Video: Life Sentence Records showcase 1996

In 1996, Life Sentence Records had a showcase for the label at Showcase Theater in Corona, CA.  I transferred everything that was on a VHS that I have, but some of the sets are definitely incomplete.  If anyone out there has video of the full sets, please get in touch.

XCLEARX

Eighteen Visions

Focal Point

Lifeless

Excessive Force

Xessive Force - Vengeance Is Mine

 

Here's the Excessive Force - Vengeance Is Mine 7" from 1994 when they were using the alternate spelling of 'Xessive Force'.  Three tracks with great production.  I always loved how punchy their recordings sounded.  It was perfect for their mosh laden jams.

Excessive Force - Vengeance Is Mine

[1994 - Life Sentence Records]

http://www.mediafire.com/?74vji37a6djwy61

stickfigurecarousel

If you listen closely to some the song "a bundle of sticks" on the s/t record from Southern California's STICKFIGURECAROUSEL, you will hear parts reminiscent of the song "those who were" by Excessive Force. The reason for that is because two dudes played on both recordings.
Stickfigurecarousel was formed when Justin McMahon and Joe Addeo decided to leave Excessive Force to start something more fulfilling. They recruited Sean Brummel on bass and Dan Sena on guitar, who were both playing in the band Palefire.
The musical direction was more melodic and discordant than most of what was being played in southern California at the time. It was more akin to Threadbare and Unbroken, but still had that "heavy" feel. Chad Stroup was soon recruited to take vocal duties. Mixing raspy screams with clean vocals was not anything groundbreaking, but again was a breath of new air into the chug-filled mess that was hardcore in 1996. Chad was a big part of the San Diego hardcore scene, and had to travel by train to practice with the band. A few short excursions throughout California were done, but the band never toured.

Joe Addeo left and was replaced by Keith Divel, who had also played in Excessive Force, but was known as more of an "emo" kid, playing in a local band called Derailed.
The band put out a s/t record on Nothing Left records before friend Steve Aoki decided to start putting out music by his friends, and released a 7" and eventually a split with the German band Linsay.

A 7" was also released on Schema and a song appeared on the As The Sun Sets southern California hardcore comp.

Stick Figure Carousel - che cafe from keith divel on Vimeo.

The band had a tough time keeping things together for one reason or another, and eventually just decided to call it quits. Dan Sena went on to play in Bullet Train to Vegas. Chad, Justin and Sean formed The Dynamic Seven, who put out a 7" on Indecision Records before continuing on to other projects.
Both Dan Sena and Keith Divel started careers as DJs.
Every song the band recorded was given to me by Chad, including a recording of the band's last show at the Che Cafe.
STICKFIGURECAROUSEL

Record Review: Distressed - What's Been Handed To Us

If there is one thing I appreciate, its a band who puts effort into their releases. Whether it's a demo or a label release, the effort a band puts into the release shows me how dedicated they are and how much they care about what they are doing. Distressed has shown me (for the second time) that they are a band with an agenda and a message that they want to spread. The band is the only band that has actually sent me physical copies of their releases twice to review which shows me that they are passionate and believe in what they say, something that goes a long way with me. The band released this themselves on both CD and 10 inch format. I have yet to see the 10 inch but the CD looks great coming in a cardboard type digipak, silk screened on both the inside and out as well as on the actual disc. As before, the lyric sheet includes explanations of what the songs are about.
If you missed my review of their demo a few months back, click here to go back and read it. The band has made leaps and bounds in progressing their style of 90s influenced hardcore. The band kicks off the first track, "What's Been Handed To Us", with a solid build up into an Excessive Force influenced chug with a Culture lead. The band's chug style also reminds me alot of some of the newer bands like Gather or Seven Generations. As the record progresses, I hear so much of a Culture influence coming through. The recording again is top notch with the levels being topped off at what seems to be just right.
Lyrically, the band continues dealing with topics they feel strongly about including the government but the fact they included a song about racism is something that made me happy. I have felt that racism has made its way back into the hardcore scene, whether it be joking or not, and should be addressed on a grand scale. Its nice to see the band standing up for something that I agree with.
My only gripe with this is its only four songs, one being an instrumental. This is what happened with the demo and it left me wanting more. I really don't know why they haven't been picked up by a label yet because I see them doing big things in the future. Overall, a great second effort and I'm very excited to see what the band has in store next.

Distressed on Myspace

EDIT: A few people asked where they could pick this. Here's a contact email for the band...that would be your best bet.

Distressed Email

FULL CONTACT

If you don't know or have any interest in Xessive ForceX, then i suggest you stop reading this right now, because you just won't get it.

Yes, E-Force is more revered now than when they were around. They WERE "popular" at the time, it's true, but they weren't held in the same regard that they are now. I'm by no means saying that they were an IMPORTANT band, per se, but ask anyone who reads this blog or posts on it's forum, and they will tell you that they can't get enough of the chug.

Well, before Dan Gump went away to serve his country, before he started Life Sentence records (which did indeed put out seminal 90's hardcore records, and continued to until 2005?) he sang for a band called Full Contact. This was when he introduced himself to people as "Skinhead Dan from Chicago". Full Contact recorded a demo, which has been featured on BRING HONOUR OR WALK AWAY, but the quality of that demo makes it almost utterly forgettable.

Marc Jackson sent me a few more tracks, which were transferred to digital by Keith Divel (who was a member of E-Force and Giveuntilgone). Marc was recruited to play drums by Gump after the first incarnation of Full Contact imploded. Marc described the recording debacle of recording these songs to me
"Dan told me I could use Billy Hayes' drums and cymbals, he was the drummer for DEAD WAIT. So we go to his place first thing in the morning, wake his as up and Dan tells him "hey, we need to use your shit, Marc doesn't have his drums", so that was awkward. Luckily I knew Billy and he knew Dan, and knew Dan was a liar 98% of the time.
After the recording I wasn't allowed a copy because I didn't pitch in. Then that fucker went to japan for the marines, and I quit to join REFUGE full time. He told everyone I got kicked out, and then started E Force.
Also, he gave all the dudes in that band our recording and told them to use one of the songs, which I'm pretty sure made it on to the full length."

The songs "intro/ Shallow Graves" and "Backtrack" were from this recording session. These, along with "hate", "misguided" and "last time" were never officially released.

The original bass player of Full Contact has created a MySpace page, which has pretty good versions of the recordings of the other songs, and they first demo? He is also disgruntled from Dan Gump, so don't bring it up. The page has tons of cool pictures and flyers.
Full Contact on MySpace

Full Contact lost recordings

Decontaminate - Cleanse and Burn

Dan Gump's band after Excessive Force. Angry? Yup. Straight edge? Yes sir. Metal? Oh hell yes. Released by Life Sentence Records.

*NEW LINK*

Decontaminate - Cleanse And Burn

Excessive Force - In Your Blood

Angry as fuck straight edge hardcore from Dan Gump, founder of Life Sentence Records.

Excessive Force - In Your Blood

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CLA2XO4V

Absone / Decontaminate

Absone / Decontaminate 7"
I got a request for this one. Absone play the late 90s style of Euro vegan metalcore, and they do it quite well. I never managed to pick up any of their other stuff, so if you happen to have their mcd in mp3 format, please hit me up! Decontaminate were Dan Gump's band after Excessive Force, but don't expect tons of chug and gang vocals here.
http://www.mediafire.com/?1mthu2mmnmi