To My Grave

I've been blogging like mad lately, in an attempt to get all the new records for 2018 posted up here before the end of the year. I finally finished and posted the last 2018 release yesterday, and was expecting to get one day off before I dove into my end of the year wrap up...and then the new Protester record landed in my mailbox, giving me one more record to write about before we close out the year.

I had no idea that there was a new Protester record on the way, and I was kind of surprised when I saw a couple posts for it on Instagram recently. I didn't know what was going on, so I let it sit for a couple of weeks before I bothered looking into when it was coming out and who was releasing it. Once I starting searching for info online, that was when I found the video they shot for Watch Them Fall...and I loved it.

I quickly headed over to New Absolute Records to order a copy, and was crushed to discover that they had the limited gold vinyl listed as out of stock. With only the black vinyl available, I still ordered one to get the album into my collection. A couple of days after placing my order, I was surprised to find an email from someone, saying that they were packing up my Protester record, and they wanted to know if I was straight edge. I had a glimmer of hope that this was related to the gold vinyl, and replied back to let them know that I've proudly been straight edge for the past 28 years. I had no email response, but I was pleasantly surprised when the record arrived yesterday.

So excited to see that gold piece of paper with my name on it. This is possibly the coolest insert for any record...ever.

This album is killer, and even though I've only had time to give it one spin, I can tell that I'm going to have to go back and redo the Top 10 list that I made in preparation for my year end recap.

Used Future

I've got time to get in one final new release from 2018, before I get ready to close things out with my End Of The Year post.

At one time I really liked The Sword, but when they released their High Country album back in 2015, I kind of soured on them. The album seemed to mark a change of direction from the band, moving away from their doom metal sound, and I resisted it, and refused to give it a chance. Fuck that maturing bullshit. I wanted them to stay the same.

Given how resistant I was to the last record, I'm not sure what made me download a copy of their new album, Used Future. I gave the songs a listen, and surprisingly, I didn't want to just delete it from my iPod. I hung on to it, and occasionally would give it a spin, and it slowly grew on me. Sure this isn't a doomy as their first few records, but man, these are some chill tunes.

I love the look of this cover art, and the red vinyl is a nice touch.

Damned In The Metal Church

When Mike Howe reunited with Kurdt Vanderhoof for another run with Metal Church a couple years ago, I was blown away with how great they still sounded. No doubt...they could still deliver so solid metal. Given that it had been 20 years since Howe had been in a band and touring, I kind of figured that this would be a short lived reunion. I thought they would get together, have some fun recording a new album...maybe tour a bit, and then Mike Howe would go back to the life he'd been living and that would be it. I was very happy to be wrong when I heard that they were recording a new album earlier this year.

Now, I really loved the last Metal Church album with Howe, XI. It was definitely one of my favorite metal albums in 2016, so I was curious to see if the band could pull off that same magic this time around.

The album was just released a couple weeks ago, and now I've got to keep jamming this record to see how it stacks up before the end of the year. It is going to be tough to figure where Damned If You Do lands when I'm putting my list together, but I might be enjoying this album more than their last one.

I was excited for a new Metal Church record, so I dove in head first and ordered the deluxe pressing straight from the label.

The packaging for this pressing is so good...with all kinds of nice extras. Such a nice job with the inner sleeves, lyric booklet, OBI style strip, and a bonus print of the cover artwork...this thing is total quality, front to back.

Numbered out of 500 for this limited collectors edition.

I Swing This Sword

Mindforce came very close to taking the top spot as my favorite hardcore record in 2017. That 7 inch impresses the fuck out of me to this day with it's killer crossover sound. That record was fire...so I was excited when I started to hear word that Triple B was going to be releasing an album from the band earlier this year.

Oh hell yes! This album delivers and hits all those crossover sweet spots with some killer riffs and at times the guitar tone sounds like Slayer. Damn near perfect.

Somehow I missed the word that preorders were up for this record, and by the time I got in there, the limited splatter vinyl that is limited to 100 was sold out. Initially I was bummed, but the bone/bronze swirl looks great, so it's all good. 300 pressed on this colored vinyl.

Revolution Sunstroke

2018 was shaping up to be a good year for hardcore records, and surprisingly, I found myself in an adventurous mood and looking to check out something new. Someone that I follow on Instagram posted a picture of a record for a band named Sunstroke, calling it a record of the year contender, so I decided to follow up and check it out.

Comparisons were being made about the Sunstroke record having that Revolution Summer sound, and I guess that is valid, but to my ears, it reminds me more of those early to mid-90's years...when hardcore bands seemed to be following their own path and making their own sounds.

