“Close your eyes and play through the pain there’s a new threshold a light beyond the bane..”
Reaching Hand come from Portugal and just as their country origin suggests they come full of passion, intensity and energy. “Threshold” is not a brand new record, it is the band’s debut release published in June 2009 by Substance Records both on vinyl and mcd. However it took us half an year to put our hands on this fine piece of music (thanks to my mate xDakatax). But it’s definitely worth the time spent waiting. There are five tracks in the EP which I guarantee you will be playing again and again. Not only because they are quite addictive but also due to the fact that the pauses between the songs are almost inexistent and you’ll need some time to get used to which lyrics go where and when the new track starts. This of course is not to be considered as a negative, just on the contrary it makes this small release quite pleasant and enjoyable because of its tightness and homogeneity. You won’t discover the hot water or the bicycle when checking this band but you’ll discover a very good band combining that precious pure power from back in the days lacking all the glamour and gloss of today’s music. In the same time Reaching Hand’s music is interesting, intelligently written with a lot of tempo switches, catchy lyrics with direct message and the tracks “Settle The Score” and the self-titled “Threshold” are 100% hardcore anthems. Thumbs up for the producer of the records because this is one of the greatest sounding bass guitars I’ve heard lately, low enough to thicken the music and dynamic and tight enough to feel you’re listening to hardcore music. So as this release is actually quite limited hurry up and find yourself a copy while we are all waiting for the full-length vinyl Reaching Hand are currently writing.

Gab from Italy runs Epidemic Records and also plays guitar and sings for The Smashrooms. One day he was kind enough to offer me a copy of the latest 7″ of his band and of course I accepted it. The Smashrooms are based in Brescia, Italy. They are a three-piece band and they are definitely one of my favorite bands from Italy now. To be honest, I’m not really into the Italian scene - I am not aware of the bands and the scene there. I love Kafka who played in Bulgaria back in the days and I also saw Straight Opposition twice. I’ve also been to five To Kill shows. But I was only impressed by Kafka so far. Now I love The Smashrooms. And I tell you why.

They are just three dudes who play in the band. And the sound of it is so finished and cool that you don’t need more bodies on the stage. I love how this issue has been recorded and released. The cover is full-colored and high-quality materials are used. It’s pressed on a green vinyl but I don’t know how many copies exist. But it doesn’t matter how many there are on this world because after this review is published they will be sold out so go to a show and buy one or contact the band

The songs sound really powerful and complete, I love the drums and also the singalongs. And to be completely honest - this time you can’t hear the specific Italian accent. I don’t know if this is good or bad but I love it the way it is. On A Side you can hear two songs named “Different Paths” and “Give Me The Sun”. Lyrics are against war and capitalism, against all evil things and the cruelty in the modern world. Obviously these dudes are respectful and compassionate. Reading the texts I assume they are trying to be better characters in this dark surrounding. They want the light in the dark, we too! Be the change!

I hit the needle on that record quite a few times and I will definitely continue doing it. Melodic guitars, harsh drums, clear bass, honest vocals and powerful singalongs - this is what I love in The Smashrooms.

The bold and the beautiful

So this is it
Here it is, moment of truth
The one you’ve always heard about
Everything around you stops to hold its breath
And your heart slows to a thump
There’s a lion in your gut (YOU’VE GOT TO LISTEN)
Lying still in you for so long (YOU’VE GOT TO LISTEN)
Lifts his head so seldom and you have got to listen
Cuz when he wakes he roars and its your time to shine
Do not hesitate do not fucking wait
Let all those yesterdays, all those bloody days
Pile up to clutter your way
You’re the Rocky movie
Your’re the Nike ad
Ball’s in your court
And everything before has led you right fucking here
Sum total of every decision that you have ever made
Sum total of every blow you’ve had to fade
So make you’re move
Take that shot
Be the ball
This moment will define you
Live, learn, rise, fall, point, squeeze
We were not awarded bones simply to weigh down our graves
So ring out, baby, ring out
The wind will break you fall
The rush will pick you up

One life to live

You shut your ugly mouth
Raise your hand to offer up a life
That I would not be caught dead wrapped in
All calm and justified like you’re not
So scared that you can barely open your eyes
If there’s a hell I’ll get there soon enough
Not trying to lie and wait for it
I didn’t find god and he didn’t come looking for me
But someone showed me minor threat
And that was plenty good enough for me
Flipping coins just to get by
Laying it all on the line
So catch me if you can
But I’ve been on the fade for so long
That I can’t even find me

The young and the restless

I’ve held onto old codes of honor
Like the captain to a sinking ship
The world moved on and rolled its eyes
But there are some things that are worse than dying
It’s always been my way to over romanticize
Cuz when I was young I had a hard time
With what was real and fantasized
The world moved on and did its thing
And I tried and I tried
But could not stop being that boy
And nothing turned out quite like they told me
I will believe in dragons for as long as I run with dragons
While these bodies keep piling up
But there are some things that are worse than dying.

