BBMA Band Of The Week #16: Seek Nothing

Seek Nothing

 "Not so bad hardcore" since '14.
DIY metallic oldschool hardcore from Berlin. Their Members are a motley bunch from all around
the globe, with just as different roots though. FFO: Metal, Hardcore & everything inbetween.

I had the honour of releasing their S/T EP on Tape in mid '16 and also
their Split 7" w/ No End In Sight in early '17. I highly recommend both ;-)

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

Hello, my name is Mike and I am the screamer/dancer.

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

We pride ourselves on not really getting better to be honest,
most bands that evolve just end up playing EDM and fighting online with their fans.
I would definitely say that we are better at what we do, live and in recording. Yes.
I think I mentioned this before but one of my favourite things about being in this band is
the learning curve. I now know more about writing, recording and distributing music
than I did three years ago. We’re still totally clueless but I like embracing the fact that
we (I) are a spectacular mess 98% of the time.

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

We have accomplished not killing each other
and our main goal is to not die before we record an actual album!

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

Yes we are finally finishing our second EP at the moment, which will be four br00tal songs
about the usual pathetic subjects that piss me off. Mark My Words Records are going
to put out the CD this summer and then we would like to release it on 7” later this year.
We have been playing some of the songs for over a year now so it will be nice to finally
have them released. They are all basically the same as our other songs except that
when it’s heavy it is HEAVY and the melodic stuff is more, well… melodic? Yes.
I guess we should really write a full length record while we have some spare time coming up
until the Autumn. We are currently booking a tour in October with our pals in Bomb Out,
if any of us lives through that it will be a small miracle.

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

I have very strong feelings about BBMA in general! Tim is such a wicked dude

 and has treated us super well since we were first introduced by a mutual friend.

We’re not straight edge (but love tons of bands that are) so that’s extra nice that we were welcomed
to the label. It proves that there is still some inclusivity within the hardcore scene.
Being in a DIY band can be a struggle so having that support has really helped us.
Also, please reference Neon Genesis Evangelion more.

Thanks a lot! Feel free to add some shoutouts!

No thank YOU!
Shoutout to Piece, Earn Your Scars, Employed To Serve, Murder Mile, Head To Head & Kiss!

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep

Ps: For this Week, all products Primal Age related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore. 

19/Jun/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 25/Jun/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #15: Primal Age

Primal Age

Primal Age is OG Vegan Straight Edge 90’s Metalcore from France.
The band was founded in 1995 (released their first Album in '97), became Absone in 1999,
just to became Primal Age again in 2006 and remains active under that name until today.
...still vegan, still straight edge, still shredding that 90’s Metal(core) sound.

One of my first releases (3 years ago), was the (now sold out) compilation/best of tape

"My Legacy / Eternal Struggle - The Best Of 17 Years XVX 90's Metalcore" which held
some of their (to my mind) best tracks from the very begining to where they where then...
And now, in 2017 I just had the honor to work with them again and do the vinyl version
of their most recent EP "A Silent Wound" (which you can now - only for one week -
get on discount from the BBMA webstore). Check them out!

FFO: Arkangel, Earth Crisis, Heaven Shall Burn, …

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

 

I'm xDimitrix, I play bass, do some backing vocals and also write the lyrics for PxA. 

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

I think we've succeeded in keeping the identity of our sound without doing the same
records always and always again. We started 22 years ago with the energy and fury of a
young edge metal band, and it's still the same passion and hapiness to have the opportunity
to keep this adventure alive. We feel proud to stay after all these years. 

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

 PxA has 2 full albums, 1 split album with the japanese band Cherish and the argentinian guys
of xMostomaltax. 2 EP's, 12 crossed countrys with a mexican tour, one in Japan and one in Brasil, more than 300 shows. We're still hungry and want to see more, meeting great people with
different cultures and playing the music we deeply feel. Our favorite topics are the same since
the beginning: the defense of Earth and all the living creatures you find on it. 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

 

Our latest EP called "A Silent Wound" is just out, so we'll keep our time before doing another
(as we've always done). We plan shows to defend it, maybe far from home to keep that at memory
for our old days. Your label BBMA offers us a vinyl version and the indonesian label
Diorama Records another one on tape (out soon).

How do you feel about bbma as a label?

We've the chance of making a vinyl version because of you, so... 

Thank you Tim for your assistance and the support in this project.
We wish you all the success in what you do.

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

Experience is the key, we all do some mistakes, the most important thing is to learn from
these shity things to get better. Less dispersal to keep your energy focused on one goal at the time. Work according to your ways and means, passion will make the rest.

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/a-silent-wound

Ps: For this Week, all products Primal Age related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore. 

01/May/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 07/May/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #14: Human Animal

Human Animal

Kind of an hardcore allstars-super-group with members of bands like: Anchor, Jesus Wept, xDisciplex AD, Brother’s Keeper, Prayer For A Fallen Angel, The A.K.A.s, Empty Promises,
Smoke & Mirrors, Abnegation, Run Devil Run, Phases and probably a couple more!

I had the honour of releasing their "the first four winters" compilation tape back in early '16.

I really recommend checking them out. FFO: Sick Of It All, xDisciplex AD, Madball, ...

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

My name is Eric Michael Schauffele aka EMS and I sing for Human Animal.
I bless these other 3 turds with my golden voice which is that of the angels above.

My other duties include complaining, worrying, over thinking, and procrastinating writing lyrics. 

