We Will Bury You

Supertouch - The Earth Is Flat lp

2012-01-25T20:47:00.006-07:00

Oh, hi there.
Sorry it has been so long between posts. The holiday season merged into family vacation and then I came home to a shit storm at work and I'm still trying to catch up. There is some light at the end of the tunnel here so I figured now would be a good time to get back at it.

So, one of the records waiting for me when I got home was this one, Supertouch - "The Earth Is Flat".

This is the second time I have owned this record. The first time I was way too immature and "hardcore" or metal to get into it. I remember exactly what I was thinking 22 odd years ago when I first heard "Engine", the lead track off the album:

"What the fuck is this? Where is Searching For The Light?"

I guess I was the guy who thought Searching was the best song off the Revelation "The Way It Is" comp and that anything by Supertouch that wasn't Searching Part 2, 3, 4 or 5 was pretty much going to suck. I dumped the record immediately.

Well, in time with more post hardcore bands like Statue and Quicksand slowly making an impression on me to go along with my early 90's grunge phase, I was ready to try again. Just not that soon. It just wasn't that high on my radar anymore.

I kept an eye on the Revhq store and literally this album was available forever. Of course by the time I finally made a move to buy it, it was gone. Maybe it was the fact it was never repressed as it took forever to sell out the first time, but this sucker started getting expensive over the years on the secondary market. Like crazy expensive for something I was only willing to spend $10 on.

Finally, just before Christmas, I broke down and bought a copy off GEMM. It didn't cost much and now I can finally say I have it again.

The rev discography site says there were 3015 pressed one time, all on black vinyl. Nothing much more to say than that. Listening to it now, I can appreciate what the band were going for (especially at the time) but damn, it kind of sounds like Mother Love Bone!

On a side note, I would like to thank everyone out there that reads this blog. I just saw that I have an even 100 followers or readers or members that bothered to push a button on get their icon on the side of my page. (I'm sorry I really don't know how any of this works!) Anyways, thanks.
To paraphase Dirk Diggler, "I promise to keep rockin' and rollin' and make better posts. We can always do better. I'm going to keep trying if you guys keep trying. Let's keep rockin' and rollin' man."

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T22:46:00.003-07:00

Hey, Happy New Year everybody!

I was going to do a best of 2011 list, but then I remembered that I am going on vacation tomorrow and I have to pack.

I liked Deafheaven. I listened to Give a lot this year. The Ceremony covers ep was awesome. Defeater was good too. The Fucked Up album gave me a headache. Yay 2011!

As always, you can follow me on twitter @wewillburyyou88

My band, Hope Defeated is also on twitter at @hopedefeated The band also set up a youtube page with a new song we recorded this month. You can hear it here. Leave me some feedback on what you think.
Hope Defeated also has a facebook page. You can look it up through a facebook search I guess. We also have a bandcamp page you can check out here. I will be updating it in the new year with some of our new stuff.

Finally, you can still pick up the Hope Defeated 2010 Demo 7" at Endless Quest Records. Marcus will hook you up.

See you in 2012.
Doug

The First Step - Demo 2001

2011-12-30T08:31:00.007-07:00

Two and a half years into this blog and I just realized I haven't made a single The First Step post. That's just wrong. I'm not sure how that happened since they were one of my favorite bands of the last decade.
One of the records I turn to regularly is their Demo 2001 7" released on Livewire Records. The songs are raw as fuck and I probably like "What We Know" and "Open Hearts And Clear Minds" a lot more, but there is something really down to earth, sincere, and cool about this record.

The pressing numbers on this sucker are downright offensive! To see where this band went and the number of people that they touched with their music and lyrics, to only have the small numbers of these records available seems criminal.
On the other side of the coin, I like that the number pressed reflected the stature of the band at the time when they were just starting out. Those who got it, got it. It almost seems like a piece of history, not blemished by mass production after the point to cash in.
Ah, what do I know?

First press. Red vinyl out of 200.

The record came with a two sided black and white lyric sheet insert and also a sticker which was the basis for the artwork for the What We Know Sessions 7" on Bottled Up Records. Pretty cool.

The sticker. I would LOVE to put this on my family station wagon, but I think the sticker means more to me than my Mazda 5.

Second press. Blue vinyl out of a "limited" number of 100. What, the first press of 200 was flooding the market?

They changed the cover slightly by adding the Ltd Second Press text on the back. They are also hand numbered.

I was also able in the past few years to pick up a super limited press that was done for the Posi Numbers Fest in 2002.

I really like the variation on the cover. The date was machine stamped on the bottom right as you can see. They also hand numbered them on the back cover.

23 were printed with blue ink on the cover for the most popular fest of the time. See a pattern here? I have number 15.

They used the red vinyl from the first press.

There was a second cover for the same fest using red ink out of 25. I would love to get that one some day. But you know, it's out of 25.
There is also a black vinyl pressing out of 100 that was used for a west coast tour that I have never been able to track down. Maybe someday. If anyone has a line on it, let me know.

Bane - Give Blood lp Reissue

2011-12-27T17:50:00.007-07:00

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Got what you wanted? Ate a lot? Visited with family? Fought with family? Good.
Let's get to it.

For at least a year in the Triple B Records discography webpage there was a listing for the Bane - Give Blood reissue/repress. Just a small text listing with question marks referring to when it would released, what colors they would be on and how many would be pressed. Good enough for me!
I waited patiently for the pre-order, checking message boards and twitter regularly. Finally the day came and I ordered within 5 minutes of it going up. Done and done.

The holiday season rolls around and these showed up on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to me.

The first thing you notice about these records are the change in cover art, embossed gatefold sleeve, huge insert booklet and all around bad ass-ness of the record. I was a big fan of the original that was released on Equal Vision and was hoping it wouldn't be too different or at least made reference to the original. I was not disappointed.

Here's the vinyl breakdown.
First up, red with white splatter out of 200. This is the most limited color of the entire pressing. It is long gone.

Here is the inside of the gatefold cover and back cover.

The next color from BBB was white out of 400.

Last up is black out of 1000. That is a lot of records! Funny enough, I think black is my favorite color of the bunch. Say hello to my new play copy.

Sometime after the Triple B pre-order, Equal Vision put up their exclusive color. Equal Vision was given 400 to sell in exchange for the licensing rights to reissue/repress the album. Everyone wins!
Red out of 400.

The record comes with this amazing full size booklet. The front has a clever kind of repro of the original Give Blood cover and in total includes a lot of pictures, lyrics, etc. Very nice!

Surprisingly enough, everything except the splatter color is still available from Equal Vision and Triple B. Definitely worth picking up, especially if you don't have the album from the first time around.
Damn, this album is good.

Bad Religion - s/t 7"

2011-12-22T08:42:00.008-07:00

The big knock against Bad Religion has always been that every album sounds the same. There is so little in the way of differentiating the sound, vibe, or feel between songs and albums that there is no real point in having anything past "Generator". Some cynical folks would go even further back and say "Suffer".
I can't say I disagree with that logic. I checked out on collecting their albums after "Stranger Than Fiction". Not only did all their records sound the same, the song writing was deteriorating pretty badly by that time. I haven't heard a song past "Grey Race". I don't feel like I'm missing much.

One thing you can't dispute though is how good their early stuff is. (I even have a soft spot for "Into The Unknown".) I was a huge fan of the "80-85" compilation cd when it came out and made it my mission to finally grow a pair and buy the elusive and very expensive s/t 7".

They didn't show up often back in 2006 when I got mine, so I was happy, but mostly relieved, I finally won an auction without getting outbid at the last second.
The copy I got has the original outer bag with the sticker "New Six Song E.P." and a price tag for $3.49. Yeah I wish.

The cover is a foldout and is really oddly shaped. Very tall and won't fit in regular plastic outer sleeves.

Early copies of the 7" you will notice have the original Epitaph address of Woodland Hills, California.

The cover folds out like a gatefold with pictures and credits inside. This can be unfolded again to reveal an all white back as this entire cover was a folded one sided print job. Like I said, weird.

As far as vinyl goes, black only. There are a couple different numbers out there for pressing details, I guess it all depends on what you believe.

The story goes there are 500 of the first press with the matrix etching of Side A: "We're Not Bad Religion..." and Side AA: "...You Are."
Then there are 1500 of a second press with the matrix etching of Side A: "We're Not Bad Religion..." and Side AA: "Elipses U.R."
The strange thing is, no one has ever seen a supposed first press. Every single copy sold on ebay, or found through popsike, collector frenzy and Flex have the "Elipses U.R." b-side matrix.
So take your pick - 500, 1500 or 2000 of these out there.

Also comes with a two sided red paper lyric sheet insert.

Of course after I finally scored one, Epitaph reissued it a couple years ago for some Record Store Day. They went all out and made it very close to the original. Too close. They had it right down to the off size cover, labels and insert. The only tells were of course colored vinyl (red and white to go along with black) and the Epitaph address change. I can't recall but they may have even kept the same original matrix etchings. Bastards!

Revelation Records Adidas Shoes

2011-12-17T15:30:00.009-07:00

Last year around this time, I posted about the new Revelation Records compilation album, "Past Present". You can find it here. Some liked it, some didn't. People felt the original songs really didn't need covering as they were still very much part of their lives.
Yeah, that pretty much describes Rev fans.

As part of the release, Revelation hooked up with Adidas to produce 150 pairs of shoes that would be given to bands who participated in the compilation. A few pairs were set aside for a promotion contest or draw and the rest I assume went to Rev employees or insiders.

What I thought was a pretty cool idea at the time went over like a lead balloon. Message board and blog comments were for the most part negative, vicious and furious. "Ugly, lame, pretentious, elitist, a cheap cash grab". Basically, everything that is wrong with hardcore was heaped on a pair of shoes.

One thing the detractors had going for them was the fact that of the 150 pairs that were made, somewhere around 149 of them went up on ebay. That doesn't exactly give you the warm and fuzzies about the scene. Some of the dollar figures that the shoes went for on ebay didn't help either. $400 - $650 for shoes is pretty sick.

It seems that time has helped calm down some of those negative feelings. The selling frenzy definitely calmed down, and prices dropped with it.
I was able to score a pair a couple months ago for a very reasonable price. I think it might have something to do with the fact I have feet the size of a dwarf.

By far the coolest part of the shoes are the insoles. Literally a roll call of legendary hardcore bands... and Iceburn.

Needless to say I got a pair of a brand new, unworn shoes complete with extra laces and original box. Yellow laces won't be happening anytime soon.

Now it's time to put the shoes away on the top shelf of my closet right next to my three pairs of hi-top Iron Maiden Vans and my other pair of hi-top Gorilla Biscuits Vans. Never to be worn or looked at again.
That's how I roll.

Modern Life Is War - s/t 7" : The one version you will never get

2011-12-07T20:33:00.007-07:00

An open letter to all Modern Life Is War 7" collectors.

I'm sorry.

I know how hard it has been to collect this 7". Between the original pressing self released by the band to the endless number of represses on Lifeline, you've had your work cut out for you. You've collected tour presses, farewell show presses, even a lottery press. It has been a chore. You have spent years building your collection to get it to a point where you feel good about finishing it off. Maybe you were even able to get one of the super rare red mix copies off Kyle Whitlow a while back when he was selling his off.

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it just got a little harder. Sorry.

What we have here is a special version of the s/t 7" pressed for original MLIW bassist Chris Honeck's wedding. Yeah.

My buddy Shaun sent me this sucker in the mail last week. Needless to say I was surprised. Shaun has been friends with the band and Big Joe for years. He roadied for them for many tours, stayed with Jeff Eaton's family for Thanksgiving one year and made a special trip out to see the band for their final show a few years ago. Shaun has stayed in touch with Joe and some guys in the band ever since.
The letter that accompanied the record that Shaun wrote laid out some back story on the record.

Like I was saying, the record was put together by Big Joe from Lifeline Records for Chris's wedding. It comes with a cool obi strip as a wedding announcement type thing.

Vinyl comes on a solid aqua green color. This is a completely different color than the clear green from the Euro tour pressing in case you were wondering.

Shaun is pretty sure that there were only 4 or 5 pressed. I saw on the internet there might be 40. Either way, not many.
Shaun got one as a wedding gift for his own wedding last year and one was personalized to me as I was a groomsman in Shaun's wedding.

The dust sleeve is stamped with some more wedding stuff. It's a nice touch.
Finally, it comes with a variation on the lyric sheet/insert. The front is a picture of the happy couple when they got engaged. The back side is the standard lyric sheet used in all the pressings.

To tell you the truth, I feel a little weird owning this. I have never met Chris or his wife, or even Big Joe. Then again, what the hell. It was personalized to me so - all good!

Youth Of Today - Break Down The Walls: Wishing Well 2nd Press

2011-11-30T18:43:00.004-07:00

In my never ending quest to collect all the Youth Of Today vinyl I can find, I FINALLY got my hands on a copy of the second pressing of Break Down The Walls on Wishingwell.

For whatever reason, this was harder for me to obtain that the uber-rare, expensive and highly sought after red and blue vinyl versions of this record. True, I had a friend who sold me the red and blue copies in one shot privately so it didn't involve too much leg work. Still, I have seen a few reds and blues pop up on ebay before this sucker. Maybe I was just not looking at the right time.

I have no idea how many were pressed. They are all on black vinyl.

The new yellow and black color scheme is consistent through the cover, back, insert and labels as well. I really like it a lot.

Normally when I finally get something I was after for such a long time, I feel a bit of a let down that the chase is over. Not this time. Still charged up.
I'm going to keep this good feeling going and go watch Sons Of Anarchy. Opie shot Clay last week and I have to see how it turns out. I owe the wife dinner if he dies. The lesson as always is stay away from drugs. That Galindo cartel has been nothing but bad news for the club!

D.R.I. - Dirty Rotten LP

2011-11-25T08:55:00.009-07:00

Last weekend a couple guys in my band and I were sharing old DRI stories after practice. I don't know how it came up, but everyone seemed to have one and some were downright hilarious. Mike and I had one to share.

True story.

I was playing in a band with Mike sometime in the mid 1990's and we had a show at the University of Calgary. It was just a small local show in one of the lounges at the student center.

We were getting ready to set up and we got word from the guy putting on the show that DRI were there. What the fuck?
I looked out the side window beside the stage and saw the biggest tour bus I had ever seen in my life. It was like the size of the one in the Journey "Faithfully" video.

A buzz went through the room that this "big", slightly irrelevant (Definition era), hardcore punk band would be playing a show everyone had only paid $4 for.

I thought for sure we were going to get bumped from the show as DRI would probably play a long set.
It turned out that they were passing through town and didn't actually want to play. They just wanted to set up a merch table during our show to sell their 5000 different t-shirts, cds, hats, and coffee mugs.

None of the guys from DRI came in to watch, they stayed in their cruise ship sized bus and had FOUR merch guys set up their stuff on three tables.

We didn't sell a god damn thing that night.

Shit like that never really bothered me, and never changed my perception of the band at the time either. As much as I had personally checked out of DRI by that time, I still had the early stuff to enjoy.

Like this record, the Dirty Rotten LP.

