My Defense - "Delorean" EP Review (2012, Major Threat/WAKRecords)

My Defense is a Koln (Germany) based, melodic hardcore band in the vein of Good Riddance and other good stuff. This band is also kind of special in our homeland Greece, since the singer is a Greek dude living in Germany. I recently got their new CD handed to me via World's Appreciated Kitsch records, who co-released this record. So let's review it and see what's up!

Back in the early 2000s, My Defense seemed to be totally on their way to become a household name in the entire Euro hardcore punk scene. We're talking about awesome independent releases, featuring ex-members of notable hardcore bands, and shows with the biggest worldwide hardcore bands that toured through Koln. However, I hadn't heard so much about them over the last years, and it's definitely good to see them back on the map and still going for it. Or maybe I just had my attention somewhere else and didn't know the progress of this band...

This EP contains 8 songs lasting a brief 12 minutes. What we get  during those 12 mins is some fast, raging but also melodic hardcore that borders with punk rock. Like I mentioned earlier, Good Riddance is a solid influence, together with that whole late 90s fast melody-core sound. These guys know for sure how to write a catchy song, and also to layer their music with lots of melodic hardcore guitars and nice background gang vocals. I could to with a bit of a dirtier production for this style, and I would also prefer if the lyrics - for consistency reasons - were in one language (instead of three!).

So to sum things up, Delorean is a powerful hardcore punk record by a band with a strong background. I just think the only thing missing is a higher level of consitency and a more solid sense of identity. I am sure that this will come with their next release as these guys have both the collective experience and musical skill.

Lose the Life (Sweden, SXE Hardcore) Live in Athens!

Tonight, if you live in Athens and are looking for some brass knuckled hardcore action, you got a place to go. Lose the Life is a Swedish band that plays hateful straight edge hardcore, in the vein of what used to be called "Clevo-core" (short, heavy & fast, based on hardcore bands from Cleveland with a trademark heavy SXE orientation). Lose the Life will be accompanied by some very good local acts ranging from grind/fastcore to modern crust/dbeat. The show is brought to you by WAK, a label/promoter that has been constantly bringing good ol' underground HC to our country for a long number of years.

This show is also co-powered by Bamboo Vegan, a shop I happen to be a part of!

Positively Positive Hardcore Punk Fest #5

Positively Positive is a hardcore fest that has been taking place in the city of Athens every December  for a good 5 years now. It has become a staple part of the Greek hc/punk scene, with the kids eagerly waiting to kickstart the holidays with this pre-Xmas hardcore show. Furthermore, the organizers make sure to bring some of the hottest DIY acts of the day, and make our time spent in An Club's basement worth the ride.

This year, the promoter decided to push the fest towards a more melodic hc/ punk rock direction, with a couple of awesome European bands and a few good local acts. Make sure to check it out!

For more info, check http://wakhc.blogspot.com

Just a Reminder

So it's been sort of quiet here at TYS for a week or so, as I was crazy busy and also out of town with My Turn for a weekend show in Sofia (will report on that laters); but now we're back and I am personally hungry for more hardcore, and definitely ready for action.

This Wednesday we got the "Locals Only" show hosted by WAK, with a bunch of Greek bands playing covering the wider spectrum of hardcore and its musical divisions. So (starting from the way down), we'll warm up the crowd with My Turn , it will be our first ever show here in beloved hometown Athens. We're playing at 9 pm, so if you're coming then come early so you can check us out! We'll blast out our entire brand-new demo plus a couple of covers.

Next up we got Against All Odds, these guys play straight up old school (maybe a little Oi-influenced) hardcore. Hard stuff, no shit indeed. Next band on the bill is Eternal Hated, metalcore kids from Volos with an extra dose of talent and brand new ideas. Melody combined with youthful energy and fucking in your face metal. Finally, personal faves & heavy beatdown champs Eden Demise will groove your freakin head off with their stomping brutal hardcore. 

Yo yo yo so check it out, the show's gonna be a blast, lots of friends are coming, it should turn into a big party and if the turn out is good there will be a DJ set afterwards.

End of Summer - Fall's First Show!

