Local Reviews: V/A

V/A
Grudge City Activities Mix Tape Vol. 1
Grudge City Activities
Street: 12.7.09
Mix Tape = SLC Hardcore 2009
The size, popularity and volatility of the Salt Lake hardcore scene has ebbed and flowed over the years, and it only takes a cursory glance at the posts on grudgecityactivities.com to realize this. However volatile and large or small, the scene is (I remember packed shows at Bricks back in the late 90s and small shows in band practice spaces) something that is never absent is intensity. GCA put together this compilation as a document of what’s going on in the Salt Lake hardcore scene currently and in true DIY hardcore fashion, it’s free. The comp features 10 unreleased tracks by a slew of bands including: City to City, Reviver, Dogwelder, Tamerlane and Glacial, to name a few. It’s amazing how far the history goes back with members of each of the groups on the comp and is a testament to the “never say die” attitude of the hardcore scene. Musically, a span of hardcore-related genres are represented—from the heavy, to fast punk infused, to experimental. I’ve always liked hardcore comps because they show the diversity that can be found in an oftentimes one-note genre. The thing that is striking about Salt Lake’s hardcore music is that it has such a unique sound that is decidedly Salt Lake. Whether this is because of the cultural atmosphere or the isolated locale, I don’t know, but one thing is for sure: if it’s from Salt Lake, you know it. If you haven’t checked out Salt Lake’s hardcore since Triphammer and Clear were kicking around, this comp is not only a good reference point, but it’s free, so there’s no reason not to give it a spin. Here’s to the past days of DV8 basement shows and the like, and to the future of Salt Lake hardcore.