NEW RELEASES- loads of new releases this week including the VAPID Lp and SLAVE SCENE 7”. See below for a full list.
SEDATIVES – Here is the EXCLAIM review for their recent album on Deranged. ‘The debut release from Ottawa, ON’s Sedatives is as pop-inspired as it is dark and desolate. Similar in style to the Adverts, ’80s era the Damned and Seattle’s the Spits, Sedatives play a gothic-tinged brand of garage punk complete with ferocious down stroke guitars and unrelenting eighth notes on the hi-hats balanced with haunting organs and gloomy lyrics delivered with a state of urgency. Every song is pure trashy fun laced with great vocal hooks, most notable on “Guilty,” “Powerlines” and “Slip Away,” the latter being the disc’s flawless closer. Sedatives have managed to put together a surprisingly impressive album crammed full of exciting, fuzzed-out anthems that bleed white heat and raw energy. Sedatives they may be but these guys show no signs of mellowing out.’
NOMOS – new review from RAZORCAKE ‘It took me a while to figure out this band’s name. It’s barely noticeable on the sticker placed on the plastic sleeve and it’s nowhere to be found anywhere on the cover or record labels. But it didn’t take much effort to get into this slab of wax. No Comment would definitely be a quick reference. Yet, Nomos come across as more energetic and even more pissed-off, if you can imagine that. It’s been a while since I’ve heard any blast beats in hardcore and hearing these guys mix it in perfectly makes me wonder why more bands don’t do this. Ah, yes, “power violence” is a dirty word in some circles. But, look, let’s all get past these stupid genre labels and appreciate what we have here: well done, brutal hardcore that sounds like it’s swinging around a sledge hammer and contact with your skull is imminent.’
BURIAL – new review from RAZORCAKE ‘This is better than anything they’ve done prior! The obvious Japanese hardcore influences are still intact, however, they’ve thrown in a bit more Discharge, and with all this they’re starting to sound more like themselves instead of someone else. If that makes any sense. The vocals are stronger, whereas on Never Give Up, Never Give In they sounded forced and trying too hard to sound like many of the Burning Spirits-style bands in their delivery. Here, the delivery is more natural and far more powerful and effective. The musicianship is unbelievably solid. Maybe on par with bands like Wolfbrigade and Tragedy? While this is definitely not original, what makes this work so well is the sheer power in the music. The songs attack, one after the other, with an urgency that lacks in too many bands these days. The sound is almost like a solid mass. Imagine something like a massive bulldozer plowing its way through a city street and the chaos that ensues. Six songs of pure adrenalin. A sonic ripper from start to finish.’
BURNING LOVE – Expect a number of releases from Toronto’s BURNING LOVE in early 2010 starting with the 7” version of their demo. Here is review from Exclaim magazine. ‘There’s no love – just burning – on this Toronto, ON-based quintet’s energetic and completely grimy debut recording. Containing six tracks blasted out in ten minutes, the garage-based endeavour is shockingly debaucherous and unkempt. Essentially comprised of former Cursed vocalist Chris Coholan and Hamilton doom-y hardcore outfit Vatican Chainsaw Massacre, this sinister collaboration spawns a dirtier punk’n’roll-based hardcore outfit than one would anticipate. Their drive elicits comparisons to Disfear, the Spades, and of course, Colohan’s deep-rooted adoration for Winnipeg, MB’s dearly departed Kittens. Keenly restrained enough to be melodic but still abrasive and loud, Burning Love offer up what’s best described as the pelvis-driven distillation of their feeder bands. And that is great but pretty frustrating when such an awesomely primitive, rudimentary style can be so inspiring and brusque yet ephemeral. ‘
BRAIN KILLER JANUARY TOUR W/ SCAPEGOAT-
1/4 – Philadelphia, PA at The Terrordome w/ Lotus Fucker
1/5 – Washington D.C. at 3rd Street Co-Op w/ Deathrats, Transgression, Lotus Fucker and Diet Cokeheads
1/6 – Richmond, VA at Gallery 5 w/ Syndrome and Mad World
1/7 – Asheville, NC at Static Age Records w/ Sunshine SS
1/8 – Gainesville, FL at The Junkyard w/ Nuclear 2 and Religious As Fuck
1/9 – Miami, FL at The Firefly w/Merkit and Hellmass
