The Shortlist features the best of underground demos, EPs, splits, and reissues from Issue 64.
Splits
Venomous Concept / Under Attack
The Kids Are Alright Split EP
To Live A Lie
Both sides of this seven-inch are of the short, fast, loud variety. Venomous Concept is driven by the never-idle bassist, Shane Embury, joined by friend, Kevin Sharp on vocals, Tom Dring on drums, and John Cooke on guitar.
The delivery of these two 2:30 songs are projected like scud missiles—honed and determined. Their sound is encrypted in their moniker which is derived from, and analogous to, Poison Idea—old-school hardcore played with beefy guitars and throwing in some powerviolence swag.
Under Attack are centered around the prolific backbone of drummer Dave Witte. Jason Hodges and Mark Tiernan both have been in a slew of grind, noise, and hardcore bands, respectively. Alex Copeland on vocals screams with voracity. The RVA boys slay side B with five tracks clocking in at one minute or less.
Cult Leader / End
Split 12-inch EP
Deathwish Inc
Release Date: Digital NOW; Vinyl 3/31/23
Cult Leader return after four years and bring their friends End along for the violence. Both bands exhibit two songs for a study in belligerence and chaos. Cult Leader’s side was produced by Kurt Ballou. And END, well, Will Putney is their guitarist. It’s on Deathwish Inc, and Jacob Bannon provides the artwork. The music inside is crazed noise with caustic intent. Hardcore, grind, industrial, and death metal all join to sonically desecrate for a cataclysmic 13 minutes.
Color vinyl has 12 variants.
Spy / Maniac
Split EP
Triple B Records
Two heavy hitters link up on Triple B to tear through two tracks in 3:30 minutes. Spy and Maniac also mirror each other in the fact that each have been playing many shows these last few years and are gaining respect and impressed audiences all over the nation. Each side pummels with feral growls and feedback laced riffs and drums equal to Howitzer shelling. Spy’s second tracks deviates slightly and bring that old school HC bass line pushing two step insanity. Maniac hammer through their songs unrelenting and face melting terror.
8 vinyl color variants
The Path/Gone Wrong
Split EP
State of Mind Recordings
State of Mind deliver what must be the first split between two Vermont hardcore bands. From the hippy littered land of beer and cheese, The Path (a quick nod to Kill Your Idols) and Gone Wrong join forces for the most savage material to come out of The Green State, the only other being My Revenge!
Gone Wrong have four tracks of early 2000 hardcore mixed with DC bootstomp core like Iron Cross and 86 Mentality. The Path have three songs which, in succession, traverse chaotic punk, then a dark hardcore chug, and finally a ripping metal riff. Those three tracks are graced with scathing vocals that warn that this cannot be played over the loudspeakers at the Ben & Jerry’s line. VINYL: 70 on Maple Syrup Brown; 160 on Mountain Green
EPS:
The Slackers
New York Berlin / Tell Them No
Pirates Press Records
When The Slackers released Don’t Let the Sunshine Fool Ya in April of this year, Dave Hillyard divulged that they also had an additional eight songs. October brings us two of those. Side A of this UV printed 12-inch picture disc flaunts “New York Berlin.” This is a bubbling, rocksteady joint as vocalists Vic and friend bandy back memories of youth spent in their respective cities. It is an engaging piece which strives for unity by focusing on our similarities in the human experience despite environment. “Tell Them No” is a Hammond heavy jaunt with seductive melodies and a gritty beat.
Limited to 1500
Rig Time!
Reborn 12-inch Single Sided EP
State of Mind Recordings
Rig Time! are a married duo from Wisconsin playing heavy, roiling, riff-centric tunes. Entrenched in suppressing rage, bombastic drums spark an atmosphere created from feedback and disarray which is centered around voracious vocals and rugged riffs. Rig Time! conqueror the grandiose metalcore/ death metal sound of five-piece peers such as Xibalba or God’s Hate. Five tracks on one side of a 12-inch, an etching on side B.
