Artwork by: Chun One
Article written by: Anthony Kattan 2015
A few months ago, Chris and I were having a conversation about bands and how there are so many great hardworking bands out there that we wonder why not a lot of them get the recognition they deserve. After some discussion he gave me an opportunity to expose some local bands from my area in Southern California. For those who aren't very familiar with Southern California hardcore, it is notorious for older bands such as Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Uniform Choice, Insted, etc etc. Then there's newer bands like Rotting Out, Take Offense, New Brigade, Disapproval and many more that keeps growing a hype all around the world. I always heard a bunch of bands that make me wonder why they aren't really as talked about. With that said, you can look at this as a ''So-Cal Hardcore Scene Report.'' Now some of what I will say for this ''scene report'' can come off as biased. This isn't for me to tell you that you suck for not listening to this band and that my taste is superior than yours (I honestly don't believe in that to begin with). However, I have listed bands who I feel deserve a little more recognition than they get. This can be at least helpful to those who are in search of new bands.So here is In Effect Hardcore presenting to you our first So-Cal Hardcore "Scene Report" with hopefully some more editions of this in the near future! Shout out to the talented CHUN ONE for the dope artwork!
CLICK BAND PHOTOS FOR ADDITIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA & MUSIC SITES
A band that has been catching my attention and playing more than usual is Proletariat Youth from San Bernardino. They just added two new tracks for their EP ''Chin Check'' which was released almost a year ago. To be honest, I am not a big fan of modern day youth crew for being so repetitive and spewing hallow generic lyrics that just have me saying, ''yeah yeah I get it....you're straight edge''. Pro Youth is beyond that and let me tell you why. While most local Southern California bands (especially where I live) yell about struggles in their own suburban lives and/or how the ''scene'' is becoming a joke (when those same bands are most likely the reason why it's a joke), Pro Youth covers important subjects such as the need to appreciate nature and calling out religious bigots for contradicting themselves. There are some songs that come off generic such as ''True Till College'' but even then that is a great song and the lyrics are pretty spot on to those who ''dropped out'' of straight edge after the legal age of drinking. This band is exactly what it's not, which is a gimmicky product and I respect that a lot. Keep an eye on these guys, they really deserve more than they get.
You can purchase their shirts and "Chin Check" tapes at:
http://xproyouthx.bigcartel.com
http://xproyouthx.bandcamp.com
FFO: Uniform Choice, Unity, Youth of Today
I'm finding this ironic because I have mentioned how I'm not that big of a fan of contemporary youth crew, however there is another local band of that genre that I do love. That my friends is Why We Fight from Pomona. This is a band that surprises me on how they are not bigger than they should be. Yeah sure, this sound has been done before, but come on now... you can't say they are not good! One thing for sure is that they are Pomona's favorite local hardcore band and if you live there you know what I'm talking about. There is no such thing as a bad Why We Fight show in Pomona. Everyone goes nuts during their set and I wish they played more often. When I think about it, they are one of the very few hardcore bands to exist in that town since it's usually filled with modern metalcore and deathcore. Like Pro Youth, they also send an important message but are not really in depth about it. Still a great band though and you must check em out. They have an EP, a demo from Outlast records, and a split with a band called Crush.
http://whywefight.bandcamp.com
FFO: Carry On, More to Pride, Champion
A new band just exposed themselves with a demo not too long ago. They are Convict who are located in El Monte with members of Disapproval, New Brigade and They As In Them. If you don't know who any of those bands are then you should check them out before you listen to this band. While Jesse of Disapproval uses the same style of vocals in Convict, the music takes a more Iron Cross/Partisans approach. So I guess you can look at it as a follow up to Disapproval, but with less breakdowns and a more ''punk'' sound. The demo is great and if you live in Southern California then keep an eye out for their shows. They played their first show with NY's Ajax at the Programme Skate and Sound in Fullerton, CA on Friday January 3rd.
You can purchase their demo tape at:
http://fightemallrecords.bigcartel.com/product/convict-demo-cs
FFO: Iron Cross, Blitz, Sham 69
So a lot of people in Southern California love to sound like bands from either Boston or NYC... or both. Big Takeover is the epitome of a NYHC tribute. Like Pro-Youth, they are located in San Bernardino and for those who live there or in the Inland Empire, this is a blessing that these bands exist. Inland Empire is saturated with deathcore/metalcore or ''modern hardcore'' so this is rare to see any traditional style bands. I am aware that this band has blown up after only one demo and I kind of find it pointless writing about them, but goddammit they're a great band. What blows my mind is how this was mastered by Don Fury who is well known for recording a bunch of amazing NY bands such as Citizens Arrest, Gorilla Biscuits and the list goes on. I will admit when I heard Big Takeover's demo for the first time, I absolutely hated it. I found the vocals so dorky, the lyrics just stupid and the unnecessary dive bombs were giving me a headache. The problem was that I only heard it once and attacked it right away without giving it a second chance. Usually if you listen to something you weren't into before, it's common to listen to it a few more times to get into it. Well it wasn't really the case for this one. Instead, I saw them at a skate shop in Orange County a few months ago. That was no regret and I realized how much they pulled off the NYHC sound perfectly. It was one of those bands that I enjoyed live more than the recordings. I ended up listening to the demo again the day after and I started to appreciate it more and felt stupid for being so narrow minded about it in the first place. I still find the vocals a little laughable and the lyrics are still a little goofy, but I get what they're trying to do. One little nitpick is that there are too many dive bombs and I've noticed that a lot of bands have thrown that in their songs. Could we take a break from that? Oh well it is still awesome for what it is and I am greatful for this band to come from IE. Anyway Big Takeover does not play often and toured once. There should be a second demo out soon so keep an eye on that.
