Tyvek
Fast Metabolism
Whats Your Rupture? (2007)
I got interested in Fast Metabolism after seeing it billed as "fast, loud and weird" punk rock from Detroit - three adjectives close to my own heart. Oddly enough, Tyvek isn't all that fast, loud, or weird, but they kick up a surprisingly enjoyable and inspired racket nonetheless. Tyvek play a simple, unaffected kind of garage punk, drawing comparisons to … Read more
Ultima Victima
La Batalla Sera Enterna
Detonate (2010)
If there's nothing that I hate more is moshcore bands that feel it necessary for their mosh parts to have mosh parts over mosh parts. Ulitma Victima are from Mexico and sing (well bark) in Spanish. The last time I took a Spanish class was in the 10th grade so I have no clue what's going on here. I can … Read more
Unchained
Dark Days
Independent (2008)
Unchained is a five-piece of youngsters from the Bay Area of California. This release is a four-song demo EP titled Dark Days. On these four tracks the band offers up a nice blend of hardcore, fast-paced punk, and even a dash of 80's thrash ala D.R.I.. "I'm Walking Home" had me thinking of Lights Out. "Fuck Off Die Slow" is … Read more
Under Anchor
There is No End
Truth and Justice (2007)
Despite my close proximity to the state, it's been quite a while since I've heard something new from Michigan that's caught my interest. Under Anchor is the first band to do so in a while. They are a three-piece hardcore band that draws equally from the youth-crew sound and metallic hardcore of the 90's. There is No End is the … Read more
Until Your Heart Stops
We are not Coming Down
Heart In Hand (2009)
The Bay Area of California was one of the original breeding grounds for hardcore not to mention a hot bed as of late - so it really isn't a surprise to hear new and impressive bands emerging on a monthly basis. Until Your Heart Stops is a fairly new group that has something new to offer, yet is closely tied … Read more
Useless Eaters
Hypertension
Jeffery Drag Records (2013)
This is weirdo garage punk with some surf and new wave-y parts from Nashville, TN. Hard to tell if Useless Eaters are playing guitars that sound like fucked-up keyboards or if there is a keyboard that drowns out the fucked-up guitars. I honestly could care less because I happen to really like it. Sometimes just being a stupid music fan … Read more
Useless I.D.
The Lost Broken Bones
Suburban Home (2009)
The Lost Broken Bones is the first release on Suburban Home for this four-piece from Israel. This is my first exposure to this band, but they have been together for quite some time. Recorded at The Blasting Room, sonically all the right buttons are pushed. Sometimes the vocals veer into Unwritten Law territory, but I guess this is a chicken … Read more
Van Dammes
Finally There EP
Rockstar Records (2021)
Finlands Van Dammes release their fifth EP with Finally There. This time it is kind of special. This EP celebrates the first time Finlands football team can join the European Championship. Congratulations with that achievement, Finland!I really do hope your team will fare better than Van Dammes on this EP. The three garage punk tracks lack ideas and hooks. I … Read more
Van Dammes
The VD EP
Keep Fishin Music (2014)
Though the band is not doing anything that the typical punk rock fan wouldn’t have heard dozens of times before, there’s definite energy and excitement in the four rowdy songs featured on Finnish group Van Dammes’ debut EP. Opening track “(Let’s) Go” kicks the album into high gear immediately, with the sort of singalong punk one would expect from The … Read more
Vanessa Van Basten
Vanessa Van Basten (Reissue)
KNVBI (2008)
Fortunately for all, Vanessa Van Basten is not the name of the latest female pop diva. Instead, they are a two-piece instrumental duo from Italy that draws heavily from the worlds of post-rock, metal, and shoegaze. This recording is the band's debut EP reissued on a stunning two-tone colored 12" LP. The album was previously only available as CD-R in … Read more
Various Artists
Balsa/Sei Hexe - Split EP
String Break (2014)
Two bands hailing from the US Northwest bring a Metalcore filled split from String Break Records. Seattle's, Balsa, take control of the first half with three tracks, while Portland's all-female act, Sei Hexe, fills out the rest of the split with two tracks. Balsa opens the EP with, "Rasputin." The track doesn't hesitate to play with the core of the … Read more
Various Artists
Brokedowns / Vacation Bible School split
It's Alive (2013)
Taking Side A on the Elgin, IL focused 7” are The Brokedowns, who last released Species Bender in 2010. After a slew of splits in their career and a few full-lengths, they’ve really settled into a distinct style. It’s punk with a verse-chorus-verse kind of structure at its core, but one that they take loosely, preferring to eschew the bridge … Read more
Various Artists
Capitalist Kids/Tight Bros. - split 7"
Toxic Pop (2013)
If sweet and easy pop punk is your thing, this is the split for you. Capitalist Kids take Side A, fresh after releasing Lessons on Love, Sharing, and Hygiene. They play Mr. T Experience influenced pop punk/song-about-a-girl. Here, only two of the three are on that subject: opener “Special Looks,” which features the beautifully self-aware lyric, “I’ll keep writing dumb … Read more
Various Artists
Caustic Defiance/Negative Element-Split CD
Akashic (2009)
Just when you thought all the early 1980's output from Chicago bands had been put out there, along comes this release. Negative Element was a young, loud, and snotty hardcore band from the Chicago suburbs. Although they played many a show with such heavyweights as Big Black and Articles of Faith, they remained largely unknown outside their hometown. This CD … Read more
Various Artists
Change!
Hopeless/Sub City (2007)
Change! is the latest compilation from the team of Hopeless/Sub City Records and Hot Topic. Included in this release are one CD and one DVD. The CD has twenty-one songs. The majority of the songs here are your run-of-the-mill screamo-core acts: Chiodos, Saosin, The Devil Wears Prada, etc. I despise this stuff. I would say there are only a handful … Read more
Various Artists
Closure / Moloch - Split EP
King Of Monsters (2012)
closure and moloch sit on diametrically opposed sides of the same scene in the same country. They share in the metal/hardcore scene within the UK and they manage to bring their differing outlooks to this split. This makes for a different type of split. While most bands would be happy to just play something similar to the band on the … Read more
Various Artists
Dead Bars/The Tim Version - split 7"
No Idea Records (2016)
A limited edition split of two not-super-active bands that are Fest staples for this writer, this EP from No Idea Records combines Seattle’s Dead Bars and Tampa’s The Tim Version head to head, or head to ass or however literally one takes the physical conceptualization of a 7”.Dead Bars get the A-side here and it’s not my favorite of their … Read more
Various Artists
Drainland / Enabler - Split EP
Halo of Flies (2012)
Splits are, in general, a simultaneously good and bad thing. For each split that flows and feels strong through out (maybe even introduces you to a new band) there are probably 10 more that feel more like a way for bands to get rid of otherwise discarded songs. So with a bit of trepidation i grabbed this split and put … Read more
