BLIND JUSTICE

"no matter the cost"
Year:  2018
Country:  US
City:  New Jersey
Label:  Edgewood
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  22 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Hardcore

"Honestly, I don’t think much has changed in the band since Undertow," Blind Justice vocalist Mike Botti tells me a few weeks away from the release of No Matter the Cost, the follow-up to the aforementioned Undertow. Yes, it's been 3 years since their last full-length, and though adult responsibities loom large, Mike and company are fired up about their new Blind Justice material. "Personally, we’re a little older, a little busier with real life obligations but, we all still feel the same way we always have about Blind Justice and hardcore in general. We still love Undertow, for sure. Other than maybe being a little tired of playing those songs live, they’ll always be a defining part of the band". The sessions for No Matter the Cost were overseen by Dean Baltulonis (No Warning, Madball) behind the board. So, is he a taskmaster, or does the veteran engineer/producer take a more relaxed approach to tracking? "Dean is great. He’s generally pretty laid back as a dude. That being said, he definitely doesn’t let any bullshit slide as far as tracking. He pushed hard on the vocals tracks to make them as solid as possible. There are a lot of riffs with speed picking on this record and he drilled us on that kind of stuff. He wouldn’t settle for less than the absolute cleanest take we could get on something. Dean definitely pushed us to get the best record we could. He’s great at what he does." Mike isn't kidding. No Matter the Cost is a fucking monster and I'm very excited to bring you the exclusive premiere of a track called "Never Enough" today. Since No Matter the Cost will be a joint release by Flatspot Records and Edgewood Records, I ask Mike how the project initially come together. "Well, we had been talking to both Ricky (Flatspot) and Craig (Edgewood). When it came down to pick one to go with, we were all pretty split on it, so we decided see if they’d be down to work together." Democracy, folks, democracy (*Review by Carlos Ramirez ).

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TIME AND PRESSURE

"the gateway city sound"
Year:  2019
Country:  US
City:  St. Louis, MO
Label: Safe Inside
Format:  LP
Tracks:  11
Time:  22 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Hardcore

With a penchant for accelerated tempos and massive mosh parts, Time & Pressure share some of the same musical characterics that made bands like Count Me Out and Go It Alone so appealing back in the '00s. It's great to hear newer groups still mining from that sound and spirit and I'll always welcome it. 

Originally formed last year by musicians from such groups as Better Days, Perfect People, and New Lives, Time & Pressure's demo made a huge impression on Burt Jenkins of Safe Inside Records (Rejection Pact, Slugfest) who formed a partnership with the combo The label will be releasing The Gateway City Sound, Time & Pressure's debut EP, and No Echo is pleased to help present it to the world today (*Review by Carlos Ramirez).

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STICK TO YOUR GUNS

"true view"
Year:  2017
Country:  US
City:  Orange County, CA
Label:  End Hits
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  14
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore

After their release of the fantastic Better Ash Than Dust EP last year, many fans were anxious to hear what a whole new album would sound like after the landmark success of their last album, Disobedient, in 2015. Leading up to the release of True View, the band has played some impressive shows with bands such as Architects and Parkway Drive in the UK. Despite seemingly branching out into the metalcore scene with these shows, Stick To Your Guns remain rooted as one of the kings of the modern hardcore scene.

True View is the result of Stick To Your Guns compiling their musical experience into a defining record for a sound that they believe is required in current times. Comprised of 13 tracks, each one has its own message and feeling. When talking about the album, vocalist Jesse Barnett said it was, “inspired by innumerable conversations that I had with my mother during the hardest couple of years I’ve had in my life. The people I lost in my life, the mental and physical challenges I faced, as well as losing myself. I don’t know if it was getting older or the foundation I had built my life on cracking beneath my feet or a mixture of everything.” This idea of self-reflection is overtly evident throughout the record. Three of the tracks are named with the phrases ‘Penance of Self’, ‘Realisation of Self’ and ‘Forgiveness of Self’, demonstrating a journey throughout the album of self-discovery.

