Saturday, December 29, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : ,

Recently, a kind reader from Switzerland sent me a package with a nice selection of demo tapes and CDs in the mail, and within that box was both Powerhouse demos.  Yes, there was another Powerhouse from Florida, but this Powerhouse was from Oakland, CA.  They played NYHC style hardcore, but gave it their own West Coast spin.  Playing throughout the Northwest a lot in the mid-late 90s, my friends and I always enjoyed when they would come up here, as they put on a great show.  Also of note is that Powerhouse's bass player, Ernie Cortez, passed away a few years back.  He was always an incredibly nice guy, and he is sorely missed by many.

All that being said, here is Powerhouse's first demo from 1994.





Powerhouse - OBHC
[demo 1994]

Friday, December 28, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : , ,
Starting today, Deathbed and Another Mistake will be embarking on a tour that will take them across a large portion of the United States.  Check out the dates on the poster below, and catch a show in a city near you.


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

 A few weeks ago, we posted about a new band, Gut Feeling, that features ex-members of Catharsis and Undying.  The recording previously mentioned will now be released as an EP, and here's word from the labels.


Gut Feeling is a new hardcore band consisting of various members of older hardcore bands scattered around the North Carolina area (Catharsis, Undying, Nightbear, etc).  Musically these guys deviate from the previous more metal-laced endeavors and the only part that really carries over from the previous is top notch song-writing, structure and musicianship. Gut feeling does a great job bringing back anthemic hardcore in the vein of bands such as Champion, Comeback Kid, Modern Life is War, etc  think fast polished hardcore punk with melodic guitar overtones, a tasteful spattering of gang vocals and sing along parts.

They recorded a 4 song EP in November 2012 (recorded by Kris Hilbert/Legitimate Business and mastered by Brad Boatright/Audiosiege) and then made it available online shortly thereafter. Headfirst! and Bitter Melody having worked together before and already looking to do another project together - briefly discussed interest in putting out this EP on vinyl.  A few days later we got together with the band, and it was decided Headfirst! and Bitter Melody would co-release this EP as their first projects of 2013!  With the combined artistic talents of the band and both labels involved you can expect this to be a top notch release for the start of 2013!

You can stream/download the EP for free at their bandcamp: http://gutfeeling.bandcamp.com/

Gut Feeling has started booking shows and can be contacted at gutfeelingHC@gmail.com

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Posted by Anonymous |
Hey everyone! I'm back with my SECOND post here on Stuck In The Past. Believe me, I plan on posting here more often but shit (life) gets in the way man! Anyways, here is an interview I did with Nathan (I am Heresy/Boysetsfire). I did this interview in September of 2012. My band (Inner Dam) played a show with I am Heresy in my home town (Newburgh, N.Y.) & I was blown away by how great they were live. Nathan was more than happy to do the interview and as you will read it is pretty in-depth. Having been a big fan of Boysetsfire I have had a lot of these questions in my mind for a hell of a lot of years. I mean....Boysetsfire...The politics, the passion. The singing/screaming combo (from a guy who can actually pull it off!) and the breakdown/stomp parts! Anyways, check out I am Heresy. They are a band worth your attention. On that note, I hope ya dig the interview. You can always check out my zine site VISTA FANZINE and check out my band INNER DAM. "Like" us cause hell....We "like" you!
John Vista~

