TEKKEN/ JAN AG split miniCd (Wee wee)
Aaah, again this cute mini-disc format. JAN AG, in case you hadn't guessed, is the singer from AGATHOCLES, playing some kind of industrial/ new wave/ noise mix with guttural vocals. TEKKEN still play their own style of goofy-grind full of covers and humour, with a couple noise/electronic elements here and there. All in all, I wouldn't invest 2000 dollars in such a record. david.weewee@laposte.net (Y.B.)

BIZARRE X/ IRRITATE "split live" Cd (Life on the edge)
Malaysian import. Nice looking professional packaging… but no lyric sheet was included ! :( I thought IRRITATE's music on their last split Cd was quite boring, slow and sludgy grind. This is still the case, but the live recording gives more power to the songs. BIZARRE X fit well together with IRRITATE, and they are much better too : fast grind/ thrash/ power violence from Germany. The sound quality is decent, this is an Ok split for extreme music fans, but I still cannot understand why the bands didn't go into the studio to record these songs properly ? dnc_collective@yahoo.com (Y.B.)

EKKAIA "manos que estrechan…" Cd (La idea)
Throw in a blender anything from REMAINS OF THE DAY, TRAGEDY, ANOMIE, SYSTRAL, to ENVY (etc). Emo-crust ? Ok, the style's pretty trendy these days, but EKKAIA still rips hard. Too bad the terrible screaming vocals spoil everything ! What's wrong with kids today ? They always whine and cry and complain, there's no more rage, no anger, no urgency, no hate ! It's all the more sad as the music really is awesome and the lyrics deal with social issues. ekkaiasucks@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

LANDSMINE SPRING "sip of wine" Cd (Day after)
Czech tight pop music with a few elements of post-Hc and noisy. I guess people will use the "emo-pop" label to sell this more easily. While the music is well done, I still believe it sucks. You'll probably hear it in the supermarket when you go shopping in a few years… http://www.dayafter.cz (Y.B.)

LARSEN IS ASYLUM cd-r comp (Apatride)
This is a French DIY/ homemade & homeburnt Cd-r comp put together by the people behind APATRIDE fanzine (see below). The layout's pretty bad but some work went into it, you get a full cover/poster and booklet to go with the Cd-r. Two music styles are represented : French typical punk-rock (with drum machines) and grind/noise. 10 bands, 20 tracks. I would say most bands are "shitty", but don't take themselves too seriously, and I guess the message matters more than the music. apatride@webmails.com (Y.B.)

APATRIDE #1 fanzine (in French)
Ha merde, j'ai encore mis des années pour chroniquer les zines que je reçois. Donc ; un zine français, c'est le numéro 1, restons indulgents, mais y'a pas de quoi pisque c'est pas mal du tout. Le layout est pas recherché mais ça reste bien lisible, le ton général est punk engagé, mais assez large d'esprit et rédigé par plusieurs rédacteurs, ça donne un plus. Une interview de NEOPHYTE, des FŒTUS PARTY, des chroniques (du punk-rock au grind), un roman-photo, des jeux, des comptes-rendus de concerts et des opinions. Les éditeurs sont jeunes et enthousiastes, parfois un poil naïfs et spontanés, nan franchement ça le fait. apatride@webmails.com (Y.B.)

SUNRISE "still walking with the fire" Cd-single (Youth culture)
You know, I love death/thrash metal, but I don't like metal bands trying to play Hardcore, or Hardcore bands trying to play metal. SUNRISE are a vegan-SxE outfit from Poland, trying to play death metal. I heard both of their Cds and saw them live once, and I was not too impressed. The video-track and the OUTSPOKEN cover-song were funny surprises indeed, but that's about it. Well, if you're into metal, try it, you may like it more than I did. http://www.youthculture.straightedge.pl/ (Y.B.)

WARRIOR KIDS "live 222" Cd (Acrude)
Sorry, I don't review or promote records released by ACRUDE/ SLUDGE/ STAND AS ONE/ THE CRAB SONG/ DOG DAY SUNRISE and so else. (Y.B.)

