ODD MAN OUT - CCHC

     I know this came out a month ago but I'm listening to it now. This record tops most of the stuff that came out this year by staying true to their sound and being catchy. I can't even sit still while writing this because the groove is so fucking heavy. The individuals who form this band have been in a couple of my favorite bands and its clear that they, not only live and breath, but also study and understand hardcore-punk music. No matter what band they're in or what sound they're going for, they are creating A1 art. Top of the line shit. Certified stomper tracks. Straight edge to the fucking maximum. I wouldn't call it propaganda by any means, but if this shit doesn't make you wanna kick the booze or stomp out a cig then I don't know what will.

Stomp. Straight Edge. Yes. 

I also just wanted to post this video because right before their Warzone cover they talk about something very important which is often lacking from some scenes. Friendship. 

OBEDIENCE - DEMO

So this September I had a chance to to cross of a band from my "See Them Live While You're Still Alive" (possible future post) list and that band was Tear It Up. I've really only been listening to them since Violent Minds played the No Warning show at Gamechanger World  because that's when I started listening to bands like VM, Shark Attack, Tear It Up, the Rites, etc. They quickly became a favorite of mine when I realized that I related to the lyrics on a personal level since I experienced many of those same feelings and emotions at one point in my life. Getting to know their work made wish that they came into my life much earlier but hey I'm here now and I'm better than ever.

I was fucking floored by their performance that night so it got me hunting down all of the other bands that the members were in like Dead Nation, the Rites, Splitting Headache, Pagan Rituals, etc. Then I was really surprised to find out, via the Night Birds on instagram, that Dave Ackerman is in a current punk band from Austin, TX called OBEDIENCE. Of course it fucking rips. Don't even ask. Just listen.

FFO: see previous post.

FFO

I'm really terrible at FFO's so I'm going to leave them out of my posts from now on.

Anyways, I'm listening to Foreseen right now and, as always, hearing Slam Savagery reminded me how blown away I was by them when they played This is Hardcore. It was my first time seeing them and I had the same wide-eyed, slacked jawed reaction to them as everyone else in the room which made for a truly special moment to share with the rest of the audience.

The second time I saw them play was 30 minutes from my house when they toured with Power Trip and Red Death and they played the Warren American Legion with Razorheads and Big Bad Wolf. It was one of my favorite shows at the venue.

Helsinki Savagery.

THE FLEX

The Flex is one of my favorite current bands for its sound, energy, and hard work ethic.  This shit is so catchy, which is why it is the namesake of my blog. 

Back at it again.

I'm really gonna try harder in terms of posting on here more regularly and whats gonna help me be more consistent is a more broad topic base. I understand that to some people that might be a turnoff but to me this blog is about practicing my writing and the consistency with which I write. Some of my current fascinations include punk, skating, filming, writing shorts, anecdotes, taking photos, and just whatever sparks my interest. I also know that most of the views that I get are from google searches and not from people actually following me so I'm gonna do more for people who are coming here to find content. I'll try to provide music, videos, photos, and other content that people can download while still giving credit to the creators. I'll be repackaging some of the harder to find music that I had to search far and wide for, but I'm not trying to take anything away from the original posters I'm just trying to make it more accessible. I hope you enjoy what I have in store.

Pics From 1/2/15 NBNJ- RZRHDS, GLUE (TX), ALLERGY (FL), TANNING MACHINE (PA), KIIZKA

This was such a killer gig. It was my first time seeing Glue and obviously didn't disappoint. 

