the Assistant - Both LPs, EP, and Splits

The Assistant were a hardcore punk band from New Jersey. They played loud, fast, heavy music with lots of screaming. They also played catchy and poppy songs with slightly off key singing. Songs with programming, keyboards, and samples- Yeah, that too. They could also jam for 5 minutes without saying a word. I try not to get to tied up in the genre(s) slapped on a band, outside of the broader things like Hardcore, Punk, Ska, Rock, Emo, Metal, etc.; I know that the Assistant was a Screamo band, but that just sounds so narrow, so I guess I will get caught up in it this one time, which is why I called them a Hardcore Punk band at the onset of this post. I think that does them the most justice, and at least for me, more fairly says what they were and the depth of what they meant to me.

The last song that the Assistant released, "I Have A Name", from the split with Takaru & This Ship Will Sink, states that the Assistant, as a band, was about standing up for what you believe in. To me, that speaks far more to what this band meant to me (and many others). They covered topics that encompass just about every aspect of human emotion, self-reflection, and dealing with life itself, as a whole. From self-abuse to the impacts of illicit drugs (and discussion of the lengths that governments have been willing to go to in order to test out new drugs on the poor and the resulting impacts), sexual abuse, consumer culture, the consequences of convenience, the com-modification of independent and thought provoking music sounds/scenes, and much more. All of it with thought and explanation - an insight into the words and thoughts that are just as heavy (if not more so) than the music they are playing. Multiple members singing and writing lyrics gives a little something extra, not that the band wouldn't have been great with just Leigh singing.

I will leave it at that- as i've said before here, some times less is more. The Assistant, for me, is a band that ranks up there with Battery, Hot Water Music, the Cable Car Theory, By The Grace of God, and other incredible bands that seemed to fuse themselves into the music they played, and shared words that were bits and pieces of themselves and of myself too. That's not said for a dramatic flair; this music of hardcore and punk ; through many bands and people; has indelibly made an impact on nearly every aspect of my life in some way.

Members have been in a laundry list of other bands, especially guitarist/vocalist, Tom. Check each and every one of them out.

Sadly, it seems, everything the band has done has gone out of print. So, in two downloads, you have the Self-Titled LP, In the Year of the Dawg Tour EP, We'll Make the Roads By Walking LP, the aforementioned 3-way Split, Split with Red Scarlet Letter, and a song that seems to come from an internet created Comp (an alternate version of the song "I Have A Name" from a comp called Screamo Room Presents...) ***In the Year of the Dawg actually features two tracks that ended up on the second lp, they are identical, but included for completions sake***

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: The Assistant "Self-Titled LP & In The Year of the Dawg"

DOWNLOAD: The Assistant "We'll Make the Roads LP, Splits, & Comp Track"

Glory Kid Records Giveaway Contest at Toxicbreed's Funhouse

Time For Change (2008)

   

Glory Kid Ltd. and Toxicbreed's Funhouse have teamed up for a great giveaway of a ton of Glory Kid releases.

All you need to do is head on over to the Toxicbreed Facebook page
and post how the name for the label came about. Yep. That easy
so don't be a bunch of lazies.

Toxicbreed's Funhouse: Glory Kid Ltd. Giveaway
Toxicbreed's Funhouse: Glory Kid Ltd. Giveaway
Toxicbreed's Funhouse: Glory Kid Ltd. Giveaway


Also, while you're there you can link to the TF blog and stream the Burn Your Life Down EP (out now on tape and soon to be released on vinyl). Don't sleep, unless of course you're a commercial driver and need to sleep before working. Then please, sleep. Then go to Toxicbreed.

City Rockers - A Tribute to the Clash

Here's a good and diverse (band wise and with the direction some of the covers take) compilation for your sunny and windy weekend.

I picked this CD up quite some time ago in a used bin at the local shop and its been worth every penny and then some. Many of you may have heard some of these tracks if you're a fan of the respective bands, but more than a few of these tracks have also slipped past recognition for far too long.