SPIN OUT + NOCIF + NEOPHYTE Rennes, 27/10/03, @ Mondo bizarro (show review)
Wow, I didn't think a French punk-rock show would draw so many people. The place was packed ! And the atmosphere was really friendly, that was quite a surprise. SPIN OUT are a new local band in the FAT WRECK style, they were pretty good especially considering this was one of their first shows. A record from them would probably bore me, but live, those melodic Hc bands are usually pretty fun. NOCIF, from Paris (not to be mixed with the 26346474 bands by the same name), were a decent surprise as well. They play pretty basic punk-Hc with basic and cynical political lyrics. I thought they were pretty good. NEOPHYTE, whom I had never heard before, were another great surprise. They play mid tempo "street punk" reminiscent of all those "chaos bands" from the 80's. The music's tight, the tunes and choruses stick to your head, the audience went really wild and there was lots of "singalong". 3 good bands. One great show. (Y.B.)

URBAN BLIGHT "it's (a)live!" Cd-r (Maloka)
This is a Cd-r with a professional cover, co-released by 4 French labels. I was surprised no lyric sheet was included ! I've never been a huge URBAN BLIGHT fan. The band is actually made of just one man, his guitar and a drum machine. It's a funny idea, and the overall result is quite decent, but once you get past the surprise effect, well, it's not awesome. Musically it sounds like a more powerful BERURIER NOIR, but the songs aren't groundbreaking. The lyrics are political. More than anything, the songs are recorded live, and while the sound is not bad at all, it is not perfect either. Mixed feelings about this one. maloka.distro@free.fr (Y.B.)

NEW WAVE #5 fanzine (in French)
Le retour de ce classique du fanzinat français, né au début des années 80 ! Une base bien punk-Hc, mais de l'intérêt pour toutes les tendances de l'underground (gothique, metal, rock…). NEW WAVE fourmille de news, articles, chroniques (disques, concerts, livres, cinéma). Il y a aussi une interview de ALTERNATIVE TV et surtout un historique du punk ; pour ce numéro, c'est l'année 1978 qui est épluchée. celiableue@netcourrier.com (Y.B.)

PUNX PICNIC #1 video compilation (Balaclavision)
Unfortunately for you foreign readers, this is mostly in French, so I'll review it in French. Bonne surprise que cette compilation sortie de nulle part ! Tout d'abord, il ne s'agit pas d'un simple cassette "faite maison', même si l'ensemble est 100% DIY. Que ce soit la pochette, le montage ou la copie, le tout est assez pro, c'est cool ! Il y a quatre groupes de présentés, et à chaque fois il y a deux chansons en live entrecoupées d'interviews. En tout, une heure de reportages avec ANTIBODY (punk-Hc, Bressuire), PCP (crust, Hollande), OPUS DEAD (thrashcore, Espagne) et l'Etincelle (lieu autogéré d'Angers). Classe ! balaclavision@free.fr (Y.B.)

FORCED TO DECAY Cd (Per koro)
German quite varied emo-Hc. A few heavy parts a la ACME. Typical PER KORO style and compulsory screaming vocals. Personal lyrics in German. Translation anyone? http://www.perkoro.de (Y.B.)

1000 TRAVELS OF JAWAHARLAL "owari wa konai" Cd (Day after)
Nice digipack from DAY AFTER rds. This Japanese band reminds me quite a bit of JAWBREAKER, MANIFESTO JUKEBOX or LEATHERFACE – mixed with emo. The music's really good, if you can get past those annoying screaming vocals and the personal/ uninteresting lyrics. http://www.dayafter.cz (Y.B.)

THE BLACK SEA mCd (Day after)
Jeez, DAY AFTER was such a good label 10 years ago. :( Nowadays all the bands he releases could be signed by EMI or Virgin. THE BLACK SEA play slow, melodic, atmospheric pop music. I think they're from the US. They're quite boring. http://www.dayafter.cz (Y.B.)

METAMORPHOSIS Cd
They're from Peru and guess what, their sound is really similar to that famous Peruvian pop-core band FUTURO INCIERTO, except METAMORPHOSIS are more energetic and also draw influences from old school hc. The slower songs sound like FUTURO INCIERTO, and the faster ones like 7 SECONDS, BBS PARANOICOS or ALCOORE. Very decent stuff, but they could use a little bit of originality. The lyrics aren't translated, they seem to deal with personal issues. morph_one@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

SIN DIOS "odio al imperio" Cd (La idea)
The first time I heard it I didn't like it, but this new album has grown on me. SIN DIOS is SIN DIOS. You like them or you hate them. It's like THE RAMONES, all their records sound the same. This 4th album has a couple fast-core/ thrashcore/ power-violence influences + guest vocals by Taina COJOBA and Eva MAKILADORAS. It's a good, fast Hc-punk record, and as always it comes with a huge and impressive booklet full of political ramblings. Talk about dedicated people ! I've always thought their lyrics were a bit simplistic, and that on all their 3 real albums they never managed to recreate the sound, the rage and the tunes of the first mini Lp. If you're not familiar with SIN DIOS, buy the "alerta antifascista" first ! http://www.sindios.net (Y.B.)