We all know the story on this one. DRI released the Dirty Rotten ep on 7" back in 1983. The sound was not so great due to the fact they tried to jam 22 songs on it. The next year they teamed up with MDC's R Radical Records and repressed it on a 12". It was supposed to improve the sound. Yeah, I'm not so sure about that.

First press on the band's own Dirty Rotten Records and R Radical Records. All on black vinyl.

As you can see, they didn't change the art from the 7" much for the new cover. You can faintly see the two lines they blacked out from the "E" in EP to change to LP. They were also pretty faithful to the original back cover of the 7" too, only adding R Radical Records to the back.

The album also comes with a one sided, black and white lyric sheet. If you have ever heard this album and wanted to sing along, you'll know why a lyric sheet is needed.

A few years later in 1988, Roadrunner Records, the European heavy metal label, re-released the Dirty Rotten LP and included the Violent Pacification ep.

DRI were close to the height of their popularity at the time. The original 7" and 12" were largely unknown to the new crop of metal fans the band had made. Even if these headbangers wanted the Dirty Rotten record, it wasn't like they were going to find it in the mall.

Plus, the new artwork was bad ass. As a teenager, I thought it was amazing. Big fan.

The Roadrunner version was also only released on black vinyl. I am going to say there were thousands pressed, along with cassettes, as I remember seeing them everywhere - including the mall.

As with most larger labels in the late 80's, they used a glossy two sided printed inner sleeve. I do like that they used the artwork from the Violent Pacification 7" on the one side.

I originally had a hard time getting into this record. The songs were just so spastically fast. The band was so young, sloppy and raw, and the recording so muddy that it took me years to finally appreciate it. Something just clicked.
I think it was around the time I was getting into Cryptic Slaughter. That would make sense. If you can get into "Convicted", you can get into anything.

Youth Of Today - We're Not In This Alone

2011-11-20T09:58:00.009-07:00

"We're Back!"

Well, I'm back.
A couple days ago I realized I haven't posted in over a month. My bad. I haven't had much come in that was blog-worthy and I am running out of tricks to pull out of my bag.
I think the record collecting blog world is in pretty good shape. A lot of people are posting what they got in the mail, pressing info and a quick review. It is sharing information with a hardcore collecting community that have common likes and interests. That's pretty awesome.
I always tried to differentiate myself from that formula by pulling records out of my collection I thought people would want to see, either because they are rare or have been forgotten with time. I also wanted to share records that meant something to me as I was growing up and helped shape who I am today.
After two years of We Will Bury You, I might be running out of gas. I don't just want to be a consumer.

Ok. Enough reflective shit. Let's get to it.
One thing I have done over the last few months is obsess over Youth Of Today. Ever since seeing them at Chaos In Tejas, I can't get that band out of my head. I was so pleasantly surprised at how well they played and how the show made me feel. Youth Crew at 42!
Side note: I was convinced they would open with Flame Still Burns. Nope. It was the second song.
Between listening every day and studying Dobek's and Kyle's collections, I got it in my head that however much Youth Of Today vinyl I had, I could do so much better.
So, I hit up my new favorite web store, Discogs. I was able to pick up a ton of Youth of Today German pressings without having to go the ebay route with waiting, sniping, paypal fees, etc. I was able to get everything I ordered delivered to my door within a week. Must be a German efficiency thing.

Thanks to Discogs I was able to finish off my favorite Youth Of Today album, "We're Not In This Alone". I know I'm not alone in thinking it, but I believe top to bottom this album destroys Break Down The Walls.

It was a pretty awesome feeling to finally finish off all of the WNITA pressings and colors after chasing this record down for 22 years.

First Press. Caroline Records. Black vinyl. Millions pressed (not really). Hands down the best album cover ever made. Represents an aesthetic, look and ideal that I still hold today.

Comes with a large foldout black and white insert/lyric sheet.

Second Press. Caroline Records. Same cover and insert as the first press. The album had been remixed (and not for the better, IMO)

The only way to know if you had a second press was the large remix sticker on the shrink wrap and "Mix #2" on the B side matrix. I got super lucky and bought one with the sticker and shink wrap attached from Dobek.

Now on to the European pressings . First up is by We Bite Records. All on black vinyl. No idea how many pressed.

I personally love the color scheme with the blue and orange. The labels were awesome for the We Bite press as well.

I also think the back cover is better than the Caroline version!

Second European pressing. Funhouse Records. Terrible cover. What the hell?

Yellow vinyl. Unknown number pressed. Not a stretch to say less than the black vinyl.

Black vinyl.

Color printed dust sleeve with lyrics.

The printed lyrics inner sleeve also had an ad on the reverse side for current and future Funhouse releases. One of them was for Break Down the Walls. I wonder why it wasn't done? Then again I'm not sure why there was a second European pressing in the first place.

Revelation Records. 1997 reissue. Remixed (again), remastered, new cover, insert and label art.

First press Red Vinyl out of 100. All the Youth of Today reissues in 1997 has a rare color pressing and huge black vinyl pressing. This one was half of the BDTW and CCME color pressings.

First press black vinyl out of 1518. I think it has been repressed a lot. I can still find it here in town and can't find anything here in town.

Second press. Purple vinyl out of 112. They tried to match the red from the first pressing to make up for the shortfall of the first press. It definitely ended up different.

I know with my pictures they all look like black vinyl. You kind of have to see them in person or hold them to the light to see the difference. It is there.

The album came with a two sided black and white glossy insert/lyric sheet.

A lot of people hated the Revelation pressing, mainly for the changed cover art, but a whole generation of kids just don't know any different. I'm just cool with the fact that people get to hear what is one of the best hardcore albums of all time and a record that changed my life.
Rant over.

Ruiner - I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes : Record Release & Euro Tour

2011-10-19T10:44:00.009-06:00

Three years is a long time.

Back in 2008, I read that Runier would be releasing a discography of sorts through Bridge Nine. The discography album,"I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes", would span their What Could Possibly Go Right 7", the "Still Smiling" demo and also their split 7" with Day Of The Dead.
It made sense, Firestarter wasn't repressing the 7" anymore, so it was a great way for people to hear some of the best hardcore EVER recorded if they missed out the first time.
Seriously, Paint Peals, Getting Over The Years, Out Go The Candles, A Bridge Too Many and Six By Six are untouchable.

Personally, I wanted this record just to get the demo songs. I already had a few copies of the 7" and split. I also understood that the songs would be remastered, so I figured it was a no brainer.

Almost immediately after I ordered the record from Bridge Nine, I started reading about a record release/ Euro tour version with a special cover that would be out of 200. Knowing I wouldn't be able to get this version first hand, I just put it on my want list. I figured they would start popping up sooner than later.

Well over three years later I was FINALLY able to find one, bid on it and win it for just over $30. It took fucking long enough. Hell, I've had a second kid who is now going to pre-school in the time it took me to get this record. What ever happened to instant gratification through the internet?

As you can see the big hook of the special cover is that it is a recreation of the first Ramones album cover.

What I didn't know was that the special cover is just a foldover sleeve on top of the regular cover. For whatever reason I thought it was a glued, open on the right cover. Of course it isn't. It is really nice though.

The back is hand numbered out of 200. I got #78.

They used the more common 1st press white vinyl out of 1000 for this version. Black vinyl was the "rare" color from the 1st press out of 500.

The record release / tour package also came with the cd and its thick as hell book. I think the book is the best part of the whole deal, other than the fact it only came with the cd. Pictures, lyrics and awesome write ups by each of the band members about each song.
I forgot to take pictures of it. Just imagine a really thick cd booklet.

Glad I could cross this one my want list. It bugs me when I need something from one of my favorite bands. I've said it before, I'll say it again. I love Ruiner.

Crumbsuckers - Life Of Dreams

2011-10-12T07:50:00.005-06:00

Hey remember a while back when I said the Crumbsuckers album, Beast On My Back was just as good as their first album?

Yeah, forget what I said. B.O.M.B. pretty much sucks.

Life Of Dreams on the other hand is amazing.

I'm on day 4 of my non-stop Crumbsuckers bender. There are very few albums where I can say I love every song, let alone an album that has 16 songs. This record has it all. Amazing riffs, speed, aggression, the best vocals in hardcore and really good production too.

To me crossover is at its best when it leans a little towards hardcore over metal. This album does that. It's pretty much accepted that this was one of the best albums of the entire genre. I totally agree.

As far as the vinyl itself goes, there isn't really much to say. As far as I know all the different label versions were on black vinyl. No idea how many pressed. Let's say lots and lots!

In the USA, it was released on Combat Records. Here in Canada, we didn't get Combat unless you went to the import section of the independant record store.
I found my copy at good old A&A Records, or maybe it was Sam The Record Man. I can't remember which defunct Canadian record chain it was.
As it was a domestic release, I got this weird Canadian licensed version by Cobra Core Records.

I don't pretend to understand licensing arrangements or why Combat couldn't be sold in Canada. All I know is that it resulted in a lot of extra writing on the back cover and label.
Relativity, Maze, Cobra Core, Combat, Important.
Maybe it was an 80's thing.

Free Spirit - Free Yourself 7"

2011-10-07T08:31:00.007-06:00

Trust your gut, not your head.

A while back I decided to be a little more responsible with my money. I wanted to be more selective when buying music and following bands. You can't buy everything every good label puts out. I also wanted to start checking out bands online to hear how they sounded instead of ordering sight unseen just because it was released on a certain label or had members in the band from other bands I liked. Like I said, be responsible.

I remember like it was yesterday. Staring at the computer monitor looking at the Free Spirit - Be Yourself 7" order page on Triple B Records' web store.
Either an email or post on a message board went up about it and I went over to check it out. I knew there was a lot of buzz around the band due to their demo. I hadn't heard it myself, mainly because I have a hard enough time keeping up with new bands and I also live 4000 km away from Boston. Pretty tough to pick up a cassette.

I had two copies of the 7" in my shopping cart and at the last second, I decided to pass. You know, be responsible.

Well fast forward a few months, and I get the chance to see the band live. Well, I think it was the band. Free Spirit were one of the Boston hardcore bands playing at Chaos in Tejas along with Mind Eraser, Rampage, Rival Mob and Step Forward. It was like musical chairs on stage with guys swapping instruments and calling it a new band. I swear I saw the same guy on stage play guitar or bass for every one of these bands! I'm only kind of exaggerating.

Anyway, I see them live. I like them. I want to buy their record.

Of course by this point, it's sold out at BBB and every other distro. I am forced to go the ebay route, overpay due to the number of bidders trying to snipe each other at the last minute, and spend more on postage alone than if I would have just bought the records in the first place when I had the chance. Like I said, gut - head.

The record itself was joint released on BBB and Lockin' Out. It came on two colors.

Clear vinyl out of 300.

Red vinyl out of 700.

The record also comes with a pretty big glossy black and white insert/lyric sheet.

Music wise, Free Spirit aren't really reinventing the wheel. Very competently played, fast posi-hardcore with a kind of fuzzed out guitar sound and gruff aggressive vocals. Plenty of breakdowns and mosh parts. Seven songs in under seven minutes. That should give you an idea of what's up.

It's a really good record. I'm glad I have it now. I just wish I would stop screwing up to get here.

Give Up The Ghost - Year One reissue

2011-10-04T06:42:00.005-06:00

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.

When the pre-orders for Bridge Nine's reissue of American Nightmare's (Give Up The Ghost) Year One compilation came up, I really tried to hold off. I didn't need it.
I mean I have no less that eight copies of the first 7", and seven copies of "The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter" 7". Hell, I even have the Year One double 7" AND a couple copies of the Reflections "Year One" album.
I really didn't need this. Leave it to people who weren't around the first time.

I held off for a grand total of 10 minutes.

Bridge Nine offered some three packs for the three different "colors" available.
Red, white and blue color schemes as in the past with American Nightmare releases.

I'm not sure about the pressing numbers yet as they aren't up on the B9 discography, but the red ones sold out first. It didn't take long.

The album also came with a huge color foldout insert lyric sheet/poster.

American Nightmare - why can't I quit you?

Step Forward - 10 Song EP 7"

2011-09-22T13:38:00.005-06:00

Late Passes Suck. Not only are you behind everyone when it comes to discovering new, exciting music, but it can be hard to catch up if you miss out on the wrong band. Case in point, Step Forward.

Ever since seeing an impromptu Step Forward set at Chaos In Tejas last summer, I have been obsessed with tracking down their record. It hasn't been easy. It is rare and in high demand, making it pretty pricey to boot.
I remember seeing the 7" available from Painkiller Records four years ago, but I was focused on other bands and labels at the time. Like I have said before, you can't have it all. You can't buy everything. I just wish this was one I had picked up when I first had the chance.

Step Forward are a full on, super fast, aggressive straight edge hardcore band from Boston made up of guys who are in, or were in, every 2000-era Boston hardcore band. They don't play often, and as of right now, they have only released one ep.
While there may be only one record, damn, is it ever awesome. Maybe it is just time and place with what I am into now, but I can't stop listening to it. The CC guitar solos are just so cool and fit in seamlessly with the rest of the music. Great vocals, bass playing and drums too. Love it!

On to the vinyl.

Record release pressing. "Crossword puzzle" cover out of 154.

Black vinyl with stamped labels dated for the record release show with Righteous Jams.

There is also a second "Loud and Clear - This Is Boston! (Not Belgium)" cover for the record release out of 30. I would love to have one, but they haven't been popping up much. Actually, not at all.

First press. Clear vinyl out of 220.

The first press was rounded out with black vinyl out of 418.

There is also a second press on black vinyl out of 350 that is identical to the black vinyl of the first press.
Lyrics and credits are printed on the inside of the cover.

I was really glad to hear that the band had finally finished their second 7" and are planning on releasing it soon. If it is anything like this one, it could be my record of the year.

Cursed - III : Architects Of Troubled Sleep

2011-09-16T16:20:00.009-06:00

Ever since seeing Burning Love play at Chaos In Tejas this summer, I have been on a bit of a Chris Colohan bender. Some Burning Love, a bit of Left For Dead and The Swarm, and whole shit load of Cursed.
The album I have been digging a lot again lately is their last full length album, "III : Architects Of Troubled Sleep". Not their most popular album by any stretch, but to me it is their best.

Cursed has always had an issue with their recorded sound. To me, they have never been able to capture what I have heard when I saw them live. This album was at least the closest. Plus, this record has two of their best songs, "Antihero Resuscitator" and "Into The Hive". Hardcore.

As for the vinyl, there are two separate releases for the album, each with their own unique touches. The North American pressing was on the awesome Canadian label, Goodfellow Records.

The limited color was 300 on grey.

The rest of the first and only pressing was on black vinyl. 700 pressed.

Comes with the dreaded glossy two sided printed inner sleeve. I have fingerprint marks all over it that I can't get rid of. Fail.

There is a record release/Good Friday version with a alternative cover out of 85. I am still on the lookout for it, but it goes for some pretty big bucks. $100 these days, if you can find it at all.

One very strange thing with our independent Canadian music scene is that if you have the organizational skills and a willingness to tour and promote yourself in Canada, you can get a grant to help subsidize your band/label endeavors.
Yup, this Cursed album was partially paid for by my Federal government. O Canada!

