HardLore: Perfect EPs and 7" Records

Colin and Bo share their personal picks for perfect EPs and 7"s, which inarguably play a more pivotal role in hardcore/punk music than any other genre. A lost art from mostly the pre-streaming era, sometimes there's no better way to present a band's music than an EP.
It's a crowded field full of unbelievable releases by bands that changed the landscape of hardcore forever, but we did our best at picking the EPs that shaped our respective personal tastes the most.
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#HardLore

[@tru_squid8641]

Every Thursday feels like a holiday

[@cantkillcliffrose]

Thursdays are Friday Jr. And with Hardlore, Friday Jr is the best day(s) of the year.

[@TheEddyZombie]

Two breakfast tacos, Diet Dr. Pepper, and a new Hardlore episode? Beautiful start to my Thursday.

[@adriandoom7863]

Black Breath - Razor to Oblivion. This EP changed so much for me, as a youngster who was weened on metal and was just beginning to sink deeper into punk/hardcore. Oh, Motörhead meets Discharge with Entombed guitars, Bathory sprinkles AND spinkicks? Perfection.

[@vannuyshardcore]

Incredible record

[@jonathanmaner1157]

Yep great band I feel like they’re a little slept on

[@DanielWilcockdragon]

No Spiritual Surrender

[@dracudads]

The 37 minutes of Hell Awaits being called an EP activates my fight or flight

[@shaftpunk84]

Colin’s face when Bo held up the Preacher Man 7 inch was adorable.

[@oyepvokadub6522]

One does not simply skip the hardlore intro.

[@hannahkozlovic1715]

You’d have to be a madman. It’s the master killer of podcast intro themes. Or intro themes in general, let’s be real

[@oyepvokadub6522]

@@hannahkozlovic1715 lol facts broski

[@ChainSwingerHxC]

he immersed himself in the intro 🙏🏽

[@matthewross6664]

I remember my friend played the TUI demo '07 for me in the cafeteria at our community college, and I remember going to the Stay Cold record release, which was completely nuts. Seeing TUI start and become what they are is so wild.

[@garthwest9227]

I was at that Rec Release show too!

[@CH-ml4rz]

The first Burnt by the Sun EP. 8min.

[@SmokerOfWeed]

I love being off on Thursdays and that's on Moses

[@blanxy6494]

Charles Bronson / Spazz split is iconic. Wonder if these guys praise it as much as I do.

[@brainrottedindividual]

absolutely, i thought this wasn't about splits, but if we would talk splits, spazz would have been unavoidable. so many good ones to choose as well. i like the one with brutal truth a lot.

[@lynnpehrson8826]

It's weird that basically no powerviolence is in this video. Like the infest ep is next level.

[@gggallin8279]

@@lynnpehrson8826 PV got some of the best splits of all time. The Crossed Out/ Man is the Bastard split instantly comes to mind

[@rossyboy13]

Bo wearing blue had me shook for real 🫨

[@JohnEvans-xg2bp]

It may be a little too new, but Gatecreeper's Unexpected Reality EP is definitely one of the best I've ever heard. The timing of it, the title, and the fact that those songs still top their Spotify page. Not to mention they played around with the format by having a bunch of quick, hardcore/punk style death metal songs on the A (Fast) side, and a truly beautiful, epic doom death durge on the B (Slow) side.

[@CH-ml4rz]

It’s a good one!

[@petejones3880]

Blinded is still my fav Harms Way release. Thing sounds so vicious. Frontal Lobe probably my fav Harms Way song. Plus There Will Be Blood samples. Best shit ever.

[@getdrippy4416]

Soon as I saw the title of the episode. I thought, Suffocation "Despise The Sun" gonna be on here.

[@jlayton2335]

Me and bo are the same guy. 100% agree with his picks

[@BassRocker617]

I know this isn't Hardlore's wheelhouse, but the two best EPs to me are Dillinger's Irony Is A Dead Scene and Botch's An Anthology of Dead Ends

[@CH-ml4rz]

🤝

[@DrummerEvan1]

Glad to find another soldier of chaos here

[@robotomassi2011]

Maaaan, Anthology is so good. The definitive Botch imo.

[@stuartbixby]

I would argue that Mathcore is more hardcore influence than metal.

[@zakk219]

These type of episodes are always fun because I get to go on a journey to find new bands that I might not find otherwise. Even though I feel like I've been listening to hardcore for a long time, a lot of the bands on this list are relatively new to me. Guess it's time to try and find/listen to as many of these as I can.

[@mitchellharper283]

We need a George Hirsch episode

[@FKAJFKNoLifeTigerLily]

I do not see Slayer "Hell Awaits" as an EP at all.

