Unaltered Perspective #6
Reviews of records by Kidnapped, Spaced, All Due Respect, Kharma, Rexirgur, Burning Lord, Major Pain, Anklebitter, Prevention, and More. Interviews with Kidnapped, Sinister Feeling, and Lifecrusher.
Hope you enjoy this new music. I finally got some interviews this time around so I hope you all enjoy those. If you want me to try and interview someone or want to be interviewed/reviewed hit me up in comments or via email. I will respond to everyone. I know I dropped a lot of new music in this one and a lot of information. If you need to break it up and read it in multiple sittings you have all month before I get a new one out to you. Defiantly don't skip these interviews from 3 of the hardest bands in music right now. Great people and great music that is what this is all about.
Flyers thanks to @peoria.il_harcore and @springfield.il.hc on Instagram
Live photos are thanks to @Shanussy217 on Instagram
New Release Reviews
Kidnapped - Disgust(LP)
One of my most anticipated Powerviolence releases of 2024 and it delivers. Just an absolutely excellent record. One of the stand outs right away was “Fear Monger” musically it has that old school PV style where they do a blast part for like 1 or 2 words then the next 2 lines of the song are kind of start and stop. Almost feels like a sort of back and forth section midway through the song or like a call and response vocal thing. Only one vocalist but it sounds like something Spazz would do. Another big song is “Crucified.” Crushing blasts and Relentless yelling piercing into my soul to heighten the fury in my veins. Most songs on this LP have just regular hardcore parts that you will like if you are a bounce fan or just more into roots hardcore. Either way I think there is something for everyone on this record if you like hardcore or any of its respective subgenres I think you will find something to like here. Great band with an unbelievable release. You can pick this up from Daze Records now for pre-order.
Power Trip - Split W/Blowin’ Mud (Split)
This is the first release I have heard from the powerviolence band Power Trip from Squamish, British Colombia. They killed this split material. Brutally heavy and fast and slow at the right moments with so much intensity. Not sure where this is coming out but I am trying to figure it out. If anyone knows please hit me up. I also can not find the Blowin’ Mud side of the split so if anyone knows where that is so I can hear that as well that would be awesome to know. I have a feeling it is a split that has not come out on physical yet and Power Trip wants to have these songs out there so people can here them so they put them up digitally before the split release date. That is only based off of an assumption but if I am wrong someone please let me know. If you like Heavy Fast Brutal Powerviolence this will fit you so dive on in it will only take 5 minutes.
Spaced - This is All We Ever Get (LP)
I reviewed the song Landslide on an earlier edition of this zine. I was new to this Buffalo band at the time and have since been listening more and more. Since this LP came out on Revelation Records I have been jamming it a few times a week and each time I like it more and more. This is just great hardcore. Fast parts throughout with standard bar chord riffs and gang vocals. They keep it simple but smash it all the same. Some of the songs like Big Picture get these funky bounce parts that really make you start dancing. Then the vocals come in and they are so clear and so powerful that each song is and instant sing along. We can all relate to these songs lyrically and I love that about a band when the songs mean something and are not just songs for people to mosh to. But I would challenge you to blast this and not just start stomping around with your fists balled up.
All Due Respect - Demo II (Cass)
Another Hard as Fuck Demo out of the North Eastern United States. Both of these songs are top tier. I listened to the first Demo All Due Respect did when they first came out and I think this is a definite improvement. I think All That’s Left is the stand out of the 2 just because the verse lyrics do not repeat. I really like how on this song it seems almost like the drums and guitar are having a conversation. The drums will go with a louder kick drum centered part and then it slows down to a more slow hardcore beat. When the drums slow the guitar kicks in with a sick lead. Then when the lead ends the drums come to the forefront again. I love this demo both songs are killer. You can get a tape of the demo from From Within Records.
Kharma - A World of Our Own (LP)
New Kharma LP out now on Flatspot Records. I love this band. They are modern hardstyle and they are from my home state of Illinois so I defiantly ride for them for being local even if they are 3 hours from me in Chicago. This new LP “A World Of Our Own” is the best music they have done to date. The first song “By Any Means” is great it has so much energy and is a great song to lead off the record. Best song they could have chosen. Halfway through they have Seb from Regulate do a guest spot on the song and it adds so much. I love Jordan from Kharma vocals but they added a part in the song where it changes tempo and it fits Sebs vocal delivery perfectly. This release is also just very great lyrically and it is like a concept record almost. Like “A World of Our Own” is not just an album title it is like they are literally telling us how they are going to make the world their own and/or how it is in their world. The lyrics song to song are great. The lyricist for these songs seems like they have so much to say and I have not dove into the lyrics sheet as much as I should but I love when bands pour their thoughts out to the audience it is so much easier to like someone when they are real with you even if it is through lyrics and not a conversation. I also noticed on this record they do chorus sections like on “Clip Your Wings” and during the chorus they have a second vocal track underneath the main track that is sort of singing the a single word from each phrase very softly. I did not even hear it on my first like 5 listens to this record but it is a very cool addition to change things up and keep their sound evolving and improving. Don’t sleep on one of Chicago’s finest.
