Ten Years, Twenty Records

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the end of another decade. Punk rock is now well over thirty years old and the momentum just never seems to stop. The past ten years have been about rebuilding, redefining, and recreating hardcore while also getting back to our roots. Some of the best records to come out since 2000 build strength from the fact that they are truly timeless or at times even based on nostalgia. For instance Career Suicide and Total Fury shine through as bands who remind us of how great hardcore can be when it’s stripped down to its most basic form and returns to its roots. Other great bands who fit into this category but did not quite make it on the list include the Regulation and Last In Line. Similarly the initial crop of bands who took their main influences from 80’s thrash/hardcore crossover music were great because they were a reminder of some great bands from the past. We can thank Municipal Waste, Bones Brigade, Holier Than Thou?, and What Happens Next? for filling this role.

However some of the most phenomenal hardcore music of the past ten years was completely original, innovative, and showed that there were still ways to reinvent the wheel. Fucked Up of course are the most notorious for blowing people’s minds with an unpredictable and experimental take on hardcore. Tragedy, who did not quite make it on the list are also well known for their innovative music, along with Modern Life Is War and the Suicide File. All of these bands have been inspiring in their creativity and willingness to shake things up. They will be known as bands that defined the decade and created a distinction between hardcore of the 2000’s and the 1980’s/1990’s.

With everything that happened in the United States and the world abroad within the past decade, it was inevitable that some bands were going to write songs that took on more topical or political issues. A highly controversial president with an equally controversial administration led us into two controversial wars, and created controversial domestic policies under the Patriot Act while also redefining foreign policy. If bands like MDC and the Dead Kennedys thought they had material to write about, they should have tried growing up after 9/11/01. Current events were reflected in songs like Deadfall’s "The Worst Four Years," Criminal Damage’s "The Power Of Fools," and "The World Is Not Enough." Suicide File certainly wasted no time on subtlety with song titles like "W," "Ashcroft," and "Fuck Fox News."

Still while a lot of heavy issues were brought up in punk rock lyrics, there also was no shortage of songs about pizza, parties, smoking weed, skateboarding, 1980’s movies, and hanging out. Municipal Waste may have inspired a lot of the more fun loving burritocore thrash zombies, but they certainly didn’t do it alone. Unfortunately these jokes got stale pretty quickly and lost their cleverness with time, but I digress.

The following are what I consider to be twenty essential and definitive records of the ‘00 decade- not quite a "best of" list and also not quite a "most influential" list, but it lies perhaps somewhere in the middle. Also of course a good dose of my own tastes are implanted in this list, rather than a more universal view point.

Ten Years, Twenty Records:

"You ruined life for us- We’ll ruin life for you"
1. Fucked Up- Hidden World

Early on in their career Fucked Up made their name as a band who put out great singles. The first batch of seven inches were all phenomenal with songs like "Baiting the Public," "Police," "Litany," and "Circling the Drain." Already they were known as a unique and special band and a record label pitch called them a "cross between Negative Approach and the Who." However no one could have predicted where Fucked Up were going with "Hidden World," which was their first proper full length (previously they had released a collection of singles and alternate versions called "Epics In Minutes"). In true mind blowing fashion, "Hidden World" was a double L.P. with many of the songs exceeding the four minute mark. When you fact or in that this record has violins and songs about the influence on politics and science from secret societies and the world of the occult, you have to figure that this record is pretty unusual. But make no mistake- Fucked Up still sound killer on songs like "Crusades" and "David Comes To Life." All of Fucked Up’s records are extraordinary,  but "Hidden World" is more innovative than their earlier material and a little less out there than "The Chemistry of Common Life."

