Top Ten Releases Of 2011

01. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

02. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

03. Backtrack, Darker Half

04. Crowbar, Sever The Wicked Hand

05. Soul Search, Bury The Blame

06. Mobb Deep, Black Cocaine

07. Dead End Path, Blind Faith

08. Midnight, Satanic Royalty

09. Fire & Ice, Collections

10. Volturyon, Coordinated Mutilation

This year was, without a doubt, the toughest year to choose a Top Ten Releases list... and that's an amazing thing. I've said it for a few years now and I have no shame in repeating myself — this is the best time for Hardcore music in the 20+ years I have been involved. The amount of bands, the sincerity and the true commitment to what these bands and people do is beyond inspiring to me.

Although Hardcore is my first choice in music, it isn't my be all end all. Above are my "hats off" picks for some of this year's true pieces of musical craftsmanship as well as a few picks from some of my favorite musicians and all around favorite people below.

Enjoy.

BRIAN BUSKE (Influential Older Brother)

Anthrax, Worship Music

At The Gates, Purgatory Unleashed (Live At Wacken)

Citizen Fish, Goods

Crowbar, Sever the Wicked Hand

Darkest Hour, The Human Romance

Earth Crisis, Neutralize The Threat

Megadeth, Th1rt3en

Opeth, Heritage

Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

Toxic Holocaust, Conjure & Command
(in no particular order)

PATRICK KITZEL (Reaper Records)

Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

Take Offense, Tables Will Turn
Backtrack, Darker Half

Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire

Rival Schools, Pedals

Joell Ortiz, Free Agent

Fire & Ice, Collections

Crowbar, Sever The Wicked Hand

Turnstile, Pressure To Succeed

Sheer Terror, Spite

(in no particular order)

DxJx ROSE (Reaper Records, Path Of Resistance, Halo Tattoos, Cabal)

Radio Lab podcast

NPR Radio

Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

Mastodon, The Hunter

Naysayer, Laid To Rest

Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

Cold Cave, Enjoy The Light Years

Skull Defekts w/ Daniel Higgs, Peer Amid

Backtrack, Darker Half

(in no particular order)

GUAV (Reaper Records, Cabal)

01. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

02. Minority Unit, Clear Minded Fury

03. Giuda, Racey Roller

04. Sydney Ducks, Stray Dogs

05. Cold Stare, Fight Back And Win

06. Naysayer, Laid To Rest

07. Sheer Terror, Spite

08. Earth Crisis, Neutralize The Threat

09. The Clichés/Templars, Split

10. Wugazi, 13 Chambers

SCOTT VOGEL (Terror, S.O.S.)

01. Hot Water Music, 7"
02. Reks, R.E.K.S.
03. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight
04. Backtrack, Darker Half
05. Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
06. Freddie Gibbs, Cold Day In Hell
07. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn
08. Ringworm, Scars
09. Rival Schools, Pedals
10. Naysayer, Laid To Rest

SAM TRAPKIN (Trapped Under Ice, Diamond, S.O.S.)

01. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

02. Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

03. Backtrack, Darker Half

04. The Swellers, Good For Me

05. Freaky Franz, Freaky Tales

06. Polar Bear Club, Clash, Battle, Guilt, Pride

07. Samiam, Trips

08. Naysayer, Laid To Rest

09. I Am The Avalanche, Avalanche United

10. New Found Glory, Radiosurgery

TODD JONES (Nails, Betrayed)

01. Disma, Towards The Megalith

02. Soul Swallower, Devoured

03. New Lows, Harvest Of The Carcass

04. Skin Like Iron, Arrival

05. Acephalix, Interminable Night

06. Rotten Sound, Cursed

07. Merdoso, In Silence

08. Harm's Way, Isolation

09. Permanent Ruin, Demo

10. Brutal Supremacy compilation

STREETxGANG (Mob Mentality, Pit Enthusiast, DPN)

01. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

02. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

03. Title Fight, Shed

04. Rotting Out, Street Prowl

05. Turnstile, Pressure To Succeed

06. Minority Unit, Demo

07. Twitching Tongues, I&I

08. Soul Search, Bury The Blame

09. Out Crowd, split w/ Written Off

10. Diamond, Don't Lose Your Cool

GROATER (Fire & Ice)

01. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

02. War Hungry, War Hungry

03. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn

04. Friend Of Foe, Demo 2011

05. Dead End Path, Blind Faith

06. Turnstile, Pressure To Succeed

07. Naysayer, Laid To Rest

08. Backtrack, Darker Half

09. Foundation, When The Smoke Clears

10. Harm's Way, Isolation

JAYCOX (Pit Enthusiast, DPN)
01. Take Offense, Tables Will Turn
02. Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight
03. Backtrack, Darker Half
04. Title Fight, Shed
05. Boston Strangler, Primitive
06. Rotting Out, Street Prowl
07. Foundation, When The Smoke Clears
08. Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Belong
09. War Hungry, War Hungry
10. Naysayer, Laid To Rest

Karebear's Top Picks For 2011

Trapped Under Ice, Big Kiss Goodnight

I remember well over a year ago, Justice showed me some demos for this record and I was really looking forward to what they were going to create and what it was going to turn into. I've been a firm supporter of this band since day one and the final outcome was a catchy/cohesive Hardcore record that could be dug inside and out of our community. It blends every kind of music that I love and shows many levels of progression from their previous material. Front to back you can tell they took time putting it together. There's number one. 

Pistol, 25 Fa Life

Now, a lot of people say that Hip Hop is dead these days. Well, Hip Hop was truly resurrected with this record. Features some of the OG Jerz greats such as Tame One (Artifacts) and Young Zee (Outsidaz) to name a few, this record did a lot for me. I know how much work was put into this record to make it something special and to me it is. Every track is laced up. The production is math. Everything about it pisses excellence.  That's why this record is on my top ten. "Now I know why these morons didn't sign me, cause ain't a rapper alive that wanna spit behind me".

Daytrader, Last Days Of Rome

This record is great and embellishes everything I love about radio hit rock punk. Did that phrase "radio hit rock punk" make you cringe? Whatever haha. It's nothing over the top or life-changing, but it's is super catchy and had me playing it over and over again. The perfect record to throw on while the train is moving and you drift off and think. The perfect record to hit the beach to and was absolutely my summer jam. Jeff from Run For Cover Records knows how to pick them and with this record he struck gold. Out of Strong Island. Check them out if you like that catchy shit. 

Title Fight, Shed

This record is a true life changer for me. I know for a fact 20 years down the line I'm going to look back and remember it. The record was produced by Walter Schriefels (GB, Quicksand, Rival Schools) which is awesome because the record sounds like it was pulled straight out of the 90's. I'm a sucker for 90's Emo such as Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate and when I hear this record, I picture Title Fight sharing the stage with them. The record front to back is genuine and heartfelt and got me through a lot of very tough times. I'll hold onto this one forever and I'm sure it will be a classic for generations to come. 

Take Offense, Tables Will Turn 

Here's a record that embodies EVERYTHING I love about Hardcore. It's done so fucking tastefully. Everything on the record hits exactly when you want it to hit. Everything on this record goes exactly where you want it to go. Riff after riff from Greg. A.H., who may have some of the coolest vocals and stage presence I've seen as of late, they have it all. If this was in order, this would be my number one record of the year. So much Suicidal Tendencies worship but pulled off so clean. I've had the pleasure of kickin it with these fools a few times and it's amazing to see how genuinely siked they are to be making the music they do. Take Offense is on another planet when it comes to making music and are in a league of their own. In my life I will have a Take Offense tattoo. Bet me. One band that truly means a lot to me.  If you're sleeping on this band, wake the fuck up. It's their Time2Shine. 

Supertouch, Lost My Way

This record is phenomenal. It's always cool to see a band that's been around so long give a big shit about the music they are writing and make it sound like they haven't missed a beat. Some bands try to recreate something that just isn't there anymore. The flame goes dull and the band burns out. That isn't the case with Supertouch. Every song bleeds passion and it flows so smooth. I've played it over and over again and it still makes me feel just as good as it did when I first heard it. Mark's voice is great and really blends peacefully through the melodic riffs on this record. I love it and you should too. 

Backtrack, Darker Half

If you dig NYHC then you dig this record. Plain and simple. These guys are not only some of my best of friends, they write the hits. I had the pleasure of staying with Sir Nicholas Jett (BSGDNICKGODIE), while he recorded this thing and to see it come together was awesome. Ricky (guitarist) is an excellent guitarist and song crafter. Vitalo (singer) is a youthful Outburst worshipper.  John (OG freak) is a great drummer. Chris (guitar) is a cheebah smoking lunatic. Reggie (bassist) does pottery and reads books. All of these dudes are worlds apart personality wise and I think that chemistry alone makes them memorable and one of the best bands out. Every track is solid. I had the opportunity of singing on the track "Darker Half" (slayed that shit...jk...sorta) and it's one record I'll never forget. The production sounds great and they mixed some of the best of the NYHC legends with their own youthful twist on it. Darker Half. That's what's up. 

