Throwdown

I remember first hearing of Throwdown thanks to my friend Nicky (Left With Nothing) having their demo tape. If I recall correctly, they may have played a show together while LWN was on tour. As silly as it is, "Box Your Face In" was definitely my favorite track on that demo, but I never got my hands on a copy for myself. Fast forward just a month or so, and I got a very random instant message from Chase Corum, who had found me simply through AOL member searches, because I had Adamantium listed in my profile. I had previously ordered the Adamantium 7" from him, and he proceeded to tell me that he was releasing a 7" for Throwdown, so I didn't hesitate to order two copies (oh how I miss the days of AOL hardcore chat and actually sending money orders/checks to receive records in the mail).

Throwdown's first show @ Van Beek Rockatorium. Keith wore a robe and boxing gloves.

Chase was kind enough to recall some memories from those early Throwdown days, and share them with us:

"Throwdown recorded the demo and s/t 7" in the same session during the Summer of '98. Javier VanHuss (who had replaced original guitarist Jake Sahagen) was supposed to record but quit the band in order to attend the Sunny Day Real Estate reunion in Seattle with a bunch of us. They replaced Jav with Brandon Schieppati who took part in the recording.

The session produced 8 songs. 4 would go on a demo and 4 on a 7". I told them I would release the 7" with one stipulation -- that "Decay" be included. I think they chose the other songs based on the seriousness of the lyrical content -- songs like "Box Your Face" and "Get Sick" were both pretty ridiculous so they ended up on the demo. (On a side note, the lyrics to "Get Sick Motherfuckers" were thought up one day at the beach in Balboa by our friend Austin "Sven" Ahlgren while brainstorming ridiculous things for Keith to say onstage in order to incite 'the mosh').

Paul Miner recorded it and did the layout. The front cover photo is actually 2 pictures combined into one. If you look behind Schieppati you can see Rosey (Adamantium bassist) looking towards the drum riser and standing next to himself filming.

Other notable photos include the picture of Keith from PCH Club where Jav is playing guitar wearing a SOIA wifebeater and an eye-patch (!). This was one of the rare live Jav appearances, along with a show at Koo's where he wore a rasta-dread hat. I actually just watched video of this show.

The pic of Schieppati is from the infamous "Crime Scene" show at Aaron Stone's house where one Gorman brother went through a sliding glass door and another physically threw Dom's girlfriend off the roof, resulting in the presence of authorities. I just watched this video, too. Hopefully I can get both on YouTube soon.

The 7" was released at "The Newport Takeover 2" at Showcase Theater in October '98. I believe this show was the debut of the Throwdown Dance Team shirts, a ridiculous concept that, like any great idea, was both loved and hated.

Pressing info:

Test Pressing -- 15 on black (all with different covers)

"Too Crushed" cover -- 134

Clear Vinyl -- 100

Red Vinyl -- 300

Black Vinyl -- 600

White Vinyl -- 1000

Orange Vinyl -- Approx. 40. I was going to do a MarcIE tribute pressing (because he loves the color orange), but he was out of the band before I got around to it. They now sit in a box somewhere.

Thanks for letting me take this trip down memory lane.

-- Chase / Prime Directive Records"

Chip recently acquired a copy of the demo, and sent it to me for conversion.

Throwdown - Demo [1998]

http://www.mediafire.com/?mjoqcftljky

Throwdown - self titled 7"

[Prime Directive Records - 1998]

http://www.mediafire.com/?tnwiojin2an

Record Review: Abandon "The Death Of Urgency"

