NWOGNB in 2K18

It's almost a pre-requisite now for any band looking to make waves to label themselves as belonging to their own sub-genre as soon as they throw all the unsold copies of their limited to 5 CDR demo in the bin, but as will be abundantly apparent to anyone who has been following the label, zine, or any of my other project, Thisclose, over the past 6 or 7 years there is only one genre which matters to me, The New Wave of the Grave New Beat, and 2018 has produced some fantastic releases which, in my humble opinion, can proudly fly the NWOGNB banner. In no particular orderhere are my top three recommendations for 2018.



Sexplosion - Vol. 3: Nouvel Age Des Tenebres

The comparisons to Gism are easy and appropriate, but it's the whole package of over the top image, in-it-for-life attitude and top-notch musicianship that provide the meat on the bone here. A power-house of nightmare incarnate, dirty hardcore for dirty people living in a dirty world - keeping the true punk spirit real into 2019 - hopefully I will get to catch them live in 2019.




Decade - World Stops Turning




A real coming of age for these Canadian lads,they first got in touch with me before they even had a demo out and, I'll be honest, while I enjoyed the demo when it emerged it did not strike me in the way I was expecting. fast forward to December 2018 and the gauntlet has well and truly been lain down, Decade delivering a visionary take of the Discharge sound, the embodiment of the NWOGNB and a unique record which will be talked about for years to come.



偏執症者 - Heavy Mental Fuck-Up!

Another home-run from everyone's favourite modern-day Swedish Mangel-meisters. Raging hardcore mixed with metallic flourishes (fuck, the Kill 'Em All nod on the first tracked KILLED ME!) without ever falling into the 'metal-punk' bucket. This is angry, powerful music that makes you want to throw your sofa out the window, set fire to the curtains, sell your family, mainline white lightning and howl at the moon - for heavy mental fuck-ups ONLY!