2011: BBQ CHICKENS release a new full-length album for the first time in 8 years.
2012: Sapporo hardcore band Slang signs to PIZZA OF DEATH Records.
In 2013, Osaka hardcore band SAND signs to PIZZA OF DEATH Records. People not familar with hardcore may not know the name, but they have a large following in Kansai. SAND, heavily influenced by NYHC bands such as Madball and Sick Of It All, formed in 1999 and plays mid-tempo heavy beats and metallic riffs. They began gathering steam in 2004 and started touring both domestically and in America. They traveled to NYC in 2010 and played at the “BLACK’N’BLUE BOWL” hardcore festival. In 2011, they played at “East Coast Tsunami Festival”, a large US East Coast hardcore festival. At the same time, they have been contributing to the domestic scene by inviting bands such as MADBALL and NEXT STEP UP to Japan and going on tour with them. As solid evidence of their success, they have been organizing West Japan’s largest independent music festival “FREESTYLE OUTRO’” since 2002. Hardcore and punk bands as well as hip hop artists both foreign and domestic perform at the event, and 2011’s “FREESTYLE OUTRO’8” saw more than 4,000 attendees.
Examples of SAND’s success and deep roots with the Osaka street scene are innumerable, and could even be considered the face of it. That they would sign to PIZZA OF DEATH Records is quite an event.
SAND’s “Spit on authorty”, their first new full-length album in 6 years, is an evil and brutal piece of hardcore music. RIght from the start slow and groovy breakdowns pummel the listener into submission, and changing tempos stir up many kinds of emotions. The massive mosh pits and intense sound at their live shows are undeniably fun.
The next track “Vanilla Shake” features the rapper ANARCHY from Kyoto, and successfuly blends hardcore and hip hop. SAND is a hardcore, but they take a lot of inspiration from many genres. Track #7 “I” is a reggae and hardcore tune that breaks up the album and gives the listener a moment to rest.
“Country Road” is a bonus track the puts SAND’s musical chops on full display, as it is a hardcore cover of John Denver’s famous song of the same name. The band is quoted as saying “We just like the song,” when asked why they decided to cover it. It is with comments like this that SAND shows how it’s different from other bands by refusing to limit their own sound with narrow definitions of hardcore music. No matter what kind of sound they may produce, they always have a knockdown attitude. That’s made quite clear with their new CD.
SAND went on a European tour immediately after releasing “Spit in authority”, and then returned to Japan to play 30 shows. They then embarked on a tour in America. CDs are good, but nothing beats seeing them live. SAND is sure to force listeners to reevaluate their standards regarding what a true lie experience is.
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