LIFE.LOVE.REGRET.

This post is nothing more than appreciation for what has to be, one of the most important bands to come out of the SoCal scene, UNBROKEN.

Anyone who knows me will vouch for how much I love this band. It even drove me to fly over and see them as well as a number of other bands for the Burning Fight shows last year (my posts regarding my time in the US and this show are on this blog). Instead of my previous entries/ramblings as to why everyone NEEDS to hear this band, i'm just going to post the clips from their '98 Benefit Show for their former guitarist, Eric Allen, who committed suicide 3 years after the band broke up.

These clips were my first taste of unbroken 3 years ago and even to this day, whenever i watch these clips I still get chills down my spine. I've never seen a band that has put so much energy and emotion into a set as what I experienced at both Burning Fight shows.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4



Now to get in to the records. This post is mainly contributed to the fact that I recieved my copy of the Re-pressed version of the Unbroken discography from Indecision Records in the mail. The Discography is comprised of both their Lp's "Ritual" and "Life.Love.Regret.", as well as the collection of 7"s which were later released as the "It's Getting Tougher To Say The Right Things" LP. This is a must have for any Unbroken fan.


UNBROKEN - 3x DISCOGRAPHY LP REPRESS *CLEAR* (INDECISION RECORDS)

FRONT COVER



One of the highlights of this record is the fact that it includes the full lyrics compared to the original pressing from the Burning Fight shows which had no inserts or lyrics.


the band


the record


the complete package



UNBROKEN - 3X DISCOGRAPHY LP *GREY/WHITE* /528?
Here's the original pressing of the Discography that I was lucky enough to get my hands on after waiting in line for almost 40 minutes at the Burning Fight show. The line up was Undertow, Swing Kids, Threadbare and Portraits of Past @ the Glasshouse in Pamona. These were only to be sold at this show, so as soon as people got inside, they (as well as yours truly) ran straight for the merch area to get their hands on this record. I'm not definite on the actually number of records pressed, but from memory it was around the 530 mark, but i may be wrong.

The Cover


Lyrics from the song "Absentee Debate" which were printed on the inside of the cover.


The Records


The Complete Package


The Grey/White record is the Ritual LP, The White record is Life.Love.Regret and the Grey record is the It's Getting Tougher To Say The Right Things LP

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?

over a year and no posts

Over the past year and a half I've been neglecting the blog due a few reasons:
1. Pretty much having no motivation to actual update it with useless crap
2. The fact that i packed up and moved from Sydney to Melbourne for work
3. I haven't really picked up any decent records for a VERY long time. Not due to there being a lack of quality records, but due to money issues as well as pure laziness.

Well enough about my life story, no-one really wants to know that. So im going to get down to business. With the blog i guess what im going to go down the road of blogs like Skullfuckery (sean) in regards to my posts. I'm mainly going to be posting about my obsession with everything 90's hardcore (with the exception of everything CRIMETHINC. based. hahaha), vegan cooking and i guess anything i need to "vent" i guess in regards to what's happening around this crazy, crazy world at the moment.

I'm going to be starting off with a few records that I have acquired over the past few months that I believe people NEED to hear.

First off the block is one of my favourite records that i was lucky enough to pick up the test press of a couple of weeks ago on ebay for a pretty cheap price. The record im talking about is the LP from the socal vegan straight edge legends SEVEN GENERATIONS.

TO SEE THE END TEST PRESS /10



You have probably realised this, but the cover in the picture is actually the limited cover they had for their Final Show Last year.

If you haven't heard this band, do yourself a favour and check them out. Easily one of the best records and bands of the last 6 years. Essential for anyone who a fan of the 90's XVX hardcore sound.

http://www.myspace.com/7generations



Here's one of my favourite records to have come out in the last 20 years. Culture - Born of You.

CULTURE - BORN OF YOU (GOODLIFE RECORDS) on blue /200


Culture to me sum up everything that was great about 90's hardcore, energetic, sincere, the message as well as Damian Moyal and Rich Thurston being lyrical geniuses. The tracks "Born of You", "Twenty-Four" and "Not as Mine" are my favourites on this LP. The layout is a HUGE step up from the original Conquer The World press. Probably due to the fact that the band actually had a say in the design and were happy with the outcome. If you don't know the story i'll try and explain it in as neutral tone as i possibly can.