There have been a few bands that are a bit off my beaten path, but all falling into that similar style, that have popped up on my radar recently. Future Waves haven't seen a vinyl release, and the Moonkisser 12 inch sold out before I even knew it existed, so I was happy to grab a physical copy of this new Sunstroke record. One out of three...for now.

88 pressed on gold vinyl.

X bystander X

There have already been a number of solid hardcore records released this year, but let's add one more to the pile with Bystander.

I'm wary of older hardcore dudes that seem to come out of retirement and put together new bands ten or more years after their original heyday. I'm not doubting their sincerity or passion, but there are times when the whole affair just falls flat.

With Greg Bennick from Trial picking up the mic again, and fronting Bystander, I just had a feeling that this was going to be good. I was not disappointed.

This record is great, and Greg spits lyrics sounding like we are still back in the late 90's.

The packaging for this is very well done, with the fold out cover that is embossed with a nice big "X". 150 pressed on baby blue colored vinyl.

Sword Woman

A couple years ago, I started following Sarah Kitteringham on Instagram, and shortly after, I happened to see her at a show in Boston for Saint Vitus and Skull...and then all of a sudden she was a part of the Banger TV crew, and posting up videos of record and tape reviews. She was very passionate about music, and had a great attitude and video personality, so when she announced that her band posted their demo on bandcamp, I was interested to check it out.

Smoulder have a great epic doom sound, and I was really enjoying the three song demo. When the band pressed two of those songs to a 7 inch, I didn't hesitate to order a copy.

Damn, these songs are so good. So glad that the band gave them a proper release on vinyl. I certainly hope there is a follow up!

Hand numbered, with 106 on red vinyl, and another 217 on black.

Slough Feg 7 inch

It has been four long years since the last Slough Feg album, and my introduction to the band. It was cool to discover them at the time, and dig through some of the eight albums they had released prior to Digital Resistance. The band plays some pretty fucking cool traditional metal, with their own unique sound, so it was exciting news to discover that they band was releasing a new single in 2018.

I believe that Slough Feg are recording a new LP, and this single is just a teaser of what is to come...and if that is the case, I'm excited to hear what they deliver in 2019, because this New Organon song is excellent...just Slough Feg being Slough Feg.

The b-side cover song from The Police is kind of cool, but really, I just want more Slough Feg songs.

Strike One And Two Of The Beast

Trevor William Church has been a man on a mission. In addition to the two records that he released this year with his band Haunt, the man cranked out 32 songs, spread over eight EPs for his band, Beastmaker.

Originally released only on Bandcamp over the summer this year, with each EP being priced at a dollar, it was too much Beastmaker for me to take in all at once. While I did download all eight EPs, I only loaded half of them to iTunes. I mean I like Beastmaker, but come on, 32 songs at once was going to be overkill.

The songs themselves are cool little slices of doom. Nothing mind blowing, or drawing me back for repeat listens, but they are still pretty cool.

The best part about these EPs is the artwork. Those covers look amazing, and I'd probably buy them for that alone. So when Trevor took it upon himself to press the first two EPs, and combine them on a 12 inch record, I jumped in to grab one.

Dark Days Ahead

Iron Reagan have released two EPs this year...at this point, I'm not feeling confident that I'll be able to pick up their split with Gatecreeper before the end of the year, but at least I was able to grab the Dark Days Ahead one sided 12 inch.

Iron Reagan records are always a good time, and this quick blast of five songs in eight minutes is no exception. The band still lets it rip with that Crossover sound. I was surprised to see this record released on the Pop Wig label, which is home to bands like Angel Du$t and Turnstile...and while Iron Reagan is from that same area, it still seemed like an odd fit...but then again, the label seems to have an odd roster.

200 pressed on yellow vinyl, with an etched b-side that is impossible to photograph.

Witch's Game

Band reunions aren't a surprise anymore. Seems like all the old school bands are getting together to either play at some big festival or to try and ignite the spark again with some new songs. Sometimes it works out, and other times it falls flat.

Cirith Ungol were a metal band out of California in the 80's, and they had their own distinct kind of sound that people seem to either love or hate. I wasn't too familiar with them back in the day, but over the past couple of years, I've really come to appreciate them. So when I heard that the band was back after a 27 year absence, and planning to release a one song 12 inch this year, I was definitely in to check it out.

As soon as I checked out the band's new song, Witch's Game, I was immediately hooked. Holy shit. I honestly have no idea where the band is going with this. I don't know if this is a prelude of what is to come, or if it was a burst of brilliance and they were done. Whatever the case may be, this song absolutely rules. If this was a full album, and it captured this level of doom perfection for the entire thing, this would be near my top records for 2018.

