Ink & Dagger

For the entire duration of its existence, hardcore has always been a forward-thinking genre. One would like to think that, at least. Perhaps one of the most definitive testaments to that is Philadelphia's Ink & Dagger, whose originality can truly be deemed objective. Simply put, there has been no other act like them, before or after. To start by focusing solely on the music, Ink & Dagger crafted such off-kilter rhythms that could make the listener almost feel uncomfortable, since they would go so against the natural progression that a song would usually go. Being caught off guard is an immediate guarantee that what's about to heard will be nothing short of captivating. And that it is. To describe their experimental sound is futile, since it doesn't sound like anything else. It sounds like Ink & Dagger, if that makes any sense. In addition, they had one of the most charismatic frontmen in punk rock history, Sean McCabe (who unfortunately died a year later after they broke up, at the age of 27). Him, along with guitarist Don Devore were the only two consistent members of Ink & Dagger, and definitely deserve to be credited as the masterminds behind this explosively unique project.

Of course a band's music is the priority part of their act, and as I've already stated, Ink & Dagger shot out of a different universe on that front. However, another part of what's solidified their legacy is their stage antics. They are perhaps one of few bands who can present legitimate "art pieces" on stage, and not come off as a group of pretentious pricks. For one, they would often perform in make-up. More specifically, dressed like vampires. From videos I've seen, and various stories floating around the internet, it sounds like Ink & Dagger had one of the most insane live shows ever, incorporating fake blood, strobe lights, coffins, and of course the classic vampire get-ups. McCabe also seems to have been notorious for being a bit of a shit disturber (i.e. throwing yogurt at an Earth Crisis show), for lack of a better way to put it. If his goal was to upset people's comfort zones and their own natural order, then that he did extremely well. As a personal (read: pretentious) note, that's what punk/hardcore has always been about. Not necessarily politicizing everything and taking a stance, but upsetting the natural order of things and making others question themselves and be taken out of their own safe-havens, regardless of where they stood morally, politically, you name it. I don't know if that makes sense, but that's something that's always really attracted me to the mystique of Ink & Dagger.

On a final note, since I just realized I forgot to mention this earlier, Ink & Dagger were initially around from 1995 to 1999. They put out two full-lengths and a handful of 7"'s, all of which are included below. In 2010 and 2011, the band reunited, with Geoff Rickly on vocals. They headlined This Is Hardcore and toured the UK. Not sure what else to say here, besides Ink & Dagger are an essential band for anyone looking to really hear something different, and to return to my very first sentiment, forward-thinking. Enjoy.

Edit: And yes, Eric Wareheim (of Tim & Eric fame) did play bass for them at one point

Love Is Dead (1996)

1. The Changeling

2. Frigid Shortcomings

3. Newspaper Tragedy

4. Bloodlust

5. My Ladylove

Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart (1997)

1. The Road To Hell

2. Shadowtalker

3. Caretaker

4. Full Circle

5. The Changeling

6. Frigid Shortcomings

7. Newspaper Tragedy

8. Bloodlust

9. My Ladylove

10. Crawler

The Experiments In Nocturnal Sound And Energy (1997)

1. Philapsychosis

2. 13th Dream

3. 13th Dream [JG's Remix]

The Fine Art Of Original Sin (1998)

1. The Fine Art Of Original Sin

2. Philapsychosis

3. We Live Despite Their Schemes

4. Cut-Throat Tactics

5. The Six Feet Under Swindle

6. The History In Ecstasy

7. VampireFastCode Ver. 1.5

8. The Fine Art Of Original Sin (The GFS Resonant Mix)

Ink & Dagger/Le Shok (1999)

1. Ink & Dagger - Catch The Flashback

2. Le Shok - Electric Digits

Sensation (1999)

1. Mayor Withdrawal

2. Part Time Prophet

Ink & Dagger (2000)

