Carry Nation - Face the Nation

Sorry, No Monday post. Bit of a crazy weekend- worked Saturday, found out we're having a boy, just a little bit going on- heh.


Carry Nation were a long running, little output Hardcore band from Southern California. Featuring members of TONS of hardcore bands at the time (and since); inc. running concurrently with No For An Answer & Insted, with whom they shared members. While surely fitting in with those bands, they took a bigger sound and bigger voice and put a twist on the standard late 80's sound.  Drums near the front of the mix, building bass lines, and a mid pace to some songs that wasn't yet quite so prevalent for bands that weren't heavier. Carry Nation also took on some larger subjects than the average hardcore band; but to expect less from a band fronted by Dan O. would be foolish.

Aside from this little 4 song 7inch they had two live tracks on Nemesis Record comps, a live version of "Protect & Serve" and the otherwise unrecorded "Temple Walls." It's too bad more wasn't recorded, Temple Walls shows a growing sound and members have said in interviews many years later, that the direction Carry Nation was headed was exciting.

DOWNLOAD: Carry Nation - "Face the Nation"

Voicebox - "Silence Lies" 7inch

Another entry in the list of bands & projects that fall into the category of "Dan O'Mahony" bands. From well known acts such as No For An Answer & Four One One (411 "Discography" on It follows HERE) to smaller bands like God Forgot, John Henry Holiday, or this little two track record.

Teaming up with Chuck Treece, professional skater and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire (McRad & Underdog), to put down two songs of rocking hardcore. The first song, "Cold Inside" is the standout track for me, with is running guitar leads and slight groove in the guitars; it calls up thoughts of some of the later 80's Bad Brains as well as bands that would come later in the 90's Post-Hardcore explosion.

Another release from Dan's Workshed Records (Blackspot "Check Out the Helmet" being another posted here already), this one was done towards the end of the 80's with Dan doing vocals & design, Chuck handled all of the music. A good little studio project and it would seem the birth of Dan's Silence Lies references (he runs a website now and referenced it in a Speak 714 song). Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Voicebox - "Silence Lies" 7inch

Blackspot - Check Out the Helmet 7inch

Blackspot were a hardcore band from Southern California in the early/mid-90's, playing a brand of hardcore rooted in the traditions the bands before them, but definitely making use of their present day surroundings. Fast & driven songs with huge back-up vocals that also had a distinct crunch and chug to the riffs.

This little 7inch EP came out on the ever eclectic Workshed Records which was the brainchild of Dan O'Mahony. Check Out The Helmet fits in nicely with many of the other releases of the label; which like this, are definitely hardcore, but different than the norm (old school or new school). Different is usually good; it is here.

Blackspot would also appear on the Ammunition Records (Mankind) 7inch comp. & Indecision

Records "Guilty By Association" comp. They would also release a split 7inch (Banana Split) with Triceratops on Bastille Records. Expect the split 7inch in the foreseeable future as it was ripped & scanned the same time as this 7inch (and is actually playing right now).



DOWNLOAD: Blackspot - "Check Out the Helmet" 7inch

Band Myspace maintained by their drummer.

Inc. a Scan of the record, I love the little drawing on it.