Releases/bands
Below is a list of releases alphabetical by band from 2006 onward. If you click on the link you can listen to the entire record or purchase it if you desire from Bandcamp where it is hosted.
046 Asphalt Graves "The New Primitive" LP 2016
Brutal death/grind from former and current members of Misery Index, GWAR, Dying Fetus and Black Dahlia Murder. "The New Primitive" LP/CD released June 2016.
033 Adult Books S/T 7″ 2013
from Los Angeles, a mix of surf-stylized garage-rock. Released self-titled 7" in 2013. Features members of Children of God and home-team member of Graf Orlock. Released an new LP "Running from the Blows" on Lollipop Records in 2015.
005 “Rise of the Phoenix” 7″ 2010, "Cottbus" LP 2011, 023 "Collected"LP 2011
from Laval, France, released "Rise of the Phoenix" 7" 2010, "Cottbus" LP 2011, and "Collected" LP 2011. Melodic, somewhat inspired by the early 2000s hardcore three-piece, now on the Deathwish roster and has since released two more records
012 Buyer's Remorse "A Thorough Analysis" 7″ 2010, "No Patience" ep 2015
A punk band from LA along the lines of old LA, newer SD, and somewhat Scandinavian, BR features members of Graf Orlock, Ghostlimb, Dangers, Death Hymn Number 9 and others. Released "A Thorough Analysis" 7" in 2010 and "No Patience" EP CS in 2015.
054 Cell Rot “Violent Spirals” LP 2018
Long time members of Graf Orlock, Acts of Sedition, Gather, etc., a noisy nasty hardcore LP from the depths of the pleasant and cushy Bay Area. Shares a large portion of their members with Mass Arrest as well, other LP release on Convulse Records.
009 Comadre/Glasses 2 x 7" split 2009, 027 "Cold Rain" 7" 2013, 028 "Comadre" S/T LP 2013
Long time friends and tour compatriots of Graf Orlock, Comadre existed for a long time out of the Bay Area. Featuring members who would later go on to form Everybody Row as well as world reknowned producer extraordinaire Jack Shirley at the Atomic Garden. Comadre/Glasses double 7" split in 2010, the"Cold Rain" 7" in 2012 and "Comadre" LP in 2013.
see also by way of 2x7” split, Glasses: Formed in 2008 this band consisted of people from Trainwreck, Perth Express, and the like. Unsurprisingly including 4 members who all wear glasses, this was aimed at fast, somewhat melodic hardcore with a ridiculous drummer. Released Comadre/Glasses 2 x 7" in 2009.
058 Daisy Chain “The World is Not Spinning” LP coming April 2023
Based out of Los Angeles, California, rock outfit Daisy Chain (feat. members of Graf Orlock, Sweat, Mossbreaker) formed in 2017, culling inspiration from ‘90s grunge and post hardcore, early ‘80s punk, and contemporary hardcore. The group play raucous high energy riffs with a no-holds-barred, white knuckle fury that makes even the smallest club feel like a massive arena. Growling vocals, chainsaw guitars, thundering bass, and mammoth drums make every song a sonic onslaught of punk rock potency blended with hard rock havoc.
The band’s debut "You Moved Like I Wanted To" was a frenzied mix of Black Flag, Dinosaur Jr., and Jesus Lizard. Their follow up 7” "Hard Rock Lives," and subsequent singles, have found them incorporating a more mature approach to songwriting coupled with their powerful, distortion-driven sound.
Daisy Chain’s forth-coming release, The World Is Not Spinning, can only be described as a lesson in riffing. The album delivers more—more fuzz, more fills, more fury—from start to finish. Tracks such as “Beat of the Chain” and “Roll the Dice” conjure the hard rock feel and attitude of the late-’80s Sunset Strip while “Nothing in Your Hand” and “The World Is Not Spinning” echo the influences of their hardcore and noise punk predecessors.
010 "Anger" LP 2010, 030 S/T 7" Repress 2013, 003 "Messy, Isn't It?" LP/CD 2010, 037 "Five O'Clock Shadows at the Edge of the Western World" 7" 2013, 047 "Kiss With Spit" 7" 2016, Digital Release of “Piss Shivers” single in 2022
One of the more dynamic bands on the tour, local morons from the LA area have toured a lot of places and released a decent amount of shit. A repress of "Anger" came out in 2010, "Messy, Isn't It?" LP 2010, "Five O'Clock Shadows at the Edge of the Western World" 7" 2013, S/T EP 7" Repress 2013, and "Kiss With Spit" 7" in 2016.
