This compilation is so cool as it is a snapshot of the burgeoning young hardcore/punk scene in Houston, Texas. 35 Minutes of pure Houston Hardcore with 19 bands - see list of artists below. Cassette is housed in a audiobook case and includes a lyric zine. Read the story told by Derek Rathburn (Substance/Demand a Future) that helped organize this whole compilation:
"This compilation was recorded live at The End on April 2nd and 3rd of 2023. Each band had 20 minutes to record a track live and you’re hearing my favorite takes. Being that this was recorded live, there’s going to be some wrong notes, voice cracks, and off time sections. Some will find this annoying or off putting. Those who don't, understand what this is all about. "I went to my first DIY hardcore show (Fallcore 2014) after hearing a band called Drown on a compilation called Houston Hardcore Mixtape Vol 1. I was a punk kid with a studded vest and up until that point I had only seen people circle pit and skank at some larger punk shows, so when I saw the arm swinging and spin kicking, I didn’t know what to make of it. In many ways, it scared me but more than anything it made me want to dig deeper into what was happening in hardcore (especially locally). I listened to that compilation obsessively after that. As a young person learning about aggressive music, that record gave me a taste of almost every aspect of hardcore. From straight up punk bands, metalcore, oi, and a lot in between, I was enamored by the sonic diversity and wanted to take in as much as I could. I took extreme solace in this music and the positivity it provided. I don’t feel even a little corny saying this: this music saved my life more than once.
Fast forward to 2023, I can confidently say Houston has one of the most active and diverse scenes in the nation. Since I’ve been involved, I have never seen this many active bands full of young people EVER and I’m extremely proud to call many of these people my friends. I was driving home one night listening to America’s Hardcore Vol 3 and was hit with a wave of inspiration. I knew that this moment and this scene needed to be documented. Not only to show the world what Houston is capable of, but to put our flag in the ground and say: WE WERE THERE, THIS WAS US. And if one young person listens to this and is inspired to be involved, the job is done. Run full speed ahead with the knowledge that YOU CAN DO IT TOO, and I know that you’ll do it better. I’m ready to see your star burn brighter than ours and I will be there waving your flag with you."
HOUSTON HARDCORE COMPILATION 2023 TRACK LISTING:
0:00 ANTI TRUST “S.T.N”
1:19 SHOCK TREATMENT “SCRIPTURES OF IZALITH”
3:13 NRA “BARRICADED SUSPECT”
4:59 CORPSE PILE “EVERY DOG GETS PUT DOWN”
6:57 LIE “TEMPTATIONS”
9:32 SUBSTANCE “HOUSTON”
11:19 STRANGE JOY “RIPPER”
13:32 CABLE “UNTILTED”
16:01 SKOURGE “PEASANTS REVOLT”
17:59 THE BURDEN “THE DRAG”
21:33 JUICEBOX “CONTROL”
23:14 TALKIN “DARK FANTASY”
25:11 OPNS “IN THE GRASS”
26:15 BLOODMONEY “MYSELF”
28:07 MEXICAN COKE “SPY KILLER”
30:31 GRIPE “DUENDES/REDACTED”
32:03 SOCIAL STATIC “15”
33:33 THE STUFF “SUPERBAD”
34:43 HEAVEN’S LOSS “I PRAY FOR TIME”