Fanzine, Records, Shows
Preorders are now up for the Jackals/Self Loathing split 7″.
www.whatwouldhenryrollinsdo.bigcartel.com
Full details when the release is out, but this is a pressing of 500 between 3 labels with 100 on black vinyl and the rest on clear. Records will be posted out from the second week in July but will be available before that when on Jackals short UK tour.
www.wearejackals.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Self-Loathing/136612656349151
Here is a video that was made by Robin Fuller, featuring footage from the last Lonewolves shows towards the end of last year, including their last ever show at the Marquee in Norwich. It features nearly everyone involved in hardcore in Norwich that matters, and plenty who don’t.
Lonewolves – Stonehill from robin fuller on Vimeo.
Finally got this one done! Issue 6 features interviews with Pulling Teeth, 7 Seconds, Nails, Surroundings and Closure alongside all the usual stuff like articles, reviews, recipes etc.
Most of the issues are folded and ready to send out. Any preorders are being packed up right now and will be posted out Monday. As always it’s available for £1.50 plus postage from www.whatwouldhenryrollinsdo.bigcartel.com Also, available from the shop now is the forthcoming split between GRAZES and RIP IT UP. This will be out in a couple of weeks and will also available on their tour in February. I also got a few copies of Issue 5 reprinted, but in very limited quantities so if you want one of those don’t hang around.
It’ll also be in stock in the usual places including DRUG STORE and ALL AGES within the next few days/weeks and if you’d like to buy a few copies for your distro then get in touch at wwwhrdzine@hotmail.co.uk and we can arrange something.
Grazes and Rip It Up are hitting up a load of shows across the UK together at the start of Feb and i’m sorting out the Norwich show for them. Both bands play awesome hardcore punk. They’ve also got a split tape which they are readying for the tour which i’ll be releasing. Details on that will be posted when everythings sorted. Make sure you check them out, if you’re from Norwich at this show, or if you’re from somewhere else at wherever they play closest to you. Self Loathing are also playing, they are friends of mine from London. Doors at about 7.30 and it’s £4 in. Once again there should be cakes and cool stuff like that. It’s not like you’ll be doing anything better on a Monday.
As always you can get it from www.whatwouldhenryrollinsdo.bigcartel.com for £1.50 plus postage.
It’ll be printed at some point next week and will be sent out as soon as it is folded and stapled. I’ll post more about it then.
I always find it a bit strange when people proclaim their version of a list like this to be ‘The Best Records of 2010’ because it assumes that one person could hear all the good stuff released in a year, and their opinion actually counts for anything. Therefore I prefer to refer to this simply as my favourite records of the year, and given that I wasn’t sure of the order or whether I have forgotten some stuff I really enjoyed, this is just a list of some good records that came to mind when I thought about the subject. There are of course plenty of good releases that I’ve left out, and several which I still have yet to listen to or get hold of. Originally I did this as a top 20, but felt it meant I was leaving out too many records that were perhaps on a par with many of the records listed. Therefore i whittled it down to the very best- a top 10, but I still think I might have left out a few records which deserve to make the list. Nevermind. Additional mentions should be given to friends of mine in Baptists and Lonewolves who both released great records this year, but to include these in the list would seem insincere regardless of how much I have enjoyed them. I have also kept to hardcore/punk/etc. as although I’ve liked a few other records i don’t really listen to much else. I’ve split the records into LPs and EPs and for those which seemed to be in between (one sided 12”, 10” etc.) I’ve just put them in the list that seems most suitable.
LPS
1) NAILS- UNSILENT DEATH
This was destined to be my favourite record of the year from the first time I listened to it. A perfect example of how to make an album of blisteringly heavy music. The first record hinted at the heights capable of being reached for this band, and this follow-up well and truly delivered on the obvious promise. Brilliant.
2) CROWD CONTROL- MODERN BULLSHIT
I initially heard this band on their excellent side of the Mob Rules split, but I wasn’t expecting that I would end up rating their first LP highest of the two bands. I mean, they were still better than 99% of things I listen to, but this LP is just mind-blowing and on a next level. Taking influence from early grindcore and Japanese hardcore this record floors me every time I listen to it and they were one of the best bands I saw last year too.
3) MOB RULES- THE DONOR
What a record. Whilst it maintains the sound featured on their split with Crowd Control as well as The Donor 7” this record sees Mob Rules incorporating more fully ‘My War’ and ‘The Power of Expression’ influences, to devastating effect . The best 12” out of the UK for a long, long time.
