Kids of the Black Hole Sun: House Boat Processing Complaints 7"

Just hot off the trails of releasing what many in the pop punk world consider to the be the best pop punk album of 2009, House Boat is at it again with a new 7 inch, ready to take asses and kick a couple of names.

Released on Traffic Street Records, House Boat picks up right where they left off; putting out catchy, irresistible tracks about life, girls, and everything else worth chattering about in 5 great tracks. Honestly, a little quite better than their previous LP. Great effort I might say. "The Self-aware Octopus" is one of the favorite tracks, displaying a fantastic usage of background vocals from Guitarist Zach, meshing perfectly well with Grath's vocals. Most fans will probably be disappointed in the fact that Mikey Erg doesn't sing too much in the band, except for a couple of lines in one song, but never fret, Mikey Erg appears in the first track "DC Showcase Presents: Inferiority Complex, Volume 420", with the group showcasing a bit of complexity in their sound.

Unaware of House Boat, here's a brief synopsis. Considered the super-group of pop punk bands due to members being in high regarded bands, such as The Ergs!, The Steinways, Dear Landlord, and Off with Their Heads. Already are receiving rave reviews following their debut LP, The Delaware Octopus.

I advise you to pick yourself up a copy. Traffic Street is still offering an exclusive package, which includes the 7 inch itself, a poster, pin,a sticker, and a download card for the Ipod generation. The rest of the package is pretty pointless in my opinion, but hey, it works. The band is also scheduling an appearance at this year's Insubordination Fest, featuring The Dopamines, The Queers, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Copyrights, and various others in Baltimore, Maryland so for those in that area, don't miss out.

House Boat Myspace

Traffic Street Records

Que Pasivos, Que Muertos: N.N Pasivos/Muertos 7"

This band is relatively new, at least in regards to Martin Sorrondeguy's music timeline. N.N. is a San Francisco Hardcore/Punk band, featuring members of Los Crudos, Limp Wrist, and Needles. Much like Los Crudos, the band displays harsh realities of life in their lyrics, all written in spanish, playing a relm of hardcore mashed in with a supple mix of Rock and Roll.

N.N formed way back in 2002, when the members finally got around to the idea of starting a band. As Martin puts in in their interview with Maximum Rock N'Roll in 2009, "We came into the band really slowly, but we were all like, "let's do this." We all understood where one another was coming from because we were all coming from a dark period. We all fit in that way."

Pasivos/Muertos 7" is their second to their credit, the first being a self-titled 7" that was released on Sorrondeguy's label Lengua Armada Records in 08'. This record sounds pretty catchy, despite genre labeling. A personal standout in my opinion is "Abrazos", a song explaining how we should come together, not in a sappy way I mind you but the idea of unity, despite the hardship. "Policia" is of course is dedicated to the police, exhibiting quite angry lyrics towards them. It's easy to quite get across, considering the first line in the song translates in English "you're useless". The record is a must have for a 4 song record; short, to the point, and manages to get the job done, or in this case, the damage done. Kudos to Martin and the crew, keep it coming.

As for attaining this record, I advise to check out your local record store. I managed to capture me a copy of this records from Reckless Records in Chicago, since I was informed by Martin himself he had no copies available. For those that live in Chicago, gracing the store with a visit would do wonders, but for those not in the Midwest, visit Reckless.com and you will thank me.

Reckless Records

Maximum RockNRoll

"I've done unspeakable things again"

Summer's coming around the corner, meaning that more shit is going to hit the fan. One example for my case; Mark McCoy's group Failures is hitting the city of Chicago, bringing them a flurry of bands either found too terrible for the softest ears,too underrated for the mainstream, way over hyped, or just misunderstood. Regardless, The madness begins.

Benefiting for Failures, I figured I would post a review on their most recent release in their catalog; Failures 7" released on Painkiller Records last year. I stumbled on this 7" just prior to a month after it was put out, a bit intrigued with the art cover. My ears haven't been the same since putting it on the record player, Where the fuck have I been? 4 songs all together, less than seven minutes, straight to your face hardcore that will leave you in the dust. Not bad McCoy, not bad at all. A favorite track in a particular is Dovetail, barely less than a minute and 30 seconds in good ole' hardcore fashion, whatever that may be.

Anyway, anyone unfamiliar with Failures is obviously unaware of Mark McCoy, founder of Youth Attack! records, and vocalist for power violence pioneers Charles Bronson and Das Oath, the latter being renowned in Hardcore history. Other than those two bands, members of Failures have also been in Cancer Kids, Orchid, Ampere, and Cut The Shit, Jesus what background history. I've heard from crazy rumors surrounding the guy, not to mention his artwork gets me a little queasy and unsavory but let's face it, the guy is one artist in his own realm and that is worth giving credit for.