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

 I feel like our newer songs are hitting harder than ever and we’re finding our groove.
Every time we write a new one I’m thinking “Yeah that’s the shit I’m looking for.”
We’ve shortened a lot of the new stuff and also there’s less guitar solos since Nate has moved
away and left the band. Our bassist Ryan “Baby Boi” Zimmerman really stepped up and has written
a lot of new jams for our upcoming stuff that really brought a welcomed new element.
As of lately we really haven’t played many shows in order to focus on writing which has taken
a bit of time, but hopefully that will all pay off. 

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

 We’ve dropped numerous EPs on a bunch of different labels coast to coast across the US
and were blessed with two releases coming out of Germany as well, so that to me is super exciting.
We’ve played with a ton of amazing bands in the US that like to ask to borrow our gear after they
didn’t even check us out so we got that going for us! But seriously we’ve been very fortunate in

our opportunities so far. I would definitely enjoy playing out more often but it’s tough these days

if you’re not part of a tour package or pay to be on one.

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

 In a month from now we’re playing our first home town show in a long time which is in Erie, PA with Terror, God’s Hate, & Steel Nation so that is super exciting and we really look forward to
that show. I’m currently trying to lose 10 pounds before then so I don’t die on stage that night

but the nachos I just ate at 1:00am might beg to differ. As far as releases we’ve got 10-11 new songs written musically and half of them have lyrics. So the next step is a full length CD/LP on a yet to be determined record label. We record all of our own material and we’ve done some pre-production
but we really gotta get this thing brewing sooner than later. It will be a huge sigh of relief
once that’s finished. I’m pumped to have people hear this new stuff. It’s got a nice vibe to it
and so far a lot of the songs are all different from each other. 

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

Oh man what kinda crack are you smoking? You helped us out a ton.
We were pumped to drop something on BBMA and I think it turned out awesome.
It’s harder for us to tell how the label operates with us being all of the way over here
but you guys have done some righteous releases. Not to mention you post photos of you shirtless, flexing, or lifting weights, sometimes in a ski mask. How can you go wrong!?!
We prefer to work with lunatics as we feel right at home with them. I personally know
how hard running a label is as I did one for years (Surprise Attack Records aka SA Mob).
DIY hardcore is a thankless money pit that for some reason we all keep doing! 

Thanks a lot! Feel free to add some shoutouts!

Thanx to my bandmates Adam, Ryan, & Bob for doing this band together.
Much love to our wives, girlfriends, and family for putting up with our nonsense.
Special thanx to Tim / BBMA, Danny / Holy Mountain, Panda Claw Records,
Marcel / Demons Run Amok, Matt Yocum / Down For Anything, the guys in Head 2 Wall Records, Wreckage, & Additional Time, for all believing in us and giving us a chance.
Much love to everyone who checks us out online or live, and my favorite,
much love to those who get up front and scream along. Respect.

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-four-winters

Ps: For this Week, all products Human Animal related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore. 

24/Mar/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 30/Mar/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #13: Not In This Lifetime

Melodic, yet metallic oldschool hardcore from the Netherlands (by ex-members of Lies!)
After the well accepted release of their demo I now also had the opportunity to release their
debut full-length on tape as well. If you didn't had the chance yet, be sure to check it out now!

FFO: No Turning Back, Champion, Casey Jones (without the SxE), Death Before Dishonor, …

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

Hi my name is Sander and I do vocals.
Besides that I write all the music for NITL, so the band is kind of my baby. 

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

Since the beginning we added 2 friends on guitar and I switched from guitar to vocals. 

Musically the direction was pretty clear from the beginning, but NITL will never write the
same album twice. So there will always be certain aspects that make NITL sound like NITL.
But at the same time things do evolve. I think our demo already showed that there’s a lot of
diversity between and within songs. On our debut album “Vultures” I think we showed
a wide variety of influences and tried to make this come together and fit.
The goal for a next release is to really create more of a signature sound/style. 

What have you accomplished and what are your goals for the future?

We released a full length album last year and played a couple of really cool show,
in Holland but also abroad. More people start to know we exist. We all have jobs,
have a mortgage and some of us have kids. So we’re not in the position to put as much time into
the band as we would like. But with the time we have we try to accomplish as much as possible. 

My personal goals for the future are:

-have fun with my friends (absolute number one)

-create and play music that makes my heart beat faster

-play cool shows

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

We play our hometown Groningen next week [this is a bit outdated - I'm afraid - my fault] and got some other things going. I’m busy writing new songs and we started
 rehearsing a few of them. I’m really exited about the new stuff and hope that we can
start recording asap, hopefully somewhere in 2017.

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

I have a lot of respect for people who put their time, energy and money into supporting
bands they enjoy. I like bbma’s enthousiasme and how easy Tim is approachable.
Communication has always been easy and every promise is kept, so that’s really cool. 

What I personally don’t understand is why a lot of smaller DIY labels do so many
releases every year, in stead of doing a few and promoting the hell out of them.
But I guess having a bigger catalogue is also a cool achievement
and being able to support more bands you love counts for something. 

[The main reason why I release "so many" things each year is, that I always feel bad
when I have to decline a submission (of which I actually like)... and so I just do it :P]

Shoutouts

Thank you Tim for your support. 

If you checked out ‘Vultures’” thank you!!!

If you don’t know us check the links below. 

www.facebook.com/nitlifetime

nitlifetime.bandcamp.com

Ps: For this Week, all products Not In This Lifetime related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore. 

17/April/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop 23/April/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #12: Witness The Fall

Witness The Fall

 

Melodic 90's Style Metalcore from the Netherlands.
Been around for quite a while now (read for yourself a bit further down)

and also were the first Band on this label, my good friends and probably my
favorite Metalcore Band around - Witness The Fall. Check them out, now!
FFO: Skycamefalling, Poison The Well, Morning Again, ...

 Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

Hey Tim, I'm Aron From Witness the fall, doing vocals in the band.

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

In the early days (before 2000) Witness the fall was called Tresore,
the only remaining member in the band from that era is Rik, our drummer.
If i remember well Tresore became Witness the fall in 2000, the first MCD was released 2001.
I wasn’t in the band back then. Bjorn, their singer, a good friend of me back then,
dropped a copy of the MCD in my mailbox. i was instantly hooked. Bjorn quit the band a few
years later, where i filled in on vocals. Not much later Chiel (First fight down) joined the band,
and bassist Lesley (who plays in A Giant A Genius now), got replaced by Wouter.
The sound stayed much the same until in 2014 Tommy left the band, Witness the fall went on
with just one guitar player. This had such an impact on the sound, but it gave a twist
the band really needed. The sound turned out much more hardcore now.
Tthe emotion is still in the music, but les whiny. Witness the falls has balls now!

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

 If you'd ask me this 3 or 4 years ago, then i did a lot of these things by now.
I’ve released my own music on vinyl, We met a lot of new friends and people, Heartfelt, Titan,
UYC, BBMA, Realm of torment & Patrick Mark My words. It gives so much strength to meet likeminded people. The best is playing shitholes with these people, travels endless roads in too
small vans. Every time anybody from the other side of the world orders a record through the internet
  Iget such an awesome feeling. I really would like to play Asia once, that's still on my list. 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

 We are working on 2 or 3 new songs now, i think we are going to release them on a split 7" again.
If any bands are interested, don't hesitate to let our label bosses know haha! 

How do you feel about bbma as a label?

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

 I could never hope somebody would invest in our music. since we are a DIY band
I know how much this costs, not only the energy, but also the finances.
Having a (DIY) label back you up helps so much in developing your music and band itself.
I feel humble to work with those people. Really nothing I can think of that labels as BBMA
(and others like Rage or MMW) could to better, I love every single thing of them. 

Thanks a lot! Feel free to add some shoutouts! 

Check out the new record (out on BBMA) from First Fight Down (with Chiel on guitars,
Aron on bass), fierce 90s metalcore in veins of Arkangel & reprisal. Fix us some show in
Germany later this year please, need to play with Castigator and get my fahrrad zurück!
[godverdomme fietsers...]

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-2

 Ps: For this Week, all products Witness The Fall related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.
20/Mar/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 26/Mar/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #11: Castigator

Castigator

Oldschool Death/Thrash Metal from Hamburg, Germany.
Originally formed in '08 with one Demo out in '11 and then virtually went on hiatus.
Now back (with some line-up changes) and a new EP out on BBMA Records.

FFO: Death, Slayer, Exodus, The Love of Metal & The Hate of Fascism, ...

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

My name is Matze, and i am the drummer of Castigator.

How has the band evolved since the beginning? 

There have been a lot of line-up changes, which finally resulted in the actual,
ambitious and serious working band composition.

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

We've just released our EP "The Recommencement",
and are now working on new songs, and trying to get gigs.
[If you read this and you think you can put up a show in your hometown,
feel free to drop us a message - we're keen to play wherever/whenever!]

How do you feel about bbma as a label?

The work you have put in it since your young age is very impressive.

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

The boss obviously has a bad taste in music ;-)

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/the-recommencement

Ps: For this Week, all products Castigator related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

13/Mar/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 19/Mar/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #10: Realm Of Torment

Realm Of Torment

Early 00's Style Metalcore/Beatdown Hardcore Band from the UK (UYC Crew).
I had the honour of co-releasing their LP (and a promo tape before that) on vinyl.
FFO: Slavearc, Martyr AD, Killswitch Engage, ...

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

My name is Jonny & I play guitar.

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

When we started we had a more 90's sound I think. It is still there in doses,

but we have naturally moulded into a more early 00's metalcore sound along
the lines of Parkway Drive / It Dies Today etc. I think this has come about due to
simply getting better at our instruments & being able to write closer to exactly what it is
we want, as well improving our actual sound live & on recording.

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

 We have been a band about 3 & a half years. So far we have put out a 4 track demo,
an 11 track album & we are to begin recording for a 3 track EP this weekend.
We are already looking to the future & discussing how we would like a follow up album to sound.
We have toured the UK a few times / played tons of one-off shows & visited Europe for a couple
short weekends so far, however we are currently in the middle of booking an 8 day European tour
for summer. Our next aim is to head to Spain for some shows following that seperatley.

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

I guess I just answered this mostly above, but I can talk about the new release. It sounds not
dissimilar to the album, but song & riff writing has vastly improved, the songs flow a lot better than
before. We also have a few softer parts on this, as it's only a short release we thought we would
experiment & try some newer things out. I say it's short, but even though it's 3 songs it will be around
12 minutes in length. The best song we have wrote so far / will ever write is on this too.

How do you feel about bbma as a label?

BBMA is a great label & always put 100% effort into everything you do, you always know

if you're working together on something you guys will do it with the up-most attention.

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

The best thing about the label for me is the small details that go into the releases.

Like a lot of the releases have a ton of information about the bands which is cool to learn
things about them & see maybe why they are how they are. I'd say it could improve at
merch designs for my personal taste, I want a balaclava for when it's snowing but I also
don't want peopel to think i'm going to burn down a church.

Thanks a lot! Feel free to add some shoutouts! 

Shoutouts to The UYC, metalcore is the air that i breathe.

