Craneo-Demo (2020)

Country: Spain
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, D-Beat
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 6
Length: 5.10'

Craneo is a band from Granada, Spain who formed in 2019, from the looks of things.  Craneo play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, crust, and d-beat withint their sound.  Musically, Craneo can be loosely compared to bands such as Muro, Condition, No Power, Orden Mundial, and other like-minded bands.  This is the band's debut demo, which was released on March 10th, 2020.  On their self-titled demo, Craneo offer up six tracks of brutal and vicious as fuck sounding hardcore, punk, crust, and d-beat.  Overall,Craneo's demo makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Secular Media-Consume Beyond Hunger EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Thrash, Powerviolence, Fastcore
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 5
Length: 3.55'

Secular Media is a band from Washington, DC who formed in 2017, from the looks of things.  Secular Media play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, thrash, powerviolence, and fastcore within their sound.  Musically, Secular Media can be loosely compared to bands such as early Weekend Nachos, Gets Worse, Crossed Out, Infest, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2017, Secular Media have released a self-titled demo in February of 2017.  Consume Beyond Hunger is the band's latest EP, which was released on March 20th, 2020.  On Consume Beyond Hunger, Secular Media offer up five tracks of vicious and scathing hardcore, punk, thrash, poweviolence, and fastcore.  Overall, Consume Beyond Hunger makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Snubbed-Set Me Free EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Powerviolence
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 6
Length: 4.30'

Snubbed is a four piece band from Brooklyn, New York who formed in 2018.  Snubbed play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, and powerviolence within their sound.  Musically, Snubbed can be loosely compared to bands such as The Lowest Form, Bad Breeding, Walls, Gag, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2018, Snubbed have released a self-titled demo in May of 2018 and an eleven song self-titled LP in July of 2019.  Set Me Free is the band's latest EP, which was released on March 21st, 2020.  On Set Me Free, Snubbed offer up six tracks of vicious, ugly, and ultra-negative sounding hardcore, punk, and powerviolence.  Overall, Set Me Free makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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(U.S.) Devil's Den-Barbed New Religion LP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Atomic Action!
Tracks: 12
Length: 14.35'

Devil's Den is a four piece band from Kansas City, Missouri who formed in the fall of 2017.  Devil's Den play a killer mix of noise damaged Japanese and American style hardcore.  Musically, Devil's Den can be loosely compared to bands such as Gag, Society Nurse, Solutions, Sect Mark, Rashomon, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2017, Devil's Den have released a five song EP titled Intruder in September of 2017, an eight song EP titled First Nature Brutalism in October of 2018, and a self-titled live cassette in November of 2019. Barbed New Religion is the band's latest LP, which was released via Atomic Action! records on March 26th, 2020.  On Barbed New Religion, Devil's Den offer up twelve tracks of raging, scathing, and ugly as fuck sounding hardcore/punk.  Overall, Barbed New Religion makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Devil's Den-First Nature Brutalism EP (2018)

Billy & The Bad Peach-Bruised EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Garage Rock, Death Rock, Noise Rock
Label: Wet Cassettes
Tracks: 4
Length: 9.20

Billy & The Bad Peach is a four piece band from New Jersey who formed in 2018, from the looks of things.  Billy & The Bad Peach features members of Parch, so going on that alone, you know you're in for something truly special  Billy & The Bad Peach play a dark and gloomy style of music that incorporates elements of punk, garage rock, death rock, and noise rock within their sound.  Since forming in 2018, Billy & The Bad Peach have released a self-titled demo in September of 2019.  Bruised is the band's EP, which was released via Wet Cassettes on March 27th, 2020.  On Bruised, Billy & The Bad Peach offer up four tracks of dark and gloomy punk, garage rock, death rock, and noise rock.  Overall, Bruised makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Billy & The Bad Peach-Demo (2019)

(U.S.) WOORMS-Twitching, As Prey LP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Post Metal, Punk, Doom, Sludge, Stoner Metal
Label: Sludgelord Records
Tracks: 10
Length: 37.20

Woorms is a three piece band from Baton Rouge, LA who formed in early 2017, from the looks of things.  Woorms play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of post metal, punk, doom, sludge, and stoner metal within their sound.  Musically, Woorms can be loosely compared to bands such as Eyerhategod, Buzzoven, Melvins, War Brides, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2017, Woorms have released five digital singles, a self-titled six song demo in March of 2017, a six song demos EP in April of 2017, a split 7" with A Hanging in April of 2018, a self-titled two song 8" in March of 2018, and a ten song LP titled Slake in January of 2019.  Twitching, As Prey is the band's debut full-length LP, which was released via Sludgelord records on March 27th, 2020.  On Twitching, As Prey, WOORMS offer up ten tracks of killer post metal, punk, doom, sludge, and stoner metal.  Overall, Twitching, As Prey makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

