Articles
NORA
Save yourself (2007/TRUSTKILL)
NEW-SCHOOL HARDCORE.. Lifelong hardcore scene veterans committed to the most forward-thinking end of the heavy music spectrum, NORA infuses their material with dark humor and creative energy. The 10 new tracks ranging from messages of glowing positivity, to examinations of self-doubt in the face of failure, to the simple truths of finding balance and sticking to your guns. NORA's lyrics provide an beacon of hope on this staggering blow of hard-hitting, manic paced, brutal assault on hardcore.
NORSKA
s/t (2012/BRUTAL PANDA)
DOOM/SLUDGE-METAL. Portland doom and sludge titans NORSKA, featuring members of YOB finally released their 1st full-length release via Brutal Panda. Mixing heavy, meditative riffs and a thundering rhythm section with psychedelic flourishes, NORSKA prove they are true masters of their craft. For fans of YOB, ELECTRIC WIZARD, HIGH ON FIRE.
NORTH LINCOLN
midwestern blood (2009/NO IDEA)
EMO-PUNK. Hailing from the reeling metropolis of Grand Rapids, deeply rooted in a community that rode the post-industrial wave of collapse and still struggles to keep its head above water, NORTH LINCOLN embodies a newer wave of working-class punk-rock that ditches the anthemic trappings of Boston and New York and instead builds on the melancholy hymns of luminaries like JAWBREAKER and LEATHERFACE.
NORTH LINCOLN
s/t (2009/KISS OF DEATH)
EMO-PUNK. Despite calling Grand Rapids home, NORTH LINCOLN embody a sound more reminiscent of bands from Gainesville like HOT WATER MUSIC, or the more melodic moments of legends LEATHERFACE or JAWBREAKER.
NORTH OF AMERICA
Brothers, sisters (2003/LEVEL PLANE)
POST HARDCORE. With discordant yet melodic guitars pushed forward by a driving and stinging rhythm section, Halifax's NORTH OF AMERICA shows us that Canadians rock as hard, if not harder than their southern compatriots. Taking rhythmic and vocal cues from bands like FUGAZI and mixing them with textures familiar to fans of AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF THE DEAD, Brothers, Sisters brings the band's sound into 2003 with a loud crash and a new kind of melody. Fans of competent and fashion-free rock and roll will be sure to embrace NORTH OF AMERICA with open arms and hail the dawn of a fresh Canadian sound.
NORTH OF AMERICA
Sepultura (2002/LEVEL PLANE)
POST-HARDCORE. A CD reissue of the "Sepultura" MCD from unsung Halifax indie-rockers NORTH OF AMERICA. Originally released by the group on vinyl, you get 6 balanced and well-crafted songs that move between angular post-punk and latter-day hardcore styles.
NORTH SIDE KINGS
suburban royalty (2008/I SCREAM)
HARDCORE-PUNK. NORTH SIDE KINGS are back again with their sophomore effort "suburban royalty". Through the years NORTH SIDE KINGS have made their presence known across the world with their no holds barred attitude and their blunt honesty. Often considered offensive, this band carries no middle ground. Musically, NORTH SIDE KINGS delivers a heavy-handed shakedown of traditional hardcore-punk with plenty of catchy choruses and gang vocals. Also showcased on many tracks is a distinct street-punk sound, akin to bands such as DROPKICK MURPHYS and ANTI HEROES. This is the real deal, straightforward and to the point.
NORTHERN TOWNS
good as god (2009/SWAGGER CITY)
PUNK-ROCK. "good as gold" is NORTHERN TOWNS' vinyl debut and contains material from their beloved demo alongside tracks new to this release. Fronted by former OVER MY DEAD BODY vocalist Daniel, their sound and style has been aptly described as stylized by British mod-polish and shambolic skinhead anthems, baptized by the violence and high decibel destruction of punk and hardcore. 10" includes a download card.
NORTHLESS
clandestine abuse (2011/HALO OF FLIES)
SLUDGE/DOOM-HARDCORE. Since adding 2 additional members to the lineup (the band started as a duo) NORTHLESS has expanded on their original style of atmospheric sludgy-metal-hardcore in the vein of GRIEF and SLEEP and gone beyond the barrier that holds lesser bands back. This progression enabled NORTHLESS to break through into new territory and write truly exceptional songs, more focused, more dense. Limited edition of 664 copies. DoLP includes a digital download card.
NORTHLESS
no quarter for the damaged (2009/HALO OF LIES)
SLUDGE/DOOM-HARDCORE. Fresh off of a split with PROTESTANT, Wisconsin natives NORTHLESS bring 4 tracks of slowed down sludge and doom to this LP in the vein of bands like GRIEF, SLEEP, 16 and NEUROSIS. LP includes the CD version too. Limited to just 500 copies.
NORTHLESS
valley of land (2013/HALO OF LIES)
SLUDGE/DOOM-HARDCORE. Milwaukee’s sludge- and doom-rockers are back in discography with the most genre-defying album to date. Once more NORTHLESS feature down-tuned, heavy, sludge-laden riffs, intense drumming, and a hell of harsh/angry vocals, able to satisfy every hungry ear of this genre. What bring "valley of lead" to the limelight are the post-driven breaks that create an almost suffocating atmosphere, giving the listener a one-way ticket to infinity. Cover made of very heavy plywood - yes, plywood. Limited to 300 copies on green vinyl edition includes a digital download card.
NORTHSTAR
is this thing loaded (2012/TRIPLE CROWN)
EMO-PUNK. Classic debut from Alabama’s NORTHSTAR available on vinyl. Formed in 1998 and signing with Triple Crown, the band released the debut full-length in 2002 to critical and fan praise. The album is a powerful mix of sounds that bridges the gap between today’s punk-rock, emo and pop. This Southern quartet keep things dirty and dingy with a sound approximating HOT WATER MUSIC with a little hardcore on the pop end of the spectrum thrown in.
NORTHWEST COMPANY
hard to cry (2012/UGLY POP)
GARAGE/PUNK-ROCK. Vancouver's legendary NORTHWEST COMPANY released a fair number of records, but nothing touched this impossible-to-find 1967 debut for sheer roughness. "hard to cry" is a wild, fast punk screamer withnasty proto-metal riffing and a caveman rhythm section and the flip's a similarly aggressive pounder with some serious frustration bleeding through. Clearly inspired by the toughest early KINKS and THE WHO, this is one of the most very sought after of all Canadian garage records, but now's your chance to pick up a high-quality, authorized reissue with excellent remastered sound and brand new sleeve.
NOSTALGIST
monochromatic (2013/KATORGA WORKS)
POST-PUNK. Only 300 made and a more expensive than the average Katorga Works release. Seattle's NOSTALGIST descend into a realm of dark sonics on their debut release, meshing the cold solitude of '80s post-punk like SISTERS OF MERCY with the warm, shoegazing heft of SLOWDIVE. Shimmering melody haunts the slow, reflective trudge of "illusory", while "twisting, slowly" sticks a lush, dreamy respite in the middle of an otherwise propulsive charge. Ten minutes of enveloping melancholy.
NOT ASTRAY
s/t (2007/OPEN LETTER)
HARDCORE. NOT ASTRAY are from Germany and they fuck shit up. The debut 7" delivers 8 peerless tracks of fast to slow, violent and explosive hardcore with pissed vocals. If your into the new line of german bands, like A.Y.S., NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, ITALIAN STALLION etc. you should check this well done piece of vinyl. Limited colored edition and handnumbered!