ONLY IF YOU CALL ME JONATHAN "red friend" Cd (Day after)
Pop music that could be (should be) in the charts and not on an independent label. Shitty band name and awful artwork. http://www.dayafter.cz (Y.B.)

NO REFLEXION LEFT demo Cd-r
Live they were funny, but the music sounded really basic, so I was positively surprised by this first demo. The sound quality is really good, the artwork is ok, and the musicianship is really decent too ! Honestly I enjoyed it quite a bit, and to top it all the lyrics are really interesting ! blacklung77@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

LOS CRUDOS "discografia" Cd (La idea)
Holy shit, 74 tracks in only 71 minutes ! This Cd compiles all the Eps, compilation tracks, split Lp by this influencial hispanic punk-Hardcore band. 74 tracks and not a bad one. 71 minutes of raging and desperate Hardcore. Did I mention there are also a couple unreleased songs ? I saw them live 3 times, they were awesome, and they were also very nice and dedicated people. I hadn't listened to any of their records for years, and to be honest, I think they sound a little bit outdated now. And I also think the cover artwork is pretty bad. But this is a classic you must own ! :) laidea@sindios.net (Y.B.)

IN PROGRESS demo cd-r
Geez, there are more and more good Hardcore bands in France these days. IN PROGRESS features a member of FTX, and they too play uptempo old school along the lines of INTENSITY, WITHIN REACH, 7 SECONDS or early GOOD CLEAN FUN. Those 5 tracks are really good, and there is even a cool live video added. The cover's funny, the sound quality is decent, but there is no lyric sheet included. Grrr… in-progress@wanadoo.fr (Y.B.)

GRAVITY SLAVES Cdr promo
This is just the Cd-r version of their album. No lyric sheet is included, only a biography of the band. GRAVITY SLAVES play tight and very varied music. The main influences are noisy and melodic Hc, I guess they also listen to (more traditional) Hardcore and emo. It's definitely "not my style", but I have to admit this is pretty well done ; they could become a big band. http://www.gravityslaves.com/ (Y.B.)

REPRISAL "mail order knife set" Cd (Good life)
234th generation (italian) New York Hc/ heavy metal with all the clichés of the genre. Oh, it's not bad, but it pretty much bores me. And how come such professional bands/ labels/ designers can come up with such incredibly ugly covers ? http://www.goodluferecordings.com (Y.B.)

RED SKY II "mpfw" Cd (Alveran)
Damn, back in the day, ALVERAN records put out a couple emo bands, mostly melodic or new school stuff. They sounded like nice people, and their own band, NYARI, put out a good deathcore ep. Then, for whatever reason, they started putting out metal records, stopped answering my mails, and ALVERAN became a real metal label. This Cd is bad. It has no relation to Hardcore at all. It's just powerful and varied metal from the Usa. http://www.alveranrecords.com (Y.B.)

THE DONTCARES "ugly… but well hung" Cd (Mass productions)
Damn, I had never heard punk'n'roll played this fast ! I think they play even faster than the NEW BOMB TURKS, maybe a little less garage. The artwork is ok, the sound is good, they might be well-hung but they didn't have the balls to include a lyric sheet. Is there anything they wanna hide ? :) This is a good album for all you rock'n'roll addicts. http://www.massprod.com (Y.B.)

TV MEN "electric eye on you" cd (Mass prod)
I didn't enjoy their previous Cd much, but this one's really good. TV MEN are from Rennes, France, and play tight punk-rock with strong rock'n'roll, garage, and melodic Hc roots. It's not the kind of music that I would listen to all day, but when it's well done, there is no problem ! http://www.massprod.com (Y.B.)

SEVERED HEAD OF STATE "anathema device" Cd (Hardcore holocaust)
There's some really good songs on this one, I think it's a good Cd, although it's not really my style. To be precise, I like this kind of music, but all american crust bands sound like this these days, it's so boring ! SEVERED HEAD OF STATE are just another TRAGEDY/ REMAINS OF THE DAY/ HIS HERO IS GONE clone. They do their thing really well, you get 14 tracks of really powerful, heavy and dark crust with nice melodies and cool, dark, pessimistic lyrics. The sound is excellent but I think the production sucks; it's too powerful for that kind of music. Oh well, if you like american music… http://www.hardcoreholocaust.com (Y.B.)

