Sick Of It All

This band gets non-stop requests, and I can't put them off any longer. They are way too essential and in high request demand, so alas, here they are finally. Sick Of It All should be a household name to any hardcore fan, since they've not only had such an influential career, but probably one of the longest in hardcore, even in punk as a whole. Since forming in 1986 in Queens, New York, this band has been touring and releasing album after album. In addition, they've kept the same line-up since the early 90's, so it's been the same four guys just killing it for over twenty years now.

 They first emerged as a fairly typical New York hardcore punk band, with a ton of energy and aggression. But the sound they've really become known (and influential in) is their hardcore/thrash metal crossover, which is a sound that would not exist if Sick of It All hadn't helped pioneer it. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this band is the quality of their work. They've released a lot of music in their time, and though it never strays from their hardcore origin, they do manage to change things up with some melody, some metal influence, and of course a ton of gang vocals. Each album has been consistently good, making their entire discography worth listening to. For starters though, my recommendations would be Scratch The Surface and Built To Last, since there is a lot of material below to sift through. This band's an essential, a classic, and above all else, just a damn good band. Enjoy.

Sick Of It All (1987)

1. It's Clobberin' Time

2. Just Lies

3. Pete's Sake

4. Friends Like You

5. Bullshit Justice

6. Pay The Price

7. Pushed Too Far

8. Give Respect

9. The Deal

10. N.S./My Revenge

Blood, Sweat And No Tears (1989)

1. The Blood & The Sweat

2. Clobberin' Time/Pay The Price (feat. KRS-one)

3. Give Respect

4. Breeders Of Hate

5. Pushed Too Far

6. Friends Like You

7. B.S. Justice

8. Rat Pack

9. Pete's Sake

10. Stick Together

11. G.I. Joe Headstomp

12. Alone

13. My Life

14. World Full Of Hate

15. My Revenge

16. No Labels

17. Disillusion

18. The Deal

19. Injustice System!

We Stand Alone (1991)

1. What's Going On

2. Betray (Minor Threat cover)

3. We Stand Alone

4. Disillusion (Live)

5. My Revenge / World Full Of Hate (Live)

6. Pete's Sake (Live)

7. Injustice System (Live)

8. The Deal (Live)

9. G.I. Joe Headstomp (Live)

10. Pushed Too Far (Live)

11. The Blood & The Sweat (Live)

12. Politics (Live)

Just Look Around (1992)

1. We Want The Truth

2. Locomotive

3. The Pain Strikes

4. Shut Me Out

5. What's Goin' On

6. Violent Generation

7. The Shield

8. Violent Generation

9. The Shield

10. Now It's Gone

11. We Stand Alone

12. Will We Survive

13. Indust.

Scratch The Surface (1994)

1. No Cure

2. Insurrection

3. Consume

4. Who Sets The Rules

5. Goatless

6. Step Down

7. Maladjusted

8. Scratch The Surface

9. Free Spirit

10. Force My Hand

11. Desperate Fool

12. Return to Reality

13. Farm Team

14. Cease Fire

Live In A World Full Of Hate (1995)

1. Injustice System

2. It's Clobberin' Time

3. Violent Generation

4. Alone

5. The Pain Strikes

6. Shut Me Out

7. Pushed Too Far

8. Friends Like You

9. Locomotive

10. World Full Of Hate

11. Just Look Around

12. What's Going On

13. Give Respect

14. Disillusion

15. No Labels

16. Pete's Sake

17. G.I. Joe Head Stomp

18. We Want The Truth

19. The Blood & The Sweat

20. The Shield

21. We Stand Alone

22. Indust

23. My Life

24. Betray

Spreading The Hardcore Reality (1995)

1. It's Clobberin' Time

2. Just Lies

3. Pete's Sake

4. Friends Like You

5. Bullshit Justice

6. Pay The Price

7. Pushed Too Far

8. Give Respect

9. The Deal

10. N.S./My Revenge

11. Politics

12. My Life

Built To Last (1997)

1. Good Lookin' Out

2. Built To Last

3. Closer

4. One Step Ahead

5. Us Vs. Them

6. Laughingstock

7. Don't Follow

8. Nice

9. Busted

10. Burn 'Em Down

11. End The Era

12. Chip Away

13. Too Late

14. Jungle

Potential For A Fall (1999)

