Just Like The Rest

Cleveland, Ohio's Cider is a band that has existed for 20+ years, but has only released a small handful of records.  The band released their debut "Out to Get Me" on Non-Commercial Records in 1994 and then went silent for 10 years before dropping their next release.  Playing obnoxious hardcore punk, they helped to lay the groundwork for that classic Cleveland sound that would influence The Inmates, H100's, Gordon Solie Motherfuckers, 9 Shocks Terror, and so on.  The original pressing of this 7" was limited to only 300 copies.  The version here is a recent reissue on My Mind's Eye Records, and includes all three of the different sleeve variations that were found on the original press.  This is a great reissue and I'm glad to have a copy in my collection.

High Wired

Chris Ulsh is a fairly busy dude, having spent time (whether the band is current or no longer active) in Power Trip, Mammoth Grinder, Hatred Surge, Vaaska, and the Impalers, just to name a few.  He's one of those guys that no matter what he plays on, the recorded output is going to be good.  The Impalers LP that dropped last year was really fucking good (I just never posted about it for some odd reason) and the follow up to that is also really fucking good.  Originally released as a tape, 540 Records pressed the "Psychedelic Snutskallar" EP to vinyl.  Sound-wise this is more of the same raging Motorhead inspired d-beat punk, however the A side contains only one 12+ minute track.  Don't let that deter you though, because all 12+ minutes are killer, and there is no filler.  The B side contains 5 songs in the more familiar Impalers style.  The record comes packaged in a cool DJ style sleeve.  I dig it.

The World Turns

Braddock, PA's Hounds of Hate released one of my favorite LP's of 2013.  To turn around and release another full length the following year is mostly unheard of in hardcore/punk.  With so little time between the two LP's one could think that their latest offering, "Hate Springs Eternal," may be a bit lacking in quality, but that's not at all the case.  The Hounds drop another LP's worth of killer early Sick Of It All/NYHC material here.  Self released by the band.

The Oppressed

Pure Disgust is another newish DC hardcore punk band.  While sharing some similarities (and members) with the subject of my last post, Pure Disgust have a much larger oi influence in their sound.  There are more than a few times where you can hear some 86 Mentality show through in Pure Disgust's sound, however PD is quite a bit faster most of the way through this EP than 86 was.  I believe this is the first vinyl release for DC's own Flophouse Records, and it's a killer.  There's even a Sex Pistols cover on the B side.  Pick this up.

Pseudo Science

DC's Public Suicide are another one-man straight edge band that plays early Boston influenced hardcore.  If that first sentence read as negative, it's not.  Following up a killer demo tape this is the debut self titled EP released on Caught Up Records.  Like the Protester 7" that I posted about a few weeks back, this is some solid straight edge harDCore.  The live variation of Public Suicide and Protester actually share members, so you can see how the two could be similar in sound.  Another good release in hardcore for the capitol city this year.

The Storm

Anything that needs to be said about "Bringin' It Down" already has been a million times.  Judge dropped a perfect hardcore LP with this one.  Although it's not green, I was still stoked to get a first press.  Probably the best Revelation Records LP too.

Only Warning

It's no secret that early 80's USHC with a mix of oi has been huge as of late.  It's pretty big in both the US and the UK right now, and has made its way to Germany (as well as the rest of Europe I'm sure).  Mind Trap from Berlin play this ever popular style of USHC with just a dose of oi at parts, and it's pretty great.  Following the band's demo this is the, "Life Among Liars and Thieves" 7" released on Refuse Records and SFR (which I believe may be the band's own label?)  Regardless, this is a good introduction to the band and is recommended for anyone who digs early 80's USHC.