SoCal hardcore new jacks Forced Order are comprised of dudes from Twitching Tongues, Disgrace and Soul Search, but their aesthetic is strictly skull-cracking old-school, emulating the likes of Integrity and Ringworm.

All kinds of heavy shit happened in 1989. The Soviet Union crumbled; Salman Rushdie pissed off the Grand Iranian Poobah; the Exxon Valdez spilled black gold all over pristine Alaskan coastline; Pope John Paul II evacuated holy bowels in Africa; and Ron Hextall scored a goal in the NHL playoffs.

Four demos from four new bands to satisfy your itch for something strange. 

On August 1, blackQueen will release their new Billy Anderson-produced album The Directress, which features guest appearances by musicians including Uta Plotkin, Joy Von Spain of Eye Of Nix, and Wrest of Leviathan. Pete Jay talked to us about his love of horror soundtracks and the comeback of his passion project. 

It’s been four years since previous full-length Die Miserable, but we refuse to take the advice of prolific Canadian grinders Fuck the Facts.

Infernus
Infernal Affairs
dB Rating: 8/10

Into the void with this six minute slice of horror metal from Detroit’s Temple of Void!

While derided by Al Jourgensen and some fans With Sympathy contains some of Al’s most iconic songs and tips the hat to what followed in his still evolving career.

Ryan Parrish, Graham Scala and Brent Eyestone have teamed up yet again as ethereal/drone/ambient outfit Harmonic Cross, and we have the full stream of their new album It Is Finished. 

You surely recall guitarist Jeremy Wagner’s European tour diary in the August issue, but that’s not all Broken Hope are up to these days. The gore-slinging death metal machine is about to drop the Live Disease DVD.