H-Street - "Self-Titled" 7inch

H-Street were a hardcore band from Austria in the 90's/early 00's. They played a fast and slightly revival type of hardcore- owing a lot to older bands at a time when heavy and chugging riffs still dominated. As the cover would indicate, they were a straight edge band, but their appeal was much wider than that.

With songs about friendships, racism, , and perseverance, they tread some familiar ground at times, but the music and lyrics definitely make for a combination that does not feel rehashed or generic. Add in a cover of a local band (Open Season), some melody to the fast beats, and its a nice 5 song EP that still holds up some 10-12 years later.

Enjoy!



DOWNLOAD: H-Street - "Self-Titled" 7inch

H-Street "Common Ground":

On A Solid Rock - "Where the Kids Don't Play" 7inch

Early/Mid-00's Hardcore from Finland. I came across this band via a good friend from Ohio, Zack, who I believe had known some of them via some of his music journeys in life at the time. Zack had sent me an mp3 of the track "Let It Die" and I had gotten hooked. However, the record eluded me for another 2-3 years.

When I did finally stumble upon it in a distro at a Smell show in LA (I think it was Vitamin X, who can be sure anymore) I must have looked a bit silly to be amped on a record that no one else seemed to know existed.

Hardcore that bounces around some- from just fast and driving aggression of a song like "Days of the Daisy Cutter", to the longer "Paralyzed on the Path to Freedom" which showcases the band at its full range on this record - fast and in your face, but then the tempo changes and the vocals take on a bit more of a singing style as the music gets just a touch melodic before getting a little chunky with the riffs. All in all, the 6 songs (5 tracks) here put forth a solid effort of songs that fit together in a very crafted way, including the last song playing out almost like a death march; which fits the title and many of the themes found on the record. From the political to the socially aware, the topics deal with war, disease, and fanaticism found in many beliefs.

The band released a mini-lp entitled "Steal It Back" which I have been unsuccessful in finding so far. The band would come to an end in the mid-00's with their singer moving to the states to pursue other interests in life, leaving behind this 7inch and the aforementioned mini-lp. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: On A Solid Rock - "Where the Kids Don't Play" 7inch

V/A - Return of the X-Men Comp. 7inch x 2

There was no comp. post this past Thursday, for which I apologize. So, to mix things up a little we'll do a comp. on Saturday and make it a double 7inch comp. at that.

8 bands of varying mid/late 90's hardcore, most of which are from Europe. In fact, the only US band is By the Grace of God, who offer up a non-lp version of "Beneath the Blue" (later compiled on the Initial Records version of "Three Steps to A Better Democracy").

While I had heard of almost all of the bands on this record, BTGOG, Vitamin X, OIL, Mainstrike, & Spawn put forward the best tracks (in my opinion). Mostly, fast hardcore of many variations, Spawn checks in with the heavy, nearly 5 minute track here.

The download includes the scans for the whole layout, which explain nicely a bit more of the history behind this record and the fest that it is associated with. Good read while listening to these songs. The layout also has little sections for each band, which, if you know me and you follow this blog- that is one of the things i love most about comps, especially 7inch comps. I'm not sure how many of these tracks were exclusive to this release and remain so today, but the Mainstrike song is a live recording.

DOWNLOAD: Return of the X-Men Comp.

Final Exit - Too Late For Apologies 7inch

Umea Hardcore at it's finest. Final Exit released this 7 inch and 2 LP's in their very brief existence. Uncompromisingly in your face music, throaty but clear vocals, and lyrics with both a serious content (And Never Again, Oil Unit Corps God Government) and lyrics that can jab at the reality of straight edge kids who take themselves entirely too seriously (Bent Out of Shape) while still emphasizing their feelings about smoking (You Suck).

I first heard Final Exit, like many of my early HC discoveries that fell outside of the staple DC, LA, Boston, NY bands, through KSPC 88.7; having taped a show that played their song "Roles & Rules" off of their 'Umea' LP.

So loud, such a fervent pace to their whole sound, but a band that can bring a breakdown and a laugh and still have the song get done in a minute plus. This version of the record was released on the long running Third Party Records (Standard Issue, Reinforce, Halfmast, Get It Away, Xplauged with rageX, FPO, My Revenge! and many more).

PS- It was a long time before I found out that this band was basically that other band, who I won't mention.
I think I like Final Exit more, and I really like the middle records by that "other" band.

DOWNLOAD: Final Exit - "Too Late For Apologies" 7inch

CD, Tape, DVD, Zine Trading

Go It Alone - Tithemi: Redlands, Ca 2005

Something that I enjoyed in the past was tape trading. I heard a lot of bands, punk, hardcore and otherwise this way. I'm currently without a tape deck and to be honest, many people today probably wouldn't bother with the process to make one.

However, after a good run of coming across some bands that really excited me (Youth Avoiders, Zombies Are Pissed, and Black Spirals; among others), and some Zines I really dug (Just Say Yo! from France being my favorite because it arrived today and kicks ass), it got me in a mood for at least putting out there to swap CD's with people who are interested.

