STEP IT UP - Party Time EP

Location: San Diego, USA

Release: District Records, 2006

Age Of Quarantine, day # 98 - San Diego based STEP IT UP has that peculiar "Posi-Numbers" sound from the first half of the 2000's decade, a type of modern and fast Youth Crew hardcore music.

Party Time EP is probably their last record, which also came out as a split release with HEAD HIGH on CD. Before that they recorded 2 other EPs: Lace Your Kicks! (2004) and What A Joke (2005).

That first EP was going to be the first international release on the label I used to co-own, Last Drop Recordings around 2004, but that never happened, we just put out very few local releases on CD-R.

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WHERE FEAR AND WEAPONS MEET - The Discography

Location: Florida, USA

Release: Revelation Records, 1998-2003

Age of Quarantine, day #92 - 1998 was a dope year for hardcore punk, a time we witnessed the release of seminal or inaugural albums by bands such as Floorpunch, Carry On, Sportswear, True Blue... to name a few, bands that shaped the sound for the new millenium. That was also the year we saw the emergence of Miami's own WHERE FEAR AND WEAPONS MEET.

The band came about when John Wylie (Culture, Morning Again, Tension) got together with Jason Lederman (Beyond Reason, Until The End) right after the demise of Morning Again to start a fast and straight up hardcore project, they recruited Ryan Primack (Poison The Well) and after a few trials the singer chosen was Alex "Wall Street Justice" Flores. Then, quickly this unit put together 5 songs that debuted on a 7" by Revelation Records, how many bands does that? Thankfully they put aside all that metalcore shenanigan and delivered nothing but fast and energetic hardcore. The next year (1999) they presented what is considered to many their best work, THE WEAPON!

The Weapon LP caught me off guarded back then "who are these dudes?" such a cool record despite the weird band name. The album is full of hit songs and a great message, simple yet very effective. Unfortunately Alex and Ryan quit the band the following year but that was not the end of WFAWM as they kept going with Larry Scott (Think Fast! Records) on vocals and Chad Kishick (On Bodies) taking over the bass, as a result the band lost a bit of its tightness and speed.

[Update] As I later learned Jason Lederman remained as the only original bandmenber in the 2000 and 2001 recordings with dudes from Miami's Powerhouse and Backlash filling in, but for the 2003 release CONTROL they got back together with the original line-up, including Alex on vocals. 

I went through my record collection and my network to gather virtually everything they recorded on studio in 320kbps audio quality, with the exception for the SSD tribute 7" that I found a clearer audio rip in VBR. (what an amazing tribute by the way!) The weirdest track here is that The Cure cover which I gladly didn't know existed prior to this post, a hardcore punk tribute album to them! The original band is fine but this is a odd bunch, the only other ok song there is by Voice Of Reason. Also WFAWM were featured in several compilations out there, including in The Rebirth Of Hardcore: 1999, but none of them with exclusive songs.  

BUY THE RECORDS

DOWNLOAD the following:

1998 - Where Fear and Weapons Meet EP (Revelation Records)

1999 - The Weapon (Revelation Records)

1999 - Under The Influence - A Tribute To SS Decontrol (Vicious Circle Records)

2000 - Split w/ Comin' Correct (Temperance Records)

2000 - Disintegrated - A Cure Tribute Compilation (Too Damn Hype Records) - just the WFAWM track! 

2001 - Unstoppable (Triple Crown Records)

2003 - Control (Eulogy Recordings / Think Fast! Records)

Today, as a bonus, we have these early 90's sxe hardcore bands from South Florida, check it out!

Download these:

TENSION - In Our Time (First Street Records, 1993)

BEYOND REASON - It's Just Begun (Youth Bus Records, 1991)

VA - Notes From The South (Youth Bus Records, 1991)

KNOW THE SCORE - Delay Of Game EP "Promo"

Location: Florida, USA

Release: Eighty-Sixed Records, 2020

Age Of Quarantine, day # 82 - KNOW THE SCORE, back to the studio after 14 years, since their sophomore release on Eulogy Recordings. A discography LP "All Or Nothing" was issued in 2008 comprised of songs recorded in 2005 and 2006, after that they were laying low playing shows occasionally throughout the years into the new decade.

They play a blend of INFEST and Cleveland Hardcore, pissed off short songs filled with blast beats and break stomps. Recommended for fans of Negative Approach and State Of Conviction. Hence I have a soft spot for all things fastcore, I follow these dudes since they signed to Eulogy and got myself a copy of that discography LP.

Smash Racism is the new single for an upcoming EP on Eighty-Sixed entitled Delay Of Game, perfect timing for a song like this, a moment we all must show our true colors, either you're part of the solution or part of the problem, NO TOLERANCE FOR IGNORANCE! It's maddening to think in 2020 people are still experiencing this kind of despicable attitude and police brutality taking lives, they are a disease that must be wiped out together with covid-19.

