Tag Archives: NYHC

Reviews, Various

(review) BillyBio – Leaders And Liars (AFM Records)

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Billy Graziadei is a NYHC legend and mastermind behind Biohazard. This was my first hardcore band when I was a kid growing up and Urban Discipline came out and Bio is still one of my favorite hardcore bands which introduced me deeper into the NYHC scene and all the legendary bands there. Bio is on hold and they did not release a record for ten years and Billy needed to express himself with something new, thus his second full length with a new band. I somehow think that Billy somehow had more ways and more freedom for artistic expression when creating music in BillyBio than he had in his former or band which is pausing right now. NYHC influences and roots are here and they will always remain, as well as all those punk rock and street punk influences, but there is also metal, even some electronics and industrial samples thrown here and there. Billy´s vocal is more interesting these days, instead of only hardcore shouting, growling and screaming, which is here along with gang backing vocals, there is also melodic side of his voice and it sounds so perfectly with the songs. Of course I will go with more hardcore punk side of songs, but I think BillyBio managed to encompass perfectly old school and more modern side of hardcore and this sophomore album is even better than the debut. My personal favorites: Fallen Empires, Leaders And Liars, Our Scene. Great hardcore album!

10/10

movie, Reviews, Various

(movie) The Sound Of Scars – Powerful Life Of Agony documentary!

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I love Life Of Agony since I first heard their debut album River Runs Red back in 1994 or 1995 when my friend made me a tape from a cd he bought after we watched their video for Through And Through on Headbangers Ball and being young hardcore and metal kids who adored New York Hardcore we loved it immediately. I totally relate to that album to this day, being an ode to fighting depression and losing that fight making your run to freedom through suicide when all hope is lost. Then came Ugly which was superb sophomore album and Soul Searching Sun. Life Of Agony was always to me like a kind of mix between NYHC and more doomy melodic Type O Negative sound with singer Keith Caputo(now Mina Caputo) having charisma and that distinct voice like no other singer in the genre has.

Keith left the band and they got that dude from Ugly Kid Joe as singer and it was a disaster, at least in my eyes. But, they got back together and released more superb albums to this day, being stronger and more confident than ever. Now, LOA documented all those years of blood, tears and heartbreak, but also hope in this excellent movie that I enjoyed so much. The movie centers on friendship and brotherhood of three main men, singer Mina Caputo, guitarist and Mina´s cousin Joey Z, also Alan Robert bassist. Movie goes about how they started the band and when they were kids, all the broken home hardships, violence, drug abuse and growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Band was formed, through years of success and hope, downfall, depression, suicidal thoughts, Keith becoming Mina and breaking free of his inner demons, death, love and regret. At times, some parts of the movie made my heart broken, tears wet, some made me smile and having hope and being inspired. Besides LOA members, drummer Veronica Bellino who fits perfectly to the band although younger than Mina, Joey and Alan is featured in the movie, like some contemporaries and friends too, for example Billy Graziadei(Billybio, Biohazard, Powerflo), Doyle(Misfits, Doyle) and other people from the scene. This is inspiring movie and I recommend it to all fans and those who are not but will maybe become.

10/10

Reviews, Various

(review) Going Postal NYHC – Going Postal (WTF Records)

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3. WTF-055 Going Postal Cover HighRes_300DPI

Good people at WTF Records just cannot stop releasing tons of great music. This time, Going Postal, band from NYC with their new opus of raw street smart hardcore. This e.p.is nineties influenced hardcore with lots more street punk influences but also has its momentary excursions into metal waters. I especially love Drowning In It, reminding me a lot of Warzone, one of my favorite bands from New York. This is simple, no bullshit, no holds barred undisputed hardcore with tendency to make you mosh, hug sweaty kid in the pit next to you and make your body flow with hardcore energy from your forehead to your toes. FTW is also one of personal favorites, being short but sweet punkrock influenced hardcore that we miss sometimes so much in today´s scene. This is pure old school hardcore with shadows of old bands like Killing Time, AF, Youth Of Today, Warzone and similar looking upon and smiling. Great release!