CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2018: RYKER'S - "FIRST BLOOD"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2018:

RYKER'S - "FIRST BLOOD" (1995)
(Running time: 16:40 minutes; 6 songs)
("Lost & Found Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(1.) "FIRST BLOOD"
(2.) "STRANGLEHOLD"
(3.) "SLOWLY"
(4.) "RICOCHET"
(5.) "WHAT WE ONCE SAID"
(6.) "TOGETHER" (YOUTH OF TODAY - cover + hidden bonus track)

And here it comes, oh yeahr, the final entry and article for this very year of 2018 in the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" series with the "DECEMBER 2018" edition, yes, and the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2018" is none other than the groundbreaking 1995 "FIRST BLOOD" EP of'n'by the RYKER'S released back then via the today (for what reasons ever may differ) Pretty legendary "LOST & FOUND RECORDS" and it was back then the third release of'n'by the RYKER'S following "PAYBACK TIME" (1994, "LOST & FOUND RECORDS") and "BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER" (1994, "LOST & FOUND RECORDS"), two (also) absolutely legendary and damn great and also personally to me very important albums that were followed up in 1995 by "FIRST BLOOD" and this very EP is definitely an all time classick for'n'to me and it is also still up to this very present day one of the if not even my personal-most-favorite-album that the RYKER'S have ever done and also like with so many and the most if not in fact sort of all albums in'n'of this very series there are also so incredible many fantastic memories linked to this album and that certain time period back then so that it also definitely owns and has a huge emotional meaning to me, definitely, but also all this 'personal blah-blah' aside the RYKER'S' "FIRST BLOOD" EP is nothing but and nothing less than a damn great album and personally to'n'for me also one of the defining moments of European Hardcore in the mid 1990's and it was and still is and surely will sort of forever remain a fantastic EP and this from start to finish, yes, and it was re-released (on vinyl) for all the right and more than well justified reasons some time ago. Back then the RYKER'S played it all far more raw and angrier and more in a direct Hardcore Punk way and with only slightly Metallic Hardcore notes and only very, very, very slighty Streetpunk marks mixed into their crushing massively by New York Hardcore inspired devastating and raging Euro Core especially comapred to later and also their present sound'n'style. Btw, I don't want to repeat myself all too often ever and again and so just short here'n'now the RYKER'S were back then in the 1990's one of the very most important and succesful Hardcore bands in central europe establishing the greatness that shall become known further on as Euro Core and together with bands like BRIGHTSIDE, BACKFIRE!, DEVIATE, HARD RESISTANCE, ONLY ATTITUDE COUNTS, RIGHT DIRECTION, and so on they formed the spearhead of it back then, yes, and this for nothing but the most highly deserved'n'justified reasons. And like all the mentioned bands here also the RYKER'S, yes, as far as their was and is sort of a 'common ground' to all this bands on which they were born and bred anyhow all this bands had a decent and own tone and their own style, yeahr, and so also the RYKER'S. Hm, and maybe especially here on and with "FIRST BLOOD" sort of the very most. (At least so in my book, or so to say.) The foundation was heavy and harsh New York Hardcore somewhere between the CRO-MAGS, BIOHAZARD, and AGNOSTIC FRONT with a damn sinister and highly intense approach to it all that always reminded and still reminds me 'atmospheric-wise' of/at CARNIVORE. To this they added some few healthy doses of SLAPSHOT and old tyme Straight xxx Edge Hardcore a la YOUTH OF TODAY and a harsh direct and compact evil sawing Hardcore Punk identity and a grim and nasty, an ugly and proud and angry bastard was born and raised and finally named "FIRST BLOOD", an early milestone delivered by the almighty RYKER'S. A huge own identity the RYKER'S showed already back then especially thanks to that damn harsh and sharp slashing guitar tone, the incredible massive beating bass, and Kid D's very characteristic and accentuated lead vokillz. And also the drumming showed a very decent and own fast raging playing-technique to it all. Intense and compact, heavy and mad'n'evil raging, to the point played and written and yet massively tension-building, rousing and just overwhelming devastating and battle-scarred/militant songs full of huge dynamics and filled to the burtsing levels with energy non stopp and still today so incredible fresh and alive/lively, great and relevant as back then 23 years ago, yes, and all 'explodingly' hammered out by sawing guitar playing, crushing bass work, smashing drumming, and pissed-off angry into the mic and through it out in(to) the world spitted vokillz with some harsh backings and all done in a totally unique and own way, yes, that's what we got and that's what we still get from the RYKER'S' "FIRST BLOOD", hell yeahr, and all is crowned by a fantastic YOT cover and a hidden atomizing grinding bonus track. Add angry and outspoken and nicely diverse lyrics, a damn sinister artwork, and a 'perfectly to it all matching' raw and hammering production-sound and you (will) see that and why the RYKER'S delivered back then in 1995 with "FIRST BLOOD" an outstanding and still today totally amazing and stand-alone album that any fan of raw sawing, heavy crushing, and harsh roaring, highly intense, militant and dark, and onwards storming Hardcore (Punk) definitely should know and own and I hope that with this little article here'n'now I maybe brought a new gem to your attention that you before haven't had on your radar screen or that I managed to point your attention finally again to this purest platinum masterpiece. I would really hope so. I simply and really love this little great album and it means so damn fucking much to me and so only thanks to the RYKER'S for their "FIRST BLOOD" EP and to do this little tribute to it was a huge pleasure and a great honour for/to me. And, btw, the RYKER'S are still damn active and also today you definitely should still check them out and follow them. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

https://de-de.facebook.com/rykershardcore (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