To say this track or that track are stand out tracks would almost literally take up the entire cd as each band either does a good traditional take on the song or adapts the song to their style and does it nicely. Whether it is the first track with Dave Smalley playing "Death or Glory" and channeling Billy Bragg with just his voice and guitar or Kid Dynamite's fairly traditional send up with hand claps and all- just with a snottier snarl to it (the same could be said for Saves the Day's cover of Clash City Rockers); the whole CD is strong throughout.

I will say that, of all the tracks here, my favorites are One King Down doing "London Calling" and playing it in its fairly intact original form, but as OKD (meaning as a metallic hardcore song), Demon Speed giving "Rock the Casbah" a psycho/rockabilly treatment (really, any treatment other than stripped out synth new wave punk of the original is probably a great treatment- NOTE: the live version Joe Strummer did with the Mescaleros is exceptional as it showcases the true strength of that song), and Lady Luck's introspective feeling "Lost in the Supermarket" shines with the soft female vocals. **I would say that I love the Dropkick Murphys cover of "Guns of Brixton", but the live track loses some of the energy and punch of the studio version they did which is included on their Singles Collection Volume One.

One King Down "London Calling":


The inclusion of some very good ska bands doing very good ska versions of songs is a huge plus for me, both as a fan of ska and a fan of the Clash. The Stubborn All-Stars do an almost ska-country version of "Lose This Skin" while Skinnerbox ends the CD with "Straight to Hell." As is always the case with these kinds of things, there are tracks any and all of us would have liked to hear which did not end up on the CD, but it is a good mix of some of the best known songs and songs that are a bit more secondary.

DOWNLOAD" V/A "City Rockers"

Lady Luck "Lost in the Supermarket":

Fourth In Line - Just Another Day tape + Religion Killing Policy ADDED: Open Wide CD

Fourth In Line were a hardcore band from Orange County, California in the mid-90's to the early 2000's. They played a style, at least on the tracks here, not too unlike the first album/7inch by Straight Faced. Not too surprisingly, that is how I came into contact with the band, as they seemed to play more than a few times with Straight Faced, and even covered the song "No Gain on the Play" when SF stopped playing almost all of the songs from their "Guilty"lp.

I got this tape at a Showcase Theatre show some time in '96 or '97 when it came out. It shows a good blend of somewhat punky hardcore that could put the band on a show at the time with anyone from bands like the aforementioned Straight Faced to Pennywise (at that time, not now). Songs like Trippin Randy and Religion Killing Policy (which is from 1999 and a compilation) show more of the straight forward Hardcore sound, while "Father" gets a bit of the softer treatment.

All in all, the tape tracks still sounded great after not being played for some 6-7 years now and the songs hold up pretty well- fun, fast, hardcore with just the right touch of punk and humor.

They have a Facebook page which a friend shared with me (thanks Sergio) and seeing as this tape was circa 1996 and the band split in 2001, hopefully there are more tracks out there. It is mentioned in the compilation that they were recording a full-length in 1999, if anyone has other tracks, get in touch with me, I'd love to hear them and can (and would gladly) post them up. E-Mail: it.follows.blog@gmail.com

DOWNLOAD: Fourth In Line - "Just Another Day +1"

ADDED: Fourth In Line "Open Wide" album
This Morning I received an email that contained the full length "Open Wide". 10 tracks (11 songs) of more of the same stuff, just more refined and with a bit more hardcore edge to it. Good hardcore from sunny Southern California.... enjoy and thanks to Jeremy for sending it over!

DOWNLOAD: Fourth In Line - "Open Wide"

Say Goodbye - Demo Tape 2002 / Anti-Social E.P. 7inch

SG @ Insted CA Reunion Shows- 2004

Say Goodbye were a Hardcore band from Mass. in the early/mid-2000's. They released a demo tape, two 7inch EP's, and a full length LP of fast and completely pissed off hardcore. A distinct Xclaim Records influence can be heard in the music and vocals, especially on early things such as the Demo & Anti-Social EP where the band snarls and buzzsaws their way through a total of 10 songs in 13 minutes between the two releases.

