Burn Everything - "Last Run Through the Ruins" EP

A little change of pace for myself and the majority of It Follows Posts, Burn Everything are a heavy metal/hardcore/technical/whatever you want to call it kind of band. I got this some time ago and have listened to it off and on (thanks to guitarist, Damian, for getting in touch).

The 6 songs here are heavy, technical, and have the bursts of energy and grooving parts that have become more and more prevalent in metallic hardcore. I'm not going to sit here and say things like mathcore or DEP or Burnt By The Sun- rather, its the kind of music that people listening to those bands might get inspired to play. That isn't to say that it sounds like those bands, but they could certainly play on shows with those kinds of bands. The music is not boring at all and the vocals have a good mix of clean screaming/shouting vocals to the deeper screams. The fact that the longest song clocks in at the 3:24 mark definitely helps the overall appeal of this band, for me. Many times bands can become too repetitive in beating a good riff or good idea to death, and as more and more bands seem to be trying to reign in every influence they've ever had and create some stoner tech post-metal (or whatever other clever things you might want to add in), Burn Everything play a good and heavy brand of metal/hardcore that stays fresh throughout; while wrapping it all up with the slightly introspective sounding instrumental aptly named "Crumbling Monolith".

Burn Everything proves that the wheel doesn't need to be re-invented with every single band, just as long as we don't go about flogging it with every riff and every song title along the way.

DOWNLOAD: Burn Everything - "Last Run Through the Ruins" EP

Burn Everything Facebook

I didn't include a song to play because you can pop on over to their facebook and listen to the tracks stream as you download it here. Enjoy!

Botch interview Summer 2000

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Botch probably need no introduction, but just in case you are unaware... well, if you're unaware just track down a copy of "We Are the Romans" or the DVD of their last show, and hear/see for yourself. No description will really suffice adequately- heavy, precision, challenging, technical, screaming, destructive- all are spot on elements of this Northwest unit that often gets called Mathcore. And if truly they are, then next to no other band I've ever heard called Mathcore could actually be mathcore because there isn't any way those other bands can hold the match to light the candle one would hold to them in that old analogy.

I digress, here's an interview from Status Magazine #12, summer of 2000.

If any of you out there have old zines you would either like to get rid of or share for scanning purposes (and then I would mail back to you) get in touch with me via email: it.follows.blog@gmail.com and we can talk about that some more.

DOWNLOAD: Botch - Interview Summer 2000

Indecision Records Catalog '97-'98

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Here's your Wednesday fun, a nice little Catalog from Indecision Records circa Winter 97-98. In my opinion, this is right when Indecision was really hitting that big stride they would carry on for the next 7-8 years with Adamantium, Death By Stereo, Count Me Out, Faded Grey, Ensign, Stay Gold, Time Flies, etc. Notice the mention of a upcoming Fastbreak LP. Im guessing from the time frame, it would have been the "Fast Cars, Fast Women" lp that ended up coming out on Big Wheel Recreation.

DOWNLOAD: Indecision Records Catalog 97-98

Countervail - "Assembly Line" 7inch x 2

Countervail were a heavy hardcore band from Southern California in the late 90's/early 00's. Playing what could almost tow the line between simply being heavy hardcore and metalcore, they did it in a style that pulled the best parts of both of those with a technical edge and nearly devastating melody at times. The opening track from their full-length, 'The Most Abused Word', still stands as a personal favorite and a song that can simply crush you beneath its weight while lulling you into it with moments of peace. I digress.

This ep takes two tracks from that full length along with two remixes of an earlier song, "Arrow & Tether." The remixes here are by two different artists and to be honest, for me at least, sort of just exist in their place. They aren't bad and they aren't earth shattering. The Tinfed mix seems pretty standard for taking a "rock" song and having a DJ remix it. The Mantis remix plays around a little more, but still falls in to some of the same patterns with a pretty standard beat and different elements of the song injected. I know this kind of thing caught on some and bands like Botch, Shai Hulud, & Snapcase had remixes on records of theirs- and this isn't a bad thing at all, but it doesn't always work out the greatest with hardcore bands. All the same, still worth the listen and still a record I gladly own.

DOWNLOAD: Countervail - "Assembly Line"

Devil's Night Out 7inch Compilation

So, it looks like Thursdays are going to be Compilation Thursdays, at least for the next few weeks. Expect some good ones for the next month or two.

This little bad boy is a great one from the late 90's. Recorded at the infamous Southern California club, Showcase Theatre in Corona, Ca; it features a who's who of Indecision Records at the time with Ensign, Eyelid, Adamantium, & Death By Stereo, as well as the Missing 23rd (who at the time were on Mankind Records which has strong ties to Indecision).

A real hell of a live comp and on one of the cooler slabs of wax that truly lives up to its devil's night out theme and title. It should be noted that Ensign actually does Revolution's End & First, Last, Only; with Revolution's End featuring a post Tomorrow's Gone & pre-Faded Grey Lance Wells on vocals.

It has to be wondered that somewhere out there, probably in the Indecision vaults, that there

are full sets from this show. It would make sense as the full set of Ensign eventually turned up on their collection CD a few years ago. Anyone from Indecision out there holding those or the Faded Grey, Count Me Out & Over My Dead Body sets that should exist from a Showcase show recorded for the DVD, feel free to share. They would get a proper treatment.


