Oh HELL YES!!

Crowd's active partecipation is what makes hardcore different from most of other shit outta here! No barriers between the bands & the kids,stand AS ONE!!

ZERO PROGRESS interview.

Ok it been quite a while since the last post.My apologies to Z.P. guys,i was pretty much occupied between school & work in the last couple of weeks...shit life is boring if you haven't band!
Anyway,back to the interview.ZERO PROGRESS hails from Denville,California.Just for that in my eyes the band should get "extra points" ...you kow wadda mean uh?? C'mon.CALIFORNIA...the homebase of most of the greatest hardcore & punk bands back then...and NOW if you ask me...

ANYWAY anyway anyway : ZERO PROGRESS have got a demo out there which R-I-P-S,and is also downlodable in their own blog.Fast,aggressive hardcore,the way it should be done.Thugs will roll in their beds wonderig what the hell is going on listen to this.Crusties probably will shower themselves and cut their hair after listening to this , old and young punks will have a grin on their faces ...and probably even a boner in their pants.I hope they'll put out something else.QUICKLY.Damn i cant stop listening to this demo....

And here's the interview!!


Give a short introduction of the band.. past & present mambers!

Ed: ZERO PROGRESS is me on bass, Josh on drums, Matt on vocals and Collin on guitar. We formed in the summer of 2009 after Skull Stomp and Negative Choice broke up. All members besides me were in N.C. . Myself, Collin and Matt were in Skull Stomp.

1) The first thing i thought after listening to your demo was : Hell,they got THAT nihilistic attitude that have made hardcore a force to recon even back then...So,what makes you guys so pissed at the world and life in general?

Ed: We’re from an upper middle class California town. For myself personally, there are very few people I can relate to here. The culture of this little “bubble” that we live in is pitiful. Never fit in at school, blah blah blah. These are some of the reasons I was attracted to punk rock, playing in fast angry bands is very cathartic for me.

Matt: I'm not that pissed off, im generally a happy guy. My music is a way for me to fight back against the the hipsters.

2) What about politics ? Do you think that hardcore punk shol deal with everyday problems but avoid the political aspects of it? (personally,i though its just impossible to keep divided the twos, by the way...)

Ed: If you can find four or five people that all our passionate about the same politics, then that’s great, go for it and sing about it. In our case we all have differing opinions on political matters, although I think we’re all left leaning, I know Collin is a socialist. For this band we keep it on a day to day level. Our lyrics, all written by Matt, are reactions to the immediate world that we live in.

Matt: Fuck politics, whatever rules are in place im gunna break em!

3) Up to yours,its more about the message behind it or its just hardcore music that keeps the kids of today away from it? Most of em seems unable or unwilling to listen to the words and just go nuts with the music whic is kinda sad compared to what was back then.

Ed: Music is a subjective thing, if you don’t get it you don’t get it.

Matt: I dunno man. I think its cause they are busy listening to rap music, smoking weed, pretending to be gangsters, working out, being insecure, crying alone at night, treating women poorly, beating their chests, pretending like they are tough, talking shit on the internet, and a whole bunch of other crap.

4) What keeps the band alive?

Ed: Well, we just started like five months ago so that hasn’t been an issue yet. But, I know that the last band I was in died because a person changed. I think ZERO PROGRESS has the right group of people to stick together for the long haul. Matt, Collin and I have been doing this for a long time now, and none of us are quitting anytime soon. And, Josh is Collins little brother and cut from the same mold that the rest us are.

Matt: Courage. Dedication. Pride. (Rick Ta Life is nodding ...until NOW) No, i dunno, boredom and us sucking at life?

5) Why do you consider yourselves as punks?

Ed: What else would I be? I listen to punk music, I play in a punk band, I go to punk shows, read punk magazines. Punk is something that I’ve been attracted to since a young age, and has affected my life greatly, it’s going to be a part of me until I die.

Matt: Funny story. I was eating in SF the other day and a really awkward kid came up to me and said "hey man, hey, i dont wanna be like, you know like, stereotypical or anything [holds his hands out in a "im innocent" type of way] but like, i see you and your friends, i dunno, always wearing these punk, uh um, punk rocker shirts. So i was wondering like, i dunno, are you guys punk rockers?" I said in return. "Yeah man! Im a punk rocker, and Im not going to be a part of THIS system!" True story.

6) How do you guys found out about hardcore and its lifestyle? First record ever listen to? Any favorites?

Ed: The first hardcore bands I heard were Minor Threat and DRI when I was about 12 or 13. I just knew I liked punk and tried to get my hands on as much of it as I could. I had a Minor Threat “Out of Step” tape and DRI “Dealing With It” cd. As far as favorite bands, I have a lot; Poison Idea,Infest, The Repos, Failures, Cheeta Chrome Motherfuckers , Wasted Time you get the idea.

Matt: Ed showed me hardcore. Then in turn I became more hardcore than he could ever be. This my friends, is the circle of life.

7) What hardcore should be more (or less) about up to you?

Ed: Young kids playing fast angry music. I think everyone should be invited to hardcore, too many people want to make it something elite. ZERO PROGRESS welcomes you into the international hardcore punk scene, let’s do it!

Matt: More about the music, fun, people. Less about fashion, drama, and whats hip.

8) Hows the writing process of your songs? Its like a "spun of the moment" or do you plan everything before/after writing the lyrics? who writes em?

Ed: Collin and I both write music. Usually we write the riffs at home, maybe think up some structure, then we put it all together at practice. Matt writes the lyrics before or at practice and fits them into whatever song we happen to be writing at the time.

Matt: My lyrics come to me throughout the day. Sometimes i'll be sitting in class and all of a sudden some angry phrase comes into my head, then i make it rhyme, then i change it so that it is less straight edge, then I bring it to practice.

9) Name you influences! I would bet my old mom ass MDC...am i right?

