The Kevin Hardcore 100 (Pt. 9)

The Penultimate...

Let’s take a step back for a second.

I got some confused / confusing feedback on my last article here, the 8th installment of the Kevin Hardcore 100. Then I realized - oh, this project has been going on for 11 months and I haven’t properly re-introduced it since maybe the second installment. So let’s do that.

About this time last year, I jokingly tasked one of my best buddies Kevin to give me a list of what he considered to be the 100 best Hardcore releases of all time. I didn’t give any stipulations (he did that himself) - he didn’t repeat artists, he didn’t do singles, compilations (well one) or live albums. This was an effort to get me into a sort of “canon” of hardcore music, which him and my other best bud Drew had been doing for years, but with a personal twist. We randomized the list and I took 10 releases at a time and have been slowly reviewing them. If you haven’t kept up: most of them have been good, hell most of them have been great - some have been all-time classic 5 star records. This makes sense. Kevin is a lifelong fan of the music and scene (and involved!) and 100 releases is NOTHING when it comes to a genre. He’s also a smart music fan who listens to more than just this genre. It’s been a blast to go through the list and as we approach our final installment, I will miss it - but it will give me a really solid base to jump from in exploring the genre on my own in the future.

As a total surprise - Kevin, who didn’t really have a band previously, put out a really good EP last year:

He’s also become a regular guest on the 185 Miles South podcast, something I need to catch up on:

He’s also a Philly Boy, go Birds!

Anyway, no life catch-up here. Next post will be a bit different, where I will summarize my experience listening to music that is VERY different from this: Ranking and summarizing the entire discography of the Pet Shop Boys. Stay tuned.

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Gorilla Biscuits
Start Today (1989)

Here is a live look at me talking to Kevin on our old Slack channel while listening to this:

Another one of these records on this list that I’ve now listened to about 10 times in the past week. Undeniable is the word. It is likely going to be my lowest rated of the 5-star records, but who gives a shit. This is a classic for a reason and just an absolute killer.

Rating: 5/5
Fave Tracks: “New Direction” “Stand Still” “Things We Say” “Cats and Dogs”

Dead Stop
Done With You (2004)

If you were wondering if they made good hardcore in Belgium - well here is your answer: resoundingly yes. Dead Stop is from Antwerp and made two kickass records 20 years ago. This was a big surprise, but is one of my absolute favorites of the 2000s records I’ve heard and something I could honestly see growing in my esteem even higher. Excellent production, Minor Threat-styled delivery and presentation (though a little bit longer songs), some cool instrumental passages. 14 tracks in 22 minutes and it just never really lets up. Can’t imagine that if you like some of the original HARDCORE sound that you could think this wasn’t awesome. Great throwback that would sound good in 1981, 1991 or when it came out. Play loud as hell.

Rating: 4/5
Fave Tracks: “Done With You” “Rather Be Nothing/Endtro” “Dead Alive”

Blacklisted
Peace on Earth, War on Stage (2007)

This 4 song EP is produced really well but there is just something about it that turns me off. The songs are pretty good and the crunchiness of the guitars is pretty good, but I really don’t like the vocal delivery and the move towards not-quite-grunge. There are some albums on this list that I have liked in that vein, but this one is not one of them. It’s not OFFENSIVE or BAD, it’s just like…not one that I like. It veers almost into Butt Rock territory for me with the way the vocals add syllables and extend words where they don’t need to be. I mean, all 4 of these songs would make good Pro Wrestling entrance themes but this is just kind of there for me.

Rating: 2.5/5
Fave Track: “Setting Sun”

AFI
All Hallows EP (1999)

I have tried like 100 times with this record and claimed that I liked it because it seems like the right thing to do but here’s the thing: I barely like this record. It’s THE AFI release for people, their breakout and the realization of their identity (I mean, it’s an ICONIC cover) but it just never really has gotten there for me. It’s not bad by far - but the thing with AFI is that I like them best RIGHT after this. I think The Art of Drowning and Sing the Sorrow are awesome. They came out right at sort of the peak of that wave of emo and they felt fresh and poppy and predicted the rise of bands like Fall Out Boy and The Used and they STILL hold up. But they hold up because the SONGS are there. With those releases, they are still ostensibly punk (though the latter can be debated), but they start to really expert at creating anthemic pop sounds (before totally overdoing it). On this EP, it’s just 4 songs and it creates a cool atmosphere and has created a ton of cool bootleg merch, but the SONGS aren’t quite there. It’s still a multiple times in October listen for me but I’ve finally decided it is just barely on the side of being GOOD.

