What Holds Us Apart?

Awwwww sheeeeet!!!! Man was I stoked to pick this one up. It's the first time I've ever had a copy of 'What Holds Us Apart'. It's nice to land such a classic. Trouble is what do you say about it that hasn't been said before? Nothing, you just let the pictures do the talking I guess.

Chain Of Strength - What Holds Us Apart

This is the reissue by First Strike in 1991. Second press of 500 on black vinyl. Weirdly, I just looked down and realised I was writing this in my Chain shirt too. 

90's Hardcore Scores

Only one post so far this month?!? Bare with me folks, I'll be back getting stuff up here more regularly soon. A new job and trying to fit in some much needed social time with friends has left me with little time to blog. My passion for it hasn't dwindled though believe me and as usual the records are still coming in thick and fast. Anyway, you didn't come here to read about me, on to the records.

So a few weeks ago I noticed on eBay a dude was selling off a pretty hefty collection. I think the metal records he had were what I noticed first, but sure enough like most of our metal brothers it soon became clear he had a decent smattering of hardcore records tucked in the collection too.

Madball - Set It Off

I can't tell you how excited I was to see Madballs awesome debut full length sitting there for sale. I've wanted this ever since I started collecting again but it rarely shows up. I wasn't going to let it escape this time and I put in an absurd bid that I knew no one was going to match. Boom it was mine! No fancy coloured wax just a classic record on black vinyl.

Much to my surprise bareing in mind the age of the record I was pleased to find that the record still contained the sticker that's advertised on the front of the record which was also a nice touch.

Madball - Demonstrating My Style

The good times didn't end there, not only was the guy selling Set It Off but he also had a copy of the follow up and equally tricky to find 'Demonstrating My Style'. I'd got the two Madball LP's I didn't have in one foul swoop! 

On further inspection of the records being sold there was a few more I wanted, in the end I nabbed two more.

Black Train Jack - No Reward

Mike over at 'The One Thing That Still Holds True' wrote about Black Train Jack a couple of years ago. At the time I was intrigued because I remembered the name but had honestly never heard the band before. I listened to a couple of tracks online somewhere and made note to pick up a copy of their records if I ever got the chance.

Two years later I had the chance to pick up both records but I took my eye off the ball and missed out on the bands second record 'You're Not Alone' and someone beat me to it. I did grab the debut record 'No Reward' though. I've really enjoyed listening to the record actually, it's good stuff. I can see why at the time the band would have kinda got lost in the mix though. I still want that second record!!

Earth Crisis - Gomorrah's Season Ends

Driven by the price I also figured it would be rude not to pick up an original copy of Earth Crisis 'Gomorrah' Season Ends'. Another good record. I pretty much lost touch with Earth Crisis after 'Breed The Killers' but I do like this early stuff from the band.

In the end a great little score of four.

Dead End

Was it just me or did this latest Violent Reaction release kinda sneak up on you? By the time I realised it was out I'd missed out on the White vinyl version...ouch.

Violent Reaction - Dead End

Oh well, at least I was able to get a copy. Once again Quality Control have done a wicked job with the packaging of this release, like the first 7" 3rd press they've once again done the fold out X packaging. I'm a fan. It just seems to suit Violent Reaction perfectly.

Sound wise it's really more of the same from the band, with maybe slightly more of a toe in the Oi vibe that they touched on in the first releases. They've just signed to Rev and it will be interesting to see what they do on what I presume will be a full length release next for the label.

Black Vinyl out of 500

Pretty Low

Expires 'Pendulum Swings' was one of my favourite records of 2012 and one of my most played hardcore records of recent times too. Such a great record. So when the follow up 'Pretty Low' was announced, I approached it with the usual apprehension given to any bands follow up effort. Especially when they've blown up a bit like Expire (deserved) have.

Expire - Pretty Low

I needn't have worried. From the opening monster riff that brings in the opening album titled track it's clear Expire are back and have produced another banger!! If anything this record seems harder and vocalist Josh sounds more pissed off than he did on the bands debut! Awesome!!

I like that this follow up record has a similar feel layout and cover wise to Pendulum Swings too without completely aping it. Nice touch. I got the half Brown / half Purple version of the record out of 700. Works well with the cover I think.

The lyric insert is backed by this huge Expire poster and as usual it's great that Bridge Nine took the time to add a quick note of thanks and lob in the usual free CD! Great work by all involved.

Check yourself, before you wreck yourself

The Admirals back and he's ready to rock. I like to think of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell as a person, the big bird headed thing on the album covers actually. I heard the debut LP a year or so ago whilst in the midst of a big 70's hard rock phase here and it was glorious. So I was pretty pleased when a follow up was quickly announced by Rise Above.

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell - Check 'em, Before You Wreck 'em

This record definately see's the Admiral in second album territory. It's less instant and formulaic than the first record with the band experimenting a bit more. Not that it's any less rocking if course. The band still deliver the goods in fine fashion.

As always with Rise Above there's a wealth of vinyl options and 'die hard' editions to be had but I settled here for a Red / Black Marbled version of 400 copies. It looks really good actually. As does the gatefold packaging in general.

           

I Am Live

I almost heard about this release too late. I was on a message board one day when I noticed a post about a Give live record and it was a couple of weeks old. Shit!

Give - I Am Live

Of course by the time I rocked up I'd missed the yellow vinyl version out of 200 of this record and had to make do with one of the few remaining black versions again out of 200. There's another 100 on black with two limited covers for RSD 14.

I dig that all Give 7" records look the same in terms of layout and this one carries on the trend well. I also love the flyers on the back that have also been used for the centre labels. Nice little touch.

Still Holding On

Powered Records recently did the decent thing for us idiots that had missed out on Caught In A Crowds first 7" 'You've Lost' and pressed it together with the bands second release 'The Fight' on one slab of 12" wax.

Caught In A Crowd - Still Holding On

With it's sleek and clean design this looks really good. Powered have done a good job. I got the Clear version of the record. As they are now sold out leaving only Blue left I presume Clear was the most limited but I can't remember if any numbers were published.

The record also came with a copy of Powered Fanzine number 5 which is a tidy little read featuring Caught in a Crowd, Dag Nasty, React! Records and a little piece on some dudes explaining why shirts are better than records - the fools!!

It's personalised too which is nice.

I also picked up some Justice sunglasses in the same order. I'm the smoothest pimp daddy when the sun shines now!!