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. 

Entering the TO ZONE

Before I go see Take Offense and Maya Over Eyes play in San Jose tonight, I figured I would put up my copy of Take Offense's "Happiness Under Chains" on Life's a Rape Records. This record is supposedly OOP, however I did a little bit of digging and saw that Sorry State has some copies left, for those of you that still want to get one. This has two early recordings from "Tables Will Turn" LP. I haven't done much research on this, but from what I've seen I think this may have been Take Offense's first vinyl they put out? I know they have another 7" called "Peace in Death" that is still available, and I know they had a demo called "Negative Outlook" but I don't think that ever made it to wax. The fact that Peace in Death is not OOP yet, leads me to believe that this 7" came first. I don't really know and I haven't been able to find an official discography for the band, unless its on their facebook or twitter or something but I don't have accounts for either of those sites. 

(Note: Included a download link I found for "Negative Outlook" demo. I did not upload these songs. I am only posting it because the songs are not available for purchase anywhere. If you want me to remove the link then just let me know.) 

Cold Stare Fucking RULES

I am so excited about this Take Offense side project band right now. I have been bumping this pretty hard lately, and trust me this band rules. This really reminds me of the shit I grew up listening to and old Bay Area bands that were a mix of Oi! and Hardcore, which is right up my fucking alley. This band reminds me of two of my all time favorites; Life's Blood and 86 Mentality, and then throw in a little Oxblood. This is definitely one of the best releases I've picked up in the last year or so, and considering that I've picked up hundreds of releases that is saying alot. I really wish I didn't sleep on this band so long. This is their second seven inch and their first one is OOP, so I'll have to keep an eye out for it on ebay or if it pops up on a distro.

The 7" jacket opens up into this nice little mini poster. This was a well done layout with cool, simple artwork and screen printed on nice thick paper. Just to make it easier for you guys to hear this band, I tracked down a song from this ep on Youtube for you guys:

The Tables Will Mysteriously Turn

Sorry for not posting anything in a while, I've been real busy at work and haven't had a chance to post after a nice 60 hour week... (More $$$ to blow on records!) Anyways I am posting my copy of "Tables will Turn" that I got for the cheap on ebay a while back. I assumed it was the 1st pressing of 700 on "black and purple marble", but it looks very different on the Reaper Discography and also on Flanders Fury's post, so I'm not so sure this is a first pressing after all. This is just purple and has no black in it at all. Either way this is a great release. This was one of those records that had to grow on me. First couple of listens I wasn't really feeling it with all the Suicidal style singing parts, but after a while I was loving it. Their singer is one of the rare vocalists that can pull the singing off without sounding lame. Definitely check this out!

Take Offense Pre-Order finally arrived

I really liked Take Offense's "Tables Will Turn" LP so I had to pre order their new EP on Black from Reaper. It's strange, but kind of cool I guess, that they essentially put a 7" on a 12" and one side has no songs on it. I really think they should have taken advantage of the naked side and put a nice screen pressed image on it. Otherwise, I am digging the album art, but it does come with no insert. I haven't had a chance to hear it yet since it just came in yesterday, but I'll be listening to it later. 

I always feel kind of dirty buying something that's the most limited edition press on black vinyl. I just think color vinyl is too overused these days. I miss the days when it was your regular 900 on black, 100 on color or something like that, you know, keeping it simple. Take Offense was supposed to play here in Oakland last week but cancelled the day before and moved the show to Sacramento. I was pissed but hopefully they come back soon, they are always fantastic live.

Update: After sneaking in a couple listens, I really love this Suicidal Tenden.... ahem, I mean Take Offense record. That Suicidal Tendencies reference is NOT a knock on T.O., because Suicidal Tendencies is fucking sick, and so is this EP! I'm about to find an old hat to flip the bill up and write "T.O.ZONE" under it for sure.