LA MERMA "saludo al tirano" Cd (Cochebomba rds)
I'm not too sure, this might be a compilation of best tracks taken from different records (?). Either ways, LA MERMA are a good and original punk-rock band from Mexico. They sound quite a bit like THE CLASH. The sound quality and the musicianship are good, the lyrics deal with social topics, I like the cover artwork… what else ? It's a good record. cochebomba@msn.com (Y.B.)

WE'RE GONNA FIGHT #5 fanzine (in English)
Wow, this french zine looks so much like THE INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT EDGE BULLETIN I used to write. Many people have written to me and asked about my zine, all I can say is : buy this one instead ! It's all cut'n'paste and the layout sucks but who cares, you get pages and pages full of ramblings, opinions, interviews, reviews, reports, whatever. All of this with a strong international focus, a nice SxE bent, and this issue features a lot of old school Hc bands : NEW WINDS, ALERTA GUERILLA, SECOND AGE, REGRES, NO TIME TO LOSE, etc etc. The people involved or interviewed in the zine are cool, and the editor is not afraid to call them on their shit, and tell his mind. w.g.f@free.fr (Y.B.)

KOBAYASHI "disko" Cassette (Cactus)
Damn, I distribute their spanish tape, which I thought was pretty good but not groundbreaking. And this one, I don't know what it is. Either a new album, or some early demos. I don't know. Either ways, it almost blew me away. KOBAYASHI are a German band that plays tight and powerful melodic Hc/punk with a few emo overtones. They remind me of JUGGLING JUGULARS, or a more powerful PETROGRAD. They even cover a TARGET OF DEMAND song, which is one of my all-time favourite bands ! The lyrics are ok, with the slight emo influences they have, I was expecting some boring poetical lyrics, but they're actually pretty direct and political, which is good. (ok, after checking out their website, it appears this is a cassette version of their 2002 Lp) http://www.cactusdistro.cjb.net (Y.B.)

INFEST "voice your opinion" Cassette (Ugly smokers)
This is a bootleg of the Cd-discography, released on a malaysian label. 75 tracks, classic Californian thrashcore with hateful lyrics. Ok sound quality. uglysmokecore@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

PLUTOCRACY cassette (Sangsara)
This is the cassette version of the Cd on 625. I've never been crazy about PLUTOCRACY, but you have to respect them for being one of the first grind/power violence bands ever. Their first demo was released in 1989, right when old school posicore was trendy, and only a couple years after NAPALM DEATH realeased their first Lp. PLUTOCRACY featured Max from SPAZZ/ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT on drums, and yes, they sounded a bit like SPAZZ gone grindcore. The sound is good, this cassette compiles one Ep, one Lp, one radio show and one demo (it's not a complete discography). The lyrics aren't provided unfortunately, but they must be cynical and political at the same time. I'm giving you 625's address, you can ask him about that malaysian label. http://625thrash.com/ (Y.B.)

KOBAYES "unité" Cd (Loko)
This is a nice surprise. I had never heard about this french band before, I have no idea what they're about or where they come from (Paris ?). They play tight and varied old school Hc with NyHc, ska and melodic Hc influences. They remind me of the KARGOL'S, but without the ska stuff. The lyrics are not included but from what I could understand they sounded pretty good. I believe this band is/will become one of those good/decent big bands (like the forementioned KARGOLS, SKUNK or, you know, stuff like RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, ie one foot in the underground and another up there in the star system. Haha). Wait and see. http://membres.lycos.fr/lokorecords/ (Y.B.)

CONTRA LA CONTRA demo
Pretty basic fast crust from Bielorussia. Dual vocals and slightly naïve but good political lyrics. The sound is good but the production is not really powerful, except on the one live track, too bad they didn't include a whole live set on the B-side. This was pretty good, it reminded me a bit of PARIAPUNK. I think they have an Lp out on SKULD RELEASES. contra@tut.by (Y.B.)

THE HILLSIDE STANGLERS "year of the locust" cd (Detroit noise)
They describe themselves as "Detroit noise punk", and yes, I have to admit this sounds fair. This band mixes noisy music (think : SUB POP records) with punk, which makes them sound like a heavy punk'n'roll band. I'm sure they will appeal to a lot of different music fans : sludge-core, noisy, punks, rockers… I liked the lyrics, they're mostly of a social nature. http://www.detroitnoise.com/ (Y.B.)