Ed: The bands I just listed as my favorites. We all listen to a lot of music and are influenced by it all in one way or another. I think a lot of Poison Idea and The F.U.s comes out in our songs, I don’t know, that’s just my perspective on it. And actually MDC is one band I never got in. Howlin'Wolf.

Matt: I listen to hella fucking Oi!, Hardcore, some rock n roll, and some ska. Also some soul.

10) Time for...THE RANDOM QUESTION!! - If Chuck Norris plays into Agnostic Front,Charles Bronson plays in.....??

Ed: I guess the easy answer is Charles Bronson would play in Charles Bronson.

Matt: Newsense....dont look them up, its a joke cause hella punks kicked their ass one time, ha!




11) PUT OUT A 7"!!! ever heard about TankCrimes Records?? check em and maybe you'll find out a deal !

Ed: We’re going to be self releasing a 7inch on our own PILEDRIVER RECORDS. Scotty from TANKCRIMES traded with me for Skull Stomp 7inches and never sent me my records, what’s up with that?

Matt: thanks for the inspiration. We're on it! We will get one out too you as soon as possible!

12) Explain to the younger punkers out there the DIY ethic!

Ed: DIY is when you wish you could have someone do everything for your band, but no one will because no one cares about your stupid little punk rock band so you have to do all the work yourself. See: PILEDRIVER RECORDS.

Matt: See son, when a bird likes a bee, but doesn't want to support the Bees capitalist death machine, he makes the honey himself. Sure maybe his home made honey comes out of his ass and tastes like shit, but its DIY, and that my little punk rockers, is a good thing.

13)Anything you want to share? Crazy stage divings gone bad or sorts? Delirium Tremends moments?

Ed: Matt is a mad man when we play. People will be spit on, mikes will be slammed into heads, bass drums will have heads slammed into them, mike chords will double their duty as nooses, and if he says, ‘Come on move up closer, it’s safe” he is lying, and you be immediately stage dove on. It’s all really stupid and uncalled for, I love hardcore.

Matt: Ed is lying. Trust whatever I say into the mic. And also its not uncalled for, its necessary!

14)Shout outs?

Ed: Everyone listen to Cocksnot. But, before you do throw all your records away because they will instantly be made obsolete. Cocksnot is the second coming of whatever you think was the most awesome thing that ever was. Stop reading this garbage and listen to Cocksnot right now. Also, the singer from Prmal Minds stole my girlfriend, fuck you! And a big what’s up to Sugu Hull !

Matt: I would like to shout out to the following bands t. 1) Choys Sonic Water Closet, 2) Choys, 3) The Dismay, 4) I Am Spite, 5) Dark Days, 6) Empire Legs.




END!

WASTED TIME interview

1) Ok who's in WASTED TIME right now?

Earlier in the year, before we recorded the "Futility"LP, we added Alex D to bass and moved Zach to 2nd guitar. Mick's still on other guitar, Brandon's still on drums, and I'm (Mark) still singing. Right.

2) Lemme say im always shocked to find out bands like WASTED TIME coz its hard to listen ,especially todayin America , a band that sounds so "american" since everyone except fews in the States are trying to copy whats come out from the abroad hardcore punk scenes.. im i correct?

Different folks, different strokes really. It's just the style we were trying to play when we started due to digging it and there being a lack of it in our area at the time. We were in Europe this past summer and I thought it sucked that a large amount of the bands over there were biting off the same sound so many bands in America do; that early 80's California sound which is neat and all but it kind of weirded me out. I guess I had too high of hopes going over there expecting to hear bands sound like Inferno (Germany), Indigesti (Italy), or Moderat Livkdation (Sweden) or something. Oh well, again, different folks and different strokes.

3) Whats happening right now in America? I do see there's alot of divisions between the kids but not just from a city to another , its more fragmented - its from to scene to another!. You know "FUCK! if you listen to Casualties you are not allowed there,we listen to Terror!!" or " Man we cant go along,we listen to Doom,you listen to Minor Threat they sucks!!" and stuff..shit by the way

While I cannot speak for all of America, I can see it somewhat in Richmond. You never really see a band like Government Warning play with Down to Nothing. It is what it is, I have friends that are strongly set and into both sides of the spectrum and just like their shit. I listen to what I dig and it's cool, yo.

4) Still i do see ALOT of bands coming out with sponsors for their instruments , sponsors from their label,sponsors even for every shit they do...Fuck em all,who need that kind of promotion if they sound all the same,aint i right? You can see this thing just clicking on their myspace - just ads for a product to sell but no substance for what concerns the music and,more important, the message! What do you think about em?

I bet getting free shit is cool, otherwise I can't really relate nor would I personally wanna put forth the effort to whore myself out into such a thing. We are not career-core, nah mean?

5) Name you personal top five of best bands you ever listen to - not only americans and not only hardcore and punk bands!

My list changes daily, but I'd say Poison Idea, Leatherface , The Wedding Present, Cause For Alarm, and Meatbrick and The Jailbirds.

6) Do you think the internet have "damaged" someway the creative edge of the bands? I mean,its extremly hard to find a band able to be personal and at the sime time record music also aable to inspire their contemporaries.Right now,i highly doubt someone else will ever record another "The Kids Wll Have Their Say" (SSD of course) or another "Age Of Quarrel" just to name a monolith for what concerns american hardcore punk.The high freedom that the web had to offer seems to have bizzarly,limited the creativity of lots of musicians - the more is the choice of tastes you get,the more generic sound the mixing of it all togheter... (fucking long question,i do know,hahaha hope to have been clear enough!)

Personally, and as for the rest of the members of WT, we got into hardcore before the internet really took such a strong hold on things so it isn't too big of a deal to us. Everything is easier now for sure, which is cool but it also takes the personality out of it all I guess. It's a double edged sword, but I'm not too worried about it. It has definitely led to way too many bands existing though. I'd prefer quality over quantity any day. I'll take good bands that write good records over some retards with recording gadgets on their computers and songs they wrote in 2 minutes any day.