1. She Came Crashing

2. Sweet Relief Of Revenge

3. Sarcastic Sunrise

4. The Lines Of Lies

5. Part Time Prophet

6. Den Of Scorpio

7. Absinthe

8. Lolita

9. Creatures Like Us

10. Omit

11. Facedremer

Ruiner

Ruiner were a five-piece melodic hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland that formed in 2004 and called it quits in 2010. They did reunite to play This Is Hardcore earlier this year though. Without a doubt these guys are one of my favourites from their era, which is saying a lot considering their peers were bands like Modern Life Is War and Verse. Ruiner played an intensely emotional form of hardcore, with very personal lyrics being shouted a top some pounding instrumentation, full of octave chords and the like. Their two full-lengths are stone-cold classics, as well as their one compilation, I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes, which includes all their early material. The only thing I'm missing here is their Under The Influence split with Attica! Attica! that includes a cover of Oasis' "Morning Glory", so if anyone happens to have it, please send it over. Besides that, enjoy!

Prepare To Be Let Down (2007)

1. Prepare To Be Let Down

2. Bottom Line: Fuck You

3. The Lives We Fear

4. That Stone Better Be On Fire

5. 40 Miles North

6. A Song For Beggars

7. Long Time Coming

8. Repetition

9. Choke On It

10. When The Morning Ends

11. Sleepless

12. Kiss That Motherfucker Good Night

I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes (2008)

1. Once Loved

2. Paint Peals

3. Adhering To Superstition

4. Lockjaw

5. Getting Over The Overs

6. Out Go The Candles

7. A Bridge Too Many

8. Six By Six

9. Dear Philadelphia

10. Sincerely

11. Paint Peals

12. Adhering To Superstition

13. Six By Six

14. The Lives We Fear

Hell Is Empty (2009)

1. I'm Out

2. Dead Weight

3. Two Words

4. Part One

5. Part Two

6. Convenient Gods

7. Meat

8. Loneliest Of Hearts

9. Committed

10. Solitary

L'Antietam

After finishing up with the Kidcrash post, I got thinking of this band too, who are another that are long overdue for a post. L'Antietam were a four-piece hardcore/screamo band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 2004 and ended in 2012. Like Kidcrash, they played a really progressive yet intense form screamo, but more on the aggressive, hardcore side of things. L'antietam were incredible with dynamics, with songs building into spastic frenzies that never ceased to impress with technical guitar work being shot out of the havoc. The vocals would peak at all-out throat-shredding screams, giving their music such a grandeur catharsis that always sounded epic, even if a song only lasted for a minute and a half. Family and Arthur Carr are screamo/hardcore highlights, and are definitely the most recommend listens here. Speaking of which, there's one quick thing to note about Family. It includes both the EP of the same name, as well as their first two EP's and their split with Furnace, just to clear that up. Enjoy.

Live At The Fallout Shelter (2005)

1. 2

2. 3

3. 4

4. 5

5. 6

6. 7

7. 8

8. 9

9. 10

10. 11

11. 12

12. 13

Family (2006)

1. Intro

2. Am:Jm

3. 00:05

4. Brick Halls

5. 00:43

6. Boxes

7. Dear Good Man

8. 01:04

9. Two Birds

10. Outro (a safe one)

11. We Saw the Umbrella Man

12. We Turned Off Harbor Lights

13. We Drank To The Top Of Our Lungs

14. We Built Our Heavens

15. Adrenaline Baby

16. Eldiso

17. Holy Family Fuck

18. Plastic

19. Paper

20. Bah Bah Bah Patriots

21. Everybody Loves Raymond (not the town in NH)

22. The Johnny Appleseed Trail

23. None of This Is No Longer Worth My Time

24. Joes Dad Looks Like Michael Moore

25. Thanks for the Gift But It's Completely Useless for My Situation

26. I Sat For Days and Came With This

27. It's Hard To Listen To A Word You're Saying When You're Spitting In My Face

Arthur Carr (2007)

1. The Overture

2. Wrong Ways I Feel Secure

3. You're Welcome

4. Dear Dead Man

5. A Side Of The States

6. The End Birth

7. Our Elders

Heavy Nugs And Heady Chugs (2008)

1. Kidcrash - Huge Ass Beers to Go (Aka I Went On Tour With L'Antietam and All I Got Was This Lousy Tattoo)

2. L'Antietam - Gnarthur Gnarr

3. L'Antietam - Gnarfield Gnarbuckle

Dark Brew/Rock Bottom (2012)

