This Week in Badass is going to take a look at all the killer music that has reached my ears in the current week, whether it be music that was just released or items coming out in the near future. You might even get some vintage badass to get you through your weekend as well. Music will be ranked on the badass’ness scale — which of course goes to 11, the only true way to measure if something kicks ass. So throw your horns up and get ready to headbang along. Bands are bolded the first time they are mentioned if you want to scroll through to see if there’s someone you like.

I usually start off with the big release of the week because you know, that what you do when you review things – put the attention grabber up front.  But thinking about it a little bit, here I am writing about metal on a site called Popdose.  So if you’re reading this it’s probably for the love of all things heavy and not for any particular band or album. Therefore it kind of makes sense for me to put the little guy up front now and again since those are the ones that need the promotion the most (and I like talking about the little guy anyway).  So the little guy comes first this week.

You know what I don’t like though? Splits. Even More? Three-way splits.  So naturally, my first review this week is a three-way split (badass’ness: 8/11) on Throatruiner Records (how great of a name is that?) from Bone Dance, Divider and Plebian Grandstand.  I don’t have the time or energy to give the gadzillions of reasons why I hate splits and I normally don’t touch them with a ten foot pole, but I have very few issues with this one.

All three bands are within the hardcore genre with some punk sensibilities mixed in.  Idaho’s Bone Dance has the first two of the six tracks on the release which end up being the angriest duo on the disc. Their sound is pretty chaotic yet packs a quick wallop.  The middle two tunes are from New York’s Divider.  The first of the two – “Gaia” is my favorite track on the disc. Divider is no less hardcore than the other groups, but they slow it down a notch and really focus on cool riffage in both the tracks.  The last two are from France’s Plebian Grandstand who simply rip shit apart. “Woe Is Me” is a ridiculous amount of both screaming and distortion, while “Woe Is You” is led by some creative drumming and this bassline that simply rattles around in your head the entire song.

One of my issues with splits is that there just isn’t much to say when you only have one or two songs representing a group and such is the same here.  But trust me when I tell you that this release flows great and is chaotic as hell for anyone that likes hardcore.  Due to my inability to be a wordsmith right now, I’ll let you hear a track from each band and let you decide for yourself!

Bone Dance – “West”
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Divider – “Gaia”
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Plebian Grandstand – “Woe Is You”
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I’m a little late on this next one as Spit and Argue (badass’ness: 8/11) by The Greenery was released back on July 19th on Prosthetic Records, but this is simply because I needed a little time to digest the record. This is their third record but I only know the name because I’ve heard they put on a hell of a live show. The press release with it compares them to Every Time I Die and The Bronx, two groups that I don’t particually care for so this didn’t end up at the top of the pile for sure. But I’m glad I listened.

The Greenery mix hardcore, punk and thrash together seemlessly with an anger and vigor that would open up a pit in the smallest of spaces. But they also have ridiculously catchy riffs (this is where the thrash comes in) that make the record very accessible. Okay, not radio accessible but they have a sound that should interest anyone that just wants an agressive sound. I mean, you can totally sing along to the chorus of “Hollow Bodies” but put a boot to someone’s skull to the sounds of “Drag Beneath.” Like I said, I’ve never heard the first two albums from the group but between some pretty solid songwriting and great production, if this isn’t their best record, then I really need to go back and listen to the other two.

“Tracker”
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About the Author

Dave Steed

Dave Steed is all about music; 80's and metal to be exact. His iPod will shuffle from Culture Club to Slayer and he won't blink an eye. He's never heard Astral Weeks but thinks "Dazzey Duks" by Duice is the bomb. It's an odd little corner of the world he lives in.

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