Episode 234: June 2024
Killer episode this week on the pod. Check it out here, here, or here and check the playlist here or here.
Let’s jump right in…
Face The Pain Demo 2024, Rebirth Records
Anyone who listens to this pod knows we are suckers for Youth Crew of all eras. So yeah, you had me here with the cover - a dude jumping and a nice logo on baby blue. Just take my money. We’ve talked a ton about the 90’s Youth Crew revival, or whatever you want to call it, as well as what killed it. In the last quarter century, there have been a few stalwart bands like The First Step and Mindset, but other than that the style has been pretty dead on a high level.
So here on this demo we have some current hardcore all-stars throwing their hat in the ring to fight the good fight for a style that needs a comeback, and they do it quite well. The production is nice and big, mirroring the more name-brand 90’s bands that made it to Equal Vision or Rev. The spirit is there and the riffs and song structures are nice. Overall, this is a killer demo and a awesome sample of what is hopefully to come…basically what a demo should be, eh? And maybe this will spark some other kids to start similar bands.
If I was going to be Discerning Dan or Critical Chris, on the next release I would just love to see a little more wildness. These songs seem so well crafted and thought out that I wonder if maybe they’re a little too “in the lab” and not enough “in the room.” What I mean is it sounds more like a remote project than a band that gets in a room and jams everything out. I gotta reference the band Illiterates who put out a spectacular LP last year that harnessed the sound of early Youth Of Today, the band that basically birthed this whole style. That record sounded like someone locked a bunch of savages in a small space and forced them to put together a bunch of hardcore punk songs before they were let out for water. Just a tad of that Illiterates vibe incorporated into what Face The Pain already has going on would bump this stuff up from really good to potentially great.
Also, while this style can be extremely cliche, it’s at it’s best when there is a fire in the singer’s belly. This dude is at his best on the song “Wrong Idea” when it really seems like he’s laying into some fool personally. More of that plz!
Canal Irreal Someone Else’s Dance LP, Beach Impediment
This Chicago quartet masterfully harnesses those Great Lakes post-punk melodies that bands before them like The Effigies and Articles of Faith perfected. The foundation is a rock-solid rhythm section - a drummer that slays and a bass player who refuses to not down strum every note. This sets up a wide open canvas for the guitarist to paint over, and it’s all tied together by Martin Crudo who has one of the best shouted voices there is. He leans soulful too at times, like on “I Failed” which is is more vocal hook heavy than the other jams on here.
The absolute star of this record is the outlier track - a song called “Chicago” that has talked verses and shouted choruses. The song tells a story of an encounter with a dude asking the lyricist about his hometown of Chicago and railing off a bunch of surface level facts and history. The response? “I don’t care!” Martin then goes into two masterful verses - the first where he lays out what he loves about his hometown and the second about the street smarts he’s learned to survive in his city. Truly just a masterful song from one of the all-time great lyricists in hardcore. Much respect to a 100% certified living legend who’s still doing it 30+ years later. Hell yea.
No Idols Demo 2024, Designated Moshers Unit
Demo of the year contender here. No Idols is one of the better boot style Hardcore bands that’s come along in the last handful of years. They land somewhere between 86 Mentality, Dead Stop, and the faster songs by The Chisel. This is an great example of the level that some bands are playing on these days. The quality of the recording and songwriting on this demo could easily be LP level in any era.
It’s refreshing to hear the vocals out front and not buried in the mix or with some wack ass effect. And really, why would you bury it? This dude sounds fucking great and can put together a hook. “Stand for something or die with nothing” or “Spine - where is your spine?” - simple, universal, and killer. The recording is bright, the drumming is spectacular, and the guitar tone is pretty clean which really lets the drumming cut through and drive the songs on the fast parts. They songs sound extra drivey cuz they aren’t bogged down by too much guitar distortion or effects. This thing rules. Jam it and tell me I’m wrong.
We talked the NJ HC Punk band Chronic Sick’s S/T 7” from 1983. This thing rips, especially the 1st and 3rd tracks, and the cover is iconic. Get into it. It’s been 14 years since No Way repressed this thing…can we get another round for the kids or what?
Do you know all the words to “Short Fuse” by 25 Ta Life? Study up, nerd - there will be a quiz.
Big Frank was kind enough to jump on the pod again to talk Uniform Choice with me. He was there to see them put out their demo, play big ass shows at the Olympic Auditorium, and change their style. We get into it all.
Martín Stewart joined me to chat about the current state of Hardcore, joining Terror, touring with Donnybrook! DIY style in the mid-2000s, Sound & Fury festival and more.
Get all your S&F info here and if you’re in California go check out the run that Xibalba is playing, including this Pomona homecoming show (tix here):
Have a killer week.
- ZN