Straight Edge Razor

In case you can't get enough Brendan Radigan bands...XfilesX, Rival Mob, Battle Ruins, Magic Circle, Stone Dagger...React! Records gives us one more with Straight Razor.

Back in February, I was pretty excited to grab a test press for this 7 inch. It was a cool experience to own a record that wasn't yet available to even order at the time.

Straight Razor were a straight edge band, but honestly, I was hoping this was going to be a bit over the top with its edge-ness. I expected this to be right up in your face, with lyrics in the vein of Slapshot. Radigan has an over the top personality with his bands, and I expected this one to follow suit. Basically we just get more Rival Mob style lyrics...still good, but not what I was hoping for.

150 on gold vinyl, and 350 on black.

REACT! Week - Part 4: Straight Razor Test

While we might have come to the end of React! Week here on the blog, I'm sure that the celebrations for this label will continue throughout the year. Obviously one of my all time favorite labels...

So of course we have to end the week on a high note, and I can't think of a better way than doing so with a test pressing of a record that isn't even available yet for preorder.

"Christ, what an arrogant, attention seeking prick...someone queue up a certain song from Alone In A Crowd for this loser.".

Okay, now that we've gotten that out of our system, lets get to how great this Straight Razor 7 inch is. Remember when Rival Mob topped everyone's list a couple of years ago? Well Radigan is fronting this band...you know, when he isn't busy with Stone Dagger, Magic Circle, Battle Ruins or Rival Mob...so you better believe the hype here. I expect to see this go down as one of my Hardcore favorites of 2015.

Number 17 of 24 tests pressed.

Absolutes | A New England Hardcore Comp

Another 7 inch compilation. You know I'm not a fan of these things, right? In this internet day and age, do we still need 7 inch comps to introduce us to new bands? I don't really think so, but still, this New England hardcore comp opened my eyes to a couple of bands...and I live in New England, so I guess it did it's job.

The biggest selling point for me on this comp was Sweet Jesus. They are one of Pat Flynn's many bands...the guitarist also plays in Dropdead, which makes for an interesting combination. Sweet Jesus, however, play in a style that in a similar vein as Swiz, so yeah, it is pretty fucking cool.

Death Injection deliver again with some angry Straight Edge Hardcore, but Straight Razor brought a nice surprise. They are another Brendan Radigan (Rival Mob/Magic Circle/Stone Dagger/Battle Ruins) band, and they deliver some solid Hardcore. While I'm not a big fan of Test Of Time, the song here isn't too bad...on the other hand, I have no issue skipping the Holy Hands track every time through.

There were 100 pressed on white vinyl, but according to the note from the label, they came out as pink instead. That's cool. I'll take pink over white vinyl any day.