Vista: Hey Nathan. Can you give us the current lineup of I Am Heresy? Also tell us the history of the bands as far as ex members, year started, what has been relased so far and what's still available?
Nathan: OK...CURRENT LINE UP: NATHAN GRAY: VOCALS
CRUMBS: DRUMS
GREG KAUTZ : GUITAR
MATT BALOG: BASS
JAY SIN: GUITAR
THE BAND WAS FORMED BY JONAH LATSHAW (JOSH OF BSF'S SON), SIMON GRAY(MY SON), AND ME...WE SET OUT TO WRITE A BUNCH OF LOUD AND FRANTIC SONGS THAT MADE US HAPPY...SO WE DID. ONCE I DECIDED TO GET MORE SERIOUS WITH IT, I GRAB ON TO ALL THESE OTHER GOONS TO HELP ME OUT, AS SIMON AND JONAH ALL READY HAD A FULL TIME BAND (THATS THE SHORT AND SIMPLE ANSWER)..NOTHING BUT SOME DEMO STUFF RELEASED SO FAR, BUT WE HAVE OUR FIRST ALBUM COMING OUT ON MAGIC BULLET RECORDS ON OCTOBER 3OTH. IT WILL BE OUT ON CD, DIGITAL, AND AWESOME BLACK AND GOLD SPLATTER VINYL.
Vista: I Am Heresy has some new material coming out. Tell us about it? Album title, how many songs, record label? As far as this new recording goes, where was it recorded and how long did it take overall as far as begining to end process?
Nathan: YUP..THINK I JUMPED THE GUN AND JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT IT HAHA..IT IS SELF TITLED, AND CONTAINS 9 SONGS. IT TOOK FOR FUCKING EVER..NOT SURE I CAN EVEN REMEMBER OR CARE TO REMEMBER THE PROCESS, BUT IM GLAD WE ARE FINALLY DONE, AND THIS ALBUM WILL FINALLY BE AVAILABLE. IT WAS RECORDED, MIXED, RE-MIXED, MASTERED, RE-MASTERED, AND BASTARDIZED ALL OF NEW JERSEY UNTIL WE WERE FINALLY HAPPY WITH THE END PRODUCT.
Vista: Have you guys done a lot of touring for I Am Heresy? As a band are you able to tour or are you just doing long weekends? Is this band full-on as far as touring goes?
Nathan: NO TOURING YET, BUT WE DEFINITELY INTEND TO. WE WILL BE DOING WEEKENDS, BUT ALSO WANT TO DO FULL TOURS IN THE US AND EUROPE TO START. THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AS FULL TIME AS THE BAND WILL ALLOW US TO BE.
Vista: "I Am Heresy". Where did this name come from? I know from past projects that you have been in, lyrics and themes seem to mean a lot to you and tie together. What are the thoughts behind the band name?
Nathan: THE NAME COMES FROM THE VERY FIRST SONG WE WROTE, AND REALLY ENCAPSULATES THE VISION BEHIND THIS BAND. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH BSF TALKING POLITICS AND REVOLUTION, BUT HONESTLY HOW DO WE DEFEAT TANGIBLE REAL-LIFE AUTHORITY FIGURES, WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO RID OURSELVES OF INTANGIBLE GODS THAT WE CREATE IN ORDER TO BE SUBSERVIENT. WE WANT RULERS SO BAD THAT WE WILL LITERALLY MAKE THEM UP OUT OF THIN AIR? WHAT HOPE DO WE HAVE? UNTIL WE STOP LYING TO OURSELVES ABOUT ALL SEEING, ALL KNOWING, AND ALL LOVING SKY DADDYS THAT THROW TEMPER TANTRUMS OVER WHAT WE DO WITH OUR GENITALS..WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONFRONT MAN MADE TANGIBLE POWER THAT SEEKS TO CONTROL US.
Vista: What bands have influenced the band? Also, speak a little bit on behlaf of the other guys in the band. What bands/artists have directly influenced I Am Heresy?
Nathan: WELL LETS SEE. A LIST OF INFLUENTIAL BANDS WOULD PROBABLY LOOK LIKE THIS: DEADGUY, DRI, CELTIC FROST, AT THE GATES, BLACK FLAG, DEATH IN JUNE, CHRISTIAN DEATH, INTEGRITY, JOY DIVISION, THE CARPENTERS, AND ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS.
Vista: What was you first connection to punk/hardcore? How old were you and what bands really first grabbed your attention? Also, what was the first punk/hardcore show that you ever attended & what year was that?
Nathan: LETS SEE...I'D HAVE TO GO WITH BLACK FLAG. A FRIEND OF MINE DRAGGED ME OUT OF MY HAIR METAL YEARS WITH A COPY OF "IN MY HEAD"..THEN TOOK ME TO SEE THEM PLAY AT AN ELKS LODGE IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND EXCITING ALL AT ONCE. I WAS NEVER THE SAME FROM THAT DAY ON. I SCARED THE LIVING SHIT OUTTA ME BUT I COULDNT STOP.
Vista: Vocally, who have really influenced you early on and even as far as today? Can you name a handful of vocalists that inspired you to be vocalist? Have you ever taken vocal lessons? Do you play any other instruments?
Nathan: AS FAR AS VOCAL STYLE I REALLY CAN'T THINK OF MANY...BUT AS FAR AS WORK ETHIC, PRESENTATION, IMAGE, AND JUST THEIR ABILITY TO GRAB THE RESPECT, FAME, OR INFAMY THEY DESIRED I WOULD HAVE TO LIST DAVID BOWIE, SAM MCPHEETERS, PRINCE, JOHN REIS, AND HENRY ROLLINS TO NAME A FEW. I PLAY A LITTLE GUITAR...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REALLY PLAY IN A BAND. JUST HELPS WHEN WRITING.
Vista: You were in a band called The Casting Out a while back. How did that band come together? It was also a big departure from Boysetsfire as well. Was that a big transition for you during this time period? Also, why did The Casting Out come to an end? I'm not completely sure but It seemed like The Casting Out came to an abrupt end?