7) Time for the --- RANDOM QUESTION ! : Why hardcore kids shouldn't be rich scumbags with nothing to do?

"Do what you want, but just don't do it to me" -Choke. Or something like that, I think I'm high?

8) How do you guys find out to be part of hardcore? life changing LPs or 7"s?

Fight, fuck, cokedust. And "Epic" by Faith No More. And Misfits - all.

9) Anything you want to add?

Thanks for the interview. I notice you're from NYC, or at least that's what the Myspace thing says. Just heard about Angry Stuart, RIP. It will be different going to a show up there and not seeing him again. Rest in Power. Ian Dickson, love you.

POWER interview

I was in a state of shock the first time i've heard POWER through myspace (dont twist your nose fucknuts,this is how it goes if ya can't go to the shows - i do know Eurpe sucks but who cares! hahah)...not much because of their shirts ala "I survived Jurassic Park" & stuff - nor for the fact that two of them seems to be like the classic all american redheads you'd met at school BUT full of tattoos...As aslways it was the music : thunderous,raging,pumping HARDcore ,a far away formula from the standard "chug-chug" macho sound.And that's a rare quality ,if you ask me..
Check them out - they deserve your support.




1) Please introduce the band! Who's in POWER currently?

currently in power is Griffin on guitar. Ricky on Bass.Benn on Drums.Dirty on guitar and I sing my names Evan.

2) what about the influences?

influences for me personally well there's tons of bands but some of the ones I really feel that mean a lot are Metallica , Danzig , No Warning(Canada) , Bad Brains and Life Of Agony (their demos i wonder ? XGIXX)

3) Are the singer & the guitarist brothers or what?

Me and Dirty are not brothers wish we were but were not.

4) Whats the current deal for a record? No chance to see it soon? (i have to ask because well....i need it!! who cares if its just a 7" ... put something out goddamit!!

Our 7 inch is finally out and we have tons to sell so definitely pick one up.

5)What do you think of the current state of the hardcore punk scene today? it sucks hard ? how to develop it in a good way?

I feel like our scene is lazy and I am just as guilty.People I think just are like "that shows not gonna be wild so there's not point" so shows then are poorly attended.I feel like what sux is bigger hardcore bands come on these stacked tours,which are fun and cool, But makes it feel like a concert not some personal chow which is the reason so many people are drawn to it i fell like. Everyone involved in this scene needs to start making more of a effort to go to more local shows no just 10 for 10's and last show tours.




6)Whos straight edge in the band? what do you think about it?

Theres a few of us who are Straight Edge and its definetly important to me and i think that its awesome when people dedicate themselves to it but its a thing you do for you not anybody else





7)Any crazy gig situation ? how many gigs you have played until now?

The wildest show we have played I think is we played somewhere in the midwest and it was in this huge like punk squat mansion that had this recording studio in the basement that was made to look like a legit batcave and was super dark and gloomy everything was damp. So were playing and we did a Suicidal Tendencies cover on tour and we started it and this dude started getting real stoked. Moshing super hard and he was punching in the air and hit a light bulb into my face and i was bleeding all over and i didnt realize it at all so everyone was looking at me all crazy for the rest of the set.



8) Best music do you listen to aside of hardcore? lemme say The Mummies rules!

Non-hardcore would be The Alligators a local indie rock band from bremerton shits good

9) A remarkable thing about POWER is that no one in the band seems to care a fucking fuck about the whole "thug" image which seems to dominate in the current generation of hardcore...what do you think about those gangastas? why they want to seems so retarded?

Its just how they role I feel like its not a huge part of it but it happens sometimes when they act like dicks but you gotta deal sometimes


10) Its widley acknowledged that hardcore is associated with outcasts ,misfits,weirdos,freaks,drunkhards & junkies ... so what does lead you guys there?

I like being apart of it cause its an outlet from this schedule of life like work money responsibilities.I can just cut loose with my friends to music i love to be apart of.

11) THE RANDOM QUESTION !! : God is broke? why christiancore still exist?

It exists because people are goofy.God is goofy.

12) If violence would be a solution...

Violence is not something i would suggest first off but sometimes u have to be more forceful then talking.

13) Why POWER?

Me and Dirty were at a show and this goofy guy we know was like"why werent you guys at the First Blood show last night" or something like that and we like to trick people so I said our new band played last night so we couldnt make it but we really just didnt care to go. He asked the name and Dirty just said POWER so when we actually started the band thats what we went with.

14) Favorites/life changin records ?

Life changing records... Meatloaf "Bat Out Of Hell",Metallica "Master Of Puppets" and Danzig-1 thru 3.

15) Anythingto add?

Were gonna be doing a full US in the spring so come see us rock out.Listen to Ill Intent( www.myspace.com/illintent206 )all day everyday



www.myspace.com/powersilima

OFF BALANCE interview....(Pt.1)

1)Who are the current members? did you spend time with other band before OFF BALANCE?

Right now, the lineup is: Justin The Cook - vocals, Big Bri and/or Cole - drums, Travis - bass, Raybok - guitar. Big Bri was in Mental Floss(w/ Dave Jones, drummer of A.F. and Mental Abuse - his first drumset is the set of drums you see on the picture in the gatefold of the "Victim In Pain" LP, haha), Broken Heroes (NJ Oi!), A Moment's Peace (w/ Dr. Tom), Phanatic (w/ some dude from Breakdown), Squiggy (NJ Oi!), and most importantly, Bitter Quarrel(myspace.com/bitterquarrel). Travis was in a band in KC called Cause Of Retribution. This is me and Ray and Cole's first band. Our original guitarist (Jeremiah) was in a band called Last Chance Ta Dance

2)I found a serious Neglect/Breakdown worship here & there, but i think OFF BALANCE have their own heavy & hateful sound : who/what inspired you the most? best 7''s & LPs? Life changin shows?

haha You got that right!! I don't hide the fact that we are a Breakdown and Neglect worship band!! Though I'd say Killing Time/Raw Deal and Sheer Terror are also bands we emulate. I've always really liked the lyrical content of the aforementioned bands. It's shit I can relate to..... no politics or emo shit or tough guy posturing. I'm also influenced (lyrically) by a lot of old country artists. And of course, Jerry A of Poison Idea is a poetic genius (word! by XGIXX). As far as life changing shows.... can't think of one particular off the top of my head. Maybe DRI or Life Sentence in 1988? Big Bri saw all the classic NYHC bands (and played some shows with them) in the late 80s and early 90s, so he has a million stories. As far as favorite LP and 7"? There's quite a few.... all the classics. You know what I'm talking about.