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/testaments-of-hope-despair

Ps: For this Week, all products Realm Of Torment related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

06/Mar/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 12/Mar/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #9: No Restraint

No Restraint

Metallic Vegan Straight Edge 90's Style Hardcore from Florida.
A militant stance towards veganism & animal rights ...and some serious chugg!
I had the honor of co-re-releasing their demo, which already was one of my favorites from '15
on a 7" (as BBMA21) in early '16, together with Bitter Melody Records (USA).
FFO: Green Rage, Trial, Earth Crisis, ...

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

I'm Troy. I play guitar

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

 I'd say our influences have gotten a bit broader. When we first started I just wanted us
to sound like a mix of Indecision and Snapcase, but that's not the case anymore.
Our lives have changed a bit as well, so practicing, writing and playing shows
 doesn't happen nearly as much as we'd like.

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

I never had concrete goals for the band. I wanted to play music with my friends
and use it as an outlet to talk about veganism. Hearing from multiple people that our band
was the catalyst that made them go vegan is all I could have ever hoped for.
Releasing two 7" records and having people from other countries show interest in us
is something that I still wouldn't have predicted.

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

As I said earlier, we don't practice as much as we'd like.
Hopefully we'll play a show sooner rather than later.
We have a couple of songs we'd like to record, so hopefully that will happen as well.

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

BBMA is great. I definitely won't tell you how to do your job!

https://norestraint.bandcamp.com

Ps: For this Week, all products No Restraint related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

27/Feb/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 05/Mar/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #8: Absorption

Absorption

Metallic 90's style Hardcore/Metalcore from the UK.
Released their demo last year, through MMW on CD and as BBMA24 on Tape.
FFO: Pain Runs Deep, Sunrise, Arkangel, ...

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

Yooo. It`s Patrick here. I’m trying to play on guitar(s) in Absorption. Alex is doing vocals 

and Don drums. We have lost some band members recently. So for now it’s only 3 of us.

How has the band evolved since the beginning? 

Ohh well. When we started with this band (me and Don) we didn’t expect that we
gonna record something so fast. Supposed to be a fun band for weekends only.
Just few friends enjoying playing in band and making some cool noise together so we are very
happy that we did release our debut EP on CD (Mark MY Words records) and Tapes
(BBMA and Coercion Cassettes ). We have learned a lot during that process and we are ready
for more now. Maybe we are not active that much (band members problems, work, family)
but we are working on new stuff and this is the main thing I think.

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

Recorded demo – done. Release this – done. Write some new music – working on this.
Release something new – working on this. Few slightly further bands goals – play more shows
especially one in H8000 area, one in Japan and one in your bedroom.
After these 3 shows I think we can say it’s over for us.

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

Yes. At the moment we are looking for solid band members (guitar and bass) so we can start
thinking about shows etc. We are working on few songs which we wanna release on split
r next ep. We are talking to some bands about this so we will see what future will bring.

How do you feel about bbma as a label? 

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

Damn this is the moment where I have to lie again – yeah BBMA is cool, we like them,
nice people etc. It’s good to work with them ;-) But to be serious – BBMA is doing very well
I have to say. In short time people started recognizing your name. That’s good. Keep that hard work. Hope that we can work together again in the future as a band and as a label.

Thanks a lot! Feel free to add some shoutouts!

Thx for giving as a chance to say few words!! To everyone else – support DIY,
support your local scene, support small bands and labels. Fuck the hype.
Listen to Slayer, play Fifa and remember – there is no god!! Fuck!

https://absorptionhxc.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products Absorption related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

20/Feb/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 26/Feb/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #7: Vatican

Vatican

90's Style Metalcore/Crymosh Band from Savannah (GA).

(Ex-)Members of Coastlines playing music in the vein of Bands like:
Poison The Well, Zao, Prayer For Cleansing, ...

I had the honour of releaisng their debut EP "Drowning The Apathy Inside" as BBMA15.

Who are you, what are you doing in the band? 

I’m Jonathan Whittle and I sing for Vatican. 

How has the band evolved since the beginning?
What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future? 

Since January 2015, we started off as a 4-piece, all from Savannah, Georgia.
We’ve written an EP called “Drowning The Apathy Inside” which was released on April 20th.
Around the time of summer was our first tour with a band called Without, also from Savannah,
and we headed out to Texas and back. We also picked up a new bassist, Jonathan Mackey,
which at the time was newly living in central Florida, originally from Long Island.
December 2015, we went on our second tour with Bind from Florida, and headed
up the east coast. January 2016, our close friend from Atlanta, Tom Lovejoy joined the band,
then went on various short runs with bands like Sanction, Jukai, Detriment, and Heavens Die.
In March, we went on a tour to California and back with Down In It (NC).
Future wise, we’d like to eventually do another US run and hopefully hit Europe and/or Japan. 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about? 

We’ll be doing another east coast tour from February 22nd to March 6th with Heavens Die. 

As a full 5-piece, we’ve finished writing a full length, which will temporarily be titled 

“Ache of Eternity”. We recently just put out a 4-way split with our friends in Sanction (LIHC), Funerals (Portland), and Iron Curtain (Inland Empire, CA) thanks to Bitter Melody Records. 

The split is now streaming on our bandcamp, and a preorder link is currently up on the page, 

for those wanting a physical 12”. [http://bittermelodyrecords.limitedrun.com]

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future? 

I’ve always thought BBMA was a very pro, great label.
There’s not much I can pick on, with a label that’s always supported us beyond what we hoped.
Just keep being consistent and pushing hard ass bands. Thanks a lot! 