 

"And so I say to all the young wild one/For you on your way up/The world isn’t against you, my dear, it just doesn’t care"
2. Modern Life Is War- Witness

MLIW had a huge guitar sound that distinguished them from other bands. Prior to "Witness" their live sound had never really been captured well in the studio and their previous recordings did not do justice to their massive sound. With some great production techniques, Modern Life Is War finally succeeded in creating a great record. Their sound was intense, heavy and atmospheric. The lyrics on "Witness" are intensely emotional, honestly depicting what it was like to grow up in the Mid West with vivid imagery describing both a physical and emotional landscape.  "D.E.A.D. R.A.M.O.N.E.S." is the most talked about song on the record and it is certainly a fast rocking tune, but there are some equally great songs on "Witness" that are a little further to the left of the dial, such as "Marshalltown," "Young Man Blues," and "I’m Not Ready."

 

"I might have to fight my friends/If they stand in my way/That’s the price that I’ll have to pay"
3. Annihilation Time- II

If Fu Manchu are hard rock’s answer to Black Flag and BL’AST then Annihilation Time are basically punk rock responding back to Fu Manchu. Call it stonercore or psychedelic punk. All that can be said for sure is that Annihilation Time totally kills it. "The Worm," "Imaginary Mirror," "Panic," and "Dogends" all have the perfect combination of Sabbath riffage and punk rock energy. Just look at the cover of "II" and you will get the idea with its references to Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, and Rich Kids on LSD. Well someone’s on LSD. That’s for sure.

 

"If what it boils down to is ‘You’re either for us or against us’ I guess I’ve got a tough, tough choice to make"
4. Suicide File- Twilight

Suicide File’s "Twilight" showed the band transforming from a catchy mid paced hardcore Punk band to an intense powerhouse. Featuring members of No Reply and The Hope Conspiracy, the Suicide File were a tough force to reckon with. The songs on "Twilight" seamlessly blend the personal with the political by showing how our individual life decisions reflect society’s expectations. The music is haunting and original. The lyrics are heart wrenching at times. It was the album that needed to be made when we were all trying to figure out what our roles were in strange and complicated times.

 

"I’m going to strengthen my action with thought /Make use of the gift that I got and walk fearless because I’m armed with a mind"
5. Have Heart- The Things We Carry

Just when it seemed like straight edge hardcore had gone completely stale, Have Heart gave it a fresh face with optimism, hope, and intelligence. What was great about Have Heart’s songs was that they didn’t ignore the negative things in the world, but instead just said that there were ways to rise above them on a personal level. Have Heart’s music was equally great with power and passion that had otherwise seemed to have vanished from hardcore all together.

 

"I don’t believe in sanity"
6. The Vicious- Alienated

Featuring members of Regulations and Gorilla Angreb, Sweden’s The Vicious played a tuneful blend of creepy melodies that resembled those of the Adverts with the energy of the Middle Class. Every song on "Alienated" is catchy as Hell and The Vicious showed up all of us Americans with their superb song writing abilities. "Dead Town" features a great vocal performance especially.

 

"That won’t stop the radio from telling us ‘We know what you need, but we don’t care’"
7. Criminal Damage- Criminal Damage

Criminal Damage’s debut L.P. is the perfect mix of No Future Records (Blitz, Partisans, Violators) style Oi/street punk and the pure energy of American hardcore. With members of Tragedy and His Hero Is Gone, this isn’t typical boots and braces chanting over two chords. Rather these songs go back and forth between well thought out political diatribes and introspective looks at every day life. The music is melodic and catchy but also angry and intense.

 

"This Is a lifestyle, not a career/We will create as much as we destroy"
8. What Happens Next?/Life’s Halt- Start Something

"Start Something" might be the most epic split since Faith/Void. Both What Happens Next? and Life’s Halt were amazing bands playing a modern take on West Coast thrashcore. Life’s Halt rocked us with songs like "No Estoy Loco" and "Public Enemy Is Right. . . Burn Hollywood Burn" while WHN? contributed some great songs like "Weak Dogs Bark More" and "Positive Youth (Not Just for Kids Anymore)." Words to live by.

 

"We’re in your fucking face!"
9. Shark Attack- Blood In the Water

While just about every other band was playing safe, clean cut varsity hardcore, Shark Attack were ugly, creepy, nasty, and in your fucking face! These guys were on a total Antidote (NYC) trip and totally changed the way that people looked at hardcore in 2000.

