Glory Kid Records mega review

For those that are unaware, Glory Kid Records is a hardcore label run by a swell guy named Andy out of Southern California. Over the last few years, he's been putting out some solid releases on a pretty consistent basis. If you recall, the 90s was really filled with two kinds of labels, you had the likes of Victory who were trying to become more professional and were pushing units into major shopping outlets, and you had the more DIY centric labels that were pressing small numbers and putting lots of attention to detail into their releases. Glory Kid would have fit in very well in the 90s with the other DIY labels of the day. They press records in small quantities and always give them great cover art (not just a photoshop treatment) that often times are hand screened. With this being our first review for Glory Kid, we're going to focus on five of the recent releases.

Restrained - s/t 7" (GKR008)

Restrained hailed from Southern California, and on this 7", they blow through 6 tracks of heavy metallic hardcore that is reminiscent of bands like Catharsis and Gehenna. The songs have various tempo changes that keep things interesting. Going from breakneck speeds to dark, metallic dirges that don't overstay their welcome. The recording also has a perfect amount of grit to it, so it sounds as dirty as a politically minded, metallic hardcore band should.
Notes: Limited to a one time press of 600 copies, all silkscreened covers with 6 color variations, and 7 different colors of vinyl.

The Separation / Restrained split 12" (GKR010)

This split kicks of with Northern California's The Separation on the A side, and much like Restrained, they show a strong resemblance to the likes of Catharsis, Gehenna, His Hero Is Gone, and other dirty, metallic hardcore bands from the 90s. This is The Separation's first official release, and they did a pretty good job of coming out strong. The production lends to the heaviness, and the lyrics are largely of a political nature with detailed descriptions about their meaning.
Side B contains 4 more songs from Restrained, and they definitely stepped up their game in the song writing department from their previous 7". The songs contained on this split feel a little more focused, and once again, contain just enough grit to keep the songs feeling powerful, but dark. Although these two bands play a similar style, they don't sound too much alike that you begin to feel like you're listening to a full length from one band as opposed to a split 12".
Notes: Limited to a one time pressing of 500 copies in a hand screened, recycled cardboard jacket with a hand assembled lyric booklet.

Run With The Hunted - Destroy All Calendars 12" (GKR011)

I don't think I find enough good things to say about Run With The Hunted. Hailing from Arizona, they play a brand of hardcore that maintains a heavy groove throughout their songs without treading into chug mosh territory. My band played a show with these guys last year in Portland, and they present an intense level of passion during their live show. This EP contains four songs, and I really enjoy the format of a one sided 12". If you're into the likes of Deadguy, or older Shai Hulud, you'll probably really dig Run With The Hunted.
Notes: Hand screened jacket, and hand screened B-side as well.

The Separation - No Exit LP (GKR013)

After their split 12" with Restrained, The Separation bounced back with a full length also on Glory Kid Records. The recording on the full length is only slightly more polished than the split 12", and their song writing became slightly more polished as well, but in a more epic nature. The lyrics maintain a heavy political stance that come off as passionate and powerful. With 9 songs in total, this one and only full length from The Separation should stand as a pretty good testament to a great, yet short lived band.
Notes: Limited to a one time pressing of 555 copies with two vinyl colors.

Time For Change - Bye Bye Blackbird 7" (GKR014)I can still recall the first time I was introduced to Time For Change. It was 2006, and they were up in Portland playing a show with Seven Generations. I must have been in a shit mood, because I was hanging around outside, but heard a very familiar riff coming from inside. Time For Change were covering Mean Season's "Pilgrim"! I may have been the only person that gave a shit, but that didn't matter, because it introduced me to a band that deserved my attention. Here on their swan song release, Time For Change continue with their 90s influenced hardcore that brings to mind bands like Strife, Mean Season, and Unbroken. Four songs are on this 7", and they bring a great ending to a band that far more people should have heard.
Notes: Limited to a one time pressing of 200 copies with a hand screened cover, and hand typed lyric sheet.

Supply of the records reviewed here are very limited, so be sure to check out the Glory Kid webstore, and jump on top of some of these before they're gone for good.

