BEST RELEASES IN 2023

 Like every year I want to highlight my Top 10 releases. My choices, as always, are very subjective, emotionally dictated, biassed and heavily influenced by the company of Lee Jones, his “opinions” and lots of weed and endless discussions about Japanese music. Here, in random order. Enjoy!

1. IT’S ALL GOOD

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   

It’s my absolute no 1 (randomly) that came out in 2023! Pure banger of an album, hard as fuck and so well produced. This couldn’t go wrong. The band consists of big names in Japanese hardcore, and this is their first full album since they formed in 2019. It’s been worth waiting for! As I mentioned before, this is top shelf hardcore with super dense beats and riffs for days. Proper gangsta shit!

Released on 18th March 2023 via BOWLHEAD INC.

2. FIGHT IT OUT ‘Skinhead Grind’

Smashing! On every level. I mean absolutely crushing. Not only in its heaviness but in its frantic, whiplashing pace and changeability. Flinging you from disjointed blast beats into an old school Bboy frenzy without you even questioning it. 

Released on 3rd Nov 2023 via BOWLHEAD INC.

3. KILLOUT ‘Spirit of ‘83’

KILLOUT have made such a comeback after over 10 years!

How genius this album is?! Such an old school sound and so much personality to it. The whole album is fast and they managed to keep the tempo throughout the whole album and also keep it interesting all the way, without making all the songs sound the same and getting boring, not an easy task! Fucking diamond of an album! 

Released on 29th April 2023.

4. KRUELTY ‘Untopia’

KRUELTY amazed me from the very first time I heard them, somewhere around their first release, and they keep evolving and keep their standards so high, it’s great! Great to see the band who has a capability of combining a few genres in one album so easily and effortlessly and making it sound just epic. 

I think on this particular album hc influences manifest more through brutal intensity and occasional trashy/punk tempo, especially in drumming parts, but what glues this album (and previous albums) is the trademark sludgy death metal akin to perhaps autopsy or grief. 

It's a completely balanced album on a scale of brutal hardcore and gory death metal, without sacrificing on either end. Also nice that it's mostly sung  in Japanese.

Released on 17th March 2023.

5. ‘Obscured Mortality’ 3-way split: DOOMS OF GHETTO / HORSEHEAD NEBULA / Vice City Slave

The heaviest shit out of 2023. Dark, violent, slow, ugly and epic. I’ve just described this entire album in five words. And that’s what it is. Not an ounce of bullshit. Pure violence. I just love it!

Released on 27th Sep 2023.

6. BLINDSIDE ‘Promo 2023’

Only 2 songs, but definitely worth making an effort to check out. A great addition to the already impressive back catalogue. I have a feeling that they're gonna hit us hard next year. I hope they will, such a great band!

Released on 15th July 2023.

7. VIEW FROM THE SOYUZ  ‘Immaculate’ ep

Immaculate album with almost too good of a production job that is so brilliantly good, you have to admire it. I saw them live and I just fell in love with their energy and intensity and HAD to check the album out, even though I normally listen to less “melodic” stuff. They really hit me like some of the high end and well established bands out there like Darkest Hour. A well earnt place on this list. 

Released on 10th February 2023.

8. GUIDING ‘Will / Anger’ 10” double A-side mini LP

Yes, it’s Chopstick’s own release, so obviously I’d include it here as my very personal choice. It has that old school sound, and it’s done so well. It’s actually refreshing to see that there are bands who still draw inspiration from 1988 and continue to do it a tremendous justice. ‘Burning Spirits' and ‘youth crew’ mixed together in the best way possible. 

Released on (fuck knows what to put here…pressing plant fuck up!) 10th Dec 2023

9. SETE STAR SEPT ‘The Judgement By Reaper’

This band have impressed me over and over with an anarchic jazz noise that seems totally chaotic and unruly until a melody suddenly somehow finds its way seamlessly sitting at the forefront of it all. A grind band grinding the way grind should be ground!

Released on 7th April 2023 via 4iB Records.