A raw but refined sound shows up on all of their releases, though the Misanthropy 7inch would start to show a little expansion with some of the guitars and bass/drum work.  Each of their four releases (you get the first two this time around) stand up now, 8-10 years later. To my knowledge, their stuff has been gone for quite some time now as everything, except for the self-released demo, was released by the defunct Western Front Records (Outbreak, Miracle Mile, Drop It!, Where the Sidewalk Ends).

A good Interview from 2004 can be found over at the old You Breed Like Rats blog HERE. Apparently, their bassist sings for Waste Management and plays bass in Mind Eraser.

I actually picked this up at a show in Ojai with Amendment 18, Terror, Skare Tactic, and maybe In Control and Say Goodbye? The tape was pretty new, so the fact that this demo is approaching 10 years old (which is a crazy thought), my memory is not super clear on it. It may also be that Terror was selling some copies after just getting back from tour. It was around the time their 2 song 7inch had come out and had some limited packaging that seemed a little bit much (to me) like a box or something and it was a one sided 7inch. Again, fuzzy memory, but its more fun to recall than it is to run off and research Terror's releases.

I do remember that Scruffy, A18's bassist at the time, recommended the demo, and since I'd know him for some time and generally trusted his tastes, I bought it. No disappointment. I hear the strongest X Claim Records bands influence in the vocals on this record. Lots of pissed off and fast hardcore with those little temp changes that have tons of toms and give way to a bass break before the song explodes again. Great stuff!

A good continuation of the demo (and from the same general time frame), the band steps up from the 4-track demo recordings to bring a 6-song 7inch that clocks in just a little past 7 minutes. All the things the demo had, just refined into a better recording. Still tons of snarl, fast riffs, bass work that you can actually hear (and appreciate) and those great drums.

Enjoy, at some point the LP and last EP should show up here...




DOWNLOAD: Say Goodbye - "Demo" & "Anti-Social" 7inch


Say Goodbye "Iantro/Stay Tuned":

A Poor Excuse Link Fixed

The Link was all screwed up... but it works great now... download the record from the post HERE

And a flyer for your troubles... one of many a great Headline Records show. As always, click the picture to see it bigger!

the Burning Reason - the Dead Speak e.p.

Good emo/hardcore of a 90's influenced slant. I actually know next to nothing about this band. They had come through on tour in maybe 2006-07 and had left some cd's at the local shop, Sounds Like Music. The store had put the cd in the listening station and friends who had seen them had said the band played pretty solid. After hearing a song or two, the $3-4 bucks was a worthwhile gamble ( my only complaint being that the drums are often too low in the recording/mix, especially the snare).

I've never been successful in finding any additional info. on the band- not then, not now. They were a 3-piece band and as best as I can tell, did not do anything other than this EP. Perhaps someone in Minnesota, where theyre from, can chime in and offer a little more insight.

Until that happens, you get 5 tracks of good mid/late 90's influenced emo/hardcore. I won't bore you with comparisons, but this record could have been released on a variety of labels, from No Idea or Jade Tree to Deep Elm (think Brandston's "Trying to Figure Each Other Out" type Deep Elm) or Immigrant Sun.

DOWNLOAD: the Burning Reason - "the Dead Speak e.p."


the Burning Reason "open/close":

Life Tyrant - Self-Titled Demo

Life Tyrant were an all too short lived Hardcore band from the Inland Empire, California. Taking the hardcore punk framework and setting it firmly in a metallic influence, the band churned out heavy but fast songs that showed equal doses of their influences.

No screeching vocals, no extravagant guitar showing off, no blast beats- just straight forward heavy, angry, fast. The band shows the varied experiences of band members (having been in or still in Burn Your Life Down, Restrained, Drop It, Bad Lovers, and more) in their sound. Unfortunately, not too long after these recordings the band became rather sporadic and inactive and ultimately ended at some time in early/mid 2008.

