Mouth Sewn Shut

Mouth sewn shut comes from Boston, Massachusetts and you may have heard of them because of their connection to the DIY pioneers Toxic Narcotic, indeed Bill Damon and Will Sullivan create this band after Narcotic's hiatus somewhere in 2005. They have released already two albums, 2006 Pandemic = Solution and 2007 Doomed future today (this one also through Profane Existence records). Bill also runs Rodent Popsicle records, the label that have released the legendary 175 grams 7''. This is their 2009 self titled release. MSS are metallic and brutal, mid-paced, with hell of a rhythm section, amazing barking vocals somewhere between Behind Enemy Lines and Cross Stitched Eyes. Punk as nails, crusty without being exactly crust, with some ska hints here and there (thank god, in this release is so well-hidden, you propably won't even "catch" it). This album also contains some tracks from their previous releases with better sound and played a bit faster, tracks like "Get the Gun" or "Pro nature - Anti human" will make your head bang hard. Strongly political lyrics about war, capitalism or even the work-ethic. check some here.

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"Hardcore Punk without content is totally useless, like beer without alcohol."

After long time here in fifteen-counts we are happy to post a new compilation of some rad and ass-kicking tracks from some bands that we (or I) have been listening-to recently. Some of them are obscure (but should not), some of them are for die-hard(s) and some of them are famous enough to make you puke. If you live in the center of athens, load this to your mp3player and have a walk among the remains.

First your buildings, then your Capitalist system

1. Rubbish heap - Slow defeat

I have posted Heap's lp and 7'' one year ago. Coming from Antwerp, Belgium and this track is on their 1996 demo. Pay attention to the intro : “they live only to face a new nightmare... a war against the machines” taken from Terminator 2. A god way to start though.

2. Artimus Pyle – Gray flannel suits

Artimus Pyle is fast, tight and bone-breaking. Robert aka The Wizard do the bass duties and this is how dystopia would sound if they-wanted-to play fast."Gray flannel suits replaced by designer labels but the meaning is still the same. Be good, don't make waves, shut up, have a drink and you'll go far". CRUST.

3. Jagernaut – Life means shit

“the aftermath of horror / crawling though the trenches / pitching into the pieces / of what life once was / life means shit”. Yep, this is a statement. Jagernaut is a new four-piece noisy, in your face crusty hardcore band from athens, greece. I really enjoy them everytime i see them on stage and they really captured all their energy in this recording. Their split tape with Hello Bastards is out...

4. Deathraid - All life ends

What to say for these dudes? Very nice guys that spent more than 20 years of their life in the diy punk movement. Members of State of Fear, Decrepit, Consume etc. Kneel.

5. Deadly Reign – Who are we shooting at?

Deadly reign and their latest release “no end in sight” is the best example of refreshing d-beat. When you think of boring discharge clones you have to give this record a listen. With members of World burns to death, Till Death and scarred for life. Make me think US soldiers and their war on terror. Who are you shooting at?

6. Active Minds – Junkies

I won't go far. Political, sharp to the bone and radical. Active minds is my personal favorite European hardcore punk band. They're active from 1986 and they still kicking, release of late 2011. “We are addicted to oooooiiiilllllll”.

7. Alt t.c – Χαιρε ω Χαίρε Λευτεριά

This is my favorite greek band by far. Their second demo (I’ll post it some day soon) from 1998 delivers the best mid-tempo anarchist-core tunes I have ever listened. The rip isn't great as the original recording is not too. A four track recorder in a small studio somewhere in greek province. Someone said “the greek Sin Dios, fast, melodic and political”.

8. Frustration – Sleepwalker

Well, inimical records tends to be one of the best US-based labels out there. After Sahn Maru and Raw Nerves, here comes Frustration. Heavy, energetic punk rock with gravy vocals. Seattle punk.

9. 1981 – Nightmare / Reality

“what happened to these Finnish? They sound like Englishmen to me”, my companion ask herself and she have totally right. 1981 comes from Finland, but they combine '80s UK anarcho-punk with some No hope for the kids sadness.

10. Rajat – Saroja kuoressa

My mind can't take it, no. Why so many brilliant bands comes from that cursed land of the north. Another excellent finnish band with the singer of Rakkaus. Melodic and catchy, they seem to remind me Post Regiment.

