Here’s another quick rundown of worthy hardcore releases that have accumulated here in tha past couple weeks. Dublin’s Flower Power already had a kickass EP out last year and on their newest one, they subtly dial down the (still quite prominent, mind you) garage foundations of their hardcore ruckus that’s alternately strikingly simple and unexpectedly elaborate in other places, channeled into a perfectly dialed-in fuzzy lo-fi aesthetic that sounds like a mixture between Stunted Youth, a touch of Lumpy and the Dumpers and that whole Stucco/Impotent Fetus and Delux Bias school of quality filth. Next up are Ultimatum from Pittsburgh, who adhere a bit more to a fairly classic sounding hardcore formula but spike that whole thing with some seemingly NWOBHM-inspired riffing that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Poison Ruïn record, which in combination with an undeniable knack for catchy hooks makes for a neat sonic jackhammer indeed. Third addition to our growing collection of power tools is Boston group Feeble Minds who take the oldschool vibes even further here while never failing to massage the synapses with plenty of catchy ear candy that serves as the basis for their rabid band performance. If all of that is still a bit too clever and newfangled for your tastes, maybe give the demo of Glasgow’s Attest a spin, which does indeed sound like something stuck in a classic-era early eighties timeloop and i’ll say dog bless ’em for that!
