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2005 + 2.09.2005 + REFUSE RECORDS UPDATE 26.08.2005
- Refuse HQ is back on track after summertime tours, festivals and vacations. Apologies goes out to you sending emails during few last weeks and waiting for answers. I'm working now on wholesales and trades. Thanx for patience. BRAND NEW RELEASE ON REFUSE RECORDS IS OUT: THE TANGLED LINES/DICK CHENEY split 7"EP, RELEASED AUGUST 2005 NAMES FOR GRAVES "Version 2.1" 7"EP, RELEASED JUNE 2005 We’re excited to announce that NAMES FOR GRAVES 7"EP is already out. This band, hailing from Ohio, Cleveland, US is a perfect example that old school straight edge hardcore still can be so inspiring these days, without any posing or macho posturing. It’s fast old school hardcore with intelligent message and good attitude. Some of the members were used to be in bands like Commited and In The Red, dedicated to passionate and positive hardcore since years. This 7” contains rerecorded 5 songs that appeared on their debut demo that were mastered by Mr. Issa Diao (Good Clean Fun) in Washington DC. I truly suggest support this band. I’m happy to work with them. + 20.06.2005 + Finally, finally English part of the websites are updated! I can feel sorry how it works and we swear to make it more often now. There's lots of the stuff going on so we'll try to let you know what's up at Refuse HQ with all the new releases, upcoming shows etc. There is also updated mailorder list so check it out. If you need any questions or you are interested in ordering, trades, wholesales or you want to have your releases or zines distributed by us, just feel free to write email. Thanx! NEW RELEASES ON REFUSE RECORDS! There was a couple of new releases on Refuse Records since last english version update. Probably some of you already checked out some of the stuff already. Let's start with one of the most important Refuse Rec. release ever - NEW WINDS full length CD and Book! This year we did already JIHEART MCD, NO VIOLENCE MCD and CHAMPION tapes. Check out below! NEW WINDS "A SPIRIT FILLED REVOLUTION" CD+BOOK, RELEASED: JUNE 2004 3rd full length of the long existing Portugal Straight Edge/Hardcore band - New Winds, it's already out since last summer. It got great reviews worldwide and many people were pretty by the book itself. Second press of the release will gone soon. We're planning third press after next summer. LATEST RELEASE - JIHEART MCD, RELEASED JUNE 2005 This is the first straight edge hardcore release ever coming from Belarus. Belarus is a small country between Russia and Poland, and it's the last non-democratic and authoritarian country in Europe. JIHEART is a first sXe band ever in this country. Their debut is definitely one of the best hardcore / punk release that ever happened there. As a band contains individuals living in isolated and one of the poorest European countries, with state control and censorship on their backs, they managed to take a risk to keep the band and DIY scene keepin' alive. You can feel at every second on this release. You can heavily compare this passion, energy, commitment and anger to any other band or release coming from the West, as their background and culture is so unique. Powerful and intense, with traditional old school hardcore vibe and emotive hardcore feeling, leads by incredible female vocals and lyrics in their native language (English translations provided). There's something strictly "Eastern" in the air on this songs. As you can expect, their well written lyrics are very critical and political as living in a country where political is your every move or personal decision and they're facing politics in their daily life. This release coming out of the place where there is no hardcore-business, hype, fashion and corporate interest, where taking part in hardcore and punk culture is like a statement of struggle and resistance, to reclaim as much freedom as possible and it can give us strong impression to not to take the things we have for granted in our world.
