Vinyl
USA IS A MONSTER
r.i.p. (2011/NORTHERN SPY)
NOISE-ROCK. "r.i.p.", the last album from USA IS A MONSTER, forces us to face mortality as we bid farewell to the darkly jolly duo. "r.i.p." is by far USA IS A MONSTER’s most accessible release - a swan song of a group at the top of its form, flowing with ease through psychedelia, stoner rock, prog, and even political disintegration. Featuring the far out jams and odd time signatures that have blanketed the band’s previous output. Somehow the band’s strange tendencies have morphed over time into an equally bizarre cohesion. The album brims with anthems of schizophrenic delight and voices shooting off in various directions, each telling a childish story, while bombastic percussion and psychedelic prog swirl. "ri.i.p." stands as a strong testament to the will of USA IS A MONSTER.
USED, THE
vulnerable (2012/HOPELESS)
EMO/POST-HARDCORE. THE USED, a rock band reigning from Utah, formed in 2001. Since its inception, the band has released 4 previous albums. With over 3million albums sold worldwide, THE USED continues to create music that they stand behind 100%. All in all, "vulnerable" is a solid, diverse and very enjoyable album that brings experimentation and reminiscences from older stuff. Fans of the band should enjoy this, but people who never liked it definitely won’t change their mind. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
USELESS CHILDREN
post ending/pre completion (2012/IRON LUNG)
NOISE/POST-PUNK. The trip just got real heavy. Effects-soaked noise rock of the highest order from the country down-under, squealing and smashing it's way into our hearts. This magma flows hot and loud with the help of Alex Newport's industrial mixing tendencies and USELESS CHILDREN's uniquely twisted style of sonic craft. There is even a guest appearance by none other than Rick FEEDTIME. If that isn't the australian noise seal of approval then noone can't help you any further than this. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
USELESS EATERS
zulu (2011/P. TRASH)
PUNK-ROCK. After a couple essential 7"s on Shattered, Goner, Goodbye Boozy,... and a great 1st album, the USELESS EATERS are back with another strike: a 9 song LP. This is timeless unique music, catching the spirit and energy and rage of the first generation of so called punk bands to the deconstruction and nihilism of weird post-punk sound like JOY DIVISION to KBD fucking punk sound aka THE LEWD, URINALS or BOBBY SOXX. The songs are sharp, tight and stripped down to bare necessities. Fans of fellow Memphis punk bands like FINAL SOLUTIONS, JAY REATARD or DESTRUCTION UNIT will love them.
USELESS ID
symptoms (2012/FAT WRECK CHORDS)
PUNK-ROCK. What's more punk-rock than being a punk in the Middle East? Armed with 18 years of experience and a tour history these boys from Haifa City have finally found a home with longtime friends Fat Wreck Chords for the release of "symptoms". The 12 tracks on ooze with all the irresistible appeal of songs popularized by genre heavyweights RISE AGAINST, NO USE FOR A NAME, yet clearly maintain a cohesive and unique perspective from start to finish. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
USELESS ID
the lost broken bones (2008/RUDE)
PUNK-ROCK. Israel's USELESS ID have garnered punk-rock fame worldwide through stints on the Warped Tour, 3 records for Kung Fu and appearances on multiple Fat Wreck Chords compilatons, shedding light into their lifestyle and homeland. "the lost broken bones" is the band's most evolved album to date, with 12 tracks of well-produced melodic punk-rock with political and social overtones.
USNEA
s/t (2013/ORCA WOLF)
SLUDGE/DOOM-METAL. USNEA fuse elements of funeral and death-doom, sludge-metal, black-metal, and drone. Oppressive tone and volume combine with lyrics searching for meaning in a world full of oppression, human hierarchy and bleakness and fueled by the anger and despondency that are it's by-product. Includes poster and a digital download card with 2 bonus tracks.
USURPRESS
trenches of the netherworld (2012/ICONOCLAST)
DEATH-METAL. At times it can be hard to tell whether this is a metal album with crust influences or vice versa. The title track, with it's pronounced d-beat, seems to argue in favor of a metallic version of punk, but elsewhere the band represent pretty straightforward death-metal, albeit with a modern hardcore production (think in terms of the recent Southern Lord sound). In general, though, the band do a pretty good job of paying equal lip service to both crust and vintage death-metal. These guys aren't willing to settle for promise or potential, they're here to rip your fucking head off right out of the gate. Former members of DISKONTO, DELLAMORTE to name a few.