1. Potential For A Fall

2. Let Go

3. Soul Be Free

Call To Arms (1999)

1. Let Go

2. Call To Arms

3. Potential For A Fall

4. Falter

5. The Future Is Mine

6. Guilty

7. Falling Apart

8. Sanctuary

9. Morally Confused

10. Hindsight

11. Martin

12. Pass The Buck

13. Quiet Man

14. Drastic

15. (Just A) Patsy

Yours Truly (2000)

1. Blown Away

2. Nails

3. The Bland Within

4. Hello Pricks

5. District

6. Disco Sucks Fuck Everything

7. America

8. Hands Tied Eyes Closed

9. Turn My Back

10. Broke Dick

11. Souvenir

12. Cruelty

13. This Day And Age

14. Ruin

15. Cry For Help

16. No Apologies

Live In A Dive (2002)

1. Good Lookin' Out

2. Call To Arms

3. Blown Away

4. Built To Last

5. Just Look Around

6. Let Go

7. Us Vs. Them

8. The Bland Within

9. Disco Sucks Fuck Everything

10. Injustice System

11. Potential For A Fall

12. Scratch The Surface

13. America

14. Straight Ahead

15. Rat Pack

16. Sanctuary

17. My Life

18. Busted

19. Maladjusted

20. Goatless

21. Friends Like You

22. Clobberin' Time

23. Step Down

Relentless (2003)

1. Relentless

2. Who Will Be Next?

3. Can't Wait To Quit

Life On The Ropes (2003)

1. Relentless

2. All My Blessings

3. The Land Increases

4. Paper Tiger (Fakin' The Punk)

5. The Innocent

6. Silence

7. For Now

8. View From The Surface

9. Going All Out

10. Rewind

11. Shit Sandwich

12. Butting Heads

13. Take Control

14. Kept In Check

15. On The Brink

16. Trenches

Outtakes For The Outcast (2004)
1. I Believe
2. Stood For Nothing
3. Borstal Breakout
4. Straight Ahead
5. All Hell Breaks Loose
6. My Little World
7. Soul Be Free
8. Blatty (Human Egg)
9. 86
10. Target
11. Rip Off
12. Working Class Kids
13. Never Measure Up
14. The Future Is Mine
15. Just Look Around

Death To Tyrants (2006)

1. Take The Night Off

2. Machete

3. Preamble

4. Uprising Nation

5. Always War

6. Die Alone

7. Evil Schemer

8. Leader

9. Make A Mark

10. Forked Tongue

11. The Reason

12. Faithless

13. Fred Army

14. Thick Skin

15. Maria White Trash

16. Don't Join The Crowd [European Bonus Track]

Based On A True Story (2010)

1. Death Or Jail

2. The Divide

3. Dominated

4. A Month Of Sundays

5. Braveheart

6. Bent Outta Shape

7. Lowest Common Demoniator

8. Good Cop

9. Lifeline

10. Watch It Burn

11. Waiting For The Day

12. Long As She's Standing

13. Nobody Rules

14. Dirty Money

XXV Nonstop (2011)

1. Clobberin' Time

2. Injustice System

3. Sanctuary

4. Scratch The Surface

5. Us vs. Them

6. The Deal

7. Just Look Around

8. Ratpack

9. World Full Of Hate

10. Pushed Too Far

11. GI Joe Headstomp

12. Never Measure Up

13. Chip Away

14. Busted

15. Locomotive

16. My Life

17. Friends Like You

18. Relentless

19. No Labels

20. Built To Last

21. Clobberin' Time (KRS-One Civilisation mix)

The Last Act Of Defiance (2014)

1. Sound The Alarm

2. 2061

3. Road Less Traveled

4. Get Bronx

5. Part Of History

6. Losing War

7. Never Back Down

8. Facing The Abyss

9. Act Your Rage

10. Disconnect Your Flesh

11. Beltway Getaway

12. Sidelined

13. Outgunned

14. Dnc

15. Stand Down

16. With All Disrespect

When The Smoke Clears (2016)

