Have you ever been dazed and confused? Me neither…
Have you ever been low-down and abused? Me neither…
I was just sitting alone in my room, trapped amidst feelings of ennui and gloom
When from seemingly nowhere, a ray of hope pierced the sky
A convenient excuse for a convenient lie
I writhed in torment from what they did to me
So obvious now, I was too blind to see
And when I just asked for somebody to trust, all they said was get fucked
When they take everything from you and then they ask for more
When the last bomb’s been dropped and they still call out for war
When they make you dependent then force you to go without
When they add your fucking life to the list of things that they don’t care about
Pawing through the carcasses just to see what’s left
An undignified end in a messy, useless death
When everything is gone, they’ll force you to your knees
They get what they want and we’re the ones who have to bleed
Saw Haram at Oklahoma's Everything Is Not OK III festival, and have never seen a show get more fucking insane. Haram were killing it, people were literally flying all over the place, including the vocalist. But it's more than that. Haram stands out as one of the most culturally relevant and important bands in the states, challenging issues of cultural and social oppression for all marginalized peoples. Vocalist Nader also sings in Arabic and stands full force against the racism and religious phobia faced by middle eastern americans, issues that have relentlessly plagued our country and people, even before 9/11. I highly recommend reading his interviews, I challenge all to join and support them in this effort. I hope I've done an at least passable job representing them here. I also consider myself lucky to have seen them. Ariele Betterton
Knockout debut from a Buffalo, New York-based hardcore band who like their riffs sick, their drums fast, and their choruses sticky-sweet. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2024
A necessary reissue of everything venerated hardcore band Angel Hair ever released, with breakneck time signatures that turn on a dime. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 10, 2024
New York hardcore meets classic thrash metal meets Jane's Addiction-esque alternative on the Brooklyn crushers' sensational debut. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 13, 2023