Sunday, October 20, 2013

Lifeline - s/t MCD

No, this is not the current Lifeline that is fronted by Don Foose of the Spudmonsters. This particular Lifeline was formed in 1997 in Massachusetts and as far as I know only did some demo's and this MCD. Information on this band is quite scarce, so if anybody has any more info, please leave a comment, this band seems to have gone completely under the radar. This MCD was released in 1998 by Break Even Point Records, a prolific Italian hardcore/punk label that released records by European bands as well as US bands like Endpoint, Backlash and Lifetime. Lifeline played an odd mix of raw and fast East coast hardcore with almost youth crew like vocals. It doesn't work 100%, and the vocals are definitely the weakest part of the band, but I've also heard worse. But more burly and gruff vocals definitely would've worked better with this band. Still tho, give it a shot.

Lifeline - s/t MCD

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Withdrawal - Our Piece CD

Here's another record I picked up at a distro at a show back in the day because the cover somehow hit a chord with me. And it turned out to be a great, and fairly unique, record. Withdrawal was a metallic hardcore band out of DeLand, Florida which started in 1994. In late 1997 they self-released the 'Our Piece' CD. Excellent hardcore that is very a-typical and is yet another example of the large amount of great bands coming out of Florida in the 90s. I know very little about the band, they didn't seem to get the recognition or attention they deserved unfortunately. I know they did at least one demo, as well as a 7" called 'The Same Rhythm' (the title track also appeared on a compilation tape called 'Rise Up!' that my old band Disdain was also on), but I've never been able to track down a copy of either of them. If anybody has either of them, or other Withdrawal material, please leave a comment. Especially if you're looking to get rid of it, haha... Anyways, enjoy!

Withdrawal - Our Piece CD

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Mind's Eye

Here's a post made mostly for the purpose of simply documenting a band with a ton of hardcore pedigree. Cuz really, Mind's Eye's own releases don't do too much for me, haha. Mind's Eye was a short-lived band made up of Carl Porcaro of Killing Time fame and several members of Uppercut, which was formed after Uppercut broke up in/around 1990. Despite having such a NYHC background, the band sounded nothing like their previous bands, the best description would be something like post-hardcore meets rock... It doesn't do too much for me to be honest, but it's cool to see a band try something else rather than rehash stuff of their old bands, even if it's not for me.

Their 1st 7", called 'Almond Tree', was released in 1992, it was also the 1st release on Carl Porcaro's own label, Rope A Dope Records. Their 2nd, self-titled, 7" was released in 1993 and I can handle it better than the 1st 7", esp 'Shaft' is a pretty decent track. It's really the singing that kills this band for me. Both 7"s would later be added to the re-released CD version of Uppercut's 'Four Walls' 12", oddly enough with some of the titles different from the original ones ('My Douchy Friend' is called 'MDF' and 'Sea' is called 'The See' on the CD). I don't have that CD however so these rips are straight from the 7"s. I couldn't get rid of the skip at the start of 'Almond Tree', sorry about that. Also, neither of my copies comes with an insert. I have no idea if they originally came with an insert or not.

Mind's Eye - Almond Tree 7"
Mind's Eye - s/t 7"

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Fear Tomorrow - Born In Blood 7"

Here's the only 7" by Fear Tomorrow, a short-lived band from New Milford, CT. Fear Tomorrow was formed in 1999 out of the ashes of youth crew hardcore band Follow Through together with members from another local hardcore band, Dismantle. Unlike Follow Through, Fear Tomorrow was much heavier and more metallic, somewhere inbetween Cro-Mags and Integrity. I'm not sure they even did a demo, but they got signed to Follow Through's old label East Coast Empire Records quickly who released their 'Born In Blood' record on 7" and CD in 1999. The CD, which I don't have unfortunately, has one extra track. Later that same year, Fear Tomorrow did a split MCD with the almighty Integrity, who were an obvious influence on Fear Tomorrow's sound, again on ECER. It could have gained the band a lot of attention, but in early 2000 the band folded due to line-up issues. Anyways, here's the 7", it's pretty damn good, so check it out.

Fear Tomorrow - Born In Blood 7"

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Welcome To Albany compilation 7"

Stepping out a bit from the 90s era, here's a cool compilation 7" that documents the Albany/upstate New York hardcore scene circa 1988. It was (I believe) the only release on Grinch Records, and features Substance, Insult To Injury, Face Up, No Outlet and Infectious Waste. This compilation is quite varied in style, which is always nice. Even though it's from 1988, there's only 1 youth crew band on here, Face Up, and they're actually quite decent. There's also more rocking hardcore on here by No Outlet and Infectious Waste, mid/up-tempo hardcore by Substance and burly hardcore by Insult To Injury (which might be their first non-demo appearance?). Substance and No Outlet are my favorite bands on here, but really, all bands are solid on here. Definitely give it a chance!

Update (thanxxx to my man Scott): This was indeed Intent To Injury's only non-demo appearance, not to be mistaken with I.T.I. from Chicago, as I had assumed. I.T.I.'s singer Shane is also the guy behind Grinch Records and played in Wolfpack for a short while.

Welcome To Albany compilation 7"

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Recoil - Demo '91

Recoil was one of the early 90s hardline bands, after Sean Muttaqi & Vegan Reich started it all. Recoil was from Memphis, TN, and released only this demo that I'm aware of. Members were also in other bands from the local sXe scene at the time like Raid, Pure Blood and Monkey Wrench. The demo's got some solid hardcore that's somewhere between Judge and A Chorus Of Disapproval, but with not such strong vocals, and 2 rather boring instrumental tracks. I know nothing about this band really, there is a bit of information about this band on the XCatalystX Records forum but also not that much really. Henrik posted this demo a few years ago on his excellent, but now seemingly abandoned, Bring Honour Or Walk Away blog but without scans. I've ripped it from my copy tho and included full scans. Enjoy!

Recoil - Demo '91

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

New blood: Kingpin (UK)

There's a ton of awesome bands coming out of the UK nowadays, and here's another one, Kingpin from Glasgow. With ex-members of Eviscerate AD, Rough Justice and a few more bands, this band hasn't been around for all that long, but fuck it... Their recently released demo, recorded after only 3 rehearsals with the current line-up, shows a lot of potential and promise! The 3 tracks display a love for 90s NYHC as well as more modern influences. I hope this band sticks around long enough to do some more recordings, would love to see where this band is heading... As much as I love 90s hardcore, I also love checking out new bands, and so should you!