007 Drowning with Our Anchors/Maladie Split 10"
Band of good shits from the Bay Area that fell somewhere between the mid-2000s and City of Caterpillar. Maladie were hard rippers from Tijuana. This 10” came out of the pressing plan just in time for both bands to break up. Released in 2010.
011 Earth Control "Earth Control" LP/CD 2011
(nee Owen Hart): A band from Tacoma that comes in an out of the activity radar but is brutal and sick as all hell when they do. Taking up the mostly metal-tinged side of hardcore and originally called Owen Hart (prior to a cease and desist), the released "Earth Control" LP/CD in 2011. Since renamed Earth Control to avoid annoying lawsuits.
049 Endzweck "Tender is the Night" LP 2017
Solid melodic hardcore from Tokyo that still through the last 20 years have not lost their optimistic joy in life. Been in the mix for decades and one of the few crews still pushing DIY in Japan, Endzweck are set to release the "Tender is the Night" LP on Vitriol in Spring 2017.
039 Everybody Row "The Sea Inside" 7" 2014
Made up of members of the 2013 deceased Comadre, Everybody Row was a logical extension of the Comadre full-length in that it took on a more experimental style than previous and included a focus on soul that had only been hinted at on earlier releases. Although short lived it included the prominent use of an organ and shared multi-gender vocals. Released "The Sea Inside" 7" in June 2014 and broke up in 2015. Thanks.
008 Forming S/T 7" 2010
This band was always an outlier in the label roster, but was made up of people who had served or continue to serve time in bands like Ghostlimb, Warm Thoughts, Buyer's Remorse, the Molochs, etc etc etc. One of the most promising bands to come out of this unit of people who never really ended up doing much in the end but they did leave us with a fantastic S/T 7" in June 2010 and a few extra songs to go with it. Neal Sharma from Ghostlimb played in Forming and later went on to head High Water and his solo projects along similar lines.
064 Generacion Suicida “Regeneracion” LP
US Press of this record, originally released in the UK by Drunken Sailor records. 500 Oxblood, 500 milky white
The press comes out in March, 2024. This is VIT064
'What if Blitz hailed from Los Angeles and sang in Spanish’ isn’t a question you hear all that often. Fortunately, we don’t need to ask - the answer is provided by Generacion Suicida’s latest album, which rages and rattles in all the right places, drenched in the memorable brilliance that powered the Killed By Death compilations (ask yer dad - and if he doesn’t know or care, burn his terrible records and make some space to track down the KBD LPs). The band’s slogan is ‘musica del barrio, para el barrio’ - music from the neighbourhood, for the neighbourhood - but it sounds like they could use these hooks to take on the world.
That’s a pretty accurate sentiment as well, because this album was written during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, while the world bubbled over with carefully managed misinformation, police violence and the sickening overspill of white supremacy’s foul brew. If Regeneracion sounds potent, it’s because there was a lot to be angry about, and the result is arguably their best album yet.
Those chorused-out guitar lines carry shades of deathrock, hints of Manchester circa 1980, elements of something you might call goth if it was several degrees less furious. But there’s no doomed romance to this music; it’s an all-out attack. Street punk with the smarts turned up and an ear turned to the lessons learned from post-punk (but crucially, not the ‘post-punk revival’ that is essentially shirtless beardy lads chanting non-sequiturs over landfill indie). Chiefly, it’ll make you wanna get out of your chair, unite your local community and march on down towards your government’s centre of operations with a simple-to-use molotov cocktail kit. Its rage is infectious. It’s inspired by bleak moments in our recent shared history, but it revels in humans’ capacity to find strength in each other. And the tunes? Oh damn, they’re good.'
Will Fitzpatrick.
000 Ghostlimb: S/T CD 2005, 014 "Bearing & Distance" CD 2008, 002 Ghostlimb/Fischer 10" split 2009, 016 "Infrastructure" LP 2011, 026 "Confluence" LP 2012, 044 "Difficult Loves" LP 2016, 056 “The Only Measure is Labor Done Not Days” CD, LP 2018
I suppose I can't objectively write about this band, but it has been one of my loves of reckless abandon for over a decade now. Ghostlimb formed as a two-piece in 2005 but then morphed into a three piece with the edition of Neal around 2006 or so. This band was in direct response to Graf Orlock which had come about in 2004 or so and had shunned all melodicism and non-nihilism. Ghostlimb was everything gorlock was not in aim and sound and although had at times two shared members, it sought to focus on history, politics, urban theory, ecology and the like, while sticking to the heavy and more well rounded musically. With edition of Alex McLeod on drums in 2010 the internal workings of the band clicked harder. Stylistically, the drumming allowed the band to go in new and different directions. Everything this band ever put out was on this label, S/T CD 2006, "Bearing and Distance" CD (Lp on Adagio830) 2008, Ghostlimb/Fischer split 10" 2009, "Infrastructure" LP 2011, "Confluence" LP 2012, "Difficult Loves" LP 2016.
see also by way of 10” split, Fischer: Initially a two-piece from Santa Cruz, while never sensible made sense in terms of touring. Released many 7"s and benefits as well as a 10" split with Ghostlimb in 2009, the second Vitriol release. I rue the day this band broke up (thanks again), and members went on to The Exquisites and several other projects.