These recordings have floated around some, but never really been shared properly, as they deserve to be. 6 tracks, less than 12 minutes- fits pretty nicely in to the kind of heavy hardcore I like the most. Drive fast, be pissed off.

DOWNLOAD: Life Tyrant - "Self-Titled" Demo/EP


Life Tyrant "Symbiotic":

A Poor Excuse - Self-Titled 7inch

Alright, lets get back into the swing of things with this new year and kick it off with a good, pissed off hardcore punk band from Mass.

Angry, hateful, in your face- work sucks, the people in power suck, intoxication numbs the pain. The song 4/20/99 does offer a little more than that, with a point that could be taken by a lot of people. The track For Those In Power offers up a nice anthemy call in it, but overall this little 9 track 7inch, released on Rodent Popsicle delivers what you would expect of a hardcore punk band putting 9 songs on a record.

They released another 7inch (Crashed Out...), & A split with Right Brigade, and a 4 way split with Dropkick Murphys, Slang, and Tom & the Boot Boys. The 4 way split should turn up here in the future; until then, enjoy 9 angry tracks in less than 8 minutes.

DOWNLOAD LINK FIXED

DOWNLOAD:A Poor Excuse - "Self-Titled" 7inch


A POOR EXCUSE "For All Those In Power":

the Nerve Agents - Pictures: Showcase Theatre 1999

I was lucky, ridiculously lucky enough, to see the Nerve Agents on many occasions from just about the beginning of the band (I remember them being the opening band on the Rev tour stop at Showcase Corona- you know, when there was a Showcase San Diego) and on through the full arc of the band. And while I certainly some them far less during the Butterfly Collection time period, they were always an insanely fun and good band. Somewhere I have negatives for these and more pictures, but I sent a ton of them off to the band before Days of the White Owl came out. And while my pictures didnt get used, I did get a thanks in the album which is still one of the "cooler" things to happen. Great band, especially that first ep and the split with Kill Your Idols.... that David Bowie cover is outstanding....

Three Lanes 3-Way Split / Nothing to Prove Compilation

Three Lanes... is a 3-Way Split CD released by Glory Kid Limited in 2007. It features Time For Change, Lockdown, and Heads Up; all from Southern California and all playing different styles of hardcore.

Time For Changes leads off with two tracks recorded between the "Wasting Away" 7inch and the "Memoirs" full-length.Both songs show the band progressing to songs that show a little more complexity and thought, which would become fully realized on their full-length and final 7inch. Both of their tracks here, "Heatwar", and "Homestead" would appear on the aforementioned lp, though they would be re-recorded and in the case of Heartwar, drastically re-worked.

Heads Up are.... hardcore punk. Not much my thing the time or two I saw them, and not my thing at all on these two tracks. They're most memorable to me for one of their singers busting a window at the old SOS Project at one of our very first shows (they paid for it).

Lockdown round out the split and offer up their brand of angry, pissed off hardcore. Fast, almost to the point of being hardcore punk, but with a heaviness firmly planted in hardcore and an aggression that matched the negativity. Again, not hugely my thing, but they were a lot of fun to see/hear live and the songs on this split are good. They would eventually split up with many of the members moving on to the band Last Days. Members would also do time in Time For Change.

DOWNLOAD: Three Lanes 3-Way Split

Continuing with the theme is a comp that came out a little while before the 3-Way Split. This was released by Good Times Records (2005) and features a lot of smaller/local bands from Southern California inc. Lockdown and Time For Change, who were also on the split.

All told, there are 12 tracks from 8 bands- along with the afforementioned bands, Final Fight, Feeding Frenzy, Looking Up, and 3 more bands round out this solid little comp. that has a little bit for everyone. From the heavier bands like Lockdown and Blood Stands Still to the fast and pissed of Feeding Frenzy and the more "recent" sounds of bands like Final Fight and Looking Up (really, you can only mention melodic as part of hardcore without sounding redundant). How does it feel to be a problem? Cos I Feel Fine!


Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Nothing to Prove- A Southern California Compilation

Post #145 - Johnny Five IS Alive.... What Happens Next? Still Kicks Ass

Not dead. Just unemployed for the first time in my adult life and expecting my son ANY DAY, literally. But the blog lives.... expect more (pay less), soon.

What we have here is a letter from Devon, singer of northern california hardcore/punk thrashcore band What Happens Next? I had written to him at some point before, as it was pretty regular for me to do with bands that I liked, just asking some pretty general questions (as you can see by his answers). I know its been said a million times, myself included- but one of the things I love about this music and the majority of the people Ive come in contact through it is the general humanity and ability to approach so many of the people within it.

Devon was incredibly nice and sent along a copy of their upcoming "Ahora Mas Que Nunca" 7inch that came out on Lengua Armada. Good thing he sent it, because even though I had the Hollow Victory and Bruitful Fearing records, I was completely oblivious to the new 7inch. The tracks on that 7inch are some of my favorites (on a long list of well loved WHN? songs), especially "Who Are You Playing For?" And the record came with one of the better inserts, which instantly made me feel 12 years old and smile.

The insert (on the left) is a little 3-D Pop-up. Great? Yes!

I was fortunate enough to catch them live at the show that Devon mentions at the end of the letter, which was nothing short of great. It was Esperanza, Lifes Halt, Total Fury, the Oath, and What Happens Next? The Oath was still new enough that most people were just calling it the "new Mark McCoy band", total fury blew the place apart, Lifes Halt was of course, great, and WHN? nearly brought the place down. It was some Art/Dojo type place in Pomoma, Ca. Odd location, fun show.

A Few Pictures (it was hard as hell to take pictures, but fun as hell) - As Always, click any picture to see it full-size

WHN?

WHN?

Lifes Halt

What Happens Next?

What Happens Next?

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Live on KEXP 9/6/2005

For those of you not in the loop (I say that VERY jokingly), Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are a east coast Punk/Rock band originally formed in the late 90's as the alter-ego of Leo after the demise of his indie/punk outfit Chisel, for whom he had sang/played guitar. Leo's involvement with the punk & hardcore scenes is rather storied, from time spent as the first singer of hardcore punk pioneers Citizen's Arrest as well as many other projects such as the Sin Eater & Hell No (that's to say nothing of his brothers' involvement in music, including the great Native Nod as well as playing in TL/RX at various times).

TL/RX as many will often abbreviate the band to be eventually solidified as a punk infused rock band with the release of their "Treble in Trouble" Ep in 2000. From that point on, the band built upon a framework of big hooks, precise drums, and soulful yet punky vocals. While the sound and members have varied over time from the very 70's influenced "Hearts of Oak" (moments that make you think Thin Lizzy and then Elvis Costello and the Attractions) to the more concise and even stronger late 70's punk sounding "Shake the Sheets", the band has continued to put out a sound that gets tighter and tighter; but still able to go any direction needed, as evidenced with the digital only release of their "Rapid Response" ep which featured 2 new songs along with covers from the diverse background of the band that showed the band doing their send up of the Cocksparrer classic "I Got Your Number" and Leo alone on vocals and guitar doing Amebix's "Nobodys Driving", all pulled off as a basement recording outside of the "proper studio" comforts.

Leo himself is also known to tour on his own doing sets not unlike "Back To Basics" era Billy Bragg, as well as even doing abbreviated sets in the same manner before the full band takes the stage. A final aspect to the TL/RX sound is their ability to write and play songs that not only get you sucked in and ready to move, but have ideas, concepts, and dare it be said, politics, that do not smash you over the head with blatantly over stated ideas. Again, a page from people such as Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Forgive the long intro, TL/RX is a bit left of center for this blog, none-the-less, the set here is 5 songs from right around the time of the release of "Shake the Sheets" and features the band firing through 5 tracks, including the rather catchy "Counting Down the Hours." Edited out is the banter between songs, but it can still be streamed from the KEXP site, who do numerous great in-studios with music from across genres.

En-fucking-joy!

