Action Recon Presents : The Top 10 Punk / Hardcore Albums of 2011.

We are now into the second week of our top 10 lists and this week we present to you our picks for the Top 10 Punk/Hardcore albums of 2011. What we did is take our favorite 5 punk albums and our favorite 5 hardcore albums and combine them into one list. As with the Top 10 Metal list these selections are in NO particular order and are simply albums that we enjoyed throughout the year from both old and new bands in the genre. We would like to take a second to thank all the bands on the list for supplying us with great music and at many times an inspirational message to go along with that music. Check out the list below and debate your asses off in the comments section after the post.

1) Social Distortion : Hard Time And Nursery Rhymes

With every album Social Distortion continue to explore what they are capable of, they write music and lyrics that are truly timeless and on “Hard Times” they have written some of the best music of their long career. Tracks like “Bakersfiled”, “Gimmie That Sweet Lowdown” and “I Won’t Run No More” prove that these guys are still just as relevant and full as life as they were years ago.

2) Earth Crisis : Neutralize The Threat

Earth Crisis have been relaying a message through music for a long time and on “Neutralize The Threat” they really took that to another level with many true tales of revolutionaries throughout history. At a time in our lives where standing up and taking action is more important then it ever has been, this albums message is so important. Musically it remains to be one of the heaviest and most crushing offerings Earth Crisis has ever put forth. The track “Counterstrike” is blazing proof of this.

3) Dropkick Murphys : Going Out In Style

A concept album of sorts that tells the tale of an Irish immigrant to American, “Going Out In Style” finds DKM in basically perfect form. Musically the album is yet another fantastic journey of good times and perhaps one the greatest drinking companions one could ever ask for. Stand out tracks for us were “Hang Em High”, “The Hardest Mile” and the best ballad they have written to date “Broken Hymns”. A great display of talent and creativity and we can’t wait to hear these songs live.

4) Agnostic Front : My Life, My Way

The true kings of hardcore are still at it and after more then 20 years they put out what has become one of our favorite Agnostic Front albums to date. “My Life, My Way” captures the true spirt and sound of AF and is really a great celebration of hardcore as a whole. The opening track “City Streets” makes me feel the same way I did when I heard the band so many years ago, same energy and aggression that set AF apart from every other band out there. Get down with this album asap if you have not already.

5) Nick 13 : Solo Album

Truth be told this record is neither a hardcore or punk album, its a straight up country album that explores the sound of Americana and hillbilly music. Nick shows just how talented a musician and song writer he really is and his haunting vocals are something that I think anyone should be able to appreciate. Tiger Army fans who enjoy songs like “Outlaw Heart” and “In The Orchard” will love this album from start to finish. We are all about supporting all our punk rock and hardcore peeps in all their endeavors and you should be to. Expand your horizons and enjoy this album today.

6) Lionheart : Built On Struggle

This album was probably one of the best hardcore albums that came out this year. Lionheart are an absolutely crushing band that bring back the true aggression and brutal style of hardcore. Fans of 100 Demons, First Blood, Terror and Cold As Life should be right at home with Lionheart. “Built On Struggle” found the band really stepping up their efforts in the song writing department and in doing so adding themselves to what we would call the hardcore elite. We have seen other top 10 hardcore lists this year that did not include this album and in one word that is “laughable”. This is hardcore.

7) Rise Against : Endgame

Another band with a very strong message who never falters from it no matter how big they get. Upon the first few listens it was not our favorite album, but after some time this album has come to be one of our favorite punk albums of the year. Melodic, aggressive, melancholic and angry all at the same time, with a clear and concise direction this album is strong from start to finish. Stand out track for us were “Architects”, Satellite” and “This Is Letting Go”. It was really nice to see punk return to what it was originally designed to do, make people think outside the box and act on injustices.

8) TRC : Bright Lights

Hailing from England TRC absolutely blew us away with their album “Bright Lights”. Its heavy as balls, aggressive and unique. There is not another band out there that sounds like TRC and they rock a spot like no one else in hardcore is doing today. I think they really appeal to a broad range of tastes as far as hardcore goes, they have something for the guy who loves the mosh and they also have something for those that dig the faster and more melodic approaches. Truly a band you have to hear and “Bright Lights” is a perfect place to start. Don’t sleep on this band.

9) Noi!se : This Is Who We Are

Noi!se are a street punk band from the the US who play good heart felt music that is about as real as it gets. There album “This Is Who We Are” is a great collection of songs about life, hardships and the friends that accompany you along the way. The sound is similar to a harder Social Distortion or perhaps early Dropkick Murphys. Noi!se is one of the great newer American Oi bands in the scene today and they are well deserving of your attention.

10) Ghost X Ship : Cold Truth

At Action Recon we dig the mosh in a big way and GhostxShip bring the mosh like nobody’s business. They are a straight edge band from Syracuse NY who are on Seventh Dagger records so right there those in the know will have some idea as to what they are in for with GhostxShip. For those not in the know think heavy assed breakdowns, double bass, circle pit fast parts, gruff vocals and a complete and total dedication to straight edge. This is true straight up pissed off brutal as all hell hardcore that will leave you gasping for breath at albums end.

Honorable Mention :

Honorable mention goes out to The Towerblocks for “Berlin Habits” and to All Out War for their album “Into The Killing Fields”. Both albums came out in late 2010 and we wanted to show some love for these bands as they were not included on our lists last year. Towerblocks are straight up street punk much like Discipline and early DKM and All Out War are a blazing metal infused hardcore band from New York that have been turning out albums for over a decade. If you missed these albums last year get with them this year.

Check back next week for the Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of 2011.

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3. Edge of spirit. Amazing hardcore from japan.
4. Deadwalk from Montreal. Hardcore metal that you need to hear.
5. Skarhead : Dreams Don’t Die : The Action Recon Review