Conquer The World Records (CTW) was run by a guy by the name of Mike Warden and was based in the US. Now this label put out some of the best releases of the 90's for Culture, Morning Again, Chokehold and a few others i can't remember at the moment. Now with all the research i have done into this matter, ive never heard anything good about the label. He was accused of a range of things from repressing records and printing shirts without the bands knowledge or consent, withholding money as well as records from the bands plus a whole lot more. With the release of this record, the lyric sheet describes the bands struggle with this label as well as calling for a boycott of everything CTWR related. This also explains the reasons why they chose to repress the record with GOODLIFE RECORDS and why the art was slightly changed (considering the original is an eye-sore with a blurred picture the size of the LP!).

Over all, i don't know the full story, so dont exactly take my word for it. Plus it was nearly 15 years ago, and with the demise of CTWR records i guess it doesn't really need to be brought up again except for collecting scum like yours truly.



Next up is another one of my favourites. This is probably my favourite NYHC release (yeah i said it). I'm talking of course about Indecision - Unorthodox LP.

Indecision started out in Brooklyn NYC and took the US by storm with their bone crushing music, tom's amazing lyrics and the sheer tenacity of their shows. I can still remember the first time i heard this record and the chills i got from songs "Blindfold", "Purgatory" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name". Seeing these guys last year was hands down one of the best experiences of my life to date. Members of Indecision went on to form Most Precious Blood (well to be honest it was 90% Indecision members when it first started haha). They've started playing shows again which is awesome to see because they are one band that people really need to hear.





Following on from Indecision was MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD - NOTHING IN VAIN "BAD RELIGION RIP OFF" COVER, WHITE VINYL #66/200

For those who don't know, Most Precious Blood as stated above, was born from the demise of Indecision. With Tom on vocals, most people were expecting this to be Indecision v2.0, but they were wrong! Compared to Indecision, Most Precious Blood took influences from Metal, Thrash and Hardcore and made it their own. I was extremely late on hearing the record and im constantly kicking myself over it. One of the very few records i have that I can play from start to finish and never get sick of. After this record Tom left to further his studies so the band got Rob Fusco (One King Down) to do vocals. The band has released "Our Lady of Annihilation", "Merciless" (which has been FINALLY released on vinyl!) and a 3rd LP which has been in the works for the past few years but due to the demise of Trustkill, has been put off around 3 years! I can't wait until it has finally released. Oh and a huge thank you to morgan for allowing me to take this off your hands. hahaha <3

One last thing, if you haven't heard this record, then you have been missing out.




that's it for this update but i have a shitload more to come in the next few days. mainly more gloating about records ive added to my ever expanding collection. Also, if I've got any of my facts wrong in regards to these records, feel free to correct me.

CANON - THE SOLUTION 7"

this is pretty much a post to gloat about a record a good friend gave me last weekend



jealous much?

if you don't know this band check out the COREGASM blog, read up on them and download the tracks. one of my favourite 7's from the 90's.

the rest of my trip

ive finally decided to update with what happened on some more of my trip as well as pics. its been nearly 2 months since we got back, but ive had to deal with finding a new place to live as well as getting an active internet connection. Excuses aside, here it is.

(don't blame me if it looks alot like chris and seans' posts on their blog. trying to remember what actually happened is pretty hard. haha)

Day 7
Day 7 began with us saying goodbye to nyc on our way to chicago. We had to make our way on the subway for the last time to JFK for our plane for chicago. We were all so excited about the fact that the weekend we had been waiting for was here. The plane trip sucked hard, except for watching the office which was kind of good (even though they played the same episode on another one of out flights).

We got into chicago and met up with Andrew who was awesome enough to let us crash at his place and show us around chicago for the weekend. We dropped off our bags at his house, then went record shopping at a couple of the local stores. I picked up the Banner - Frailty LP which i had been hunting for a while and the John Joseph Book, "Life of a Cromagnon". At $18US it was a bargain. After all the shopping we decided to head straight to the show.

Before the actual burning fight show on the saturday and sunday, there was a pre-burning fight show at one of the venues. I was so excited to be able to finally see Indecision. A band that i have loved for so long and never thought i would get the chance to see. The night was split up into 2 shows. The early show was all ages and the line up from memory included Converge, Hope Con and another band i cant remember at the moment. The 2nd show which was 17+ (Overage show in US) converge (yes they played 2 different sets), INDECISION, Wait in Vain and another band.

I didn't really care all that much for Hope Con and Converge. Converge are great for what they are, just not my thing, and i've never been able to understand the hype behind Hope Con. Seeing them live didn't do anything for me either to be honest.

