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

Top 10 Records of 2016

And, yeah... while we're just at it, here are my Top 10 Records of 2016...

Also no fancy descriptions and shit - just listen to it and make your own picture!

Renounced -Theories Of Despair

xElegyx -Demo

Drawing Last Breath - Hymns of Suffering

Titan & Witness The Fall - Split EP

Thrawsunblat- Metachthonia

Ancst -Moloch

xHeartfeltx-  Deprived Of Compassion

Clearer The Sky - Held In Merciful Light

Castigator - The Recommencement

Forward To Eden - The First Jihad: Liberation Of The Heart

X www.bbmarecords.com X www.bbmarecords.com X www.bbmarecords.com X

Top 24 Records of 2015

Yeah... 2015 was huge, so this top list is also going to be huge!

And like in 2014, this is not just my personal list - this is the definite list. 

Debating over it is pointless... ;-) (here is 2014's list, just in case anyone is interested)

Edit: I guess I was a bit lazy... procrastinating and stuff... you know?
So, to everyone who is still waiting, here are the last/first 7 places (with only one year delay):

1. xREPENTANCEx - The Sickness Of Eden

Who would've though, huh? Mind-blown!
If you haven't heard of them yet, yeah... your bad... lay down and die or something!
THE vegan straight edge 90's style band of the modern times.
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (12")

2. xLAIRx - Wrath Of The Immaculate

Vegan Straight Edge 90's Metalcore from Australia... also militant and shit!
FFO: The Path Of Resistance, Shockwave, Earth Crisis, ...
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (7") | buy (7"/tape)

3. NoRestraint - The Branches Of Suffering & Down In It Split EP

Vegan Straight Edge 90's metallic Hardcore. Militant and shit...
FFO: Green Rage, Trial, Earth Crisis, ...
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (7") | buy (7"/tape)

4. Realm OfTorment - Testaments Of Hope & Despair

Early 00's Metalcore with some beatdown impact... Killswitch Engage meats UYC Crew.
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (12") | buy (cd)

5. UnholyMajesty - All Is Dust

Oldschool Metal/Hardcore in the vein of bands like Integrity, Ringworm, etc.
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (tape/12")


6. xDEVOURx - Demo

Metallic SxE Hardcore from Members of Blade! ...you know the deal!
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (tape)


7. Vatican - Drowning The Apathy Inside & Paingod

Emotional, yet metallic 90's Metalcore/Crymosh.
FFO: Poison The Well, Hopesfall, Prayer For Cleansing.
(No fancy description, as I am pretty late with this and don't have the time...
I would say that I'll edit it later, but I probably won't... you're welcome)
listen | buy (tape)


8. Deconsecrate - Nothing Is Sacred

Solid H8000 Metalcore with some Black & Death influences. Really evil stuff with 2 Singers
and guest vocals from John Gallagher (Dying Fetus) and Damien Moyal (Morning Again/Culture).
So, you know what to expect, don't you? "Metal", but for 90's Hardcore Kids (and the old guys) ;-)
If this alone wasn't already cool enough, it even came out on Goodlife Records,
as their first Vinyl output in... like 10 (?) years! So you see - this has to be outstandingly good!
Besides the great music they created here, which is basically a mix of All Out War, Congress,
Deformity & Behemoth, there are also really kind and interesting individuals behind this band.
Andy, their main Singer who also did the Artwork and stuff, was also the guy who did
(as part of a team) the H8000 Book (Compilation of the Zines) and is now (together with a friend)
running Kick Out The Jams (a really cool Cassette Label & Distro).
To end this with the words of Ed Goodlife himself:
The Glorious Return of H8000 Hardcore, featuring former members of Retaliate,
Crossed The Line, First Alliance, United Blood, 6 Days of Justice, doing their thing.

listen | buy (12"/cd)


9. No End In Sight - Black Clouds

For me, this definitely deserves the title "Metalcore Super Album 2015".
It has everything this genre needs and you could ask for - it has the typical "modern metalcore"
riffs and blast parts, but also more calm parts, with emotional lyrics and powerful vocals.
Typical metalcore shouts (really well done) but also gang shouts, hardcore style and lots of
guest vocals inbetween the whole thing. So, whilst being "the metalcore album" you can also hear
some hardcore influences here and there, what makes it, to my mind, even more sympathic.
Besides this, they are all very nice dudes and fucking vegan as well - how cool is that?
Like, metal, but with a punk attitude and lyrics about human/animal right and politics.
Another crossover that is pretty obvious in their style is (Thrash) Metal.
There is a goddam solo in every song! I mean, fuck it, thats exactly what I was missing
in most of the standart metalcore and hardcore stuff! So, whilst not being 100% OG Metalcore,
this is my "Metalcore Album 2015", because it is far better than what I expected
and it would deserve so much more attention, it's unreal!
Furthermore they're doing all this since '04 in the spirit of DIY. Self-releasing their records,
booking their own shows, doing their own merch (fairtrade, sustainable - all that shit), etc.
And even donating the money from that to charity/animal rights organisations!
So, dammit - show some support! For they deserve it way more than 99% of the bands out there!
listen | buy (12") | buy (tape)


