The hardest jams out of Texas

Iron Age The Sleeping Eye promo from S. Khan on Vimeo.

After over 2 years Iron Age is finally getting close to releasing their new full length album "The Sleeping Eye". A album I've been waiting for a long time, I heard the teaser and it blew my mind so I had to spread the word on this. They way this sounds they might possibly giving Pantera a run for their money as the hardest thing to come out of TX in a good while, minus Bitter End of course. From the songs I've heard I can almost guarantee this is going to be of the best and probably the heaviest album of the new year.

www.myspace.com/ironagetexas

Six Feet Deep - "The Road Less Traveled"

When majority of people think of Cleveland hardcore the first few things that hit your mind is dark, heavy, and a evil sounding hardcore and majority of bands that came out of Clevo since the late 80's and early 90's where just mind blowing. Cleveland, OH has produced some legendary yet underrated bands for years and one of those finest and very over looked was Six Feet Deep.I think they were from the city of Elyria, Ohio but did majority of their time in Cleveland. They never released anything on Victory or any other strong label in the 90's and I'm sure being a Christian band didn't help them either at the time, since they where practically one of the first spirit filled heavy bands to come from the hardcore scene alone with Unshamed, Overcome, The Cruicified, Focused, Strongarm, and a few others. Now was I think about it's a little shocking this band came from the Cleveland hardcore scene which always has been a city that is known for it's very outspoken anti-god bands.

Six Feet Deep played my city of Evansville, IN back in 1996 or 1997 at an amazing old venue called The Rev which was in the basement of a old church that was built in the 1800's in the downtown area, hopefully I'll get the time to do a story on that venue at some point. I missed the show but the next day I saw a few of my friends running around high school with their t-shirts and hyping the band up like they were the next big thing all this talk really caught my attention for this band. So I Finally picked this great album up at the used cd store a few months later and was blown away. If you are person that can look past the religious side of this band then I think you will be impressed, "The Road Less Traveled" really stands the test of time as one solid 90's hardcore album. The recording is very evil, powerful, and dark sounding well at least for a christian band I guess. "The Road Less Traveled" was their second and final full-length for R.E.X. Records, released in 1996 right around the time the label apparently went out of business, thus kicking off the unfortunate dissolution of the band. While their early work was more "chugga" oriented, and thier work on "The Road Less Traveled" is melodic, developed, and darker. It really brings a strong match up with one of my favorite Integrity albums "System Overload". The vocals are intense and the song writing as your usual early heavy 90's hardcore vibe, it a little less metal and stick to more of a slighlty melodic feel at times. It's got plenty of slow head jolting riffs and a serious penchant for hooks. And the hoarse vocals carry enough power to dishevel the head of even the most fastidiously coiffed screamo nerd, hell even listening to the instrumental track on the album gave me chills when I was younger. This is one of the hardest christian hardcore and just straight up hardcore albums I've ever heard when I was younger so give it a shot.

I've been trying to get a post up on this band for years and I finally rememberd and had the time to do it so please give this album a listen. You can't find their music in print anywhere but checking amazon.com and ebay their are still tons of the CD format of this record around. Six Feet Deep does have a tribute myspace page with further information about the band: www.myspace.com/whatyouembraceiswhatyoubecome



Six Feet Deep - "The Road Less Traveled"
(R.E.X Records / 1996)
DOWNLOAD

1. Congruent
2. Purify
3. Slip
4. Apathetic
5. Narrow
6. More In Sorrow...
7. Steadfast
8. Meaningless
9. Broken Tree
10. Quick Time
11. (untitled) (hidden track)

Top 10 albums of 2008 & a little more...

Torche: "Meanderthal"

Young Widows: "Old Wounds"

Mouth of the Architect: "Quietly"

Trapped Under Ice: "Stay Cold"

h20: "Nothing To Prove"

The Banner: "Frality"

Cruel Hand: "Praying Eyes"

Clouds: "We Are Above You"

Ceremony: "Nothing Moves You"

Fucked Up: "The Chemistry of Common Life"


TOP 5 E.P.'s
1. The First Step- "Connection"
2. Jesu- "Why aren't we perfect?"
3. Alpha & Omega- "Devils Bed"
4. Red Sparrows- "Aphorisms"
5. Lone Wolf- "Hallucinogenic Fate"

Well the last few years I have put out plenty of Top Hardcore albums of the year but this year I thought there were plenty of good non-hardcore releases that where way more solid then what was coming out of the hardcore scene and it blended in with my top releases of the year. It was hard to narrow down everything to ten albums and I'm sure I'll get some shit for not putting up the new Trash Talk, Cursed, Terror, or Trap Them albums up on my list but oh well, they are awesome albums but not my all time favorites. Gojira and Rotten Sounds probably put out the best 2 metal related albums of the year. On the lighter side of things I really fell in love with the new James Hunter album "The Hard Way" and Icelandic's Emilina Torrini album "Me and Armini" where some of the smoothest stuff I've heard in ages. Hell even the new R.E.M album really grabbed my attention and I lost hope in that band a few years back. I've been quite addicted to a lot of instrumental/post-rock & metal/electronic albums and there a ton of great stuff that was released this year but Russian Circles, Arms and Sleepers, and God is Astronaut and the heavy post-metal AZ band North took the cake in that department for me.

