Category Archives: Reviews

(review) Stepping Stone-Escape From the Junkyard

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I remember Croatian hardcore band from back in the nineties, they were from Zagreb, their bass player now plays in mega popular Croatian band Brkovi, so I was surprised to see this Stepping Stone from Canada if I am not mistaken, so I said to myself let us hear what these guys have to offer. Escape From the Junkyard offers intro plus five songs of at times harsh, more metalic influenced hardcore, yet retaining that street punkrock charm and sounding raw, but great with moshing parts mixing to more faster straightforward hardcore punk. Top that with angry vocals that fit perfectly to the music and you get one damn fine record. So, go grab this one, songs like Soul Division or the title song will not leave you indifferent if you love your hardcore.

https://steppingstonehc.bandcamp.com/

(fanzine) Virus is another excellent zine from our scene.

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I was told by my friend Emil that there is another great physical fanzine from our scene worth reading. Virus is a fanzine done by Batko, the drummer for Disbaja, who lives in Zagreb and also organizes gigs there. First thing is how this zine is beautifully done. Really, from front cover across the whole zine, all black, with great layout and easy to read. When I say read, there are tons of material to read in there. I love how Batko mixes personal and political into one undivided whole, with also great dose of sarcasm and black humor thrown in there. There are columns, among them touching column done by Puljko from Namet, about his fight with leukemia and I was so struck when I read that one. Really, health is the most important thing we must hold onto. All other shit that seems hard and fucked up is nothing compared to health and heavy diseases. Also, there are interesting interviews with Aligrindtor, Doomtown Records, Smrt Razuma and Celetoids, also Left To Starve which was most interesting to read. Couple of reviews, soundtrack for the end of the world composed of radio friendly hits. I think which one of those would be mine soundtrack for apocalypse, superb gig reports and also columns about life in quarantine, dealing with it, dealing with state oppression, thoughts about freedom, love, capitalism. Also, an interesting piece done by Ivan, guitarist of Disbaja, about punks having a kid or kids. I read this zine in one afternoon, how great this one is. I havent read something so good since Fejer˙s Mentalna Smrt zines. But, this one left me hungry for more. Can not wait for new issue. Order your copy at:

grindpunx@gmail.com

NOFX & Frank Turner-West Coast Vs. Wessex(Fat Wreck Chords)

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NOFX are back this time delivering split with Frank Turner, each of them covering the songs by another. Each covers five songs. NOFX side is fantastic, I am not so much a fan of Frank Turner and his work, but NOFX delivered here fantastic job with Worse Things Happen At Sea and Thatcher Fucked The Kids having sound like old school NOFX stuff, delivering a lesson i melodic skatepunk. I love the new phase of Fattie and the gang, having more darker approach to the lyrics and songmaking, leaving somehow the old school fun and jokes behind, having more personal, battle your demons approach. But, this is cover e.p., so they are not writing songs here, but still I love the NOFX side a lot. The set of songs done by Frank Turner are cool, especially Scavenger Type and Eat The Meek. I am surprised how both managed to keep their sound with other artist`s songs making it sound like their own and even better. This is not your typical boring cover songs release. Go get this one.

https://fatwreck.com/