Fat Chester are coming from Austria, they play punkrock and this is their brand new record. The record contains 11 songs of melodic punkrock and the music of this band is not the fast machine gun skatepunk, but rather thoughtful midtempo punk with lots of heart, interesting strong structures and above all beautiful melodies. The lyrics are in English and they are dealing with personal themes and humor and fun. Yes, you read it fun. There is a song called Punk Bride which caused some uproar in the internet and social network circles proclaiming the band to be sexist and similar shit, which is not correct. Since when did punk become so safe, so sensitive, so caring about other people having fun, making jokes, just look at Fat Mike and all that Vegas shit, like he said something that was not funny, It was. But punk lost its touch from rebellion, uproar, mayhem and became a safe place for too sensitive internet warriors. But, I am digressing, this record is for me a mixture of Menzingers, Nothington and Off With Their Heads. When I was younger I really hated such punkrock being too slow and cheesy, now it suits me fine. For me the highlights of this album are definitely Salvation, Slave and Skate and Punk. Good one.
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.
Only Attitude Counts have been one of my favorite hardcore bands from Europe since the second half of the 90-ies. Now they have a new record with WTF Records and I have listened and reviewed it for our zine.
Vienna style hardcore is excellent because the guys in Only Attitude Counts, Spidercrew and couple other bands combine hardcore with streetpunk roots making anthems to singalong with, mosh, pogo and hug a sweaty brother or sister in the pit next to you. This new record is no exception to the rule. 16 anthems celebrate the 25 years history of the band and carry the banner of street hardcore high and proud with fast paced songs that make you pump your fist in the air. do a pogo pizzamaker style or mosh with couple of windmill styled dances. Hehe, who listens to hardcore will know what I mean by this. As the highlights of this album I would recommend All Ages, Powertrap, Pick Your Side, My Agenda. The album has a lot of guest appearances and contributions from Rykers, Deafness By Noise, Last Hope and many others. This is a great old school hardcore record for those of us who still believe.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 