I found out this year that there was almost as many amazing E.P's then full lengths albums so I did my best to put together a solid 10 without putting any E.P's into the list minus the T.U.I album. and of course these albums aren't really in any important order, just 10 albums that blew my mind this year. The First Step's final E.P really fucking surprised me and of course Jesu will always when me over. I wish I had the time and the effort to put demo stuff out because there were some really good ones this year. I guess with all this addition info I should have put out a top 20 of sorts, oh well hopefully 2009 will be even better for music.

Walter sings Agnostic Front

Walter Schreifels covering “Society Suckers” by Agnostic Front.

Spending your life dreaming of rich fantasies
Come back from your dreams and face reality
You think you’ve got everything, but really have nothing
It’s just too much pressure and your mind is busting
Watch out don’t make a mistake
You’ll lose your money, it’s poverty’s stake
Society sucker - you’ve earned your name
Society sucker - it’s just your game

Isis news

Now I don't really throw up tons of music news on this blog 247 but I came across a band I've been addicted too for the last 3 years or so. I'm shocked into took me so long to actually give this band a chance since they have been out solid release since 2000. Isis is working on a new album and I'm more excited then ever...

Isis are currently tracking their new album with producer Joe Barresi (Queens Of The Stone Age, Clutch) and had the following to say about their progress:
"Well, so far, so good! We're a little over half way done tracking our new record. It's nice to hear the songs beginning to really come together. Everyone has been doing a great job and we think it's all going to make for one hell of a record. Working with Joe has been a really cool experience. He has a great ear, provides a very comfortable and creative environment, and seems to really understand what we're after."
In addition, the band are moving ahead with a "Live V" CD which will feature their entire live performance of their "Oceanic" album from a past installment of the "All Tomorrows Parties" festival. The group had originally planned to release the set as a live DVD, but felt the video footage wasn't up to their standards. In turn, the audio from the set will be mixed by Justin Broadrick of Jesu, Godflesh, etc. fame for a future release.

isistheband.com
www.myspace.com/sgnl05

Davey & Ceremony

Well, I guess Davey Havok still has it.
I miss old A.F.I

Sneakers

I'm not a huge shoe collector or shoe junkie but on occasion I like a cool style of shoe to put on my feet. I got these DS Nike Air Max 1 HUF Quake sneakers designed by artist Benny Gold in the mail a few days ago. I love getting anything in the mail, makes wish I had more money to order more crap I really don't need in life, well except a nice pair of sneakers of course.

www.burningfightbook.com
www.myspace.com/90'shardcore
Got my tickets to the Burning Fight Book release show 2 days ago, it's a total time warp of some of the best 90's hardcore bands. Some I got to see in their hey day and a few other I never did, the lineup is incredible. I finally get to see Unbroken and Guilt so I'm going to be like a little kid at Christmas for these amazing 2 days in May up in the great city of Chicago.

Check this lineup out: Unbroken, Disembodied, Trial, Mouthpiece, Killing Time, Underdog, Guilt, Split Lip, Threadbare, 108, Reach the Sky, Damnation, Ringworm, Bane, Have Heart, Betrayed, Blacklisted, Soul Control, The Killer, Harms Way, Convicted, Thought Crusade

Go Vote!

Happy Halloween

I have volunteered for a Haunted House in town for the last 13 years, which is ran by my Civitan Club a local non-profit organization. So of course I always take full advantage of our make up department on this wonderfull evening. The zombie farm as a website you can check that has information on Civitan and the farm itself at: Zombie Farm.net

Happy Halloween folks, please go listen to the misfits today. If you don't have any music by them I have posted the "The MSP Sessions" which was re-released/renamed 12 hits from hell .