Rexurgir - Doppelgänger (EP)
I think this is the first band I have ever heard from Nicaragua. So sick to hear something from there. I do not usually hear of many bands from Central America in general but I love to see it. Hardcore is everywhere. This band Rexurgir is a blast to listen to. I can not put my finger on what the influences are for the band. I think it is because they have so many and a lot of them are probably local to their scene. I think the strength of this EP Doppelgänger is that it has so many different sounds. They have mostly a modern hardcore sound with modern production but they have parts where they do bounce or melody out of nowhere. Some songs sound like it could be off a regular down the middle hardcore record and then they hit you with a part that sounds like it could be off a melodic hardcore song or a metalcore song. But very much not a metalcore or melodic band. I think everyone should hear this because I think no matter where your hardcore tastes lie I think you can find at least one song that suits you. I think my tastes lie mostly with “Volar Al Cielo” which has some parts that sound like it could be off a Rise Against record and “Otra En la Lista” that is just a straight fast hardcore banger. I tried to find out where to get this record and I came up short I wish I knew so if you could point me in the right direction I would love to know. Either way give the digital a listen and keep this band on your radar incase they ever decide to tour you wont want to miss it.
Burning Lord - Arcane Demolition(LP)
This record very impressive. I think it might be the record I have listened to the most this year I just think it is really a truly great record. I listened to the Burning Lord demos and I did not think at the time that it was for me. This LP is just the record to end all Burning Lord records. They did it they demolished my brain cells as I tried to make sense of this arcane record. I think the sound for this band to me comes from a lot of different eras of New York Hardcore. Despite the fact that they are from Boston. Some parts of songs remind me of bands like Merauder, Madball, Killing Time, Cro-Mags, and maybe some parts that are kind of like Mindforce. They are doing metallic hardcore and it has all types of songs. Some are fast and some are midtempo bounce. Some are brutal mosh pit style. Every song is so unique and doesn’t sound like any of the other songs on the record. I really like when bands have important song lyrics or at least original to themselves and their own thoughts and putting that out for us to listen to and dive deeper if we want to. Every songs lyrically is different than all the rest. The songs are about all different topics like addiction, labor work, religion, depression, and apocalyptic speculative fiction. I just can not get over how dope this release is. I think on of the songs that stuck out early on when listening through this record is “The Weakness” which has an awesome bass intro and then just some sick bounce throughout with a chorus that has a little bit of higher chords on the guitar to change it up. 1:10 marker in the song they hit me with a fast part with a sick yell followed by the bass player just going hammer on the strings YOLO style. The bass on this record is absolutely exceptional. I love the bass tone and they do a lot of bass breaks and intro parts that really just tie the whole thing together nicely. My other initial stand out on this record is “Soul Keeper” that was on the demo 2 but I over looked it at the time. The production increasing in quality on this record makes it easier to make out what the instruments and the vocals are all doing and I can better understand the lyrics and like I said earlier I love the bass tone. You can get this on Streets of Hate Records. This will probably end up becoming a classic for me after several years and it should be for you too.
Major pain - Intent(LP)
I think this might be one of my favorite hardcore records this year so far. Defiantly one of the best ones doing this sound. Major Pain is such a sick band. They bring this modern hardcore sound that is done by a lot of bands right now but they change it just enough to make in unique and stand tall above the rest. I think my favorite songs off this record is “the last 10 seconds of Burning Spirit into Reality” just kidding that is not a song but I love the transition. I think you just need to hear the record in order and it will make sense. The way they do that fast part and then hit you with “Reality” the midtempo banger is just next level. The other stand out song for me is “Intent” the title track. Probably a perfect hardcore song. It has great heavy lyrics. The song is heavy while also having ripping fast parts. Then they hit you with a bass lead that rides over the whole song at 1 minute 45 seconds. I mean when that happened on my first listen I could not believe it. They know what I want to hear in a hardcore song and this is it. You can get this record from Indecision Records. This should be a record in the future that people name when they think of O.C. hardcore.
Thought Control - Sick & Tired of Talking Heads(7 inch)
This is my first exposure to New Jersey’s Thought Control and I am thoroughly impressed. This release is very roots hardcore in the playing with a more modern recording quality. I love that you can hear all the lyrics well and that the vocals are not buried by the music. The beginning of lethal injection sounds like it could be a Dead Kennedys intro. The songs are so catchy and easy to move to. This is just great hardcore that sounds modern but is looking back to the roots more than most. I am going to have to go back to check out more from this band. You can get this from Crew Cuts Records.