Nathan: THE CASTING OUT WAS A STRANGE PHASE I JUST NEEDED TO GET OUT OF MY SYSTEM. IT WAS FUN, RIDICULOUS, AND SHORT LIVED...THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. IT WAS VERY QUICK AND VERY ABRUPT. I TRIED TO HOLD IT TOGETHER, BUT HONESTLY IT JUST DIDNT END UP BEING WORTH IT..CONSTANTLY HAVING MEMBERS QUIT. WAS JUST TIME TO MOVE ON. MAYBE ILL DO ANOTHER ALBUM OF CASTING OUT SONGS...BUT NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Vista: I have been a big fan of Boysetsfire for a long damn time. So, I have a bunch of questions that I have wondered about. Ok, here is the first one. When I listen to the radio and a Rise Against song comes on...I always say out-loud...This band sounds like they ripped off Boysetsfire! Every single time I hear one of their songs I really do think that it is Boysetsfire. Any thoughts? Is it just one example of how history skips over the original band that paved the way for another band to smoothly ride down that road and stumble upon success {hit songs}?
Nathan: HAHAHA...YOU AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE MY FRIEND. IT IS WHAT IT IS. MOST BANDS WE TOOK ON THE ROAD ENDED UP GETTING BIGGER THEN WE DID..WHY? NO CLUE. I DONT REALLY BOTHER WORRYING ABOUT IT THOUGH HONESTLY. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I LOVE WHAT I DO. I BRINGS ME JOY. I LOVE MUSIC, AND WILL BE DOING IT TILL I DIE. IF 30,000 PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT? AWESOME...IF 10 PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT? JUST AS GOOD. I AM GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING I HAVE INTO WHAT I LOVE. SOME WILL CONNECT WITH IT AND SOME WILL NOT, BUT I WILL STILL BE OVERJOYED THAT I AM DOING WHAT I LOVE.
Vista: Boysetsfire I'd imagine could write a good sized book on the experience you guys had as far as dealing with different record companies/labels. Just to name a few labels: Conquer The World, Equal Vision, Victory, Wind-up, Burning Heart, Initial...My question is: You have had tons of experience from really small labels to "Big Biz" labels. Are there any big differences? The common thought is that the "Big Biz" labels are the sharks {scumbags} but in reality are some small labels that claim to be "for the kids" just as bad, if not worse? This all being said, what advice would you give to a young band out there that are weighing thier options from a few labels?
Nathan: JUST THINKING OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA SIZED ANSWER I WOULD NEED TO GIVE TO THAT QUESTION EXHAUSTED ME HAHA..SOMEDAY MAYBE ILL WRITE A BOOK...BUT I DOUBT IT. YEAH, LABELS ARE LABELS ALL AROUND..SOME GOOD AND SOME ROTTEN REGARDLESS OF BEING "INDIE" OR "MAJOR"..THE ONE LABEL I'VE FOUND THAT DESERVES HIGH PRAISE IS MAGIC BULLET RECORDS. BRENT IS ONE OF THE MOST UPSTANDING LABEL/BUSINESS OWNERS IV HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING, AND HE PUTS OUT ONLY SHIT HE LOVES COMPLETELY. IF HE CANT BACK IT, IT AINT BEING SOLD FROM HIS LABEL. GREAT DUDE..GREAT LABEL. MY ADVICE? READ THE FUCKING CONTRACT YA MORON!!! ITS SIMPLE. DON'T COMPROMISE. WITH FACEBOOK, ITUNES, BANDCAMP ETC. YOU DONT NEED SHIT FROM ANYBODY. DO YOUR THING AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO WITH ALL YOUR HEART. DONT COMPROMISE AN INCH OF YOUR INTEGRITY AND PRIDE. THIS IS WHAT IVE LEARNED FROM MAKING ALL THE BIG MISTAKES. KNOW WHO YOU ARE WORKING WITH, AND FUCK EM IF THEY DONT WANT YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.
Vista: Boysetsfire were commonly known as being rooted in political lyrical content. I know in the 90's that was what a lot of bands were doing {or at least attempting} but you guys obviously did your homework on many topics and to use a slang term...You guys had your shit down! But in the 2000 era when the terrorist attacks happened and everything that was happening post-9-11...You guys were really cranking up the political stances and my question is: looking back on this time era it sure seemed like you guys pissed off everyone! Personally, I didn't have a problem with it. To me that is what the hardcore scene should/is about as far as having a band {or zine} bring ideas and thoughts to someone who may not ever have thougth about certain topics. Was there a backlash from your political stances? Did it light more of a fire in you to be more vocal in between songs when you guys played live and in studio recordings?
Nathan: OH YEAH..THE LABEL WANTED VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH US AFTER THAT ALBUM. THERE WAS A DISCLAIMER STICKER ON OUR ALBUM AND EVERYTHING. I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO GIVE A FLYING SHIT WHAT ANYONE THINKS OF MY OPINIONS. THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT. YOU HAVE ONE FUCKING SHOT AT IT, AND IF YOU DONT SPEAK UP...YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE. I TEND TO TRY TO KEEP THE BANTER BETWEEN SONGS TO A MINIMUM UNLESS IT IS ENERGETIC AND HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF INCITING. OTHERWISE IT JUST GETS BORING, PREACHING, AND DISTRACTING.
Vista: As of this interview {Oct. 2012} what is the status of Boysetsfire? I think I have seen on the internet that Boysetsfire has done a few shows in Europe? How is the band perceived in Europe as opposed to here in America? What are the plans for Boysetsfire for the near future?