Just access www.hurryuphc.com/packages to choose yours!

BANE 7” pre-order packages will be on-line anytime soon, we are just waiting for the cover to let you know details about it.

Aftersome problems with TO KILL “Maelstrom” test presses, the records are about to come in and being shipped. If you like the band and/or want to support the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, you should get a copy!

Matteo - www.hurryuphc.com

Stoked!

Another record that I can’t stop listening to at some point is True Colors - Focus on the light (on orange). Since I’m waiting to cach Rush of Hope at a show (to avoid the huge shipping price) I decided to concentrate more on the previous issue. Well, at that point I was not sure what all the people like so much about True Colors but after a few hours with this record I really fell in love. This huge Youth of Today influence maybe make them look bad in somebody’s eyes but I totally love it. This is my favorite european band now and I’m really looking forward to see them soon. Hardcore as it is - straight edge, positive, passionete and proud to be. Sweet hyh.

More and more to come but after I put the new design online.

GRAVE MAKER + THIS IS HELL

I will!

Commitment records presents
We got few Commitment Records releases, they are not so new but as you already know we’re not publishing stuff only about new records but about everything we have and find worthy writing about. So let’s start in chronological order.

‘Drug Free Zone‘ is a 7″ by Cross Me. It was released in 2001 and it is A 100% straight edge release. Nikes, crosses on the hands of the members, everything is the way it should be. The band sound as they are really big Project X fans which is not a surprise having in mind the name they chose. The tracks are fast, short, the vocals are rough. The lyrics are suitable and are concerning social and everyday matters like homophobia and straight edge of course. Not a bad record and band at all, but nothing that will change your life and you’ve never heard before.

In 2002 Commitment released a 7″ by another straight edge band, this time they are from Faro, Portugal. Poiting Finger’s ‘Transcend’ is actually our favourite vinyl from this Commitment Records pack. They are also straight edge as hell, and our favourite thing about them is they really, really sound young. And this is how youth crew hardcore should sound - like a product of the minds of pissed kids full with desire to make things better. The music is European hardcore as its finest which will satisfy fans of Hoods Up, Sportswear and their American mates from The First Step and Insted. The last thing that makes this release so nice are the lyrics and the explanations for each songs, this is the final touch that makes of ‘Transcend’ a complete release both from musical, lyrical and conceptual point of view! And sadly such a good band is not playing anymore. What a surprise…

The last thing we’ll shortly present was released in 2006. It is ‘Time Will Tell Us’ 7″ by When Seasons Change. This is the debut release for the Italian veg(etari)an straight edge band. A stylish artwork, intelligent lyrics (again with explanations) and nothing more than hardcore music. Quite a nice record, it is followed by another 7″ release which is a split with Miles To Go and a DIY release of the band’s last mcd as guess what… they broke up in 2008. Anyway thanks to Commitment records they will remain in the hardcore history for everyone interested in checking them.

Soul Control Demo 7″ by Rivalry Records

Right after seeing the artwork of the selftitled vinyl of Soul Control we knew there will be something special and different about this band. No live shots, members in band t-shirts and Nikes or pissed off crowd. And there really is something different about the music these mates from Providence are playing. They incorporated little pieces of bands like Bane, Strife even Bad Brains. In the same time they have something you cannot hear in every modern hardcore band. They are rhythmic in a specific way, the vocals are strictly following the rhythmics of the tracks, every word from the inspiring lyrics is pronounced well and understandable. The guitars are sometimes so twisted that you start wondering if the songs are not going to grow into even more complex composition that will perfectly suit the post-hardcore genre. So if you’ve made our mistake, to learn about this band so late, don’t waste anymore time just listen. In the same time we’ll make sure to get all other Soul Control releases because this is a band that has a lot to say and surely it is a piece of fresh air in the polluted by negativism contemporary hardcore atmosphere!

