Day 2 of Wrecking Ball didn’t start until after 1 PM, so people had ample chance to recover in spite of the after parties. The early day belonged to bands on the outdoor Music Park Stage and the Heaven Stage. Early bands such as Yuck, and and Basement woke kids out of their stupors. Fans who showed up early got a treat seeing Mutoid Man’sStephen Brodsky pull double duty later on with legends Cave In. Another highly anticipated group was the return of Glassjaw in only their second show back in action. They really brought it back with their set chock full of hits. Other early bands of note included Girlpool, the excellent Appleseed Cast, and screamo legends Thrice. Later on Desparecidos and American Nightmare brought the swelling crowds at witnessing their respective sets to their knees. American Nightmare in particular has been killing it live and tonight was no exception. Finally Coheed And Cambria closed the night in epic fashion. Wrecking Ball, we are already looking forward to next year. Thanks again to Boston Chuck Photograpyfor the great shots from a packed photo pit!
The crowd outside Wrecking Ball, by Boston Chuck Photography
With destination concert events being the next big thing, every city is trying to come up with an even to put them on the map. Atlanta has pulled off an impressive start with the first annual Wrecking Ball at the venerable Masquerade venue. Judging by the success with the lineup and the response from the crowd, we have every reason to believe this fest will be a round for years to come. Even though if you Google the fests name, you still get that silly girl Miley and her video, the fest unironically had their own wrecking ball too, with people doing the Miley pose in jest. And the bands on day one wrecked the stage and had fans from all over wrecking their bodies in the Atlanta summer heat to the mostly punk rock extravaganza. Descendents may be long time veterans of the scene, but they performed with more energy than most bands half their age. Judge brought the old-school beatdown sensability. The heady minds in Failure were an anomaly on the bill, but a welcome one that added to the diversity of it. Their new album The Heart Is A Monster (InResidence) is killer. Back to the punk side of things Modern Life is War, The Get Up Kids, TheMovieLife, SamIAm, and Title Fight all brought it big time. Pianos Become The Teeth is another band that had their own crowd on hand for this show. The outdoor stage added a real specialness to this event, and those bands seemed to really relish the true fest feels. Shot here for Ghost Cult by Boston Chuck Photography, day one of Wrecking Ball more than set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Day 2 coverage coming soon!
Descendents, by Boston Chuck Photography
Failure, by Boston Chuck Photography
Judge, by Boston Chuck Photography
Modern Life Is War, by Boston Chuck Photography
Pianos Become The Teeth, by Boston Chuck Photography
On Saturday at This Is Hardcore we got an awesome all-day lineup with Brooklyn’s Biohazard killing it still. Pennsylvania’s own Wisdom In Chains played, who are a fan favorite and a gift every year. Mad Joe even gave us the gift of telling us he was going to be a father again. New Jersey’s Lifleless is a band that is making the east coast look amazing again for hardcore. If you haven’t heard Dream it’s a must to own.
Lifeless, by Anne Spina Photography
Sand of Japan came close to stealing the show. Makoto, their lead singer is wilder than Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan. It was sad to see Philly’s Rock Bottom come to an end, but they were amazing. The guys basically threw a party and chucked a bunch of toilet paper around the Electric Factory the whole set. It was actually pretty fun. Xibalba from Los Angeles is the band that is bringing hardcore and metal to the extreme. I think to me they remind me of the 90’s Swedish Death Metal bands. Turnstile killed it. In my mind Nonstop Feeling is the best album of 2015. Bane, those Boston boys, will always hold this festival night down. They “won” This Is Hardcore 2K15 to me. It’s sad to see a band who mattered in hardcore to me since 2000 call it to an end.
Foreseen (HKI) by Anne Spina Photography
Twitching Tongues, by Anne Spina Photography
On Sunday the winners for the fest were Foreseen (HKI) from Finland. If you are a D.R.I. & Municipal Waste fan, bands like Foreseen are the best. I definitely thrashed like an athlete. You also had Twitching Tongues who to me is the most metallic hardcore band out there. Tongues also recently signed to Metal Blade Records. They are a game changer in heavy music. All Out War also played Sunday and featuring some songs off the new EP which I have to say is heavy. All Out War is a great band. Their moshers are wild and as a band they are a must to see. H2O killed Sunday night for me. Toby Morse playing a 20th Anniversary set and getting friends and family to come up and sing with him on songs. Of course The Exploited from the U.K. who I say kicked arse. They still are there to prove “punk is not dead.”
