Missing Person - Surfer's Ear CS

Here's another review of a cassette I got mailed to me, I love getting new music in the mail so keep sending shit my way anyone interested. I was really thrown for a loop with this one. The aesthetic and music points to surfy punk but I get a lot of post-punk influence out of it. Missing Person starts their tape off with "Backyard" which is the track that most gives me an "eerie" post punk vibe, almost goth sounding. This could be blamed on the lo fidelity of the recordings but that reverb laden noodling and vocals calls for some surf. "Bikini" then begins the tape descent into obscure sounds followed up by "It's Too Late" by far the craziest track on the tape. The vocals over this track are shouted, steering away from the smooth delivery of the first two tracks and it all just falls apart to end it. "Lost In the Woods" and "Surfer's Ear" pick up the tempo again and return to that smooth, reverb laden vocal delivery. Reminiscent maybe of Rebel Truth (charred remains era) and Agent Orange sorts of tracks but more dischordant. I really like the build up transition between these two tracks. "Low Tide" powers into a short thirty second blast of a song with shouted vocals, breaking up the symmetry of the tape. "Small Hands" finishes it all off with the usual formula and some noodly breaks... the storm after the calm. I really like how the tracks progress on the tape, a general sound is accomplished but it's broken up in such a way that it doesn't get boring. As this was mailed into me I only had the chance to listen to it a few times before I ripped it but I like what I hear. That first track is a real hook. Thanks for the surprise mail and if anyone ever wants their demos reviewed, email me and send em' my way!





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Skrapyard - 2012 Mixtape

Here's another fantastic band we had the pleasure of playing with in Chicago. Our dear friend Tyler plays drums in this band, little did I realize how awesome this band really was until getting to see them play. I had heard them once before when they started because of their name being really similar to Trainyard but didn't pay much attention... that was my first mistake. Now I'm kicking myself I didn't get that first tape. This is some really great stuff. Recording quality is as abrasive as the vocals; perfect in my eyes. "Die To Be Free" is my stand out track, the way it kicks in after that intro gets my blood boiling. Hardcore done right, great stuff, pumped to hear more in the future.





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Lumpy & the Dumpers - Bat b/w X-Rod

That scream into that dirgy ass riff. Damn this tape is sweet. Not as good as the previous CS post but only because they only have one song to offer and a cover on this one. The cover is very appropriate seeing as Max Load was from IL but come on, where's the keyboard!? Educating the scene seems to be the aim. Funny how Lumpy keeps coming up for me as a stand out band, the other night Gag played at Blackwater in Portland with Iron Lung and some guy introduced himself to me as the guy from Lumpy & the Dumpers older brother. Small world indeed. More from this twisted band below:





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Lumpy & the Dumpers - Three Song CS

Nasty, sloppy hardcore in the vein of late 70's early 80's KBD style punk. Lumpy & the Dumnpers was a band I was graced by live performances by twice on our tour. I was stoked to play with them the first time in a basement in Urbana, Illinois and even more pumped the next day in Chicago as I had a taste of their music already so I got to take it in a little more. Snotty as hell and plenty of energy made this band one of my favorites on the tour and we played with some damn good bands. "Future" is my favorite track, the alternating guitars and 'off' rhythms followed by that dirgy downward spiral of a verse make it a real standout for me. Indiana punks really have it going on. The kids at the Chicago show were going absolutely nuts, non stop moshing the whole way through and the room blew up when the "Face the Meat" chant came on. Great stuff, I'll put up their other tape when I get the chance to rip it.



 

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Strangers - Demo CS

Clocking in at 5 minutes is Chicago's Strangers with five original tracks and a cover of the UK Antidote's "Remembrance Day". I gotta say they really do the cover justice, it is damn good. Ralph sent these tracks to me long before we came out there so I was excited to see how it translated live, boy was I not disappointed. I was actually blown away by the live performance. It was energetic and visceral, everything I could have wanted and much more than I expected. And I don't mean more than I expected as in I didn't think it would be good, I mean it seriously was just awesome. Totally took me by surprise how good it was live. Not only was I swept off my feet by the live performance but we also got to share a van with them for the tour we did in the Midwest. Ralph was nice enough to put Adjustment to Society on his Welcome to 2013 Comp and book a tour for us to come out there and play the comp release. I'll put the record up later. It was an experience and a half. Intense conversations and rambunctious fun was had by all. Ridiculously fun and inspiring tour, thank you guys so much. Chicago wanted to get us back for helping them out in Olympia and putting them on New Direction Fest and they did so in spades. We wrestled, we went sledding, we stole weapons, we ate delicious food every day, we traded stories and made new friends, and just altogether killed it. I'll write up more soon and do a little tour retrospective when I get some photos back. Still straight edge and still vegan in a scene where it's no longer cool; fuck you. Peep Strangers, crazy erratic hardcore played at breakneck speed. They had some new tracks they played live so I'm excited to see what's coming from this band in the future.





 

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Power - Three Song Sampler

Power was nice enough to help Grimace out with some days the last tour we went on. We had some days dropped so Evan helped us out the last three days which just made me wish we did the whole thing with them. I miss and love those guys. Upon this reflection I'm going to take a moment to plug Unit B. Holy fuck I love that place and am glad I've been able to visit it as many times as I have. Skating all day while hanging with Grimace and friends in Power and Sabertooth ruled. Anyhow, I just picked up the new LP after a Tiki show tonight, I'll review that and write about the show later but in the time being it helped me to name the tracks. The sampler has three tracks from the LP, "Eight Eyes", "In Stride", and "Rotten Apple". On tour I asked Evan if "In Stride" was paying homage to the Vancouver Band we all had such close ties with and it sure as goddamn does. Respect where respect is due. The opening riff is incredibly reminiscent to the style of those bands as well, see the first track on the Keep It Clear demo tape. That little poke at In Stride made it my favorite new track initially but I gotta go with "Eight Eyes" right now. That track is arguably the best one on the lp as well. Upon listening I realized they played this one live a lot before the release of the lp making me think it must be one of the first new ones they wrote. These three tracks are a push in a much more dynamic direction for Power without compromising their already established style and sound. The sound clip at the end of "Rotten Apple" made me laugh. Ok, no more obnoxious stream of consciousness typing, here's the download.

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Adjustment To Society - Tour Promo CS

 ATSX is cookin! We got 12 new tracks recorded to be split between a 7" and a Flexi coming out soon on Bedside and three tracks coming out on the Welcome to 2013 Comp. On Tuesday we're leaving for a short little Midwest jaunt to play the Comp release and various other shows so we made a 4 song promo cassette of some of the new tracks you'll hear on the 7" and Killing Mind Flexi. If you live in Chicago/Midwest states keep your eyes and ears open for our tour dates. We'll also have some new T Shirts we're printing tomorrow and these sick ass embroidered patches Amos printed us you can see below. BUT IT AINT ABOUT THE SWEET COMMODITIES WE'VE PRODUCED! Read the lyrics and come lose your minds with us!
 
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