1. When The Smoke Clears

2. Black Venom

3. Doomed Campaign

4. Blood & Steel

5. Fortress

Wake The Sleeping Dragon! (2018)

1. Inner Vision

2. That Crazy White Boy Shit

3. The Snake (Break Free)

4. Bull's Anthem

5. Robert Moses Was A Racist

6. Self Important Shithead

7. To The Wolves

8. Always With Us

9. Wake The Sleeping Dragon

10. 2+2

11. Beef Between Vegans

12. Hardcore Horseshoe

13. Mental Furlough

14. Deep State

15. Bad Hombres

16. Work The System

17. The New Slavery

In Loving Memory

"What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out that she's a stranger". Just like the endless supply of Eternal Sunshine quotes, there is no shortage of bands to commemorate today. Though skramz is for lovers, there is no happy here. Exactly four years ago today, this little tradition began, where each Valentine's Day a band is posted to sadgasm to. It started with The Saddest Landscape, then it was iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook, then You And I, then Love Lost But Not Forgotten, and this year (as you probably already guessed), it's In Loving Memory. We started from the bottom, and have continued to sink lower into a pit of self-imposed loneliness, depression and despair.

In Loving Memory was a six-piece screamo band from Des Moines, Iowa that lasted from 1998 to 2001. Though I usually like to give more background to a band, anything that needs to be said about them has already been documented to perfection in this blog post on Iowa Hardcore. It provides a full, detailed account of the band's members, history, and also includes links to their discography. I'm just going to touch upon their sound. The band played a frantic and frenzied form of hardcore/screamo that was influenced by all this genre's legends, including Saetia and Jeromes Dream. They also shared a guitarist with The Spirit Of Versailles, another classic band. They also had two vocalists providing dual male/female vocals, which was a major factor in this cathartic chaos that they created. Their lyrics were personal, albeit brief snippets of poetry that leave the listener to fill in the blanks with their own reflections.

 In Loving Memory's recorded output was very small, with only two splits and one full-length (titled As Years Pass And Feel Like Seconds) being put out, and one of those splits featured tracks also on the full-length. Those are available over at Iowa Hardcore, which is the blog link I provided earlier, so full credit where credit is due. What I have here is the proper release of their full discography, which was put out in 2012 by Init Records. These recordings have been remastered, so the quality's a lot better, and you can really hear the complete chaos this band had to offer. Keep this shit on repeat today, cry if you like, indulge in your lonely estate and just know by next year it won't get better. Happy V-Day. Enjoy.

A Discography (2012)

1. This Is Ours

2. Who You Enthrall

3. Moments Like These

4. Open The Door For Me

5. The Choice Has Always Been Yours

6. There's So Much To Say

7. I Burned It Down

8. Caught Up In The Most Simple Of Things

9. Remember

10. Tonight I Scream

11. Song #1

12. Song #2

13. Song #3

14. Song #4

Bandcamp

Ritual Mess

Ritual Mess are a four-piece screamo band from Amherst, Massachusetts that first started in 2009. This band features three members that used to be in the legendary Orchid (and two currently in Ampere, with guitarist Will Killingsworth being the common factor in all bands). As expected, this shit is amazing. Taking influence from the Gravity Records roster, Ritual Mess plow through minute-long songs with the same grinding vigor they did over ten years ago. I'm not sure if they're still really active. Regardless, we've got an EP and LP from them, both out on Clean Plate Records, which is Will Killingsworth's own label. And before anyone mentions this, I'm aware that the picture above is of Jayson Greene in his Orchid days. I couldn't find a new picture of this band, so I'm reusing the Orchid one. Deal with it. Enjoy.

Ritual Mess (2012)

1. F+

2. Pig Island

3. Gnomes Of Zurich

Vile Art (2014)

1. Actualize The Taste

2. Formal Apology

3. #7

4. The Last Shout

5. Emma

6. Prison Too

7. Ritual Blood Pact

8. Interiors

9. Screw The Strand

10. Vile Art

11. Wasting

Bandcamp

Heart On My Sleeve

Heart On My Sleeve are a five-piece screamo band from Stockholm, Sweden that have been around since 2010. They were formed by former members of another fantastic band, The Hope And The Failure. Heart On My Sleeve play emotionally impassioned music that features some tortured vocals and heavy post-rock influence in the instrumentals. In particular, their last LP In The Midst of Hope and Nothingness is definitely recommended, both for its concept and incredible music. This is definitely recommended for fans of more melodic screamo. Enjoy.