DOWNLOAD: TL/RX - Live on KEXP

The Offspring - Baghdad 7inch

A little 3-song EP (4 track, Im not counting the Blurb) from after the "Self-Titled" album and before the "Ignition" album, it has the original version of their cover of "Hey Joe", as well as an earlier version of "Get It Right" (later appeared on the Ignition lp) and an updated version of the song Tehran, titled "Baghdad", and a little instrumental song/sounds called "The Blurb."

The Offspring have long been a favorite band of mine- call it right place, right time with the release of their "Smash" album. However, it was the discovery of their back catalog soon after and more specifically their second lp, "Ignition" that hooked me. And one of my favorite songs, you guessed it, "Get It Right." I can't say that I have felt that way about anything the band has done for a very long time, with the hodgepodge of genre mashing and convolution that was "Americana" being my breaking point (Ixnay on the Hombre was a good record- hate me if you like).

All personal opinions, likes, & dislikes aside, a good little EP here from 1991, released on the legendary Nemesis Records. I had been after this one for awhile for both it being an Offspring record and it being on Nemesis (as I would like to get at least one of every release on Nemesis- don't get me started on the original version of their first lp & my unwillingness to pay supremely over-inflated prices for it). I picked this guy up for a very fair price at Amoeba in Northern California when up there for Rivalry Fest 4-5 years ago.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: the Offspring - "Baghdad" 7inch EP

Move Forward - Move Forward EP

Arizona's Move Forward play fast and driving hardcore with throaty vocals, big drums, and just the right amount of melody and well timed punch.

Certainly a sound that has become more commonplace in the last few years, Move Forward not only do it well, but with fun and flavor. The newest EP builds off of last years "The Cost of Living" 7inch, taking it's punkier sound (and almost Hot Water Music-esque at times) and putting forth the new 5 song offering that comes straight at you with a bit of a harder sound than before.
Just about the time the first two songs have got you itching to run in circles and sing along, third track "Cutting Teeth" comes along with a bit more of a slower pace and parts where the guitar drops out and just the bass and drums pound out the back beat. Definitely the late-night-drive track on the record, it gives way to the shortest track on the record "Speak for Yourself", which brings things right back to the realm of run, scream, and drive fast.

Move Forward certainly has the ability to put out quality music and if the live show matches up, you will probably be hearing about this band for awhile to come. Being that they are in Phoenix (which also gave me one of my all time favorite bands- and people, Where Eagles Dare) hopefully they will make the trip to Southern California a few times.

DOWNLOAD: Move Forward - "Move Forward" EP

MOVE FORWARD BANDCAMP

Where Eagles Dare - "Nothing In This World Lasts Forever"

Where Eagles Dare were a hardcore band from Arizona in the early/mid-2000's. Playing out what seemed like every few months, and squeezing in touring when they could, they shared their brand of fast and melody touched hardcore all over the west coast and even across the country at least once.

My first exposure to the band was supposed to be a show in the parking lot of a closed supermarket in Redlands, Ca. The police however showed up shortly after Amendment 18 played, and the WED boys who had played San Diego the day before had some ungodly amount of flat tires to make it to our part of the world. So, instead, they played in a driveway... a dirt driveway. A love affair started that night. While musically I heard more in line with a band like Stretch Arm Strong (don't tell me that you don't hear it too), they played a Misfits and Operation Ivy cover that night and it just sealed the deal.

In their existence they made it back to Southern California pretty often before splintering into various other bands (Red Son, George Moshington, and Royal Monsters to name a few) also managing to release an EP, LP, Split EP (with Nor Cal's Set it Straight), appearing on a few comps, and an unreleased demo (and yes, a 3-song demo that I've been told  I will be killed over if I ever share it). I can say that, without a doubt, there is not one instance I can think of in the 12-15 times that I saw this band, where the energy level was ever anything below maximum and the show anything less than great. Good people with good things to say and music & songs that only got better as they went along. Really, enough can't be said about this band, so I will stop before I say too much.


The download includes everything that, to my knowledge, they ever did.

