Mixed Signals Compilation LP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Emo, Indie rock
Label: Run For Cover Records
Tracks: 12

Run for cover records has had an amazing year in putting out incredible records and this compilation is proof positive that the label is one of the best out there. In 2011, Run For Cover records put out incredible albums by a diverse variety of bands this year including Seahaven, Young Statues, Basement, Hostage Calm, Tigers Jaw, CSTVT, and a great 7" subscription series, which will be posted in it's entirity in 2012 when the series is completely released and in my sweaty hands. Mixed Signals is the label's fiftieth release and marks a special occasion for the label at a time when its impact and influence on the modern punk scene has reached unprecedented heights. Mixed Signals provides a snapshot of today's scene, a diverse group of talented musicians creating meaningful music and making waves throughout all corners of punk rock. The roster for "Mixed Signals" reads like a best-of, must-hear list of current independent acts, bringing together new, unreleased and exclusive songs from a list of bands who collectively have released some of the most worthwhile records of the past few years, toured the world and left an indelible impact on the many they've performed for. Bands on Mixed Signals include Polar Bear Club, Balance And Composure, Tigers Jaw, Hostage Calm, CSTVT, The Mezingers, Daylight, End Of A Year Self Defense Family, Daytrader, Make Do And Mend, The Tower And The Fool, and The World Is A Beautiful Place & I'm No Longer Afraid To Die. Seriously, this is an amazing compilation. Highly Recommended! Enjoy!

Purchase

Mixed Signals Compilation LP (2011)

Sinaloa-Chapel & Basement Cassette (2009)

Country: USA
Genre: Post hardcore, acoustic
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10

Long time readers of the blog know I'm a huge Sinaloa fan and this release is testament to the unique diversity the band uses when crafting honest, sincere, and generally amazing music. Sinaloa is an emo/post hardcore band from Massachusetts, USA featuring members of Ettile Vyre and Ache. Sinaloa's sound is often compared to the distant early nineties scene of Vermin Scum, Dischord, Ebullition, and Gravity Records. Sinaloa brings the fire of that era's DIY punk sound and combines it with a grown-up sensibility and a lot of life experience. Sinaloa's sound can be described as being emotive, driving, with heartfelt anthems full of dueling vocals, meandering melodies, and slow-burning crescendos. At times Sinaloa incorporates horns and strings such as upright bass into their music. Chapel & Basement is newly realized take on their signature sound. Chapel & Basement features Oceans Of Islands in it's entirity rearranged and recorded acoustically. The cassette is called Chapel & Basement because it was recorded in a chapel back in 2009. Seriously, this is such a good cassette and I can't begin to describe how well these songs translate acoustically. Enjoy! I can't wait until they release some new material.

Sinaloa Band Site

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Sinaloa - Chapel & Basement Cassette (2009)

Squadra Omega - Le Nozze Chimiche 10" (2011)

Country: Italy
Genre: Post Rock, Psychedelic, Jazz, Instrumental
Label: Macina Dischi
Tracks: 5
Lenght: 23'

It is said that all empires are built upon the ruins of previous empires. It is said that destruction breeds construction. In times of deadlocked aesthetics and stylistic stagnation the time is nigh for a destruction of the old and the construction of the new. From the rubble of a post-post modern world, Apollo is rising and he is accompanied by a tribe of psychedelic wasteland fellaheen – the Squadra Omega. The winds are shifting, the fog is lifting and a new age is a-coming. Spaceage Cubist-Free-Jazz clashes with Pygmy-Percussion-No Wave-Kraut Rock causing a sonic fusion leading to a complete derangement of the senses, an assault on the frontal lobe and permanent hallucination.

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Squadra Omega - Le Nozze Chimiche 10" (2011)

Living Laser - Ragged Glory Cassette (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore/Punk
Label: Tripmachine Laboratories
Tracks: 7

Living Laser is a relatively new band from the Hudson Valley, NY formed from the ashes of the post hardcore band Robots And Empire and spazzcore band Casket Architects. Living Laser play a great style of hardcore and punk influenced by Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, and possibly Burn. Ragged Glory is the band's debut release and the seven songs on this cassette make me remember why I got into punk/hardcore in the first place. Seven songs of energetic, classic NYHC inspired music. The band absolutely tear things up with these seven songs, displaying a frantic energy, and reckless abandon. The vocals really stand out too and are reminiscent of Bad Brain's HR. Great stuff! Enjoy!