You can purchase their tape and shirts at:
http://bigtakeoverhc.bigcartel.com
FFO: Breakdown, Altercation, Maximum Penalty (89 demo)
Here is a band that is located in Redlands and just released something new. They are Higher Learning with members of Drug Control and Big Takeover. Now since I mentioned those two bands knowing how big they currently are, this should grab your attention. Anyway Higher Learning have been around since 2009? I'm not sure to be exact, but I do know that they released a demo in 2010. They are a band that makes you want to grab a thesaurus and try to understand what the hell he's saying, but keep in mind I'm a simple person so I feel like that most of the time I listen to them. If you understand most of their songs, then good for you. This band seriously lives by their name. There are songs that are really blunt such as “Minuteman” and “Take.Consume.Destroy” which are my favorites. Most songs are very philosophical and really make you think to what the message is. I do that a lot with the band Noose. Their sound reminds me a lot of the thrashcore bands from the 625 scene which is rare to hear anyone pull that off. The vocals give off this Nerve Agents/Panic vibe and again I don't hear anyone do that style of vocals anymore. There is a lot of preaching during their live performances, but it's actually something to look forward to, trust me. I will never forget that time when he called out Rival Mob for expressing Social Darwinism in the song ''Genepool/Cesspool''. Higher Learning is a band you never want to miss and it sucks how they don't tour or play often especially with other bands getting in the way. They just released ''Triumph Of Innocence" about two months ago and it is just as solid as their other releases. Don't sleep on this band!
Purchase their "Triumph Of Innocence" tape at:
http://outlastrecords.storenvy.com
http://higherlearningcrew.bandcamp.com
FFO: Scholastic Deth, Life's Halt, What Happens Next?
Up next to keep an eye out for is Noise Complaint from Chino which is a suburban town right next to Pomona. They fuse a style that you never hear anymore which is ska and hardcore. Now before you roll your eyes, sigh with annoyance, and scroll down because I used the term ''ska,'' just hear me out . This style is rarely used in the US (it's still big in like New Zealand and other random countries) and the label ''Skacore'' has been bastardized in so many levels, especially in East Los Angeles. When I hear Skacore, I think of hardcore fused with ska. I think of aggressive riffs that are followed by a ska riff. I don't really hear any aggression with most of the bands that consider themselves said genre here in Southern California. Noise Complaint is one of the best examples of an actual Skacore band. Another pet peeve I have with those so called Skacore bands is that they talk about ''legalizing their bud'' or how they need to drink another 40 oz. That's another stereotype that has been broken by Noise Complaint. The lyrics go over about social justice such as children being taught how to think a certain way, people who try to freeload from their own friends, and people in the hardcore scene excluding themselves for not being part of their ''cool social club''. Some of their songs have a melodic hardcore twist such as ''Narcissism.'' As for their live performance, they are just as good. Some songs will have you skank to the ska beat and some will have you floor punching during their breakdowns. What does baffle me is that they don't receive either respect from the hardcore or ska scene. For example, ska kids don't like them because they're too hardcore and hardcore kids don't like them because they're too ska. Anyway check them out before you decide to overlook it for them incorporating ska in their songs. They released a full length called ''Parasite'' in April of last year and it is one of my favorite releases.
You can purchase their shirts, buttons and CDs at:
http://noise-complaint.bandcamp.com/merch
http://noise-complaint.bandcamp.com/album/parasite
FFO: No Ca$h, Kid Dynamite, Choking Victim
Weight lifting is something that is a rare subject to mention from any hardcore band. I think the last band that incorporated weight lifting was Rampage's ''Heads in a Vice''. Well then there's Stand Guard (formerly known as ScaredxStraight) from Downey which is located in South Los Angeles who are very passionate about power lifting. There have been many lineup changes since it was ScaredxStraight until this year. They just released their EP “L.O.T.W.” (Lifters Of The Weight, get the joke?). They blend youth crew and crossover thrash together which is definitely something unusual for anyone to do. Even though their EP is ok, they put on a great set and they get better with every show. They will inspire you to go the gym, that's for sure. Their lyrics not only talk about gains, but send a positive message. It's interesting to see this band gain more respect and recognition outside of the USA than in their own town, but at the same time it's pretty badass. They have new songs and they will be recording soon I believe as well. Either way…check them out and keep an eye out for their shows.