100 pressed on this nice looking clear dark brown marbled vinyl, and only available from the band.

Atomic Kingpin

One of the greatest crimes of the early 90's hardcore era was seeing the second Kingpin record fail to be released. At the time, there was talk that Redemption Records was going to release it, and after a strong string of records from Encounter, Ressurection and Four Walls Falling, I thought that this label would give Kingpin exposure to a wider audience outside of Boston. Then Redemption Records disappeared, and along with it, Kingpin's second record.

The songs from the recording session of their unreleased record had been shared through the internet for years, but it was great news to hear that Atomic Action was finally making them available with an official record release in 2018.

I was at the final Kingpin show back in '93, which I assume is where the photos on this record are from, so I as disappointed to not find my face in the crowd...although, earlier that night, during one of the other band's sets, I got kicked in the face from a stagediver, knocking me out for a second, giving me a black eye and chipping my front tooth...so even though I was up front for most of Kingpin's set, I was a bit gun shy, and was probably covering my head and protecting my face when the crowd started to get wild.

300 pressed on both white and red vinyl.

Atomic Action is one of the few labels that will make copies of the test pressings available to buy direct from them. I grabbed their reissue of the Verbal Assault album earlier this year, and did not hesitate to pick up a copy of the Kingpin test as soon as it was available. A steal at $15, and I can't believe that months later, they still have some available in their webstore.

Nice test press cover. Well done and hand numbered.

Atomic Action likes for you know which number you have, and they let you know on the back cover, the label, and the dust sleeve...although, the back cover says it it limited to 25, while the dust sleeve and label stickers show it is numbered out of 20.

Book Of Bad Decisions

The last few Clutch albums have been huge for me. Their music has been infectious as hell, and never failed to put a smile on my face or have me singing along and moving to the music. I've absolutely loved them, so it was obvious that I was going to grab their new album this year.

First of all, let me say that I had pre-ordered so many new records that by the time release day came around for the new Clutch album, I couldn't even remember if I'd ordered one or not. I mean, I was pretty sure that I did, but I couldn't remember where I would have ordered it from, and I was wondering if maybe I skipped the pre-order, and was going to just buy it from the local store. A couple days after the release date, they mystery was solved when the record arrived in the mail.

Apparently, some where along the way, I got word that Interpunk had the coke bottle colored vinyl pressing available, and it was listed as "very limited"...not just "limited", but VERY limited...so I grabbed myself a copy. This pressing appears to still be available at Interpunk, five months after I'd placed my order, so either I was one of the few that was interested, or they have a loose definition on the phrase "very limited".

Either way, this is a cool record. It doesn't give me the same level of excitement as Earth Rocker and Psychic Warfare, as this album feels a bit more laid back than those two, but I still really enjoy it...and the song How To Shake Hands is so damn good.

Strange packaging that the song listing isn't anywhere on the album cover, and is just listed on a sticker that was stuck to the shrink wrap, which I had to carefully remove and save.

Skull Crusher

The new 2018 releases keep coming in! Another record, in a long list of new albums that I've been excited for, was the new one from The Skull.

Four years after The Skull released their debut album, they finally give us a follow up...and while it took me a little bit to get into For Those Which Are Asleep, with The Endless Road Turns Dark, I found myself immediately hooked. Eric Wagner's voice harkens back to those albums from Trouble that I love so much, and the doom delivers on this album with plenty of heavy riffs and lots of layers and texture.

I'm not really a fan of the gray and black splatter colored vinyl. I just looks kind of flat and uninspired to me...the music on the other hand is exactly what I'm looking for from this band.

Into The Void

When I was in the Shadow Kingdom webstore, picking up the new Haunt album, I was in the mood to check out some newer metal bands, and possibly add another record to the cart before checking out.

I saw that the label was releasing a new album from a band named Iron Void, and while I'd never heard of this band before, they were listed as a doom metal band for fans of the usual suspects, such as Sabbath, Vitus and Pentagram. I took a quick preview of a couple Iron Void songs on their bandcamp page...I liked what I heard, so I grabbed a copy of the new album.

I was surprised to find that Iron Void have been kicking around for the past 10 years, and Excalibur is their fourth studio album. Damn, they have been flying under the radar, and I'm glad that I checked them out because this is some solid doom. It's funny that I was in the webstore for the new Haunt, but as it turns out, I'm appreciating this Iron Void album much more.

