Void - "Sessions 1981-83"

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The definitive Void reissue is finally out on Dischord records. "Sessions 1981-83" features unreleased and unheard songs, remastered versions of the famous "Hit and Run" and "Condensed Flesh" demos, comp tracks and live songs. This record offers more insight on this incredible and strange band.

If you want to hear it you can still preview it here

Total Abuse - "Prison Sweat"

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The last nail in the infamous coffin of Total Abuse. A degenerative band who halfheartedly rode the mysterious guy hardcore train better than a lot of their try-hard contemporaries. Prison Sweat is bound to disappoint and simultaneously turn heads. I guess that sums up the band pretty well too.

Grasseaters - Demo 2011

Grasseaters - Demo by Grasseaters

I don't know anything about this. My friend Jack sent this to me, so I assume they're Midwest based. I can't find a mediafire link or anywhere to buy this or anything. Shit's good. Really fucking weird. The vocals are high pitched shouting, the guitar is really fucking chaotic as are the drums. This is really fucking good, reminiscent of Raw Nerve, no doubt. Be on the look out for this band. All the info to be had (I think) is on this blog. Check it out.

Condominum - "Warm Home"

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Condominium's long awaited LP, "Warm Home", finally drops, and it's nasty. They've all but dropped the grunge feel "Gag" had, brought back the snottiness of their earlier EPs. "Warm Home" is like the epic conclusion to a horribly fucked up saga. I'm enthralled.

Bored Straight - "Locked Up"

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Bored Straight's final output, such a fucking shame this band is done. I booked their show in Phoenix over the summer, the cops showed and tried to shut us down but they played a destructive five minute set to no more than nine people in a hellishly hot brick shed. They fucking killed it, and the shed hasn't looked the same ever since.

These guys know what they're doing, taking influence from Deep Wound, Die Kreuzen, Void and other early fast hardcore without being complete throw-back garbage. Instead they have a noisy edge to them that prevents them from fitting right in with the No Way Records bands, though they don't sound like a Youth Attack band either. Instead they play timeless in your face hardcore. This is highly recommended.

Self-Interest - "Blooming"

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Another demented ripper from Pass Judgement Records. Self-Interest have come a long way since their Four Songs tape from last year. They still riff like Greg Ginn, but they added some grunge flare to their nasty brand of hardcore. Stoked to hear any further output from these mad men.

Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers - "Right to be Italian"

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CHEETAH CHROME MOTHERFUCKERS were an Italian band insanely ahead of their time, or just out of place in general, they played inimitably bizarre hardcore. No one will ever come close to sounding like this, although many have tried and failed. This tape compiles their last show and first demo.

The Execute - "Criminal Flowers"

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The Execute are my favorite early Japanese hardcore band. They were darker, faster and stranger than a lot of their contemporaries (GISM excluded, of course) This 7" captures them at their weirdest, wankiest and fastest. Some serious weirdo riffing on the opening track. Fucking incredible.

Hoax - Second 7" (Youth Attack)

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I often avoid reading a punk band's lyrics, usually because they are pretty inane. This is fine. I think we all agree you don't have to be an Oxford graduate to be the lyricist of a hardcore band, but when the lyrics are good it can increase tension and hatred, or sometimes in this case self-hatred. Hoax has some pretty great lyrics. I got that old familiar spark I felt at age 15 when I first started listening to this shit.

And that's just the lyrics. These four songs demean and abuse you while are simultaneously self-abusive as well. We are drowning in the same cesspool together, but keep your distance. The music is simple, but this depressive intimidating wall of aggression hits hard. Sincerity is achieved unlike many of the try-too-hards in bands these days that desperately attempt to convey how fucked up or crazy they are. Hoax is legitimately fucked up.

So I end this by touching on some cliche territory. Hoax represent why I like punk in the first place. This is a home for freaks and weirdos (see the lyrics: "we're both ugly puny shits"). People that have trouble functioning in the real world. This is not a gimmick.

and remember, "a true friend pulls the trigger"