Musically, it must be noted that whilst Stick To Your Guns have gone the extra mile ideologically with True View, their sound has not changed very much. Compared to past releases such as Diamond, there is considerable musical variety however. From softer sounding, almost ballad-like songs such as The Reach For Me: Forgiveness of Self, to more traditionally hardcore songs like Cave Canem and You Are Free, this is a wide-ranging record for the band. As usual, their drum mix is perfect, constantly punching through and delivering breakdowns that can only be described as ‘ballsy’. On the subject of breakdowns, despite their progression in sound with songs like Forgiveness of Self, they still hit hard with punchy moments such as on The Sun, The Moon, The Truth: “Penance Of Self” with ‘now I must live with the hurt!’.

Barnett’s increased use of clean vocals on the album certainly pays off, with moments on 56 getting very catchy indeed, and almost sounding like new-era Bring Me The Horizon. Despite their efforts at putting a personal slant on the album, after listening to the Better Ash Than Dust EP many times and marvelling at the songwriting skill demonstrated on tracks like Universal Language, not many of the songs on True View leave the same impression.

True View is certainly a Stick To Your Guns record, but whether or not it’s a worthy spiritual successor of Better Ash Than Dust is debateable. In a genre with bands like Stray From The Path and Knocked Loose releasing albums that are heavy, incendiary and politically charged, it calls into question whether the messages portrayed in True View are what will really kick the hardcore kids into gear nowadays. What is certain is that any fans of the band will be very happy with the record – it’s Stick To Your Guns through and through. The band affirm they like bands such as: Ignite, Comeback Kid, Rise Against, Boysetsfire and Descendents (*Review by HERE ).

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"disobedient"
Year:  2015
Label:  End Hits
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  11
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"diamond"
Year:  2012
Label:  Sumerian
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"the hope division"
Year:  2010
Label:  Sumerian
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Hardcore








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"comes from the heart"
Year:  2008
Label:  Century Media
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  10
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Hardcore








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"for what it's worth"
Year:  2005
Label:  Sumerian
Format:  CD
Tracks:  16
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Hardcore








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JESUS PIECE

"so unknown"

Year:  2023

Label:  Century Media

Format:  CD, LP

Tracks:  10

Time:  20 min.

Genre:  rock

Style:        Metalcore

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"only self"
Year:  2018
Country:  US
City:  Philadelphia, PE
Label:  Southern Lord
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  10
Time:  29 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore

Philadelphia’s Jesus Piece premieres their new single “Punish” through Cvlt Nation, as the band’s Only Self debut LP nears release later this month via Southern Lord. Only Self was recorded in Chicago at Bricktop Recording Studio with Andy Nelson mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, and completed with artwork by Dom Pabon. With the premiere of “Punish,” Cvlt Nation declares, “It was a long wait for a full length from Jesus Piece. This record was absolutely worth the wait. Only Self is hardcore music at its finest. The songwriting, the metallic production, the lyrical content – it’s all so cohesive. When I first learned who JP was, I was glued to the internet for a few weeks watching live videos of a band that is uncompromisingly heavy. It’s a beautiful thing when a band’s live reputation stacks up to their album. This release is the next chapter in what will hopefully be a reign of unending terror for years to come.” In the hardcore punk family there are new bands such as: Incendiary, Code Orange, Harm's Way and also Jesus Piece.

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IN HEARTS WAKE

"warcry"
Year:  2017
Country:  Australia
City:  Brisbane
Label:  UNFD
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore

Australia is home for some of the best metalcore and melodic hardcore bands. With new releases flooding in every year, 2017 was no exception. Prominent Australian acts such as THY ART IS MURDER, ALPHA WOLF and IN HEARS WAKE have all released their respective albums this year, and the latter is a band that I have been following ever since they dropped their sophomore effort. With a blessed Melodic Metalcore sound, these young metallers geared up to release their new full-length “Ark” earlier this year; “Ark” follows  “Skydancer” (2015), ‘Earthwalker’ (2014), and ‘Divination’ (2012). When it comes to their best releases I would say that “Skydancer” and “Earthwalker” top the list. Let us see whether this album changed my perspective on their best release or not. The Album Art was familiar for me, as I saw the same imagery done by While She Sleeps; both of these bands have used multi-lingual titles on their artwork, which represents unity, in my opinion. The album starts off with the title track “Ark”, which is basically is a minute-long intro that has some environmental noises and ambient sound textures. We get the typical IHW vibes on the second track “Passages”, which is followed by “Nomad” that hits the playlist with more heavier sound. Towards the end of this song we get a heavy and brutal breakdown with an energetic pre-breakdown line, Liberate Me….. Throughout the album I noticed their skills in transitioning between the Cleans and Screams without much difficulty. The heavy chuggy salm-muted guitar riffs intertwined with steady drumming compliment the vocal works. On the other hand we are not exposed to much bass rhythms or passages, however, the ideal use of bass tunes rounds out the instrumentation together. Another interesting aspect of IN HEARTS WAKE is that they try to convey a message through their songs, plus most of the songs have both softer and heavier sides that add an extra point to their creativity and songwriting. For instance, “Warcry” is Probably my favourite track on this album, for it has a strong message beneath its lyrical content; and those breakdowns will leave you wanting for more. The rest of the songs dwell on the same energy throughout the setlist, with “Overthrow” and “Now” being the most notable ones. I quite enjoyed this album and will put it on repeat in future. “Ark” is one of those albums where one gets a mixed feeling whether or not the album is creative enough to get much attention, however apart from it being somewhat generic, the album is very appealing and catchy. “Nomad” and “Warcry” will surely be a part of my daily playlist. When it comes to their best release, my opinion does not deviate from their sophomore album, but “Ark” is still a must listen album for all Melodic Metalcore enthusiasts. (*Review by Sooraj Ram ).

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"skydancer"
Year:  2015
Label:  UNFD
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  11
Time:  34 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"earthwalker"
Year:  2014
Label:  UNFD
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  35 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"divination"
Year:  2012
Label:  UNFD
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  34 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore

In Hearts Wake are an australian metalcore band who hail from the small surfing town of Byron Bay on New South Wale's northern coast. This is indeed the same town that spawned the scene-defining, chart-topping, international juggernaut that is Parkway Drive, and this begs the obvious question: is this band the new Parkway Drive? The subject of this review, their debut LP 'Divination', is an album that defies genre standards and not always in good way. While its definitely a solid, well thought-out and considered release (there are four guest vocalists and they are all placed on tracks as similar to their own band's style as possible. I presume that this was decided after the track's had been written, rather than writing songs with guest vocalists in mind), and the band have so obviously poured their heart and soul into this album (the fact that they made the trek to America to record and oversee the mixing process is clear evidence of this), its most unfortunately nothing really out of the ordinary. There are some interesting features, but for the most part its a bog-standard Australian metalcore release: based on an unusual concept and full of breakdowns and sing-a-longs designed to keep the kids in the pit happy. The Parkway Drive influence is very obvious for all to see, and, in fact, the album's third track even features Winston McCall as a guest vocalist. Ultimately, the only thing that sets this album apart from the hordes is the fascinating lyrical concept and the clean vocal structures. Its just another Aussie metalcore album, undeniably catchy and melodic in places, while retaining brutally heavy and technical aspects in all the right places to maximise their impact in a live performance. You'll love it or hate it and it won't change your mind about the genre at all, but I speak from personal experience that, if nothing else, its mad fun to play through your finest subwoofer while cruising down the highway at 110 km/h. (*Review by  Collect The Leaves ).

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"the gateway"
Year:  2010
Label:  none
Format:  CD
Tracks:  8
Time:  25 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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PARKWAY DRIVE

"killing with a smile"
Year:  2005
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  11
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore


















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"horizons"
Year:  2007
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"deep blue"
Year:  2010
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  13
Time:  45 min.
Genre:   rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"atlas"
Year:  2012
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"ire"
Year:  2015
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  11
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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"reverence"
Year:  2018
Label:  Epitaph
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Metalcore








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MASTER

"on the seventh day God created master"

Year:  1991

Label:  Nuclear Blast

Format:  CD, LP

Tracks:  10

Time:  40 min.