Local bands, new, old, whatever- you can get a vibe for what I like, and if you're here, I can take a stab in the dark at what you like. Yes, everything is so fucking easy to access, consume, and process. And there are things I like about that- I can get blown away by a band like Youth Avoiders that way. But there is still something much more to be said for getting a record or even CD of unknown music, a Zine filled with things to read, and so on. I remember the guy who ran Slug & Lettuce had a nice trade list going on where the first person sent stuff to the next person who signed up on the list and so on. Whatever you wanted to send, as long as actual music was involved. That was a cool idea.

Anyhow, Putting it out there- you can email me and I will gladly trade addresses. All are welcome, Out of State, Out of Country, everything. You can even send what you're most interested in. However, it needs to be actual mailed things, whatever they may be. No set standards other than music or music related.

it.follows.blog@gmail.com

PS- if you're looking at this 6 months or a year after this has been posted and the blog is still active, then the offer still stands. So send away!

Strike A Match - "Demo 2011"

This one came to me by way of the band (thanks Erik) and offers up some good hardcore punk, heavy on the punky bits with some jangly guitars and a driving bass.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Strike A Match formed in 2009 and made this demo available earlier this year.

Political & socially conscious lyrics that deal with, among other things the different things made available to us to sedate all of us (television, wage slavery) or a better world to live in for the benefit of the masses are a large theme here. A definite anarchist slant, but we're not talking "rah rah anarchy and butt flaps and safety pins." Thought and sincerity shows on the bands part.

Musically, it can diverge off at times and show some abilities to play a little more jagged sound with some odd guitar parts and spots where the song completely shifts pace in a bit of an unexpected manner. I've got to say, the layout for the demo (included as a PDF) looks great, and while that isn't critical, being a record nerd, I can always appreciate a nice looking and well done bit of packaging.

Give it a spin, it might have to grow on you a little, but once you notice that is has, you're stuck!

PS- not that it matters, but members of Death is Not Glamorous, Damage Control, Soulfire, & Subject to Change. Point being, they've done it before with other bands, and they're doing it again.

Strike A Match on Bandcamp

DOWNLOAD: Strike A Match - "Demo 2011"

IE Vegan Pt. 2: Viva La Vegan Grocery Store

Buccaneer (3 Musketeer) & RazDillo (Zinger)

I will be the very first to say that I: #1 enjoy sweets, junk food, and most things fried and that #2 I went vegan for the animals and how I feel about the killing of animals, factory farming, and the dairy industry.
That being said, I still strive to eat better. However, after  7 years of veganism and 6 years of vegetarianism before that, I will be the first to admit to his own ruts, comforts, and concessions. In those 13 years I have developed a love for Ginger ( a nice, but acquired taste for a treat that can have more than just a snack advantage) and staples such as Kale/Seaweed snacks. Ive always been a very big fruit person, and I love most vegetable, even if I prefer some of them to have pepper and salt on them.


In the pursuit of both the conscious vegan and the snacking vegan I draw your

attention to Viva La Vegan Grocery in Rancho, California. While the Inland Empire has 3 Clarks Nutrition Locations that carry a ton of veggie/vegan options and a wealth of organic produce as well as Oasis/La Sierra Market which is all veggie/vegan, "Viva" as it is often referred to, is ALL VEGAN.

Viva La Vegan came to be late in 2010 through the hard work of quite a few people. It is the first all vegan store in the Inland Empire and just so happens to be situated rather close to two all vegan restaurant, Bright Star Thai Vegan (Thai food along with some american standards like fries, chicken nuggets, and a chicken burger), and the formerly Veggie Era, now a Loving Hut. It also must be noted that it is a mere 2 blocks from record nerd outpost, Dr. Strange Records. Viva continues to grow into it's space, which is connected to a Discount Store that is owned and operated under the same management.

As Viva has grown in its short life, it has gone from a few racks of things to more and more racks of food, clothing, toiletries, shoes, produce, freezers, cosmetics, and more. It continues to expand, with discount racks usually 3 racks full (no doubt a benefit to its parent association with a Discount Store), and look for more ways to reach into the local community as well as the vegan/veggie community. They have also taken to having monthly potlucks and other events which allow it be almost a gathering place as well as a store.

Viva La Vegan has astonishingly fair and even cheap prices, in part due to its resources, but more so, due to the stores willingness to work with distributors and try to provide the best to their customers. From working with companies like Baby Cakes and local Pizza shop Cheezy Pizza to provide their products in the store, to simply keeping prices to a bare minimum, the customer is truly the winner here.

Make sure you check it out if you're in the area or from the area; and if you know a veggie or vegan in the area or coming to the area, let them know. The store is still very new and the support means the world.

Viva La Vegan - Facebook
9456 Roberds St, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
Phone : (909) 941-4495
Store Hours: Mon - Sun:10:00 am-7:00 pm