[@AboogieThaGoon]

We need a playlist for this heater of a ep 🫡

[@taromomo666]

EPs/7"s are the ideal form of music imo. 4-5 bangers and no filler

[@christmasbenoit9336]

for hardcore 100%. I dont think a release needs 10+ tracks unless they're all really good

[@HVU52]

The two EPs/7”s that got me into Hardcore: MINUS- Hard Feelings, and Harms Way- No Gods No Masters. Had ‘em in clear and black/highlighter yellow respectively. Never at any point owned a record player. 😂 (Also had the prestigious Preacher Man. 😉) Thank you for all that you do, Bo and Colin. 🙏🏻👊🏻

[@thechantz666]

Hard Feelings ep was my everything

[@JosephPaladino-ib7lg]

New top podcast for me...keep em coming men!

[@andytuck99]

who up harding their lore rn?

[@DaveyBlade13]

My lore is always hard thanks to Blue Chew

[@J-gr1ie]

My lore is always trimmed properly due to Manscaped

[@jamesramon5126]

@@J-gr1iethe way they just slide into a manscaped ad kills me 💀

[@fruitlesspursuits_]

Integrity -Humanity is the Devil is a certified ripper.

[@benxo]

Great episode - thoroughly enjoyed Bo's level of research and presentation 10/10 A*

[@sozepanteonero3072]

I look forward to Thursday mornings thanks to y’all

[@arioch1891]

Hell Awaits is every bit as good as you say it is but it's not an EP

[@andrewpussycat5287]

absolutely harding my lore to this

[@HoldenSXE]

It. Is. Hardlore time

[@tyleryeo8310]

Another amazing ep lads!

[@Partyyypooper]

No Comment-Downsided “wow”

[@scottgajewski3925]

Wow Bo picked alot or my favorites! But so did Collin...and I am proud to say I am a very proud member of the neglect fan club! I bought the pull the plug 7" off of Jamey Jasta from his merch table at a show at the Bristol skatepark when it came out.

[@drewdier]

“If you’re stopping to listen to these, and you think chain of strength might not be for you… you’re not alone” ironically, I think that ended up being more up my alley than most things that preceded it in your lists lol

[@blanxy6494]

I’m telling you now one of the best unknown Youth Crew bands from Orange County was Show of Hands. They released a demo and an EP - a new day not forgotten in like 1989 and every single song is a banger.

[@jgp6574]

wow show of hands. that is definitely a band name i have not seen in a while! i dont know why they never caught on with people

[@blanxy6494]

@@jgp6574feel like they would be well receive in this day

[@mattmutchler8558]

That was released in 1999

[@jonnygorman]

Suffocations EP is indeed on streaming

[@julienmarchand2499]

Couple stuff missing out of my head: Guns up 7inch No warning 7inch Rival mob hxc 4 hxc Step forward 10 songs Fucked up police 7inch Down to Nothing all my sons Turnstile step 2 rhythm

[@nickygoods131]

Harms Way is coming to Milwaukee baby!!!! Done got my tickets already, and the show is sold out!

[@DrTabarnak]

Bo with not picking the $5.98 Metallic Garage Days Re-Revisited EP. MADDENING!!!

[@nicholasharberg2396]

Very surprised Siege "Drop Dead" wasn't on here. Spazz's first 7" or Slap a Ham "Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!" ep. Born Against self-titled ep. Econochrist "Another Victim" is a perfect early 90's hardcore punk EP.

[@mirraco323]

Love Minor Threat getting the well deserved praise to start it off. Too many people in hardcore these days don’t pay proper respect towards the original heavy hitters who started this whole thing.

[@plumbunrecords518]

When Colin talked about feeling high listening to the Into Another ep, that shit resonated with me lol. I don't even know the band. Just the feeling!

[@jessecomarella8543]

Hardin some Lore during my prep at school, best day of the week. I salute you both.

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

Request for the man himself Walter Schreifels as a guest. The man’s discography is STACKED.

[@tmw3489]

Check his Axe To Grind interview! It is very very good!

[@brentschacher6655]

No Spotify playlist? 😢😭

[@CATFEESH666]

All Hallows EP is S tier

[@gregbaffuto4370]

Love the Blacklisted talk, POEWOS was essential but yeah only 2 of those songs wound up on Heavier Than Heaven

[@benjaminkuhnle5447]

Holy shit, stopping and listening to Disengage with Judge in mind was a definitely mind blowing experience. I’ve been listening to that song over 15 years and never put that together.