Blood Is Not Thicker Than Wine (2011)

1. Control Alt Delete

2. Heart On Her Sleeve

3. Blood And Wine

4. Linguistic Cure

Heart On My Sleeve/состояние птиц (2011)

1. Heart On My Sleeve - Assassin Limp-wristed and Shy

2. Heart On My Sleeve - Carry On Carry Me

3. состояние птиц - IX

4. состояние птиц - X

5. состояние птиц - XI

Stand-by, We're Going In For Life (2012)

1. Forever Summer

2. Today Is The Day

3. Bitter Verses

4. Without Scaffolding

Cavalcades/Coma Regalia/Heart On My Sleeve (2013)

1. Cavalcades - Distort

2. Cavalcades - Morning Eyes

3. Coma Regalia - What It Costs

4. Coma Regalia - What It's Worth

5. Heart On My Sleeve - A Fabrication Of Life

6. Heart On My Sleeve - Petticoat In Ashes

Totem Skin/Heart On My Sleeve (2014)

1. Totem Skin - Along The Lines Of Nature

2. Totem Skin - Totem Skin - To Live Is To Be Hunted

3. Heart On My Sleeve - For That Feeling That Never Came

In The Midst Of Hope And Nothingness (2015)

1. This Failure Is Not On Me

2. So I Ran With Scissors

3. Vicious Circles

4. What Doesn't Kill You (Will Damage You)

5. He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven

6. A Tale Of Two Hearts

7. In The Beauty Of It All

8. Home Is Where The Hurt Is

9. I Hate It When You're Here, But I Miss You When You're Gone

Bandcamp

Fucking Invincible

Fucking Invincible are a five-piece hardcore/powerviolence band from Providence, Rhode Island that got started in 2012. Since then, they've pounded out release after release of dirty, distorted, and heart-pummelling hardcore with a clear powerviolence influence and a slight hint of grindcore. This band also shares members with Daughters and Dropdead, which should be a clear indication as to why Fucking Invincible are fucking incredible. They also put on a killer live set, so get into this shit. Enjoy.

Demo (2012)

1. Shithouse

2. No Skin

3. Meeting With Subtraction Commitee

4. Ginsberg

Very Negative (2012)

1. Hellbound Heart

2. Unpopular Bible Verse

3. Illogical, Imperfect

4. Anti-Tomorrow

5. Death Defier

6. The Skeleton Fucker

7. Poison Eyed Deer

8. Violent Screaming Delusions

Downtown Is Dead (2013)

1. Please Await Further Instruction

2. Too Much Black

3. Ingested And Infested

4. Coffin Chaser

5. On Paper

6. The Both Of Us Are Dying

7. A Coma

8. Standing Perfectly Still

It'll Get Worse Before It Gets Better (2014)

1. Not What You Are

2. Dead Dogs

3. Ape As Man/Man Ape

4. All Good Things...

5. The Brotherhood of Unfulfilled Early Promise

6. Josephine

7. Why Keep Score

8. The World Keeps Turning

9. By Proxy

10. Inconsistent and Indifferent

11. Followed By The Sea

12. Open All Night

13. Progress Trap

14. Nothing, No One

I Hate Myself And Want You To Die (2015)

1. Cross / Uncross

2. Conflict Recital

3. Under The Sun

4. Ditched

5. Feeder

6. Like A Child

7. No Exit

8. Get It Wrong

Fucking Invincible/Lifespite (2016)

