So I try to be fair, I really do. I’m a collector like everyone else and yes, I like the idea of Record Store Day. But honest to fucking god, we don’t need Black Friday as well. If you think we do, take a look at what there is. Absolute dogshit. 27 live albums. 182 releases that are distilled down to a few that might be of interest to genre collectors. Now most of the stuff that gets released on Black Friday are even more novelty oriented than the normal Record Store Day fare, but in my humble opinion the best option is the William Shatner/The Cramps split and maybe the Devo reissue of the ’81 Live record.

So instead of the standard comsumerist bullshit inspired from Record Store Day, I thought I’d list some records that you should buy (that aren’t affiliated with Record Store Day and have been recently released or set to be released soon).

Start with Antimob – 2019 EP available from from: https://antimob.bandcamp.com/album/ep-2019

This thing is a straight up banger – probably their best thing – reminds me of Burning Spirits style hardcore punk from Japan (especially those ripping leads!) mixed with Poison Idea and modern Swedish hardcore (the singer sounds a lot like the singer of Sunday Morning Einsteins). Just excellent.

Rata Negra – La Hija Del Sepulturero EP

Lo-fi garage inspired mutant rock – with a heavy goth vibe doesn’t ever really disappoint, and Rata Negra do it extremely well. La Vida En Mus here: https://www.lavidaesunmus.com/ While you’re there pickup any of the Disclose reissues too. Never really surges past a mid-tempo and for old Canadian heads it tugs at the nostalgic strings of Deja Voodoo, but Rata Negra are much more accomplished musicians.

Lastly, I’d be remiss in not mentioning the slew of Iron Lung Records releases – two of which I’d recommend. Firstly this:

Under Attack are pretty much delivering hardcore in my wheelhouse – angry, but there’s songs there, and while things are drenched in overdrive or distortion, they aren’t overwhelming or overbearing. Absolutely a good record that is rooted in hardcore punk, but still has enough new flair (for lack of a better word) to keep it fresh. While we’re chatting about Iron Lung Records, the Doldrey – Invocation of Doom is worth your time as well. A touch more metallic than I normally accept in my ears, it’s got a couple of things going for it – first it’s from Singapore, which like Mexico is churning out the best hardcore going currently (I honestly think we’ll look back on Mexico and Singapore right now as fondly as many of us obsessed about mid-90’s Japanese hardcore).

So yeah, there’s a couple of releases that you should spend your time with rather than buying what you’re fed on Record Store Day Black Friday bullshit.