Anklebitter/Prevention - Split(7 inch)
Anklebitter from the northeastern U.S. is one of my favorite newer bands. They rule and this release is no different. I originally thought the songs were to slow in comparison to previous material for my taste. However after a few listens these songs are now in constant rotation These songs seem to really hone in on a sound where they do a 2 step breakdown part with a song along part over the top. Both songs do this to close out the song. I think “Paradise” is my favorite from Anklebitter on this split. Because of the build up part halfway though the guitar and drums seem to sync in such a way that just makes me want to jump around in enthusiasm not even really mosh. This band rules so hard. We also got to talk the Central Illinois titans that is Springfield’s own Prevention. I love that a localish(1 hour and 15 min drive) band to be me is doing a split with one of my favorite current bands. This is probably the best 2 songs in their catalog as well. I like all of Preventions songs but “Don’t You Want To Be Free?” feels like a special song to me. Very relatable, very moshable, and a big sing along at the end that you know I’m going to be in the pile on for. Another couple classic songs by the band who basically put the modern Springfield scene on their back and bring all the other bands up with them. Killer split from 2 undeniable bands. Pick it up at Delayed Gratification Records.
Human Garbage - Valley’s Most Hated Promo 2024
I love the Human Garbage LP Straight Not Giving A Fuck from last year. These songs on this promo are sonically and extension of that sound. Internal Affairs and Carry On are bands that I would say they lean close to in sound. This band is from the San Fernando Valley and Los Angles and they are on Creator-Destructor Records. Although I can’t find this promo there for sale so it might be digital only. Defiantly something to look forward to is what these songs will be on in the future. We all could use some more supper fast parts with hard break downs and shredded vocals over the top. Get the circle pits ready for some blazing fast cali style.
Interviews
I finally got a chance to interview some bands I really love. I have had doing interviews as something I wanted to include in this zine for a while and every time I tried it seemed to fall through. Luckily I met some great people at the right time and we had some great conversations for some deeper insight.
Kidnapped
I got the chance to sit down with Danny the Vocalist for Kidnapped and here is what we talked about.
Justin: What does Powerviolence mean to you?
Danny: You can really get micro niche with it but it is pretty much just a style of hardcore that came out of what I believe is southern California and is just a response to punk but is harder and faster and has more metal tendencies at times. But I think more than anything it can be any style it is more just like a feeling and more of like a vibe than anything. Because you have PV bands that have long songs that are real slow but it’s played by the crustiest dudes ever. Then you have more like youth crew oriented powerviolence and everything in-between.
Justin: Do you guys consider yourselves a powerviolence band?
Danny: Yeah! Defiantly. Hundred Percent.
Justin: How has the reception been to the new record in comparison to previous material?
Danny: It’s been good. I think this one. Since it came out on daze it has the most listenership it is going to get. Like in terms of the most people possible are going to know that it’s out and discover us as a band and listen to the record. Where as previously we have a following on bandcamp and people who are on us and just know. But this feels like it has the broadest reach.
Justin: How did that come about? The new record coming out on Daze?
Danny: Lumpy the dude who runs it he lives in Connecticut. We are from Connecticut and I worked with him for a couple years at brass city screen printing when I first started working there and we got to know each other. And just from him living in our home state and us working together and forming a friendship and getting to know each other. One day he came in and he had listened to Kidnapped and he was like “ Dude. This band is sick.” and I told him thanks and then he said “Yo. Let me do your next record.” Fast forward 3 years later it’s time to do the record. We are doing the tour with Sinister Feeling and it was just a good time to put something out. And he was still down to do it even with the amount of time that had passed. We had always talked about doing it but we have other bands we are all in too. So with that being kind of at the forefront at the time.
Justin: What are some of the other bands you and the other members of Kidnapped play in?
Danny: Me and the drummer. We play in the band Wreckage out of Connecticut. And me and the guitarist of Kidnapped we play in a band called Almighty Watching and Into Again. Into Again is more of an alt-rock band. Almighty Watching is like a hardcore band. That is it.
Justin: My entry point of Kidnapped was the collected works record that you put out in 2019. So when I first heard you my stand out song of yours off that record was the song ‘Shit Teir Kinda Guy’. What is the deal with putting that ‘Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing’ Riff in there for like 3 second as a sample to start the song off? What was the reasoning behind that?
Danny: That’s actually mad funny. Back in 2017-2019 on that collected works we were a 3 piece band kind of like spazz style. With our friend Liam who is no longer in the band. We did that record as a collection of 5 self released tapes we have done from different weekend tours or playing shows. Different EP’s and stuff. And Liam just put it in there. We didn’t even know. Back then we would record supper fast. We would track everything live and I would do the vocals in one day, usually in one take most of the time. Then Liam would mix and master it and then we would just put it out and that was a surprise because we had no fucking idea. I remember hearing that and that is just mad funny hearing Discharge in the beginning.