10. Fourth Crusade - Demo MMXV / At War With The World / EP Promo

Really hard working (vegan) 90's style metalcore band from Germany.
Yeah, finally a "really good" band from Germany again! Was waiting for this!
In their one year of existence they have already achieved what other bands can't do in a lifetime
and they have already developed/changed their musical style pretty much during this,
but for the good! Their year started with a really cool h8000 style/metallic oldschool hxc demo.
Imagine Arkangel, Kickback, Day of Suffering, etc. After this, they released an (online?) Single
in mid '15, which was still awesome - even way better recorded - but more (death)metal!
Imagine influences from Bolt Thrower, Integrity, etc... but still pretty much 90's metalcore,
h8000 style, with breakdowns that really deserve the name! ;-)
And now, in the end of '15 they are just about to release their new EP and you can already
listen to one promo song online - which is even better than everything before.
Combining all the influences and perfectly re-producing the sound of some of my favorite bands!
Just to drop some more names, if you're into bands like Repentance, Incitement, Deconsecrate, etc.,
You don't want to miss on Fourth Crusade! ...and we can expect a lot more from them in 2016!
listen | buy (nothing available atm - just check their fb to know when pre-orders go online)


11. Gaia Bleeds - Demo '15

Scottish's best export. Sounds like the taste of IRN BRU... fucking "wizard"!
Pretty "hard" vegan straight edge 90's Metalcore in the vein of bands like:
Withdrawn, Slavearc, xCanaanx, etc. ...with lyrics about Anime, D&D, MTG and WoW...
nah, just kidding, it's fucking serious, the guys themselves may be all about these topics,
but the band is all about the vegan jihad, like "go vegan, or go fuck yourself".
Starts off with a melodic, kinda clear 90's style intro... until the doomy growls and
dissonant guitars set in. Breakdowns are almost beatdown level - at least I would definitely
beat you down in the pit to this - but also picks up speed again and chugga thrash's the fuck
out off it. "Open your eyes, you're not exempt from the guilt."
All over a 10/10 if you're into metallic slowed down negative 90's style xvx hardcore...
or irn bru, anime & mtg ;-) however, this is definitely one of the best demo's lately, so check it out:
listen | buy (tape) sold out though


12. Rebirth - Instincts Of Suffering / Rising Dissent

One of Australias best exports right now. Imagine "Trial" on Crack...
but of course in a very vegan straight edge way! Very 90's, very Core, much Chugg,
but also kind of Punk and fast forward with a political stance.
Really love everything about them, from the music, to the vocals, the lyrics
and also the visualisation and stuff! Really can't wait for them to tour the EU one day!
"Instinct Of Suffering" was released in early 2015, a follow up EP to their already
awesome '14 Demo. "Rising Dissent" - a 2 Song flexi 7" on LLR Records
was just released a couple of weeks ago (A Reflection on Social Dissent Within Australia).
The more sophisticated/intellectual 90's HxC enthusiast would not want to miss on this! ;-)
listen (EP) | listen (single) | buy (llr distro)


13. First Fight Down - Demo '15

90's Metalcore in the vein of bands like Morning Again, Reprisal and From The Dying Sky.
They even started back then in '97 and released 3 (?) Cd's until '08, when they went on hiatus.
Now they're back, added some new/old members of The Darkest Red and Witness The Fall
to their line up and started to play shows again - and (diy) recorded this demo...
which, to my ears, sounds fucking awesome! Be prepared for a 12" EP in mid 2016.
As you can already hear on these recordings, they might have become older,
but haven't lost a scintilla of power and passion! But, judge for yourself:
listen | buy (tape) sold out though