11. Backlash – Realities of life

Guess what? Finland again. I was talking with Seve the other day and he sent me this track, a new recording for their upcoming 12''. Japanese worshipers pay attention. Poser leads fanatics pay attention.

12. Ruleta Rusa – Ray nara

Ruleta Rusa comes from San Francisco and reminds me all those Latino hardcore legends. Mixing fast punk with rock'n'roll, hard hitting drums and nice guitar parts. If the vocals reminds you Peligro Social, you are right coz Jose do the singing.

13. N/N – Es anarquista

Best song of the maximum rock'n'roll LP “noise ordinance”. Fast and angry latino hardcore. The title speak for itself. Yeah, los crudos members. Suck on it.

14. Out Cold – You lie

Out Cold and You Lie track. Don't do sing along yelling : “Make.You.Pay”. The refrain say “Lie.To.Me'.

15. KingTerror – Voice your fucking opinion.

My friend Kim plays the guitar here, and he used to sing for Rubbish heap. They are not Grind, they are Grande! I'm copy-pasting their booklet : “While spending far too much money on their ridiculously expensive records, shirts and other merchandise crap, will you buy their coolness and their opinions as well? Think for yourself and voice your fucking opinion.”

16. Seein' Red – direct action

Taken from “direct action” 7'' from 1991. anti-fascist, anti-capitalist communist straight-edge. Direct, direct, direct action is what we need.

17. Dropdead – Do you choose life?

Will you choose life? Will you stand strong? Will you resist a system that is wrong?

(το τέλειο soundtrack για να τραγουδάς στο μπάνιο)

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Song of the week : Sick little game

Right now, I make decisions
I can't go through this again
Brains getting sicker, Brains getting sicker
You know I can't stop, so no...

I can't quit
My sick little game keeps you in line
You can't stay away
This sick little game one more time

Right then, with precision
Human beings get destroyed
Brains getting sicker, Brains getting sicker
I like the feeling of playing god, so no...

In the Valley of Solitude

Speaking about good crust bands, i've totally forgotten this cd-r (2004 release) masterpiece. Hailing from Kastoria, greece this quartet visualizes how should TRAGEDY sound if they had moved somewhere in greek province instead of portland. The rest comes from salonika's black jaw, d. :

Οι Έρημος είναι, κατά τη γνώμη μου, μια από τις πολύ καλές ελληνικές μπάντες των τελευταίων χρόνων. Επηρεασμένοι κυρίως από την ελληνική σκηνή των αρχών τις δεκαετίας του '90, οι Έρημος (πολύ ταιριαστό όνομα) κατάφεραν να δημιουργήσουν έναν ήχο δικό τους και κάπως μοναδικό για τα ελληνικά δεδομένα. Η σκοτεινή τους ατμόσφαιρα γεμάτη με αίσθημα μελαγχολίας και απογοήτευσης είναι το κύριο χαρακτηριστικό της Κοιλάδας Της Μοναξιάς (ο τίτλος μιλάει από μόνος του). Όλο αυτό φαίνεται παντού μες στον δίσκο, από τη μουσική και τους στίχους ταυτόχρονα. Σκοτεινές μελωδίες, γρήγορο drumming, δυνατά διπλά φωνητικά και στίχοι πολύ προσωπικοί/κοινωνικοί,με τους οποίους μπορούν να ταυτιστούν λίγο-πολύ αρκετοί από εμάς. Κομμάτια που πραγματικά κόβουν σαν λεπίδια, σε γονατίζουν, αλλά την ίδια στιγμή σε καλούν στη μάχη ενάντια στη μιζέρια του σήμερα. Αυτή είναι η μοναδική τους κυκλοφορία (μαζί με το demo Γερασμένη Πόλη), ενώ αργότερα κάποια από τα μέλη τους δημιούργησαν τους Επιθανάτιος Ρόγχος και πήγαν όλον αυτόν τον ήχο ένα βήμα παραπέρα.

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Stab - 7''

They are from london.

They play hardcore.

They are straight-edge.

They have a motto : "Fascism brings death".

They are compared to RIPCORD.

They were on Abolition, Hello Bastards and Never Again.

Someone said : "Something tells me this band are going to appeal to the crustys AND the trendys without much trouble".

I have headache.

You should listen.

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