"Your Brother was an Asshole" 7" split with Hurry Up and Kill Yourself 2004, 030 Backpack Split w Greyskull 2005 (Dude records, repress Vitriol), "Corpserate Greed" EP CD 2005, "Destination Time Yesterday" LP 2006 (Level-Plane), "Destination Time Tomorrow" 10" 2007 (Level-Plane/Vendetta), 001 "Destination Time Today" LP 2009, 013 "Doombox" 10+CD 2011, 025 "Los Angeles" 7" 2012, 041 "Trailer" 7" 2014, 042 "Crimetraveler" LP 2016, 053 “An Examination of Violent Cinema Vol. 1” 2018.
If I had to pick one I would say this is the "flagship" band of the label, which was formed to release the the 2009 LP. Going back to the halcyon days of stupidity, Alan and I formed Graf Orlock sometime at the end of 2003, originally based around something with did at other bands' practices called "Dead Babies on 10 Foot Pikes", which in hindsight appears insensitive. Anyways, this band reacted against everything that was melodic metal at the time and sought to find a way to express ideas through something that just confused people: movies. As time went on and the band toured in over 30 countries I would like to believe that some of that has changed, but I will bet against us on that one. Contains members of Ghostlimb, Dangers, Bouquet, and probably every other band you have heard related to this label. Released a couple of records on our own fake label in 2004 and 2005 (Gunslap Records), Dude Records, and a few released on Level-Plane and Adagio830/Vendetta out of Berlin. Vitriol released "Destination Time Today" LP 2009, "Doombox" 10"/Cd 2011, "Los Angeles" 7" 2012, "Trailer" 7" 2015, "Crimetraveler" LP 2016.
see also by way of Split LP, Greyskull: A band containing future members of Graf Orlock and Earth Control, Greyskull hailed from beautiful Tacoma, Wa. They eventually split in 2007 and Gorlock stole Sven away to L.A. Re-released the Graf Orlock/Greyskull "Backpack Lp" after tie dissolution of Dude Records in favor of Dj-ing or whatever the fuck people do these days.
020 "Inferior" 10" 2011, 043 "Our Love is Different" LP 2015. Organized sometime in 2009 out of the wreckage of Lewd Acts, Griever was a more stoned out, guitar driven band than LA, while also exploring a different side of the mix between Bazan and Torche. Released "Inferior" 10" in 2011 and "Our Love is Different" Lp in 2015. Members went on to found Negative Blast, which has a split with Sweat coming in 2023.
040 Holy “Seclusion MMXIV” one side EP 12″
Vicious motherfuckers from Milan, Italy. Holy were a mix of D-Beat and fast. Broke up in 2015 or so and members went on to serve time in Punch (Briefly), Odio, Torso, Class, etc etc. Released "Seclusion MMXIV" LP in 2014 (unsurprisingly).
035 “Body of Habit” 7″ 2013, 036 Lost Lands “Visible Fissures” 7″ 2013 . Low, heavy, gross, d-beaty, Scandinavian (but different than Buyer's Remorse Scandinavian), the original incarnation of this band was former members of Faded Grey, Stay Gold, and myself along with Bruce. Released two 7"s at the end of 2013, beginning of 2014 "Body of Habit" and "Visible Fissures". These records still rip pretty hard. After some members left the band continues on under the tutelage of its founder Shay.
051 Misery Index “I Disavow” 7” Feb 2018
MISERY INDEX have released six studio albums, several EPs and performed over 1400 concerts in 45 countries. Look for the new album on Century Media records in 2022. Straight up rippers and destroyed in the lineage of both metal, hardcore and grind. 7” single released in 2018 prior to Rituals of Power LP in 2019.
031 Moxiebeat EP Picturedisc 2013
Eternally sweet people from Riverside who know what they are doing and always do their own shit, regardless of anything. Sometimes fast, sometimes jammy, always heavy Moxiebeat employed two bass players and a cadre of axes to create noisy and inspired hardcore. Members from Dogs of Ire, Rogue State, et al, released self-titled picturedisc LP in 2013, split with their own label Ethnospine Noise.
