JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION - "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi" (2018)

JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION - "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi"
(Running time: ...vinyl 7'' single…; 2 songs)
("Pork Pie Records"; 7''; 2018):

Hey guys, yes, next dose is already incoming and this time it's my review on the 7'' vinyl single "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi" of/by the mighty JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION released this summer via the legendary "PORK PIE RECORDS" (great to see that this very fine label is still around and active) and I got it at the fantastic this year's "THIS IS SKA" festival as a bundle deal with a festival-T-Shirt and only by looking at the name'n'title "THIS IS SKA" it should be obvious why this came to happen. And also music-wise and quality-wise this is all too obvious, just listen to this little disc of black gold with a very old schoolish huge middle hole that makes you have to use a 45 Adapter while/for playing it, yes, and that's nothing else and nothing less than damn fucking true old school boss style. And so also the music. And, one last side-note before we will come to the what and the how of the music: Why the bloody hell I didn't knew this band before?!? Damn it, shame on me. I will definitely change this in the future, point and fact. So, yes, back to the topic, JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION's "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi": This is some damn strong bastard out of SKA and Rocksteady with a huge (Early) Reggae dose in it and some very minimalistic but incredible effective and nicely diverse and creative approach to it all, blending in a very stand-alone/independently and very, very fresh way influences of JUDGE DREAD, DERRICK MORGAN, and THE SELECTER together with THE AGGROLITES, THE SLACKERS, and THE VALKYRIANS and this all done with a very special flavor to it and in a very unique tone, yes, and all is marked by great snotty male vocals and larger than life sweet and melodic female ones, a very present and marking hard'n'smart and powerful 'skanking'n'licking' melodic guitar work that also showcases a nice 2 Tone flair, by a very formidable and the songs massively marking Boss Sound organ, a groundshaking danceable around strutting bass, and very minimalistic but damn effective and healthy smacking drumming and all is given form to by or via grappig and highly energetic and dynamic, rousing and fresh songwriting that also works some nice and great tribute paying easter-eggs here'n'there into it all. "THIS IS SKA" on the A-side (no, not a covertune) is purest gold, "Oi Oi Oi" on the B-side (also not a covertune) is a bit weaker but still a damn good one, for sure, and all is made very round by a fantastic artwork, very entertaining lyrics, and a warm and earthy production-sound. Anyone into SKA,(Early) Reggae, and Rocksteady really should get his/her hands on a copy of it and I can only and calmly recommend JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION's "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi" to anyone of you guys outta there, yes, and now shout with me: "THIS IS SKA!"

(8,5 of 10 points)

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

JOHNNY REGGAE RUB FOUNDATION - "THIS IS SKA" (2018, "THIS IS SKA/Oi Oi Oi")

THE INTERRUPTERS - "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" (2018)