The band is also running a donation through the sales of shirts with all proceeds going to the NATIONAL BAIL FUND NETWORK, pre-orders ends this friday!

DOWNLOAD

Thanks to the European initiative HARDCORE CREW for the heads-up!

THE FOG - Into The Fog

Location: Berlin, Deutschland

Release: SFR-Hardcore / Refuse Records, 2020

Age of Quarantine, day # 69 - From the people who have been providing the best ugliest things on hardcore for last couple of years, SFR-Hardcore (in conjuntion with a bunch of other labels) presents the sequel for the Berlinese band THE FOG.

The band's rawness sound remains but the production in Into The Fog is up a notch, 6 tracks perfect to bust into the dancefloor swinging chains, reminds me of Firewalker in some parts.

If it wasn't for the pandemic they should've been on tour around Asia promoting the album which got a cassette version by Malaysian Pissed Off Records!

GET THE 7"

DOWNLOAD

Also while visiting the SFR-Hardcore's page don't forget to check 2 new Deustch/North-american joints URBAN VOID and CHRONIC ABUSE! 

YOUTH COLLAPSE - New Form EP

Location: Nashville, USA

Release: From Within Records, 2020

Age of Quarantine, day # 65. Quick post just to get the ball rolling in here. YOUTH COLLAPSE is the new band led by Greg Falchetto, this time around a bit more similar to his first well known project THE MONGOLOIDS if compared to his other ongoing band World Demise, the singering at least because the sound has huge doses of dope crossover elements! Bands like Retaliate came to mind. 

The production was handled by Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues) so expect killer guitar solos and darkened world-class grade music.    

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER - The Past, The Present (+ Mainstrike)

Location: Nederland

Release: Refuse Records, 2008

Age of Quarantine, day # 45 - Part two of my humble tribute to Roland "BIGMA" Roller, like I said on part one a full profile/discography on him would be quite an effort as it is a tad extensive. This time around I bring the full-length by BIRDS X OF A FEATHER, comprised by some of the nicest long time scenesters from The Netherlands and then MAINSTRIKE, another band featuring Bigma on vocals from the late 90's revival Youth Crew era and one of my all-time fav european bands!

The Past, The Present LP was quite a record release 12 years ago (damn, already?) as it came with a huge book about the History of the Straight Edge in Europe up until that moment, it even got a South American edition (without the book). A good friend of mine brought the vinyl with the book to me directly from the hands of Robert Refuse in Berlin, so it holds a special place in my collection.

I found this interview that reveals everything behind this memorable album, the band's background and personal views by Jean-Paul (bass), Marc Hanou (guitar) and Lord Bigma (vocal).

xxx

Now rewind to 1994. MAINSTRIKE was one of those bands that had a big impact during my formative years, listening to their music when I was 17 back in the late 90's had the same importance as Youth Of Today and Inside Out to me. Reinforcing the "punk values" inside hardcore, not just the aesthetics and dance moves some posers rely on. It didn't take long for me to quit the meat and start questioning all kinds of consumption behavior back then. However they represented a way more toned-down political band when compared to Manliftingbanner, the group Bigma left to start Mainstrike.

They played their final show in 1999 at their pinnacle as a band but... for the surprise of many they reunited exactly 20 years later for the Sound Of Revolution and Can't Keep Us Down festivals!! For download I added the Commitment CD which is a compilation of both their EPs (94's Times Still Here + 99's Self Titled) plus songs from the DEMO sessions. Pay a visit to their newly created bandcamp to download all records for FREE!!

DOWNLOAD these gems:
Birds Of A Feather - The Past, The Present (Refuse Records, 2008)
Mainstrike - Commitment (Crucial Response, 2002)
VA - What We Share 7" (Reflection Records, 1998) 

Credits: Record collection photo by Elmar. Be sure to check Mainstrike's new page and the merch available at Crucial Response!

FRINGE PRODUCT (RECORDS)

Age Of Quarantine, day # 40 - Defunct Toronto based label that put a lot of weird stuff in the 80's and 90's but also hold the license pressings to many punk and metal classics for the canadian market. In the midst of its 130 or so releases I selected a few obscure albums from the FRINGE PRODUCT hoster (or under its sublabel Diabolic Force), this is the side result after digging up for the 80's Canadian Skatepunk article.

PART I - Thrash Metal & Crossover

CORPUS VILE - What Does It Take [1989]

Although active during most of the 1980's Winnipeg's own CORPUS VILE managed to record only this album, a full moshing 12-song crossover LP with a gnarly SSD cover (from their rock metal era)! They used to gig with many other crossover greats like Cro-Mags and Corrosion Of Conformity, underrated af!