Living Laser on Facebook
Purchase
Living Laser-Ragged Glory Cassette (2011)

Young Governor-Where It's Quiet 10" (2011)

Country: Canada

Genre: Garage rock, punk, indie pop

Label: 12XU Records

Tracks: 4

Young Governor is a side project of Ben Cook aka Young Governor. Ben Cook has gotten his hands dirty in bands including Fucked Up, The Bitters, No Warning, Violent Minds and Marvelous Darlings. Brian Cook has been recording under this moniker also sometimes referred to as Young Guv since 2008 and released Hidden Love as a 12" on Parts Unknown records. Since then Young Guv has been releasing a steady stream of 7"s and Where It's Quiet is Cook's best material to date. Where It's Quiet melds elements of garage rock, indie pop, and punk into a killer release of power pop brilliance that calls to mind Replacements, The Undertones, or more contemporary acts such as Estrogen Highs, Thee Oh Sees, and Ty Segall. Fans of the current Australian music scene and bands such as Total Control or The Eddy Current Suppression Ring need to give Where It's Quiet a listen. Great stuff. Enjoy!

No Guv No Luv (Young Governor blog)

Purchase
Young Governor-Where It's Quiet 10" (2011)

SSORC - Infidel Eternal Lp/7" (2011)

Country: Japan
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Magic Bullet Records
Tracks: 12


I'm not going to even pretend I'm well versed in Black Metal and my exposure is fairly limited. I'm into heavy music such as Thou, Northless, Batillus, Atriarch, Altar Of Plagues, Liturgy and similar bands of this genre. One thing I do know is when a band plays a brutal and punishing form of music and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found on SSORC's LP Infidel Eternal. Apparantly this album was originally released in 2005 and was recently repressed and released by Magic Bullet as an LP and 7".

(Label Bio.) Infidel Eternal is the debut album from Tokyo’s SSORC. Drawing heavily from Scandinavian black metal influences (GORGOROTH, DARKTHRONE, et al) and infusing the crazed, violating ethics of 80's Japanese hardcore, SSORC blast through traditional themes of nature, anti-organized religion, agony, woe, and despair at an unrelenting pace that never truly relinquishes attack. Accordingly, the band is actually comprised of former members of legendary extreme Japanese hardcore band G.I.S.M. as well os other noted acts such as MAGANE, ZOMBIE RITUAL, MÏSOGI, and MORTES SALTANTES. With SSORC, their collective goal is quite simply “to terrify people, or to give people fear.” Mantras and themes of “Black Metal Terrorism” appear throughout both the album and the band’s limited public profile. The guitar tones are cruel and menacing, the bass is distorted and sick, Mutilation Under the Moonlight’s vocals howl with a pain seldom put to tape, and the drums blast forth as if they legitimately want to kill you. This is truly Japanese extreme black metal.

SSORC on Facebook
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SSORC - Infidel Eternal LP+7" (2011)

Sneeze - Grandma In Trenches EP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Grunge, Indie Rock
Label: Bear Records
Tracks: 8

Sneeze are a great Boston, MA based band featuring former members of L'antietam and Genders. I was a huge fan of L'antietam, but haven't heard anything by Genders, so I have no idea what they sound like. With that aside, Sneeze sound nothing like L'antietam, so if you're expecting emotive screamo, you're out of luck. Sneeze play a great style of music that fuses elements of pop punk, grunge, garage rock and indie rock into a style of music that has fuzzed out guitars, great hooks and at times, gruff sounding vocals. People into 1994!, CSTVT, and Brain Worms will dig the vocals. I think the vocals work too and the band sort of reminds me of a poppier and less heavy version of Post Teens. The Eight songs on Grandma In The Trenches are short and leave you wanting more. Hopefully we'll hear more from Sneeze soon. Great stuff! Enjoy!

Sneeze on Bandcamp
Purchase

Sneeze-Grandma in the trenches 7" (2011)

Peace Be Still - 64 LP (2011)

Country: Canada
Genre: Posthardcore, Emo, Indie Rock
Label: Sometimes I Get Drunk Records
Tracks: 11

This came as a request by Poo, who runs the kick-ass blog Sometimes I Get Drunk At Night. Peace Be Still is an emo band hailing from Mississauga, Ontario. Their influences include Bear vs. Shark, The Casket Lottery, as well as modern contemporary bands such as Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, Native, Coping, and Laurtec. The music is angular, tense, melodic, and gives nods to late 90's/early 2000's "screamo" bands such as The Shivering and Life At These Speeds. 64 is Peace Be Still's debut LP. Great stuff. Give Poo some love and purchase some music. Great debut release by the label as well. I hope to see more by Peace Be Still soon. According to the blog, there's also an Adaje/Lizards Have Personalities split 7" in the works and Jet Set Sail's S/T Lp.