10. TAMAKI ‘珠鬼’ EP

TAMAKI have just dropped this sick debut ep, raw hardcore punk at its best. They are just emerging and I’m sure they will be noticed and appreciated by those who like straightforward but hard hitting, fast hardcore. Real badass as a virginity taking release, I already can’t wait for what they come up with next.

CHECK THEM OUT!

Released on 12th December 2023.

GReeD TOKYO

An important spot on Tokyo’s hardcore related places is GReeD TOKYO - Clothing store (and much more) in Shibuya.

I said ‘and much more’ for a reason, but let’s start from the start…

The place is located in Shibuya, just 2 minutes walking distance from NERDS Record shop and it’s also rooted in the hardcore scene. Not only because you can buy cool stuff there, like for example T-shirts, skateboards etc, but because it is run by an artist, End, who’s closely connected to the scene.
The place is filled with End’s art projects, the album covers he designed, logos, gig flyers and posters

created over the years for different bands. Not only for Japanese bands, but also for foreign bands touring in Japan. And they are all big names in hardcore. Starting with Japan’s own NUMB, Saigan Terror and classics like S.O.B., to the American bands like Agnostic Front or Gorilla Biscuits. It is all there.

I spent a nice time hanging out in the shop with End before the gig at Shibuya’s The Game (which is also located less than a 5 minute walk from the shop). We had a chat about bands, gigs, art and life in general. End is a super nice guy, very focused and dedicated to his work and working ethos. Being straight edge for over 20 years, he created his own, very cool SxE clothing line, which is available to buy in the store. He is also present in most hardcore shows and festivals, supporting the scene.

Talking about his artwork style, it is very rooted in old school Japanese style, NY graffiti and his own, very unique twist to it. I would also call it an illustrative, post apocalyptic pop-art (but what do I know…) I was surprised he’s not a tattoo artist as well, but we agreed, it’s better to narrow your range sometimes than do too much and have nothing done properly. Although, his designs would make outstanding tattoos!
End himself also takes part in collaborative projects and exhibitions with other artists.
You can really feel very creative vibes and energy there in his shop. And you can feel there’s a lot of heart, a real love for the scene and tons of passion put into it.


The shop itself is super tidy, even though it is filled with lots and lots of items of all sorts, you don’t have that feeling of being overwhelmed. Everything has its place and it is really very pleasantly displayed, without that hoarded feel to it.
From HC clothes, flyers and books, End’s projects are displayed all over the walls. 

The aforementioned

album covers, artwork and even signed posters. You can as well find some interesting collectibles there, like figurines and tons of badges.

I can assure you, you feel good vibes there. And having a chat about Japanese hardcore, with someone who is so involved in the scene is priceless, especially for such a nerd like myself.

You need to visit this place if you are into Japanese (and not only Japanese) hardcore music, worth every struggle of walking through overcrowded Shibuya.

End kindly agreed to do this mini follow up interview, so he can better explain himself the story behind the shop.

This is what we discuss:

It’s nice to be able to talk again, even if it’s just via e-mail.
Let’s start from the basic question, when was the GREED store opened and are you the only owner? Who do you run the shop with?

E: Long time no see!
Thanks for getting back to me.
This is my 10th year at the current location of GREED TOKYO. But actually, there was another location in Shibuya once in 2010, and NATSUO, the guitarist of NUMB, was working there.
I was helping out at the store while doing my own art activities.
Basically, I run the store by myself now.
Chill monger, the bassist of SAIGAN TERROR, is using part of the store as an office, but I plan to renovate the store in February next year, so from next year I will be completely on my own.


Do you have a lot of foreigners visiting on a daily basis?

E: In the past few years, the number of foreign customers has been increasing.
But more than the general public, we also get a lot of artists who are in bands, fans of bands, TATTOO artists, painters, etc.
The store is usually open with the door closed, so people walking outside don't even know it's there. LOL!
The word spreads through social media and word of mouth, so people who don't know about the store - they don't know about it, and those who do know about it - they enjoy it.


You have your own clothing brand too, is this the reason why the shop started?

