Leather may be considered a dark horse on our list of Top Performers in 2011 due to the fact that you can hardly find any information about the group on the Internet. However, we are quite proud to be able to give hardworking DIY bands like Leather some much-deserved exposure through our year end poll. In 2011, we saw the four-piece start to rise up from the underbelly of Philly’s DIY hardcore/punk basement scene and into the national spotlight. In July, the group released a string of 7-inches on the highly-respected hardcore label Jade Tree Records, which were well-received in the punk community. Their most recent 7” Sterile is a brief but attention-catching ten minutes full of the buzz-saw guitar riffs, growling vocals and pummeling drums that one would expect from a hardcore band, but it also shows the influence of noise-rock and some subtle hints of melody which set Leather apart from other hardcore/punk acts. On the success of their 7-inch releases, they hit the road touring halfway across America and back performing at every grimy basement, vacant warehouse and house party along the way. In 2012, we look forward to Leather doing us proud and continuing to open cans of whoop ass on the national hardcore/punk scene with more tours and releases. In the meantime, check out the lead track from Sterile called “No Motivation” HERE! – Dan Brightcliffe