Tanning Machine 

Kiizka

Allergy

Glue

Razorheads

Nishad

RIP COOLER RANCH/THA CLINIC

Chicks Who Rock Harder Than Dicks

     If you've been living under said rock, or are intentionally avoiding it, you may have missed a new wave of hardcore and punk music which is being written, performed, and attended by extremely talented individuals. "Wave" might not be an appropriate term since that implies a future decline, so I'll be using the term revolution from here on out. For a long time hardcore has been overpopulated with humans of the gentlemanly (and some not-so gentlemanly) kind but it's Not Just a Boys Club and there are people out there who are taking it back and owning it. Its refreshing to hear songs from a different perspective and to listen to music about conflicts and issues that a lot of us might not be aware of. We can be sympathetic and accepting of people's struggles but taking a closer look into their lives and truly understanding why these problems shouldn't be taken any less seriously than others is an important exercise we should all practice.

      These are the bands that give us an opportunity to be more understanding and better people. These are the bands that rock harder than most. 

Firewalker is an incredible band from Boston who just released a Summer 2016 Promo that RIPS, but listen to the demo first. Catch them at OHC and on their West Coast tour with G.L.O.S.S. and Pure Disgust. 

Seeing Pox at the Cooler Ranch (RIP) was like love at first sight. So much energy. So much catch. This is their 2015 demo No SS and they might be releasing something soon, fingers crossed.

NY's Krimewatch kicked off 2016 with some serious hits and are recording a 12" to be released on the LOC. The beat don't stop with Krimewatch. 

Olympia Hardcore. Need I say more? I will though. G.L.O.S.S. is a truly groundbreaking band not only thematically and lyrically but they fucking shred. Lined lips and spiked bats comin' at ya. Trans Day of Revenge coming out Total Negativity and Nervous Nelly

Olympia Hardcore once again! It's hard to express how much joy I get out of listening to this band and how I'm even happier that they are soon releasing an LP titled The Wild Hunt on M'Lady's Records. Also, their tour blog is a must-read! Great writing and great stories.

New Wave vibes are plentiful in the Boston based punk band Dame. They have two releases under their belt, one being a split with The Cringe and they are taking over the world! 

Is it safe to say that Boston is the East Coast headquarters for the revolution? Leather Daddy is fucking pissed and they are the essence of the title of this blog post. 

Honorable Mentions:

Dusters/PISSKVLT/Psychotic Break Records [First Post Back]

To all who stumble in:

I've been gone for quite sometime because I can't stick to anything I start up, but I'm back on account of trying to keep myself in the loop on all things music. That being said, there will be much more than just hardcore and punk this time around and this is due to the expansion of my music catalog across many genres like metal, hip hop, funk, soul, blues, jazz, soundtracks, and film scores. Essentially, I will be writing about stuff I really dig so I hope you dig as well. Let's get into it. 

Lately I've been lucky enough to have friends who are putting out really sick tapes so this is going to be an appreciation post for the homies who are killing it. In alphabetical order-

      First up is Dusters AKA "Brass Knuckle Boot Boys" from Hub City AKA "Gunswick" New Jersey. This blend of riffy punk and rowdy oi comes at you fast, hard, and gets you on your feet. Catchy riffs and contagious lyrics will invade your head for days so be prepared to have this tape on repeat. The opening track should be the theme song of New Jersey cause I can't help but play it in the car or when I'm hanging out with my friends who get just as frustrated with living in this cesspool. "I'm so full of hate, 'cept when I'm with my mates, I'm so full of hate, livin' in the garden state!" FFO: Hooliganism, Hub City, Philosophy, and Rambo. 
                                                                   GET DUSTED 

Keep reading to find out where you can get the tapes.

(Artwork by, yours truly.)

     Next up is E-Town's own black metal street punx, PISSKVLT! They describe themselves as a "Shit-faced two piece from Elizabeth, NJ that'd rather be skating" but I assure you Nemface and Drü pour everything they have into this band and it shows. They've been around for a year or two but finally got their first tape release on Psychotic Break Records (label mates with Dusters). Black Metal Street Punx is a very gritty, raw, and pissed off tape that projects some of their favorite music and influences. Skate to it, kill to it, just enjoy it. See them live. Join the PISSKVLT. 

