“Hardcore” (Used 24 times)

If you love punk music, it's an incredible time to live in NYC. In celebration of the current surfeit, New York's Alright will be kicking off 4/20 weekend with a slection of comtemporary punk and hardcore bands from around the world. In anticipation, you can download this free mix of bands who will be playing the fest including the Altered Boys, Bad Noids, CREEM, Hounds of Hate, No Class & Nomad. These are all live performances expertly recorded on WFMU's Distort Jersey City with Deed Runlea.

NJ's IDES did what I'm always a sucker for—treated their live WFMU appearance as something unique and special, considered the medium / opportunity of a live radio appearance, and planned accordingly. In addition to their mini-masterpieces—tight, well-composed songs of 40 secs. to one minute in length, they bridged those songs with a series of improvised, powerful "interludes," cleverly paced and sequenced passages of enthused energy.

I knew immediately upon hearing IDES for the first time that they were a cut above simply another hardcore band, with an intensity and dedication to their sound that transcended genrefication. They pretty much played straight through their 22-min. onslaught, wound tight as a battlefield tourniquet, though there were two ever-so-momentary "breaks," which is where I cut up the otherwise-continuum presented here, for your mp3 enjoyment, stream or download. 

Like the predatory sea mammals we have today, the Megalodon cannot stop, or it dies, and the sonic charisma of IDES remains intact. The band have an incredible "swing" to everything they do, such that even an old fart like myself can daydream about careening off the stage head-first into the pit; all you'd see of me would be the flat heels of my Converse hi-tops, back when such footwear actually sort-of supported my meager arches.

The noise bridges are welcome, carefully placed throughout the set, and sound casually great, miles away from anything even remotely half-arsed. So, the verdict is and remains that New Jersey is a reliable, consistent font for all things hardcore and punk, and beyond; look just across the Hudson, 'cause great things are happening.

Can't thank the band enough for playing, adding yet another outstanding, highly memorable live performance to the ever-growing WFMU / My Castle of Quiet pantheon. Thanks also to engineer Juan A. for the reliable, versatile and casual application of his considerable talent, translating the often-chaotic happenings across the double-glass into something radio-ready and highly listenable.

If the Free Music Archive has started sounding a little more hardcore to you lately, shake your quiet down fists at WFMU's Distort Jersey City. Here are a couple acts they've recently recorded live.

According to their Facebook, Pink Reason’s interests are tragedy, suffering and excess. Hailing from eternal swing state Ohio, the Columbus quartet recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. They’ve toured Europe, Australia and New Zeleand, releasing a slew of albums, singles and E.P.s in between on the Siltbreeze label and Savage Quality Recordings. Singer Kevin Failure’s impassioned growl underpinned by Matt Horsehit’s rhythm guitar make for lofi that’s as excessive as it gets.

Nuclear Santa Claust, as the name suggests, are both toxic and explosive. With Jim Orgin and Zach G’s shared vocals and three chord strums and Brenden Beecy’s crusading drums, the trio wears its Ramones inspiration on its leather jacket sleeves. But the NSC sound is more frenzied and ramshackle than its predecessors. ‘Bikini Island’, off their self-titled 2011 EP is the Rockaway Beach for a polluted generation.

Brooklyn's exceptional Divorce Money, one of the finest, mournful, hardcore bands around (who for whatever reason have not been released on Youth Attack, though their eminence and songwriting parallels the best releases on that label), brought something a little different from the careening, tortured pleasure of their 7" EP and tape, to their My Castle of Quiet live appearance. I'm a sucker for artists who consider their radio set to be an in-its-own-world kind of event, and this one was was borne out of sheer circumstance.

Down a drummer for the night, after having rescheduled with the show once already, Divorce Money more than rose to the occasion, bringing something no less "punk," and definitely no less tortured, though musically more along the lines of the best jams of Missing Foundation or Flipper. Friend of the band Jonathan C. stepped in quite admirably on drums, tapping out a mighty dirge into the night, with DM members Rene on vocals and Alex on guitar (with much feedback, yes!)

I have not been as active on the FMA, since recently getting married and spending a lot of my time writing and playing in my new band, Torture Architect.

Our first gig will be a FREE SHOW celebrating the 20th Anniversary of NJ's Hardcore band, Rest Assured? (also singer Jay's 40th Birthday). Jay also operates Roacho 13 Records, releasing tapes, vinyl, and CDs since the early 90's, along with putting on shows, many charitable, and mostly all-ages for as many years.

"Torture Architect, featuring former members of Tyrannosaurus Dracula, Animal Blood and featuring The Wizard Of Gore, explores the Reptilian alien agenda via experimental heavy thrash punk reminiscent of D.C.'s United Mutation, or the early years of The Accüsed."

Friday, September 9th with...

Rest Assured?

Dead Serious (featuring Ryan Bland of Home 33)

@ "the BLVD"  401 Boulevard in Elmwood Park, NJ 9PM 21+