Due to my limited time over the past few weeks, I thought it would be beneficial to create something for No Echo that is easy to put together yet still valuable for the readers of the site.
Keeping that in mind, here are a few recent hardcore releases that I've been enjoying a lot at No Echo HQ. If you dig this post and find it helpful, I'll do more of these in the near future.
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Paradise (Austin, Texas)
Since Paradise's 2024 demo, I've been championing this Texas band's tough sound. Their new EP is one of the best of the year, and I spoke with them about it on the site a few weeks ago.
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Cape Fade (Hudson Valley, New York)
The second helping of Leeway-like vibes from Mindforce’s Nick Haines. There's also elements of his other band's bouncy sound in their DNA and this new Cape Fade EP sounds like a million bucks thanks to engineer Sean Hansen, and mix and mastering wiz Anthony Burke.
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Shellgame (Melbourne, Australia)
Shellgame answers the question, "What if Pepper Keenan and Only Living Witness started a new band together?" Yes, NOLA-kissed guitar riffs rule the day here, and I'm here for it.
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Wits End (UK, US)
Second demo featuring folks from UK outfits like Violent Reaction and The Flex along with lone American, Connor Donegan (Innumerable Forms, Protestor), holding it down for the classic NYHC sound.
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Lasting Power (Medan, Indonesia)
Indonesian band delivers NWOBHM guitar meets NYHC meets Burning Spirits galore on their excellent Visualize Eden EP. Learn more about Lasting Power's influences in this recent spotlight.
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Mil-Spec (Toronto, Ontario)
Mil-Spec's Marathon LP was one of my favorite hardcore releases of 2023, and this new EP is another blast of beautiful melodic hardcore that gets better with each listen. Plus, they cover the best Doughboys song on it.
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Contempt (Chicago, Illinois)
This Windy City crew delivers angry straight edge hardcore in the Confront spirit. Contempt recorded their You Still Suffer EP on an analog 4-track machine, lending the proceedings another layer of grime.
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Angel CCAA (Cologne, Germany)
The stomp is strong with this German unit. Angel CCAA is part of the Collective Memory roster, a label doing some cool things right now.
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Heat (Melbourne, Australia)
If you rock for bands like Terror, these Aussies should be on your radar. Metallic riffs, groove-driven rhythmic breaks, and gruff vocals are on the agenda when Heat is working their magic.
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Stakes Is High (Kansas City, Missouri)
Stakes Is High brings to mind some of the bands on S.F.T. Records back in the '90s (and I love the D.A.I.S.Y. Age nod). I know that's an obscure reference, but I'm allowed.
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Mortal Spirit (Brighton, UK)
Ripping hardcore this way comes from Mortal Spirit, a new outfit from Brighton, England. They warn "bumbag clap mosh dorks need not apply" on their Bandcamp page, and while I'm not really sure what that means, I'll still support it.
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Once and For All (Hanover, Germany)
This Once and For All demo reminds us that DBNO Records does not miss. Ignorant hardcore heads will approve, especially of that high-pitched snare drum.
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Weight Class (Houston, Texas)
Staying on the impressive hardcore record label tip, Bob Wilson’s Rebirth Records is on a particularly glorious run these past couple of years. This demo from Houston's Weight Class takes you back to the early Revelation Records era in all its finger-pointing glory.
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xDetesterx (Lion City, Singapore)
xDetesterx is a band from Singapore worshipping at the altar of Arkangel. Think guitars with pointy headstocks being played by people in baggy jeans.
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Gumm (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
I’ve been a big fan of this Chattanooga band’s grungy melodic hardcore for a minute. Beneath the Wheel is Gumm's sophomore LP and songs like "New From the Pain" and "One Thing at a Time" are instant earworms.
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Tagged: angel ccaa, cape fade, contempt, gumm, heat, lasting power, mil-spec, mortal spirit, once and for all, paradise, shellgame, stakes is high, wits end, xdetesterx
