The Kevin Hardcore 100 (Pt. 2)
Part 2 of at least 10!
If you’re new: one of my best buds Kevin made a list of 100 great hardcore records. He talked about it Here and explained his process. I explained MY process, my familiarity with hardcore (minimal) and my desire to listen to some essential recordings. This is HIS list, it’s unordered, it is varied, and I love that there is a personal touch to it.
As I go along, I will end each post with a current “ranking” of the records. To a degree, this is arbitrary (as all rankings are), but it’s the kind of bullshit I do.
Apologies for taking this long, despite the short records! I started listening to this set of 10 records basically right away and then due to business and other things, I just didn’t get to the rest and then I had to go back and relisten to everything again. It’s fine, it’s been fun!
On the whole, Kevin didn’t steer me wrong here. In fact, it had 2 all time classics RIGHT at the top with these 10. Perhaps the two hardcore releases that I’ve listened to more than any other (though I could be easily forgetting something). Overall, every record in this 10 is good, many are great and a few are absolutely essential. Let’s get on with it!
Jerry’s Kids
Is This My World? (1983)
If I had to guess, this is my single most listened to punk/hardcore record of all time. A friend told me to download this all the way back in 2005 and I did and I burned it to CD and it maintained a space in my CD booklet for years (well a couple of years until I got rid of all of my cds). It was a good thing to put on for a short drive or for a short, aggressive fix. I’ve told Kevin and my buddy Drew multiple times that this is the hardcore record (especially of the 80s) I know best and is a true classic to me. I listened to it again for the first time in a while a couple of years ago and it wasn’t as good as I had remembered, but relistening for this project scratched THAT feeling and reminded me that well- it rules. Just loud, brash, fast, sounds DIY as hell. It’s a horrible recording and that actually works to it’s benefit. Catchy choruses, heavy and angry but because of it’s time has a bit of pop essence to it. It has a slow song. It’s really just an essential record to me, one I will always love and captures this particular Boston Hardcore / Rock n Roll sound perfectly.
Rating: 4.5/5
Fave Tracks: “I Don’t Belong” “Tear It Up” “Lost” “Is This My World?”
Minor Threat
Minor Threat 7” (1981)
If Jerry’s Kids is my single most listened to hardcore record ever, this is likely my second (or rather the First Two Seven Inches compilation). Minor Threat, heard of them? Listening to this record again for the first time in a while caused me to ask Kevin and my buddy Drew about the single most transcendent record from any hardcore scene. Like, which records or record are truly the biggest in the greater mainstream music culture. We got into a little back and forth, but this one is absolutely up there, if not the answer (it’s probably mine). And look, it’s perfect. It’s a perfect 9 minutes. It’s a perfect 8 songs. It’s an addicting record to listen to. It’s a record you discover as a teenager and became obsessed with and play over and over again (or I don’t trust you). There is literally no bad moment on this record. Ian’s vocals, the songs themselves, what they mean to people, the shredding. It’s an easy 5 stars.
Rating: 5/5
Fave Tracks: The whole thing
Warthog
Warthog (2016)
Warthog has 3 self-titled EPs and this is the first of them from 2016. This record was FINE and even GOOD at points, but really didn’t do a ton for me. It has really nice, more modern production, but on the on the whole really didn’t create any moments I strongly connected to other than “Tightrope”. I tried extra times with this one because I wasn’t feeling negative about it, I just wasn’t getting much of a reaction at all. They have awesome album covers, they’re competent, it’s a good sound, I’m honestly having a hard time writing about it (how do paid music reviewers do this?) I just think its like…good?
Rating: 3/5
Fave Track: “Tightrope”
Infest
Slave (1988)
I first listened to this a couple of years ago when Axe 2 Grind was doing their 80s Mosh Madness thing before that abruptly stopped (idk if it ever picked back up). I liked it then, but it definitely took a few listens to get into - which is what happened here as well. First listen: Oh this is cool and chaotic. Second listen: Man, I wish I had this in a slightly better fidelity. Third listen: Oh, fuck yeah. This has an awesome chaotic sound and truly features some of my absolute favorite vocals in this set of records. I love the tracks where they do a lot of stop-start dynamics and on the particular YouTube rip I prefer, the bass is like really up front, which I love. Overall, it’s not world beating but could definitely continue to grow for me into something really meaningful.
Rating: 3.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Sick-O” “Where’s The Unity?”
A Death For Every Sin
God’s Final Descent (2000)
This is a very complicated record. It’s only 6 tracks and like 13 minutes, but I dislike some of it, REALLY like some of it and am indifferent about some of it. I should probably drop the rating on it, but the songs I do like really sort of hide the songs I don’t, so I’m going higher than I should. Whatever! This starts off on like a kind of awkward metalcore tip. It SOUNDS like metal, but with like mediocre hardcore vocals. I like the slide up the fret on the guitar like you get in punk and speed metal, but it just all sounds messy. The drums are the most powerful part here. The second song doesn’t really improve much for me, though it sounds a bit more hardcore than metal, it still isn’t particularly strong. “Machine Devours” really rips on the third track though, even though it is only SLIGHTLY tweaked from the previous two. It has that slow to fast thing I really love. “Throne of Depravity” continues keeping the combo strong, lacking that awkward sound and breakdown of the first two. Bit too inconsistent, doesn’t seem like very good metal OR hardcore and is my least favorite record of this batch.