When I first heard of Abandon, Justin told me there was a video of them covering Morning Again's "Stones". Obviously, I was extremely excited. I watched the video and was impressed. I later found out the band was relatively young (their ages) and that they could actually play their instruments. It was refreshing to hear a group of young people who fell in love with the 90s hardcore sound and were able to put a fresh take on it. I ordered the demo directly from the band which took some time to show but it was worth it.I messaged the band to tell them that I was into it and that I would do a review for it. Fast forward 7-8 months and I received an email from Francisco asking if I'd like to review the full length. Of course, I said yes.
The record opens with "Walls" which has some serious Unbroken worship (Life.Love.Regret era) with its chugging riffs as well as some Seven Generations influence. I like that bands draw influence from their contemporaries and 7 Gen had a big influence on the current scene. "To Defy" opens with a choral march. It sounds like something you would have heard during WWII...is it? Possibly but I dont have the liner notes. The chorus is swallowed up by a tribal beat and chugging riff followed by a slower, half time feel. When the band does play fast, Im glad the drummer knows how the play the fast beat correctly. To me, there is a right way and a wrong way and he pulls it off quite well.
2 of the songs are re-recorded from their demo and they greatly benefit from the top notch production. Everything is leveled perfectly and nothing seems to overpower. Being a guitar player, I have always noticed guitar tone (and the tone on this record is great) but the bass tone is what gets me. SO HEAVY. It reminds me a lot of how Buske's tone on the Santa Sangre record sounds. Lyrically, I was given a copy of the lyric sheet but to be honest, as Im getting older, Im finding it harder and harder to pick up the subtleties and hidden meanings in songs. The lyrics are well written and thought out though dealing with personal issues as well as straight edge and veganism.
Overall, Im extremely happy with the record. I preordered it through Catalyst Records and am anxiously awaiting it to come in the mail. Pick this and go see this band if they play near you. One to watch in 2010.

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

Endpoint reunion show and benefit for Jason Noble with Cerebellum and Face Value on 5/15/10

From LouisvilleHardcore.com:

Tickets for the Endpoint reunion show/benefit for Jason Noble will go on sale this Friday (2/26/2010) at 10AM. Get down to Ear X-Tacy or jump on Ticketweb while you can. As Headliner’s has been settled on, this will almost definitely sell out. Tickets are reportedly $16 advance, $18 day of show, but I’ll be shocked if you can get ‘em that day. As Mr. Bailey points out the Ear X tickets will be cash only, but you’ll save $6-$8 on ticket “convenience” fees by paying cash.

http://www.louisvillehardcore.com/2010/02/endpoint-show-tickets-venue/

The Killing Flame - "Back To Ash"

Once again, another xStuck In The Pastx exclusive for y'all! Here is The Killing Flame song "Back To Ash" from their vinyl only Back To Ash EP released in 2000 on Coretex/Grapes Of Wrath (click here to order the vinyl). BIG thanks to Aaron over at ZENWHISPER MEDIA & RECORDINGS for providing me with this!

The Killing Flame - "Back To Ash" from the Back To Ash EP [2000 - Coretex/Grapes Of Wrath]

http://www.mediafire.com/?5mzzizhzhgg

Process - Regeneration EP (1994)

Process - Regeneration EP [1994 - Conversion Records]

http://www.mediafire.com/?n1jfyjj2niy

The Nightmare Remains... In This Other Land 2xCD compilation

Here is a cool compilation documenting the French hardcore scene in the late '90s. It was released in 1998 as the first release on Overcome Records, the label done by David of Stormcore, who are also on this double CD compilation. It features an overview of the (harder side of the) French hardcore scene at the time. The bands featured on this compilation are: A.W.O.L., Kickback, Underground Society, Right For Life, Drowning, Children, Headway, Trapped In Life, Primal Age, Seekers Of The Truth, Hang Up and Stormcore. Except Headway, all bands have 2 songs on here, and a lot of the songs on here are previously unreleased.

This is a great compilation for the most part, but some bands do stand out. I've already written all I wanted about A.W.O.L. here and here. Can't recommend this band enough. Best band to come out of France ever, IMHO. I also wrote about Trapped In Life here. The Drowning tracks are still in their old, tough NYHC meets death metal style mixed with the old singer (Jean-Marc, who also did Inner Rage Records), great stuff. Kickback doing a cover of Breakdown's 'Kickback', gotta love it. I'm also planning a post on Children, who did a superb full-length after this compilation, very creative band.