BMSP

     You can purchase both of these tapes on a brand spanking new label, Psychotic Break Records, run by the frontman of Dusters, Nishad. The STORE ENVY has both tapes and some dope gear. Follow the label here and keep your ear to the ground cause it seems like this label has some wicked plans in store.

Turkeyleg, out.

Deadhead - Demo

So I don't know if anyone actually checks this blog anymore because I haven't written in here in a pretty long time but my band just put out a demo. Check it out.

Bandcamp

Gangway! - Young Hearts

NYC has been churning out a lot of amazing punk music lately but on the outskirts of town are bands that should not be overlooked and one of those bands is Gangway! This Long Island hardcore-punk band with wicked reggae and ska roots, is bursting out of the shadows of New York City and showing the punk world what the fuck is up! Gangway managed to filter out the shitty elements of ska music and apply it to punk in a very smart, fast, and fun way while also emulating strong reggae roots throughout their songs. The Young Hearts EP is the 4th release for Gangway and if it was released in the early 2000's it would probably end up in a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game and become one of those instant nostalgic classics. They play up and down Long Island and in the city so check them out but for the meantime listen to their Bandcamp.

Aggression Pact - S/T 7"

What do you expect from a band who's members played in top notch acts like Waste Management, Green Beret, Wasted Time and Mercy Killings? You expect some top notch fucking music and that is what you get from Aggression Pact. Releasing their first 7" on Painkiller Records , this Boston hardcore-punk band is adding their material to a steady stream of shred that is coming out of that city right now. Fast and raw isn't only my favorite way to fuck but it's also how I like my hardcore and they hit that nail on the head! Compared to Adrenalin O.D., BGK, and N.O.T.A, "AP" will definitely satisfy fans of those bands and it will also resonate well with the new breed of hardcore-punkers. Don't sleep on this 7" and try to catch them at a show, I know I will.  Bandcamp//Buy!

Pure Disgust - Chained

     

     DC has a very iconic past in terms of punk and hardcore and they have always had a steady stream of great bands in the scene but recently they have entered a new era dubbed the "NWODCHC." Pure Disgust is one of many DC bands that have been consistently putting out awesome tunes that are really fun to rock to and at the same time make serious statements on some important social issues of today.

  

     Chained was released about a week ago by a combined effort of Brooklyn's Katorga Works and the UK's Quality Control which I'm assuming is for pressing the record in Europe (which is awesome). This record is filled with so much energy, power, and like I mentioned before, fun! Fast, Oi inspired, punk that makes you want to run around and jump up and down like a fucking maniac. Listen to it. Buy it.

Bandcamp // Download //Buy

Yuppie Killer - Cotton Candy

     Rapid, powerful, gritty, and energetic are words that only give you a mild idea of what this band sounds like because you have to listen it to fully grasp everything that Yuppie Killer is. They are a four piece hardcore band from Seoul, Korea that play fast and raw hardcore punk layered with many influences like powerviolence, surf rock and punk, thrash, and shoegaze. Normally when a band lists so many genre influences I become skeptical but YK projects all of their influences very clearly which makes for really dynamic and interesting music. 
     If you have read punk and hardcore lyrics in the past year or two they may all seem a little homogeneous but Yuppie Killer takes hardcore-punk lyricism to its roots and yells about a variety of topics ranging from cops to the geography of Korea. It's really refreshing to listen to lyrics that aren't all about posers and people who stabbed other people in the back. 
     The Cotton Candy EP is a follow up to their debut LP Corruptions, and it was released earlier this month making it their third release in the 2 years. YK has carried over they're strengths from their previous releases and amplified it, making an amazing 7 song EP that will blow you away. There's no reason why you shouldn't listen to this because its between 10-11 minutes long and you'll be a happier person after you do. 
     In their bio on Facebook they claimed that "Yuppie Killer was an experience best witnessed in the flesh" and from the videos I've seen, I believe it. It would really be great to see this band live so I may start planning a vacation to Korea unless somebody would like to book them in the States. I think you should. 

