She's Got To Go

Lifetime, I bought their "Hello Bastards" CD at the first hardcore show I went to back in 2000. I'd heard they were the band that influenced Saves The Day and I'd heard a bunch of songs from that band from people playing their records at parties and shit, so I couldn't pass up the band that gave them their sound could I? Suffice to say it was a classic record and my love affair with Lifetime had been started.

Fast forward to 2006 and Lifetime had reformed, recorded a new full length and were coming over to the UK in October for 3 shows (2 of which I attended and sang my bloody heart out at). Decaydance were tasked with releasing this new Lifetime record, simply self titled, but I didn't buy it on CD, just a cheeky download with the knowledge my LP order weas in the post so I'd have the lyrics etc when it turns up. It comes through my door and guess what? No lyrics sheet, cheers Pete Wentz. So since then I've been reduced to lyrics websites to decipher Ari Katz' distorted ramblings.

A few weeks back I found out that No Idea Records were repressing their last 3 full lengths on colour vinyl. This excited me, more for the lyrcs insert than anything. So I snapped up the s/t LP with plans to order "Jersey's Best Dancers" and "Hello Bastards" at another time. Really I should have ordered all 3 at the same time as they're only $8 each and shipping would work out cheaper in bulk, oh well, nice colour vinyl though.

If a band reforms they usually just do it for a farewell tour and in the case olf old sxe bands they sound deflated and old, but Lifetime felt like they never split, everything about them live and on the new record is pure late 90's emotional hardcore. I now own two copies on two different labels, the colour hue of the cover art is slightly different on each version, I think I prefer the original ink but it's nothing drastic between the two. People should get hold of this record, according to my last.fm it's my most listened record of all time!

My Walls Surround Me Now

Integrity. I love this band, but it has to be said I don't own much of their shit on vinyl. Save for the odd compilation or split record the main albums/EP's are either long out of print or hard to get hold of and go for a shit tonne on ebay.

Crime Scene records are starting off re-releasing all their out of print records starting with 1990's In Contrast Of Sin. Over the course of the year they will be releasing "Those Who Fear Tomorrow", "Systems Overload", "Humanity is the Devil", and "Seasons in the Size of Days." Cannot wait, if they all get the same attention as this it'll be a nice little collection.

This record is less brooding and evil than their later 90's efforts but the seed is securely planted making this an excellent bridge record between the '88 old school sound and the 90's metalcore that Earth Crisis and Integ would carve for themselves.

The package here is phenomenal. Stephen Kasner silver on black screenprinted pre-order cover reinterpreting the original art, hand stamped record bag, fold out insert and the non-preorder colour has an Integ sticker on the plastic bag. Oh and the limited cover was 208/320. Tight.

"Live In Sin, Fight To Win"

The riffs. My god this record brings the riffs. I loved Hellmouth when that dropped, listened to it constantly, while it's a solid release, I couldn't help thinking it was a little under-developed. It's no way a bad thing, I mean this is hardcore and nothing is new under the sun but when a song is literally note for note a rip off of Integrity's 'Vocal Test' it's noticeable.

Into Oblivion is a band in their prime, both writing/recording wise and live. R&F around this period smashed it so hard. Now I get to finally own the record on vinyl. I'm pleased Deathwish pressed this as my CD has been sitting in a cupboard since I ripped it for my ipod just after getting it so now I'll get a chance to give the artwork my full attention.

I'm not a big fan of Bannon's aartwork, he seems to just churns out the same covers with different main images. But Into Oblivion is just so striking, definitely a favourite of his, there are the trademark splatters but the idea of Jesus' skull with the crown of thorns is a good one, the insert on this record is literally a copy of the CD version but 12" size, opening out to be three wide, to be honest I'd like to frame this, there's only text on the bottom third of the last square, I'd get away with that.

"We're All Guilty Fucking Pigs"

As far as I'm aware, this record didn't get pressed on vinyl when it first came out. I didn't pick the CD up but did a cheeky rip from a mate, seriously for the last 4 years I've not bothered with CD's, mp3's and vinyl are my shit.

Anyway, it's the best Hope Con record so far in my opinion, some people say 'Endnote' is better, but this is more experimental and gets my vote. Deathwish always do a nice job with their colourways on the wax, the quality of the card for the actual cover is real high too, none of that flimsy recycled card here. Artwork kills it, actually it's probably up their in my top ten all time favourite record covers.

"Through Prides Eyes I See Your Downfall"

The third bargain I bagged was xDisciplex A.D.'s 'Heaven & Hell' record on white vinyl courtesy of Facedown records.

