Vicious Cycle

Vicious Cycle were a four-piece hardcore punk band from Sudbury, Ontario that were around from 2005 to 2010. They released three EP's, one LP, and a single in that time. I'm aware I say this far too often, but Vicious Cycle are truly a criminally underrated band that put out one of the finest albums hardcore has to offer in the past 15 years. Their first few releases were pure OG hardcore, with an meshed influence of bands including Zero Boys and Poison Idea. By Pale Blue Dot, they were able to craft one of the most intensive and energetic records I've ever heard. It's one I find myself returning to time and time again, thanks to its raw, guttural intensity, unique production, and incredibly memorable songs. It's equal parts Minor Threat and Fugazi with a garage rock garnish. This was "forward-thinking" at its finest. That visceral aggression is maintained throughout, only taking occassional detours with some noisy, atmospheric interludes. Alexisonfire's George Pettit even makes an appearance on here. Highly, highly recommended, enjoy.

Vicious Cycle (2006)

1. Germ

2. Dog On A Leash

3. Self Abuse

4. Assembly Line

5. Vicious Cycle

6. Brain Damaged

7. Aged And Confused

I'm Watching You (2007)

1. Annoy

2. Bent

3. Terminate

4. Boring Face

5. Negative Space

6. I'm Watching You

Neon Electric (2008)

1. Hail The Bouncer

2. Neon Electric

3. Nothing Special

4. Stepping Back

Killed By Trash 2 (2009)

1. I Hate Cops

Pale Blue Dot (2009)

1. No Escape

2. Blur

3. The Waiting

4. Black Dot

5. In Tranquility

6. Death

7. Vertigo

8. Gamma Ray

9. Heaven Or Hell

10. For Carl

11. Pale Blue Dot

12. Rebirth

13. Farewell

Numbers b/w 'Over The Edge' (2010)

1. Numbers

2. Over The Edge (Wipers cover)

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GIVE

GIVE are a five-piece post-hardcore band from Washington, DC that formed in 2008, about 25 years after the movement they embody. They take obvious influence from Revolution Summer-era bands off of Dischord, which has to be one of the best places to take influence from. If you're looking for tight, compelling music, it doesn't get much better than that. They've also recorded with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios, who did pretty much every Dischord album, from the early Minor Threat and Faith EP's through to Rites of Spring, Embrace, Soulside, Gray Matter, Marginal Man, Dag Nasty, and of course Fugazi, Nation Of Ulysses, Lungfish,  Jawbox, and the list just goes on and on. GIVE are the 21st century celebration of those bands, both by taking inspiration from them and turning it into them one of the best punk bands around now. They put out an LP titled Electric Flower Circus last year which is absolutely flawless. That along with the compilation Singles Going Confetti are good starting parts. Enjoy.

Give (2009)

1. Aaron's Interlude

2. Amphetamine Dream

3. Godspeeding

4. Like Unknown

5. Transparencies

6. Forever Forward

7. Sun In My Hand (Sweetwater)

Singles Going Confetti (2012)

1. I Am Love

2. Petal Pushing

3. Heaven is Waiting

4. Going Confetti

5. Solid White

6. One

7. Boots Of Faith

8. Flowerhead

9. Kiss The Flame

10. Taste Of Smile

11. Pat Weird

Note: This is a compilation of singles and b-sides they released between 2010 and 2011

Voodoo Leather (2014)

1. Voodoo Leather

2. Daisy Pains

3. Godspeeding

4. Snakey Charmer

5. Snakey Rider

I Am Live (2014)

1. I Am Love (Live)

2. Voodoo Leather (Live)

3. Godspeeding (Live)

4. Boots of Faith (Live)

Electric Flower Circus (2014)

1. Sonic Bloom

2. Head First Opened

3. Beware Of The Sun

4. Burning At The Stake

5. Voodoo Leather

6. Electric Flower Cult

7. Fuck Me Blind

8. Bedrooms

9. Sunflower Youth

10. Paint My Life

11. Crush

12. Welcome To Dust

13. Waiting For It

Sonic Bloom (2015)

1. Sonic Bloom

2. Learning to Die

3. Brand New Flag

4. Eat the Rainbow

5. Crushed

Electric Flower Cult (2017)

1. Electric Flower Cult

2. Beyond The Gun

3. Out Of Your World

4. Do As You Feel

5. I Will Always Leave

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