Spitalfield
Stop Doing Bad Things
Victory (2005)
Ever since I accidentally saw them live in 2003, Spitalfield had been on my list of bands to avoid listening to. Their set was brain-implodingly bad - a sloppy mess of contrived pop-punk hooks, soulless songwriting, and the second whiniest vocals I?d ever heard (Rufio being the first.) It didn?t help that the sound quality was weak, or that the … Read more
Streetlight Manifesto
Keasbey Nights
Victory (2006)
In 1998, Catch 22's first, and defining album, Keasbey Nights was released by Victory Records. The release was a departure for the label, as they were known at the time for releasing mainly hardcore records. Earth Crisis, Integrity, Snapcase; these were bands Victory was known for releasing landmark records from. Catch 22 shifted the momentum of the label, as a … Read more
Taking Back Sunday
Where You Want to Be
Victory (2004)
When I started my own zine as a sophomore in highschool (I am now a freshman in college), Victory would send me all their releases to review. Honestly, I stopped reviewing Victory releases because I was tired of making fun of every record I had to review. Although 96% of Victory releases are awful, sometimes, between Freya, Snowdogs, Atreyu, Catch … Read more
Terror
Live By The Code
Victory (2013)
Hardcore veterans, Terror have sold over 200,000 albums worldwide and will release their forthcoming studio album, Live By The Code on April 9th. Mixed by Matt Hyde (Hatebreed, Slayer) and produced by Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory, Shai Hulud, H20, A Day To Remember). Terror’s legacy in the hardcore scene is already built as being one of the most respectful … Read more
The Tossers
Agony
Victory (2007)
A handful of records on multiple labels, a World Series game, a Jimmy Kimmel appearance, a solo record...not bad for a band of Southside Chicagoans I first heard opening for Citizen Fish in 2000. With Agony, The Tossers' second release on Victory Records, they continue to steadily grow in popularity and release almost an album per year. Often overlooked by … Read more
The Tossers
Smash the Windows
Victory (2017)
The term “Irish punk” sprung up in the late ‘90s around the time Flogging Molly jumped into the spotlight and in the waning days of ska-punk. A new hyphen was needed for those into punk aggression and hybrid genres.I’ve always had a soft spot for violins, mandolins and other instrumentation common in the style. While time and more and more … Read more
The Tossers
The Emerald City
Victory (2013)
The Tossers top out my list of Celtic punk bands. Dropkick Murphys turned into cartoons long ago and I’ve just never been that big a fan of Dave King’s (Flogging Molly) voice. The Tossers, who call Chicago home, bring a mix of emphatic punk energy a la Flogging Molly, but blend it with a traditionalist sense found in, who else,The Pogues. They … Read more
With Honor
This is Our Revenge
Victory (2005)
I have a boom box where you load the CD's on the top, so when I put in This is Our Revenge into my kickin' stereophonic listening system I thought I accidentally left in my copy of Ignite's Past Our Means. Todd Mackey's vocals sound so eerily close to Zoli Teglas that I actually thought I had just left in … Read more
