BONA FIDE BLOG
Thursday, March 27, 2008
rotting out
When I ordered the demo from the US band ROTTING OUT they were nice enough to send me two extra copies on CD. The first two persons to report their interst will therefore recieve a copy of this awesome demo.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
I like fanzines
START TODAY #6
START TODAY has always been a good read, nothing spectacular and there are better zines out there but consistent in quality and content. This issue is no different than previous issues which is comfortable as you know what you get when ordering it. Interviews with 108, GORILLA BISCUITS, CHAMPION, THE GEEKS and BREAKTHROUGH (more like a profile) are included and they’re all good, my favourite being the one with Rob 108. I have often felt that the review section of Start Today have been the week link and I guess that’s still the case but it’s improving. What I on the other hand admire is the passion that seems to go in to making this zine and Bottled Up, it’s kids like Jeff that make hardcore such a great thing.
If you have any of the other issues and like it there is no reason why not to check out this one as well.
START TODAY has always been a good read, nothing spectacular and there are better zines out there but consistent in quality and content. This issue is no different than previous issues which is comfortable as you know what you get when ordering it. Interviews with 108, GORILLA BISCUITS, CHAMPION, THE GEEKS and BREAKTHROUGH (more like a profile) are included and they’re all good, my favourite being the one with Rob 108. I have often felt that the review section of Start Today have been the week link and I guess that’s still the case but it’s improving. What I on the other hand admire is the passion that seems to go in to making this zine and Bottled Up, it’s kids like Jeff that make hardcore such a great thing.
If you have any of the other issues and like it there is no reason why not to check out this one as well.
VOICE OF A GENERATION – A CRUCIAL ZINE FOR CRUCIAL TIMES #2
This issue is all about the awesome band SPORTSWEAR, one of my favourites for sure. It comes with a limited SPORTSWEAR 7’ and features an interview of great length (for a hardcore fanzine) with the Norwegian giants of youth crew hardcore. The interview is done with Peter and covers most of his time in hardcore (not just SPORTSWEAR). Peter and Arne, the makers of the zine mentions that they didn’t want to edit the interview, which I really think they should have done as it at times comes of as a chat between friends. It is however still a very interesting read.
There are a few reviews, and I still wonder if Peter and Arne have exact similar taste in music since they seem to be writing the reviews together. It seems very strange to me, but whatever works for them I guess…
ONE KIND WORD #2
ONE KIND WORD comes with a 7’ compilation featuring GET THE MOST, GO FOR BROKE, CINDER and COMMON CAUSE. Those bands are interviewed in the zine after a similar formula, and it’s above average interviews but not great in any sense, standard but done well. There is also an interview with Jon Roa which in my opinion is more interesting, much thanks to his answers.
The zine looks good and I like the concept of a zine combined with a 7’ so I’ll look forward to future issues. If the quality of the writings is improved it could very well turn out great.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Modern Life Is War
MODERN LIFE IS WAR
Midnight in America
Equl Vision (CD)
MODERN LIFE IS WAR let med down with their previous album, Witness. It simply lacked many of the qualities that I appreciated in their debut My Love, My Way and it’s basically been collecting dust the past year, although I am aware that many people rate it as their best album. Midnight in America is a step in the right direction and with “These mad dogs of glory” they have that anthem-like song that you’ll keep hearing over and over again inside your head and that was something Witness didn’t have in my opinion.
Far from beautiful, Midnight in America is as expected an emotion filled experience, at times very aggressive and chaotic, at other times more passionate, never stagnant. Progression has definitely taken place over the past years, from more melodically driven hardcorepunk towards today’s sound that is more aggressive and less straight forward. Now they’re broken up and they will be missed. However, the decision probably came at the right time, three albums is a lot in the hardcore scene.
Midnight in America
Equl Vision (CD)
MODERN LIFE IS WAR let med down with their previous album, Witness. It simply lacked many of the qualities that I appreciated in their debut My Love, My Way and it’s basically been collecting dust the past year, although I am aware that many people rate it as their best album. Midnight in America is a step in the right direction and with “These mad dogs of glory” they have that anthem-like song that you’ll keep hearing over and over again inside your head and that was something Witness didn’t have in my opinion.
Far from beautiful, Midnight in America is as expected an emotion filled experience, at times very aggressive and chaotic, at other times more passionate, never stagnant. Progression has definitely taken place over the past years, from more melodically driven hardcorepunk towards today’s sound that is more aggressive and less straight forward. Now they’re broken up and they will be missed. However, the decision probably came at the right time, three albums is a lot in the hardcore scene.
Friday, March 21, 2008
One Voice
ONE VOCIE
Break Free (7’)
Crucial Response
I very much enjoyed their demo and this 7’ continues along the same path, very energetic hardcore all done in a very traditional way, as far as lyrics, layout and music goes. I wanted to write that they are up there with TRUE COLORS as the best band I Europe but that’s not the case just yet. Instead they are still playing in the second division but with some fine polish (especially lyric wise) they should be able to step it up next time around and play with the bigger boys.
Break Free (7’)
Crucial Response
I very much enjoyed their demo and this 7’ continues along the same path, very energetic hardcore all done in a very traditional way, as far as lyrics, layout and music goes. I wanted to write that they are up there with TRUE COLORS as the best band I Europe but that’s not the case just yet. Instead they are still playing in the second division but with some fine polish (especially lyric wise) they should be able to step it up next time around and play with the bigger boys.