[@sambenevento7536]

My morning coffee and hardlore go crazy

[@imy0la223]

i can’t wait to see bo at hold your ground and give him a big hug

[@bosxe]

Be gentle I’m injured

[@labmaterial]

Saw a dude wearing a hardlore shirt in Atlanta last weekend and yelled at him out my car window. First time I’ve ever ‘catcalled’ anybody

[@akukta]

Stop and Think reference in the first five minutes 😍

[@_antisocial__]

Oh hell yaaahhh bout to hard some lore 🤘

[@jtkappy7742]

Idk if it’s just me but if I’m streaming I always go down to the first ep of any band I find and listen to that first. I prefer ep’s because it’s easier to listen to 5 ep’s on a road trip rather than one and a half lp’s

[@hannahkozlovic1715]

I also always go for the EP. I usually don’t want to dedicate my time to a LP that I might not even like, but 10-15 minutes of music is perfect for getting a feel for a band without taking too much time.

[@ChappySinclaire]

Suffocation "Despise the Sun" is a 5 song ep, not 4. He is right about it being among the best eps ever.

[@rossh2386]

not super hardcore but afi's all hallows ep is a perfect play anytime

[@benxo]

Can we one day have a Blacklisted episode because oh my that band. No-One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me deserves it alone.

[@brettwodon5896]

i take issue with the Slayer pick. That’s a 37 minute album. no way it’s an ep

[@gogogadgettom]

lored up so hard rn fugggggg

[@machinicassemblage]

just got my favorite 7 inch off discogs! no comment- downsided, classic 90s powerviolence, fuckin rips

[@bigmono3000]

Beneath the Massacre-Maree Noire is an excellent EP if you never heard it. Im not big into tech death, but I feel like they did it in such a tasteful way. Shit goes fucking hard. 5 songs of pure chaos.

[@CH-ml4rz]

YESSSSSSS

[@markvserik]

it's their best material!

[@CH-ml4rz]

@@markvserik Where do you rank Fearmonger then?!

[@markvserik]

Hard to say, Dystopia is probably my favorite LP but there's a nostalgia factor to it for sure. Fearmonger is a great album though!@@CH-ml4rz

[@bigmono3000]

Let's be honest, fellas. It's all good.

[@corycourtney8923]

Cave In's Tides of Tomorrow. This was actually the EP that hooked me. It makes laugh now after spending time with their catalog and realizing it was a huge curve ball. Also, Nails - Obscene Humanity, the 12" version. One of my prize possessions. Infest - Infest. Bones Brigade - Endless Bummer. Egg Hunt 7". Blood for Blood - Living in Exile.

[@biggravycapone4778]

Hell Awaits is def not an EP to me. But Haunting The Chapel is one of the greatest EP’s ever

[@samuelmagnum6047]

Fun fact. Hell Awaits according to everyone else, more importantly Metallum, is a FULL LENGTH LP.

[@tipner]

ITS HARDLORE TIME!

[@dragonPISS]

The world needs more breakdown covers. Happy that blacklisted made number 1

[@Squeeblez]

Hell awaits for sure an LP but fuck it, it rips

[@docbp87]

Not listened yet obviously, but do we include 10"s like Humanity is the Devil?

[@docbp87]

Also Rick Ta Life on a Horselore when?

[@Carlo.WTF416]

Stay Cold, what a time man hahaha

[@thrasher5122]

Crazy bc when Slayer put out Hell Awaits they were doing Mercyful Fate

[@BassRocker617]

I love Hell Awaits to death, but it's 15 minutes longer than Reign In Blood, definitely not an EP

[@brainrottedindividual]

some favorites that i actually own: dead and gone-shiny and black, cursed-last session ep, government warning-arrested, mandela strike force-the sound of revolution in stereo, captain planet(local emo punk legend)-unterm pflaster der strand and one from this band called hellhole which i can't find any info on the internet on. sadly don't have too many 7 inches, most of them are actually splits. i haven't owned a record player in a decade and not bought any vinyl since. my first punk 7 inch was by a local band way back called profession reporter and they sounded kinda like hüsker dü and pegboy. i like the 7 inch format a lot. i think it's the perfect length for hardcore and punk imo.

[@matthewsalamante5395]

The first time I learned about warzone was from the casualties the early years album. I saw some badass looking skinhead singing with a casualties shirt in their booklet and remember thinking damn that’s tight. Later I found out it was raybeez 🤯

[@thomascoffey9572]

No hardcore for hardcore is crazyyyyy

[@jakobs8970]

Soul Seek, baby! Still going strong till this day.