Disembodied Chain Reaction 5/28 (Martyr AD Songs)

Happy Memorial Day everyone. Im heading out to meet up with some friends for a relaxing day but thought everyone would wanna see this. Disembodied played the Chain Reaction (their second home) in Anaheim, CA this past Friday before heading up to play Rain Fest. At the end of their set, our very own trouble maker Jav came out as did Marc Jackson and the band ran through 2 Martyr AD songs. The band just put the songs up on Youtube so here you go, enjoy. Everyone have a safe holiday.

Outspoken - Survival 7" EP limited edition colored vinyl available now from New Age Records!

I just got an email from Hartsfield saying that 207 copies of the Outspoken - Survival 7" EP on burnt orange vinyl (limited to 2 copies per order) and 30 copies of the very limited "77 Pressing" of it on bubble gum pink vinyl (limited to 1 copy per order) are available now on the New Age Records site for only $4.50 each! Get 'em while they're hot!

http://newagerecords.com/out_allmerch.html

Inside (Japan) - Demo 2010

While I was in Japan back in April, I went to see Shai Hulud who were on tour with Endzweck. I met up with them for dinner before the show started and then we made our way back to the venue which was 2 floors under the main street in Shibuya. Im hanging out with my friend Koba and he tells me I need to see this band Inside, who was opening the show. I was planning to see them anyway but went in to check them out. They seriously blew up the stage. So much energy and a killer live show. I spoke to them afterwards and they had saved a copy of the demo for me (thanks guys). I told them I would post it as a download so here it is. Keep in mind, the vocals are sung in Japanese so Im not quite sure what they are saying but I really enjoy the music...if you dig bands like Have Heart, Strife, and Trial, give Inside a chance.

*NEW LINK*

Inside - Tokyo Straight Edge Demo 2010

Shaft (Germany) - Taskmaster MCD

After the Shaft/Jane split CD got posted on the awesome Mind Intrusion blog, I offered to rip him the 'Taskmaster' MCD from 1997. So here it is, 4 songs of great death metal/metalcore with lyrics emphasizing the atheist beliefs of singer Dirk Jochums. They took the Belgian H8000 sound (even recording in one of the more popular studios for H8000 bands to record at, Studio Midas) and adding death metal influences to it, slightly similar to Deformity. This might also be why they seemed way more popular in Belgium (especially the H8000 area) than in Germany. Besides this MCD and the aformentioned split CD with Jane they also released a very limited 7" on Stormstrike Records (200 copies total).

Members went on to bands such as Allgentle, Killcast and Still Screaming.

Shaft - Taskmaster MCD

At Both Ends test press contest

To celebrate RAINFEST and the beginning of the BANE/STRIKE ANYWHERE Canadian tour, AT BOTH ENDS is holding a contest to win a mega-prize pack that includes one set of test presses from the 2x7” that includes BANE, GRADE, UNRESTRAINED and BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY.

ENTER THE CONTEST HERE
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

FIRST PRIZE/THE MEGA PACKAGE (One package to win)
In addition to the winner’s order, he/she will receive:
-1 set of test presses that includes two records from the At Both Ends double 7” included in the magazine. The test presses are for Bane, Grade, Unrestrained and Between Earth And Sky.
-1 copy of At Both Ends #8
-1 copy of Devotion’s Bastard Son Of Affluence Blues CD
-1 copy of Hanging Like A Hex zine #18
-1 copy of The Heat zine #2
-1 At Both Ends shirt
-2 limited, hand-screened prints done by my roommate.
-Assorted stickers and pins
-Optimum Wound #1 graphic novel
-REX graphic novella

SECOND PRIZE (Two packages to win)
In addition to the winner’s order, he/she will receive:
-1 At Both Ends shirt
-1 copy of Devotion’s Bastard Son Of Affluence Blues CD
-1 copy of At Both Ends #8
-Assorted stickers and pins

THIRD PRIZE (twelve packages to win)
In addition to the winner’s order, he/she will receive:
-1 copy of At Both Ends #8

This contest is open to everyone in The Known Universe, there will be 15 winners in total but only one will win the grand prize. Contest ends June 13th, winners will be announced the following week on AtBothEndsMagazine.com. If shirt size not in stock then there will be a substitution.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST

AT RAINFEST
If you’re heading to Rainfest in Seattle/Tacoma at the end of May then check out the At Both Ends distro table. There will be a set of three zine/vinyl packages on sale for $25 (instead of the usual $35), when you buy this set your name/email address will be entered in a draw for prizes.
Don’t want to enter the contest but still want a copy of ABE? Single issues will be on sale for $10 from the usual $13 along with other deals from the ABE distro.

