SPHC have continued to step up their game, releasing some of the finest records in the various realms of punk and hardcore so far in 2015 (Terveet Kadet LP, nu-kle-ar blast suntan LP, The Coltranes 7”, and especially the Exacerbacion 7”). Gas Chamber’s newest 7”, Stained Hand, is certainly no exception and destined to be on many year-end lists, once again showing why they are one of the best active bands working not just in powerviolence but in hardcore in general. Following up last year’s Hemorrhaging Light LP on Iron Lung Records, Stained Hand further develops the Buffalo quartet’s particular mix of powerviolence, noise, and ambient passages, creating increasingly complex and dynamic songs that push forward a seemingly stagnant subgenre. The A-side, “Always Coming Home” (streaming below), demonstrates this approach perfectly, opening with a dreamy instrumental passage that grows into powerviolence with a D-beat and blistering vocals. This is hardcore to get excited about. If you were lucky enough to catch Gas Chamber’s tour with the legendary Terveet Kadet, you may already own this record, but for the rest of us the next SPHC update cannot come soon enough.