First Four EPs - OFF! (Vice Records)

I was ultra excited when I heard about this new hardcore punk "super group", consisting of former Black Flag/Circle Jerks singer Keith Morris, Redd Kross bassist Steven McDonald, Burning Brides guitarist Demitri Coats, and Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes drummer Mario Rubalcaba. The band basically started as Morris' Circle Jerks broke up while trying to make an album with Dimitri Coats as producer. Morris and Coats decided to continue on and formed OFF!. I'm an '80s kid, so I was into hardcore, the faster, American version of punk rock that was closely associated with skateboarding and the DIY ethic. This collection of four eps sounds like it was lifted from the shelves in 1980, and with 17 songs it clocks in at just under 19 minutes, and they're all really good. At the ripe old age of 55, Morris is just as pissed off as he ever was, in fact there's a song on the album called "Now I'm Pissed". Now you're pissed, Keith? 

Order Of The Black - Black Label Society (E1)

If you follow me on Twitter, or hang out with me for more than a few hours, you'll know that I have a bit of a Zakk Wylde obsession. Call it a guilty pleasure, or a lack of good taste, but I get a kick out of his over the top persona, as well as his over the top guitar chops. This past year saw him being fired from Ozzy Osbourne's band after 25 years for being too old, giving up his much beloved beer due to health reasons, and recording the newest album by his own Black Label Society. I was actually able to track the…uh…tracking of the new album as Zakk is an avid Tweeter himself, posting lots of pictures and letting fans know what they were doing in the studio on a daily basis. Zakk’s unique vocals, pinch harmonics (every 10 seconds or so), huge riffs, and insane solos are all here in abundance. 

Crystal Castles II - Crystal Castles (Fiction)

Eye Weekly voted the duo of Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass as Toronto's Most Huggable Douchebags for being so aloof, but I think the world needs a few brooding, difficult rock stars. If you listen to their music, which some people I know would actually claim is un-listenable at times, you quickly realize you're not dealing with "Hey, so glad to meet you, thanks for taking the time to write about our band!" type people. Imagine a tiny toy doll with razor sharp teeth coming to life and chasing you around your room, shredding everything in her path, trying to shove your head into your TV and then, having succeeded, shoving all the wires into your ears while gnawing on your brainstem. That's sort of what this sounds like, but in a cool way. They get an extra point for being signed to Fiction, home of seminal goths The Cure, but then lose it for having Cure front man Robert Smith sing an awful cover of Not In Love by Platinum Blonde. Still though, good stuff.

All The Things We've Been Told - The Modern Superstitions (Pink Noise)

For a band still in their very early 20s, The Modern Superstitions released one of the more accomplished recordings this year. Rich vocals, tight guitar lines, powerhouse bass, and supercharged drumming all combine in a unique way that melds 60s Merseybeat with 80s punk. Kudos to the producer for harnessing what must have been a tornado of energy, and focusing it in the just right direction to make this astounding piece of work (hint: it was me).

They Will Take Up Serpents - Dearly Beloved (Anthem)

I have always championed Dearly Beloved and, despite never being able to bring them on tour with Sloan, am a huge fan of their live show. Featuring the dual vocals of Niva Chow and Rob Higgins, their songs are the perfect blend of the excitement of punk rock, the singalongability of pop, with a dash of muso/prog rock noodleing, thanks in large part to Higgins' amazing bass skills. They Will Take Up Serpents is a great introduction to the blast of high powered riffs and melody lines that make me jealous. 

So there you have it. I'm only doing 5 because, well you know, I'm a little lazy. Plus I have to get going and buy a Xmas tree, and fix a door, and find Doc Marten boots for an 8 year old, and take a 7 year old to swimming lessons, and a bunch of other stuff. Don't go online and steal these releases, buy them and support artists.