NYC Mayhem - For Real!

I still remember first hearing the NYC Mayhem demo at my friend Richie's apartment on 92nd Street in Jackson Heights. At the time, I was trying to come up with a name for a new fanzine I was working on.
Just as Richie, who might have been high at the time, suggested the name "Arf it Up". He dropped a tape that featured a badly drawn figure called 'Speedy' on a green demo cover into the deck.

I can't help but recall my immediate disappointment as I listened to the first few tracks. Having been a die hard fan of the NYC band Straight Ahead and often referring to Tommy Carroll as NYHC's undisputed, best frontman. N.Y.C. Mayhem, a band that predated Straight Ahead by about a year, seemed like a let down at the time.

As I listened to N.Y.C. Mayhem's "For Real" all these years later with, perhaps, a lot more knowledge and appreciation for early 80's Thrash Core. I found as if I was righting some wrongs. And though N.Y.C. Mayhem and Straight Ahead were very different bands with similar roots. "For Real", though many years later, allows me to appreciate both bands on more of a leveled playing field. Though I can't say I really appreciated the March '85 and June '85 demos the A side offered. Side B's June '85 and "For Real" 7" sessions had me in a complete stranglehold.

The 26-track LP "For Real" contains all of NYC Mayhem's studio recordings: two demo tapes and their unreleased "For Real!" 7" that was to appear on Urinal Records. Also includes a 12-page full-color book containing extensive liner notes by Laurent Ramadier of Snakepit Magazine. "For Real" also includes many rare/unseen images. Limited to 500 copies.
This is a must have for Hardcore and Thrash fans alike. A perfect document and time capsule for what was being created at the time. Get yourself a copy before they're all gone.
James Damion

Radio Raheem Records  Get it Here

No Mistake - Connect the Dots...Complete the Puzzle

In the months leading up to
No Mistake's quick rise from unnamed project to full fledged band I was contacted numerous times by guitarist and old friend Mike Bromberg. (Mike Bullshit, GO, SFA) Being asked my opinion on everything from the bands name, sound and even art. Staying in touch with someone like Mike is always a positive. Being asked my thoughts on a project he deems important is well, pretty special.

California's No Mistake made a very lasting impression with this thirteen song gem. "Connect the Dots...Complete the Puzzle"is an out and out thrasher, featuring thirteen songs that come in just over fourteen minutes. Fast HardCore Punk that brings us back to the early ThrashCore we first fell in love with in the early to mid 80's. As I listen closely I'm hearing elements of Negative Approach, SSD, Crass and even New York's Straight Ahead.

Greg's verbal attack is amazing. Despite his angry, snarling growls. The lyrics lean towards the positive side. Something I miss hearing from a lot of my HardCore brethren these days. Surround those vocals with drumming that mirrors that of an artillery barrage, outstanding bass work and  Mike's impressive attack on the strings You've got an impressive debut on your hands.

The band is already playing alongside some impressive bands such as old friends
Citizens Arrest, Outlook and Night Birds. They've also rolled out production on some sweet looking gear. GO check them out now.  James Damion

No Mistake  Bandcamp

Voivod Debut Single From Upcoming Album

Canadian Thrash Gods Voivod have debuted a new song via Pitchfork. "Mechanical Mind" will be released as a single on October 9th and will be featured on the bands upcoming release "Target Earth" due out January 22, 2013. Get it here Mechanical Mind

Nation On Fire - 2012 Demo

Nation on Fire, not to be confused with Southern California's Nations Afire come to us from New Jersey and play a ferocious brand of Hardcore that reminds this listener of mid 90's noise such as Rorschach, mixing elements of Hardcore, Punk and Dissonant elements of Metal. The entire demo comes at you like a tsunami of noise and hellfire that never lets up until everything in its path is decimated. The demo features six songs, five of which come in under two minutes.
Though I am quite fond of a lot of Rorschach's material,  i've never been a fan of this genre myself. Finding little to no balance in its sound or message.
Fans of Screamo and Powerviolence might want to check this one out though. I myself, was unmoved.
James Damion

Download Here

Suspect - You Brought This Upon Yourself EP

On the bands debut EP
New Jersey's Suspect deliver a fast, raw, unrelenting sound that grabs hold like a rabid dog clenching it's victims throat.
The band mixes Punk, Hardcore and Thrash rather well. The guitar work displayed here is particularly impressive and make for a perfect partner to the singers throat ripping growls. I'm wondering if the band has heard of Rorschach considering the EP will draw immediate comparisons to the legendary band.
Each of the seven songs carries a similar flag into battle with crushing results.
However, I felt "Kill the Host" set itself apart with it's unique and somewhat misleading bass intro. The EP was recorded during one session at Backroom Studios in Rockaway, NJ.
A great idea considering how the recording really shows off their raw quality. This is a band I'd be very interested in checking out live. If you like it rough. This is definitely the stuff. James Damion


Download it Here.  Bandcamp
Upcoming Show  Click & Go

Four Fingers Hit the Road Again.

This Wednesday, June 29th our friends Four Fingers will be launching their Summer tour from Montclairs favorite arm pit The Meatlocker. They'll be joined by Rabbit Troupe, SIck Jerk, The Flops and others. Join them as they thrash, crash and most likely burn. I asked Tohm to give me a look into what the next couple of weeks looked like. Here's what he had to say. James Damion

Tohm: So we, Four Fingers, took it upon ourselves to book a 28 day tour and in doing so, we managed to get fired from our jobs and ousted from our families. Pretty awesome if you ask me. So heres the fucking dates! We need some that still need to be filled, so if you can help us, let me know here or at tohm138@yahoo.com or flynn.christopher1@gmail.com. Thanks! Come thrash and fucking eat pizza with us!

Tohm

June 29 - Meatlocker Montclair NJ
June 30- Philadelphia PA (HELP!)
July 1 - The Sidebar Tavern - Baltimore MD
July 2 - Gone Studios - Staunton VA
July 3 - The Triple - Richmond VA
July 4-OFF!
July 5 - Fred’s Speakeasy - Asheville NC
July 6 - Staycation - Burlington NC
July 7 - Suite 8 Studios - Greenville SC
July 8 - The Burro Bar - Jacksonville Florida
July 9 - Uncle Lou’s - Orlando FL
July 10 - Churchill’s Pub - Miami FL
July 11-Orlando FL (HELP!)
July 12 - Shark Tank - Tallahassee FL
July 13-OFF!
July 14 - The Cold Brew - Laredo TX
July 15 -The Moldy Laundry Boys’ Apartment - Laredo TX
July 16 - Hard Times Fest - Laredo TX
July 16 - The White Rabbit - San Antonio TX
July 17 - Tulsa OK (HELP!)
July 18 - Kirby’s Beer Store - Wichita KS
July 19 - The Hole - Omaha NE
July 20 - Skullets - Rapid City SD
July 21 - Ben Roman’s Basement - Black Hawk SD
July 22- TBA - Peoria IL
July 23 - Econofest - Champaign IL
July 24 - Indianapolis IN (HELP!)
July 25 - Cleveland OH (HELP!)
July 26 - Meatlocker - Montclair NJ

Dates that need to be filled: June 30, July 11, July 17, July 24, July 25

a flyer will exist shortly for this tour.

Four Fingers Facebook

Listen ... Four Fingers summer demo 2011