Shoutout to BBMA! And also Bitter Melody and Blasphemour Records. 

Everyone should check out: Heavens Die, Vein, Separated, Sanction, Jukai, Bind,
Vamachara, Yashira, Tourniquet, Iron Curtain, Funerals, Cast In Blood, King of Summer, 

Queensway, Hangman, Detriment, Laid 2 Rest, Year Of The Knife, Invoke,
Of Feather And Bone, Dwell, Riot Stares, A Life of Torment, Invoke, Presagers, Shame,
Hands Of God, Frameworks, Basaran, and Mothmother.

https://vaticanga.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products Vatican related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

13/Feb/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 19/Feb/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #6: Forward To Eden

Forward To Eden

90's Style Hardline (Vegan-themed) Metalcore Band/Solo-Project from Germany.

(My own Band/Project) Demo CD (2015), Split 7" w/ Content With Dying (2016)
and Compilation Tape/CD (2016) all out on Bound By Modern Age Records.
FFO: Culture, Unborn, Statement & The Vegan Jihad!

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

I'm Tim a.k.a. xRULEx and basically I am Forward To Eden. 

In FTE's first Incarnation (2014-2015) I did Vocals, Guitars & Bass.

In FTE's current Incarnation (2016-2017) I am doing Vocals & Guitars.
Besides that I am also singing in Castigator (Death/Thrash Metal Band)

and Through Chaos & Solitude (Melodic Black Metal Solo-Project) right now.

How has the band evolved since the beginning? 

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future? 

I kinda started this band/project (wrote the first songs for it) in late 2012/early 2013.
After I realized that I wont find people to bring it on stage with, I decided to do it as a solo project and recorded a first promo track with my good friend Rat (the man behind Statement).
Unfortunately he didn't had the time to record a whole demo with me and so it took some more time
until the first "demo" was released. This time with "The Vegan Warrior" on Drums.
Then, in late 2016 I had my first great achivement with my first Vinyl 7" release
and shortly after a CD release on another label than my own!

For this year, there is a lot more planed as well - the next Split 7" is already in the making
and there are also some possible line ups for a soon-to-be show in discussion - be prepared!

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about? 

Shows? We'll see - I won't stand in the way of that.
Releases? Hopefully a lot! Probably some. Definitely at least 2 this year.

How do you feel about BBMA as a label? 

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future? 

Actually, I'd love to release on any other label(s) as well - so, feel free to get at me!
In what I do suck most? Probably in trying to do too much at once... like working a full time job,
doing the label, 2 solo-projects, a band and still managing private life (girlfriend, family, friends)

and hobbies (the gym, reading comics/mangas, watching series/movies, etc.) - I think I could be

a lot more productive if I'd cut out 2 or 3 of them... but yeah, I don't think that that will happen.
So... for now you'll have to live with that - but feel free to do your share and contribute in

listening to my output (https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com), spreading the word about it
and last but not least placing an order from the BBMA Webstore, so that I can continue. Thanks.

Ps: For this Week, all products Forward To Eden related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

06/Feb/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 12/Feb/2017

...and if you still want to know a little bit more about Forward To Eden and my motives,
check out this interview I was given a couple weeks ago:
http://cialkoxzieleni.blogspot.de/2017/01/en-tim-rule-forward-to-eden-castigator.html

BBMA Band Of The Week #5: No End In Sight

No End In Sight

Vegan (lyirc- & ethicwise) Metalcore/Thrash-Metal with a punky DIY attitude.
By Members of Minus Youth, Pessimistic Lines, Lion City, …

No End In Sight were founded in 2004, but have underwent some line-up and style changes
since then. Their first full-length was released in 2008 and their second in 2012. Then, in 2015
I had the honor of co-releasing their third full-length "Black Clouds" on a Tape, as BBMA09.
FFO: At The Gates, Iron Maiden, Arch Enemy, Motorhead, …

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

Hi, my Name is Kevin and I defend the Guitar Hero highscores in No End In Sight.
I joined the game in 2011 as a result of periodic line-up changes in the band’s history. Lucky me. 

How has the band evolved since the beginning? 

 What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

Our sound has changed pretty much from the first steps in 2004 until today.
Starting as a teenage-Hardcore/Punk tryout, we more and more focused on solid Metal styles
and found ourselves most comfortable with fast forward, thrashing riffs with enough groove
for all the headbangers out there. After several sampler features and 3 full-length albums,
including “Black Clouds” as the latest release in 2015, we’re now about to fire up a Split 7”
in February 2017 together with Berlin Hardcore Beast SEEK NOTHING out on BBMA.
This is gonna be 10 minutes of sheer heaviness, no excuses. 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about? 

We’re planning some shows with SEEK NOTHING in April and May in order to promote our Split
and be on the road for a good time. Playing live has always been the most important thing for us
as a band. We don’t want to write songs for the rehearsal room. Driving long distances for
small shows and little money is all we need. But we’re also writing new material constantly.
Due to the slow progress that is typical for us, I can’t tell when the next release is gonna happen.
For now, we’re just curious about the Split 7”. 

How do you feel about BBMA as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future? 

BBMA already released our “Black Clouds” album on tape as a donation for Animal Equality Germany, which has been a great success. At our first meeting with Tim, we had an extra funny time with trash horror movies and a lot more trash talk. Thanks again for sharing your flat with us!
He was instantly up for our request to release the NEIS/SN Split on BBMA and puts a lot of time
and effort in his label/booking/music activities. We’re happy about the cooperation and surely our paths will cross again. For a future advice of what you can do better: drain your zero % beer down'
the sink and tune up your fridge with the real hop juice! Love Metal, Hate Fascism. 

https://noendinsight.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products No End In Sight related (except for the new Split 7",
which just went up for pre-order) are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

30/Jan/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 05/Feb/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #4: Titan

Titan

Chaotic early 00's Style Metalcore/Crymosh (...Skramz?) from Belgium.

