aka soul kill

I guess this 7" is deemed more interesting by the general population


Split Lip - s/t 7" - 1992 Doghouse Records DOG 009

What we have here is the first release by one of the best bands from the 90s. Their evolution as a band is really impressive. At least up to the point where they changed their name. That's when they lost me. On this single their sound is still firmly rooted within the hardcore genre. On "for the love of the wounded" they toned it down a bit. Incorporating more rock elements until they perfected that sound on "fate's got a driver". It's amazing how they managed to evolve from each record to the next always killing it.

Apparantly someone colored in a section on each the front and back cover. Does anyone know if this was done by the band for whatever reason or if some idiot was just bored? Would be nice to know even though I don't mind it at all. It actually looks pretty good and gives it a unique appeal. Like those colored Negative Approach covers. A first thought was that maybe they did that to set apart the covers for the blue vinyl but that doesn't seem to be the case as there are other blue vinyl copies that don't look like this. Until someone tells me otherwise I'll pretend that this one was sold on tour and a band member colored this in thus making it legit.

Now I own two versions of this release, with the other one being on black vinyl and also in a white cover. Does anyone know how many different versions there are exactly? I know about yellow sleeves and white vinyl for sure but wasn't there also a purple vinyl pressing? And do all the different vinyl colors come with both sleeves? Was this a one time or are these several pressings? Discogs states it's a one time pressing and only some of the white vinyl came with the yellow cover but I think I saw a black vinyl copy with the yellow cover on the internet once.

almost november

A while ago I made a trade with a friend.
He got two LPs and I got 3 LPs and 2 7"es.
Starting it off slow here is one of the larger pieces of vinyl.
Don't expect this trade to pick up to much steam though.


Shift - pathos 12" - 1994 Equal Vision Records EVR17

There are two versions out there. One is a single sided 12" that comes with a lyric sheet and the other is the one you're seeing here. As far as I know it never came with a lyric sheet but has songs on Side B too. Too bad it's exactly the same program as on Side A. Why make a difference like that? Does this make sense to anybody?

Anyway. This is one of the best post-hardcore releases I can think of. Or would you say it's emo? I can't remember the term post-hardcore being thrown around that much in the 90s. When I first obtained the CD version of this rocker I thought of it as emo and I bet a lot more kids did so too. What a shame it became such a dirty word. But it doesn't matter what category you want to put this in. Fact is you need this. Just like I want a copy with blank B-Side and lyric sheet.
I love this shit!
I even saw them live once. It was in Belgium at the Cultureel Centrum in Dilsen if I remember correct and I think Earth Crisis also played that night. Or was it 108? Or maybe all of the above? Too many good shows happened there. It became a bit of a blur. Albeit a very fond and beautiful one.

lower east side crew

Last one of the birthday bunch and just as elusive as the other 4.

War Zone - lower east side crew 7" - 1987 Revelation Records REV:1

And also just like the others from the same haul it's in perfect condition.
First press of the first release on Revelation Records. A truly historic piece of vinyl.

I really don't know what else to say about this record. I feel like it's such a classic that absolutely no one into hardcore wouldn't know about it. Then again there are 'hardcore kids' that confuse Insted with Infest and when you try to explain what kinda music Insted plays they draw blanks when you throw in Youth Of Today, Youth Crew or Revelation Records. Times are strange. 

not the wrong choice

Somehow this was not published but only saved as a draft when I initially wrote it. Hence it's now published in-between 4 and 5.
So here we go with No. 2 of the birthday haul:


Confront - payday 7" - 1991 Dark Empire Records

This just might be the hardest straight edge record ever. Cleveland really had something going in the early 90s. Die Hard, Integrity, Confront. The holy trinity of Cleveland Hardcore.
While post-hardcore was the new big thing in other places these dudes focused on the real deal. Not many bands at the time did. Especially not that good.

I've been looking for a copy of this record for many years and was never able to track one down until recently and as I'm writing this I have another version coming my way. 2014 really turned out a great year for my collection.

inside job

No. 4 and also not just recently having been added to my wantlist


Turning Point - s/t 7" - 1989 Hi-Impact Records 1

Turning Point ranks among the top 5 classic youth crew bands for me and just like with the Judge 7" I've had countless 'almost mine' experiences with it. It feels so good to finally have a first press. 3rd and 4th press black vinyl I've had for a while already. Still quite some road left ahead of me before I can close the book on this collection.

