86 Mentality
Goin' Nowhere Fast
Grave Mistake (2005)
Washington D.C. is known for putting out some of the best punk/hardcore bands of all time. If you were to simplify their history into Minor Threat and Bad Brains that would already be the type of track record that any respected trainer strives for. More recently though, D.C. hasn't been putting out as many head turners, that is until you … Read more
Big Eyes
Almost Famous
Grave Mistake (2013)
Seattle is made out to be such a dreary place. Big Eyes released a largely positive-sounding debut in Hard Life and the reviews basically talked about the band’s relocation from Brooklyn to Seattle. Now, with the release of sophomore full-length Almost Famous, the press sheet says things like “a bit of Seattle seeps in,” no doubt referring to some of the darker-tinged passages.The … Read more
Cloak/Dagger
Piñata
Grave Mistake (2006)
When you look at the pedigree of Cloak/Dagger, you really can't argue with it: American Nightmare, Striking Distance, Count Me Out, and Trial by Fire, among others. But what is refreshing is that Piñata really doesn't sound exactly like any of those bands. Cloak/Dagger deliver four songs of aggressive hardcore-punk, not hardcore, not punk, on this 7". "Daggers Daggers" sets … Read more
Deep Sleep
Three Things at Once
Grave Mistake (2009)
Deep Sleep sound like 1980's LA hardcore. A good example is the dual vocals of "Alone with You," but with twenty-one songs in twenty-five minutes, all the songs are pretty interchangeable. It's fast, sloppy, and underdeveloped. After my first listen, I learned that Three Things at Once is a compilation of the band's three EPs thus far, which makes sense … Read more
Deep Sleep
You're Screwed
Grave Mistake (2006)
You're Screwed is nine songs of modern punk from Baltimore-based Deep Sleep. The songs on this 7" are quick and to the point and fueled by high-octane energy. Unfortunately, Deep Sleep just really isn't my thing, which is surprising as they claim to be heavily influenced by the Descendents, who are one of my old-time favorites. But unlike the Descendents, … Read more
Earth Girls
Wrong Side of History
Grave Mistake (2014)
Wrong Side of History is the debut 7” by Chicago upstarts Earth Girls. This piece of weighty green wax (via Grave Mistake in the United States) was recorded during the same session as their sold-out limited run demo cassette from earlier this year. Earth Girls are headed up by Liz Panella of Libyans and Broken Prayer on guitar and vocals. The lineup is rounded out … Read more
Night Birds
Born To Die In Suburbia
Grave Mistake (2013)
Releasing the 7” teaser Maimed for the Masses certainly helped introduce the increasingly prominent surf guitar in Night Birds. Still, the opener “Escape from New York” is a holy shit moment as it perfectly blends surf lines with punk aggression. After their debut, The Other Side of Darkness, I was wondering just how far the band could take their sound and it took … Read more
Night Birds
The Other Side Of Darkness
Grave Mistake (2011)
The hype had been building for Night Birds’ debut. They’ve released three 7”s and the band, feature ex-members of The Ergs!, Hunchback, and Psyched to Die, and put on a great show at Fest 9 in Gainesville. When that much hype builds, often it comes tumbling back to earth when the actual product is released. Not so for The Other … Read more
Set to Explode
Set to Explode
Grave Mistake (2005)
Sometimes the Internet can be a glorious thing, and we can all thank Al Gore for that... It is because of the glorious invention that I first became aware of this DC group that featured former Striking Distance frontman Dave Byrd, among other past and present players I the D.C. hardcore and punk scenes. And after hearing Set to Explode … Read more
Supercrush
Lifted b/w Melt Into You (Drift Away)
Grave Mistake (2014)
Surpercrush is the newish Vancouver, British Columbia-based band from Mark Palm, a dude most known for playing in a long ancestry of punk/HC and metal bands and as being the primary songwriter for San Francisco, CA’s bliss-pop snorefest Modern Charms. Hey Mark, Bob Mould called and he wants his Sugar back. No, seriously, this is alright. I mean I fucking … Read more
The Frontline
Withstand
Grave Mistake (2005)
When hardcore started it was fast, powerful and had a strong positive message. While today much of hardcore has lost its sense of positivity, The Frontline brings a great message and great music back with their debut EP, Withstand. Frontline adds in an uplifting message without sacrificing the intensity, energy and power of the hardcore style. The lyrics speak of … Read more
Time to Escape
Time to Escape
Grave Mistake (2007)
Bands like Time to Escape are the reason I picked up a record player. It's not so I can score crucial pre-order/fest only vinyl. It's because hardcore bands like Time to Escape just sound that much more raw and frenetic on vinyl than they ever would on CD. Time to Escape is a fast snotty hardcore band from the nation's … Read more
Unseen Force
In Search of the Truth (Reissue)
Grave Mistake (2008)
Most people that really delve deep into and are passionate about hardcore and punk know Richmond, Virginia for its fruitful output over the past decade or so, but that wasn't always the case. There was obviously a time when, like many other cities, it was a budding scene on the cusp of something huge. Which brings up to this album … Read more
Wasted Time
No Shore
Grave Mistake (2007)
Wasted Time basically sounds like Time to Escape but with more gruff vocals and more influences that stem from early New York hardcore than Dischord. Once again, if it's done well, I like it. Wasted Time I like. Actually I like Wasted Time a bit more than Time to Escape since they just go for throat and are a smidge … Read more
