Written by Ellis
Here we go gang. Quarter of the way through 2026 and thus I present the year’s first volume of Demolicious Derby. If you didn’t track with us last year the title of this one should nonetheless give you an idea of what you’re in for: 10 short sweet hits of Sick Hardcore Music™. Haven’t really heard any demos in the straight melodic hardcore kinda lane this year so if you can point me in the right direction give me a shout, but other than that this should cover a decent range of scenes, sounds and styles so get stuck in and find something you like.
’82 Inferno – The Elimination Demo
Spent longer than I should have done wondering whether to call this metallic hardcore or not but I have concluded that it definitely is, and arguably in one of the truest senses of the term in that it’s more about proper metal riffs than endless 0-1-4-3 mosh. Think Leeway or Best Wishes-era Cro-Mags or Bitter End vibes but from Australia.
anubi – Trench Demonstration
Trench Demonstration more like Hench Demonstration am I right? Portland, Oregon’s anubi feel like the kind of band that could send the flailing feet of an overzealous mosher right into your face during line check alone. Pure beast music with super pissed lyrics about oppression and genocide and “sick mothafucks” to match.
Blood & Tears – Brotherhood Demo
Featuring some truly fine looking members of Fury, Forced Order, Knocked Loose and more—seriously, look at that guy in the middle—Blood & Tears sound like the swagged out son of what I can only assume was a beautiful night of passion between Madball and Death Threat—so, you know, just perfect heavy hardcore init.
Blood Will Tell – Blood Will Tell
Considerably meaner than the fantastic likes of Xiao, Feels Like Heaven and Speedway who they join in the thriving Stockholm scene, Blood Will Tell are far from the first band to combine gnarly af Slayer riffs with “fucking kill each other” mosh parts, but they are my new favourite.
Last Order – Demo MMXXVI
I’ll be honest you may need a minute to get your head around the fact that it feels like the drums on this demo were recorded a couple of streets away from the actual microphones, but once you do you’ll find some classic and raging straight edge hardcore from Connecticut. “Society’s Demise” is the highlight for me.
Rekrucify – Demo
File this one under Silly Goose Murder Music. There’s a bit of mystery around this one but by all accounts it’s basically members of some killer current UKHC/metalcore bands—pretty sure I heard Killing Me Softly somewhere?—playing that hateful Despize/Whispers/Kickback without the uncomfortable following list type shit.
Step 2 This – The First Step
Step 2 This are from Jacksonville, Florida but sound like they could have been tearing it up in Boston with the likes of Stop and Think and Mental and co. in the early 00s. Their demo is named after a Gang Starr track and features a bunch of cool samples which should give you an idea of the kinda hip-hop aesthetic and influences that are in the mix too.
True Fraud – DEMO #2
Shout-out the brand new Burning Water Substack for putting me onto this one. No-nonsense high-energy hardcore from Cologne and Münster in Germany. Run it back to back with their equally killer first demo from last year for the complete 12-and-a-half minute package.
Turn Your Back – Demo
When the toms are rolling from the first second you know the Youth Crew’s about to be good. Newcastle’s Turn Your Back play things fast and furious but with plenty of bounce where you need it, with edge breakers, scene tourists and mouth-runners all catching the big stompy boots they deserve.
Unravel – Unravel
Check that artwork: an X on the hand AND a swatch AND a No Tolerance tee… Liverpool’s Unravel are straight edge af and have absolutely nailed that chunky, epic, New Age Records type sound that “FFO: Magnitude” has essentially become shorthand for in recent years.