1990XHC/Social Crisis: Split Hardcore 2024 | Hardcore To Save And Share
(2024 – Independent)
It’s been a while since I’ve seen one of these things, commonly referred to as a “split,” that is, a shared release between two bands. Releases of this type were quite common in the ’90s and early 2000s, as a way for bands to share, lower production costs, etc., all in order to expand their reach.
Hardcore was always one of the underground movements that promoted this type of independent production, and although nowadays most releases are in digital format, there is still a small space for those who continue to prefer physical formats.
Thanks to our friend “Vaky” Ramirez (lead singer of 1990XHC), we were able to get our hands on a copy of this independent production called “Split Hardcore 2024,” shared between the Argentine band 1990XHC and Social Crisis from Chile. This production consists of six tracks, divided 50/50 between each band; ergo, three tracks are by 1990XHC and the other tracks are by Social Crisis, in a kind of free sample of the brutality that each band, in its own way, displays.
The thing is, if there is one thing both bands share, besides the album and the Hardcore movement, it is their virulence, super-fast guitars, and that call to the old school. What comes out of the speakers is pure Hardcore. In the case of the Chileans, their sound leans more towards so-called “Crossover” Hardcore, that is, with some elements of old Thrash bands. 1990XHC leans more towards the more basic side of Hardcore.
“Inmortales” is the first track, performed by Social Crisis, with a clear inclination towards the older side of hardcore, followed by the first track from 1990XHC, “Resistir,” staying in the old school of hardcore but with a certain influence from the most virulent punk rock.
At this point, it is clear that the message of both bands also coincides on one point: resistance to death and destruction. That is precisely the name of the next song by Social Crisis, “Muerte Y Destrucción” (Death and Destruction), following the same line of the most radical hardcore.
Next, 1990XHC returns to the attack with “Solo Como Un Perro” (Alone Like a Dog), one of their most heartfelt and combative songs, which, without fear of contradiction, is “the” classic of the band.
To finish, Social Crisis scores with “Nunka Kedas Mal Kon Nadie,” a cover of Los Prisioneros, a well-known Chilean band from the ’80s with a rather punk vibe, and in the case of 1990XHC, their contribution is “Suicida,” another vulgar display of power and speed.
The cover is simple, direct, and without any illustrations, consisting of nothing more than two photographs, one of 1990XHC and one of Social Crisis. The inner sleeve has two more photographs, including the lineups of both bands, but the lyrics are not included.
Regarding the sound, it should be noted that both materials were recorded at different times and in different recording studios, highlighting that two of the three songs contributed by Social Crisis belong to their self-titled album from 2024, while the Prisioneros cover was recorded in 2022. In the case of the Argentine band, their material was recorded in 2023 at Bocephus Studios and mastered at Datarec Studios. Logically, there are differences in the sound produced by each band, but they maintain a general line that allows for no difference whatsoever. The result is raw, stripped down, and violent, with a strong emphasis on guitars and rather low tones. Nothing that a connoisseur of the hardcore scene doesn’t already know, and which they will surely recognize as part of the movement.
As for the songs included, they make intensity the axis around which each part moves, without copying themselves and maintaining, in essence, the weapons for which “old school” hardcore is usually known.
The hardcore movement in general is an underground, independent movement with no commercial pretensions but with a strong social message, and the case of both 1990XHC and Social Crisis is no coincidence. They are a good example of the vitality of a subculture that is almost always overlooked but maintains its freshness through good, powerful songs, as in the case at hand, so it wouldn’t hurt to check them out.
Here are the social media accounts for both bands, so you can get in touch, follow them, and find out all their latest news. As usual, here are some videos of both 1990XHC and Social Crisis….
https://www.facebook.com/1990XHC
https://www.facebook.com/Social.Crisis.Chile.Crossover.Hardcore.Band
https://www.instagram.com/1990xhc
https://www.instagram.com/socialxcrisis_oficial
