Assault USA + Neutral Accents Fanzine (The Weekly Seizure - 7.28.13)

I'm supposed to have a logo drawn up for these things, but I ended up just doodling all weekend, and then seeing that movie 20 Feet From Stardom (it's about backup singers) and so I didn't. Here's some of what I came across this week that made life's casserole just a titch sweeter:

Send you to yer maker

ASSAULT USA Demo Tape
Self-described Chicago Spin-kick metal. Think an unbearded Ringworm and maybe The Promise or 100 Demons with a little bit of burly guitar tom-foolery thrown in. Good ish. assaultusa.bandcamp.com Not sure if there are any tapes left over. Tough titty said the kitty when the milk turned dry.

100% Tasteless

Neutral Accents Fanzine #4.5 (Austin Special)
One of the better zines currently in circulation. Throw Mobby on the cover and I'm on board. I've always liked the film reviews in this zine (Grim Cinema) and though a few people have complained about the sparse layout, I've always been into it because these zines are chock fulla readin', and I like it laid out all big n' bright. Of Course the Rival Mob interview delivers, with Brendan even getting into skateboarding. I asked him this once, about why he didn't skate anymore (long story) but the question never got answered. Big ups to NXA for digging the real dirt. I won't do it justice here, but this zine is A no. 1 and if you're not hip, then you're probably not reading this anyway. You're laminating a tour lanyard with a picture of a cat wearing Nikes on it. Go barrel roll into oncoming traffic, ya putz.

"I actually hate skateboarders who aren't on my computer or TV screen, so I take zero influence from it. If one of these talented little sexy boy pieces of shit EVER cut me the slightest bit of lip, I would smash their kneecaps into dust."
-Brendan Radigan 

WALL O' TEXT

Belief Fanzine #10
Got this one through a friend who went to Destroy LA, and while I can't hang with the main bands covered (Stretch Arm Strong and Bane) I really love the layout. This thing is from 2000 and what impresses me is the sheer volume of content. Lotsa stuff in a wall o' text format. Next issue was supposed to have inties with Dropkick Murphys and Carry On but I'm not sure it ever came out. Oh, also whoever made this must not like Ten Yard Fight very much. See the picture below. Brings to mind the excellent TYF vs In My Eyes discussions I've been having with internet friends lately.

Guess he's an IME fan?

We All Hate Mike Vallely (Inky Fanzine Nugget #3)

Southern Discomfort

Not much I can say 'bout this one, cuz the poetry's in the pudding. Comes from Stan Forsack's Atlanta Youth Report zine, ish #7. An interview with the always entertaining Brendan Radigan had me in stitches. One little quip. Love it. 

Elephant sac

I don't care about his part in that one Powell video where he's running through a graveyard. The world doesn't need another Hank Rollins. Take it to the bank. Mike V sucks.

INTENT - "No Rules" Demo (Demo Dogz #1)

Hey kid, wanna cop a Swazi?

Intent is a multi-state conglomeration featuring former and current members of Free Spirit and Rival Mob Mentality (see what I did there?). A one word name like "Intent" may conjure up images of Jncos, Wizard Sleeves and whole host of doofy 90's trite-isms, but this is rooted in the ever popular late 80's NY sound with hints of Boston's "new scene" all over it. Internet geniuses are probably rushing to point at that "Intent" has already been used at least twice (Texas and NY), but who cares? I heard on the Livewire board that a member of Give put tape on an Intention shirt to make an Intent shirt at the Clear (wait...that name's already been used) debut show.

The cover's awesome (and long-since sold out) but features a Frank Miller-esque comic character peddling a trenchcoat chock-fulla vices (my fav being the bird-flipping finger). Was it the same guy that did the WW4 artwork?

In terms of tune-age, 3 songs is hard to make a deep assessment but "My Point of View" has a typical Rival Mob style bass line, "Set it Straight" is the hardest song with the spoken word "cross me again, and I'll seal your fate" part and "Friendship" steals it all soaked in Pain Cave style drum sounds.  Vocally I hear Pat Dubar singing for Straight Ahead.

Verdict: Not essential but certainly not disappointing. Sounds a little bit too much like Free Spirit (albeit less sloppy and a little harder) to fully distinguish itself among all the other excellent bands that've popped up in 2012 (Prisoner Abuse!) but I shant complain. A good band is a good band.

Steal it here.