Drawing inspiration from Fugazi and Modern Life is War Some Mistakes have the potential to carry the torch for emotive hardcore. These guys have it all honed musicianship, excellent production, great melodies and bitchin’ riffs. On top of all that the lyrics are personal without being ham-fisted or wimpy. You Have Killed The Boy drips with pain, regret and loss. Whereas Lost in Translation perfectly conveys the feelings of isolation and confusion that often accompany romantic attachment. Glamorous Thoughts is a 2010 release. I’d like to hear more from these guys before the year is done.
Sworn In – Self Titled
Sworn In Self Titled:
This album sounds exactly like American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost. Not just sort of sounds like them, but you could play this album for A.N. Fans and they wouldn’t notice the difference. That’s not a bad thing. It’s good Hardcore that has some interesting guitars and decent melody. But there’s nothing really original here. It’s tough to praise this album since it’s just a blatant copying. This sounds more like a tribute album than one of original material. But if you really need a Give Up The Ghost fix, this band is doing the best of any other imitators out there right now.
The Miracle Mile – The Future History EP
The Miracle Mile The Future History EP
Whenever I hear that a hardcore band is out of L.A. I’m slightly surprised. L.A. Always seems like a Hardcore ghost town to me. I know that’s bullshit, but offhand the only band I can think of is Terror. But hey here’s a second one I can identify! This album’s pretty generic. Yeah it’s angry, but still you can’t you haven’t heard it before. Think Blacklisted with a raspier singer. The songs blend together till the end song “Suburban Home” which is actually pretty cool. So nothing really challenging here, but you can still mosh out to this album. And in the end isn’t that what really counts?
Sluts – Self Titled
Sluts Self Titled:
What sounds doe the phrase “Boston Melodic Hardcore” invoke when you hear it? Well that’s what you get on this album. It’s nothing super bad, but really nothing genre breaking either. Meat and potatoes really. They sound like a slowed down Daggermouth to be honest. So if you like that band, you’ll dig Sluts.
Glasses – Self Titled EP
Glasses Self Titled EP:
It’s made in Germany! You know the German’s make good stuff, even hardcore music. This is defiantly angry stuff. Musically it’s very sold. Nothing super new, but done so well that you don’t mind. The female screams add a bit of a nice twist. She also screams about pissing a lot, so if you’re into that and hardcore music you should have a super boner.
Rating: 12/15 assuming that you’re wondering if the singer is hot or not and not if the music is any good.
Lewd Acts – Lung Patrol EP
Lewd Acts Lung Patrol EP:
Color me impressed. The first song is pretty meh; good, but nothing amazing. But then the second song has an amazing build up and the pay off is damn worth it. And the final song is just great. It has a country sound that melds into hardcore very nicely. Hopefully their next album will build on the momentum they have going.
Rating: 13/15 best thing out of San Diego
Bad Brains-Bad Brains
Bad Brains Bad Brains:
Incredible riffs that flawlessly shift to other amazing riffs, get you going and some of the most intense vocals ever put on album take you over the edge. Of course thats only half the album, the other half is mediocre reggae, that no one has ever listened to more than once.
Rating:13/15 Jah!
Negative Approach-Tied Down
Negative Approach Tied Down:
One of the most vicious acts to emerge from 80’s hardcore. John Brannon’s nihilistic lyrics and hoarse yell mesh perfectly with the bands simple yet inventive approach to three chord punk. Unfortunately these guys haven’t been canonized to the extent that Black Flag, Minor Threat and The Dead Kennedys have. Negative Approaches material matches or exceeds the contributions of any of those more well known groups, pick this one up and find that out for yourself.
Rating: 15/15 one man slam dances
Circle Jerks-Shower of Golden Hits
Circle Jerks Shower of Golden Hits:
Nothing innovative here, just a solid album of LA 1980’s hardcore. Recording quality is great for the genre, and this disk may hold the test of time better than much of the work of Keith Morrison’s old band Black Flag.
Rating: 13/15 slam-dancing punks