Justin: What are a few of your favorite Connecticut bands? Any Era.
Danny: This one is really easy but obviously I love Satisfaction era Hatebreed. I love 100 Demons. I love both those bands so much. I like Death Threat but I cant sit here and say I am like the biggest death threat fan ever. You know what I mean. It’s kind of one of those obligatory things. Like of course I know and have listened to this because I am from there. Some stuff that is a little deeper cut would be like Dismay. That is like a 90’s band. Into Another. If we are talking current, then it’s Balmora all day. And it’s hard because we play in most of the bands. But if we are talking the current state of affairs. I think it is definitely Montclair and Balmora I feel are 2 really fucking awesome bands both on Ephyra Records. The entire Ephyra Records rooster is so gas. Its like the new shit. Kids love it. That’s just off the dome.
Justin: What do you plan to do next?
Danny: After the tour we will get back home and we have already confirmed a show in our home town with Spy, Combust, Destiny Bond, and Broken Vow. A lot of those bands on that show are our friends. We have played with Spy before We have played with Combust before We have played with Broken Vow before. We know pretty much everyone in those bands. When we get back we will probably chill for a second because we have been on tour for like 30 days. But if someone asks us to play a show we can do it. We usually do it. We also have a show in Vermont coming up. That is one of the last 2 Adrienne shows. We are playing at a skate park with Domain, Moral Law, Into Again, and Kidnapped is playing and I think Broken Vow is also playing.
Probably one of my favorite album pieces of album art of 2024 so far. This art is so striking and exceptional. The music is the same way and this is one of the best powerviolence releases this year and I think it will be hard to top in that regard. So you all better go listen and pick up a record if you fuck with it.
Sinister Feeling
I got a chance to talk with Ethan from Sinister Feeling earlier this month and here is what we talked about. Keep in mind this is before I saw them play so don’t get at me with how dumb this first question may sound.
Justin: What instrument do you play in Sinister Feeling?
Ethan: I play guitar.
Justin: Are you a 4 piece band or a 5 piece?
Ethan: We are a 4 piece. I do ABY split. So it sounds like 2 guitars because I am playing out of 2 amps on either side of the stage.
Justin: Do you consider yourself a powerviolence band?
Ethan: I would say so. Its kind of like false powerviolence in some peoples eyes. But I would say at its core we are a PV band.
Justin: What do you think powerviolence means? or mean to you?
Ethan: I guess just blasts, lots of change ups, short songs, fast, mosh parts. But the thing that kind of makes us false PV is that our mosh parts last more than one bar. That is like the only thing. We have Hatebreed length mosh parts that are just in powerviolence songs.
Justin: How has the reception been to the newest release?
Ethan: It has been awesome.
Justin: Do you feel like sinister feeling has a lot more listener ship than before it was out?
Ethan: For sure. I think when we just had the demo and the promo out we were very regional. But between putting a full length out, working with a label that is not where we are from(because we are from Baltimore and we put it out on DGR and they are from Ohio), and then doing the full US tour I think has spread our music into farther than the mid Atlantic east coast.
Justin: Why did you put the LP out on DGR? Instead of staying with Rebirth where the Demo came out?
Ethan: We really wanted to do vinyl and when we started talking about the record rebirth was only doing cassettes. Which they have started doing vinyl now so it would have been an option. But DGR is just like the homies, Vlad and everyone who is around him. Everybody who is around him like slug. The people from Columbus in Rejoice and En Love. All those bands and people in Ohio are such good friends of ours. That it just made sense. I don’t know if they have ever done anything in the grindy or powerviolence zone before our record but I think as far as us as people it makes sense.
Justin: Do you and the other members of sinister feeling play in other bands?
Ethan: Yeah. A ton of them. Me, David our bassist, and Nick our drummer all 3 of us play in Jivebomb. And then me, Shaun our vocalist, and Nick our drummer also play in a band called Putricine. Which is a goregrind band. And then Nick also plays drums in a band called Erode that is like mosh metal. And then Shaun plays in a band called Morbid Diatiy. Which is like Euro Metalcore. And then David plays in a band called Self Love which is a Grindcore band from New Hampshire. Shaun also plays in a rock band called Capsule 9.
Justin: What is Sinister Feelings future plans?
Ethan: We are trying to do some more touring. It’s kind of hard because with each of us in so many bands each band can only kind of get that much attention from us. So for the rest of the summer we are kind of focusing on our other projects. After this tour we have a lot of Jivebomb stuff coming up. Once that is over we are going to be doing more shows and we are going to be writing. Hopefully for a split. We are trying to do a 4 way split. We are trying to get that set up. With some contemporary PV influenced hardcore bands. Other false PV I guess.
Justin: What are some of your favorite Baltimore bands?
