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.
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.
Yet another look back on an awesome video. This time it's a live video from '98 of the Erie, Pennsylvania hardcore band, Brother's Keeper. If you didn't already know, they became known for Mike Ski's goofy, but awesome, style of vocals. He sounds like a dying hyena that is being choked, get into it. 'No Love For The Haters' is probably my favorite song from the band.
The clip starts off with Ski telling the crowd to move up before the mosh commences. He throws out some hip hop type shit when he says, "Let's get this party started!" Yes, let's. I'm down already.
- 0:21: Ski begins moving up and down. I don't know what's happening but I'M STOKED. - 0:35: "I CAN SEE!" The mosh erupts and people go off. Begin headbanging. Kids are going nuts and it gets me excited. - 1:27: Oh shit, he's going to punch somebody, yes!...Nope, nevermind. - 1:35: The choking hyena shows itself and yells out "Come on!" - 1:42: On stage mosh. Almost a floorpunch technique. Approved and acceptable. - 1:48: Ski is jumping up and down like he's in a damn Lil Jon video. This is getting good. - 2:04: Although it's a dark video, you can definitely see some bleached blonde heads in the crowd. Hell yeah, the 90's are showing through this clip. - 2:17: More 'party jumping'. Is this a hardcore show or Lollapalooza?..."Who cares?" Good point. - 2:20: This is what we call a 'sneak attack backflip stage dive'. Executed perfectly. 15 points to that guy. - 2:52: So much energy. You don't even have to like this band to be moshing right now.
As a closing statement, I suggest you either a) listen to more of this band or b) research how to sound like a dying animal (which is a good thing) and then start a band using those vocals. It worked for Brother's Keeper, it worked for Harvest (have you heard Epicure? Fuck), and it worked for Converge. Hell yeah.
Tracklist: 1) No Love For The Haters 2) Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 3) Paint Me Red 4) Coughdrop 5) Four Five Six 6) Dogs Will Bark
Not much to say about this one. You either love them or hate them (in which case, Brother's Keeper has no love for you). The singer later went on to unfortunately start the AKA's.
