Lord Snow - Solitude (2013)

 

Genre: Emoviolence

Country: United States

I'm starting to believe that women may have a natural predisposition to be the best fucking screamo vocalists. Over the course of the this album Steph absolutely shreds her vocal chords, and her commitment and passion are a huge part in why this is one of my favorite screamo records. She jusst can't be stopped. Instrumentally, it's fucking great as well. It has the technical chaos powerviolence while still somehow remaining exceedingly melodic throughout. Even during the most aggressive parts and mathematical parts, the band seamlessly weave complex melodies through the fabric of the music. It's truly fantastic stuff. 

If you haven't heard this, you know nothing.

Bhang Khang - Demo (2011)

Genre: Black Metal/Hardcore/Sludge
Country: United States

As recent years have seen a boom in punk and hardcore influenced black metal it was really only a matter of time before grim face-painted warriors of darkness began to dabble in one of hardcore's most aggressive forms, powerviolence. This is where the United States based Bhang Khang come in - formed in 2011, the group to date has only a single demo to their name but their extremely tight performance coupled with obvious compositional talent easily makes it one of the best black metal/hardcore demos I've heard in recent years.

While powerviolence and black metal play a much more prevalent role in Bhang Khang's sound the band does occasionally slow it down for a heavy, trudging sludge breakdown, adding even more depth to Bhang Khang's sonic stew. The juxtaposition of the band's central genres is displayed rather cleverly in a diverse array of ways here, sometimes showing the two existing within a single riff and other times with a more clear-cut separation. Overall they are balanced quite nicely, and with sludge's slow paced, bass laced crawl breaking up the blinding speed of PV and BM, the album avoids a certain monotony while also lending towards its overall longevity. In only a ten minute span a listen to Bhang Khang's 2011 Demo is definitely a bang worth its buck and should definitely be explored by anyone who listens to hardcore, black metal and/or fancies a combination of the two.

bhangcamp

Gas Chamber - Hemorrhaging Light (2014)

Genre: Powerviolence
Country: United States

This one kind of reminds me of Bucket Full of Teeth's IV. Like in IV, these guys don't play it straight; rather they include sections outside of hardcore. Gas Chamber however chooses to add a psychedelic and progressive flair to their brand of powerviolence to switch things up. These sections aren't as jarring as Bucket Full of Teeth adding ambient sections since they feel more in place so I think this is a lot easier to get a feel for.

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Dropdead - Discography (1994)

Genre: Powerviolence, Hardcore Punk
Country: United States

This album is probably one of the more furious and fast albums I've ever listened to. These guys play some extremely fast hardcore considering how many songs are below the fifty second but it's incredible how satisfying it is regardless. This contains stuff that aren't on their full-length albums (which are also well worth your time) so you get the splits and the EPs which are all essential. Anyone interested in this type of music will end up satisfied with this album.

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Cagedgrave - Gutless (2014)

Genre: Hardcore/Power Violence
Country: Australia

Cagedgrave are a power violence influenced hardcore band from Australia currently causing a stir in the underground with their initial first demo last year and now this their debut ep.  Sounding very much like Nails for the most part, fans of them couldn't go far wrong in checking this out.  10 short, sharp, primal bursts of speed and aggression that mug you in a darkened alleyway and leave your bloodied confused mess of a self to comprehend what the fuck just happened.  The entire 6 and a bit minute flurry (as well as their other releases) are available for name your price download on their bandcamp page.

Bandcamp (name your price)

Warsore - Violent Swing Discography (2012)

Genre: Grindcore
Country: Austalia

Australia's anarcho grind lunatics Warsore blazed a violent trail for a number of years before finally calling it a day.  This is essentially a collection of pretty much everything they ever did, 110 tracks in 101 minutes of pure pissed off and unrelenting rage.  No frills, no gimmicks, no posturing, just good angry in your face grind.

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The Cancer Kids - The Possible Dream (2006)

Genre: Powerviolence / Thrashcore
Country: United States

Another band that has came and went as fast as the wind blows Western Mass' The Cancer Kids play blistering fast hardcore with thrash influences.  Aside from a single track 7 inch and a split seven inch this was their only other output, however this one full length is brimming with anger and seemingly teeters on the edge of going off the rails completely at some points.  But just when you think everything is going to unravel in a burst of cathartic madness they pull things back into shape in the form of a groove or breakdown before punching you in the face with another blast fueled burst.  Fast, angry and utterly addictive, well worth your time.

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