More archived goodness from Fred Mortagne’s tape collection featuring UK skaters Franklin Stephens and Geoff Rowley alongside a host of Euro and US rippers from Al Boglio, Mark Appleyard, Ali Boulala, Lucas Puig, Hugo Liard and many more.
Ph: Jay Delaney
If you’ve forgotten Matt Berger’s Flip pro part already that launched back in April then you need reminding that it was defitinely one of the stand out’s of the year. Go behind the making of it in this new edit with all the trimmings.
Raining? Get some blue skies from Riccione, Italy where the final of this year’s Spring Classic mini ramp jam is in full swing.
Photo of the Week: Robert Marquez takes this long old wallride to grass shot by Dennis Carlson.
Miles Silvas’ new edit is as smooth as butter. One of our faves of this week for sure.
Spawn took it the fucking hard way as usual. Piss Drunk on the serious rip for Propeller.
How many NBDs went down at Clipper’s send off? Thanks Thrasher.
It seems nothing is impossible right now. So many amazing tricks are popping up daily.
Garrett Hill rolled out this front foot steez on the Filament Shoes insta this week to grand applause.
Check our tumblr for daily gifs and send us your NBDs and dope clips by tagging @crossfirezine on your instagram posts.
What makes a ‘real skateboarder’? The one and only Craig Questions asks more of his namesake with J Mag and Hawk.
Those who like to go back to the future should appreciate Öctagon. Get the teas on.
Henry Jones’ art makes us smile daily. Follow him on insta.
Want an open ended book of radness? Grosso opens up a full can of worms on who is the best at what in skate history. Amazing homage to so many legends in the game.
This week’s Vault pick comes from Toy Machine’s’Jump Off A Building’ video released back in 1998. Enjoy footage of Bam Margera, Elissa Steamer, Ed Templeton, Chris Senn, Kerry Getz, Mike Maldonado and Brian Anderson.
Go back in time to argue the toss on who did what trick best? So many classic tricks in here with Grosso, Dressen, Hsu and more discussing the open ended book of radness. Who gets your vote?
Ph: Joshua Zucker
Does Curren Caples ever fall off? From this evidence it’s a rare occurance but one thing is sure, he has more control than most and rolls all terrain in style. 1.07 sums it up for me. Raw steez.
Renowned equally for cataloguing and preserving every single piece of memorabilia to do with Dischord, as well as his legendary punk rock status, Ian Mackaye has today unearthed a letter he received from a 14 year-old Dave Grohl.
Pictured above, the note sees a young David reaching out to Mackaye on the whim of ‘Good Thrash’ to ask for a couple of phone numbers and a leg up. Dave tweeted it out to his 2m+ followers last night too.
Look what my hero Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat/Fugazi) just found: a letter I wrote to him when I was 14! Haha! pic.twitter.com/Ak8gxZz5m6
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 28, 2015
Arabrot
‘Mea Culpa’
Fysisk Format / Eolian Empire
Standing alone and steadfast as the great outsider of the Norwegian music scene since his inception in 2001, Kjetil Nernes’ one-man arts-and-music project, Arabrot, have consistently left their cult following in awe with juggernaut-sized riffs and boundary-breaking soundscapes of distortion and doom. Just fresh from a stint on the road collaborating with the Quietus founder John Doran, in celebration of the publication of his recent memoir, it is with huge excitement that we report Arabrot will be releasing a brand new EP titled You Bunch Of Idiots on June 23rd.
To mark the occasion Arabrot are streaming ‘Mea Culpa’, a grinding and onslaught of foreboding dirge inspired by Nernes’ recent battle with throat cancer, which Nernes explains was written one afternoon whilst drinking alone in a deserted London pub, shortly before being informed of his alarming health condition. “I didn’t know how seriously ill I was at the time but something within didn’t feel quite right,” he recently told Noisey. “The gargoyles on the Victorian houses opposite [the pub] were gazing down at me.”
Stream ‘Mea Culpa’ below and hear Kjetil conjure his trademark vocal snarl, wrought with disgust as he spits out a striking yet doubly catchy mantra of, “foul mouth!” through gritted teeth.
You Bunch Of Idiots will be released June 23rd via Fysisk Format / Eolian Empire.
There’s only one Craig Questions. Get the teas on for a journey into the unknown with pool skating and words from John Magnusson and Tony Hawk on what makes a ‘real skater’. Another great edit from Phil Evans.