Well... the summer holidays are pretty much over, and people are going back to work, or school, or both. But don't worry, because there are labels & people out there who are on point with awesome hardcore shows for ya, ready to cater the kids' need for brilliant hardcore music--supplying the energy boost that they need right now in these hectic times. World's Appreciated Kitsch (link) is starting the season off with this 'goodbye summer' show, which I hope you all will go to & enjoy:

I don't know a lot about Unrestrained, but I can tell you for sure that this is not the Portland, US Unrestrained band that plays militant straight edge hardcore. These guys playing on Saturday are also American, but they come from Vermont and play a more new age but still fast version of hardcore music (check 'em out here). The distortion is not on full effect and the beatdowns are replaced by discordant breaks, but it's all good. The rest of the bands are a very good selection of local hc/punk acts that will warm up things just fine. 

I personally will have to miss this show, as I am becoming a godfather (hardcore kids always take care of fam first if you ask me). But I am pretty sure that it will be a real blast, I'm  bummed to have to miss it.  I also know that people out there haven't seen a HC show for a long time and they need some action like we said above. I also hope that this will be the kick-start for a very active hardcore fall and winter, filled with shows, releases, parties, demos and all that DIY goodness that I know is out there!

More Noise - Kick Out The Jams Party #4

So if last night's show wasn't enough (it never is, is it?) and you got ome more energy to spare on hardcore/ punk, or if you 're not staying home watching the football, here's another party in the Kick Out The Jams series:

The guys will be playing their usual mix of hardcore and punk with some melodic party tunes and some harder stuff thrown in together. If you're up for good times...

Huge Post for Yall: Eternal Hated - 'Secrets' CD Review, Video and Interview!!!

I've  only seen Eternal Hated play onstage once, but is sure was enough to get hooked on these guys' energetic, youthful and chiller-than-most approach to modern metalcore. Yep--these guys play good music and leave the fake-ass attitude aside (the way it should be done!). In this special-edition interview post, you'll learn all about 'em.

So after checking Eternal Hated live and having heard some of their stuff on myspace, the next logical step was to go straight to the WAK merch stall and get their debut CD, Secrets. Well, this is proper metalcore, but not metalcore as you may imagine. These guys take the 'NWOAM' (New Wave of American Metalcore-ha!) of bands like As I Laying Dying and Evergreen Terrace and give it their own signature. So as you understand, they leave the beatdown thuggery aside and play some more technical stuff.

The sound is based on great and cleverly written riffs, which set the tone for fast tempos, metallic breakdowns and some clean vox. Clean vox? Yes, but properly done--not so much commercial sounding (like say, Bleeding Through and Eighteen Visions) but intelligent, maybe even progressive. 

Eternal Hated: extremely young, but with ballz :)

Eternal Hated also has a very good production on this first CD of theirs. It is as strong and clean as any American pro band out there, and for me this is a true achievement for the whole Greek scene which has a tradition in shit productions. A bit of extra money and time in the studio pays off big time in the end! After all, what's the use of having an ace drummer (like these guys do) when the fella can't be heard?

I also want to make an extra mention in relation to the singing. If I get it right, the clean vox discussed above are done by the guitar player, but all the harsh vox which also are the majority of the record are done by Chino. This guy is a totally different story; he gives the band the extra boost it needs to really stand out. His vocals are strong and extreme as fuck, while on the other hand his stage presence makes you think the kid was born to do this! It is important when a band has a real frontman, a guy who can mosh and sing and even crack a joke or speak with the crowd. 

So these guys are bringing it on, and I think that they have a great future in front of them because they're hard-working but they have fun while doing it. They got a small UK tour coming up and a great record to spread out. But why should I bore you with my rambling? These guys are speaking it out for themselves in the following video and in the short interview we did!

1. Tell us a few things about the recording. Where did you record and how long did it take? Did you enjoy the process?

We recorded at Fabric Studios in Larissa starting on July of 2009 and ending on September. During the recordings we had the best time ever with George from Fabric Studios. He’s a great guy and he made us feel very comfortable and we built a great friendship. It was the second time that we recorded, but the experience was unique recording a full-length album in such a cool studio.

2. Would you say your music is more influenced by hardcore or metal? What are your favourite bands?

We think it’s a «fair» mix of metal and hardcore. The good thing in Eternal Hated is that every person listens to different kinds of music and loves different bands, so everyone puts his own view in the music that we finally make. Our favourite bands we’d say are As I Lay Dying, Evergreen Terrace, Converge, Parkway Drive, and more. 