3)Anyone's straight edge there? Just askin!

Our original bassist Sean was (and still is) straight edge. He played on our original demo and our first 15 or so shows. We're still friends and he still comes to our shows, as do a good number of sXe kids in Louisville (xHard Lifex).

Still here!

The blog ain't dead,is just my computer that actually is BROKEN,falling "accidentally" out of the window...yep, i killed the fucker!
Anyway - - - since i've lost my job probably i'll gain some time to adjust the bloggggg....its math man!

As you can see the Rabia interview has been posted...more soon,probably with the likes of Rudo (hope they can answer!!) Razors In The Night,Ill Intent ,Conquest For Death ,Off Balance ,Sick Of Society.........& others!

so stay tuned...
enough? ENOUGH.

XGIXX

RABIA Interview

RABIA are from NY,dirty punkers with something to say...check them out!!

1 - FIRST OFF,INTRODUCE THE BAND,WHO ARE THE CURRENT MEMBERS? WHAT'S THE AIM OF RABIA? WHEN THE BAND FIRST STARTED?

Hello, we are Rabia from New York City (myspace.com/rabia) and Is Jose/Vocals, Michael/Guitar, Ian/Drums, Diego/Bass and Simon/Guitar. We started in the summer of 2004

2 - (FEEL FREE TO NOT ANSWER TO THAT) -WHAT DOES LEAD YOU TO SQUAT? WHAT'S THE WHOLE POLITIC/SOCIAL CHOICE BEHIND IT? ITS RELATED TO YOUR FAMILY BACKGROUND OR OTHER?HOW IS THE SQUAT SITUATION LIKE IN NY?

I (Jose) became a squatter as form of rebellion against the gentrification that is being happening in NYC. The City government is giving a lot of power to landlords and companies who are rising rent prices and pushing families who can’t afford it out of their houses. In 2004 we had a beautiful squat called Casa del Sol in the Bronx where around 50 Anarchists were leaving, we had a performance space, a community Kitchen, bike and art workshops, etc… Was very successful working with the neighborhood community, also we organized part of the block of Anarchists who protest in the RNC this year. Sadly one day cops came in and burned part of one of the buildings and we were forced to move out. After this we took over other buildings around the city but cops are giving us a lot of shit, the law after the 80’s squatter revolution here in NYC are been made in a way that is impossible for us to fight legally the possession of a building. In the actuality we have a few buildings that are being occupied but only for punks just to crash at night, also is one group of activist that are working in take over abandon buildings to turn it into houses for homeless.

(Diego)- I came to United States 4 years ago, I joined RABIA last summer, and well I met jose like everybody else in the city, walking around in the streets of new york trying to find a spot to sleep, because there was no place to stay in 2005, he told me about the places he mentioned and I didn’t get to know them, because they were closed. It sucks to say, but this housing system this country has is a piece of shit.. No one owns the land even if you pay the house.. The land is the State’s so if you piss in it you might get arrested for pissing in State property even if you’re in your house.

3 - HOW MANY GIGS DID YOU'VE PLAYED TIL NOW?

J- Since Rabia stared in 2004 we’re being a very active band playing almost every week with almost all the punk bands in the NYC area and a lot of bands from outside.

D- I got in 2008 to the band and I cannot even count the times we have played. We are invited to most of the events that are around NY.

4 - INFLUENCES? I BET Los Crudos & SOME OTHER JAPANESE BANDS, ISN’T IT?

J-We are coming from different backgrounds in the punk, from, as you mention, Los Crudos, South American hardcore, UK punk, Japanese HxC, etc. We do cover a few of our favor bands like RIP, Eskorbuto, Decibelos, Mob 47, Ratos De Porao, Raw Power, Oi Polloi, Dr.Know…

5 - WHAT DOES RABIA MEAN? IS IT IN SPANISH?WHY?

J- Rabia is the Spanish word for rage, anger. An attitude that is in every single punk kid.

D- Rabia is a happy way to say "emputed up", or "no me touch los eggs you malparid" ( like saying literally "Don't touch my balls" hahah, a quite disturbing image ! It stands for "Get the fuck out of my way fucker"by the way.. XGIXX)

6 - I KNOW YOU GUYS PLAYED IN ABC NO RIO - WHATS THE PLACE & THE CROWD LIKE? IS THERE A REALLY DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE NYC PUNX & NYHC SKINS?UP TO,YOURS WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THE WHOLE SCENE?

J- Yeah We play at ABC No Rio sometimes, back in the 80’s used to be an squat now is a place to have shows every weekend, also have a gallery, silk screen, dark and computer room, a big Zine library and is home for the L.E.S Food Not Bombs. Shows there are great…. NYC Punks have a different scene than the “NYHC” dudes, I don’t see much in common, they don’t like us, We don’t like them either.

D- I grew up listening to NYHC bands like Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Antidote (NYC), Madball, and also a lot of Anarchopunk, with friends in Colombia, and believe it or not the same division happens over there, Now it is Anarchopunks one side, r.a.s.h. skinheads otherside, SHARP other, Nazis(yes what you heard a latino white power bullshit) together with the downtown skins(888) is like it make no sense. And it’s not about NYHC skins or not, because it is no longer a division between punks and skins because in the NYC punk scene there is some Skinheads and street punks, as it is everywhere. I met some people from NYHC and the only cool guy till now is Butifarra-men and Freddy Madball. But NYHC is a total different world from what the punk scene is nowadays.