I don't know, seems weird to me. There are some things you expect the government to get involved with, hardcore isn't one of them.
You can read up on the whole Factor program here. Checking the site out I just found out that Silverstein got $15,000 to make a video. Comeback Kid got $7184 to tour. I obviously pay too much in taxes.

There was also a European pressing of the album released on Reflections. This was a nice surprise as most of the licensed stuff Reflections releases is in the straight up hardcore like Blacklisted, Modern Life Is War and Terror. I know, that is a pretty big generalization, but hey, let's go with it.

Clear with black splatter out of 250.

Clear or milky white out of 250.

Black out of 500.

The European press also came in a gatefold cover made up of the printed insert of the North American version. You can see there are also a couple slight differences with the front cover as well with shading and stuff like that.

I miss Cursed.

Navio Forge - As We Quietly Burn A Hole Into...

2011-09-02T07:53:00.005-06:00

I figured I'd end the week off with the most polarizing emo record out there. Those who love it regard it as the high water mark for the genre, the emo-est of the emo. Those who hate it basically believe it killed the whole thing for just going too far.

Navio Forge - As We Quietly Burn A Hole Into...

Navio Forge were a very short lived emo band out the Berkeley/bay area scene in California. They played a total of two shows, both at Gilman St., and released this album in 1993 after they had already broken up.
Really, the band was just a blip on the radar at the time. However their reputation has grown because of this record, and really just one song in particular.

Musically, the band were pretty straight forward all things considered. Very few jangly guitar parts or whispered vocals. The guitarist Mike Kirsch (who was also in just about every Ebullition band including Fuel, Torches To Rome and Bread and Circuits to name a few) had a very straight forward driving sound, almost heavy. Vocally, well that's another story.

It all comes down to the last song on the record, "Haloed Eyes". In a nutshell - the singer cries. At the end of the song, he's wailing away, moved to tears from singing about not making eye contact - or something.

Some called it brilliant, the final natural step for emotional music. Others checked out. Late teen, early 20's suburban hardcore kids had a tougher time hanging with it. One thing is for sure, it left an impression!

As far as the vinyl goes, the record was self released on Shadow Catcher Records. All on black vinyl. No idea how many pressed but the internet consensus is well under 1000.
It can't be many, as very few show up on ebay and those that do end up going for some pretty serious bucks. The last one sold this year went for over $70.
There was also a "limited cover" version that took other hardcore record jackets, turned them inside out and screened them. Sounds like they ran out of covers. Those go for $100 - $150. I couldn't be bothered.

It would be interesting to know what others thought of this record. I know my friends had definite opinions on both sides of the fence!

Inkwell - Shine So Bright 7"

2011-08-31T08:11:00.007-06:00

Today it is raining and 10 degrees Celsius. It is dark and miserable outside. Perfect weather for number 2 in my emo series!

Inkwell were not the biggest of names when it comes to the mid 90's emo scene. They weren't around for more than a couple of years, releasing just two 7"s and a split 7" with Hal al Shedad. Actually for the time, that was pretty close to wearing out your welcome. Any more releases and you would be labeled wannabe rock stars and probably get ostracized anyway.

Inkwell in my opinion hit the mother load with their second 7". The two songs, "Shine So Bright" and "Portrait" are pretty much the perfect representation of the sound and style of 90's emo/screamo. All the elements are here. Soft/loud dynamics, throat shredding screams, lyrics that read like poetry, etc. It literally doesn't get better than this.

Shine So Bright was released on Heliotrope / Orion Quest Records, the second release from same label that released the original Converge Unloved and Weeded Out 7". In other words, Tre McCarthy put it out.
It's interesting that a small Atlanta, Georgia band stuck outside of the popular California, midwest and DC/Jersey/Philly scenes, that played 80% of their gigs at home, caught the eye and ear of a Massachusetts hardcore kid. I'm sure there is a story there.

I don't know how many were pressed, but they were numbered.

The packaging for this record is really awesome. A screened clear plastic foldover on top of the sleeve which has the lyrics. Looks great in person.
You can easily find this on ebay for $5. Well worth it. Truly one of the forgotten and under appreciated gems of the scene.

Indian Summer - s/t 7"

2011-08-29T08:05:00.009-06:00

Yesterday I saw my first yellow leaf on the trees in the park. Fall is coming, summer is almost over. Here in Calgary this means snow and cold is about six weeks away. I am bummed out.

So what do I do when fall comes and I feel down? Why, it's time for some emo.

As a young man in the mid 1990's, I witnessed hardcore making a turn. Some would say it went right off the road. All I know is that shit changed. A lot. I'm not talking Revolution Summer and the seeds of the new sound. I am talking about the Mac truck that hit you square in the face that said we weren't in Kansas anymore Toto.

Youth of Today ended and Shelter began. Rev was releasing records by Gameface and Into Another and Farside. Everyone was "growing" and expanding their sound and at the same time also getting in touch with their feelings. Political correctness took on a life of its own. Anyone still playing straight up hardcore were considered sub-human, knuckle dragging neanderthals.

I bought right in. I ditched NYHC and crossover, rejected "punk" as juvenile and dove headfirst into a world of cardigan sweaters, fake black rimmed glasses and emoting. Musically, leading the way for me was Indian Summer.

Indian Summer and other bands of their ilk on Repercussion Records rewrote the book completely on record collecting. Black vinyl only. Variations were primarily by accident with second pressings. Screened paper bags for covers. No song titles. Recording quality similar to that of a boom box in the corner on a well used Maxell cassette tape.

Musically, it was the standard emo/screamo formula of the time. Low-fi, minimal melodic quiet parts, soft/loud/soft song structure, with a singer emoting a ton of anguish. Indian Summer distinguished themselves from the other 20 bands doing the same thing by having scratchy Bessie Smith blues records playing in the background.

I could try to tell you that my favorite emo song of all time is on this record, but I couldn't tell you what it is called. I read a while back that none of Indian Summer's songs had titles and that outsiders are the ones who titled them. All I know is that I like the one that says "I am the angry son." I thought it was called Angry Son but I was told later that it wasn't. Whatever.

This was a fun trip down memory lane. I think I will keep it for a couple weeks. Let me know if there are any records you want covered. Next up, Inkwell.

Hope Defeated - 2010 Demo 7"

2011-08-23T07:26:00.005-06:00

I know you are probably asking yourself, "Who the hell is Hope Defeated?" Well, it is a band. More specifically, my band.
In addition to collecting records, going to shows and occasionally hitting up a fest, I have also been playing in bands for the last 20 years. Well I don't play shit, I'm what Bon Scott would call a "Rock and Roll Singer". Yeah.

Last year I got together with some friends I have played with in different bands or known in the scene over the years and we formed Hope Defeated. I guess I figured I wasn't quite done yet.

We hit the studio last September to get an idea of what we had. Everything sounds awesome in the basement. Eight songs in eight hours, live off the floor. I put vocals on five.

I was pretty happy with the results and let some close friends know what we were up to and passed around the raw mp3s we got from the studio. One of those guys was Marcus from Endless Quest. Surprisingly, he brought up the idea of releasing the songs we recorded on vinyl as a demo on his label.
I guess he liked them. We picked the four best songs, remixed and mastered them, and sent them off.

I have to say, Marcus has put a lot of time, effort and money into making this record as cool and good as it can be. One of the ideas he had was to press a special limited run of 50 on red that would only be available for readers of our blogs. Special labels and covers just for the loyal readers of The Endless Quest and We Will Bury You.
Look at that, always thinking of you.

You can read more about all the details and even hear a song if you like at Marcus's blog posting here:

The Endless Quest...

Or you can head right to the Endless Quest webstore here to pre-order:

Endless Quest Records Online Store

Ceremony - Rohnert Park EP: Sick 7"

2011-08-22T07:48:00.005-06:00

Really, not much to say about the Sick 7" at all. My favorite song off one of my favorite albums of 2010. I would have posted about it a year ago, but that damn record release version was very elusive. It doesn't show up often on ebay and when it does it sells for mad cash. The last two before I got mine went for $77 and $81. That's pretty insane.
I finally got one last month and I didn't pay remotely close to that much, so maybe things are calming down a bit.

The Sick ep was one of those early preview 7"s released by Bridge Nine a month before the album. B9 have done this many times before with bands like Ambitions, Ruiner, Verse and Cruel Hand to name a few. I think they even did it with Ceremony on their last album too. One song off the album and one exclusive track. Works for me.

The last time I saw Ceremony at Chaos In Tejas, they opened with "Into The Wayside/Sick" and it set the tone for the rest of the show. They tore the roof off the place. Well, there was no roof to begin with, but you get the idea. There are some youtube videos out there. Go check them out. You are a resourceful bunch.

First press. Record release cover. Clear vinyl out of 99.

Hand numbered on the back fold.

First press. White vinyl out of 300.

First press. Clear vinyl out of 700. I have a feeling it's more like out of 601 as 99 of the clear were used for the record release.

Second press. Black vinyl out of 500. Not very often that a preview 7" gets a second pressing on Bridge Nine.

Two pressings over one year and Bridge Nine is totally sold out of the record in their webstore. You can find it on ebay and some distros easily and fairly inexpensive though. Well, except the record release. That one is still a bitch.

Manliftingbanner - Ten Inches That Shook The World

2011-08-16T08:03:00.008-06:00

Given the state of the world economy and the fear that the next recession is just around the corner, I decided to pull out this oldie from the shelf and give it a spin.
If all our financial woes are caused by the free market economy, capitalism, exploitation and greed, let's blast some socialist hardcore to remind us of all the mistakes we have made - comrade!

Manliftingbanner - 10 Inches That Shook The World.

It seems almost silly now looking back on how I reacted or felt when I first heard this record. Musically, it is pretty much by the numbers hardcore . Youth crew type sound with lots of speed and not a hint of heavy or metal.
Lyrically and image-wise though, this was "controversial". Manliftingbanner was the first band I ever heard that expressed blatent socialist, Marxist and communist political ideologies.
It was very different from the Dead Kennedys, MDC or Crass "smash the state" anarchy lyrics that you almost expected from punk bands. On the other side of the spectrum, 80's hardcore always seemed to lean to the right if it got political with Agnostic Front, YDL or Murphy's Law.

This record was 100% Communist. That was pretty shocking to me. The Berlin Wall had only been down for a couple years, but it wasn't like we were embracing the old Soviet Union. I grew up being terrified of the Soviet Union. It took five Dutch kids to bring the ideology out of the tv set and into my music world. Ahhh, The Dutch.

Ten Inches That Shook The World was released on Crucial Response Records in 1992. I think it was back when it was a European only label and way before the internet or ebay. I wasn't going to find this record at the local record store. I just waited until my friend Geoff was ready to sell his copy. I waited a long time!

The layout has a lot going on not only with lyrics, but quotes from people such as Lenin and Trotsky to accompany the messages of the songs.

All in all, a pretty cool record that threw a lot of ideas at you including the positivity of straight edge, environmental issues, sexism, the exploitation of the weak and poor, along with radical violent communism. Heady stuff.

Bl'ast! - The Power Of Expression

2011-08-11T18:26:00.006-06:00

This morning I had my ipod on shuffle for my commute into work. Something that caught my attention and made me replay it a couple times was "Time to Think/Surf and Destroy" by the almighty Bl'ast!
I forgot how damn cool Bl'ast! was. A lot of people wrote them off as an early Black Flag (Damaged/My War era) rip off band. Yeah, no doubt they sound pretty much exactly like Black Flag, right down to the weird Greg Ginn fills and gruff throaty Rollins vocals, but I think it has more to do with the overall California hardcore vibe.
In the end, you can do a lot worse than sounding like Black Flag.

Their first and best album was "The Power Of Expression". The record was released back in 1986 on Wishingwell and distributed through Greenworld.

From the back cover and labels you can see that the album had a Greenworld catalog number. The tie to Wishingwell seems to be this weird "W" Wishingwell symbol at the top of the label.

The record comers with a black and white two sided insert/lyric sheet.

A European press out of the Netherlands was also released in the same year by Roadrunner Records.

The noticeable differences include the added Roadrunner label at the top of the back cover.

Also the label is all Roadrunner. Reminds me of my Euro thrash metal imports from the 80's. This is design is radically different from the Greenworld one and loses the Wishingwell logo altogether.

Lastly, the insert and lyric sheet has been transposed on to the inner dust sleeve.

All Black Flag fans who have never heard Bl'ast! should really give this album a chance. If you already have it, pull it out and give it a spin. Perfect summer weather skateboarding tunes. Dig it!

Crumbsuckers - Beast On My Back

2011-08-08T19:52:00.006-06:00

Well, I'm back from my one week family vacation and a one week vacation from the computer. I think I liked both equally. Very liberating. I guess it's time to get back at it.
I'm not sure why but as I found myself driving through Glacier National Park looking at mountains, wildlife and well - glaciers, I had the Crumbsuckers going through my head. Not even the acknowledged good album either. Nope, I had B.O.M.B. on repeat in my brain.

Beast On My Back (or just B.O.M.B) was a VERY polarizing album. Hardcore kids and crossover freaks (like me) pretty much checked out on the band with this album for being too slow and too metal with too many solos. The song writing was pretty weak too.
Still, I cut this album a lot of slack for one reason, Chris Notaro's vocals. Notaro is one of my favorite singers - period. Growing up playing in bands, I always wanted to sound like him and fell way short of the mark. Dude's voice rules.

As far as vinyl goes, the album was released on Combat which I always considered cool. Combat would advertize in thrash magazines and is how I initially got turned on to Agnostic Front. All good.
The record was pressed on black vinyl and I assume a shit load of it. The record is not hard to come by at all.

Most importantly, just look at these guys. You wonder why crossover was a strange time. The metal head rhythm section ended up as Pro-Pain. A band I hate to this day. Notaro is rocking the Canadian tuxedo (double denim) and they even had a serious poodle head too. LOVE IT!!!!

For those of you that buried this record away years ago, pull it out and check out the third song "Charge" from the 1:50 - 2:13 mark. Brilliant. It still sends shivers up my back!

Mouthpiece - s/t 7" Middlesex Cover

2011-07-22T09:28:00.011-06:00

Two years into doing this blog and I just realized I have never done a Mouthpiece post. That's just unacceptable!!! In hindsight, I guess that makes sense as my collection kind of sucked. For being one of my favorite 90's straight edge hardcore bands, I had very little when it came to rare Mouthpiece records. Of course I had all their releases, but only the most common, black vinyl versions. Over time I started to pick up some cool stuff, but nothing like this. Thanks to Kyle Whitlow selling off a large part of his amazing collection, I was able to pick up this gem.

1st press Mouthpiece self titled 7" on purple vinyl with the "Middlesex" cover.

The story goes that the 7" had been out for a while and the band had some leftover purple copies. Tim McMahon designed and xeroxed 50 covers on purple paper at school for a show coming up at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey.
According to a post Tim made on the Livewire board, this version wasn't supposed to be a big deal. It wasn't a record release or anything like that. It was just something cool to do with some leftover vinyl. Of course, the record sold out instantly at the show and has in the process become the most rare and sought after Mouthpiece record. Nice.

