Magrudergrind

Let's be honest: corporate sponsorship and punk don't mix. The two have about as volatile a relationship as potassium and water.

It's not surprising when bands like All Time Low and their neo-pop-punk Myspace generation kin sell out; they probably never hid their full intentions to sell out from their first practice together. For the sake of argument, let's just dismiss these aforementioned bands for what they are: thinly veiled pop artists disguised as "punk" or "emo" musicians.

In the alternate universe most readers of this blog probably live in, punk is an all-encompassing word that can mean a million different things and sound like a million different sounds. DIY releases, small-print labels run by kids out of their garages, low-fi tape duplications, anti-corporate lyrics, basement shows: these are just a few of the things that probably come to mind.

A few things that probably don't come to mind are the Toyota subsidiary Scion, corporations sponsoring metal concerts, and Magrudergrind, the legendary D.C. based grindcore band, putting out records on Scion's A/V record label.

Yes, you read correctly. Grindcore giants Magrudergrind's, (who have toured all over the world and released countless records over their long tenure as a well respected, anti-fascist, highly opinionated, DIY band over the years), new Grind Crusher 10" has been released for free by Scion A/V, who have hosted metal concerts and festivals featuring the likes of Trash Talk and Mastodon (not personal favorites of mine, I'd like to mention).

It certainly seems a far cry from the group who released an album called Don't Support Humanitary Aid Led By the Church. And the Scion logo isn't exactly hidden away in a corner on the insert or something; it's featured prominently at the bottom center of the record's front cover.

However, before we delve any further into why this might legitimately make any Magrudergrind fan jealous, let's take one step back.

There's really only one problem with any hardcore elitist who's attempting to talk shit on one of D.C.'s most well known bands for selling out: this record fucking shreds. And with song titles like "Incapacity Reigns" and "Conditioned Minds" it doesn't exactly sound like lead vocalist Avi has suddenly had a change of heart about his no-bullshit, anti-fascist, anti-scene politics, anti-capitalist values.

The album clocks in at somewhere around eleven minutes, and every single one of them seems to carry the band forward from their previous release, 2009's self titled LP. From the newly acquired production value to the hip-hop interludes that seem to have become a staple of the band's sound as they move forward, even from the guitar solo (?!?!) on the album's closing track, the five minute plus long "Cognition".

As bizarre as it may seem that out of all bands, of out any scene, Magrudergrind has put out a record via Scion A/V, they haven't suddenly started writing cheese metal music all the sudden.

And as a huge corporation, Toyota might not have the best of reputations, but we're not exactly supporting them if we take them up on their offer to download this album for free, are we? Or by supporting the band in any way shape or form.

I guess the best way for anyone to form an opinion, in this case, would probably be by letting the music speak for itself.

I think I've posted everything the band has released besides a two song sampler put out previous to the release of Religious Baffle. If I've missed anything, please post the release in the comments!



Recieve a FREE copy of the 10" when you pre-order it with another record or a T-shirt here.

Read the Brooklyn Vegan blog post here.

Read an editorial in opposition to Magrudergrind's decision here.

Read a supportive article here and here. Also features Magrudergrind's explanation of releasing the record through Scion.



Magrudergrind live at Obscene Extreme Fest (All songs from Rehashed, except one from Don't Support...:



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Don't Support Humanitary Aid Led By The Church (2003)



Religious Baffle (2003)



Magrudergrind/Vomit Spawn - "Not A Happy Meal For A 13 Year Old Girl Who Found Razor Blades In Her French Fries/Live? Split" (2004)



Magrudergrind/Akkolyte Split (2004)"



Owned!! (2004)



Sanity's Dawn/Magrudergrind - "Humanity In Decline" Split (2005)



Magrudergrind/Godstomper Split (2005)



Magrudergrind/A Warm Gun Split (2005)



Sixty Two Trax of Thrash (2005)



Magrudergrind/Shitstorm Split (2006)



Magrudergrind/Sylvester Staline Split (2006)



Rehashed (2007)



This Comp Kills Fascists Vol. 1 (2008)



Magrudergrind (2009)



Crusher 10" (2010)

The Cancer Kids

Perhaps the reason this record has seemed to fly under the radar in the hardcore world for so long is due to The Cancer Kid's extremely brief tenure as a band. They (as the now well-known story that has been passed around in reviews and on message boards goes) played only two shows as a band before suddenly retreating to their garage and penning 50 songs, before releasing 19 onto their debut and final LP, The Possible Dream.