1. Dark Brew

2. White

3. Gold

4. Grape

5. Green

6. I Just Threw My Life Away And I'm Already Paying For It

Kidcrash

Kudos to the guy who was just looking for some Kidcrash, because I was legitimately shocked to find that they're not on here yet. Besides being one of the first modern post-hardcore bands I heard, they're still a favourite, and arguably one of the best. They got started in 2000 in Sante Fe, New Mexico, though didn't develop the sound they're known for until around 2004. I believe they are now/were based out of the Oregon/Washington area. As for their current activity, I'm not entirely sure what's going on. They were supposed to put out a new album two years ago or so, but am not sure what became of it, besides the fact that it's yet to be released.

Kidcrash (sometimes referred to as "The Kidcrash") play a very progressive, math rock-esque style of post-hardcore, with elements of post-rock and screamo thrown in. They come off as both intense and intriguing, with some incredible displays of musicianship in addition to their raw assault. I don't know how many damn times I listened to Jokes and Snacks a few years back, but they never get tiresome. Kidcrash have also been a major influence on a lot of post-hardcore bands that are kicking around now, and I'm sure you can hear the similarities in countless bands today. Even if you're a fan of older bands, like Daitro, City Of Caterpillar, Kill Sadie, Unwound, etc., you could definitely get into Kidcrash as well. To sum it up, if you want some intense, experimental post-hardcore, no band does it better than Kidcrash. Enjoy.

New Ruins (2004)

1. Your Valley Is Our Volcano

2. Until The Light Kills The Film

3. New Ruins

4. Scalpel Cuts Concrete

5. Gun At The Parade

6. The Afterburn Of Being Born

7. Talking Underwater

8. Eyes That Never Hit The Sky

9. The Drowning Swan's Song

I Haven't Had A Date In 4 Years Goldie Hawn Goldie Hawn Goldie Hawn... (2005)

1. I

2. II

3. III

Demo (2006)

1. A Conduit Rather Than A Vault

2. Life was real, vital, urgent, important/Bum Guts

3. The Ground Eats You

4. Hypothetical Basking Shark

5. Swingsets and Frozen Grapes

Jokes (2007)

1. Turtlelephant

2. The Ground Eats You

3. Life Was Real. Vital.Urgent.Important/Bum Guts

4. Hypothetical Basking Shark

5. Kissed By A Roach From The Grave

6. Parrots Just Don't Understand

7. Ron Ghousley's Fucked Up Dream (Ron To The Hills. Ron For Your Life)

8. Aconduit Rather Than A Vault

9. Swingsets And Frozen Grapes

Heavy Nugs And Heady Chugs (2008)

1. Kidcrash - Huge Ass Beers to Go (Aka I Went On Tour With L'Antietam and All I Got Was This Lousy Tattoo)

2. L'Antietam - Gnarthur Gnarr

3. L'Antietam - Gnarfield Gnarbuckle

Snacks (2009)

1. Space Between Mountains

2. Where Nerves Where

3. Grim Collections

4. Wound Eraser

5. Slow Applause

6. Brain Snares

7. Sleeper Wave

Naps (2011)

1. Hibernationstate

2. Sleep Shock

3. Misogamist

4. Unknowing The End

Revenge

Revenge are a black metal band from Edmonton, Alberta that got started in 2000 by drummer James Read. They've become a staple in both Canadian and international blackened death metal, and have proven why on album after album. Their earlier material is really raw, and they've gradually gotten more progressive with the incorporation of more riffs and such. This band probably doesn't need much of an introduction; if you like black metal, you'll like this. Enjoy.