The vinyl used was 50 of the 400 purple copies pressed. For years I had no idea how many purple were out there. Thanks to New Age updating their discography we finally have a number.

Each cover is numbered by what looks like a typewriter! That's old school.

The record also came with the 1st press large double sided insert. This one looks like it was used as a poster for a while. Still pretty sticky on the back where tape was used.

Now I just have to work on getting a couple more of those Reunion presses...

No Warning - s/t 7"

2011-07-18T07:42:00.015-06:00

I figured since I have already done two posts on No Warning's Ill Blood album, it was time to hit up what I (in the vast minority) consider their best record. Their self titled 7".
As much as "Ill Blood" pretty much defined No Warning as a major player in the early 2000's, I think I like this record better. There is less of a NYHC, heavy, thug vibe and more straight up suburban hardcore sound. Hell, it might just come down to the thinner production, but these six songs are among my favorite of the era.

Collecting this record took me a long time to complete. After years of hunting down different colors and tour presses, in the end it was the most common versions on good old black vinyl that I was missing. Go figure. Thanks to Kyle Whitlow selling off a bulk of his collection last month, I was able to finish off the final pieces.

This record was released on Martyr Records out of New York State and saw two pressings. Luckily they are pretty easy to differentiate. Actual pressing numbers are a little sketchy. To me it seems like a few of the numbers have been deduced to come up with round even pressing numbers. Whatever. It's not that important.

First press. All center labels are blue.
Purple vinyl out of 100. The other accepted pressing number is actually 106 to include a few small variations like clear purple/1 or dark purple swirl/4.

2001 Summer tour press. Black vinyl.

Stamped and hand numbered out of 400 on the back sleeve fold.

This tour press also came with a lyric sheet as normally the lyrics and credits were printed on the inside of the regular sleeve.

Weekend tour cover. Black vinyl. Fantastic Underdog 7" rip off!

Stamped and hand numbered on the inside of the sleeve out of 150.

Finally, Black vinyl out of 348, or maybe 350. Kind of splitting hairs at this point but I guess it makes sense as when you add all the first pressings together it totals close to 1000.

Second press. This time they switched to red labels and went for two different colors.
White vinyl out of 200.

Finally, good old black vinyl. Generally accepted number is 800 pressed to make an even 1000.

Of course this 7" would be released again later the same year by Bridge Nine as a cd-only release that included three songs off their demo tape.
Remember back a decade ago when cds were cool? Yeah, me neither.

Slayer - Show No Mercy HELP!!!

2011-07-14T19:54:00.007-06:00

Slayer. Everyone loves Slayer. Hardcore kids DEFINITELY love Slayer and a good 70% of all metalcore bands lifted riffs directly off King and Hanneman. No doubt.

That's why I am asking for your help. Yeah, you!

I picked up this copy of Slayer's first album, "Show No Mercy" about 12 years ago. As you will see, it isn't like your usual Metal Blade pressing. There are enough differences with this copy that I went online to see if I could find any information about it. I even emailed all the Slayer freaks in Europe who have their collections online if they knew anything about it. No reply.

So I am asking you, the hardcore community, as my last hope if anyone knows anything about this damn record.

Here's the deal.

The cover is normal. You wouldn't think anything about it.

The back cover however is this:

All the lyrics, thank you's and credits directly on the all white back cover.

The craziest thing is this, a reversed IRS Records label symbol. What the hell?

The spine only has this on it. No label or catalog number.

The labels on the record are different too as you now see the Metal Blade logo but on blue/green labels.

Also they list a side 1 and 2 where the regular issue has sides 6 and 66. Clever huh?

Also, the catalog number on the label is MT39 not the usual 71034-1. That leads me to believe it might be a Korean pressing, but I have no idea how that would correlate with the wacked out IRS logo.

If anyone knows what the deal is or has any information, please please, please leave me a message in the comments section.

Thanks and Hail Satan!

Touche Amore - Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me

2011-07-13T06:40:00.010-06:00

It seems these days you can tell the popularity or buzz of a band by how fast they can crash a server when pre-orders go up.

Without a doubt, Deathwish are the reigning kings of breaking the world wide interweb net. I have been able to count three times when the mad rush of pre-orders shut down their online store. This of course led to the migration of whining fanboys to the message boards complaining that they will simply DIE if they can't order RIGHT-FUCKING-NOW. From what I read, there was a whole lot of F5 button pushing, sleepless nights and venting.
It was a lot of fun to watch!

First it was Converge's Axe to Fall lp, then the Converge Jane Doe reissue, and most recently Touche Amore's newest album, "Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me".

Unless you have been living under a rock, you already know all about the positive feedback this album has received. Many are calling it the album of the year and that would be hard to dispute.
But we're not here for an album review. Plus, I just suck at reviews.
Let's get to the vinyl shall we?

While I have no idea what the number breakdowns for each color is, There is a general consensus of which is the most rare color to the most common. Anyways, here goes.

Clear vinyl. Without a doubt the most rare version. Word is the band had copies on tour and the majority went at their record release show. I got it thrown in as a bonus in my order. I'm a lucky feller.

Green vinyl. Probably in the 300 pressed range. We will see when the Deathwish discography is updated. Really beautiful color. My camera doesn't do it justice.

Next is blue vinyl. 700-ish pressed? We will know soon enough.

White vinyl. The most common color of the first press. Tre posted that there were 2000 pressed? This is the one that most stores and distros will get. Correction - have gotten and have probably sold out of already.

The inner sleeve is two sided and printed on a pretty heavy card stock. No split seams at all. Nice.

The best part is that in getting the rare clear version, I wasn't shorted the most common white copy. I ordered three and got four. That's really cool.

I realize I should get a late pass on this post as some blogs have had it up for over a month now. What can I say, I'm just glad I got it at all thanks to the awesome Canada Post strike. The postmark showed June 2, I got it on July 12. It is what it is.

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the Deluxe version or the repress on red vinyl...

Hardcore Cassettes

2011-07-06T08:31:00.011-06:00

Hmm.
Well the Canada Post strike has been over for over a week now. The federal government forced the carriers back to work last Monday and the union assured everyone that they would start delivering mail within two days.

That's all fine and good, but I have received exactly one bill in the last week they have been back to work. No letters, no junk mail, no flyers (not that I miss that crap), but mainly - no packages. That means no records.

Well screw it. If I can't do any posts about new vinyl, it's time to go old school and hit up my secret favorite music format of all time. Cassettes!

A few years ago my good friend Leo decided he was going to throw out his hi-fi Yamaha cassette deck and all his tapes. The man doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body and decided clutter is clutter and junk is junk. Well, I couldn't let that happen. I told him I would gladly take the deck off his hands. The only condition was that I had to take all of it, including all his new wave and alternative tapes. Jackpot! Nothing wrong with The Smiths, New Order and The Housemartins. I threw out the Alarm tapes though.

That got my obsessive/compulsive juices flowing and I started scouring the city/country/continent for tapes. I had a small but pretty cool collection of tapes from the 80's but it was time to step up. I also hit up all my friends to see if I could buy their entire collections. Yeah, buy. Crazy.

I even spent time on vacation trying to track down cassettes at places like Amoeba Records in L.A. The final step in my descent into madness was buying an old Sony Sports Walkman like I used to have in the 90's. You know, it's not as cool as I remember.

I know there is a big trend in hardcore collecting circles to track down demos and whatnot. But for me it's all about the high end glossy, slick "big" label stuff. I decided to just pull some of the tapes out that either look cool or stand the test of time.

Switch off the Dolby C Noise Reduction, turn on the auto reverse, and eject the head cleaner. Let's rock!

Revelation had cassettes locked down in the late 80's and early 90's!

Corrosion of Conformity. Hell yeah.

NYHC. Yes, I included the bad brains.

Youth of Today. One HUGE glaring tape missing. Unfortunately, We're Not In This Alone goes for huge bucks.

Old school.

Who Am I? DRI.

Six Pack of Black Flag.

Cro-Mags. As a metal kid transitioning to hardcore, I LOVED Best Wishes.

Suicidal and cassettes just seem to go together. I think it was skateboarding and boom boxes!

Changes in sound most people didn't want to hear. I still dig it.

Crucial!

Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops advance cassette made just for Crazy Fest 98. That's just damn cool.

Good times. As always, if anyone looked at this page and thought it was lame and want to unload their old dusty tapes - hit me up!

Fucked Up - David Comes to Life lp + Bonus 7"s

2011-06-23T08:07:00.008-06:00

I was pretty surprised yesterday to see I actually received a package in the mail. It's been pretty dry these days.
As 99.99% of you probably don't know (or care), Canada is in the middle of a postal strike. The carrier union started by having rotating strikes through the major cities and then Canada Post shut them out all together when they realized how much the rotating strike was costing them.
The federal government has now gotten involved by introducing back to work legislation but it might not pass before their summer vacation starts. It's a mess. This could be the last post for a long time.
Most Canadians couldn't care less about this strike as they consider the entire mail system outdated. People hate junk mail, pay their bills online, and no one sends letters anymore. But for me - this sucks. I want my fucking records!

So it was very cool to see a package waiting for me on the front step when I got home. Ahhh UPS. Thank you private international parcel delivery!

On to the matter at hand. The fact that Fucked Up released their new indulgent, long, over the top musical, show tune or whatever, double lp is not news. Hell, four local record stores in town all have them in stock.

What I was really excited about was the online offer to get four bonus 7"s if you ordered the album through Matador with that Buy Early Get Now deal.

Now, I already have 27 different Fucked Up 7"s. I guess you could call it a collection. In the time it has taken me to collect them all, not one was the same experience. Some were dead easy to buy and some were an absolute pain in the ass. You never know with this band whether each release will be limited to a record release show or if you can find them in your local store 10 deep.

So when the opportunity to get these came up with an expensive online deal, I took it. I will let you know if it was a good idea in a couple months if I find them in Walmart.

"Remember Me" b/w "What They Didn't Know"

"Do All Words Can Do" b/w "What Would You Do"

"Octavio Made The Bomb" This is a one sided 7".

Lastly, "Byrdsdale Garden City" b/w "Into The Light"

As with the songs on the album, these 7" tunes exist to fill out or move the whole "David" story along. I think that is what kind of bugs me about this whole Fucked Up "musical" in general. The music seems like background noise to Damian's vocals which solely move the story along, They don't really compliment the music at all.
Oh, and it's long. Really, really long. It takes everything I have to make it from beginning to end. I still don't really know what it's about either...

Iron Age - Saga Demos

2011-06-15T08:03:00.006-06:00

I wish I could get a better handle on Iron Age. I really do. No other band in the last 10 years has had me scratching my head more about changes in sound, look, and direction than Iron Age.

You thought Bold and Uniform Choice made some direction changes? Whoa baby, check out the "new" Iron Age!

To be honest, I guess this move to metal has been coming for some time. When I saw them at Sound and Fury in 2007, I thought they were a stand out alongside Bitter End with their brand of slower paced almost groove type hardcore. Over the years you could see more metal creeping into their sound, from their 7"s "Burden of Empire" and "The Way Is Narrow", leading up to their last full length, "The Sleeping Eye". Metal influence in hardcore is nothing new. At all.

However, nothing could have prepared me for this. The Saga Demos.
The only thing I can equate it with is dropping the needle on The Cro-Mags and King Diamond comes out the speakers. It is jarring! Alternating Black metal/Death metal screeching vocals, high pitched screams, solos everywhere, 8 minute long songs, the works.
When my buddy Al forwarded me the songs last winter, I honestly thought it was a joke. Where the hell is "The Violator"?

The back story on this release is that essentially the band broke up before finishing their latest album. They released two completed songs on cassette through Cyclopean and also made them available online as mp3s.

BSVLV out of Canada decided along with the band to release these songs as a double flexi with a 14 page zine.

Each flexi disc holds one song each, "Riddle of the Skies" and "Join The Wind".

Perfect. Heavy Metal and Conan the Barbarian inspired songs! We are just missing a song or two about CROM!!!

The zine itself is pretty cool and I decided to take pictures of each page to share with you the power and majesty of The Saga Demos.

Quick, go check out the back cover of your "Constant Struggle" album and compare the pictures of the band. Wow.

For $10 and domestic shipping this was too good to pass up, even though I refuse to actually listen to flexi discs. I like my record player needle too much.
That won't stop me from downloading the songs though. Fucking A.

Converge / Drop Dead split 7"

2011-06-13T08:40:00.010-06:00

Even though I am old as dirt, I still love me some hardcore festivals. Seeing that time, money, work and family commitments pretty much eliminate the ability to go to as many as I would like, I was still able to hit up Chaos In Tejas 2011 a couple weeks ago with my buddy Al from the awesome Hardcore Shirt website.

This festival was really appealing to us because of the wide range of hardcore bands that were playing. Converge, Touche Amore, Trap Them, Ceremony, Free Spirit, The Rival Mob, Unbroken, Tragedy, Burning Love, Omegas, Mind Eraser, Rampage and Title Fight. Old, new, crusty, straight edge, reunions, etc. You get it all.
In the end though, the real reason we were going was to see Youth of Today.
At the time the lineups were released back in the winter, this was the only show Youth Of Today were booked for. We figured we may never get another chance to see them. Little did we know they would be playing 1000 times this summer!

We ended up spending three great days and nights in Austin, Texas eating too much food, drinking water from a communal thermos and catching some great bands.

Highlights

I love the format of seeing a few different 4-5 band shows on consecutive days and nights instead of the war of attrition with one venue, 40 bands a day. I am too old for that crap.
Headliners are headliners for a reason. Converge, Unbroken, Tragedy and Youth of Today were truly amazing.
Talking with Dave Claibourne the singer from Unbroken. He asked us a lot of questions about getting older and staying involved with hardcore and also having a real job with money and responsibilities. He genuinely seemed happy and excited to be talking to a couple guys who had done it. Dave ended up giving us a shout out on stage. Cool.
Powertrip. This Dallas band opened the second Mohawk night and just floored me. 80's thrash mixed with hardcore and a singer who didn't sing like cookie monster. They reminded me of Leeway. That's a good thing. Check them out on the BBB America's Hardcore comp.
An unannounced, impromptu set from Step Forward. Since every Boston hardcore band was already there (Rampage, Mind Eraser, Rival Mob, Free Spirit) they jumped up and played four songs between the Rival Mob and Rampage sets.

Lowlights

300 crust punks and beardos in one small cramped venue in 100 degree fahrenheit heat and no air conditioning. The smell was enough to cripple your will to live.
Having to move indoors at the Mohawk because of 11:00 PM noise curfews. The indoor shows were nowhere near as good.
Zero Chaos In Tejas fest vinyl presses or covers. Nothing. Nada. Nil.

With that said, I was able to pick up one record. The Converge / Drop Dead split 7" celebrating each band's 20th anniversary.

The record is self released and is being distributed by Deathwish and Armageddon.

There are a total of three different versions available. One color from Deathwish, one color from Armageddon and then there is the tour version.
The best I can describe it is that the tour version is a mix of a lot of different colors. A lot.

Converge completionists are freaking out on the message boards because there is no way they can get them all. There may be as little as 42 or as many as 450 different colors!
Personally I love it. If you can't get them all, you just need one. But me being me, I asked for four. Luckily the four I got were all very different which shows you just the randomness of the
combinations.
Good times.

