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200 Words Or Less

Red Fang

Red Fang
Sargent House (2009)

Bold, in your face stoner rock from members of Bad Wizard and Party Time. If you like your rock heavy with Sabbath sprinkled into the mix, Red Fang are your guys. Curiously, the first four songs blast your face off. Then later on, it got a bit too Nirvana-esque for me song structure wise. "Reverse Thunder" will singe your eyebrows … Read more

200 Words Or Less

We'll Go Machete

We'll Go Machete
Cedar Fever (2009)

Austin, Texas natives We'll Go Machete offer six songs on their debut EP, released through indie label Cedar Fever Records, also based in Austin. It comes in a cardboard sleeve, which for a CD release isn't much plus, there are no lyrics. Over these six songs, We'll Go Machete, blast through twenty minutes of alternative influenced hardcore punk. If you … Read more

200 Words Or Less

A Kid Named Thompson / Altus

Split
Seafoam (2009)

Two newcomers from Texas team up for a split 7" release. You get one track each, generally falling within the bounds of the indie music circuit. A Kid Named Thompson is not a one-man emo guitarist - thank goodness. This three-piece outfit instead offers up "Fall Down," a three-minute venture of upbeat pop-rock. I'd liken them to Jimmy Eat World, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

No Harm Done / Offsides

Split
Seafoam (2009)

Seafoam Recordings teams up No Harm Done from Florida and Offsides from Connecticut on this limited edition split 7". The a-side features the final three tracks from No Harm Done, who just recently called it quits. This Floridian outfit continues their melodic hardcore and punk assault that follows the lead of Strike Anywhere and Rise Against. I've always found this … Read more

200 Words Or Less

¡Apeshit!

Cavalier Activity
Mother Chorizo (2009)

Two years back I reviewed ¡Apeshit!'s self-titled demo. The record contained thirteen songs in just about eleven minutes. This 7" EP - which the band has self-released on their own label - counts a modest seven songs in just a smidge over seven minutes. Cavalier Activity is an extension of the sound heard on their previous recordings, which also includes … Read more

200 Words Or Less

All Leather

Hung Like a Horse
Dim Mak (2009)

With the demise of Some Girls and the considerable downtime of The Locust, Justin Pearson got the itch to do something new. He teamed up with fellow Some Girls cohort Nathan Joyner and Maniqui Lazer's Jung Sing to form All Leather All Leather ventures towards slightly different territory that previous Pearson projects, and yet there is still that distinct sound … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Half Hearted Hero

Defining. Refining.
Set Sail (2009)

Massachusetts is obviously more well known for its metal and hardcore scenes, but they've also got a pretty substantial stream of pop-punk bands churning out the hits as well. Half Hearted Hero is one of the upstart groups part of this surge. And here they offer up their debut full-length, Defining. Refining. Half Hearted Hero fall in that middle of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sirhan Sirhan

Blood
Anodyne (2008)

Sirhan Sirhan plays groovy hardcore punk with a bit of a noise rock bent and maybe even some of that vintage rock 'n' roll vibe from The Bronx's early work, but with a much heftier guitar sound and harsher vocals. This album doesn't really have a whole lot in common with what would traditionally be considered hardcore except for being … Read more

Cave In

Planets of Old
Hydra Head (2009)

Cave In is back! Yes! The band makes its comeback known with the four-track twelve inch EP, Planets of Old, much to the excitement of long time fans and those that have yet to experience the four piece outfit (with drummer JR Connors rejoining the fold). Considering the chameleon like shifting of the band's sound over the years, the question … Read more

Have Nots

Serf City USA
Scars and Strife (2009)

The disbanding of Boston punk groups Stray Bullets and Chicago Typewriter led to the formation of the band Have Nots. Sometimes, stronger bands are formed from the ashes of two defunct ones and Have Nots are looking to prove this with their debut album, Serf City USA. They bring a nice balance of ska and aggressive punk rock to the … Read more

Outrage

Broken
Panic (2009)

Massachusetts has been a bastion for hardcore throughout the years, and 2009 isn't any different. Outrage bring forth their debut full-length, Broken, which follows up the Savior EP they released late last year. Outrage draws heavily from an era of hardcore that I both love and know well: the mid-90's. Therefore, I am predisposed - subconsciously or consciously I do … Read more

Mouthbreather

Thank You For Your Patience
Kiss of Death (2008)

After hearing a certain amount of buzz surrounding Mouthbreather and their album, Thank You For Your Patience, there seemed a certain pull for me to listen to this record, if only to check out what the band has to offer. My piquing interest aside, this Richmond, Virginia band continues to turn heads. One aspect of Mouthbreather on Thank You For … Read more

Chuck Ragan

Gold Country
Side One Dummy (2009)

When Hot Water Music vocalist/guitarist, Chuck Ragan released Feast or Famine, it took a lot of fans by surprise. There have been a lot of punk musicians who form acoustic side projects in their down time, but how many of them sounded as good and authentic as Feast or Famine did? That album carried a very strong folk vibe and … Read more

Wolves & Thieves

Wolves & Thieves
Swagger City/Lorelei (2009)

I talk about the Bay Area hardcore scene a lot. Okay, maybe a little more than a lot. But it is a quality scene, so you can't blame me. Equally as deserving of recognition is the punk scene of the greater San Francisco Bay. There is a rich history that stems back to the 1970's with groups like Dead Kennedys, … Read more

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