Banner of hope (introduction)

Banner of hope is a good example of a good band that turned bad. They originated from New Jersey in early 90's and played a good punkrock (even though a bit to much pop for me). The origninal lineup was Neil on vocals, John on guitar, Rich Milkawski on bass and Matt Herman on drums. With this lineup they released their first and best EP but soon after Neil left the band and was replaced by Jen (later in NY Rel-X). This is where the band started to take a turn to the worse and after the recording of their second EP both Rich and John left the band leaving Matt as the only original member. The band got some new members, released some more stuff and later went seperate ways. In the 00's the band got together for a short period and a split with Charge 69 was planned but nothing ever came out of that.

Hardsole - Discography

Tracklist:
01. One step forward
02. Lower class labour
03. Welcome to Denver
04. Hated
05. Army of hooligans
06. Don't think i will
07. Beer & fags (Hard skin cover)
08. Publife
09. Get out
10. Denver CO
11. St. James gate
12. Facts of life
13. Bring it back
14. Down in DCO
15. King of drunks
16. 3 day weekend
17. Hard drinking nights
18. If you want blood (AC/DC cover)
19. Drunk last night
20. Red, white & blue
21. Back with a bang (Skrewdriver cover)

Underrated and forgotten band that even i can admit was a bit uneven from song to song but still rise way above some of todays celebrated oldschool US acts.

The first 12 songs was part of a file i downloaded back in 2005-2006 in think. It was called "Down the tables at Morey's" and i aint got a clue if this was an actual release or not. The other tracks was songs i downloaded from the the bands old website (dont think it's up anymore).

The bands resemblance to the band Counterattack can be heard on the first tracks and especially the song Army of hooligans. A great song with lyrics like "Commies to the left and nazis to the right, they all try to exploit my kind/We dont need your soapbox politicians to tell us whats on our minds"
Also influences from bands such as Squiggy can be heard on the song Facts of life and just like most other songs this one is about working class life. When not singing about smacking up commies/nazis and working hard they come back to the subject of drinking. The best drinking song of them all is Hard drinking nights where they get a bit more rock'n'roll and almost sound a bit like early Bovver wonderland.

Just like the singer from Fatskins and Counterattack their vocalist has a distinct way of delivering the lyrics. Most times he pulls it of but on some songs he just sounds retarded.

A band that has been forgotten today (except for Total annihilation that did a cover of their song Bring it back). I think its sad because the band really stood out in many ways so if anyone knows what happened to the members after the band let me know.

Download

Hardsole (introduction)

Claimed to be Denvers first Oi! band but hell if i know. The band consisted of Mike on vocals, Leon and Erik on guitars, Bob on bass and Tony on drums. Through the years they where active they changed their sound at some points but the band that is easiest to compare them to would be Counterattack. The band made a whole bunch of anti-racist songs and the band tended to lean to the left in most aspects but from what i know they never counted themselfs as a political band on any side.
The band has been forgotten and not much is known about them and to be honest i dont know if they ever released a proper record or EP but i will upload the 21 songs i know they recorded.

The broadsiders - Pressed to kill 10'' (2010)

Tracklist:
01. Castle law
02. Southern identity
03. 1836
04. Lions den
05. Reaction
06. Face value
07. Modern times
08. Mid-city martyrs (2010 Version)

Released by Contra and Longshot Records in 2010.

As the band are getting ready to release a new album i guessed it was time to fill in the gaps in their discography on the site.

As i have ranted about a lot in previous reviews i really like this new Texas uprising with a lot of solid bands croppin up lately. The broadsiders stand out of the crowd though, not only do they focus heavily on southern rock but they also support the team FC Dallas.

Just like their older releases this album holds high quality. A bit more focused on the rock parts on this one but the way they mix up Austins quite rough vocals with the trailerpark guitarmasturbation is more than instresting. Going on 30 y.o this year i am getting less and less interested in going to shows and watching bands play but i can easily say that this bands energy on records really makes me want to see them live.

The first song that caught my ear (and probably the best one on the record) is Southern identity. Great guitars and a great singalong chorus all well orchastrated in a blazing rock'n'roll tempo.

Listening to the "remix" of Mid-city martyrs from their first record really goes to show how much their sound has changed. Sure their first version had a southern touch to it but sounds like something from the backstreets of Brooklyn when compared to the newer version.

