BONA FIDE BLOG

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Treasurfest

Perhaps the head should say "IGNITE" instead since they were the only band I saw of all the bands that played during this two day event. I went to Örebro with the intention of catching three bands; DEAD REPRISE whom I missed due to getting there late, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR whom I missed when I was out eating just before the main attraction IGNITE were going to play.

IGNITE were great as always, mixaing old songs with new material and a few covers. Zoli always have great things to say on stage, and even if I don't agree with him every time his "speaches" are someting different than the standard preaching at shows.

A few observations and thoughts:

1. A stage dive means diving from the stage, not setting up camp and staying there forever.

2. A lesson in history: UNIFORM CHOICE is one of the best hardcore bands ever. Look them up if you don't know them already.

3. The scene today is very young. We, the old ones, are responsible to make sure that what makes hardcore special i passed on to the younger kids. At the moment hardcore is in danger of becomming just another genre of music.

4. IGNTIE is great!

5. Treasurefest is a good thing, even though they don't book that many bands that appeal to me personally. I hope they will be back again next year with an even better show.

posted by Marcus Källman # 12:12 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

NFG vs. ISHC

NEW FOUND GLORY

Tip of the iceberg (CD-ep)

Bridge 9

NEW FOUND GLORY is one of those bands that I have never even given a chance, but with this promo arriving in the mail it was impossible to avoid them any further. This CD contains three original songs of their own, and also three cover songs. The NFG-originals are very catchy in a pop.hardcore sort of way, nice tempo changes and good choruses. A lot better than I thought and listenable for sure, but still not as good as LIFETIME or early SAVES THE DAY. The three covers where a surprise, "No reason why" (GORILLA BISCUITS), "Here we go again" (SHELTER) and "Cut the tension" (LIFETIME) are covered and done okay, very true to the original versions. I don't know the motivation behind the covers but I hope young kids take note and check out the original versions. Perhaps NFG will inspire a new generation of hardcore kids?

No lyrics included so I guess they're not worth reading? What's up?

INTERNATIONAL SUPERHEROES OF HARDCORE

Takin' It Ova' (CD)

Bridge 9

ISHC is the latest in the line of joke bands in the hardcore scene. For those who don't know ISHC is NEW FOUND GLORY switching instruments, playing hardcore in an 80's kind of way, NYHC style. But more important to their concept is their roles as superheroes of hardcore and I guess that's what separates them from other joke bands, they have a full concept which the follow.

Musically this is alright but I don't care for the fun side of this. I wasn't around for CRUCIAL YOUTH, but I remember GOOD CLEAN FUN very well and enjoyed it. For those who weren't around for either of those bands ISHC might be fun but personally it feels like I have been through this before. I'll listen to this on occasion for the music however.

No lyrics included so I guess they're not worth reading? What's up?

posted by Marcus Källman # 9:55 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Swedish hardcore

In the near future a 7' compilation featuring some of the best swedish hardcore bands at the moment will be released on Law & Order records. For a sample listen at http://www.myspace.com/laworderrec. Check out these MySpace sites as well:

Angers Curse http://www.myspace.com/angerscurse
Fuse http://www.myspace.com/fusehardcore
Social Pressure http://www.myspace.com/socialpressurehc
Go For Broke http://www.myspace.com/goforbrokecrew
Commitment Crew http://www.myspace.com/commitmentcrew
The Cutting Edge http://www.myspace.com/tcehemgarden
Balance http://www.myspace.com/balancestraightedge

posted by Marcus Källman # 3:09 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Viva la Rostock

CRUSHING CASPARS
The Fire Still Burns (CD)
GSR

I was, and still is, rather sceptic towards the name of this band. Thank god the music is of better quality, old school hardcore that definitely borrows a thing or two from NYHC. SICK OF IT ALL comes to mind a lot. There's lots of variation, faster songs like the title track, but also slower songs with more groove, "Diabolic boggie" for instance. Good sing a longs as well, so this record pretty much have it all.

I couldn't get into the lyrics at all. I just don't care for scenerelated lyrics. They're supposed to be funny I guess, but they're not to me. "Baltic sea for life"? Come on! This is where this record fails, and it's too bad beacause the music isn't bad at all.

CRUSHING CASPARS at MySpace

posted by Marcus Källman # 11:26 AM 0 Comments

Sunday, May 11, 2008

From the land of the rising sun...

GORDON IVY & THE JAYBIRDS

Happy couples never last (CD)

Akashic / Cock Suck

A few weeks ago I found a package from Japan when I came home from work, very surprising but welcomed. When I discovered what was inside the package I was even more excited, the new record from GORDON IVY & THE JAYBIRDS, a band that I really like. I found them last year when randomly looking through sites at MySpace and fell for them instantly.

It's been a long time since I heard hardcore done with the same raw intensity that these guys have. Sure, they're a bit rough around the edges but it's all good. Any fan of youth crew och 80's hardcore will enjoy this.

At times it's a bit difficult to hear what the singer is screaming but it doesn't really matter. The point is, this band is all about unleashing as much energy as possible and if a few words get lost in the process, who cares?

GORDON IVY & THE JAYBIRDS at MySpace

posted by Marcus Källman # 9:56 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, May 10, 2008

It's summer

At least for a while so let's enjoy it while it lasts. Instead of a review I'll recommend a band. I have hyped this band at other forums but never here so check them out if you haven't heard of them.

CRUSHED ON YOU

This is like KILL HOLIDAY part 2 and it sound very promising, like "Meant to let you down"-era KILL HOLIDAY. If they get off their feet they will probably become my favourite band.

posted by Marcus Källman # 5:43 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

bad reaction

BAD REACTION

Had it coming (MCD)

Reflections

This is one of those records that I find myself enjoying within minutes. To cut it short: This is hardcore and nothing else. With influences from the early 80's they rush their way through eight songs plus a cover of "Pay to cum". It's all done with skills, no frills and a good sense of humor (or what else can you say about a band that comes up with the songtitle "Take your god out of my peanutbutter"?). All in all this is one of the best new bands out of the US at the moment and I'm glad I got this CD because they're new to me, but certainly a band that I hope to hear more from soon.This is probably the best release from Reflections in a long time.

By the way, this MCD is originally two 7's. If you like straight up hardcore you'd be wise to check thos, or this MCD, out.

BAD REACTION at MySpace

posted by Marcus Källman # 10:08 AM 0 Comments

Monday, May 5, 2008

Set The Alarm

SET THE ALARM

Demo 2008 (CD-r)

There is something wrong with this world according to SET THE ALARM from Stockholm. I agree, I think that there is a problem when humanity and sympathy are no longer to be found and I'm sure everyone in this world would agree to that as well. The intentions aren't bad at all but I feel that thay are a bit vague and that they need to sharpen their tone to go for an all out attack.

Musically they sound very influenced by the Rivalry stable of bands, especially ANOTHER BREATH comes to mind. It's fast, desperate and at times meodic hardcore punk with bright screaming vocals. It's second division stuff compared to the bigger names in the genre, but then again; it's just a demo, a first attempt at greatness that didn't make it all the way, so we should give them another chance. This demo is available from their MySpace so check that out.

SET THE ALARM MySpace

posted by Marcus Källman # 10:56 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Another attempt by the media...

If you still haven't seen the documentary "Inside Straight Edge" check it out on youtube. It can hardly be described as an accurate or balanced documentation but it's still intresting, and of course it effects us all, people that are edge, if it changes peoples attitudes towards Straight Edge.

See for yourself: Inside Straight Edge

posted by Marcus Källman # 5:35 AM 0 Comments