RYKER'S - "FIRST BLOOD" (1995, the complete'n'full album)

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2018: BACKFIRE! - "STILL DEDICATED"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH . NOVEMBER 2018:

BACKFIRE! - "STILL DEDICATED" (2000)
(Running time: 28:56 minutes; 12 songs)
("I Scream Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "WAITING FOR MY TIME"
(02.) "TRAPPED IN THE MAZE"
(03.) "DON'T STAY"
(04.) "THE WAY I LIVE"
(05.) "I REMEMBER"
(06.) "FREEDOM"
(07.) "THERE'S A DIFFERENCE"
(08.) "DON'T WANNA DIE YOUNG"
(09.) "NO TURNING BACK"
(10.) "BURIED IN THE FIELDS"
(11.) "LEAVE IT BEHIND"
(12.) "STILL DEDICATED"

God damn it, hey guys and it's sort of like an old story happened again and this is the old story of me nearly forgetting the current "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article up here and this time it nearly had been the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2018" edition-article, oh boy, busy month(s) but anyhow'n'anyway because better late than never or so to say and so here'n'now we finally go one more time for the next round and so to say the next dose. For the very month of November 2018 I've picked a(nother) very special (also on a very personal level) and still today damn fucking great and relevant album and like so often this year with articles in'n'of this very posting-series also this time it will be all about nothing else and especially nothing less than the almighty (old tyme) Hardcore and here'n'now it will be and in fact it is all about the immortal BACKFIRE! and their absolute masterpiece from out of the year 2000 titled "STILL DEDICATED" released back then via the legendary "I SCREAM RECORDS", oh hell yeahr, a more than 'just' worthy entry in'n'of the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" series up here, yes, and so finally and definitely here we go again.

BACKFIRE! were born and bred and still roar strong and loud from out of the dutch city of Maastricht and they were founded way back then in the spring of the old'n'gold year of 1994 by the four friends of Pat (vokillz), Wyb (guitar), Frank (bass) and Richard (drums) who all shared a huge passion for Hardcore. Pretty soon after being founded'n'formed as BACKFIRE! the four released their first demo "THE LAST TIME" and already with that very early piece they started to made themselves a name and left an impact and so they managed to get a record deal with the infamous "LOST & FOUND RECORDS" from Germany which back then released a lot of great bands and albums but anyhow anyway sort of always since then has a (very) poor and (pretty) bad reputation judging by quite a bunch of a lot interviews I've read back then and/or over the years. In 1995 they then released via "LOST & FOUND RECORDS" their debut EP "WHO TOLD YOU LIFE IS EASY?" and they toured together with the likes of MADBALL, 25 TA LIFE, and the almighty WARZONE. Yes, and the mentioned bands are also pretty good cornerstones if we talk about the influences of BACKFIRE!, yes, but this we will do in the next chapter of this article so just wait a little bit longer. Roughly'n'shortly a half year after "WHO TOLD YOU LIFE IS EASY?" saw the light of day BACKFIRE! released their proper full length debut "REBEL 4 LIFE" and this used to hit the Hardcore scene like a bomb and also legends like WARZONE were totally conquered by it and took them on their european tour and BACKFIRE! totally lived up to the high expectations and even 'out-matched' them (and this also pretty massively) and they really started strongly and massively to build up momentum and to make a name for themselves. After their tour with WARZONE then BACKFIRE! left "LOST & FOUND RECORDS" and got a new deal with "KINGFISHER RECORDS" where then in 1997 their follow-up album "ALL BETS ARE OFF" was released. With this album and their following touring activities together with the stand-alone DEVIATE they only build up their momentum more and more, yes, and this for nothing but damn well justified reasons. BACKFIRE! were one of if not maybe even the biggest and brightest shining star on the European Hardcore horizon at that time. After their touring activities to promote'n'support "ALL BETS ARE OFF" the band decided to take a little break to 'refresh' themselves a bit and some members focussed on side-projects or helped other bands on their tours and so. And all was looking fine if not very fine back then, yes, at least 'for all the world to see' or so to say. But this all changed at the 20th of March of 1999 when Richard tragically died by commiting suicide and the rest of the guys in BACKFIRE! thought about also carrying the band to its grave. Ultimately they decided to carry on and so with the former HOMETHRUST drummer Igor on the drums in the year 2000 they released their third-full-length-album "STILL DEDICATED" via "I SCREAM RECORDS" and they released it as a dedication to Richard. And this very album, "STILL DEDICATED", is not only my absolute and total personal-all-time-favorite-album of/by BACKFIRE!, but it is also here'n'now our very "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2018" album. To promote'n'support "STILL DEDICATED" BACKFIRE! toured heavily and this also again with for example MADBALL. In 2003 then BACKFIRE! released their EP "THE WAR STARTS HERE" which was followed by their phenomenal albums "CHANGE THE GAME" (2003, "I SCREAM RECORDS") and "IN HARM'S WAY" (2008, "GSR MUSIC"), added a second guitarist but for all what I know sticked 'else-wise' together as on "STILL DEDICATED", yes, and if I now recall it correct then they were for a time 'un-active' but since a few years or so to say they are still going strong with playing live and releasing new albums also still today, yes, and only thanks for that to the band. And after this brief BACKFIRE! history now in the next and final chapter of this article we will have a closer look on "STILL DEDICATED" in all its glory itself.