BROKEN HEARTS CLUB Cd-r (promo)
Ach, I hate receiving things like that. This is just a homeburnt cd-r with two stickers, no lyric sheet, no photos, no information, nothing. Grrr. It's all the more sad as those 5 songs made a good impression on me. B.H.C. are an american band, they play melodic punk/ Hc/ emo with definite Dischord influences (the late 80's/ early 90's Dischord, not the Minor threat stuff). There are some nice moments, and I enjoyed it because it sounded original. They remind me of that new french band AMIANTE, or, at times, LEATHERFACE (without the melodic Hc riffs). Wait and see. www.brokenheartsclub.tk (Y.B.)

RAW POWER "still screaming after 20 years" Cd (Mass productions)
Damn, they're back, despite the recent death of their original guitar player. I saw them live two times and I was disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised by this new album. Basically they still play the same kind of uptempo Hc/punk they're known for. I think the guitar lines are good, but the rhythm beat is much too slow ! It sounds like the drummer can't keep up to the guitar players. If the same songs were played faster, it would make up for a good album. As for the lyrics, they deal with the same topics as those on their recently reissued first Lp ("you're the victim"), but they're much longer ! Overall and to sum it up, I'm left with mixed feelings. http://www.massprod.com (Y.B.)

M.D.C., 14/07/03, Rennes, @ Mondo bizarro (show review)
Damn, so many small bands are always on the lookout for places to play, it's such a pity that M.D.C. were the only band that night. It's was super hot inside the pub and everyone was a bit tired, but the atmosphere was friendly. M.D.C., as always, played all their classics, all the incredible songs they wrote almost 30 years ago ! Damn ! The thing is, because of the heat (or so they told me) they played these songs super slow ! That was a disappointment. The punk-rock songs were good, but the fast Hc tunes at slow pace were.. were… slow ! Anyways, it was still a good show, and the band rocked. See ya again next year guys ! (Y.B.)

NARCOSIS Cd (self released)
Probably one of the first punk-rock bands from Peru (?). The recordings date back from 1985. The first 18 tracks are probably taken from a cassette, the sound is raw but very decent, and the same goes for the live tracks that follow. NARCOSIS used to play slow-paced punk-rock with political lyrics. I've never enjoyed slow punk much, but this Cd is for sure an interesting document. anarcosis@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

SITUACION HOSTIL/ KAOS GENERAL split Cd (Calambre discos)
Wow, two early Peruvian hc bands dusted off and reissued on one disc. I don't know if this is a complete discography, as there are only 10 tracks. KAOS GENERAL play basic uptempo punk. See the RAW POWER review below. They had strong punk roots, but the rhythm was faster, and the sound rawer. They remind me quite a lot of ATAQUE FRONTAL. Speaking of, after ATAQUE FRONTAL broke up, their drummer went on to form a new band with a couple metal freaks, and with a more crossover sound (it was trendy at that time). SITUACION HOSTIL's sound is totally "Hardcore", and since so many bands have played more powerful "metalcore" in the 90's, honestly, I found S.H.'s sound to be in fact very punk… which is for the better ! calambre_records_peru@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

RIEN A BRANLER feuille d'info (en français)
Une feuille A4 recto verso, pas de presentation, juste ras-la-gueule de news punk-rock ! http://panik.vi.chez.tiscali.fr/ (Y.B.)

RAW POWER "you are the victim" Cd (Soulforce)
This is a re-release of the first RAW POWER Lp, which I didn't know existed. To be honest, it sounds like it was only released as a demo, and is nowhere as good as the Lps they put out afterwards. But still, it is quite an interesting document as it explores the roots of Italian (and world) hardcore. These tracks remind me a lot of MDC's first Eps, you know, uptempo punk that is not really Hardcore but you can feel there's something that makes them different from traditional punk bands of that time. The lyrics are a bit basic, hateful and political. The cd is only 20 minute long but sells as a full-length, however there are Cd-rom bonuses (videos, interviews…). http://www.soulforce-records.com/ (Y.B.)

EVOLUCION BOGOTA HARDCORE compilation Cd (Direccion Positiva)
This is an incredible document of the current Colombian NyHc scene. First, the layout is awesome, the cd comes with a huge booklet full of information, and the bands all rip ! Honest. The sound is perfect and the 12 bands are incredible. They all play typical NyHc, some faster, some more metal, but all sound like they're coming straight outta New York 1992. Most sing socially aware lyrics. What more can I say ? If you're not allergic to that kind of music, do buy it. http://www.direccionpositiva.8m.com/ (Y.B.)

