I'll go ahead and open by stating that I'm not really into the artwork on this CD, but that's mainly because it just doesn't properly represent the quality of what this band is doing. Leper is a Canadian trio, and "Embarrassed to Be Human" is their first full-length release on their own Creepcore Records – including 21 new tracks plus a good amount of bonus material, made up of live cuts, cover songs, and re-recordings of tracks from prior releases when the band was called The Suits. The end result is a whopping 34 tracks and over an hour's worth of grinding crossover hardcore/punk that the band has dubbed "Creepcore Anarcho Ska Crust". It's a pretty diverse blend of material that actually comes across as cohesive, combining a catchy and energetic sense of vague melody with raging basslines, tight drum work, and punchy guitars – while the vocals are all over the place. There's even a little bit of token sarcasm within their generally pissed socio-political commentary. On rare occasion they'll stumble into a looser and more "chaotic" direction – mainly meaning that they'll sort of experiment a bit much and lose sight of their strengths – which results in a few throwaway tracks that I could do without, but for the most part this is extremely well executed material, and I certainly have to complement the band on boasting one of the best D.I.Y. recordings I've heard from a self-released punk record. The visual presentation may need some work, but the sound quality is fuckin' great. Good stuff overall.

Leper "No Originality"
Leper "Mind of Yer Own"
Leper "Won't Back Down"

If you dig the tracks, contact the band via their MySpace page for ordering information.

This is another one with some slightly misleading artwork. Host and Parasite is a new band from Albany, NY, and this four-song demo is their first offering of vicious metallic hardcore with a grinding, chaotic sort of edge – but one that never goes too far or lacks control. Expect bashing percussion, harsh vocal shouts, plenty of ringing dissonance amidst pummeling basslines and churning guitar work, etc. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel, they're just pissed. End of story. I know this is brief, but I'm really not sure there's much else to say here. They plow through the whole shebang in a mere six minutes and leave you wanting more, so it's over before you know it, and there's no fuckin' around in sight…

Host and Parasite "True to Life Berzerker"

You can check out the rest of the demo on the band's MySpace page, and they're giving hard copies of these things away for free, too. Though, if you want one, you'd be a stand-up cat if you at least sent them a couple of bucks to cover postage, you know?