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That’s a hell of a start for a new band,
and two labels that I constantly keep
up with. Gen Pop’s ability to switch
tempos at the drop of a dime, along
with the ability to cover several genres
while retaining punk roots, makes
this record very satisfying. Even when
you think, “oh this must be their slow
song,” they blast back into a frenetic
riff with the rhythm section relentlessly
keeping pace, leaving the listener disoriented
and ready for more. I’m ready
for a full length, myself.
Gen Pop – (2) 7” (Feel It)
One of Olympia’s finest bands, GEN
POP, is back with their second 7” on
FEEL IT RECORDS. Their first 7” also
came out on LUMPY RECORDS,.
That’s a hell of a start for a new band,
and two labels that I constantly keep
up with. Gen Pop’s ability to switch
tempos at the drop of a dime, along
with the ability to cover several genres
while retaining punk roots, makes
this record very satisfying. Even when
you think, “oh this must be their slow
song,” they blast back into a frenetic
riff with the rhythm section relentlessly
keeping pace, leaving the listener disoriented
and ready for more. I’m ready
for a full length, myself.
Chain Cvlt – Demo MLP 12” (La Vida
Es Un Mus)
Chain Cult is a post-punk trio from
Athens, Greece. Their demo tape sold
out so quickly, that it’s already been
pressed to vinyl by the best label in
the business: LA VIDA ES UN MUS.
Post-punk is sometimes hard to define,
which is why the genre has always been
fascinating to me. Chain Cult creates
urgent and energetic post-punk, in
the style of WARSAW. The bass lines
set the tone for each song, along with
sharp guitar lines, and pissed off
vocals. Songs such as “State of Fear,”
“Black Hole,” and “Lost Signal” take a
hard look at the current state of world
we now live in. “We are in a state of
fear, It seems so far but it’s very near.”
Blink and the demo is over before you
know it.
Vile Spirit – Demo cassette (Quality
Control)
After my favorite hardcore band ANX-
IETY broke up recently, I was hoping
to find another UK band that could
match their intensity. VILE SPIRIT
is here to fill the void. Only a demo
tape to their name, made up of four
songs but as far as demos go, this is
on another level. Every time I put this
tape on, somebody asks “who’s this?”
I’ve found this to be a very good test to
see if something will stand the test of
time, or just be shuffled in with the rest
of the music I’ve bought lately. This is
absolutely brutal hardcore, not for the
faint of heart. They beat you down with
every track, and never slow down. Lyrically,
the four songs show the vocalist
self-destructing, contemplating past
relationships, unable to relate to people
he knows, and taking everyone down
with him.
Litchics – Mating Surfaces LP (Kill
Rock Stars)
Lithics are from Portland and make
the kind of post-punk that seems
to be thriving in the underground
punk scene. For fans of SHOPPING,
GAUCHE, and THE WORLD, but
for me, they are easily the best of this
group. That’s not to take anything away
from the bands I mentioned before
them, they are all incredible. If you
haven’t heard any of these bands, well
it’s time to change that. Maybe a better
reference to older bands would be AU
PAIRS or KLEENEX. That’s for you
to decide. Minimalistic perfection on
guitar, combined with a tight rhythm
section and detached vocals. What
more do you need?
Snob – S/T LP (La Vida Es Un Mus)
It’s crazy to me that Snob has existed
since 2014 and have only self-released
two 7”s. Well the full length released
by the Disco Punk label LVEUM was
well worth the wait. This has been by
far my favorite release so far this year.
Tense hardcore that is made up angry,
snotty vocals, frantic guitar riffs, and
a rhythm section that is going to beat
you up from start to finish. The lyrics
stand out the most for me, short and
sweet, but tackling social issues in a
clever, sometimes humorous way.
Beta Blockers – Stiff Prescription (Static
Shock)
Beta Blockers create the kind of fast
paced hardcore music I love, mixed
with industrial elements that only add
to the chaos. The debut LP from this
Leeds/ Sheffield band might not be
an easy one to stomach for the average
listener. Seven songs clocking in
at a mere eighteen minutes, the kind
of basement set that leaves everyone
yearning for more. Beta Blockers
consist of members of THE FLEX, NO
FORM, WHIPPING POST and COM-
MUNITY. I could try to describe this
band by telling you it’s a bizarre combination
of two bands you might already
know, but instead I am just going to
say this is by far one of the best new
hardcore bands I’ve heard in awhile.
STATIC SHOCK records from London
never disappoints, consistently putting
out the best current bands. Limited
pressing of 300 on white vinyl, get your
hands on this one if you still can.
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