The Combat Zone

When I saw Utopia Banished state that this may be the LP of the year, I immediately ran over and placed my order at Side Two Records to get a clear vinyl copy out of /100 (which is surprisingly still available!) Right in line with most of the other Boston revival stuff, these guys don't vary too much from there Boston brethren Peacebreakers and Boston Strangler. I would absolutely agree with Utopia Banished that this will go down as one of the best releases of the year. It has just the right amount of knuckle dragging sing along Oi! influence. Although this style is becoming common place in hardcore, The Combat Zone just seem to play it a little better than everyone else right now. 

Awesome fold out with the lyrics. On a side note, one thing drove me crazy about this release was the cover art. As a firearms enthusiast I am all about safety, and to see them pointing AR-15's at each other with their fingers on the trigger shows that 1) they are irresponsible and probably have little to no experience with firearms and 2) whoever let them borrow these weapons is an idiot for not having them at least index their fingers when pointing them around at each other. I know it's only an album cover, and a punk rock album cover to boot, but I can't help it that it bugs the shit out of me and makes me not even want to look at the cover. 

Here is a funny ass video. This is why you always assume the weapon is loaded and you keep your finger off the trigger kiddies!

How the Gods Chill

Here is Cold World's latest LP, "How the Gods Chill". As you can see, it has a nearly identical layout to their last LP. Cold World has always been one of my favorite bands. Needless to say, I was really excited about this release but somehow I missed out on the most limited color. What a fail.

Now down to the record. I have been listening to this pretty much non stop, and it took me a few listens to truly appreciate it. It definitely has a lot more of the Metallica style singing parts then their previous releases, but it is truly an excellent album. This may be Cold World's best stuff yet. The tracks with Kool G Rap and Meyhem Lauren are epic, but I think they should have brought in someone else besides Meyhem Lauren who they've already worked with. I've been dying to see a Cold World/M.O.P. collaboration for a while now. There are a ton of great tracks on this, but "The Real Deal" may replace "Refuse to Lose" as everyones favorite song during live sets. 

Back cover. It is so awesome they brought Kool G Rap, one of the best gangster rappers of all time in on this release. Now they've worked with some of the hardest rappers in the game when you include Sean Price and Kool G Rap. 

Insert front. Apparently all Cold World release art must have little kids and dogs in them. 

Lyrics if you want em, and they are good.

I settled for the clear vinyl over the white vinyl. I'm not sure how many were pressed, but I believe it was pressed on blue as the most limited, then clear and then white. If anyone knows the pressing info please enlighten us in the comments!

Violent Outburst

With members of Mercy Killings and Wasted Time, how could you not like this band? Virgina's Violent Outburst brings the heat with this EP with your typical Hardcore with an Oi! influence that everyone seems to be playing now. But as you know, that shit shit is right up my alley and I don't think it will ever get old. I don't know what it is, but it seems every band with "Violent" in the name is freaking awesome... Violent Future, Violent Reaction, Violent Minds, Violent Situation, Violent End, and now Violent Outburst. You can download it for free and amazingly still buy the limited green out of /100 here.

I appologize that I have been seriously lacking with my posts. I've just been in a lull for a while. If you read this blog, I appreciate it and I will keep it going, it has just been hard for me since I've been working so much lately. Take care.

Random Axe

Random Axe was a short lived supergroup of Sean Price, Black Milk and Guilty Simpson. They did a few tours together for this release, and to my knowledge haven't really played together since this came out in 2011. Although Random Axe was short lived, they have reached a cult like status in the underground rap scene. This album is kind of the measuring stick for all of the "supergroup" side projects that come out. I'm glad I got to check these dudes out at the Rock the Bells in 2011, they were awesome. Even Roc Marciano was there to do "Chewbacca" with them. Check it out below, the video was filmed at the RTB in Mountain View.

Weed & Purp Drank

Here is the Power Trip - Armageddon Blues Sessions LP. It is a 6 song, one sided LP with the other side having an etched Power Trip logo. Power Trip is one of the most hyped bands in the hardcore/metal(?) scene these days. I can appreciate this release for what it is, but it's not necessarily my style so Power Trip is not going to get much play time for me. On the other hand, My girlfriend loves them.  This copy was the most limited press on "Weed and Purp Drank" vinyl out of /326, but there is no green at all in this, so I'll just call it purple marble. 

Exterminate Me

Here is Warthog's "Exterminate Me" ep from Katorga Works. This is some brutal 80s USHC with some d-beaty raw noize thrown in. This is a good release, but there has been alot of stuff coming out like this lately that is better. This is no slouch though, and Warthog has been getting a ton of hype lately. I hope they make their way out here soon so I can check them out live. 

This poster freaking rules though. Why is he balding, and what's with the mullet?

Damaged Head

Here is a Swedish punk band called Damaged Head that I can't stop listening to. This is good old punk rock but has a unique twist to it that I can't really put my finger on. At times they sound very similar to a harder Kid Dynamite, with a little snottiness a la Social Circkle. They also remind me of Striking Distance. So yeah, they are all over the place and really good. 

This copy is on red vinyl and out of /100. One side is screen pressed with a Damaged Head Hardcore logo. Man in Decline Records came through with a really solid release on this one. Go check it out for yourself. 

Impalers

Here is the Impalers 2010 demo that was put on vinyl in 2012 by Beach Impediment and No Way Records. This was the limited press on red out of /200. This Austin band brings the heat on this one with some good 80's USHC and a whole lot of D-Beat going on... and a mix of Motorhead worship.   This group also has a split and an LP out, which I need to check out. Beach Impediment can do no wrong.