Game News: Archos GamePad

Gaming on portable devices like smartphones or tablets is hot! Mainly because you (most likely) always carry one of the two with you (unless you still live in the stone age) and the games on it are free or dirt cheap. The only problem with them is that the controls who don't support the touch screen (you all know what I'm talkin' about...) are sometimes pretty tough to play on a phone or tablet! Archos comes with the solution!

Coming this year they will drop the Archos Gamepad! A 7" tablet with a 1,5 ghz processor that runs on Android 4 with a 8 gig harddrive and... a build in gamepad! It will go on sale for 150 euro / dollar and I personally can't wait for it. Too bad I recently bought a Samsung tablet, but I'm sure my girlfriend wont mind me buying this one if she gets the old one... Right?

News: Razorblade Sign US Deal with Longshot Music

Razorblade signed with Longshot Music for the American release of their upcoming album 'Days Of Glory'. Longshot Music will only publish the vinyl release and will be in coöperation with Rebellion Records.

 

News: Cracks & Scars Debut Out Now!

New Dutch based label Aggrobeat, who will focus on anything from Oi! to reggae just released the debut album 'Stick To Your Guns' (cd version) from Cracks & Scars hailing from Germany. A promo copy was in the mailbox today so expect a review any time soon!

Game News: Under Defeat HD

Under Defeat is a 7 year old game that came out first in the arcades in 2005 and later on in 2006 it was one of the last games that came out on Sega's Dreamcast (RIP). Earlier this year a HD upgraded version of this shoot 'em up got released in Japan on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. European fans of the shmup genre can get ready and buckle up, because UK based Rising Star Games is preparing a release for this fall! Stay tuned for more information and a review when the time's there for some bullet hell action!

Video: Hard Resistance - Conform.Consume.Obey.

Belgian hardcore formation recently released their comeback album 'Lawless & Disorder' through Strength Records. Today they dropped their first official promotional videoclip of the album from the song 'Conform. Consume. Obey', check it out!

Lifestyle: Rollin' Down South

On the 2nd of september RAAF (Rotterdam Art Adventure Food) presents the first rollin' down south! A route of 9.5 (or 13 for the die-hards!) kilometers through the Rotterdam-South for all (long)boarders of Rotterdam and beyond. RAAF provides you with a map which takes you to the best parts Rotterdam-South has to offer. It's not all just ghetto you know... RAAF HQ provides the rest of the day with lunch, art and music. For more information check RAAF's website!

News: Vitamin X Are About To Crack!

Vitamin X are about to drop their 5th album, 'About To Crack' on Tankcrimes! Once again expect some sweet looking artwork, amazing vinyl and fast rippin' hardcore punk produced by Steve Albini from these Dutchies!

Video: Green Day - Oh Love

The video of Green Day's first single 'Oh Love' of the upcoming album '¡UNO!' premiered tonight, check it out below!

'

¡UNO!' is set for release on the 25th of september and is part one of a serie of three records called '¡UNO!', '¡DOS!' and '¡TRÉ!'

News: European Hardcore Party 2012

First Eindhoven, then Maastricht and now after a few years of abscense the European Hardcore Party returns to Hamme, Belgium. I don't know where it is, but I still have some time to figure that out, because the festival isn't until the 1st of december. In the meantime some new names got announced today, which means the line up is now:

Spider Crew, The Last Resort, Hard Resistance, Tech 9, Do Or Die, Crawlspace, No Turning Back, Deafness By Noize, Razorblade, Discipline, Convict, All For Nothing and Lost In Da System.

More names plus the headliner will be announced soon!

Games: Neo-Geo; Return Of The Mack!

When you are a game collector and got expensive taste, the Neo-Geo systems is where it's at. The MVS (arcade), AES, CD and pocket carried some of the most collectable games back in the day, and still today some of the games are worth hundreds, or in some cases, thousands (!) of dollars. Since I sold all my Neo-Geo stuff a few years back I got a little excited when I heard the news a couple of months ago that Neo-Geo would get back on the consolemarket!

