Underrated bands.

[grind/bro]

You know those bands. Those ones that make you smile when you hear them. But perhaps they are not very popular for whatever reason. Talk about them in this thread. I'm tired.

Backstabbers INC: This band is fucking TIGHT. Barely anyone talks about these guys ever, but they're probably just as good as Cursed/Trash Talk/any of those bands and they PREDATE them. WHAT THE SHIT. Needs more attention. Kamikaze Missions is probably up there with the most pissed off sounding albums around.
Lickgoldensky: Such an anomaly that passed right under everyone's nose. They kinda just gave a big middle finger to the entire hardcore scene, had zero breakdowns, the lead singer wore sweater vests/loafers, they sang about Super Mario World and apparently were prone to breaking up all the time. A band that does what it wants, when it wants is usually the best band.
Structure of Lies: Loooong broken up, but holy shit this band was ahead of it's time. Actually mixing together death metal and hardcore without it sounding like scene hair and statutory rape. They only had a few recordings, but I never understood why they never took off and got signed to Relapse or something.
Examination Of The...: Has anyone heard "The Whitest of Elephants"? Because it's one of the best things to exist in this universe ever. A band that went from fairly well executed screamo to an album with four songs clocking in at 45+ mins? Band should be touring right now with Isis.
Doomsday 1999: Teen Cthulhu is also not talked about as much. But I think Doomsday 1999 was more, in my eyes, the true coming of awesome. They kind of just shot out a bunch of wacky grind laden with pretty obscure samples and a sense of humour. Best vocals ever. Seattle can never do wrong

It's funny that majority of these bands are my favourites, and I realize that they're all pretty much broken up. Why do I only love the broken-up ones? I was going to write about Creation is Crucifixion but I'll save that for a whole thread because I started that bands myspace fan page so you all can wait for me to ramble off about how they're better than everything ever.

[dalamar501]

Don't quite agree with Backstabbers Inc being underrated.
They played Dude Fest in 08 and that is all i really heard about it was people getting so stoked that Backstabbers Inc were playing again.
So i guess yes they are underrated here in victoria.


fuck lickengoldsky so good.


Underrated:


Life At These Speeds - holy fuck.. this band was from Portland and they were amazing. broke up a few years ago now. Would have loved to see them. I am under the impression that they were underrated here in the NW and loved out east.
RIYL: Drive Like Jehu, Sinaloa, Daniel Stripped Tiger, Off Minor

GOSPEL - I can't even start to go on about how amazing this band is. Or how underrated they are. They broke up in 2006 i think. The Moon Is a Cold Dead Place is flawless. Amazing guitar tone.This is rad prog rock mixed with screamo as one reviewer of this album said "Vocally clear indications that Gospel is following in the steps of Northeast bands like Shotmaker or Three Penny Opera. But, instrumentally the band produces a bizarre form of progressive rock"
RIYL: City of Caterpillar, Shotmaker, a better Mars Volta, Funeral Dinner

Julia - great mid 90s emo. we have been jamming this at the house a lot recently. Tyler got a bunch of the 7s awhile back. Description on a sticker on one of the 7s : classic mid 90s emo for lads with backpacks and horn rims.
RIYL: Ordination of Aaron, Frail, Indian Summer


The Separation - new band of Set It Straight members, Ben (was bass) on vocals, Nate on drums and used to have Harry on bass (former vocalist of SIS) but is now teaching. pretty rad 90s dark hardcore kind of vibe. Political Hardcore.
RIYL: Seven Gen, Restrained, His Hero is Gone


Cold Sweat - GREAT NORTHWEST BAND. I didn't know about them really till recently. They would get mentioned from time to time on the nw board.
from revhq "blended the urgent hardcore punk of Black Flag with the innovative sounds of Rorschach and the heavy grooves of Rollins Band," rad band
vocalist went onto some other band. Rest of band is in Walls.
Check out the album Severed Ties.

RIYL: Rorschach, Infest, Walls, Bracewar, ? off kilter hardcore?