Foundation, When The Smoke Clears

This band is from ATL and I'm sure a lot of you reading of this are familiar. If you aren't, this record is a sincere recommendation from me. They are one of if not the most important Straight Edge band of our time in my opinion. To me it sounds like Buried Alive having a baby with Indecision but them putting their own spin on that. Those two bands are bands I love. Foundation is a band that I love. Their live shows are electric and they not only mean a lot to me but to a lot of kids in the Hardcore community. This band isn't a fly by night, important now forget tomorrow band. Thomas (singer) has passion put into every line he writes on paper. That's what I look for. Sincerity. This band is nothing but that and a true staple in our scene. Respect to them and I wish them the best. Also, Hank is my favorite pitter. 

Rotting Out, Street Prowl

This record makes me wish I could skate but I really fucking can't. Its also makes me want to flip cop cars. That's something I can do with the help of a few friends. This is Hardcore/Punk Rock at it's finest. Wally (singer) is an incredible frontman and brings these songs together really well. I was into them before him but I think they are on a whole new level now because of his electricity. Every song is catchy and it's one that you spin a few times before you put on something else. It's raw. It's real. It's in your face. It's west coast as a bitch. It's fun. "Choke on the truth". Nothing else I can really say about it. Check it out for yourself. 

Rival Schools, Pedals

I'm a huge fan of everything that Walter Schriefels touches. Like I said about Supertouch, it's amazing to see a band continue to progress after so many years without burning out. I listened to this record ALL summer. "Wring It Out" might be in my top ten songs of all time. The album as a whole to me is magical. It's everything I love about the 90's but dropped in 2011. Refreshing to say the very least. 

Uriah Thomas' Top Picks For 2011

When compiling a list of people who I was interested in seeing their point of view on this year's releases, I naturally thought of and eventually included my man Uriah from Dead End Path.

His band's record, Blind Faith made my Top 10 list for the year (complete list to be posted soon) and knowing his broad appreciation for music, not only within but also far beyond the spectrum of Hardcore ... and his keen sense of words, I knew he'd hit the nail on the head with this one. The kid never proves me wrong.

So, take a minute and read through which records made Uriah tick this year and if you're at all unfamiliar with any of these records, as I was/am, do your best to seek them out and get involved in the know. Nobody likes an unseasoned fry.

Flex your head and always ... keep the faith.

Hardcore LP's:

Title Fight - "Shed"

This is by far and wide my favorite release of 2011 and in the 8 months since it's been released has become one of my favorite records ever. This record gets me, and I get it. If it was human it would probably be my best friend. Every single fucking time I hear the opening hi-hat crashes of "Coxton Yard" to the last notes of "GMT", I'm left picking my jaw up off the floor. The record leaks honesty in every nook of sound.

War Hungry - "War Hungry" 
Arguably the coolest metal/hardcore record to ever come out of the place I call home, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Warthur is a cold blooded axe butcher and it shows on every riff of this record. He has no qualms with relentlessly face-fucking you with his BC Rich Warlock while Hoodrack prods you with his pitchfork.

Omegas - "Blasts Of Lunacy"
What a cool fucking punk record.

Trapped Under Ice - "Big Kiss Goodnight"
I had the pleasure of hearing the unmixed version of some of the songs from BKG when we played Baltimore over the summer, I loved it but I wasn't completely sold just yet. That's until I heard the official mixed and mastered LP in it's entirety. It instantly struck a chord with me, from the huge choruses to the ill vocal melodies. There might be some people who wanted this record to fail for whatever reason but this is the TUI record. Proving a hardcore band appealing to a larger audience in 2011 can have not only have more than one good LP but have it completely smash their first.

Soul Swallower - "Devoured" 
Someone on a blog said this record was "Citizen's Arrest meets Ringworm meets Sarcofago meets Hellhammer". That does it more justice then I ever could.

