Nova Gorica Hardcore Scene of the 1990s
The developments on the Gorizia hardcore scene were documented by Marko Rusjan—one of its central protagonists and later the first director of KC Mostovna—in the book Fear of Freedom: Hardcore and Resistance (self-published, 2014). In the early 1990s, a diverse group gathered in the centre of Nova Gorica at Bevkov trg, consisting of members of the first generation of skateboarders, soon joined by other young people with similar interests.
With the emergence of the fanzine 13. brat, the collective of music activists of the same name finally gained a platform for self-expression. Establishing contacts with other protagonists (zine-makers, bands, organisers) beyond the local environment placed the scene on the wider map. Produced in a DIY spirit using the “cut and paste” technique, the zine featured interviews with renowned hardcore bands such as Integrity, Sick Of It All, Snapcase, and Shelter. The focus was on reviews, poetry, prose, drawings, comics, and photography, primarily aimed at promoting youth creativity. Most of the reviewed bands were independent, releasing their work through smaller labels. This mutual solidarity formed the foundation on which the scene flourished. The first issue in 1993 had 100 copies, while the seventh and final issue in 2001 reached a print run of 500. In the mid-1990s, the collective also hosted a weekly evening radio show, Vse je isto, on Radio Robin, where they presented new music.
The reasons for the end of the zine were varied. Photographer and main designer Jernej Humar sought new challenges, most local bands disbanded, Marko Rusjan became engaged with Mostovna, and Miran Rusjan moved to Zagreb and discontinued the Choose Life label. At its peak, Choose Life promoted local talent and handled the distribution of music and zines. Alongside some foreign acts, it primarily released local bands (Man in the Shadow, Entreat., Low Punch, Straight Forward, Pizda materna, Hobson’s Choice). Some of them appeared on the important compilation City of… (1999), featuring key actors of the Gorizia–Ajdovščina scene. The values embraced by participants included animal rights, vegetarianism, veganism, straight edge, asceticism, and political militancy, with the core principle being “support your local scene.”
The epicentre of the scene was the rehearsal space of the bands Man in the Shadow and Hobson’s Choice, located in abandoned underground rooms of the railway station. It became a home for many other bands, such as Entreat., Elodea, Scuffy Dogs, Pizda Materna, Elvis Jackson, and Dumbfound. It functioned as a kind of musical incubator, bringing together the key actors of the Gorizia underground scene, which also included bands such as All For Nothing, Low Punch, V.A.L.E., Reset, Straight Forward, Very Brutal Boys, and Fuck Copyrights. The politically engaged, distinctive, and angry (post)hardcore band Man in the Shadow was among the most active. They played around 100 concerts at home and abroad, toured Croatia and Europe, were featured on Radio Študent, released a cassette and two vinyl singles, contributed to numerous compilations, and posthumously released a self-titled album with all their recorded material. After the band split up, its members joined other groups such as Iamdisease, Analena, Hellcrawler, Scuffy Dogs, Elvis Jackson, Entreat, and Elodea, while Miran Rusjan co-founded Moonlee Records, today a well-established label in the wider region.
Avtor: Jaša Bužinel