Members of xHeartfeltx and Serenity Fails. They self-released a Demo in late 2014

and in early 2016 I had the honor of releasing their Split 7" w/ Witness The Fall as BBMA23.

FFO: Jane., Shai Hulud, Converge, Kindred, …

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

I'm Dimitri Derwael and I play guitars in Titan.

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

Somewhere in the fall of 2013, Wim (drummer) asked me if I wanted to do a 1-time-gig-band-project together with Hans (Guitars) from ex- Once...Never again. The intention was to play a few 90's heartcore songs (Poison the Well, SkyCameFalling, Once Never Again and we wrote 1 own song)
for a birthday of a (now common) friend. Hans played guitar, I played bass and did backing vocals, Wim played drums and Jim took on the Lead vocals. After that 1 gig we decided to stay rehearsing and write some songs (maybe play some shows - who knows?). Being a guitarist I wouldn't trade
that place so we found Kevin who is now playing bass. Our initial intention was to play a mixture
of old Poison The Well (Distance make the heart grow fonder...era) with Skycamefalling and in a way we still do...but we all have very diverse taste in music so yes, you'll hear those 90's influences
but along with some black metal riffs here and there, some screamo/Skram atmosphere and some
Post Rock/Hardcore ambience. As long as it has that sound of melancholy, despair and rawness,
we're open to any influence ;)

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

We all have demanding jobs and/or a children so it's difficult to set goals because we all have other/higher priorities. But in the mids of all that turmoil of family/work life, we managed to release
a demo (2 songs - self released) in 2015 and in 2016 we recorded a split 7" released by BBMA together with #crymosh heroes "Witness The Fall". The last one also got released on
Mark My Words Records by Patrick Klosinkski in the UK. Both BBMA and MMW are sending stuff to Japan and those people seem to be crazy about what we do. We never really expected that!
Our future goals are to hopefully do a mini tour, but certainly hit the studio very soon again. We've got enough songs to fill another 7" on both sides (or do a split 10"/12"?? -
get in touch if you're intersted?!)

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

Our last release was a colaboration between BBMA and Witness The Fall and that proces was just
so amazing. WTF and Titan were in the same studio on the same weekend and we did backing vocals for each other - mixing and mastering was done by the same engineer in such a way to make
it sound like a whole and it turned out just like that! Aron and I designed the artwork, I did the digitalisation and lay-out and Aron did the massive amount of screen printing DIY (!!). That release isn't just about good it sounds and how satisfied I am with the end result - sound and artwork-wise. For me this was also something I will look back at with nostalgia because I don't think that such
a close collaboration will ever be possible again. It was and still is, truly heart warming :).

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

How can you give any negative feedback on a guy who does all this? The question should not be what BBMA could do beter/more as a label but rather "what should/could we do for Tim to support BBMA and all the wonderfull work he is allready doing?". If you're reading this: Please go to
the webstore and buy something. Titan stuff is on sale in the same week this interview gets online - but other stuff is great as well. Check out First Fight Down, Forward To Eden, Heartfelt, Castigator, Renounced, Sentenced To Burn, Not Dead Yet, Witness The Fall (of course!),;..So get out your wallet and spend that cash so Tim can continue to grow as a label and continue to support those
90's oriented bands with a sincere message that so many HC-bands lack nowadays.

[thanks a lot - do as this wise man says ^_^]

https://titanxcore.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products Titan related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

23/Jan/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 29/Jan/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #3: xLAIRx

xLAIRx

 

 

Vegan Straight Edge 90's Style Metalcore from Melbourne, Australia.
One of my favorite recent bands playing that Style. I had the honor of releasing this
on a vinyl 7" as BBMA16 in 2015 - which is now already sold out though.
Also the band itself is now (more or less) defunct,
but there are constant rumors about a re-union - read for yourself!
FFO: The Path Of Resistance, Shockwave, Culture, Earth Crisis, ...

Death To Betrayers. XVX.
 

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

I’m Robert and I am one of the two vocalists of XLAIRX,
I’m joined by Michael, War, Pestilence, Famine and Death.

 

How has the band evolved since the beginning?
What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?
 

This band started as a small project but spawned to gain more members to preach
our version of the Vegan Straight Edge jihad, the war of all that is good against all that is evil.
We hope to inspire a new generation of warriors to take up arms and rebel against the stupidity
and futility of modern mankind. So far we have put out our debut 7’’/tape Wrath Of The Immaculate through life.life.regret. records (AUS), BBMA (GER), Cause And Effect (ENG), Cold Hand (USA) and Diorama (INDO). We have been overwhelmed with the support we have had from near and afar, it’s been fantastic to see others involved in the fight for human, animal and earth liberation.
 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

 

At this point we plan to record new songs this year but with members around the planet
attempting to defend mother gaia this has slowed the process down. 

 

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future? 

 

We feel at home on BBMA amongst some of the most straight forward revolutionary music
waging war with the true message of change, the vegan straight edge. Thanks a lot! 

 

Feel free to add some shoutouts:

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, listen to Rebirth and Denial.