Here's a link to their Bancamp where you can listen to Cotton Candy 

and all of their other releases. 

Here's a video of them playing live @ Double A Studios in Seoul

Interview with Paul Klein of Suburban Scum

     Last week Suburban Scum released a track titled "Death is Destiny" from their upcoming full length debut Ultimate Annihilation which is coming out on Closed Casket Activities sometime in the near future. The new song is really setting an awesome tone for this record and I cannot wait to hear the rest of it and I'm excited to hear new live material as well. From what I heard live at the Ultimate Annihilation video shoot and the show that they played at Starland Ballroom, this record is going to be insane and people are already losing their minds at shows which is always a great sign.
     Being so excited about this record I had a few questions regarding it, so I hit up my good friend Paul Klein and he did an awesome job of answering all my questions. This is my first interview on this blog and here is the song and the interview. For the ultimate experience and to fully immerse yourself in the interview,  I suggest playing the song while you read.

1. What's your name and what do you play in Suburban Scum?
     What's up? My name is Paul Klein, and I play drums in Suburban Scum.

2. So we are here to talk about Ultimate Annihilation which is your debut full length LP. How long have you guys been working on this record and what was the experience like?
     Feels good to finally sit down and talk about it, man. We've been working on newer material, for what seems like forever. It's been about 2 years that we've been throwing ideas around and whatnot. Putting songs together can be really stressful, especially when you get stumped. It happens to every band, I think. Some things click, some don't. Some ideas that we originally thought were total shit come back into the picture. Sometimes, you tend to hear it differently after letting it sit for a while, or you find a spot in a certain tune where that certain riff fits, you know?

     Probably the last year or so we really buckled down and pushed ourselves to get everything done. Most of us work full time, have other bands and/or obligations outside of Suburban Scum, so sometimes it can be a pain in the ass to get all of us in a room to jam every week. Plus, we were relatively busy playing shows and traveling. But, shit's all done and we couldn't be more excited! It's being released through Closed Casket Activities, as well. Justin is the fucking man.

3. And this was all recorded at the Machine Shop in Bellville, NJ? Was this your first time working there?
     Everything was recorded at the Machine Shop with Will Putney and crew. Had a blast, honestly. Will's a close friend of ours which I think made the environment a lot of fun for everyone, too. Plus, we're at a comfort level with one another where he can straight up say "that suuuuuuucks, try this" and we'd be okay with it. For the most part, we came in really prepared and were just excited to lay everything down. After jamming shit for so long, it was great to hear everything come together in an amazing studio. There were definitely some moments where I personally took a step back and asked myself, "did we really just do that?" It's very rewarding knowing we gave our all, and I hope everyone hears and feels that when the record drops.

     As far as this being our first time recording at the Machine Shop, at the Bellville location, yes. The Machine Shop was originally in Weehawken or Hoboken, where Will recorded "Internal War" before I joined the band, then the actual studio was taken over by another friend of ours, Jeremy Comitas, and went under a different name in which I can't recall at this time... which is where we recorded "Hanging By A Thread", my first record with the band.

4.You just released a new song titled "Death is Destiny" which sounds awesome! What has the reaction to the song been like?
     Thanks, man! We're really pumped on it. So far, the response has been incredible. I've seen way more positive comments than anything. Overall, we're really happy with everything going on right now.

5. How do you feel about "Ultimate Annihilation"? Is there anything different about this record than the previous? Also, do you have a favorite song?   
     Personally, I think this is easily the heaviest and tightest material we've put out, hands down. As far as anything being different, well there's some metal elements thrown into the mix this time around, but it's still very much a hardcore record. No doubt about it. I can 100% guarantee you it's crushing, it's pissed, it's Suburban Scum... just better than before. From start to finish, "relentless" is the word to best describe it.

