Chow Line - Six Trax Ripper CS

So you want to start a hardcore band, huh? Well I think myself and the members (2, but not like a 'two best friends playing grind' way, don't worry this is a full band) of Chow Line would agree just don't do it. But if you absolutely must, here is the recipe. Thick and meaty, you can feel the grit in your mouth; sand in your gums when you play these tracks. Five tracks of hardcore done right and a Ripcord cover. "Yea you know I'm good and ready, armed with balloons and confetti, couldn't hold back if I tried, I'll be laughing when you die". Now this is some top tier hardcore in a year of fest worship and instagram.





Download

Bugg - Demo CS

This guy is a regular Bugg superfan. Kora gave me a demo cassette and I had no idea what it was going to be, I assumed another band like Laffing Gas but I was very surprised. We got some 90s alt worship that gets you feelin'. Since jamming the tape repeatedly I had the pleasure of hosting them for OHC and live they were on another level. Got to see them again on this last GAG tour and they had a super lineup. I think I counted five guitars on stage. Needless to say I ride for Bugg. This tape is fantastic, be on the lookout for an lp.



Download

Criminal - Amongst the Thugs CS

 I love this fucking tape. When fizz told me he had a new band called Criminál I knew it was going to be right up my alley as I am a big fan of crime, and more importantly, fizz. This cassette has it all, the anthemic feel of Oi done respectable and the ferocity of hardcore at times. We got synth, gruff vocals and a bootboy choir, you sold me, easy. Do yourself a favor and just try it. Sadly I still have yet to see them play live. We were in cahoots for a Rixe and Criminal appearance at OHC but the tour got pushed back and I had a full day drive to eastern Washington for work and a forklift broke on me so I stayed an additional six hours fixing it while they played. Decent excuse for missing the set.

   



  Download

Bricklayer - The Wall CS

Well, guess I'll throw this one out here. The hell that was getting this record out still isn't over. Recorded years ago, the Bricklayer LP is out in Europe and exists somewhere in the United States of America yet I have never seen a copy of it. RIP Grimace and Bricklayer, these were great, great times.







Download

Reptoides - 2EP CS

Now here is some wild ass shit from another planet, Monterrey Mexico's own Reptoides. The Monterrey scene took quite a heavy hit near the end of the first decade of the 2000s when a lot of the key players made the trek 10+ hours south to Mexico City for safer living. It was great to be back and see that the scene was still thriving with some new bands. Carlos gave me this cassette at our gig in Monterrey winter of 2015 (I know I'm really sleeping on putting stuff here) and I have been crazy about it since. This cassette compiles two releases from the band, the "Anunnaki Adolescente" EP and the Demo 2050. Both titles make nods to some crazy spiritual-ass future shit and I am down. Abductions, torturing your followers as an "Anunnaki adolescent", close encounters of an alien kind- this is a lot of stuff rolled into one I enjoy. To top it off it aint just the subject matter thats interesting, this tape fucking smokes. Do yourself a favor and get it while you still can on this planet.

Download

Stuck Pigs - Bleed Like... CS

This cassette is one of my favorites I encountered this year easily. DC has had no shortage of great output lately and Stuck Pigs might just be at the top for me. The release definitely has some heavy Scandinavian vibes, the walls of chaotic riff to riff, but pays nods to the American tradition through the gallop and pummel of tracks like "Go Away". Then again every American first wave act just wanted to ape Europe (at least the good ones). They bring it back to the American tradition with a Neon Christ cover. First wave Latin America is where my head went first but I'm gonna still keep to Scandi- either way it really doesn't matter because this is DC hardcore at its finest. 'Rips' doesn't do it justice, this tape is heavily rotated, as fierce as it gets. Sadly the band is no more and I was lucky enough to have caught their last gig in Boston and to have them for OHC earlier this year. Live the band leaves very little to want, the stage presence from every member is more than ideal, also very cool to see Ace on the skins. Brendan assures me there will be more output that won't leave me disappointed in terms of new acts. My only disappointment is no lyrics.

Download