1-13 : To Come From Nowhere Full-Length
14-17 : Split with Set It Straight
18-19 : 2005 September Demo
20-27 : In A Thousand Words or Less EP
28 : Unreleased
29 : Coastal Flooding Vol 1 7inch comp.
30 : Live at Sylvan Park - Redlands, Ca (The Porcelain Plate Incident)
31 - 33 : Not the Original Demo (or is it....???)

NOTE: I did somehow manage to upload a copy of Intensive Care Unit that has a modified beginning from when I was playing with the levels of the September demo (and had changed the intro riff to what you hear now)- there's nothing fancy or special to that version of ICU, but I realize it will throw the track list off a little. Whoops!

DOWNLOAD: Where Eagles Dare - "Nothing In This World Lasts Forever"

By The Grace of God/ The Cause - Split 7inch

This split 7inch sees By the Grace of God in their later stages (this track would appear on the Initial Records re-release of their "Three Steps..." ep which included that ep plus assorted comp/split songs) with a song that starts of with a piano and spoken intro before the song kicks in with a mid-paced beat and those signature BTGOG era Rob Pennington vocals. A bit longer on the BTGOG side of things, this track shows another side of the band as they are able to continue a somewhat crawling pace throughout the song with momentary bursts of noise.

The Cause, from San Diego, bring a bit of a faster and more straight forward attack with their two tracks. A little punch and heavy riff or two thrown in with vocals that go from spoken to screamed in the same sentence are their formula. My first exposure to this band was their split with fellow San Diego-ians, American Tragedy, a very good CD if you can track it down. (If you can, post it. My burned copy has suffered through the years). The second track from the Cause shows off more of their heavy and even somewhat noisy side. Stop and go music that gives way to a pounding beat before again falling apart into a frantic guitar and vocal combo.

All in all, a very worthy little 3 song record. This can't be posted without giving a big shout to Big Brian from TFC/Xibalba because he had actually bought this at a show and I convinced him to sell it to me instead, on the condition that I make him a copy. Well, its been awhile, but here's your copy (haha).

DOWNLOAD: By the Grace of God / the Cause - Split 7inch 

Third X Party Records Ad

Leaving little to doubt about whether or not Third Party Records was a Straight Edge affiliated label, this nice silk screened ad was tucked inside of one of the 7inches I have that this label released. I'm sure many people probably pass off a lot of stuff that they did as somewhat generic youth crew revival, but they did have some diversity to the label. Besides the diversity, I loved that "generic youth crew revival" stuff. At least two TXP releases have already made appearances on this blog and there's bound to be a few more. Nick Baran, thank you!

As I Look to the Future Comp. 7inch

Just a quick one for everybody. I picked this comp up by chance a few months back based soley on the fact that it was a few bucks and had an early Bane song that seemed to pre-date the 7inch that the song appears on (though it did appear on their demo tape).

Sure enough, the song, "Lay the Blame", doesn't sound like the demo tape version (granted I have a rip of undetermined origins).

The other three bands are okay, but nothing here to really go crazy for. It is a nice glimpse into some things going on a while back as the bands are from all over (Texas, Mass, NY, and CT) with a little punk and some HC. Bane is by far the winner for me, but perhaps some of you also get to pick up a song from a local band you loved (because I myself am of the same type and definitely have some bands in my collection that I wouldn't like if they weren't local bands I had been raised on)

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: As I Look to the Future Comp.

Jellyroll Rockheads - "Kill Trend Thrash" Demo 7inch

Thrashcore with a Rock N' Roll twist. My first exposure to this great band from Japan was on the Barbaric Thrash Vol. 2 comp on 625. Their song "Road to Ruin" (which an earlier version features here on this demo) stood out for the higher pitched vocals and the kind of jangly, loose approach the band seemed to be taking to their brand of hardcore.

Fast, screaming thrashy hardcore that was often driven by the drums as the guitars started, stopped, washed over the sound with feedback, before restarting again. Guitar solos mixed in with the short blasts helped define them in their short existence.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Jellyroll Rockheads - "Kill Trend Thrash"