Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #11: Inmates "Now We Talkin' Hardcore" EP

This is the last strike of the semester, closing with a new EP from one of the best bands Cleveland has to offer. They had an LP, "Assholes Unanimous" out on Painkiller a while back and this is their newest material. Thick, raw, and really grimey sounding, these guys know how to make you feel great about your hardcore. No amateur bullshit and no pretensions, and as the label puts is: "NO METAL SHIT......., NO SKA ..........., NO LA LA LA ........, NO EMO CRAP ....... JUST GOOD OLD HARDCORE." If you're a fan of any Cleveland hardcore and wish you hadn't missed Gordon Solie Motherfuckers' last show, then this is the record for you. From Even Worse Records: "CLEVO TRADEMARK OBNOXIOUS,NIHILISTIC,OFFENSIVE STUFF,WITH SOME OF THEIR OWN TWISTED FUCKED UP HUMOR. "

A split release between Even Worse and Kangaroo Records, this might not be available through them so check some distros. Don't miss out.

http://www.geocities.com/EVENWORSERECORDS/
http://www.geocities.com/TYSONKANGAROO

Francis Harold and the Holograms EP

When society fails, the architects of post-apocalyptic America are going to come knocking on the doors of Going Underground Records asking for a soundtrack. We started off this year's round of strikes with the Heartbeatz EP, already tinny and synthy and everything a punk record should be. Fast forward to now; Going Underground manages to unearth another filthy punk neo-relic that squeals and churns and dirges its way across all seven inches.

This is the sound of the downfall of technology. Screeching, plodding, and wildly schizophrenic, Francis Harold and the Holograms more or less shrug off conventional punk warfare and go straight for the inner ear. It's out of control from start to finish, and even when you're singing along, you can't help but feel like you're singing along to your own doom.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #9: Sex Vid "Nests" EP

Took me a minute to realize just what was going on with the latest offering, but consider me fully on board, even if the captain is fucking insane. If you're counting, and you should be, this is Sex Vid's third EP, and any sort of composure has been shed from sheer use, experience, and disaffection. This is raw, people, and if you find yourself alone in the basement with this beast, I'd suggest you get out as soon as possible. Dirty and simmering, Sex Vid doesn't have a problem shoving it in your face, and you shouldn't have a problem with it either. Got it? Good. Bistro Distro's all out, but check the usual suspects (No Way, Grave Mistake, Painkiller, Missing Link, even Interpunk, etc.) before you're officially out of luck.

Also, sorry for the lapse: last week's Strike (#8) was Mentally Challenged. But you knew that already.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #7: Daniel Striped Tiger/Sinaloa Split EP

The cast of characters are all familiar here; Clean Plate and Narshardaa team up to put out this cross-Atlantic release, served up just in time for (the now defunct) Euro tour for these two Boston area bands. The quality is just as familiar. Daniel Striped Tiger lays down two new tracks of angular, mathy hardcore. Familiar, but different, continuing to push their sound forward. Can't help but hear some old school 90's influence via Kirsch via 2008.

Sinaloa gives a taste of things to come on the flip side; be sure to pick this up along with their incredible new full length insta-classic "Oceans of Islands," out now on Level Plane. There's not much to say. Sinaloa does what Sinaloa does best, except its even better this time. Tighter, more powerful, and incredibly intriguing, this band continues to push the boundaries of emotive hardcore.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #6: Insomnio "Walking On The String" EP

Another one from No Way; not our fault, they just keep puttin' on the hits. As usual, they say it better than I could:

4 songs of killer spanish punk for fans of old punk/hc where the song matters a little more than the noise. Catchy as hell, but still hardcore in the way that REAGAN YOUTH, BLITZ, and DESCENDENTS were. This is also a must have for fans of newer bands like PELIGRO SOCIAL or NO HOPE FOR THE KIDS. Their lp is absolutely killer, and this was recorded at the very same time, so it's no bullshit.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #5: Loser Life "My Hell" 12"

Loser Life gives you exactly what you expect, perhaps better than ever this time. Fast and furious, it's not that they're pissed off so much as they've grown tired of telling the word to fuck off. Enter "My Hell;" ferocious from start to end that makes you want to charge the mic and scream the greyness away. Twelve inches, five songs, 45 rpm; this ain't a revival, it's something much more, but fuck you if you think they're going to lead you to the promise land. Apparently their hell is the same as Diane Arbus's.