3. As young fellas in a band, what are the things that you've seen and disliked in the 'scene'? Are the older scene dudes positive towards you?

Well we’ve been around the ‘scene’ for about 3 years. We’ve seen good things and bad things. The thing is that kids in the scene don’t give the support that new bands need to be pushed forward, to make a next step. Also the bands don’t support each other very much as they see it like a huge competition, something that it clearly is not. We think that older dudes who grew up in the 90’s respect more the scene and are positive towards many bands whether they play metalcore, hardcore or whatever, and that’s the point, we are all in the same scene no matter the clothes or the hair. So move your asses and do something, support the scene by any way!

4. Tell us a few things about WAK, the label, and the upcoming mini-tour in the UK. Will you eat fish and chips and drink Carling or something?

WAK the label, hehe. Apostolis is a very cool guy who has been helping us since forever. We owe him a lot and it’s an honor for us to have our first album released by a Friend’s label. About the mini-tour in the UK, we’re still trying to get it done. We want to put 3-4 shows in London, Cambridge and around this area on early October. Maybe we’ll eat fish and chips and drink Carling or other traditional English beers, but for sure our bassist player won’t. He’s vegetarian and also straight edge,hehe.

5. How are people receiving 'Secrets' so far? Do you have any cool merch to accompany it? What are your future plans for Eternal Hated? 

Firstly, we’d like to say that we are very pleased with this record and with the positive feedback that we get from people about the album. We receive a lot of good and supportive words and comments from kids and we are very proud and thankful to know that there are people who listen to our album at home. We have a cool t-shirt which is almost sold out and 2 nice pins. And also in very cool prices too, hehe. Our future plans are to play as many shows as we can, get sweaty on stage, have the best times ever with friends at shows, make new friends, spread our music and message, get the UK mini-tour done and schedule maybe another tour in Europe during the 2011. Fotis, thanks a lot for the great opportunity that you give us with this interview. Support your local scene, bands ,fanzines and of course take your fucking shot!

I told you these guys bring the ruckus!

www.myspace.com/eternalhated

Kick Out The Jams Party-Tuesday 8 June 2010

If you follow the Greek hardcore scene even a little, then by now you're probably aware that World's Appreciated Kitsch and Athens Noise are two of the most hard-working labels out there. This summer,  these  fine two establishments are teaming up to bring you a series of hardcore/punk rock etc parties. It is a very good alternative to the lack of good live shows that has recently hit our premises (after such a productive winter/spring). The shit is happening this Tuesday @ Fox club:

So if you're going out on a Tuesday night, I can't think of anything better to suggest than check these guys out! Whether you're a drinker or an edge-man, it doesn't matter, cause these guys will be playing all kinds of stuff, from party anthems to SXE hardcore classics I'm sure! And if you're broke, it still don't matter--the entrance is free for yall :)

So go down there and party out! 

VITAMIN X - Live Saturday 24 April 2010

If there ever was a time that hardcore music was about FUN, there still is one band that holds true to this value. And of course that's no other than Holland's Vitamin X! The band owns an infamous status not only in the straight edge scene in which they wholesomely belong, but also in hardcore and punk in general. They stand out from the thousands of bands out there because they are one of the few who can keep it positive, carefree, true--any good word you could pin on hardcore music fits for Vitamin X. This Saturday, live in Athens motherfuckin city:

click on image to see full-size

World's Appreciated Kitsch, the well-known Greek hardcore label of similar insights and value with the above-mentioned band, is the one who sets up the show. In that way, you know it's all DIY and true, with a love for this music and not the $$$ or the fame.

So what should we expect to hear this Saturday on the music side? Well, nothing more than fast hardcore with a strong 80s flavor and many thrash elements! A few years back when fastcore and fast thrash were at the forefront of what was popular, Vit X were pioneering this particular sound. Throw in some crazy 70s hard rock influences and 'stoner' Black Sabbath riffage (just for the groove y'all) and you get the picture. 

With Vitamin X, the Greek supporting acts are: Slavebreed (grindcore/crust), Human Battle (UK82 punk), and personal favorites Faithreat (fast thrash-core).

p.s. Coming to think of it, maybe we should do a re-print of the 2006 Vitamin X from Take Your Shot fanzine #2... How about that!?