 

https://boundxbyxmodernxage.bandcamp.com/album/wrath-of-the-immaculate

 

Ps: For this Week, all products xLAIRx related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.
16/Jan/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 22/Jan/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #2: xJustified Violencex

xJUSTIFIED VIOLENCEx

"Real Hardcore For True Straight Edge Warriors"

Militant oldschool Straight Edge hardcore from Maryland.
FFO: xWidowmakerx, Casey Jones, xBishopx, Minority Unit, ...
I had the honour of releasing their Album entitled "The War" on tape as BBMA26.

Who are you, what are you doing in the band?

1. I AM MACK. I PLAY GUITAR AND DID VOCALS ON THE WAR. 

(and obviously have a broken caps lock or a favour for upper-case letters)

How has the band evolved since the beginning?

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

2. SINCE WE STARTED THIS BAND BACK IN '88 WE HAVE ONLY GOTTEN
MORE POWERFUL. BACK THEN TIMES WERE TOUGH. RIGHT BEFORE WE WERE
GOING INTO THE STUDIO, JAKE DID THE RIGHT THING AND BEAT THE HOLY HELL OUT OF THIS KID WHO WAS BLOWING SMOKE IN PEOPLES FACES AT A SHOW HERE
IN TOWN. HE PUT THAT BASTARD IN A COMA AND WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. JAKE GOT OUT AND WE WERE GOING BACK INTO THE STUDIO WHEN HE BROKE PAROLE AND GOT PUT BACK IN. WE DID 'BEATDOWNS ON BOWERY' AND DONATED THAT MONEY TOWARD GETTING HIM A BETTER LAWYER AND SHIT LIKE THAT. 

EVENTUALLY HE WAS OUT AND FINALLY JOINED US FOR THE THIRD ALBUM, STRAIGHT EDGE OR DIE AND HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE.

SINCE THEN WE HAVE DONE 3 FULL US TOURS, PUT OUT S.E.O.D. AND THE WAR
AND WE PLAN ON GETTING MUCH MORE POWERFUL AS WE CONTINUE. 

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about?

3. MORE SHOWS ARE COMING UP. UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE LEARNED THAT
WE CAN'T POST ABOUT SHOWS LOCALLY ANYMORE, NEARLY EVERY TIME WE
POST ANYTHING ABOUT IT ONLINE THE PIGS SHOW UP. IT'S ALSO GOTTEN HARD
TO PLAY OUT OF TOWN TOO SO WE NEVER POST IT. THE PEOPLE WHO WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE SHOWS KNOW. BUT THAT SHIT IS RARE. LIKE A DIAMOND.
GOTTA KEEP THAT SHIT UNDERGROUND. MORE SHOWS AND SHIT
ARE COMING IN 2017. GONNA HIT IT HARD AND FAST.

A MUSIC VIDEO FOR ''STRAIGHT EDGE WATCH DOGS'' IS IN THE WORKS AS WELL. KEEP YOUR PEEPERS PEELED FOR THAT SHIT.

GOING FORWARD WE ARE PLANNING TO BECOME MORE POWERFUL.
THIS NEXT ALBUM WILL BE OUR FIRST AS A 5 PIECE. 

How do you feel about bbma as a label? 

In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

4. TIM AND BBMA HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT INSANELY SUPPORTIVE
OF US AND OUR QUEST. COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER PLACE TO CALL HOME.

SHOUTOUT TO HIM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, SHOUT OUT TO RINKY FOR
BEING THE DUDE HE IS, SHOUTOUT TO CRUNCHER FOR HIS HELP
COMING UP WITH THE NEW VID. xCROWBAR CREWx REPRESENT.

STRAIGHT EDGE OR DIE. JXV 2K17 WEAR A FUCKING HELMET
BECAUSE THIS RIDE IS ABOUT TO GET ROUGH.

https://xjustifiedviolencex.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products xJustified Violencex related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.

09/Jan/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 15/Jan/2017

BBMA Band Of The Week #1: Heartfelt

New Categorie: BBMA Band of the Week!

First one is dedicated to my good friends in xHeartfeltx

They're a 90's Style Straight Edge Hardcore Band from Belgium
and you should really check them out! I had the honor of re-releasing their demo on tape,
back in May '15 as BBMA11 - but, let them speak for themselves:

Who are you, what are you doing in the band? 

 Dimitri - Vocal and Financial Director.I’m Alex, the drummer in the band.Wouter - Bass player.

Maarten Scholz, I play guitar.Maarten Steyls, guitar player.

How has the band evolved since the beginning? 

 

(Alex) Early 2011 Maarten Scholz (guitarist) wanted to start a melodic hardcore band
in the vein of More Than Life, Killing The Dream etc… he was searching for a drummer,
and placed a message on a forum which I replied to. So I went to try and stayed ever since.
After about two years of practicing, playing shows, and recording an EP, I was fed up
with the things we played. I rather wanted to play some kind of 90’s new school hardcore form,
like Spirit Of Youth or Kindred. As a teenager I grew up listening to those bands so it made
more sense to me. Eventually in late 2013, early 2014 we started to rehearse, making new music
that people reffered to as Culture, Morning Again, Kindred… It was so much more fun to me,
it felt more natural. As a drummer, I learned to play with other people so I already took a huge step forward, and from then on I could actually play something I always dreamed about. In april (or may) 2016 Wouter, a friend of ours, joined as our new bassplayer, which also was a big step forward for us as a band. He quickly learned all of our songs, and we kept playing shows with our new line-up. Also, Dimitri (vocalist) ’s voice sounded so much better than ever before. People started to appreciate us more, they came (or stayed) to actually check us out. Our music kept evolving, becoming heavier with more metal influences. At this point we are in the process of writing new songs again, to record an EP in 2017. The music still gets darker, more bitter. It feels more natural for Maarten Steyls (guitarst) to write songs in this particular style of music. He once told us that the songs on our LP (Deprived Of Compassion) didn’t feel natural to him, the writing process was harder than it is now.
I think that a lot of the things that he plays are way better than what we used to play. For me, I try
to improve my drum rhythms, and patterns, going faster from time to time (i.e. the addition of more double bass pedal drumming). We exist as a band for almost 6 years, and I think that’s not bad at all. It was only this year (2016) that we decided to become a straight edge group. When Wouter joined our ranks, we had a potentially edge line-up, and most of us were already straight for years.
We liked the idea so we just claimed the straight edge for us as a band. It’s a personal choice, we are not the band that only spreads that message through our music. So be sure to keep an eye out in 2017 for our new EP, feel free to check out our (new) music, and to catch us playing at a show.
Or just come and hang out, it’s always fun to meet new people! 