Jiheart 7-song release is released as a co-release with Old Skool Kids (Russia) and Emancypunx Rec, Yama-Dori Rec, Black Star Rec and Sadness Of Noise Records (all from Poland). It includes 12-pgs booklet. NO VIOLENCE MCD, RELEASED: MAY 2005 Refuse Records another brand new release is a NO VIOLENCE - Brazilian ultra-fast political straight edge hardcore and their latest record called "Invencivel" 17-song mcd. They started in 1989 and they're still kicking ass band after years. Along the PERSONAL CHOICE they were first Brazilian bands into sXe thing, but at the same time dedicated to DIY and political hardcore/punk ethics. Strong, fast thrashy hardcore with old school hc elements - that's how they sounding after years, taking no compromises! You can easily put them to the same league with others Brazilian fast hardcore bands like Discarga or I Shot Cyrus. If you can imagine Heresy and Larm crossed with South American fast hardcore tradition, and longtime commitment of the band, that's No Violence. 17 songs included cover of the late 80's UK band Intense Degree. In a good tradition of Brazilian HC - No Violence mixing music and politics, and they lyrics focused on such issues like indigenous resistance, US imperial wars, social injustice and worker's rights or slavery to corporate capitalism. After split 7" on Sound Pollution, two split 7"s/mcds (with X-Acto and Abuso Sonoro), full length CD and couple of demos, here's the brand new release. CHAMPION CASSETTE RELEASES ALREADY OUT: RELEASED APRIL 2005 Right on, we did cassette releases of one of the best band around in today's hardcore: CHAMPION. "Time slips away" and "Promises kept" are both released under license of Bridge Nine Records. I don't think that there's a need to introduce this band to anyone. This Northwest US straight-edge band is a must to everyone into traditional fast and melodic hardcore. "Time slips away" previously released as a CD on Join The Team Player in Germany, contains two first 7's of the band - "Count out numbers" and "Come out swinging", both on Bridge 9. "Promises kept" is their masterpiece full length, originally released as a LP/CD on Bridge 9 (european LP version out now on Dead And Gone Records in UK). Both tapes are recommended to anyone missing their previous releases or interesting in checking out this old-style format. OTHER 2004 RELEASES There's few other releases on Refuse Records, released last year - JULIETTE "From Somewhere is the east" full length CD: one of the best Polish band, very emotionally driven hardcore with screamo parts, intense, great sounding stuff. Check out more in the reviews section and read some reviews. In cooperation with Emancypunx Records, Polish label focused on women activities in hardcore/punk world, we did antisexist/antihomophobic compilation CD "Noc Walpurgii 1996-2002". It's the exactly name of the festival we're organizing in Warszawa since 1996 and all the recordings are taken from the previous editions of the fest. Decent quality live recordings with songs about main issues of the festival with 22 international hardcore/punk bands: check releases section for more details. The only tape release out last year was HIGHSCORE - great German political fast old school hardcore band and their last full length "Unsuspecting actors in a bad soap opera", previously released on Stereodrive Records in Germany on LP/CD, and later LP version on 625 Records in US and CD on Liberation Records in Brazil. Fast angry hardcore with meaningful lyrics, definitely one of the best in Europe in past few years. Unfortunately this great band finished their activity last summer. UPCOMING RELEASES! There's bunch of upcoming new releases in the works, so check out below! NAMES FOR GRAVES 7"EP OUT SOON! Next Refuse Records release is gonna be Cleveland, Ohio, based NAMES FOR GRAVES and their "Version 2.1" 5-song 7"EP. I'm really excited about this release! NAMES FOR GRAVES is a new straight edge hardcore band with some members of such great bands from the past as Commited and In The Red. Better watch out for them and expect some good fast and angry but passionate old school hardcore with some melodies and hooks. It's a matter of days when 7" will be out. We got test press copies already and we're planning to have the 7" out on the Thrashfest in Holland, at the end of the week. Two weeks later they should be available in US. First pressing on red vinyl, there will be some limited edition covers for mailorder and probably release-party.