I love Disciple and this record is a banger but I can't help thinking Dan Quiggles voice was either under strain from a sore throat on the recording or he was trying to change from the more visceral growl of the earlier stuff to the style he had on 'The Revelation' LP and the final 7". Either way it's still a good record, plenty or Lake Effect riffs and gang vocals. This is how mosh hardcore should be played, take note 2010 bands.

The insert is brilliant, Dave Quiggle artwork so it's going to be special, I particularly like the bit where, oh, is that Sketch's arm tattoo there? Didn't know he was a Disciple fan. Oh, he wasn't when he got it, I need a Disciple tattoo.

I've just ordered their last LP from Organised Crime records on all 3 colours, it's my personal favourite record they did, let it be said that I prefer their later work and not the first 7". I didn't realise they pressed it on vinyl as the CD was on Facedown so it was a nice surprise when I came across it when ordering an Integrity 7".

Mr Megatron, Now That The Autobots Are Gone, What Are your Plans Here On Earth?

The second of my great ebay score is Shockwave's 'Autohate' full length, I've got this on black from back in the day but for £2.24 I couldn't pass this up.

I can't decide which Shockwave record I like most, this one has them record a version of the Transformers movie theme, not the main theme mind, one of the ones you don't even notice when you watch it. Those crazy fuckers.

I've never understood the artwork though, Planet Of The Apes? I've read over the lyrics loads and it doesn't seem to be themed with that or anything so I guess they thought it'd be cool to do.

Shockwave This, Shockwave That...

I got three records through the post from ebay last week, combined before shipping they came to less than a tenner. Result.

The first was Shockwaves 'Dominicon' LP on Goodlife. I've been meaning to pick this up on LP for a while but never got round to it, when I snapped one up for £2.24 it made my week. This record has two tracks off the 7" on SA MOB and one track from the demo tape (still need to find this, I will own it one day). Plenty of awesome transformers samples all the way through, in fact every track has one without fail!

The record itself is a kind of murky green which goes with the artwork nicely, it sounds dirty as fuck too.

the one thing that narks me is this:


The insert is just the one from the CD version! I hate it when that happens, it's like they're being real lazy, vinyl is about having bigger artwork not a shitty CD sized booklet in a 12" record. Bad dog.

The beggining: Rise & Fall Demo 7"

So I decided to start a blog, really I wanted to post a whole bunch of stuff about what records I've been listening to, I like vinyl, so here goes.

I got the Rise & Fall demo 7" through this week, this is a trip down memory lane I can tell you.


It's the first release on Control Records, a limited 500 pressing, looking on their site today it seems the label themselves have sold out of their copies but there are going to be a bunch on distros and other labels sites soon. Pretty good going for a first release, but if you're mates with R&F it's pretty much a no brainer for a debut record if you ask me.

Pressing info ctrl-01:
16 test pressing sleeve / white stamped label / numbered
100 red wax / mailorder sleeve / numbered
400 black wax / regular sleeve
1 red-black split wax / regular sleeve
3 red-black swirl wax / regular sleeve

I picked up the red and the black copies, different artwork for each colour record too which is pretty cool, plus the plastic sleeve has a sticker in the top right simply stating "Rise & Fall demo 2003 Control Records number 1." Minimalist. Inside there's the usual lyrics gumph wuth liner notes from Murph and Bjorn, plus the cover of the original tape demo.

Anyways, when I said this record is a trip down memory lane I really meant it. I picked up a copy of this tape in 2003 when The Break In played H8000 fest that year with R&F, Walls Of Jericho and plenty of bands who I forget, mind you one band covered Davidian by Machinehead and me, Frye and Scott White ran into the main room and literally lost our shit. Great dane. BUt yeah I picked up the demo tape and a shirt (just the stanard R&F text, silver print, Seb SK now owns that baby), after being impressed enough the last 2 times I saw them to purchase a demo (this happens not that often bear in mind).

We listened to the tape on the way home, everyone loved it, just so dark and in your face, the vocals were much different to what Bjorn was doing in The Deal and it felt like we were listening to something really special. Incidentally, we ended up getting the same ferry as Knuckledust and 50 Caliber as they played some fest in Holland. Those dudes are fucking insane! The R&F demo lasted a few months, but my Escort chewed the bastard up, luckily I got a spare copy from Hannah who was dating Bjorn at the time, so I lucked out there. So did the kid who bought the cassette off me on ebay for 15 quid!