Boston Straight Edge

Step Forward - s/t 7" - 2014 Painkiller Records PKR-055

Not many bands can survive the short lived attention span of hardcore folks for 8 years without releasing anything new after they only put out one 7". These dudes did though. Great Boston Hardcore in the tradition of the originators.

Just like with the first record they released there is a limited clear vinyl version of this out there but I'm fine with a common black vinyl copy.

Social Damage! One eye at a time

Social Damage - eye for an eye 7" - 2014

Social Damage originally released two demos in 2013. I missed out on the first one but got the 2nd. Then both were put on seven inches of vinyl by Straight & Alert Records from France last year. And a little later they put out the band's first real 7" together with Life To Live Records from the US.
If you read the previous post you'll know that they were on tour with Alexis S&A's band Raw Justice in November last year and that we did a show for them. I also mentioned the turn out was pretty bad. I guess you can say that with a paying audience of nine people. What's wrong with kids today? Well, around here they probably are just too spoiled just like I am. Or maybe a US band with 2 obscure demos and a just recently released 7" on a small label shouldn't go on a euro tour.
Whatever it is I dig their raw, pissed and fast (not too fast) old school sound. They delivered a great set and then retired to their room for the night pretty fast.

5 variations of this record do exist including this the most common one out of 328.

another Raw Justice

Raw Justice - artificial peace 7" - 2014 Straight & Alert Records S&A11

This is the second 7" by the frenchmen from Raw Justice. Just like the first one this has a definite Judge feel to it but the LOC vibe was taken back a little in favor of a bit more old time Boston Hardcore.
In November last year they did a tour with Social Damage from the US that Alexis who runs Straight & Alert Records and sings in Raw Justice put together. We helped out with kind of a last minute show and just like I figured not many people showed up. Real Hardcore seems to be dead around here. What a said state of affairs.
Nonetheless they are the nicest guys and we had some good long chats after the show. Didn't have that with a band in a while but maybe that's just because we don't usually book bands that need a place to crash.

There were 2 different pre-order versions with different covers available. Each out of 100. This regular pressing is out of 326.

EPM splits pt. I

Empowerment / Krank - split 7" - 2014 Prügelprinz Records ‎

This is the first part in a four piece split series. Empowerment provide tracks to all of those and the other side holds tracks by bands they're friends with.
EPM are pretty much Germany's Cro-Mags only without the homophobic bs. Straight up NYHC with a positive message.
As you can see Krank (translates to 'Sick') from Hamburg are delivering the goods on the other A-Side. They are one of the best current Punk bands in Germany and even internationally. I for one have a problem with bands singing in a language I don't understand. If you don't or can read german I strongly suggest you to check these guys out.

As far as I know each instalment of this series is a one time only pressing of 500 copies. Mannheim's Prügelprinz decided to do a ltd. clear vinyl version out of 100 and this here black copy is one out of 400.
Once the series is completed all 4 covers will form a bigger picture when put next to another. Great idea. That's the kind of shit that makes collecting interesting.

a Blotter with original artwork

Blotter - under armour '77 7" - 2014 Katorga Works KW-032, False Form FF-013

I got the euro pressing of this record a while back and posted about it here. Back then I complained about the different cover art and mentioned that I needed a copy with the original artwork so here it is. Luckily the insert is the same as the one with the euro press so I can let that lesser copy go to a home that's not too concerned with looks or just has a different taste.

blood pressure blood pressure

after 16 days non stop working and a few days of recuperation and catching up at home here i am again. picking up right where i left off

Blood Pressure - s/t 7" - 2014 Beach Impediment Records BIR-012

Not much to say about this baby. It's one of those bands that grabs me right from the start and doesn't let me down until they're done. Great raw and primitive hardcore punk.

This is the US pressing but there is also a pressing out of the Netherlands on Even Worse Records.