THE INTERRUPTERS - "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT"
(Running time: 31:28 minutes; 12 songs)
("Hellcat Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys… I know… this month is really damn 'silent' so far up here and I pretty much doubt at least quite a bit that this will that drastically change again all too soon and/or at least not this very month, yehp, call it real life and you hit the nail right on its head, anyhow, enough of the rambling(s) and so now finally to the 2nd post up here so far this very month of November 2018, yehp, and here and now you finally get my review on one of my very most favorite albums of/for 2018 and also damn sure in years and for years to come and this very album I'm right here right now talking about is no other and especially no less than the absolutely almighty and larger than life new 2018 full length of /by the absolutely amazing THE INTERRUPTERS titled "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" released sort of this summer via the legendary "HELLCAT RECORDS". After my time this month is damn 'spare' I will keep this one here a short one or at least I'll try to do so, m'kay, and so here and now finally straight and direct into the action one more time again: For what damn shameful reasons ever THE INTERRUPTERS were before "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" (their 3rd album aready so far) totally unknown strangers to/for me... why the bloody hell ever… but to be honest maybe also over the last past few years there was no better time than sort of now for them and me to finally meet with SKA blasting and skanking out of the speakers of my stereo that loud, that enthusiastic, and that regular and that frequent like now for quite some many years not and so, yeah', seems like a perfect match to me. So, yehp, like you now already may or should know or at least anticipate this here is SKA and not only SKA but absolutely amazing and fantastic SKA with a very good and especially very healthy dose of Streetpunk and Punkrock thrown into the mix of it all and this for all the goddamn right reasons and done in all the goddamn right way and manner. So expect an incredible highly energetic and highly dynamic very intense and so also very rousing songwriting that serves absolutely fantastic excitement via, through and in form of amazing, grapping and very catchy as well as very hymnal songs without end or stopp from start to finish that vary nicely so that a top notch level of multi-facetted diversity of the highest quality is easily reached and so THE INTERRUPTERS' "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" is simply and easily one hell of an outstanding release. The SKA or SKA Punk of THE INTERRUPTERS served us in a very independently and unique way with a very special own tone and flavor to it all and all of the very highest quality grade is marked by absolutely larger than life and brightest shining very strong and incredible snotty and nasty absolutely fresh and unique, stunning female lead vocals that are absolutely one of a kind and I honestly totally fell in love with, yes, as well as full throttle and full force forward pushing 'stunningly smacking' and at the same time really sort of 'sensitive singing'guitars, a truly fantastic and the songs massively enriching organ and all is backed up by a beefy and 'smacky' stunning rhythm section. If you are looking for a (brand)new absolutely amazing and overwhelming SKA/SKA Punk album then don't look any further because here you have it and it won't ever get that much better anyway and so we are talking here about one of the very, very best albums of/for/in 2018 and this definitely not only in the SKA/SKA Punk department but music-wise in general, definitely. "SHE'S KEROSENE" (totally love this one), "TITLE HOLDER", "SO WRONG", "GOT EACH OTHER" (feat. RANCID), "GAVE YOU EVERYTHING", "NOT PERSONAL", and "RUMORS AND GOSSIP" are for sure my absolute favorites and so maybe check this hymns out first but don't make the mistake to think the not mentioned ones would be weak spots because hell no definitely not because on here truly all and everything is absolutely the purest platinum, period. Very strong and good and also nicely diverse lyrics, a 'slick' and just great artwork, and a clear and warm production sound then finally round it all perfectly up. To finally close this review here and now I can only highly, highly recommend THE INTERRUPTERS' "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" to anyone into first class catchy, hymnal, danceable, and 'skanky' music, yes, this here is through'n'through true and pure platinum and nothing else and especially nothing less and so finally just go out and get it in case you really may have missed out on this incredible amazing gem so far.

(10 of 10 points)

https://wearetheinterrupters.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

THE INTERRUPTERS - "SHE'S KEROSENE" (2018, "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT")

THE INTERRUPTERS - "TITLE HOLDER" (2018, "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT")

BÖHSE ONKELZ - "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN (30 JAHRE NEUAUFNAHME)" (2018)

