Leeway - Born To Expire

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