While the above pictures show what everybody is very well familiar with the next picture shows why I'm particular happy about getting exactly this copy

It has a fucked up version of the cover printed on the inside. I guess they made a few test prints for the cover and then used the backside of those to print a good version of the cover on it. The nice low number 4 kinda speaks in favor of that. So far I have never seen a picture of another copy like this. Everything I saw was all white on the inside. Except for the address and numbering stamps that is of course.

SKIZ-2

Birthday treat no. 3


Judge - new york crew 7" - 1988 Schism Records Skiz-2

I cannot count how many times i was outbid by just one person on ebay for this record. So when I saw a friend of mine was selling his collection this was the first one I wanted to get. Luckily it was around my birthday so it wasn't the only one I got.

I'm sure you know all about this record. Especially with the recently rekindled interest due to their re-union which I went to New York for with a friend. It was a great trip and so worth it even considering the fact that I could have just waited a little while longer and then see them on their short euro trip. Which I did too, of course. But having seen them on stage for the very first time after all those years was something very special. Especially because it was the first time I ever saw them. The electricity in the venue that night is something I will never forget. People still doubted them actually playing while Sammy was already setting up drums. And then Mike Judge came on stage and all hell broke loose. I'd do it all over again. The Berlin show was great too and Essen was also pretty good but they were miles from that first night at the Black'n'Blue Bowl.

brotherhood against racism

I got money for my birthday and blew it on 5 Singles. Here's the first one in alphabetical order:


Brotherhood - no tolerance for ignorance 7" - 1989 Skate Edge Records #2

So glad I finally have at least one copy of the 7".
And it's an original first press in immaculate condition.

I won't go as far out as xREGANx did with his awesome Brotherhood collection but I would like to at least have a copy of each cover variation so there are 3 more copies left to hunt down.

although a little too late maybe

On to the last record of the trade which at the same time was the last missing piece of SOM vinyl I needed.


State Of Mind - bitter times, better times 7" - 2006 Light The Fuse Records

Originally after not having been too much into their previous releases I didn't pay any attention to this record at all. Which is where I went wrong because it's another step in the right direction and therefore not to be missed from the collection. There's a great line of progression to be heard throughout their recorded history up to the latest releases where they had found their sound and were a really great and unique band. Too bad I only noticed that when they were already in the process of breaking up.

Now I do own a copy of each of their vinyl releases plus the demo tape which concludes this collection for me. I only wish they would still be playing shows. If any of the band members read this: I'm sorry for having disregarded you when I shouldn't have. It's my loss.

better late than never

The last two record of this trade are by the same band which was overlooked by many:


State Of Mind - s/t 7" - 2005 Bust Records

And I cannot even blame people for not paying enough attention to this band because at first I also didn't. Earlier in 2005 they put out their demo tape which I picked up at a show. When listening to it at home I kinda liked it because they had their own pretty unique approach. No other band at the time sounded like them. But somehow it sounded like they were not where they wanted to be although you could clearly hear what they were aiming at. I thought ok it's the demo. Maybe their next release is more consistent.

Which brings us to this release. Their first 7". Before I had the chance to pick it up in 2005 I heard it at a friend's place and unfortunately, although having improved from the demo, it wasn't yet really good so I didn't pick it up back then.
A few years later though I saw them live again and that was the point when my respect for what they were trying to do turned into an admiration for what they were actually doing. It took them quite a while to get there but boy was it worth the time it took.
All of their 3 12" releases are great which is why I had to fill the holes in my collection.

mentally vexed

No. 2 of the trade. A record I liked ever since I got the download for it but somehow have never actively pursued until it presented itself to me. Of course I gladly jumped at the opportunity


Crown Of Thornz - mentally vexed LP - 1996 Another Planet Records AP-6018-1

What's there to see about this record? Even though it's not from the 80s this is classic NYHC. SOS, SKD, MDB you know the deal. I was lucky to catch them live at the B'n'B Bowl last year which was the first time for me. I had seen Lord Ezec with Skarhead before and again he delivered. No matter what you think about the music this guy is hilarious. It's worth to go see any band he is in just for his stage banter.