WOORMS on Bandcamp
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WOORMS-Slake LP (2019)
WOORMS/A Hanging-Split (2018)

The Microbes-American Dream EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 4
Length: 5.40'

The Microbes are a two piece band from Manchester, CT who formed in 2019.  The Microbes play a high energy, no-frills style of hardcore/punk.  Musically, The Microbes can be loosely compared to bands such as SSD, Germs, Youth Brigade, Citizen's Arrest, and other like-minded 80's hardcore/punk bands.  Since forming in 2019, The Microbes have released a self-titled demo in May of 2019  American Dream is the band's latest EP, which was released on March 27th, 2020.  On American Dream, The Microbes offer up four tracks of no-frills/bare bones 80's influenced hardcore/punk.  Overall, American Dream makes for a solid listen and definitely should not be missed.  Enjoy!

The Microbes on Bandcamp
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The Microbes-Demo (2019)

Bodiless-Coated In Blue EP (2018)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 6
Length: 17.10'

Bodiless is a four piece band from Hudson, County, NJ who formed in 2017, from the looks of things.  Bodiless play a killer style of metallic modern hardcore/punk.  Musically, Bodiless can be loosely compared to bands such as American Nightmare, The Hope Conspiracy, Tap And Die, Godcollider, School Drugs, and other like-minded bands.  Coated In Blue is the band's debut EP, which was released on December 4th, 2018.  On Coated In Blue, Bodiless offer up six tracks of killer metallic hardcore/punk.  Overall, Coated In Blue makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed. Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Ritual Blade-Hell On Earth EP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, D-Beat
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 5
Length: 12.40'

Ritual Blade is a four piece band from Massachusetts who formed in 2016, from the looks of things.  Ritual Blade play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, crust, and d-beat within their sound.  Musically, Ritual Blade can be loosely compared to bands such as Iron Hand, Tragedy, His Hero Is Gone, American Nightmare, Cursed, Moral Void, Baptists, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2016, Ritual Blade have released self-titled nine song LP in November of 2016, a three song EP titled Hollow Gods in March of 2017, and a three song EP titled Hidden Pain in October of 2017.  Hell On Earth is the band's latest EP, which was released on June 14th, 2019.  On Hell On Earth, Ritual Blade offer up five tracks of vicious, scathing, and brutal as fuck sounding hardcore, punk, crust, and d-beat.  Overall, Hell On Earth makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Ritual Blade on Bandcamp
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Ritual Blade-S/T LP (2016)

(U.S.) Spotlights-We Are All Automatic EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Post Metal, Doom, Shoegaze
Label: Blues Funeral Recortdings
Tracks: 4
Length: 23.40'

Spotlights is a three piece band from Brooklyn, NY who formed in 2012.  Spotlights play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of post metal, doom, and shoegaze within their sound.  Musically, Spotlights can be loosely compared to bands such as True Widow, Helms Alee, King Woman, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2012, Spotlights have released a digital single titled 050809 in June of 2013, a five song demo in November of 2015, a three song EP titled Spiders in December of 2016, a six song LP titled Tidals in May of 2016, a five song live Audioreee EP in December of 2017, an eleven song LP titled Seismic in October of 2017, and four song EP titled Hanging By Faith in June of 2018, and an eight song LP titled Love & Decay in April of 2019.  We Are All Automatic is the band's latest EP, which was released via Blues Funeral Recordings on March 27th, 2020.  On We Are All Automatic, Spotlights offer up four tracks of killer post metal, doom, and shoegaze.   Overall, We Are All Automatic makes for an amazing listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

Spotlights on Bandcamp
Blues Funeral Recordings on Bandcamp
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(CAN) Wake-Devouring Ruin LP (2020)

Country: Canada
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, Grindcore
Label: Translation Loss
Tracks: 10
Length: 45.10'

Wake is a four piece band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada who formed in 2011, from the looks of things.  Wake play a caustic, blown-out, and chaotic as fuck sounding style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, crust, and grindcore.  Musically, Wake can be said to be influenced by bands such as Nausum, Brutal Truth, Discordance Axis, Napalm Death, Cursed, The Secret, and other like-minded. Since their inception in 2011, Wake have released a fourteen song LP titled Leeches in September of 2011, a three song EP titled Dephosphorus in April of 2012, a split 7" with Rehashed, an eleven song LP titled False in June of 2013,  a split 7" with Theories in May of 2014, an eight song EP titled Sowing The Seeds of A Worthless Tomorrow in February of 2016, and a nine song LP titled Misery Rites in February of 2018.  Devouring Ruin is Wake's latest full-length LP, which was released via Translation Loss records on March 27th, 2020.  On Devouring Ruin, Wake offer up ten tracks of scathing and chaotic as fuck sounding hardcore, punk, crust, and grindcore.  Overall, Devouring Ruin is an amazing album that should definitely not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

