Vitamin X — Cassette

Intro

Vitamin X sounds like a head-on collision between the speed of 80s American hardcore and the stadium-sized guitar heroics of 70s rock. It is music that refuses to sit still, defined by a frantic, galloping rhythm section and vocals that sound like they are being shouted through a megaphone in the middle of a riot. While the tempo is often set to 'blur,' there is a distinct sense of groove and melody buried in the chaos, largely thanks to the classic rock influence in the guitar work.

What sets them apart is their ability to be dead serious and completely absurd at the same time. They are a straight-edge band that does not make music about being straight edge; instead, they focus on sharp socio-political critiques delivered with a wink and a nudge. The production, especially on their Steve Albini-recorded material, captures the raw, uncompressed energy of their live shows, making the listener feel like they are standing two feet away from a crashing cymbal.

Start with 'Full Scale Assault' to hear the band at their most polished and powerful. It perfectly balances their thrashier tendencies with the big, bluesy guitar solos that have become their trademark. If you want something more raw and primitive, 'Bad Trip' offers a masterclass in the 'fast-fast-slow' dynamics that define the best of the Dutch punk scene.

Vitamin X (abbreviated VX) is a Dutch hardcore punk band from Amsterdam formed in 1997. Their sound is characterized by hardcore punk mixed with thrash metal, 1970s rock riffs and guitar solos. The members are straight edge but this does not reflect their lyrics or music. Their current line-up consists of four members: Marko Korac (vocals), Alex Koutsman (bass guitar), Danny Schneiker (drums), and Marc Emmerik (songwriter, guitar). Known for their socio-political lyrical themes and energetic live performances, the band recorded several seminal full-length albums and singles on various international labels, including US label Havoc Records. The band has completed multiple tours of North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico, and Russia. In 2001 and 2004 they played CBGB's, New York to a sold-out crowd. At a 2006 MTV live studio performance in Brasil a riot broke out after the band smashed their instruments. Their 2008 album Full Scale Assault was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini, famous for recording Nirvana, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Led Zeppelin's Page and Plant, Neurosis, etc. Featuring a guest appearance by Negative Approach singer John Brannon and artwork by John Baizley of Baroness. It received critical acclaim from publications such as Metal Maniacs, Maximumrocknroll, Profane Existence, Suburban Voice, Exclaim!, and many more, several of them naming it as one of the best hardcore punk albums of 2008/2009. In 2012 they released the album About to Crack, also recorded by Steve Albini and artwork by John Baizley. Besides touring around the world the band plays for 10,000s of people on some of the biggest heavy music festivals. They headlined Fluff Fest several times, as well as Exit, Obscene Extreme, Resist to Exist, and many more. In 2012 they play Europe's biggest 'extreme music festival' Hellfest featuring acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Guns N' Roses but also punk acts like GBH, Discharge, Tragedy and Refused. In 2013 they were among the headliners of the Baltimore Soundstage at Maryland Deathfest, the biggest fest of its kind in North America, playing together with Infest, The Melvins, Carcass, Venom, Pentagram. After playing at 2014's Temples Fest in Bristol they again played Hellfest in 2015 with Motörhead, Billy Idol, ZZ Top, Judas Priest, and Alice Cooper. In 2018 they sign for Southern Lord Records and release their sixth album Age of Paranoia featuring J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr and Bubba Dupree of Void and Soundgarden.

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