NO FAKE - NO FASHION!

This is what it says on the promotional flyer of the young label District 763, which is responsible for this record. No trendy gimmicks, no facade, it’s all about honesty here. Honesty, integrity, and sincerity towards oneself, friends, family, and music. These are the cornerstones that the hardcore scene often refers to. Here, hardcore is delivered by three bands.

One does not bet on a single horse, but rather on several, just like the experienced retirees who have been betting at trotting races for years.

However, this is not a leisurely trot but a full gallop forward.

This 3-band split CD presents hardcore from three countries, of which at least two are known for good hardcore, but whose bands usually only resonate with scene insiders.

This is supposed to change, as all three bands are collaborating and will share the stage together on the upcoming tour.

The CD kicks off with the Berlin band TONEDOWN. They have been around for six years, with the last three years being particularly good for the band. They participated in the "Berlin Hardcore Vol. 2" sampler from the well-known label and store Core Tex and have played live repeatedly. The band knows hardcore. They make this clear with the four songs they present. Heavy, aggressive guitars, powerful, aggressive vocals, a pounding drum kit, all wrapped in a good recording. TONEDOWN offers hardcore without frills and without any gimmicks. Here, you get an honest punch to the face. The band feels comfortable in mid-tempo, which fits the songs, but after multiple listens, a bit of boredom sets in because the songs, despite good arrangements, sound too similar.

Let’s see what the band NOTHING BETWEEN US from Warsaw has to offer.

The band has been around since 2008. They handle a lot themselves regarding shows and albums.

It is said that bands from the East are harder and more aggressive. Whoever spread this rumor is confirmed when listening to NOTHING BETWEEN US. The guitars come across even more aggressively than those of the Berliners, the drums provide a dull beat that the singer Darek needs to scream the lyrics with his grim, rough voice. The songs of NOTHING BETWEEN US may not come across in the same good recording as those of TONEDOWN, but they are delivered with an underlying aggression and even more passion. The style is similar to that of the Berliners.

As the last band in the group, BROKEN FIST from Moscow comes through the speakers. The band is noticeably different from the previous two bands right from the first listen. The vocals often come across growly, like in Death Metal. Already in the first song "Sin," the virtuosic and varied interplay between drums, guitar, and vocals stands out. It’s heavy and subtly aggressive, just like the streets of Moscow, away from the tourist paths. Images of bleak concrete housing estates without color and without plaster flash before my inner eye. Fast parts alternate with mid-tempo sections or heavy, sluggish tempos. Breaks, a thundering bass drum, and mostly unintelligible, ominous-sounding vocals complete the hardcore made in Russia.

With this release, the young label District 763 has hit a good mark. Hardcore fans cannot miss "Berlin-Warsaw-Moscow."

The MySpace pages of the bands are as follows:

TONEDOWN:                        http://www.myspace.com/tonedownberlin

NOTHING BETWEEN US    http://www.myspace.com/nothingbetweenus022

BROKEN FIST                      http://www.myspace.com/brokenfistmoscowcity