Floorpunch - Division One Champs 7"

2011-06-10T07:57:00.009-06:00

Floorpunch - Division One Champs 7" was the one record in my collection that was seriously coming up short. The record of course is considered a classic in hardcore; not only for the music and the time it was released, but in collecting circles as well. There were a ton of different presses, colors, and special tour/show covers. All of them rare, expensive and in high demand.

For years, maybe even a decade, I only had one copy. So what better time than the last couple years to start chipping away at this? What's the saying, "Buy low, sell high?". Yeah, I kind of fucked that up.

Thanks to ebay, trades and private deals with monster collectors (Seb, Aram, Kyle Whitlow, Dave Byrd, etc.) last month I finally finished it. Well, as far as I am going to go anyways.
There are a couple weird variations missing like one with a mosher stamp or one with no labels, but for the most part this is it.

First up, the crown jewel and by far the toughest and most expensive. Clear Gold out of 88. I wrote all about this one here.

Next, First press on black vinyl. 900 pressed in total. This is the one version I had for years.

Second press. Clear Red vinyl with white blank labels. 202 pressed. 200 of them have a single "In My Blood Records" sticker on one side and is hand numbered on the flip side.
The two extras have no labels. Dobek has one. Go check it out.

Second press. Blue vinyl. 800 pressed. You can see they changed the color of the lettering on the label to blue as well.

Third press. Black vinyl. 925 pressed. Lettering on the cover has been changed to green. The labels have also been changed to yellow with black type.

Now we start in with the Judge rip off New Jersey Crew cover that was used for the rest of the pressings.

Third press. Black vinyl. 75 "pressed" for a couple of east coast shows. Inside of the cover was stamped and numbered.

Fourth press. Black vinyl with white blank labels. 300 pressed for European tour. Stamped and numbered on the inside cover.

Fifth and final press. White vinyl. 100 pressed. Stamped and numbered on the inside cover.

Glad to say I am "done" this one. It was a rough go on the bank account!

Bold - s/t 7"

2011-06-07T07:55:00.005-06:00

The Bold self titled 7", also known by some as the Running Like Thieves 7", is nothing if not a headache.

Musically, it is one in a long line of records done by 1980's hardcore bands looking to "grow" or "expand" their musical creativity. As always, you end up with a polarizing record where the band alienate half their fan base. UC, SSD, DYS, Unity, Supertouch, Youth of Today, Bold and the list goes on.

Attempts at proper singing, melody, soft introspective passages, metal riffs, solos and way longer song lengths are the hallmark of hardcore "growth" - and this record has it all! Whether the record is good or not, I don't know. For me, the jury is out. I rarely listen to it anymore to even have an opinion.

As a vinyl collector, this record is the monster of all headaches.

The story is well known and way too complicated to explain here. I'm not sure I even fully understand it. You can go read about it at Dobek's blog or at the Revelation pressing page.

Long complicated story short, the pressing plant couldn't mix colors properly to make maroon so they ended up with pink. Revelation said screw it, make orange. The pressing plant did but without cleaning the presses first. Revelation were invoiced for 1000 orange and 60 pink. Of course, there are an unknown number of pink/orange mixes due to the transition from color to color.
Are the pink/orange mix copies included in the pink number? Are they in the orange number? Are the pink/orange mixes all unique as they transition from one color to another with each one pressed?

Does anyone with a life give a shit?

Anyway, I guess I can throw my hat in the ring and post some pictures.

Pink/Orange mix.

I got this from Kyle Whitlow a few weeks back. He had two. What nerve! I always wanted a pink or at least a pink-ish one. Compared to a lot of pink/orange mix pictures out there, this one is pretty pink. I'm happy.

Here it is compared to my orange. Which isn't very orange.

Like I said, here is my orange. I have seen a lot of pictures that are a darker orange than this one. In fact there is a pretty large pink blob on mine on the right side of the vinyl.

I am going to assume all orange ones are kind of different as they all have some swirls in them. White streaks, pink blobs, whatever.
This is way too hard to figure out or care about frankly. At this point I will stop as you already think I am a nerd for writing this much about it.

Black vinyl. 3900 pressed for the first pressing. At least we know what color this is.

There were at least three pressings of the black vinyl with maroon cover. The pressing numbers aren't listed but we can assume there are a lot out there.

For the 4th and subsequent final pressings until Revelation released "Looking Back" in 1993, they used a blue cover and labels with black vinyl. I never bothered to pick it up. I have spent enough time and money on this damn record!

Down To Nothing - The Most : 2011 Screened Covers

2011-06-01T17:03:00.006-06:00

Ah, twitter. A great way to waste time reading the clever thoughts of others. 99% of the people I follow are labels, people who run labels, bands or people who are in bands. That's it. So as you can image I get a lot of ads.

Well, one ad paid off big time. A couple weeks ago, Revelation tweeted "Down To Nothing Fans" with a link to their website.
They posted there that they has a certain number of Down To Nothing - The Most vinyl in the warehouse without covers. They would be screening covers for the remaining vinyl and throwing them up in their webstore. If you wanted one, head over to RevHq and order.

A few minutes later. Gone.

I don't know what it says about me that I was on twitter when the message went up. Either I am a pretty lucky guy or just really need a social life. In the end - rare vinyl!

The screened covers turned out great. Some of best I have ever seen. Really, really well done.

There were a total of 33 records done for this version. No wonder this was gone so fast.

The first 13 of the 33 used the 2nd press purple and orange split vinyl. The remaining 20 copies used the 3rd press black vinyl.

This is now my 5th copy of the record. I kind of forgot how good it is. A lot of people prefer their s/t 7" but this is my favorite release of DTN. I'm pretty charged up to have this.

It pays to be a nerd.

Deafheaven - Roads To Judah

2011-05-28T10:23:00.007-06:00

Every once in a while I am reminded of why I love music.
Just when it seems everything musically has already been done and when I realize that most of the records I buy these days are represses, something comes along to remind me why I spend so much time and energy on it.

Maybe everything has been done. Maybe there are no more original songs, but the one frontier left for new music is the combination of different styles to create something fresh and exciting.

Deafheaven combine atmospheric black metal, 90's style screamo, spacy shoegaze rock and some straight up hardcore to create a sound that is familiar, but unique.

Well to me anyways, my wife thinks it sounds like screaming and blast beats.

Roads To Judah is by far my favorite album of the year to date. It will be tough to beat.

This album was released on three colors for the first press. It also comes with a gatefold cover and lyric sheet. All the horizontal parts of the letters are missing. It must be a cvlt thing.

I am going on an educated guess here, but judging but the colors still available and the traditional Deathwwish pressing numbers, let break it down like this;

300 Cream/Black split

700 Cream Black mix

1000 Cream

Everyone who pre-ordered the album months ago got instant access to a digital download of it. According to itunes, I have listened to the record 93 times before the album was released and I received the vinyl in the mail.

Yeah, I guess you could call me a fan. Album of the Year.

Defeater - Empty Days & Sleepless Nights

2011-05-19T13:11:00.008-06:00

This post is long overdue as the latest Defeater album, "Empty Days & Sleepless Nights" was released months ago. Unfortunately, it has taken me this long to track down the first press. The pre-order for the album went up on Bridge Nine while I was away on vacation in February and I missed out.
To show how insane I am, I actually regretted (just for a minute) going on vacation when I saw the pre-order email from B9 in my inbox when we got home.
Defeater are one of my favorite current bands and I knew it would be a pain in the ass to try to track this down after the fact, especially with the popularity of the band these days.
To tell the truth, even if I was home I'm not sure I would have been able to get all three versions of the first press. This album sold out extremely fast. I think I read somewhere the entire first press was sold out in four days!

After passing up some ridiculous overpriced ebay auctions, and buying what I could, where I could - I finally finished off the first press right in time to see the second press dark red vinyl sell out! That chase will have to wait for another day. Hell, B9 are already on a third pressing. 4000 records pressed in three months? I guess Defeater are popular.

"Empty Days & Sleepless Nights" as you all know by now is actually two separate albums. "Empty Days" is a narrative concept album chronicling the downright depressing lives (and deaths) of members of a post WWII family in America, picking up the story where the "Lost Ground" ep left off.
Just like with their last two releases, "Travels" and "Lost Ground", the songs are told in a storytelling fashion with plenty of emotion. Musically, they continue with their Modern Life Is War-like modern hardcore sound.
The second record, "Sleepless Nights" is a one sided, four song acoustic set of folk style rock that we have seen glimpses of in the past with the band, ie. "Prophet In Plain Clothes" off Travels.

I'm not sure why I am bothering to "review" the record since everyone and their dog has it already. On to the vinyl!

1st press. Gatefold sleeve.

Black vinyl with gold labels/300

Black vinyl with silver labels/700

Black vinyl with red labels/1000

I love that instead of color vinyl they went with different labels for the first press, a la American Nightmare's "The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter" 7".

The b-side of the second record is etched. Railroad spike. It all makes sense if you read the lyrics.

The pre-order package came with a 64 page book with lyrics and pictures, a huge 36" x 24" poster and a smaller poster.

The book is basically a really thick cd booklet. I was hoping for something along the lines of "Society Verse" that came with the Ceremony Rohnert Park pre-order. Still, it's all good.

I can see this record getting repressed a few times down the road. The band's popularity and the overwhelmingly positive reviews this album received could end up putting this into Have Heart territory for total number of records pressed.

I'm going to need more shelf space.

Sick Of It All - Blood, Sweat And No Tears lp

2011-05-14T20:53:00.007-06:00

According to Google Analytics, a good percentage of the traffic that visits this blog are people looking for mp3s and free downloads. I can't imaging how bummed out they are when they open the website to find nothing more than pictures of records.
To those looking for free music, sorry I couldn't help you out. I actually like buying and collecting these things, and hopefully will to.

Every once in a while I get a cool comment or email from someone asking about a particular record they have questions about or would like to see pictures of. Last week I got a very nice email asking if I could do a post on the first Sick Of It All full length album, "Blood Sweat And No Tears". He had the European repress and wanted some info on the first press. So for Sajid, here you go!

The first press of this record was released on the Relativity Records' In Effect imprint label in the summer of 1989. In-Effect was around for a few years in the late 1980's and early 1990's, releasing primarily New York Hardcore.
I bought a lot of their releases including Agnostic Front - Live At CBGB's, Bad Brains - Attitude, Killing Time - Brightside and the best of all of them, Nuclear Assault - Handle With Care. (No, I'm not joking.)
Unfortunately, there were a few Prong, 24-7 Spyz and Scatterbrain releases mixed in there. I guess you can't win them all.

One very cool element on all their releases was that In-Effect would include the hometown or borough of New York the band was from in the label. For Sick Of It All, it was Hollis, Queens.

The In-Effect pressing of the record also came with the dreaded glossy printed inner sleeve. I got lucky and mine is still intact with no split seams.

Interesting that the only lyrics on the sleeve are for the song "Injustice System". I guess they knew early on it would be the "big single" with a video and everything.
They do mention that you can write in and get the full lyrics from the band/label. That is pretty cool. It's like the Kiss Army fan club for skinheads!

I can't think of anyone in my travels who doesn't like, or was at least exposed to this record.
The album came around at just the right time for the band to be included with other bands riding the popularity of metal and crossover. One listen and you could tell this was not metal or crossover though. Pure basic hardcore.
The album also had just enough "major" label pull where a suburban Canadian kid could catch the video for "Injustice System" in regular rotation on the Much Music Power Hour, and then go pick up the record at the mall. That was earth shattering back then. Ah, the good old days...

Touche Amore - ...To The Beat Of A Dead Horse : RSD 2011 press

2011-05-11T20:01:00.000-06:00

Record Store Day this year was a little disappointing. While I ended up getting everything I wanted, it took a lot of help from friends to make it happen. Revelation represses? Mike had to get those for me in Boston. Rival Schools - Wring It Out 7", same. Off! - Live at Generation Records 7". Mike as well. Wow, thanks Mike!
My friend Todd helped me get the Bad Brains - Pay to Cum repress on gold, Mastodon - Live At The Argon 2xlp and the Fucked Up - David's Town comp too. Basically I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off, bouncing from record store to record store, too late to find anything on my own except a Dio picture disc. Well, that was kind of cool.

At least I did one thing right. At 11:00 AM MST, I ran home to park myself in front of the computer and hit refresh on the 6131/Hellfish webstore to score this:

Touche Amore - ...To The Beat Of A Dead Horse Record Store Day 2011 press.

This was my biggest want from the entire event and I am so happy I was able to get one. Originally I didn't think it would happen. Due to unforseen circumstances, 6131 were unable to distribute the lp to stores in time for RSD, so they instead made it a web store deal. That's a good thing for me because there is no way in hell it would have made it up here in Canada.

This Record Store Day exclusive is the album's 4th press and was limited to a ridiculously low run of 250 on white vinyl with no labels. I'm guessing it is 180 gram vinyl, the same as the third press on white.

The main special touch was a white letterpress cover. Unfortunately, it really needs to be seen with the human eye to be appreciated as my camera just can't pick up any detail. I did what I could adjusting the contrast, but it's obviously not working out for me too well.

Oh yeah, this album is awesome - but you already knew that. I can't wait to see them play at Chaos In Tejas in three weeks. Stoked beyond belief!

Life Sentence - s/t 12"

2011-05-09T08:54:00.010-06:00

Thanks to a gloomy, rainy Sunday afternoon, I actually had some time to hit the basement and finally listen to some music. I had to be quick about it because there is always the next family craft, task or project around the corner.
I thought about pulling out DRI's - "Dealing With It" lp, but as short and fast as those songs are, there are just too many of them. I ended up choosing the Life Sentence 12". The songs are just as short and fast except there's a whole lot less of them!

Life Sentence started out as a five piece, and then shrunk to a three piece hardcore band out of Chicago, Illinois in the mid 1980's.
Throughout their career they tried to appeal to every sub-genre or group in hardcore. Skaters, skinheads, peace punks, straight edge, crossover, and especially metal heads.

Unfortunately, Life Sentence were criminally under appreciated. Seriously, there are two documentaries about the Chicago punk and hardcore scene and neither of them even mentions the band. What's even more screwed up is that the film, "You Weren't There" was directed by the former bass player in Life Sentence!!!!

As far as vinyl goes, the s/t 12" was released back in 1987 on Walkthrufire Records, a local Chicago record label. All black vinyl. No idea how many were pressed. It was bootlegged or repressed on the Legends of Hardcore label on red vinyl a few years ago.

To me, Life Sentence were at their best with this, their first record. There were way too many line up changes, sound changes, lawsuits, scab players, reunions and all that crap after this one.
Their sound at the time was a cross between DRI and 7 Seconds. How could you lose?

Life Sentence were also one band that missed out on the Metallica-push payday. Hetfield wears a Misfits t-shirt in 1987, the metal world discovers punk, The Misfits, Samhain and Danzig. Glenn gets famous and gets to write songs for a Hollywood movie soundtrack.
Lars Ulrich wears a Life Sentence shirt, people think the logo looks cool because it's a rip off of Life magazine.