Ethan: The best of all time is Trapped Under Ice. The GOAT’s. But contemporary wise obviously our drummer is in this band so I am a little biased but Erode I think is the best Baltimore band right now. They are great. Think they have a releases they are cooking up right now that I think is going to come out on Daze and I think that is going to be one of the best records to come out of Baltimore in a really long time. So insane. There is a rock band. Shoegaze adjacent called Polarview and then there is a more valid powerviolence band from Baltimore that are homies are in called Narcan. Narcan is incredible. They are a great band.
Justin: Is Eddie Brock from Baltimore? How did that come about getting them on your LP?
Ethan: Eddie Brock is from Baltimore. I used to play in a band or I guess I still technically do we are just not really active. I play in a Japanese raw punk style band called B.R.A.T. Not the brat from Louisiana. Different brat. I play guitar in that band and our other guitarist is Alex who did vocals in Eddie brock. So he is just my band mate, my good friend, and I love that band. So for a long time it had just been kind of an inside joke like please bring Eddie Brock back. I never got to see that band it was before my time. I think they played their last show when I was 13 or 14 so it was like just before the time I started going to shows. Alex is just the homie so eventually when this record was getting planned out. I was like would Eddie brock ever do a reunion set for our record release and he said let me talk to them and they were down. As far as old Baltimore bands going. Pulling Teeth and Eddie Brock. Amazing bands. We took a lot of influence from those 2 for writing Sinister Feeling stuff for sure.
This band is one of my favorite new bands. I only heard sinister feeling when I saw they were playing with Kidnapped and I listened to their music and I fell in love with it instantly. Their newest LP is going to be an all timer for “False PV” fans like myself. You can get it on Delayed Gratification Records.
Lifecrusher
I got a chance to have a conversation with Franz the guitarist and main song writer from Lifecrusher Switzerland’s finest hardcore band. Here is what we talked about.
Justin: How did Lifecrusher start?
Franz: It was at a show. I think it was Lowest Creature from Sweden played. I was there with a couple friends of mine including Rami the singer. Her and I and one other friend we were like this is so cool we have to do this too. We have to start a band and I didn’t know anything about playing guitar and she had never done vocals or anything like that and our other friend had never played bass. She was like “Ill play bass".” So we just got together and found someone who wanted to play drums but was also very in experienced. So like at the start we sucked. We were terrible but we got better eventually. And then there were some member changes and we started to find our identity after a couple years. For some reason from the start people liked our band even though at the start I still think we were very bad.
Justin: Who are the current members of the band? Is the band a 4 Piece?
Franz: It is now a 5 piece it used to be a 4 piece. Rami and I are the only original Members left. Our drummer is Gillies. He didn’t know anything about hardcore when he joined. I just met him at a birthday party and was like hey we are looking for drummer. you play drums? and he was like yeah I play drums and I am looking for a band but I don’t know what hardcore is I know Blink-182 but that is it. He fell in love with the genre instantly. Basil he is a very old friend of ours. He filled in a couple times when we started out but now he is our permeant bass player. Dave he just joined on second guitar because it just feels better to play with 2 guitars. We sound so much better. It is like another level unlocked.
Justin: What are some of the bands you were inspired by to start Lifecrusher?
Franz: Of course Lowest Creature, kind of like a thrash hardcore band sounds a lot like Power Trip, was the reason why we started we were inspired by the stuff we were listening to. We were pretty young at the time. We didn’t know to much about hardcore. We were listening to a lot Judiciary or Mizery. Expire at the time was an influence. We actually wanted to cover Expire at our first show. Then all the stuff came out about their guitarist and then we were like no we are not gonna do that. But that is defiantly an influence on our sound when we started out and it sucked to hear all that come out.
Justin: What does 8KHC mean?
Franz: We are from Zurich in Switzerland and it is a thing in hardcore that people use their area codes on merch or whatever. It is just a thing that you do. We don’t have a cool area code it is like 8000 something and we learned about the Belgian hardcore scene of the late 90’s and early 2000’s and they had their H8000 thing. It was pretty big back in the day apparently. We cant do anything like that because it is the Belgian 8000 and we are from the Swiss 8000 so we have to do something else with it and so we just came up with 8k instead. It kind of stuck.
Justin: What is the scene like in Switzerland right now? How big or small?
Franz: We are actually kind of embarrassed because our last show we played in Zurich was like 10 people that showed up. It was a week day and just 2 bands and we did not really promote it. But when we go to Germany we sell out shows for 150 kids. Its pretty crazy. There are some places in Switzerland where there are really good for shows. But Zurich is rough at the moment and we are really trying to promote the hell out of these release shows so a lot of people are going to show up. We also got the best venue in the city finally. All the shows we have done previously were in some shitty bars. Kids don’t come to those bars. Its just not cool. It really is one of the best venues that we got for this release shows, because it is like 5 min walk from the busiest train station in Europe. Its in the summer and right in front of the venue there is the river that you can swim in and just jump in and usually in the summer it is really nice. So when bands come through on tour they alwasys jump off the bridge into the river. It is pretty fun. We are really stoked to be playing our show at that venue and that it is finally working out.