http://standguardlaxhc.bandcamp.com
FFO: Floorpunch, Rampage, Chorus of Disapproval
There are those bands who decide to spice things up with their sound and it's common for a fan base to respond saying it's okay, but prefer the status quo album or angrily saying that it's garbage and hopes for the band to break up soon. To me, it is neither for Deviated State from Carson. From 2009-2012, they played generic street punk that you'd hear at any backyard punk gig. It all changed after releasing their newest EP titled ''No Control.'' I was very puzzled when I heard this, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. You see, up until recently, I overlooked this band when I saw their name on flyers of shows that I found no interest in (they to this day mostly play East LA backyard type shows). When I heard one of their songs from the “No Control” EP I was pretty surprised that they have not played more hardcore shows. It seems to me that they decided to ditch the modern street punk sound and snooty vocals and instead play faster riffs followed by really heavy breakdowns and snarly vocals. Also mentioning that they have chants in their newer songs. The song ''Dead To Me'' will have you wanting to punch everyone in the face. In conclusion, I am very impressed with this transition and I look forward to hearing more new material from them. I guess you should never judge a book buy it's cover. They play often so catch them whenever you can.
http://facebusterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-control
FFO: Swamp Thing, Bracewar, Beartrap
When I heard Strike Fast from Ventura over a year ago it was like a breath of fresh air. A lot of people compare the demo to No Justice which I can see why due to the muddy quality and vocals. However, I disagree with the comparison at the same time. The demo sounds like where they actually come from also known as a band that was signed to Mystic Records. If you don't know what Mystic Records is then stop what you're doing right now and look it up as well as the bands and come back so you can read the rest of this. In Southern California via 2006-2010, it was the thing to sound like that. You had bands like Social Sickness, Blind Nuns, C.O.P. and Dogends doing the skate punk sound. In my opinion, it was one of the best scenes to ever happen in Southern California. Sadly good things do come to an end. Some of the members of the bands I mentioned went on to do ''bigger and better things'' such as copying Project X and form powerviolence and goth bands. But you know what? Good for them, people eventually change their interest and want to do something else so it's all good. Anyway I'm going off topic. After listening to Strike Fast, it felt like that style of hardcore didn't die. When the ''No Matter What'' EP finally came out I got really excited. I listened to it and I thought it wasn't as good as I expected. Didn't surpass the demo, but it wasn't bad. It is still enjoyable but doesn't have the 80's skate punk vibe as the demo does. The quality is too polished for being Strike Fast. They added chants and it actually does remind me of No Justice. They even have those really repetitive palm mutes you'd hear in youth crew bands which I can't stand. Oh well they're still a great band so that doesn't change anything. I've seen them plenty of times and they never disappoint. They throw one of the best performances in this era of hardcore and that is not an opinion. So check out the new EP regardless of what I said.
http://strikefasthc.bandcamp.com
FFO: RKL, Stalag 13, In Control
For the past 4 years or so, everyone has been trying to sound like 86 Mentality all of a sudden and I do mean everyone. I feel stupid for pointing out the obvious on this trend because the majority of you reading this should already know that. Some bands even decide to shave their heads and wear chains around their necks and wear Doc Martens. It's a little ridiculous don't ya think? Don't get me wrong now I like some of these bands, but it's hard to take most of them seriously when they went from having bleached hair and wearing high tops to looking like Raybeez from Warzone. As for Last Warning from Santa Ana (located in Orange County), it's a different story. They don't look like they're a bunch of wannabe skinhead thugs and if anything everyone minus the vocalist (who looks like he can kill anyone with one hit) look like a bunch of kids which shouldn't matter anyway. Looks in general shouldn't matter at all so I don't know why I'm saying all this, Anyway, this is one of the bands that pulls off the that sub genre pretty good. Their lyrics are in your face..."I actually feel this way and not recycling lyrics from the United Blood EP.'' It's mostly about whatever pisses the guy off and it should be that way with hardcore bands to begin with.....well at least to an extent. Their new EP ''Zero Hour'' is one of my favorite releases of 2014. The vocals are pure anger and their music makes me want to punch more holes in the wall. It is worth a listen if you're a big fan of Oi influenced hardcore. They have been playing shows more than usual in their town so that's awesome.
FFO: 86 Mentality, Abused, Negative Approach
ANTHONY KATTAN:
Who the hell is KATTAN you ask? Kattan The Man is a 20-something hardcore nut straight outta Chino, CA. He sings for the band Relevant Anger as well as a co-producer of the (slightly on hiatus) RAWW Podcast which is a YouTube podcast about… you guessed it hardcore music. Send promos, hate mail and date requests to his email: xxxkattanxxx@yahoo.com
AND… check out the brand new Relevant Anger joint as well:
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