No breaks.

Burn - s/t 7" on pink vinyl

2011-04-30T09:43:00.005-06:00

I think we can all agree there was some crazy shenanigans going on with the recent repress of the Burn 7" for Record Store Day. Message boards were on fire. Talk of a light yellow vinyl, dark yellow vinyl, off white, banana and whatever other yellow variation was out there.
Hundreds of people jockeying for multiple copies of different shades of the same color.
Some of these people were willing to pay more money than what they would have spent to get this - the original first press on pink vinyl.

I love this record, both from a musical point of view and as a collector. There are so many cool things about this version that make it awesome.

First of all pink vinyl. 1000 pressed in total.

Next, the awesome original insert with yellow ink. Way better than the boring b/w one that came with later pressings.

Finally, the overlooked spelling mistake on the back cover for the opening song, "...Shall Be Judged".
"...Shall Be Jugded". Oops.

Of course, the label was spelled wrong as well.

They must have pressed the vinyl all at once or had a lot of labels printed up, as the black vinyl label also has the spelling mistake.
Revelation did correct the spelling mistake on back cover though. They also kind of messed with the pictures, coloring, sizing and contrast too. Shame.

As always, my first rule of collecting still stands. First press is best!

Fucked Up - David's Town Compilation

2011-04-20T15:17:00.009-06:00

Alright, let's see if I got this right.

Fucked Up are writing a rock opera/musical for their next album called "David Comes To Life". It is named after a song from their first album, "Hidden World".

In the process of writing and recording this enormously long and epic album, they came up with the concept of creating an entire separate companion fake compliation album, complete with fake bands all coming from the same town that the David character from the rock opera comes from. Oh yeah, and all the songs are supposed to be from 1976-1979.

Ok then.

In reality, it is a Fucked Up album with guest vocalists or band members other than Damian singing. Well he sings one song. To stay true to the concept, all the songs vary in style to cover a lot of the early punk sounds of the late 70's.

Hey, does anyone remember when Fucked Up was a punk band? Police? Baiting the Public? Anyone???

Ah, that's not fair. This record is actually really good. Plus, it was the only record from this year's Record Store Day that I bought that wasn't a reissue or repress.

As far as the record and layout goes, it has the look and feel of a 70's era record. To keep up with the appearance of a compilation record, if you didn't know what you were looking for, you would probably not even recognize it as a Fucked Up album at all.

According to the Fucked Up "Looking For Gold" blog, a total of 2000 were pressed; all on black vinyl.
I guess people didn't get the memo, or the whole Record Store Day thing is still fresh in people's minds, as the price of these things on ebay is out of control right now. 2000 pressed is a lot of records. I'm sure they will show up cheaper in a couple months.

Floorpunch - Division One Champs 7" on Gold Vinyl

2011-04-13T09:43:00.010-06:00

Judge - Chung King Can Suck It

YOT - Break Down the Walls on red and blue vinyl
Chain of Strength - True Till Death on clear vinyl with silver sleeve
Chain of Strength - Chain Crew
and Floorpunch - Division One Champs on gold.

That's it. The pantheon.

The most desired straight edge hardcore records in the world. Hundreds of collectors want them. Very few have them. Hell a good chunk (10-20%) of these rare records still reside with the labels that pressed them! The silver Chain record - double or triple it.

Money alone won't let you get them all. Sometimes you just have to be lucky.

I stumbled on one of the giants on ebay last month maybe an hour after it went up. Immediately I knew I wasn't going to wait to see how the auction played out, hoping I would win.

Too many things can go wrong. Computer controlled sniping programs, out of control bidding wars with heavyweights like Marcus or Dobek (I wouldn't put it past him to want two!), or worse yet, the gods at Vinyl Noize get wind of it and the whole world finds out!

I contacted the seller immediately and asked if he would be willing to end the auction early and sell it to me directly. To my surprise, the seller was Seb D'hertoge. Those of us who have been around a while recognize Seb as one of the heavy hitters in hardcore record collecting with perhaps one of the best Revelation collections ever. He dropped out of the game a while back as his trade list has been pulled down from HYE? and he was obviously willing to sell this gem.

Seb was very agreeable to my price, and was happy to sell to another serious collector. Hell, he even said he enjoyed my blog - so I was in. Really, just a very nice person.

Like I said, it was luck I found it so fast and secured the deal. The next morning, Vinyl Noize had posted it but also reported the auction had been ended early. Seriously, that was a close call! The bids that could have poured in on this may not have allowed me to make an offer. You just never know.

Let's get to it! The legend of Div 1 Champs on gold.

Hand numbered inner sleeve out of 88. You know, 88 - 1988 - Youth Crew, Straight Edge Revival, yeah you got it.

Of course pressing plants don't press 88 total on a color, so the legend was that there were 12 copies from a press of 100 on gold that were destroyed by throwing them in the Atlantic Ocean to ensure that only 88 were out there.
As it turns out, the press run was in fact out of 90 with the two unnumbered copies residing with Floorpunch singer Mark Porter. That's too bad - the legend was so much better!

This is my 7th copy of this record. I have no intention of playing it, or even breathing on it. I will simply admire and cherish it as I try to track down the last couple versions I still need.
Yeah, I know, I'm crazy.

By A Thread - s/t lp

2011-04-11T08:44:00.009-06:00

I am actually pretty surprised to be writing about this record for a few reasons.

Until the pre-order for this was listed on the Revelation e-mail I get every Friday, I didn't know By A Thread were still a band.
I had no idea Revelation were still interested in post-hardcore, emo tinged bands from the 90's.
If it isn't a book, comp or discography, I didn't know Revelation were still releasing new music. That Living Hell album isn't exactly "new" anymore.

As it turns out, I guess I like surprises.

By A Thread were a Vancouver band that fell in with the whole post-hardcore wave of the mid to late 90's. We liked them immediately because they had the whole "Former member of Strain" tagline that gave them instant legitimacy!

Their last lp, "The Last Of The Daydreams" was released back in 1999 and fit in along the whole Elliott, Farside, Texas Is The Reason sound that Revelation had going on back then. It was really good for the time.

I decided to hold off on the color pre-order this time as their last album still had the limited color vinyl around six years after it was released and there were only 226 of them! I figured I could get one without spending more on postage than the cost of the album. Patience.

As it turns out, my local store had a copy of the color vinyl in and I picked it up this weekend.

The limited color is a grey/silver mix. Goes nicely with the cover and artwork. I don't know the pressing numbers yet.

Two sided glossy insert/lyric sheet.

Musically, I was once again surprised. The opening track "Fashion" for the first 20 seconds sounds like a lost New Order track. Hmmm. You can check it out here on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugzpcw1Ya1I

Listening all the way through, the band were firmly in the post-hardcore sound but I would say even more indie as there isn't much heavy anything going on.

Maybe it is the improvement of the weather, but I am really digging this record. Hey it's Spring!

Supertouch - Lost My Way 7" Limited Editions

2011-04-01T09:27:00.009-06:00

A while back I was on the Livewire board reading reviews of the Supertouch - Lost My Way 7". Besides the usual grumbling of the new sound or direction the band had taken with this comeback record, there were a few posts about special covers for Double Cross and Vinyl Noize and people wondering when they would be released.
Of course, I had no idea what anyone was talking about and figured it would be a friends press or special cover that would go to the guys who run the sites. I assumed it would be unattainable and I would just see one on ebay some day for $200.

Last month I got a label update email from Reaper Records about the same Supertouch records I read about earlier. I made sure I wouldn't miss out. Three and a half weeks later - voila.

First up, the limited edition of my personal favorite hardcore website, Vinyl Noize. I buy shit on ebay, what can I say?

As you can see, we have an all new front cover photo. The inner sleeve has a label stamp and is hand numbered out of 50.

The back cover adds the website logo to the bottom left corner and is also hand numbered.

I can't be sure without checking but I think this might be a new insert/lyric sheet as well.

Next up, the Double Cross Edition. I'm just going to go ahead and assume everyone reads this blog already. If you are old and still into hardcore, you read this daily. If you are young and into hardcore, you read it too.

Just like the Vinyl Noize edition, it has a brand new front cover photo, stamped and hand numbered inner sleeve and the website logo on back cover which is also numbered.

I thought it was a nice touch that I got #17 for both records.

Also included was the same insert/lyric sheet, as well as this write up from Tim McMahon from Double Cross. Of course he was also in Mouthpiece, Hands Tied, Triple Threat and owns a Chung King, Floorpunch Division One on gold, etc....

I guess I should also mention that the vinyl for both editions is black from the second press. Black is way easier to describe than "kind of blue" and "kind of green" from the first press!

The package also came with a couple of really nice t-shirts. I would have taken pictures of them, but my girls ran off with them. Hopefully I will find them in the house some day.

This really is a unique, brilliant and potential game changer for the hardcore record collecting world. We now have a label collaborating and working together with fan run blogs to create new collector product. It doesn't hurt that the websites are run by high profile individuals in the HC scene, but to me it feels like a tighter community.

Now I just need to wait for the We Will Bury You limited edition of the next React! Records release. I'm probably going to need a higher profile, and a few more thousand hits per day, but a guy can dream!

S.N.F.U - ...And No One Else Wanted To Play lp

2011-03-26T18:54:00.009-06:00

"Hey man, you guys S.N.F.U?"
"Very much so..."

In my never ending effort to bring you the finest in Canadian punk and hardcore, today let's talk S.N.F.U. Of course you know them already. They are freaking punk rock legends, not just for Canada, but the world.

I was digging around a local used record store last weekend and came across a sealed, brand new copy of the "Open Your Mouth and Say Mr Chi Pig" documentary. I have been wanting to see this for some time so I bought it right away and headed home to watch.

Wow. I have never been so bummed in my life. Two hours of watching one of the most energetic and best front men ever to hit a stage slowly lose grip of his mental and physical health, age about 60 years, and end up homeless, toothless and drugged out in the grimy streets of East Vancouver. Depressing.
Enough of this - come on let's get happy!

"...And No One Else Wanted To Play" was S.N.F.U's first full length album released back in 1984 on BYO Records.

My copy of this record is the second press. The picture on the cover is a drawn version of the Dianne Arbus photo, "Child With Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park". The first press used the actual photo, but that got pulled because the band used the picture without permission from the artist's estate.
I guess they thought drawing it would be ok, but that second press also got pulled and they had to go with a completely different cover for all the subsequent pressings that pretty much sucks. The tour cover is pretty awesome, but I digress.

Musically this album is perfect. Stunningly good. Every song is permanently etched in the DNA of every western Canadian punk over the age of 30. Shaun, am I right?

A lot of people pretty much think the band was at its best at this stage. Pretty hard to argue with that, but I love all their stuff. As long as Chi Pig, Marc and Brent Belke were playing - it was magic.

Time to listen to Misfortune. I'm out.

Rival Schools - Pedals lp

2011-03-20T08:41:00.007-06:00

You know, I could get used to this patience thing. It seems to be working out financially for me.

When the pre-order went up for the first new Rival Schools album in 10 years (has it really been that long?), I was blown away and somewhat intimidated by the number of packages, options, merch designs and shoes. Yeah shoes.
Of course the most important thing for me is the vinyl so when I saw that the variations for vinyl were really different picture discs, I decided to wait it out and see if the good old black vinyl would hit Calgary at a reasonable price and I wouldn't have to pay for shipping.

Bingo.

Glorious 180 gram black vinyl out of 2000.

There are also two different picture discs out of 500 each if picture discs are your thing. Personally the only picture discs I willingly buy are the Iron Maiden lps since Brave New World. That's only because there are no other options.

Musically, this is firmly planted in indie/alternative rock. As much as I would love another Gorilla Biscuits or even Quicksand album, it ain't happening. You aren't even going to get a "United By Fate".
On the other hand, taken for what it is - it is good. Like really good. I was speechless listening to the first track "Wring It Out". Walter's voice and vocal melodies are once again amazing.
As spring limps it's way here, I can see myself listening to this a lot. Cool.

Miles Away - Memory Embraced 7"

2011-03-15T10:38:00.010-06:00

I have been to Australia twice in my life, and so far those were two of the best trips I have even been on. The culture, food, people and attitude were similar to what I experience here in Canada. Well, Vancouver anyway. Maybe its a Commonwealth thing.

One thing that I didn't experience was Australian hardcore. I went to a few shows in Sydney and Melbourne (Sick of It All, NOFX) and what I got for local opening bands was Toe to Toe and Bodyjar. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It is what it is.

However, after hearing the latest Miles Away lp on Six Feet Under Records and this self released 7", I have to ask, where the hell were these guys back then? Probably in grade school, but that is beside the point.

Miles Away have really been coming on the last couple years. They went from some unknown band with cd only releases (not cool) and a B9 Bonus 7" (very cool) to a relatively major player in the hardcore scene with their release by SFU.

This four song 7" has two songs appearing on the "Endless Roads" lp and the other two are exclusive to this release. Always a winning formula in my book.

There are two colors in this first pressing.

Black and green mix. HYE? search has it as 400 pressed on this color.

I was able to surprisingly pick up this 7" at a local shop a couple days after seeing that it was sold out at RevHq. That a local Calgary record store would get any non-standard color in stock is a freaking miracle.

There is also a regular black vinyl press of what is generally numbered at 600 for a total pressing of 1000. That makes sense.

Charred Walls Of The Damned

2011-03-10T07:52:00.005-07:00

I fully realize that this record is outside the normal scope of this blog. It's not hardcore and it sure as hell isn't punk. What it is, is pure heavy metal. I can't call it Death, Black, Grind, Power or Thrash. It's just METAL.

To tell you the truth the only reason I am posting this, or bought the record in the first place, is because of Richard Christy.

Richard Christy was the drummer for such bands as Death and Iced Earth. More important though, he is a major contributor and writer for the greatest radio show in the world - The Howard Stern Show.

Confession time.

I am a Howard Stern Superfan. I listen every Monday to Thursday for 5 hours. I listen to the Best of the Week on the weekends. I listen to the Wrap Up Show, Celebrity Superfan Roundtable, The Intern Show, Geek Time and any and all specials on Howard 101. It gets to the point now where I don't listen to music, just Howard.

When it was announced on the show that Richard had started up a new band in which he would write all the songs as well as drum. I was excited. Not because of what the music might sound like, but because Richard would be playing music again and the end result would be material for the radio show.

The result is Charred Walls of the Damned. I couldn't tell you much about it. It sounds like metal with Tim "Ripper" Owens singing. He was the guy who replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest a few years back. For a while, it was only available on cd. Bummer.

Luckily, Metal Blade released the album on vinyl late in 2010 and I was shocked to see it in my local record store a few weeks back. Thanks Todd for ordering it!!!

Black vinyl. No idea how many were pressed.

Like most metal albums it comes with a full color printed inner sleeve.

Richard Christy's thank you list is a mile long and literally names every single person associated with the Howard Stern Show, Howard TV, Howard 100 News and the Wack Pack. I never thought I would see the day Ronnie "The Limo Driver" Mund and Lisa G were thanked on a metal record!

A couple months ago Howard and Baba Booey were goofing on Richard for being in a band and not selling a million copies. They figured why be in a band if you can't make serious money. Richard's response was that he does it for the love of the music and friends he has made playing. He was dismissed.