[Andrew]

GOSPEL - I can't even start to go on about how amazing this band is. Or how underrated they are. They broke up in 2006 i think. The Moon Is a Cold Dead Place is flawless. Amazing guitar tone.This is rad prog rock mixed with screamo as one reviewer of this album said "Vocally clear indications that Gospel is following in the steps of Northeast bands like Shotmaker or Three Penny Opera. But, instrumentally the band produces a bizarre form of progressive rock"
RIYL: City of Caterpillar, Shotmaker, a better Mars Volta, Funeral Dinner

Rad, I'll have to check these guys out.

LATS and Julia are both sweet bands.

[xchadx]

.

[Hollow]

I'm actually gonna have to put Botch in here. They have a huge following NOW, but when they were around, they were criminally underrated. I remember seeing them at Krazy Fest IV, and half the crowd went to get pizza during their set. It was ridiculous. They would have destroyed the day, but that night it was the Dillinger Escape Plan with Sean Ingram on vocals cuz Dimitri had bailed on the band a few months before. Nick can attest that I babble about that show incessantly. Fuck. SO good.

[ian]

i was actually thinking botch too

[krisribs]

I'm actually gonna have to put Botch in here. They have a huge following NOW, but when they were around, they were criminally underrated. I remember seeing them at Krazy Fest IV, and half the crowd went to get pizza during their set. It was ridiculous. They would have destroyed the day, but that night it was the Dillinger Escape Plan with Sean Ingram on vocals cuz Dimitri had bailed on the band a few months before. Nick can attest that I babble about that show incessantly. Fuck. SO good.

so fucking jealous. It's strange that you'd say Botch was underrated, if you watch the vid of their last show, the place looks packed, and MANIC. I guess earlier footage doesn't show much a crowd. We Are The Romans ruuuules.

[New West Crew]

I don't think BSI is underrated. Everyone I know who has heard them loves them. I am baffled that Trap Them has gotten bigger than them. Not to knock on Trap Them, definately a good band, but it's the same singer and I don't understand how people haven't gone and checked them out.

Also, Troy, I got to see Life at These Speeds

[dalamar501]

I don't think BSI is underrated. Everyone I know who has heard them loves them. I am baffled that Trap Them has gotten bigger than them. Not to knock on Trap Them, definately a good band, but it's the same singer and I don't understand how people haven't gone and checked them out.

Also, Troy, I got to see Life at These Speeds

jealous..
fuck.

[grind/bro]

Whoa whoa whoa...Botch...underrated? Are you serious? Maybe back when they were around, but now I can't turn anywhere without someone bringing them up. Stellar band but calling then underrated? No. Doesn't count. Hydrahead is still putting out re-releases. I mean if I can buy the CD/DVD of their last show, underrated is the last thing from my mind.

BSI are better than Trap Them. I think BSI never really toured North America though. I think they got a lot of time in Europe from what I've heard. Band needs to pound the pavement and kill everything.

Oh yeah Gospel are really sweet too. Bizarre but sweet.

[tylerp]

zombie zombie - spazzy screaming contrasted with keyboard punk jams. I haven't heard anything like it except maybe Right Turn Danger who kind of rip them off and suck. I found this band through user FANTASTIC WOUND's myspace years ago. I bet he is not happy. RIYL: Early Hot Hot Heat

kidcrash - this is one of my favourite bands. they've been together for so long (9 years) so it's kind sad that they still only press like 1000 of an amazing new album like Snacks.

litany for the whale - I feel like this band and their first release went under the radar for most people. it's rough and metallic but still does lots of exploring into softer textures.

FOOD - heavy jamz that don't get boring, yeah!

agree about Julia but yeah I have been playing those 7"s lately.

disagree about Botch, they may have been underrated at one time but I hear them mentioned all over the place allll the time.

[zac]

Yeah guys he said when they where arounndd in his first sentence jeez

[Hollow]

Whoa whoa whoa...Botch...underrated? Are you serious? Maybe back when they were around, but now I can't turn anywhere without someone bringing them up. Stellar band but calling then underrated? No. Doesn't count. Hydrahead is still putting out re-releases. I mean if I can buy the CD/DVD of their last show, underrated is the last thing from my mind.

BSI are better than Trap Them. I think BSI never really toured North America though. I think they got a lot of time in Europe from what I've heard. Band needs to pound the pavement and kill everything.

Oh yeah Gospel are really sweet too. Bizarre but sweet.

