Back catalogue: Punk/Hardcore

Review: Originally released in 2022 as a tour-exclusive physical-only edition, in an attempt "to give people a chance to experience our records for the first time again on a physical format and to give the people at our shows the first chance to do so", Baltimore deathgrind extreme metal auteurs Full Of Hell have finally re-pressed their chaotic Aurora Leaking From An Open Wound 7" for mass decimation. Totalling at six minutes spread out over three cuts of reliably horrific, cascading, blackened grinding hardcore mayhem, the project can now be viewed through a more retrospective lens following their expansive forays into grunge, noise-rock and shoegaze on last year's Nothing collaborative LP When No Birds Sang as well as their latest genre-dissolving fever-dream of a sixth full-length Coagulated Bliss. Take note, this single offers none of these future melodic and dynamic experiments, staying firmly rooted in their original domain of caustic, industrial-tinged cavernous dread.

Review: The first official album released through Ipecac Records; the label of absurdist vocalist extraordinaire Mike Patton (Faith No More, a million other projects), was this self-titled debut from Fantomas, originally unveiled in 1999. A supergroup with no absolutely zero desire to make it easy on listeners, this culmination of Melvins mastermind Buzz Osborne on guitar, Mr Bungle/Tomahawk/regular Patton cohort Trevor Dunn on bass and Slayer's Dame Lombardo behind the kit, would coalesce all of their most extreme creative proclivities into one bizarre maelstrom of avant-garde cacophony that can barely be fit into the metal genre. Intended as the musical accompaniment to a fictitious comic book, with all track titles even listed as chapter/page numbers (a unique theme that would follow into all subsequent albums), the work has since been praised for its sonic abandon and artistic fearlessness, with one critic once referring to their avant-garde jazzy grindcore as "dada-metal". The project would also finally offer Patton the opportunity to prioritise his experimental forms of voice music and scat singing over traditional vocal cadence or standard lyricism.

Review: A lot has been said about The Monroe Doctrine over the years. What's remarkable is how little of that people seem to remember, or recall in conversations. In a 2006 issue of iconic culture bible Alternative Press, the head of Revelation Records said this was in the top five albums the label had ever released. And several critics have listed it among the greatest and most under-appreciated records of the 1990s. Taking its name from a 1823 message delivered to Congress by US President James Monroe, which would evolve into an understanding that any act of meddling in American affairs by a foreign country was a potential hostile act, the record takes a similar stance. Calling on melodic punk, hardcore, indie rock, post punk and more, it's a statement of intent - don't get in the way of us doing our things, we're too powerful.

Review: Formed in 1989 in Orange County, California, the melodic punk band Farside enjoyed an influential eleven-year run before disbanding in 2000. Over their career, they released three albums, two EPs, and a split with Sense Field. Their 1994 sophomore album Rigged was released through Revelation Records and became a fan favourite across punk, hardcore, emo, and alternative rock genres. back then the band was made up of vocalist and guitarist Michael "Popeye" Vogelsang, bassist Bryan Chu and drummer Bob Beshear and this all was their first with Kevin Murphy who shared guitar, vocal and songwriting duties with Vogelsang. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Farside and the original label are issuing this special mint green eco-vinyl pressing of Rigged complete with a 16-page booklet.

Review: Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Free Throw are one of the finest examples of midwestern fourth wave emo revival (or simply modern emo), known for their cathartic blend of angst-riddled heart-on-sleeve punk and earworm indie-rock sensibilities, providing soundtracks to alcohol dependency, traumatic break ups and familial discord for well over a decade now. Pre-dating their 2014 debut full-length and modern classic within the scene Those Days Are Gone; this 12" compilation houses both the band's self-titled debut 2012 EP and 2014's follow up Lavender Town onto one definitive LP experience.