Great album. Buy it or squeal like a pig (finally got a Deliverance quote in there).
9/10

Download

The record can be bought in these distros:
Oi! aint dead
Contra
Durtymick Records
Rebellion Shop
Bandworm Records
Pug Music

V/A - Oi! don't pay the bills Vol.2 CD (2010)

Tracklist:
01. The loose skrews - When the going gets tough
02. The loose skrews - Vicious cycle
03. The loose skrews - Violent world (The glory cover)
04. Broken heroes - Newton mutant
05. Broken heroes - Zero tolerance
06. Broken heroes - Skinhead rock and roll
07. The boozers - Drink some more
08. The boozers - Robots
09. The boozers - Beer slurpee
10. The hated - Front page
11. The hated - Troubled Oi!
12. Road to ruin - Back to brewhall
13. Road to ruin - Beer drinkin' hooligans
14. Road to ruin - Chowda
15. Shitfit - Woodchipper
16. Shitfit - xCHEERSx
17. The barons - Bottom of my glass
18. The barons - Decisions
19. The keefs - We're ok
20. The keefs - Compromise
21. Drunken dru band - What about Charlie, Dru (Canada)
22. Drunken dru band - St. Henri (Canada)

Released by Neck Records in 2010.

This night it was -42 Celcius (-44 Fahrenheit) in northern Sweden, i can easily say i find no reason to even go outside the door this weekend. And with this said there will be a lot of post both here and on VHS-ploitation.

I reviewed the first volume in 2010 and even though it didnt contain that much exclusive material it was a really good collection of unknown acts out of the Delaware scene. This time around they still focus on their hometown but they have broaded their sights and even include a bunch of Canadians.

I like most of the band on the comp but it all seems a bit to weak to me and most songs has like on the previous comp been released on records at the time of the comps release.

The loose skrews, Broken heroes, The barons, Road to ruin and The boozers have all been discographied on the site and to my knowledge all the songs they offer on the comp so i will skip directly to the less known acts.

The hated is a longrunning band from Delaware (20 years strong) and has released a couple of records but no matter where i look i cant find any of them for sale. The only other material i have is a demoCD from 2009. They play a sort of punkier Oi! and they do it well even though these two songs are a bit weaker than their older songs. A band that i will get to sometime in the future. (Take a look at my wantedlist on the bottom of the page to see what records i am looking fotr with the band)

Shitfit is a screamo trashy punkband from New Jersey and a good example of why i hate most other people into punk. Not my cup of tea.

The keefs play a radiofriendly steetrock/streepunk (or whatever the hell you kids kall it these days) and i must say i kind of like them, their first song We're ok that is. Stear clear from their song Compromise if you know whats good for you.

The last band on the comp called Drunken dru band is a bunch of Canadians who think they live in Ireland. They play the sort of Irish folkpunk that somehow in later years has been mixed up in the Oi! scene. Whats next a punkalbum featuring a rapband?..... What thats already been done?? (US of Oi! Vol.2 i am looking at you)

Best songs on the comp are the old demosongs from The barons and the song Beer drinking hooligan by Road to ruin.
6/10

Download

The album can be bought for pocketchange (around 6 euro) at:
Oi! aint dead
Pure impact

Wellington arms new site.

Wellington arms has a new website at http://wellingtonarmsservice.webs.com/ full with bandinfo, pictures and lyrics.

Offensive weapon - Selftitled CD (2010)

Tracklist:
01. We walk alone
02. Es por tu nación (Klan cover)
03. Fight for your life
04. Face of death
05. Rock against terrorism
06. The storm is comming
07. Offensive weapon
08. Yellow journalist

Released by Pure Impact in 2010. Later re-released on LP by WAR in 2011.

(Update 2 May 2012: Uploaded the album again)

First thing that struck me is how "un-American" the band sounds even though the obvious eastcoast HC-influences. The band has put a lot of time into the guitar-parts of the song wich is quite rare in modern US oi!. The double guitarists really pays of and songs like Fight for your life really floats on some great riffs. The band even reminds me about my homelands own vikingrock at certain parts.

Another thing that sticks out is their vocalist Lee whom i dont think has any prior experiences in the musicscene. If he does let me know because i am quite intrested to hear anything else by the man.

Some might think 8 songs are a bit lazy to release as an CD but i dont have a problem with it. All songs are well thought through and give you as much moneys worth as any other record will. All it does is save your thumb some work when your not forced to skip through 7 songs to your next "good song" on the CD.

Best song on the record is Fight for your life.
9/10

Download

The record can be bought at:
Pure impact (CD)
Dim records (CD)
SSWEAR (CD)
4Uvinyl (LP)