To me COT is his best band. I guess it was some kind of a one off thing when I saw them live last year but if it wasn't you should go see them if you can and search out this record as well as their "juggernaut" 12". Both are awesome. Most likely that one song on the split 7" with that band Aggressive Dog, who I don't know shit about, is great too but it's not something I'm looking out for. If I'll happen to come across it I'll pick it up though. Can't hurt to have a complete Crown Of Thornz collection. Yes that's right two 12"es on black vinyl only plus a split 7" also only on black. That's it. Not a big task so if you wanna go for it I would understand

eclectic blood

This record initiated a trade that got me 3 more records and some money on top of it.


Bloodlet - eclectic LP - 1997 Victory Records ‎– VR31

Yes. It's another Bloodlet LP but this time it's a good one which is not hard as the live record which I don't like is the only one of their releases I don't like.
This record compiles all  the songs from the bands 7"es. Of course I already have at least one copy of each of those but it's always nice to have all those songs in one place for your listening pleasure. I mean I love 7"es and I'm definitely going to add the still missing variants to my collection one day but it's a drag to flip over and change the record all the time. I know that's the argument people try to make for CDs or even mp3s but in this case it's still on vinyl. The superior format and only true audio source. Besides tapes of course.

Next to this beautiful black vinyl version there's also one on grey out there. No clue about numbers though. I only know that both versions were pressed at the same time. And yet there are still copies available in the Victory online store. How's that possible? Did they repress the record without saying anything about it? Looks a little like they did. At least I think it's a tad odd that exactly at the time A389 puts out the re-issue of the "Entheogen" LP, of which Victory records did get copies too, maybe as part of a licensing deal, this record seems to be popping up more frequently. But perhaps it's just me paying more attention again after a while of neglect. If you can shine any kind of light on the situation it would sure be appreciated.

live blood

Oh! Here we still have another RSD pick up from this year. Well, at least an RSD release even though I picked it up quite a bit later as it wasn't available here on that day.


Bloodlet - Live On WFMU-FM (03.23.95) - RSD 2014 A389 Recordings A389-144

Usually I'm not one for live records but I'm pretty much a sucker for all (vinyl)things Bloodlet. When I heard about this release I immediately wanted it. I just didn't know about pressings and such which is why I didn't pre-order the limited to 100 copies grey vinyl which was only available from the label. So much for Record STORE Day, or do they actually have a real life store? Anyway. Maybe I wouldn't have ordered it at all as it is a live record and postage from the US has become a real killer. Whatever.

Unfortunately there were no copies to be found in any store on the actual Record Store Day. Luckily one of my favorite stores, that is also operating online and where I order from now and then because the actual shop is too far from where I live, got copies. Too bad it's no good. Perhaps that's why I forgot posting about it for a while there. Yet I somehow want that extra limited grey version. Yeah, the mind of the collector works in mysterious ways. But I won't go looking for one anytime soon. Still a lot more good records to be bought before getting that variation.

the word is go!

GO! - the word is Go! 7" - 2014 Refuse Records

I've never been a big fan of GO!. I don't even have any of their other releases but this one I couldn't resist. It's a rerelease of their demo from 1989 including a text about the history of this release/ the band by singer Mike Bullshit who was also in SFA.
It's classic late 80s NY material and was kinda important for the evolution of HC next to bands like Born Against and the whole ABC No Rio scene so I figured at least a re-issue of their demo should be in my collection.

Good thing I got a copy of the limited translucent green vinyl. No idea how many were made but we only have black copies available in our store. Go pick one up. No good NYHC collection should be missing this.

french anna

And now for something totally different


Anna Calvi - Jezebel (version française) 7" - 2012 Domino ‎– RUG379F

I don't know how I missed the release of this back in 2012. All the releases prior to this I got right away but this one somehow escaped me. Maybe because it's a France only release I never saw it pop up on the Domino UK site until recently when they got a few copies of which apparently they still have some for sale at a regular price while people on discogs are charging 'a little bit' more for the record.

Glad I got this for a non-inflated price. Especially because the b-side track is only available as a real release here. Other than that it was only released digitally which I wouldn't exactly call being released.