6. The album art was released along with the new song and it looks phenomenal. Who did the artwork and can you tell us a little bit about what it means?
     Thanks. We're all super excited on how everything came out. The artists name is Jesse Schaller, from Albany, NY. Super nice and the dude RIPS! He did the cover art for our split with Xibalba, as well. I know he's done stuff for SkeletonWitch and a lot of other sick bands. You want skulls and badass shit, Jesse is the guy.

     As far as the meaning behind "Ultimate Annihilation", I don't wanna take away from Karebear, haha. If I had to try and explain it, I'd say to take a look at everything that's going on in the world today. It's a mess. An absolute fucking disaster. Take all of the elements of that shit, and I think that can paint a picture for the record. I'm sorry, I'm really bad at explaining that kind of stuff, but all in all, the music, lyrics and imagery we are going to lay on you are far from happy.

7. The band just went out on tour with Expire, Rotting Out, Bent Life, and Mizery. I know you don't usually go on these longer tours with the band but can you tell us a little bit about the tour and how it came about? Will the band be spreading the good word about Ultimate Annihilation?
     Yes, Scum is still currently on a full U.S. run with the bands you had mentioned. What a great tour package, man. Definitely, the guys are spreading the word about the new record, for sure. New songs are in the setlist, merch designs with "Ultimate Annihilation" on it and all that good stuff. Nice little push for what's to come.

     Honestly, not entirely sure how the tour came about, but we were asked and we said sure, haha. We're all friends with one another, too.

     Dayn (guitar), Madden (bass) and myself had to take the backseat for this tour like we did for the Life And Death (summer 2014), unfortunately. We all do "adult" shit. Man, that hurt typing that out, haha. It sucks not being able to be out there with our friends, not going to lie. However, the last thing we would ever want to do is prevent Suburban Scum from going out and playing shows. I'd never want to do that. That'd be selfish.

     I'm a little older than the other guys, have a full time job in purgatory, married, dogs, bills, etc. So, sometimes, for me to take off for 3-4 weeks straight can be difficult. I try to do as much as I can, though. I'm definitely going to Europe in May for a week with the guys, so it gives me something to look forward to.

8. You guys shot a video for the record at the Stanhope House a few weeks ago with the Banner, who you used to drum for, the almighty Razorheads, and GDP. How was that experience and when can we expect the video to be released?
     I can speak on behalf of everyone by saying that video shoot/show was by far one of the craziest sets we have ever played as a band. Was our first time playing new stuff off the record, too. Seeing kids go off to something they have never heard before made us feel really good. All the bands killed it. Was just a perfect night. I'll never forget it.

     As far as the experience of having a video shoot, that was a first for us. It was actually really laid back for the most part. Just kind of like "Okay, just play and we'll record". Super easy, haha.

     I got a chance to see the final edit of the video and it captures that night perfectly. Chaotic. I'm gonna guess that it'll drop once we have a date for the record release/pre orders and all that stuff. That's what I'm guessing. Could be sooner, though. We'll see.

9. A week after that you played the E.Town Concrete show at Starland Ballroom with Indecision, Vision of Disorder, The Banner, and Razorblade Handgrenade. You got to sit behind the kit for a song during the Banners set, which was a treat, was it fun and nostalgic to play with those guys again?
     Absolutely! I love The Banner. Always have. Always will. "Posthumous" still remains as one of my favorite NJHC releases ever.

     I joined in 2007 and played up until, I'm gonna say 2011'ish? I got to see and do a lot with the band after we recorded "Frailty" (also recorded by Will Putney/Machine Shop). Had some of, if not the best times of my life spent with Joey and the dudes that were in the band at that time, and I'm forever grateful. So, getting a chance to go up and play "The Wolf" with Joey and the guys brings back a lot of great memories for me. Respect to Jake for being cool and letting me sit in every now and then.

10. You also run an amazing little side business where you make kickass artwork. How did that come about?
     Thanks, man! I don't necessarily have a name for my side business, but if you're on instagram, check out @artbypvk.

