Monday, December 16, 2013

Raw Life



To the delight of merch flippers everywhere, recently Lockin' Out repressed The Rival Mob's "Raw Life". I got the black version out of /800 and there was also a yellow vinyl version out of /200. I'm not sure how long it took for the yellow to sell out, because I find out about this weeks after it came out. I'm sure it didn't take long for it to be gone though. This is the first copy I've ever owned of this release, and I'm glad to get a copy without having to pay through my ass on the bay. Maybe this will drive down the price of the first pressing so I can finally score one. Great stuff though, what else would you expect from the Mob???

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

No Rest, No Peace



Here is Alpha & Omega's latest release on Bridge 9, "No Rest, No Peace". I caught them live with Backtrack earlier this year and was really impressed by how awesome they are live. This release is way more metal than it is hardcore, and as you know I'm not much of a metal guy. This is a good solid release, but I probably won't be putting it on repeat too often. Not to say that it's not a good release, but metal just isn't my thing. However, whenever A&O come around my area I'll try to make it, they are one of the better current live bands out there. This release came on really hideous half clear red, half pink with black splatter out of /300, and some very demonic cover art.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Bishops Green



Here is Vancouver, Canada's Oi! heavy hitters Bishops Green. This is some really good quality Oi! music that is better than 90% of all the other Oi! out there. I wouldn't put it in that elite "Top Tier Oi!" category but these guys are damn good. One thing I really like about this release is that it is darker and gloomier than most Oi! I've heard. Don't expect just boring sing alongs about drinking and fighting on this, because Bishops Green definitely takes a more serious approach and it just works. I'll be on the lookout for more from these guys. Check out "Tumbling Down" below:



Friday, December 6, 2013

I Want The Moon



Leatherface, where have I been all these years? It wasn't until earlier this year that I finally gave Leatherface a chance and I have been seriously hooked ever since. The similarities in the vocals from this to one of my all time favorite bands, the Beltones, is remarkable. For that reason alone I fell in love with this on first listen. Isn't it amazing how you can miss out on classics for years (in this case, decades)? As I get older and my musical tastes expand, I start to appreciate new stuff. If I had heard this a few years back, I may have said this wasn't hard enough for me or some ig'nant ass bullshit. Now I can appreciate this in it's fully glory.

The lyrics on this record are outstanding and really poetic. I haven't fully been able to grasp the brilliance of some of them and it may take me a long time to really get what he's trying to say, but it's apparent that the words have much deeper meanings than your average punk rock record ("Springtime" anyone?). This is not an original press on Roughneck Records, but a recent "fan club" release on black vinyl. If you haven't checked this album out yet give it a try, you won't be disappointed.


Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Coke Bust - Confined



For those of you that know Coke Bust, you know what to expect with this release. They have stayed true to form with their usual style of only the most brutal of fast straight edge hardcore. The big difference with this release is the recordings sound more refined than their last releases. This doesn't take away any of the rawness for me, and I think this may be my favorite Coke Bust release yet. Usually I don't get too far into this ultra fast stuff, but these guys are damn good.

This copy is the red vinyl from Grave Mistake out of /200. After viewing Utopia Banished I saw that they also pressed a record release out of /200. That seems an awfully big number for a record release copy. Grave Mistake also has copies on red still available so if you're thinking about it, don't sleep! Grave Mistake has quietly had one of the most solid years of any label, and with vinyl treatments from 86 Mentality and Striking Distance coming in 2014, it looks like there's no stopping them anytime soon.




The release comes with a huge poster (record placed for reference). Home run on the packaging and design. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving House Party



Every Thanksgiving, I have Thanksgiving dinner at my house and all the family comes over and it's usually alot of fun (and work, and money). Every year, my girlfriend starts to act like a psycho because she gets all stressed out and wants everything to be oh so perfect. In honor of the chaos going on in my house right now, I figured I would post this Eric B and Rakim "House Party" single. This is actually a classic track from the "Don't Sweat the Technique" LP. Don't let the involvement with the goofball movie fool you, this is a sweet ass 80's hip hop track. Rakim is arguably one of the best MC's to ever grace the microphone, so pretty much anything he's on is the shit. I was pretty happy to find this slightly damaged single in the 25 cent bin while shopping in San Francisco... Anyways, Have a good Thanksgiving everyone. 