Anyways, check it out.

V/A - The Nightmare Remains... In This Other Land CD 1
V/A - The Nightmare Remains... In This Other Land CD 2
V/A - The Nightmare Remains... In This Other Land scans

Classic Records: Burn - Self Titled 7 Inch (Revelation Records)

Along with Inside Out, Burn was one of the first great hardcore bands of the 90s. Displaying a variety of styles, Burn only released one record during their short existence (this would change but lets stick with the first time they were together) but left a lasting impression on thousands of hardcore kids. For those of us not living in NYC or the surrounding areas, the band seemed shrouded in a bit of mystery. No photos in the insert, very minimal information on the band...I don't believe this was intentional but when this sort of thing happens, I feel like the band is letting the music speak for itself and allowing the listener to form their own image. The cover looks like someone watched a video of a live show, paused the VCR and took a picture of it. Nice and bright, it looks like complete mayhem.
I remember reading an interview with guitarist Gavin Van Vlack and he said how he was criticized because his new band (Burn) had an African-American singer just like his previous band, Absolution. He seemed angry about the criticism but I like the fact that he went a different route instead of asking someone who had previously been in a well-known band. Chaka Malik is the quintessential frontman.
The record begins with "...Shall Be Judged", a fast track that speaks on the idea of vegetarianism. Chaka ends the track with the now famous "We have killed and shall be judged" while the music slows down and goes in a more post-hardcore direction. My favorite track is "Godhead" featuring a slow jazz midsection which is then swallowed up by a midpaced singalong. Chaka screams "Hear Me, Im calling out. I stand by the edge". The song deals with religion as a cult (at least that what I get out of it). "Out Of Time" has been covered by so many bands that I've lost count but Death Threat definitely has done the best version.
My only real gripe with the record is I wish the guitars were louder. Everything sounds great but it just feels like the guitars could be louder. I know, I'm nitpicking but I'm just being honest. I really wish Rev would release an official discography with a remix/remaster job. The band has a bunch of unreleased songs from practices and rehearsals that I love to see get an official release. My friend Vin who runs Blogged and Quartered took the time to clean up, correctly name and number, and post the Live At CBGBs bootleg CD that came out some years ago. He also included some rehearsal tracks as well. You can check that out by clicking here. Are you reading this Revelation? Give the people what they want.
All in all, the self titled Burn record is one of the best. The band got back together in the early 2000's and recorded a new EP, "Cleanse", and the release of "Last Great Sea" (a demo that was recorded for Roadrunner if I remember correctly). They played some shows with Vic from 108 on guitar but then called it quits. I'd love to see them get together one more time...I'd fly. Bottom line, if you don't own this, get it.

Quicksand - The Movie on Double Cross

It's Quicksand (and Rage Against The Machine). It's Joe Nelson. It's Double Cross. What else do you need to know?

http://doublecrosswebzine.blogspot.com/2010/02/quicksand-movie.html

Purification signs with Burning Season Records, re-release in the works

Monster sent me some info to pass along.

Austrian label Burning Season Records is going to reissue Purification’s masterpiece “Banging the drums of war” (previously released by Uprising Records), the new version of the cd will include 2 brand new tracks that the band is going to record in the upcoming weeks.

Former guitar player and main composer of Purification, Andrea "Monster" Campanelli, had the following to say about the deal with Burning Season Records:

"As a veteran of the scene myself (i'm 36 yo) i'm honoured and very proud to work with Pat, owner of BSR,because he always managed buisness with ethics, releasing lot of bands with a positive message and never following the "next big thing" or the new trends in hxc.

I'm looking forward to a great partnership btw Purification and Burning Seasons Records, we feel like we found the best home possible for the band right now!"

Purification’s Reunion tour is scheduled for july/august 2010 and will see the band appearing at some of the most important hxc summer festivals.

More infos coming soon as well as the complete tour schedule!

Also included was some footage of the band preparing to start tracking in the studio