I’m not going to lie. My knowledge of foreign hardcore is close to nil. I can’t name any Japanese bands that I listen to regularly, and would have a hard time naming any if it wasn’t for Jaybil. The same can be said about Norway, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, … You see where I’m going there. My knowledge of international hardcore pretty much begins with Larm and ends with True Colors. Sad, I know. This is where Take Your Shot Fanzine broadens my horizons. This zine is ALL about foreign hardcore. Not one band interviewed is from the US (ok, Setback is, but that’s only one ninth of the interview section. Talk Shit, Get Hit). Not only that, but it’s the PMA issue. And if you know me, you know I’m big on the PMA.
The interviews in this zine are cool. Fairly standard questions but super genuine. The combination of bands interviewed is also refreshing. There’s everything from hard mosh, to near metal to positive hardcore. It’s a sweet little mix. And the last two pages are devoted to guest columns and thoughts on the current scene. Most of the words ring true, which is chill considering this dude lives thousands of miles away. Different culture, same core. Diggin that.
If that sounds like something you can get into, check out the online site where you can find order information, and plenty of new interviews and reviews. It’s updated pretty regularly so you’ll always have a reason to go back for more. #PMA