14. Statement - Genocidal Justice MMXV

Yeah, OG StateXment right here. This is a re-recorded version of the '96 classic.
After their s/t EP on Hardline Records and a few years later a Split EP on Surrouned,
their for the time being, last output was released via Green Fight. Unfortunately only on CD.
Flash forward: In 2014 Rat (the man behind Statement - yeah, he's still alive), started his own label,
Bloodless Records to release some new Statement tunes (and really limited vinyl of old stuff).
During that process he got the great Idea to simply re-record the whole Genocidal Justice Session
and release it as a really limited lathe cut 10" (only 25 copies in existence).
This is still pretty damn good and powerful vegan metal (slayer worship). Check it out:
listen | buy (10") sold out though


15. Encrypted - Tribulations

Oldschool Metal. Not like in Metalcore or Metallic Hardcore, just fucking Metal.
 Foracious riffs over a storm of thunder with solo's like fire raining from the skies.
Lyrically: God is denying his own existence to abandon humanity to their own fate.
This is one for the old crock's who only listen to Black Sabbath and Metallica,
but also for the cool kids who like Obituary and All Out War.
Really well played. Probably Belgiums "truest" Metal Band right now...
or at least the only one I am really interested in! (Ex-)Members of Crucial Times, btw.
And, yeah, this came out on my Label, so you know that it has to be outstanding good!
listen | buy (tape) | buy (cd)


16. In Tongues - Rituals Of Failure And Ruin

You like Black Metal? Then listen to this! You like 90's Metalcore? Listen to this!
You like Straight Edge Hardcore? This! Death Metal? This, this and this!
The perfect mix from stuff like Woods Of Ypres, Entombed & Prayer For Cleansing.
Brutal and melodic at the same time, yet creating an atmosphere of bleakness...
Like an undead wanderer in a medieval surrounding, dragging a church bell through
the mist of cold and lifeless morning... numb and destructively sensitive at the same time .
Pervasive lyrics with misanthropic substance leaving no hope in sight.
Really nice Record though and great improvement to their Demo.
It has carange like riffing, brutal breakdowns and gory blastbeats,
but also soulful melodics and expressive guitar solo's.
But what can I say, just figure it out yourself, this one sure can't disappoint!
listen | buy (12")


17. Drawing Last Breath - Demo

Flawless melodic 90's/early 00's metalcore in the vein of bands like:
Undying, Unearth, Prayer For Cleansing, Poison The Well, etc.
Personal/Emotional Lyrics, screamed by a tormented soul,
meet relentless metal riffs and divine melodic parts... would "crymosh".I read that this is by members of Blistered, but thats already about the only thing I know...
If you have any more info, let me know! This needs to be on vinyl soon!
It would probably be under the top 5 if I had the opportunity to actually hold it in my hands.
Like seriously, if your band also wants to play that melodic 90's metalcore style
and you're not sounding like this here, then you're probably doing it wrong! ;-)
listen | buy (tape)

18. Insider - Between Grace & Sin

Really cool oldschool Vegan Straight Edge Hardcore somwehere between
Warzone, Underdog and Vegan Reich (really interesting mix, yeah).
Short and powerful tunes with fresh vocals (by mr. malik himself).
All rounded up by a dreamy "Wata-Dub" at the end - get that Underdog/Bad Brains vibe!
Members of Bands like: Inherit, Pain Runs Deep, Iron To Gold, Healing, ...
So you kinda know what to expect! ;-)
listen | buy (7")

19. Guidance - Path Of Grace

Crushing metallic 90's Style Hardcore by the Hands of Krishna.
Imagine Outspoken, 108 and Shelter thrown into the flames of Mount Doom,
just to be melted together into one 90's Straight Edge Masterpiece to rule them all!
This record runs from melodic and soulfully to chugging and hard,
all while keeping a beat that constantly tells your feet to move already!
Lyrics are kinda personal but also point out on general issues in life and society as such.
The punchy cocals match perfectly to that + shredding guitars over some expressive bass parts.
Unfortunately I never had the chance to see them live and now that their journey has
ended way too soon, I probably never will as well, but I'm pretty damn sure that
the whole room must've been on fire during their set, I mean, seriously, just listen to this!
(Members are now active in bands like: Digress, Violent Reaction, Frame Of Mind and Repentance)
listen | buy (12") sold out though

20. Fortress Black - I.N.R.I.

Slow and heavy, crawling over the hardcore scene like a huge juggernaut.
Some might want to label it as Post-Black Metal or slowed down, darkened Hardcore,
while others just reffer to it as the force of the god's! Dunkelheit, Naturgewalt & Total Death.
Endzeit starts off with the drums of war, crashing into total chaos and forecasting
the doom of humanity, musically just as lyrically...
After that it picks up speed and unleashes into a misanthropic mayhem.
A Symphony of Destruction, acompanied by metallic Guitars and the crying
from the Sirens of Hell. Fortress Black is strictly anti-religious and anti-fascistic.
Members of Bands like: Radical Development, Empowerment, Beat Down, True Blue,
Absidia, Countless, Iron Skull, Golgatha, The Crimson Divine, 711 Mayhem and many more.
Just mix all of these together, add some Corpsepaint and human blood
and you get a vague Idea of what Fortress Black sounds like.

listen | buy (12"/cd) | buy (tape)

21. Eakra - The Last Call Of The Wild

Stunning "Vegan D-Frost" (between D-Beat and Celtic Frost) with some Death/Black Metal
and Crust influence, by members of bands like: Statement, Unborn, Hello Bastards, ...
Really heavy and with shrieking female vocals + lyrics about animal/earth liberation.
From what I heard the whole thing was only kind of a project and for that matter
virtually existed just a few days... but after a few years two of the members
eventually wanted to have it pressed on vinyl, so a 10" version by Bloodless Records
and Tofu Murder Squad finally happened this year. Limited to 30 (!!!) though, haha :P
For the music, it's really wild and black and crusty, and... just listen to it yourself!
listen | buy (10") sold out though

22. Cattle Decapitation - The Anthropocene Extinction

Vegan Grindcore/Death Metal with some Black and Core influence here and there.
Hate me, but I think, in contradiction to like almost any other band, they're just
getting better with every new album. I really dig the increasing Metalcore
and Black Metal influence - really peculiar and special sound now!

I won't review every single track for this one, as it is a major label LP release
and there are already far better reviews out there, than I could ever possibly write.

But anyway, Lyrically: Mankind destroy's the earth and consequently itself.
Musically: Brutal as shit Grind and demonic Vocals that destroy Mankind!

This album really has everything. It has the Grindcore Pigsqueal Mayhem,
tumultuous guitar solo's from outer space, atmospheric black metal shit with demonic screams
from the deepest depths of hell and also the In Your Face Metalcore part here and there.

Like, seriously - what else would you want from a record?

Only minus: It came out on Metal Blade Records and most of their stuff is expensive
as fuck ...and comes from the US... what makes it even more expensive...

listen | buy (cd/12")

23. Blinded - Mourn Her

Crushing oldschool Metalcore (with some Beatdown influence) from Australia.
First track starts off really heavy. Chugging Guitar parts and breakdowns to break bones.
Pretty emotional and desperate lyrics though... Crymosh?
Second track kicks in more melodic and 90's sounding - even has one of these
cool offtune singing parts - but also has it's not only heart, but also nose breaking breakdown.
Pretty heavy shit, yo! Then, after a nice and calm Instrumental,

the typical early 00's metalcore riff starts and my feets are telling me to open up
that fucking pit already. Nice off tune singing and lyrics about lost love again.
Seems like highschool (-girls) in Australia can be pretty harsh!

Last track perfectly rounds it up with a more 90's hardcore sounding one again
- and the essential beatdown part + outro movie clipping at the end.

(they also did a really cool exclusive track for the "Life At The Bottom Comp")

listen | buy (tape)

24. Not InThis Lifetime - Demo

Melodic oldschool Hardcore from the Netherlands, consisting of (ex-)members
from the now defunct Metallic 90's Hardcore outfit LIES!

The first track from their demo kicks in energetic and melancholic at the same time.
Especially the last part - would totally give it a crymosh!
The second track starts with a really calm intro but kinda gets brutal & chaotic later on.
The lyrics also match perfectly to that: Emotional, self-doubting, hope crushing, ...

The third tracks start off as a typical melodic hardcore song but also turns into that melancholic
style later on, until when it eventually ends in a fabulous guitar solo.

The fouth track is like the banger at the end - by far the "hardest" track from this demo.
But still very passionate and expressive. No dull 0815 standart hardcore here.

listen | buy (tape)

Also worth checking out (in no particular order):
Digress - The Seventh Day, Hounds - I, Culture - Modern Warfare / Beyond Belief,
Day Of Rights - Demo, Swan Song - Coming Up Short,
Truth’s Last Horizon - The Result Of Taking Life, Tyrant’sKall - Gla’aki,
Higher Power - Demo / Space To Breathe, Wake Of Humanity - At Capacity,
Earth Crisis - The Discipline, Blistrered - The Poison Of SelfConfinement, Spirit Crusher - Demo,
Seven Generations - Love Through UnrepiningHours, Vamachara - Demo / Promo,
Jukai - Devoid Of Hope, Bind - Demo, On Bodies- Unremarkably Mortal,
and of course: Forward To Eden - Fight For A New World /The Epitome Of Humanity.