The Misfits signed a record deal with Ruby Records after the recording, and used the 1980 sessions as a demo for their release "Walk Among Us." The full-length album expected from these sessions was never released. Although the Misfits never recorded as a five piece band, the purpose of this new release is to showcase both Bobby Steele's and Doyle's contributions equally. Bobby Steele, The Misfits' guitarist since 1978, recorded both rhythm and lead tracks for most of the songs, but was kicked out of the band mid-way through production. His parts were subsequently de-emphasized in the mix (although he is credited on 3 Hits From Hell as extra guitarist). Bassist Jerry Only's younger brother Doyle was inducted into the band and finished the recording session by adding and/or overdubbing guitar tracks. The songs only ended up in the hands of the general public through a 7" vinyl (3 Hits from Hell) and bootlegs. The tracks also appeared on the Misfits' Box Set"

Misfits- "12 Hits from Hell"

(Caroline Records / 2001)

DOWNLOAD

1. halloween
2. vampira
3. i turned into a martian
4. skulls
5. london dungeon
6. night of the living dead
7. horror hotel
8. ghouls night out
9. astro zombies
10. where eagles dare
11. violent world
12. halloween ii
13. london dungeon (alternate take)

No Justice

About 5 years ago I sang in a band called Reaction who was doing a tour with Still Crossed and One Up and we had a show in D.C, we stayed at this kids house named Black Nick who did a little time in Commin Correct. We crashed at his house at that evening and I remember him tossing around the band No Justice in some random conversations we had. He showed me some type of magazine add that had of the singer modeling some GAP clothes then threw on the 7inch' for me. The pictures of this kid and then listening to hear him scream his lungs off totally didn't mash up but I was floored when I heard what was coming out of the speakers.

No Justice hailed from Virginia/D.C.. They existed for an all too short time in the late 90's, recording a demo and 7inch from what I know, I think they had some songs on a comp but I'm not totally sure. I don't know where the members went to or what bands they did time in before NJ, but I know the small songs they released is classic hardcore for the time era they were active.

The 7inch came out on the Chicago label Underestimated around 1999 and it's piled full of immense energy and what seemed an unending desire to destroy self & stage alike, the band tore apart everything- bolted down or not. They have a very early minor threat sound into a pissed off youth crew type sound. If you enjoy any 80's style of hardcore punk you will enjoy No Justice. Many No Justice stories have been told like singer Timmy running about screaming into a megaphone, ripping instruments out of band members hands, and just general mayhem something I was never lucky to see. I believe the band was together from about 1999/98 to 2001 and it's a bummer they were such short lived.... enjoy.

Here is a interview in 200 with NJ: Bare bones hardcore Blog


No Justice - "Still Fighting"
(Underestimated Records/1999)
DOWNLOAD

1. Political Scheme
2. Throw It Away
3. Confused and Betrayed
4. Everything Falls Apart
5. Failed
6. Still Fighting

Shockwave Returns!

I hope to most they understand what this means

Fall Fest time

Yup, this is real and people do eat it.
Only in Evansville, IN is someone dumb enough to pay $6 bucks to eat this stuff and many more odd foods during the West Side Nut Clubs fall Fest. I'm about to head off to the annual Evansville Fall Festival, which has been going on for years in Evansville. It's the 2nd largest street festival in the United States and has been hosted for over 50 years I believe. If you are into weird,crazy,nasty, and amazing white trash American fried food this is the place for you. They have everything from deep fried twinkies too crawfish and everything in between. I will pass on the bacon but I'm totally down for some chocolate covered meal worms and crickets.

Fireside

In the mid-nineties, this Sweden band Fireside released a fantastic second album Do Not Tailgate which was picked up by American Recordings and released in 1996, and the band got a spot on the then-popular Lollapalooza Festival and this is really the only album I have listened to from the band. I don't think they received much success after this but this album really is great. They song writing is done well and its a very basic post-hardcore/emo style that a lot of us said we hated but some how still love when we hear something original now or from that time period. It's very straight forward rocked out post-hardcore with very catchy song structure, majority of the lyrics about girls or relationship but singer/songwriter Kristopher vocal patterns make this album more catchy then half the records that where coming out during this time period.

A friend referred this album to me not so long ago because they told me "It sounds a lot like Quicksand", of course I jumped on it to give a listen and really fell in love with this record. I'm shocked I never listened to this band before this year. I think the rest of their albums are on the lighter side of things but this one seems to be the best record they put out from people I have spoken with about the band. It's just a shame people forget about or have never heard of this band, because I'm one of them and I'm glad I finally got this hear this record. After hearing this record I'm curious to here what the rest of their albums sounds like even if they don't all sound like Do Not Tailgate.


Fireside - "Do Not Tailgate"
(American Recordings/ 1996)
DOWNLOAD

1. Interlace
2. Smokerboy
3. Left rustle
4. Kilotin
5. Shelagh
6. Cement
7. Sucking the dust
8. Circulate
9. Wheeler
10. Black soup
11. Love car
12. In place
13. Not in my palace

Man whoops a shark!?

Man dives in to save dog from Fla. shark attack!

SLAMORADA, Fla. - A dog is recovering after a Florida Keys carpenter dove in to save his pet from a shark.

Greg LeNoir said he took his 14-pound rat terrier Jake for a daily swim at a marina last Friday.

