tests ahoy!

With every passing day i find that i keep asking myself the same question over and over again, "why do i spend a ridiculous amount of money and time on records?". The only answer i can come up with is love and borderline obsession. From the view of the general public or non-collector, records just seem like a total waste of money, especially buying numerous "presses" of the same record. But I guess what they say is true, One mans junk, is another mans treasure. Collecting for me isn't about buying every single record you can get your hands on, but more or less collecting the records of my favourite bands and releases. To be honest i have quite a small collection compared to a lot of people i know, "quality over quantity" can be the best way to describe my collection.

Anyway, back into the swing of things. Over the past month i have been lucky enough to get my hands on some quite rare and some of my favourite records. First up has to be one of, if not the best vegan straight edge bands of the late 90's. I'm talking of none other than BIRTHRIGHT.

Birthright was a Vegan Straight Edge band from Indianapolis, Indiana. They were fronted by none other than Kurt Austin (commonly known as Kurt Catalyst) who was, and still is, the brains behind the famous xCatalystx Records. The band played the more popular style of the 90's, the chug sound that I have grown to love, but from what set them apart from the other bands of the time was their originality. You may be sitting there thinking that there's nothing original about this style, and i agree somewhat, but Birthright just had one other thing that set them apart from the pack, the message. Incorporating Veganism, Straight Edge and Politics into their lyrics, they were a band with a mission. One fun fact about this band was that it also featured Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy fame), when he was still a xvx mosh warrior. Funny how times change.

This 7", which was the first for the band, is in my top 10 releases of the 90's and one of my personal favourites. The song "Purge" has to be one of the best, and heaviest intro's from the 90's. From start to finish, this 7" defines why Birthright were such an influential and well respected band.

BIRTHRIGHT - SELF-TITLED (XXX) ON GOLD /100



the complete package including stickers as well as this little gem, a tour laminate from their 1997 US tour. Was not expecting this when i first had a peek inside the cover.



close up view of the lyrics booklet




BIRTHRIGHT - SELF-TITLED (XXX) TEST PRESS /10






Now onto another one of my favourite bands to come out of the 90's. CULTURE. I couldn't be bothered writing another blurb as to why more people need to hear this band, but i have to say, This record, Culture/Kindred Split LP, is hands down, Culture at their greatest moment. Opening with the vegan, straight edge anthem "Pillars", this record justifies why Culture were untouchable. Pure, metallic, hardcore that just makes you beg for more. This is probably the best split to come out of the 90's, hell even to this day, no other split has left me feeling all giddy than whenever i listen to this record. If you consider yourself a Culture or 90's hardcore fan, yet haven't heard this, then you are definitely missing out.

CULTURE/KINDRED SPLIT LP ON CLEAR /500?? (GOODLIFE RECORDS)



Not to live in the shadows of Culture, The B-Side of this record features one of Belgium's finest bands KINDRED. Now kindred were one of the better bands playing the ever popular 90's sound, when everything in Europe revolved around the H8000 bands defining the "Euro-Metal" style, these guys decided to go back to basics which definitely paid off. You can still hear a lot of metal influence in the music, but with the slow or "mid tempo structure made famous during the 90's. A great band none the less. Before this split they recorded a full length titled "File: 01" which i have to say is one that stands out higher then any other band playing that style throughout Europe. Imagine Unbroken, with Slayer riffs and there you have Kindred in a nutshell. Here's a link to the myspace page HERE if anyone wants to check them out. I highly recommend it.



Now onto the current apple of my eye. I never thought I would see this, let alone own a copy of it.

CULTURE/KINDRED LP TEST PRESS /10 (TOYBOX RECORDS)





You may be sitting there thinking "Toybox Records?", when in the above post the legitimate pressing is on Goodlife Records, well here's the story behind this.

EDIT: Sean Bonner (owner of Toybox Records) was great enough to clear up the story. Here's what he had to say:

"No real story here, we were going to do the record and I was going to release it in the US and Goodlife was going to do it in Europe, it took a long time from when we started the project and I ended up shutting down the label before it ever happened but Goodlife was still able to do what they could with it since we'd put some work into it already."

Thanks for the clarification Sean. So i guess this means that this test pressing is for the US press that never saw the light of day. Cool uh?