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!

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":

Embrace Today - "...for the kids" 7inch

You know them and whether you love or hate them, they were around from the late 90's - mid 00's releasing a handful of ep's & an lp, playing a ton, and getting a reaction of some sort out of most everyone.

Most people know them for their records starting with the EP "FYIE", however, the band had a demo, this 7inch, and another EP "Breaking the Code of Silence" before "FYIE" was released. Known for a more aggressive and metal tinged sound and lyrics that thrust straight edge to the forefront of much of their imagery for the band; they actually started out owing much more to late 90's bands like Reinforce and Fastbreak than would ever be evidenced by their later records.

This 7inch, recorded in 1999, is pretty standard revival youth crew styled hardcore, giving little to no indication of what was to come later. Positive lyrics, fast songs with little metallic-punky parts, and songs about the kids, drug free pride, and one's own perseverance over obstacles.

The follow-up to this, "Breaking the Code of Silence" EP (my personal favorite by them) would begin to showcase the harder edge of the band as it mixed the youth crew sounds with more aggression and chug. That EP will turn up here at some point, the demo as well... once I have a functional tape deck.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Embrace Today - "for the kids" 7inch

Ready to Fight - "S/T" 7inch

Exactly what I expect from a band called Ready to Fight. Fast hardcore with definite punk overtones, owing to classic Boston & California hardcore/punk bands of the early 80's. The vocals are a bit higher pitched than I would have expected, but it goes with the music. Kind of like a punky snarl over the buzzsaw guitar.

To be completely honest, I don't know for sure where I got this, it was probably on a recommendation from Anthony (Mother Speed/Restrained/Broken Patterns) when he had a distro years ago. I listened to this once or twice when I got it and then it just sat for so long. I dug it out when I was going through my most recent set of vinyl ripping & decided to give it a spin. I'm glad I held on to it. Pissed and ugly fucking hardcore punk rock. I debated long and hard about making this a Monday Morning Work Drive post, but I'd rather just get it out there (though the song 'Work Sucks' is playing right now, making it harder to resist haha). 7 originals, 1 SSD cover, 10 1/2 minutes. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Ready to Fight - "Self-Titled" 7inch