048 Neal Sharma and the Sagebrush “Unsatisfied” CD 2017
See also: High Water: Members of Ghostlimb, Fischer, and 100 other bands from around the Bay Area, it's logical conclusion to many projects Neal Sharma had worked on over the years. If you take this with work in Forming and later Neal Sharma & The Sagebrush full-lengths you begin to see a trajectory of song writing and aim that finds its nexus in the exploration of the role of humans in the ecological world around them. Released "High Water" LP in 2014.
059 Neolithic “Shattering Vessels” LP
SHATTERING VESSELS is the debut full-length from Baltimore, Maryland (USA) quintet NEOLITHIC. Drawing heavy influence from d-beat hardcore and death metal, NEOLITHIC forge their own mold of aggressive down-tuned pitch-black death/crust. The band’s lyrics touch on subjects of corruption, war, and death. Formed by Baltimore-area scene vets in early 2017, the band is currently comprised of vocalist Evan Harting, drummer Jon John Michaud, guitarist Mitchell Roemer, guitarist James Willett and bassist Frank Oldewurtel. Across eight tracks of vitriolic, transgressive death metal infused with lyrical invective influenced by the likes of Bolt Thrower, Napalm Death, and Brutal Truth, SHATTERING VESSELS erupts conventional metal boundaries with dissonant ease, pulling the listener deeper into the entropy of infinite nothingness.
018 Reivers “Schemata” 7″ 2011
"REIVERS are members of GRAF ORLOCK and NEGATIVE STANDARDS. Hardcore in the vein of Suicide File and other rocky-hardcore styles.
004 Robotosaurus: Manhater 10" 2009
From Adelaide Australia, released "Manhater" 10" in 2010, Graf Orlock toured in Australia and US in 2008/2009. In hindsight a group of unbelievable psychos and I love to see them when I can. In some ways notes of Converge but at other times dron-y and a middle finger to the face of classic music organization.
056 Sweat S/T 7” 2020
Formed in early 2019 with a desire to combine a unique set of musical influences and create a distinctive take on hardcore and heavy music. Comprised of members of Graf Orlock, Dangers, Dogteeth, Ghostlimb and many others, the members (Tuna Tardugno, vocals, Anthony Rivera, drums and Justin Smith, guitar/vocals), have shared collective involvement in the Southern California music scene for the last two decades. They bring to the table a disparate set of influences and perspective; all of which shape the sound and trajectory of SWEAT.
Gotta Give It Up (upcoming LP) finds the band moving through territorial influences that range from the Wipers to 80s hardcore to Swedish punk to Thin Lizzy. Blending these genres together seamlessly produces a sound that is at once classic rock while offering a unique heaviness, all tied together with a vocal delivery that in itself acts as a rhythmic accompaniment to the band. The drumming is informed by influences well outside of punk and translates as a sorely needed feel and creativity, while the guitars maintain an aggression that only rarely lets up to highlight melodic flourishes and harmony. These ten tracks find the band at a logical growth from 2020’s self-titled EP, while expanding into new terrain of longer songs and more involved arrangements.
Love Child is the bands second LP and was released March 15, 2024, the Ides of March, to rousing senatorial applause.
Also this shit rips so start your own fucking band if you don’t like it.
063 Supervoid Choral Ensemble S/T 7” 2023
Made up of members hailing from Cloudkicker and Gospel, this is a more in person take on the former project, bringing together metal, proggy sensibility, complex time signatures and definite musical virtuosity. This is a three song debut offering from the band.
065 Supervoid Choral Ensemble “Live at the Downwhen Terminus” LP 2024
019 Tempest “Solace” 7″ 2012
Nasty, blackened hardcore from Vancouver in the vein of Union of Uranus and other noisy shit. Rips
037 Thou “Ceremonies of Humiliation” 3 x LP 2014
A ridiculously prolific band out of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Thou has been going strong for years now, critically acclaimed by both failed musician critics and people that are actually into music. Released "Ceremonies of Humiliation" 3 x LP, a collection of all of their split material prior to "Summit" in 2014.
021 Trainwreck “If There is Light It Will Find You” LP
Fast, melodic hardcore band with a tinge of the mid-2000s emotive hardcore thrown in there out of Aachen, Germany. Members would later be involved in Glasses, the Tidal Sleep, and it goes on from there. Solid people who were always down for the cause. Released "If There's Light it Will Find You" LP in 2011.