BACKFIRE! were one of the strong(est) going European Hardcore and/or Euro Core bands back then and they were out at the very front of establishing a damn great, vital, active, strong going, heavy blasting, and well reputated Hardcore scene of'n'in central europe together with formidable and legendary great bands like HARD RESISTANCE, DEVIATE, RIGHT DIRECTION, ONLY ATTITUDE COUNTS, BRIGHTSIDE and/or the RYKER'S (to name just a few) they created something new back then and something damn great with an impact up to this present day. The cornerstones of BACKFIRE!'s sound'n'style were heavily influenced by New York Hardcore and especially legends like WARZONE, MADBALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT, SICK OF IT ALL, and also 25 TA LIFE, hell yeahr, and all was'n'is massively and heavily enriched by a huge dose of slightly 'crusty' Hardcore Punk and a healthy dose of thrashing metallic heavyness and a huge and pretty independently by them done'n'arranged hymnal sing-a-long-fueled anthemic character to the songs and also with a pretty to very sinister and militant/battle-scarred atmosphere and tone to it all and all done in their very own unique way, having sounded and still just sounding only and always like BACKFIRE! themselves and like no one else or less, yes, with BACKFIRE! always having had and still have a very decent, own, strong, and unique identity of their very own. Hell yeahr, and on "STILL DEDICATED" maybe even stronger than ever (before). Devastatingly heavy and without any mercy or regrets everything and everyone down into the ground crushing guitars, sharp and harsh roaring lead vokillz backed up by loud'n'proud widescreen backings and strong guest singers, and a nails spitting and bodies grinding heavy thundering rhythm section deliver highly grapping and rousing, compact to the and on point played and written highly intense killing songs with a tight and dense atmospheric approach to it all on a highly skilled damn great and strong level of quality and this in general as well as in particular here on "STILL DEDICATED", oh yeahr, melting raging speed, down-breaking grooves, and hymnal sing-a-long-parts into one hell of an intense burning'n'raging inferno that was back then THE total hitter and that's still today THE total hitter and as strong, as great, as unique, as conquering, and as relevant as back then in 2000. Add to this very strong lyrics, a great'n'stylish Hardcore artwork, and a smashing'n'crushing production sound, yes, and you see why and that this here was and is the complete package and nothing but and nothing less than the ultimate real deal. If you are too young to know BACKFIRE!'s "STILL DEDICATED" from back then or if it back then went why the bloody hell ever then under your radar or if you somehow sort of forgot about it since back then in the last 18 years then trust me when I say that you should make sure to finally know BACKFIRE!'s "STILL DEDICATED" with getting your hands on it and finally discovering it or make sure to finally re-discover it again, yeah', because it's all "still dedicated to my music and family, still dediacted because it means so much to me". BACKFIRE!'s "STILL DEDICATED", yes, a definition of a timeless amd ageless true and real larger than life masterpiece and you should definitely know and own it. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

BACKFIRE! - "STILL DEDICATED" (2000, "STILL DEDICATED")

https://www.facebook.com/Backfire.Mtown (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

SICK OF IT ALL - "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" (2018)

SICK OF IT ALL - "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON"
(Running time: 33:04 minutes; 17 songs)
("Century Media Records"; 2018; CD):