"Version 2.1" EP contains new and re-recorded songs that appeared on limited edition demo. Mastered by Mr.Issa Diao at The Black House Studio in Washington DC. Names For Graves have already out lately their debut 7" on Canadian Specimen 32 Records and cd version of that ep will be soon in US on Triple Attack Records. Names For Graves websites soon at: www.namesforgraves.com, at the moment check out THE TANGLED LINES/DICK CHENEY SPLIT 7" IN THE WORKS In the next few weeks THE TANGLED LINES/DICK CHENEY split 7" should be out. THE TANGLED LINES is definitely one of the best new hardcore bands from Germany. They're really blowing away, so it's so great to work with them. It's fast and powerful hardcore, with some faster parts and some old school and youth crew breaks and tempos and great female vocals and good political lyrics. This is very promising band and I'm sure we'll hear more of them soon. At the moment they have couple of demos and they're participated on "Exclusive Urban Apparel" European old school hc comp. LP on Wanted Recordings from Begium. Side if their vinyl debut will contains 4 great sounding songs with Gorilla Biscuits cover. HIT ME BACK FULL-LENGTH CD IN THE WORKS! That's right, Refuse Records is gonna release first full length CD of HIT ME BACK, great fast hardcore band from Los Angeles, called "Life". Hit Me Back rips with their angry and fast hardcore, taking some influences from the early 80's hardcore, some late 80's hardcore/thrash like Heresy, some youth crew/old school hardcore influences as well as some Life's Halt sounds, but all in their own sound. LP version of Hit Me Back full length will be released in US on 625 Records and Punks Before Profits Rec. Songs are already recorded and we are waiting now for artwork. Hit Me Back have already four 7"s out - "8 positive tunes tunes to shake yer bon-bon to" on You Are Shock Records, split w/ Out Of Vogue on 625 and Art Of The Underground, "Only the magic school goes back in time" on 625 and Hate The Eighties and latest one - split 7" w/ Cinder from Spain on Still Holding On Records from Belgium., and also some demos and compilations. Hit Me Back touring US in July with Doppelganger, and there is a plans for European tour later. MY REVENGE! IS GONNA WORK OUT ON 7" WITH REFUSE REC! I'm pleased to announce that MY REVENGE!, great Vermont, US straight edge hardcore band is gonna release their new 7"EP on Refuse Records! This band rocks with their fast and pissed off old school hardcore with great sarcastic political and some funny lyrics, with good dose of humor, anger and skateboarding obsession. My Revenge! working now on the recordings on that 7", as well as their new full length LP/CD for Thorp Records and other new 7" that be released in US. You can check their previous like "Both feet over the line" on Element Records, "Less plot, more blood" CD on Thorp Records and split 7" w/ F.P.O. on Third Party Records. More updates about the release later. FUERZA DE VOLUNTAD/POLLUTION SPLIT 7" There is also the other 7" in the works: FUERZA DE VOLUNTAD is the oldest straight edge hardcore band from Chile, old friends and active since years and known from "More Than The X On Our Hands" int. sXe compilation on Commitment Records. They got also full length CD "Hardcore No Es Violencia" on Opcion Real and Brutal Records and bunch of demos. Good positive and political old school hardcore from this South American band. POLLUTION is a Spanish old school hardcore band, known from their CD release on Sell Our Souls Rec and split 7" w/ Portugal's Pointing Finger. This one will be released as a co-release with Sell Our Souls Records from Spain and Thrashbastard Records from Germany. LAST ITEM MCD Refuse Records is focused more on international hardcore as ever, but we didn't forget about local scene. In a last couple months some new good and interesting bands started playing here. Definitely one of the best band is Refuse Rec hometown, Warsaw based LAST ITEM. Their music is old school hardcore with some heavier and moshy parts, good and original sound and influences taken from bands like Judge, Killing Time and some modern sounding old school hardcore bands. It's possible that this band can be best sounding Polish old style hardcore after demise of Second Age. Last Item is gonna work out on a MCD with Refuse Records called "Are you really down?". 