Nathan: BOY SETS FIRE IS HAPPILY AND PRIDEFULLY A BAND WITHOUT A PLAN. WE ARE A BAND, BUT DONT INTEND TO BE PART OF THE "MUSIC BUSINESS' WHATEVER THAT IS OR THE RAT RACE TO STAY CURRENT, PROFITABLE, AND A VIABLE PART OF THE SCENE. WE JUST WANNA PLAY AND WRITE MUSIC WHEN THE IMPULSE STRIKES US. WE INTEND TO BE PASSIONATE, INTENSE, AND LIVE BY THE SEAT OF OUR PROVERBIAL PANTS FROM HERE OUT. YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE
Vista: Going back to I Am Heresy. You have your son playing guitar. I think that is awesome. I have spoken to a few people about I Am Heresy and I have mentioned that your son plays guitar and most people actually don't believe me! As if I would just randomly make that up!? Hahaha. How is it working with your son...In a band situation? Is it a seemless situation or do you two butt heads?
Nathan: HAHA..YEAH, AS I SAID HE WAS IN THE BAND..WROTE SONGS, AND PLAYED ON THE ALBUM THATS COMING OUT, BUT HE IS NO LONGER IN THE BAND. IT WAS HONESTLY AWESOME THOUGH. HE IS SO INCREDIBLY TALENTED, AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF HIM.
Vista: I know earlier I asked you about your first exposure to Punk/Hardcore but I am wondering what was your very first exposure to music in general? What bands/groups would you say? Also, did you have a family member or friend that you would say introduced you to music early on in your youth?
Nathan: MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS MUSICALS...WEST SIDE STORY, MAN OF LA MANCHA, AND LES MISERABLES...STILL FAVORITES OF MINE. I COULD PROBABLY STILL SING EVERY LINE.
Vista: You have been involved in the music scene for a hell of a long time. What is your opinion as far as the Hardcore scene these days? Is it the way it has always been? Is it the same shit, different decade type of feeling? I always seem to go back to my memory and come to the same thoughts...In the 90's there were so many political/social bands/zines that people got burned out on all of it. Then the mid to late 90's came and it became "cool" to not care about anything!? Bands like Blood for Blood {just as an example} made it cool/fun/hip to not care about anything, "fuck the world/fuck society/fuck you/white trash". I guess maybe it was a reaction to what was going on? By the early 2000's...It sure seemed like bands didn't have any stances on anything. Maybe it was the world changed so much in the early 2000's and the bands broke up and/or moved to major labels?
Nathan: EH...SHIT IS WHAT IT IS. I TRY NOT TO PAY ATTENTION REALLY. I FIGURE WHAT OTHERS DO ISNT ANY OF MY BUSINESS UNLESS IT STRIKES A CHORD WITH ME. I JUST TRY TO KEEP MY EYES IN MY OWN GAME, AND LET OTHERS BE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE.
Vista: Outside of everything that is involved with being in a band: practice, recording, traveling & so on....What are your interests and hobbies?
Nathan: WELL...I WORK AS AN EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I MOSTLY WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND DOWNS SYNDROME. I INTEND TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR DEGREES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY. BETWEEN THAT AND MUSIC...I HAVE NO TIME FOR HOBBIES HAHA.
Vista: While on tour what are your top 3 essential must-have items?
Nathan: Advil. Water. Cell phone. Fuck you, I'm old! Ha.
Vista: This is a question that I ask often when I do interviews just cause I love to hear varried opinions. What are your top ten favotite bands/albums of all-time? It doesn't matter what genre...Just your personal top-ten?
Nathan:
1. CHRISTIAN DEATH- ONLY THEATER OF PAIN
2. BORN AGAINST- NINE PATRIOTIC HYMNS FOR CHILDREN
3. BLACK FLAG- IN MY HEAD
4. THE MAN OF LA MANCHA- SOUNTRACK (PETER O'TOOLE)
5. DAVID BOWIE- LET'S DANCE
6. THE SULTANS- GHOST SHIP
7. CELTIC FROST- MONOTHEIST
8. JOY DIVISION- WARASAW
9. FEAR- MORE BEER
10. METALLICA- MASTER OF PUPPETS
Vista: I think I read that Boysetsfire have had songs on baseball and wrestling video games? Were you guys involved/consulted in that happening? I guess a better question is: did you guys receive money for this or at least some free video games!? Do you have a favorite wrestler and baseball team?
Nathan: WE RECEIVED SOME ROYALTIES, BUT I THINK A OT OF THAT WAS MORE THE LABEL THROWING US ON SHIT FOR PROMOTION. I GOT A FREE TIGER WOODS GOLF GAME AND NEVER PLAYED IT....CAUSE ITS GOLF. MY FAVORITE WRESTLER WAS ALWAYS LORD HUMUNGUS...MOTHER FUCKER CAME OUT TO WAR MACHINE BY KISS!!! YOU CANT BEAT THAT SHIT. IM ALSO A PHILLIES FAN WHEN IT COMES TO BASEBALL, AND A DIE HARD PITTSBURGH STEELERS FAN.
Vista: Over the years you have done some interesting cover songs. There was "Live Wire" by Motley Crue, "Holiday in Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys and "Rocket Man" by Elton John. Have Boysetsfire ever done any of these songs live over the years? Does I Am Heresy do any cover songs? On that note, what other cover songs have you done over the years?
Nathan: WE ALSO DID "I AGAINST I" BY BAD BRAINS, WHICH WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE COVER WE EVER DID. IF I AM HERESY EVER DOES A COVER, ID REALLY LOVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT EXPECT.. LIKE THE CARPENTERS OR CURRENT 93.
Vista: Nathan, thanks so much for your time. I appreciate it. Any final words?

