Rad Summer 2012

Straight out of Florida, land of retirement homes and vacation destinations, comes one of the most brutal, straight forward hardcore compilations seen on this side of the internet in many years. Featuring the likes of Code X Red, Clockwork, Losin’ It and more, the Rad Summer 2012 compilation brings some the best of the hardcore reality to the world. 

Released by Life to Live Records, this compilation clocks in at a rad 29 and a half minutes and unrelentingly brings the listener to their knees as each song progresses. Chock full of obscure and hungry hardcore champions, this comp spans the whole spectrum of the genre. Fast, aggressive, heavy, brutal, melodic, chugging, driving, dizzying, its all here. 

One of the more outstanding tracks on the record is Code X Red’s song “Never Again.” Straining, high pitch screams release over the ensuing wrath of the guitar and drum attack that backs it up. Circling around the listeners ears until one is dizzy, Code X Red brings the hate effectively in the style of Terror, Alpha and Omega, and American Nightmare. On the opposite side of the lens lies Clockwork. Bringing to the table a melodic style similar to Sinking Ships, Shook Ones and older Crime In Stereo, the bands submission “Ad and Subtract” shows great promise. A speedy intro breaks way into a pounding, toe tapping outro that brings to mind Polar Bear Club in its thickness and heart tugging movements. 

Other mentions within Rad Summer’s walls are Losin’ It and their song “No Apology.” A dragging bass lines calls for stage dives right off your bedside as the drums smack your ears. Releasing into a pounding, mosh heavy riff that brings to mind the aggressive days of More To Pride and Rivalry Records. Even more aggressive is the enormous open ended breakdown at the end of Modern Pain’s “Let Down” that is only countered by the melodic sounds of Tiebreaker’s “Take It Back” two tracks later. The later bringing to mind Verse and Shipwreck, at their more melodic moments. 

All in all their is something for every hardcore enthusiast within the sonic layers of Life To Live’s Rad Summer 2012 compilation. Make the summer even radder than it already has been by picking it up over at their bandcamp for a cheap dollar.

Rating: 3/5

Wasteland

       New York hardcore, perhaps the toughest sub-genre within the already extremely hot headed hardcore community, proudly provides a long standing track record of influential bands. (Cro-mags, Biohazard, Judge, just to name a few) New York never fails to eject pure brutality into an already intense genre. Provider continues that tradition with their latest seven inch release, Wasteland, now out on Life to Live records. 

Following the the footsteps of the aforementioned bands, while providing a strengthened modern twist similar to their contemporaries, Provider quickly slaps listeners in the face with Wastelands eleven minutes of pure aggression. Coming off as a mix of thrash infused hardcore, think Alpha and Omega, and “hardstyle” hardcore such as Trapped Under Ice, Provider stomps out all who oppose them on. Transitioning from quick breakbeat rhythms to enormous back bending breakdowns with simplistic ease and quietly returning as if nothing happened, proves to be the bands strong point. The opening track “Bonekeeper” forcefully demonstrates their prowess as its shoved down the listeners ear. 

A ferocious NYHC, hip-hop influenced guitar riff opens the song, leading up to an explosive entrance from the rest of the band complemented by a skillful dance on the hi-hat. The breakbeat continues full force, trampling all in its path. Soon, as if the the pure energy of the movement could no longer be contained, the band releases into a pounding movement, guitars slowly dripping down the listeners spine, like a knife being pushed in deeper. The lines “Count the ways I live in regret/Forever I pay this unending debt” are painstakingly stretched out over the section, seething of anger and angst. With an assertive “UH” as if signaling an attack, the song ends with a series of powerful chugs, complimented by a driving bass and creeping high hat/snare combo. 

The rest of the album continues in much of the same manner. Throat scratching, strained vocals litter the sonic landscape while the band swings to and fro in full force. Another highlight is the thrash filled “Losing Ground.” Brining to mind the best of Alpha and Omega as the band tears through the listeners ear drums. The album ends on a strong note with the quick chaotic explosion that is ”Curse.” Clocking in just under two minutes it is one of the most straight forward songs on Wasteland. A simple power violence/NYHC riff repetitively dominates, speeding up and slowing down in rhythm until the final moments when powerful chugs and a series of creeping floor tom hits take center stage. 

What Provider essentially provides, no pun intended, is the ability to showcase the best of NYHC. The metallic chugs, the painfully hardened vocals, the hip-hop inspired beats. It is all there. What is essential for the band now is to make their own niche within the genre. In a sea of fish only the strong survive, wether it be through pure aggression, originality or something more. Wasteland is a product of the school, and a pristine one at that. All Provider needs now is to break free. 

Rating: 3/5