7" version of that one will be released on UK's The Essence. Last Item released their debut demo early this year and they have still few copies left. CHILDREN OF FALL AND BETRAYED CASSETTE TAPES Refuse started as a small tape-label and we're not forgetting about this format. We're working right now on tape version of the latest full length LP/CD on Day After Records of Swedish CHILDREN OF FALL called "Bonjour Tristesse". Great political emotionally driven hardcore active since years and definitely one of the best band in Europe. This tape will be release as a cooperation with Choose Life Rec. from Croatia. Children Of Fall are touring Europe now, so check them out. They'll also play on Fluff Fest this year. (www.childrenoffall.net) SHOWS Since last update we booked some shows and tour and helped many other bands with contacts or shows. Refuse booked shows and some events... In april 2004 with anarchist and feminist collective Emancypunx we organized next "Noc Walpurgii" Festival in Warszawa, dedicated to struggle against sexism and homophobia. Bands like Active Minds (UK), Cinder (E), Beyond Pink (S), Vicious Irene (S), De Fatwas (NL), Regres (PL), Mass Kotki (PL) and Los Trabantos (PL) played there, alongside with lots of non-musical stuff like performances, exhibitions, drag queen shows, and more! 800 people showed up, really great and positive atmosphere! Next festival is planned for April 2006 so expect some news later. Next Open HC Fest was happened on the last saturday of July of 2004 and bands appeared on the fest were Colligere (BRA), Risen (US), Downslide (NL), Fall Of A Season (D), Crickbat (E) and Polish ones like No Heaven Awaits Us, Janusz Reichel, End Of Silence, Crush All Fakes, The Tube and Kill The Famians Feeling be there as well. Around 1200 people been there, really cool atmosphere! Unfortunately this year fest is cancelled due some of the difficulties but we're planning back on track next year. There was couple of other shows and tours booked by Refuse Recs/Bookings: Analena (CRO) (+ Baltic tour) on may 2004, Summer League (I) and Eyeless View (D) on June 2004 - From Ashes Rise (US) cancelled their shows two days before as it was disaster... Zegota (US) Polish dates in september 2004 and legendary Ratos De Porao polish dates on november 2004. Then Regres short euro tour, later Vitamin X (NL) polish dates on april 2005 and Dead Stop (B) show on May 2005. Many Polish bands of course like Juliette, A.C.M.D., X's Always Win, Shackled Down., Hundred Inch Shadow, Antidotum, Apatia, Fight The Anthem, Last Item, Regres, Pressure Rising... More shows soon, check out below! NEW WINDS ON FLUFF FEST & SHORT EUROPEAN TOUR! We're excited to announce New Winds set at upcoming Fluff Fest in Pilsen, Czech Republic, on 16th of July. Be there definitely. It will be much more than just show as there will be also 30 minute spoken word on the stage of Bruno Break, singer of New Winds, about political and human/animal/earth liberation and political prisoners issues. New Winds are planning some shows in countries like Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary and probably some others so check it out. Tour dates should appear soon on Refuse Recs. BETERCORE REUNION SHOW AT THE TRASHFEST!!! Breaking news - Dutch fastcore heroes Betercore are gonna play special reunion show at the Thrashfest in Hoogeveen, Holland, on the 3rd day of the festival - 26.06.! It will be great to see them again in action. You can't miss their set, as it will be one of the highlights of the fest! It will be great event, so you need to be there, there's so much great bands are gonna play there - Larm reunion show in original line-up, Point Of Few and Soberesponse reunion shows, but also Vitamin X, Dead Stop, Bones Brigade, Justice, and many more... Refuse Records distro table will be available during the thrashfest so please come and say hello! See you there! I SHOT CYRUS BRAND NEW RELEASE - SPLIT EP W/ KRIEGSTANZ + EUROPEAN TOUR WITH DISCARGA! Brazilian I Shot Cyrus is back on track with the new release on Ups Records from Holland - split 7" with Dutch band Kriegstanz. Other great news that there is more details already about their upcoming second visit in Europe, together with another amazing Brazilian band - Discarga. This tour will be a blast so check it out first possible tourdates. More updated should be on Refuse Records website soon. I Shot Cyrus + Discarga tour will start 22.09 and it will be finished until 24.10 and it will visit countries like Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and Sweden. You can expect incredible shows, so be there and support the bands. More updates soon. SECOND AGE R.I.P.!!! FINAL 7" ON COMMITMENT RECORDS!! Sadly to say, but after seven years of existence, definitely the best straight edge/old school hardcore band in Poland - Second Age, split up! They couldn't do it in worse moment, right after their "The Age" 7" was release on great and Dutch straight edge label Commitment Records. This is their best release so far and probably best old school