So do yourselves some justice and tune into this band. As of late, Failures is hoping to record a new LP, and plan a short tour from NYC to the Midwest, culminating with an appearance at Dude Fest in Indiana. My advice; show up at these shows and witness Hardcore in it's purest.

Youth Attack! Records


Failures Blogspot


Painkiller Records

Dude Fest 2010

A Nod to Chevy and Norm...Ergs style!

It's been a long ass while since I wrote on here. Might as well make this thing memorable since I'm at it. Just this month, I bought myself a little 7 inch that is truly a keeper, at least in my opinion. I'm talking about The Ergs!/ The Measure (sa) split released on No Idea a while back.

For those unaware from the picture above, The split gives a nod to both former SNL members Chevy Chase and Norman McDonald, with each band having a cover of both comedians on the split. How? well, the split is actually two 7 inches. Yea, two, and both of them are a necessity.

First up, undoubtedly is The Ergs!. The following tracks come just after their breakup in 2008, during their recording of their supposed last EP That's it, Bye! Regardless, these just may be their most standout tracks yet. One EP has two originals "Dullards and Dreadful Prose" and "Encyclopedia Self-Destructica", with the second split contains tracks "Workage" and "I'll Thrash You When You Think of Me", a shorter version of "I'll Call You When You Think of Me". Just hearing these songs will bring back reminisces of the past, going back to when The Ergs! were still around.

The Measure (sa) has an Ergs! appeal as well, mainly due to Mikey Erg playing the drums for the band. Regardless though, The Measure (sa) is quite the crowd pleaser, playing in a more melodic direction than the Ergs. I'm more fond of vocalist Lauren Measure. Listeners will understand what I'm referring too hearing their takes on "Dullards and Dreadful Prose" and "Workage". The Measure (sa) also provide two originals on each split, aptly titled "Don't Fuck This Up" and "Get It Together", that will heavily go along with their repertoire. Both splits are a must for pop punk fans, looking to get a fix.

http://noidearecords.com/

When the walls come down...

Iain Burgess, the man most known in the punk community for producing the most well known bands in Chicago, has passed away today in his home in France, from pancreatic cancer. He is accredited for building the "Chicago sound", producing seminal albums from Big Black, Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Bhopal Splits, Ministry, and among others. He will truly be missed.

The picture above was actually from Burgess' website that he kept running, providing interesting takes in his studio, his pets, and more. I'd advise you check it out.


http://www.iainburgess.com/

Blood Visions

It has come to my attention that garage rocker Jay Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home today at around 3:30 this morning. He was only 29 years young.

It's truly a shocking, surprising, and utterly terrible to hear, considering he started so young and was garnering some well deserved attention that seemed to leave us with the impression that a legend was being made. I remember seeing him live at my first ever Riot Fest in 2008, and was pretty impressed by his stage presence that evening.

Let's just hope he's having fun with all the rest of the punks that have gone either way too soon or shouldn't have left at all. For now, the world seems a little more empty without. RIP and condolences to your beloved family.

You're Fucking Nailed......

I don't recall the last time I have ever been so shock and awed when it comes to great hardcore bands, especially now in these times where being hardcore has become a trend that popping up rather so quickly that I have almost came to a decision to actually stop giving newer bands a listen, thinking it was another commodity, an easier way to make a buck, cashing in, milking the sacred cow.


This was until I heard Holiday from Cult Ritual. I then started asking myself, where the fuck have I been this last year? The track was incredible, noisy, nerve hitting, raw, dangerous, everything I basically ever asked for. It was like Sonic Youth was getting raped by Drunkdriver, with Henry Rollins doing a vocal commentary on the whole action. I found my scenario was quite false, finding out they were instead musically compared to Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov, the first man to die in space, go figure. It was ridiculous. Considering that the year is coming to a close in about two weeks, it would be fitting to say that this is probably one the best LP's coming straight out of Hardcore, just one of the handful.


Their self titled masterpiece has two sides, the first side being the straight-ahead-hardcore-in-your-face and the second being a whole lot slower, yet deadlier, powerful, and striking.


The standout tracks vary from opinion, but in mine, the entirety of the second side stays comes up to mind. "Last Time" in particular, sounding experimental in the beginning, before delivering it's punishing blow to the listener. "Cancer Money" finishes the LP off, at 12 minutes, building up from beginning to end.


About a few weeks back was when I read that Cult Ritual was laid to rest, with little thoughts doing one final LP. It would be safer to just let it be.


http://cultmaternal.blogspot.com/


http://www.ihateyouthattack.com/store/