M.A.D. - Taboo Of The Western World [1991]

Their acronym stands for Mutually Assured Destruction (surely not the RVA hardcore one), another Thrash act hailing from Ontario, land of mighty RAZOR. Taboo Of The Western World is a pretty solid Crossover album despite the art cover tells you otherwise, a true tribute to the Bay-Area sound of that era.

PARADOX - Product Of Imagination [1987]

By far the most well-known release on this selection of underground Thrash and the easiest to track down. Based in Bavaria (Germany) PARADOX put out 2 monster albums before they first disbanded in 1990, this one being the first and it has all the classic 80's Thrash Metal elements. The LP features art by Joe Petagno, famous for his work with Motörhead!

DISSECTION - Final Genocide [1988]

Under different band names it is with DISSECTION they've put out their best work, more cult than classic, Final Genocide is a 11-song LP with Thrash and proto-Death Metal elements and occasionally over-the-top frantic/aggro sections.

SPLATTERPUNK - This Infinite God... [1992]

The weirdest pick of this selection which I was in doubt to either add it here or not but by the 4th or 5th track I found myself bangin' my head to it. This Infinite God is the only release by these Ontario technical/progressive Thrashers, think Voivod meets Sacred Reich.

DOWNLOAD [Part I]


PART II - Hardcore Punk & More Metal

DOGS WITH JOBS - Shock [1991]

Considered by some as a Speed Metal band despite the big Thrash Metal influence (remnants of past projects), DOGS WITH JOBS gathers the best of the canadian underground realm including the occasional goofiness, their first album Shock is my favorite because the Thrash parts are more prominent here. Both their records were reissued just recently by a brazilian label, Tales From The Pit. 

NORTHERN VULTURES - Tabarnak Hardcore [1991]

Another obscure Montreal locals hosted by Fringe, NORTHERN VULTURES was active between 1985 to early 90's. They played anarchopunk-influenced hardcore and were oftenly sharing the bill with the likes of SC.U.M.,  Sudden Impact, UK Subs, Broken Bones and label-mates in Bunchfuckingoofs. Their last album Tabarnak Hardocre was engineered by Mike Amstadt (known for his work with Voivod) and featured a live version of their anthemic song Rise Up. 

MALLET-HEAD - Self Titled LP [1988]

GANG GREEN goes Heavy Metal! That's right, two members of the legenday punk band embarked on a metal trip (like many from that era) and MALLET HEAD LP is what they came up with, a very fun album containing good doses of traditional Heavy Metal, Speed Metal and touches of Glam Rock here and there. Sic My Duc!

Bonus: M.S.I. - 9 Out Of 10 Doctors Recommend More Stupid Initials

Their only 2 releases came out in the late 80's by 2 unknown labels and 30 years later Schizophrenic Records puts their entire discography on a LP plus a thick zine. I was trying to find a connection with Fringe Product but I failed to connect the dots, just a note on a Corpus Vile poster (see below) but since this discography can't be found anywhere else and M.S.I. being one of the first straight edge bands in whole Canada I couldn't miss the chance to add them here!

DOWNLOAD [Part II]


Plenty of others records/bands can be worth of your attention in the extensive FRINGE PRODUCT catalog, check this bandcamp for more Canadian punk classics and the skatepunk article I mentioned at the beginning. As usual pay a visit to EqualizingxDistort for more detailed history on Canadian punk!

GROOVE MASTERS - Vol.3

Age of Quarantine, day # 26 - The GROOVE MASTERS series [I, II] is back mofos! Third edition with all new bands with the exception of SLOPE. New forces who builds the strength of the groovy knowledge, a trend/style of hardcore that never ceases to amaze us (sometimes for worse lol), now lace up your shoes and let's hear what's fresh on the groove world (before they get signed to Roadrunner): 

MINDZ EYE [Colorado, USA]

Representing the Colorado groove the new-comers in MINDZ EYE put out a lit Demo last year -- Way 2 Lose -- which is getting positive reviews throghout the nation and beyond, a very strong start indeed, raising some expectation for whatevers coming next! Also the record features guest vocals by two dudes in SLOPE.


JOCKO [Nebraska, USA]
  
These dogs have been layin' some funky groove stuff since 2016, reppin' Omaha the land of 311 but JOCKO took their cues from a different source, Rage Against The Machine makes more sense to me as the main reference in their music compositions.
JOCKO's upcoming sophomore album Future Form is weeks away from its release day. Their 2018 debut LP Expressions also on Dog Years Records is already highly recommended and addictive!


SLOPE [Duisburg, Germany]
  
  After 3 years of wait, SLOPE's sequel to the well-received 2017 EP Losin' Grip is almost becoming a reality, a taste of what's to come can be heard on the new compilation by Reaper Records, Still Alive 7". The future holds promising for these german rockers.