E: I started my own brand after the select store started.
It's a private brand, so the products are not only clothes, but also miscellaneous goods and artwork, all of which are necessary elements in my life.
Recently, there are many products designed by my friends who are artists, so I enjoy creating them.


You are an artist yourself, designing album covers, gig flyers and much more. Could you introduce your artwork in a bit more detail, your style and all your connections to the hardcore community?

E: I paint artwork for HC flyers and merch nationally and internationally, mainly for my friends' bands.
I love the classic NYHC style of painting, and I try to adapt that vibe to the current era in my own way.
I've designed logos, flyers, t-shirts, etc. for a variety of bands, but I'd love to draw for cool young bands as well!
I would also like to exhibit my work with other painters like me around the world.
I think hardcore is a cool worldview that is created by artists, bands, music, art, tattoos, clothes, and many other aspects of culture that I am familiar with.
I am very happy to work with bands from other countries that I am connected with through the HC scene, and through these works I am able to connect with people from other countries as well!
But you always have to take care of the local scene in your own country.
If you don't give people a sense of the foundation of your connection, you won't be able to convey your appeal as an artist.
Anyway, I welcome flyer requests!
It's hand-drawn, though, so it takes time. LOL!


What are the other art projects you are involved in at the moment? Any interesting events coming up?

E: I don't think there will be any art exhibitions that I will be participating in this year.
My friend's art will be showing at the store in December, and we also have a poster art show every year in August, which is a project that involves a lot of cool artists.
At the end of this month, I will be hosting my own hardcore show at Antiknock in Shinjuku for two days.
I'm looking forward to it!
If you are ever in Shibuya, Tokyo, please come visit me.

      

END
@endflyer

GReeD TOKYO
@greedtokyo

OLDX
@oldx_official

RAISE A FLAG gig at Shibuya Cyclone

17 Sep 2023

‘Raise A Flag’ at Shibuya Cyclon

I start writing this having just listened to the new demo CD I got at the Raise a Flag gig as a present from the band and it takes me straight back there. I wanted to put a few words together about that gig and publish it here, as I can easily say that this event set up the whole tone for my very first visit in Japan, which was full of live shows, and was a very, very exhausting experience....in a positive way, of course.

The gig was a part of an all day festival, I didn’t know a single other band playing apart from Raise a Flag, which I always really liked and consider one of the best oi bands in Japan. In fact, Japan is home to lots of great oi bands I could talk a lot about, but anyways, not this time.

So I decided last minute to check them out live, without pre-booking the ticket. I’m glad I did.

Now think about that.

It was my very first gig in Japan and I didn’t know what to expect. 

How different the energy is, the crowd and generally everything? 

What the sound is like in venues, are sets always on time, sharp like bullet trains? 

I had lots of questions like that in my head. Maybe stupid questions. But who wouldn't wonder? And I have to admit, I was heading for this very first gig, the following gigs too, with so much excitement, but also a tiny little bit of anxiousness.. Totally unnecessary.

So the whole festival started around midday. Raise a Flag’s set was scheduled for 6pm, and I plan to arrive around about 5-5:20pm, just in case. I was so right to give myself that little extra time! If you think that finding a venue in Tokyo is obvious and easy - you are so wrong.

I’ll describe it better another time, but I was holding my phone with GoogleMaps open in my hand and I still missed it a good few times! 

Shibuya especially is so full of different shops and places, some of them crammed in one building, and finding anything there is generally a nightmare. Especially when it’s your first trip and you still don’t know the rules at all. 

Regardless of my considerably good orientation, wink wink, I have to admit, if it weren’t for the people outside, I’d have missed it. In fact, I walked along the street and back a few times before I realised where I should narrow my search zone, after spotting a familiar, punk looking crowd. I thought this must be the place. No signs or posters outside, then I had to go three floors downstairs into the basement and… yay! I was home! Forgot all the struggles, got my ticket (and compulsory drink ticket) - yes, they were luckily still available, and I was ready for some live music.

I’ll be skipping the other band reviews, just have to say that it was generally a very unexpected (although, I totally expected that) mix of bands. I managed to see the most bizarre band in my life, and what a surprise, it happens in Japan. And it happened that very first night! That’s all I’ll say about it..