7 - METALCORE IS SHIT & WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT...BUT THERE'S A SOLUTION? I MEAN IS THERE A RIGHT WAY TO REBUILT THE WHOLE COUNTRY'S SCENE?

J-I don’t know man, that scene is not around our circle, I don’t even know where they have their shows, I just don’t care.

D-Blacklisted played with Crude I was fuckin pissed I wasn’t gonna pay 15 bucks to see Crude and and had to hear BLACKLISTED.. Fuck that. We could just you know.. Arm the people and start shooting around highschool kids hehe.

8 - I DO KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BANDS THAT CLAIMS THEIR WILL TO REBUILT A SOCAL SCENE - BUT WHAT ABOUT THE YOUTHS? EXCEPT FOR C.O.P. FROM CALIFORNIA (PS: CHECK THEM OUT)IT SEEMS LIKE THE YOUNG ONES GET IN HARDCORE JUST TO ACT VIOLENT WITHOUT A REAL REASON EXECPT FOR POSING WITH GIRLS PANTS& SHIT.....THERES ALSO THE WHOLE GANGSTA THING THAT IS REALLY OUTTA CONTROL RIGHT NOW,OR ISN'T IT?

D- well you know this kids are all over the place and I just don’t know what to do with them, they are scared of the punks and is like the neo-new-metal shit nowadays, like in the 90’s there was those new metal crap shit and on the other side there was the Hardcore Punk scene hating them, now we have the emo kids and that metalcore stuff going aroung and there is no way to stop it, is fashion is like reggaeton nothing but pose.

9 - DOES EVERYDAY POLITIC INFLUENCE RABIA'S LYRICS? WITH WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOUR LYRICS?

Yes it does, We have to be aware of what all these politicians do against us. We may not be able to change the world but We can teach the kids on what is important to look at. Rabia deals with social change, education, revolution, animal rights, police brutality, war, positive thoughts, etc.

10 - PUNKS OR SKINS? OR DOESN'T REALLY MATTERS?

J- We are a band with punks, skinhead and a metalhead. Doesn’t matter, We all deal with the same daily bullshit.

D- We are all equal just that some are more hairy than others, struggle, we are all grown up( I m the youngest) so we know how it is we take action, and meet to make solutions about real things in life, plus our life runs around the daily oppression.

11 - LAST BUT NOT LEAST : I DO THIS QUESTION TO EVERYONE- HARDCORE IS PUNK? ALOT OF PEOPLE ARGUING IT'S NOT (HELL ITS STUPID,I KNOW I KNOW)HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE?

J- Tell them to fuck off!

D-they can be hanging from my cock! That’s hc.

12 - BEST SHOWS EVER ATTENDED?THERES SOME STRANGE FACTS YOU WANTS TO SHARE? HOW DO YOU GUYS GET INTO HARDCORE?

J- So many!...

D- In my 4 years in U.S I can tell you that Total Fury (a japanese band which worships TOTALLY the early Dischord stuff ,by Alex ) at ABC No Rio one Sunday Night was the shit people were suffocating there wasn’t any limitations in that time, and that show was extremely powerfull.

13 - ARE YOU GUYS STRAIGHT EDGE OR VEGAN?

J- I used to be Vegan, but we are Vegetarians. Not straight edge.

D- I was straight edge for a weekend and I almost die. I was vegan and I was starving in Paris 2 months ago and everything was expensive just doner kebabs were cheap so I did it. I eat meat now.

14 - BEST 7'' OR LPS?

J- For me LP “Zona Especial Norte” Split album shared by R.I.P. and Eskorbuto.

D- that’s hard. I can listen to Lobotomia – "1st LP”, Necros -" Sex Drive 7””, Escorbuto Cronico -"La Chusma No Se Rinde LP”, Terveet Kadet- ANY OF THEM but the rehearse, and jerk off with it all night. There is more "Totalineen Kaaos E.P. " (by Kaaos), I will come just when it goes up to Ootsa Valmis Kuolemaan .. plus another one I remember any record of Karnvapen Attack from Madrid.

15 - FINAL SHOUT OUTS?

J- Cheers!

D- Fuckin anal for Ootsa Valmis Kuolemaan!!!!THAAAANNNKKSSSSSS!!

www.myspace.com/rabia

long time, no post..

yeh - that's mainly beacause some folks don't have the time to reply to my mails...

Well
i can say i'm not innocent at all , i've had some problems recently.......study and working at the same time it's not a simple deal so...

until the next post - see ya

OVERSTAND - interview with Shawn

Here we go with another cool band,with their own sound...from the depths of New Jersey,OVERSTAND!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF! MEMBERS OF THE BAND & OTHERS BAND YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH?

My name is Shawn and I "sing" in the band, although I wouldn't call it singing so much. More like a exorcism escaping through the medium of my vocal chords. Brian plays the guitar and makes wonderous riffs and sounds. Miles holds it down with the Fender Jazz Bass and Jon punishes the kit. I played bass in Charge from 2001 to the end of 2006. Brian played in Charge from 2001-2007 on the guitar.Miles played Bass in Charge after I left for a bit of 2006 into 2007. Jon played drums in a band called Pray for Death for a short time previous to Overstand.Jon, myself and 2 others have a new band in the works as well but it would be a bit premature at this time to say anything more than that.

WHEN DID THE BAND FIRST START?

The band played it's first show in May of 2008. So we have been around for a little over a year. Still a young band.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE BAND THAT IS STRAIGHT EDGE? OR KRSHNA? HOW DO YA FEEL ABOUT THAT?

