Parker’s Burden are hailing from Atlanta, Georgia and this is their brand new release containing 15 songs. This is melodic hardcore punk/skate punk the way I love to hear it. That means simple, without complicating things straightforward fast songs, great vocals, all those sing and hum along backing vocal harmonies, divine guitar line melodies and energy topped with great lyrics. I can also hear double bass drums in some songs, so that metallic influence is fantastic too. If I must compare Parker’s Burden to some other band, it would be Satanic Surfers and all of their hitters from nineties, fast and no holds barred melodic punk. The lyrics on this album are clever mix of political, with critics about destruction of environment, corruption and decline of humanity, but also they deal with trying to swim against the tide in this world, religion and hypocrisy, senseless war from the point of ordinary man and woman, so I must say, lyrics are superb. My personal favorites on this one are: ‘The Last’, ‘War’s End’, ‘The Last Thing You Hear’. This is a great melodic punk record.
As I stated before, Canada has great punk rock scene and 86 It are from Ottawa and this is their EP, this one is out for couple of months now, but deserves attention and listening. This band provides 6 songs of fast hardcore punk/skate punk with melodic punk thrown in there for good measure. Male and female dual vocals interplay perfectly in songs like my favorite ‘It’s Gonna Blow’, added to fast drums and guitar that sounds like all those old school California hardcore bands, this one crosses between Circle Jerks and Black Flag mixed with melodic punk parts. Lyrics deal with every day life, hope, coping with troubles and emotions, so every one can relate to that. This is a short one indeed, but remains in memory with songs like ‘Long Gone’ and ‘Always Better’. I would love to hear full length some time in the future if possible, that would be great. This one is free at name your price, so if you go download it free at least drop a word or two to the band if you like it, I am sure they will appreciate it.
Layback are from south London area and this is their latest e.p. containing five songs. What to expect here? This is pretty raw old school street hardcore, fast and furious with angry shouting vocals, but with also a touch of melodic hardcore, skate punk and metallic influence in the song structures. The e.p. is short but energetic with groove, moshing parts flying by and joining fast hardcore which dominates this release with fast drumming, some background guitar solos behind the verses reminding me of early Suicidal Tendencies. My personal favorites are ‘Back in the Bits’, ‘Times Like These’ and ‘Streets of Fire’ Good UK hardcore band and their e.p. Check this one out.
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