Below are reviews of demos/cd's/cassettes that people have sent in to me in hopes of getting on comps. etc... Keep in mind these are just my opinions and I know from personal experience that review people at magazines suck ass! So don't take it too personally if I didn't like what you sent. All bands are welcomed to send me things to review but make sure it's on CD please cause tapes and records are just too hard to listen to.
REVIEWS WORK ON A SCALE OF 1 being the worst and 5 being the best!
S - Z REVIEWS
| BAD HABITS - "living for ourselves" CDR I almost didn't review this cause something told me to check their website and when I did I saw that they broke up in September 2001 but I noticed that the note they sent said it was recorded by a good friend of mine Harry Baggs @ Saxon Sound Studios so I was curious about it. Anyway, that being said it kind of sucks they broke up cause they sound like they were a decent band. Alot of the singing sounds very "british" and whiny but in a good way. Pretty much straight up Punk Rock with a little Street sound thrown in. They remind me of Blind Society and The Insubordinates in their early days. Too bad I didn't get around to listening to it sooner. Wonder why they broke up!? |
3 |
| CLOSER THAN KIN - "dead flowers for a dying lover" Cdep I was totally frightened to put this in my CD player cause it looked like pure EMO crap. I mean the picture of the band even looked like they were wearing make up. But what it turned out to be was a mix between that New School Death Metal Hardcore stuff (which I think should NOT be classified as HARDCORE!) and early 90's metal, aka Sepultura etc... This is definitely not for me in the least bit but I guess they sound like they are good at what they do. I don't know maybe this band is Emo, I'm just not an authority on that shit. The girly singing singer has got to go but I like the guy who sings heavy in that kind of crusty way. |
1 |
| DOOZERS - demo #1 and #2 CDR Okay, this band unfortunately broke up before I had a chance to release anything for them and I don't know why I'm doing a review for a band no longer together but they were really good and it sucks they didn't stick it out! The band recorded 12 songs in November 2000 that were to hopefully be released as a CD but they broke up a while later. This is really good Streetpunk/Oi! that has a very original sound to it. Nothing completely original but definitely a kick in the ass to that same old shit that gets released all the time. The song "50-13" was just plain awesome. Well guys if you are out there get in touch with me and let me know what you are up to. I still listen to these demos all the time. |
4 |
| FREE LIVING INSANITY - "last exit; dead end" CD Well it was obvious looking at the slick packaging this was either a Hardcore or a Pop Punk CD but I think maybe it's both!? Kind of sounds like all that early Epitaph and Fat Wreck stuff (Pennywise, No Use For A Name, 88 Fingers Louie). Pretty decent for what it is. The band hails from Germany but from the sound of the vocals and guitar playing I would swear they were from California. Sometimes the speed gives way to too many harmonies and I want to scream but if you are into that melodic Hardcore sound, kind of like the first Pennywise cd, you would dig this. Some stuff sounds like early Face to Face and these tracks I dig, aka "teenage kicks". It's not really my thing but I guess they are definitely good at what they do. |
2 1/2 |
| GLORY WHORES - demo CDR Cool sounding band that is equal parts punk, rock and garage. It's almost hard to pigeonhole the band cause one sec I am thinking New Bomb Turks and the next I am thinking Terminus City. I could picture this band playing a 21 and up bar and playing a hall show and it not mattering one bit. Definitely not an Oi! band but very PUNK ROCK! I would like to hear a full lengths worth of stuff. Kick ASS Garage Rocking Punk Rock. |
3 1/2 |
| GO! FOR THE THROAT - demo CD Wow! I could tell this was gonna be a "HARDCORE" demo but I was scared and thought it would some new school sounding rap metal crap but to my pleasant surprise it's FAST, HARD, SHORT and ANGRY just like hardcore was in the 80's. I like it a lot. This band would fit right in with all the bands on Kangaroo Records like OUT COLD, TOE TO TOE etc... I think someone in the band emailed me and said they were doing a full length, I would really like to hear that! Rock On 80's Style Brothers!!!!! This band should definitely keep me posted on their recordings and happenings. |
4 |
| HARDSOLE - demo CDR Oi!... A real good sounding Oi! band from Denver, CO of all places. Pretty straight up and tried and true stuff. Nothing totally unique and original but I dig them. Only 4 songs on this disc so it's not really enough to make a good judgment on the band. I could definitely picture myself hanging out and drinking some beers at their shows. Sometimes simple and true Oi! is the best shit you can get, reminds me a little of the King Size Braces first CD. Good Job Guys! "Bring it Back" is a kick ass song, if I do the American Oi! comp you gotta give me that one. Keep me posted on your progress guys and send me some more stuff when you record it. |
3 |
| H-BOMBS - demo CDR Ouch my ears! What a horrible recording. Man, you should not send demos that sound like they were recorded in your bathroom to a record label! I hear a lot of chugga chugga Casualties type guitar stuff and the same type of singing but the recording is horrible so I could be way off. Very generic sounding and typical Noisey Punk stuff. This demo seems to be a year old so maybe they have gotten tighter and maybe got into a studio but this is pretty bad. 10 songs I think I will make it through 3. I like supporting Jersey bands but you need to send me a better recording then THIS. |