Monday, November 25, 2013

Urban Blight



Here's a group that eluded me for far too long considering that their style is right up my alley. Oi! inspired hardcore very similar to 86 Mentality and Violent Future. This group actually shares members with Violent Future, and this release really rips. i believe this was a second pressing done for a Euro tour, and you can go check out the first press over at Utopia Banished blog. This thing is so awesome it really saddens me that these guys are not playing anymore and that I didn't find out about them sooner. 

Sunday, November 24, 2013

One Voice Fest Press



A few months back me and my best friend made the drive up to Sacramento to go to One Voice Fest. A bunch of great bands played that day, but we especially made the drive because the Cro-Mags played the first day. Pressure Point, one of my all time favorites also played and they did a limited cover for the festival. I have posted about this record before, and over the last year I have put a stupid amount of spins on this thing. It was release in 2007, but over the last year it has really become one of my favorites. Pressure Point is one of those top tier Oi! bands that you just can't fuck with.



I got number #24/40. I love the Gadsen snake on the back. Also as a side note, the dude that did the cover art is a tattoo artist from Washington DC that also played in Set to Explode. 



I also picked up this Written Off and Out Crowd split. I own a regular copy of this record, but I can't seem to find it in my posts? I guess I never blogged about it (yet). At the festival the guy that runs Six Feet Under was there and I said what's up to him. I didn't realize he used to play in the Boils, and I had met him in 2003 when my old band played with the Boils at a house party in the Santa Cruz mountains. Small world indeed.


This was #23/40 and on clear vinyl. I was looking at my regular press of this release which is on white vinyl. I don't know the pressing info as far as the colors go, if you do know please leave a comment. 

Friday, November 22, 2013

War X Games



Yesterday I woke up to see that React! Records had left a nice shout out to my blog on facebook, which inspired me to post a React! record from my back log. Here is the limited white version out of /150 for the WarXGames "9 Trax/No Nightmare" ep. With 9 Songs on a 7" you can imagine that these songs are fast and short. One of the things that attracted me to buying this was that the band shares members with Mindset (I believe their singer is the bassist), and they have one of the coolest names in hardcore right now. This record definitely rips and is a strong record, but it comes and goes very fast. I opted to just buy the one limited press, but go check out Mike's page if you want to see a really impressive complete collection. And thanks again React! for the shout out!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Kremlin - Will You Feed Me?




Toronto hardcore and Grave Mistake Records. That is a hell of a mix, and that is exactly what you get with this Kremlin - Will You Feed Me? EP. There is a ton of great hardcore coming out of Toronto lately, and it seems that everything Grave Mistake touches turns to punk rock gold. This is an absolute ripper of a release and I am totally hooked on Kremlin now. Really raw grungy punk rock that kind of sounds like it was recorded on a walk man or something. I don't know why it's so brilliant... It just is. This is the only limited version on white vinyl out of /200.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Legacy of Blood




Recently Babygrande Records repressed arguably one of the best underground hip hop releases of all time, and one of my all time personal favorites "Legacy of Blood" by Jedi Mind Tricks. Just a brilliant, stunning album from front to finish with some of the most brutal raps over monster beats. This album is truly perfection! I've listened to this thing so much over the years I can receipt every lyric to every song pretty much by now. To me, this was Jedi Mind's best release and I don't know if they can ever reach the same level as this one. Above is my original pressing that I got in 2004 on black vinyl. I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since this came out? It just seems like yesterday, and now I'm feeling a bit old just thinking about it. 

You can see the front and back art appears are a slightly different on the new repress, so for anyone looking to buy one on ebay that is the difference between the old and new copies.


