World Full Of Hate

Last year was a great year for Hardcore, with one of the best surprises being the debut LP from Hounds of Hate. Great stuff in the vein of early Sick of it All and Killing Time. You can't ignore a band like this...well, you can, but you'd be a chump.

Over this past summer, I was surprised to see the band post up a new album, Hate Springs Eternal, on their bandcamp page. Seriously, what Hardcore bands can turn out two albums in two years? Unheard of.

Even though the band offered up a free download of the album, I still wasn't too excited over it. Digital releases do nothing for me, and it wasn't until a couple of months later, when the vinyl finally went up for sale, that I started to pay attention.

Hounds of Hate are great at what they do, and they keep doing it with Hate Springs Eternal. Man, this is the real deal. Hardcore that is loud and agressive, with a chip on the shoulder and nothing to prove. The band didn't need to rely on some well known label to get this album on the streets...no...they decided to go all D.I.Y., and release it themselves. Fantastic job too. Quality through and through.

Hate And Redemption

While shopping in the Grave Mistake webstore, I found myself on a bit of a shopper's high, and just started adding things to my cart. In addition to the Written Off record, there was another 7 inch that I'd put off buying for far too long, and took the opportunity to rectify the situation.

The Hounds Of Hate LP was one of my biggest surprises from last year. Man, that thing is so hardcore. Such a great early Sick Of It All/Killing Time/NYHC sound.

The No Redemption 7 inch isn't nearly as good as the LP, but it still shows hints of the brilliance that is to come. If things just keep getting better with this band, the new album this year is going to be killer.

Down With The Hounds

More Painkiller pre-orders that I didn't want to miss out on...

The Trust were a Boston Straight Edge band that were making a good name for themselves in the late 90's. They released a 7 inch on a new label at the time, Bridge Nine, and were getting a great response opening for bands like In My Eyes. Then I lost track of them, and they seemed to disappear. Years later I found out that some of the members went on to form a new band called Down But Not Out, and they recorded a demo in '99. I was listening to a lot of Anti-Flag and Good Riddance at the time, so DBNO never really made it onto my radar, and I never had the chance to check them out. 14 years later, Painkiller pressed the demo to vinyl, and properly introduce the band to me.

This is pretty good stuff, but honestly, I'm not blown away by it. What did surprise me was how fast this thing sold out. In a flash, they were gone from the Painkiller store with promises of another pressing on the way.

This version of the Down But Not Out 7 inch was hand stamped and limited to 117 for the Painkiller 10th anniversary show. The show ended up being cancelled for one reason or another, so the label just threw them up in their webstore.

A few months ago I first heard Sectarian Violence, and it kicked me in the ass. It fired me up and got me in the mood for some new hardcore. I'd heard the name Hounds of Hate tossed around recently, but I thought the band's name was shitty, so I just never paid attention. With Painkiller prepared to put up pre-orders for their new LP, and my desire for something new, I figured that I'd take my head out of the sand and finally check them out.

Damn! I'm impressed. Hounds of Hate remind me of those early Sick Of It All or Killing Time albums. Such a great NYHC sound. I am loving this.

Only pressed on black vinyl. 1,000 pressed.