Nathan: THANK YOU SO MUCH...THIS WAS A VERY GOOD AND DETAILED INTERVIEW. IF I MISSED ANYTHING, OR YOU WOULD LIKE MORE CLARITY ON ANYTHING..LET ME KNOW.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Posted by xjustinx |
Shai Hulud have put out a new track called "Reach Beyond The Sun" from their forthcoming record of the same name, which will be released on February 19th, 2013 via Metal Blade Records.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under :

Here, we have the Barrit demo tape from 1996.
As you can see from the scans below, there wasn't a lyric sheet or track listing that accompanied this tape.  All I had to go on was the fact that Godless Disease was recognizable, as it was re-recorded for the 7", and a brief mention of two other song titles on the old tripod website.  So, I guessed at which songs were which, and the fourth is just titled as "Unknown".  I spent quite a while trying to track down someone that could help me out with pinning down all of the song titles for sure, but everyone that I contacted has either forgotten over the years, or just didn't get back to me at all.
There's also a little bit of noise towards the end of track 2 that I couldn't seem to get rid of after numerous attempts without ruining the overall sound.
Regardless, the songs are all rippers, so enjoy!





Barrit - Demo '96

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : , ,
Major labels, guarantees, etc. are things that have always been highly contested within the realm of hardcore.  From 80s originators being courted by major labels to the legendary Sick Of It All / Born Against argument, it's a subject that will likely never go away, and it was as prevalent as ever in the 90s as well.  Exposure from fests like Ozzfest had label scouts knocking on the doors of many heavier hardcore bands, but there was also a contingent that hated the likes of Victory Records and their roster of bands.  The arguments usually accused them of being no different than a major label and the bands as being money hungry.
Here's a handout that printed the rider for Earth Crisis and Strife that I would place somewhere around 1995.  Rife with spelling errors, it still conveyed the author's anger.




In all fairness, here's something Chad Peterson of Strife had to say in reference to tour riders of that time period - 
"When we toured with Earth Crisis we had the same agent, Tim Bohr. He sent the riders out to the clubs. Ours was kinda funny because we would ask for things like chocolate milk and stupid shit but it was more in the vein of we knew we would never get it. Have you ever looked at the Smoking Gun website and seen the craziness some of these bands ask for? It was more along those lines. We were shocked if we ever rolled into a town and a promoter ever filled our rider (this happened maybe twice that I can remember) and they would always be nervous about it until we said we really don't care. Food, water, soda, cocaine were all we really cared about (minues the cocaine). If anything we didn't start "beefing" up our rider until after we toured with Sick of it All and they were putting things on theirs like fresh socks and power bars. The bottom line is none of that shit matters when you are up there playing. That is what you are there for and when you leave the venue after a show you talk with your band about the show.. not the rider. I do work for a promoter down here and this rider pales in comparrisson to what some of these touring bands that maybe just put out a record ask for."
Posted by xjustinx | File under : ,

In preparation for a full discography CD that should be seeing the light of day relatively soon, In Vinyl We Trust has just released an Atlas Shrugged 7" with two newly recorded tracks.

