MORE TO PRIDE - This Is Life

Location: Lynwood, USA

Release: Rivalry Records, 2005

Age of Quarantine, day # 126 - Picture Internal Affairs, Carry On and Floorpunch becoming one single group, you get MORE TO PRIDE, straight outta California! They are another damn fine example of that classic early 00's type of US hardcore sound, fast and in your face.

My CD copy of This Is Life is quite worn out, has been up and down, lotsa of spins during the first years and every now and then. The CD version contains the tracks from the 2004 Promo, making a total of 10 songs. The album also features guest vocals by John Eightclip and Connor from the rad Lights Out.

According to Kyle Whitlow, the co-owner of Rivalry, MORE TO PRIDE were considered the next big thing after the demise of CARRY ON, the new bearers of the aggressive straight edge hardcore flag in the West Coast, but... they were all youngesters at that time, around 18 years old and they went separate ways all too soon.

They could be seen reunited playin' in 2014 and most recently in 2017 at the Sound And Fury Festival but no new recordings has surfaced.

DOWNLOAD [320kbps]

THE LIMIT - Demo + Promo

Location: Florida, USA

Release: DIY, 2019

Atwork: Gil Sayfan

Age of Quarantine, day # 121 - THE LIMIT in tha house! Fresh new group from Tampa, playin' NYHC inspired hardcore, they already offered a 4-song Demo (2018) and two more tracks in the Promo from last year. Since I can't remember how I got to know them it will be hard to keep track of upcoming stuff, no websites no labels and maaan they have the right sound for IOU Records, Edgewood and even Triple-B!

I feel it won't take long for us to hear more from THE LIMIT!!

DOWNLOAD

Last Man Standing - Still The Same Over The Years

Location: Bolzano, Italia

Release: Vacation House Records, 1998

Age of Quarantine, day # 117 - Another throwback to late 90's Old School Revival. As I was looking on my CD collection to rip some stuff for the blog I came across LAST MAN STANDING, hard to think there's little info about them on the web as this album had a lot of spin between me and my friends back in the days.

All the way from Italy, LAST MAN STANDING is the definitive european answer to Uniform Choice! A cool homage to one of the greatest hardcore bands to ever exist, but more than that they represent a true gem in the whole revival movement in the 90's. The lyrics also show influences of other 80's Youth Crew groups as it is filled with straight edge pride and positiveness.

They existed for a brief moment with just 2 albums out but are undoubtedly one of the best bands to come out of Italy in my book, therefore it's one of the most notable releases on the italian label Vacation House's vast catalogue and a great add to the Siton Records host with their sophomore album "The True Meaning" CD/EP. 

DOWNLOAD these gems [320kbps]:

1998 - Still The Same Over The Years (Vacation House)

1999 - The True Meaning (Siton Records)

TRUE COLORS - The EP Collection

Location: Antwerp, België

Release: Powered Records, 2005-2010

Artwork: Spoiler

Age of Quarantine, day # 109 - TRUE X COLORS needs no introduction, although it's better to make clear we are not talking about the 80's NYHC band but the Belgian one! Long story short, guitar man DUNK quit Justice to start TRUE COLORS in 2004, a time also known as The Belgian Old School Hardcore Explosion.

I happened to visit Belgium for a week during the new year's eve in 2009 and despite I didn't see any show while I was there, something peculiar happened. As I was sightseeing heavily, sporting my white True X Colors hoodie, a friend of the person hosting me there came along and recognised the band on my apparel and got truly amazed, for 2 reasons: 1- they were her childhood friends; 2- because, for her, they were just a local garage band (lol)! She then immediately called one of the TC guys and I ended talking to them over the phone as they were all hanging out together with the dudes from Loud And Clear. Also when I visited a skateshop in Antwerp it was playing Focus On The Light on the stereo and I had a chat with the clerk, even though I never saw them play live I have these memories with me.

In an effort to make available high standard material here, despite the good amount of websites/blogs covering them out there, I researched for better and clearer rips of their EPs (except Consider It Done), especially the Perspective 7" which is my second favorite record by them. For that I used the CD version of Rush Of Hope that contains this EP, the same goes for the 2006's True Colors EP (Not Just Words Records) which comes as a bonus on the CD version of Focus On The Light.

It seems Powered Records ceased its operation for good now, for what I know Control Records and Reality Records are now the only remaining labels interested in old school in Belgium, what an exciting time those years were, not only for the locals but for aficionados of the style everywhere. For more detailed pressing info and limited versions of each release from TRUE COLORS please visit these two fine webpages: Life Trap! and Records with History and Future.

DOWNLOAD these albums [with scans]:

2005 - Get 'Em (Drink Milk Records)

2006 - True Colors EP (Not Just Words Records)

2008 - Perspective (Powered Records)

2010 - Bonus EP (Six Feet Under Records)

I highly recommend the reading of that zine linked at the top, 2 other bands interviewed there that can be found here are LOSING STREAK and NEWGATE POTENTIAL, if you haven't already, they are damn worth checking hands down!