[@curtisbush5728]

For the guy on the right, who looks like Garret from the banner! I'm from North New Jersey, and when I was a kid, Rick Ta Life moved to my area and was putting on shows in Dover NJ(SIDENOTE: which is the town where Metallica played their first show with Kirk, and I'm pretty sure venom and agnostic front were on the bill!), he was playing with comin' correct, again, at the time! Anyway, one day I was at the mall and I ran into Rick and he walked up to me and he was like, you're Jays friend right!? And I was like, yeah! And then he picked up a CD(we were in hot topic, btw, which makes this better!) and it's Brand News "your favorite weapon" and he says "we are putting out the next 25 ta life record on the same label as these Brand New kids, they're pretty good!" And I just died! 😂 I thought I was caught in a bizzarre fever dream hanging out in hot topic with Rick Ta life talking about Brand New! 😂😂😂😂 I really hope you read this!

[@samuelblaisperreault3469]

That Volcano Ep, the only thing that they released, is fire too.

[@alejandrotrejo8433]

When will we get the Hardlore: Blacklisted episode that everyone is clamoring for?

[@geminii_peach]

breakdown - jail of depression is hands down. thee hardest song of all time. lyrically, and emotionally. song will forever go off.

[@joshuampayne]

not sure if I would consider something that is 37 minutes an ep?

[@Louback33]

Guess my formative 'core years: Earth Crisis "Firestorm", Culture "Momento Mori", Hatebreed "Under the Knife", probably an Orchid or The Locust 7" i can't remember, That Earth Crisis/Snapcase/Strife ep. Also had All Hallows ep on orange. wonder where that is...

[@johnlund6888]

In Connecticut… passed out… dead

[@kekethebasedcat]

arkangel - within the walls of Babylon

[@jamesmeldrum860]

You mean 'prayers upon deaf ears'. Yes, one of the top 5 of all time.

[@kekethebasedcat]

oops, yep @@jamesmeldrum860

[@816yardcore]

That basement show where mental played can't close my eyes was one of the best shows i've ever been to. I agree with Bo on so many things here. Fuck yeah, this is some of the most enjoyable podcasts i've ever listened to. real quick toss in - yall must be sleeping on Drug Church and how fucking great that band actually is. Tawny came out like a fucking year ago and it is unbelievably great - just like everythig that band is doin' rn. MLIW - S/T Fucked Up - Police 86 Mentality - S/T Also i had totally slept on that into another release - fucking crazy good. This

[@esbt]

19:45 what ep is Colin talking about? I can't hear it

[@mattxhill]

can't believe no one mentioned Ice Grillz 7"

[@guidoedge]

Great picks, and a few more to add… Earth Crisis: Firestorm. Pretty much changed straight edge and metallic hardcore, and paved the way for bands like Hatebreed. Buried Alive/Reach the Sky: Split 7”. Buried Alive’s songs on it are two bangers, top notch and compete with the best songs from their LP. RTS’ songs are from another LP they’ve got, so nothing new there - yet the Buried Alive songs alone are totally worth it. Rise and Fall: Clawing. Great new song with “Clawing”, re-recorded version of “Bottom Feeder” slays ten times better than the original, plus their cover of “Them Bones” is amazing. Refused: Everlasting. Improves upon the style of their first LP, while still keeping a bit of that dirty Scandinavian recording sound they had back then. Down To Nothing/50 Lions: Split 7”. All tracks from both bands are killers.

[@masterofnull9695]

Make Move - The Evidence ep. My favorite ever.

[@filipivkovic7021]

Heiress / Narrows, Colaesce / Boysetsfire Coalesce- OX ep Ignite- Past Our Means

[@Nintendodo64]

Colin calling Hell Awaits an EP is the most factually wrong I think they've ever been on this show

[@chains1108]

Afi all hallows i absolutely agree with. Have heart what counts is one that I think of for sure. Losin' it danger zone rules. Black breath razor to oblivion!!

[@bodonofrio5535]

Did they forget to mention the step forward 7" or did I miss it?

[@Carlo.WTF416]

Minor Threat EP is def Master Killer tier haha

[@TonyBontana]

Shocked that there’s no mention of Terror Ave - Crownholders

[@WarchildAD]

Colin's appreciation for Kickback should be all peoples appreciation for Kickback. They are the best European band hands down. More love for Arkangel and Reprisal wouldn't hurt though haha

[@cameronhoward24]

Lol I would love to hear what the stinker Detroit show was you both played.

[@blueskynoise2177]

Just listened to the episode on Disharmony and rust with Colin’s brother Taylor. They talk about that tour, I think the show was at majestic cafe

[@_arfarf_x]

yah i think i might have played the same room this summer and it was easily one of the worst shows ive played, think the place is cursed

[@joebreakerx]

54:48 for the inglorious Bo-sterds German 3

[@alexanderfranzen5058]

Manscaped keepers of the face 1:04:22

[@Vagabond0121]

These kinds of episodes are the absolute best. No Minutemen - Buzz Or Howl or Discharge - Why? surprised me still.