The 2nd show was mental. Wait in Vain, featuring members of trial, blew me away. I had heard the demo and i thought it was great. But fuck they were so good live. Timm has such a great stage presence and he was going mental. I picked up their album "Seasons" and it didn't disappoint at all. Anyone who loves trial will love that album. Next up was INDECISION. Now alot of people i know don't rate this band at all, but fuck they absolutely killed it. It was with the original vocalist Tom which made it even better (i like release the cure, but fuck artie must have definitely been smoking crack when he was writing some of those songs). The opened with "Purgatory" and the place just erupted! i didn't realise how many people were going nuts until i saw photos after it. I was up front, trying to comprehend what i was seeing, while going apeshit at the same time. They played all the classics from Unorthodox and Most Precious Blood. Even if i didn't get to burning fight, i would have been content just to see this band. it was a dream come true to see "Hallowed Be Thy Name" played live. FOR THOSE I LOVE I WILL SACRIFICE!!!

after the show we just bailed back to andrews to crash out and get ready for the beginning of the Burning Fight shows.



BURNING FIGHT WEEKEND DAY 1
I woke up this morning as if i was a kid on Christmas morning. This was the weekend i had been waiting to for after the 6 months of planning. We headed to the show pretty early to get in line and plus i always wanted to get some merch (yeah im a merch whore. As if you aren't). I can't exactly remember all the bands that played so i'm just going to write about all the bands i was into.

DAMNATION AD
I had slept on this band for quite along time until i actually hear they were playing this show. I read a bit about them in a few zines and decided to pick up some of their records. I really wish i hadn't slept on this band. Not everyboy's thing i know, but fuck they were awesome at the show. So passionate and so tight. They played quite a varied set list but the highlight was definitely opening with "No more Dreams".

BETRAYED
I have always loved the betrayed - addiction EP, but i couldn't bare substance. I was a bit skeptical about seeing betrayed on a huge stage with a barrier etc and im glad i didn't get my hopes up. It was great to see them for a 2nd time, but id rather remember the first time i saw them @ the lions den in brissy. Betrayed aren't the type of band that should be playing on a big stage with barriers. Not saying this in anyway against the band, but for the style they play it suits venues that don't have a gap between the stage and the floor, restricting the crowd involvement. People were still getting into them, i was too, but it was just weird seeing them on a big stage. They were tight and Aram still has stuff to say which is good i guess even though i thought most of it was cheesy as fuck.

RINGWORM
I was so excited at the chance of seeing Ringworm again, especially in the US. They barely said a word and just annihilated the stage. They were so heavy and played all the classics (Intro/Blind to faith, The Promise Etc).

108
108 were easily one of the best bands that played the whole weekend. So technical, So passionate, So heavy and they pretty much blew everyone away. 108 are a band I have always dreamed of one day seeing. They played a varied set including tracks from Threefold Misery, Songs of Seperation and of course A New Beat To A Dead Heart. Its good to hear bands still explaining what the songs were about before playing and its what 108 did.

TRIAL
i don't need to really say anything about this set. you've probably all seen the videos and i'll tell you now, it was a small scale riot. Bodies flying everywhere, screaming at the top of their lungs and moshing as hard as they could. If you were up the front you couldn't hear greg at all because of everyone in the whole room screaming the lyrics. It was such an intense feeling just too be there when this band played. Their set was quite similar to the DVD, but that doesn't mean shit. its still FUCKING TRIAL. The thing i have always loved about trial is that they are a band with a message, more than just good music with "mosh parts". Greg explained the meaning of each song in full to such an extent that you were left fully informed at what he was thinking at the time of writing each of the songs. Greg is easily one of the best frontmen of the 90's. So energetic, passionate and you could tell he was so amazed to see the crowd. They opened with Reflections and you can imagine what happened.


DISEMBODIED
Disembodied if you don't know already, are pretty much the mosh band that every mosh band wants to be. I had been looking forward to seeing that band for so long. The opened with "Andvil Chandelier" and the crowd erupted. Ive always been a fan of this band no matter what anyone has told me. Both the Dialibre and If Only God Knew The Rest Were Dead are amazing releases. Not everyones cup of tea i guess, but fuck i can't help but get exciting everytime i hear the intro into "Heroin Fingers" or "Andvil Chandelier". Such a heavy band which has had a huge amount of influence on the scene.

After the show finished we went to a vegan cafe up the road and got some french toast. They were amazing


DAY 2
We went and had breakfast before the show at a place called the "Chicago Diner". Words cannot describe how amazing this place is. Totally vegan friendly with the best milkshake i have ever tastes. I got the French Toast which came with a side of fruit which was delicious. We made our way to the show and got there just as they started letting people in. First up was HARMS WAY

HARMS WAY
I had heard a few songs from this band and they seriously don't do the band any justice. Live they are a wrecking ball. Everyone has seen the photos of the vocalist and i kid you not, he is a fucking tank. They played their set and alot of people were getting into them and they were heavy as.