I need to mention that even though I was the only non-Japanese person in the venue, I didn’t feel weird or unwelcomed at all, but I could sense at first the sneaky looks, as people were probably curious of my reaction, wondering if I got there accidentally or what  the general craic was... But once they realised I was actually enjoying the gigs, especially going bonkers during the Raise a Flag set, it was that kinda relief, like “oh, it’s fine, she’s just one of us”. 

I can’t describe it any other way, that’s how I felt then. It’s like from that moment the connection was set and people were trying to talk to me and generally they’ve been super friendly. Regardless of the language barriers, we tried anyway. You don’t need much when you’re amongst like minded people, right? Also, I so loved people’s enthusiasm and appreciation when I tried to use my rudimentary Japanese.. It was super cool and the atmosphere was just amazing. It was that overwhelming feeling of excitement for me that I’m sure it was more than visible!

I have to stress that my opinion is super subjective, especially that I’m talking from the perspective of someone who has listened to all these bands for years and just went to see them live for the very first time. It’s mind blowing, like a sudden manifestation of your lifelong dreams just in front of you. If I sound pathetic, well… I probably looked pathetic as well, like some overjoyed psycho, but that’s the reason I was so glad to do this trip on my own. Plus, who cares at the end of the day?

Without going into too much detail - the sound system was on point, almost too good if I can say that. All the sets were on time, well, at least the sets I managed to see. And the crowd was wild! Raise A Flag were on fire. I enjoyed their show a lot, even though they didn’t play my favourite song (you can’t expect too much I guess haha). It was just solid, hard as fuck street punk.. And they’re definitely one of those bands, which just makes you wanna stand up, march, dance and sing along from the very first sound, making every song sound anthemic. I was taken by it entirely. 

I ran to the merch stand after and got myself a T-shirt plus had a nice little chat with the band. Super friendly bunch! And then later on, when I was catching some fresh air outside, the bass player came over with said CD and other goodies, handed them all to me and said “Welcome to Japan”... It was so sweet. And I have to admit, I couldn’t feel any more welcomed.

Band introduction - SLANG

 

SLANG

SLANG was formed in Sapporo, Japan in 1988.

During their thirty plus years of existence they have evolved and formed from influences including classic Japanese fast hardcore, old school NYHC and also English d-beat.


The song's lyrics always touch on difficult subjects like war, politics and all sorts of socio-political issues. As Ko (vo) said in an interview with Eriko Ishii ‘..it’s not hardcore, unless it’s real.’


The band have released 8 full length albums and appeared on many compilations and split EPs, for example with UK’s classic Extreme Noise Terror. After touring Japan together in 2009 both bands decided to share a piece of vinyl and recorded two unreleased songs each in November 2010.


SLANG toured the U.S. in summer 2010, performing at Austin's Chaos in Tejas Festival and followed with an East coast tour with Mind Eraser and World Burns To Death.

The tour was marked by the release of the “Life made me hardcore” album, reissued by Prank Records featuring exclusive artwork by the legendary classic rock artist Joe Pentagno (Motorhead).


The band is still going strong today, they run their own record label Straight Up Records, putting out the "Hard Core Ball" compilation series, pushing local bands from their hometown Sapporo. Ko has also run his live music venue, ‘Klub Counter Action’ in Sapporo since 1995 putting on lots of hardcore/punk gigs and events.

Check their well-done and informative website:


http://www.slang1988.com


https://kcasapporo.thebase.in/



DISCOGRAPHY:


Albums:


‘HYPOCRITICAL EVERYTHING’ - HG Fact - 1996

Other version of this album:

‘SUPER CHAOS’ (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered) - Straight Up Records - 1998

‘SUPER CHAOS 199X’ (CD, Compilation) - Straight Up Records - 2005


‘SKILLED RHYTHM KILLS’ (LP, 45rpm, Album) - Conquest Wake Records - 2001

Other versions of this album:

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ (CD, Album) - Straight Up Records - 2001

