WRUV Reviews

Nothing to extreme/apparition from the normal brought to us by the emo rockers from Jersey. This album seems more complete?… than some of their previous efforts. This could be from either their music producer, or how they recorded it in the studio. Still simple emo riffs and vocals, but you can hear how much more polished the solos and overall feel are if you catch my drift. You can see that they are trying to become more than just emo by the suite that is track #1.

FCC Warning – Track 1

Try – 1/2/3/4/5/8/11 – 2/3/4/5 very good

RIYL – The Get Up Kids/The Movielife/Two Tongues/Tigers Jaws/Title Fight/Smashing Pumpkins/Taking Back Sunday/Weezer

400 Blows- Sickness & Health
Release date: 2011Aug23
Label: ORG Music
Rating: 4.5/5

This is the fourth release from LA noise punk group, 400 Blows. The lineup is very interesting as it consists of Skot Alexander, Scott Martin (Big Business) and Kevin Fitzgerald (Circle Jerks). The band name itself sounds like a reference to the film of the same name directed by Francois Truffaut. The overall sound of 400 Blows consists of a mix of noisy punk and old-school hardcore, which I enjoy very much. “Stop The End” has a marvelous time signature with the fast-paced drums of Fitzgerald that mesh with Skot Alexander’s vocals. “Bad Man’s Blues” stands out because it re-creates the furor of the early-80s LA scene. Can Fitzgerald pound the skins or what? “When The Time Passes Slowly” and “The Rescue Party” stand out with the former containing weird, nearly psychedelic vibes while the latter is the sonic equivalent of a blow to the fucking head.  I gotta admit, 400 Blows is a band to watch and they already have a lot going for them thanks to the hard work of Fitzgerald. I recommend you check them out soon!

FCC: ?
Try: 1,4,6,11

Discharge- War Is Hell (reissue)
Release date: 2011Aug23
Label: Candlelight Records
Rating: 4.5/5

War is Hell is a compilation of older Discharge material. It also contains 3 live tracks and 3 additional bonus tracks.  I really enjoyed the reissue of Disensitise and it has given me renewed enthusiasm for this style of music.

“State Violence, State Control” starts things off with loud, tinny crust that gives me the urge to jump right into a raging pit. The atmopshere of this track reminds me of the punk shows held at the old Battery Street Jeans in the early 2000s before the fire marshal shut them down for good. “You Deserve Me” keeps the beat going with a much faster pace.

I have some other picks as well from this album. They include “The More I See” (think Minor Threat but with a metal influence instead of hardcore), “Corpse of Decadence”, “M.A.D” (think Dr.Strangelove, not the magazine) and “You Take Part Creating The System”. I also enjoyed the live versions of “Realities of War” and “Doomsday”. The bonus versions of “Beginning of the End” and “They Lie, You Die” are slightly longer outtakes of the versions found on Disensitise.

Again, this album is a must have for fans of hardcore, grindcore and crust punk. I do wonder if it will lead to a new full-length. Regardless, newer fans need to check out this shit because it is a decent mix of new/older material!

FCC: Clean
Try: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16

Discharge- Disensitise (reissue)
Release date: 2011Aug23
Label: Candlelight Records
Rating: 4.5/5

I’m delighted to see that Candlelight has reissue two crucial albums from Discharge (2008’s Disensitise and the 2008 compilation War is Hell). The former is their latest full-length album featuring the original members. The overall sound is a mix of d-beat/crust punk/grind metal.

“Blood of the Innocent” has a grinding drum line mixed in with tinny guitars, bass and vocals. It has a very early-1980s feel to it, despite being recorded in 2008. “They Lie, You Die” is thicker than a scab with a very deathly feel. A few other tracks that caught my ear were “Spoils of War” (urgent with a message about war), “Persuasion = Power” (the longest, more expansive track), “Ignorance is Your Surrender”, “Will Deceive You” and “Legacy You Left Behind.”

Fans of modern grind acts such as Napalm Death and S.O.B will enjoy this reissue of Disensitise because of the apparent influence of Discharge in their sound. It makes me want to dig out my Crass, Conflict and Econochrist records. I think I will explore Discharge more!

