (LP)
Haywire 617 is a newer band out of Boston Massachusetts. They just put out their Debut LP titled “Conditioned for Demolition.” This is available on Daze Records. The sound is best compared to some of this bands Boston piers such as bands like Street Power and Colin of Arabia. They have many guest vocal appearances on this album which also seems to be a common trend for this style but I am here for it. For my taste the song “Love Song ft. Chubby and the Gang” is the best song on the album. This song kicks ass. The hard intense vocals on the verse about being in love is so sick. Then the cleaner vocals on the chorus from chubby gives the song a special aspect that makes it extra catchy. Then haywire just kill the ending with the guitar solo. My one knock is I would’ve ended the song there. Instead it goes to a sample of another song and it is not an offensive sample but it would be a 10/10 punk song if there was no sample. Just the song itself kicks so much ass. The song “March of the White Trash Part II” off this album is another huge stand out for me. It straight up sounds like it is an intro for a Downpresser song and that is one of my favorite bands. The last track I want to highlight is the song “Poser Disposer ft. Colin of Arabia.” This is one of those songs that will get you singing every word. There is so much hate for the poser referred to in the song and the bass guitar breakdown into the mosh part that COA does vocals over is the Illest.
Desmadre - Clownin’ Around ft. Nate from Xibalba (single)
Desmadre play a 2010’s inspired style of metallic hardcore that has modern sounding production. This has a lot of groove to the first half of the song and then the chorus has a sick 2 step. Then when you think the song might be dying down or coming to a close then you hear a wild random fast part for a few seconds into a slow build up part with Nate from Xibalba doing a guest vocal appearance. Then the riff kicks into basically a straight up Xibalba song. Its like the song changes during this moment into a new song which is sick. The break down part with Nate on vocals is like the type of sounds that make me want to punch through a brick wall. It is very interesting that Desmadre only ever releases one song at a time. But it shows that they do care about the making of every song they do. This song is a ripper and I hope for more to come from this band.
Green Crack- S/T(EP)
Postojna, Slovenia is a place I have never heard of before and I consider myself to be above average on geography. Either way, Green Crack with their new self released EP are putting their town on the map. This band sonically is going for straight forward Powerviolence and they nailed it. The only nontraditional parts are where most Powerviolence bands have a durgy sort of sound in the slow parts this band does a different tone with the guitar so it feels almost a little brighter and less dark. Which is not good or bad just different and interesting. The trailer park boys sample kills it of course “safety always off.” Not sure if this is only a digital album because I can’t find where the physical came out if there is one. Let me know if you know anything more about this band I would be interested to learn more.
CLIQUE - Communique(EP)
CLIQUE is a band from California that has a very heavy and hard style and the fast parts are slim. I thrive on fast parts so this band should theoretically be hard for me to like or connect to. However every release they have done, this one included, is so well done and easy to like I look past the lack of fast parts. I really appreciate how they are one of the bands who has a extremely political and active stance on things. It is important for punk and hardcore to have strong messages. Now that is not always necessary but it is always a bonus when a band puts their views out into the world via their lyrics or otherwise. They really do knock it out the park on this release especially on the song “Future Denied.” This song starts with panting. Which is already so sick. Then the heaviest shit imaginable out of nowhere. The song is mostly a slow bounce beat throughout but there is some change ups like the cool build up to the heavy mosh at the end that is very intense.
MooM - Plague Infested Urban Dump of the Future(LP)
I have never heard of this band before this release so I am not super familiar with the older songs. To live a Lie Records put this one on my radar with them releasing the physical music it think it is on LP and Cassette. The band is from Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel. I was thinking I would end up not liking it just because of the general aesthetic of the artwork and I heard someone refer to it as blackened or something. Not sure where that descriptor comes from. To my ears this sounds like mostly fast hardcore with screamy yells over top in the same vein as something like Violencia. But it does have occasional blast beats accompanied with a second vocalist giving us cookie monster style vocal parts. So pretty much it is Powerviolence but it does sound relatively untraditional for the style. You have to be open to what this band is giving you on this release but if you do and give it a fair shot then each listen just keeps getting better and better.
Civilian - Demo(Cass)
The demo tape from this Baltimore punk/oi band came out on Convulse records. This band sort of has and Oi sound but seems to be pulling other influences that I can’t place. The vocals are very gruff and hard to make out in parts. However, the guitar leads on the last 2 songs, especially the closing track “No Choice” are so catchy and get me moving . Perfect music to stop around to. This demo is sick and I need to see where this band goes next sonically on the next release.