I got a little less psyched when I found out it would be a, rather simple, handheld, but now the excitement level is back up again when I saw the full package! Not only do you get the slick looking handheld with twenty SNK classics on it, but you also get a docking station that looks just like the old AES system with an arcade stick, and the best part of it is... you can connect the docking station onto your tv and play all those classics once again.

So, why would you buy this for 200 bucks (and most likely 200 euro's) if you already got or had the original systems, the compilations that came out through out the years for various other systems and what not? Because it's nostalgic and can only be understood with the few who owned an AES system back in the day, just like me...

Neo-Geo X Gold drops worldwide on the 6th of december and has the following games pre-installed:
3 COUNT BOUT
LEAGUE BOWLING
ART OF FIGHTING II
MAGICIAN LORD
ALPHA MISSION II
METAL SLUG
BASEBALL STARS II
MUTATION NATION
CYBER LIP
NAM 1975
FATAL FURY
PUZZLED
FATAL FURY SPECIAL
REAL BOUT - FATAL FURY SPECIAL
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '95
SAMURAI SHODOWN II
KING OF THE MONSTERS
SUPER SIDEKICKS
LAST RESORT
WORLD HEROES PERFECT

News: Gewoon Fucking Raggen Release

Yes! Demo tapes! They still get released! And I still love 'em! Rotterdam area based band Gewoon Fucking Raggen just released a tape of 17 minutes with 16 tracks of pure hardcore violence!

Pick it up at one of their shows, or contact them through their Facebook and they'll hook you up with some 'Kruiskade Deathwish'!

This also reminds me I still have to pick up a tapedeck...

Review: Noi!se - Pushing On

Noi!se is in my humble opinion one of the leaders of the new wave of American Oi! and streetpunk bands debuting soon with a full length album on GMM Records. But since their start in 2009 they put out three vinyl releases and for those suckers who don't own a record player those slabs of wax got put together on one handy cd by Longshot Music and Step-1 Music.

So what you get is the 'Walks Besides Us' 7", 'This Is Who We Are' 10", the split ep with The Gestalts and then some on a disc in a nifty looking digipack with fifteen top notch tracks that remind me of The Bruisers 'Cruisin' For A Bruisin''. Not too bad to be compared to with if you ask me!

I have high hopes for Noi!se's future and I can't wait to hear the upcoming full length. Noi!se ain't noise, can't put it simpler than that!

Review: The Ducky Boys - Chemicals

It's been a while since I have listened to The Ducky Boys, but it seems like they're back and stronger than ever! Earlier this year they made their comeback with 'Chasing The Ghost' after radio silence of six or so years, and just a few months after this seventeen (!) track comeback they're back to hit us up with another four brand new tunes up for grabs at the Bandcamp site of their label State Line Records.

Altough The Ducky Boys were on GMM Records back in the day, they were never your typical streetpunk band. They always had a significant sound that seperated them from the rest and you either loved or hated it. In 2012 not much has changed and it's all for the better of it. With excellent songs and good use of the vocal capabilities of the band members they still stand out of the crowd with a sound that is almost un-streetpunk like.

Hopefully they keep on releasing good work like this with just a few months in between, that's one way for making up of not releasing anything for six years...

Review: Slapshot - I Believe

If I had to sell all my hardcore records and got to keep it all from one band it would definatly be Slapshot. In my opinion the best (straight edge) hardcore band of all time who delivered classics like 'Back On The Map', 'Step On It', '16 Valve Hate' and 'Old Tyme Hardcore'. Altough they can't do much wrong in my book I didn't got much into later records such as 'Digital Warfare' and 'Tear It Down'. Still anything new by these Boston veterans is worth listening to, because I believe they're still capable of bringing back that old feeling.

Okay sorry, that was a lame word joke, because this new single is called 'I Believe'. Which makes me wonder what took the band so long, because as far I can recall this song was already on the net last year. It's still a good song either way, but the other new song 'Rejected' is what it's all about and makes me psyched about a new record! The Devo cover 'Gates Of Steel' is quite alright as well, but I want to hear more new stuff... soon! Thanks in advance!