Peace Be Still On Bandcamp
Preorder
Peace Be Still-64 LP (2011)

(Label Request)

The Slow Death - Born Ugly Got Worse LP (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Pop-Punk, Garage Rock

Label: Kiss Of Death Records

Tracks: 12

The Slow Death are a Minneapolis, MN based band featuring members of The Soviettes, Pretty Boy Thorson & The Falling Sparrows, Dear Landlord, and a guest bass appearence by the Dillinger Four's Paddy Costello. The Slow Death play a great style of garage rock informed pop punk. Ugly Got Worse is the band's debut LP and contains 12 songs of great music that's inspired by gruff 90's inspired punk and indie rock. The Slow Death's influences include Cock Sparrer, Lemonheads, Crimpshrine, Replacements, and Jawbreaker. 12 songs with great hooks and just the right amount of somberness to keep thing varied. Great stuff, enjoy!

The Slow Death on Facebook

Purchase
The Slow Death-Born Ugly Got Worse Lp (2011)

No Sir - Holy Land 7" (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Hardcore/Punk

Label: Family Drugs

Tracks: 5

No Sir are a California based band featuring members of Sabertooth Zombie, Strike To Survive, and All Teeth. The band plays a great style of emotive hardcore and punk that's sure to please fans of All Teeth, Comadre, and Loma Prieta. Holy Land is the band's debut 7". Five tracks of noisey punk influenced music. Great stuff. Enjoy!

No Sir on Facebook

Purchase

No Sir-Holy Land 7" (2011)

Toasted Plastic - Ares Vallis (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Math Rock, Pop
Label: Double Double Whammy
Tracks: 6

Toasted Plastic, a math-rock influenced punk band, from Ridgewood, presents something completely different for me. I’ve gone to school with all three of them for years, and know them all personally. And while you may think me biased with that fact, I’m not. I don’t need to be to love this record. Over the past two years, it has been simply incredible to watch this band grow from a two-piece with a novelty song about Saturn, to a powerful, proficient, and brilliant punk band. And the fact that I know very well the perspective where all the six songs on this new EP come from make them all the more amazing to hear. Opener “So Much Time” is perhaps the band’s finest song yet. A brilliant opening riff powers the song’s opening section, in a remarkable display of the band’s punch. This album doesn’t sound like it was made by a band of teenagers, it sounds remarkably professional, while sacrificing none of the band’s intimacy and impact. Math-rock picking and blissful chord changes alternate in the song’s second bridge. As they have always done, the band switches tempos, tone, and key effortlessly, and with a smoothness that is simply awesome. All of the other five songs have these elements but use them all differently, and with other ideas mixed in. The songs are never dull, constantly changing, stopping and starting without warning. Verses burst suddenly into huge choruses only to fall into mellow instrumental sections. And this occasionally can all happen in about thirty seconds. The vocals are often screamed, but these screams are not out of place at all. They mirror the pace and emotions of the music they narrate. And the harmonies of the shouted vocals with the vocals that are sang are done beautifully and with great timing. All eighteen minutes of the music on this EP are packed, fast, and full of energy. But they are all efficient, melodic, and catchy to balance. There isn’t a weak track to find. -Two Dudes, Two Computers

Bandcamp
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Toasted Plastic - Ares Vallis (2011)

(band submission)

Angkor wat._.St(2011)

Country: Peru

Year: 2011

Genre: punk, hardcore, screamo

Label: DIY

Tracks: 4

Lenght: 9´

Y por fin acabo con la última banda que tenia pendiente para postear y compartir con todos vosotros, esta banda que como las otras dos solo una vuelta le he podido dar al disco, practican un screamo con mezcla de hardcore/punk.

Band request

Download/bandcamp

Tyrabbudide._.demo

Country: Netherlands

Year: 2011

Genre: punk, hardcore.

Label: DIY

Tracks: 3

Lenght: 7´

Solo una escuche le he podido dar a este disco que nos mandan de Amsterdam, pero este disco es para los amantes del hardcore punk en su estilo más clásico. Con una escucha poca más información os puedo dar, lo siento.

Band request

Blog

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Hermanastra._.tic galopante(2011)

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Genre: punk,rock.