DOWNLOAD: "Devil's Night Out" 7inch Compilation

Proof - Blood Money EP

Heavy Hardcore from Romania. The band definitely takes from metal & metalcore bands of the past, but plays it within that tried and true hardcore format of pushing loud music to its sonic & speed limits without crossing into either pure noise or thrash territory. Guttural vocals and lyrics in english, there are definite moments, especially with the vocals, where you can catch glimpses of bands like Tragedy. Overall a fairly good ep with lyrics that deal with prejudice, tolerance, oppresion, and standing up for one's rights. Not exactly what I expected when I hit play, I must say that I'm very pleased to have had this show up in an email last week. This is the first thing submitted to It Follows from a band/musician/label. Always feel free to send your band's music to the blog for posting- email: it.follows.blog@gmail.com . You can also email for an address if you want to mail something. Enjoy it everyone, they are currently working on a new record.

Proof on facebook

DOWNLOAD: ProoF- "Blood Money" EP

**NEW** UK Blog STAY AHEAD just did a nice piece on Romanian Hardcore & Proof, check it out HERE

In Dying Days - Life As A Balancing Act/After the Fire EP's

In Dying Days has been used by a few bands in the last year or two, but from 1998-2003 it belonged to these 5 gentlemen from Quebec. Playing a brand of hardcore that definitely had a lot in common with many 90's/early 00's Florida bands; crunchy riffs, double bass, running guitar leads, and thought provoking lyrics; In Dying Days didn't appear to have a specific slant other than thinking. Lyrics that run the gamut of human existence - love, loss, growing up, dissatisfaction with something you love, disdain for your fellow humans, and a hidden Nirvana cover.

The two proper ep's here (there's a third ep that was released first and isn't nearly the same quality, but still worthy of inclusion) are:


Life As A Balancing Act (my first exposure to them) & their final release "After the Fire." LAABA shows the band fully formed, coming into their own with heavy and interesting hardcore that still keeps a fairly quick pace (7 songs, 22 minutes). The opening track, "Guns Don't Kill People, I Do" sets the pace for things (and no, it isnt a pro-gun song; its an admittance that we as people are often the most deadly weapon) and doesn't let up from there. Clear spoken vocals that quickly give way to a very clear & understandable scream, stop/start riffs, and one of the big pluses to me, a very distinguishable bass punctuation to the songs. Other standouts are "To: You Know Who You Are" , "Never Tear Apart", "Grumpy Old Men".

After the Fire is the follow up to Life As A Balancing Act & (unfortunately) the last release before the band came completely undone. 5 songs (plus a hidden Nirvana cover) that take things up a level. Where LAABA had almost a quicker mid-tempo pace to it with guitar leads running through the songs, After the Fire takes the pace up a bit more and infuses breakdowns a bit more to still draw the songs out and show off the heavy. The band was already coming to an end when recording took place, but the band had resolved to record these songs and release them prior to dissolution. As such, the songs don't bear proper titles, but rather corresponding month/day/year titles. A fine way to end an all too brief run as a band, and an example of how some bands are probably better off just doing EP's. Standout tracks: "October 10th, 2001 (1:12 A.M.)" & "July 2nd, 2002 (7:50 P.M.)". "June 9th, 2002 (4:55 P.M.)" also has a riff running through it that just makes me want to pick things up and smash them, especially as the ending refrain boils over, "Feel No Shame In Who You Are!"

The other ep included is their first attempt and is pretty standard fare, quality alone helps to trap and limit it, but I'm a completest (I think my wife calls it obsessive) and the songs aren't horrid.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: In Dying Days - EP's 

Life In Pictures - Songs from the Sawmill

Life in Pictures were a Hardcore band hailing from Prescott, Arizona. Playing on the heavier & fast side of things, they brought to the heavy sound the things that made it more hardcore than metal. While every song on this ep clocks in at above 4 minute mark, none of the songs seem to drag on- no building intro that gives way to some dramatic riff; no bludgeoning guitars that keeps smashing your head against the speakers as the song crawls past. Instead, Life in Pictures lends itself more to a simpler version of a sound like Undying had on their final album. Fast, heavy, and certainly able to punish you sonically, but without screwing around with you for half of the time. Play the song, add a well placed breakdown or temp change, maybe the occasional pause, but ultimately, come, destroy, leave. Screamed vocals with some distortion to them & intelligent and socio-political lyrics rather than just garbage or whining about who hurt you.

Life in Pictures also released a full-length (by the sign of the spyglass) that I remember not being very fond of. It didn't hit like this, seemed a little too thought out almost. It might also be that some bands are simply better with an EP than an LP. Either way, they were a very fun band, having seen them playing on both the EP & the LP, neither times disappointed. Full of energy and non-stop the whole time. They played a local show here in a park Gazebo that involved ceramic plates being broken (not by them) and they were great sports about it; especially considering the weirdos some of us locals could be.

Almost all of the band went on to be in the band Hour of the Wolf, while another is in the band the Swim.

Old Band Myspace & LastFm Page


DOWNLOAD: Life in Pictures - Songs from the Sawmill EP


UPDATE: Finally got to scanning, here are the cover/booklet. Click through to bigger scans, enjoy!