So here is a good compilation of some of my favorite hardcore bands. One of them is Beer Bong which, while now defunct, was one of my all time favorite bands. BeerBong was an Italian band and they really kicked off the hardcore and punk scene in Italy. I went to Rome and other cities in the mid-2000s and tasted their hardcore scene to the fullest, spending quite the time with the guys from Beer Bong. I was quite impressed with how the hardcore scene had picked up and Beer Bong has a lot to do with it.
I've decided to keep this page as a dedication to Beer Bong while I also review some of the other European hardcore bands from the mid to late 2000s. If you guys know of any other iconic hardcore bands in Europe from that era, then feel free to contact me to include them.
Band: BEERBONG
Track 16: My Shorts
From Album: Self Titled
Currently Licensed Under: Wynona
Country: Italy
Mini Bio: Take some Pulley, add a chunk of Belvedere and finish off with a pinch of Italian flavor. Blend it all up really really fast. There you go, one Beerbong to go!
Band: BOMB THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!
Track 1: Ready… Set… No!!!
From Album: Album Minus Band
Currently Licensed Under: Currently unsigned! And probably always will!
Country: United States
Mini Bio: Hell yeah! This spontaneous side project from the Arrogant Sons Of Bitches surpasses any preconceptions you might have! It's bombastic, it's energetic, it's poppy, it's amazing and it's… totally D.I.Y. and free! Go download their two great albums at their website now!
Band: RENTOKILL
Track 2: Sounds Of A Pityful End
From Album: Back To Convenience
Currently Licensed Under: Vitaminepillen & Engineer
Country: Austria
Mini Bio: This energetic four piece comes straight from the streets of Vienna, but from the sounds of their latest offering Back To Convenience, you'd swear these guys are from California. This is quality skate-punk Fat Wreck style. It's time Fat Mike takes note…
Band: SKUMDUM
Track 3: A Big Disgrace
From Album: Skum Of The Land
Currently Licensed Under: Morphine Lane
Country: Sweden
Mini Bio: Skumdum is the typical band to be categorized under Euro-noise. Their brand of melodic punk rock bares American influences, but sounds honest and true at the same time. These guys are ready to conquer Europe, don't try to stop them on their way…
Band: FLYING DONUTS
Track 4: Back Off
From Album: Back Off EP
Currently Licensed Under: Currently Unsigned!
Country: France
Mini Bio: Flying Donuts are a three-piece from the Epinal region in France, and bring a kind of punkrock that concentrates heavily on the ROCK side of things!! Be aware: flying is not a crime and donuts are good for you !!! For fans of Samiam, Hot Water Music and the likes.
Band: SMOOTH LEE
Track 5: Rudie Rob (previously unreleased!)
From Album: From the upcoming album "Take Me"
Currently Licensed Under: Currently Unsigned!
Country: Belgium
Mini Bio: Smooth Lee are the Belgian rendition of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They've been making a name for themselves since 1999 and are hoping to finally force their breakthrough with their brand new album Take Me, which is their best by far.
Band: G.A.S. DRUMMERS
Track 6: Back To Decadence (previously unreleased!)
From Album: From the upcoming album "Standards Down"
Currently Licensed Under: Bcore Disc
Country: Spain
Mini Bio: Starting out as your everyday so-cal melodic hardcore band, these Spanish guys have undergone quite the metamorphosis over the years, bearing their Jawbreaker/Husker Du influences all the more visible on their sleeves along the way. One of Europe's hidden gems.
Band: ANTILLECTUAL
Track 7: Another Guide (to comprehensive capitalism)
From Album: Silencing Civilization
Currently Licensed Under: Angry Youth
Country: the Netherlands
Mini Bio: Often hailed as the Dutch Propagandhi, Antillectual is here to rock your ass with their technical and energetic skate-punk and educate you with what they think is wrong with the world! Don't approach without an open mind and a safety helmet!
Band: PICKLED DICK
Track 8: Go!
From Album: Panda-Moanium
Currently Licensed Under: Don't Rush Me
Country: United Kingdom
Mini Bio: If you'd throw Frenzal Rhomb, Green Day and pretty much any Lookout pop-punk band in a blender and mix things up, you'd pretty much end up with England's goofiest trio Pickled Dick. Don't be caught of guard though, they might look silly but their songs blow any other pop-punk band out of the water!
Band: THE LAWRENCE ARMS
Track 9: Faintly Fallen Ashes
From Album: Cocktails & Dreams
Currently Licensed Under: Fat Wreck Chords
Country: United States
Mini Bio: They're the fucking Lawrence Arms! Need I say more? They've earned great respect by releasing four full length albums and a collection of b-sides and splits on Asian Man and Fat Wreck and will return in 2006 with their fifth full length to date. In the meantime, rock out to their Christmas carol at Europunk.net!
Band: NO CHILDREN
Track 10: Mend The Pieces
From Album: Reality
Currently Licensed Under: Electric Chair Music
Country: Spain
Mini Bio: What is there to do on an isolated island like Mallorca? Right, you pick up an instrument and rock the socks off. It ain't an accident that No Children are one of the tightest European bands pulling off a mixture of post-hardcore and So-Cal melodic punk. They have already driven many teen punks to insanity. Are you next?
Band: VANILLA SKY
Track 11: Wastin' All My Time
From Album: Waiting For Something
Currently Licensed Under: Wynona
Country: Italy
Mini Bio: Vanilla Sky are Europe's mainland leading pop punk band. Combine the sounds of Midtown, Yellowcard and the Ataris and you'll pretty much end up with these Italians right here. Saccharine sweet pop punk songs for fans of the genre, it's nothing more but certainly nothing less.