Clear w/blue cloudy splatter, 200; bone and black splatter, 140; black with white print, 100; blue cassette, 100
Rose Of Victory
Full Circle seven-inch Single
TKO Records
As legend goes, Rose Of Victory were a studio project that recorded two songs and vanished. Neil “Mackie” McLennan, bass and Nigel “Nidge” Miller, guitar, (RIP, 1958-2007) founded the legendary Oi! forefathers, Blitz *(see All Out Attack, Warriors and Voice of a Generation), released genre defining records, and then switched lanes from the toughest punk to post-punk in one swift move (see Blitz’s Second Empire Justice).
Mackie now resurrects the forgotten endeavor. He recruited drummer Greg Boulton (Violators and the brilliant Epic Problem/Leatherface worship) and vocalists Damian Abraham (Fucked Up) and Tobias Grave (Soft Kill). The two tracks have gruff vocals and the riff integrity of Blitz. Throw in the Madchester/post-punk vibe, and the somber macabre is motivated by crisp drums on “Aimless” featuring Grave and the riff-focused, catchy punk on Abraham’s “Falling Apart.”
Vinyl :100 on Translucent Red; 400 on Translucent Pink
Morning Again
Borrowed Time EP
Revelation Records
Despite only initially existing from November 1995 to October 1998, and only releasing a single full- length, Morning Again were revered. Helping to define vegan straight edge metalcore, with combative political lyrics, Morning Again reigned in the 90s scene. They released myriad seven-inch EPs and bridged the sonic savagery of American SXE ‘core and the H8000 scene in Belgium with killer chops and piercing metal guitars.
They reunited and released another EP in 2018 and played a few shows. This year witnesses another surfacing with two brutal, oppressive songs, “Serpiente” and “Resignation.” The latter features Trevor Strnad (RIP) from The Black Dahlia Murder, making it an instant classic. The digital is out now, but the vinyl is imminent.
Snapcase
Progression Through Unlearning 25th Anniversary Reissue
Victory/Craft Recordings
November 18, 2022
In 1997, Snapcase released a zenith album filled with bouncing, angular guitars acting as a refrain, focused vocals like a scythe through wheat. Progression Through Unlearning was the natural apex after their first two groundbreaking, unique bend on hardcore. But the production, songwriting, and performances elevated this record beyond any expectation or benchmark.
The pith here was the social criticism rife with introspection towards a superficial society. Snapcase dissected female imagery on “She Suffocates.” Some were self-explanatory titles such as the prophetic “Zombie Prescription” and “Killing Yourself to Live.” Check the enigmatic “Harrison Bergeron” based on a dystopian Vonnegut story and the scathing commentary and blatant antagonization of “Guilty By Ignorance,” calling out consumers to be culpable for the actions of corporations which are funded with our purchases.
Wisdom In Chains
Class War 15th Anniversary Reissue
Fast Break Records
Class War is an undisputed important and relevant lyrical treasure which has only become more important throughout its 15- year life. WIC served a punishing rallying call to arms for the outcast and working class. Mad Joe’s vivid storytelling shines on tracks like “Cap City,” “My Promise,” “Life isn’t Fair,” and the crest of the LP with the emotional and riveting, “No Smiles in the Ghetto.”
Richie Krutch’s new direction (at the time) and freedom to write varied styles makes every song a thrill and its own experience. Add these PAHC all-stars’ ode to home, “The Land of Kings,” to the list for encompassing sing-alongs. Other key moments are the line in the sand declaration of avenging vigilantism on “Class War” and “No Justice for the Working Man,” plus the solemn and evocative “Early Grave” and empowering “I Don’t Care.” This release touts new artwork as well. Bruising, heartfelt hardcore from champions still reigning over the scene today.
VINYL: 200 Black; 100 White; 100 Purple; 100 Gold (Cortex Exclusive); 10 Test Presses
Various packages and combos incl. vinyl, tank tops, windbreakers, hoodies, shirts, and a deck of cards.
