Nab

For some reason I always had an affinity for the Seattle scene, but never for what it was famous for in the 90’s, frankly my Nevermind is probably Are These Our Lives?. I’m happy to see that some of the people who made Northwest Hardcore so exciting for me are still at it (even though they branched off musically), and are delivering this awesome collection of songs showcasing the wonderful current alternative-rock landscape of the Emerald City. 14 bands offer one song each on this LP, among them...

This Toronto-based project thanks THE MOB and NY HOODS as inspirations in their liner notes. I like when bands wear their influences on their sleeves (literally), especially since that’s not exactly where my mind would have gone to as far as comparisons. Granted I’m not that well-versed in those two particular bands but upon first listen early WARZONE came to mind, which is not too far-off. So we’re talking 80’s NYHC. Somehow it prompted me to dig out my copy of the URBAN WASTE EP to see if ther...

This cover of this zine features the classic FUGAZI picture and the subtitle “The Strange But True Story of That Fugazi Basketball Hoop Show”. You know the one. I picked it up on the counter at a record store in Hamburg while my bandmates were blowing up my phone talking about a soundcheck I was late for. In the split second that it took me to notice the zine I got so excited that I didn’t bother to look at the price tag or who put it out. I was just glad I found some cool reading material about...

Ben from KATER MENU came to the show when my band played Berlin earlier this year, and he generously brought us vegan treats, as well as shirts from his vegan catering business, and this record. I didn’t get a chance to ask what it was, but I put it on when I got home and really dug it! The first thing that struck me was how cool the record looked. Picture a rather simple and evocative bold artwork with a nice color scheme, but it’s the vinyl that got me excited: beautiful solid blue that match...

This issue of this new German zine is dated from June 2025. Fabian and Justus from ECHO CHAMBER decided to do a zine to document their scene and talk to the cool stuff going on in Hardcore. 2025 was a stacked year for Hardcore, literally all the records and bands they talk about are highlights for me as well. I really like everything these guys do, so I guess our shared love for niche hardcore is no surprise. This first issue has a cool interview with Hannover Straight Edge band FORCE OF DENIAL ...

Short zine from Montreal with a lot of collages. It showcases art pieces as well as music write-ups about local bands DEATH AS IT SHOOK YOU (D.A.I.S.Y), WORKS, PERMA, THAT STATIC, and also an article on MERZBOW and Free Jazz. It’s cool and I love seeing hyper-specific interest zones dedicated to a local scene, I just wished there was more to sink your teeth into, like maybe a full interview of the bands would have been cool. I love the hand made cut and paste layout!...

The subtitle reads “a fanzine for dead music and dead formats”, as Will shares his passion for both in this classic cut & paste zine. You’ll find an interview with Dom from NAYSAYER and TRAIL OF LIES, an old interview Will did with DEAD CONGREGATION; a super short Q+A with THE SISSY BOYS and a CRIPPLED YOUTH reprint. There’s also some record and show reviews, as well as a bunch of articles about Death Metal, Hardcore that’s not on streaming and obscure VHS stuff. I love this kind of zines that f...

This is Rocky Votolato’s latest project with members of his 90’s emo band WAXWING. Besides being the main character in the Edge of Quarrel movie, he’s most known for his solo career and is probably one of my favourite singer/songwriter. This is the first new music we get from him in a while; actually since his kid died tragically in a car accident a couple years ago. Needless to say this is a heavy record; but it’s also beautiful, cathartic, heart-wrenching, full of love and very inspiring. Musi...

I met Riley on tour with SINGLE MOTHERS last year and he instantly became one of my favorite people. He sang in ZERO and has this new band he drums for called BFD. I actually heard the demo when it came out and thought it was good, but we played with them when this 7inch came out and they were Killer! They play great classic 80’s NYHC that brings to mind the likes of CAUSE FOR ALARM, ALTERCATION, or BREAKDOWN. They sit in that perfect mid-paced tempo that makes the songs really groovy and dynami...

A bonkers year in terms of new music. I could legitimately not keep up with the amount of cool releases coming out, especially the sheer number of ripping hardcore demos. I’m a little bummed how North-American centric my list is but it is what it is. Very proud of the record we put out with SPITE HOUSE as well. I made a digital mixtape with my favourite songs of the year too: https://samply.app/p/oeHknJ7Vm4ynYzmXOjt0?si=10e5fwQJH5dIFoQQTqkaVVrLSFL2 Albums * ALEX G - Headlights * BAD BEAT -...

There's something to be said about being an active band for 7 years, consistently putting out music and honing in on your craft all this time; meanwhile touring literally everywhere, taking no shortcuts. The proof is in the pudding: this record is undeniable. COMBUST never strayed from their initial sound and identity, they are the quintessential modern New York Hard Core band in my opinion. These guys are students of the game and deliver a high-quality record packed to the brim with NYHC bonanz...

This Montreal band is a secret gem. I had never really delved into their recorded output before, as I assumed it would not live up to the feeling of their live shows, often delivered through copious amounts of amps and pedals. Well I guess the joke's on me because this new album is impressive. The recording itself is outstanding, and they really capture the essence of what the band is about without any gear gluttony on display. You still get volume, tone and the feeling of being wrapped-up in a ...

I checked out this album when I heard that the bass player from END OF A YEAR/SELF DEFENSE FAMILY had a new band and it quickly became a recurring listen. I keep noticing cool parts and details I hadn’t before, which is rare for a straight forward punk record. LIFE ABUSE are from Albany, NY and they remind me of the type of bands that would be on something like Havoc Records, or that I’d read about in Heartattack Fanzine. Which is not surprising considering the members are veterans of that scene...

I think 2024 was an overwhelmingly great year for new music; it was exhausting trying to keep up with all the cool stuff that came out....

You don’t need to be super plugged in to realize that Denver, Colorado has been having a moment in the last few years. A lot of it revolves around the label Convulse Records (GEL, MSPAINT, MILITARIE GUN…) and that scene birthed some awesome bands such as PUBLIC OPINION, DIRECT THREAT, CANDY APPLE and now AMERICAN CULTURE. The album opens with local ambient-pop artist MIDWIFE, whose ethereal vocals are unmistakable, featured prominently on the song. A surprising choice and not her only appearanc...

This new EP came out of nowhere and was a good surprise. Unrelenting Hardcore of the punk variety out of Norway, by longtime students of the game who cut their teeth in amazing bands such as DEATH IS NOT GLAMOROUS, OKKULTOKRATI, BLOOD SUCKERS, URBANOIA… This is no frills, in your face Hardcore. Equal parts POISON IDEA and NEGATIVE FX, that would play nicely with most current releases on Quality Control Records. I would describe the vocals as ugly and nasty if the band wasn’t fronted by the ultim...

I love getting caught off guard by that fast intro that breaks into a super cool rocking/lead part, setting the tone here for unconventional song structures in the often boring genre that is youth-crew adjacent Hardcore. For the uninitiated, the term "democore" came from the 2010s boom of willfully amateurish bands who swore by third-rate/obscure late 80’s NYHC (see the defunct Moshers Delight Records). Admittedly late to the party, ONE TRACK MIND from Montreal carves their name alongside that w...

Weirdo Hardcore-punk on the eggier side of things that combines chorus-drenched noisy guitar and fast frantic drumming; but what made me fall in love with them are the super snarky vocals. Some songs are in English and others are in French (I believe the singer is from Luxembourg and the band is based in Germany). The lyrics are quite vile but the vocal delivery has a candid touch that makes the songs all the more catchier. It’s as no-bullshit as it gets and the drums are barrelling through the ...