EP 252: February 2025
Killer episode this week on the pod. Check it out here, here, or here and check the playlist here or here.
The Massacred Nightmare Agitators LP Active 8 Records
The Massacred return with an LP after putting out of of the best hardcore punk 7”s of 2024. It’s a beefy listen at 25 minutes that mostly flies by. They play a style that draws heavily from UK82, although completely sans the sing-songy elements, mashed up with 1st wave Finnish HC. What made this band so special on the last EP was the congruence between the rawness of the tunes and the catchiness of the vocal hooks. There’s nothing on this LP that touches the three song run of “Schizophrenic Inanity,” “Brain Warfare,” and “Death March” but this thing kicks ass in a more menacing way that has its own flavor.
Like almost all bands making the EP to LP jump, they fuck with different tempos more on the full length. This gives us some highs, like the spectacular album closer “Extermination.” The first time I heard it, it sounded so familiar I thought it might’ve been a cover. It has the vibe of the 1st track off of the 1985 Kuolleet Kukat 7” but The Massacred come even harder, closing the album off with what will be a surefire contender for mid-tempo banger of the year.
“Nightmare Agitators” is another good plodding track, but “Post-Mortem II” hitting two tracks later at the same tempo and then half of “Power On Top of Power” continuing that trend creates kind of a drag in the middle of the record. It reminds me of the first Chaos UK LP with “The End Is Nigh” and “Victimised” back to back.
Overall, killer LP and they slayed live when I saw them in San Diego back in November of last year. Hopefully they hit the road more in 2025 and convert the masses cuz there’s no doubt in my mind that The Massacred are currently one of the best hardcore punk bands in the world.
Dead On Your Feet Demo cassette Fortress Records
New demo outta Philly done by a bunch of scene vets. Great recording. Short tight songs that bring to mind early Blacklisted or AN. Love the change up of the fast tempos like when they hit the scissor beat on “Against Myself.” This is the bar to hit in 2025. Bands are coming out the gate with demos that have the production quality and songs that are LP level. So come with it like this or be just another band where folks listen to 10 seconds of your shitty song on the No Echo playlist.
Who Remembers Hardcore Demo cassette Rebirth Records
This rules so hard. Six short, high energy songs. Only two crack a minute, and none crack 90 seconds. The recording and playing isn’t perfect, but the spirit is. The vocalist has a ton charisma and some witty lines in here. If the majority of new hardcore bands started sounding like this instead of shitty 3rd rate beatdown, we would truly be back.
I don’t think this will be HC demo of the year, but maybe it should be cuz it’s literally everything I want in a demo. Stellar.
Two of my favorite 7”s from the ‘90s youth crew revival (before it died an unceremonious death). Both PA bands. Both super catchy. Youngblood Records #1. Contention Records #1. We’re putting them head to head.
Ronny Little from Rain On The Parade had scathing lyrics. “Body Bag” and “Resolution” are all timers. “Three Chords” rules even if it has four chords, and “On My Mind” is a great all-fast blazer to close the record (“you’re fucking MEEK!”) This record takes you on a journey like it’s a well thought out LP in 7” form. One of my all time favorites.
The Rancor 7” starts with the excellent “Piece of Mind” which highlights a perfect use of the scissor beat. The verse lyrics on “Stop” are so catchy that I remembered them word for word after not listening to this 7” for a decade. “Still Holding On” is a killer blazer with a sick riff. If they ever made it to the West Coast, we would’ve been slamming. The highlight of the 7” though is “I Won’t Take Part” - the final track. It’s a re-recording of a song from their demo but this version is faster and 10x better. It features the all-time line “tougher than a Tonka truck - you can’t run cuz you’re out of luck” and then one of the catchiest SXE singalongs ever on the end (“These X’s on my hand mean I won’t take part/These X’s on my hands will stay inside my heart.”) I know, I know…just reading those lyrics will probably drive you to go listen to 100 Demons or Disclose, but you should really jam the track - it’s infectious.
Both these records are great time capsules of a time and place. They are too sentimental to me to be able to judge how they stack up in modern times, but “send it back to the longhairs” is a timeless sentiment that we should all appreciate.
In a world of stage potatoes, be that dude on the left in that ROTP pic. Respect.
I love a good ass recording. It’s a big part of the reason why many of us often reach for ‘90s monotone metallic hardcore classics like Master Killer or Satisfaction is the Death of Desire on the reg. They sound great cranking them while you’re driving with your windows down and even better with headphones. I realize it’s wonky comparing those records to this Disaster one, but it’s all the same in my smooth brain.
This LP sounds so good. I’m sure someone reading this is like yes, “War Cry” is good but have you heard the rehearsal demos for the 1982 EP Tervetuloa Helvettiin by Nukketeatteri? No, dude. I just want to listen to music that kicks ass and sounds dope.
Disaster sound like they have a single point of reference for their tunes - Discharge’s Why? 12” - and that’s A-OK with me. All ten songs go hard and only one cracks two minutes. I do find it interesting that they didn’t attempt a mid-tempo banger but maybe they just knew they didn’t have a “Ain’t No Feeble Bastard” or “A Look At Tomorrow” in them. It rules that they touch on environmental topics (“Progress”) and animal rights (“Salvation”). The singers voice is perfect for the style and sometimes it sounds like the songs are going to fall apart but he’s hanging right in there a half step behind the beat. This is totally noticeable on the last track “Deceased” but it gives it such a sick feel. It’s one of those things where you couldn’t recreate if you tried and that makes it super unique and rad.
For straight Discharge clones, this record is probably at the top of my list, maybe neck and neck with the Death From Above. The first Meanwhile LP and Nightmare or Reality would probably be battling for third.
Scott Vogel is one of the greatest hardcore vocalists of all time. So what happens when he’s abducted by a UFO the night before Buried Alive is set to record vocals for their seminal LP Death Of Your Perfect World? Who can fill his shoes?
This Trial record came out in 1999 and the band broke up shortly after. My friends and I drove down to San Diego to see them play at the Empire Club on their West Coast run after this release. They were killer.
We dive into this LP. How much is great? How much is cheeseball? Do any of the tracks measure up to this one?
Is this the definitive end-of-the-nineties record or a self-indulgent turd? Kev and I get into it.
Sergio from Amenity joined me for the interview. Amenity was San Diego’s first straight edge hardcore band. They left a legacy that still bleeds through to bands in the region to this day. CVHC! Get their discography LP here.
If you enjoy the podcast or this blog, consider becoming a patreon. The patreons keep this project alive. Thanks for the support.
- ZN