Now I only need a promo copy of the original "Jezebel" 7" from 2010 and maybe that CD box of the "one breath" album with the bonus 7". But I'm pretty undecided about it. On one hand it looks like a nice box set but on the other hand I already have 2 copies of the LP that came with that very same 7" and it's a CD. Maybe I'll get a copy when the prices go down.

2 line fadeaway

Sleepless in Stockholm calls for another blogpost.
Two great but way underrated bands on one record. How could I not have picked this one up along with the Samuel MCD?


Fadeaway / 2 Line Filler - split 7" - 1995 Last But Not Least Records LAST-001

I know Fadeaway from their MCD on Conquer The World Records which unfortunately is the only other release by this band. It came out a year before this record but already includes both of their songs featured here. At first I guessed that this came before the CD which would have made more sense to me. Anyway. I'm just glad to have at least those two songs on vinyl now.
Oh and Scott Vogels played the drums in this band but don't let this misdirect you. This is quite different from Slugfest and Despair which are the other bands that he was in in 94/95. It's way more emotional in a Struggle or Groundwork kinda way. At least the vocals are. Musically this is not too far from the first Despair 7".

2 Line Filler on the other hand, or other side if you will, are totally emo. But on the other end of the genre. A lot poppier and with clean vocals.
I was introduced to them via their 1995 7" "reinforced arms for a better life" on Me First Records which features the best emo straight edge song ever.
Besides these two 7" releases they put out their first full length before anything else early in 1994 but only on CD followed by another album in 1995. This time on vinyl too. And in 1996 a split LP with Pezz, who I don't know anything about as this is the only record I don't have.

insects on a silver disc

I'm on holidays and it's raining. WTF?! Luckily they got the wifi on lock in this place.
Because of this situation I think this is the best recent pick up to deal with right now.
It fits today perfect because it is great music just like holidays are great. But the format sucks as does the weather.


Samuel - lives of insects MCD - 1994 Art Monk Construction AMC08CD

This release is also available as a 7" which I do already own for a while but for whatever reason they put two more songs on this CD so I had to get that one too. It's not as if they have an extensive catalogue anyway so every song of theirs I can get my hands on is welcomed. No matter what format.

Samuel along with Sense Field and Split Lip are the best emo bands off the top of my head. Oh and that March record was to good too.

I got this one from discogs and I love that the seller kept the shrink with the sticker on it. When I saw that pop up I ordered it in a heartbeat. Not sure how many other copies out there still are coming with that sticker. I love that shit and those two extra songs are so worth buying the CD. I think I should make a family picture with all the Samuel releases I have. It's not an extensive collection because of the few things they released there aren't even any different pressings or special editions as far as I know. It would just be nice to put them next to one another and take a picture of it.

Nooooooooo

No For An Answer - you laugh 7" - 2nd press - Revelation Records REV:6

I know the labels look rather white in the picture but they really are silver. If you take a look at the cover that opens at the bottom you know it's true. No. It's not a mix up.
It was a bit difficult to get this pressing. The grey labels are quite easily mistaken for silver ones if you've never actually seen a true 2nd press. The cover though should be easy to tell apart. But obviously there are people on discogs who don't know the difference between top and bottom.
When I finally decided to add the last of the three regular early pressings of this release to my collection I had to send back the first copy I ordered which was described as "2nd press, silver labels, cover opens at the bottom" because when it got here the labels were grey and the cover opened at the top. Idiot! It's so frustrating when you're expecting a certain pressing to cross off your list at last and then you get the wrong one.

The regular editions of those first three pressings are not hard to come by but somehow those are the records that sometimes take me the longest to finally add to my collection because I usually blow my money on records that are a little tougher to track down.
Now I'm really glad to finally have those early pressings even though that means the hunt for the really rare 2nd press variations begins. Damn! That's going to take a while and demand deep pockets. Well, one day.
In case you're wondering. I don't care about the 1997 and all the following pressings. Not even the yellow vinyl. And test pressings as you might already know also don't concern me. Too many records to collect and I gotta draw the line somewhere.
Good night!