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ (Cassette) - K.A.Z., Straight Up Records - 2001

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ + ‘Live at Klub Counter Action 2001.06.30’ - Schizophrenic Records - year unknown

‘Skilled Rhythm Kills’ - Chopstick Records - 2021


‘THE IMMORTAL SIN’ (CD, Album) - Schizophrenic Records - 2008

Other versions of this album:

‘The Immortal Sin’ (Cassette) - Blood of War Records - 2008

‘The Immortal Sin’ (CD, Album) - Loen Entertainment, GMC Records - 2008

‘The Immortal Sin’ (LP, 45rpm) - Pain Of Mind - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (12”, 45rpm) - Schizophrenic Records - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (LP) - Pain of Mind - 2009

‘The Immortal Sin’ (CD, Album, Reissue) - Straight Up Records - 2011

‘The Immortal Sin’ (Cassette) - Equilibrium - 2012


‘LIFE MADE ME HARDCORE’ (CD) - Straight Up Records - 2010

Other versions of this album:

‘Life Made Me Hardcore’ (12",Album, 45 rpm) - Hardware Records - 2010

‘Life Made Me Hardcore’ (LP, Album, Limited Edition) - Prank Records - 2010


‘WORLD PEACE”QUESTION’ NOW’ (CD, Album) - Straight Up Records - 2011


‘GLORY OUTSHINES DOOM’ (CD, Album) - Pizza of Death Records - 2012

Other versions of this album:

‘Glory Outshines Doom’ (LP) - Prank Records - 2013

‘Glory Outshines Doom’ (CD, Album) - Cleopatra - 2014


‘DEVASTATION IN THE VOID’ (CD, Album) - Pizza of Death Records - 2014

Other versions of this album:

‘Devastation in the Void’ (CD, Album) - Cleopatra - 2014

‘Devastation in the Void’ (LP, Album) - Prank Records - 2016


‘PIZZA OD DEATH RECORDS PRESENTS BECAUSE IT’S 2020’ (CD, ALBUM) - Pizza of Death Records - 2021



Singles & EPs:


‘HARD CORE LIVES’ (7”) - Straight Up Records - 1997

Other versions of this album:

‘Hard Core Lives’ (7”) - Mad Preacher / Mad Beat Records - 1997

‘Hard Core Lives’ (CD, EP) - Straight Up Records - unknown year


‘25 TA LIFE / SLANG - Never Tear Us Apart’ (7”, 45rpm) - Japan Overseas - 1999


‘SLANG / FACE OF CHANGE - S.C.H.C. Lives 1999’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 1999


‘S.C.H.C. In My Blood’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 2000


‘DEMO 2006’ (CD, EP) - Straight Up Records -2006


‘III Peace Hymn Ep’ (7”, 45rpm, Single) - MCR Company - 2008


‘Rain In August’ (7”, Single) - Blood Sucker Records - 2008


‘Amid The Raw Pain EP’ (7”, EP, 45rpm) - HG Fact - 2008


‘Humanistic Disorder’ (CD, Mini, EP) - K.A.Z. - 2009


‘Extreme Noise terror / SLANG - Hardcore Attack of The Low Life Dogs EP’ - Farewell Records, Straight Up Records - 2010


‘SLANG / Mind Eraser’ - 540 Records -2010


‘SLANG / Stagnation - Violent Party’ (Cassette, EP) - Bastard Rock Recs - 2010


‘SLANG / World Burns To Death - Our Grey Earth / Babylon Endures’ - Prank Records - 2010


‘Apocalypse Now / 162 Graves’ (CD, Single) - Straight Up Records - 2014



Compilations:


‘Sapporo City Hard Core - Early Demo’ - Straight Up Records - 1998


‘Greatest Shits’ (CD, Compilation) - Straight Up Records - 2018



Videos:


‘U.S. Tour 2010’ - Real Life recording, Straight Up Records - 2012



Miscellaneous:


‘THE SLANG’ (Cassette) - Not on label, self released - 1989


‘1990 Demo’ (Cassette) - Not on label, self released - 1990