Rating: 3/5
Fave Track: “The Boy Who Destroyed The World”

Killing Time
Brightside (1989)

HEAVY. I don’t know how else to describe it, but these are some of the heaviest drums I’ve heard on this list - just angry, scary, loud, mid-tempo New York Hardcore that blends thrash and has clearer vocals than many of it’s contemporaries. This is dangerously close to becoming an “all-timer” record for me and could probably reach that for me easily if I purchased it on cassette or something. I mean, “Telltale” as much as maybe any song of the hundreds or thousand+ songs I’ve listened to for this project seems like the one that I would learn the lyrics to immediately and sing along to live. Fuck it, listening now again and I’m upping my rating from a 4 to a 4.5. Awesome record.

Rating: 4.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Brightside” “Telltale” “No More Mr. Nice Guy”

Bad Brains
Bad Brains / ROIR (1982)

I’m struggling with how to write this because here’s the thing: This isn’t a 5-star record for me at this point. It’s complicated. One thing that makes Bad Brains a truly special band (at their peak, maybe the best band in the world) is that they are a complete package. Their look, their message, their musicianship, their vocals, their cover design - they have it all. But all of their first 3 records (which are all GREAT) do something that just takes them out of all-time status for me. Trying to explain this to Kevin and Drew the other day - the Reggae songs are ESSENTIAL for the Bad Brains experience BUT at the same time, they take away from actual quality of the album for me. You have perhaps the most chaotic, fast, fuckin awesome punk music ever made and then a 4-minute dub reggae song in the middle and some other dub tracks. If they were sequenced different, it could work for me, if they were shorter it could work for me, hell, someday it MIGHT work for me - but right now, as I’m going through a hundred of these punk records, it stops this record from reaching that very tippy top echelon DESPITE the fact that the punk tracks might be the actual best things on this whole list (and hell, maybe some of the best punk tracks ever). It’s one of these things where I could come away from this list and other hardcore listening and say “Bad Brains is the best hardcore band but they don’t have any of the best albums”

But who knows, I’m full of shit. This peaks as high as any punk record ever and is essential listening.

Rating: 4.5/5
Favorite Tracks: You judge the album for yourself on this one!

Kid Dynamite
Kid Dynamite (1998)

Another record that I heard in high school from friends at some point but had no real memory of beyond the album cover - this record starts off super strong with “Pause” which is just ripping hardcore before it suddenly veers into a more poppy skate-punk style. It’s actually something I really enjoy and sounds very 90s. It’s more loud and snotty than the Lifetime record I reviewed way back and honestly for the first half I was REALLY enjoying this record a ton but the 19 tracks are a bit much to take in (even if it’s like 27 minutes). Cut it down just slightly and this is a totally rad summer soundtrack. Fun vocals, fun lyrics, just starts to wear thin by the end. Saw a review that said “Kid Dynamite is what AFI wishes they were” and I don’t agree but I do kind of see it. This is poppy punk music without being “pop punk” and AFI went fully into that. Anyway, a fun inclusion and one that doesn’t sound like a lot of other things on this list.

Rating: 3.5/5
Fave Tracks: For whatever reason, hard to pick. I think their change between hardcore and pop-punk is real interesting and you should listen to the whole record or just bop around

Dump Truck
Feelin’ Good Demo ‘03 (2003)

A 4-track Cassette-only release before the band eventually changed their name to The Wrong Side and recorded a full length. This just 5 and a half minutes of dumb, poorly recorded and classic hardcore that sounds like it would’ve been a blast to be in the building for. There isn’t a ton special for me, but what it does, it does especially well. Could benefit from having BETTER production, for sure, but who cares - this is like a perfect cassette release for what it is. Have fun with it and smash some shit.

Rating: 3.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Facing Up” “Feelin’ Good”

No Justice
Still Fighting EP (1999)

12 minutes of super solid late 90s DC style hardcore. Rough recording in the best way (where you can still make out the lyrics but it feels almost insane to listen to). Starts real strong and maintains throughout but not enough on the actual recording to differentiate it from a bunch of other records in this “very good” category. Singer is really charismatic and the music is loud, what do you want? Look - Kevin sent me a couple of videos of their final performance and they look totally nuts, so watch this and then listen to the record.