Justin: Who are some bands from Switzerland I should be listening to?
Franz: From Zurich there are a couple bands that mostly share members with us. Just this weekend the XOXO demo just released. That is 3 of the members of Lifecrusher but not me. It is kind of stupider but very fun. It is a lot heavier and more metallic. There is features on every song so you know what it is going to sound like. There is Devine Sentence which is one of my other bands which is a very political vegan metalcore band. We are actually doing pretty well. Which is pretty cool. From Zurich there is another new band called Decayed Remains with some older people and some people from Germany who moved to Zurich which is also cool. There is Deconvolution which are our best friends they are from the west of Switzerland they are more of a thrash hardcore band. Fever Dreams is another great band more death metal influence. Of course also there is Gut Wound which is more of a punk hardcore band where I play drums. That is all that is coming to mind right now but there is a couple more.
Justin: Lifecrusher put out a split with frantic state last year. How did that come about?
Franz: We had never played with them before and I was at one of their shows when they came to mainland Europe for the first time and I met them and we kind of became friends. Then they just approached us because they liked our stuff. They were like “hey lets do a split” and we were like “hell yeah”. I mean we were trying to do a split anyway and they just asked us and it just worked out perfectly. It took us forever to get everything done but we managed to do it. Then we did a really fun tour together last year and then one month later they broke up. Which sucks.
Justin: Is the new record “In Death We All Rot the Same” coming out on physical release and where from?
Franz: There is going to be tapes from Side 2 Side records from Germany. Which is a great label you should check out. Then vinyl from Inhumano Records from Switzerland. They are doing all sorts of stuff. Its a very diverse label from a guy who is from Chile but he moved to Switzerland so he has Swiss bands a Chilean bands on his label and it is pretty cool.
Justin: Is it an EP or LP?
Franz: It is 10 songs. Not super long. 22 or 23 minutes. In this day and age that is an LP. I have seen bands release an LP with 8 song 15 minutes that is and LP. So who cares nothing means anything.
Justin: What do you think the albums sounds like sonically?
Franz: All of our release so far have been different sounding from each other. The demo was a little more thrash. Then the next EP I found out about New York Hardcore like Killing Time and Breakdown and that stuff so there was a lot more bouncy parts. So the new sound is just like all of our previous iterations kind of bunched together. There is a song that is more melodic and a song that is more thrashsy and riffy and one song that is a little more epic with with like a melodic hardcore piece. so there is a lot of influences we are drawing from and I think it is a pretty diverse and exciting record.
Justin: I am really impressed with they lyrics on the Lifecrusher songs so far it that they tend to actually mean something. How much does that mean to you as a band? Who writes the lyrics?
Franz: It is mostly me who writes the lyrics not all the songs but most of them. Rami struggles with lyrics sometimes because when we started out she was not very good at speaking English. She also has dyslexia and so she makes a lot of mistakes when writing lyrics so she is not always very confident with the stuff she writes. But it is getting better and she has really improved there is always 1 or 2 songs on a release that she wrote the lyrics for and it is the same on the album. I am the main song writer for Lifecrusher and I have a lot of stuff to say and of course I run it by the others and they get to have their input. Like no that line sucks lets think of something else. Usually when we are in the studio Rami changes the lyrics up that we already planned that she had learned because it doesn’t really work out the way she wants to sing it so she just switches out a whole verse or however she feels. I do like 80% of the lyrics and the rest is what happens with the song when we figure it out.
Justin: Do the lyrics come first in the writing process or does the music come first then lyrics?
Franz: When we wrote the songs for the LP I had instrumentals written for every song. Before we knew what the lyrics were going to be for the song. Actually Choose/Refuse was the one song that I knew what I wanted the lyrics to be when I wrote the song. I was like “We need exactly this sing along part. We need it to be exactly like that and these words sound good at this part of the song” But for all the other songs I just wrote a bunch of lyrics I listened to all the demo recordings I did and thought to myself “maybe these lyrics work for this song”? Then I told rami about it and said “ Can you make these work for this song?” and she said she would try. So the songs don’t usually work instrumental and lyrics from the start. Because I cant predict how rami is going to try to sing certain lyrics. She has a very distinct way of doing it. All I can do is give her lyrics and she is trying to make them work and if it doesnt work we have to write more lyrics or write something else becasue it just is not going to work.
Justin: Do you have plans to tour on the new record or just the record release shows for now?
Franz: We are planning a tour it is going to be in July and August. We miscalculated a little because we have done a summer tour every year since covid. It has always been in June. It was super easy to get those tours booked. But this one has been very difficult because it Europe there is going to be summer break and a lot of venues are just closed over summer. During in July and August and we totally forgot about it when we took the time off work. So we have 60% of the tour booked and we are struggling to fill everything out. Because all the promoters are like “ I would love to do a show but there is just no venue.” We are just trying to make it work at the movement.