Rating: 2.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Machine Devours” “Throne of Depravity”
Avail
4AM Friday (1996)
I had to reach out to the boys during my first listen to this record, because I wasn’t sure it was even hardcore. Much of this record sounds poppy enough to be on the soundtrack of a 10 Things I Hate About You-esque teen movie. It wasn’t to be like “wtf, Kevin?” because on that first listen, I really enjoyed it. It was a real blast to have this on in my headphones and cook dinner and do dishes, because it’s very melodic, it’s very catchy and it has references to a lot of other music I am quite fond of! It’s sort of like a more normal-vocaled AFI in places, but it does have those breakdowns and shout-alongs that are key. My enjoyment of it decreased on subsequent listens, but I do think it starts SUPER strong. I know Kevin isn’t anti-pop music, he likes catchy things and this is certainly a huge aspect here. Could definitely see this record being dependent on mood, though. It’s sort of corny, it’s sort of endearing, it wears it’s welcome thin by the end, but overall - it’s good!
Rating: 3/5
Fave Tracks: “Simple Song” “Order” “Nameless”
Righteous Jams
Rage of Discipline (2004)
Oh baby, this is good. I think when I wrote about Chain of Strength in the last post, I talked about how for someone like me, who was never at these shows - how that record can really make the whole genre make sense to you. This is like that, as well. You can see what this band would be like on stage performing this record, it’s really transportive. This is Boston Hardcore and it’s ANGRY but it’s also deceptively simple, with breakdowns that seem super in sync, lyrics that are understandable and things you can shout out loud the first time you listen to the record. I love the rhythmic cadence of the vocals here, it really like…invites you in, in a way. It’s not CHAOTIC (not that that is bad), but it’s definitely still tough. Huge record, RIGHT outside the absolute essentials so far, but still a high recommendation.
Rating: 4/5
Fave Tracks: “Rage of Discipline” “Iron Mind” “Bust It” “Scream and Shout”
Excessive Force
In Your Blood (1995)
This one was pretty weird to me. Similar to the Infest record, I didn’t love this at first, but subsequent listens did open it up to me. I DON’T Love the vocals, even though that is a big selling point of the record. If I understand correctly, it’s gotten quite popular recently, and the CHAOS of the vocals are really just a major thing to people, but I don’t get it. It’s fine, it’s unique I guess, but I think the music is where it shines, especially as a more “metalcore” record. The rip on Spotify sounds like SHIT, which in this case isn’t a good thing. Record is probably too long for me, but by my third and now 4th listen, I am really digging it from beginning to end and find it INTERESTING if nothing else. It’s not going to be an absolute favorite, but can see why it might be for others - the metal elements, the screechy, off-the-wall vocals combined with the gang-style shouts. It’s cool on the whole.
Rating: 3.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Distress” “Vengeance” “Misfortune”
No Warning
Ill Blood (2002)
My first note about this record was “This sounds like what every hardcore band of the last 10-15 years has tried to sound like” - only to find out that is basically true. This is a major record of the 2000s and a blueprint for much of the last decade or so’s bands. This one I got IMMEDIATELY and think it’s pretty amazing. Expertly recorded, expert vocals, super catchy, really great breakdowns and instrumental passages, excellent phrases to shout. I’d heard their 2017 record Torture Culture before, which I liked, but this one smokes it - some of the best post 2000 hardcore I’ve heard to this point.
Rating: 4/5
Fave Tracks: “No Time For You” “Short Fuse” “All New Low” “Ill Blood”
Horror Show
Our Design (2002)
I was shocked to find that the vocalist here is the guy from Nothing, one of my favorite indie-esque bands of the 00s (my least favorite genre, mind you). This sounds NOTHING like NOTHING, but it’s pretty cool. I questioned Kevin on this one after I gave him my opinion and he let me know it’s a bit of a personal pick - with them being a major Philly band during a very formative time in the scene for him. Their shows were chaotic and painful and also celebratory after Dominic got out of prison. I can totally understand having a connection this release like that, but I’m not quite there. As it stands, it’s just a pretty good release for me, one that took a couple of listens to get. It’s JUST different enough to remain interesting. Full stop though, I prefer the 4-song Holiday EP more.
Rating: 3/5
Fave Tracks: “Practicing Uncertainty” “The Last Steel Mine”
RANKINGS
Minor Threat - Minor Threat
Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness
Jerry’s Kids - Is This My World
Tragedy - Vengeance
Righteous Jams - Rage of Discipline
Chain of Strength - True Till Death
No Warning - Ill Blood
Crossed Out - Crossed Out 7”
108 - Songs of Separation
The Abused - Loud and Clear
Damnation A.D. - No More Dreams of Happy Endings
Infest - Slave
Excessive Force - In Your Blood
Avail - 4AM Friday
Horror Show - Our Design
The Swarm - Old Blue Eyes is Dead
Warthog - Warthog
A Death for Every Sin - God’s Final Descent
No Tolerance - Boston Hardcore
Ramallah - Kill A Celebrity
Another good round for Kev. I’m super enjoying this and have been exposed to some excellent records, fallen back in love with already-known classics and am excited to see where it goes. I can’t guarantee when the next installment will be, but I’ll try to get up next week!
Another really interesting combination in the next 10 with a couple of records I’m super familiar with, some that are brand new to me and some I’ve seen the cover of forever and never heard.
Thanks for reading, as always!