What have you accomplished so far and what are your goals for the future?

(Maarten Steyls) We released our first record ‘Deprived Of Compassion’ back in January (2016).
I’m proud that we made that happen, and I would definitely like to thank Arne from Mosh Potatoes for releasing it on vinyl, and Patrick from Mark My Words Records for doing the CD release.

The most important goal for me would be to do a small tour or weekender sometime.
I feel that’s long overdue. We rarely play outside of Belgium and I think there are other countries
that might appreciate what we do even more.

 (Alex) As I said before, some of our goals we accomplished before are the releases we did
(old EP in 2013, the new promo songs -2014-, and our LP in 2016). We are going to record a new EP in 2017, at least that is our plan. For me personally, one of the best things ever was that our band
was being noticed by friends, and other people from 90’s hardcore bands that we love
(Spirit Of Youth / Solid, Kindred / Enemy Of The Sun… some of which play in other bands now – which we played together with - : Lockstitch, From Cocktail To Fire, Kabul Golf Club…). Sometimes when I see someone wearing one of our shirts, that's also a really good feeling.
Also, a weekender or a (short) tour would be nice to accomplish. I think that if we would be an American band, we would get more attention. We once played at a showcase where Blistered (USA) headlined. After the show they talked to us, telling they loved what we do and that if we would be based in America, people would go more crazy over our music. On the other hand, I think that it’s just nice to be a Belgian band, hailing from the country that brought you the finest H8000 Hardcore (Congress, Liar, SOY, Regression, Spineless, Vitality….), Brussel (Arkangel, Length Of Time….), and Antwerp (Facedown) bands, as well as some of the best Limburg hardcore bands ever 

(Kindred, Enemy Of The Sun, Ashlar, Distract…).

Any upcoming shows/releases/anything else you wanna tell us about? 

(Maarten Stelys) We have been writing new songs since May. We are really stoked to play
our new set. It’s still 90’s metalcore, but everything sounds a bit more agressive and darker.
Everyone in this band has improved in what they do. The song writing in this new style feels
more natural to me. We’re also spending more time working on details and we set the bar higher
for ourselves. A lot of riffs end up not being used if we’re not 100% satisfied with how it sounds.

We are currently finishing up the last songs, so we will be heading into the studio soon.
Our plan is to release these songs as a 10” EP, sometime in 2017. So if any labels would like
to help us out with this, let us know! (ever heard of bbma records...?)

(Alex) We plan to record and release a new EP in 2017 (as if you shmucks didn’t read that
before, hah!). For now we only have 1 show planned, a birthday show for a good friend of ours.
We will play some new songs there for the first time. If you are triggered after reading this,
and want us to play at your show, feel free to contact us with your question(s)!
Also feel free to check out the other bands we play in: Titan, No Solace, Devour,
and some new projects that hopefully will see the light of day in 2017, haha.

How do you feel about bbma as a label?
In what do we suck most/what could we do better in the future?

(Dimitri) The coolest thing about BBMA is Tim. Also the fact that there are so many bands on his label that waive the Flag of the 90's is really cool. BBMA does quite a lot... I think the only thing they could do to improve, is to make more living room-mosh video's to advertise their releases.
I think that's it's Tim's best marketing tool atm and he should take it to a higher level.

(Maarten Steyls) In December of 2014, we played a show in Germany (which was actually our
first show outside of Belgium). After our set, Tim started talking to us and asked if he could
release something for us. We were really surprised by this. I believe that was the first time
we got actual support from a label. As a result, our demo ‘Flaws In Human Nature’
was released on tape by BBMA in 2015. So needless to say we really like what Tim does
and we are still thankful for him helping us out. 

(Alex) ) I got to know BBMA way before Tim knew about Heartfelt. I actually can’t remember
how I started to notice the label, I guess through one of his releases (it may have been the
Realm Of Torment demo tape). Tim is a very cool, and nice dude, who does everything possible
(and probably also impossible) for his brainchild. He promotes BBMA through the internet, goes
to shows with his distro, talks to a lot of people to get BBMA noticed…
and those are just the things he sucks at! You have no idea what he is capable if he would do it
the right way!... Haha no man just kidding. I feel he does everything for the love of hardcore.
Keep it up dude! What could be better in the future? Well, if Tim keeps doing his thing the way he does, things will automatically get even better, that’s for sure! P.S.: it would be awesome if BBMA would sell some bicycles one day, boy oh boy would I be all over that (godverdomme fietsers)!

https://heartfeltcore.bandcamp.com/

Ps: For this Week, all products xHeartfeltx related are on Sale from the BBMA Webstore.
01/Jan/2017 http://bbmarecords.com/shop/ 08/Jan/2017