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F T F - L N, L L

This thing is fucking good. Maybe I'm biased because this was one of my favourite bands throughout high-school (and beyond) but this is definitely their best LP since the Self Titled album. Chad Yaro is even back in the band after an eleven year absence. To me this sounds like Reactionary mixed with Big Choice and every track is a total banger.

Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Former members of the New Jersey band Seasick playing rad 80's influence hardcore punk. This three-piece sounds a lot like Dinosaur Jr. and Hüsker Dü, and I mean a lot. Tons of fuzzed out guitar solos, great melodies and a killer rhythm section make this EP one of the best I've heard in a while. Tankcrimes Records released this on LP and CD, so go grab it from them (they also have this as a free download right now on the label's bandcamp).

Lemuria

Lemuria - The First Collection 2005-2006

Lemuria - Get Better

Lemuria - Pebble

Lemuria are a female fronted pop-punk band from Buffalo New York. They have released albums/singles on Art Of The Underground, No Idea and Asian Man Records and are now signed to Bridge Nine Records. Their early material sounds like Alkaline Trio and Jawbreaker mixed with Jimmy Eat World, which no doubt led to them being at the front of the pop punk pack. They've matured a bit on their new one, Pebble, taking a more sophisticated songwriting approach (and I can hear a definite Nada Surf influence going on). The album was produced by J. Robbins (Braid, The Promise Ring, Jets To Brazil) and it is definitely their best sounding stuff. If their is any justice in the world then this band will blow up in 2011.

OFF! - First Four EPs

OFF! - First Four EPs

This is one of the best hardcore releases I've heard in a long time. You should already know who these cats are, that being said, It's great to hear Keith Morris fronting a band again. This sound like classic L.A. hardcore circa 1980: fast, fun and short. Sixteen tracks in seventeen minutes and each song absolutely shreds (most of the songs for this project came from an aborted Circle Jerks album). Totally fucking rad jams here.

Ill Repute - What Happened Then

Ill Repute - What Happened Then

This release combines their classic debut 7" (Oxnard Land Of No Toilets) and their first full length (What Happens Next?) onto one disc. Classic west coast hardcore. No other band of the era was more about "Nardcore" than these dudes, their civic pride was unparalleled. Fast and furious hardcore that influenced everyone after them. Ill Repute continued releasing new music well into the new millennium, and while some of their 90's output is pretty rad they will forever be remembered for their 80's heyday. Yet another Nardcore classic released by Mystic Records.

Scared Straight

Scared Straight - Born To Be Wild EP

Scared Straight - You Drink, You Drive, You Die

Scared Straight were a Nardcore band (even though they were actually from Simi Valley) who changed their name to Ten Foot Pole and signed to Epitaph Records in the 90's. Lead singer Scott Radinsky (who also went on to front Pulley) was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1986 (right out of high-school) and pitched in the majors for almost 20 years. Both these records were released on Mystic Records, which meant the band never got paid any money for them and they sound pretty shitty. Despite all that Scared Straight were a pretty rad band who thankfully stuck it out and, as Ten Foot Pole, released Rev which is one of the 90's best skate-punk albums. Thrash.

V/A - Nardcore Compilation

V/A - Nardcore Compilation

Oxnard California, the land of no toilets (according to Ill Repute) produced a totally rad style of hardcore dubbed "Nardcore". The scene also birthed one of my favourite punk bands, Rich Kids On LSD (RKL). This comp is jam packed with tasty hardcore nuggets from RKL, Ill Repute, Scared Straight, Stäläg 13, Dr. Know, False Confession and Agression (among others). Yeah this is on Mystic Records so the production leaves a lot to be desired, but who fucking cares when the tunes rage so hard. Mystic Records' owner Doug Moody never paid the bands on his label a cent and is generally regarded as a prick, but the time I prank called him (collect no less) he was nothing but a gentleman. The one thing that unites all these bands is their lightning fast tempos and blistering lead guitar parts, I mean everyone of the bands featured here totally rages. Crank this up and circle pit around the room.

This is the first in a series of posts I'll be making dedicated to "Nardcore" and its related bands. So if you dig this, I'll be keeping the good times rolling.

All Pigs Must Die

All Pigs Must Die

This is the new project featuring Kevin Baker from The Hope Conspiracy and Ben Koller from Converge. This here is some serious Entombed worship and it totally fucking slays. I always thought that Kevin had the best voice in hardcore, and that feeling is further cemented with All Pigs Must Die. This is one of the best demos I've heard in a long time, fast angry and pissed off death-n-roll hardcore. This shit will totally scare the wrinkles off your balls.

The G - Hold My Gold

The G - Hold My Gold

I fucking love this album. It's fuzzy, loud, noisy and just amazing. If you love 90's alternative then you need to be listening to this right now. The G occupy the perfect middle ground between the joyous indie-rock of Superchunk and the chaotic punk of Nirvana. This was one of my favourite releases of last year, and one that I continually find myself returning to.

Japandroids

Japandroids - Art Czars 7"

Japandroids - Younger Us 7"

Japandroids - Heavenward Grand Prix

Knowing that it would be a long time before they would be able to record the follow-up to Post Nothing, Japandroids have been releasing a series of 7 inch records to tide fans over in the interim. These are the first three releases in the series and each record contains a Post Nothing outtake backed by a newly recorded cover (Big Black, X, and PJ Harvey here). In my book this band can do no wrong and these singles have really cemented that for me as each of these songs are fucking bangers. If you don't like this band then you hate fun.

Moondog - Anthology

Moondog - Anthology

After Gorilla Biscuits and before Quicksand Walter recorded this demo with GB's drummer Luke Abbey (Walter handled bass, guitar and vocal duties). This represents a nice bridge between GB and Quicksand. Tom Capone played guitar for their first live show, Luke played bass and Armand Majidi from Sick Of It All played drums. After that show Armand was replaced by Alan Cage and Luke by Sergio Vega and the rest is history.