BÖHSE ONKELZ - "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN (30 JAHRE NEUAUFNAHME)"
(Running time: 47:58 minutes; 12 songs)
("Matapaloz"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, it's been a while since the last post came up here, yehp, I know but anyhow and anyway because tonight November 2018 will start up here and I will do this with a review of me, myself, and I on one of the probably hughest classicks in the history of hard'n'heavy musick from Germany or better on the brandnew very recently released current rerecording of it and I'm talking about the very recently released completly 'freshly' done rerecording of the album "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN" of/by no one else than the BÖHSE ONKELZ and this very one here is the 30th anniversary rerecording of it, yeahr, and so here we go finally again: I won't go into all the 'historical ramblings' about the BÖHSE ONKELZ in general and/or their "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN" in particular because this would simply go beyond the scope and so here'n'now I will only concentrate and look on the album itself and this in its current 'rerecorded 30 years anniversary edition' that is now the topic up here. "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN" was back then the so to say second album when and with that they moved from the early german Oi! Punk of their debut full length "DER NETTE MANN" and the Oi!/Punk/Rock bastard of their "BÖHSE MENSCHEN, BÖHSE LIEDER" second full length to their dirty and heavy hitting highly energetic and hymnal Metal of their (in my book) by far greatest time represented by their immortal masterpieces "ONKELZ WIE WIR", "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN", "ES IST SOWEIT", "WIR HAM NOCH LANGE NICHT GENUG", and "HEILIGE LIEDER", yes, and "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN", their fourth full length in general and the second one of their above mentioned era, is one of my absolute favorites of/by the BÖHSE ONEKLZ: Hard hitting, slashing, nasty, rowdyish, ever brawling and rumbling Hooligan Metal filled by dirty Punk and clearly raised on hymnal Oi! and fueled by high octane and on the cold concrete born and bred Hardrock and all garnished with a strong and unique and also a damn great very own identity and a nice through'n'through authentic and sympathic attitude as well as a very grubby and nicely twisted atmosphere and all was and still is incredible highly intense and harsh and heavy stunning, yes, and this all still today and perhaps even more in this updated rerecorded version. Smashing and damn tight and forceful, very grapping, exciting, and rousing songwriting that shows no holes or blank spaces and that especially leaves no questions open and takes no prisoners and this still today in 2018 and that's massively pushed forward by mercyless pushing and punching guitars that deliver crushing riffs and singing leads and solos 'like nothing', marked by loud and street-raised dirty vokillkz, and all beefed up massively by a strong going and proud strutting bass playing and devastating thunderous drumming and all these ingredients still shine today and this still very bright, yes, making the BÖHSE ONKELZ' "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN" still to nothing but and nothing less than pure gold. On the rerecorded version this all changed not a single bit, hell no, in contrast it all shows today with far more cultivated guitar parts like for example slide guitar styled leads and also with more melodic and more versatile lead vokillz and even more hymnal backings maybe even only more potential. And this also counts for the as a bonus on here featured and also rerecorded back-then-exclusive-songs of the incredible fantastic "LÜGENMARSCH" EP. In short: Here we have a fucking strong album that today with being 30 years old is as strong, as relevant, and as important as back then 30 years ago and that for all the right and justified reasons got cultivated and enriched massively with ist rerecorded 30 years anniversary edition this very year of 2018. Strong and nicely diverse lyrics, a pretty discreet and yet very original and also convincingly done artwork, and a clear and heavy smashing production sound round it all in a perfect way up. BÖHSE ONKELZ' "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN" is nothing but a damn fucking larger than life classick and this fantastic '30 years anniversary rerecording' is the finishing glory of it and if for nothing else but only for this re-done masterpiece alone we can only cherish their reunion and comeback, yes, and I can only and nothing but highly, highly recommend it to anyone of you outta there, period.
(9 of 10 points)
http://www.onkelz.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BÖHSE ONKELZ - "SO SIND WIR" ///live @ the "MATAPALOZ" festival 2018\\\ (2018, "KNEIPENTERRORISTEN")

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")

STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" (2018)

STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING"
(Running time: 36:38 minutes; 11 Songs)
("Century Media Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, next post coming up for you and this time if I finish it in time we will finally have another beloved early morning post right here and now and this time you get my record review on the new album of /by the (al)mighty STREET DOGS from Boston, M.A./U.S.A. titled "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" that was released @ the 22nd of June of 2018 via "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS" and I call the CD version of it my very own. The STREET DOGS were one of my favorite bands back then with fantastic albums like for example "FADING AMERICAN DREAM" but somehow I lost them a bit out of sight over the past decade or so and so "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" is the first new album of/by them to that I listen(ed) in quite a while… yes, shame on me. But, oh yes, the magic and the spirit were right back and the STREET DOGS instantly conquered me again in an absolute supreme way with their "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" titled newest masterpiece that finally made it into my collection again - and I definitely won't loose them out of sight again. But, yes, I have to fasten up the pace here of and with that review here and now a bit if I want to get it done still this morning before I will leave to work and a bit of breakfast I also still have to loop down, yeah', and so let's go: First big surprise for/to me was that the STREET DOGS here on and with "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" only show very slight Celtic Punk/Irish Punk or in genereal Celtic influences, and this mostly or more in the general feeling of (some of) the songs as well as in the general approach of the rhythm arrangements and the compositorial dynamics, and that they turned more and more into one hell of a strong and in all positive sense emotional Streetpunk/Punkrock band with strong rockin' notes and a truckload of surprising, very fresh and grapping, and totally unique ideas (like for example vocal line arrangements and the 'out of that resulting' vocal delivery in a very rhythmic accentuated way that sound like EMINEM would go out all Punkrock) in it all. The STREET DOGS were and still are and today even more than before totally one of a kind and so to compare them with other bands isn't making that much sense at/after all but if you really shouldn't know them or (like me) lost them for quite a while out of sight then let me tell you that today in 2018 they sound like a very stand-alone mixture out of DROPKICK MURPHYS and SOCIAL DISTORTION and THE CLASH with some good doses of COCK SPARRER mixed into it all for all the right reasons and with some strong rocking and rolling Working Class Rock & Roll marks of the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN kind in it all, too, and with the Celtic roots (like above already mentioned) shine through only in pieces here and there and all done (like also already mentioned but it won't burt anyone if I mention it one more time again) in their absoultely unique and very own way and this done above all also all damn intense, authentic, heartfelt, and sympathic. So expect very intense and grapping as well as very, very anthemic battle-scarred diverse and multi-facetted highly emotional songs that are packed up full with fantastic rousing arrangements and fresh surprising twists and turns quite all along the ride and that are damn melodic and emotional but this with still being damn heavy beneath their surface over all the time and that are filled with highly melodic guitars, very charismatic and absolutely unique delivered/delivering lead-vocals, some fantastic very full backings, and a just pure power and yet sort of very 'empathetically' rhythm section, and this all is creating eleven purest gold anthems here on and with "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING". Fantastic, diverse, socially and politically aware and very outspoken lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a warm and organic production sound then round it all perfectly up. To anyone into really intense and incredible good music I can only highly recommend the STREET DOG's "STAND FOR SOMETING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" and this massively with it being one of the best albums of/for 2018, definitely, and so in case you still shouldn't have or even know it then by any means, yes, you definitely, finally, and desperately have to change this and this best right now. Get it, period.

(9,5 of 10 Points)

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

STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" (2018, "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING")

STOMPER 98 - "ALTHERGEBRACHT" (2018)

