In the years right after 2000, I was really into the sound of bands that mixed Oi! and hardcore. At that time, Agnostic Front had just released Riot, Riot, Upstart (1999) and Another Voice (2004). In Europe, Discipline were in full swing, putting out Bulldog Style (1998), Nice Boys Finish Last (1999), Love Thy Neighbor (2001), Saints & Sinners (2002), and Downfall of the Working Man (2005).

The third band I was completely obsessed with back then was Hardsell, with their albums Bark of the Underdog (2001), Breaking the Jaw (2002), and Pissed ‚N‘ Broke (2004). While I saw Agnostic Front and Discipline as bands that toured big events like the Eastpak Resistance Tour, sharing the stage with names like Hatebreed, Born From Pain, and Backfire – bands that leaned much more toward metal, which never really appealed to me – Hardsell always felt like a true skinhead band to me, belonging to a more defined, underground scene.

Back in those years of printed zines and the early days of the internet, I actually didn’t know much about the band, except that they were from the Netherlands, and that I had their albums on CD at home. A few years later, when I completely switched to vinyl, Hardsell slowly faded from my radar – mainly because my favorite record, Breaking the Jaw, was never released on vinyl. Meanwhile, things changed: Chris, the band’s driving force, moved from the Netherlands to the U.S., and Hardsell started reappearing on my radar again, mostly thanks to their regular European tours.

When I found out that the songs from the albums I could never get on vinyl had been released on the compilation 25 Years of Blood, Sweat and Beers, I was genuinely happy to finally fill that gap in my collection after more than 20 years – and even better, to buy the record directly from the band, who released it themselves. To my surprise, it wasn’t a typical „best of“ compilation, but rather a collection of completely re-recorded versions of their best songs. Usually, I’m very skeptical of that kind of release, but in this case, I was pleasantly surprised – the updated sound didn’t hurt the songs at all; in fact, in some cases, it even made them stronger.

The double LP came out in a splatter-colored edition and includes 25 tracks – 23 re-recorded songs and 2 brand-new ones. Inside, you’ll also find all the lyrics and a huge collage of photos spanning the band’s entire history. I’m totally satisfied with the song selection; nothing I loved about Hardsell is missing.

When I started my Tighten Up Zine project, Hardsell were the very first band I reached out to for an interview. Unfortunately, we never managed to finish it, and shortly after, Chris announced the end of the band – which really bummed me out. Still, I’m glad I can at least pay some tribute to them this way. Their songs were a big part of a powerful era and a wave around Oi! that deeply influenced me – probably because I’ve always had a soft spot for hardcore.

I’m just happy this record came out at all, and that I got to shout one of the choruses into the mic with the band at one of Hardsell’s last shows in Prague.

TOP TRACKS: Cross To Bear, Stay Proud