FEELS LIKE THERES NOTHING LEFT BUT PAIN

PAINKILLER JAMS
I got a bunch of new stuff in from PAINKILLER RECORDS a few days ago in an order i did with my good buddy PGP. One of the most consistent labels around if you're into fringe hardcore or powerviolence type stuff, but i guess they do a pretty good variety of next level shit. (DRY-ROT/WALLS). I was pretty eagerly awaiting this package, having a pretty good idea what was in store for me.

Let's start off with the surprise, OBLITERATION EP, which I'm pretty sure is the new Jon Westbrook band (KNIFE FIGHT) that I heard was comin up. That voice is pretty recognizable although in this case it's a little overly drenched in reverb at times. When the intro kicked in i was a little confused by the weird drum sound, which Paul argued to be some of the best drum production he's heard on a hardcore record. I guess this is a bunch of the regular mass crew doing a more scandinavian hardcore influenced band but it has some hard moshy bits as well. Pretty cool record. I can't say it does for me what KNIFE FIGHT did at that time and place but this is worth checking out. I guess it's a logical progression in style from the "Crisis" LP. Oh yeah this is not a PK release it's on NITA LABEL/DISAPPEARED RECORDS.

Also new and distributed by PAINKILLER is the second EP from MENTALLY CHALLENGED, which in case you were unaware, is a solo (kinda) project Chris Cory from MENTAL and MIND ERASER (these dudes may be a little obsessed with the brain imagery) and a bunch of other recent Boston hardcore bands. He uses some electronic noise and tons of layers of noisy guitar tracks and feedback to create a somewhat ambient kinda feel over hardcore riffs that are usually less out there than you might expect from the concept. I guess he works with a different drummer on each recording and i believe this one is graced by DFJ (of every band ever). The strange thing about this band is that a lot of the esthetics and harmonic layering and even riffs themselves fall more in line with black metal than hardcore at times, and I'd be curious to know how intentional that is since I've never heard the comparison except in conversation with the aforementioned PGP, who ordered these shits for me. This 7" has only 2 songs and a MISFITS (?) cover ("bloodfeast") There is no label info anywhere in the packaging and i can't remember who put this out so boo hoo. Grab it from PAINKILLER. Also new from MC is a pro printed cassette, "Regressor Pt.1" which takes a more straightforward hardcore approach then the singles. Not much longer though, just four tracks that repeat on both sides. The vocals sound a little different on this one but maybe I'm hallucinating that. Another hit.

But can any of these hold up against the MEN'S INTEREST tape? I heard rumors that Sean from COLD SWEAT (find a better band within the last ten years) was doing a more CS sounding band with dudes from Mass. I don't know if this means REPERCUSSIONS are dead, but if it does who cares, cus this is a monster. Although this isn't exactly in line with what COLD SWEAT was doing, in spirit it blazes the same trail, although at the time in hardcore it will not stand out against contemporaries in the same way. I was stoked enough when a heard about this that i couldn't resist when a bud posted a yousendit file of the whole tape online, so i had cheated and heard this early. The intro is noise over a sample (?) of some British dude going off on a disgruntled nihilistic rant and it sets the tone very well for some ugly and ferocious tunes. They do a great job at making interesting music that still hits you hard in the guts when the tempos change and they stomp out another hard riff. SHIT. Highly recommended to anyone with their head outside of their ass.

Another record I have been looking forward to hearing for a while is the follow-up to the BREATHING FIRE demo/7", which is an LP entitled "Years of Lead" which i believe was recorded quite a while ago already. At a time (post X FILES X) where a lot of band started copping the bullshit powerviolence modernized type sound, this is one band that emerged out of that (others being MIND ERASER/SOUL SWALLOWER) who's demo stakes more of a legitimate claim to the pv label. When i first heard that it was hard as hell and i was very excited when i finally had that tape in my hands. Fastforward a few years and here we are with this LP. Their sound has evolved (as alot of those bands' have) but into a more doomy sort of powerviolence. One song ("capo mora") even touches on a MELVINS kinda thing. The vocals has kinda regressed and are a lot less harsh but somehow still uglier, which I am feeling alot although I think this record is gonna be a grower cus I haven't usually found myself really that stoked to throw it on yet. I wish it good luck in the future. Check it out if this crude description does anything for you.

...more reviews/interviews to come...