No Problem - Let God Sort'em Out (2018)

This is yet another one that escaped last year's top 20 list, and it sounds like it would have snuck in there quite easily, had I taken notice in time. No Problem from Edmonton, Alberta are a DIY hardcore outfit that I daresay stands out of the rich Canadian punk scene. Let God Sort'em Out is the band's third full-length release. The album has a direct and explosive starting point which is constantly enriched with melodic experimentation throughout, the way punk bands like the Wipers used to approach their material. The final result makes for a really interesting listen that doesn't miss an inch of its explosiveness and aggressiveness. No Problem is one of today's bands that attribute a certain freshness to hardcore punk, without compromising its edge.

Let God Sort'Em Out is out on vinyl through Taken By Surprise records, whose roster is interesting to say the least, and it's out there for you to check out.

Rodon Underground vol.55 - 24/04/2019

Rodon Underground vol.55 - 24/04/2019
Rodon FM 95 (Serres, Greece), http://rodonfm.net
Wednesdays 21:00-23:00 CET+2
playlist:

1. Angel's Arcana - Selva
2. Vånna Inget - Allt Ska Bli Bra
3. Anavae - High
4. KSMB - Utan Er
5. Heilung - Norupo
6. Rakta - Miragem
7. Deafkids - Espirais da Loucura
8. Kooba Tercu - Maestur
9. Neighborhood Brats - Dear Angelo
10. Haram - قنبلة بي السماء-Bomb in the Sky
11. Last Rites - Backstabber
12. Myteri - Poison in the Well
13. Procrastinate - Δύσπνοια (Dyspnea)
14. House Anxiety - Idol Burner
15. Darkthrone - The Hardship of the Scots
16. Sunn O))) - Troubled Air

(no podcast this time unfortunately, due to technical reasons)

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Dispyt - Den Ständigt Närvarande Ångesten (2017)

Dispyt come from Jakobstad, Finland and two years ago they released digitally their debut album Den Ständigt Närvarande Ångesten. While they don't exactly sound (at least yet) like they are breaking new ground in the genre, this is an enjoyable debut, to say the least. Everyone writes about them placing them under the "blackened crust" label, but I personally wouldn't be too adamant in strictly using only this term, as the guitars have a distinct old-school deathmetal sound, the slower tempos take over quite often and the vocals reminisce of early-Entombed; meaning that deathmetal fans are also bound to dig this. So, while Den Ständigt Närvarande Ångesten was self-released by the band in 2017, last month Immortal Frost Productions re-released a remastered version that also comes in CD format, something that was signaled by a brand new video off the album, for the song "Total Alkoholist". Check it out and, if that's generally your cup of tea, you won't be disappointed.

Rodon Underground vol.54 - 17/04/2019

Rodon Underground vol.54 - 17/04/2019
Rodon FM 95 (Serres, Greece), http://rodonfm.net
Wednesdays 21:00-23:00 CET+2
playlist:

1. Molasses - Drops of Sunlight
2. Del Judas - Through the Glass
3. The Big Nose Attrack - Deader than Disco
4. The Dandelion - All I Ever
5. Glaare - Ruins
6. Deth Crux - Black Abominable Lust
7. Fotocrime - Nadia (Last Year's Men)
8. Pelican - Midnight and Mescaline
9. Cave In - All Illusion
10. Sinistro - Abismo
11. Book of Wyrms - Spirit Drifter
12. Grand Magus - Brother of the Storm
13. Spirit Adrift - Hear Her
14. Dead Elephant - The Juicer
15. Phota - Thanatos
16. Dirac Sea - Thrall

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The Crashes - s/t EP (2018)

This is probably far from what I will normally write about, but these Athenians, being just on their debut release, sound like they are a seasoned band with serious compositional abilities. If I have to make some references, imagine an Arctic Monkeys/ Queens of the Stone Age/ White Stripes mix which maintains a certain heaviness and a great deal of personality. While, only by listening to this EP, you might categorize it under just "good music", the Crashes take off if you happen to see them live, something I was lucky to be a witness to some weeks ago. Even if you find yourself a bit biased due to their borderline hipster image, when they hit it off on stage you just have to admit that we're dealing with a focused band with great musical potential. I personally can't wait for their next step.