4) SURROUNDINGS- S/T
Earlier in the year I couldn’t get enough of this record. It seems to have gone under the radar of a few people which is a shame. It’s heavy as anything whilst also being full of ambience which makes it an immersive listen, and one that I’m yet to tire of.
5) SUFFER- LONE
The best Australian hardcore album I’ve heard this year, picking up where Mind Eraser left off (not that they actually left off, but there’s only so many ways to say A sounds like B) and bands like Crossed Out or Infest started. But that’s just some lazy comparisons.
6) INTEGRITY- THE BLACKEST CURSE
Pretty much universally hailed as an excellent return to the 12” format for the band, a view that I can only echo.
7) WHITE BOSS- S/T
Apparently years in the making, this is one of the most expansive, mesmerising records I’ve heard all year. A truly overwhelming listen which combines noisy punk bands such as Sex/Vid with The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine.
8 ) SLICES- CRUISING
Released on Iron Lung, this pretty much shows everyone else how to make a noisy hardcore album and fully delivered on the promise of the previous 7”s. simultaneously rhythmic and aggressive, with a welcome dash of atmosphere.
9) NO CLASS- KEINE KLASS
They probably released my favourite demo of the year and followed it up with a suitably excellent full length on Deranged. Stompy hardcore which clearly takes influence from the classics without sounding too indebted to any of them.
10) BASTARD NOISE- A CULTURE OF MONSTERS
This was a late addition to the list as I only listened to it for the first time a few weeks ago. This combines the noise elements of BN’s previous releases with some MITBesque songs, and a few other bits here and there to create something which is rooted in the past but still sounds expansive and exciting.
7”
1) THE RIVAL MOB- HARDCORE FOR HARDCORE
Their best release so far, nothing else this year can compete. Too good.
2) COKE BUST- DEGRADATION
A worthy follow up to ‘Lines in the Sand’ which was my favourite LP of 2009.
3) VACCINE- HUMAN HATRED
As with the demo, this 7” features a load of distorted and raw ragers about hating people.
4) CROWD CONTROL- S/T
As with the LP, this 7” is immense. Also features Bastard and Citizen’s Arrest covers.
5) THE LOVE TRIANGLE- SPLENDID LIVING
The title track of this 3 song 7” is the catchiest and probably the best song I’ve heard all year.
6) NEVER AGAIN/MIND TRAP SPLIT
7) CONFINES- WITHDRAWN
8 ) MINDLESS- HUMAN CONDITIONING
9) MATURE SITUATIONS- CRACKED PELVIS
10) CLOSURE/TORN APART/MOUTH/BONESTORM SPLIT
Curb Crawl are a 4 piece band from up north, who play fast hardcore influenced by the likes of Poison Idea, xfilesx and Shark Attack.
This recording is their second release following their demo from earlier in the year.
It features 4 tracks, recorded in Autumn 2010 and comes with a link to download the songs.
This release is limited to 100 hand numbered tapes, 30 green tapes which will be available from the band at shows and 35 each of Black and White tapes available from me. Artwork is printed on translucent velum and each colour comes with a different colour inlay, which can be seen through the sleeve. You can see better in the picures what i mean…
They cost £3
Contact and listen to the band at www.myspace.com/curbcrawlhc
Purchase the tapes from me at www.whatwouldhenryrollinsdo.bigcartel.com
So last night was the last ever Lonewolves show. If you were there or you know anyone who was, you’ll have probably heard how special it was. Thank you for helping to make it so good and ensuring Lonewolves received a worthy send off.
It was such a weird mix of feelings, especially as they finished… excitement, happiness, a little bit of pride to be involved with something like this, but laced with sadness. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve seen them, not just in Norwich but across the country too, and the fact that I’m still not bored of the songs is testament to them as a band. The show was so much fun, and it was awesome to see so many people in Norwich coming together, whether it be playing in bands (Jackals, Baptists and Holy State) making cakes, helping me sort stuff out, making merch, covering the door, taking photos/filming stuff, or just hanging out and having fun. Norwich is a small city and as a result it’s never gonna have hundreds of people at every show, unless it’s Terror or something where everyone crawls out of the woodwork. But what we have right now i think rivals pretty much anywhere else in the country. Lonewolves have been the elder brothers of the bands in Norwich for the last couple of years, and i know that view is probably reflected by the rest of Jackals and Baptists. It’s been a privaledge to play shows with them, put them on, listen to their records and call them my friends. It’s sad I won’t be able to again, but I’ll look back on the whole thing fondly. They will be missed.
