xXx Fanzine 1985 Spotify Playlist Launched

We've launched another xXx Fanzine Spotify playlist, once again curated by Mike Gitter. This time we focus on the year 1985. Some words from Mike Gitter...

"By 1985, Hardcore America had branched beyond its three-chord, primitive origins. As documented in xXx Fanzine 1983-88: Hardcore and Punk In The Eighties, sheer speed was being supplanted by actual songs via the likes of Husker Du, Scream and a re-activated Descendents (with Milo back from college). In Dischord D.C., "Revolution Summer" was warming up with Rites of Spring exploring punk's poetic possibilities (birthing "Emo" in the process) while bands like Raleigh's Corrosion of Conformity and So-Cal metallers, Hirax were freely cross-pollinating punk with metallic sophistication  as skinheads and longhairs no longer stared each other down from opposite sides of the room. Add to that, SST (the label that Black Flag built), Homestead and Touch & Go laying the foundation for the indie rock explosion, the shock-waves of which are still being felt today. The youth weren't just getting restless. They were adding something cooler to the chaos. "

LISTEN HERE

American War Machine Join B9; New Song + Pre-Order

A project over five years in the making, we're very excited to bring you the debut of hardcore powerhouse, American War Machine. Comprised of members of Slapshot, Agnostic Front, Blood For Blood, and Intent To Injure, American War Machine brings you three unrelenting tracks of pure, no-frills hardcore punk on their upcoming EP 'Prey Drive', due out October 20th. 

Pre-order vinyl and merch here.
You can listen to the song "Becoming Death" here.

XXX Fanzine 1983-1988 Hardcore & Punk In The Eighties Book Up For Pre-Order Now

We have launched pre-orders for the xXx Fanzine: 1983-1988 Hardcore & Punk In The Eighties book! It's available as a stand alone book or as a deluxe package deal. For more details on the book and package, see below. Pre-order now! 

xXx Fanzine (1983-1988) Hardcore & Punk in the Eighties isn’t a mere collection of articles, reviews and photographs from one of Hardcore America’s best-known fanzines - it’s a chronicle of punk’s evolution in the 80’s; a story of music and ideologies in motion. xXX’s story picks up while the first wave of hardcore was in full swing. Major players including Minor Threat had already released landmark records and bands were loading up station wagons to play now infamous venues like The Channel, A7 or D.C. Space.

While based in Boston, xXx’s main writer and editor, Mike Gitter, not only concentrated on his own city’s burgeoning scene, spear-headed by bands like SS Decontrol and D.Y.S., but looked to other states and countries for xXx’s reportage. This hardcover, 11"x11", 288-page book documents a time when hardcore and punk were not mutually exclusive and bands and cities had a chance to develop their own diverse and strident sounds.

This creative ethos and aural zeitgeist is literally spelt out on the 19-song compilation that’s included with xXx Fanzine, with either download card or limited edition 12inch; a wide variety of current hardcore, punk and hard music luminaries including Strife, letlive., Fu Manchu and The Riverboat Gamblers contributed their interpretations to some of the most influential songs to come from xXx’s original era.

Now, in addition to reproducing (and restoring) countless interviews and pages from the ‘zine itself, xXx Fanzine re-interviews countless bands and musical prime-movers including Ian MacKaye, Keith Morris and members of Agnostic Front, Bad Brains and Cro-Mags to give the book a rare ‘then and now’ perspective. xXx Fanzine (1983-1988), Hardcore & Punk in the Eighties isn’t merely a look back at hardcore’s salad days, but a unique look at how punk’s music and message shook the mainstream itself.