Tracks: 7

Length: 13´

Label: Diy

Aqui os dejo este disco que nos llego hace varios días pero que por diferentes motivos hasta hoy no he podido ponerlo. Nos encontramos con una banda influenciada por los Mistfis, y por los Cramps (sobretodo) a parte de las otras muchsa influencias que tendrán, claro esta. Mucho más no puedo decir porque no pude darle muchas vueltas al disco, pero se las daré puesto que me dejo un buen sabor de boca.

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Best of Blogosphere. Week 41.

-#1. -#2. -#3.

-#4. -#5. -#6.

-#7. -#8.

Soziedad Alkoholika - S/T & Sesion #2 (1991 / 2009)

Country: Spain
Genre: Thrashcore, Punk, Hardcore, Metal.
Label: Overdrive, Roadrunner.
Tracks: 14 / 15
Lenght: 40' / 82

Well, this is my most personal post in the blog. Soziedad Alkoholika is a band from Basque Country, in their early years played a fast, furius agressive mixture thrash and punk, with really nice lyrics, punk actitude, that was I was searching in those times, bored with the fucked "punk patatero ibérico" spanish bands. Immediately they was one of my favorite bands in this times, more than ten years ago, and so were for years until my musical and personal perceptions of them changed. Two years ago, more than 18 after of the original recordings, they decide re-record these songs and some from their previus demo; "Intoxicación Etílica", with better and new resources; result: obviously better production, but but the essence of the songs is the same?. You decide.

Purchase
Soziedad Alkoholika - s/t (1991)
Soziedad Alkoholika - Sesion #2 (2009)
Some Videos

Arcs & Trauma-S/T EP (2011)

Country: United Kingdom

Genre: Math Rock/Indie Rock

Label: Self Released

Tracks: 5

Alright, so here's my last post for the week, so have a great holiday and see you back on Monday. I decided to post Arcs & Trauma because they're criminally underexposed and decided to give the band some coverage. Arcs & Trauma are a Hartlepool, UK based trio who play a great style of math rock tinged indie rock. The band's sound encompasses math rock played by bands such as Future Of The Left, Double Dagger, as well as indie rock played by bands such as Owls, Cap N' Jazz, and American Football. Overall, the five songs on the band's self titled EP are a definite must for fans of any of the above mentioned bands. I also included Arcs & Trauma's 2010 EP entitled Tennis Player To Dragon Slayer for you to check out as well. Great stuff. Enjoy!

Arcs & Trauma on Bandcamp

Arcs & Trauma on Facebook
///////////////////////
Arcs & Trauma-S/T EP (2011)
Arcs & Trauma-Tennis Player To Dragon Slayer EP (2010)

Jet Set Sail - S/T Lp (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Indie Rock, Emo

Label: Self Released

Tracks: 10

Jet Set Sail are a Philadelphia, PA based band who formed in 2008. They play a great throwback style of indie rock and emo influenced by bands such as Jets To Brazil, The Promise Ring, and Algernon Cadwallader. This is the band's debut LP and is definitely sure to impress fans of the music currently being released by Topshelf records and Run For Cover records. I also included the band's Magnet Mountain EP released in 2009. Great stuff! Enjoy!

Jet Set Sail on Facebook

Jet Set Sail on Bandcamp
////////////////////////
Jet Set Sail-S/T LP (2011)
Jet Set Sail-Magnet Mountain EP (2010)

Post Teens-S/T 7" (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Garage rock
Label: Sound Study Recordings
Tracks: 6

Now, here's another kick-ass release from Sound Study Recordings. Sound Study was also responsible for the release of the latest The Future Now-Hangman 7" as well as the Burning Love/Coliseum-Live split LP reviewed and posted on the blog as well. Post Teens are a Gainsville, Fla based band featuring members of Asshole Parade, Torche, Averkiou, and Dead Friends. This impressive line-up of musicians don't disappoint with their debut 7". Post Teens play a great style of music that's aggressive, blown out, fuzzed out, and catchy as hell.. The band tears through these six songs with reckless abandon in a manner that would have made Darby Crash proud. The best way for me to describe Post Teens music would be to picture garage punk bands such as Obits, Hot Snakes, Night Owls, and Marked Men mixed with the heaviness of Torche. A latecomer for sure and I'm starting to think I should have included this 7" in my year end best of lists. Great stuff. Highly recommended! Enjoy!

