No Warning - Ill Blood

Last year Bridge Nine repressed what many consider a "modern classic", No Warning's "Ill Blood" album. This is a ten year anniversary release, and I just can't believe it has been that long! Back in the early 00's this wasn't really my thing, I was more into Oi! and strictly 80's hardcore... and rap, of course. Over time I really learned to appreciate No Warning though. I do think this is a very good release, but one thing that has always drove me crazy is the vocals. I cannot stand vocals recorded on two tracks being spliced together on pro tools. It sounds like shit and way too over produced for hardcore music. To me, the subtle breathes, panting and imperfections in hardcore vocals are a thing of beauty. But I digress... The music on this is brilliant and some of the sing along choruses just pump me up like crazy... I mean, "Short Fuse" has to be one of my favorite early 2000's hardcore songs. 

This was pressed on half red and half brown vinyl out of /700. The extra tracks are their self titled EP and demo. Ironically, the self titled EP is my favorite No Warning release. I think they should have given that it's own vinyl treatment, but oh well. One side of the 2nd LP is etched on the back with a devil face and "NWC". I'm assuming for No Warning Crew. 

Get an Oxygen Tank

Recently Bridge Nine repressed Mental's "Get an Oxygen Tank" EP, but gave it the LP treatment with some extra live songs on the B-Side. I have never owned any Mental vinyl, so I figured I'd take a stab at it this time around. Many consider this EP to be a modern hardcore classic. It's never really blown me away, and I just see it as a decent record. Regardless, I felt the need to get a copy of it on vinyl. The green and white vinyl looks amazing, and is clearly a reference to the eye ball on the cover. On another note, this cover artwork has always annoyed me and reminded me of Sponge Bob. Green and white vinyl out of /300 is still available at the B9 Store.

Backtrack - Lost in Life Record Release

Last night I went out to Oakland for the "Lost in Life" Record Release party. Since I haven't posted anything in over a month and I'm officially a lame ass, I figured I would wait and post something cool. Last night Plead the Fifth, New Brigade, Take Offense and Twitching Tongues all played as well. Twitching Tongues is horrible... Take Offense was decent... New Brigade was awesome (I had never heard of them before, but they are the real deal), and Plead the Fifth was dope as fuck. Backtrack of course killed it and had the crowd going off the entire set. 

Now down to the record. I slept on the pre orders with Bridge 9 and didn't get any of the limited vinyl, and this is one of the copies on half blue and half white out of /700. It looks really awesome and is the same as their first press of "Darker Half" on half and half vinyl. The Spoiler cover art is incredible and sticks with the same theme from Darker Half. The back art is my favorite, as they sent one of the boys under a bridge or something to put up the track list on a wall. I had never seen this done that I can think of until earlier this year with Crosscheck.

So far, I can't stop listening to this record. "Darker Half" was, in my opinion, one of the best hardcore records of the last decade. This release may be even better than Darker Half, but it's hard to say after only a day of listening. There is no doubt about it that this is an incredible record, and may be the best record of 2014 by the time it's all said and done. The singer has gotten even better on this record and is more dynamic than Darker Half, and the band is tight and crisp and everything is hard as all hell. 

The record release version came with this cover, hand numbered out of 70. Seeing that the dates for the first two shows are crossed out, I am assuming they had /70 for all three shows (so /210 total?). That's purely speculation so I'm sure we'll find out in time what the real deal was with this. I scooped a couple copies, because one of these bad boys had Leeds, UK written all over it. My lazy ass even filmed the last song from the show and put it up on youtube, so check it out here!

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.

Surprise Top Pick

I'm really quite surprised at how much I have loved this Expire release. I previously had their "Suffer the Cycle" ep which didn't seem to grab me or impress me that much. I've never been a big fan of alot of the Bridge Nine bands either so I wasn't expecting to much from this. I figured I'd give it a shot at a free download and I was instantly impressed. This band has really grown into their own and released one of the best albums of the year. This thing fucking rips and I love how it has that sort of gangster feel to it, like Madball and Cold World. I have the release on gold which I think was the most generic color, but I don't know the pressing info on this so I can't confirm that. I think the limited color was coke bottle clear.

With a nice fold out poster of the band looking kinda dorky. Not very fond of the layout or cover art of this album, but like the saying goes "Never judge a book by its cover." This thing shreds.