No one in the band is Straight Edge. I was a Hare Krsna devotee in the early 90's but as an adult I do not like to put labels on myself be it religious, political, etc. I do help host a Bhakti Yoga once a month in Asbury Park, NJ with a few Hare Krsna devotee friends on mine. So I am still somewhat in that circle but I am would not call myself a devotee nor want anyone to take me for an example of what a Hare Krsna devotee is. As far as how I feel about Straight Edge or Hare Krsna. I think like anything else there is an up and down side depending on the individual. I think Straight Edge, or living a Straight Edge lifestyle can be a very good thing but when people think they are superior to others because of it, then that is the start or problems. Also I have seen a lot of people that are Straight Edge, they may not be doing drugs or drinking but acting like an asshole, physical altercations, etc may have become their drug of choice.So staying clean of intoxication can be great depending on what you are doing with that "clear" head. With the Hare Krsna's...I learned a lot, especially when I was a teenager from the movement. It opened up a lot for me, it expanded my perception of life in general. As far as the cultural things, or political things within the movement. I do not pay attention nor do I care. I can personally find truth in a number of places and I do not feel I need to be part of any organized religion to define who I am.

INFLUENCES? (WHO SAID 108??)

I think everyone brings something different to the table and that is what makes it tend to be more unique. If I were to write out an influence list it would be long and may leave people wondering. I would say on part of everyone in the band we are influenced by numerous bands from all "styles" of music. I think we tend to have a heavy blues based rock influence. Say Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, etc. Then of course the Hardcore/Punk aspect such as bands like Bad Brains, Cro Mags, Corrosion of Conformity, Rollins Band, etc. Stuff that we really touch on very lightly, Reggae, Funk, Metal, etc.Even Hip Hop although not apparent so much in the sound sonically , it heavily influences me as a vocalist. As far as 108, I think honestly 2 of the members never even really listened to 108. I think if 108 influenced anyone it would be me as I saw them many times in the 90's in the various incarnations and they were one of my favorite bands as a kid.


WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF HARDCORE UP TO YOU?

Well I think to have any type of grip on the present you need to have some sense of the roots. So you had what was called Punk Rock in the 70's which was very much a backlash to the status quo of it's time. People were doing something different with music, sonically, visually, etc. Also in terms on politics, culture, social issues, etc. You had the late 60's and the hippie culture which pretty much crashed and burned. Then out of the ash it seemed that in due time Punk Rock came up as a huge mutant monster, threw the peace signs to the wayside and waved the flag or fuck you and Anarchy. As the history goes as time went on Punk Rock seemed to have gotten watered down as many things tend to do when they hit the main stream consumer audience. Then you had what was called Hardcore/Punk. A more ferocious version of the former with somewhat more of focus on figuring out solutions to issues Punk had brought to the light. But in all that...Be it the Hippie culture of the 60's, the punk rock of the 70's and the Hardcore which came to life in the late 70's early 80's was that (dare I say!) revolutionary spirit no matter how flawed it may have been. The DIY Ethic which is very anti establishment, anti control. The political and social commentary of the music, this is as much if not more what Hardcore Punk is about then even the sound.I think now, things are watered down for sure. I was not there for the early 80's. I did not experience that first hand, so I don't know except via stories and books what that may have been like. I came in contact with this music through skateboarding in 1986 and really didn't make it to my first real show till 1990. So on that level, I have 19 years or so of first hand experience with Hardcore/Punk to base my opinion on. From what I have experienced first hand I have seen without a doubt a dwindling of that Revolutionary fire that I experienced as a kid. There seemed to be a lot more information being shared. A lot more concern on what was actually being put out there on the level of thought, ideas, etc. Now the sound, the style, the social scene seems to have over run the actual essence and spirit of the music. I'm not saying it's dead or it does not exist, it does. But I think it exists for the few. While the masses within Hardcore are just consumers in a different costume so to speak.On a certain level Hardcore has lost it's bite and really presents no threat what so ever at this point to the status quo and forced fed shit of the power's that be. That said, I do not think all is lost or I would no longer participate on any level. I just think a certain level of evolution is in order for it stay real and worthwhile.

IS IT GOOD FOR HARDCORE TO DEAL WITH RELIGION? IT'S PRETTY EASY TO PICK UP A RELIGIOUS STANCE FOR A BAND RIGHT NOW? AND YEARS AGO? HOW ARE THE KIDS RIGHT NOW ,ARE THEY MENTALLY OPEN OR...?

I think religion is one thing, an established order, etc. It tends to be dirty, political, etc. Many of the disgusting things through out our human history have been done in the name of Religion therefore Religion will always be looked at with skepticism at the least and Hate at the extreme.Spirituality seems to be more personal, more mystical and more of a evolving path then a rigid guide line with dogmatic answers to life.Spiritual culture has been there from the start, The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned, etc...all those bands were somehow connected with the Rasta/Reggae culture in England. Johnny Rotten went to Jamaica and hung with the Rastafarians, obviously The Clash had a heavy reggae influence, etc. So that connection to some sort of spiritual culture however loose it may have been was there. Then you had the Bad Brains in 1979 which blasted out on a whole other level. Then the Cro Mags in the mid 80's and bands like Shelter and 108 in the early 90's. I'm not saying all the results were positive, I'm just saying how it seemed to unfold. I think in the 90's you had a lot of open minds. Some people investigated and treaded softly, some people may have followed blindly as it seemed the fashion of the day. Then you had the opposite end of the spectrum with an almost blind hate for anything that could be termed "Religious" or "Spiritual". Then there of course were those who totally indifferent. I do think that there was a lot of good that came from that spiritual influx in Hardcore in the early 90's and I'm sure there was negativity as well. As for the present I think this cynical, nihilism seems to be very popular. Maybe with good reason but I feel the outcome of that will not be positive. I personally think the best thing religion or spiritual thought in Hardcore can do is inspire people to seek there own answers or paths. People need to search for these things themselves if they are interested. Only first hand experience and seeking with make a significant change in a human being.


