Paradise Lost

Tracklist:
1) Pray Your Gods
2) So Send I You
3) River Of Life
4) Falling Down
5) Death Of Death
6) Armachristi
7) Two-Faced

My favorite release from this Christian straight edge band from Erie, PA (what's up, Brother's Keeper?).

Sidenote: Listen to Shockwave, whom this band shared members with. Gotta love Transformers-influenced hardcore being played by dudes in ski masks.

Download

- Geoff

Refused was a band that seemed incredibly ahead of their time. I came across this video and although it's short, it catches a glimpse of how good this band really was. The Songs to Fan the Flames LP gets a lot of play at my house, as does this song, specifically. Best song.

Being from Georgia, I always get a laugh out of the fact that Refused decided to break-up after playing the Masquerade in Atlanta. It's too bad that this occured while I was a pre-teen in the 90s. I would have killed to see this band play. The last show story/footage is incredible, and I find myself getting chills when I hear the crowd yell "rather be alive!" in front of the police in a cramped, sweaty basement. How badass is that?

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) The Key
2) Painfields
3) Human Disgrace
4) Eclipse of Hate

Spineless was a Belgian hardcore band that was included in the infamous group of H8000 bands. Metallic 90's hardcore for fans of Morning Again.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Within Walls of Babylon
2) One Standard, One Ethic
3) Built Upon The Graves
4) In The Embrace of Truth
5) Day of Apocalypse
6) Evilization

This is the first record that Arkangel put out, a Belgian metalcore band that started in '97. I don't know a lot about the past of this band, but this cd rules. Good lord, this is loud.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) A Light In The Dark
2) Is Beauty A Crime?
3) Daydream
4) Burning
5) Outside My Window
6) This Human Machine
7) My Heart Still Beats
8) Lifetime
9) Prisoner
10) Reinforced
11) Start To Live
12) Someday
13) Survival

A Light in the Dark was Outspoken's first and only LP, I believe. This came out soon after the Survival 7" in the early 1990's. Outspoken was only around for several years, but they made a huge impact on the hardcore scene at the time. Great band, great lyrics, and I can't emphasize either statement enough. The Current 7" (which is posted on this blog) is amazing too, so get that as well.

'Despite the rest, I'll hold onto what makes me who I am and what makes me who I will be.'

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Modern Life Is War- Late Bloomers
2) Modern Life Is War- Nervous Breakdown (Black Flag Cover)
3) Kill Your Idols- Fur Is For Fucks

This split EP was recorded live on some radio station, I forget which. Although Modern Life Is War's side does sound good a live recording will never be able to capture the energy of one of their shows. The Kill Your Idols side sounds good too, I just don't really listen them.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Walker Told Me I Have AIDS
2) Mary Had A Little Bree
3) Piss In The Dark (A Love Story)
4) Douche Chill
5) Duck Duck Bree (ft. Scott Stapp)
6) Sodomized By A Pig
7) I, Stephen Hawking, Stole The Mic
8) Nazgul's Dinner
9) James Blunt Ain't Got Shit On Me
10) Colon Gaylen (For the Love of Whalen)

A musical masterpiece. Your favorite band's favorite band. A computer microphone, a guitar with no amp, Audacity, and two friends came together to create this beast of a full-length.

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Concubine
2) Fault and Fracture
3) Distance and Meaning
4) Hell To Pay
5) Homewrecker
6) The Broken Vow
7) Bitter and Then Some
8) Heaven in Her Arms
9) Phoenix in Flight
10) Phoenix in Flames
11) Thaw
12) Jane Doe

If you're on this blog and you don't know about this album you're a damned fool. This is Converge's landmark album slowed down, and man it's heavy. Listen to this and tell me you can't help but headbang.

Download Pt. 1
Download Pt. 2

Instilled EP
Tracklist:
1) Burning Bridges
2) Mindset
3) Instilled
4) Anchor
5) Culture Cease

Vegan straight edge at its finest. This EP came out on Bloodlink Records soon after the Prison of Hope LP and about a year before the Content With Dying LP surfaced (fuck, such good records). Hard, heavy songs fueled by discontent towards politics, religion, and homophobia.

"The American dream is for everyone except the true people of this land."

Download


Tooth and Nail EP
Tracklist:
1) Tooth And Nail
2) You'll Despise Yourself
3) Sell It For What It's Worth
4) S.E.W. (Minimum Wage)

I believe this EP was the last thing recorded by the band before their end. Aggressive...seriously. "Nooooo, you won't go unchallenged!"