Disengage - "Expressions"
I knew this record was going to make my Top 10 before I even heard it recorded. I had the pleasure of sitting in a couple of the "Expressions Sessions" and just knew this was going to be incredibly good. I guess I'm a little biased though, they ARE my current favorite WBHC band and I love everything they've done as a band so far. Nah, actually fuck that, even if I wasn't already a fan and heard this band/record for the first time I would be floored. It's everything I love about hardcore in one incredibly tightly wrapped 13 minute package. Also, the artwork? Fucking perfect.

Boston Strangler - "Primitive"
Yes. This record fucking rules. It must have been hard writing a follow up to their breakout song "The Truth" but they somehow overcame the pressure and wrote a whole record filled with Truth's. Stranglers gonna make you pay.

Foundation - "When The Smoke Clears" 
The fact that Foundation is doing something not a ton of current bands are doing says a lot about the band from the start. Not only have these guys been out for years playing the same style, they continue to do it with an incredible amount of passion and honesty. That shines through mostly on WTSC. They've perfected their sound and didn't lose any integrity in the process.

New Lows - "Harvest Of The Carcass"
So fucking heavy.

Mother Of Mercy - "IV Symptoms Of Existence" 
I really hope for whatever reason people don't overlook this record as coming out this year. Sure it's not as incredibly memorable as "III" but it's still Mother Of Mercy, the riffs are huge and the songs are dark as fuck. Also, the artwork? Insane. Really love this record and I'm sad to see them go.

Touché Amore - "Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me"
Nothing I can really say about this that every young kid on Tumblr hasn't said already. Actually, that's not true. People in the hardcore scene are going to write this band off but I can tell you that this bleeds sincerity front to back. In everything that band does is out of sincerity. That's no bullshit. I've fallen in love with this record. I will not apologize for it.

Incredible honorable mentions:
Backtrack - "Darker Half" (Would have made the list if I got the chance to own a physical copy of the record. I feel bad about this.)
Fucked Up - "David Comes To Life" (This would have made the list if it wasn't so long, I have an incredibly short attention span.)
Ice Age - "New Brigade"



Non-Hardcore LP's:

Pianos Become The Teeth - "The Lack Long After"
I never really fucked with this band before I was introduced to them by Jeremy from Touché Amore while we were on tour together. He played me a song and explained that it was about the singer's Dad. Fast forward a couple months and we are playing the same show as them at Fun Fun Fun. I decided to watch their set. Blew me the fuck away. Such an honest and uncomfortable set to sit though. After their set I picked up this record, got a backstory behind it and listened with open ears. Really glad I did.

Demonaz - "March Of The Norse" 
I'm a huge fan of the 1st LP "Between Two Worlds" and this is basically a continuation of that record. Just straight up blackened rocking metal that pretty much just rips off Bathory. This is straight headbanger front to back. There is something pure about this record, it isn't over the top "evil for evil's sake". It's just honest and raw and completely listenable.

Foo Fighters - "Wasting Light"
How cool is this record? Recorded to tape in a garage, ill. Guest vocals by Bob Mould, ill. Guest bass slapping from Kris Novaselic, ill. Incredibly powerful and catchy choruses, ill. This record has everything I want, need and love in a rock record.

Gypsy - "Giants Despair"
Not really sure (along with one or two other records on my list, weird right) if this is officially 2011 or 2012. Although I'm pretty sure this one is 2011. This might be a pretentious thing to say but in my opinion it's incredibly cool that so many cool records came out of this small shit hole town. This record is the perfect mix between Handsome, Jawbreaker and Dinosaur Jr. and flows pretty perfectly front to back. Excellent production from none other than my main man Will Yip.

Yuck - "Yuck"
Killer record. I'm a huge fan of Dinosaur Jr. fan and subsequently, bands that rip off Dinosaur Jr.. I'm not saying this entire record is a complete Dinosaur Jr. rip off but it definitely takes queues from Mascis and company. Really catchy and fun songs. I've listened to this a bunch this year.

Ghost - "Opus Eponymous" 
Creepy, evil, heavy, over the top. Everything I love and hate about metal. I guess this is kind of a shtick or gimmicky band but this record rocks. I think the image mixed with the darkness of the sound really makes this record stand out for me. Plus I'm really into the artwork, which is sort of cheesy but given everything else about this band, it works.

