The Short List is a periodic dive into splits, EPs, live albums, reissues, comps, etc
Valtatyhjiö Kuristusleikki 7″ Sorry State
March 25, 2024
If you thought Scandanavian hardcore was already stacked with furious talent, there is a little more smoked Cod roe paste in the tube of Kalles (technically Swedish). Valtatyhjiö, from Finland, are returning with scathing vengeance. Previously only releasing a 2021 cassette, this four track seven inch explodes with the titular opener, “Kuristusleikki.” The band is already known for having some heavy punk and garage tendencies. Here they boast some black metal blast beats. And it all gels spectacularly.
Valtatyhjiö rings out riffs while maintaining a dark, looming presence. Drums, as mentioned, blaze through joints pushing the tension to ten. Fellow countrymen have an influence. The expected OG names such as Riistetyt, Kaaos, Rattus, etc. But do not pigeonhole or think the punk gods took out the old, trusty cookie cutter. Valtatyhjiö rip hard with a honed chaos and unhinged vocals.
VINYL:
Pressing on black, four panel fold out inlay.
Buy at Sorry State
Listen at Sorry State bandcamp
Corrective Measure Not for You, Not for Anyone Conviction Records
March 22 2024
I first heard this band with their killer self-titled seven inch record in 2016. They only had a promo tape besides that. And I never heard of them dropping additional material. I figured they went the way of most ‘local’ bands. But, in February of this year, a month ago, Corrective Measure released nine tracks digitally on bandcamp. Well, now you too can own these tunes in your hand and in your home. Conviction records are releasing the cassette on March 22nd.
Not for You, Not for Anyone kicks off with a sample of John Prine’s “Your Flag Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore”. Sets a tone, for sure. but then the Youth Crew two-step intro-mosh instrumental allows the listener to get some stretches in first. From the woods of Maine (Well, Bangor), Corrective Measure unleashes some feverish and raging hardcore. As the gruff and strained vocals begin to snarl, the tempo picks up and the BHC influence is apparent. I hear some The A-Team in a few ways; vocals, riffs, some thrash, speed. Throw in some Fit For Abuse, Stop & Think, and Waste Management (especially); then, Shark Attack, Striking Distance, 86 Mentality to get the proper impression. These are all nuances and seeds from 20 years ago, CM takes the relay wand and does their own thing with it. This is a strong recommendation. Please support good hardcore.
CASSETTE:
Blue, 10; Gray, 20
Buy Digital at Corrective Measure bandcamp
Buy Cassette at Conviction Records
No Way Out Better You Than Me Triple B
March 6, 2024 (digital)/June 2024 (vinyl)
The cover shows a beaten (dead?) man laying under a shattered pane of glass. This visage warns this recording will not be sunshine and daisies—unless he is pushing them up! Huh?! Amirite? Mediocre jokes aside, Better You Than Me is a brutal debut EP. This is LAHC. Compressed anger spewed onto short rippers. Internal Affairs and Infest in an unholy alliance. It gets fast. That poor snare. Sometimes the riff is a little slower a la Terror for some breakdowns that will incite insane pits. Check, “Crosses.”
Better You Than Me is six songs in eight minutes. The tunes are pushed with a sincere severity. Triple B is rather flawless in its discography. This fits in well. Lyrics of hate and isolation are screamed over dirty, ugly riffs. The sound is thick and gnarly but modern, sounds hard and tight. You will want to break things.
Stream on bandcamp
Preorder at Triple B
VINYL:
Red, 100; Coke Bottle Clear, 400; Test Press, 17
Bite The Hand Brutal by Design Big Bite Records
Out Now
Let’s stroll up north about 700 miles to the Bay Area. This is where Bite The Hand dwell. the band has unique sound. Sure, you can familiar aspects to No Warning, Mindforce, Leeway, Madball, Bracewar but Bite The Hand create a sound that is unique. There is just enough of them learning from the ones before them, but filtering it through their own vision. This and their prior EP, Down Comes the Bay (2022), exhibit a band’s frustration at the world. The lyrics truly were birthed in rebellion and ire.
“Rotting Mouths” has a sick slow down as the vocalist has a White Trash Rob moment and the noise stops and then, the chug commences. We get a bad ass breakdown. The title track has a Bad Brains’ Quickness vibe in its groove. But the song continues and moves into more slow headbob NYHC. “The Pressure” ends the quick EP with opening the rodeo stall and liberating raucous stomps. Bite The Hand weaves groove and thunder and style and tough and bounce and fast parts with some thrash nods extremely well. The tracks are mixed and mastered rather divinely; drums are robust and the bass jangle comes through plenty. Pissed but intelligible vocals sit on top of thick, crisp riffs. But you felt assured of Brutal by Design‘s stellar sonic statement when you read, “Mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.”
CASSETTE:
Sky Blue or Orange
Buy cassette from the band here
Buy digital download from bandcamp
Worst Doubt Immortal EP DAZE Records
Out Now
Admittedly, when I hear French hardcore, I think Kickback, naturally. With that as my sole comparison of context, Worst Doubt steps up to retain the crown now. These French dudes embrace the metallic side of hardcore as their forefathers did. The title track has a vicious riff and then a quiet metal part. Then it transitions into just straight ignorant breakdown riffs for total annihilation. Mix ‘90s NYHC/NJHC and H8000 and you have Worst Doubt. The metallic formula allows for many nuances and flourishes to add texture, see closer, “City of Blight” for the guitar accents. Worst Doubt add guitar flare that keep you interested as the main riffs pummel your soul.
Worst Doubt proudly embrace the metallic. They intentionally wanted to make this Immortal Pain hit harder than their prior effort, Extinction (2021, BDHW). On writing the EP, the band stated:
“The songs are more metallish than Extinction or our earlier material, so we wanted to try a more straightforward approach to the recording. Expect zero mid guitar tone, no fancy reverb on vocals, just a rawer sound. We pretty much approached the recording session as ‘let’s make a glorified death metal demo.’”
Worst Doubt, not surprisingly, cite Merauder, Irate, and Suffocation for influencing their sound. As I listen, I would offer a little Bulldoze, DMIZE, NJ Bloodline, Liar, Length Of Time, Internal Bleeding and the like. And, damn. The vocalist has some lungs. They all look skinny, but this dude bellows like a Gamorrean chugging, meth-infused Monster. At a 14-minute total, I appreciate that while influenced by death metal, songs do not exceed three minutes. Editing is important. Worst Doubt state their intention, kick your ass, and get out. Worst Doubt still have a hardcore mentality. The bass’ low end defiantly establishes and retains that death metal sound throughout each of the five tracks regardless. They double down on Immortal Pain and it’s brilliant.
VINYL:
Blue Galaxy, 100; Grey Galaxy, 300; Black, 350; Green Galaxy, 100 (BDHW EXCL); Half Blue/Half Green, 150 (BAND EXCL);
+ Screenprint B Side
+ 8 Page Booklet
Buy at DAZE Records
Follow Worst Doubt on instagram