H2O, Anne Spina Photography
The Exploited, by Anne Spina Photography
Besides the music at This Is Hardcore, you have food trucks all over the fest. Distros of all kinds like Shop Shogun, Bridge Nine, Deathwish, Fast Break Records, and Harvcore Records. And even apparel like American Straight Edge Apparel. There’s also SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) Demo Fighting in the parking lot so if you want to fight like a knight or a viking. it’s the right place to do it. This is Hardcore is a fest that is important to this city. The fact that this fest moved from a small venue to the biggest venue in Philly, proves something. It was even heart-warming to hear that Joe Hardcore proposed to his longtime girlfriend Jessica Parr here. I have to say that this fest has something for everyone. It’s cool to see how packed it was for days like Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. When I look back at all the fests I’ve gone to, this is the one I approve at all costs. If you haven’t been here you’re missing out.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city of brotherly love, cheesesteaks. Rocky Balboa, and the almighty This Is Hardcore Fest, the biggest music festival on the east coast that supports the hardcore and punk. Joe Hardcore McKay started this fest 9 and he still does not disappoint. The first day of the fest this year was held at Union Transfer in Philly. The other three days were held at The Electric Factory (very close to The Transfer). Day one the fest had reunions and goodbyes. Buffalo New York’s Snapcase headlined this day. Singer Daryl Taberski said to the crowd Thursday Night “It’s great to perform to old fans and new fans”. The great vegan/straight edge band Chokehold from Canada also had reunited at This Is Hardcore. Not only did they co-headline the first day, but they also played an after show at the Voltage Lounge the next night. The sad part about Thursday was saying goodbye to Foundation, probably one of the most promising hardcore bands in this decade.
Chokehold, by Anne Spina Photography
We also some great friends and hometown heroes in Agitator. They were ready to call it quits and I for one say it was great Joe Hardcore put them on this bill. I heard Joe say a month ago on The Post America Podcast “It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t put them on”. One band who stole the show that to me was Code Orange. Code Orange is one of the best bands out of the keystone state. The album I Am King (Deathwish Inc.) is a must own. The fact they came off Mayhem Festival and played this and not to mention all surprise guest vocalists to sing including Jeremy Tingle of Lifeless. It was a must see show. It will be amazing when Sunny Singh of Hate5six.com posts that set.
Code Orange, by Anne Spina Photography
On Friday there were a lot of main event heavy hitters especially the main event. Another reunion that is very important to talk about here. Boston’s American Nightmare (AKA Give Up The Ghost) headlined and made it beautiful. The band played probably one of their greatest sets out of all the reunion shows they’ve done so far. I’ve seen some footage of the Boston and New York shows they played, but tonight they amazed me. Being an American Nightmare fan since my junior year of high school, and now getting to see them thirteen years later, I felt like a kid again.
American Nightmare, Anne Spina Photography
Cruel Hand, by Anne Spina Photography
Another band that impressed me was Seoul, South Korea’s The Geeks. One of the best hardcore bands to graceful the U.S. surface in a minute. They definitely know how to get a crowd going. So does Cruel Hand of Portland Maine. They are that metallic hardcore band who can take the heaviest breakdown into the most thrashy beat to blast. It’s very much it’s a party when they play. Friday also featured power violence band Nails, who also made me a fan.
The Wrecking Ball ATL has announced their lineup, taking place on August 8-9, 2015 at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA.
Coheed And Cambria Descendents Thrice Desaparecidos Glassjaw The Get Up Kids American Nightmare The Lawrence Arms The Movielife Title Fight Judge Basement Samiam Braid Yuck The Appleseed Cast Modern Life Is War Cave In Knapsack Blacklisted Pianos Become The Teeth Frankie Cosmos The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die Small Brown Bike Their/They’re/There You Blew It! Foundation Girlpool Old Gray The Coathangers Make Do And Mend Beach Slang Cayetana Brick + Mortar Criminal Instict Superheaven Pet Symmetry Somos Mutoid Man Sorority Noise Bellows Adventures Microwave Big Jesus The Weaks Told Sland Spraynard Petal Slingshot Dakota Free Throw Blis. Halfling West Point Northbound
This Is Hardcore Fest has announced their daily lineups for the 2015 edition and the venues where each day’s event will be held.