Band: THE PEACOCKS
Track 12: Older Than Punk
From Album: It's Time For
Currently Licensed Under: Asian Man
Country: Switzerland
Mini Bio: Whoever said the Swiss don't know how to rock, will be proven wrong by the Peacocks. Their goal is not to be the best or most innovative band, they're simply out to please their crowd with their music and do a great job with their brand of rockabilly punk!
Band: SUN EATS HOURS
Track 13: Sucker
From Album: The Last Ones
Currently Licensed Under: Rude Recorz
Country: Italy
Mini Bio: These four Italians have been compared to their American counterparts in the Offspring more than once, but with their fourth full length the band shows that they're much more than another Offspring. Now that they've found their groove, it's time to rock every town in Europe. Be prepared!
Band: OKPLOÏDE
Track 14: Sacta
From Album: Miseria Espectacular
Currently Licensed Under: Currently Unsigned!
Country: France
Mini Bio: This batch of French ska-core punks managed to blow the entire Europunk.net staff of their socks with what themselves tagged as a "meager gig". That information alone proves that it's about time that you stop reading and start listening now! Ska-P who?
Band: EPHEN RIAN
Track 15: Strike Me Deeply
From Album: The Special Referendum
Currently Licensed Under: Wynona
Country: Austria
Mini Bio: Fans of Thrice and Strung Out should be drooling over this. Ephen Rian is Austria's best kept secret that is bound to get the recognition they deserve soon enough. Combine technical proficiency with metallic riffs and emo-core styling and you might very well end up with these guys!
Band: MULTIBALL
Track 17: Friday Night Anthem (previously unreleased!)
From Album: From the upcoming album "Endless Journey"
Currently Licensed Under: Indelirium Records
Country: Slovenia
Mini Bio: Punk rock in Slovenia? Damn yeah! You'd better believe it, because Multiball will hit your town soon. Often described as a Slovenian No Use For A Name, Multiball have finally been able to break from their town and will invade Europe before you know it!
Band: SECOND BASE
Track 18: Set It Straight
From Album: Split with Old Fashion Heroes
Currently Licensed Under: Currently unsigned!
Country: Belgium
Mini Bio: Without a doubt the least known band, but definitely not the least impressive band on here. These Belgian punks started out in 2002 and are now ready for their very first official release. Intense, aggressive and energetic; those are the trademarks of the band. This is the way gritty punk rock should sound.
Band: MARK FOGGO'S SKASTERS
Track 19: Deadbeat
From Album: You Shot Me
Currently Licensed Under: Skanky 'Lil
Country: the Netherlands
Mini Bio: Hailing originally from Liverpool, England, Mark Foggo escaped to the European mainland and the Netherlands in detail after some problems with the English law. He's been writing skanking songs for over 25 years now and his new effort, backup up by his Skasters, You Shot Me will make you beg for more again. Put on your dancing shoes! It's time to skank again!
Band: DUVALL
Track 20: Gimme Some Light
From Album: Volume & Density
Currently Licensed Under: Asian Man
Country: United States
Mini Bio: Formed out of the ashes of the Smoking Popes, Duvall are here to carry the torch of deep emotional rock music. Fronted by the amazing voice of Josh Caterer and his newfound Christian beliefs, Duvall is rocking steadier than ever. Approach with an open mind an listen for yourself!
Band: THE FATAL MISTAKE
Track 21: Best Befriend
From Album: Die Trying
Currently Licensed Under: Stitched Up
Country: United Kingdom
Mini Bio: Warning! If you want to keep your street cred, check out UK's pop-punk act The Fatal Mistake right now. They've recently inked a deal with a subsidiary of the Australian SonyBMG. If you're looking for fine mid-tempo pop-punk that's about to explode: look no further.
Band: FIVE DAYS OFF
Track 22: Coincidence
From Album: Deerfoot Trail
Currently Licensed Under: Funtime Records
Country: Belgium
Mini Bio: Having started as a skapunk band way in the day, Five Days Off quickly made a name for themselves touring around the globe with Belvedere, Skin Of Tears and Against Time. With nothing left to prove and their 3rd full length (mixed by Bill Stevenson and produced by Japer of Undeclinable Ambuscade) just a formality away, the band finally finds their own path for more of that melodic punkrock goodness.
Band: PHINIUS GAGE
Track 23: Will We Be The Only Ones Left Just Because We Saw It Coming? No
From Album: The Feeling Something's Wrong
Currently Licensed Under: Deck Cheese
Country: United Kingdom
Mini Bio: Brighton Skatepunks Phinius Gage have been described as "The missing link between So-Cal and the punk rebellion of the 70s" or "Flying the flag for UK punk rock", and we couldn't have said it any better. A relentless touring schedule is bound to make these guys a householdname in Europe.
Band: UNCOMMONMENFROMMARS
Track 24: System's After You
From Album: Noise Pollution
Currently Licensed Under: Currently unsigned!
Country: France
Mini Bio: You really can't go wrong with this band. They've been writing, playing and recording awesome melodic punk rock songs for years now. With two excellent full length albums produced by Ryan Greene under their belts, these guys really belong to Europe's best!
Band: JAYA THE CAT
Track 25: Mr. Bobby (live) (previously unreleased!
From Album: Previously unreleased!
Currently Licensed Under: 4Tune
Country: the Netherlands / United States
Mini Bio: After the departure of two original members, Boston's finest Jaya The Cat decided to settle in Holland and play their reggae-punk shows with guest members from the Dutch rock scene. They're rocking harder than ever as you can hear on this live cover of Manu Chao. Prepare to be rocked by their blend of ska, rock, punk, reggae and dub on their new album slated for 2006!
