The Short List is a weekly dive into EPs, Splits, Reissues, Comps, Live Records, etc.
EPs:
Hard Feelings The Devil You Know Heroes + Martyrs
Out Now
CTHC coming hard. Hard Feelings hail from Connecticut, the home of 100 Demons, Death Threat, Dead Wrong, Palehorse, and many other legendary hardcore bands *(haha, I initially forgot, Haebreed. SMH). Like the mentioned bands, Hard Feelings brandish tough ass metallic riffs. *(CT also birth classic bands with a different sound, such as Follow Through, Fear Tomorrow, Fastbreak, Cornerstone, etc.)
Four tracks here on The Devil You Know in just over eight minutes. No indulgent self-gratification here. Mix Living Hell (Revelation Records; 2008) with COA’s vocal delivery (not pitch but style)—and I am purposefully using these related bands for comparison. Add some NYHC groove and Cleveland voracity, and you get the hint.
Religious (read, blasphemous) themed lyrics and Vocals are unhinged, raspy screaming. Check the end of “Pray for Forgiveness” when the breakdown transitions into a halftime tempo to provide a fertile foundation for furious moshing. The bookends of old timey music channeling Connecticut and “The Devil You Know” are cool and add a cool touch. All four songs rip intensely, unrelenting. And the brevity adds to the brutal glory. Hard Feeling have a demo and a 2021 EP, Fight to Survive. *(CD Version adds these seven tracks) They have polished their chops but maintain the same venomous spirit. The production is beefy and crisp. Not surprising with recording by Will Hirst at Gate 4 Studio (recently know for The Path, Intimidation, Restraining Order, etc) and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. Classic CTHC here.
Order the sexy slab of wax here:
Vinyl Info: Orange Marble, 100; Transparent Green with Black Swirl (Band Version), 150; Black, 250
Heroes + Martyrs Instagram
Hard Feelings Instagram
COMPS:
Stronger than Before: Volume One Longshot Music/ Try And Stop Me / Battle Scarred Records
Out Now
Culling from some of the fiercest warriors from the worldwide Oi! scene, Longshot, Battle Scarred, and Try And Stop Me unite to release this six track MLP 12-inch. These are some of the most revered bands in the Oi!/Punk scene today. The lure here is—well, these killer bands on one record—but additionally that these tracks are exclusive to this release. Check the stacked roster: Squelette (Paris, France), Lost Legion (Chicago, USA), MESS (Mexico City/Guadalajara, Mexico), BRUX (Barcelona), Barricade (California, USA), and Stamford Bridge (NYC, U.S.).
Stamford Bridge are especially sweet to capture, as they are a side project of Carl Templar with a more mod/pub rock sound. They have only released seven songs ever (and they ain’t streaming): two tracks each on two splits—with Bastards Choir (Oi! The Boat, 2009) and On The Job (Longshot/Contra, 2013)—also three songs on Demo ’95 in 2013 (Carl’s own Hammersmith label and clothes shop).
Thirteen years later, we get blessed again. Squelette come charging out with aggression and grit. Lost Legion channel their Bridging Electricity EP with a raw, dark, menacing track. MESS continue to impress as they recently, after five EPs, did with their debut full length, Under Attack (Mendeku Diskak, 2023) with a straightforward-but-powerful, fast track. BRUX deliver their dissonant guitar sound over a thunderous, stomping beat. Barricade’s track blends transitions well with the same guitar sound overlay. The verses are more of a taut riff, but the bridge and chorus reprise it. The drums are tough and the snarling vocals add urgency. Stamford appropriately close out the record with a subtle sound rife with bitterness.
Every band here are striking while the iron is hot. Squelette just had a U.S. /Mexico Tour with Beton Arme and MESS joining a few. MESS recently did as well with a European tour the last two months. Lost Legion have played at a steady pace the prior few months. Barricade tear it up. BRUX have played with MESS and other OI! lords in Europe. Short of Stamford Bridge, These bands have all crossed paths to play with the others in the U.S. and some in Europe. It gives this record a great brotherhood vibe.
Youtube track times:
A1: Squelette – Fin de Partie 00:00
A2: Lost Legion – Dressed Up Like a Warrior 02:30
A3: Mess – Liar 05:03
B1: Brux – Working Class Drama 06:55
B2: Barricade – March For Revenge 09:01
B3: Stamford Bridge – Bound 12:22
Vinyl Info: Black, 350; Clear, 250 ; Test Press, 250
Buy at LSM Vinyl Shop at Pirates Press Records (clear) for U.S.
Buy at Battle Scarred Records (clear and black) for U.S.
Buy at Try And Stop Me Records (black) for EU.
Instagram:
Longshot Music || Battle Scarred Records || Try And Stop Me
