STREET DOGS RETURN TO STUDIO FOR “RABBLE ROUSING” NEW ALBUM

Punk rock proponents for social justice, Street Dogs, have announced plans to return to the studio in February to record their fifth studio album and follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2008 Hellcat debut State of Grace. The band will be recording with bassist Johnny Rioux as producer and Rick Barton (original Dropkick Murphys guitarist) co-producing at the infamous punk rock studio the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado which was built by members of Descendents, All and Black Flag.

Punk rock runs deep in the veins of Street Dogs, with former Dropkick Murphys singer Mike McColgan’s uncompromising lyrics alongside bassist Johnny Rioux, guitarists Marcus Hollar and Tobe Bean III and drummer Paul Rucker’s fist pumping street punk anthems. The band burst onto the scene in 2002 and has released a string of classic albums including 2008’s State of Grace, which critics called “a raucous and purposeful working man’s ride” (Dallas Morning News) with “the kind of political streak rarely heard since the Clash” (Cleveland Scene).

After incessant tours around the world alongside bands like The Offspring, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Reverend Horton Heat and headlining tours in US and UK in support of State of Grace, Street Dogs will enter the studio in February ready to shake the system and rally the people like never before on their fifth studio album.

“Every time we go into the studio we are trying to make our finest record,” says McColgan. “So on February ninth when we enter the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado that is the goal to make our best record. Also this record will be more of a rabble rousing punk record than our previous records and have more of an edge and an attack on it. We will work to all of our strengths on this effort and we are very excited to have Rick Barton co-producing the record.”

“Our next and fifth record will capture the purest form of the band to date,” adds Rioux. “We are making it as if it were our first record. The punk and hardcore songs will be MORE punk and hardcore. Our Celtic influence and songs will be more Celtic, the folk, folkier and so on. It’s almost as if we are making records in the reverse of most bands. Ending up back at square one, and square one never sounded better. Basically, we want to make our new favorite record.”

Overweight – the World For Sale

Overweight – the World For Sale

CD 2009 DIY

Overweight is a band from Vlaams Brabant in Belgium that started as a punkrockband in 2001 but evolved into a skapunk band. The World For Sale is their newest release. Overweight did certainly not throw his punkrock roots overboard, on the contrary. On the World for Sale the punk influences, in my opinion, dominate the ska influences. Its your typical punkrock sound spiced up with a horn/brass section but their are plenty of ska tunes mixed in for the average ska(punk) lover. I like ska a lot and I’m into punkrock but I’m not always fond of skapunk. I sometimes have the feeling that skapunk bands want to play ska but suck at it so they stick to punkrock, add some horns to it just to make it sound a bit like ska. Not that this is the deal with Overweight; they are a promising more then average skapunk band with a lot of potential. The World For Sale certainly scores better than most of the skapunk releases that are coming from Germany, Switzerland, … So go check this band at www.myspace.com/overweightmusic or at www.overweightmusic.be.

Revilers – Stand or Fall

 

Revilers – Stand or Fall

7” 2009 Patac Records

The Boston based raw punk band Revilers has released his second 7” on Patac Records. As on Isolation, their previous release, they again bring us straight forward, raw and pissed off punk songs with a message of not giving up, standing tall when times are hard. I even hear some streetpunk/Oi influences on this one, especially on the second track ‘Tried & True’ I hear the influence of Blitz coming through. Stand or Fall is a solid record; there’s enough variation in the songs to keep it interested. This is the real ting and no fancy package. So again a good 7” from this Boston band and the evolution they are making to a more streetpunk influenced sound is promising. Visit their myspace at www.myspace.com/revilers.

CHANNEL ZERO AT GRASPOP 2010

The Belgium hard rocking quartet Channel Zero will play this years edition of Grapop.

More info at www.graspop.be

Polar Bear Club – Chasing Hamburg

Polar Bear Club – Chasing Hamburg

CD 2009 Bridge Nine Records

I’m not familiar with Polar Bear Club, although they are around since 2005. I only knew the band by name so I can’t really compare Chasing Hamburg with their previous releases. I certainly like their latest release: Chasing Hamburg, it will appeal to hardcore fans, 90’s punkrock lovers and poppunk fans. The music of Polar Bear Club has something for all of us. It’s not your typical punkrock record, but Chasing Hamburg has the necessary aggression, lots of melody, a dark edge, … so pick this nice album up and tell me what you think about it.

CBGB, Punk/Hardcore Tribute Night

19.02.2010

Antillectual (NL): www.myspace.com/antillectual

Shame-On-U (CH): www.myspace.com/shameonumusic

Rumble Fist (NL): www.myspace.com/rumblefisthc

The Dancing Morons (B): www.myspace.com/thedancingmorons

Ruiner – Hell is Empty

Ruiner – Hell Is Empty

CD 2009 Bridge Nine Records

Hell is empty is my first introduction to Ruiner. When I received the promo, looked at the artwork, I immediately thought: “this band is a Modern Life is War clone.” Listening to the record, I think that I’m not far off with my previous statement.

The artwork of Hell is empty is quit dark, melancholic and pessimistic. Its mentions: ‘Baltimore the greatest city in America.’ followed by a bunch of pictures showing some old and neglected (industrial) buildings. Nice pictures though. A pessimistic view strengthens by mostly mid tempo sentimental and melancholic hardcore with desperate vocals and personal lyrics. A bit depressive don’t you think?

Ruiner’s Hell is Empty is a record full of emotional and honest mid tempo hardcore, a call for hope. Its a record that will appeal to the fans of Modern Life is War and Defeater. 7.5/10

Strike Anywhere – Iron Front

Strike Anywhere – Iron Front

CD 2009 Bridge Nine Records

Iron Front is Strike Anywhere’s debut full length on Bridge Nine Records. Strike Anywhere is a melodic hardcore punk band from Richmond, Virginia formed in 1999 after the demise of frontman Thomas Barnett’s previous band, Inquisition. They are not just another aggressive, melodic and up-tempo hardcore punk band. They are a political band, even kind of a social and political movement. Their music touches and their lyrics deal with social, ethical and political issues. On Iron Front its about war, child soldiers, human rights, police brutality, politics and so on.

Iron Front is a very powerful and strong album that leans more towards hardcore then towards punk. It’s a heavy and aggressive, dark a bit noisy but still melodic and catchy as hell. Call it hardcore, call it punk, I call it Strike Anywhere at their best. 8.5/10

Crucial Attack Records sells the new Out Of Step Zine.

GROEZROCK 2010: first names