STOMPER 98 - "ALTHERGEBRACHT"
(Running time: 43:12 minutes; 13 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally the next post up here is right now and right here incoming just for you and this time it is on the new STOMPER 98 full-length-album "ALTHERGEBRACHT" released at the 30th of March of 2018 via the mighty "CONTRA RECORDS" label, and yes, the almighty STOMPER 98 finally really returned this very year with "ALTHERGEBRACHT" with a proper brandnew full-length-album after six by far too long years of being absent. And, shall I tell you something, it's good that they are finally back, very good, really very, very good. I listen to this very band, STOMPER 98, now since their "STOMPING HARMONISTS" days sort of two decades ago and every time a new one of/by them is finally unleashed again it's always like the return of a beloved old friend returning to the front or from the front, like you may like to see it, it feels good and familiar but also all the time fresh thanks to new stories and new impressions he has to tell and to give, yes, and so it's also this time again in 2018. What I mean with this is simply that they definitely have their very own unique tone, their very own characteristic sound'n'style and their very own unique character and that this they do show us rightfully so all the time respectively every time but they always manage to keep it fresh and exciting and massively rousing and grapping and so also one more time again right here and right now in 2018 with "ALTHERGEBRACHT". The absolutely alive/lively songwriting is full of incredible rousing fresh ideas and great surprises as well as some very cool and nice little notes/eastereggs (like for example the a little tribute to the almighty SKOIDATS and their larger than life anthem "LAST NIGHT" paying opening riff of the über-song "DIESE NACHT") and delivers massive amounts of dynamic energy that go hand-in-hand with a great work in the departments of the rhythmic arrangements of the songs as well as the pace work of, yes, the songs and also is the compositorial approach in general nothing but fantastic and exciting and grapping, yes, and this all the time on the highest octane levels and this definitely all the damn time and it graps you, it overwhelms you, it conquers you massively and this nearly from start to finish and all definitely showcases nearly perfectly the concise and unique handwriting of STOMPER 98, yes, one of the very best Oi! bands past, present, and (hopefully) future and this in the case of German Oi! and Oi! from Germany as well as Oi! in general, 'internationally', yes, definitely. All is driven forward and, yes, all is all the time further onwards pushed by sharp cutting guitars that deliver a fiery rhythm'n'riff-work without end and that also shine and excel with a brilliant and strong rockin' and rollin' note and approach to it all and that above all are really standing out with massively engrossing melody lines, leads, and solos. The loud'n'proud through the songs strutting rowdy bass and the fantastic highly 'beat-filled' drumming are backing it all nearly-to-clearly perfectly up. Loud fist-in-the-air and sing-a-long-to crew chantings add highest amounts of anthemic character and hymnal potential to it all and the fantastic naughty'n'nasty melodic and yet very hard and cutting sung highly charismatic lead vocals and the fantastic saxophone lines then finally cultivate it all and giving it all the highly deserved and justified crown. Also, something that I always massively like and that you may already anyhow know and that also counts or is to say here is the fact that the verses are as strong 'prepared' or maybe better done'n'delivered as the refrains. And all is delivered by high-skilled and well-versed musicians. Some of the guys with that I talked about STOMPER 98's "ALTHERGEBRACHT" over the last past months have questioned the authenticity of STOMPER 98 in general today and of "ALTHERGEBRACHT" in particular with STOMPER 98 being today in their perspective more of a part-time-project with a sort of everchanging all-star-roster of members and with some of their most prominent members being today far more active in bands somewhere between Rock, Metal, and Hardcore that have sort of nothing to do with Oi! and Skinhead and as far as that may hold some portions of truth, but just maybe, but for all what I can say is that to me this all still feels like a real band and this all still feels heartfelt and passionate and more I can't and won't judge, not at least because who am I, and this also... yeah', let me say it this way: To me the quality of an output counts far, far more than any and/or every conjecturing perception (and that are all also maybe not that important after all, at least if you ask me) and the quality here on and with STOMPER 98's "ALTHERGEBRACHT" is nothing but and nothing less than massive, period. Only the somehow sort of a bit 'too-wanted' and a little bit sort of artifical and placed 'acting' opener "SKINHEAD" is sadly a huge'n'strong down turner, and truly a really massive one, but after this we get twelve incredible strong heavy hitters that massively overwhelm and convince and conquer with "KEINE HELDEN", "GESETZ DER STRAßE", "NICHTS IST FÜR IMMER", "FÜR DEN AUGENBLICK", "DIESE NACHT", "ALTHERGEBRACHT", "WIR STEHEN HIER", and "ALTER FREUND" being my personal favorites. Good and strong and also nicely socially aware and outspoken lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a top notch production sound then finally round it all up. A fantastic album that I can only highly and massively recommend to any fan of Oi! and this is definitely one of the strongest albums being released this very year and this in Oi! in particular and music-wise in general, too… I just hope that it won't take another six years before/until STOMPER 98 drop the successor of/to "ALTHERGEBRACHT". But so long, yes, just get this majestic one here. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
http://stomper98.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

STOMPER 98 - "FÜR DEN AUGENBLICK" (2018, "ALTHERGEBRACHT")

HAMMER AND THE NAILS - "HAMMER AND THE NAILS" (2014)