ENTREFUEGO "himnos de esperanza y frustracion" Cd (78 life)
This is a fine modern Hc band from Chile. They remind me quite a lot of OUTSPOKEN, only with a more modern, fuller sound. The production is good, the lyrics are in Spanish and the print is too small, but they seem to be of a political nature. Check it out. 78life@canbrasnet.com.br (Y.B.)

MARIA BLONDE Cd-R (Odette)
This was just a Cd-r with a photocopy of the cover plus an infosheet. MARIA BLONDE are a French intellectual pop band. They sound like all those bands on UNDERHILL, DAY AFTER, DEEP ELM or SANJAM. If that's your style, go for it. I saw them live once and I didn't like them, this Cd didn't change my mind. "Pour MARIA BLONDE comme pour leur public, la musique est une thérapie. Elle puise sa substance dans les sentiments paroxystiques qui vont de la mélancolie voire l'angoisse à la révolte ou la rage. Ce sont des écorchés vifs souvent mal dans leur peau mais qui se découvrent sans pudeur…" Bou hou hou… putain c'est beau. http://www.odetteprod.com/ (Y.B.)

S.F.C. "try harder" Cd (Dischirozzi)
I think this Cd I received is just a promo copy because there's no back-cover. S.F.C., which stands for SO FUCKING CONFUSED, play good and absolutely typical Italian hardcore : energetic melodic punk-Hc along the lines of FRAMMENTI, ATESTABASSA, D.D.I., AFFLUENTE and billions of others. If you're not familiar with Italian bands, think BURNING HEADS, STRIPPED BASTARDS or early PROPAGANDHI. The lyrics are pretty good and deal with rejecting society and not wanting to fit in. dischirozzi@libero.it (Y.B.)

JACK "promo Cd-r 2002" (Diy)
They've been around since 1996, but I had never heard of them. JACK hail from Hungary and consider themselves a hardcore-punk band. I agree, but musically they have really strong grind, crust and metallic influences ! This Cd-R was pretty good. I don't know if the songs were taken from their upcoming Cd (on a Japanese label). The lyrics deal with modern topics like war, the media, globalization. Keep an eye out for this band. http://jack.freeweb.hu/ (Y.B.)

ZSK "riot radio" Cd (Wolverine)
I like the band name, it reminds me of that awesome German band called ZSD. :) The promo sheet says "ZSK is your favourite skatepunk band". NO it is not, but it's not too bad either. When I saw the cover I thought to myself "urgh, oh please, not another NO FX clone". And indeed ZSK (from germany) play typical melodic Hc a la NO FX, LAG WAGON or ANTI FLAG. They do it well, although they're not original at all. The good thing about this band is they write quite political lyrics and even have a song about animal rights. That's cool. Young kids should appreciate. http://www.wolverine-records.de/ (Y.B.)

WALLRIDE/ S.A.M.E. split mCd (Agua)
This one was a pleasant surprise. WALLRIDE, who I thought were a melodic Hc band, sounded quite punk on this one. They reminded me a bit of Portugal's ALCOORE (gods !) or earlier BURNING HEADS maybe. Great powerful and melodic Hc/punk. Lyrics in Portuguese. S.A.M.E. seem to be an all female Hc band from Brazil, and they play melodic punk-Hc like DOMINATRIX, or maybe BODA. I have no idea when this split was recorded. nachos_br@yahoo.com.br (Y.B.)

NEVROTIC EXPLOSION + HAPPY KOLO + CALL JAH CREW + INNER TERRESTRIALS + FISHBONE, 27/06, Rennes, Salle de la cite (show review)
I missed most of the NEVROTIC EXPLOSION show as it started early. They sounded ok as usual, but I don't think their kind of music fits in such a big place. HAPPY KOLO were ok, nothing more. Some songs are good, some are average, on the whole I reproach their songs with being too basic. CALL JAH CREW play a mix of reggae, rap, raggamuffin', but I was disappointed. A couple songs were really good, but most were boring. A lot of people had come to see INNER TERRESTRIALS, and they sure didn't disappoint. Nice and tight reggae-punk as always. I am sad they didn't talk more between the songs, and I am also sure these guys could play better songs considering the good musicians that they are. Despite their commercial sound, FISHBONE were pretty good, and played some old classics I used to listen to 10 or 15 years ago ! These guys are awesome musicians and pretty fun to see live. All in all a great show with a cool atmosphere and a good turn up. (Y.B.)