FCC: Clean
Try: 1,4,6,7,9,12

Cerebral Ballzy- Cerebral Ballzy
Release date: 2011July26
Label: Williams Street Records
Rating: 5/5

I like the description of Cerebral Ballzy. It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything good out of East New York (the crime capital of NYC!). They’re obsessed with skating (meh), beer (yeah!) and Beavis & Butthead reruns (hell yeah!). Not a bad way to start things off!

“On the Run” evokes the Dead Kennedys and it will make you spill your beer all over the floor just trying to keep up.  ”Office Rocker” and “Don’t Tell Me What To Do” channel the spirit of the Bad Brains [Yo, bartender! We need more PBRs and a pit, stat! - ed] while “Insufficient Fare” sounds like a cross between Pennywise and seminal NYHC groups Agnostic Front and Murphys Law. “Drug Myself Dumb” is loud, fast and trashy, just the way I like it! “Cutting Class” is excellent as well!

Cerebral Ballzy is an excellent release from a band that I hope to hear more from in the near future. It’s always nice to take a break, break out some beers and form a pit. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had this much fun with a release! One last note: The cover artwork is from Raymond Pettibon, who also did the OFF! EP artwork and artwork for several Black Flag releases as well.

FCC: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Try: 1,2,3,4,6,11

Vanna- And They Came Baring Bones
Release date: 2011Jun21
Label:Artery Recordings
Rating: 4.5/5

And They Came Baring Bones is the latest release from Vanna, a post-hardcore band from Boston, MA.  The band consists of Davey Muise (vocals), Nicholas Lambert (rhythm guitar), Evan Pharmakis (lead guitar), Shawn Marquis (bass) and Chris Campbell (drums).

“Black Bones” gets things started with a heavy drum attack from Chris Campbell followed by an impressive bass/guitar attack courtesy of Nicholas, Evan and Shawn.  I hear bits and pieces of Throwdown and recent Hatebreed within this track.  “I, The Remover” continues this theme with a blistering hardcore attack, utilizing breakdowns only where they matter the most. Other tracks on the harder side include “Silver Sun” (is there a circle pit nearby I can join?) and “Careless Men Lead Careless Lives” (the most balanced track, featuring Matt Lanners of The Greenery on guest vocals)

“Scarlet Shroud” trades the balanced hardcore attack for a slower-paced, melodic atmosphere. “White Light” follows it up as a somber closing track. In all, Vanna offers something for everyone here. I do wonder if “post-hardcore” is an actual genre because it sounds like more of a way for bands to distance themselves from the tough-guy image of hardcore that was cultivated by certain bands and labels in the 1990s. You won’t be disappointed either way.

FCC: 9
Try:1, 2, 6, 9, 11

01. Black Bones
02. I, The Remover
03. History On Repeat
04. Breathing at the Bottom
05. Scarlet Shroud
06. Passages
07. Silver Sun
08. I, The Collector
09. Careless Men Lead Careless Lives (featuring Matt Lanners)
10. Eyes Like The Tides
11. White Light

Death Valley High- Doom, In Full Bloom
Release date: 2011May03
Label: Minus HEAD
Rating: 4/5

Death Valley High play a potent mix of punk, metal and pop. They’re fronted by Reyka Osburn (Ghost Ride, Will Haven) and the promo material mentions bands like Torche and Killing Joke as influences. There are several notable tracks such as “Multiply” and “Meet Me For A Ouija”, which make good use of catchy melodies with a strong emphasis on the vocals of Osburn. “Thru Hell” plods along with a strong hardcore background (think a cross between a slower, doomier Bad Religion and The Misfits) and I would also call it one of the stronger tracks on this album.

Evidence of the Killing Joke influence is present on “Black Friday”, which  is full of  sludgy, punk-tinged metal. Not to be outdone, “The Wait”is an awesome cover of a classic Killing Joke track. It’s a fast paced, fresh take on this track.

“Mis+ & Debris” closes things off on a high note with thundering drums, decent melodies and a sinister vibe. It also has a 90s alt-rock feel, which is hard for me to pin down. Overall, I found a lot to like about Doom, In Full Bloom and I hope you will too as well. If anything, it should inspire others to dig deeper into the Killing Joke catalog, though be warned as their style has morphed over time.

FCC: None
Try: 1,3,5,6,9,12

Agnostic Front- My Life My Way
Release date: 2011Mar22 (US)
Label: Nuclear Blast USA
Rating: 4/5

Agnostic Front has energized hardcore audiences across the U.S for over 30 years with their brand of brutal, never-say-die NYHC.  It’s only fitting that they return with a new album (their first since 2007’s Warriors) and a renewed focus on their hardcore roots. This time around, they’re older, wiser and busier than ever (Roger Miret and the Disasters just barely released a new album).

