Separate The Unreal From The Real And The Untrue From The True

I've been slacking on the blog a little in the last few weeks, it kinda sucks but I promise I'll make it up to you soon. Don't worry too much though, it's only internet anyway. But as always I'm working on a few ideas so keep checking back. One of them is a special on drummers, which is going to be pretty cool. Another thing I'm working on is a project with a few good friends, more info in due time but I am real excited about it, kinda like a 4 year old in a candy shop. Or Geert Hollanders in a WWII museum! There's been a whole bunch of awesome releases, shows and tours recently and even more to come so summer looks like it's going to be awesome...

One of the most exciting bands in hardcore these days is definitely Trapped Under Ice. That band is so ill. They are currently wrapping up their European tour and I would definitely advise you to go see them if you can. After that they have a full U.S. tour coming up with Terror. Talk about an awesome package. Their most recent EP on Reaper Records called "Stay Cold" is filled with well crafted, hard and sincere hardcore with a lot of groove. Crown Of Thornz and Breakdown are definitely references, yet it doesn't quite stop there. There's more to their sound and whatever it is, it's got a lot of people hooked. I love how a lot of older heads are super stoked on this band. I feel like this is one of those bands that could bring a lot of different types of hardcore kids to shows, in the same way that a band like American Nightmare did a few years ago. Either way, both lyrically and musically this band soars high, I hope to see more of them in the future.

Another awesome record that just came out is the debut album of Holland's Union Town, on Powered Records. Look out for an in depth review here soon. Such a good record. Soulful, energetic and anthemic songs with a lot of late 80's DC vibes. Listen to their recird here: www.myspace.com/uniontownband

Bitter End seems to have done real well on their European tour with Meltdown and 50 Lions, and rightfully so because they always kill it live. Hard band. I was/am really into "Climate Of Fear" but it seems like they're going to be taking things up a notch with their new upcoming EP... Listen to "Purgatory", a song off that EP here:

http://www.deathwishinc.com/listennow/launch/44/

What else? Well, Rhythm To The Madness is currently writing songs for their first full length to be titled "Weltschmerz", which will be out in September on Powered Records, in time for a European tour with Blacklisted. I saw Rhythm To The Madness last week in a huge venue that can hold close to a thousand people (and held around 350 for that show) and it was awesome. Two longhaired freaks on the left side of the stage, Stief rippin' it up on the other side and Klaas wearing a black wifebeater. They covered "Unexpected" at this show. You cannot not move when that song's being played. Unless you're deaf, I guess.

Other than that, I need to see The Reactionaries again soon.

Peace,

Bjorn

P.S. Shout outs to my man Murph who is getting married next weekend, my man Stefan who is going to be a dad within the next 2 weeks and my man Packo who became a father last week.