Stranger Places

In 2013 Strange Places released their debut 7" on Carry The Weight records. I liked it a lot and dug the sound the band was going for. Well, their back with another release and it's pretty darn good too.

Strange Places - Stranger Places

On the bands last record I said that they were mixing up metallic hardcore with stoner rock. This time round the band have ditched the hardcore tinge somewhat for a more metal flavour. Shit, in places when the band aren't in the doom/stoner mode this sounds straight up like Ride The Lightning era Metallica. Not that this is anyway bad. The bands infectious personality shines underneath all this and tells you this is a band doing what ever the fuck they want, and it's all the better for it. 

As is the case with most releases it seems at the minute I missed out on the colour version of the record and had to settle for the black version of the release out of 400.

Ego Trip

Here's another record I've been sat on for quite a while now. Where does the time go?

Ego Trip - Alter Ego

Carry The Weight Records are another label who just seem to get it right every time. This debut release from Ego Trip is another in a steady line of great releases from the label. Think early 2000's Lockin' Out style hardcore, with a whole lot of groove thrown in for good measure and your in the right ball park with these guys.

Good locking package as well from CTW what with the glorious group shot on the back and the colour theme throughout. This Green vinyl version is out of 200. The Black version is actually more limited and out of 100 but, well, you know...

A Test Of Survival

I wrote about Survival and their ace Spirit Unchained release at least three times in 2013, I was a big old fan of that 7" on Carry The Weight Records. So, when the chance came recently to add a test press to the regular copies I had I jumped on it.

Survival - Spirit Unchained Test Press

Here it is, there's not a huge amount to look at in truth. Clear vinyl with plain white labels. Inspired by Marcus I took a picture of it again with the regular cover just to make it look a bit more pleasing on the eye.

To round things off I took a picture of the test alongside the other copies I have of this record. First press on Red, Second press on Pink and Third press on Blue. I had zero desire to collect the other colours from the different pressings previously but suddenly I feel like I should try to pick them up.

Survival Blue

I've written about this record twice before so I'll keep it short. This is the third press of Survivals debut record on Carry The Weight Records, Spirit Unchained. This Record took a fair few listens to really grow on me when it was first released last year but since then I've come to really like it and it's in regular rotation of 7" records I listen to.

This is the third press on blue of 150. Here's a group pic with my first press on red of 75 and my second press on pink of 100. There's 8 different versions of this record across the three presses but as much as I like it I'm more than happy with just the one from each press.

Check it out if you've slept on it as there are still copies left of this press.

Survival In Strange Places

Back in December I wrote about the Survival 'Spirit Unchained' 7" that Carry The Weight Records put out (here). It was an awesome record that sold out fairly fast so i was lucky to get hold of one of the rarer red colours of 75. With the speed it sold a second press couldn't be long coming. I didn't think I'd bother with a second press actually but when it was announced I couldn't help but snag one.

300 were pressed. 100 on Clear, 100 on Black and 100 on Pink. I don't care for black or clear records much so I opted for the pink version. Interestingly though the black version actually seems to have sold out before the other two versions. *Correction - All copies of the second press have now sold out. On listening to this again for the first time in a few months it really is a quality release that I'd recommend anyone into their Lockin' Out style stuff to check out. I still prefer the B side though.

As I was pre-ordering the Survival record I noticed that CTW had another release up for pre-order and as they are a label that just don't seem to miss I thought I'd order that too. I didn't really need to read the description as I trust this label a lot but the little write up certainly had me intrigued 'metallic hardcore with a tinge of grunge. Think LOA but with more incense'. I like metallic hardcore and I like LOA, this could be good.

This is the debut release from Strange Places and features members of Basement and Wayfarer. It's damn good stuff too. I don't know how much grunge or LOA is going on though, not much for me, this to me sounds more like metallic hardcore mixed with doomy stoner rock. Like maybe a Black Breath with a stoner rock vibe??!?

I reckon Mike would be into this for sure. When I arrived to pre-order this the red vinyl of 100 had already gone so I was left with the standard black press of 200. Think I'll be on the look out for one of the red versions now.

The inside cover reads "Strange Places will return with : The Never-ending Road To Calbary" Can't wait!! This band could get very interesting indeed.

Carrying The Weight

Here's the latest release from what is easily one of my favourite labels in the UK right now the consistently errrm consistent CTW (Carry The Weight). Survival - Spirit Unchained

This Manchester mobs record arrived about a month ago now after I pre-ordered it as soon as CTW announced it's release. This is the red vinyl version of 75. The other colour ways are 75 on green and 150 on black. These have all sold out now.

Another solid release from CTW. The funny thing though is that I prefer the B-side and the last 3 songs to the A side. The two sides have really different vibes to me, the first 3 tracks have  a D.C hardcore kinda vibe where as the next 3 tracks seem more riffy and have a strong crossover influence . I like the last 3 songs a lot. Have I imagined the different vibe? Tell me!

Whilst I'm at it I've had 3 more CTW releases sitting on my 'to blog' pile for 2 or 3 months so I may as well include them here too. The label had a sale a few months ago and I added these 3 earlier releases to my growing collection of their releases at a very low price.

Said and Done - Weight Of The World. Red and Black splatter vinyl of 200 pressed.

Abandon Ship - Of Time's Turning Wheel. A split with Dire Records 100 on Yellow

The Hard Way - S/T. 250 on Black with a big hole

All good quality hardcore from a good label doing it the right way. Those last three releases can be picked up for £1.99 a piece from the labels Big Cartel . Get on it!

For The Sake Of Time...

...I'm gonna post up some recent 7" scores all at once. I've bought loads of stuff recently and I'm never gonna get through it unless I start grouping some stuff together. I mean I bought some Rev represses what seems like ages ago now and I still haven't posted anything up about them.

First up Sectarian Violence S/T

But no ordinary S/T release, this is the U.S Tour Version of the record

Limited to 100. I spotted this announced somewhere that the band had some left overs on their big cartel and struck fast as I was about to buy the regular version anyway. I like this band.

Next a related release as both bands feature Nicktape on vocals. Coke Bust - Live On WMVC. Released on Carry The Weight Records. This is the brown version limited to 150 copies.

Next up Cornered a band I first heard on their split with Cold Snap. Released by Carry The Weight also. This is the blue with white splatter version of 200.

I was impressed by Cornered so picked up their charmingly titled FUCK OFF! 7"on 6131 Records. This is good too, fast as hell, brutal, heavy ass hardcore.

Lastly whilst picking up the Cornered release and some other stuff I picked up Bracewar - Whatever It Takes Demo too. I'd had a download of this but not a physical copy so got the clear version limited to 300.

That's made a small dent in the stuff I still need to write about at least.