Madball - "Empire"

01. Invigorate
02. Danger Zone
03. Timeless
04. All Or Nothing
05. Glory Years
06. Empire
07. Shatterproof (feat. Roger Miret)
08. The End
09. Con Fuerza
10. R.A.H.C.
11. Hurt You
12. “Tough Guy”
13. Dark Horse
14. Spider’s Web
15. Delete
16. Rebel4life18

Motherfuckin' Madball. I mean, I will start by saying that if you consider yourself a hardcore kid, and you don't like Madball, you pretty much don't like hardcore. Well this is the follow up to 2007's "Inflitrate The System." And I know that about 90% of people thought that that record was sort of a letdown. I thought so, I mean, after seeing them play this year's Black And Blue Bowl, and they played some of the songs live, I thought about giving that record a new try, and well, I have to admit as much as I love Madball with all my heart, the only good songs were the ones they played live. Back to this new record, there's been a lot of buzz. New drummer (in the recording, because we all know how that ended), done with the guy that did Cannibal Corpse stuff, and pretty much since Terror's "Keepers Of The Faith", there are actually high expectations on this particular release.

Well, the first song Invigorate, is actually a pretty legit good track. Way better than any song on the last record, and I really like the words, kind of dissing mainstream music, something which I am all about. The second song is called Danger Zone, not bad, not outstanding, but Big L had a song called Danger Zone so I give them that. A lot of the songs in this record are in my humble opinion good hardcore songs. The lyrics are pretty good, but there's something about it, it doesn't fill me as much as some of the older records (apart from Inflitrate).

There is this song called Shatterproof which features Roger Miret, and man, that song would have been so much better without him, that would have been the track of the record if it wasn't for that.

One thing I really like about this record tho, is that they made two songs in Spanish. And I like this trend they have been doing a Spanish song in every record. I have this conspiracy theory that they want to do a Latin American tour to only play the Spanish songs. I actually think that those two tracks are actually the best ones in the record, regardless of the language, it just happens to be that those are my favorite tracks. (Con Fuerza, Spider's Web). Then there is this song "Tough Guy" which is actually pretty awesome, will say my third favorite. The last song of the record is a really personal song for them, as it is dedicated to Hoya's wife, that passed away. Which is very sad, and my condolences. Sometimes those songs are too personal, and I kind of feel awkward listening to them, but like hardcore is supposed to be, a way to let out the pain.

The lyric writing in this record is really well done by Freddy. It's a very mature record. And it's a very positive album, and the message is always there as usual. I may not put it at the top of their releases, but it is definitely a couple notches above Infiltrate The System, and I would dare to say at-par with Legacy. Only thing that really do not like about the album is the art. And even thought it doesn't (in my opinion) top Keeper's Of The Faith in awesomeness, I will still put this record as top 5 favorite releases this year.

Word For Word, Wolf Whistle, Alert, Mongoloids, xRhinocerosx @ The Chop Shop, Framingham, MA

This is one of those shows, that I just happened to get to, like I would say in Spanish "de chamba". I wanted to go this show, but since a lot of people know me, I don't drive a car. My friend Casper (KDC) now played bass for xRhinocerosx, and I wanted to go to the show, mostly to hang out with him, and to see Word For Word, that I haven't seen live in ages. And good karma was good enough to let me attend this show, which ended being awesome.

I got there just as xRhinocerosx was about to go on. I had heard this band before, on the myspaces, and I always thought they were good, but never really paid much attention to it. That's pretty much it. Anyway, I support my friends and I stayed inside to see them (also cause I like to check out bands live). And I was not disappointed. I was actually pumped, this band's recording doesn't make justice to hows they sound live. A good mix of NYHC-type hardcore (well they're a new york band), but also thrashy, and metally. Which in my opinion is always a good thing. Super tight band, and really bummed I didn't have money to get anything to for a shirt or something. People need to check this band out.

After they played, The Mongoloids took the stage. Honestly I think this band is not that good. They were tight and all that, but I just can't get into this band that much. I like the real Fury Of Five though! I don't take away that they play tight and a lot of kids are into them, but I am not going to say I like a band when I really did not.