Download

- Geoff

1) Blind Injustice
2) Evolve
3) Zero Hour
4) Price Of Innocence
5) Shattered Mirror Image
6) Human Evil
7) Nonexistent Future

Mid-90's metalcore from Massachusetts. This EP was released on East Coast Empire Records, which put out releases from bands like Reach The Sky and Integrity. Definitely a metal-influenced sound. Heavy aka good.

Download

- Geoff

Rather than trying to make a humorous post about a video like I've done in the past, I'm going to merely showcase this video for what it is: Shelter playing one of my favorites from them live. The video's poster provided a lot of awesome information about this show. Buffalo, New York - June 22, 1992. At that time, I was about to turn 3 years old. Shit. The video's poster also said that after this show, Shelter was attacked by thugs, which inspired the lyrics to "Song Of Brahma" from Shelter's "When 20 Summers Pass" record.

Pure energy is all I see. Everyone is into it. Cappo, a little bit more stoked than others, decided to pay homage to the Jackie Chan-type dudes and execute an intense ninja kick right into Porcell's back. Check it at 1:05. I dare you to tell me that you didn't laugh.

Sidenote: Someone commented the video with some info that I got stoked on. At 3:35, check out Scott Vogel screaming along. I would have never thought that Vogel would be into Shelter. Awesome. Also, the poster decided to put the ninja kick in slow-motion at the very end. Thanks for that. Hilarious.

Original video/post information

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Kersed
2) It's Going To Be A Cold Winter
3) A Perfect World
4) You're All The Same
5) Living Hell
6) Throwing Bricks

Ceremony was one of the biggest bands in hardcore for a while, maybe they still are I don't really know, and this is from before they blew up. All but one of these songs got rerecorded. While this sounds good I don't think it has the edge to it that Ruined and their later releases have.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) I Hate Almost Every Person I Come In Contact With
2) Damn Girl, That Shit Is Deep Like the Ocean
3) China Part Breakdown
4) -..-... .-..-. ..- -.-. -.- .. -. --. - .. -- . -- .- -.-. .... .. -. .
5) Utah - The Whoopie Cushion of America
6) I Don't Give A Shit If I'm In Outer Darkness, I'll Make Friends

This is the first part of the Curl Up and Die EP I posted earlier. To me it's not as good as the other one but it is sill definitely a solid release, plus more morse code, sweet huh?

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) This Time
2) Underground
3) Monday
4) River Runs Red
5) Through And Through
6) Words And Music
7) Thursday
8) Bad Seed
9) My Eyes
10) Respect
11) Method Of Groove
12) The Stain Remains
13) Friday

I'll be honest, I wasn't too fond of the band when I first heard them. "Love To Let You Down" off of the Broken Valley LP was the first song I ever heard...needless to say I wasn't into them. I thought that song sucked. Many friends have told me about the infamous River Runs Red record and I finally decided to check it out not too long ago.

I can't count the number of times that I have listened to this record in the last week. Fuck, I was wrong about this band (for the most part). Such an awesome record. Different, as I'll get out, but still good nonetheless. I always find myself turning it on and choosing it over most other things now. I even find myself liking 'Ugly', the record that came out after this one, despite the hate that I seem to hear about it.

'If you don't walk with me, I'll walllkkkk allloooooooonnnnnnneeeeeeee, yeah'

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Grain Of Salt (What's The Use Of Having A Heart?)
2) Lost In Silence
3) Torn
4) Obstacle
5) Material Christ
6) A Wish For Wings That Work (Live) (Appeared on 2002's re-issue)
7) Artist's Rendering Of Me (Live) (Appeared on 2002' re-issue)

Easily my favorite material by Poison The Well (although they had some great LP's up until Versions came out, in my opinion). The original EP came out in 1998 on Good Life Recordings and features two vocalists, both of which are not in the band right now. Very metallic and emotional.

Sidenote: The original artwork looks SO MUCH BETTER than the re-issue. Just sayin'.