1/10 – Tampa, FL at Unit 19 w/ Slave Scene and Nazi Dust
1/11 – Athens, GA at Flicker w/ American Cheeseburger and Diet Cokeheads
1/12 – Nashville, TN at Glenn Danzig’s House w/ Life Trap
1/13 – Columbus, OH at The Legion of Doom w/ Vile Gash
1/14 – Pittsburgh, PA at Mr. Roboto Project w/ General Interest
1/15 – Brooklyn, NY at 538 Johnson w/ Nomos, Omegas & The Slobs
1/16 – Amherst, MA at Marsh House w/ Salvation, Vaccine and Confines
U.X. VILEHEADS – Debut 7” by ex-members of DS-13, REGULATIONS, VICIOUS and other great Swedish hardcore bands. It will come as no surprise to those familiar with the aforementioned bands that U.X. VILEHEADS play fast US influenced hardcore with a specific attention being paid to early Dischord titles. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
AIRFIX KITS – flex time 7” out now - When GIANT HAYSTACKS parted ways a few years back, two of the three members went on to form AIRFIX KITS. The three songs found on this debut 7” are pretty consistent with the aforementioned band with a heavy MINUTEMEN influence byway of UK post punk ala WIRE/GANG OF FOUR. 2nd 7” on DIRTNAP records out now also. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
VACANT STATE – internal conflict 7” – 2nd E.P., 5 songs of early 80’s influenced hardcore. With the A side giving a nod to the Boston Crew,( SSD, Negative FX, Last Rights) while the B side coming closer to the B side of My War mixed with Impact Unit. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
SLAVE SCENE – Ex- CULT RITUAL offers up one hell of an introduction with two noisy hardcore tracks. Reminds me of a way noisy FLIPPER meets Born Against. For fans of CULT RITUAL and TOTAL ABUSE. First press on blue vinyl. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
VAPID – “Strike while the best served dish is cold,” that’s what they always say, right? Nearly two years after the Do The Earthquake 7″, Vapid prove it with their debut album. Rough and bittersweet, or just plain spiteful, pop songs with a couple steamrollers thrown in for good measure. The Go-Go’s ditch the glossy production and record Too Tough To Die. Co-release with Nominal Records. These copies are on black & white marble vinyl. Includes download coupon. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
THE REACTIONARIES – Featuring ex DEADSTOP members. Late 2006 is when The Reactionaries put their heads together and decided to dig deeper than they ever had before, to go beyond the limitations of whatever genre there may be and just write music for the love of writing music. It took a few line up changes and a small hiatus for the ball to really get rolling. But now that it’s rolling, it seems like it ain’t gonna be stopped any time soon. Recorded over the span of close to half a year during late 2008 and early 2009 with the help of Krist Torfs (White Circle Crime Club), “Ingenuity” proves that there still are bands with the balls to do things on their own terms, no matter what self proclaimed connaisseurs have proclaimed as being the “new cool thing”. Drawing from a wide range of influences, this is the kind of record that music lovers will be able to sink their teeth into, no matter what their vinyl collection looks like. From the haunting, heartbroken yet still somehow surprisingly upbeat “Fool For You”, to the groovy, riff heavy “Changes”, The Reactionaries made sure every ounce of sweat and every bit of soul transpired into their songs. The result? I guess one could say it’s something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Soulful, dynamic, fuzzy garage punk. Or maybe it’s not. Other than crancking up “Ingenuity” real loud, the only way to really find out and truly discover The Reactonaries is to see them in a live setting. Those who’ve seen them on their string of shows with The Damned, or any other show for that matter, will surely testify to this. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS – Unless you are from Toronto or have been following the Canadian Indie scene closely for the last two years, chances you probably have not heard of this gem of a band. Definitely not your typical Deranged release but it is a great pleasure to be releasing $100’s second installment in their regional 7” series. ‘My Father’s House’ continues in the same vein folk country psych as their highly praised Forest of Tears album from last year. Out now and available in the deranged store (pre-order section).