hardcore coming out of Poland. One of the last interview ever with the band you can read in latest, 5th issue of Canadian fanzine "At Both Ends", alongside int. w/ Converge, A18, Sinking Ships or Miracle Mile, check it out! If you want to check their previous releases, be hurry - last copies of their "The Tides Have Turned" full length CD on Refuse Records (also on tape format) left, and they'll never be repressed. We speaking about Second Age discography CD but it's really not sure if it will ever happen. JIHEART SPLIT UP! Sadly to say, but Jiheart split up and it seems that their debut release is already post-humous release. Some of the members started new bands (like Pull An Out Eye). NO VIOLENCE LINE-UP CHANGES Soon after releasing "Invencivel" there was some breaking line-up changes in the band. Ruy Fernando, original singer of the band left the band! Now, Tatiana, bass player of the band (also I Shot Cyrus) is become singer of the band. REGRES DID SHORT TOUR Polish positive hardcore band Regres did some shows outside of Poland. On their second foreign tour they played in Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia and Romania. It was really great time, so thank you to everyone who helped with the shows, it was great support! It was cool to see many friends and some good bands that played with Regres like Children Of Fall, Solid Ground, The Truth Of XXX, No Choice, Ak47, Another Way or The Snobs and others... ZLODZIEJE ROWEROW'S NEW DRUMMER Zlodzieje Rowerow has a new drummer, his name is Krzysiek. The band constantly playing shows in whole Poland, always very packed. They also did two dates in Czech Republic and one show in Austria this year. CHAMPION AFTER NEXT EUROPEAN TOUR For a third time ever Champion did successful European Tour. This time they didn't forgot about Poland, so we had a chance to visit them for a second time, as they did two great shows. Most of the European dates they did with Slapshot and Some Kind Of Hate. After back to US band is still very busy with touring, and playing great amount of shows through whole US and Canada. VITAMIN X FINALLY IN POLAND + MORE SHOWS Finally after years of promises, Vitamin X crushed Poland on their 3 shows, especially the last one in Lublin was a blast that kids here will remember for a long time. It was lots of fun to hang out for all this days in a very packed small car of the band. On their Polish dates Rogier from The Shining was guest bass player. Vitamin X is very busy with touring European countries. They did shows in Germany, France and Spain and right now they're on their Balkan tour, making disaster in countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia and birthplace of Marko, singer of Vitamin X - Serbia. VX will play on Thrashfest in Hoogeveen, Holland, 26th of June - on the 3rd day, so better watch out on your backs under the stage!
After series of European shows they're planning their SE Asian tour and Australian tour, so kids there don't miss one of the best bands around... You'll be crushed, take my words. Next 7" of Vitamin X will be released on Havoc Records in US someday in near future. GOOD CLEAN FUN BACK IN EUROPE Washington DC's G.C.F. did few shows in Europe. They played in March in Arnhem, Holland on the Arnhem Hardcore Meeting with bands like Dillinger Escape Plan (US), Converge (US), Panic (US) (reunion show) Eighteen Visions (US), Sex Positions (US), Razor Crusade (NL), Justice (B) and others... They also played few shows in Iceland. REACHING FORWARD DVD OUT ON REFLECTIONS! Few months ago REACHING FORWARD DVD was put out on Reflections Records. This is great document of their final show in Goudvishal, Arnhem in 2002 and videos to the songs from the final 7". It's a must for everyone into european straight edge hardcore, as we have definitely one of the leading bands of the last few years. For everyone who've been at their final show (as me) it's a great feeling to see this amazing show again. REFUSE UPCOMING SHOWS/TOURS There's couple of more shows is planned in Warszawa and around Poland. So if you're planning visit us check out the dates. Refuse Recs. is now part of Sound & Fury Collective in Warszawa, started in May 2004 with Dead Stop show, it should be easier now to book shows in our hometown. Next plans are Down To Nothing (US) on June, Children Of Fall (S) on June/July, New Winds (Por) on July, Requiem (US) and The Spectacle (N) on september, I Shot Cyrus (BRA) and Discarga (BRA) on september, Migra Violenta (ARG) and Iskra (CAN) on september/october and Sinking Ships (US) and Intruder (D) on october... Also The Tangled Lines (D) on September and Dick Cheney (S) in October... |
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