xXx Fanzine (1983-1988) Hardcore & Punk in the Eighties features: 
Minor Threat, Misfits, Necros, Circle Jerks, Suicidal Tendencies, Husker Du, Jerry’s Kids, Black Flag, D.O.A., G.B.H, Void, Negative Approach, 7 Seconds, D.Y.S., Scream, Metallica, Corrosion of Conformity, Minutemen, The Exploited, Anthrax, Subhumans, Dead Kennedys, SSD, Henry Rollins, Descendents, Bad Brains, Youth of Today, Motorhead, Dag Nasty, Snapshot, Samhain, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Bad Religion, Fugazi, and more…

PACKAGE DEAL INFORMATION: 
The MASSIVE package deal comes with a copy of the hardcover, 11"x 11", 288 page xXx Fanzine book as well as the following items that are 100% exclusive to the package:

- A 19 song compilation featuring some of today's most relevant band's in hard music covering classic and influential hardcore/punk songs from the xXx Fanzine era. This is pressed on 12" vinyl available on 3 different colors. 150 red/white/black tri-color, 300 half red/half white, and 650 red. Vinyl colors will be given out on a first come first serve basis.

- An additional 64 page book that includes all three issues of Suburban Mucus. Suburban Mucus isn’t merely a companion piece and precursor to the book xXx Fanzine (1983-88) Hardcore & Punk in the Eighties. It’s a three-issue snapshot of the shape of punk to come: turning the dial all the way to the left and discovering a new musical revolution at the dawn of the 1980’s. Co-conceived in 1982 by xXx writer and editor, Mike Gitter, Suburban Mucus was an early vehicle for its high school aged editors to connect with Boston’s burgeoning hardcore sect and stake their claim in the D.I.Y. revolution that forever shifted punk’s paradigm and still echoes loudly today.

- A huge 24"x 36" full color xXx Fanzine poster that features some of the most iconic photographs featured in the book. This includes shots of Minor Threat, SSD, Jerry's Kids, Black Flag, Dag Nasty, and more!

- An additional 12"x18" poster showcasing the art of Brian Walsby.

Backtrack Premiere New Song & Music Video; Bad To My World Pre-Orders Launched

We've partnered up with Alternative Press to premiere a brand new Backtrack song and music video, from their upcoming album Bad To My World, titled "Sanity". Watch the music video for "Sanity" HERE. 

Simultaneously, we have also launched pre-orders for Bad To My World. Available is limited edition vinyl, merchandise, and more! Pre-Order Bad To My World here.

Backtrack Reveal New Album 'Bad To My World'

We are excited to announce that we will be releasing a brand new Backtrack album, Bad To My World, on November 17th. Backtrack return with Bad To My World, their first album since 2014's Lost In Life. Along with longtime producer Nick Jett (Terror), they entered the Wild Arctic studio to lay down 10 brand new songs with Dean Baltulonis (Madball, No Warning). Backtrack continue in the classic NYHC tradition of bands like Madball, Killing Time, and Outburst while still remaining fresh and injecting their own unique flavor into the timeless sound. Since 2008 Backtrack have been a force to be reckoned with. Putting out records on hardcore's most relevant labels, touring the world, and writing some of the most urgent, honest, and aggressive hardcore music in the last decade. Bad To My World showcases Backtrack in their fullest form. Click HERE to be notified when pre-orders are launched. See the full track-listing below:

1. War

2. One With You

3. Bad To My World

4. The Deep Is Calling

5. Dead At The Core

6. Cold-Blooded

7. Gutted

8. Crooks Die Slow

9. Never-Ending Web

10. Sanity 

Bad To My World LP/CD/CS/Digital coming November 17th 2017

XXX Fanzine: 1984 Spotify Playlist

We have launched our second playlist in the xXx Fanzine Spotify series. This time, we cover the year 1984 with 19 songs curated by xXx's own Mike Gitter.

