Against The Current

EARTH CRISIS - To The Death (Century Media)

Earth Crisis. Now there's a band. Like Integrity they have a solid back catalogue bar one or two records. They reformed a little while back now and this new record "To The Death" has been out for a while too. I did a cheeky download of it when it was released and never really gave it any attention. I blasted it in the van with the lads recently and it is a corker. Production wise (courtesy of Tue Madsen) it's very thick and overproduced, but this plays well to ExC's sound perfectly. You've got songs about the amount of casualties the drug dealers cause through gang shootings and the drugs they actually deal, songs about drunk drivers and vegan til death. Classic Crisis. Karl's vocals sound even better on this record, when I first heard them I thought he sounded like a barking dog, certainly one of the most recognisable voices in hardcore.

In related news, I hear the drummer from Fallout Boy is filling in on their current tour, fair play for still being vegain sXe mate.

Six Million Ways To Die But You Can't Choose One It Chooses You

COLD WORLD - Dedicated To Babies Who Came Feet First (Deathwish)

Last time I went to Belgium with the band we played Antwerp, yeah it was with xArmed For Battlex but that is inconsequential, because there was a sweet distro there where I spent over 60 euros on vinyl. I'll be putting those up if I ever catch up with the new shit I've been purchasing.

Anyway, we went to Belgium again this weekend and the second show was in Roselare (sp?) in the H8000 area. I walked into the venue, it was a matinee show with Worms Feed and Sundowning, and beside the stage was the ame distro from Antwerp. I instantly got both excited and scared, this is because I really wanted to pick up some new records, but I only have 50 euros that I swore was for emergencies like food etc as I've got enough records to listen to at home. Well as everyone knows, you can never have enough records and this is what I picked up.

I didn't get Cold World at first, back in 2003 I think it was, Sandwiches played the EP to me and I shrugged it off as rubbish. It didn't take long for me to realise I was totally wrong, they mis ?Hip Hop with Hardcore and are just spot on with their samples. Ice Grillz was a banger, it took a while for the follow up to come out on Deathwish and when it did I snapped the CD up in HMV, always meant to pick up the LP and sell on the CD version but never saw it on a distro and ordering direct from DW or even Reflections (works out dearer from the Netherlands, go figure) was expensive.

The artwork doesn't have all of the band on it like the CD, the pictures of them looking like a Gap ad, but I like the style of the art, just photos of random weird looking old men and kids, brilliant. Vinyl is solid white, always a good thing. Listened to this yesterday, forgot just how much I love it. Recommended.

Running out of space...

Yeah so I've actually run out of space in my two 7" boxes (shoe boxes)and i need to get either a third box or something entirely different to store them in. I'm going to start looking around but I also need something for my LP's, I'd rather have a cool box to flip through them rather than have them side on.

Hmm.

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.