1 |
| THE INDIFFERENTS - demo CDR First off, before I even continue to listen to this I must say this is a really good recording (THANK GOD). Most bands don't realize that it all comes down to having a quality recording of your material, especially when sending it into a record label (and stay away from cassettes!). This band cites influences like Blitz and Cocksparrer but I'm not getting that at all. I hear lots of No Ones Victim, Bombshell Rocks, Rancid type stuff. It's pretty kick ass, a lot more melodic than most bands classifying themselves as Streetpunk/Oi!. I hope to see this band live one day soon so I can make a better judgment on them but either way I like it a lot. "Road To Ruin" is probably my favorite song cause it has a big time Bruisers feel to it. The only thing I could say remotely negative is I think they stretched a couple of the songs a little too long, around the 3 minute mark would make a couple of them classics. This band should definitely keep me posted on their recordings and happenings. |
4 |
| JABSCO PROJECT - "hooligan riot" demo CDR First off I hate when a band burns a cd on their computer and photo copies a cover and calls it a release!!! It's a demo, the only thing that counts as a release is something that was professionally released. Well sorry to say I don't think my mood is gonna get any better cause I HATE SKA MUSIC especially when it's played by band geeks and nerds who don't even know what being a skinhead is about. AHHHHH make it stop!!!!!!! God, I remember a few years ago when you couldn't go play a show without being stuck with some teeny bopper band trying to be SKA, I thought that FAD was gone? Maybe not. God I haven't even made it through the first song yet and I don't think I will listen to anymore. Sorry guys but let this be a lesson, I HATE SKA! |
0 |
| JACK NASTYS - demo CDR Here's a band trying to sound like Bad Religion way too hard. The vocals are so damn loud in the mix and sing songy that it hurts. I know this all sounds negative but it's just my opinion and I don't like pop punk music and I don't like bands who try and sound like other bands. Maybe in a year or so this band will find their identity and be a real good band cause I think musically they are tight and talented. A different vocalist might help. I'm thinking that maybe this is what emo sounds like? OUCH! |
1 |
| LOUTS - "the pissed and loud ep" CD I heard this bands first 7" about two years ago or so and I was really impressed then and the band has continued to progress in good way! This is the type of band that can walk the fine line between straight up Oi! and the more melodic stylings of Streetpunk. Catchy guitar playing and structures that are simple enough that it sticks in your head. I wish my record player was working so I could check out the split 7" they sent me as well. Maybe the band will send me a CDR with all their recordings on one disc and make my life easier (hint hint). If you like catchy yet hard Streetpunk then you should try and find this release. |
4 |
| MADDOG SURRENDER - demo CDR Okay this is another demo that has been lying around in my office for awhile and I hope the band still exists cause they have a pretty decent thing going. For the most part it's catchy streetpunk/Oi! in the vein of bands like The Cuffs. Actually they remind me a lot of the CUFFS which in my opinion is a good thing. Without lyrics it's always hard to tell where a band stands but some of the tracks make the band come off "American Oi!' with what sound like Pro-American lyrics but some other songs I hear more left wing lyrics. None of this matters really, I like a band regardless of their lyrics but sometimes it helps to know where they are coming from. The letter attached to the demo said they should have a full length cd available now on Charged Records but I haven't seen it out there but if it is released I would really appreciate it if the band sent it to me. Keep in touch with me and update me with the band. |
4 |
| NEW BREED - demo CDR Oh Canada! This country sure produces a lot of Oi! music, it's too bad none of the bands ever tour. Some of you might be familiar with this band I think I have them on a Canadian Oi! compilation. It's good and decent stuff but I am not a fan on higher voices (and sing songy vocals). It comes off very poppish a lot. I really prefer that gruff sound or at least the yelling style. It's good stuff and I'm sure the band won't have a problem furthering their career. Good luck and keep up the good work. |
2 |
| NO HOLDS BARRED - demo CDR I played with this band in Atlanta and was hoping I would get something in my mailbox from them. Well I had to wait some months but to my pleasant surprise the band finally had a demo. This is top notch American Oi!. No comparisons come to mind but it's got equal parts of the YDL sound and the Patriot/Stars & Stripes sound. All in all this kicks fucking ass. There is surely good things to come for this band. This is a new band but when I hear them it makes me think of going to the Pipeline in the late 80's/early 90's and seeing all the great Oi! bands coming out at that time like Niblick Henbane, Wretched Ones, Those Unknown etc... Look for this band to appear on the "American Oi!" comp on Squigtone. |
4 |
| PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT - demo CDR What the hell is wrong with this CDR? I don't know how much I can review cause the CDR is skipping like crazy but let me tell this band should totally change their name! I was totally expecting some emo laden hardcore crap and this stuff isn't even remotely like that. This is pretty rockin' street punk stuff that comes close in comparisons to fellow city mates THE BOILS. I think this band should send me another demo CD that I can actually listen to cause this one is definitely defective. A decent band who play a catchy type punk rock that ranges from Street to Punk to Oi! to Spikey Haired Drunx Punx stuff and even a slight touch of NOFX on one song (in a good way). Keep in touch with me about your progress guys and get me a new CD dammit. Oh yeah A++ for the Breakfast Club sample!! Oh shit there's a Cocksparrer cover too!!! KEEP IT UP! |