Here's a small writeup from the label/distro:
As our first release I am extremely excited to offer you a brand new 7" from 90's hardcore band Atlas Shrugged. I first became aware of AS in 1996 in high school when I picked up their split 7" with New Day Rising and became an instant fan. Fast forward sixteen years later to when I saw that the band had recently recorded two songs written in the 90's and was looking for someone to release it. Seemed like a no-brainer for me and thus the label for In Vinyl We Trust was started. The two songs "Smile Song" and "My Kingdom Purgatory" retain the vintage Atlas Shrugged sound while expanding into further post-hardcore/progressive territory. For fans of: Burn, Quicksand, Smile and Voivod
The white vinyl version is limited to 100 hand numbered copies.
The red vinyl version is limited to 200 copies.
 
Side A: Smile Song
Side B: My Kingdom Purgatory

I also asked Chris Weinblad to give a little perspective as to when these songs were conceived, as opposed to their actual recent recording date.

Both songs are from earlier runs of the band.

SMILE SONG is basically the last song we had worked on before the band called it a day in 97/98. A few little extra twists were put in but for the most part the music and the lyrics are what we were working on before Mark moved to California and the band called it a day.

MY KINGDOM PURGATORY is a song that musically dates back to our demo days in 1992. Why we never recorded it with the demo is still a mystery to me. The lyrics were written specifically for this newly recorded version, as the original lyrics were eventually used for our song "Dreamking".


Monday, November 26, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : , , , ,

Gut Feeling is a new band out of Raleigh, North Carolina and they just recently recorded a demo that is available via bandcamp with the price tag of 'name your own price'.
With 4 songs that scream by at right around 8 minutes, these songs have slightly more of a punk influence than one might expect from ex-members of Undying and Catharsis.  Primarily uptempo song structures propel each song forward with vocals that sit somewhere right between a yell and a scream.  Lyrically, I'm reminded of some older Crimethinc bands with songs about desperation giving way to hope for a better day.
Give their demo a listen, and toss a few dollars their way if you're so inclined, as they intend on doing some touring throughout 2013.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012


Falling Action came out of Redding, CA in the late 90s, and played some great melodic hardcore.  As far as I know, all they ever recorded was a 4 song demo, which is a bummer, because some of the other songs they were playing live sounded even better than the demo tracks.
Their old Geocities site is still available for viewing here, and I suggest having your speakers on for some awesome midi songs to soothe you.

I got to see them twice here in Portland, but unfortunately couldn't make the drive down to Redding for the final show or the reunion show.  They were always cool guys to hang out with, and I've been fortunate enough to still keep in touch with most of them to this day.


Falling Action - 1998 Demo

There was also a second version with different cover art:

Although I'm not completely sure of what all the members are up to musically these days, here's a brief rundown of what some of them were doing right after the breakup of Falling Action.
Zachary and Daniel played in the metal/hardcore band After The Fall
Rusty moved to San Francisco and played guitar for Breaker Breaker
Azy and Jesse moved to Boston.  Azy played bass for a brief spell with In My Eyes before becoming a founding member of both American Nightmare and Panic with Jesse.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : ,
Printed by Kyle Graydon, and a couple of other guys at various times, Even The Score was a zine that gained some notoriety for its content and for shirts like "If you're not now, you will be."  There was also a short lived record label under the same name that released 7"s from fortydaysrain and Falling Down (Day Of Suffering).  Here are .pdf versions of the first three issues.  I believe that a fourth was planned, but never saw the light of day.

 Issue #1


Issue #2


 Issue #3

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Posted by xCHIPxSEM | File under :

I apologize for my lack of posts lately...the pains of being an adult have caught up with me but Andrew from Strife hit me up to let us know they've teamed up with Schecter to give away a free guitar. See the info below:

Win a free guitar from Strife and Schecter!
- Post the below image to your instagram with the tags #strife #schecter #6131 and #witnessarebirth
- Follow Strife on Facebook (Winner will be announce via Facebook)
- Enter as many times as you like! 1 post = 1 entry

Good Luck!

WITNESS A REBIRTH OUT NOV 6 ON 6131 RECORDS!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : , , ,
 Undertow "anti-zine" from the early 90s.  Word has it that it was perpetrated by Ron Brotherhood.



Sunday, November 4, 2012

Posted by xjustinx | File under : , ,
I was recently listening to the Union - You Fell For It 7" and I realized that aside from owning the 7" and the In The Shadows CD on Ferret, I really know nothing about the band at all.  So I tracked down Union's drummer, Mike, and he was able to give me a full retrospective of the band, including download links for the entire discography.


     The band got its’ start in the fall of 1994 at the University at Buffalo.  You had a bunch of guys from the NYC area going to college 400 miles away from home who decided to do a band in a town that was new to all of us.  When the band began we were originally called Facedown.  By late fall of ’94, we cut a 3 song demo on a 4 track, recorded by our buddy Ed from the band Gathering Ground, the Network Sound band.  The songs were a strange mix of Outburst meets Black Train Jack.  Very odd in hindsight.  We played around locally with literally anyone since we were the new dudes in town.  The lineup of the band at this time included myself, Mike Jeffers, on drums, Keith Brown on vocals, Vic Lazar on guitar, and very briefly, Jeremy Mazgaj from Envy(New Direction Records), on bass.