Keep It Real issue 9 out now!

So... after a short break (Easter holidays in Greece), we're back with some more newz from the the world of the Hardcore Underground. So, let's not waste any time! 

This time we're proud to present a fanzine from our very own Greek Hardcore scene. In fact, Keep It Real is a fanzine with quite a long history behind it, so it's nice to see it active after something like 2 years. This, issue 9, is the most professional effort I've seen so far by Keep It Real, with professional printing and quality paper. It's filled with interviews, record reviews and professional band shots from all over hardcore, but with a special love for the straight edge scene!

Brought to you by the WAK guys who do so many other stuff, Keep It Real *9 raises the standard for Greek fanzines, and that's not only hardcore & even music fanzines. All you arty fuckers out there doing zines better beware, because the Hardcore scene is coming at you with quality!

Keep It Real represents a positive attitude, but this time I can say the writer(s) are a bit more pissed off than usual, even venomous at times. Considering it's hardcore we're talking about, this could be a turn on for the reader! It's up to you to choose and you better pick this zine up so you can check out for yourself. 

p.s.: Personal favorite: the piece on Krishna-core. Keeping that positive and spiritual vibe!

Shai HULUD live show-Monday 22 March 2010

Yes! If I want to listen to some progressive hardcore with a strong christian/straight edge philosophy, then Shai Hulud is the band. To begin with, I totally dig the name. And they've been around for like 100 years and they've been evolving ever since. This is the intelligent side of hardcore, and don't say there isn't one. As much as we like to mosh and stage dive, we like to think and expand our musical horizons. So yeah... this Monday, let's all go watch the pioneers of progressive metalcore, Shai Hulud: a different hardcore show, outside the mosh and modern post-core standards!

The organizers of the show are once again World's Appreciated Kitsch. These guys are putting on one good show after the other. In addition, some exceptional Greek bands are supporting Shai Hulud. Tardive Dyskinesia will make our ears bleed again with their mathcore/technical death metal-core meets sludge, while Eternal Hated will make a live showcase of their new record (which I can't wait to buy and listen to). The show will open around 21.00 with Disco Queen, a new band in the chaotic metalcore department, with the coolest band name around. See y'all there!

World's Appreciated Kistch contact details:

mail: hxf_prodaxionz@yahoo.com 

blog: www.wakhc.blogspot.com 

myspace: www.myspace.com/keepitrealhc 

last fm: www.lastfm.com/user/wak2010 

twitter: www.twitter.com/wak2010 

Rise and Fall - Live 21st Feb 2010!

If you were thinking that it is about time for a good hardcore live show, well, here is your chance: Belgium's own Rise And Fall! Preceeding a spring time filled with hardcore shows (i.e. Shai Hulud, Madbal & Terror, Vitamin X, H2O...), this could be considered a bit of a training for what's about to follow. 

Rise & Fall is a band I've kind of watched since their first album, impressed as I was by their fucked up metallic hardcore a la Integrity. What's different these days is that the band has established its own sound, still owing a lot to Clevo-core, but surely off on their own track. It's just the bleak, post heavy  hardcore that you expect to find on a label like Deathwish. Europe but especially Belgium has a lineage of awesome hardcore bands that push the limits of their sound, so Rise & Fall should be a definite check for any musically progressing hardcore fan.

What's more is that a bunch of good Greek bands are supporting that very same live.  Starting from backwards: Endsight (ex-For What Is Worth & Volume 69) will set things up for Rise & Fall with their metallic riffage meets Tragedy approach. Before them, I Want You Dead from Patra will kick some ass (missed them last time so really looking forward to see them), and rookie hardcore punks Ruined Families will open the show around 21:00 (doors open at 20:30).

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And if all of the above is not enough for you, there will also be an  after-show party, right next door (Roi Mat club) for your convenience. I believe the djs there will rock in the expected hardcore-metal-punk way, that can follow a live show like this. The entrance is free. Awesomeness!