Justin: Do you ever have plans to come to the U.S.?
Franz: We were always dreaming about it. We thought if we ever make it to the U.S. we can die happy. But at this pint it is just probably never going to happen. Realistically not enough people care about our band that it is going to be worth it. We will see how the album release goes. If it does well we will think about it some more. We try not to have any expectations because it you don’t expect anything you wont be let down. We actually tried to come to Canada. We had someone who was committed to book a couple shows for us from western Canada to the east. But I don’t think they were able to make it work and just eventually stopped responding. That was supposed to happen last year but then we just did the Frantic State tour instead. Which was a very good replacement because it was the funest tour we have ever done easily.
Justin: Where can people follow what Lifecrusher has coming up?
Franz: Just Instagram. Follow us on Instagram and you will learn everything that is important about our band.
Justin: Any closing thoughts?
Franz: Listen to Choose/Refuse, tell us if you like it, tell us if you hate it, get excited for the new record, 8KHC forever!
Seriously one of my favorite bands right now. Wise up and get their listenership up in the US so they can come over and blow us all away. This new record is going to be epic so don’t miss out. It comes out May 14th and as of right now I can’t find it in the store for Side 2 Side Records or Inhumano Records but it will be up there eventually according to their social media so keep an eye out.
Other Notable New Releases
Planet on a Chain - Culture of Death (LP)
New planet on a chain LP is out now on Revelation Records. This is a must listen if you like fast hardcore.
No Right - 2024 Promo
Debut LP from one of the best bands doing this heavy sound right now will be out on Triple B Records later this year. These songs they have out now are great even the cover is sick and I don’t really think I have ever heard a note of VOD other than the NYHC 95 documentary. But their adaptation of it is so sick.
Ku-Ri-Boh! - Heart of the Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh theme powerviolence from Slovenia. One of my favorite shows as a kid and one of my favorite music genres as an adult. Sick as fuck.
Deterioration - Paranoia & Violence(LP)
One of the best current Grindcore bands has a new LP out. Available on CD and Cassette through Shattered Dreams Productions. 12 inch vinyl is coming in May through Malokul Records.
Instructor - The Nightmare Continues(Cass)
Sick new hardcore EP from Belgium. Out now on Quality Control Records.
Simulakra - Reincarnation(EP)
5 new songs from Delaware Heavy Hardcore band. This is out on Daze Records. This band rules if you like really heavy music.
Utility - Demo(Cass)
New Demo on Fortress Records from a brand new band out of Connecticut. This is great hardcore with a lot of passion behind the lyrics.
Brain Squeeze/The Death Sentence - Split (7 inch)
Roots hardcore split from 2 bands out of Portland, Oregon. You can get this Split 7 inch at convulse Records. This Artwork for The Death Sentence side of the split (which is my preferred side of the 2) is such great artwork I had to include it. Especially because the art on bandcamp only shows the Brain Squeeze side Art.
Noose Sweat - Murder Suicide
New powerviolence/grind release from Vancouver. Not sure if there is a physical but I think it is only digital for now.
Trigger//LilixElbe - Split(10 inch)
10 inch split between a German Grindcore band of Trigger and a powerviolence band that is LilixElbe from Czechia. The Record is available from either one of their bandcamp pages.
Nothin’ But Enemies - The Real Steel (EP)
New heavy hardcore 12 inch EP from Nothin’ But Enemies out of Glasgow, Scotland. This is available on Streets of Hate Records and Northern Unrest Records.
No Guard - War Over Me (EP)
New EP from Springfield Illinois Punk Oi band. Physical will be out on Lionheart Records at some point. This EP is actually really great and you have to hear the song “Me And You” it is a certified banger.
Fumist - Coaltar(LP)
New record from French Powerviolence/D- Beat/Hardcore band. The physical release information can be found here.
Shows I went to since the last zine
3/28/2024 - Entrail Asphyxiation, Coronary, Pucker Up, and Mechanism
I went to see this show towards the end of March. I love what is happening in the hardcore and punk scene in Springfield and Central Illinois. I love Midwest hardcore sound and I think this area has a great thing going. All of the people playing in these local bands are in other bands and are booking the shows and working together to keep bands wanting to come through. Every band gets a reaction at every show and it is great to see. People just want to rock out and have fun and I love it.
Mechanism opened the show. They are a brand new band from Springfield that has not yet put out any music but they have something recorded and it is coming out soon. They had kind of a Gel sort of vibe or something of that sort. The vocals had a lot of reverb effect and they went for the caveman side to side mosh several times but sliced up with plenty of fast parts throughout and a sick ass intro to lead it all off.
