There is always a band doing what another band is doing, there is always a record label doing what another label is doing. This is not the case for Mindset and React Records, with a positive attitude and pride in straight edge Mindset are making things happen for themselves and it is more than well deserved. This record shines a new light of confidence for youth crew bands, it is a smart  and well written record both musically and lyrically. It doesn’t take a lot to toss a few riffs together and sing about doing something positive, but when you can communicate how passionate you are about a certain topic, it is appreciated by me and I am sure by many other people who listen to this record. This 7” takes it back to the Youth Of Today sound and you can hear the definite influence in a lot of their music especially in the song “Before I Sleep”, I am extremely impressed by this band at this point and I have nothing but a good feeling for everything else they have planned to do. Also, check out React Records, Aram is one of the hardest working and nicest people in hardcore without a doubt.

Reality Approaches is the full length effort by what is one of, in my opinion, todays heaviest hardcore bands. Starting with a tribal like drum beat which is just a sign of the horrible destruction that is about to come with this record. This drum beat eventually turns into a heavy mix of a mosh part and something that makes you just want to stand in one spot and head bang. The record then takes off and follows suit with nothing less than you would expect after an intro like that, heavy riffs, vocals that sound like they are coming from a giant, pounding drums beating into your skull with everything else helping push it through. To me, this record is a thing of beauty, it is heavy, it is fast, it is destructive, and it is angry, everything I love about hardcore and to top it all off Harms Way is one of few active and awesome straight edge bands these days. This album is heavily and obviously influenced by metal, but not being a metal fan I couldn’t tell you by which particular bands or anything. All and all Reality Approaches will make you want to punch everything you can reach, spit on everything you can reach, and make you hate everything in between. This album is fucking heavy, check this band out.

A question for Trapped Under Ice, you chose to follow up Stay Cold with a split, why this instead of another EP or full length?
Klippa: Why you gotta be askin’ shit like that man? Well, we’re working on a full length as soon as we get back off this tour were on right now. You know, our boys in Dirty Money, we just wanted to do something with them and bring ‘em over here and like I said we’re going to be working on the full length when we get back.

Dirty Money, who approached who about the split and how do you think it has affected your popularity in North America?
R: Trapped Under Ice approached us about the split not long after I heard them which was actually kind of a strange coincidence. I think its definitely helped us because after that we toured with Trash Talk when they were getting hyped and then with the record being released on A389 people know that label so it was our foot in the door with people checking us out who otherwise would have never ever heard of us before, so its cool.

If you were to give the opposing band on the split criticism about their contribution what would you say?
S: I don’t know, I think the songs are pretty rad, I honestly think they’re good they way they are.
R: Not enough death metal vocals.
K: I just think Rob needs to drink more, thats about it.
R: My riffs aren’t drunk enough.

What is the best part about the other bands input?
B: Gemini is also the name of a real good Slayer song.
K: Spreadin’ their fuckin London hard style to the US, you know what I’m sayin?

Dirty Money what would you say is the best part about playing hardcore in the UK?
R: The women. The babes.

In general what is the best part about hardcore right now?
S: It seems like its coming back to life again, it seems like it was a bit stagnant for a while. I think Trapped Under Ice did a real good job there.
B: Trapped Under Ice and Cold World, two best bands in hardcore.
K: Naysayer.
R: Coldsnap.

And what is the worst part about hardcore right now?
R: Uhhhhhhhhhh, uhhhhhh, pass.
K: Close-mindedness and not enough people smoke weed.
B: What he said, close-mindedness.
S: Definitely what he said about weed.

What are your picks for the biggest upcoming bands in 09 besides yourselves?
All: Naysayer and Bad Seed.
R: The UK Coldsnap.
All: Hawkeye.

Last words?
K: Vegan ass bitches.
S: Sike.
B: I got one, I got one…. Thats what she said.

New Lows, the name says it all, it is a dark depressed sounding name, and the music follows suit. Arguably one of the heaviest bands in hardcore right now, New Lows recently dropped a self titled EP, and it is in my opinion one of the best this year. It is an amazing mix between fastcore and down beat hardcore, like a slower heavier Mind Eraser. It is hard to explain with just words how unreal this album is, you need to hear it yourself, the guitars are deep, accompanied by a steady drum beat, which at times turns into a very heavy tom roll. Point is, it makes you wanna mosh, hard, forever. As usual you can get this at Revhq.com, so get it, and support this hardworking, no bullshit band.

I will start by saying, it isn’t very often I can discover a new band that I really like, but every once in a while it happens and it did tonight when I found a band called Pushing On out of Virginia Beach. I personally like fast hardcore, but not always heavy hardcore, and not so much powerviolence. But there is a certain thing about this band that I like, it might be that I love youth crew hardcore so much, this band really does a good thing. I have said this time and time before that it becomes harder and harder to make a hardcore record that hasn’t been done before. This band to an extent pulled it off, I mean, it is essentially a youth crew band, but a little bit heavier at some parts allowing to activate some solid mosh. If I could change one thing about this band it would only be the singer, I would punch him in the face a few times before they played a show so that he sounds a little more sincerely pissed while he is singing. Overall this is a youth crew band by a bunch of young dudes, and that gets me more stoked than anything, young bands are becoming more and more few and far between. Good bands for a fans of The First Step, Down To Nothing, Fired Up… and other things of this nature. You can grab this bands 7 inch over at Revhq.com or do it up at www.myspace.com/pushingonhc.

- Ceremony/Life Long Tragedy at Siesta, the first big show at Siesta, it was packed, sweltering hot, and awesome fun.
- Forfeit/No Harm Done/Vicious Cycle at the Adrift Clubhouse, again the first show at this new venue, super fun, super cold outside and solid show.
- Awesome Toronto bands, playing lots of shows, doing lots of hard work, overall just kicking ass. Props to RAH, Eating Glass, Molested Youth, Haz Was, Bored Stiff, Crossroad(RIP), and the others I didn’t mention.
- Reign Supreme-American Violence, New Lows-Self Titled, Forfeit-Visions, Ceremony-Still Nothing Moves You
- Young People Fucking, The Dark Knight, Wanted
- Missing too many shows because I was living in Kingston
- Continuing to see bands I never thought I would see, ie. Strife, H2O…
- Lots of edge breaks
-Stuck In The City putting on awesome all ages shows, bringing hardcore back to Toronto, and making it easy for younger kids to get into it. I would have almost nothing to write about if not for these guys, so big thanks to Greg, Vik, Hoibak, and Scott. And to Mark for everything he does as well.
- Writing a blog that people read

Thanks to everyone who looked at this page once in 2008.
I will try to start updating again.

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