Hell yeahr, trust your eyes because here's now alreaday the next round fired at you and this time in the here'n'now it will be and it is all about the brandnew SICK OF IT ALL longplayer titled "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" released still sort of very recently at the 2nd of November of 2018 via the veterans of and at "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS". If you know and read this blog now for already a bit longer or if you would (or in fact do) know me personally then you would or should know that SICK OF IT ALL are one of my top five bands ever and personally to/for me one of the very most important bands of all time ever and so the passed sort of four years or so that passed us by leading up to "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" had been sort of pretty long years - but pretty long years that are now finally over. And so, yes, I was truly incredible curious when SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" finally hit the shelves and dropped and thanks to preordering I received it right at the day it was finally released. And, yes, I know… don't ask me why it again took me nearly two months to finally get this review done and out to/for you… anyhow anyway, I guess… So, yes, it's 2018 and SICK OF IT ALL are finally back with "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" (and they are back with a bang) and so without any more introducing ramblings now finally let's go: 17 songs in roughly 33 minutes running time, yes, and so one thing should be clear and this is that right from the get-go we will be or better are in for a fiery, wild, and furious ride here with SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON". And so, oh hell yeahr, expect some amazing and outstanding New York Hardcore of the most supreme and unique kind done and delivered by this finest and almighty NYHC silverbacks that's just still after sort of 32 years of being around still is so incredible fresh and so unbelievable alive'n'lively that any new'n'young band outta there should shy away when confronted with this already immortal masterpiece, yes, and especially when we talk about Hardcore in 2018 things have changed a bit in my book which means that as fantastic as SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" and WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" definitely are from sort of now on both bands and albums share the 2nd spot with SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" turning into my Hardcore album of, in, and for 2018. Here we get the absolutely real deal in form of amazing and fantastic highly energetic and highly dynamic as well as also damn diverse and multi-facetted/multi-layered songwriting that's offering a good healthy bunch of twists'n'turns and some fresh new notes'n'tones here and there and serving some good doses of cool surprising moves and parts, a damn huge and very fresh arranged and done sing a long hymnal potential, and adding several culminating moods all together (in)to nothing but and nothing less than absolutely amazing, exciting, grapping, rousing, conquering and just sheer amazing larger than life anthems of that totally unique own special SICK OF IT ALL tone and that's one more time so incredible strong present and marking here on and with "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" and (at least so my perception) above all it's incredible fresh and diverse on here and this (even) more than the last times SICK OF IT ALL were around before. The ingredients out of raging (New York) Hardcore, some Metallic Hardcore notes, and a big bunch of Punkrock, Streetpunk and Oi! with added huge doses of hymnal melody lines and sing a longs in(to) it all, yes, this ingredients are all here and stayed the same (and why shouldn't they) but are done and arranged, composed, and structured damn fresh and sort of in a 'new' way and are unbelievable grapping, exciting, rousing, and energizing and this all will make sure that SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" will massively conquer you with supreme overwhelming force and will push you on and through everything and this also for hell a lot of some time for sure. Yes, this is Hardcore!!! All is served to us via one of if not the most charismatic and unique lead singing voice(s) especially in Hardcore outta there with Lou Koller delivering his absolutely almighty vokillz like only he can do it; via everything down smashing guitar-work delivered by Pete Koller shining with full force riffing and devastating rhythm work and adding great cool into the crushing riffing integrated great melody lines to it all and keeping it exciting with a huge bunch of great smooth flowing changes in the rhythmic arrangements and the pace structures of the songs and adding a lot of dynamic(s) to it all with doing so; via a loud'n'proud roaring and strutting and nicely present bass playing delivered by Craig "Ahead" Setari; and via powerful full force punching and smashing and not only incredible heavy but also damn smooth delivered crushing drumming by Armand Majidi; and a bunch of very strong guest singers join in as well as a damn huge sing a long fueled hymnal character is added to it all. This all makes an album that's from start to finish nothing but an all killers and no fillers album and so to name here any listening tipps maybe isn't making that much sense after all at the end of the day but if you really want or deman some then I would say my personal favorites so far or right now are probably "INNER VISION", "THAT CRAZY WHITE BOY SHIT", "BULL'S ANTHEM", "ROBERT MOSES WAS A RACIST", "SELF IMPORTANT SHITHEAD", "TO THE WOLVES", "ALWAYS WITH US", "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON", "BEEF BETWEEN VEGANS", "HARDCORE HORSESHOE", "DEEP STATE", "WORK THE SYSTEM", and "THE NEW SLAVERY" and so maybe or why not start your discovery of SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" with this ultra-platinum gems. Top notch diverse and very outspoken and also highly socially aware and political lyrics, a pure beauty of an artwork, and a clear and heavy and nicely warm'n'earthy production sound then finally round it all perfectly up. Okay, yes, I think so far I've said all what there was or what I had so far to say to/about SICK OF IT ALL and their brandnew "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" masterpiece, the Hardcore album of and for 2018 (and probably also in and for years to come) and definitely also one of the very best and very most strongest albums in general of, in, and for 2018 (and again also probably in and for years to come), yes, and I can only most highly recommend this larger than life masterpiece to anyone outta there and so best just go out and get your copy of SICK OF IT ALL's "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON" and this best instantly. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!
(10 of 10 points)
https://www.sickofitall.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

SICK OF IT ALL - "THAT CRAZY WHITE BOY SHIT" (2018, "WAKE THE SLEEPING DRAGON")