Attack.Blood.Revenge (2001)

1. Yabssor Born/Blood of my Blood

2. Vengeance Absolute

3. War (Bathory Cover)

4. Annihilate or Serve

Superion.Command.Destroy (2002)

1. Blood Division

2. Superion Revenge

The Toddler And The Priest/Deathless Will (2003)

1. Arkhon Infaustus - The Toddler And The Priest

2. Revenge - Deathless Will

Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist (2003)

1. Decimation Antichrist

2. Blood Of My Blood

3. Heathen Hammer

4. Blood Division

5. Annihilate Or Serve

6. Attack The Enslave

7. Altar Of Triumph

8. Genocide Conquest

Victory.Intolerance.Mastery (2004)

1. Destiny Mastery

2. Traitor Crucifixion

3. Blood Annihilation

4. Atrocity March

5. Hate Oath

6. Victory Revenge

7. Iron Intolerance

8. Doom Order

Infiltration.Downfall.Death (2008)

1. Death Heritage (Built Upon Sorrow)

2. Blood Rose (Hug-Tied Like Swine)

3. Sterilization (Procreation Denied)

4. By Force (The Only Option)

5. Barbed Anti (No Remorse)

6. Survival (The Absolute Truth) 

7. Final Doctrine (Push Forward)

8. Cleansing Siege (Take Them Down) 

Scum.Collapse.Eradication (2012)

1. Us and Them (High Power)

2. Retaliation (Fallout Prayer)

3. Parasite Gallows (In Line)

4. Filth Solution (Intolerance)

5. Banner Degradation (Exile or Death)

6. Burden Eradication (Nailed Down)

7. Pride Ruination (Division Collapse)

8. Scorned Detractor (Trust No One)

Retaliation.Doom.Eradication (2012)

1. Retaliation (Fallout Prayer)

2. Doom Eradication

Holocaustic Death March To Humanity's Doom (2015)

1. Black Witchery - Black Death Conjuration

2. Black Witchery - Curse Of Malignancy

3. Black Witchery - Profanation Triumph

4. Revenge - Humanity Noosed / Equimanthorn

Behold.Total.Rejection (2015)

1. Scum Defection (Outsider Neutralized)

2. Shock Attrition (Control in Decline)

3. Wolf Slave Protocol (Choose Your Side)

4. Mass Death Mass

5. Mobilization Rites

6. Silent Enemy

7. Desolation Insignia

8. Hate Nomad

9. ETHR (Failure Erased)

10. Nihilist Militant (Total Rejection)

Hassan I Sabbah

Hassan I Sabbah were a screamo/emoviolence band that briefly existed from 2000 and 2001. They only put out one self-titled EP, a split with Usurp Synapse, and a few demos and a compilation appearances. They played a very hardcore-influenced style of screamo that was as aggressive as it was progressive. What's unusual is that they have no official discography LP released, unlike most screamo bands around their time. Besides a few bootlegs, nothing's surfaced. However, on Robotic Empire's Bandcamp, you can download their sole EP along with a bunch of bonus stuff, which is basically the entirety of their discography. It also comes with a ton of liner notes and such, which is a really cool addition. I only have the audio stuff here, but if you want to see more, check out the Bandcamp link at the bottom. Enjoy.

Hassan I Sabbah (2000)

1. Untitled

2. Watching The Eyes Of Someone Lying

3. Not So In Tune With Shells

4. Untitled

5. Yella Son, Cold Mourning

6. A Horse Never Goes Heartless

7. Epilepsy As Performance Art

8. A Cut Fixed With Mud

9. Fuck The Thinking That They're Living Some

10. Not So In Tune With Shells (Demo version)

11. Head On A Stake (Demo version)

Bandcamp

Twin Peaks

As tempted as I am to talk about damn fine cups of coffee, my log will say something about that another day. Twin Peaks is a small town in Washington five-piece garage punk/indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois that got started in 2010, while they were still in high school. They're now three full-lengths down, with their last one released earlier this year. They often draw comparisons to other garage rock bands, the most obvious of which would have to be Black Lips. They've nailed that slacker sound, with a lot of reverb, fuzz, and some whiny, nasally vocals. Fans of dream pop might also dig this, as well as people into Ty Segall or even FIDLAR. Twin Peaks have a solid thing going here, so enjoy.

