Two newish bands from Newcastle in the UK team up here.
Grace are ex-Jinn and make tight, melodic and heafty fast hardcore.
Tide Of Iron invoke the spirit of AmRep with their noise-rock attack.

Ninehertz
This is a coming together of two Newcastle bands, with help from a southern label (Superfi) and two others (Tombs in the Valley and Shy Bairns) isn't it nice when we all get along? Grace are a band made up of former members of Jinn, who were a pretty scary band to watch back in the day, they've slowed down for Grace, but are no less intimidating. With roared, raw vocals and a more epic feel than their hardcore past would suggest, this almost sounds like sadly-gone scene gods Taint gone aggro. This is a good thing, their two tracks are over too fast. The second one literally, it stands at a rippling 90 seconds, amazing. Tide of Iron are a bit more chaotic, but no less of a intimidating prospect, their Amphetamine Reptile-esque scratchy guitar sound and rough as hell vocals give the impression of a band more at home in a dusty pub back room than anywhere else and that's how we like it. No pretention, just tunes to forget your mind to. The song titles seem to reflect this view, talking of condiments and dirty protests. This is out in April, get yourself a record player before then yeah?

Stay Ahead
Starting off with Grace's side. Alchemist starts with a really cool, slow section of riffs that seem to borrow influence from NOLA sludge and lead into more chugging riffs and harsh, low screams. This is hardcore, but slow evil hardcore. There are some great elements to the song, including some indie influenced guitar that actually adds to the atmosphere of the song. Hammers is a faster song, but with no less creativity and almost impossible to categorise. This is pure, heavy music and Grace's side of the split is over far too quickly. Tide of Iron follow in the same vein, but with a more punky vibe in Jas Murray Dirty Protest. The riffs though are dirty and the screams are rabid and buried in the mix. As with Grace, Tide Of Iron are hard to categorise. The music is heavy and they make a big sound, which sounds especially good on a turntable. The ringing feedback leads into the bizarrely named Apple Sauce. Again, it's a noisy affair, with the guitars sitting at the top of the mix. As I've already, it's sound is big , but it's also got a chaotic, yet groovy undertone and demands your full attention throughout. Both bands are different and unique, original and this is their first vinyl output, which is all the more impressive. It's my first introduction to both bands and I'm mightily impressed. This will demand multiple listens for you to really appreciate the quality here, but believe me, it's well worth it!

Spoonful Of Tar
Ok, I bought this 7" at the first opportunity I could. Two of the best new bands in the UK punk/hardcore/blah scene. Grace are more metallic hardcore while Tide Of Iron are noise rock. It's out on the ever reliable Super Fi records. Both bands kill live and the recordings do them justice. Recommended with two thumbs up. Grace have some of that 90s metallic hardcore that's a bit chaotic but a bit melodic in their blood. Unbroken, Botch, Mean Season, Coalesce, Harvest, Converge and all that jazz. They're not stuck in the past and it's not exact copycat stuff but it's just vaguely where the sound lies. It's not a million miles away from one of their previous bands, Thirty Seconds Until Armageddon. They're also ex-Jinn but aren't quite as fast and deranged as that post-Ebola band. It's more controlled and mid-paced. Tide Of Iron sound like they're a bunch of grizzly, bear soaked noise rockers in some crazy gun-toting redneck town in 90s America that Tom Hazelmeyer discovered for Amphetamine Reptile. I guess witnessing an episode of Geordie Shore might explain things. Basically, if you love all that Am Rep stuff and Keelhaul/Today Is The Day / Unsane / Glazed Baby and all the rest of the riff-heavy 90s noise rock stuff then this will be right up your street. They're also ex-Marzuraan who were one of the most relentless far out guitar bands the UK produced this millenium. No 10 minute drawn out dirges but more quick punches to the face. Well worth your time.