UTOPIA NOW
#2 (2012/UTOPIA NOW)
HARDCORE/PUNK. Die zweite Ausgabe des UTOPIA NOW Fanzines wartet ein Jahr nach dem Erscheinen der #1 mit einigen Veränderungen auf. Neues Format, neue Mitstreiter und alles soo viel besser (oder so). Auch in der 2. Ausgabe kommen Bands und Persönlichkeiten zu Wort, die sich dem d.i.y.-Gedanken verschrieben haben. Dieses Mal mit NIHIL BAXTER, SOUL CONTROL, xCURRAHEEx, Marc (GLASSES/TRAINWRECK), sowie ein dickes Interview mit Markus von Per Koro Records. Ausserdem wieder mit im Heft: "Back in the Days" mit Nik (früher war alles...), Fluff 2011 (What is hip?), "Look, Listen and Read" (Reviews) und Kolumnen ("Der flexible Mensch").
UV POP
no songs tomorrow (2012/SACRED BONES)
POST-PUNK. UV POP were an early '80s post-punk group from the South Yorkshire region of England. Their sound was regionally bleak and they used staccato, angular guitars lines, with vocals ranged from spoken repeated mantras to whispered and shouted political poetics. The british Rough Trade charts for one week in 1982 tell a very interesting story. Alongside acts of the caliber of Sisters of Mercy, Robert Wyatt, Sex Gang Children and Virgin Prunes are UV POP - their place well-earned.
UV RACE, THE
i hate you (2010/FASHIONABLE IDIOTS)
PUNK-ROCK. This is the 3rd 7" from Melbourne, Australia's THE UV RACE and it might find them at their best? Boasting members of EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING etc. these Aussies crank through 4 more hits of their signature name it KBD-punk.
UZALA / MALA SUERTE
split (2012/KING OF THE MONSTERS)
DOOM/SLUDGE-METAL. Long awaited split between UZALA (Idaho and Oregon) and MALA SUERTE (Texas). Each band offer up 1 new monstrous of heavy doom and gloom. UZALA contributes "burning", which is a 5min. vintage doom cut. On the flip side, MALA SUERTE adds their psychedelic twist to vintage doom with their contribution, "the veil of secrecy". MALA SUERTE are the veterans of the split, having released their 1st demo in 2001. Their overall sound is rooted in vintage doom psychedelia, with some sludge injects at the back end of the track.
v/a BEST FRIENDS DAY
(0/)
HARDCORE/PUNK. This well done compilation comes with chip board cover with hand screened art work and a fanzine that accompanies each band's song. The record includes exclusives from 13 bands such as MUNICIPAL WASTE, KYLESA, IRON LUNG, PINK RAZORS, ENVIROMENTAL YOUTH CRUNCH, BRAINWORMS, ULTRA DOLPHINS, SACK TRUCK, DYNAMITE ARROWS, DEADFALL, RAGER, BEST FRIENDS, and TIGERSHARK. This sampler also benefits "Best Friends Day" and a friend of the label who is working in El Salvador to help build up a school.
v/a I THRASH, THEREFORE I AM
(0/)
HARDCORE-PUNK. Originally released as a BCT tape in 1984, this compilation contains tracks by some of the most important and influential Scandinavian hardcore and punk bands of all time. This features mostly Swedish bands like ANTI CIMEX, MOB 47, EXISTENZ, PRODUCT ASSAR, MODERAT LIKVIDATION, but also AKUTT INNLEGGELSE (Norway) and ENOLA GAY (Denmark) are involved for a total of 30 tracks. The stinkers from the original tapes, either due to sound or song quality have been removed so this blazes all the way through with hardly a bad song. One word: classic!
v/a NEW YORK CITY HARDCORE: THE WAY IT IS
(1988/REVELATION)
HARDCORE. This full-length compilation is considered by many to be a classic, documenting NYC hardcore as it was in 1988. More than just a straight-edge collection, it compiled bands from all facets of the hardcore scene including BOLD, NAUSEA, WARZONE, GORILLA BISCUITS, TRIP 6, BREAKDOWN, YOUTH OF TODAY, SICK OF IT ALL, KRAKDOWN, SIDE BY SIDE, YOUTH DEFENSE LEAGUE and SUPERTOUCH. Comparable to Boston's "this is boston not la" or Washington, DC's "flex your head", "new york city hardcore: the way it is" helped push New York to the forefront of the American hardcore scene. You need this!