SKUNK ALLSTARS "bleeding hearts and smiling faces" Cd (Wolverine)
I don't like the cover much. The label advertises this band as the next big thing in Germany, and indeed they play pretty trendy ska-punk. I like ska, I like reggae and I like punk, but I don't like it much when the three mix, and I found this band to be quite uninspired. Despite a good intro, the rest of the lyrics weren't too interesting either. If you're into HELLCAT type of bands, try it ? http://www.wolverine-records.de/ (Y.B.)

DISSECT "bare crust" Cd-R (demo)
They're from Finland and play raw dis-punk/ crust - Are you surprised ? I think this is their first demo ands it is not bad, it's still a bit basic but the music is good. They remind me of Portuguese or Brazilian bands. Actually, they sound a bit like FORCA MACABRA, only less metal and more punk-rock. If this really is a first demo, it's a very decent start. Let them evolve and find their own sound. http://www.dissectcrust.com (Y.B.)

THE X-IMPOSSIBLES "white knuckle ride" Cd (Cargo)
Us tight punk-rock with a strong rock'n'roll feel. Ok stuff, but I can't say I enjoy this kind of music much. No lyric sheet provided. http://www.cargomusic.com/ (Y.B.)

WHOREHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES "discography 1993-1998" Cd (Do not consume)
I didn't know this US band had put out so many ep's. This Cd gathers 21 tracks of anarcho-punk-hardcore with female vocals. Some of the songs are really good and remind me of DIRT, while on some others the "screeching" vocals are a bit too much to take (I think my brother used to say she sounded like a mouse that's being vivisected upon). Good stuff overall. http://www.donotconsume.8m.com/ (Y.B.)

MINOR THREAT "first demo tape" mCd (Dischord)
Hehe, I think DISCHORD took a few years to realize all the money they could make by reissuing all their earlier records… And now that these have seen the light of day again under the form of digital compact discs, they've dusted off a couple tapes for our listening pleasure. From what I understood, this was not really a demo, but rather the first recorded version of M.T.'s first Ep. For whatever reason MINOR THREAT didn't like it and went back to the studio one month later to re-record the same track and put out their first Ep. If you have the discography cd, this is kinda useless because it sounds exactly the same. Maybe the sound is a bit rawer, and the songs a bit slower, but that's about it. Diehard fans take note... http://www.dischord.com (Y.B.)

DISGUST "the horror of it all…" Cd (Crimes Against Humanity)
Well, I've never been a huge fan of this band, and actually I have never been a huge fan of dis-core bands in general. I like them very much, but the songs are soooo repetitive. And all of those "Dis" bands are such DISCHARGE rip-offs, I'd rather listen to the originals ! DISGUST play uptempo dis-core with a few metal riffs thrown in. No fucking lyric sheet was included, but with title tracks like "dust to dust", "raining bombs", "the nuclear threat", you can imagine how boring they must be. :) http://www.cahrecords.com/ (Y.B.)

5 CORNERS Cd (Kankah rds)
Pretty strong and well produced Russian metallic New York-Hardcore skinhead stuff. They sing in Russian, and get bonus points for that, but since the lyrics weren't translated… That's the kind of band that would fit well on BACK TA BASICS. www.music.da.ru (Y.B.)

TAKE NO HEROES Cd compilation (Boislève + 7 more)
Geez, I was really glad when this one got in. It took me over one year of hard work. In the meantime a couple bands had already split up, but it is always like that when you release compilations. A couple years ago I had heard some great demo tapes from far-off bands, and had built friendships with some of their members. So I asked a bunch of labels to help me release a compilation. It took us several months to find "the right bands", ask them to go to the studio and send us their masters and artwork. 8 international labels and 10 bands participated. All 10 bands play uptempo "old school" hardcore. Some sound a bit more metal, more melodic or more crusty, all have their own style but I guess they all fall in the "youth crew"/ "fast core" category. The sound quality is excellent, and I think all the songs rip. My favourite ones would be : POINTING FINGER (tight melodic portuguese old school a la G.B., Y.O.T. with intelligent lyrics), ONLY WAY OUT (raging polish old school) and NO VIOLENCE (brazilian aggressive fast-core with excellent political lyrics). Other bands featured : RAZLOG ZA (croatia), FEUD (Philippines), CRICKBAT (Spain), THE MUTINY (Usa), SINCERITY (Germany), CITA ATTIEKSME (Latvia) and SECOND COMBAT (Malaysia). The cd comes in a "digifile" packaging with a 24 page booklet printed on recycled paper. coinxxxcoin@yahoo.fr (Y.B. – reviewing his own records)

WARSPITE "gallery of the macabre" Cd (Crimes Against Humanity)
C.A.H. is really turning into a metal label, and this new release is here to prove it. Germany's WARSPITE play fast, tight and powerful death metal mixed with grindcore. I like the music quite a lot, I even wonder if there's not a couple black metal influences here and there. As always with metal bands, there is no lyric sheet provided, only extensive thanx lists and photos of long-haired freaks. http://www.cahrecords.com/ (Y.B.)