1. Fucking Invincible - Buy Or Die

2. Fucking Invincible - More Death

3. Fucking Invincible - Blessing / Curse

4. Fucking Invincible - Divisive Scum

5. Fucking Invincible - Cut Out

6. Lifespite - Blown To Shreds

7. Lifespite - Pray For Nothing

8. Lifespite - One By One

Facebook

Skewbald/Grand Union

Skewbald/Grand Union were a hardcore punk band that had a very brief tenure in 1981. Formed in Washington, DC by Minor Threat members Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, this project existed during their main band's brief hiatus. The two of them couldn't settle on a name, thus why they ended up with the shared name. They only recorded these two tracks, which sound as aggressive as the early Minor Threat 7"'s, but also shows them heading into the direction they would take on their sole full-length. This makes sense, since this was recorded right in between In My Eyes and Out Of Step. This 7" wasn't released until 1991, and was put out by Dischord Records (obviously). Eddie Janney plays guitar on this, who would later play in The Faith and Rites of Spring. Not much else to say here really, these are two solid tracks that Minor Threat diehards have got to hear. Enjoy.

2 Songs (1991)

1. Sorry/Change For The Same

2. You're Not Fooling Me

Dischord

Everyone Asked About You

Everyone Asked About You were a four-piece emo/indie/twee pop band from Little Rock, Arkansas that were around in the late 90's (only '97 and '98 are definite years). Though relatively unknown in their heyday, they've built up a following over the years, almost exclusively because of their sole 7". Besides that self-titled EP, they only ever released one split and another EP, neither of which gained as much attention of the self-titled one. They did record an album in their time together, but it wouldn't be officially released until 2012.

Everyone Asked About You are one of 90's emo/indie's best kept secrets. They took the juvenile pop energy of Cap'n Jazz and blended it with some incredibly songwriting. They clearly had an ear for catchy melodies, in addition to the raw guitar sound employed by contemporary punk/emo bands. They band featured two vocalists, one female and one male. The female vocals are dominant, and unique to say the least. They're very high-pitched and "girly", for lack of a better word. This is really where the band's sugar-sweet pop influence comes in, and one of the major factors that sets them apart as being this fantastically unique project.  It's also a clear indicator of where bands like Rainer Maria and Football, etc. would take influence from. The male vocals often act as a backing voice for the female vocals, though sometimes take the lead in the gruffer parts of their songs. Fans of 90's era emo will definitely see what makes this band so special, and why that one 7" has held up so well over the years. Their full-length is also fantastic. This is one of many bands that make me glad to be in the Internet era of music, because underground gems like this may never have been unearthed (or at least hard as hell to find). Enjoy.

Everyone Asked About You (1997)

1. Paper Airplanes, Paper Hearts

2. Me Vs. You

3. It's Days Like This That Make Me Wish the Summer Lasted Forever

4. Everyone Asked About You

The Boston To Little Rock Connection (1998)

1. The Shyness Clinic - Barcelona To Madrid

2. Everyone Asked About You - I Will Wait

3. Everyone Asked About You - A Better Way To A Broken Heart 

Sometimes Memory Fails Me Sometimes (1998)

1. Handsome, Beautiful

2. Sometimes Memory Fails Me Sometimes

Let's Be Enemies (2012)

1. Crazy

2. Boston

3. Song For Chris

4. Letters Never Sent

5. Taxi

6. Last Dance

7. Let's Be Enemies

8. Solitaire / Across Puddles

9. Greek To Me

10. Outro

Priests

Priests are a four-piece post-punk band from Washington, DC, that formed in 2012. After a handful of EP's, their debut full-length was released this year, and it is nothing short of fantastic. Without a doubt this is one of my favourite albums I've heard this year. It's a culmination of what they've been working towards, and a complete assault, both sonically and political. Though their early work is definitely rooted in a more straight-forward punk approach, they've really embraced the more experimental side of post-punk here. The band utilizes dark bass lines, tight drums, and some spastic guitar playing that switches from sharp surf-rock riffs to reverb-drenched chords to all-out noise fests in a matter of seconds. On top of it all are the vocals, which are incredibly charismatic and emotive, with some great lyrics to boot. Enjoy.