Sunken (2013)

1. Baby Blue

2. Natural Villain

3. Fast Eddie

4. Out Of Commission

5. Stand In The Sand

6. Irene

7. Boomers

8. Ocean Blue

Wild Onion (2014)

1. I Found A New Way

2. Strawberry Smoothie

3. Mirror Of Time

4. Sloop Jay D

5. Making Breakfast

6. Strange World

7. Fade Away

8. Sweet Thing

9. Stranger World

10. Telephone

11. Flavor

12. Ordinary People

13. Good Lovin'

14. Hold On

15. No Way Out

16. Mind Frame

Mind Frames (2015)

1. Mirror Of Time

2. Good Lovin'

3. Fade Away

4. Hold On

5. I Found A New Way

6. Strange World

7. Sweet Thing

8. Telephone

9. Making Breakfast

10. Mind Frame

Note: Wild Onion demos

Down In Heaven (2016)

1. Walk To The One You Love

2. Wanted You

3. My Boys

4. Butterfly

5. You Don't

6. Cold Lips

7. Heavenly Showers

8. Keep It Together

9. Getting Better

10. Holding Roses

11. Lolisa

12. Stain

13. Have You Ever

Urbs In Horto (2017)

1. Butterfly (Live In Chicago)

2. Flavor (Live In Chicago)

3. Boomers (Live In Chicago)

4. Stand In The Sand (Live In Chicago)

5. Holding Roses (Live In Chicago)

6. Telephone (Live In Chicago)

7. Getting Better (Live In Chicago)

8. Walk To The One You Love (Live In Chicago)

9. Making Breakfast (Live In Chicago)

10. Cold Lips (Live In Chicago)

11. Keep It Together (Live In Chicago)

12. Good Lovin' (Live In Chicago)

13. My Boys (Live In Chicago)

14. Natural Villian (Live In Chicago)

15. Stain (Live In Chicago)

16. Have You Ever? (Live In Chicago)

17. What Up Dawg? (Live In Chicago)

18. Dead Flowers (Live In Chicago)

19. Strawberry Smoothie (Live In Chicago)

Sweet '17 Singles (2018)

1. Tossing Tears

2. Under The Pines

3. Shake Your Lonely

4. Sun And The Trees

5. Come For Me

6. Fat Chance

7. Blue Coupe

8. On The Line

9. With You

10. Just Because

11. In The Meadow

12. We Will Not Make It (Not Without You)

Lookout Low (2019)

1. Casey's Groove

2. Laid In Gold

3. Better Than Stoned

4. Unfamiliar Sun

5. Dance Through It

6. Lookout Low

7. Ferry Song

8. Under A Smile

9. Oh Mama

10. Sunken II

Side A (2020)

1. What's The Matter

2. Whistle In The Wind (End Of Everything)

3. Any More Than You Want

4. Above/Below

Bandcamp

Facebook

Chalk Talk

Man, I haven't heard this band in years. While I was digging through the vaults looking for new shit to post, I stumbled back on to these guys, and holy shit is this still some fantastic stuff. Chalk Talk are a three-piece emo/punk band that were from both  Connecticut and Massachusetts that got started back in 2009, and have since broken up, though I'm not sure when. They put out these fun, jangly jams with some hilarious lyrics, anthemic vocals, and bright guitars. In terms of upbeat emo, Chalk Talk are no doubt one of the best bands to come out in years. Though this post is years past due, it's still just as good now as it was then. NUTELLA! NUTELLA! NUTELLA! NUTELLAAAAAA! Enjoy.

Killing Spree (2009)

1. Laundry

2. Horny

3. Killing Spree

4. Food Chain

5. Sacred Burial Ground

6. Misquamicut Has Bigger Waves Though 

Penny On Heads (2010)

1. Chalk Talk - Everybody's Doing It

2. Chalk Talk - Horny

3. Black Churches - Bottom Feeder/Won't Find Solace In A Woman

The Food Chain (2010)

1. Laundry

2. Marco Polo

3. Pine Cone

4. Food Chain

5. Spare A Few

6. Two Balls And A Paddle

BVVVVVVV (2010)

1. Chalk Talk - Wouldn't It Be Nice? (Beach Boys cover)

2. Chalk Talk - Misquamicut Has Bigger Waves Though

3. Sirs - Numero 7

3. Sirs - Beaver Fever

Bad Influences (2012)

1. Outro

2. You're In

3. Orchard Tunes

4. Bad Influences

5. Babe Paralysis

6. Memo: Sploof

Bandcamp