Post Teens on Facebook
Purchase

Post Teens-ST 7" (2011)

Criaturas - Oscuridad Eterna (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Hardcore, D-Beat.
Label: Trabuc
Tracks: 12
Lenght: 18

Criatura is composed by two members of Deskonocidos, the singer who officiates at the here and bass guitarist who is a true machine riff and solo is not just expect that good. The song we find the girlfriend of one of the two, I forget which, the voice remind me of some Spanish groups 80's with this little reverb effects, we immediately think in Ultimo Resorte, in 1000 times faster and aggressive. For the lyrics is super pessimistic and No Future, we still believe in Ultimo Resorte, I love this state of mind. It's worth dwelling on this demo and I hope that other productions will follow.

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//////////////////
Criaturas - Oscuridad Eterna (2011)
Criaturas - Arañas en el Corazón EP (2011)
Criaturas - Demo (2010)

Weak Teeth - What A Plague You Are LP (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Hardcore/Punk

Label: Tor Johnson/Flannel Gurl Records

Tracks: 11

Weak Teeth are a relatively new band from Providence, RI who first caught my attention with their self titled 7" released last year. Weak Teeth play a style of hardcore and punk that seamlessly blends modern sounding hardcore with a healthy nod to late 90's and early 2000's emotive hardcore. The end result is 11 songs in about 24 minutes. Weak Teeth is chaotic, melodic, and destructive all at once. At times, the band reminds me of modern bands such as Comadre, Olde Ghost, Birds In Row, and Loma Prieta. At other times the band makes me reminesce about late 90's and early 2000's bands such as Bullets In, Bread And Circuits, Books Lie, and The Fiction. What A Plague You Are is an amazing album. Highly recommended! Enjoy!

Weak Teeth on Facebook
Purchase
Weak Teeth - What A Plague You Are LP (2011)

Best Of 2011(7"/10"/12")

Ok, so here's the third and final post of my best of lists for 2011. This part really has no specific genre requirements and focuses on what I think are some of the best 7"s, 10"s, and 12"s that were released in 2011. Overall, I hope you enjoy the music that our blog covers and I'm looking forward to what 2012 has to offer. Keep reading, downloading, and keep supporting indie music, because without your support we'd be stuck with the top 40 mainstream crap that permeates the airwaves these days.

20. Caravels - S/T EP (2011)

*Purchase

19. Ferocious Fucking Teeth - Hounds (2011)

*Purchase

18. Surburbanite - Self Titled 7 inch (2011)

*Sold Out

17. Throat - Licked Inch Fur 12'' (2011)

*Purchase

16. Punch - Nothing_Lasts_E.P (2011)

*Purchase

15. Trash Talk - Awake EP (2011)

*Purchase

14. Broken Water - Peripheral Star (2011)

*Purchase

13.My Fictions - I Want Nothing-10"

*Purchase

12. Black God - 7" (2011)

*Purchase

11. Trainwreck - If There's Light, It Will Find You (ep) [2011]

*Purchase

10. V/A:Brutal Supremacy 2x 7 in. (2011)

*Purchase

9. Kidcrash - Naps 12 in. (2011)

*Purchase

8. Psychic Teens - TEEN (2011)

*Purchase #1 #2

7. Dead In The Dirt - Fear 7 in. (2011)

*Purchase

6. Griever - Inferior (2011)

*Purchase

5. Regents - ST 7 in. (2011)

*Purchase

4.Baptists - EP(2011)

*Purchase

3. Raw Nerve - Midnight - 2011

*Sold Out

2. Protestant - Stalemate-10 in. (2011)

*Purchase USA
*Purchase UK-parade of spectres

*Purchase Europe

1. Cloud Mouth - Keep Well 10 in.(2011)

*Purchase

Inoren Ero Ni - Fregoli LP (2011)

Country: Spain
Genre: Post Hardcore, Noise Rock, Punk.
Label: Bidehuts
Tracks: 6
Lenght: 20

Band founded in 2003 in Andoain. Mikel, Okene and Drake, the only components of BAP!, We decided to join in shaping local sketches have in mind. Soon they are joined by Borja and from the first test, the feelings are good. After recording the second album, Drake leaves his place to Mariano, and change hues. Inoren Ero Ni's songs are very complex structures worked, where each element plays a central role and where the sound is the needle in the compass. Music for elites demanding no concessions to the gallery, away from the masses and tides. Music for wolves.

