A Classic NY/CT Hardcore Compilation With: DRUG SHOCK (CT) Members of Forced Reality, Copyright Chaos & Bust It! TWO MAN ADVANTAGE (NY) BROKEN (CT) ICONICIDE (NY) BLASTMAT (CT) FED UP! (NY) ALL FOR SPITE (CT) CARNAGE KREW (NY) SIDE SWIPED (NY/CT) Members of FED UP! & Second Class Citizen TRUTH IN NEEDLES (NY) HOOKS & SINKERS (CT) Members of Bloodshot Hooligans & Forced Reality EVERYDAY DOLLARS (NY) Members of The Uprise & Darkside NYC PROGRESS (CT) Members of Youthful Offenders NY/CT HARDCORE CONNECTION REVIEW IN SUBURBAN REBELS ZINE NY/CT HARDCORE CONNECTION COMPILATION - Another fine release on UNITED RIOT RECORDS, arranged and compiled by DENNIS F.U. and Johnny foz. Thirteen bands, twenty-five songs, that's a lot of music! Stand out bands for me are DRUG SHOCK (CT), who set the comp off, BROKEN (CT), BLASTMAT (CT), FED UP! (NY), CARNAGE KREW(NY), SIDE SWIPED(NY/CT), EVERYDAY DOLLARS (NY).. love these guys!! PROGRESS from CT end the comp and they rule too!! This is the ultimate Hardcore Compilation. It will really get you smashing sh*t. Dennis did a great job putting this together. I really like the fact that most of these bands aren't your typical Hardcore bands that get put on comps. Honestly, I only heard of a few bands on here, so it was great to discover some new hardcore. Comes with a two page fold out of band photos and nice artwork by Muna. NY/CT HARDCORE CONNECTION REVIEW IN EMPTY HANDS ZINE To be brief - I used to buy many comps. They do not seem to come out as much. It makes sense with bandcamp and facebook/myspace. you do not need to hear samples of bands on an LP with so much streaming availability. But, with that said, it also saddens me. Because comps were a great way to not only hear many bands, but it shows a camaraderie. It united bands that had a connection - be it sound, stance, or label. Think f the classics; THIS IS BOSTON NOT LA, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, CREEPY CRAWL, NEW YORK'S HARDEST, CHUNKS, FLEX YOUR HEAD, BAD MUSIC FOR BAD PEOPLE and so many more. My next mindset is do NOT judge a book (or a CD) by its cover. To me and my OCD need to categorize, I saw a fist on the cover - white background (posi, not dark) - the NY/CT aspect... when i think NYHC i think of certain bands: AF, MURPHYS LAW, WARZONE, SHEER TERROR, SOIA, BREAKDOWN, KILLING TIME, H2O, MADBALL and others. BUT when i think of NY-CT hardcore - i think of YOT. I think of BOLD and SIDE BY SIDE; youth crew. Revelation Records. Posi stuff. This is NOT that album. and i say "phew!" This is Oi! and NYHC and dark, metallic hardcore. Fast and angry songs that give quite a punch. i can probably count the comps i go back and listen to one one hand through recent years from the many dozen that i own. Well, now i need an 11th finger. All bands get two songs - except for SIDESWIPED - but don't feel badly; two of those dudes put the comp out. DRUG SHOCK: "On the Prowl" crushes. It comes in like CONDEMNED 84 and BAKERS DOZEN. Hard, chunky riffs of oi. "Burn the Bastards" reminds me of an updated BLITZ, MENACE, COCKNEY REJECTS sound - good mid-tempo bruiser with lyrics about how the working class gets screwed; but is not generic. i went and bought their ep on amazon mp3 TWO MAN ADVANTAGE: This band has been around for a long time and they have a great hockey name. i feel like i heard them when they came out and they were more 'punky". but these two songs are crazed songs of fury and speed. Like BILLY CLUB SANDWICH, DRAGO. BROKEN: This is heavy a** hardcore. it opens up like a show should - getting all rowdy and then blasts forward. Social and politically concerned lyrics are screamed over strong riffs. Mosh-tastic. Think fast BREAKDOWN, REST IN PIECES with growled lyrics a la demo style SHEER TERROR. ICONICIDE: Recording is demo level production but conjures up late '80s metal/hardcore love. Heavy. No leads or egos but could have been CELTIC FROST, first BATHORY, MORBID ANGEL openers. A lo-fi NEXT STEP UP comes to mind, especially the vocals. The drums beat in 4/4 time with no deviation and the bass has a great presence rumbling along. BLASTMAT This is a great mix of Oi and hardcore; a hardcore skeleton with some punk jewelry. FFO: REASON TO FIGHT, AWKWARD THOUGHT; if VISION had a thicker, tough sound on WTWB. FED UP! You should know FED UP! by now. *(if not, read my review of their latest full length: here.) Straight NYHC with an Oi! edge. AGNOSTIC FRONT, LOVED AND HATED, DOWNLOW, MURPHYS LAW. We get two fast gems here, they sound recorded live for unstoppable energy. ALL FOR SPITE: Hardcore. Straight up pit swinging and finger pointing. Great breakdown riff in the middle of the first song. The 2nd song has a weird vocal approach, like a street punk delivery; but the music is blisteringly fast. But again, 2/3 through we get a finger pointing breakdown. Think between KILL YOUR IDOLS and TEARS OF FRUSTRATION. CARNAGE KREW: Solid tight production on fast guitars over very skilled and busy drums. The songs are titled "Life Still Sux 2012" and "Feelings are for Assholes" - so guess the tone. We get a breakdown to spin-kick too with some gang "woahs". This is a band that gets the crowd moving. no doubt. Some metal riff influence embedded but still a hardcore sound. Reminds me of Euro Hardcore. SIDESWIPED: "Hor" Dennis FU sings for this - while the music sounds tends toward youth crew revival (IN MY EYES etc) - it still feels different due to the lyrics and vocals and tuning of guitars. Just straight dark NYHC. TRUTH IN NEEDLES: Dirty bass line kicks off "World Thought". Heavy and ugly hardcore with some two step riffs. the chant of "Fight Back" should tell you this bands attitude and the song gets you amped. "Postcard" has a punk sound - still focused on a great bass line. Upbeat but still seething. HOOKS & SINKERS: This is streetpunk. Like recent DUCKY BOYS, HOUNDS & HARLOTS, THE GC5. Great songwriting; solemn and low key. Get a pint and a shot and prepare to hoist to days gone by. This is great to hear. EVERYDAY DOLLARS: I have been a fan of this band for awhile. Pick up their CDs. Cool to hear new stuff. A dash of H2O but fused with tougher parts. "Suspect" has a great bounce/hip hop beat. "20 Year Trial" is slower and lurking until it explodes. Sort of like MAXIMUM PENALTY's music; a good nod to the writing of Mike Dijan. Two awesome songs of anger. PROGRESS: Progress brings a newer feel; more emotionally strained with some textured layers writing in the music. SINKING SHIPS, CHAMPION, BANE type stuff. Awesome to here on this comp among the darker stuff. still morose but good as hell with energy. BUY IT NOW!!!