White Wash - "White Wash" 7"

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White Wash might be the last band to play "mysterious guy hardcore", or at least the last band to play it well.  This 7" is a follow up to their 2010 debut cassette on the now defunct Home Invasion records (RIP :(((( ) I can't think of many bands to compare them to, other than fellow Winnipeg band Self-Interest and former label mates Slices, although they are way faster than either.  Some songs are rocking, others are fast, all are noisy and have really ugly grungy riffs carrying them.  Solid release.

Attack SS - "No Nukes EP!!"

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It's hard to write something about bands like this, because while they're awesome it's difficult to avoid cliches like using "noise not music" or some other generic bullshit slogan.  I guess it's unavoidable, seeing as this ep is called "NO NUKES!! EP" and the band has an SS in their name.  Anyway, this band is from Japan and they're fucking sick.  Awesome vocal delivery, bouncy pogo punk style bass and the buzz saw guitar attack works really well, and creates a nice overall texture the the EP.  Attack SS has more melody than their contemporaries, but that isn't to say this is melodic at all.  A must for fans of D-Clone, GAI, Nerveskade and other spikey noise punk.  While you're at it check out the other new releases on Distort Reality, the Frenzy and Peroxide EPs are more of the same, but they're both fucking awesome.

Manic - "Manic" (2012)

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I posted their demo earlier and in that post I promised a rip of this, and my friend John came through way faster than I expected.  Anyway this band sounds like the best parts of Koro, Pollution, Double Negative and Animosity-era Corrosion of Conformity thrown in a blender to me.  This record is explosive, fast, frantic, dark and noisy.  It opens with feedback, and a speedy, choppy, distorted riff that really sets the tone for this record, however the stand out track here is the closing track to the b-side "Leeches", where the guitar and bass lock perfectly together created a very tight song that somehow sounds like it's going to fall apart at the same time. 

This record may very well be my favorite thing this year.  It's insane how this has flown under the radar.  Not only is it really fucking good, it's also unique, and if I hear one more uninspired Hoax rip off band or another whack ass mid-tempo "oi influenced" band I'm gonna puke

NASA Space Universe - Tour 12" ("NSU")

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NASA Space Universe are one of the best bands playing punk right now.  If you're not familiar with them they sound like Die Kreuzen having a panic attack.  Their music is very fast, bizarre, and choppy.  Everything is super tight, too.  This band is incredible.

I think they may still have copies of this record.  You can get in touch here.

Manic - "Demo" (2011)

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Manic from Atlanta, Georgia live up to their name, playing demented and exuberantly fast hardcore punk.  The music is strange, fast and snotty.  They kinda remind me of Koro, or maybe Pollution, but they aren't all that similar to either.  All I know is that this is great, the guitar and bass tone are great, not completely blown out but noisy enough to be interesting. They apparently put out a 7" this year on Scavenger of Death that I will be posting once I have a rip of it.  This comes highly recommended.

Closet Case - "It Doesn't Get Better" (Demo 2012)

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Living in Phoenix is weird, it seems like every few months there's a new local band composed of every one in the last local band, playing the same style music and just calling it something different.  Not to say that these bands aren't good but when a band comes out of left field it's awesome.  That's what Closet Case is.  A few people I've never seen before in my life backed up by the former guitarist of Distance and State Leech. They have unfortunately already been pigeon holed under the bullshit non existent genre that is "queer-core".  Although 3/4's of the band are gay, they represent far more than that.  

This demo is a bleak look at life through the eyes of someone who remains in the closet.  The music itself is fast, and reminiscent of Tear It Up or Cut The Shit, but with a lot more mosh parts.  It's really fucking promising and even better live, if you are brave enough to see them.

For physical copies of the demo email: closetcase (at) gmail (dot) com

Shirtless Thugs - "Ripped You Off!"

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Nearly four minutes of snot nosed and fucking stupid (in the best way possible) hardcore punk from the Salvation and Cult Maternal camps on an 8 dollar cassette.  Musically it's like a less inspired "Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes".  I guess you did get ripped off.  Ah-ha-ha-ha.

Sickoids - "Sickoids" LP

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Philadelphia's SICKOIDS are a straight up phenomenal band.  Taking influence from punk and hardcore across the spectrum their sound falls somewhere between "Kings Of Punk" era Poison Idea, "Land Speed" era Husker Du with some Italian hardcore style wildness thrown in for good measure.  This band sounds instantly classic and new simultaneously, which is a difficult thing to do with hardcore punk in 2012.  This LP has everything I like in a hardcore record, weirdness, speed, occasional stomping intros and gruff vocals.  This record is near flawless.  They also put on an incredible live show.

Merchandise - "Angels in the Station" CD R

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I got this at Merchandise's show in Phoenix on Monday night, it's a CD R that features rehearsal and demo tracks from the last two LPs plus some exclusive material. It's pretty good, but it's not as good as the LP's or the cassettes that led up to them. Although, it's miles better than the lathe or that weird disco 7" they did.