Download

- Geoff

Demo
Tracklist:
1) To Stray A Hundred Strands
2) Bleeding Structure


Split with Polyglot (only FFG side)
Tracklist:
1) Harvest Of Purity
2) This Day I Suffer

Fall From Grace was a metallic hardcore band from Massachusetts(?) that was around in the 1990's. They released a demo and a split 7", both of which are included in the download. After these records came out, they changed their name to August Grows Cold (oof), and I'm not sure what was released under that name. Good lord, the end of 'Bleeding Structure' is so heavy.

*These releases were originally uploaded and posted on the One Path blog, so be sure to check that out. Some great stuff on there.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Stoneface
2) Day Of Atonement
3) Follow The Leader
4) Intro/All Deceived

"Maximum output! Activate the pit!" - Scott Vogel

I'm posting this demo due to the fact that it is Veteran's Day, and Scott Vogel is a veteran of the core. Despair was one of Vogel's older bands, and they rule. This demo is awesome.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Where Are You?
2) Short Of Living
3) Lesser Being
4) Open For Suggestion

The original Culture demo tape, when the band was a three piece (before Damien joined). For those who would like to know, apparently 'Open For Suggestion' later turned into 'Still Crossed' and 'Short of Living' turned into 'Not As Mine', which both appeared on the Born Of You LP. This is a great demo, without a doubt.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Bind
2) Attempt
3) Injection
4) Ordinary

This is the first release from the German metalcore band, Acme, and it was released around 1993 - 94. Acme became one of the most influential bands of the 1990's, and this EP laid the foundation for the band. Intense, dark, and loud. Hard to deny and even harder to turn down.

Download

- Geoff

AFI, also known as A Fire Inside, Anthems For Insubordinates, Asking For It...whatever, you get the picture. I'm posting this video due to the fact that I'm seeing them on Monday and I'm stoked on it. Sure, their set list will consist of shit such as 'Miss Murder' and the like, but I can still remember the 'wonder years,' so to speak; the time when AFI played hardcore punk and still sounded fast and pissed off. Now, well, they don't sound like that. Anyways, on to the review.

- 0:03: The video starts off with a close-up shot of Davey Havok. Is he the person that laughs last? No one knows.
- 0:07: Alright, all of the 'hardness' that this video could have had has been shot down already, and the song hasn't even started. Yes, that's a lollipop. No, that is not punk. It's all good, the lip piercing negates the fact that Havok is sucking on a lollipop.
- 0:13: "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be in a hardcore band." There is still hope for this video. It could turn out well and I could be circle-pitting soon enough.
- 0:16: A man is shown closing the trunk of a car. Is he putting away his grandma's groceries? Maybe putting away a spare tire, perhaps? Again, no one knows. The suspense is killing me.
- 0:25: "NO TRUST", the song kicks in and I'm STOKED. If I wasn't sitting down at home, I'd be tempted to mosh into oncoming traffic. I don't care, I'm just an AFI fan, no big deal.
- 0:35: Alright, so these dudes aren't bringing groceries home. No way. There's a shovel in the back seat. Gardening? Doubtful, especially when Davey Havok is crying in the trunk.
- 0:39: I'm slowly putting the pieces together. Davey is tied up and bloody in the trunk of a car and his bandmates intend to kill him because of the future music that AFI will write. Foreshadowing, maybe?
- 0:46: "I'veeee gotttt a probbbllemmm!" Yes, you do. Being tied up in a car isn't safe.
- 0:57: Time to unload the groceries...I think.
- 1:18 - 1:34: Random, but much appreciated, live clip of the band. Fuck, look at that intensity. I'm moshing and I'm not even there, ugh.
- 1:39: Okay, serious business. It's really time to get those damn groceries out of the car. The milk is getting warm and the ice cream is melting. Don't fuck around.
- 1:41 - 1:49: FUCK! Those don't look like Kroger bags to me. No big deal, it's just Havok chilling out, bleeding and shit. Next, homeboy pulls out a knife and starts shanking like crazy! Definitely wasn't expecting that. Davey, sorry man. You shouldn't have written 'Miss Murder.'
- 1:52: As if the stabbing wasn't enough, homeboy #2 takes out a gun and fucking owns the already (most likely) dead body. Rough.
- 1:55 - End: The video closes with another awesome live clip and the bandmates closing the car's trunk. You know, no big deal. My mind is blown.

Great band (pre-Decemberunderground), even though Tommy likes that record. Time to go listen to Shut Your Mouth and cry about how AFI will never be the same.