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" (2018)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS"
(Running time: 39:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Demons Run Amok"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally a new post up here and obviously I couldn't keep up the momentum from the promising start of this month, so to say, but in real life the pre-christmas-time is this year simply damn work-intensive and with also having a real social life then so this little blog of mine up here simply comes off a little bit short currently but I guess that's just life and so all is more than just good and fine with that at the end of the day(s). But with that out of the way it's finally time to do again a little bit up here and so here and now you get my record-review on one hell of a masterpiece and this one is the new WISDOM IN CHAINS album "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" released this summer via "DEMONS RUN AMOK" and if you know this blog now already for a few years longer and/or if you know me personally than you know that WISDOM IN CHAINS are some of my total favorites and this latest since they way back then released their immortal "CLASS WAR" masterpiece in 2007 and now we are eleven years later in 2018 and WISDOM IN CHAINS are going sort of stronger than (ever) before with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", hell yeahr, and two months ago I did my record-review on SLAPSHOT's new one and what I wrote there about it (of) being my Hardcore album of/for 2018 I definitely stand for it but I also definitely already knew back then that this 'title' SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" had too share with WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" but simply did not want to 'pre-anticipate' and spoil it back then already, yes, and so now here we are. (And after the almighty SICK OF IT ALL also finally released also their new one very recently we will later on see what that now may mean…) WISDOM IN CHAINS serve us here on and with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" the newest and most impressive dose of their highly intense and highly atmospheric, incredible creative and clichée-free Hardcore full of ongoingly delivered heavy truckloads of devastating heavy and highly dynamic energy and and a rousing attitude and potential like not much else outta there, yeahr, and they even enriched it all far more today in 2018 with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", so at least my impression, and cultivated it even more than before with totally getting rid of any bullshit Hardcore clichée crap and with just doing their completly own thing and this so even far more consequent than already before. Melting heavy amounts of catchy and sharp Heavy Metal and crushing Thrash Metal as well as symphonic Classic Rock into their bonecracking heavy and at the same time incredible hymnal and with breath-taking melody lines shining Hardcore the Land of Kings style and that's still deeply rooted in the NY(H)C and that then is all pushed only more and only heavier forward by a massive input of Punkrock, Streetpunk and some Oi! ingredients and that is this time with working- in some good and healthy doses of atmospheric ambient-Pop even only made more rich, rousing, grapping, exciting, and also entertaining. And also only even more conquering. So expect one hell of an impressive and 'overwhelmingly-conquering' rich and grapping songwriting full of great fresh ideas, surprising twists and turns all down the road along the ride as well as open huge surprises and a in that definitely larger than life way still before "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" in that manner just unexpected and so damn strong moments of unrestrained and 'bubbling-over' creativity without any 'scene-limitations' that is just so damn impressive and grapping that WISDOM IN CHAINS take you for an overly exciting ride full of authentic, heartfelt big emotions that they will leave you with your mouth opened wide and a satisfied joker-grin drawn on your face, oh yes, and all is marked by a very strong and huge own unique identity and charcter and a larger than life intensity as well as a damn dense'n'tight atmosphere, yes, served to us by damn skilled musicians from start to finish on the highest grade of quality and full of soulful and heartfelt, sympathic authenticity and that's something that hopefully will never change in camp WISDOM IN CHAINS. All is delivered via highly charismatic and today more than ever versatile lead vokillz backed up by widescreen crew back ups and well placed co-lead vokillz, by a damn diverse and multi-layered, multi-facetted guiatr work, by a heavy smacking bass, and by a thunderous drum work. Any band comparisions? Senseless, too huge, too strong, too characteristic, and too unique is the identity of WISDOM IN CHAINS. But, okay, let me try it this way: Throw SICK OF IT ALL and MADBALL together with METALLICA, ANTHRAX, and LED ZEPPELIN into one big bowl and garnish it with some BONECRUSHER, RANCID, and OXYMORON and you have a good starting point to finally discover WISDOM IN CHAINS on your own. If you ask for any listening tipps then it should be clear that the whole album is the purest platinum outta there and this from start to finish, definitely, but if you're interested in my personal favorites then this are probably "LIFE LESSONS", "SOMEDAY", "BETTER THAN I WAS", "THE BOY AND THE CAVE", "HEART OF A CHAMPION", "TURN MY BACK", "DUCK DOWN, STAY DOWN", and "HALFWAY THERE" simply because this are the songs I've probably listened the very most to and so maybe check this songs out first. A great, sinister 'cartoonish' artwork, a heavy smashing and yet clear and warm production-sound, and absolutely first-class lyrics then finally turn WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" into the complete package and the real deal. What? You still need some finishing closing words? Really? Okay, then… damn it, just go out and (finally) get WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" and this instantly. One hell of a fantastic album. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(10 of 10 points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/WisdomInChainsPAHC (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "THE BOY AND THE CAVE" (2018, "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - SPOOKTOBER 2018: MISFITS - "AMERICAN PSYCHO"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - SPOOKTOBER 2018:

MISFITS - "AMERICAN PSYCHO" (1997)
(Running time: 39:34 minutes; 17 songs)
("Geffen Records"; CD):

Tracklist:

(I.) "ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES"
(II.) "AMERIACN PSYCHO"
(III.) "SPEAK OF THE DEVIL"
(IV.) "WALK AMONG US"
(V.) "THE HUNGER"
(VI.) "FROM HELL THEY CAME"
(VII.) "DIG UP HER BONES"
(VIII.) "BLACKLIGHT"
(IX.) "RESURRECTION"
(X.) "THIS ISLAND EARTH"
(XI.) "CRIMSON GHOST"
(XII.) "DAY OF THE DEAD"
(XIII.) "THE HAUNTING"
(XIV.) "MARS ATTACKS"
(XV.) "HATE THE LIVING, LOVE THE DEAD"
(XVI.) "SHINING"
(XVII.) "DON'T OPEN 'TIL DOOMSDAY" (plus hidden bonus track "HELL NIGHT")