Rodon Underground vol.53 - 10/04/2019

Rodon Underground vol.53 - 10/04/2019
Rodon FM 95 (Serres, Greece), http://rodonfm.net
Wednesdays 21:00-23:00 CET+2
playlist:

1. Helicon - Phil Mitchell'd
2. Electro Vampires - Violence
3. Nellcôtes - Suburbs
4. The Hydes - 2" of Pain
5. The Dirty Saints - C Your Eyez
6. The Crashes - Her Majesty
7. Breath After Coma - Woke Up in Babel
8. Toronto Blessings - Hopes//Dreams
9. Bilge Pump - Wheel of Yew
10. Vandal X - My Father's Son
11. Whorses - Rocky
12. Elefant - Schräg
13. Hermànn - Muchacho
14. Skiska Skooper - Pink Harlot
15. Diss Guy - Not My Problem
16. Cocaine Piss - Eat the Rich
17. Gay Anniversary - Δώστου Ένα Χάπι
18. Garbage Man - Hillbilly Kick Squad
19. Pizza Tramp - Millions of Dead Goths
20. T.S.O.L. - 1 Thing
21. The Briefs - Kids Laugh at You
22. The Proletariat - Scab
23. Priorities - You Better Shoot
24. Bad Religion - Do the Paranoid Style
25. Wolfsblood - Serpents of Our Lives
26. Doomed Again - Holding the Aces

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Kalpa - A Grand Misconception (2019)

Kalpa come from Athens, Greece and they have always moved within the DIY way of life, being vocal about their active stance against fascism, racism and any other discriminatory behaviour. Showcasing this, their new album A Grand Misconception, which has just come out, is a co-release with the participation of many DIY labels and/or distros from all over the world: WOOAAARGH(DE), Pandora Records(DE), RAKKERPAK RECORDS(DK), Mërda Distro(ES), Seitan Hell Bïke Punx(ES), Prejudice Me Records and Distro(UK), Falköping DIY(SE), Nothing to Harvest Records(GR), Sweetohm recordings(GR), Vault Relics(GR), Underground Union Records(GR), Body Blows Records(GR), Ομάδα Πείραμα Distro(GR) and Pattern Recognition Records(US).

Musicwise, in A Grand Misconception, Kalpa follow their 2016 debut album Dissociate with a more mature and at the same time more unrestrained piece of work, setting the boundaries of their sound even further. The foundation is a post-hardcore framework which gets enriched with math structures, noise elements and more straight hardcore rhythms; chaos and structure at the same time. This album sounds to me like a landmark of the genre for this year and one everyone must definitely check out.

A Grand Misconception is available for free streaming and download or digital purchase and the Vault Relics bandcamp is one of the places you can find it. News about its release in CD, LP or tape are due soon, so stay tuned.

Bat Signal - Loaded Gun (new single 2019)

Bat Signal from Thessaloniki, Greece just got a brand new single out, and it's an explosive piece of action rock 'n' roll that places them straight in the first division of the Greek underground; and those who have a knowledge of Greek rock 'n' roll's history know that this is no small statement.

In other news from the band, stay on the lookout for Bat Signal's official video for another brand new song hitting the streets in a couple of months (more or less) and, if you're somewhere close, check them out on their spring european mini-tour with Konepistooli and Warning!.

In the meantime, and if you haven't already, why not get a taste of their masterpiece of "midnight rock" debut album Straight out of Midnight and get your hands on one of the few remaining vinyl copies?

Rodon Underground vol.52 - 03/04/2019

Rodon Underground vol.52 - 03/04/2019
Rodon FM 95 (Serres, Greece), http://rodonfm.net
Wednesdays 21:00-23:00 CET+2
playlist:

1. The Black Heart Rebellion - Come My Worth
2. Madrugada - Half-Light
3. Paar - Crack
4. Rome Is Not a Town - Can You feel the Rush?
5. Västerbron - Nya Sverige
6. Knivderby - Gravstenar Ingen Längre Bryr Sig Om 2
7. Fontaines D.C. - Boys in the Better Land
8. The Chats - Pub Feed
9. Masked Intruder - B & E
10. Bandage - Paul Pierce Is in the Past
11. Bat Signal - Loaded Gun
12. Teenage Bottlerocket - I Want to Kill Clint Carlin
13. The Cutthroat Brothers - Kill 4 U
14. Valley of the Sun - Means the Same
15. Magic Circle - I've Found My Way to Die
16. Green Lung - Into the Wild
17. Gaahl's Wyrd - From the Spear
18. Rammstein - Deutschland
19. Die Klute - It's All in Vain
20. Kollaps - Fleshflower
21. Pink Room - Chinchillay
22. Henge - Beginners

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The Dead Don't Die (official trailer)

I just had to share this! This is the trailer of Jim Jarmusch's upcoming film The Dead Don't Die, and apparently it's a zombie comedy that features a cast out of our dreams which leaves me at a loss for words. In theatres on June 14th!