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Serial Killer (Vio-Lence)
2) Snowblind (Live) (Black Sabbath)
3) Disintegration (The Cure)

This was a 7" that Converge released for their European tour back in 2000. All of the songs are covers, and the Cure cover on here is one of my favorite of their covers.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Without a Word
2) All In a Year
3) Operative Word
4) Step Ahead
5) Playing the Part
6) Give and Take

Comeback Kid was one of the first real hardcore bands I started to listen to, and I still love them. These are earlier versions of the songs from their first LP Turn It Around.

Download

-Tommy

A couple of months back, I came across a really interesting section of a website called UnityHXC.com that discussed and examined covers of a lot of old records (ranging from mid-late 80's up until the early 00's). It has an extensive list of records and for each one, the original piece of art and its creators are listed next to them, respectively. Some really interesting stuff on here; check it out. It's insane how many bands have used biblical themes and art in the past. Modern-day bands should keep that trend alive.

Link: Unity HXC

- Geoff

Self-Titled EP
Tracklist:
1) ...Shall Be Judged
2) Godhead
3) Drown
4) Out Of Time

I've been listening to Burn a lot lately, more specifically, this EP. This record was their first release and it came out on Revelation Records in 1990. One of the deepest, most talented bands to come out of the New York Hardcore scene at the time. Man, if only they recorded a full-length. No telling how good it would have been.


Cleanse EP
Tracklist:
1) Cleanse
2) Strata
3) Melt-Meta-Growth
4) The Bait
5) Disgraces
6) Decay

The 'Cleanse' EP came out over ten years after the self-titled EP was released. There was an indefinite break-up during the '90s, but the band later came back with members of 108 and Glassjaw and recorded Cleanse.


Last Great Sea EP
Tracklist:
1) New Morality
2) Tales Of Shatou
3) Last Great Sea

Last Great Sea marks the final release of this band. It came out in 2002, after Cleanse, but was compromised of unreleased recordings from '92. Great stuff. The breakdown at the end of 'Tales Of Shatou' seriously cannot be touched.

Self-Titled EP - Download
Cleanse EP - Download
Last Great Sea EP - Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Serpentine
2) Awaiting Your Tears' Worth
3) Pyramid Of The Ants
4) Marrow
5) Reap

I don't know much about this band, other than the fact that this record came out on Good Life and they are from the Netherlands. Loud hardcore in a metal vein; good stuff.

Download

- Geoff

American Nightmare stands as being my favorite band in hardcore, without a doubt. I've listened to 'Background Music' enough to make a sane man crazy. While my love for the band stands strong, I still don't understand how expensive their merch can be.

Don't get me wrong, I love their merch. The shirts that feature Linas Garsys' artwork look awesome (gotta love when a skeleton with an emo haircut holds out his heart for it to be shanked by some knives). It is just the extent of their prices on Ebay that make my jaw drop. In order to have any piece of AN merch, one probably has to sell either their soul or their mom's car in order to afford it (I exaggerate).

All jokes aside, the shirt listed above looks like a better version of a dumb looking skull and cross bones. I'm into it. Wes Eisold is into it. We're all happy. Bid on it, since I won't.

Sidenote: Not cool how the seller is asking $19.50 for shipping. Do you know how many burritos at Taco Bell I could get for that price?

...a fucking lot, that's how many.

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Earthmover - Drowning
2) Earthmover - Letting Go
3) Facedown - Sanctuary
4) Facedown - Wonderful Culture

Solid split from two great bands, released in '97, I believe. Earthmover was a heavy hardcore band from Detroit, Michigan, while Facedown* was a Belgian band that played metallic hardcore. Simply put, this record is awesome.

*Facedown is much better than everything involving the record label of the same name.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) What's The Point?
2) You Fucked Up
3) To Anyone

Paid in Blood was an Atlanta hardcore band that was a little before my time in the scene. I came across this band through word of mouth and a cover that Foundation did (featured on their split with Meantime) definitely opened my eyes to PIB. Solid demo, I'm glad I finally got my hands on it. Check it out.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Spineless - Enter The Devil
2) Congress - Mouthafter
3) Lifecycle - Morbid World
4) Liar - Invictus
5) Vitality - The Riddle
6) Sektor - Blind
7) Blindfold - Spiritual Suicide '97
8) ODK Crew - Carnals
9) Deformity - My Creation
10) Spirit Of Youth - Source
11) Instinct - Positive Kids
12) Hitch - Mind Pollution
13) Regression - Pyroclasm
14) Firestone - Victims Of Science
15) Fake - The Issue