     By the time the winter/spring of ’95 rolled around we had written some new songs and decided to go record them at a new studio in town called Outer Limit Studios.  This studio was terrible.  The engineers knew nothing about what we were trying to do.  The one engineer never got the memo that it was 1995 and whenever he came over to the board, his sack would flop out from beneath his nut huggers right in someone’s face.  We recorded 4  tunes and decided to release them as the Indignation EP (cassette/self-released).  At the same time we added Ben Kumpf on bass.  We also decided that a name change was in order since there was always confusion between us and the Canadian Facedown.  The songs were a mix of 2 re-recorded tracks from the first demo and 2 new tunes.  The new songs were more aggressive, but still had a confused vibe to them.  We hadn’t found our sound yet.  We continued playing around the Northeast and writing new music. We also self-released a live tape during this time of a performance at the University at Buffalo.

The school semester came to an end in May of that year and we all returned home to the NYC area for the summer break.  We all worked and had little contact with one another.  We headed back to Buffalo in the fall and decided to get to work.  We felt we needed to get more serious about the music, play more shows, and most importantly get a 7” out.  Our friends in Despair (Trustkill) had recently released a demo, and were about to put out their first 7”.  We figured

we would just follow their lead and do the same thing.  So we went to Watchmen Studios with produce/engineer Doug White and recorded 7 new songs.  These songs were so focused and so tight compared to what we had done the past year.  This is the point at which I feel we had narrowed down our “sound.”  Recording with Doug was a turning point because he is a legend in the Buffalo HC scene.  He’s worked with everyone from Despair, Snapcase, Brother’s Keeper, Death Threat, Another Victim, Disciple, and pretty much every band I have done in the past 20 years.  Recently he even has gold and platinum records from the Gym Class Heroes.  “Captain Cruch” really knew how to tighten the reigns on our band.  Plus if you recorded with Doug, his Mom would hook you up with food.

  We took 4 of the songs from the session and released them on cassette as the “Demo ’95.”  We then took 1 track from that demo and the remaining 3 we recorded and put them aside for the 7”. Our friend Dave Cohen asked us if he could release our first record on his new label called Knowledge Records.  We were ecstatic.  Dave went to school with us and was also a fellow down-stater from the Island.  The music was shipped off to Erika Records for pressing and we anxiously awaited the arrival of our test presses.  After a few weeks we came to find out that Erika Records had lost the DAT and that we would need to send a new one.  Doug at Watchmen Studios couldn’t get us in because he was so busy, and we wound up going to some cut rate studio to get a new DAT for the pressing plant.  This posed a problem because the engineer talked us into remixing for vinyl.  Bad idea.  Dude loved Fog Hat and gave us way too much reverb on the remix.  We got a new DAT and sent it to the pressing plant.

     While we were waiting to get the 7” out, I decided that I needed to get our demo out to as many people/places as possible.  I would travel to shows all over the Northeast handing demos to anyone and everyone.  I was home for Thanksgiving and I went to see the Beastie Boys play with Sick of it All at Coney Island High.  I brought a shoe box full of demos to the show and

walked up and down St. Marks handing out demos.  I also used to drive to any record store within three hours of NYC to put demos on consignment.
     The test presses arrived shortly thereafter, and we had the final version of the record by December.  This was great, but we didn’t have covers printed up along with the vinyl.  My father worked out of the Time Life building in Manhattan as a printer/graphic designer so I spent a few days that December cutting and pasting together the artwork and laying it out.  I had access to color copiers and all the card stock I wanted so I ran off the all of the covers and inserts over several nights.  DIY as all hell.  It was done, so now Dave from the label started getting the record out.  The first show we sold it at was in NYC with us, Snapcase, Deadguy, and Mouthpiece at Coney Island High in January of 1996.  The show as great, we played awesome, and we sold a ton of records all during what was to be known as the Blizzard of ’96.  How we all made it to the show, let alone people to see the show made it there, is beyond me.   A ton of snow for NYC.  We did a release show in Buffalo as well that February. The 7” was called “Shall Fall.”

     We definitely needed a second guitar player to make things a bit heavier.  We added Scott Sprigg, a close friend of the band, on second guitar.  This beefed up our sound immensely, and Scott was as hard working as the rest of us.  He helped book shows and promote.  New songs were written and we continued playing shows.  Scott got a hold of Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studio and we headed out to Boston to record the new tunes.  This was April of 1996.  Five songs were recorded over the course of a weekend. We sent our new demo out to every label that was worth a shit at the time.  Josh Grabelle from Trustkill suggested that Carl Severson from Ferret Records would be into what we were doing. Sure enough Carl was, but he wanted to do a MCD for us so he needed 2 more songs.   