BEST & LIFE CHANGIN LP/7'' & SHOWS?

Well there are many, many records I could name but since we are talking the subject of Hardcore, Bad Brains ROIR and pretty much all the REV 7"s of the early 90's. Burn, Quicksand, Inside Out, YOT, etc. Shows...shit...a lot. But the one that changed my life was the first I saw. Bad Brains and Leeway in 1990 @ City Gardens in Trenton NJ.



HOW DID YOU GUYS GET INTO HARDCORE PUNK? HOW HAS IT CHANGED IN THE PIT SINCE THEN?

I got into Hardcore Punk through skateboarding. Previous to that I was into Hip Hop and Breakdancing, that was around 1984. Then by 1986 I was diving into Hardcore/Punk. As far as the "pit"...no comment.


ANY LAST SHOUT OUT?

Thanks for the interview, Thank you to Adam from The Essence Records , Daniel from Cobra and Jan from Let It Ride. Thanks to the people that connect with the band and support the music. Without you, there is no us. Peace.

www.myspace.com/overstandnj

OLDE YORK - interview with Ted&Blake

Ok,since this is officially the first post of the zine,i'll give you an hint : yes they are from NY.Yes they plays the good ol NYHC i used to like and i still love...and NO,you wont find any thug-rappin shit here,just good skins (yes i said SKINS!) from the old days talkin about everyday life & speakin out their minds on everything...Enough?enough already!

FIRST,WITH WHO IVE THE PLEASURE TO TALK WITH?

I'm Ted, I'm the singer. And I'm Blake the Guitar player

INTRUDUCE YOURSELF! MEMBERS OF THE BAND & OTHERS BAND YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH?

Olde York is:Blake Farber - GuitarDev Farber - Drums (yes, they are brothers)Mike Kaufman - BassTed Wohlsen - VocalsWe've played with a lot of bands all around, Murphy's Law, No Redeeming Social Value, Hard Response...(Blake you can finish this list) Well I could keep listing and listing but then that ll take up too many pages... So lets keep it short and simple now...

WHEN THE BAND FIRST STARTED?

The band started about 5 years ago, although I (Ted) was playing bass and we had a different singer. When he quit, I took over vocals and we got a new bassist.

ASIDE OF THE OBLIVIOUS NYHC INFLUECE,ARE THERE SOME OTHERS ABROAD BANDS THAT DOES HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE? DID YOU GUYS LISTEN TO ABROAD HARDCORE? ANY FAV.?

Ted-We all listen to a lot of different stuff, and I think that comes through in our music. I think that is why we are able to have a lot of different styles, but still maintain a unique "sound".

Blake-Well the whole band always jams out to rush or trys to play it at least... I love speed/thrash metal especially from the 80s. And also into Faith No More.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE BAND IN STRAIGHT EDGE? HOW DO YA FEEL ABOUT THAT?

Mike is straight edge and vegan, Blake and I (Ted) are vegetarians. I guess I'm the least straightedge cause I like to drink beer a lot, but none of us do drugs or smoke or anything like that.

HOW MANY RECORDS YOU'VE PUT OUT TIL NOW? HOW WAS HAVE EDDIE SUTTON FROM LEEWAY ON YOUR FIRST FULL LENGHT?

We had a demo thing that we put out, that was basically an earlier recording of some of the songs on the "Empire State" album , And a Split 7" with Dealin With It. But this is our first official album. Blake is friends with him, so he asked him to do it and he was really down to help us out. It really added a whole new level to the song "Talkin Smack".

OK,BEST SHOWS EVER SEEN?

Ted- Probably Token Entry at The Anthrax back in the late 80's.

Blake- I think one of my favorite shows that I've been to more recently was Killing Time in 2008 at the Pyramid. Was packed people singing moving and stage diving, was a classic NYHC experiance.

HOW'S LIKE THE SITUATION IN NEW YORK? I MEAN,IS THERE REALLY A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE NYHC SCENE & THE NY HARDCORE PUNX SCENE? HOW DO YA FEEL ABOUT IT?WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS THAT HAVE SPLITTED UP THE SCENES FOR YOURS?

I think at one time there was. The was a period where it became like hardcore was really like metalcore, and I can see why the punk kids wanted to avoid that. However I think that things are changing some what. A lot of the newer NYHC bands (at least the ones we play with) are a lot more old school and based in the roots of hardcore, and the punk kids are realizing that and coming out to shows more now, even if it is a hardcore show. Granted there still are plenty of shows that are like that early 2000's style where everyone is kickboxing in the pit, but there is less of that around I think, and so it's more welcoming to everyone else who isn't there to try and be a toughguy or whatever.

ANY POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO IT?

Just keep trying to get the scenes united again. That's the way it should be. I am so tired of going to a show and its 5 or 6 bands that all sound exactly alike. Come on, through some difference in there, change it up. When I came up in the scene that is the way it was, you would have a hardcore band, a punk band, a ska band, and some arty freakshow all sharing the same stage, and it was cool!

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES LIKE SKINS OR PUNKS?UP TO U ,IS THERE REALLY A NEED TO CLASSIFY/LABEL OURSELVES OR ITS MORE A QUESTION OF FEELING? EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE.

(Ted)I consider myself a skin, but certainly NOT a bonehead, let me very clear about that! I believe in a working class ethic, supporting and having honor for your family and friends, etc. I think everyone else in the band would probably be considered hardcore kids? Except for maybe Dev, he defys classification. Definately no one would be considered punks in the stereotypical sense (Spikey hair, leather jackets with lots of studs, etc...)

(Blake)Though I grew up a street punk kid when younger. though we all are when you consider the real meaning of hardcore as being short for hardcore punk. I think labels help people get a frame of reference about things. Like if you say "Oh Johnny? He's a skin." the listener has a very definite sense of what Johnny is about, at least on the surface. But I do think it gets way over used too. Like taking any kind of music and adding -core to the end of it, metalcore, rapcore, gospelcore, etc...It's kinda ridiculous. Most of the time they have nothing to do with hardcore at all.

