Okay, moving on. It's December so it's time for a yearlist. All in all, 2018 was a great year for hardcore, with a ton of awesome releases. I couldn't cut it down to 10 releases, so I left it at 15 this time. It's got bands from around the globe, which is always a good sign IMHO: Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany and the USA.
In alphabetical order:
Crowsview - Lost Resistance
H8000 meets Arkangel meets Kickback. Do I need to say more?
Caged Existence - The Body Cage
Excellent and heavy metalcore from Australia with an animal rights stance. They just re-released the 7" on CD with 2 extra tracks.
Dying Wish - Dying Wish 2018
This is one angry, pissed off and hard demo. I love it!
xEDENISGONEx - Become A Curse
Vegan straight-edge metalcore just the way we like it over at OnexPath.
Envision - A World Unseen
South Florida vegan straight edge hardcore that could have been released in 1995.
Eyes Of Tomorrow - Gone For Good 7"
Great and catchy up-tempo hardcore that takes me back to going to shows in the Rurhpott area in Germany where these guys are from.
Gray State - Our Final Regret
Excellent metalcore from Finland. Mosh it up at -20C!
Great Reversals - Stalactite
This band has been going strong since, what, 2009? Why this band isn't better known is beyond me.
Ill Natured - Twisted Visions
HEAVY punishing metalcore from Australia.
Lift - Harsh Light Of The Truth
Connecticut hardcore that reminds me of 90s hardcore bands like Turmoil, Snapcase and One King Down. Addictive shit!
Mindforce - Excalibur
Mindforce keeps up the high level of their previous records. Thrash-y crossover hardcore.
Regulate - In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
Strong Island hardcore. Excellent follow-up to their 'Years Of Rage' 7". The groove is strong with this one!
Vein - errorzone
Mathcore that's stripped down, to the point and highly moshable. And they absolutely destroy live.
Victim To None - Divine Understanding
Excellent crossover thrash/hardcore from Salt Lake City.
Violent Life Violent Death - Come, Heavy Breath
I stumbled upon this band while checking bandcamp recommendations... They got it right!
Some bands who had great releases in 2018 but didn't make the final cut (but who you should still check out!): Harm's Way, Eco-Defense League, Bring Your Demise, Forward To Eden, xDevourx, xreignx, Forewarned, Revolve, Embitter...
And now some special mentions...
Also massive props to Rick and Justin at Warthog Speak, for unearthing 24 year old recordings by Bound (aka Hatchetface) that were never released before. I didn't want to add it to the regular list, but it's also too amazing not to mention:
And last but not least, props to AJ (Path To Misery blog/band, Preserving Silence Records & Distro) and his current band Facewreck for the hardest video of the year.
Best wishes for 2019, and thanks so much for keeping an interest in OnexPath and especially 90s hardcore!