RAGE [Newcastle, Australia]
  
  The only show I saw while living in Sydney was by the band RAGE, at that time they had just released their first EP Feel The Burn, since then their sound progressed, more flavors were added to their recipe and now on their newest offering I WILL NOT GIVE IN EP their sound has been groovy-fied, the put on your dancing shoes type of hardcore, get MOVIN'! 


VIOLENT STOMP [São Paulo, Brazil]

Excited to finally hear news about VIOLENT STOMP, a looong wait since their 2016 EP Tropichaos. A promo-album with 2 new tracks is about to drop anytime now, and from what I heard they will rock some pants off, hard and funky af! Their finest work so far no doubt, also don't forget to follow them for more updates on the actual release date.


Facing Worlds [Texas, USA]
 
FACING WORLDS just recently played a few shows with Higher Power on their US Tour together with Life's Question. Their latest and best stuff is from 2017 -- Fool Me Forever -- a 3-song promo cassette for a album that hopefully sees the light of the day eventually. It would be a shame if that doens't happen, check for yourself!

DOWNLOAD

☯
I wish I could do more volumes of this series on worldwide funky metal infused hardcore bands in the future but its highly unlikely, hope you enjoyed, peace!
☮️

BEWARE - Philadelphia Straight Edge

Location: Philandelphia, USA

Release: Back To Back Records, 2011-2014

Age of Quarantine, day # 20 - Hailing from the beautiful city of Philadelphia, and featuring (ex) members of Stick Together, Let Down and Mother Of Mercy, BEWARE have quickly made a name for themselves by writing anthemic and passionate Straight Edge Hardcore in the tradition of bands like Chain Of Strength and In My Eyes. Their sound is honest and aggressive, yet with a melodic undertone. Classic, timeless hardcore that rings familiar and sounds fresh at the same time.

Their 2012 debut EP on Back To Back/Control Records features 3 songs off their well received demo, re-recorded, and 3 brand new songs.

On the following year 4 new songs surfaced, released eventually on tape by Climbin' Aboard Records with a bonus cover track by UNITY and a full live set on the B-side, which I was fortunate to cope one back at that time.

DOWNLOAD the following:

2011 - Demo Cassette (Get Real)
2012 - Won't Get The Best Of Me (Back To Back / Control)
2012 - Live @ This Is Hardcore
2012 - Single (Lost Cause from America's Hardcore Vol 2 - Triple B)
2013 - What We Are + Live @ CCAS (Climbin' Aboard)

OVER THE LINE - The Demo

Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Release: Tension Building Records, 1997

Age of Quarantine, day # 16 - Tremendous demo by these Morrisville, PA underdogs. First released as a cassette (265 copies) by the also Pennsylvanian Tension Building Fanzine then made broadly available by german-based Crucial Response Records with roughly 4 thousand copies in 7 inch format!

OVER THE LINE, as it was told, came together when 5 friends got siked while visiting FLOORPUNCH rehearsing in a studio back in 1996. Attending shows by the likes of Hands Tied and Ten Yard Fight they quickly developed their own sound and a few months later were sharing the stage with the same bands. They picked their name from a TURNING POINT song, another reference that consolidates their YOUTHCREW revival status.

The demo was then finally recorded early on in 1997 at the Signal Sound Studios, the one responsible for recording many other local hardcore and punk outlets including some oldschool revival favorites like Rain On The Parade, Rancor and Edgewise.

The band quit the same year the demo tape was released, out by a fanzine who also put out the illest THE TIME IS NOW compilation. In 1999 Crucial Response got this 6-song tape and released 5 songs on a 7 inch and used the remaining song on the compilation FOR THE SAKE OF DEDICATION. According to this interview, the bandmembers (and many others) disliked the whole new art and layout a lot, including merch and whatnot, even it was just a posthumous release.

On an attempt to change this situation, of what they really thought was the real representation of the band, 2 of the dudes decided to give a go on unreleased songs written after the demo was re-released. A new record came to fruition thanks to Tim McMahon and Livewire Records who backed-up the project and put out a new 4-song EP entitled "THE WEIGHT" in 2008.

My contribution to this was to re-do THE DEMO artwork based on the tape's drawing (done by a guy named Bucket) and put all 6 songs back together as it was, originally. As for the new EP I just found 2 songs from it, unfortunately, as many kids never heard these songs or weren't even aware it existed! I also tried to gather as much image material related to OVER THE LINE and TENSION BUILDING Fanzine as possible.

PURCHASE 7"/MERCH

DOWNLOAD contains:
1997 - Over The Line Cassette (Tension Building Records)
2008 - The Weight 7" (Livewire Records) *incomplete*
Bonus: Tension Building Fanzine - issue number one



CREDITS: Hardcore Demo, Tony Viers, Tomas Andersson, xStuck In The Pastx and Double Cross Webzine.