     I've always enjoyed drawing and painting ever since I was a kid. Especially horror imagery. Shit's the coolest. Being able to create/recreate something is a nice release outside of drumming for me. Going to try and keep doing as much as I possibly can with that. Helps keeps me somewhat sane. So, feel free to check out my page and hit me up (artbypvk@gmail.com) if something catches your attention. Mike, very cool I was able to paint something for you a little while back!

11. Most important question of the interview: How are your dogs?
     I love this, haha. They're great, man! As I'm sure you know from my social media shit (instagram: @choicesmade), I post pictures of my guys every two seconds. They bring me endless joy and I like to share that. For those that don't know, I currently have three dogs. Frankie, 5 year old chihuahua. Buster, 13 year old pug. Newman, 3 month old mixture of all kinds of breeds. Guessing pug, pomeranian, yellow lab, maybe some pit. Not 100% sure, but he's rad.... they're all rad! All very comical when they are around each other, too. Most importantly, they are all very happy and healthy. All we could ever ask for.

     I have a pretty stressful job. So does my wife. We deal with complaints, stupid people yelling and shitting all over us day in and day out. Coming home to pups that are insanely ecstatic to see us... everyday... all day... c'mon, does it get much better than that?

     A few months back, my wife and I had to put our first dog, T-Bone, down due to a tumor that spread rapidly. We had adopted him when he was around age 1 or 2, early on in our relationship, prior to our marriage. He was around through a lot of the ups and downs over the last 9 years. More importantly, he was around when I wasn't. I'd leave for months at a time to play music and travel, while my wife was working her ass off to pay the bills and help keep a roof over our heads, all while she was sick. He was her sidekick, her best friend. Made sure she wasn't lonely and kept a smile on her face when I couldn't. Losing him, it's still so very raw to us. Making that decision was the most difficult shit imaginable. Never felt pain like that before. However, knowing he's not suffering anymore makes it a little easier. We gave him the best life possible, and in return, he gave us endless amount of amazing memories and such unconditional love.

     It's amazing the bond someone can have with their dog. Some may think I'm batshit crazy, but I'd take a bullet for them. Forever loyal to my guys as they are to me. Wouldn't have it any other way.

     Man, you really got me talking now, haha. If you ever wanna get me emotional, a conversation about my wife and guys is the way to go, haha.

Finally thank me for this awesome interview and tell everyone how cool I am cause I don't think anyone is convinced.
     Thanks, Mike! It's very rare I get to do this, so I appreciate it! Always good talking with you. Can't wait for you and everyone else to hear "Ultimate Annihilation". Keep your eyes and ears open. Everyone's a fucking victim!

Thanks again! -Paul


     I Just want to thank Paul once again for being kind enough to do this and answer all these questions perfectly. Always good to hear from you and always good to know that your dogs are doing well!


There it was, my first interview on this blog, and who better to pop my interview cherry than one of NJHC's greatest drummers. If you guys like this interview then let me know, maybe I'll do more.

Dog House - Demo 2015

     Sewer demons have crawled out through the sludge of a Boston gutter to write a demo blistering and enchanting enough to brainwash punks into an army of boot stomping soldiers to bring back into gutters and fight a war against shitty music. Dog House released a demo in early February that has somehow slipped past me for over a month now which is upsetting since I could have been listening to this demo for over a month now.
     The demo hits hard with heavy punk riffs and low demonic vocals powerful enough to cut through bone. As you listen from beginning to end, each track slows down a little bit only to slam on the breaks in the middle to unleash a sludgy track that will make you wonder if there are any swamps in Boston that this band could have been conceived in. Then the demo picks back up again to kick your ass for another 2     songs. I recommend this demo to anyone who likes Hoax, Boston Mayhem, SQRM, and just anything crusty, sludgy, and heavy. I am too excited for this band and I know fairly little about them due to the lack of information about them on the internet which I must say makes them even more intriguing and mysterious. If anyone has any other info about them, please let me know. Enjoy.

Bandcamp

Download