positive punk

2.02.2018

DEMOLITION HAMMER

"time bomb"
Year: 1994
Country: US
City: New York
Label: Century Media
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 11
Time: 35 min.
Lyrical themes: social issues, politics
Genre: rock
Style: Thrash Metal

We all know Demolition Hammer's crushing and full-speed ahead thrash metal motif on the "Epidemic Of Violence" and "Tortured Existence" albums. Without Vinny Haze behind the kit, one could only wonder how the next album was going to sound like. Good news for everyone else, Alex Marquez (Solstice, Malevolent Creation, Disincarnate) sat behind the kit. The result? A groove metal aka "metalcore"album, mostly mid-tempo, which truly shocked the people at the time who expected something heavier and faster than "Epidemic Of Violence". Even lyrics are not metal topis but rather hardcore topics (social issues, ecology, politics, etc.). You can hear the trademark Demolition Hammer vocals (fuckin' love Steve Reynolds' voice) and the groovy chops of Malevolent Creation, minus the speed, plus the atmosphere. At time this is their last album dated 1994 and despite the group disbanded in 1995, they returned in 2016 with the original line-up.

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1.03.2018

VOICE OF ADDICTION

"the lost art of empathy"
Year: 2018
Country: US
City: Chicago
Label: none
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

Voice Of Addiction are politically charged and socially conscious Chicago based punk-rockers. V.o.A. has been around over a decade doing 1.200 shows across US and Canada. Having five official releases and independently selling 6.500 physical copies these boys have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. V.O.A. realizes how important the live show is to their career & never fail to deliver a highly dynamic and energetic performance in which all are encouraged to participate. Both a new full-length physical album and a feature length documentary are due to be released in 2018.

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12.31.2017

BLOODY PHOENIX

"war, hate and misery"
Year: 2007
Country: US
City: Los Angeles
Label: Rescued From Life
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 26
Time: 29 min.
Lyrical themes: social issues, politics
Genre: rock
Style: Grindcore

formed in 2001, featuring ex-members of LA's cult grinders Excruciating Terror. Blood Phoenix takes up where ExTx left off - blistering straight forward old school grindcore ala early Napalm Death. Their 2007 release "War, Hate & Misery" marks a return to old-school grindcore.

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12.30.2017

DYSCARNATE

"and so it came to pass"
Year: 2012
Country: UK
City: Horsham
Label: Century Media
Format: CD
Tracks: 10
Time: 44 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Death Metal

Modern death metal is in an identity crisis, with bands not being able to decide whether they want to venture out into the new wave of "old school" death metal or follow the masses and be technical messes or the thousands of other genre leanings. Dyscarnate, however, are pretty fucking clear about what they want to do: play kickass riffs. Top to bottom this album is just riff after riff. Borrowing heavily from the ideas of early Obituary, Jungle Rot, and modern Behemoth Dyscarnate is perfectly content with being a band that is purely about linear death metal.

Little needs to be said about the guitar sounds from a technical perspective other than I think the distortion pedal I know guitarist/vocalist Tom Whitty throws in his loop (you can see as much in 'In the Studio' videos online) gives the guitar sound a more compressed sound, which when combined with the fuzzy bass sound allows for a sort of fizzing pop on top of the mix. It's really unfortunate because if this had a sound more like Dying Fetus's newest Reign Supreme the album as a whole would benefit. The riffs are, of course, fucking incredible. Ranging from the high octane chugging of "In the Face of Armageddon" to the pounding grooves of, well, any song on the album this record has balls. Whitty's no nonsense style definitely adds to the overall brutality, but leaves the album one dimensional for the first few tunes.

Unfortunately, this album is incredibly one dimensional. By the time "Grinding Down the Gears" is roaring through the headphones, you just want anything else. Then another hardcore breakdown fucking barges in and just tramples all over you. It becomes riff chaos after that as everything just swirls in and out of your ears, causing the rest of the album to go sort of un-listenable. Some might find this overwhelming powerhouse of riffing enjoyable, but at this point all these breakdowns and double bass patterns are becoming too similar. Not entirely devoid of being memorable, thanks to the killer fucking chorus sections like in "The Promethean", but so similar that it becomes pretty grating. This is super unfortunate because the final track, "Kingdom of the Blind", is so chock full of adrenaline and ferocious riffs that you just kind of forget about listening to it. (*Review by Aker ).