Genre:  rock

Style:        Death Metal

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"faith is in season"
Year:  1998
Label:  Pavement
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  16
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal








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"the spirit of the west"
Year:  2004
Label:  System Shock
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal








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"the human machine"
Year:  2010
Label:  Pulverized
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  10
Time:  40 min.

Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal

Chicago based death metal band Master has been the primary musical vehicle for journeyman vocalist and bassist Paul Speckmann since the start of the 1990s, but his first known sighting dates back to 1982, as a short-term member of local power metal hopefuls, War Cry, who appeared on Metal Blade's Metal Massacre IV compilation. Speckmann and his rhythm partner, drummer Bill Schmidt, soon fell out with their band mates over creative differences (the duo wanted to play more extreme heavy metal, the others wanted to wimp out), but their new band took some time taking shape while they auditioned as many as 25 guitarists, without finding their man. In the meantime, Speckmann became involved in another side project called Death Strike and Schmidt with a band called Mayhem (no relation to the Norwegian black metal clan), and so it wasn't until 1985 that their collaboration was revived with the recruitment of guitarist Chris Mittelbrun -- thus was born Master. Taking money he had recently inherited from his father, Speckmann paid for some studio time to record an album-length demo, and this quickly spread Master's name through the metal underground.

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"the new elite"
Year:  2012
Label:  Doomentia
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  40 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal

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"the witchhunt"
Year:  2013
Label:  FDO
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  42 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal








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"an epiphany of hate"

Year:  2016

Label:  MB
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  44 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal

One of the genre’s founding figures, Czech Republic-based death/thrashers Master has literally been at the forefront of the style from the very beginning being one of the first bands to ever adopt to the style back in the genre’s infancy. Now, nearly thirty years on from their start and reaching album number twelve, the titans offer forth this crushing release January 29, 2016 on F.D.A. Rekotz.

Much like the majority of their work in the past, this here is a rather blistering and mostly primitive brand of death-infused thrash metal that charges along at a pretty generous pace here. The main basis for the swarming, mid-tempo attack here is given the main charge throughout here which keeps the tracks steady, simplistic and really straightforward as the rhythms buzz along through the tight patterns featured here as the bands’ thrashing energies are what really tend to drive this one forward rather than the riff-work. Since the tracks are generally given a much more explosive pacing that brings out the album’s rather simplistic nature quite well here as the album seems to pick one simplistic pace and then just holds it for the majority of the time here which makes the tracks bounce along when they’re given an up-tempo rhythm to play with yet when it comes to the more sluggish and plodding tempos it doesn’t really generate the same sense of energy with it never really deviating much in it’s patterns and arrangements. There’s some great work to be had when it really lets itself go since those tend to dominate the album, yet the rare occasions where it does drop these slightly is what causes this one to lose it’s steam as the disjointed pacing and tempos is slightly jarring overall here. Thankfully, it’s rare enough to not be that detrimental against the enjoyable remainder of the album as their craftsmanship and consistency allows them to do this better than most other acts in the genre by featuring enough to make it noticeably yet going for the jugular enough times to really make that impact.

As this is clearly a competent and highly professional act that knows what they’re doing, this is nicely displayed here with an album that has a lot to like about it and only a few real downer spots that leaves this a wholehearted recommendation not only for fans of the band as well as those who enjoy this ravenous style of old-school death / thrash metal (*Review by Slayr6 ).

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"vindictive miscreant"
Year:  2018
Label:  TO
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:   8
Time:  45 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Death Metal








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THE CAPACES

"all that is"

Year:  2023

Label:  Filferro

Format:  LP

Tracks:  10

Time:  27 min.

Genre:  rock

Style:        Punk n'Roll

Preparing this review about The Capaces' eighth album, I reviewed the one I had written about their previous work. In Zoetrope's review, he commented that the Barcelonans had closed an impeccable trilogy, but at the same time he was sure that they would overcome it sooner rather than later. What he had no idea is that this was going to become reality in such a resounding way.