Gitter comments "In the year of George Orwell's dystopic classic, 1984, punk and hardcore were forging themselves into something new. The "old guard" had largely called it quits the year before, with the likes of Minor Threat, The Misfits and The Faith packing it in as scenes got bigger and a step removed from their original sense ofDIY inspiration (and desperation). What was coming into focus was a sea-change in the underground as the likes of Black Flag, Die Kreuzen and Corrosion of Conformity began to explore heavier, more intricate sounds as others, including Husker Du and Channel 3, pushed their songwriting beyond sheer speed and brazen slogans. As documented on Maximum Rock N Roll's Welcome To 1984 compilation, the worldwide scene was also changing, growing larger with bands ranging from Finland's Terveet Kadet, all the way to Italy's blistering Raw Power to the roughshod sweetness of Canada's The Nils pushing themselves to the forefront. In was the beginning of something new; the beginning of punk's season of soul searching. "

LISTEN HERE
Hardcore was coming of age.

H2O 'Don Fury Demo Session EP' available for pre-order now!

H2O 'Don Fury Demo Session EP' available for pre-order now! In December of 1994, H2O recorded six songs with Don Fury. Originally split and released as a four song demo and a two song 7 inch, this session has been re-mastered and released together for the first time on 12" vinyl via Bridge Nine. Re-mastered and now available on a one sided 12" with a beautifully illustrated B-side by @DanSmithism

Pre-orders for The Eulogy 'Last Days' are live!

Pre-orders for The Eulogy 'Last Days' are live! Head over to b9store.com/theeulogy to get limited vinyl. Head to bridge9.bandcamp.com to hear a brand new track 👊

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE STARTS NOW

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE STARTS NOW!

Stream Entire Backtrack 7" Flexi - Bad to My World b/w Breaking Loose

You can now hear the entire @BacktrackNYHC flexi 7" Bad To My World b/w Breaking Loose (exclusive B-side) right now on Spotify / iTunes/ Bandcamp / etc! #BadToMyWorld Listen to both songs and if you haven't ordered the 32 page fanzine / flexi preview to the album, grab it at B9Store.com/backtrack shipping next week!

Nomads Premiere Crucifix/Agnostic Front Cover; Still Having Their Say Compilation Revealed

After an extended gestation period, legendary underground music journalist and A&R man Mike Gitter’s xXx Fanzine (1983-1988) Hardcore & Punk in the Eighties is almost upon us — and the epic amalgamation of revolutionary history, hard-won contemporary wisdom, and vivifying sound promises to be well worth the wait.

“Over nearly four years the xXx book blossomed into something a lot more weighty than just a collection of re-printed interviews and reviews from a well-regarded 80’s hardcore zine,” Gitter tells Decibel of the tome which also brings in new interviews with “musical prime-movers” such as Ian MacKaye, Keith Morris and members of Agnostic Front, Bad Brains and Cro-Mags to provide added depth and context. “It became a snapshot of some seismic changes in underground music — everything from Black Flag’s creepy-crawl into the sounds of bands like the Melvins and Soundgarden, the punk-metal crossover, the straight-edge stomp of the youth crew to weighty personas like Rollins, Danzig, Mascis and Mould putting their footprints deep into the mainstream-to-come. Really, punk’s season of soul-searching.”

“[Nomads are] a great L.A. band that plays with passion and fury, [waving] the flag for a time when punk and hardcore were not mutually exclusive,” Gitter says.

Yet despite already locking down the “required reading” end of things, Gitter & Co. further sweeten the pot by tossing a crazy nineteen song covers comp into the mix featuring Tombs’ take on Samhain, American Nightmare knocking out a Cro-Mags jam, Shai Hulud channeling Raw Power, Voivod reinterpreting Die Kreuzen, and — exclusively streaming via Decibel Magazine — a revelatory melding of Crucifix’ “How, When, Where” and Agnostic Front’s “The Eliminator” courtesy Nomads. Cover art and official tracklisting for the Still Having Their Say Compilation can be found below.