Hey guys, Halloween today, yeahr, I hope you had or will have a great day (depending where you live) and after we've now finally sort of officially reached the end of October 2018 or especially today even far better the end of SPOOKTOBER 2018 and so there's no better way to end this very month with fashion with a properly themed newest (and, btw, finally right in time for the first time since April 2018 again) "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article and so here and now my dear readers here and now it will be respectively it is all about none other and especially none less than the infamous legendary and masterly "AMERICAN PSYCHO" of/by the almighty and immortal MISFITS, their larger than life masterpiece classick from back then in 1997, released back then via "GEFFEN RECORDS". In 1997, when the MISFITS unleashed their "AMERICAN PSYCHO" I turned 16 years young my parents made or gave me this CD as a birthday present and this was back then now a bit over 21 years ago my first real proper 'meeting' with them, with the MISFITS, and oh hell yeahr did they have conquered me instantly back then - and they simply obstinately refused to loosen the handle on me since then, yes, and this thankfully so because they refused to do so for all the right reasons. I knew and in fact I was (and also still am) a DANZIG fan way before but before "AMERICAN PSYCHO" I didn't know the MISFITS properly, to say it that way, and after "AMERICAN PSYCHO" I soon started working this up, yeah', so mighty and impactful was the impression they made or left on me. Their Horrorpunk was something that back then so far I haven't experienced and it was and since then always had been and so also for sure still is and will always be something very special for/to me and something that overwhelms and conquers me massively again and again time after time and this I can say about Horrorpunk in general and especially about the MISFITS in particular because they simply always and still today and pretty much/sure also in the future simply conquered and conquer and will conquer me the very most especially also due to their very own unique tone that shines perfectly through with the bonedry and yet sweet melodic singing guitars and the thunderous bass lines, yeahr, and also because they were/are not only the (first) definition of Horropunk but also and especially personally to/for me always the very best and this in general and in particular and especially their Michale Graves era with first and foremost "AMERICAN PSYCHO" and its successor "FAMOUS MONSTERS" from 1999 were and are and will forever continue to be absolutely massive larger than life and also lifechanging albums to/for me that are also surely closely linked to a lot of great personal memories but that to/for me always even beat their immortal classicks with the mighty Glenn Danzig and this also because Michale Graves' voice, vokillz, and style of singing had a very unique and different timbre and style and a massive huge own character and identity to it all that cultivated and enriched the MISFITS massively and this, at least so in my book, for all the right reasons. With saying this I definitely won't take anything away from the Glenn Danzig era of the MISFITS, hell no, not at least because this albums I love as well, and this also massively, but I simply or just prefer the Michale Graves time even a bit more, yes, and this for the named reasons and also because I still think that the MISFITS never sounded as fresh and alive/lively as they did back then especially so to say in 1997 and 1999 and even today with being 21 years old "AMERICAN PSYCHO" still sounds as fresh, as alive and lively, as brandnew thrilling, as exciting, and as relevant as back then in 1997 and this tells a lot and only great things. And now let us have a closer look on what the MISFITS served us here on and with "AMERICAN PSYCHO" and what made their Horrorpunk to what it was and is and what made and continues to make it great and even far and much greater than just great and this also and definitely still today.

Horrorpunk and especially the MISFITS thrilled and excited me always and this instantly right from the start and so also still today incredible heav(il)y with its/their always damn heavy but at the same time incredibe and highly-to-highest melodic and hymnal/anthemic if not to say catchy and for all the very right reasons 'poppy' and guitar driven as well as dominated by grapping vocal lines approach and identity to it all that shines through and excels massively in this mixture out of furious raging Hardcore/Hardcore Punk, hymnal and melodic Punkrock, huge influences of classick Rock & Roll the ELVIS way, and pretty dark and sinister old school Heavy Metal with a huge morbid and twisted, weird and sinister and a bit 'gothy' and also even romantic and always 'cineastic'/'cinematic' atmosphere and with a strong focus on the almighty refrains but that also don't forget(s) about very strong and exciting arranged verses that build huge amounts of tension that sheer explode in the refrains, oh hell yeahr, and all is very intense and also very atmospheric and you can really imagine how monsters go hunting humans while aliens invade the earth and go rampage with laser beams and somewhere in all this nightmare a lonely and broken soul sits at a grave where his/her dead love was laid to rest while a horde of ghouls sneaks up to him/her with hunger for human meat written all over them and a vampire drinks blood out of a golden chalice on the balcony of a hotel suite while werewolves massacre the people in the streets below and this all with a traditional old school black/white and sort of 'self-ironically' horrormovie flair to it, yes, sounds great you now think, oh boy, trust me this is great and this is fantastic, oh yeah', this is Horrorpunk and this are the MISFITS and also this is "AMERICAN PSYCHO" and it was and is and will be nothing but and nothing less than perfect. Marked by damn fantastic and highly diverse very unique vocals, a bonedry and dark and yet all the time nicely melodic guitar work, a heavy buzzing bass, and forceful thundering drumming the MISFITS' "AMERICAN PSYCHO" simply is a perfect album to/for me and one of the albums that definitely everybody needs to call his/her very own and holds it dear and close to the heart. And also this is an album completly out of the 'all killers, no fillers' category. Fantastic and also very atmospheric lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a smashing production sound then round it all perfectly up. So, yes, I think I've hailed and praised this larger than life masterpiece enough and hopefully I've told you all and everything so far about it that you need to know and in case you maybe still don't know or own it you should finally and desperately change this as soon as possible, oh yeah', and now still a 'Happy Halloween!' to you all outta there wherever you may live and damn beware of the "AMERICAN PSYCHO" stalking the night somewhere outta there maybe near you and, of course, hail the MISFITS always and forever.

http://www.misfits.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MISFITS - "DIG UP HER BONES" (1997, "AMERICAN PSYCHO")

SLAPSHOT - "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" (2018)