It’s the Limit - It’s the Demo
Fortress records is just killing it with the demos. This is the newest of the bunch from San Antonio straight edge band It’s the Limit. This band may be straight edge but it doesn’t follow any of the usual sonic elements you usually hear in other straight edge bands. They sound a lot more like late 80’s New York. But not Cro-Mags as much even though the name would make you think otherwise. Instead, they sound more like Sheer Terror. Very hard and fast and the songs are short. The 4th song on this demo is the one I want to touch on. This song is called “The Pack” It is 44 seconds and it does all the tempos need for good hardcore. It starts with a fast part and then goes into a youth crew tom part and then to a 2 step and then caps itself off with a few seconds of fast again for no reason which is so sick. I can’t wait to hear more from this band.
Violent Majority - No Quarter, No Mercy (EP)
This Arizona Powerviolence band brings a style I adore. This shit gets me throwin’ hands at the wall and shit. With lyrics about current social and political issues and the deep seated frustration with the outcomes of these topics. This is just so fucking sick. I hope I can get my hands on a physical copy when they make them but as of right now this is only a digital EP. The band does state on their Bandcamp page that physical music is coming soon so look out for that. If you like any Powerviolence at all or just fast hardcore like Coke Bust then you will find a lot to love about this release. Every song is so sick but just to talk on one of them I think the track “Oppressors Blood” is the best to define the band. It starts with an Alex Jones sample to show how much he sucks. Then like a fast beat that feels like it is almost a blast because it is going so fast but then they hit the next part and it goes to an actual blast beat that is just a touch faster and more busy. The song ends with a break down that is unusual for Powerviolence like it could be in a modern hardcore song like by End It or something. I like that they don’t Pidgeon hole themselves in when they claim PV by trying to adhere to the stereotypes the genre is known for.
AK//47 - Menari Dalam Abu Algoritma
New album by grindcore band AK//47 that is based out of Oakland, California and Semarang, Indonesia. This release is so cool they have songs that have straight up Propagandhi riffs. Over some blasts and insane growls. This is definitely grindcore but they are not trying to be like everyone else and that is where the great bands stand out is when you can notice them actively trying to be different. These songs don't repeat parts to often which make them kind of have like an opus feel. This album is digital only right now but tapes are coming on Enemy of the Goat Records in USA and Disaster Records in Indonesia. Alam Marah Besar is the song that stands out the most. If the vocals on this track were sang and blast drum parts were 25 percent slower it could straight up be off Failed States or some shit.
News
Collateral that I talked about in my last post is releasing a new EP entitled “We Still Know.” This will be coming out on Fortress Records and Scheme Records on 2/16. Make sure you go check it.
2 new tracks coming soon from CLIQUE in addition to the EP in the new releases section. Due to come out 3/1
New LP from The Chisel out on Pure Noise Records on February 9th. There are 3 singles out already for this and they are very good. Go check those out here.
Minneapolis Grind Powerhouse Deterioration is coming out with a new split soon with the band Negative Bias. The first track is very good and you can check it out here.
Slug from Cleveland, Ohio is coming out with their debut LP called “Ohio.” This is coming out on Delayed Gratification Records on February 16th. If you love stompy hardcore this is for you. Pre-orders are up now for 12 inch and cassette. There is also a new song the band just put up on streaming called “Barking Dogs.” This song and the 2 song promo from last year will be on this 10 song LP.
Looking back
This is a section where I tell you about something that is not a new release but that is new to me. I like to dig for older material as well as keep up with new music. If something comes across my radar that I feel is worth sharing with you all and it is not a recent release it will appear here.
The Frontline - Demo 2003
This is a Demo from a Virginia Hardcore band called The Frontline. This is hardcore with a lot of passion and heart. The demo mostly sounds kind of like a mash up of Atari and Strife just a little more poorly recorded. The song “By heart” could be off the Atari 7 inch. The song “Hindsight” has a youth crew tom section into a 2 step sing along part that is pretty sick. The recording makes this sound very unique in a good way and it feels like it amplifies just how important the things these people are singing are to them.
Underground Music is the greatest thing ever.
Listen to no right.
More reviews and new sections of the future zine editions will be coming soon. I want to improve this zine as I go so if you have tips or anything get in the comments. You can also message me directly at my email in the about tab. If you enjoy this zine tell a friend. Keep it real and I’ll catch you next edition.