Still, it seems that more people should have taken notice to these guys. Members have been associated with acts like Failures and Bucket Full of Teeth. Will Killingsworth engineered their album, in addition to releasing a one sided, one song 7" from the Possible Dream sessions on his Clean Plate label. Mark McCoy, of Charles Bronson/Das Oath/Holy Molar/Ancestors/Failures (etc, etc, etc) fame put out The Possible Dream on his Youth Attack label.

And yet, their LP, The Possible Dream, which was pressed to only 700 copies, JUST sold out through Youth Attack's mailorder. For some reason these guys remained overlooked for years. However, their name seems to be getting thrown around more and more. If you haven't given these guys a chance yet, I strongly recommend you do.

These guys serve up a powerful brand of hardcore, which some have labeled a nod to "West Coast Bandana Thrash", a tag I have to say, sounds absolutely ridiculous to me. If you like bands like Negative Approach, The Pist, or Infest, or if you like these guy's other projects (Bucket Full of Teeth, Failures), these guys are worth giving a shot. Their sound is defined by riffs pumped out at grind speeds (their 19 song album clocks in at just over 15 minutes), satirical and intelligent lyrics, and some of the most pummeling breakdowns ever pressed to vinyl.

Here's a video from their show at the Florence VFW Hall.



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Bostom Cream 7"





The Cancer Kids/Melee Split



The Possible Dream

Failures

I just got this nice little piece of vinyl in the mail today. Failures, as you probably already know by now, is a hardcore group from the Northeast U.S. featuring members of Charles Bronson, Das Oath, Ancestors, Orchid, Ampere, Bucket Full of Teeth, Confines, Cut the Shit, The Cancer Kids....the list goes on for a long fucking time.

This 7" features four songs, two on each side, and runs at just over three minutes. It's the perfect compliment to last year's self titled 12", and continues in the same vein; Killingsworth's guitar gymnastics take center stage as he pumps out riffs at breakneck speed. I have to say, every time I listen to this band I am continually amazed by Killingsworth's treble-drenched tone...it's honestly like nothing I've heard before. The rhythm section is still alive and kicking after the addition of new drummer Ryan (Bloody Gears, Blank Stare, Social Circkle, Confines) following the departure of Matt Milga (The Cancer Kids, Stoned Ambassadors).

And, as always, McCoy's trademark snarl lords over the entire recording. The songs on this record take aim at relationships through the lens of McCoy's hyper-cynicism. Sample lyric from "Rearing":

Congrats on your new baby if it was deliberate!

These guys are continuing to push Hardcore music to new places, musically and lyrically, while still giving that subtle nod to the 80's.



Purchase the 7" from Painkiller Records here.

Download the Failures 12" here.


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Failures 7" (2009)

Cut the Shit

Cut the Shit was a band from Boston that played thrashcore rooted in the mid '80's sound with little to no frills. Basically, this is hardcore like it should be. Simple, yet insightful and engaging lyrics, and short, and intense songs that don't sound too much alike one another without getting too wanky. There are moments where these guys "rock out", but they know how to keep it brief - for example, check out the ends of "From Bad to Worse" or "Pushed Too Far", both on 2003's Harmed and Dangerous LP, which may be my favorite release by these guys.

Marked for Life contains material from a new LP, as well as their one sided Shut up and Play 7" and the Bored to Death EP. 27 tracks in about 16 1/2 minutes says it all.

The singer of this band now plays bass in Failures.

Check it out!


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Bored to Death 7"



Harmed and Dangerous 2003



Marked For Life 10" (2004)