 

"Do you get off on my pain?"
10. The Prowl- Misery

The Prowl played a unique version of punk rock, which mixed influences from early death rock with the raw intensity of early hardcore. Imagine TSOL, Samhain, and the Adolescents having some kind of weird cult ritual together. The Prowl were that weird, creepy, and amazing. The band had members of Last In Line and Cops and Robbers but they were way darker and more mature than either of those bands.

 

"Thrash? Don’t mind if I do"
11. Municipal Waste- Waste ‘Em All

While Municipal Waste inadvertently started the trend of idiots running around in flip up hats and pretending to be Jeff Spicoli, "Waste ‘Em All" is a killer record. Early Municipal Waste takes cues from COC, DRI, and Exodus. Super fun and super fast. Much more rocking than their later stuff that doesn’t have as many hardcore influences.

 

"If I could I suppose I would/If I could change I would"
12. Out Cold- Goodbye Cruel World

Unfortunately after twenty years Out Cold have recently called it quits, but at one point they were getting better with every record, which flies in the face of all that we know about hardcore. "Goodbye Cruel World" was the pinnacle of their career and has a killer Negative Approach/Poison Idea vibe. "Misanthrope" in particular is awesome along with "Take As Needed For Pain." Out Cold were perhaps the most consistent band in the history of hardcore.

 

"Goodbye, my love/Hello, my friend"
13. Kill Your Idols- Funeral For a Feeling

KYI always managed to transcend sub genres and attract all sorts of different punks, straight edge kids, and skinheads. "Funeral For A Feeling" was probably their best record with fast and sometimes melodic hardcore punk songs. The lyrics on this record were pretty mature, kind of like a more sentimental version of Sheer Terror. The title track stood out along with their cover of Poison Idea’s "Made To Be Broken."

 

"You’re an easy target!"
14. Triple Threat- Into The Darkness

Featuring members of Mouthpiece and Hands Tied, Triple Threat’s music is part BL’AST, part Flag, part Chain of Strength, and part COC. "Into the Darkness" is an intense record and showed vocalist, Tim McMahon looking at the darker side of life but staying positive nonetheless. "Man On Fire" and "Time To Disconnect" are perfect examples of the band’s sound.

 

"Too much of everything"
15. Holier Than Thou?- The Hating of the Guts

Holier Than Thou? were kings of speed and the vocals on this record are punk as fuck. Another great example of more modern music with some great crossover/thrash influences. This is excellent skatecore stuff. "Too Much of Everything," which also appeared on the band’s 7" is the best song. There’s also a great cover of Stalag 13’s "Conditioned."

 

"Let’s go skate and ditch the show"
16. Bones Brigade- Focused

After their original vocalist. Andrew Jackmuah left the band to concentrate on singing with Cut the Shit, Bones Brigade recruited a young gun named Brian on vocals and despite some nervousness from fans he really fit the bill perfectly. "Focused" shows Bones Brigade moving on from the pure skate rock of their earlier efforts to adding some subtle metal influences. Nonetheless the energy was through the roof at this point and this record really stands the test of time/

 

"I still believe in the power of saying no"
17. Over My Dead Body- Sink or Swim

Over My Dead Body played melodic straight edge hardcore punk with a sound that was distinctly Southern Californian. Somehow they managed to stick out as the best band playing this style at the time and over all this is a feel good, positive hardcore record with no complications or lame distractions.

 

"I’m on a rampage/I’m fucking outraged"
18. Vitamin X- Bad Trip

Angry political straight edge fastcore from Amsterdam of all places. These guys totally rip and this is one of the most intense records in the fastcore style. Twenty one raging songs.

 

19. Career Suicide- Invisible Eyes

Career Suicide were one of the first modern bands to emulate the late 70’s hardcore sound and to this day no band has done it faithfully. Clean guitars, great songs. "Boredom Boredom Boredom" sticks out on "Invisible Eyes" which shows the band perfecting their art.

 

"Street smart!"
20. Total Fury- 13 Songs

Japanese dudes who worship Minor Threat and all things Dischord related. Need I say more?

 

 

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Asst. Editor