MySpace
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Inoren Ero Ni - Fregoli LP (2011)
... more Inoren Eron Ni

Best Of 2011 (Indie Rock/Emo/Screamo)

Over the past several years anyone living in the U.S. has undoubtly seen those nauseating stick figure family stickers on the rear windows and bumpers of countless mini vans, SUVs, and station wagons. This is the funniest response I've ever seen as a response to those stickers. I know it's stupid, but stupid things like this crack me up. Just wanted to share. Well anyway, here's part two of my favorite indie rock, emo, and screamo albums from 2011. Enjoy and purchase some records dammit!

20. Lentic Waters Self-Titled LP

• Purchase

19. Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker (2011)

• Purchase

18. Prawn - You Can Just Leave It All LP (2011)

• Purchase

17. Canvas-Ashes LP (2011)

• Purchase

16. Into It. Over It - Proper (2011)

• Purchase

15. Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies (2011)

• Purchase

14. 12XU - Les Grandes Marees LP (2011)

• Purchase (Europe)


• Purchase (USA)

13. Fellow Project-Stable Life LP (2011)

• Purchase

12. Bridge And Tunnel - Rebuilding Year (2011)

• Purchase

11. Raein - Sulla Linea D'orizzonte Fra Questa Mita Equella Di Tutti Gli Altri LP (2011)

• Purchase

10. The Men-Leave Home LP (2011)

• Purchase

9. Young Widows-In And Out Of Youth And Lightness (2011)

1. Purchase

8. Shores - To Volsted LP (2011)

• Purchase

7. Balance and Composure - Separation (2011)

• Purchase

6. Title Fight-Shed (2011)

• Purchase

5. Young Adults - Black Hole LP (2011)

• Purchase

4. Small Brown Bike-Fell and Found (2011)

• Purchase

3. La Dispute - Wildlife LP (2011)

• Purchase

2. Pianos Become The Teeth - The Lack Long After LP (2011)

• Purchase

1. Pygmy Lush-Old Friends LP (2011)

• Purchase

Best of 2011 (Hardcore/Punk/Metal)

So here we are, at the end of another year. 2011 saw the release of so much incredible music that I had a really had a hard time compiling my year-end list. I had so much trouble that I essentially broke my year-end list down into three catagories. This post is the first of the three and includes my top twenty hardcore, punk, and metal albums of 2011. So here goes, for whatever it's worth (not much). Have a great holiday and happy New Year!

20. New Lows - Harvest Of The Carcass LP (2011)

• Purchase

19. Daniel Striped Tiger-No Difference (2011)

• Purchase (USA)


• Purchase (Europe)

18. Deafheaven - Roads To Judah LP(2011)

• Purchase

17. Former Thieves - The Language That We Speak (2011)

• Purchase

16. Seven Sisters Of Sleep - st (2011)

• Purchase

15. Integrity - Thee DestroyORR (2011)

• Purchase

14. Scapegoat - ST LP(2011)

• Purchase

13. Black Kites - Convulsions Split (2011)

• Purchase

12. Like Wolves - Like Wolves (2011)

• Purchase

11. Bacchus - Bacchus (2011)

• Purchase

10. Capsule - No Ghost (2011)

• Purchase

9. Ghostlimb - Infrastructure (2011)

• Purchase

8. Trap them - Darker handcraft (2011)

• Purchase

7. Harm's Way - Isolation (2011)

• Purchase

6. Defeater - Empty Days & Sleepless Nights (2011)

• Purchase

5. Condominium - Warm Home LP (2011)

• Purchase

4. Ampere-LikeShadows (2011)

• Purchase

3. Engineer-Crooked Voices Lp (2011)

• Purchase

2. Skin Like Iron - Arrival LP (2011)

• Purchase

1. Alpinist & Masakari - Split (2011)

• Purchase

Popstrangers - Happy Accidents EP (2010)

Country: New Zeland
Genre: Indie Rock, Grunge, Punk.
Label: Shoot The Freak
Tracks: 5
Lenght: 19'

Auckland trio Popstrangers burst onto the live circuit early in 2009, and with their truly unique celebration of grunge, punk, and noise music won punters over wherever they went. The band self-released an EP of their early hits in September of that year, with song after song sitting pretty on both the bNet and New Zealand Alt Radio Charts for weeks on end. Before long the group were in serious demand, and wound up playing with everyone from Peaches to Crocodiles not to mention invitations to appear at Rhythm & Vines and the Big Day Out.

Cut to now, and the band are more vital than ever before. With a tight new line-up that sees drummer Jimmy Mac joining bassist Adam Page and singer / guitarist Joel Flyger, the three are set and ready to release their sophomore E.P. “Happy Accidents”.