4 |
| RAZORBURN - "soldados borrachos" demo CDR I got a demo from this Texas Oi! band a couple of years back and I really dug it so I contacted them about possibly doing the "AMERICAN Oi!" CD coming out on Squigtone. This is a newer demo of the band and an improvement over the first. They still need to get into a better studio but this is some kick ass heavier styled Skinhead Oi! music. Only 7 tracks here and it makes me want to hear more (maybe I will burn this demo with the other demo on one disc). Some songs are typical Oi! with nothing overly astounding but I don't mean that in a bad way cause this is the stuff I think of when I think of Oi! music. I don't think all that melodic, guitar solo laden, la la singing stuff coming out of Cali and other places classifies as Oi!. They also definitely have a punk edge to them as well. I don't know if this band has a following down in Texas but if they got themselves into a better, or pro quality, studio they could definitely make a name for themselves elsewhere. "Where's My Beer?" is my favorite and I would probably want to use that song for the comp. You should ditch that little intro and get a "pro-quality" recording of that track and another track for the comp! |
4 |
| RED SKULLS - "tales of torture" CDR The band didn't get back to me that they broke up so I can only assume they are still together even though I haven't heard a thing about them around Jersey. Totally not what I was expecting by looking at it. I thought maybe a psychobilly release or a death rock thing but it's pretty much straight up punk with a very heavy Damned sound to it. The singing is kinda of gothic and Scabies sounding. Very heavy on the Horror Punk look and song titles like "war of the clossal beast", "necromantic" but the music just doesn't come off heavy enough or psycho enough. Would like to see them live and make a better judgement. Might consider getting a front man with a heavier tone to his voice. |
2 |
| RHYTHM AND THE LAW - demo CDR Well after listening to the four songs I am wondering why they chose the song "Prisons" for the first one? It is by far the worse song on here. The other three tracks are actually okay but suffer from bad recording quality and mixing. The vocals are non-existent (meaning they are way low in the mix) and the guitars sound out of tune a lot or they are way too loud in the mix. I hear quite a lot of familiar guitar riffs and vocal patterns and I wonder if this is just a coincidence or the band "borrowed" them. Well I can't say much else cause there is no packaging, no lyrics, no bio NOTHING to help me make a better judgement. |
2 |
| RICH Boi! - s/t CDR Skinhead Oi! from Louisiana? Wow that's awesome! I think this is the first skinhead band I can remember coming out of LA. This is a self released CD-R, I wonder why they put the money into a fold out glossy cover but didn't just pay to get a real CD instead of a CDR? It would have been worth it cause this is some decent Oi! music. No streetpunk and melodic crap here this is the music skinheads were meant to play. Hard, pissed off Skinhead Hardcore Punk Rock, fuck the guitar solos and harmonizing just play what you feel. Any band writing a song about the American Revolution will always get my undivided attention. Good job guys. A couple of negative things, One is the blatant rip off of the guitar line from Stiff Little Fingers "alternative ulster" in the song "system of oppression", shame on you! Also, a couple of the songs run on to like 3 minutes but really should have been at the most 2 minutes. Other than that this is a real good start for a band that I hope to hear more from. |
3 |
| RIOT IN PROGESS - "my brothers, my brothers" demo CDR Another homemade CDR demo with booklet etc. Anyway, I hear a couple of songs that sound similar to the Bruisers but from what I can tell this band is far from a Skinhead Oi! band. This band also reminds of some early recordings of bands like The Boils and Violent Society. I think if this band got into a real studio and had someone who knew how to master a song they would probably be pretty damn good! All in all this is pretty damn good. Writing a song about St. Crispian's Day was a pretty neat and original idea, good job! Keep me posted on your progress guys! (no pun intended) |
3 |
| ROUSTABOUTS - s/t CDep Ahhh I remember a few years ago when I had seen The Hudson Falcons for the first time and I remember thinking "I gotta release something by this band cause more people need to hear them" well I am getting that same feeling listening to this! I really wish it was more then four songs long cause it's just not enough. I guess I will have to get in touch with them and see if they have anything else to send me. Well onto the music, I am having trouble coming up with any comparisons on one song they sound similar in sound to the Falcons and on others it's like a heavy ass Clash sound. All in all it's good STREETPUNK, a perfect mix of rock and roll and punk rock. I always thought this band was from Oklahoma but it says here they are from California, which makes me even more surprised that this CD is that good. Most Cali bands lack any type of substance and are too weak sounding. But this is some kicking stuff! This band should definitely keep me posted on their recordings and happenings. |
4 |
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