Down To Nothing / On Thin Ice - Split 7″by Grave Mistake Records

This is a split that we’ve been waiting to review for a long god damn time. It is quite a polar release from one side we’ve got Down To Nothing. Which as we’ve mentioned already on VinylEdge quite progressive and gaining popularity American straight edge band. Their music is not something which is fast and aggressive, definitely cannot be be described as strictly positive hardcore but compared to what On Thin Ice are playing they are like Gorilla Biscuits standing next to Integrity. So let’s take a look to On Thin Ice. From the first second of the tracks of these UK mates we see we’re dealing with some rough and fast hardcore with INSANE vocals. A quick check for the status of the band and yeah, they are no longer playing, actually they existed only an year an a half but they succeeded in publishing two releases on 7″ vinyls and broke up right before releasing their demo. There are stories about their destructive shows and fans, and seriously with such powerful and aggressive music it just cannot be other way. And by the way a word should be said about their lyrics, ‘The Ides Of March’ consists of one of the most sincere and impressive words we’ve ever read in a hardcore songs. So tie the rope called Down To Nothing / On Thin Ice split on your neck and choke upon the amazing hardcore that is on that vinyl.

MINDSET - REALPOWER 7″ by React Records

React Records surely know how to make a release that you will feel is somehow special and unique. We placed enough pre-orders for Mindset’s ‘Realpower’ 7″ to be assured we’ll get all colours of the vinyl and despite the fact we didn’t actually get any of the rare ones we are glad that what we received is a 100% real, straight edge record! From the artwork, sticker and booklet with the lyrics, through the great and sensible message from Sean O’Donnel (Youngblood Records) to the very last note of all Mindset songs everything smells like dedication! We are looking forward to getting more React releases and we hope they will be kept them coming in such a great form. So let’s talk about Mindet now. We’ve got four tracks in little less than 8 minutes. The tracks are aggressive in a specific way, with nice, measured melodes and even guitar solos from time to time. Slow and fast parts make them suitable for both the two steppers and the mates in the circle pits. The vocals are aggressive, understandable and in no way monotonous or banal. Just a little more sing-alongs and the songs would be perfect. However Mindset’s music is inspiring and powerful enough, especially when presented by React Records in such a professional way, so we are sure there will be enough sing-alongs on their shows.

How did everything start?
Hmm, we started Angers Curse as a project at first. Me, Tobias and John were in another band called Break Me, but me and John quit but Tobias and the rest of the other members continued playing but under another name and in Swedish, with Swedish lyrics. They are called Stick & Brinn (something like fuck off and burn in hell). Then we just got thogether and started playing again, because me and Tobias had talked about doing a band like this. And Tobias, John and the old bassplayer had another band before called Blacked Out. So the idea first was just to continue that band with me on vocals, but we wanted something else, not to just play the oldschool songs they had, but to start from the beggining. So we started writing songs, recorded a demo and then everything just kept on rolling.

What made you enter the hardcore scene not only as fans but as musicians also?
I can only speak for myself I have always wanted to play in a band. I started with some friends in highschool then I just kept on playing in diffrent bands with diffrent people. I wanted more than just listening to and looking at bands. I wanted to be on stage, to write songs, to record and release records, and go on tours. I think its pretty much the same with Tobias but his brother on the other hand doesn’t listen to hardcore. He´s listening to Bring Me The Horizon and black metal. Andreas has been into hardcore for a long time, he puts up shows and runs a label. Doing much in his town, he lives in örebro andthe rest of us lives in Västerås.
im making you write so much stuff

Can you point any specific bands that influenced you?
Right Brigade, Judge, Blood For Blood and Cro-mags are really big influences.

Talking about influence I wanna ask you something special! Sweden bands such as Refused, Abhinanda, Final Exit mean a lot to us, and Sweden bands and arists in general are fundamental for almost every type of music. Why is that? How come you’re so good from a technical point of view and in the same time so passionate in creating music.
Hmm, I have no idea. It´s the cold weather…

Mate, it’s quite cold in Alaska too but damn, there are not so many great bands coming from there?
Now seriously, I think it is because you get a chance from a early age to learn how to play instruments and stuff in school. We also have good opportunities to get a hold of places where you can practice with the band.