HAMMER AND THE NAILS - "HAMMER AND THE NAILS"
(Running time: 37:34 minutes; 13 songs)
("Rebellion Records"; 2014; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, again too many days past by without seeing a new post/article up here, yeah' I know, but that's life and so now finally straight again into the action and here we go: Tonight it will be all about an already a bit older record but that I just picked up at the end of this June of 2018 @ the fantastic "THIS IS SKA 2018" festival... and this was definitely by far long, long overdue, definitely, and I am talking about the self-titled HAMMER AND THE NAILS album that was released four years ago back in 2014 via the almighty "REBELLION RECORDS" and if I know made my homework sort of correct than this is sort of a compilation album of all their demo and singles material from 2009 and 2010 with some live bonus stuff added to it as well. And sort of since 2009 I know HAMMER AND THE NAILS now already, from back then when MySpace still was a thing, yes, and I hailed and cheered up to them massively right from my frist listen to them but then over the last now already really nine yeas I totally lost them out of sight… shame on me, shame on me, and not just a bit. And when I then saw "HAMMER AND THE NAILS" @ the "CONTRA RECORDS" merch-desks @ the above already mentioned "THIS IS SKA 2018" the memory was right'n'promptly back and I instantly took it finally with me. And then it was also already instantly and promptly clear to me that I definitely will do a review on it up here, really sort of finally do a review on it up here, despise that it is now already four years old and also despise that the songs featured on this very one here are now already in parts really nearly ten years old, yes, but who cares, surely not me, myself, and I, and so, again, now here we go… finally: HAMMER AND THE NAILS play dustdry and bonecrackin'n'headsmashin' heavy American Oi! the Brickwall Style that's driven forward by harsh sawing and forceful onwards marching and mercylessly pushing bonedry and as heavy hitting as a well aimed crowbar swing pure power guitars that deliver an overwhelming amount of heavily and massively crushing as well as really incredible rousing and exciting, really grapping and surprising fresh riffs and rhythms as well as great and formidable accentuated and really loud singing leads and solos and that above all truly brightly shine with a strong own and very unique tone. Harsh delivered and throaty and hard but still all the time really sung and not shouted lead vocals with a nice and pretty impressive way of a unique accentuated delivery with a special vibe to it all. A firy and harsh attacking bass with massive anmounts of full force power backs it all very beefy and bulky up and then the war-drums like thundering drum work finally crushes every and any resistance completly down into the ground and this without any mercy at all. All is done and delivered highly skilled and very, very fresh and totally alive/lively and this is beside the high skills of this fine Boston Gentlemen in the biggest parts thanks and due to the phenomenal songwriting and some very fresh and unsual and so pretty surprising rhythm arrangements and some in general very unsual and exciting compositorial work that often blends sort of Vintage Hard Rock spirited and nicely 'tricky' rhythms, grooves, and a very grapping pace work and a huge multi-layered and multi-facetted diverse approach to it all in general into their Brickwall styled through and through neckbreaking and facecrushing American Oi! and this makes it all even and only more great(er) and exciting and rousing and grapping. And it makes it all to something pretty to very special that in this way you haven't heard so far before or from another than HAMMER AND THE NAILS. And of course they also deliver huge fist in the air and sing a long to refrains that are really larger than life material, yes, but this also is to say about and/or counts exactly the same way for the brilliant arranged verses and this all adds a huge and also very cliché-free anthemic and hymnal character to the whole songs. A fantastic artwork, very strong and outspoken nicely diverse and also very thoughtful as well as thoughtprovoking lyrics, and a raw and dirty and yet still very heavy and powerful crushing production sound round it all finally and very perfectly up and after truly all songs are purest platinum I will now spare me any words about any favorite songs because, like already said, all songs are the purest platinum. To anyone who like me so far completly for what reasons ever missed out on HAMMER AND THE NAILS should definitely and desperately finally change this as soon as possible and why not with this perfect gem even it is now already four years old with dating back from 2014... and I really will 'make up my mind' on new and/or other stuff of/by HAMMER AND THE NAILS, yeah', finally and definitely. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(10 of 10 points)

https://hammerandthenails.bandcamp.com/releases (-check out the Bandcamp site of the band)

HAMMER AND THE NAILS - "SLEEPING GIANT" (2014, "HAMMER AND THE NAILS")