Black Mercy / Band Of Bastards

***Black Mercy and Band of Bastards of Austin, TX, team up to give listeners a glimpse of what lies beneath the local underground hardcore scene. The brutal and beautiful album’s 16 songs clock in right around 25 minutes and feature members of bands Tia Carrera, Brick, Employer Employee, Total Diamonds, Those Peabodys, Society Of Friends (Black Mercy) as well as ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Mukilteo Fairies, Broken Gold and Sparta (Band Of Bastards). This split recording breathes new life into the tradition of early '80s-early '90s punk, noise, and hardcore music that has always sought to commune with the unsatisfied and disaffected. BLACK MERCY “The Curse” (Side A) Description: Black Mercy, an Austin-based band formed in 2019, brings a fierce blend of fast-paced, raw hardcore and punk energy on their new LP “The Curse”, recorded at Adrian Quesada’s studio Electric Deluxe. Embodying the spirit of Minor Threat or Circle Jerks, with the chaotic sensibilities of seeing Clikatat Ikatowi or Unwound blowing out an amplifier. More a noisy band with a hardcore framework, their music exemplifies their aggressive sound that is just a bit off-center. Every song has twists and turns on this record, with one stand out track, “Lost” where they bring the tempo down to where SLEEP lives. With vocalist and scene-veteran Noble Brown leading the charge, Black Mercy infuses their music with elements of '90s DIY punk and '80s hardcore, creating a high-energy experience that is both nostalgic and refreshingly intense. Black Mercy’s sound is characterized by gruff, fast, and intense punk rock with a nod to '90s emotive DIY and '80s Dischord records. The band has been praised by Maximum Rocknroll and The Austin Chronicle for their raw intensity and innovative music videos featuring fingerboarding. Their music captures the essence of innovation and a strong respect for the past. BAND OF BASTARDS “American Carnage” (Side B) Description: Band of Bastards, formed in 2018, is a powerhouse hardcore punk band from Austin, Texas, known for their short, explosive tracks and high-octane performances. They recorded their new record “American Carnage” with drummer Sam Rich at the helm, and the result is nothing short of brilliant. Drawing on their diverse backgrounds, vocalist Jason Reece delivers a potent mix of hardcore punk with a modern edge, driving home the message that the world is still imperfect, and you have to give a shit. The band’s music is fast, aggressive hardcore punk with influences from early Dischord records and first-wave hardcore bands, with notable tracks like “Minor" and “FYP". They have been featured for their relentless energy and DIY spirit, with their 2nd release that promises to shake the hardcore scene. Their music embodies the same raw power and fervor that defined the early hardcore scene, capturing the straightforward and impactful nature of music.