If even one person buys this record or cd as a result of this post, and even 1/100 of 1% of the money went to Richard, it would be worth it.

Winning!

Ceremony - Rohnert Park lp

2011-03-02T13:39:00.015-07:00

At the top of many "Best of 2010" lists, Ceremony's - Rohnert Park lp was one of the few breaths of fresh air in the punk/hardcore world last year. The instant the lead track "Sick" was released online as a teaser, people were stoked for this new direction the band was taking.

There were lots of online reviews and articles written about this record with many people thinking that the slowed down pace and doomed American Dream lyrical content had the band poised to be the next Black Flag.
I don't know about all that, I just want them to be Ceremony. I think they have carved their own place out in the scene and have earned the respect to be the band new groups are compared to.

More than anything else, I think that the band pushes the boundaries of what hardcore can be, and make no mistake - they are doing the pushing.

Bridge Nine has once again released a great record for collectors. We get a record release version, pre-order package color and multiple colors tying together the American themes of the album.

First up, the record release version.

This was released on blue vinyl which was the most common color, but limited to 99 with the special covers.

A quick word on getting this record. I have to give a special thanks to Mike from the One Thing That Still Holds True blog. The auction I won this on was for shipping in the US only. I got Mike to bid on the auction for me and then send it to me up in here in Canada once it was shipped to him. Above and beyond my man.

The funny thing is, this was the second time I won the damn thing. The first time the seller flaked on shipping it to me and I had to go through a whole ordeal with ebay and paypal to get my money back. I took my refund and put it towards getting it again. This second time I won the record for half the price. Sometimes shit works out. I think it has to do with US only auctions. Euros throw down hard for rare records, oh and I guess I do to.

The next color is the rare pre-order color that was only available in the package deal.
Red vinyl out of 300.
The pre-order package came with a poster and the vocalist Ross Farrar's book "Society Verse". This color disappeared pretty damn quick and the demand is such that it last sold on ebay back in January for over $110.

As luck would have it, I was sent two red copies in my pre-order package and then went and ordered the missing color separately. I'd say that worked out for me. If anyone is interested in the second copy, hit me up soon as I am planning on putting it up on ebay this weekend.

The next color is clear out of 700. The color was supposed to be white (USA theme again) but B9 got clear vinyl back from the pressing plant. They would rectify that problem on the second press.

Third and most common color of the first press is blue. There were a 1000 pressed. As discussed earlier, 99 were used for the record release.

A second press was released not long after on white vinyl out of 1000.

The two times I have seen Ceremony play at Sound and Fury, it was a highlight of the weekend. Now I am beyond excited to get a chance to see them again this summer at the Chaos in Tejas Festival in Austin.
Al from Hardcore Shirt fame and I are heading down in June for what will most likely be my final road trip to a festival. Come say hi if you are going.
I will be the 41 year old guy standing in the back yelling, "I've got problems, I'm a fucked up kid." I know. The irony isn't lost on me.

New Age Records - '77 Pressings

2011-02-25T10:45:00.011-07:00

Back in October last year, Marcus posted an article on New Age Records who has repressed a few of their more popular 90's bands releases for the first time on color vinyl. He was very excited.

I read his post and proceeded to post a comment along the lines that it was a stupid, exploitative, cash grab for records that were long past their relevancy.

Then I went and ordered a couple for myself.

To be honest, I knew it was kind of a stupid move in the first place. New Age did not have the best mailorder reputation as hundreds of people had complained over the years about not getting their records going back as far as the 1990s. I figured it's two records, if they don't show up - it was my own fault for ordering them in the first place.

Well, I wasn't proven wrong. Weeks turned into months and I figured my order was a lost cause. Hell, Marcus even suggested I call Mike Hartsfield personally to find out where my order was. I just couldn't be bothered to put that much effort into it.

Then last month my best buddy ever, Al from Hardcore Shirt, sent me a facebook link with a message from New Age stating they were cleaning up their mailorder department and that if anyone had an outstanding order, you could email your paypal receipt and they would take care of it. I took 5 seconds and forwarded the email and then proceeded to forget all about it.

Well lo and behold, yesterday I received a package from New Age.

The records I was most interested in were the '77 Pressings of Strife - My Fire Burns On 7" and Outspoken - A Light In the Dark lp. I already had the Outspoken - Survival 7" I picked up from Marcus in the summer I think.
The deal with the '77 Pressings is that each release has the 1st press Walk Proud labels which was New Age #1.
Marcus also has a good theory on why 77 was the number pressed as it is the "title" on the Unbroken - Crushed On You 7" cover.

Works for me. Let's get to it!

Outspoken - A Light In The Dark lp

Clear with black streaks/77. This color is getting a lot of play lately. I have seen it around a bit, and it's the same as rarest color of the new Comeback Kid lp.

There is no distinguishing marks anywhere on the sleeve. You just go with the labels to tell the pressing.

Strife - My Fire Burns On 7"

As you can see they use a unique b/w photocopied cover.
The vinyl is Pink/77

The 77 Pressing mark is on the back cover on this guy's neck.

Outspoken - Survival 7"

Once again we have a b/w photocopied cover for the special pressing.
Vinyl is Pink/77 as well.

The '77 Pressing is stated on the bottom of the back cover.

Of course, the one I am missing is the best one. There is a Unbroken - Crushed On You 77 Pressing out there that I wouldn't say no to if someone gave me one. Just saying.
Go ahead and share your favorite New Age mailorder story! I know there are few out there.

Mindset - Liveset lp

2011-02-23T09:51:00.010-07:00

"Where the fuck were you 12 years ago?" - Ev, Mindset

"Right here son. Right here." - Doug W.

Those of you that have heard the album will get that joke!

I was one happy/relieved dude to see that the new Mindset lp had finally arrived safe and sound at my door yesterday. After an unfortunate set of circumstances, Upside Down Records was able to finish and deliver the Liveset lp and I have to say it looks and sounds great. All the b.s. about the delays just melts away once you drop the needle. It's nice to see it is also a dead issue now on the React! board.

The most important thing about this record is how good the recording is. I really wasn't expecting too much from an all ages gig sound board recording, (this isn't The Song Remains The Same) but everything is very clear and mixed well.

While listening to the record, I had to wonder how old the crowd was at this show. The between song banter by Ev was everything you would expect from a youth crew posi hardcore band; positive messages about the scene, unity and friendship, shout outs to other band members and VIPs in the crowd and a just a touch of name dropping for scene points.

However, another thing I heard is that some of the talking also seems to come off a bit like a history lesson - which I like. Hardcore is one of the only music scenes that reveres and celebrates the past, not eat it alive without acknowledging any influences.

As for the vinyl, three colors were pressed in ridiculously low numbers.

The rarest is clear gold out of 110.

The next color is white out of 220.

Lastly, black vinyl also out of 220.

The cover has a really cool 60's vibe with a lot of information on the cover, thereby negating the need for an insert or printed inner sleeve. I think it looks sharp.

The gold vinyl is long gone, but you can still pick up both white and black vinyl at the Upside Down Records webstore. At $10, you can't go wrong!

Remission - Winds of Promise 7"

2011-02-19T16:19:00.005-07:00

As you may have noticed, I haven't been posting much lately. Or maybe you have a life and didn't notice at all. Either way is fine.
To tell the truth, there hasn't been much rolling in lately. The stuff I have been buying is so generic no one would care anyway so I haven't been posting it. The stuff I was excited about never showed up and I am tired of fighting with flakes and assholes.

So it makes me happy to say that at least I have this ripper of a new record brought to us from our reliable, trustworthy friends at React! Records.

Remission have got the melodic heartfelt posi-core down. Yeah sure they sound a lot like Verbal Assault but damn, more bands should. It's a formula I love and let's face it - we hardcore folk love our formula!

If there is any complaint at all it is that the record is just too damn short. Three near perfect songs with my favorite being the title track, "Winds of Promise". As always, it's better to be left wanting more.

The rarest (for now) color that was available with the pre-order was baby blue out of 200.

The next color is clear blue out of 300.

Finishing up is the most "common" color black out of 400.

As with all React! releases the quality is there with a nice printed inside cover with the lyrics, pictures and thank you's.

The record also comes with the standard issue React! posi insert (this one on humility, which is really well done) and a sticker. All in all another excellent release.

Now all I need is the yet to be dropped rare color out of 100 that we all know is coming. Back off, I want one first!

Supertouch - Lost My Way 7"

2011-02-15T13:32:00.009-07:00

In what seems like an endless parade of 80's and 90's hardcore bands reuniting and getting back out there for another shot, Supertouch join the party with their new 7" record "Lost My Way" released on Reaper Records.

When I saw the preorder go up for this, I was genuinely surprised. I didn't hear about any reunion and I hadn't thought about the band in years as I wasn't the biggest "The Earth Is Flat" fan.

Well damn, "Searching For The Light" was the best song off the Together and The Way It Is comps so I figured, why not? I ended up ordering a couple to make the postage costs worth the order.

I am glad I did as there were two colors available and the first one was sold out in what seemed about 10 minutes.

There is nothing official for pressing numbers yet, but the word is there are 1000 pressed in total. 200 on blue vinyl.

800 pressed on green.

Yeah I know, they look the same. It's just the dim lighting in my house, but these colors are pretty faint in my defense.

Musically, I kind of like it. I wasn't huge into them at any point in the past so I don't have the angry reaction to their "new" sound that 90% of the people on messageboards have for these four songs.

As it turns out these are older songs that were written for their lost lp before they broke up in 1996. They recorded them last fall and here is what we get.

I am a sucker for Uniform Choice "Staring Into The Sun" and Unity "Blood Days" so I like the rock edge, experimental sound that comes off as "growth" that most edgemen despise. There are some effects on Mark Ryan's vocals that will turn people off but whatever.

There are plenty of places to check the songs out online so you can make up your own mind. It's all good.

Deafheaven - Libertine Dissolves / Daedalus 7"

2011-01-31T15:57:00.006-07:00

Anyone who checks out the Deathwish website will know that with the signing of the hottest new band of the hour, Deafheaven, Deathwish repressed two of the songs off their self released four song demo tape on to a bonus 7" that is not available for sale.
The only way to get one is to order something from the Deathwish e-store and roll the dice you get one thrown in. Kind of like the Cold World 7" from a few years back.

Well, as it turns out there were 1000 of these pressed so I don't know how many people won't get one. I saw that the New Lows lp went up for sale and figured it was worth a shot. I'm glad I did.

Deafheaven are primarily an experimental black metal band from San Francisco played by guys who don't wear corpse paint or run through the forest worshiping Odin or Satan.
To me they sound a lot like Leviathan or early Ulver but without the mystical folk influences or the overtly satanic mean edge.
They have been described as having some 90's screamo elements like Orchid. Sure I guess, but 90% of the time it sounds like amazing straight up atmospheric black metal. I haven't loved a black metal recording like this since the first time I heard Darkthrone's "Transilvanian Hunger".

The fact is, I was praying I would get this record. The Deafheaven demo was my favorite recording of 2010, and now this record is by default my favorite of the short year so far. I have a hard time seeing how anything will top it.

Like I said before, 1000 pressed in total, all on black vinyl with blank black labels.

Go check out their demo which can be found online for download very easily. Try bandcamp or Deathwish. If you can find the original tape, grab that and then sell it to me. That would work too.

Killing The Dream - Lucky Me lp

2011-01-26T13:43:00.005-07:00

The new Killing The Dream lp, "Lucky Me" ended up on a few Best of 2010 lists, and I am not going to argue with them.
The lead track "Blame the Architects" alone warrants all the accolades this record is getting. To use a 90's reference, it would be going on side 1 of a mixtape.
The rest of the record kind of rules too. It's as aggressive and hard as any of their other records but it also has a cool dynamic with a spacy vibe in certain breaks that reminds me of Cave In or newer bands like The Carrier.

I had heard there was a bit of grumbling on the internet before the album came out that usually happens when bands drop words like "growth" and "progression" to describe a new album. Usually it refers to attempts at singing instead of keeping the aggression up 100% of the time.
Well, that is pretty much unfounded when it comes to the record. For like 45 seconds of one song there is some singing, but you are not going to mistake it for a Glee album. There's nothing to worry about.

Fuck it. I suck at trying to describe music.
If you read this blog then you know I don't like shit music. Just get it.

If I had only one complaint it's that the record is way too short! I just wanted more when it was over. There are single Rush songs that are longer than the seven songs combined on this album.
Still, it isn't a bad thing to be left wanting more. It's better than being bored!

The first press of the vinyl is on three colors as per the usual Deathwish pressing formula.

Light Green & Dark Green mix/300

Light Green/Black split/700

Light Green/1000

Unless you were born under a rock, you will recognize the Jake Bannon art work. Once again - awesome. Prints were done for the cover artwork as well. I think one variation or color is still available. I actually ordered one this time around for one reason - no skulls.
Hey, I am a 41 year old father of two young girls and have a wife who was raised on Garth Brooks. If I am going to get away with any art work in the house at all - no skulls. Those are the rules!

Finally, I just wanted to mention how great the Deathwish mailorder department (Janelle) is. There was a small mix up with my order regarding a duplicate color and they sent me a new one with my Carrier pre-order, no questions asked. Anyone else would have dismissed me as a whiny collector nerd.
So thanks again to everyone at Deathwish, I really appreciate it!

Blue Monday - Rewritten : Rivalry Showcase 2006

2011-01-24T18:43:00.005-07:00

Not too much to say about this one. I am just so happy/relieved that some damn mail is showing up! It was getting bleak for a while there.

A few weeks back I got a copy of this lp in my Bridge Nine Mystery Box. I already had one, but it was a nice reminder of how much I liked it. I started checking for Blue Monday stuff on ebay and ran across this gem.

Rewritten Picture disc from the 2006 Rivalry Showcase.

The picture disc was from the second press and made especially for a 2005 European Tour. 50 were set aside or left over and screened covers were made for the Rivalry Showcase.

The 50 were hand numbered on the inside of the cover. Like Mike says, got to love those low numbers. I personally don't really care. 50 is tough enough to find.

Mental - And You Know This 7" record release

2011-01-20T10:50:00.005-07:00

I finally had a couple records trickle in this week and I was very excited to finally have this in my hands.

Mental - And You Know This on clear vinyl with the home made record release cover.

This was the first release on Lockin' Out Records which has become damn near legendary as far as hardcore labels go.

The vinyl is from the first press of 300 on clear. 100 were used for the record release.
The labels were hand numbered in silver ink.

The inside of the cover is dated for the show. Hard to believe how fast the years are ripping by!

Foldout of the cover shows the band name with a red, green and yellow "reggae" motif. The cover is eight years old and it still kind of feels wet or tacky. What the hell kind of paint was used for this?

For whatever reason, I have been snaked on this record for years. It doesn't pop up that often on ebay, and when it does I have been outbid every damn time. Well, except this time. The record consistently sells in the $60 range which isn't too bad, it just doesn't show up very often.

I guess those who have it, obviously like it and hold on tight. I don't blame them.