First thing last

Another classic yet not just a Re-Issue:


S.O.A. - First Demo 12/29/80 - 2014 Dischord Records Dis 177V

This must have been released on tape in 1980/81. Or was this just a recording to pass around to bookers and labels? I have never seen a copy of an actual tape of this recording. Of course not in real life but also not on pictures on the net. The only thing I know of is that bootleg 7" you probably know too.
Maybe this is the first time it was ever officially made available to the public. On vinyl it sure is but maybe even altogether. Clue me in if I'm wrong. I'd like to know.
I think I don't have to tell you about the music or that this was Henry's band before he joined Black Flag.

Nice first press copy on clear red vinyl. I'm still contemplating buying a 2nd press copy on clear blue too. I said to myself that I'm not going to seriously collect all these Re-Issues that hit the streets like everyday lately but this feels somewhat different. It not really being a Re-Issue. I'm still undecided...

Boys in the 80s

Another Re-Issue of a classic:


Zero Boys - livin' in the 80s 7" - 2013 1-2-3-4 Go! Records GO-61

This one dates a little further back than the last post. 14 more years. So yes, this one was originally released in 1980 and is much more up my alley. I could listen to this kinda stuff all day. Well, not everyday obviously. Who can listen to the same thing all the time? But anyway.
Early hardcore punk is one of the things I listen to most and this is a mighty fine specimen of that genre. Still more on the punk side yet sporting the ferocity of hardcore already. Not quite this, not quite that. It's somewhat in the middle and that's what makes it stand out. I can't think of many other bands sounding like them. But I guess that was true for a lot of bands in the 1980 punk scene. Sure, these days there are a lot of bands trying to cop that style. Most of them fail miserably though. I have an idea why that is but I'm not telling. Just listen to this and cry at the thought that your crappy band will never be as good.

Remember who's late

Bulldoze - remember who's strong 7" - 2014 Reality Records RR039

Originally having been released on the french label Hardway Records in 1994 this is a classic of its genre. During the 90s I listened to quite a bit of that stuff yet somehow this record always eluded me.
Now that I have it I gotta say that it's a little too late. Whatever I still have in my collection that I bought in the 90s I still like and listen to once in a while but not that often anymore which is probably why I can't really get with this record.

Minimal Gang

On to the last Hamburg pick up.


Chain & The Gang - minimum rock'n'roll LP - 2014

Fortuna Pop! FPOP166LP
Radical Elite Records RE 001

Chain & The Gang is the 4th band I know that lead singer Ian Svenonious is in. There were a couple more but I don't know anything about those.
For me it started with The Nation Of Ulysses which I don't like that much but then came The Make-Up. Great! They were followed by Weird War who were not that far from The Make-Up and then one day after that band came to an end I was hit over the head with this, his latest band.

The video clip to "Certain kinds of trash" from "in cool blood", which was their 3rd output, was my initiation into this truly minimalistic universe and it got me hooked right away. I went and bought that record. A little later I was able to get a hold of LP no. 2 "Music's not for everybody". How great is that album title and it's also very much true. Everything from the bandname through the lyrics down to the visuals fits together perfectly and despite the minimalism they manage to keep their songs interesting on "minimum rock'n'roll", their 4th and most recent record, as well. How many bands these days manage to put out 4 LPs without becoming a different band and still be interesting? I can't recall any.
I need to pick up that debut record and if you think music is for you you should definitely check out the first piece of gangmaterial that you can get your hands on.

suicidal rebellion

I've been trying to score this record at a decent price for ages. Now finally it's mine. Pick up no. 2 from my latest Hamburg trip. The record shops in this city always deliver.


Suicidal Tendencies - the art of rebellion LP - 1992 Epic Records

There are only two vinyl pressings of this record and they are both from the year it was originally released. It was never repressed on vinyl. So it's not hard to find an original copy. The hard part is finding one that doesn't have a ridiculous price tag attached. My copy is a european pressing which is kind of a stupid categorisation as the other pressing is from Spain. Does that mean the spanish pressing was only for sale in Spain and the other one wasn't available there at all? Major label licensing. It's weird.

In my opinion this is the last good Suicidal record and it is the last one that was missing from my collection. Now I have a copy of each of their full length releases up to this one including the "feel like shit..." 12". I know that's not really a great collection but it's all I need. Well, maybe I will pick up the other 12" and even the 7" releases at some point but that task doesn't even make it onto my wantlist so it'll be a while I guess.