1. Strife - Who Are You? (Void)

2. Done Dying - Blending In (Government Issue)

3. Letlive - Fix Me (Black Flag)

4. Trial - Money (Embrace)

5. H2O - Safe (Dag Nasty)

6. Nomads - How When Where / The Eliminator (Cruxifix / Agnostic Front)

7. Walter Schriefels - Society Suckers (Agnostic Front)

8. Tombs - Kiss Of Steel (Samhain)

9. Voivod - Man In The Trees (Die Kreuzen)

10. Aeges - Hungry Child (Corrosion Of Conformity)

11. Last Light - A Wish To Dream (Uniform Choice)

12. Fuck You Pay Me - Religious Wars (Subhumans)

13. Jesse Leech - Salad Days (Minor Threat)

14. Shai Hulud - Raw Power (Raw Power)

15. True Rivals - Coolidge (Descendents)

16. Fu Manchu - When The Shit Hits The Fan (Circle Jerks)

17. Gallows - The Possibility Of Life's Destruction (Discharge)

18. American Nightmare - It's The Limit (Cro-Mags)

19. Riverboat Gamblers - Hate The Police (The Dicks)

Backtrack Unveil New Song + Pre-Orders For New Magazine/Flexi

Long Island five-piece Backtrack are thrilled to unveil their new single, “Bad To My World,” which will appear on a limited edition zine/flexi combo available digitally on September 1st and physically on September 8th from Bridge Nine (pre-order) or directly from the band on the Life & Death Tour.  The flexi also includes a b-side “Breaking Loose” and is combined with a 32-page fanzine curated by Backtrack which features art, illustrations, lyrics, stories, collages and more.

Listen to “Bad To My World” here.

The track will also appear on the Backtrack’s forthcoming new full-length, due out later this year on Bridge Nine.  While details revolving around the album are currently under wraps, the roster of main players behind the album has already stoked plenty of anticipation; topping the list are one of the East Coast’s most coveted engineers Dean Baltulonis behind the boards and Terror’s Nick Jett producing.  The album - Backtrack’s third - will be following up 2014’s Lost In Life, a somewhat tribute to the NYHC hardcore that catalyzed Backtrack’s existence. By integrating dynamic, hook-laden overdrive into their go-for-the-jugular sound, Backtrack were able to concoct a collection of material that proved to be their most remarkable yet. Exploring open-dialogue themes of personal identity, social alienation and finding solace in struggle, Lost In Life has set the bar high for the punk vets. 

Additionally, Backtrack will canvas North America in September and October on the year’s most exciting hardcore tour - the Life & Death Tour.  Backtrack will appear alongside No Warning, Twitching Tongues, Higher Power, and Vein on the duration of the tour.  Regional support will be comprised of impressive acts such as Terror, Down to Nothing, Bitter End (who are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Climate of Fear) and Bracewar in select markets.  Check out the tour’s full routing below.

More news coming soon from Bridge Nine and Backtrack.

LIFE & DEATH TOUR 2017

Feat. No Warning, Backtrack, Twitching Tongues, Higher Power, Vein

September 8Los Angeles, CA @ Union *

September 9Berkeley, CA @ Gilman Street *

September 10Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst

September 11Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction

September 12San Diego, CA @ SOMA

September 13Mesa, AZ @ The Nile

September 15Dallas, TX @ The Door ***

September 16San Antonio, TX @ Korova ***

September 17Houston, TX @ Walters ***

September 21Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge **

September 22Louisville, KY @ The Art Sanctuary **

September 23Detroit, MI @ The Ritz **

September 24Rochester, NY @ German House **

September 25Montreal, QC @ Foufounes **

September 26Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bazaar **

September 27Cambridge, MA @ Hardcore Stadium **

September 28Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts **

September 29Wilmington, NC @ Morning Glory Coffeehouse ****

September 30Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade ****

October 1Tampa, FL @ Transitions ****

* w/ Terror

** w/ Down to Nothing

*** w/ Bitter End

**** w/ Bracewar

October 2Richmond, VA @ Canal Club

November 4Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Sound Of Revolution Festival (Backtrack only)