News: No Doubt Tracklist Revealed

The tracklist of Gwen and co., also known as No Doubt, upcoming record has been revealed today! The new album 'Push And Shove' will feature eleven brand new tracks including the single 'Settle Down'.

'Push And Shove' will hit the shelves on the 25th of september!

Review: Klasse Kriminale / The Old Firm Casuals - Stesso Sangue

Earlier this year The Old Firm Casuals did a small tour through Italy with this country Oi! legends Klasse Kriminale. I love Klasse Kriminale, but mainly I'm a fan of their old stuff and stopped buying their later records after the dissapointing 'Electric Caravanas' album in '98. Still I was curious what they had to bring on this split ep.

And frankly, it's nothing new. Both songs brought by these veterans are oldies but goodies! At least, I think... The first track 'Davide' sounds awfully familiar but since my Italian is poor to really bad I can't place it, like 'wtf?'. It is re-recorded though. The second track 'La Ragazza Dalla T-shirt Degli Angelic Upstarts' is also a track from way back and on this ep it's a live version.

The Old Firm Casuals deliver two brand new tracks (of course), 'Rat Race' and 'Red, White & Blue'. Yet again solid songs, but not their best work! So if you are short on cash and can blow your money on just one 7" I'd suggest you pick up their latest split with Evil Conduct which is also reviewed on this site!

Lifestyle: Rotterdam Skyline

Last weekend my girlfriend and I went up the famous Euromast Tower in Rotterdam. From the Euromast you have an amazing view over the skyline of Rotterdam and beyond (with clear weather that is). Here are some panorama shots I took!

(Click to enlarge)

Video: Razorblade - Warrior Tribe

Dutch Oi! band Razorblade leaked a pre-master version of their new song 'Warrior Tribe' on Youtube today. It's a track from the upcoming album 'Days Of Glory' which is suppose to hit the streets next month! Check it out!

News: Transplants Album In The Mix!

If you follow the Transplants on Facebook and especially on Twitter, you might have noticed that they're working on the new, third album, for quite some time now. And guess what? All is recorded and the mixing has begun! Can't wait for this record to drop!

Review: The King Blues - Long Live The Struggle

I am a big fan of the Transplants. Last year a friend of mine adviced me to check out The King Blues album 'Punk & Poetry' because he said it reminded him of the Transplants. Of course I did not do this right away because I used to be lazy like that but when I finally did... BOOM! I was blown away instantly by the variety, anger and amazing lyrics the album held. Without a doubt I can say 'Punk & Poetry' is my favorite record of last year and The King Blues became one of my favorite bands in general, despite of the fact I wasn't really into their earlier stuff. The more I was psyched about the new album 'Long Live The Struggle', which is unfortunatly their last installment because the band recently broke up.

Due to the fact that the band split up, which apparently took a lot of shit throwing along with it, there are a lot of mixed opinions and reviews about 'Long Live The Struggle'. I am not going to get into that, simply because I don't care what happened and just want to go for the music. And though that this album might not be as angry as their previous record it's still an amazing mix of punkrock, hip hop, ska/reggae, pop music and even some dubstep which made me fall in love with the sound of this band in the first place, just like the Transplants do. And to remain in their spirit, Tim Armstrong can be heard on the track 'Booted Out Of Hell'.

So the only problem I really have with 'Long Live The Struggle' is that it is The King Blues' last album. Bummer!

News: New Evil Conduct Album!

The new album from Dutch Oi! legends Evil Conduct will hit the streets on the 1st of october! Don't want to wait that long? Head over to their gigs on the 15th of september in Leipzig or the 22nd of september in Aachen to be the one of the first to pick up their fifth record 'Working Class Anthems'

News: Famous SAS Fall Drop

For those who don't know, Famous Stars And Straps is doing their thing since '99 and was put on the map thanks to owner Travis Barker, who you might know from Blink 182, The Transplants, +44 and his so-so solo stuff.

