5X5 Friday #2

By Ryan Germ
 I realized last week that doing a breakdown of 25 albums consistently is tiring for me (as the writer) and makes the article way more bloated and a lot more of a nothing burger than it had to be. I can acknowledge that mistake as we’re still ironing out the kinks. So while shooting the shit with my boy Ethan he suggested a great idea, that I only go in depth for my top 10 each week. Now I’m a bit of an idiot so that didn’t occur to me beforehand, but we’re here now so without any further ado I’ll list my 25-11 and go in depth on the top 10.


Records outside the top 10:

OBW - Some Of Us May Never See The World

Hatebreed - Satisfaction

Death Threat - Last Dayz

Botch - We Are The Romans

Blacklisted - Eye For An Eye

Aphex Twin - Windowlicker

Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy EP

Thursday - 5 Stories Falling

Red Chord - Fused Together…

Kids Like Us - Outta Control

Found Dead Hanging - Dulling…

Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal

I&D - Fine Art…

Frail - No Industry

Last Lights - No Past…


Damn those records rip, maybe one day I’ll talk about them. But for now we’re getting into the Top 10:


#10: Purple Mountains - S/T

This record is so haunting, yet beautiful. Soul crushing, yet comforting. David Bermans final project, Purple Mountains delivers the greatest alt country I’ve heard in years. Making its 2nd top 10 appearance you may wonder if I’m ok, to which I say yes but these songs are fucking earworms. I’ve never heard sorrow put in a more catchy yet beautiful way.


#9: Bad Seed - S/T

I’m not one to be a glazer but it’s warranted here. Saba and Jamie’s riffs bring thrashy excellence coupled with intense groove to hardcore, Shane’s voice is aggressive and birthed one of the best mosh callouts in Justice Deserved, and Adam Rifkin’s drumming is tight. This is a bonafide WBHC supergroup.


#8: Zao - Blood And Fire…

One of my fav metalcore releases. Aggressive and riffy as hell (or heaven in this case) yes please. Lies Of Serpents always gets me stoked.


#7: I&D - Drive This…

One of the most special records to me and a constant in my dads house during my early childhood. Seeing them live was so special to me but sonically this record still holds up. Shadowtalkers as a blog wouldn’t exist without this record. Hence the name.


#6: The Virgos - Lord Have Mercy

Saba strikes again. This time he’s fronting and riffing, this is a ride through doom, hardcore, some poppy elements, but it’s just heavy ass metal. From the sludgey doom of “Her Majesty” to the stomp of “Yes” and the epicness of “Iron Gauntlet/Velvet Glove” this is just ripper after ripper. I’m mad that I didn’t find The Virgos sooner but now that I have I’m in love with everything they do.


#5: 18 Visions - Obsession

Such a poppy metalcore record yet it’s still so good. The riff to I Let Go lives rent free in my head and the breakdown to Tower Of Snakes is one of the best written. However this is not the best 18 V record and I’m sure you can guess which one I’m gonna say if you know me.


#4: Kickback - Forever War

As controversial as they are riffy. Kickback has been long established as the premier hardcore band from France. You can see why if you put this thing on from start to finish as they have a very thrashy tone played with such groove that it makes you want to fight someone. I hope I end up seeing them play this year.


#3: Cold World - No Omega

What a time it must have been to see the rise of Cold World. Mixing rap influences in samples, heavy groove, and ripping solos, Cold World makes a strong sleeper case to be known as the #1 hardcore band of the 00’s. This may be cheating because this is multiple 7’s in one comp but this comp has such songs such as Cold World and Ice Grillz which demonstrate why they’re one of the most beloved PAHC bands of all time.


#2: 18 Visions - Vanity

Sleazy riffs, clean and harsh vox mixed. Listen, I’ve written 2 or 3 articles about this record at this point, and I’ve said all I can say. It’s timeless. Go listen to the title track and report back.


#1: Cold World - Dedicated To Babies…

Being in math class is miserable. But in 10th grade bumping this made it way less miserable. I came back to this record recently and I’ve picked up on how great it is. I always thought it was good but the moment it was an amazing record was when I heard the second part of the title track. That mosh part comes in so so perfectly and it hits like crack everytime. It’s what Cold World has a knack for and it’s why I kept returning to this record this week. God I hope they release a new record.

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