IN THEIR DAY IN THEIR DAY

Seriously, it was ridiculous. The fucking band got huge RIGHT BEFORE they broke up. Half the people who jock them now a days didn't know they existed when they were around. Don't get me wrong, nowhere near underrated now. Just when they were around.

[Andrew]

IN THEIR DAY IN THEIR DAY

Seriously, it was ridiculous. The fucking band got huge RIGHT BEFORE they broke up. Half the people who jock them now a days didn't know they existed when they were around. Don't get me wrong, nowhere near underrated now. Just when they were around.

Same applies to Refused.

[keith.]

theres a lot of bands from down south around Texas that are fucking killing it. mostly assosiated with the Cowabunga and Gnarly Slaughter records

Highlife
ANS
Daggers Rule
Dios Mio!

come to mind immediately. thrashier hardcore with some groove here and there

[Hollow]

IN THEIR DAY IN THEIR DAY

Seriously, it was ridiculous. The fucking band got huge RIGHT BEFORE they broke up. Half the people who jock them now a days didn't know they existed when they were around. Don't get me wrong, nowhere near underrated now. Just when they were around.

Same applies to Refused.

QFT. Not gonna lie, I get a little choked at the end of "Refused Are Fucking Dead". Can't help it. Probably one of the best music documentaries ever made.

[grind/bro]

IN THEIR DAY IN THEIR DAY

Seriously, it was ridiculous. The fucking band got huge RIGHT BEFORE they broke up. Half the people who jock them now a days didn't know they existed when they were around. Don't get me wrong, nowhere near underrated now. Just when they were around.

Same applies to Refused.

QFT. Not gonna lie, I get a little choked at the end of "Refused Are Fucking Dead". Can't help it. Probably one of the best music documentaries ever made.

It was cool but reallllllly pretentious. Yeah dudes big deal your band broke up. End of hardcore! Zach's wishes came true!

[keith.]

yeah fuck way to go, zach
thanks a lot

[carlsincharge]

Damnation AD. Yes, people do ilke this band...but not nearly enough people. I put off listening to them for such a long time. In my opinion, No More Dreams Of Happy Endings is one of the greatest records from the 90s hardcore scene. It stands up against many of the more "recognized" records to come out of the 90s. Next level shit, highly reccommended. Although that new record they put out on Victory a few years back was absolutely garbage...the older stuff is perfect.

i agree with chad here. i don't know if underrated is quite as an appropriate word as overlooked, though. i think people pass off Damnation AD as just another typical hardcore band as the 90's. there is definately something very special about this band, though. everytime i listen to No More Dreams... i come closer to concluding that it's probably my favorite hardcore record form the 90's. extremely dark, interesting sounding, great lyrics, and incredible vibe.
also, Battery is another pverlooked band, i feel. another Ken Olden band that i'm sure was appreciated during their time, but is now greatly overlooked. they are the perfect blend of melody and youth crew. definately a band that was doing somethign familiar in a different way and set them apart from their contemporaries, at the time.
another overlooked DC band is Government Issue. again, im sure they were highly regarded during their time, and in someway are today due to their place in history as one of the early DC/Dischord bands, but i don't feel like they get their due. they had some fucking killer songs that, i feel, put them up there with Bad Brains and Minor Threat.

[age of quarrel]

The Separation - new band of Set It Straight members, Ben (was bass) on vocals, Nate on drums and used to have Harry on bass (former vocalist of SIS) but is now teaching. pretty rad 90s dark hardcore kind of vibe. Political Hardcore.
RIYL: Seven Gen, Restrained, His Hero is Gone

fact: I saw this band cover chain of strength, I moshed. the lp rages. band is backed

Damnation AD. Yes, people do ilke this band...but not nearly enough people. I put off listening to them for such a long time. In my opinion, No More Dreams Of Happy Endings is one of the greatest records from the 90s hardcore scene. It stands up against many of the more "recognized" records to come out of the 90s. Next level shit, highly reccommended. Although that new record they put out on Victory a few years back was absolutely garbage...the older stuff is perfect.

mmm mmm girl

black sheep squadron: fast, catchy and straightedge
how we are: did a split with black sheep squadron which i still dont have. great melodic hardcore that sould controls current singer used do do vocals for
silent majority: if you know, you know
shelter/better than a thousand/ray & porcell: enough said