WHATS LIKE THE NY SITUATION FOR WHAT CONCERN THE VENUES NOW?ITS REALLY HARD HOW IT SEEMS TO BE? WHATS UP WITH PROMOTERS?WHY THE GODFATHERS OF THE SCENE DONT PLAY WITH PUNK OR OI BANDS ANYMORE,BUT WITH METAL BANDS?WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENED?!

Actually, I would say that the situation with venues is getting better. I mean it is still hard to get people in NYC to come out for shows, unless its someone really big, and Manhattan has not a whole lot of places to play for hardcore bands right now, though there are one or two spots, but Brooklyn has a bunch of places, some are even all ages, which is good to see. You have good promoters and you have bad promoters, usually the bad ones don't last all that long. I don't think that it really is fair to say that they don't play with more punk or Oi! bands, cause at least around here they are. A lot of the older bands do play with punk bands, like Reagan Youth, they are really playing a whole lot of metal shows. And I don't begrudge any band doing whatever show they want to book...I can tell you that metal kids spend more on merch and such then punk kids (at least in NYC) and while everyone likes to complain and rant about how this band sold out and that band sold out, eating is better then not eating, so hell yeah, I'd go on tour with a metal band!

Blake- I think the venue situation is getting worse and worse, being from L.E.S there is no more venues to play around here any more... ok so it moved to Brooklyn, but there are still tons of people who wont go to Brooklyn for a show...

THE WHOLE METALCORE THING IS KILLING HARDCORE FOR SURE,BUT THERE ARE SO MANY BANDS THAT ARE TRYNG TO BRING IT BACK - NOT ONLY IN NY BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ,COULD U PLEASE TELL US SOME NAMES OF THE CURRENT BEST BANDS IN NY? WHO DESERVE SOME RECOGNITION AND WHO DESEVES NOT?WHO & WHY IS KILLING HARDCORE FOR U?

To be honest I couldn't really name who is playing metalcore these days in NY, cause I am not involed in that scene. Good NYC bands that I think are cool are Everyday Dollars, Caught In A Trap, Reason Enough, Dealin' With It, Voice Or No Voice, Step 2 Far, The Mug$, Sick Of Society, Back To Back and Reason To Fight.

IN YOUR EYES,WHY THERES A LACK OF YOUTH IN THE CURRENT HARDCORE SCENE?

Two reasons. 1st, a lot of the venues in NYC are 21+ so the kids can't get in, and the old folks from back in the day don't wanna go out, so that makes it hard to get a big crowd at a show.2nd, I think a lot of kids are appathetic, they just spead all day on Myspace and Facebook. When I was coming up in the scene, you wanted to hear a band, you went to a show and checked them out and hopefully bought a 7" or an LP. Today, they just go on Myspace, check out the music and never go out.

TALKING OF YOUTHS - WHERE ARE THE STRAIGHT EDGE YOUTH CREWS RIGHT NOW?EXCEPT FOR Poison Proof,ARE THERE IN NEW YORK SOME STRAIGHT EDGE BANDS?

Poison Proof still around? What happened to them? There is really no sxe youth crews any more.. If there are, they listen to new school hc or metalcore. Most of them are in the suburbs.

I HAVE THIS STRONG FEELING,THAT HARDCORE IS DYING FOR THE SAKE OF MASS MEDIA & SHIT...I MEAN,HARDCORE IS REALLY DYING OR IS THERE A CHANCE TO A NEW AND RIGHTFUL WAVE OF HARDCORE PUNK,OR IT'LL ALL VANISH DEVOURED BY MTV& STUFF IN FEW YEARS? I HOPE NOT BUT...

Hardcore maybe down but its not dying, this beast still has a lot of fight in it!

FEW MORE STUPID QUESTIONS,BEST & LIFE CHANGING RECORDS?BEST 7'' & BEST LP?

Ted:Best 7" - Supertouch "What Did We Learn E.P." Best LP - Token Entry "From Beneath The Streets"

Blake: 7"- Outburst "Miles To Go! LP" - a mix between Sick Of It All "Blood Sweat And No Tears" Killing Time" Brightside" Leway "Born To Expire"

HARCORE = PUNK? OR ISN'T IT? THERES SOME PEOPLE OUTTA HERE WHO'S ARGUING IT'S NOT..(fuck em by the way...)

Yeah it is, anyone who says its not doesn't know the real definition of hardcore

ANY LAST SHOUT OUTS?(STUO TUOHS!)

Thanks for doing the interview, and please pick up a copy of "Empire State" (our full length). Check out our music video for the song "False Idols" online. And just keep posted on our myspace for shows and more..

www.myspace.com/oldeyork

http://www.countdownrecords.com/
http://www.blakefarber.com/
www.myspace.com/empirestaterecordingcompany

Thanks!

FIRST POST ALREADY! Yeeh-Haw!

Hello folks,its XGIXX here!
this is the first post of the FxSxBx! and its quite an exemple of what this blog is or should be about: an hardcore punk online fanzine/webzine.Plain and simple.Here you can find a whole lotta things about the fuckup scene we live today,interviews,record reviews (but no downloads) tons of shit for everyone, thats it.Who cares if you have a mohawk,wear suspenders or and Champion stuff or have Crass's patches....its hardcore punk anyway,even if the fashion changes and the labels too.Real recognizes real.....for REAL!

Said this : i wont allow any racist stuff/metaldeathfagrapemoshityourpantsoff anyaway.The first step to take it back is CUT the useless and corrupted SHIT out of the scene - second SUPPORTING the bands you like,the TRUE INDIE labels and rebuilt the underground as we used to know it.Will and knowledge are the words lets do it together,lets DIY...now its up to US!!