What can we expect from you in the future, we don’t see any shows soon in your myspace, but we saw you’re writing new songs, tell us more, please.
Yeah we are writing new stuff now. It is for our upcomming full-length. It will be released on a cd by a new Swedish label called World vs Comet. Hopefully it will be out on a vinyl as well. We’ve got a label who´s intressted and we just lost our rehearsal house too so now we are just borrowing a place. We are planning a weekend tour in the fall with our brothers in Stay Hungry then in the end of this year we are planing to hit Europe again. When the record is out we are going to try to play as much as we can. But it is kinda hard because I’ve got a family and two little girls at home, and we all have got full time jobs and Andreas is out alot with diffrent bands (Millencolin to name one). We are psyched to come out again, with the new line up and the new songs.

A lot of people say hardcore is dead now, you are still part of it, you’re still recording and you are eager to play live, what would you say to such statements?
I say fuck it. The scene in Sweden is better then ever. We’ve got so many good bands here now. Balance, Lions Den, Stay Hungry, Hårda Tider (hard times) to name a few and I think new bands are popping up all the time. And just look at the Have Heart tour, if hardcore was dead could they make all these shows? It is insane!

Plus we witness a revival of releasing music on tapes and vinyls. DIY labels are being created everyday…
It´s awesome!

In this connection what is your opinion for Straight Edge culture it is another thing pointed as being too popular and even modern these days…
Me and Andreas are edge. The brothers are drunkpunks. So I think it is a good thing. It is awesome that people understand that you don´t need to get drunk/high every weekend and that there are other options. Despite the fact it is modern or a hype.XXX

Okay, so something connected to the XXX topic, Sxe is becoming more and more connected to vegetarianism, veganism what’s your attitude towards these matters of animal and earth liberation in general?
I think it is a good connection. In Sweden it has always been like this. I think the animal rights topic is really important. I’m not a vegan, I’m just a vegetarian, but I think it’s really important. In the band it is just me and Tobias who are vegetarians. The others are carnivores. I will never eat meat again, my girlfriend and my kids are vegetarians as well. I have told my children from a really early age what meat is, which animal and where on the body the meat is from. They think it’s disgusting just like I do. And the whole Earth thing is such a big problem. I’m trying to do as much as I can, I ride my bicycle to the work and try not to use my car so much.

And to bring things back things back to music for a last time, do you have any side projects, past or currently active? By you, I mean you and your bandmates?
For me it’s only Angers Curse at this time but me and the old bassplayer, we’re in the beginning of doing a black metal band, I’m really psyched. Tobias is Doing S&B I already mentioned and John is doing a metal band whose name I don’t know. Andreas has no time left for another band.

And know our favourite part of the interview, are you vinyl collectors?
I can’t say I am a collector but I buy vinyl as often as I can. Which is much more now then some years ago. I really prefer vinyl, I really wish i was a collector, I wish I had started buying vinyls ages ago. I´ll have to work on that because when I’m in the house of someone who is a collector I just sit there drooling.

Talking about music, what else do you like listening to?
I’m listenning to Rocky Votolato alot. And some Swedish artists like Hello Saferide and Säkert and Håkan Hellström is an geniues… I’m listening to Morrissey alot too.

What do you like besides music?
I like to skateboarding when I’ve got the time. I really miss that, I skated alot when i was young. I like to go out and run and lift weights. I like sneakers too. Now pretty much all my free time goes to our new house that we gonna move into this summer. And I really enjoy just being with my family, the kids are great!

Your vegetarian kid band…
Hahaha. I’m gonna teach them everything I know!

Hopefully this will include good hardcore, good metal and the most suitable videogames… In this sense, what do you prefer Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis?
From these two I’d say Super Nintendo, but generally I prefer NES. Andreas is the videogames geek in the band.

We’ve gotta continue this part of the interview with him in personal maybe for another zine, about straight edge and videogames.
Sure , he would love that I think.

Okay man so let’s cut the off topic now and end this, if you think there’s anything unsaid now’s your
Keep your ears and eyes open for our new record. And check out the Swedish bands.
Hårda tide (http://www.myspace.com/hardatiderhc)
Lions Den (www.myspace.com/lionsdenhc )
Stay Hungry (http://www.myspace.com/stayxhungry)
Balance (http://www.myspace.com/balancestraightedge)

Thanks for the interview mate, thanks for sending us your vinyl, and we’ll be looking forward to hearing the new album and hopefully will see you live some day!!!

Thanx alot to you too, meat is murder, straight fucking edge XXX.

Angres Curse - s/t 7″ - Death Rhythm Records

Angers Curse

Sportswear - Keep It Together 7″ Crucial Response Records 1997

Sportswear

ON - Control EP 7″ - Legitimatebros - 2009

ON