Babygrande hit a home run on the new repress with the limited orange vinyl. Goes perfect with the fire on the cover. I don't really know the background behind this picture but that's a pretty wild picture. 



On the repress the front art appears zoomed in while the back art appears zoomed out. Also the logos/bar code etc moved to the bottom of the back.


Check out one of my favorite tracks "Saviorself" feat. Killah Priest. Vinnie dropping some serious history lessons over a Spanish guitar inspired beat.



"This is war rap similar to Jacob's Ladder, walk around like Thor with the sacred hammer... and you don't really want the guns out, we some vampire motherfuckers burn when the suns out."

Monday, November 11, 2013

Criminal Instinct



A few months back I caught Backtrack, Alpha & Omega and a few other bands in San Francisco. Criminal Instinct from Atlanta, GA is a band that I had never heard of before and they were the openers at the show. Unfortunately, I walked in during their last 2 songs so I didn't get to see their whole set. From the couple songs I did see, I was impressed enough to buy their demo. I am glad I did because it is really good. The vocals are right up my alley, really gruff vocals that remind me of 86 Mentality and Cold Stare. You can download all of their stuff for free from their bandcamp, so there is no reason not to check them out.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

It's a Violent Situation



Here is a release from Southern California's straight edge up and comers Violent Situation. Back to Back put this out recently, and this is the clear offering out of /125. This is a very solid demo and can hang with most of the straight edge heavy hitters that are out right now. The music is solid as hell and the vocals are tight, and this band is sure to blow right the fuck up soon. I like that this release has a bit more of a tough guy edge than most the straight edge stuff that has been coming out for the past few years. Fitting for fans of Floorpunch blended with newer styles like Face Reality and No Tolerance. Look out for these dudes. 

On a side note, how many "Violent" bands is this now? Let's see... Violent Future, Violent Reaction, Violent Minds, Violent End, and now Violent Situation. If I am missing any, please let me know in the comments!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Minus S/T



I was really looking forward to Minus' debut LP on Triple B. Sharing members with Downpresser, one of my favorites right now, I figured this shit would be real nice. I saw Minus live once and I was a bit tipsy, but I do recall liking them alot. This release has been a little disappointing for me. The music on it is really heavy and brutal, but as I've said before releases for me live and die with the vocals. I can usually tell right away if I'm really going to like a release. While Downpresser has unique vocals that stick out, Minus just kind of blends in with any other hardcore band and has a hard time separating itself from the pack. It's a shame because the music is so great on this. I still enjoy this record, but it probably won't be on regular rotation for me. On a side note, this cover has to be going for lamest cover of the year. I believe this was pressed on solid red vinyl out of /300, but I can't confirm.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Youth Avoiders



What a pleasant surprise France's Youth Avoiders is. Deranged Records has hit another home run with this blistering punk release. The Youth Avoiders are very similar to some of the other "different" type bands on Deranged like Bloody Gears and Neon Piss, and that is a good thing. Let me just start off by saying that this album is really incredible. It is a very unique musical experience and really a breath of fresh air for me. I highly advise everyone to go download this for free and if you like it then buy it. The band has put all of their releases (including this LP) up for FREE DOWNLOAD on their bandcamp, so what excuse do you have to not check it out? If this isn't in all sorts of top 10 lists this year, I will be shocked. Don't sleep on this record!!!


Check out the track "Long Chains" above.



Tuesday, October 29, 2013

OG Simpson



A few months back I picked up this 7" for 25 cents because the cover was so awesome. I really had no idea what the fuck it was, or even for sure what the band name was. But I mean, C'mon, it was recorded at "The Salty Bean" for christ sakes, so it was pretty obvious this was going to be a fun way to spend a quarter. Apparently the Moistboyz were an intentionally offensive side project of some band called Ween, that I've never heard of. Also from my internet observations, it appears that the Moistboyz still plays today and has a cult following, and likes to let everyone know that they will "never retire".

