Violence! Chaos! I first heard about Denim from Vienna after their show in Prague. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there and at that time I didn’t know the band at all, but stories about an excellent gig quickly started spreading around the city. People talked about a wild set during which the band made quite a name for themselves. My curiosity got the better of me, so I reached for their LP released on Contra Records. The record contains eight songs including an intro, and from the very first seconds it’s clear this is not music for delicate ears. This gang from Vienna delivers hardcore with a slight Oi! twist. Somewhere online I saw it described as skinhead hardcore, which honestly fits pretty well too. Pick whichever label you prefer — the energy of this record works regardless of the category.
This isn’t the first entry in the band’s discography. They already released an EP in 2020 and an LP in 2022, so these guys are far from newcomers still searching for their sound. The band plays in the classic lineup of guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, with the voice functioning almost like a fourth instrument. It drives the songs forward, sets the direction, and often shifts the tempo of the whole ride. Stylistically, Denim will appeal to fans of bands like 86 Mentality, Violent Reaction, or Shipwrecked. Compared to those bands, though, Denim’s sound feels rougher, less polished, and noticeably darker. It’s more like a shout of hatred and frustration than a quest for perfection — as if someone opened the mouth of a cave filled with anger and let it spill out.
Denim don’t waste time. They hit a fast tempo and keep it going through most of the record. On Fucked Up they deliver excellent and instantly memorable choruses that make you want to shout along with the band. Reckless Nights pushes the overall sound even deeper into dark territory, but the guitar runs its own line here, giving the song a striking urgency. It’s also the most melodic track and possibly the strongest anthem on the entire record. Forward Into War then switches tempos like commands shouted before charging into battle. At that moment I feel like some peasant kid who has just been recruited into a mercenary army — before I even realize what’s happening, I’m standing in the middle of a fight. Side A ends faster than you’d expect.
Side B brings four more proper songs. Here the band plays more with tempo shifts and different approaches to choruses. Sometimes they throw in a full gang shout, like in Full Force Torture. Other times they surprise you with something close to a surf-style intro, like the opening of Bloodsucker. My personal favorite here is Trouble And Strife, which for me is the most entertaining moment on the second side. But the title track Razorblade is also a powerful highlight that adds another shot of intensity to the record.
Denim play hardcore with a clear punk foundation and thankfully don’t slide too far into metal territory, which suits me just fine. The vocals do an excellent job, but instrumentally you can clearly hear that this is a skilled and tight band. Lyrically, this is pure misanthropy — a total release of frustration through guitar strings, drum skins, microphones, and beer. It’s a way of dealing with the pressures of everyday life. A valve against a world that constantly tells you everything can be solved through consumption. Not even close. The only thing that solves it, even if just for a moment, is the madness on stage and in front of it: spilled beer, sweat-soaked shirts, and blood from a nose after a proper mosh pit. For a moment. And then again.
The record was released on Contra Records in a limited run of 100 copies on black vinyl and 444 copies on white vinyl. It includes all the lyrics, and another strong point is the graphic presentation. The visual side of the record perfectly matches the atmosphere of the songs. It evokes images of medieval brutality, chaos, and despair — exactly the kind of imagery that fits this music perfectly. If you enjoy the darker and rawer side of hardcore punk, this record definitely shouldn’t pass you by.
TOP TRACKY: Trouble And Strife, Fucked Up, Reckless Nights
