Burning Lord
"Arcane Demolition" (Streets of Hate, 2024)

Is the name Streets of Hate a turn-on for you? It must be. No way that you do not get excited when you read, or hear, that these crazy folks are releasing a new band or a new record! Well, if you do not get sweaty just thinking about it, then you should rethink your whole existence. And with that, I give you the new skull drilling release by these NYC bastards! This is Hardcore, this is metallic Hardcore, this is fist-in-face Hardcore, this is sing-along-violent-mosh-pit Hardcore. This is Burning Lord’s 3^rd release, and 1^st full-length. This is a good metallic/powerful Hardcore album. It has a metallic edge to it, sort of a Thrashy speed at times, and Hardcore groove all throughout. Less metallic that the previous reviewed specimens, I like it. It has energy and power, and it does balance sounds quite well.

Wagchor
“Sodan Julistus” (Independent, 1999) 

From the Hardcore sounds of the USA, we move into the Symphonic Black Metal melodies of Wagchor. From Vantaa, Uusimaa, the band embodies the essence of Finnish Black Metal and that perfect combo of Melody and Aggressiveness, plus the Symphonic side, which gives the music that extra edge. This is a Demo from the 90ies, from the Nordic countries, I believe you know what to expect, right? So yes, that is what you get. This is the duo’s first and only release, which is not good, considering some of the details the have on these 3 tracks, swe need more. This is quite the release, allow me to say! Not that they reinvented the genre, but their approach to it is quite good, simplistic in the sense that they do not overdo it, but stick to the guidelines, which allows for great melodic lines and overall atmospheres. Cool guitar riffs, and the vocals are well-suited for the music. The vocals are one to the best elements of the music: harsh and aggressive. Please, when you read Symphonic do not think of bands like Limbonic Art or Emperor; the Symphonic element is not the basis for their music, but an add, an extra something, that connects the melodic and the aggressive facets of the band, together.

Take it in Blood
“Roadmap of Pain” (Quality Control HQ, 2024)

And we have made our way to Paris. City of Lights and Love, Paris is home to bands like NTM, a favourite of mine, but to great music stories and history. Take it in Blood is a great NAS song, yes, but also an excellent Parisian Hardcore band; “Negative Hardcore”, as they call it, and we can feel the negativity crawl up inside us, attacking, chocking, eating us from the inside. The mentions names like Sheer Terror or Neglect to describe their sound, their influences, and yeah, it hits the mark. Funny thing is that Mayhem is also thrown in there, and although I do not hear any Mayhem element in their music, that hatred is felt. The band wanted to sound 90ies, and I agree they did achieve that sound, and I love it. Hardcore has gone through so many changes, that at times we feel the genre has lost its connections to its roots. Their “Roadmap of Pain” was released in April 12, on Quality Control HQ, and it rips! Good old harsh and deadly Hardcore music, as simple as that! These tracks could very easily fit in the NYHC scene of the Past, that is how good they sound. A round of applause for these Parisian Skinhead Hardcore Beasts! Check “Fade Away” closely… the way the guitar sings, damn!