We headed back to Watchmen Studios during the

summer of ’96 and re-recorded two old songs for the record.  Dave Spataro took photos for the record.  He was a friend that often took Snapcase photos.  Matt Dente from Despair handled the layout, and Carl Ferret started running some ads.  We scheduled a dual record release show for us and Despair to coincide with their Pattern Life release on Trustkill and our Ferret release.  In true hardcore fashion, neither of our records had arrived by the day of the show.
     The CD’s arrived a few weeks later, and we began playing to promote Union’s new MCD, “In the Shadows” out on Ferret Records. The MCD was Ferret Records #5.  This was such a great time for the band.  Playing better and better shows, ads/reviews in zines, and our music listed in distro/catalogs like Very, REV, and Lumberjack.  I remember being at a record store in Buffalo when a fax from Victory Records came in and they had us listed as a distro title.  We felt like a real band!  We had a nice buzz around the band at the time.  We did a Winter Tour in January 1997 with Despair, Brother’s Keeper, and Turmoil.  Such a good time.  Great shows.  We played with so many great bands on that tour in addition to our tourmates:  Battery, Floorpunch, Autumn, Earthmover, Cast Iron Hike, Enkindel, etc.  Tour went well.  We got great receptions. We came home on such a high.  Then our guitar player Vic decided he wanted out and to play Indie Rock.  Typical 90’s.  So Vic was gone, and we added Rob Antonucci on guitar in his place.  Rob was a huge fan of the band and a great guitar player. He was younger than us all by a few years but he was so into what we were doing.   His first show with us was trial by fire.  It was Union, Sick of It All, and AFI.  Massive crowd.  Great show. Rob pulled it off well.


We went into Watchmen Studios to record our next record for Ferret, a 7”, called “You Fell For It” (Ferret #7).  This record was a step forward for us in the writing department.  I think we finally lost our NY vibe and started to take on something a bit different.  We recorded four songs, and by mid-summer 1997 the record was out.  We did some awesome shows over the summer and by fall had no concrete plans.  Out of nowhere, Keith and Ben decided they wanted to hang it up since they were graduating from college in the spring. It was over very abruptly.  Me, Scott, and Rob were stunned/bummed out.  But most hardcore bands burn out in a two year window and we had 3 solid years.  We accomplished a good deal in a short period of time:  several demos, a live tape, two 7 inches, a MCD, and appearances on comps, and a movie soundtrack.  We toured and or played shows with the best bands of the time, some of them in their infancy.  The band was all fun, no business.  It was the first and last time I would experience bands from that perspective:  innocent, unbiased, unjaded.


Post Script
     Since the band ended, Scott, Vic, Rob, and myself have stayed fairly active playing music. Keith and Ben aren’t very involved with the scene.  After being in Union, Scott Sprigg joined Buried Alive (Victory), played in Stand and Fight (Bridge 9), and has recently joined the Dear and Departed (Equal Vision) and lives in LA.  Vic Lazar has been in a number of indie bands after his time in Union.  Currently he plays in the band Patrons of Sweet.   Me and Rob had a band called Dead to theWorld right after Union.  We put out a full length on Jamey Hatebreed’s Stillborn Records in 2000 called “Beyond this Sterile Existence”, as well as a split with Kid Gorgeous (Eulogy) on Canada’s Redstar Records. Rob was in the band Building on Fire (Hex) and is currently playing with Achilles (Hex) also.  I have been playing in the metal band Herod for the past 12 years also.  We’ve released 5 records on labels such as Lifeforce, Dark Harvest, Sounds of Revolution, and Too Damn Hype.  Also, between 2006-2008, I had a band called Face the Panic with Jay from Slugfest (Initial) and Aaron who used to be in ETID (Ferret).  We put out a CDEP called “For the Lifers” on a small label called Luchador Records, and a full length called “The Reclamation” on Reaper Records.  I currently play in Area Denial, a more HC Punk band with Mike from Slave State (Slap a Ham), and Biff from I Object (Alternative Tentacles).  We just released a S/T tape, and have a 7” on the way via Feral Kid Records.  Herod has a new record coming out on Dark Harvest Records any day now, and I have a project with Rob from Union, Brian from Despair(Trustkill), Chris from Chokehold(Bloodlink/CTW), and Eric from XNo ReasonX(Immigrant Sun)  about to record a full lengths worth of material.  I still fill in for bands as well, and do studio work/projects.
Me, Rob, and Keith from Union are all married parents.  Rob and I are both teachers.  Keith works for Catholic Charities.  Ben uses his Economics degree for something, I’m not sure what, and Scott is always making money somehow.


 Discography 

Facedown demo 1994


Indignation EP 1995


Shall Fall 7" 1995

In The Shadows CD 1996

You Fell For It 7" 1997


Live Tour 1997 [previously unreleased]