On Life's a Rape Records, a veritable Bakersfield juggernaut. Watch out for new LP's from Crime Desire and Waco Fuck coming soon.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #4: Complete Waste EP

And the Twin Cities continues to deliver. More hyperkinetic fuck you hardcore in the vein of ANS as well as a whole laundry list of historic skatethrash bands. Three way release by the band, Give Praise, and Rock Bottom, who continue to pump out the essential jams. Get on it.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #3: Baader Brains "The Complete Unfinished Works of the Young Tigers" LP

So we're bending the rules a bit on this one, but it's completely necessary. Mike Kirsch does what Mike Kirsch does best: makes incredible hardcore music tinged with weird and creative conceits that reinvent and reimagine what punk music is and can be.

This time around, Kirsch borrows some ideas from German revolutionaries, the Baader-Meinhof gang in particular, creating Baader Brains (featuring much of the same cast from the unfuckwithable Please Inform the Captain This Is A Hijack). What you get is an entire cosmology of the Young Tigers, from birth to futuristic victory. Kirsch and crew drop the sass a bit this time, choosing a bit more of a traditional viciousness (think John Henry West), but the high concept is still there. Heard in its entirety, you get the feeling that this is just another unearthed document of man's depravity in humanity's deep, dark bunker.

Split release from Waking Records and Clean Plate Records. Color is probably all gone, and black is sure to be extinct relatively soon. Don't fuck with the brains.

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #2: Social Circkle "I've Got Afflictions" EP

Social Circkle is up this week for the strike, one of Boston's own. We could write a review, but Doug Mosurock at Dusted Magazine does a better job. Get it, if you can.

"Second single, new guitarist, pretty different approach overall, but Social Circkle still treads on. Gone is the clean guitar of the demo, and abated are the straight lines and the slower, more Anglophilic notions of the first EP. Here the Crickle plows straight into more modern hardcore territory, blazing through four new tracks with almost no room for breath until the more solid, piecemeal riffage of closer “I Don’t Want” takes hold. Still pretty great, just different than before; makes me wonder how their ideas might translate to a full-length. 2000 copies, first 200 on clear."--Doug Mosurock, Still Single, dustedmagazine.com

Strike of the Week, Vol. 2 #1: Heartbeatz "Secret Girls" EP

Hyperkinetic, completely fuzzed out punk from Bakersfield, CA. Featuring Neutron Ron of the Contaminators; also the proprietor of Going Underground Records. Check it out while you still can at www.goingundergroundrecords.com, and look out for the second installment on P. Trash Records.

HeartBeatz - Secret Girls 7" EP
Going Underground #11
- 8 Test Presses
1st Press
- 475 Black Vinyl
- 100 White Vinyl w/ Alternate Sleeve, Most came with Junkie Timez Zine
- 25 White vinyl with SECRET Sleeve

Strike of the Week #10: Go It Alone "Histories" EP

Go It Alone pulls out the stops for a sampling of what is to come on their soon-to-be released "Histories" LP. Rivalry Records has consistently put out phenomenal melodic hardcore releases, and this one is no exception. As Ben would say, you can definitely feel the brotherhood.

Strike of the Week #9: Acid Reflux EP

Here's the brand-new 7" pressing of this Albany band's demo. No Way Records sez:

Sick of those bands that are too serious for their own good? Well, look no further. ACID REFLUX is here to put the FUN back in Hardcore Punk! Completely sarcastic and funny lyrics belted out over some very intense hardcore punk is what you get here. This ep contains selected tracks from their unbelievable demo. However, they are remastered, resequenced and ON VINYL! 8 songs in 8 minutes, need we say more?