H8000 represents a group of bands from Belgium. The 'H' stands for hate and '8000' stands for the postal code of cities in the area. I came across this compilation on the B9 Board and was a fan of most of the bands on it, so I checked it out. It includes songs from most of the bands involved in that scene and it's hard. Really heavy, metallic stuff. Check it out.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Lay The Blame
2) Scared
3) Truth Inside
4) Reckoning Day
5) Both Guns Blazing

This demo laid the foundation for a band that would later become one of the biggest and most influential bands in hardcore. 'Both Guns Blazing' is still one of my favorite songs by them and it was first featured on this demo; great stuff. If you haven't had the chance to see Bane play live, I feel bad for you.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Bane - You Wrote This Song For Me
2) Bane - Broke Wide Open
3) Adamantium - This Blade Keeps Cutting
4) Adamantium - Next In Line

You know Bane. You should know Adamantium. Solid split from two really talented bands. The CD version of this split had an Eye For An Eye cover that Bane did, but I couldn't find that song online, oof.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Intro
2) Tautou
3) Jude Law and a Semester Abroad
4) Talking (Part 1)
5) Moshi Moshi
6) Talking (Part 2)
7) I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light
8) Car (Built to Spill Cover)
9) Talking (Part 3)
10) The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
11) Talking (Part 4)
12) Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
13) Talking (Part 5)
14) Soco Amaretto Lime
15) Talking (Part 6)
16) Accident Prone (Jawbreaker Cover)
17) Talking (Part 7)
18) The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
19) Talking (Part 8)
20) Play Crack the Sky
21) Talking (Part 9)
22) Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2 (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)

I'm not really sure of the story behind this, if you pay attention to what he says I think he kind of explains why he's playing alone. I also realize this is significantly less heavy than anything posted on here, but I figured some of you on here would like this. Anyways, this sounds good and includes some good covers.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Love American
2) The Hell We've Been Living In
3) You and Me (Archers of Loaf Cover)

If you don't know this band you're a damned fool. This was released a few months before We're Down Til We're Underground came out and has two songs not on that record. Their Archers of Loaf cover is especially good, then again what Give Up The Ghost/American Nightmare cover isn't good?

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Seed (45rpm)
2) Stun The Evolution (45rpm)
3) Uncivil Hands (45rpm)

I'll be honest I don't really like Morning Again that much (*Geoff is shunning me for this), but I really like their music sped up. They're heavy as fuck normally and speeding this record up didn't make it any less heavy.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) I Lead Astray
2) Conspiracy Of Silence
3) Acoustic Life
4) Black Demon
5) Outro

Three words or less used to describe this band: heavy as shit. This EP was released in 1994, marking their first release on Good Life Recordings. Yo, I think this band likes Slayer. The intro to 'I Lead Astray'...holy headbang.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Deforestation
2) Memento Mori

Two hard-hitting songs included on Culture's 1996 EP, which was their one and only release for Catalyst Records. Deforestation featured a new line-up for the band, with Mark Mitchell on vocals instead of Damien Moyal. I personally like this version better than the re-recording featured on the Heteronome EP. To put it simply, these songs rule and are fucking heavy.

Sidenote: These lyrics were written by Moyal before he left the band, yet sung and slightly altered by Mitchell. I wonder how he felt about that one. Pit beef?

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Turn It Around
2) In The Name Of Comfort
3) Enough
4) Society Based On Bodies
5) Death And Dying
6) Photographs Lie
7) Shelter
8) Freewill
9) Saranagati (Surrender)

This record was released in 1990, right around the time that this band was getting started. Not as hard-hitting as Mantra, in my opinion, but these songs paved the way for this Hare Krishna band. I've been on a Shelter-kick lately, listening to hardly anything else. Fuck, 'Saranagati' is such a good ending song.

Download

- Geoff

This is a video I came across on the B9 Board that I thought was awesome. First off, I didn't know Jasta even played guitar and/or wrote some of the riffs. The riff would later turn into the song 'Doomsayer,' but it didn't come out for another year or so, apparently. On drums is the dude from Poison The Well. This video was shot while Hatebreed was on tour with Bane, Poison The Well, and What Feeds The Fire (pre-Verse). Such an insane line-up. This rules (and so does finding a Hatebreed shirt for $2 at Goodwill).