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12.06.2017

DISASTER STRIKES

"in the age of corporate personhood"
Year: 2017
Country: US
City: Boston
Label: Alternative Tentacles
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 33 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

Formed in 1999, Disaster Strikes have crafted their own unique brand of punk and hardcore inspired by Econochrist, Dead Kennedys, and Crass. However, like all Alternative Tentacles artists, their politically informed, impassioned music is not easily pigeonholed. Disaster Strikes is one of the wave of east coast bands recently joining AT's roster, and is easily one of the funnest and most politically active. Singer J.R. works as a union organizer, a job which lends his lyrics a truth based in his real life activism for the working class. The band combines a wide variety of influences, not just punk, to produce the hard-hitting and diverse music that is Disaster Strikes.

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11.27.2017

DEAD ENDING

"shoot the messenger"
Year: 2017
Country: US
City: Chicago
Label: Alternative Tentacles
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 28 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Hardcore

Dead Ending, the new hardcore punk band from Vic Bondi (Articles of Faith), Jeff Dead (The Bomb), Derek Grant (Alkaline Trio), and Joe Principe (Rise Against), has set a release date for their debut EP. The self–titled record will be released May 15, 2012 via Alternative Tentacles Records. Veteran musicians making veteran old school hardcore in the vein of bands of early 80s decade. Highly recommended for those lovers of classic sound and don't miss this band.

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10.18.2017

DEATH

"the sound of perseverance"
Year: 1998
Country: US
City: Orlando, FL
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 9
Time: 45 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Progressive Metal

Excellent. "the sound of perseverance" is a MASTERPIECE that deserves all of the praise in the world. Not only is this Chuck Schuldiner's unsurpassed work, it also combines all of the distinct and important elements from Death's previous and near perfect albums such as Human, Individual Thought Patterns and Symbolic. The chaotic and improvised drum fill by Richard Christy that kicks off the opening track "Scavenger of Human Sorrow" is a preview of the musical talent, impressiveness, originality and diversity that is to come later in the album. Every track seems to feed off the other's energy and ferocity in an effortless manner. The anger and bitterness felt on the third track "Spirit Crusher" depicts a sense of betrayal and vengeance in Chuck's lyrics and shrieking vocals. Definitely one of the pinnacle tracks of the album, the somber and insanely catchy bass line along with the tasteful and complex drum fills make "Spirit Crusher" an instant classic.

As the album progresses, a casual listener is able to witness how Chuck Schuldiner's musicianship, songwriting and guitar solos have reached the peak of his outstanding musical career. Furthermore, Chuck did not only use the musical elements that made Human, Individual Thought Patterns and Symbolic so great, he was able to expand on the raw energy and melody on those albums to make Death's most accomplished and diverse work to date. The album also features "Voice of the Soul" an absolutely gorgeous yet sorrowful instrumentation that showcases the perfect balance between two harmonizing guitar solo and an acoustic ballad. The musicianship was so exquisite on "The Sound of Perseverance" that Chuck recruited rhythm guitarist Shannon Hamm and drummer Richard Christy to perform on his more melodic side project Control Denied. In the case of Death's later albums like Human, Individual Though Patterns and Symbolic, this was definitely a breakthrough album for Shannon Hamm, Scott Clendenin and Richard Christy whom became more renowned musicians in the metal community afterwards.

While there are many spectacular moments on "The Sound of Perseverance", the lengthy duel of solos on "A Moment of Clarity" between Schuldiner and Hamm demonstrate another instance where Chuck is able to showcase both his and Shannon Hamm's guitar soloing skills. There have been numerous moments on Death albums where the rhythm guitarist shares the spotlight with Chuck, such as Rick Rozz, Paul Masvidal, Andy LaRocque and Bobby Koelble. The finale of this masterpiece is an excellent cover of Judas Priest's "Painkiller" and is a tribute that the metal legends would definitely be proud of. With Chuck being a huge fan of Judas Priest, one can hear the unquestionable passion while he is shrieking the verses: "This is the painkiller!" Chuck's vocals have also significantly evolved since his earlier work and have become a lot more higher pitched but at the same time, they fit in perfectly with the sound.