Alert was up. I really have been looking forward to see this band for a long time. I was also pumped to know they were playing this, because I had completely forgotten that they were playing this. I keep hearing good stuff about them. Well, honestly, they weren't really tight. But they were good, I think a couple more practices and it would have been awesome. They did cover Fed Up by Judge. But I mean, now that I think about it, it was pretty punk rock of them not practicing. They really did sound as advertised, raw youth crew styled hardcore influenced by the first wave of straight edge bands.

Wolf whistle was the next band on the bill, and I don't have a review for them. Because I didn't catch their set. I was listening to the new KDC EP. Which is fucking awesome, and Casper sounds like the dude from Rise Against (when that dude screams). More news about this record coming up soon.

When I was done listening to the new amazing EP that's going to take the hardcore world by storm, Word For Word was about to go on. Their set is always fun, even when it's not the tightest. They always put on an awesome show. They did cover In Control for me (thank you johnnie, i'll cover 5 yr. plan whenever you ask!) and kids went bezerk as usual.

Other things I liked about this show were the venue, and that I got a copy of a printed Fanzine from the Word For Word merch table. I got so siked that kids are doing fanzines. I got home around midnight, and before I came down to write this, I read half of the zine. I left the other part for tomorrow, when I have to wait at the train station for hours before my train.

And for those deniers and shit talkers inside the scene. Hardcore lives in 2010.

TERROR - "Keepers Of The Faith"

01. Your Enemies Are Mine
02. Stick Tight
03. Return To Strength
04. The Struggle
05. Shattered
06. You're Caught
07. Dead Wrong
08. Keepers of the Faith
09. Stay Free
10. Hell And Back
11. Only Death
12. The New Blood
13. Defiant

I have to start this way. You ever been in wait for something for so long, and then the moment arrives, and you really don't know what to do? It gives you chills, just to think that the day is here? Well, that's how i felt for pretty much most of 2010 before this record arrived. There is something about the album name that is mystic.

In the last couple years, almost three years, there have been really few records that I have or had been so pumped for. The last Hammer Bros record (Sleep Forever on Arrest Records), the H2O "Something To Prove", and actually Have Heart's "Songs to Scream At the Sun". But from all of these records, there is some aura surrounding this specific release.

Terror has made a couple changes in their lineup since their last record, recruiting Dave (singer for DTN) and a new guitar player Jordan something his last name is (i belive, and was told he was in No Warning, someone correct me if I'm wrong). But the one fact is that Terror has always been a superband. But for some reason, every change this band makes is for the better. And I will say, even though I love the fact that anyone can play hardcore, there is something always about bands that are actually talented in their instruments. So let me first start saying that this record's musicianship is outstanding.

There are few hardcore records that keep you on hook from the first track until the last one. This one is definitely one of those. I was talking to one of my older friends from work, like this 46 year old dude that I got into hardcore, but loves 80s thrash, and he was telling me "the vocals are real hardcore, but the music is metal as fuck". I cannot agree more with him. It's crazy, cause most of the riffs sound like all the 80s thrash bands I like. I could see Anthrax, Sepultura, Metallica, Suicidal, you mention it. I can even close my eyes and picture just a bunch of dudes with long hair headbanging. But even though this is metal as fuck, it's probably the best hardcore record that has come out in the last 6 years or 5 years, or whenever Suicide File's last 7" came out. (Notice I didn't mention H2O's last record, simply because they released albums in the 90s, TSF, and Terror did not).

Lyric wise it's very typical Terror. But at the same time while a lot of times you get tired of the brotherhood/betrayal thing going on, in this record it makes perfect sense. For fucks sake. IT'S NAMED AFTER FUCKING WARZONE AND RAYBEEZ. Stick Tight, one of the heaviest songs in the record is just great. The title track Keepers Of the Faith, one of the best hardcore songs of the decade already, and doubt it will be topped. The riff sounds like Def Leppard if you think about it. My favorite track of the album is New Blood. Pretty much like the text i recieved from my song defines the reason I am into hardcore and love this as much as I do, and why I am the way I am.

Legitimately this record has restored my faith and my convictions. That's all I can really say. Simply outstanding, and I take off my hat to the guys in the band.

I found these on youtbe. remember the copyrights are from century media records and terror

THE NEW BLOOD