Thursday, July 23rd – Union Transfer: Snapcase Chokehold Code Orange Morning Again Foundation Blistered Break Away Eternal Sleep
Thursday July 23rd@ Union TransferSnapcaseChokeholdCode OrangeMorning AgainFoundationBlisteredBreak AwayEternal Sleepremaining day by day breakdowns to come, keep your eyes open…
Saturday, July 25th – Electric Factory: Misfits (“Earth A.D.” in full) Cro-Mags Bane Killing Time Biohazard Reach The Sky Turnstile Xibalba Suburban Scum Sand Lifeless Homewrecker Time Bomb Absolute Suffering
Saturday July 25th @ Electric Factorythe Misfits playing EARTH AD in its entiretyCroMags Bane – Last TIHC…
Sunday, July 26th – Electric Factory: Exploited H2O (20th anniversary show) Negative Approach All Out War Power Trip Rival Mob Slapshot Wisdom In Chains Twitching Tongues Mindset Foreseen Fuck You Pay Me Disengage
Sunday July 26th @ Electric FactoryExploited – first US show in over a decadeH20 – 20th anniversary showNegative…
They have just wrapped up production on their debut full-length release at the Machine Shop in Belleville, New Jersey with producer Will Putney (Body Count, Vision Of Disorder, The Acacia Strain), the man also responsible for mixing and mastering the album. Now confirmed to wear the title Ultimate Annihilation, the new album takes the riotous, straightforward energy of the band’s previous recordings to a dynamic new level of ferociousness through a dozen crushing tracks of full-bore Jersey hardcore. Ultimate Annihilation also bears guest vocal contributions from Justice Tripp (Trapped Under Ice,Angel Du$t), Brendan Garrone (Incendiary), and Gregory Falchetto (The Mongoloids), and has is fitted with cover artwork by Jesse Schallart (Skeletonwitch, Xibalba, Discourse).Troy, New York-based Closed Casket Activities, also responsible for Suburban Scum’s split LP with Xibalba, will release Ultimate Annihilation on vinyl as well as through all major digital platforms early this Summer with a final street date to be announced shortly.
Ultimate Annihilation Track Listing: 1. The Beginning Of The End 2. Ultimate Annihilation 3. Forced Through Fire 4. Zero Tolerence 5. Love And Hate 6. Pain Is Promised 7. Ready For War 8. Misery Loves Company 9. Six Feet Under 10. Watch It Burn 11. The Calm Before The Storm 12. Death Is Destiny
Suburban Scum Tour Dates: Mar 03: Korova – San Antonio, TX Mar 04: Electric Banana – El Paso, TX Mar 05: Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM Mar 06: Nile Underground – Mesa, AZ Mar 07: The Echo – Los Angeles, CA Mar 08: Metro Sideroom – Oakland, CA Mar 09: RBU Davis University – Sacramento, CA Mar 10: Holland Project – Reno, NV Mar 11: Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT Mar 12: Marquis Theater – Denver, CO Mar 13: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA Mar 14: Minehaha Freespace – Minneapolis, MN Mar 15: The Borg Ward – Milwaukee, WI Mar 16: The Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL Mar 17: The Foundry – Cleveland, OH Mar 18: Legends – Covington, KY Mar 19: The Demo – St Louis, MO Mar 20: The Conservatory – Oklahoma City, OK Mar 21: Walters – Houston, TX Mar 22: QuikTrip Park – Grand Prairie, TX (South By So What?!) Apr 10: Game Changer World – Howell, NJ (w/ No Warning, Breakdown, Foundation, Think I Care, King Nine) Apr 18: The Palladium – Worcester, MA (New England Metal & Hardcore Fest) May 16: Webster Hall – New York, NY (Black N’ Blue Bowl)
Check out previously featured “Cure”, featuring Thomas Pearson of Foundation here, and “Time Pries” here.
Sanity Decays‘ ten vigorous tracks boast Columbia, South Carolina-based hardcore outfit DISCOURSE’s refreshing hybrid of jagged hardcore, citing the likes of purveyors Turmoil, Indecision and Buried Alive, with a vibrant approach that breathes furious punk rock energy with enraged, modern sensibilities. Recorded with Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos) at Bricktop Recording Studio in Chicago, and the vocals captured at The Jam Room with Jay Matheson in the band’s hometown, Sanity Decays was mixed by Nelson and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Integrity, Nails, Tragedy), and bears cover art by Jesse Schaller (Skeletonwitch, Xibalba, Suburban Scum).
Apr 17: The Palladium – Worcester, MA @ New England Metal & Hardcore Fest