As a whole, Death are an outstanding and legendary band whose legacy is unparalleled in the metal community. They released many excellent and highly memorable albums throughout their existence. The Sound of Perseverance is the ideal metal masterpiece and the perfect way to seal Chuck's legacy, one can only wonder which musical directions Chuck would have gone if he were still with us today. As an outstanding musician and human being who gave metalheads a masterpiece that will be remembered for many years to come. Brilliant (review by Tim Johns).

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"symbolic"
Year: 1995
Label: Relativity
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 9
Time: 45 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Death Metal

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"human"
Year: 1991
Label: Relativity
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 40 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Death Metal

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"spiritual healing"
Year: 1990
Label: Relativity
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 42 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Death Metal

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"leprosy"
Year: 1988
Label: Relativity
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 39 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Death Metal

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"scream bloody gore"

Year: 1987

Label: Combat

Format: CD, LP

Tracks: 10

Time: 50 min.

Genre: rock

Style: Death Metal

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10.11.2017

LAMB OF GOD

"new american gospel"
Year: 2000
Label: Sony
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 10
Time: 50 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Thrash Metal

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"as the palaces burn"
Year: 2003
Label: Sony
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 10
Time: 50 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Thrash Metal

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"ashes of the wake"
Year: 2004
Label: Sony
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 11
Time: 50 min.

Genre: rock
Style: Thrash Metal

Originally known by the less-than-subtle moniker Burn the Priest, Richmond, Virginia-based Lamb of God decided to change their name shortly after the release of a self-titled debut in 1998. Featuring vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Will Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler, the newly rechristened Lamb of God were launched in the year 2000 with their acclaimed New American Gospel album. The group then embarked on a lengthy touring spree, spending much of the next two years preaching their "pure American death metal" at major heavy metal festivals and small clubs alike. Work on a follow-up effort with producer and Strapping Young Lad mastermind Devin Townsend took place in between many road jaunts, so that Lamb of God's sophomore LP, As the Palaces Burn, was released in summer 2003. Ashes of the Wake quickly followed it in 2004. Produced by Machine, it featured the most fully realized material of the band's career. Ashes was both a chart and critical hit and set up a year's worth of successful touring for Lamb of God. (Epic also reissued Burn the Priest, the 1998 debut from the original band.) The Killadelphia DVD appeared in 2005, documenting a particularly fierce stretch of shows in Philly, and the same program's audio edition dropped toward the end of the same year. Sacrament was released in 2006, followed by Wrath in 2009. A massive three-disc retrospective entitled Hourglass: The Anthology was issued by Epic in 2010, covering their independent releases as well as their major-label years, and including a third disc of rarities. The set was released in two configurations: it was available for purchase in either three single-disc volumes or as a full box set. The band spent 2010 touring before eventually settling down in 2011 to record new material with producer Josh Wilbur. The result was their chart-topping seventh album, 2012's Resolution. That same year, Blythe was arrested in Czechoslovakia for charges stemming from an incident at a 2010 show in Prague that saw a young fan climb on-stage and hit his head after being pushed by the lead singer. The 19-year-old died of complications from the injury, and Blythe spent over a month in jail before being found not criminally liable for the incident and released on bail. Blythe would go to pen a memoir, with an emphasis on his arrest, trial, and acquittal, called Dark Days. In 2015, after a period of inactivity that resulted from the psychological and financial woes that accrued during the period of Blythe's incarceration, the band issued its long-awaited eighth studio long-player, VII: Sturm und Drang. The following year saw the band issue a new EP, Duke, which was comprised of three live cuts and two new studio tracks. The title cut was inspired by Lamb of God superfan Wayne Ford, who had lost his five-year battle with leukemia. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia