Episode 214: Good Tunes, Piss Beer

It was the best of tunes, it was the worst of beer. We get into it this week on the pod.

What is it that sets this thing apart?
Are we just a soundtrack to chaos?
The minor leagues to the big show?
In the best there’s something more

Wrote this little diddy above in 2019 not knowing everything would be exacerbated in the coming years.

Seriously though. What is Hardcore? Are we just all Potter Stewart-ing it on some “I know it when I see it” shit?

Pretty much.

There’s always been a strange intangible that’s been hard to describe or pin down. Why was Sick of it All considered hardcore, but you thought twice before attaching that label to Biohazard? What is the equivalent these days?

Is there anything disqualifying that would make a band not a hardcore band?

Anyway, onto the good shit.

South Korea’s Slant put out one of the best HC LP’s of 2021, and here they are back with 3 more killer songs. Impossible task following up that LP that had perfect modern hardcore punk production, but these songs bring the heat.

RANCŒUR describe themselves as "cold oi” but they’re French, and they’re boot, so they’re FrOi! in our book. I don’t think we’ve come across a FrOi! band yet that we don’t dig. This one rules.

I loved the Ekulu LP because it sat somewhere sonically between Age of Quarrel and Best Wishes. Does this Alienator 7” sit somewhere between Victim in Pain and Cause for Alarm?

Debatable, but one thing’s for sure - three of these songs rip!

Earlier this year, Crocodiles put out an album called Upside Down in Heaven. Dan loved it, and we finally got around to chatting it. As someone who doesn’t love power-pop, I gotta admit, there are moments on this album that are undeniable. Also, fuck Joe Arpaio. Respect.

Ever heard of Kevin Kouzmanoff? He’s a dude who hit a grand slam on his first pitch in the big leagues. Scarab Kouzmanoff’d with their demo, and now with their 2nd at bat, they hit one to short left and the runner scored. 100% one of the best bands currently playing THE HARD STYLE.

We did a Side A vs. Side B on this 1989 classic. Did you know some asshole wrote a book about American Hardcore and claimed it died in 1986? What a poser.

This week, we put two classic Swedish HC 7”s head to head. Anti Cimex Raped Ass vs. Victims of a Bomb Raid. Tough call, but that’s what we’re here to do.

Check the episode and the playlist.

RIP Raybeez.

Hardcore rules. Peace!

- Zack