Coronary from Chicago played next. They put out an LP late last year called “The Future is Now” that is straight up one of my favorite records from last year. This band fucking rules. they are doing a super fast roots hardcore style with a little bit of crossover influence but not to much. Needless to say this was my favorite band so see I got to stage dive and sing along to songs I have been blasting for months. They have a new record in the works that they are going in to the studio to record soon. You need to check this band out if you have not heard them yet.
Entrail Asphyxiation from Baltimore Maryland played next. Grinding Gore Brutal Death is what they flyer says. It is not wrong but this band had a deceptively large amount of beatdown mosh parts mixed in throughout the set. Probably the most violent set of the night. But very dope musically and I love fast music and this band defiantly delivered.
Pucker Up Closed out the show. They are also local the Springfield. The last show I went to in Springfield they opened. Since then they have a new EP out so it is great so see them come full circle. This music is hard and fast. They killed it. The new songs sounded great and looked like the band was having so much fun playing them. I hope to see this band a lot more in the future.
4/3/2024 - Sinister Feeling, Kidnapped, Prevention, Innervision, and Unseen Forces
4/12/2024 - Kublai Khan TX, Sunami, Judiciary, and Momentum
I did a show run down for the first show. Is this interesting or something you want me to talk about let me know if you want me to do that for every show I attend or not. I am not sure how I feel about it so if you want to comment and let me know if I should do more or less on that topic.
News for Upcoming Releases
Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition (LP)
Out May 17th on Nuclear Blast Records. There are 3 singles out right now and they are all great songs. Arizona Death Metal.
Time Heist - With Every Passing Moment (LP)
Out on Indecision Records later this year. Colorado Straight Edge band. Sounds kind of like Atari or a more current comparison would be Decline form Chicago.
Take Offense - T.O.tality (LP)
New LP from the Chula Vista legends Take Offense will be out May 10th on MNRK Heavy Records. Their are 3 new songs up on streaming now for the promotion from the album. They all rip just as hard as any other T.O. song.
Lifecrusher - In Death, We All Rot the Same (LP)
Debut Lifecrusher LP out May 15th on Side 2 Side Records and Inhumano Records. There is a new single up on streaming now called “Choose/Refuse” and it is one of the best songs they have done. Can’t wait for this record. Check out the interview if you somehow missed it earlier in the zine. Don’t sleep on this band or record. This shit is going to be epic.
Caveman - Somethings Got to Give (EP)
First EP following up one of the best demos from last year. This EP is available May 10th on To Live A Lie Records. New single “Question” is on streaming now.
Contention - Artillery from Heaven (LP)
Debut LP from Tampa Straight Edge metallic hardcore band out May 3rd on Daze. New singles “In the Land of Nod” and “Ousted from Eden” is up now on streaming to listen to and Pre-orders are available now on the Daze Style website.
One Step Closer - All You Embrace (LP)
Sophomore LP from Wilkes-Barre’s own One Step Closer will be out May 17th on Run For Cover Records. Their first LP is one of my favorite records ever. Great band. They have 3 singles up now to listen to for the promotion of the album. Go check them out and comment what you think.
Home Invasion - Enemy (LP)
Debut LP from one of Chicago’s many great bands Home Invasion. They have a song called “Insignificance” that is up to listen to now. This is brutal and fast and hard. It comes out May 17th on War Records. If you like roots hardcore you have to hear this band.
Lead Spirit - Lead Spirit (7 inch)
Lead Spirits first time on vinyl will be in summer 2024 by way of From Within Records. This is a 7 inch release. I think their demo is actually unreal and their new song “Release (hound of hope)” is available to listen to now and it is just as good if not better. Nebraska Hardcore.
Groin - Paid in Flesh (LP)
New song “Blow to Smithereens” is up now to listen to in preparation for the new LP “Paid in Flesh” from grindcore legends Groin. This is coming out on No Time Records on June 14th. This band has not put out a bad song so if you like grind this is about as good as it gets. The new song will blast your face off.
Stand Still - Steps Ascending (LP)
This Long Island band put out one of my favorite EP’s of 2022 so I am stoked that they finally have their first LP. “Steps Ascending” comes out June 14th on Daze Records. 3 singles are up on streaming now so go check those out and get the record if you like what you hear.
Wreckage - Self In All
May 24th we will have the newest addition to the Connecticut Hardcore band Wreckage catalog. I think the new song for this release “More To This” is their best song by far so I am very excited for this release. Scheme Records will be putting this out so go there to get a copy when it is released.
Upcoming Shows
Thanks for Reading
Listen to Aus Rotten. Their 3 LP's finally are available to stream so handle business and blast that shit.
Anyways thank you for getting to the end of this but don't worry there will be more next month. We got some certified bangers to look forward to and hopefully some great shows to attend. As always please hit me up if there is something you think I should hear or include or someone to interview. Tell me what you think about these releases in the comments. Keep it real and I will catch you next time.
-Justin