Combust - Demo

For those who aren't familiar with Straight & Alert Records, it's a one man run label from France and has been steadily putting out records from bands both from across the sea to bands right here state side. 

They have a pretty solid back catalog, with some of my personal favorite releases from bands like Blindsided USA, Raw Justice, Mindforce, Drug Control, etc. With that list I'm not surprised that much, but just as stoked, that S&A will be releasing a 7" of the demo from NYHC band Combust. 

Combust is made up of dudes from Impact and Vice (RIP), both pretty young but well liked bands from the same area. But unlike both bands, Combust goes for more of an older more polished, yet still have that rough NYCHC feel of bands like Outburst and Killing Time. They even cover Breakdown's Dissed and Dismissed for the ending track. This Demo EP is a great listen from start to finish and hopefully it's an indication of what the band has to offer for the future. 

Combust Bandcamp

No Right - Unjustifed

Welp, I guess I can't stay off this thing even when I tried. But really, how could I with so much coming out?? Stuff like No Right's crushing debut release Unjustifed.

Not even three/four years ago could I have imagine a scene so saturated with HC/Punk bands with female/trans women rocking out and making it a normal sight. But here we are. Things like "female fronted" or "all girl" seemed once like a selling point, rather than explanation of the actual music. You could almost count the bands you know who had girls as singers or played in bands, and that's how you knew said bands.

But years later and I can't even keep up with who's who. And that's how it should of always been. Girls have a strong voice in modern hardcore and punk because it's never been just boys fun, but now it's coming through more loudly and clearly. With bands like No Right, Rats In the Wall, Rareform, etc. caring more about putting out amazing music, and less about being a label for you, I think we're reaching a level that hasn't been reached before soon it'll be the level playing field it should of always been.

Unjustifed feels an explosion of pent-up frustration. And honestly seeing as the band has only had one demo song out since middle of 2016, it feels like that for both the band and listener.

Many bands can write heavy and hard sounding music, but few bands can make you feel it like No Right does with this EP. Maybe the year and half of waiting makes it this EP feel so much sweeter than it is, or maybe it's just because it is, you won't find much better than Unjustifed.

no right - unjustifed