Wake on Bandcamp 
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buriedbutstillbreathing-Exhumation EP (2020)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Metalcore, Screamo
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 8
Length: 15.40'

buriedbutstillbreathing is a five piece band from San Diego, CA who formed in 2018.  buriedbutstillbreathing play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, metalcore, and screamo within their sound.  Musically, buriedbutstillbreathing can be loosely compared to bands such as Axis, Seeyouspacecowboy, Blistered, Vein, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2018, buriedbutstillbreathing have released a three song EP in December of 2018 and digital single titled Permanence in July of 2018.  Exhumation is the band's debut EP, which was released on March 25th, 2020.  On Permanence, buriedbutstillbreathing offer up eight tracks of killer hardcore, punk, metalcore, and screamo.  Overall, Exhumed makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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10-1

so i before i finish this up i wanted to drop a few albums that almost made the cut. 3 of these were extremely important to my youth. one is life altering. and the other is one of the most under rated thrashterpieces ever

Emptiness-"Nothing But the Whole" 2014

Type O Negative-"Bloody Kisses" 1993

White Zombie-"La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1" 1992

Tool-"Undertow" 1993

Overkill-"Horrorscope" 1991

  

 

welp here we go.the top ten. hopefully at least one or two of you weiners got some kind of enjoyment out of finding out what keeps me from showering with a toaster. alright chris and adam you guys are up. hey chris we might have to meet up and drag adam out of his cave.

10. Melvins-"The Atlantic Trilogy-Houdini, Stoner Witch, Stag" 1993-1996

  

yeah i know, it's another trilogy. and 7 melvins albums in all. but these 3 albums will always be connected. and honestly i cant listen to one of them without wanting to immediately follow it up with something off of the other 2.

9. Guns N' Roses-"Use Your Illusion I & II" 1991

 

one of the most ambitious double albums in the history of recorded music. 30 songs between them and not a bad track to be found. sure there are a couple that arent as good as the others but theres no complete duds. and thats saying something. honestly some of the deeper cuts here like "breakdown", "locomotive", "bad apples", "don't damn me", and the colossal "coma" are the most rewarding and miles ahead of the hits as far as im concerned.

8. The Secret-"Solve Et Coagula" 2010

this album is the absolute king of the whole blackened hardcore movement. its not even up for debate. its pure nihilistic blackened rage. and it cant be touched.

7. Skid Row-"Slave to the Grind" 1991

i have loved this album for almost 30 years. and before any one of you fuckholes tries to bad mouth it and throw out the h*** m**** tag, just be advised, i will find you and i will bury you. this album is pure metal. its heavy. theres no ballads. it shows why sebastian bach was one of the best frontmen in metal. and its a damn good time. i will always defend sebastian bach era skid row. to the death if necessary.

6. Cursed-"One" 2003

theres not any band i miss more than cursed. "god and country" is one of my all time favorite songs and its the song i turn to when i introduce a newcomer to cursed. after i hit them in the mouth with a cinder block of course.

5. Zao-"Liberate Te Ex Inferis" 1999

this album is so dark and so heavy. and at 41, i love it just as much now as i did 21 years ago. i thought we were supposed to give this shit up when we got older?

4. Alice In Chains-"Dirt" 1992


its hard to believe this album is 28 years old. i grew up in a strict christian household and i can still remember arguing with my parents about this record. they hated the cover. they hated the lyrics. this was the devil. i remember trying to get my mom to buy me "facelift" at walmart (anyone else remember the long boxes that cds used to come in?) and she refused because she thought the guy on the cover was, in her words "smoked up on dope". good times.

3. Danzig-"Danzig II: Lucifuge" 1990.

what sophomore slump? danzig laid that theory to rest with "lucifuge". bigger. heavier. darker. more blues. better songwriting. better sound. better lyrics. and goddamn it, better vocals. everything about this blew the debut away. still does.

2. Converge-"Jane Doe" 2001


every single goddamn time i listen to this record i hear something new. every time. whether its a new pterodactyl screech from jacob bannon or a new riff from saint kurt ballou or a new fill from ginger baker on pcp ben koller, theres always something new to find. and then theres nate newton holding all the chaos together god love him. god i love this record.