BLACKLISTED
Seeing blacklisted when they played in Sydney was awesome, but at this show the singer was just mental. The sydney show they were pretty chill, but here it was blacklisted in their prime. Great band

HAVE HEART
I cant really say i was a huge fan of have heart before this show. I enjoyed the demo, but the LP just didn't really appeal to me at all. They played a good set and even threw in a cover of outspokens' classic Reinforced which was great to see. Kids were going crazy for them

REACH THE SKY
It was great to finally see this band. One of the band i got into when i first started getting into hardcore. It was awesome to see these guys and see everyone going nuts for them. Such a great live band with so much energy.

IT WAS THEN TIME FOR

UNBROKEN
People who know me know that I am an Unbroken fan boy. This band means so much to me. I can remember hearing the song "In The Name Of Progression" and just stunned at how heavy, emotional and inspiring that song was. After that i was sold on the band and Easily regard that band as being one of the best of the 90's (behind chokehold of course V^_^V).

It was such a build up waiting for the band to start. They were the final band of the weekend, so there were alot of words exchanged by everyone involved with the show as well as an insight into how important Unbroken were to the Author of the Burning Fight Book Brian Peterson. After that it was on for young and old. Unbroken opened with the song "Blanket" and it was as if someone just set off a bomb. it was complete Mayhem. Bodies flying everywhere, mine included, and everyone singing along to every word. Unbroken played all of the favourites including D4, In The Name Of Progression, Absentee Debate, Fall on Proverb and the list goes on. I have to admit tears welled up in my eyes when In The Name of Progression began. Fuck i love this band. Words cannot describe how good that set was. Easily something i will never forget as long as i live.

We chilled outside for a while and i was just so amped after seeing unbroken i couldn't contain my laughter and excitement after seeing one of my favourite bands. After chilling there for a while we got some more food at the same vegan place.

I love america.

long time no see

its been fucking ages since ive updated this. im going to eventually update it with pics and dealings on my trip, but for now all im doing is posted a link to a band i was told about by a friend yesterday. They are a band from southern california called ABANDON.


Straight Edge, Vegan hardcore for pretty much any fan of the 90's metallic influenced hardcore eg chokehold, 7 generations etc. I was blown away when i first heard this demo. Tough as fuck and the most sincere lyrics. Its awesome to hear bands like this still happening. I know i may be living in the past, but its amazing to hear bands still willing to touch on subjects like veganism, human rights, atheism, straight edge etc when we are pounded by the same old, mundane crap coming straight off whatever b9 band is popular at the moment

myspace link
www.myspace.com/abandonxvx

download link for the demo
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yywgeqtyixt

Day 6

Day 6 we decided our main goal was to get tattooed at NYHC tattoo in the Lower East Side. We couldnt get tattooed until 5pm so we had a lot of spare time on our hands. So we decided to hit up the Brooklyn Bridge and explore more of Brooklyn.






We started by catching the train over the Manhattan Bridge with the intent of walking back over the Brooklyn Bridge in search for the infamous "Brooklyn Banks". Now if you don't know what im talking about, these are paved banks which have rails, stairs and gaps perfect for skating and bmx. The banks have been in numerous skating and BMX videos so it was awesome to see them in real life. We walked around the waterfront of the brooklyn bridge and made our way over the bridge. Now this bridge i would compare to the same length of the sydney harbour bridge. Walking along the bridge you have a 360 degree view of the whole of lower manhattan, the statue of liberty and brooklyn. The view was amazing.



After we visited the banks, we walked through Chinatown and decided to get some food in the area.



By the time we got through chinatown, it was time for us to visit NYHC in the hopes of getting tattooed and to see the raybeez memorial. We got there and we all decided on our tattoos. I decided with more unbroken lyrics "my hands are open" across my wrists. Sean got the black flag bars, and Chris decided to get the word "Hollow" across his wrist.





While at NYHC tattoo, we met a couple of guys who invited us to a Murphys Law basement show in Soho. We decided to go to Red Bamboo for a feed on the way to the show. Words can't describe how good this place is. I had the bbq chicken and i was pretty much creaming my pants. lol.




We go to the shop where the show was, it was originally a shoe store, yet for one night was turned into a photo exhibition for one of the local photographers. The show was in the basement. Now this basement was pretty long, but it wasn't wide at all. So you can pretty much imagine how packed it actually was. The show started and everyone started going crazy. I hadn't heard much murphys law, but it was just awesome to see a show in a basement for the first time. It was an experience i will never forget, even thought i was covered in beer after it. Oh yeah i forgot to say that the whole night it was free beer.





We all decided to leave early, as we had to leave in the morning for chicago. So we made our way home anc crashed out.