DEMOS:
Vicious Ritual 3 Song Cassette self-released
Out Now
Off the rip, a new Rhode Island band have formed, charging forward and not looking back. The foundation is brash hardcore punk/UK82 sound driven by Mark Unrest’s blazing riffs. Bassist Steve Distraught (nee Borkowski) was in, well, Distraught; an old NYC favorite. He was also in Contempt For Humanity, The Casualties, The Denied, Final Warning, etc. His presence is a foreboding presence as he crushes his four strings with a rumbling bass sound that devastates.
Drummer Luke Taylor propels this band with staggering and speedy beats. That poor snare. Finally, localist Tom Butts bellowing snarl rages fire into the crowd. This collective touts many years of hardcore punk, recorded and live. Taylor, Butts, and Mark Unrest all played together for years in Citizens Unrest. The synchronicity and is evident as they plow through their set. Their third show was this past Sunday on a sweaty, frenetic night with recommended RI hardcore band Razed and others.
These three tracks were available on bandcamp as Demo 2022 in November, but now they are encased on this limited red cassette. The opener is a nod to Providence’s macabre legend HP Lovecraft, with “Cthulu Calling,” a rowdy 90 seconds of crunchy destruction. “Laces, Braces, Dirty Faces” is a doomy, lumbering diff until it takes off into a gnarly force of anger. Closing the cassette is “Let It Burn” with its mid-paced ugly stomp declaring defiance boldly.
Red Cassette available on bandcamp.
Big Dog In the Yard Self-Released
Out Now (March 1, 2023)
As Violent Way continues to tour the country and amass loyal legions, they now formed Big Dog. Three dudes from Violent Way—Nick Terlecky, Eric “Shock Collar” Ellman, Mason Hutchins—rotate instruments and then add a different drummer, Drew Stark, and a vocalist, Graham “Big Natural” Regan. True Buffalo Oi! shines here, hard as nails. Songs are tight, great production with a killer bass sound. Vocals are gruff and delivered sharply. The overall sound has a strong, enveloping presence. There are slightly catchy parts that do not contrast the intense and confrontational lyrics. It all blends together to punch fiercely. Available only on bandcamp.
EPs:
Negative Prayer Negative Prayer Carbonized Records and Seed Of Doom Records
March 10th 2023
From the land of bleak obscurity, vitamin D depleted environments birth products who yield an abandoned emotional compass which, in turn, yields killer punk and metal. Portland, Oregon spawns another rebellious heathen, this time via d-beat/crust duo Negative Prayer. Check the resume of guitarist/vocalist Kyle House: Decrepisy, ex-Acephalix, ex-Poison Idea, ex-Vastum. Combine that with the resume of drummer Charles Koryn (Chthonic Deity, Decrepisy, Funebrarum, VoidCeremony), the gritty guitars spewing riffs of treachery make sense.
The first track conjures Satisfaction-era Hatebreed if played by Tragedy or From Ashes Rise. Sure, to establish a sound you combine alma maters—Poison Idea’s early shit performed through a filter of a Vastum or Acephalix. Regardless, Negative Prayer unleash their first seven-inch. “Monumental” seems appropriate as a description considering the presence of the second track, “Hell” or the opening of the closer.
Recorded and mixed by Charles Koryn at Toadhouse Recording and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios, it renders scant skepticism on this trio of treacherous endeavors. Negative Prayer savagely deliver a rough and rumble death metal EP, but there is no doubt of the hardcore rhythms as foundation. One can feel the hardcore of the mid-90s culling Dismember and Entombed riffs. Well, this represents the full circle manifesting. Negative Prayer take any malevolent, abrasive, punitive forefathers and excrete a unique version of brash aggression.
Go to Carbonized in the U.S. or Seed of Doom in Europe or preorder black or white vinyl; double sided insert and download card.