“City Street” opens this release with the throaty screams of Roger Miret that compliment a balanced hardcore attack from Vinnie Stigma (guitar), Joseph James (guitar), Mike Gallo (bass) and Pokey Mo (drums). Agnostic Front’s greatest strength is their ability to write and execute memorable anthems. “Us Against The World” is strongly reminiscent of their sound on Victim In Pain (which was re-issued on Bridge 9 Records in 2009) while the title track pays homage to the NYHC kids that they inspired over the years.

The rest of this album is full of energetic, hard-hitting anthems. Standouts include “Now and Forever”, “The Sacrifice” (echoes the AF of old), “Your Worst Enemy” and “Time Has Come”. If you’re a fan of AF, you really can’t go wrong with this album. They’re back in top form and My Life My Way proves that they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come! If you’re interested in the thoughts of Roger Miret, check out this email interview at Mind Over Metal!

FCC: Check
Try: 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 13

01. City Street
02. More Than A Memory
03. Us Against The World
04. My Life My Way
05. That’s Life
06. Self Pride
07. Until The Day I Die
08. Now And Forever
09. The Sacrifice
10. A Mi Manera
11. Your Worst Enemy
12. Empty Dreams
13. Time Has Come

Wreak Havoc!- Abandon Everything
Release date: 2011Mar15
Label: Rotten Records
Rating: 4.5/5

Wreak Havoc! hail from Cleveland, Ohio and they play a mix of hardcore and fast-paced punk rock that has a strong old-school feel. ”At Odds With The World” starts off with a short intro before exploding with punchy drums and screams. ”Chasing Kerouac’s Ghost” showcases the talent of Rob Kearsey on drums with a few breakdowns to boot. D.R.I, Gorilla Biscuits and Raised Fist immediately come to mind as possible influences.

“Dead Eagles, Dead Legends” is one of the best tracks, packed with energy and intensity. As I got further into this album, I discovered two more gems:  ”Kick Ass, Die Young” and “New Living Dead”. There are no bad tracks on this album as they all contain a passion for hardcore that I have not seen in forever. In an era where most hardcore bands have adopted boring melodies and indecipherable lyrics, Wreak Havoc! stands out with their fast, frantic and blistering style of hardcore punk. My only complaint with this album is the excessive use of profanity, which unfortunately hurts the ability to spin it on the radio.

FCC: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Try: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13

01. At Odds With The World
02. Chasing Kerouac’s Ghost
03. Bury Me In South Amherst
04. Dead Eagles, Dead Legends
05. Disconnect Yourself
06. For The Mothers And Fathers Of The American Revolution
07. Hopelessly, I Hope
08. There Is An Answer To Every Problem
09. Know My Tragedy
10. Kick Ass, Die Young
11. The Greatest Of Men Are The Most Alone
12. New Living Dead
13. Kids These Days
14. Social Casualties: Refuse To Rot Away!

Drunken Hardcore- Drunken Hardcore Demo
Release date: 2010Jun
Label: Self-Released
Rating: 3.5/5

Former WRUV metal DJ Eric Stucke (Eric Paradox) is the vocalist of Drunken Hardcore from Oakland, CA. This is essentially a demo with 8 tracks of crust-infused, old-school hardcore. DHC also contains former members of Shaolin Finger Grab, Jesus’ Bitch and Kaiser Wave. Most tracks are are under the minute and a half mark and the production is lo-fi. “Choke To Death” starts things off with a fantastically muddled mess of guitar, bass and drums. “Punks Not Assholes”, “Sketched Out” and “Work, Drugs, RocknRoll” are tracks that stood out to me.

If you’re a fan of older hardcore (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Adolescents) then you will enjoy this demo. I’m interested in hearing more, especially if a full-length drops. Not only that, but I just think it’s totally fucking cool to see Eric doing vocals for DHC.

FCC: Unsure. Check.
Try: 1, 3, 6, 8

01. Choked to Death
02. Final Stress
03. Sketched Out
04. I’ve Got Weapons
05. You’re Missing Out
06. Punks Not Assholes
07. Smoking Hardcore
08. Work, Drugs, Rock’n Roll