Leeway - Born To Expire

2011-01-13T13:58:00.006-07:00

Sometimes record collecting doesn't means you have to break the bank and buy multiple versions. Every once in a while, one is enough. This is one of those times.

"Born To Expire" was Leeway's first and absolute best album. It is revered by most older hardcore fans and for good reason. 20+ years on, it still rages. I can't even pick a favorite song off the record. There are so many great tunes, it changes every time I listen to it.

Leeway were an easy band for me to get into back in the very late 1980's. Along with crossover bands like D.R.I and C.O.C, they provided a smooth transition into hardcore from my thrash metal roots. The first time I heard the riff from "On The Outside", I was hooked.

I always had a tough time trying to classify them. I never really thought of them as a crossover band. They were just Leeway.
The vocals, song length, and lyrics were definitely rooted in hardcore, but musically it was so metal. Double bass and screaming solos. I mean just listen to the solo in "Mark of the Squealer"! 100% horns in the air.

As far the vinyl goes, a completely large and unknown number of black vinyl records were pressed. Good luck ever figuring the numbers out from a label as big as Profile was. I guess the same thing can be said of The 'Mags - Age of Quarrel lp.

The dreaded printed inner sleeve. I think these things crinkle if you look at them too hard.

Listening to the album right now, I can't get over how good this is. A perfect album for the time and place it was created.

Cause this world is all about money, and that doesn't make it funny
Just uncomfortable

Bridge Nine Mystery Box 2010 - Bonus 7"s

2011-01-05T08:02:00.008-07:00

Ah, the B9 Mystery box. This annual (well, two years now) event raises more controversy and stink from message boards than almost any other sales event.

The concept is quite simple, pay $15 and receive whatever B9 feel like. Some argue this is nothing more than an opportunity for the label to unload overstocked merch they can't sell, others think of it as the lottery - the one chance to score big for very little investment.

The 2009 Mystery Box sale was more in the hidden gem dept. People were going online to regale the masses of their stories of scoring test presses and out of print American Nightmare 7"s.

2010 was different as three Bonus 7"s were pressed in limited quantities of 500 each and distributed based on the kinds of bands you liked off the B9 roster.

At the time of the pre-order you picked one of three Mystery boxes available based on a grouping of three bands. "For fans of Champion, Have Heart and Foundation" was the one I thought I ordered.

For some reason that still eludes me, I ended up ordering Box #3. This was for fans of Polar Bear Club and Strike Anywhere. I don't know how that happened. By the time I figured out what I had done, the other two were sold out.

So, fast forward a few weeks and this is what I got:

the Blue Monday "Rewritten" lp on purple vinyl (which is awesome),
a couple posters,
and this, Polar Bear Club "Drifting Thing" Bonus 7".

This record is one sided, screened on clear vinyl out of 500.

Also included in the box was an unmarked padded envelope. Inside was this.

Yeah, I don't know what it is either! There are no identifying marks except for the matrix which reads, "4-64509-M-A B0 Bonus 10:10 Polar Bear Club Drifting Thing Remix by Goldie".
My first instinct is to call it the PBC Bonus 7" test press, but test presses at least trim the excess vinyl after the stamping! They usually have labels as well. So, test of a test? Maybe someone with connections at B9 could fill me in.

The cool part is it does play. The excess vinyl curls up so much it almost hits the tone arm, but it does play fine.

Of course I am never satisfied and once I found out what the other two Bonus 7"s were, I made it my mission to get them. Ebay here I come!

First up, Have Heart "Live at Sound & Fury 2007".
500 pressed on black vinyl.

Next, Verse "Live at Sound & Fury 2007".
Also 500 pressed on black vinyl.

The live recordings are just that, live - with warts and all. You can sense the energy from the shows and I guess that is what matters. I have gone on and on in the past about being at S&F back in 2007 so I will spare you all the stories other than to say I really wish they could go back to the Alpine. That place was awesome.

All in all a pretty cool haul and if nothing else, I rediscovered how much I like that Blue Monday record. Plus, it reminded me of bowling with guitarist Dave Mitchell at a bachelor party last summer.

I lead quite the wild life.

Verse - From Anger And Rage

2011-01-01T14:30:00.005-07:00

Anger and Rage indeed.

This sentiment is pretty much how I have felt the last two months with record collecting.
This shit has gone sideways on me.

I have multiple records from won ebay auctions and from distros not showing up.

I had to open three paypal disputes last week because it had been six weeks since I paid and I am tired of getting burned.

I have outstanding pre-orders from a fucking year ago, plus the whole Mindset Live lp mess.

I also have two B9 board deals that are getting very close to six weeks outstanding and I will have to deal with those next week.

I have also received the wrong records from some distros.

I am also attempting to contact by email (and failing miserably) New Age Records for not receiving records I ordered three months ago.

Why the fuck do I bother with this shit? Sometimes I think I should go back to hockey cards.

So - "From Anger and Rage" is blasting on the stereo as I type this up. This album is bottled up aggression in 25 awesome, awe inspiring minutes. I feel better now.

This was Verse's second full length and was released on Rivalry Records at the height of both the band and label's popularity. Vinyl colors, packaging, and artwork are all amazing. This was perfection for record collecting back in 2006/07.

First press. Friends press. 1/2 brown, 1/2 green out of 110. I wrote about this one before. Still my favorite of the entire run.

First press. Red/Yellow swirl vinyl out of 270. This was the pre-order color from Rivalry mail order.

First press. White vinyl out of 670.

Here is where things get a little wonky.

Record release cover out of 108. Covers were spray painted with the date of the record release show. The vinyl used was the regular first press white vinyl for most of them (around 80 of the 108). The rest of the 108 (roughly 28) used 2nd press Red/White nuclear pattern vinyl. There were a total of 305 on that color.

The inner sleeves were stamped and numbered.

There was a second press on white that is identical to the first except for a "II" on the b side label a la Bridge Nine releases. There were a total of 720 pressed.

110 of the second press white vinyl was used for the Sound and Fury 2007 press. Covers were spray painted gold on the front, inside and back.

"A" side labels were also numbered.

Verse were so good at Sound & Fury in 2007. Bridge Nine just released a 7" of three songs from their set as part of their 2010 Mystery Box sale they had a couple months back. I would love to post about it, but that is one of the missing records I am dealing with. F*CK!!!!

Now I am pissed off all over again.

Have Heart - 10.17.09

2010-12-27T12:54:00.006-07:00

We have all heard them before. So many inane, boring stories people tell seem to end, "I guess you just had to be there."
Well this is one case that yeah, I really wish I had been there. Watch and listen to this and you will too.

Bridge Nine recorded and filmed Have Heart's final show last year on Edge Day 2009 in Massachusetts at Club Lido and released this document of that show. Six cameras and a soundboard audio recording captures all the action. Oh, and there is action!

The biggest pre-order package included the most limited color vinyl, cd/dvd, two posters and a sticker. The advertised rarest vinyl color was red.

I got clear.

For the pre-order packages it turns out there were three colors available. Green, clear, and red.
People have been writing on the B9 and VC message boards trying to figure out how and when these three color were divided out. The B9 discography page hasn't updated the numbers yet, so it is still kind of a mystery. I would just be happy to have one of the three as these sold out REALLY fast.

The next color available first on its own, and later with the package deal once the limited colors were gone, was white.

The last color available was blue. This was the assumed largest number pressed as it was the last still available. As it turns out, it is also sold out now too.

I realize this is a vinyl collecting site, but this package is lost without the DVD. Pat Flynn writes in the liner notes of the album many reasons why the audio turned out as it did, and how the spirit of hardcore is the live show, mistakes and all - but to me everything is explained once you watch the video.

SHIT - GOES - OFF.

That anything was recorded after seeing the chaos of that show is a miracle.

I can't say it enough. I wish I was there.

Sacrifice/Propagandhi split 7"

2010-12-20T09:17:00.014-07:00

This record has to win the award for the biggest surprise of 2010 for me. I just didn't see it coming, I had no idea it was even being contemplated, and it has floored me with how absolutely amazing it is.

For a little background, I will just go through a short checklist of things I have loved in my 40+ years on this planet.

1. Rush. Rush's "Moving Pictures" album came out during my formative junior high school years when one decides how they will mold and identify themselves as it relates to popular culture. Let's just say that my decision to attach myself with Rush, hard rock and metal wasn't the best for making time with the ladies, but at least I accumulated a wealth of 3/4 length shirts for years to come.

2. Thrash metal. I made the big move from traditional hard rock and metal to thrash in 1985-86 and the Canadian band Sacrifice was along for the ride. Due to Canadian content rules for broadcasting, we would get the Sacrifice video for "Re-Animation" in regular rotation on the Much Music Power Hour. "Forward to Termination" rules. It got reissued. Go track it down. You have no excuses.

3. Propagandhi. Personally, I think the most consistent "punk" band alive. The spotlight may have waned on them after the Fat Wreck Chords split, but Propagandhi has kept rolling on. Their albums keep getting better and better and I can safely say I have enjoyed everything they have ever done. Supporting Caste is ridiculously good.

4. Corrosion of Conformity. From "Eye For An Eye" to "Technocracy", this band was in the upper echelon of the entire 80's Crossover movement. Period.

So, when I see a listing for a split 7" between Propagandhi (covering COC's Technocracy) and Sacrifice (covering Rush's Anthem), I nearly had a heart attack. I tracked it down online and bought it immediately.

Released on the Winnipeg based label War on Music, there were 1000 pressed total, all on black vinyl.

The record comes in a beautiful 7" gatefold cover with the cover artwork by Todd, the bass player in Propagandhi. Talent all over the place!
The artwork is a take on the original covers of the albums the songs come from, Technocracy and Fly By Night.

The record was just released on December 10 and as of today 10 days later, this sucker is sold out.

Oh and if there was any question, yeah - it's really good.

The Misfits - Plan 9 singles

2010-12-14T09:01:00.016-07:00

Quietly I have been able to (kind of) finish off a Misfits 7" collection I started about six months ago. I posted earlier about some of my Misfits 7" finds here, here and here.

Well, I picked up a couple more records along the way and finally finished it off last week with the arrival of "Bullet" on red vinyl in the mail.

It's amazing what being patient will do. There have been a couple Bullet seven inches on ebay with outrageous "Buy It Now" prices that an impulsive person (ie. me) may jump at just to have them. Luckily, I was able to score one for way under half the amount by sacrificing a lyric sheet that may or may not have come with it in the first place.

That's the thing. If you are willing to forgo a Fiend Club flyer or lyric sheet you can seriously save a LOT of money and end up with a near mint condition record. Not a bad trade off.

Here's the rundown:

Bullet - 2nd press. Plan 9 Records.

Red vinyl out of 2000 pressed. Most of the second press did not come with a lyric sheet. Those that did may have been photocopies.

Horror Business. Plan 9 Records.
Yellow vinyl out of 2000. One pressing.

Comes with insert card describing the recording at a haunted house. Yeah, ok.

Night Of The Living Dead. Plan 9 Records.Black vinyl out of 2000. One pressing.

Insert was a Fiend Club ad. Mine is missing. I guess someone actually used it. That's cool!

3 Hits From Hell. Plan 9 Records.
Black vinyl, grey labels out of 3000 pressed. 6000+ over four pressings. Seems high. With that many I should see them everywhere.

Insert is a different style Fiend Club ad. Mine is a definite photocopy.

Halloween. Plan 9 Records.
Black vinyl out of 5000.

Insert included.

Evilive. Plan 9 Records.
Black vinyl, yellow labels out of 800 pressed. Yellow labels were part of the Fiend Club edition with different cover and hand numbered on the back. A second press of 1000 were done with different cover and orange labels.

Comes with insert.

I know you are thinking, "Dude, you are missing one. Maybe two. One of them kind of a big deal at that."
I know.
The thing is, I just don't want it.

The Misfits first seven inch was "She : Cough/Cool" released on Blank Records. There were only 500 pressed and the thing is worth thousands of dollars now. It has also been bootlegged so damn much, it's just disheartening to start trying to find a legit copy online.

I was doing some research getting ready to track one down, and it hit me - I don't want it. I would take it if someone handed it to me, but I am not willing to spend any money on it. Plus I think the record is weak. Danzig tickling the ivories. The payoff just isn't there for the cost.

Oh yeah, some people call "Who Killed Marilyn?" a Misfits single, but I still think of it as a Danzig solo record. The first of many. Oh yeah, go pick up "Deth Red Sabaoth". It is a true return to form...and that form is the DEVIL!

Floorpunch - Fast Times At The Jersey Shore

2010-12-06T13:49:00.007-07:00

Before Snookie, Paulie D and The Situation reared their ugly orange heads, the only time I had heard of the Jersey Shore was in the title of one the greatest albums ever recorded; Floorpunch's "Fast Times At The Jersey Shore".

Fast Times was released in 1998 as Floorpunch was continuing to be part of the straight edge hardcore revival along with other bands like In My Eyes, Fastbreak and Ten Yard Fight.

The album was Floorpunch's last original release and their only full length. Every song is a killer, well except "Let It Ride". I always felt they could have left that one off the end.

The lyrics are heavy on personal, posi themes about friendship, the core and living straight. You also get the obligatory songs about being stabbed in the back, betrayal, breaking edge and how you used to be my friend. Youth crew 101!

The record was released on Equal Vision Records who were famous for a large single pressing with limited color variants, and absolutely no chance of a repress. You want it on black, no sweat. Color? That is a different story.

98 pressed on white vinyl.

300 pressed on green.

1600 pressed on black. That number is not 100% confirmed, but it makes sense with the total press run at close to 2000.

Black and white, two sided, glossy insert as well.

To say this record was influential is an understatement. No less than three high profile bands took their names from song titles from this record. Guess which three and you win a prize.
Not really. But you will get your name in the comments.

Past Present : Breaking Out The Classics compilation

2010-12-02T09:28:00.006-07:00

I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the new Revelation compilation, "Past Present" was going to be about.
Just from the title, I expected new, young hardcore bands covering the classic songs from the early Revelation catalog that influenced and inspired them to form bands themselves. Maybe they would have a take on a song you have heard a million times that will make you fall in love with hardcore all over again.

Well, kind of. I thought that was what this was going to be until I saw the track listing.

Sick of It All covering Warzone. Weren't they around at the same time? Then Sick Of It All is getting covered themselves by Walter Schreifels who himself was in Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, etc. You also get Bold covering Supertouch and then Bold getting covered by Ambitions.

Further down you have a metal band covering a current metalcore band too. (Ignite The Will covering Shai Hulud).

Let's just call it an awesome covers compilation and leave it at that.

As far as the vinyl goes, there are two colors available in the first press. The limited color option is yellow out of 335.

There is also a black vinyl pressing out of 749. I LOVE when labels like Rev give us the one limited color option. It reminds me of the old days! I think both are still available at RevHq.

The full color glossy insert is pretty cool as you get a whole column and a half of Ray Cappo waxing poetically about hardcore. Ever since I saw the "Edge" documentary, I could listen to or read Ray stuff all day. The dude has charisma.
Oh yeah, there are other contributions there as well.

There are a tonne of songs on this album, I'm pretty sure you can find something you like. Oh and it is a benefit comp too, so that's cool.