Favorite Records of the 90s - Wes Keely (ex-Earthmover, Walls of Jericho)

A feature I've been trying to push on here is asking people who were part of the hardcore scene in the 90s to take a look back at what their favorite record of the era is/was. This time, I caught up with Wes Keely, former drummer of Detroit's Earthmover and Walls of Jericho as well as Until The End. Here's what he had to say on the subject:

"My favorite 90's hardcore record is probably not your typical record. The "Samsara" record from Catharsis is by far my favorite record from the 90's. I think I have more of a personal connection to the band and to that record, Catharsis was the first band that I ever went on the road with when I was like 18 playing in Earthmover. The tour was supposed to be Earthmover, Catharsis, and Gehenna but Gehenna dropped off. The band and the line up they had for that record and on that tour was just the most amazing thing ever, the most angry dudes on stage taking out their rage on the world and on corporate America with dumpster diving DIY ethics you would think they were crazy. Nicest dudes, biggest hearts, I am still friends with all of them to this day.
But on to the record! Listening to it, its so thrashy and pissed and still sounds huge today. There are few records to me that I can listen to and it makes me want to sell all my material belongings and start living under a bridge and fighting against the man. This record does just that. Lost of double bass Alexei just killing it, Brian screaming all over the place, kind of in time but kind of not, Matt and Dan just wrecking their instruments with thrash and melody haha if that’s even possible! Ernie on the sidelines just waiting for his turn to rock! Over all it's easily my favorite hardcore record from the 90's. Catharsis "Samsara" get into it, this band was always under rated :/"

Wes is now based out in Seattle playing in a band called Again and Again. You can check out the band as well as some tunes by clicking here.

Apathemy / Counterfeit - split 7"

Here's a request made by Eric in the requests and reposts box on the right-hand side of this blog. The Apathemy / Counterfeit split 7" was released in 1998 on Sounds Of Revolution Records out of Ontario, Canada. I have zero info on Counterfeit unfortunately, other than that they were from Canada as well, but there's no insert with info or lyrics with my 7". Anyways, they play pretty cool and solid mid-tempo metallic hardcore, definitely don't pass up on them. If anybody has more info on them, please leave a comment! Apathemy were from Michigan and are 'famous' for being the former band of Walls Of Jericho vocalist Candace Kucsulain. And indeed, she sings on the 2 Apathemy songs on here, apart from possible demo's the only Apathemy recordings she sings on that I'm aware of. They had dual vocals, one male, one female. Overall a bit heavier and tougher than Counterfeit, even if there's some actual soft singing by Candace on here, but equally solid stuff, making this an awesome split 7". After Candace left the band, also in 1998, to join WOJ, they kept up the dual vocals by adding another vocalist, another guy this time. They followed up this split 7" with 2 albums, 'Our Decaying Remains' on No Substance Records in 1999 and 'Encased In Black This Is Forever' on Tribunal Records in 2000, as well as another split 7", with Break Of Dawn, on Dead Droid Records, also in 2000. All of them great as well. Enjoy!

Apathemy / Counterfeit - split 7"