Any kid into youth crew will like ONE VOICE, that’s for sure, but next time I’d like to see them even more powerful, “in your face” and with a sharper pen.
The Kind That Kills / Anchor
THE KIND THAT KILLS / ANCHOR
Split
Monument (7’)
I guess THE KIND THAT KILLS and ANCHOR are the two biggest hardcore bands from Sweden at the moment, definitely the two hardest working bands anyway, so to see them releasing a split together isn’t all that surprising.
THE KIND THAT KILLS have a formula of their own, very melodic driven hardcore with which along with Peters characteristic vocals have become a road to success. The only thing missing is that one song, one hit that becomes their trademark. As I’m writing this I’m one week away from seeing them live again, which in my opinion is a greater experience than listening to them on record.
Split
Monument (7’)
I guess THE KIND THAT KILLS and ANCHOR are the two biggest hardcore bands from Sweden at the moment, definitely the two hardest working bands anyway, so to see them releasing a split together isn’t all that surprising.
THE KIND THAT KILLS have a formula of their own, very melodic driven hardcore with which along with Peters characteristic vocals have become a road to success. The only thing missing is that one song, one hit that becomes their trademark. As I’m writing this I’m one week away from seeing them live again, which in my opinion is a greater experience than listening to them on record.
ANCHOR is without a doubt the rising star of Swedish hardcore, with tours all over the world in the works. I wasn’t to into their first MCD, a few good moments but overall to metallic for my taste. My feelings toward these two songs are similar. I like the intro to the first song which takes me back more than ten years, as well as the faster parts of the second song. I’d like to see them embracing the old school elements a bit more, not to go over the top of course but just enough to keep me interested. Political lyrics as expected but without depth, but I guess that it’s very difficult to go in depth with just a few words.
Commitment Crew
COMMITMENT CREW
Hisingen (7’)
Crucial Response
It’s nice to be writing so many reviews of Swedish bands, and especially band that are friends of mine. COMMITMENT CREW is from the city of Gothenburg, as am I so have been able to see them play live a number of times, and I bought their demo when it first was released. It’s cool to see a band evolve from being, hm… not so impressive into something that I can enjoy. These guys are very passionate about what they are doing and they are in every way honest and sincere kids so I am glad to see them being appreciated.
Hisingen (7’)
Crucial Response
It’s nice to be writing so many reviews of Swedish bands, and especially band that are friends of mine. COMMITMENT CREW is from the city of Gothenburg, as am I so have been able to see them play live a number of times, and I bought their demo when it first was released. It’s cool to see a band evolve from being, hm… not so impressive into something that I can enjoy. These guys are very passionate about what they are doing and they are in every way honest and sincere kids so I am glad to see them being appreciated.
Hisingen is all about old Boston hardcore and I guess that they to those not in the know sound like a joke, but I think they pull off this style of hardcore very well. Don’t miss out on Gothenburg’s finest.
Permanent / Resonance
PERMANENT / RESONANCE
Split
Collapse (7’)
PERMANENT pretty much knocked me to the ground the first time I heard them. In the past couple of years I haven’t been able to listen to melodic hardcore in the same way that I used to, or perhaps it’s has been because the lack of good bands? PERMANENT is one of the few bands playing this sort of hardcore that makes me want to go off. These two songs fit very well with the songs on their LP, not the best two songs that they have done perhaps but okay.
Split
Collapse (7’)
PERMANENT pretty much knocked me to the ground the first time I heard them. In the past couple of years I haven’t been able to listen to melodic hardcore in the same way that I used to, or perhaps it’s has been because the lack of good bands? PERMANENT is one of the few bands playing this sort of hardcore that makes me want to go off. These two songs fit very well with the songs on their LP, not the best two songs that they have done perhaps but okay.
Speaking of melodic hardcore; LIFETIME and KID DYNAMITE have sort of made a resurrection in the past few years (of course with LIFETIMEs reunion as icing on the cake) and RESONANCE is yet another band that gets in line to salute these legends of New Jersey hardcore. Nothing to spectacular, but not bad either. A few nice metaphors and good writings overall make up lyrics that are well above average.
Dirty Money
DIRTY MONEY
No Escaping This (MCD)
Dead And Gone
With the bands coming out of the UK during the last couple of years I wasn’t expecting much at all, but this blows me away. I’ll tell you, this will rip your head from your body, and that’s just for starters. A great display of aggression and rhythm and certainly nice signs of progression since the demo (which is included on the CD, seven songs all together). I assume they’re as good live as on record and I would very much like to see them making their way up to Sweden during 2008 as I’m sure they and the mosh that they would bring will be appreciated.
No Escaping This is the European record of 2007, no matter if your stuck in NYHC from the eighties or caught up in what’s going on today.
No Escaping This (MCD)
Dead And Gone
With the bands coming out of the UK during the last couple of years I wasn’t expecting much at all, but this blows me away. I’ll tell you, this will rip your head from your body, and that’s just for starters. A great display of aggression and rhythm and certainly nice signs of progression since the demo (which is included on the CD, seven songs all together). I assume they’re as good live as on record and I would very much like to see them making their way up to Sweden during 2008 as I’m sure they and the mosh that they would bring will be appreciated.
No Escaping This is the European record of 2007, no matter if your stuck in NYHC from the eighties or caught up in what’s going on today.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tävlingen avslutad!
Grattis säger vi till Micke Persson, Micke Rönn och Daniel Bergfjord som snart kommer få varsin skiva i posten. Flest röster som Sveriges bästa aktiva band: ANCHOR. Ny tävling meddelas snart!
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