Crossed Keys from Philadelphia are in no way strangers to the scene because the band features people who played in Halo of Snakes, Kid Dynamite and Good Riddance among others and this is the new record out with Hell Minded Records. There are seven songs of nice melodic punkrock/pop punk on this record, played with heart and soul with catchy, beautiful melodic guitar parts, smart lyrics and superb singing courtesy of Joshua Alvarez. This whole material reminded me a lot of The Descendents, just simple, no bullshit and no philosophy punkrock just made to make you happy and smile and make your crappy day better. Recommended songs: True To You, Everything Breaks.
Year Of The Fist are from Oakland California and this is their latest record out with Heart On Records. There are 11 songs on this record. The music they play is fast forward energetic mix of punk and rock n roll, kinda like Black Flag or Ramones met Motorhead and jammed together for a record. But, don´t get me wrong, this band is in no way anyone˙s clone or a copy, they remained energetic, fresh, fast and a real pleasure for listening. Besides faster songs like Ghosts or Blood Bath, there are couple of more mid tempo rock n roll songs like Memory Burn which add perfectly to the whole picture. Katie´s and Squeaky˙s voices interplay perfectly with Hal9000beers´s voice creating great haunting melodies just made for you to listen them on repeat day after day. For all you punkrockers who like your punkrock energetic, raw yet melodic this is a keeper!
Ill Blood are from Vienna and they are releasing their debut e.p. with Farewell Records. The members of this band play or played in Eisberg, Demonwomb, Karaoke Bash and AnchorsXup, so they are in no way strangers to hardcore punk scene. Ill Blood played a lot of gigs, gathered live experience and it is notable in the musicianship on this e.p. There are six songs on this record. Ill Blood mixed their old school European hardcore influences with more newer school of hardcore blending old school fast straightforward song structures with groovy moshing parts like in the song called Scraps. The song titled Ill Blood is for me one of the best songs on this record with punkrock and streetpunk influences which I always liked in Vienna hardcore scene, the start of the song with almost rock vibe changes into energetic high speed hardcore and then ends in wicked guitar solo and gang sing along vocals. My Rage is a tour de force in old school hardcore punk and one thing I love about this record is that almost all the songs are fast forward with no philosophy just your plain good old hardcore. The whole vibe of the record reminds me a lot of old school Euro hardcore from the 90-ies with Rykers, Brightside, Right Direction, Racial Abuse coming to mind instantly, but Ill Blood play fresh hardcore with a nod of respect for old school masters and firm gaze into the future. That is how hardcore should sound. Not to discover all of the record, you should order yourself a copy, have a listen too. Would love to see and hear this band live. Hope I will. Soon.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 