SLAPSHOT - "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN"
(Running time: 23:26 minutes; 11 songs)
("Bridge Nine Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey folks, I just came home recently and thought that it would be an anyhow anyway 'nice' move to finish this weekend with another post for you all up here and so, yes, trust your eyes because here and now this weekend from friday on you now get the 4th post up here, yes, it's true, and in all honesty right now and right here I can't tell you when this happened the last time up here but anyhow and so let's go: We will stay in camp 'HARDCORE' also with this very one here and now and we do also stay in the U.S.A. and after we moved yesterday from Los Angeles to New York today/tonight we stay on the east coast and move up to Boston, M.A./U.S.A. because here and now it's all about no one else and especially no one less than the almighty SLAPSHOT and/with their newest offering "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" released at the (if I am now not completly on the wrong tracks) 1st of June of 2018 via the legendary "BRIDGE NINE RECORDS", oh yes, and if you look at the damn short running time that only 'shortly outruns' the 23 minutes marks I can tell you that I will keep this review also short, I can further tell you that this 'shortness of the review' is definitely not to be mistaken as a 'symbol' or 'metaphor' or something like this of/for the quality of this album, and you should also already right now know that here on and with SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" you're in for one hell of an intense ride. This is Hardcore. True Hardcore. Authentic, honest and real through and through Hardcore. Old School Hardcore. Boston Hardcore. In one word, in one term, in one name: SLAPSHOT. Incredible intense, very dense and compact and highly characteristic and unique, massive and harsh songwriting, full of huge rousing high energy dynamics and on an incrdieble big, intense, and just almighty level of heavyness so that SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" is from start to finish highly'n'massively violent, aggressive, ultra-heavy, fast and harsh raging and sawing, no prisoners taking, all out brawling, bonecracking and facesmashing, über-intense, devastating, full force, full throttle, and highest energy Hardcore with here and there some (very) few nasty and loud'n'proud roaring Oi! marks in it all. Rousing, grapping, exciting, and massively overwhelming and conquering from the go to the stop and without any holes, blank spaces, or any crappy-trendy-bullshitty 'dingle-dangle' stuff, nothing but the absolutely real deal and the totally complete package. Choke's fantastic and highly pissed off very unique vokillz slap and spit and whip and kick and beat the songs without any mercy or regrets straight onwards into the harshest battles, where the harsh sawing and sharp cutting bonedry and every resistance absolutely demolishing guitars rage in the centre of the warzone with the sheer devastating heavy and über-hard smashing bass tanking-up the support, and the crushing and thundering drums fire heavy artillery-bombardements without stop into it all without caring for any losses, absolutely no prisoners are/were taken, nothing but scorched earth is left behind when SLAPSHOT rise up high'n'mighty at the end on a skyhigh pile of smashed corpses in total triumphant. Hardcore. Boston Hardcore. The real deal. Great, pissed off, and very vocal lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a fiery and crushing production sound then round it all perfectly up. On SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" you find only killers, no fillers, eleven times only purest platinum. In short: One of the very best albums of, in, and for 2018 and definitely my personal Hardcore album of/for this very year of 2018, hell yeahr, so go get it. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(10 of 10 points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/SlapshotBoston/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

SLAPSHOT - "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" (2018, "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN")

MADBALL - "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" (2018)

MADBALL - "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE"
(Running time: 34:34 minutes; 13 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Good evening, my dear readers, yes, one more time again today trust your eyes because here and now is already the 2nd post of or for this very day aimed at and coming for you and like earlier today with my review on the brandnew TERROR album "TOTAL RETALIATION" also right here and right now we will be and also stay'n'remain in the departments of Hardcore but this time we will move from Los Angeles to New York and we will be with the (al)mighty MADBALL and their new asskicker titled "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" released still pretty recently at the 15th of June of 2018 via the these days sort of more than ever before omnipresent "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" label on CD and I'm pretty sure also on LP. MADBALL, yes, one of my all time favourites, it's always a pleasure to see them coming round again, yes, and after all so also in 2018, definitely. This is roughnecked New York Hardcore delivered on a very high level of skill(s) and competence and this all with a damn huge own and unique personality to it all and this all also without a single doubt, yes, but... I can't name it to you sort of in a concrete way why but in 2018 MADBALL with "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" simply fail to really conquer me and I've given "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" over the last month since the day of its release uncountable listening'n'spinning-sessions but to me too much (especially for silverbacks like MADBALL themselves) sounds too lame'n'stale or maybe simply just too ordinary for/to me. Okay, this sounds now maybe sort of harsh and 're-reading' it then it sounds definitely too drastic because MADBALL's "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" is definitely no bad or weak album anyway in general and legions of other bands would sell their poor little souls to come up delivering an album like this but in the MADBALL context and for a stand-alone band like MADBALL this is anyhow a weaker effort and offering and definitely and sadly a more forgettable album of/by them, so at least in my book. It's after all simply too unsinspired and too often they ripp off themselves and it's just not that much exciting after all and too foreseeable and so... yes, any MADBALL fan and any fan of New York Hardcore that showcases a strong hymnal sing-a-long fueled Streetpunk/Punkrock influence with some melodic Oi! impressions here and there as well as metallic notes will find up here anyhow a lot of goods being delivered properly but it all is missing a lot of freshness and excitement this time around, yes, so at least to me. The songwriting is nicely multi-facetted and especially the mid paced and sing-a-long heavy Streetpunk influenced smashers shine bright and know definitely to convince and also to conquer and especially Freddy's highly chrismatic and today more than ever very hard'n'smart vokillz that have developed massively and impressively add a lot of an alive-lively spirit and a huge new dimension and facet to it all and the devastating and highly intense guitar work also leaves no questions open as well as the heavy bombing rhythm section still knows and does to tear down every wall(s) and loud'n'proud gangshouting backings as well as nicely hymnal sing-a-longs we get as well, yes, all good and fine, definitely, I would just wish for more fresh ideas and especially more than just this few slight Reggae reminiscences here and there and also more mercyless intense heavyness and sheer force to lift MADBALL's "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" really up because especially the supposed-to-be harsh and fast raging angry, nasty, and aggressive Hardcore slashers lack a lot of potential and are too lame and too stale ordinary stuff that MADBALL definitely know how to do better and they still know I am convinced. Anyhow, my personal favorites are "REV UP", "FREIGHT TRAIN", "TEMPEST", "OLD FASHIONED", "LONE WOLF", "THE FOG" featuring Tim Timebomb/RANCID, "FOR YOU" and the re-recorded killer-tune "CONFESSIONS" taken from their "HOLD IT DOWN" masterpiece from way back in the days and especially in comparision with this masterpiece current songs of that kind like for example "SMILE NOW, PAY LATER", "EVIL WAYS" featuring Ice-T/BODY COUNT or the just open-boring "ES TU VIDA" pretty much stink. Strong and nicely vocal lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a heavy but maybe a bit too sterile production sound then complete the package. So all in all MADBALL delivered in 2018 with "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" definitely a decent, a very decent new album, yes, a strong and good one and for sure in good parts surely and definitely also a damn good one at the end of the day but also an album that personally left me a bit too cold and unmoved and from an anyway still damn authentic and sympathic band like MADBALL I definitely await more so no matter if that's the problem or not but anyhow... New York Hardcore and MADBALL fans will do nothing that much wrong with getting their hands on "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE" at the end of the day but also I definitely expect more of/by them again the next time around. Anyhow, at least risk an ear or two. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(8 of 10 points)