Rating: 3.5/5
Fave Tracks: “Throw It Away” “Still Fighting”

District 9
Schoolhardknox (1995)

This is SERIOUS music. Each of these songs tells a story, with serious topics, which could be really corny in the wrong hands, but totally works here because it sounds genuinely unhinged, angry, powerful. Dealing things like betrayal, love, suicide, it’s heavy stuff and it is accomplished with super loud production. Features really great, interesting SHOUTING vocals that occasionally veer into the groove/rap territory like some of the other New York hardcore of the time, but sounds genuine instead of posturing. It doesn’t SOUND like grunge but almost sounds like it could’ve had radio airplay with its themes and choruses, especially “Think About It”. Very surprised how much I loved this.

Rating: 4/5
Fave Tracks: “Think About It” “Behind Red Tape”

Thanks for reading. Give me a week or so to get back to this project (and finalize it with like a top 10 maybe?). I’ll be back with a Pet Shop Boys (lol) write-up soon.

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RANKINGS

5 stars

1. Sick Of It All - Blood, Sweat & No Tears

2. Minor Threat - Minor Threat

3. Integrity - Those Who Fear Tomorrow

4. Judgement - No Reason Why

5. Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness

6. Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today

4.5 stars

1. Breakdown - The ‘87 Demo

2. Bad Brains - Bad Brains / ROIR

3. Jerry’s Kids - Is This My World

4. Merauder - Master Killer

5. Rampage - Limit Of Destruction

6. Left For Dead - Splitting Heads

7. Tragedy - Vengeance

8. Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing

9. Cro-Mags - The Age of Quarrel

10. Killing Time - Brightside

11. Negative Approach - Negative Approach 7”

12. Antidote - Thou Shalt Not Kill

13. In Cold Blood - Hell on Earth

4 stars

1. Righteous Jams - Rage of Discipline

2. Government Warning - No Moderation

3. Floorpunch - Goal Line Stand

4. Sheer Terror - Just Can’t Hate Enough

5. Dead Stop - Done With You

6. World Burns to Death - The Graveyard of Utopia

7. District 9 - Schoolhardknox

8. Unbroken - Life. Love. Regret.

9. Crown of Thornz - Mentally Vexed

10. War Hungry - War Hungry

11. Scarab - Demo

12. Chain of Strength - True Till Death

13. Judge - Bringin’ It Down

14. No Warning - Ill Blood

15. Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye

16. Neglect - Pull the Plug

17. Outburst - Miles to Go

18. Fury - Paramount

19. Turmoil - The Process Of

20. All Out War - For Those Who Were Crucified

21. Crossed Out - Crossed Out 7”

22. Madball - Set It Off

23. Undertow - Control

24. 108 - Songs of Separation

25. Converge - Jane Doe

26. The Chisel - Retaliation

27. Ink & Dagger - Love Is Dead

28. The Abused - Loud and Clear

3.5 stars

1. Trapped Under Ice - Demo 2007

2. Kid Dynamite - Kid Dynamite

3. Path of Resistance - Who Dares Wins

4. Ringworm - Birth is Pain

5. Gordon Solie Motherfucker! - Powerbomb Anthems Vol. 1

6. Alone In A Crowd - Alone In A Crowd

7. Citizens Arrest - A Light in the Darkness

8. No Justice - Still Fighting

9. Think I Care - Think I Care

10. Supertouch - What Did We Learn

11. Step Forward - 10 Songs EP

12. Damnation A.D. - No More Dreams of Happy Endings

13. Out Cold - Warped Sense of Right and Wrong

14. 100 Demons - 100 Demons

15. Agnostic Front - Victim in Pain

16. Dump Truck - Feelin’ Good Demo ‘03

17. Reagan Youth - Youth Anthems for the New Order

18. 86 Mentality - 86 Mentality

19. BQE/Merauder - 1998 Demo

20. Buried Alive - The Death of Your Perfect World

21. Infest - Slave

22. Excessive Force - In Your Blood

23. H100s - Dismantle

3 stars

1. Avail - 4AM Friday

2. AFI - All Hallows EP

3. The Hope Conspiracy - Cold Blue

4. Life of Agony - River Runs Red

5. Horror Show - Our Design

6. Overcast - Fight Ambition to Kill

7. Fury of Five - At War with the World

8. The Swarm - Old Blue Eyes is Dead

9. Lifetime - Jersey’s Best Dancers

10. Cold World - Ice Grillz

11. Warthog - Warthog

12. All Else Failed - Archetype

2.5 stars

1. Blacklisted - Peace On Earth, War On Stage

2. A Death for Every Sin - God’s Final Descent

3. No Tolerance - Boston Hardcore

4. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity

5. American Nightmare - Background Music

6. Blood for Blood - Revenge on Society

2 stars

1. One Life Crew - Crime Ridden Society

1.5 stars

1. Ramallah - Kill A Celebrity