Strike of the Week #8: Dirty Looks EP

Up next on Strike of the Week is the newest seven inch from Dirty Looks, out on Long Island's Iron Pier Records. Iron Pier's been pumping out a slew of great punk records, and this one's no exception. Check the description below:

Dirty Looks play Brooklyn nuevo-grunge and sound to the band like The Gits and Dead Moon and to some others like The Vaselines, Bikini Kill and early Replacements. Ex Members of: Bent Outta Shape, Crybaby Macarthur, Beer Garden, United States, Scent Of Human History, Neverending Party, etc.

Dirty Looks was born in September 2005 in Brooklyn, NY when Skip and Nate were living in a two-bedroom apartment on Bartlett St. The living room became the practice space and soon Ren and Gaylen joined them. Cheap 12 packs would be purchased from the freezer section at Food Bazaar and Gaylen would scream over the boys jamming through blown-out PA speakers.

Strike of the Week #7: Harpoon Guns 2nd EP

This week we'll be playing the entire 4-song second 7" by Harpoon Guns. This one is a split release from Eliminator and Square Wave Records.

Strike of the Week #6: Sex Vid "Tania" EP

Here's a new 4-song rager from these Olympia punks. Don't blink or you'll miss it! This record is available in distro everywhere right now. If you can't find it, try Feral Ward.

Strike of the Week #5: Disrupt "s/t" EP

Since Evan's not around, I'm bending the rules and this week's strike of the week is neither new or a 7". On the other hand, the songs all appeared for the first time on one 7" and they were just reissued a week or two ago!

Disrupt's first EP came out on Crust Records in 1990. Five tracks, no compromises. You can hear these tracks plus a buttload more Disrupt on the just-released 2xCD "The Rest" on Relapse Records. "The Rest" includes 1 split LP, 6 split EPs, 2 full EPs, unreleased and comp tracks, original demo, rehersal demo and a live 1992 set.

Strike of the Week #4: Loser Life "I Want the World" EP

This week we'll be playing the new 3-song Loser Life EP from Life's a Rape records. Record Hospital loved Loser Life's first EP on Going Underground and has been waiting patiently for this follow-up. Here's the description from Life's a Rape:

Hailing from Bakersfield, the armpit of California,
Loser Life follow up their well received demos and
single with "I Want the World," a 3 song ep that hones
their Articles of Faith/Leatherface brand of melodic
and aggressive hardcore. Fuelled by all the anger and
frustration that comes with growing up in a hostile
and ignorant hicktown, Loser Life conveys a certain
sense of urgency that many of their fellow Chicago
style hardcore worshippers lack. Look for an LP and
full US tour later this year.

To get in touch with Life's a Rape to order your own copy, try

colinrrmf@yahoo.com
M. Colin Tappe
POB 278
Carlsbad, CA 92018

Next week's strike of the week remains a mystery. If the USPS gods are smiling, we'll have a few choices.

Strike of the Week #3: Reagan SS "Bon Apetit" EP

This week's Strike of the Week comes from Reagan SS, an LA band that released a few raging EPs a few years ago and recently reformed. This new 5-song EP is out on Rabid Dog Records. To pick up a copy, email rabiddogrecords@yahoo.com.

We'll be playing the entire EP at 11pm sharp!

Reagan SS should be playing Boston with Total Fury on May 2nd so mark your calendars.

Strike of the Week #2: Crime Desire "In Lucifer's Grip" EP

This brand-new ripper from Life's a Rape Records brings us five new songs from Crime Desire. Pissed and chaotic, this is right up our alley. We'll be playing the whole EP at 11pm tonight.

Life's a Rape Records
POB 278
Carlsbad, CA 92018
colinrrmf@yahoo.com

Strike of the Week #1: This Is My Fist/Giant Haystacks Split EP

So here's the deal: Ben and I both like 45's a lot, even when they're not played at 45. That's okay, because it's the seven inch diameter that matters, and is the basis for our newest conception: Strike of the Week.

Every week, we'll be picking one or two 45's and playing them in their entirety at or near 11:00pm. Criteria? Freshness, of course, and punk rockness. Nothing more, really.

First up: This Is My Fist/Giant Haystacks courtesy of 625. Bay Area punk rockers put that hyphy to shame with some ragingly good tunes. Fist-pumping and righteous, this is something worth picking up, especially after the amount of time put into it to finally get it out.