Only two years after that, All That Is achieves something unusual in long-distance formations; that after almost a quarter of a century of activity and seven studio albums we find ourselves before the best work of his discography. I know it may sound exaggerated, but believe me when I tell you that the ship led by Martillo and Cleve has finally completed its evolution when it already seemed impossible for them to go further.

Everything that they had been aiming for since the reset that For Good meant in 2015, marking the starting point in a coherent transition from the frenetic punk rock of its beginnings towards more rock and roller sounds, reaches a new level here. Although the instrumental opening of western airs of 'At Dawn' is already familiar to us, to which 'All That Is' sounds we appreciate that there is a different energy to that of previous chapters. Some may accuse the group of going with a gear less, but the intensity is still present. Something unquestionable and non-negotiable when it comes to them.

With 'Out Of My Head' the matter begins to take shape in a cut where Cleve and Jawa are in charge of distributing scores left and right. The quintet presses the accelerator and from there it does not go down in the remainder of the album. The first big surprise comes in 'Sudden Burst' with a rock touch driven by a frenetic piano and the contrast made by the voice of Francis Riera (The Meows, Piggies) with the register of a plethoric Hammer.

If there is a clear referent that will appear in every text that is written about this record, it will undoubtedly be that of The Stooges. 'Witch' is the one that best exemplifies it. That wavering saxophone takes you back to the times when the Detroiters were one of the wildest names of the time and The Capaces have had the ability to capture that essence without giving up their characteristic stamp.

We reached the equator and the band is unstoppable on 'Monsters', which could be one of the most well-rounded singles in their catalogue. A sample of how much they have grown compositionally by signing longer songs, without forgetting to throw some punk spit at us along the way like 'Danger' so that we don't think they have been tamed.

And it is that not even the most melodic start of 'Aimlessly' accompanied by keyboard arrangements manages to contain the beast that once again has the contribution of Francis Riera, signing up for another rock hit like 'No Turning Back'. The closing of 'Alone' is simply exciting, reminding us of those half-times that Social Distortion or The Hellacopters know how to do so well and that now, after all the accumulated experience, they are also capable of performing with mastery.

It remains to be seen if All That Is will really be the album with which The Capaces say goodbye to us before the 25th anniversary that they will celebrate next year. What is certain is that if they decide to say goodbye in this way, they will be able to do it with their heads held high (*Review Gonzalo Puebla)

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"zoetrope"

Year:  2021

Country:  Spain

City:  Barcelona

Label:  Filferro

Format:  LP

Tracks:  10

Time:  22 min.

Genre:  rock

Style:        Punk n' Roll

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"rawness"
Year:  2018
Country:  Spain
City:  Barcelona
Label:  Filferro
Format:  LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  26 min.
Genre:  rock

Style:        Punk n' Roll

The Capaces from Barcelona are probably one of Europe's most exceptional and outstanding punk bands. Founded in 1999, they are playing their furious mix of punk, hardcore and rock'n'roll with for more than 20 years now. Female fronted band who can to remind old bands such as:  Dead Boys, Johnny Thunders or Sonny Vincent, or more actual bands such as: Turbonegro, Zeke, Dwarves or Social Distortion, to mention just a few ones. More than music, their singer ("Martillo") is also an exceptional illustrator (comix, designs, covers, etc.), which can to see her art HERE .

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"for food"
Year:  2014
Label:  Filferro
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  26 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Punk n' Roll







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"whatever it is, Im against it!"
Year:  2010
Label:  Filferro
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  14
Time:  24 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Punk n' Roll







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"the restless breed"
Year:  2007
Label:  Filferro
Format:  CD
Tracks:  10
Time:  22 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Punk n' Roll







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"amplifired"
Year:  2005
Label:  Filferro
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  14
Time:  20 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Punk n' Roll







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"born to punk"
Year:  2003
Label:  Filferro
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  14
Time:  29 min.
Genre:  rock
Style:        Punk n' Roll







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