Video: Brother's Keeper - Portland, OR [3/12/99]

Brother's Keeper's full set from 3/12/99 at the Schoolhouse in Portland, OR.

Human Animal - Dark Days video

Erie, PA's Human Animal just released a video for Dark Days, which is a track off of their self-released EP from earlier this year.

Here's what the band had to say about it on their site:

Today is the day.  It’s time to drop our new video for “Dark Days”.  We had always wanted to shoot a video for this song as it was the first we ever wrote & also the title track from our debut EP that was released earlier this year.  We had a ton of fun filming it with Tyler from Press & Release Media and we think he did an amazing job with what we envisioned.  

The video features many of our favorite spots in our beloved city of Erie, PA.  The vacant lot where all of the band footage was shot is actually the former location of an old venue called Shooters.  Many of us saw some of our first live Erie hardcore shows there over 2 decades ago.  Now we can say we played there as well even if there’s no walls or floor!  We’ll definitely be working with Tyler again in the future for some new videos. 

Human Animal EP up for free download.

Human Animal is based out of Erie, PA and features members from such Erie luminaries as Brother's Keeper, Abnegation, Disciple, Shockwave and more.  This is also EMS' first turn at fronting a band, as opposed to his normal role as bass player.

They have recorded a 5 song EP and it's currently available for free download.

Here are some links to check them out:

Bandcamp / Download / Facebook / Website

Prayer For A Fallen Angel Interview - I Stand Alone Zine #9

Prayer For A Fallen Angel is one of the best bands that almost never was. The band was a side project for members of xDisciplex, Brothers Keeper, Path of Resistance and Chokehold. They recorded an EP which was released by Goodfellow Records and were scheduled to play the Syracuse New Years show but ended up canceling (if memory serves). I can't even remember if they ended up playing a show or not...either way, here you go. Its actually multiple interviews with different members of the band, so just follow when it says to go to whichever page. If you would like a much more in depth look at the band, head over to the page that our friend EMS did for the band on Coregasm.

Switch Style - Self Titled EP

At this point you're probably scratching your head and saying "Who is Switch Style and why is Chip posting this"? I read about this band in a zine in 95 or 96 (possibly Hardware) and they were described as "if Strife were from Japan". I loved (love) Strife so I was pumped but never followed up on ordering the record. Fast forward to 2006 and our dear friend EMS (Brother's Keeper, Surprise Attack Records) posts their 7 inch on his blog, Coregasm. I was finally able to hear it and it had been worth the wait. 4 songs of total Strife/Judge influenced hardcore with a touch of "Lookinglass..." era Snapcase. Now on my second trip to Tokyo this past April, Im browsing the Used bins at Disk Union (so much amazing music, you have to see it to believe it) with my friend Koba and I come across the CD version of the 7 inch. He tells me its quite rare, not too many copies were pressed and that I should pick it up (like I needed him to tell me that). So after 14 years, I was finally the proud owner of a copy of the Switch Style EP.
Some time later, the band released an EP and "switched their style" (see what I did there?) going for more of a radio friendly sound yet still aggressive. By the time they released their full length, they were a 3 piece and playing Jimmy Eat World influenced rock. I have both of those records and I need to go back and give them a listen again. Im curious to see if this band released anything else when they were in their Strife worship phase. A demo perhaps? If anyone has any info on the band or about any other releases, please get in touch.
EMS also has this available on Coregasm so if prefer the sound of vinyl ripped to MP3, check out his post with some additional information.

Switch Style - Self Titled EP

http://www.mediafire.com/?9t4i9k9rz9om2ff

Trustkill's "Top 10 Straight Edge Lies"

Once upon a time in the 90's, Trustkill Record released some serious great and legit records from bands like Harvest, Endeavor, Brother's Keeper and Despair. As most labels do when they are starting out, they print up shirts for promotion and one of the most well known was the "Top 10 Straight Edge Lies" design. A few of them make me say "...ummm alright" but some like "my hair is naturally yellow" are good for a laugh. Definitely a good one

Label Spotlight: Surprise Attack Records (SA Mob)

If you've followed us since we changed formats, one thing I've (Chip) made clear is my love for EMS and Brother's Keeper. Always a band that was out doing something different, they were definately a band that you either loved or hated. They were one I loved and were always extremely friendly and generous, taking my old band out on tour a few times. Through this relationship, EMS's label, Surprise Attack Records, asked to put out my next band All Hell Breaks Loose and for this I am grateful. Always hardworking and always out to make sure the bands are not getting ripped off, EMS runs one of the best DIY hardcore labels in the US.
Since the start of a zine called Surprise Attack, EMS has always kept a grass roots approach to the zine and label, making very little for himself and always putting 100% back into the label. He started off with a 7 inch from Outcome and then hooked up with Erie, PA legends xDisciplex. This really got the ball rolling and he eventually released the Erie Scene Report comp as well as the Transformers loving Shockwave 7 inch/cassette. Through constant touring with Brother's Keeper, the label was able to reach a wider fan base and EMS was able to release records from foreign bands such as Coming of the New Messiah and ShotPointBlank. Never afraid to take a chance, he has released records for Japan's Loyal to the Grave and Belgium's Rise And Fall (before they signed with Deathwish). A constant supporter of all things local, Eric released the demo for Erie's Problem Solver Revolver as well as a 7 inch for his own band, Brother's Keeper.
Over the last couple of years, SA Mob has released records for Prayer For Cleansing, Die Young, Where It Ends, Seven Generations, and When Tigers Fight. Also he will be releasing the Unrestrained (Justin's band) 7 inch soon. Eric also recently purchased Forward Hall in Erie, PA. and continues to have all ages shows there, continues to play music in Smoke and Mirrors, and co-owns Ink Assassin Tattoos and Piercings in Erie (busy guy). I'm glad to have worked with him and I hope he continues to release records he likes and support the bands that are out there, working hard.

For more information, check out the Surprise Attack Records website for more info as well as the store for huge distro as well as all the SA Mob releases.