RAINFEST WILL HAVE EXCLUSIVE VINYL COLOURS NOT SOLD ELSEWHERE. BE SURE TO PICK UP YOUR RAINFEST VERSION OF THE RECORDS AT RAINFEST.

BANE SHOWS IN SEATTLE AND VANCOUVER
Check out the Bane merch table on June 3rd at Chop Suey in Seattle and June 4th at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver for the same deals as at Rainfest.

ONLINE
Can’t get to Rainfest or either of these Bane shows? Head to atbothends.limitedpressing.com and enter the contest there. Just click on the item marked “TEST PRESS CONTEST!” and order the package, your name will be entered to win.

ENTER THE CONTEST HERE
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579
http://atbothends.limitedpressing.com/products/2579

An Acre Lost (Poison The Well) Shirts

You probably know that before Poison the Well took the name that would skyrocket them to hardcore glory, they were known as An Acre Lost (and actually Doubting Thomas before that) and released a split with Miami's Promise No Tomorrow on Ohev Records. What you may not have known is that they actually made shirts during their time as An Acre Lost. I knew about the second design but not the first. I came across the first one on Ebay about 2 weeks ago and realized that my friend Andrew Abramowitz (Drowningman, The Distance) was the seller. He was the first bass player and played on both the split as An Acre Lost and the first release as Poison The Well (not Geronimo as it was incorrectly put on the release). He messaged me and said he couldn't take my money for the shirt (see what being a nice guy as well as a collector can do for you) and would put together a package for me. What that meant, I didn't know but a week later I received a package which not only had the shirt but also the bands FIRST shirt of which about 24 were made. It was seriously such a nice gesture and while I don't see Andrew as often as I like, he is truly a great friend. Enough about me, on to the designs.

This is the first shirt the band made, roughly 24 were made. Aryeh (vocals) said they were made at Kinkos so I'm guessing it was an iron on design of some sort. The back design (second picture) is small and just below the neckline. Pretty sure that's Sabu from ECW on the front.

This is the 2nd design before they changed their name. Not sure how many were made but still a cool design. Much more in the vein of where the band was heading. No back design.
I also own a rare Goodlife Recordings "Opposite Of December" tshirt that was pressed when the band was originally going to release the record with Goodlife before they went with Trustkill. I posted it a few months back so if you would like to see that, click here.

The Beautiful Buzzards

Jason "Electric Hillbilly" Hampton, singer/frontman or member of countless '90s hardcore bands, kicks off the 2010s with, you guessed it, another new band - The Beautiful Buzzards. Rounding out the lineup are Grant Peterson on bass and Hampton's fellow '90s hardcore alumnus Barry Fader on drums. They just finished recording a 5 song demo available for free download on their website. Check it out but be warned - to quote Barry's brother Sean, "this music will punch your nuts, tool your ass and kick your face all at the same time."

http://thebeautifulbuzzards.blogspot.com/

Where Fear And Weapons Meet Interview: Open Zine #11

You may or may not know that from 2002 to 2004, I played guitar for the third incarnation of Where Fear and Weapons Meet. The band broke up in 2001 then decided to get back together and asked me to play second guitar. I had been friends with them before they started the band and was a fan so naturally I joined. This interview was originally printed in Open Zine #11, a South Florida based zine in the 90s and early 2000s. Not incredibly long but it gives insight into what the band was up to at the time (Fall 2001). The incarnations of the band are:
1. John - guitar, Jason - drums, Ryan - bass, Alex - vocals.
2. Tim and Scott - guitar, Jesse - bass, Jason - drums, Joe - vocals
3. John and Chip - guitar, Dan - bass, Jason - drums, Alex - vocals

Stuck In The Past Tshirts: Opinions?

Im thinking about making Stuck In The Past tshirts...would you guys seriously be interested in this? Id like to make a straight edge design as well as a non-straight edge design but is this worth me doing it? Readers, leave a comment, anonymous or signed in, if you think you would be interested in purchasing one.