Tape 1 (2012)

1. Diet Coke

2. Talking

3. The World

4. Cobra

Radiation/Personal Planes (2012)

1. Radiation

2. Personal Planes

Tape Two (2013)

1. Leave Me Alone

2. Say No

3. Lana

4. USA (Incantations)

5. Lillian Hellman

6. Twelve

7. Watch You (Alternate Mix)

Bodies and Control and Money and Power (2014)

1. Design Within Reach

2. Doctor

3. New

4. Powertrip

5. Modern Love / No Weapon

6. Right Wing

7. And Breeding

Nothing Feels Natural (2017)

1. Appropriate

2. JJ

3. Nicki

4. Leila 20

5. No Big Bang

6. Interlude

7. Nothing Feels Natural

8. Pink White House

9. Puff

10. Suck

Bandcamp

Giles Corey

Giles Corey is a project created by Dan Barrett, a Connecticut musician who is also known for another project of his, Have A Nice Life. This particular project, Giles Corey, has been active since 2011 with the release of a self-titled album. It's garnered nothing but acclaim over the years, and for good reason. It's difficult to figure out a place to begin in describing this album (and all his work, for that matter). For one, and this is going to sound incredibly pretentious, but Barrett creates more than music, he crafts an experience. The atmospheres he creates are lonely, desolate, and most of all, engaging. From the artwork, to the book that accompanies this album, Giles Corey is a project that requires one's full immersion in. There is a clear, personal emotional intensity here, which simultaneously explores Barrett's own psyche, while also creating something for any listener to relate and indulge in. This kind of music is for the lowest points in life, and in exploring the darkest recesses of the mind, somehow a light at the end of the tunnel is found. Or something like that. Though though certainly are philosophical and emotional elements in his work, to quickly speak on the music alone here, it's absolutely fantastic. These atmospheres created with just an acoustic guitar, layers of breathy vocals, light percussion, and some background orchestral swelling reflects the depressive nature of this music alone, without even having to explore the book or lyrical accompaniments. Just by listening, this album still takes the listener on a conceptual journey through a person's depression and brink of suicide. I honestly can't recommend this enough.

What's essential here is the self-titled album, which also includes a booklet only included if you buy it on Bandcamp (which I highly recommend doing, but I've provided just the musical portion of it here). The follow-up Deconstructionist is technically not an album, but is described as a "philosophical tool". Again, I recommend reading more into it on Bandcamp, which also includes another booklet in its download. Hinterkaifeck is a fairly straight-forward EP, and Live in the Middle of Nowhere a fairly straight-forward live album (he even does some Have A Nice Life songs). Enjoy.

Giles Corey (2011)

1. The Haunting Presence

2. Blackest Bile

3. Grave Filled With Books

4. Empty Churches

5. I'm Going To Do It

6. Spectral Bride

7. Nobody's Ever Going To Want Me

8. A Sleeping Heart

9. Buried Above Ground

Deconstructionist (2012)

1. Awake Now

2. Infinite Death

3. Epsilon

Hinterkaifeck (2013)

1. Winter's House

2. Guilt Is My Boyfriend

3. Wounded Wolf

Live in the Middle of Nowhere (2013)

1. Blackest Bile

2. Grave Filled With Books

3. Guilt Is My Boyfriend

4. The Icon And The Axe

5. Deep, Deep

6. Earthmover

7. Wounded Wolf

8. Spectral Bride

Bandcamp

Granite to Glass - I Want To Live SINGLE PREMIERE

Hey guys, I'm happy to bring you the debut single from Granite to Glass, a new project featured long-time friend of the blog Jon Kohen. He's back under a new name with his first single, "I Want To Live". This track is taken from the upcoming album "for when you need this", which is slated for release on March 10. This new album is based upon a poem of the same name, which is written out as the album cover. The poem was written by Emily Katherine Yeadon, whose memory this entire album is dedicated to.

For those of you already familiar with Jon's work, this project will surely have you excited. His distinctive whispered, airy vocals are on full display here, carefully letting out some of his best melodies yet. This new track manages to bring both a melancholic sensibility and a pop melody to the table, making for an immediate stand-out song and a good indication of what a fantastic this new album is going to be. In the past, Jon has worked with a string quartet in the past (his cover of Elliott Smith's "Between The Bars" is still breath-taking), but on this new project he has both an orchestra and a choir backing him. The lush strings and delicate backing vocals really create this massive wall of sound behind his voice and guitar, but never detract from the clear stand-out song here. This new production is a welcome addition to Jon's continually mesmerizing songwriting, and if "I Want To Live" is any indication,"for when you need this" is going to be a major album to look out for this year.