Paintbox

Not to be confused with the Toronto indie rock band of the same name, this Japanese outfit is here to steamroll your senses. Playing fast and hard, they sound like a blend of old school hardcore meets Motörhead and old Iron Maiden with a bit of Avail thrown in for good melodic measure. Sound intriguing? You bet it is. And it’s damn good as well. Musical competence can generally be the downfall of many hardcore bands, given the built-in limits of the sound, but not in the case of Paintbox. Paintbox use everything they’ve got to craft an aural assault that you won’t soon forget, no matter how jaded you are. This one is recommended for anyone who is tired of the average, uninspired material that passes for most hardcore these days.