Cult Of Youth - "Cult Of Youth"
I'll be the first to admit I don't really know too much about this style of music, I mean I get it and I know there are a whole scene of bands who worship Death In June but I really don't GET it. My friend George turned me on to this band after telling me a story about he saw them in a sketchy Philly bookstore and all the freaks he encountered. Anyway, this record is pretty dark and bleak and something about it really stands out for me. Really into the chanty type parts. I guess if you've never heard Death In June or Cult Of Youth for that matter just imagine if black metal bands played acoustic? I don't know, but this is cool.

Samiam - "Trips"
I've been a huge Samiam fan since high school but to be honest never got into their last record (not really sure why). Needless to say I was a little apprehensive about checking this out but am really glad I did. It's just Samiam, a little bit more "mature" or whatever bullshit but this is still really catchy. They can still write amazing songs.

Bon Iver - "Bon Iver"
Got really super into this record on our last tour. The dude just has a way to my heart. His voice is magical and as corny as it sounds, makes me feel calm and comfortable. I don't want to over romanticize it or anything but it really is awesome.

Honorable mentions:
Zola Jesus - "Conatus"
Strand Of Oaks - "Pope Killdragon"
True Widow - "As High As The Highest Heavens"
Magic Circle - "Magic Circle" (I don't think this is technically out yet so I'll save it for 2012)
I Am The Avalanche - "Avalanche United
Rival Schools - "Pedals" 



EP's/7":

Whirl (Whirr) - "Distressor"
Not sure if this counts for two reasons: 1. While I'm almost positive this was released this year, I think it might have been last year. 2. This might technically be classified as an LP. Spanning 7 songs (6 and an intro). Whatever, I'm making my own rules on this one. Soulful chilled out shoe gaze from kids barely out of high school. The first real track on the record, "Leave", could straight up be confused for the best song off "Loveless". Perfect for winter depression or riding your bike on the first warm day of spring.

Face Reality - "S/t" 7
This was my first "record of the year". Got the premaster back in March from my boy James and was instantly blown away. This record kills. Straight up, straight edge, icky sticky Detroit hardcore. The opening skank beat will make even the most jaded Coreman dust off their Doc's/Dunk's. Get it.

No Tolerance - "No Remorse, No Tolerance"
This fucking thing is hard as nails. Brotherhood meeting up with Confront in a back alley is early 90s Allentown PA and stomping nazi bonehead skulls in - in supreme unity. Such a cool sounding hardcore record. This is my shit.

United Youth - "Youth United" 7"
Yes, I'm fully aware this record isn't actually called "Youth United" but that was the working title and I really wish they stuck with it. Anyway, none of that bullshit matters because this one is a ripper. I think they youngin's really stepped it up with the 7". Nothing incredibly ground breaking I guess but where they lack technical prowess they make up in an insane amount of Red Bull/sugar fueled youthful energy.

King Krule - "King Krule" Ep
The artist formally known as ZOO KID is back with this incredible little package of amazing songs. Still the same deal as you'd expect with Zoo Kid but just fine tuned a little bit more and a tad more focused. Dude has an amazing voice, dude can play guitar and dude is only 16.

Iron Age - "The Sage Demos"
I sincerely miss this band. These two songs, in my humble opinion, are the best songs that band has ever written. The riffs are actual medusa like monsters and the King Diamond-esque vocals in parts really hammer the point home that this band is/was on a whole different level.

Mammoth Grinder/Hatred Surge split
Wow, Mammoth Grinder fucking rips the shit out of the ass of this record. Literally pounding heavy. Had the  pleasure of playing with these psychos/seeing them a couple times this year and they have become one of my favorite current bands. Don't let the name fool you, if you're into classic death metal ala Master, Possessed or even Entombed check this band out. As far as the Hatred Surge side goes, they play a lot more of a grindy style mixed with some d-beat and are technically on point. This is front to back a PULVERIZER.

Supertouch - "Lost My Way"
Another flawless Reaper release this year (Darker Half, Tables Will Turn, BKG, Laid To Rest - they released a TON of bangers in 2011) and this one fits perfectly in the mix. A little more rock and brit pop influenced than their last record which was released you know 20 years ago. It's still Supertouch and that's what I love most about it.

Waste Management - "Power Abuse"
Such a ripper front to back. I'll early 80's styled NYHC not unlike The Mob, The Abused and Urban Waste. Not to mention the artwork fucking rules.

Honorable mentions:
New Brigade demo
Procession - "Fade" EP (Would have included this but I'm not sure if it's officially out yet)
Memoryhouse - "The Years" Ep
Beach Party - "S/t" Ep