PUNK IS EVERYWHERE part one Cd compilation (Volxdroge)
Well this is a pretty nice comp with a strong international focus (hence the title). You got bands from Korea, Brazil, Italy, Slovenia, South Africa, etc. That's cool, and not one band is bad, although I like a bit less the melodic Hc bands (GUM, TOPLESS HELICOPTER LESSONS,…) and a bit more the Hc/punk ones (E.M.S., PSYCHOTERROR, JASON, …BEZ PANIKE are awesome too). My only complaint is there are no unreleased songs. http://www.volxdroge.de/ (Y.B.)

FRENCH CONNECTION #2 Cd-R compilation (Middle class)
This is an excellent way of discovering all the new French hc bands. There are plenty of them I had never heard ! 18 bands, 36 tracks in 70 minutes. The sound quality is good and I like the layout, but there is no lyric sheet provided. The styles range from melodic Hc to metal-core, old school Hc and emo-Hardcore, and honestly, all the bands sound good (in their own styles). My favourite ones were HATE FREE, IN PROGRESS, BY MY FISTS. It's cheap, buy it ! notimetolose@caramail.com (Y.B.)

BONEHOUSE "onward to mayhem" Cd (Earth AD)
Hey this is not bad at all. BONEHOUSE, from Germany, play powerful punk/ hardcore with a strong rock'n'roll beat and some metal riffs. They sure grew up listening to a lot of MOTORHEAD ! The lyrics are actually pretty good, very punk, and socially aware. Give it a try. http://www.bonehouse.de (Y.B.)

FILS DE CREVURE !!! feuille d'info #2, Mai 2003
Donc, c'est la feuille d'info qui remplace le zine CREVURE, et ça parle de Oï, de Oï, de Oï, et ha tiens, y'a un peu de Hc, ska, psycho ou punk par-ci par-la. Beaucoup de news (même sur Acrude), des chroniques, et deux interviews : DIRTY FLOÏ et CRI D'ALERTE. Plutôt bien, surtout que l'éditeur n'hésite pas à dire ce qu'il pense, même si ça ne plait pas à tout le monde ! skunkyboi@fr.st (Y.B.)

A.Y.F. Cd (78 life rds)
I think I know what A.Y.F. stands for, but I won't tell you. :) A.Y.F. hail from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and no, they don't play vegan metal although there are members of POINT OF NO RETURN in the band ! A.Y.F. are a kind of posicore band, they play good, tight and quite original melodic Hc, I think they remind me of DAG NASTY. It's sad the lyrics aren't translated into English. The vocals annoy me a little bit, but apart from this minor detail, this is a Cd I would recommend. 78life@hotmail.com (Y.B.)

CREEP DIVISION Cd (Indecision)
Well, I was expecting something better than that considering the band features Hc stars from GOOD RIDDANCE and SICK OF IT ALL (it's even written on the cover, duh). Musically and lyrically this is really average stuff and it didn't move me much. It looks like those guys got together, decided to have fun together or make quick money, and wrote a bunch of songs in 20 minutes. Next… http://www.indecisionrecords.com/ (Y.B.)

MUSTANG PROJECT + MY OWN LIES + WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, Angers, 12/03/06, @ l'Etincelle (show review)
We tried and get there in advance because we were afraid not to be able to get in (L'etincelle is a small place), so we were surprised to see so few people had turned up. What a shame. Only 50 or 60 people for a show with 3 bands including a pretty famous American one… tooh ! MUSTAND PROJECT, featuring members of CARLOS CREW and NO TIME TO LOSE, play goofy grindcore/thrashcore with some silly songs and some more serious ones. Lots of humour and good fast music made me like them. I didn't like the screaming vocals much, though. MY OWN LIES were ok ; they're from Germany and play power violence mixed with crustcore. Not enough melodies and catchy hooks for me, but still an ok band. I was very excited to see WHN live at last, but of course I was disappointed. I was tired, and the sound quality was terrible (couldn't hear the vocals). They were still pretty good, and they sure raged. (Y.B.)

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