Back catalogue: Punk/Hardcore

Review: Last year saw a repress of the pioneering 1987 self-titled debut EP from Queens, New York hardcore punk heroes Sick Of It All, housed in a limited one time only updated sleeve with new artwork designed by Jime Litwalk. The release was orchestrated to benefit frontman Lou Koller who recently received a cancer diagnosis with all proceeds going directly to the vocalist's treatment. With the outpouring of support from those within the hardcore community, the beneficial pressing has since sold out, leading to their label Revelation opting to now reissue the original version with the restored OG artwork. An influential blueprint and vital cornerstone of early NYHC, paving the way for the plethora of bands that would appear throughout the 90s, the EP boasts early versions of visceral cuts that would re-appear on their 1989 debut full-length Blood, Sweat & No Tears, including 'Pete's Sake', 'Friends Like You', and the venomous 'B.S. Justice' restored to its original full moniker 'Bullshit Justice'.

Review: Side By Side could definitely have made a bigger impact. Spawned from the already well-established and frighteningly fertile New York hardcore punk scene of the late-1980s, they would only offer up a couple of releases, both of entitled 'You're Only Young Once', coming in the form of an original EP, and subsequent expanded edition taking the number of tracks up to 22, landing almost a decade later.

Both arrived on Revelation Records, an imprint that was particularly revered at the time and credited with creating, or at least providing a platform for, the 'youth crew' hardcore movement. Which is exactly where you'd place Side By Side. Right place at the right moment, then, running through the songs here there's no denying the talent at play, either, from the raw, gnarling rhythm of 'The Time Is Now' to sublime guitar chaos on 'You're Only Young Once'.