All I want for christmas is Oi!

Alright, the year is almost over and Christmas (or Jul as they say here in Sweden, because yes, fuck you christianity) is here ! First I thought I would do something about christmas songs in Oi! music, but that already has been done like a million time, and it's boring. So instead I'll give tou a little Top 5 of the best stuffes that came out this year according to me (which is not much more original, but it has never been done by me so far) ! There might be some stuffes that I haven't reviewed in the webzine, either because I didn't had the time or because I'm lazy -your choice- but whatever. No particular order, but anyway, here we go !

Top 5 12"

Battle Ruins - S/T

Eh, you really need an explanation on this one ? I guess this one's not a big surprise, since I kept repeating all year long how awesome it was. Still listen to it several times per day, and it's still as brilliant ! Review here

Urban Savage - Let Thunder Roar

Really good lyrics and brilliant music genre mixture ! Perhaps the swedish answer to bands like Hammer and the Nails ? At least they're as good ! And more is coming from them soon as well. Really good end-of-the-year surprise ! Review here

Hard Evidence - Last One Standing

Excellent debut album by the St. Louis band. Melo as fuck streetpunk band, their song "Rising Sun" is one of my favourite from this year.

Noi!se - The Scars We Hide

After 4 long years of waiting, Noi!se finally released a full-lenght, and it's actually a great one. Not as "Oi!" as they where in the beginning, but still, great release !

Boston Strangler - Fire

Wow. Even better than their first LP, and that was not easy to do... This album is pure fucking genius ! The song "Slow Burn" itself is the best reason to get that gem !

Top 5 7"

Justice Blocc - S/T

New band from Colorado Springs, and the proof that the USA are not done with giving us great bands ! Can't wait for the 7" to be out, since the tracks were so far only released digitaly.

Sabotage - Betraktelser från Staketet

Brilliant music, brilliant lyrics... In brief, brilliant band ! They have a 10" coming out next year, which is gonna be a blast ! Here you can listen to the first extract of it ! Review here

Reconquesta - S/T

Really good first release for these Barcelona guys, I saw an album was going to be out soon, great news ! Here's a preview. Review here

Syndrome 81 - S/T

2014 was definitely a good year for the Oi!-influenced punk hardcore/punk hardcore-influenced Oi! (call it how you like) genre, and that was definitely partly thanks to Syndrome 81. Probably the best new band from France right now. Good news, they are working on a new 7" ! Review here

Damaged Head - S/T

We don't have much in Uppsala, but we have great HC punk bands, and Damaged Head is a great example of that !

Top 10 best songs

Some albums might not have made it to my (very strict, indeed) top 12"/7" of the year, but they have some gems that deserved to be mentionned. A top 5 was to short for that, so it'll be a top 10 instead.

Battle Ruins - Coming of the Beast
Maraboots - Ils Sont Partis
Ouka - Basara
Violent Reaction - Dead End
Hard Evidence - Rising Sun
Last Crusade - Deadbeat
Sabotage - Blå Linjen Blues
Lion's Law - Our Generation
Stone Dagger - The Siege of Jerusalem
Justice Blocc - Time