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 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.

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.

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!

Random Records Part 2

I wasn't gonna do this again, I wasn't going to just post up a random batch of records again as I did a few weeks ago but god damn it I'm busy at the moment and I once again have to clear the blogging decks a little. If I posted these all up separately it would take me an age and frankly I ain't got the time, patience or inclination. So it might be a disservice to you dear reader that I'm not giving these records the write up they deserve, but they'll be more in depth posts on the horizon...honest.

I guess I got the records I wrote about in the earlier Eleven Random Records and the Records From Andras and this little lot all at the same time pretty much, which is why blogging about them was such a daunting task. That's a hell of a lot of records all at once. Anyway, bar I think one of these I again got all of these from the same seller on eBay.

So what we got?

Let's start with 'Margate's Least Wanted' Age Of Kali

This is their 2006 Demo and the Pre-order sleeve version numbered 78/100 on clear vinyl. Normally I couldn't willingly get behind an Ugly Kid Joe reference but that's a fantastic little play on the 90's chart botherers Ugly As They Wanna Be cover.

Sticking with the theme of English bands and limited sleeves.

This is What Hope Remains S/T release on Courage To Care Records. I'd had the regular release on black for a while now so couldn't resist this version. Decent little record for sure.

The Maiden cover version is the record release show cover on blue vinyl with the date and bands that played. I think I've seen all of those bands at some point.

Numbered 2 out of 50

Staying on these shores. Sheffield's The Legacy - Dead Weight. I saw this band a few times around 2002/2003 but never picked up any vinyl at the time (doh!). Fine band though.

Turn Cold - S/T on white vinyl. 300 pressed.

 

Next two from Iron Boots, their '04 demo and Weight Of The World. Both on standard black vinyl.

Cloak & Dagger - S/T on Grave Mistake Records. Man, Grave Mistake release some quality stuff. White Vinyl.

Outspoken - Survival, I do like those Conversion Records centre labels. The Insted 7" I picked up a while ago had the same and they look really striking and classically bold.

 

 

To round off this little lot. Piece By Piece - We've Lost Our Minds on Malfunction Records. This is the black vinyl version but I think it was pressed on blue vinyl too which I can imagine looks much better with that cover.