Black Hare

Much to my dismay, I completely missed the boat when it came to the limited clear vinyl pressing of the new Red Hare album when it was released earlier this year. Having picked up both the red and the blue pressings of their last album, Nites Of Midnight, missing out on the clear vinyl for this new record was difficult for me to deal with. I immediately added it to my Discogs want list, prepared to pay top dollar, and I assumed that one would pop up soon. Weeks turned to months and I didn't have a single hit...and here we are almost six months later and I still haven't seen a single copy in the wild.

When Sandwell came over from the UK to visit NYC again, once again we arranged to meet up in Boston for a day of record shopping. The weather was terrible, with wind and driving rain, but we did not let that deter us as we hit up Newbury Comics and Armageddon Shop in Harvard Square. I made out with a pretty good record haul during Mark's trip last Spring, but this time around, surprisingly, I walked away with only a single record that I'd picked up at Newbury's.

While I'd really been holding out for the clear vinyl pressing of Little Acts Of Destruction, seeing the regular press in the clearance bin for only $8.00 made it difficult to walk away...plus we were closing in on the end of the year, and I really wanted a copy in my collection before I started putting together my Best Of 2018 list.

While this album didn't have the immediate impact of their first record, I've really warmed up to this album, so it will be interesting to see where it lands at the end of the year.

Just a couple of nerds in Boston!

Haunted Flame

Trevor William Church is a busy man. Not only is he the driving force for Beastmaker, but he also has Haunt going as well. The Haunt EP from earlier this year was pretty solid, so when they released their first album a few months later, I was on board to check it out.

This is some solid heavy metal. It doesn't exactly blow me away, but it is worth a spin.

Shadow Kingdom Records pressed this album on a few different colors, with the black and the silver pressings being more limited, but man, that orange/red split with black splatter looked so damn good that I had to grab one. 1,500 pressed but who cares when it looks this good. Nice addition of a giant poster as well!

Satan's Cruel Magic

Time for my annual, end of year panic attack, as I've got a ton of new releases that I need to start hammering out here, in order to get them all up on the blog, before the end of the year. Time for me to get to work.

After reforming in 2011, Satan released Life Sentence in 2013 and Atom By Atom in 2015, and both albums shot to the top of my Best Of lists for those years. I was in awe with how great they still sounded, so when I discovered that the band was releasing another new album this year, my expectations were high.

Satan do not disappoint! They continue to crank out solid traditional Heavy Metal albums, and Cruel Magic maintains that fire and excitement they had when they were a part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene back in the early 80's. This record will definitely be near the top of my list this year.

Yellow/ochre marbled colored vinyl is limited to 200.

Tensions On High

Man, with those first two Take Offense records, I was absolutely loving the band. Their Suicidal/Join The Army sound sucked me in, and I could not get enough of it. I was so high on the band that when they dropped their United States Of Mind album in 2013, I had no control and bought every single pressing and bonus record that I could get my hands on...which then turned into the biggest disappointment, and was probably the catalyst for me ending my run of buying every pressing for albums.

When I heard that Take Offense were releasing an EP earlier this year, I approached it with a bit of caution. While I was still interested to see if the band could rebound, I was not rushing in blindly, and I refused to buy a copy until I'd heard the entire record.

Yes! This was everything that I'd hoped for, and the band completely redeemed themselves from the lackluster sound of their last album. I am loving this record, and it remains to be seen how high it will go for my Best of 2018 list.

Originally, this EP seemed to only be available on cassette through REV. I could not find a vinyl release anywhere, and it was driving me mad to find a copy. At some point I had seen an Instagram post the 7 inch pressing for Tensions On High, so I knew it existed, and I was doing weekly searches online trying to find a place that was selling them. Finally, I discovered that Upstate Records was distributing the record in the US, and I quickly bought a copy. Happy to finally have this!

Remission To Believe

There was a time when I was all about Remission, and would get wild when it came to collecting every pressing that I could get my hands on. It has been over five years since they released the Pain Understood 7 inch, and I was surprised to see that they were still around when React Records announced preorders for a new album. Damn. I was initially underwhelmed with the last Remission 7 inch, and while I did grow to enjoy it, with so much time having passed, I wondered if the band could still deliver.

Without a doubt, this is a strong hardcore album. Remission have not missed a beat, and keep going with their Verbal Assault influenced sound...although this time around, I get a little Jon Bunch/Reason To Believe flavor here and there...even that screaming face on the cover is reminiscent of Reason To Believe.

Here I am buying Remisison records from React. It feels like it's 2010 all over again, and that put me in the mood to buy multiple copies.

150 pressed on white colored vinyl, and 350 on red.