http://madballhc.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MADBALL - "REV UP" (2018, "DOWN FOR THE CAUSE")

TERROR - "TOTAL RETALIATION" (2018)

TERROR - "TOTAL RETALIATION"
(Running time: 28:29 minutes; 13 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes because it's true and here and now today-already-the-next-day again a new post is coming up here for and straight aimed @ you and here and now we will head finally again into the department and area of Hardcore with my review on the brandnew TERROR album "TOTAL RETALIATION" released very recently @ the 28th of September of 2018 via "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" and I own the (standard) CD version of it and so, yes, you probably already guessed it, my review on it will be based solely and strictly on this very one but I could imagine or would even bet that there are also limited CD versions and/or various LP formats/colours of it floating around. The precursor full-length of/by TERROR titled the "25th HOUR" from back in 2015 was and still is sort of a dissapointment to/for me and is so up to this present day and this also definitely the least-listened TERROR release in my pretty extensive TERROR-(record-)collection. Last year in 2017 then with their the "WALLS WILL FALL" EP then to/for me they returned sort of to old glory and strength (my reviews on both releases you find up here, too, just search under the label of TERROR), thankfully, and here and now in 2018 they which means TERROR are finally back with a proper new full-length here'n'now with "TOTAL RETALIATION" and... okay, after this is with roughly more than 28 minutes a very short and compact one I will also keep this review by me on it a short and compact one, yes, and so: TERROR are also today back to their former glory and strength and stick to/with it and they've released with "TOTAL RETALIATION" a definite killer-album and also one more time again a sort of a blueprint for highly intense, fiery, aggressive, massively the Old School hailin'n'praisin' as well as at the same time 'ongoingly' perfectly to the New School serving, and always onwards into battle charging and in nearly equal parts by mercylessly thrashing Metal as well as relentlessly raging Hardcore Punk fueled, in the cold-concrete-streets of Los Angeles, California/U.S.A. raised through'n'through pure power and full force highly energetic Hardcore with always a very strong gang-shouting'n'sing-a-longing anthemic note to it all. Highly compact and to the point written'n'played very intense songs full of a nearly larger-than-life and sheer exploding energy and marked by a harsh and stunning heavyness on a very high level of quality and skill(s) and definitely highly charismatic, yes, so that despise of all the legions of bands from all across the globe that had been, were, and still are massively influenced and inspired by TERROR over the last decade or so you right from the kick-off of "TOTAL RETALIATION" with the incredible heavy down-to-mid-paced and pretty 'blocky' smasher "THIS WORLD NEVER WANTED ME" get that this here are no one else and especially no one less than TERROR themselves, oh hell yeahr, and this time at least in my personal perception they shaken things by far more up with more pace variations and some very stunning and heavy and pretty 'blocky' compositorial approaches and arrangements and with doing this they keep it all not only nicely fresh and exciting without straying away from their chosen path but they also only add some huge and heavy amounts of very fresh heavyness on top of it all. And doing 'things-this-way' also only led the full force and no prisoners taking fast charging parts and the massive anthemic fist in the air gang shouting parts only build more powerful momentum over all the time of TERROR's "TOTAL RETALIATION", yeahr, and this for all the right reasons. So, yes, clearly scored at the part of the songwriting and the delivery via harsh sawing and heavy hitting metallic thrashing and punky highly intense guitar work (with some damn great solos and leads cultivating it all massively), widescreen loud'n'proud hymnal/anthemic gang shouts, a highly destructive heavy bombing bass, devastating thunderous drumming, and one of the still very most charismatic and very most aggressive lead singin'n'shouting voices outta there only does justice to it in a very stunning way. Two or three songs maybe fail to grap me as massive as the other ones but here shines a lot and this is mostly really all gold. Strong and uplifting and still very authentic Underdog-lyrics, a nicely sinister and old-schoolish artwork, and one hell of a heavy bombing production sound then finally round TERROR's "TOTAL RETALIATION" strong and in all the right way up. Clearly and highly recommended and so, yeah', if you still don't have or even know it you should definitely change this very, very soon. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/terrorhardcore (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

TERROR - "RESISTANT TO THE CHANGES" (2018, "TOTAL RETALIATION")