xXx Fanzine launches limited 24 Page Mini-Zine + 7" Flexi

Today we have launched pre-orders for the xXx Fanzine mini-zine + 7" flexi. This 24 page mini-zine gives you just a taste of the madness in the upcoming 288 page book, xXx Fanzine 1983-1988 Hardcore & Punk In The Eighties. More of companion piece than a preview, this zine features additional photographs and interviews that didn't make the book as well as some crucial pieces lifted from the book itself. In these 24 pages you'll find photographs, interviews, and features from Channel 3, SSD, GBH, Dag Nasty, Descendents, Murphy's Law, and much more. Also included is a Nomads 7" flexi, which features the band covering Crucifix's "How When And Where" which flawlessly transitions into Agnostic Front's crossover classic "The Eliminator". This is strictly limited to 1000 copies total. Once these are gone, they are gone forever. Available at B9Store.com/xXx

The Eulogy sign to Bridge Nine; Last Days EP Coming Soon

With a virtual all-star team of hardcore lifers, The Eulogy is anxious to follow up on their first release with a new EP called ‘Last Days,' due out on September 22nd from Bridge Nine Records. The 5-song record is an absolute banger, serving up classic hardcore with a modern touch. With Matt Henderson at the helm there is a strong embrace of the classic NYHC sound that he was such a huge part of while playing in Agnostic Front and Madball; “This isn’t some nostalgia trip” said Henderson. “There are other elements to the sound. We are tuned down which gives us a much heavier feel. The band was founded by guys from NY, Boston and New Jersey so of course we bring that to the table, there are also elements of early punk and death metal.”  The Eulogy is a band of 5 guys that are playing for the love of the game. “We play some shows first and sometimes last. We don’t care, we just like playing hardcore” said bass player Kevin Norton

Formed in 2012, The Eulogy a Southern California-based hardcore punk band started by Henderson (Madball, Agnostic Front), Norton (Eye for an Eye, Straight Faced), Doug MacKinnon (Slapshot, Ignite) and Pete Reilly (Mouthpiece).  After auditioning several potential singers, the band ran into old friend Sergio Chavez while watching LA’s Terror play a show in Orange County, and he was a perfect fit and The Eulogy had its first lineup. Doug left and drummer Derek Muraski soon joined to record The Eulogy’s self-titled EP released in 2015 on Flatspot Records. Derek was soon replaced by veteran Marc Jackson (Throwdown, Bleeding Through) who has been an integral part of The Eulogy both as a drummer and helping write the music. Over the last two years, the band has been playing shows all over the West Coast supporting bands like H2O, Madball and the Cro Mags while developing a loyal following of their own. 

xXx Fanzine: 1983 Spotify Playlist

1983 was hardcore's golden year. Classics like Minor Threat's Out of Step, SS Decontrol's Get It Away and the Misfit's Wolfsblood/Earth A.D. were being released - shortly before some of these legendary outfits were bidding fond adieu to the crew (present day reunions, notwithstanding). Hardcore and the DIY tropes of the day were inspiration aplenty for the bystanders to form bands and onlookers to write and publish their own zines. xXx was no exception. Inspired by the fertile Boston scene, chocked full of great bands including early interview subjects like Fall River, MA agit-punks, The Proletariat and Cape Cod's The Freeze (whose "No Exposure" was a song-grenade in their war against local hardcore bible, Forced Exposure), xXx emerged in June 1983, just in time to be sold at a Dead Kennedys gig in Waltham, Mass. The layouts and writing were nothing short of raw and naive - but completely from the heart and honest. From the straight-minded bludgeon of Negative Approach or Jerry's Kids to the California screaming of Suicidal Tendencies and the Circle Jerks, the 19 songs on this playlist pack the punch that was Hardcore '83.

xXx Fanzine: 1983 Playlist