The five-foot shark suddenly surfaced and grabbed nearly the entire dog in its mouth.
LeNoir said he yelled, then balled up his fists and dove headfirst into the water off a pier. He hit the shark in the back and the creature finally let go of the dog.

"I couldn't see the shark when I dived in ... so I just put my fist together ... but my hands landed solidly against the back of the shark," LeNoir told NBC-affiliate WTVJ.

Man and dog made it safely back to shore. The dog suffered bite wounds but was not critically injured.

"I thought Jake deserved whatever I could do," LeNoir said of his heroism.

LeNoir told NBC 6 that Jake "can't stand swimming pools," but that he might have to change Jake’s swimming hole.

I got a huge kick out of this, find it on MSNBC news site the other day. If I actually saw some dude jump out of a boat and punch some shark I would probably shit myself.. this is fucking awesome.

Do's and Dont's of a True Person?

I stumbled upon this other night, these are "the rules" from strange, confusing, influenctial and legendary H.R of the Bad Brains. I'm still scratching my head on this one, I'm not sure the story behind this. I assume it's something he put together for a 80's hardcore/punk fanzine, if anyone has addition info on this let me, needless to say it's a little odd and interesting.

Religulous

This looks hillarious, anything that makes fun of organized religion and proves logical points I am all about, espically if it's a documentary comedy like this.

Why are we not perfect?

[Listen]
It never seems to suprise me the music that Jesu keeps putting out since 2004, with a average of 2/3 different types of release each year he keeps grabbing my attention and espically with this latest e.p that is focused on the ligther side of Jesu. Justin Broadrick (ex-Napalm Death/Godflesh) sets aside the heavy foundation of pounding guitars prevalent in past Jesu recordings and brings to the fore elements of texture and melody that previously hovered at the periphery of his monolithic compositions. Two of the songs can be found on the previously released split with Eluvium and can be found twice on this disc with alternate versions, which actually sound a lot different then the orginal tracks so it's nice to hear the progress between the two.

Give this stuff a listen if your looking for something a little lighter and more ambient to listen to, I have been playing this e.p. over the last week while falling asleep and it always does the job, It has a perfect fit for a dark rainy day.

Token Entry

Well I guess it's been a long time for me droping a download on this thing and I found the perfect band that I don't talk about much and kind have forget about over the years, there is nothing I love more then refinding a old band again and Token Entry is a perfect example. Listen to them a little bit in high school then just forget about them over the years.

Token Entry is a classic New York Hardcore/Skate Punk band to come out of the late 1980's. Actually probally one of the first self-proclaimed skate-punk bands to begin, hell the cover of Jaybird has a eagle riding a skateboard, something you wouldn't seem from bands during that period of time. Majority of the stuff coming out in the mid to late 80's was pretty angry stuff. Tokeny Entry on the other hand had a very catchy rock n' roll and slight poppy influence to their music. I guess they could be the Decendents of the east coast, just a few years later and as for a 1988 hardcore punk record its extremely positive and is filled with melody and catchy little fast rock riffs.

The band bumped shoulders with Bad Brains (Dr. Know produced the Jay Bird album) you can hear a slight bad brains guitar influence in a lot of their songs espically on this Jaybird album and Gorilla Biscuits (with whom they hooked up for their first show at CBGB's) actually I think Token Entry drummer played drums for Gorilla Biscuits for their first few shows from what I've been told. If you never had a band like Token Entry playing you probaly wouldn't have had a Gorilla Biscuits and later bands like h20, which Toby Morse has said in past interviews they were the reason h20 even started. These days Mr. Tim Chunks, lead singer of Token Entry, is Billie Joe's (Green Day) guitar tech and a few members went on to form Grey Area with a member or Warzone.

Oh Sound and Fury Blog has a nice live set by Token Entry that was recorded at their 1995 reunion show at CBGB's, you can check it out here: Token Entry Live Reunion show
On with the album....


Token Entry- "Jay Bird"
(Label-???/1988)
DOWNLOAD

01. The Fire
02. Windows
03. The Bright Side
04. Jaybird
05. The Whip
06. Entities
07. Birthdays
08. Integrity
09. Token Entry
10. Pink Things
11. Born To Be Wild

Mouthpiece Discography

It looks like Revelation Records will be releasing a Mouthpiece discography sometime in the fall. I don't even think Revelation has made any offical news on this but it's been a buzz over the last year through. The planning of this discography has an interesting read. I really try not to make this blog a news site unless it's about bands that interest me and I have been doing it latley but have no problem spread the word about Mouthpiece, who of course were one of the final bands from the tail end of the Youth Crew era who stuck around into the 90's.

Tim McMahon from Mouthpiece runs a really good blog that is focused on the late 80's and early 90's hardcore that you should really check out. It has tons of stories, pictures, interviews, etc. that will keep your attention I was never huge into a lot of youth crew bands but its def worth a read once in awhile: Double Cross Webzine