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Panacea
2) Circumstance
3) Face Value
4) Pedestal
5) Revolve
6) Believer
7) Backhand
8) One Eye Strengthens/Weight Of Tomorrow
9) Equilibrate/Pressure (Negative Approach)

I know very little about this band, other than the fact that members went on to play in His Hero Is Gone and Tragedy. I believe this is the discography that was released on a member's own record label, The Great American Steak Religion. Also, this record came up on my iTunes under the genre "emo violence". You should get it for that reason.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Stabbed In The Face
2) Girl Song
3) Battlefield
4) Pride

Man I love me some Carry On, and this 7" is of no exception. And if I remember right this actually isn't on that It's All Our Blood compilation cd. I'm still waiting for the day when someone explains to me how Todd Jones ruined hardcore, which is what was claimed on the B9 board one day.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Conscious (45rpm)
2) Unconscious (45rpm)

This was the result of toying around with a vinyl ripper in my room one night. Sounds like a heavy metal band with loud, high-pitched vocals aka awesome. Get into it.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Message Of The Bhagavat
2) Civilized Man
3) Here We Go
4) Appreciation
5) Empathy
6) Not The Flesh
7) Chance
8) Mantra
9) Surrender To Your TV
10) Letter To A Friend
11) Metamorphosis

Probably my favorite Shelter record. Ray Cappo is the man, seriously. Hard and catchy at the same time. Half of these riffs sound like 'Best Wishes'-era Cro-Mags. Get into it.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Hello Cruel World
2) Purgatory
3) Most Precious Blood
4) To Live and Die in New York City
5) Shadowboxing
6) Crucifix Escapist
7) Dead
8) Hallowed Be Thy Name

Released in '98, this record is the first that featured the vocals of Artie Phillie, I believe. Mean, loud, and heavy.

"We'll be judged. We'll be punished. We'll take responsibility once and for alllllll!"

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Sodomized By A Pig
2) Mary Had A Little Lamb
3) Colon Gaylen

Boredom struck and the result was a recording session between two friends. One of the best ideas we've had. Listen and sign us to your label.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Disembodied - Stigma
2) Disembodied - Obfuscate
3) Disembodied - Dine Alone (Quicksand)
4) Brother's Keeper - Losing Is My Favorite Sport
5) Brother's Keeper - Namedropper
6) Brother's Keeper - Twist Of Cain (Danzig)

Another really solid split. Disembodied just may be the heaviest, darkest band I've heard (See also: Slayer). This split features a cover from both bands, and I guarantee you won't hear either of these songs played louder. Sidenote: Brother's Keeper fucking rules.

Download

- Geoff

One musical fact to know about me is that I love the Keeper. Such a weird, awesome, loud band. Here's a video from Hellfest 2003 of Brother's Keeper playing the title track off of their first LP, The Continuum.