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Popstrangers - Happy Accidents EP (2010)

Badtrip Surfdeath - Badtrip Surfdeath (2011)

Country: Brazil
Genre: Grindcore, Hardcore, Instrumental.
Label: DIY
Tracks: 9
Lenght: 16'

BadTrip Surfdeath is a São Paulo based power trio, that since 2008 plays an instrumental straightfoward fast and heavy rock. Influences may depart from hardcore mood, throught grind blasts, black metal riffs with some psychedelic sauces.

Facebook
Bandcamp / Download

(band request)

Low Places-Spiritual Treatment LP (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore/Punk/Powerviolence
Label: A389 Recordings
Tracks: 9

Here's another post I forgot to put up and I'm now just getting around to doing this review. Low Places are a California based band who play a great style of music that fuses elements of hardcore, punk, and powerviolence into a whiplash inducing album's worth of music. The nine songs on Low Places debut LP blaze by in an instant and leave the listener feeling pummeled, beaten and bruised. Low Places gives nods to bands such as Iron Lung, Napalm Death, and possibly old Coalesce updated and made current. Fans of Low Threat Profile, Get Destroyed, and Dead Language need to give these guys a listen.

Low Places on Facebook
Purchase

Low Places-Spiritual Treatment LP (2011)
Low Places-S/T 7" (2010)
Low Places-Violent hunger EP

Matahari - Never The Same 7" (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Hardcore/Punk

Label: Get Young Records

Tracks: 4

I have been putting off doing this review and post because I was at a loss for words in describing Matahari's debut 7". After listening to this 7" for like the 6th time today, I think I finally have a good way to describe this amazing 7'". Matahari play a style of post hardcore influenced music with elements of metallic hardcore. The best way for me to describe these four songs is modern sounding bands such as Trap Them filtered through Give Up The Ghost, Quicksand, and possibly Defeater. Definitely hardcore by association, but Matahari definitely have a lot more going than your average hardcore band. Give these guys a listen and judge for yourself. Another great release by Boston, MA's Get Young records. Get Young are responsible for releasing the Heavy Breath-EP's Lp, Canvas-Ashes LP, among others. Enjoy! Highly recommended!

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Matahari-Never The Same 7" (2011)

30,000 Monkies - Womb Eater Wife Beater (2011)

Country: Belgium
Genre: Noise Rock, Stoner
Label: DIY
Tracks: 5
Lenght: 31'

30,000 Monkies, that’s a whole lot more than the twelve of Terry Gilliam. In fact we deal here with only four monkeys. But these four Belgian baboons from Monkey Hill create a lot of stoner sludgenoise that easily equals the craziness of Gilliams legendary movie. Thery took their name from a song of the math/noiserockers Lightning Bolt, but these alpha monkeys doesn’t play beta Music. They dip their bare baboon bottoms in the muddy sludge pool of Melvins, Jesus Lizard, Unsane, Harvey Milk and old Clutch, and wipe it off with the noise rock of early Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers and Big Black. No log rhythms on the frets or Einstein formulas on the drums, but filthy vibes, analogue riffs and gritty grooves. Preferably as loud as possible, whereby the guitarist looses himself in a psychedelic whirlwind. It has some similarities with the obscure noise-doomers Godstopper from Toronto, but it’s dirtier and better. Especially the long ‘Plumbing On Steroids’ is a fascinating and excruciating noise-o-rama. There are some (clean) vocals on this demo (in the second verse of ‘Loris’ Terrify Lab’ remarkably with the same twisted voice as the eyeballs from The Residents), but it’s clear that vocals isn’t a very important instrument for the band. No surprise the sparce vocals you hear, aren’t even done by the band, but by guest singer Jo Swenters. Twelve monkeys was a crazy movie, I’m curious how crazy Terry Gilliam will get if he experiences 30,000 Monkies. -Lords of Metal.

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Anne - Dream Punx LP (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Shoegaze, Indie Rock

Label: A389 Recordings

Tracks: 9

Wow, this is a first. A389 recordings putting a shoegaze/indie rock record out! Anne pay homage to the shoegaze/dreampop bands of the '90s like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, and Slowdive, and Catherine Wheel. Portland, Ore's Anne complete the package with dreamy vocals and reverb/delay-heavy guitars. This LP features new songs plus tracks from their highly sought-after self-released mixtapes. Killer album. Another highly recommended release by A389! Enjoy

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Anne-Dream Punx LP (2011)

Kim Phuc - Copsucker LP (2011)

Country: USA

Genre: Postpunk, noise rock

Label: Iron Lung Records

Tracks: 10

Damn, this is a killer debut lp by Pittsburg PA's Kim Phuc. Noisy, abrasive, and completely unhinged. Copsucker is the pinnacle sound of a band that has been crafting, honing and re-imagining the way punk music should be played, with so much raw atmosphere and energy that it will probably rip you apart. Be careful. We believe they are that good. For those unfamiliar with the KP sound, it lands somewhere near the idea of Warsaw era Joy Division on steroids with a distinct Pittsburgh edge. Fans of Slices, The Men, Obits, Hot Snakes, and Like Wolves definitely need to give this a listen. Highly Recommended! Enjoy!