The music itself it kind of strange rock/old school punk similar to Iggy and the Stooges mixed with the Murder City Devils. This song by all accounts seems to be coming to the defense of OJ Simpson (I think? It's all quite bizarre). Either way, this is really cool and interesting and actually a catchy song. Check these guys playing this shit live in 1995. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more Moistboyz. 



And fast forward to 2010... It seems like these guys like to get fucked up.




Monday, October 28, 2013

White Violence



Recently my buddy Jake over at Screaming for Records hooked me up with a SWEET care package all the way from England (Leeds United Rules, OK). More of the goodies will be posted in time. In it was the most limited press of one of the dark horses in the running for Album of the Year. This is the European press by Carry the Weight Records on white out of /100. Back in may I posted my blue copy on Grave Mistake, and as you can see there are some slight differences from pressing to pressing


Amazingly, both this copy on /100 and even the limited blue vinyl on Grave Mistake are both still available. Why are people still so deep asleep on this record???

Friday, October 18, 2013

Death Threat / Rude Awakening



Above is the lasted offering from Triple B, the highly anticipated Death Threat and Rude Awakening split. This was the most limited color on red and black swirl out of /300, which is now sold out. They also have black /500 and clear red /700. Unfortunately, I am really disappointed with this release. I was really looking forward to some new Death Threat recordings because it has been a while, but these songs just seem flat and forced. DT's singer sounds really bored. I actually enjoy the Rude Awakening tracks on this alot more and I've never been a huge Rude Awakening fan. This release is no doubt Rude Awakening's best stuff they have made so far though, and they are sounding pretty fuckin' good I must say. On a plus note, I don't know what it is about the simple cover and lay out but I really love the cover art and layout for this release. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Focused Minds - The Fact Remains


Here is Focused Minds' debut LP "The Fact Remains" on 6131 Records. This thing has been on some stupid heavy rotation for me for the last few weeks. I have always thought Focused Minds was criminally slept on, and this release absolutely proves that. The picture for the cover was taken in Santa Cruz, CA. I was at that show and it was the one and only time I've ever seen them. And no, I'm not in the picture. I'll let the youngsters do all that crazy stuff, I like to kick it in the back with the other old folks haha. Above is the rarest press on white out of /100.


The green pressing out of /300 is by far the better looking of the pressings. They also had a black pressing out of /600. The back cover reminds me of the Iron Boots "Easy Green" ep. If you're a straight edger and your not bumping this then you're all fucked up. This LP really does rule.


What's up with the dude with the sticker butt cheeks? 

So, this is my first post in over a month. That is by far my longest drought ever for posting. I apologize for the delay everyone, sometimes shit happens in life and records have to take a back seat. I'll try to keep this shit up more. I just took over a hundred pictures of back logged records so that should hold me over for a while. Stay tuned goons.

Friday, September 13, 2013

United States of Mind



So I haven't taken any pictures since July and my pile of records has been stacking up. The more it stacks up, the less I want to take pictures. However, sometimes I want to be the first to post stuff. Usually if I am not one of the first to post it I quickly lose interest and put it off, and sometimes I just never post it. Yesterday I got the new Take Offense LP and wanted to be the first to get this bad boy up. 

Clear was the limited press out of /300, with /700 being on green. Sadly the green looks better. This release is ok but I am not feeling it like I felt Take Offense's last releases. They have definitely moved towards a more metal style and I feel like they are moving away from their signature sound a little bit. Maybe it just needs time to grow on me? I will say though, that this is the best album art of all their records in my humble opinion. I just love that cover!




I also ordered a copy of their "Live at the Socal Slam" 7" on red vinyl out of /500. It actually comes with a nice 8 page insert with a pretty cool collage on every page. Well done, Reaper.


So I was really surprised to find #19/500 on my copy. 19 has always been my favorite number. My Dad played one season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 70's until he had a career ending injury and could never play baseball again (shoulder surgeries weren't as efficient in the 70's as they are today!), but when he did play he wore #19. Growing up playing all kinds of different sports I always wore #19 and it remains my favorite number to this day. Strange coincidence, I guess.