Seeing how sentimental people got at the end really made me realise that whilst to an extent hardcore is ‘just music’ it really does mean something to people. I won’t say anything lame or get into the state of mind that people do when they talk about the 80′s on documentaries, but seeing a load of my best friends, alongside complete strangers going crazy for Lonewolves was brilliant and that kind of reaction is something I don’t ever want to grow out of, and for as long as i can I’ll try and organise things so it can happen often.
However, to prove that NCHC will still be going strong without Lonewolves, there is another show this Tuesday featuring Mouth, Curb Crawl and Jackals. If you are reading this and you play an instrument, can write something or generally want to get involved do so. NCHC needs you to step up, form bands or do other cool shit!
I’ll leave you with some words from Tom, drummer of Lonewolves and one of the best people i know.
‘Last night was incredible and truly one I won’t be forgetting in a hurry. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped to make it not just an amazing last show, but also probably the best show I’ve played with any band. It meant so much to see so many people turn out – both close friends and strangers – to support all the bands and have a good time. Some people in this area can be inclined to whinge about the state of the scene in Norwich, but last night proved that it’s as healthy as it’s ever been and if you disagree then you probably weren’t there to witness it.
Also, I just want to say thank you to anyone who has ever cared about us as a band; anything from releasing our records, to just coming to a show; your support was invaluable and we honestly couldn’t have continued as long as we did without you all.
NCHC for ever.’
THE GREAT BEAST IS DEAD.
Jackals played with both these bands up in Leeds a while back, so it’s only right that they come down to Norwich. Both bands are playing shows in this week with Coke Bust, and although i couldn’t persuade the booking agents that Norwich was a better option than Leeds or Birmingham or something, this should still be fun, and they are two of my favourite bands in the UK without question.
Mouth play awesome fast hardcore/fastcore, and remind me of Los Crudos or Limp Wrist, and they also cover R.A.M.B.O. which should give you a decent idea. They’ve just released a split with Bonestorm, Closure and Torn Apart, following their own 7″ earlier in the year. Both records are great, so miss this and you are an idiot.
Curb Crawl play a slightly more dirgey negative style of hardcore, which is intersped frequently with blastbeats and fast riffs. They are great too. Seems to me like they take influence from bands like Extortion as much as Poison Idea, but both of those sound good to me. They’ve got a new EP coming out soon (details forthcoming) which hopefully will be ready for this show.
Once again it is at The Marquee. It’ll cost £4 to get in, they’ll probably be more cake and the show starts at 7.30.
As you probably are aware by now, Lonewolves are coming to an end in just over a weeks time. On a personal level, it’s a sad day for me as for the last few years they have been the older brothers within the Norwich ‘hardcore scene’ and have carried the torch for what bands do in this relatively small city. So they deserve a fucking awesome final show, and i hope this will be worthy.
I won’t talk too much about what Lonewolves sound like as i’ve done it plenty of times on this blog before, so I’ll just say they are one of my favourite UK bands without doubt, for a variety of reasons. I’m not sure how many times i’ve seen them play now, but they’ve never been anything other than great.
Holy State are from Norwich in a roundabout way, although they’ve only been based here recently. It’s a bit of a curveball this one for me, given that I’m not used to putting on bands that sit outside the limits of ‘hardcore’, but I’m looking forward to seeing them play, especially given what they have on the horizon. For a description of what they sound like, i’ve stolen some lines as they’ll be better and probably more accurate than anything i would write… ‘Musically enlightened beyond their years, the band take influence from post-hardcore legends Girls Against Boys, alt-rock gods Jesus Lizard, and indie institution The Fall at their darkest and most rhythmically driven, combined with a hint of Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ and a nod to Man or Astroman?’s sci-fi surf oddness.’
A couple of the other bands playing are my bands, Jackals and Dorian Gay, and I’m excited to be playing Norwich for the first time in a while with Jackals. This will also be our second show for over a year with a full Dorian Gay lineup, as Robbie is now back in Norwich. Hopefully with a few more practises we’ll be able to give the new songs we’ve been working on over the past year a proper airing as a full band.
Also playing are Baptists. Fresh from an ‘interesting’ show in Bury, they’ll be playing a load of new stuff off their forthcoming EP, which is currently being mixed. If you have heard the track on their MySpace you’ll know this a step up from the demo, which was already pretty great.
Doors will be at 7.30 and entry is only £3. Please come, if not for me, do it for Lonewolves.
Once again there will be cakes and stuff, and as it’s a special occasion of sorts, there will be a load of awesome stuff too, maybe someone will get drunk and embarass themselves dancing like Aunts do at wakes.
The excellent flyer was designed by Jordan Baxter, check his tumblr at http://jordanbaxter.tumblr.com/
If you want to tell facebook you are going to this, the event link is here- http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=111004042293371&ref=ts