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Kim Phuc-Copsucker LP (2011)
kim phuc - Weird Skies EP (2009)
Kim Phuc-Wormwood Star 7" (2008)
Kim Phuc-Demo

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Disco Las Palmeras! - Nihil Obstat (2011)

Country: Spain
Genre: Shoegaze, Indie Rock, Psychedelic, Noise.
Label: Matapadre
Tracks: 11
Lenght: 40'

In spring 2010 Disco Las Palmerass! started recording their first album, "Nihil Obstat" (Matapadre, 2011), but the album is not edited until the end of December and will be released in January 2011. Its title refers to the "official approval from the standpoint of a moral and doctrinal work that aspires to be published by a censor of the Catholic Church" (Wikipedia).

We are in "La Casa Cuartel" in flames, hypnotic drum thunders amid scenes of panic and visceral laden obscurities. The light emerges from the rubble in "A Los Indecisos"-one of the best cuts on the album, and "Del miedo a mis viajes" The melody in the service and the strength of noise.

Among blasting comes "Desde hoy perfecto" a statement of principles in which we leave sentences like "I'll never stop / I do believe that is what I'm doing" or "hear my voice / I know I'll have reason to from today. ". "No Lugares" is a small stateless anthem - "I hate this city nor the other ... Not belong here "- electric. The noise echoes classic come with "Estados emocionales (y vaticanos)", an approach certain to My Bloody Valentine. Slowed heartbeat for our enjoyment. We also find times for immediacy - "Me la jugasteis en China" - and apocalyptic sermons - "Los nuevos nihilistas" and "Cordón umbilical" -.

A great debut album from here to celebrate and does nothing to increase our faith in the Palm Drive!

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Disco Las Palmeras! - Nihil Obstat (2011)

Ocoai - The Electric Hand (2011)

Country: USA
Genre: Post Metal, Post Rock
Label: Missing Words Records
Tracks: 7
Lenght: 49'

Ocoai is a 5 piece instrumental band from East Tennessee, formed in the summer of 2006. They are signed to Missing Words Records in Southern California, and record at Fahrenheit Studios in Johnson City, TN. Their sound has been called everything from post rock & doom metal to Pink Floyd killing a dinosaur. Whatever the categories they've been put into, mainy they're a loud rock band that loves what they do & the bandmates they're doing it with. Having started as a 4 piece, losing an original member & gaining 2 new ones, Ocoai have a sound that has evolved over its six year life span.

Live, they incorporate guitars, drums, cello, & keys, while in the studio they've been known to include violin, synth, percussion, & many other noise making devices in their music. Whether performing in a club or creating in the studio, Ocoai is making music that they enjoy, regardless of the consequences or categorization.

They have a debut album, released in 2008, entitled Breatherman. In the early spring of 2010 they released a split with other bands from around their East Tennessee home. It is called Peacecreature, and has music from Panzer, Dormia, and Generation of Vipers. Their most recent album, The Electric Hand was released in the spring of 2011.

Hopefully listeners will gather joy from what they do & spread both the feelings they experience & the music that stirred those emotions. That is what Ocoai is all about.

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Ocoai - The Electric Hand (2011)
Ocoai - Breatherman (2008)

(band request)

Paperplanecrash._.TourCD(2011)

Country: Slovenia

Year: 2011

Genre: Emo, punk,crust.

Label: DIY

Tracks: 4

Lenght: 11´

We used to play in a crust band, toured Europe for several times but then realized that the whole scene was becoming a bit boring. Everybody was dressing in black, no one was standing out, no one was dancing… too serious we could say. On the other hand we are all crusties, we like the ideas behind the scene, so we decided to start Paper Plane Crash. New band, new songs, new genre, same lyrics, same ideas. So here it is: DISCO CRUST. Get drunk, get wasted, but stop fist banging and get your feet on the dance floor.

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