1. Faith No More-"Angel Dust" 1992


every single thing about this record is perfect. everything. theres not an album on the planet ive listened to more than "angel dust". from mike pattons versatility to jim martins riffs to roddy bottums keys to billy goulds perfectly funky bass to mike bordins tribal pounding. everything is perfect. think ima go listen to it now. see ya fuckers.

20-11

20. Beastmilk-"Climax" 2013

its very rare for me to find an album that i can let play over and over without skipping a song. this is one of those albums.

19. Young and In the Way-"I Am Not What I Am" 2011

i know these guys had a massive fall from grace but i still love them. and this album contains the 2nd greatest album opener ever

18. Metallica-"...And Justice For All" 1988

i know i know. wheres the bass? lars sucks. hetfields mullet. valid points. ill always defend this album. its by far metallicas most complex and most well written hour. fight me.

17. Helmet-"Betty" 1994

i know most would pick "meantime" but "betty" for me, is a couple steps above "meantime". theres a certain loose jazzy feel to this album that wasnt present before and disappeared after. i really wish theyd held on to that sound. i also wish that mr hamilton had left helmet buried after 1998 but thats another story for another day. 

16. Cast Iron Hike-"Watch It Burn" 1997

the heaviest rock album ever. the vocals take some time to get used to but once they sink in, its just another part of the claw on this album that wont let go.

15. Harrowed-"Into Inferno" 2013

its a relentless 20 minute assault. it beats the hell out of you and makes you beg for more. the vocals. the guitar tone. the beating of "nostromo" right into the slow methodical hammering of the title track dropping right on your big dumb head and then jumping right back into the pummeling of "raw boned witch". goddamn thats powerful combo.

14. Fudge Tunnel-"The Complicated Futility of Ignorance" 1994

the only thing keeping the whole discography from dropping in this spot is the fact that this album has a thicker, deeper sound. its so much heavier than the previous albums. honestly though, theres not a second of this band that i dont love.

13. Entombed-"Wolverine Blues" 1993

"wolverine blues" was an absolute game changer. it started a whole new genre. and solidified an already strong love for me

12. Nirvana-"In Utero" 1993

another band aided by steve albinis magic. a huge sound that just..i dont know...fit? the genius of 3 individuals on full display. nirvana was my generations beatles. they came and went so quick. and shined the brightest on these 12 tracks.

11. Killing Joke-"Killing Joke" 2003

the 1st album after like the 4th reformation of killing joke. and the 2nd self titled album. other than a couple late 80s releases, killing jokes ouput has always been top notch. but it also never topped this one

30-21

30. Yob-"Our Raw Heart" 2018

"beauty in falling leaves". goddamn. that song. thats all i have i to say.

29. Motley Crue- "Shout At the Devil" 1983

when i was a kid i used to sneak into my older brothers cassette collection and steal this tape all the time. shout at the devil motherfuckers!

28. Integrity- "Seasons In the Size of Days" 1997

still one of the darkest albums ever made by humans. dwid is one of those people who ive always wanted to meet. ive just always felt like hed be a truly terrifying person to see whats really going on inside his head. maybe im wrong. maybe its all puppies and rainbows in there. nahhh...

27. Today Is the Day-"Temple of the Morning Star" 1997

steve austin falls in the same category as dwid. pain makes the best music.

26. Neurosis-"Times of Grace" 1999

i first heard neurosis in 1996 with "through silver in blood". i liked it but it was unlike anything id ever heard and i dont think my 17 year old brain was ready. 3 years and steve albini later, i was more than ready.

25. High On Fire-"Blessed Black WIngs" 2005

god only knows how many times i burned through this album 15 years ago. its still in heavy in rotation. me thinks it always be.

24. Melvins- "The Trilogy-The Bootlicker, The Maggot, The Crybaby" 1999-2000

  

ok ok ok its technically 3 albums but its my list so it stays. "the maggot is one of the heaviest albums the melvins ever release and "the bootlicker" is one of most mellow. all covers on "the crybaby", and really lief garret kills on "smells like teen spirit" wow that sentence. wow.

23. Boris-"Akuma No Uta" 2003

i dont understand a word of this. i dont need to. "naki kyoku" is 12 minutes of bliss

22. Trap Them-"Darker Handcraft" 2011

ryan mckenney was a powerful presence and vocalists. something about him just made it easy to buy what he was selling. god i miss this band

21. Alice In Chains-"Jar of Flies" 1994

ive said it before but ill say it again, "nutshell" will be played at my funeral.