Song #91: Die! Die! Die! - "We Built Our Own Oppressors"

Fuck yeah. Die! Die! Die! are back to fuck shit up. Anyone who's seen these three live know exactly what I'm talking about - they're an insane joy to watch. Their recorded material, whilst good, has nevertheless always seemed to lack the awesome spastic energy of their live gigs. We Built Our Own Oppressors is already awesome on the basis that it translates the ferocious live sound arguably better than any other of their recorded tracks. Complete with flurrying drums, thick bassline snarls and even a few "WOO!"s thrown in there, it's a song with palpable energy. What else can you say really? This rules.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8.5

Also, check out the awesome video! It was filmed on top of a building they broke into :D

x
David

Song #83: Rolo Tomassi - "The French Motel"

 

These kids kicked of Soundwave over on the joint 5 and 6 stages. There were a couple of troubles with sound, but once they got into the swing of it, they were fucking awesome. See that cute little blonde girl? She can scream better than you and nearly every other throaty dude on the bill. It was terrifying and terrific at the same time.

The French Motel is one of the tracks they played that is going to be on their second album, due out a little later this year. Apparently cats like M.I.A. and Santogold are going to be producing and stuff, which is pretty cool. As per the "norm" with these guys (if there is such a thing), there is a shitload of musical movements and progressions, complete with dual vocals, big guitar and quick flips in tempo that keep everything engaging and exciting. This lot are definitely ones to watch out for this year.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8

The new record should be out within the next quarter.

x

David

Song #69: Fucked Up - "Fixed Race"

 
Fucked Up are an absolutely insane band. I just got their two disc compilation of non-album tracks entitled Couple Tracks, and it's absolutely awesome.  Their music is fast, no-bullshit hardcore with tonnes of attitude and even a few major hooks in there.

Fixed Race is like the Ramones getting into a barroom brawl with Ian Mackaye and watching it in fast-forward. It's relentlessly exciting, thrown at your face at breakneck speed. Vocalist Pink Eyes only pauses briefly to let a guitar solo pass through. Then it's a quick gasp for air and another breathless roar-through. Punk as fuck, pretty much. If this sounds like your bag, then run into that pit and scramble for the fucking microphone. Fucked Up will smash up everything in sight and not think twice about it. Herein lies the appeal.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8

Couple Tracks is out now.

x
David

Song #39: Break Even - "November 18th"

 Last night, I had the privilege of seeing hardcore supergroup Burning Empires live, which was huge for me but strangely enough not for a lot of the other people there. The crowd was surging forward and subsequently going apeshit for a band I'd previously never listened to - Perth's Break Even.

Currently wrapping up their Endless Bummer tour with BE and The Amity Affliction, this quartet couldn't match the intensity of Empires, but they still put on a fairly enjoyable show. This track in particular - the finale of their debut album, The Bright Side, stood out in particular. It's aggressive, but also very open in its emotion - a trait that only the very best hardcore can do. Its recorded version is also significantly less heavy than when it was performed live. Rather than seeing this as a flaw, I perceive it to be an indication of the kind of passion they put into their live show. I'm now definitely keen to listen to a bit more of these guys.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8

The album is out now.

xxx
David

Song #28: La Dispute - "Nine"

When La Dispute visited Australia, playing shows all around the country with To The North from Brisbane, they inspired, invigorated and exhausted a lot of people. The entire thing was a glorious display of a band halfway across the world showing absolutely no signs of pretension or grandeur and getting in the face of about one hundred fans who adored them. I saw the band twice in two days - once at a rehearsal studio in North Wollongong and once in an abandoned house in Huskisson. Needless to say, I was in awe of how much energy the band put into the music and how much the audience was giving back to them. It made their tumultuous journey "down under" seem so worth it. It's an experience I doubt I'll ever forget.

Having worn out my album, EPs and bootlegs from that very tour, the band have just offered up some new material, as well as some harder-to-find older stuff.

Here, Hear. Volume 3 is a continuation of the band's experiment where each member records a track individually and often has music set to spoken word or a reading. The songs have no titles, only numbers. In this instance, I'm uncertain of the member (possibly vocalist Jordan?) or the text from which is being read. What I can tell you, however, is that we have a very fruitful experiment here. The keyboards are icy cold in tone, its company only a shaky percussive thud and sparse, toneless electric guitar. Your time with the track is only brief, but that's more than enough time to engross you in this bizarre world the song creates. It's not only a shock to the senses, but also a real treat for fans who are interested in another side of the band's musicality.

FINAL RATING (/10): 8

For those of you interested in checking it all out, the band are offering up a tonne of stuff for download.The purchase format is pay what you want - there's no minimum purchase price, so you can have the songs for free if you so desire. If you're paying, however, all proceeds go to the Well House Community Living of Grand Rapids (where the band is from), which is described as a non-profit outreach program in Grand Rapids that provides emergency shelter and permanent housing for displaced and homeless families.

The link is here. Thanks for your time!

x

David

Song #10: Burning Empires - "Accomplice"

Booya! We're onto a fucking milestone, people - TEN days into the 100 Days project. That's one tenth of the process to becoming a better person already gone! Amazing! A big shout out to everyone else doing this, so much love for all of you! Keep in touch.

So here we go with number ten - it's the newest supergroup of 2009, but for the 'core kids - meet Burning Empires. You brocore moshers needn't worry about Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy on the drums -Pete Wentz is nowhere to be seen! Members of Misery Signals and 7 Plagues 7 Deaths take his place.

What can I say? This is more than exciting. This is amongst the best hardcore I have heard all year.

Accomplice is heartfelt, aggressive and a very engaging display of what the powers combined of Mis Sig and FOB are capable of. Through several movements and progressions, an attack of thundering drum fills, charging guitar and impassioned lyrics will hit home to the point of being completely overwhelming. Hardcore usually isn't my genre to go batshit over, but I can't stress enough how great this is. It's the kind of track that not only invigorates but restores faith.

FINAL RATING (/10): 9.5

Am I overreacting? Maybe. But put it this way - I was in a lazy slump before listening to this, and now I'm more pumped about this project than ever. Feels fucking GOOD, man.

Experience this now. Over here (love you Spin).

XXX
David