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Pain Runs Deep – Whispered Truths EP – The Essence Records – 2010

Whoa, pretty sure Pain Runs Deep is Polands answer to fortydaysrain. I've heard comparisons to Burn and Conviction, but this band is fortydaysrain. I expect their drummer to be formerly of the Polish Incite and to be a dude who is constantly pinging FSC Lublins. Dumb if he doesn't. The music is hard, no doubt about that. Lots of early 90s references and nods. And there are times when the vocals are so growled & shouted such that I can't determine if the lyrics are polish or english. It's hard to figure out and place.

I'm pretty happy that Adam sent me the EP because the packaging is of the utmost quality. No skimping here. Vellum inserts, credit card style download cards, thick card stock and super professionally screened sleeves. The packaging is tight, no doubt. You can pick up a digital download over on bigcartel. I'm guessing the vinyl may have already sold out. The Essence Records keeps a pretty limited run. Check Ebay if you slept.

End Of A Year – You Are Beneath Me – Deathwish Inc #104 – 2010

I read this interview with Pat Kindlon of End Of a Year where he mentioned how Deathwish Inc let them to be as weird as they wanted to be. This is totally true. I'm sure Tre gives them a super long leash, and it probably has weird spikes and amulets hanging off of it. But it has worked out successfully for them because this album is a banger. I don't know how they did it, but the band somehow managed to modernize the greatest sounds of mid 90s Western Mass hardcore. Think Dive and Bound (yes, Winchendon is so far north in Massachusetts that it is actually part of Western Mass. You know it's true. Then again, Albany is just west Western Mass, right? Just kidding, jeesh). Like Sebadoh meets Motorhead meets Sonic Youth's Dirty. It's on a whole other level. Pat's vocals skitter the line of yelling and talking. It's almost so un-hardcore that's it only hardcore. You know what I mean? Like it's so right of right that it's left. Yeah, like that. And the music bangs. You probably won't catch people finger pointing, but I can see plenty of sing alongs and thrashing. If this band tours with Lion Of Judah and Give, the venues will erupt in weird metal mosh freak outs. It would be a sight to see, this is certain.

I strongly suggest you go pick up this record. Run, don't walk over to Deathwish Inc. Great label, great dudes. Hook it up. And if that isn't enough to wet your whistle, head over to Ebay to pick up that merch you slept on all these years.

Liferide S/T LP – Take It Back Records #002 – 2010

Every now and then, I get a cool package from Take It Back Records. Christian Unsinn seems like a cool dude, no matter what some anonymous people have to say. This time around, he sent me the Liferide LP. Feeling it.

Liferide has a real throwback vibe. Like I could picture any of these songs leading into Backtrack or Dissed And Dismissed or even Fade To Black. These guys play a strong hardcore very reminiscent of late 80s New York Hardcore. I dig it.

I also dig the limited nature of the vinyl. 300 total slabs. 200 on black, 100 on some color vinyl. This is hardcore vinyl for the real fans. Either you snap it up, or you miss out completely. React Records does something very similar. No need to flood the market. And thanks to torrents and the internet, the music will get around. Courtesy of being great music, these tracks will DEFINITELY be heard by a wide swath of people. Good for them.

So if you missed the vinyl, your best best is Ebay. Who would have guessed? You can probably still snap up some black vinyl here. No promises, but give it a go. You won't regret it.