For more info on the concert contact  the organizers, World's Appreciated Kitsch here: www.wakhc.blogspot.com

Face Your Enemy - Steal the Crown CD Review

Damn!

is the first that springs to mind when you flip Face Your Enemy's new CD in your stereo. This is beatdown hardcore from Italy, with no sidetracks what-so-ever. From what I've seen, Europe has a tradition of heavier bands with an urban/gangsta/thug approach. This is the style that made hardcore popular in Europe back in the late 90s, with bands like Backfire! and Only Attitude Counts, so it's nice to see it has survived and is still played today!

I got this CD from World's Appreciated Kitsch, the Greek hardcore label and fanzine which, along with a few others, released Steal the Crown (nice title by the way). And as Greece also has a strong liking for brutal hardcore, I can easily see Face Your Enemy coming here in Athens and hit the stage sometime in the near future!

Musically, nothing is really new here, except for some really brutal vocals (of the death metal sort) and some ultra-slow parts that catch your attention. Of course there are no solos or melodic parts, but there are shoutalongs, lots of swearing and cool breaks instead. In general it's the exchange between fast and slow that these guys base their sound on, so you get the picture. The production could be a little better but it's OK (I've heard much much worse)!

So if it sounds like your thing, you should go ahead and check these guys out! I think 2010 will be a strong year for 'em!
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http://www.myspace.com/casertahxc (Face Your Enemy Myspace)
http://www.myspace.com/keepitrealhc (World's Appreciated Kitsch Myspace)

POSITIVELY POSITIVE HARDCORE FEST - 19th December 2009

Date: 19th Decempber 2009
Place: An Club (www.anclub.gr)
Price: 12 euros
Time: Doors open at 21:00, Show strarts at 21:30
Pre-Sale: No sir, just go straight at the door (or contact World's Appreciated Kitsch)
Organizer: World's Appreciated Kitsch (http://wakhc.blogspot.com)
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Bands: 
Taste The Floor - www.myspace.com/tastethefloor
Do Something Now - www.myspace.com/dosthnow
I Want You Dead - www.myspace.com/iwantyoudeadhc
Against All Odds - www.myspace.com/againstalloddsgr
Inhuman Poison - (no website) 
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One good thing about Christmas is the  increase of shows, as people have more free time to make it to the shows, as well as the fact that so many people travel back into Athens for the holidayz. You could say there is an influx of hardcore kids and punks, and what better chance can you have to get together, than a Hardcore show taking place in the very middle of the city, and undoubtedly its most classic Punk venue, the An Club.

So this is the 3rd continuous year  for Positively Positive Hardcore Fest (taking the name from a Good Clean Fun song) , which seems to grow into a bit of an institution over the years : a  DIY Hardcore mini-fest that takes place  around the Xmas period, kind of just before the year ends.This year is the most 'Greek' one so far, with  just one foreign band (Italy's Taste The Floor) and 4 Greek ones.

* Taste The Floor are headlining the fest with their blend of fast fast fast HCpunk in the vein of  Scholastic Death, Vitamin X and DS-13. An unusual band to book for Greek standards, as opposed to the more metalcore or melodycore choices promoters usually take. Nice one! Let's hear some fast thrash and chug some green tea before moshing!

* Do Something Now! is a relatively new band, but they're coming out strong as they contain members who are active in the scene for years, most notably Apostolis from WAK who also organizes this very fest. Their sound is a mix of hardcore/punk with some rock'n'roll elements.

* I Want You Dead from Patra will bring it with some dark and heavy Hardcore. Comparisons to Integrity and Terror have been drawn, so... it should be good! Looking forward to their show as they contain members from that amazing streetcore band, the Oilers, let alone a friend who I haven't seen in a long time.

* Against All Odds have been around for a good couple of years, playing a lot of live shows and delivering a solid brand of old school hardcore with a street-flavored touch. A down-to-basics Hardcore band, and that's the way it should be!

* Finally, brand-new band Inhuman Poison will make their first appearance ever on-stage. It would be nice to give them a round of applause as they'll be breaking the ice. They play a mix of different styles (Tragedy and Comeback Kid are mentioned together in the press release!), so it should be pretty interesting... Therefore go to the show early!

It's fucking cool to have small fests like these. It's a good time to get together and meet with friends old and new, have a few beers or just keep it clean and have a rocking good time moshing. We'll be reviewing a couple more shows that are coming down the line until the new year arrives, so bear with us..!