Best Local Hardcore/Rapcore Act

Eastcide

The ever-expanding genre of rapcore can be difficult for any band to pull off. When not properly executed, you'll know it. In fact, there are few things that sound worse (recent Vanilla Ice, for example). Fortunately, the six-piece Eastcide prove themselves very capable of playing what they call "Massachusetts rapcore"; they even throw in some tricks to show that they're no mere Children of the Korn.

In 1997, Eastcide released their debut, Everybody's Walking . . . Away, which gained an honorable mention at last year's Best Music Poll awards. Despite a limited distribution -- the Internet and at live shows only -- Everybody's Walking has sold an amazing 4000 copies so far.

And it's easy to see why.

Ten aggression bombs (and a lengthy bonus track) will have you banging your head and pogo-ing all around the bedroom as the band mix the lyrical flow of hip-hop with the hardcore's blood-piercing screams -- and they throw in a dose of funk for good measure.

"Shut up and take the abuse," reads the album notes, and that best sums up Eastcide's music.

The band spent 1998 promoting their release, and, since the last time we checked in with them, they've had several breakthrough events. Eastcide played the big SK8:98 at the Palladium. They performed at a Mountain Dew snowboarding festival at Mt. Snow and were picked out of 600 bands to open for Slayer in Florida, but the deal unfortunately fell through. They've performed with such national acts as Faith No More, Limp Bizkit, Godsmack, Nothingface, and Vision of Disorder. Finally, the band have scored ink in such metal bibles as Circus Magazine, Metal Maniacs, and even Metal Invaders.

Next month, Eastcide will re-release Everybody's Walking . . . Away, which will be available in record stores, and will record songs for a new album, due out this fall. Stay tuned for Eastcide's next chapter.

-- Joe Gagne