Useless Eaters – ‘The Moves’ (Slovenly Records)
Useless Eaters is basically Seth Sutton, and much like the reverb-troubadour Jay Reatard (RIP), he’s been defecating droplets of punk distortion like loose stool, while making music hard like a bar-room stool to pick up in a saloon brawl. The album Singles: 2011 – 2014 contains rich pickings ranging from Devo-esque futuristic Cle-punk like ‘Bloody Ripper’ through to anthemic ‘I Hate The Kids’ featuring garage rock doyen Ty Segall, but my fav is ‘The Moves’, coming on like electrodes to the abdomen. – Nick Hutchings
Pinkwash – ‘Cancer Money’ (Sister Polygon Records)
Set to destroy London’s Power Lunches with their raucous two-man din on June 9th, Pinkwash are steaming with rage on their latest cut. And with good reason. “Long after acceptance comes extreme bitterness”, guitarist Joey Doubek recently told Pitchfork of the track’s deeply personal inspiration. It does’t take a genius to figure this one out, do not miss the chance to see them next month. – Dave Palmer
The Black Tambourines – ‘No Action’ (Self Released)
This Cornwall band stole the show back in 2013 with ‘Ghost At A Party’. A tune that was on repeat in here for what seems like forever. Well, they came back for a Record Store Day release with a new track that sounds like they’ve been up for weeks on end on speed and moonshine. Gone are the laid back sneers and melodic surf jangles, now replaced with ferociously snarling garage punk. We cannot wait for the new album in August as this band have so much to give – watch this space. – Zac
Ex-Cult – ‘Cigarette Machine’ (Castle Face Records)
Get in on this title track from Ex-Cult’s 2015 EP. Super dark, hypnotic and raging Death Punk from Memphis, Tennessee. Anyone got a light? – Pete Craven
Dirty Fences – ‘Judy (Don’t Go)’ (Slovenly Records)
Judy is a punk, and that’s why the Ramones enthralled scuzz bucket glam racketeers Dirty Fences don’t want her to go. Using ‘The Dirt’ as their how-to-guide, they will probably wind up making both friends and enemies, throwing windmills and nunchucks, punching bouncers and kissing groupies. It’s a helluva ride back into the 80s on the four DeLoreans of the apocalypse. – Nick Hutchings
Ceremony – ‘The Separation’ (Matador)
Ceremony are unable to make the same record twice. Every album they’ve released has been a step in a new direction and this one may be the boldest yet. Famously named after a New Order song, Ceremony’s new album, The L Shaped Man is the band fully embracing an influence from the classic Manc band. Vocalist Ross Farrar now croons, not roars. It’s bound to upset more than a few fans of the band’s visceral earlier material but it’s a step that feels natural for the band. Check out the first single, ‘The Separation’, now and embrace the synths. – Tim Lewis
The Magic Gang – ‘No Fun’ (S/R)
Only 2 weeks ago I found myself packed like a sardine in someone’s bedroom in Brighton where The Magic Gang had the entire place swinging from the light sockets – until the electricity blew. Their laid-back catchy pop tunes have become somewhat infectious since, and every time I hear this track in public I start bundling people. – Zac
Riddles – ‘Wizards Of War’ (Energy Snake Records)
Hailing from Hastings, this band of delinquents first pricked our ears with the crushing ‘Psyhedelic Power Engine Iron Claw Thunder Mistress’ single, dropped exclusively for Record Store day just gone. Reassuringly, they’re still burning up the road ahead with this anarchic video to match the single’s insane B-Side ‘Wizards Of War’. Turn this one up as far as it’ll go. – Dave Palmer
Long Knife – ‘Teenage Death Ceremony’ (Self Released)
Totally ballistic Poison Idea infatuated Punk Rock from Portland, Oregon. Here’s a crusher from their new album Meditations on Self Destruction. They’ve just torn up the UK. You snoozed, you loozed… – Pete Craven
Blazing Eye – ‘No Outside’ (LVEUM)
At long last, La Vida Es En Mus have made Blazing Eye’s eponymous debut EP available for us Eurotrash. This LA band seem to be picking up fans from all over the world, uniting punks with their blown out Japanese-style hardcore. This is the opening song and probably the one they’re most known for. I recently saw them in New York and the second this song started, it went loony. One of the most exciting bands in hardcore and fingers crossed, a Euro tour is planned for 2016! – Tim Lewis
Sheer Mag – ‘Fan The Flames’ (Wilsuns RC/Katorga Works)
Having wowed us all late last year with their infectious 7″, Sheer Mag delivered the goods in the live arena too, leaving audiences stunned and industry tongues wagging aplenty at SXSW this year. Taken form their new release II, ‘Fan the Flames’ delivers more of the same irresistible garage rock, and sees singer Christina Halladay on fierce form. – Dave Palmer
White Reaper – ‘I Don’t Think She Cares’ (Polyvinyl)
White Reaper’s sophomore record …Does It Again mixes lovelorn punk rock angst with almost Phil Spector-esque keyboard melodies, and ‘I Don’t Think She Cares’ is a fine example of what this young Kentucky trio can do. Two minutes, buzzsaw guitars, killer chorus…job done, and done well. – Alex Gosman
Gruesome – ‘Demonized’ (Relapse Records)
If you are of the opinion that much of extreme metal these days is riddled with pro-tools and over technical, depleting so much of the power and energy, then check out Gruesome – these guys know how to do it! This is pure, raw, high energy death metal, just like they used to do it in the old days. Total Death, early Sepultura and Obituary worship, this is a massive guttural energy rush. Old school but not old age.