- 0:03: "These are coffin nails." Hard words from a not-so-hard sounding man. I'm pumped. You already know shit is about to go off.
- 0:16: Some hombre is already working on his stage-dive game early during a classic bass line intro dive.
- 0:18: "If you know the words, punch Josh Trustkill in the face!" Now I'm stoked. Will someone get punched mid-dive? Mid-sing along, maybe? Stay tuned.
- 0:26: The dives are in full effect. Some aren't the best, but hey, these kids are trying. Keep it alive.
- 0:40: The beast in Mike Ski has come alive, but only for a split second; the beast must be tired. He yells out a quick "if!" and throws the mic out to the crowd instantly. No big deal. Singing your own band's song is over-rated so let the crowd do it, right? Right, Mike.
- 0:58: Still no vocals on the song. It's okay though. Kids are going off and trying to up their stage-dive points.
- 1:01: Finally, Ski decides to find a mic and sing. The dives have died down, but not for long. At least let's hope not.
- 1:24: Hell yeah, wave your hands in the air. This is a concert! We play pop punk!
- 1:27: Tobey Macguire of Spiderman fame decides to show up (no big deal, whatever) and do a flying stage dive in order to grab the mic. Good distance on that dive, Spidey, you just cleared like 5 people. B+!
- 1:39: Macho Man Randy Savage in the pit decides to push someone away from him while singing. How rude. "Fuck, I love this song! Leave me alone!"
- 1:46: Shit just got heavy. Heads are bobbing, mics are being swung.
- 2:05: Front-row kids are not stoked right now. Someone just got clipped my a bass guitar after a weak dive from the bassist. Sidenote: Although the dive was weak, keep in mind he has A BASS IN HIS HANDS, therefore the dive is considered a huge success by default.
- 2:10: "No big deal, this bass sucks anyways. I'll throw it on stage."
- 2:16 - 2:20: STAGE-DIVE FAIL on a huge level. This kid was so stoked to get on stage, yet the crowd wasn't feeling it. The crowd opens up and separates as if someone next to them shit their pants or something, and the diver goes straight to the floor. Major oof.
- 2:34: Hands in the air for the second time. This is definitely a concert, not a show. Am I watching a Blink-182 video or a video from Hellfest?
- 2:44: Oof, he's not going to say what I think he's going to say. No, please don't...Ugh, he did. "Last chance to dance!" Dumbest phrase in music.
- 2:50: The band recovered from the stupid quote that was said and you're headbanging. This is catchy as shit.
- 2:54: Is this the pit or Desert Storm? That mosher with the bandana covering half of his face would like to think he's in the latter of the two. "Dude, watch out for that dust coming up from the pit! You didn't bring your inhaler!"
- 3:01: Heavy pit action is still going on. The kids are really taking advantage of the fact that it's the 'last chance to dance.' Shit.
- 3:09: What the hell was that noise?! Don't worry, it was just Ski coming in with some vocals. No worries.
- 3:18: Kids are rushing the stage trying to get some sing alongs in before the song ends. "Fuck, if it's the last chance to dance, I bet this is the last change to sing too!"
- 3:28: This is what's called a Tripod Dive Disaster. Three people dive at the same time, aiming for the same area. I've never seen this done before, holy shit. Someone is getting crushed, I'm into it.
- 3:31: Why has the level of the crowd changed, you ask? Well, that's because the Tripod Dive Disaster took them the fuck out. Everyone is on the floor picking up pennies or some shit.
- 3:35: The dives are starting to get weak. People are just falling over and through the crowd.
- 3:47: This diver is breaking a clear, distinct rule. Don't mosh or dive with a bookbag on. You look like an idiot. Are you going to school after the pit? Or maybe this is a metaphor that means you're going to school kids in the pit with your moshing skills. No, you're just dumb.
- 4:06: The song ends, the guitar static is becoming powerful, but the drummer is still fucking stoked. "Dude, I'm the drummer! I never get the opportunity to dive." He goes for it and gets some good distance with his jump.

This video teaches us a valuable lesson. When the singer yells out, "Last chance to dance," you better fucking listen. You don't want to be the asshat that regrets not moshing at a band's last show, right? You'll spend your nights crying yourself to sleep.

With that said, props to Straight Edge Hank (of Foundation fame) for hooking me up with a Brother's Keeper hoodie from this era. Much appreciated.

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Declaration of Jihad
2) From The Betrayal Morning
3) Earth Solution

Another post pertaining to a Japanese vegan straight edge band. xShiverx plays metallic hardcore heavily influenced by the 90s sound.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) And
2) Razor
3) Fall On Proverb
4) My Time

Some of Unbroken's best material, in my opinion. I believe this was released in '94. If you got the chance to see them, I'm jealous. Great band.

Download

- Geoff

Tracklist:
1) Safe
2) Revenge

This is Sinking Ships's second to last release. It was self-released and I believe only sold on a European tour and at Sound and Fury 2007. I like this 7" and all but the artwork is a little lacking if you ask me.

Download

-Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Introduction
2) Ramallah
3) Sleep
4) Al-Shifa
5) Who Am I?
6) Interlude
7) Beauty
8) If I Die
9) What Difference Does It Make
10) True Crime

This cd is hard as fuck and damn I love it. Say what you will about a hardcore band using keyboards, this band rules. The breakdown in the song Ramallah is one of my favorite breakdowns of all time. Also, Ramallah is better than Blood for Blood, I don't care if that's "hardcore blasphemy," it's true in my book.

Download

- Tommy

Tracklist:
1) Moving On
2) No Answer

Enough Said was a youth crew-esque band that Tommy and I were in a couple of years ago. Very short-lived. We played a whopping ONE show, although there was a good turn out. I'm not sure how we were perceived, but we played an Inside Out cover which was pretty awesome. Regardless of whether or not it sucks, it was a good time. Fun while it lasted.

Download

- Geoff