Today the brand dropped their brand new fall collection with brand new shirts, sweaters, caps, jackets and what not! All orders in continental USA get free shipping on all orders above 40 bucks so cop that today over at the Famous Stars And Straps webstore!

News: Rebellion Records Package Deals!

Lot's of awesome package deals are now up for pre-order in the webstore of the Dutch label Rebellion Records! What about the brand new, and long awaited, 7" of Badlands. The new ten ton hammer of Razorblade? Or the re-release of Agnostic Front's 'Cause For Alarm' on the brand new Strength Records label?

Go check out the Rebellion Webshop now!

Music: Death March

New band in town... Death March!

Skinhead Rob (Aston) of Expensive Taste and, mainly, The Transplants fame has a new band called Death March.

If you're in the LA / Frisco area you can check 'em out live within the next couple of weeks when they will perform with the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Left Alone, Los Creepers and Tiger Army.

If you're not, you can check out their tunes on their Facebook page!

Personally I just want a new Transplants record!!! Only a few more months... I think... Death March on Facebook can be checked rrrrriiiight... HERE!

Video: Noi!se - Rising Tide

One of the new wave of American close shave! Awesome band coming with a record on the legendary GMM Records label soon!

Review: Evil Conduct / The Old Firm Casuals - Oi! Rules... OK!

Sooooo, here we got the millionth (split) 7" of The Old Firm Casuals together with a band that Lars Fredriksen likes and supports, this time with our very own Evil Conduct!

You can say what you want about Lars Fredriksen, but I think he's got his heart in the right place. He keeps on releasing vinyl on small labels, who he also supports that way because his Rancid fame makes these records sell like crazy, he supports the Oi! scene by doing split releases like this which makes these bands known to Rancid fans who are into punk / streetpunk but aren't really known to this sound and I have to admit; besides the mediocore debut 7", he can write some good sing-a-longs as well!

So goes for the song 'For The Love Of It All' on this record. Same can be said for Evil Conduct of course. These Dutch Oi!sters have been around the block for quite some time as well, and though almost every song sounds the same you should never change a winning team, and the Conduct doesn't with 'Working Class Heroes'.

Easy pick-up for anyone who is into Oi! music.



Review: Marching Orders - Songs Of Yesterday

Marching Orders aren't exactly a new band, these guys from Down Under have been around for a few years now, but it wasn't until last year that they caught my attention with the album 'Days Gone By' and the ep 'Nation Of Ghosts'. Contra Records and Longshot Music team up again to bring Marching Orders' first release of 2012 in the form of a new vinyl single called 'Songs Of Yesterday'.

Only two songs are on here, and one of them is a cover by The Professionals, so there isn't much to say about this record besides that it kicks ass and makes me long for a new full-length from these Aussie lads! This isn't your typical Oi! band, so when you're into Oi!, streetpunk or streetrock you'll either love or hate this band, there isn't really a middle road but I love it. So let's just hope it won't just remain with songs of yesterday and these skins get back into the studio to record the songs of tomorrow!

Review: The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

After the magnificent debut album 'Sink Or Swim', the ep 'Senor And The Queen' you didn't quite understand after hearing the follow up album 'The '59 Sound' and the third installment 'American Slang' that hardly got any plays by me it's time to get addicted again by the amazing sound of The Gaslight Anthem with their latest record 'Handwritten'!

Addictive because I got this album little less than a week now and it hardly got out of my cd-drive since then and same goes for my mp3-player where it's hard to pick another record to listen to because this pearl is in the playlists as well. Something I didn't expect after 'American Slang'! I mean, it was a good album, but in the end it didn't really caught me like their two previous albums did. 'Handwritten' is catchy as hell and has it all!

The slow songs, the fast songs, the acoustic songs, the happiness, the melancholy, the catchy hooks and the brilliant songwriting and lyrics. What more could you wish for? Maybe some bonus trac... oh wait, there are three on the deluxe version. One own song and two covers from Nirvana and Tom Petty which are also great.

For me this is the album of 2012 and if The Gaslight Anthem keeps on heading into the direction they set with 'Handwritten' The Boss can finally retire in a couple of years. Amen!