Six Centuries In Japan - The Burning And Falling Away demoCD

Even tho this demo is not from the '90s, I figured it would be okay to post an awesome demo from the early 2000's... Six Centuries In Japan was a band from Kentucky, they were around from 2002 to 2004 or so. From what I know, this demo was the first of 2 demo's that SCIJ did before they folded. I don't have the 2nd demo unfortunately tho, but I've ripped the 1st one. I loved this band when I first heard em (on mp3.com when it was still a great resource for finding new bands), and contacted 'em about a demo. Their bass-player, Adam Nicholson, sent me this demo and it received a lot of love from me at the time. And I still dig it hard. SCIJ was made up of youngsters, I believe their age-range at the time of this demo was 16 to 18 or so, but they had lotsa potential. This demo is damn good in my opinion, and it still surprises me this band didn't get more attention when they were around. Pretty typical early '00s metalcore, but executed damn well and with some heavy-ass breakdowns, but also some more melodic parts and great leads. The only downside really are the clean vocals which aren't too strong, and I'm not a fan of clean vocals in my metalcore anyways, but the singer's screams are pretty solid. Either way, enjoy!



Six Centuries In Japan - The Burning And Falling Away demoCD

Losing Face compilation CD

Losing Face Records was around from '98 till, I believe, the mid '00s. The label was started by Byron Wheeler. He played in 2 bands that are on this compilation, Straight Jacket and Wrath. He also played in this awesome political hardcore band called Lariat, search around for their stuff, you won't regret it. Anyways, this compilation was released in 1998 and features mostly bands from upstate NY (Bane and Indecision being the 2 exceptions, and also the most well-known bands on here). Most of the tracks on here are previously released, but it's still a solid compilation. Here's the list of bands: Bane, Inner Dam, Withstand, Indecision, Wrath, Husk, Straight Jacket, Solace, Down Foundation, Cipher, Section 8, Sever and Birth Control Glasses. The Birth Control Glasses track is tacked onto the Sever track and is weird, to say the least, haha... I didn't bother separating them, sorry. Anyways, if anybody has any info on Husk or Solace, lemme know, I quite dig their tracks but have been unable to find any info on them.

Losing Face compilation CD

Crosscurrent - Life Dictates Pain 7"

Ever since I got to know Pin Drop Records thru Holdstrong's 1st 7" and the 'Together As One' compilation 7", I've had a soft spot for the label (which was run by one of the guys in Holdstrong). Releasing bands such as Grimlock and Die My Will doesn't hurt either! Anyways, here's one of the bands that they released that's lesser known, Crosscurrent, who were coincidentally also on the 'Together As One' compilation. Hailing from Waldham, MA, they played heavy and tough hardcore with great shouted vocals and a nice crunch in the guitar sound. Not a classic 7" by any means, but solid nonetheless and I still enjoy this 7". This 7" was released in 1995 and apart from at least one demo that I know of, and the aforementioned compilation I don't know any other release this band did. Some members moved on to 7th Rail Crew, and one of the guys also did some time in Grimlock if I'm correct. Either way, check it out.

Crosscurrent - Life Dictates Pain 7"

B'zrker

Here's an absolutely crushing band from Boston that, in my opinion, doesn't seem to get the recognition they deserve. B'zrker was around from 1989 to 1992 and did 2 awesome 7"s, both of which I've ripped for this post. I first heard this band on the first East Coast Assault compilation (which is a recurring theme on this blog), and loved their song on there, called 'Inside'. I managed to hunt down both of their 7"s and they're both awesome as well. They were more metallic and tougher than most other hardcore bands at the time, while still being clearly rooted in the hardcore scene, while the vocals of Tom Habelt definitely gave them an additional edge as well.

The first 7", 'That's What You Get' was released in 1991 on Nemesis Records (how awesome was that label?!), while the second 7" was released in 1992 on Exchange Records (this was their 2nd release, their 1st was Overcast's 'Bleed Into One' 7"). I'm not gonna write down a long biography or whatever on this band, you can check out their myspace for that and also guitarist Alan Fischer was interviewed about B'zrker over at Lifers, which has lotsa information as well. If anybody has the demo's or the bootleg CD that is mentioned in the interview with Alan Fischer, please upload it somewhere or burn me a copy, I would love to hear those recordings! 2 7"s and a song on a comp is far too small a legacy for this underrated band. Also, as mentioned in the interview with Alan Fischer, there's a small chance a discography might be released at some point. Which would be insane! Anyways, if you enjoy these 7"s, and haven't yet checked out their contribution to the 'East Coast Assault' compilation, 'Inside', do check it out, it's an awesome track as well.

B'zrker - That's What You Get 7"
B'zrker - s/t 7"
B'zrker myspace

You've Got A Friend In Pennsylvania compilation 7"

This compilation 7" was released in 1995 on Seven One Seven Records, a record label from Northumberland, PA. It features 4 bands from Pennsylvania, as the title suggests. I got this 7" soon after it was released through Shoehorn Distro, a cool distro run by Amy Pursel, who dated one of the persons behind Seven One Seven Records at the time. If I remember correctly, I also got Brother's Keeper's 'Ladder' MCD in the same order, good stuff. Anyways, of the four bands on this comp, I know next to nothing about Deckard, also my least favorite band on here, especially the vocals are not my thing really.They did a 7" I believe, but I've never come across it. Brother's Keeper is the most well-known band on here, and they were great. Opening band Option plays pretty cool hardcore with a melodic edge, and would do a great 7". The best band on here though is Outcome, with an awesome metallic hardcore track with great vocals. They also did a 7" on SA Mob and a split 7" with Disbelief, both of which come highly recommended. Underrated band for sure. Coincidentally, SA Mob was (and still is) run by Eric 'EMS', the bass-player of Brother's Keeper. All in all a great compilation on a short-lived label. The label also released Autumn's 'Wire Hangers' 7", I don't know of any other releases they did. I would love to know if they did tho. Enjoy!

You've Got A Friend In Pennsylvania compilation 7"

Poison Tongues (ex-Earthmover, The Alliance, Hyde, ...)

After I posted the Full Assault demo, I received an email from Len Adams, the singer of Full Assault (and also Earthmover and Cast In Fire). He told me about his current band, Poison Tongues, which is a '90s inspired hard as nails hardcore band with members from a load of bands including Earthmover, The Alliance, Hyde, All My Blood and a bunch more. He emailed me their current demo, and it's great stuff, once again. Anyways, the songs are available from their Facebook, so check em out there. I've also added a download of 'em here, in case you're too lazy or hate FB or something. Either way, support this great new band.

Poison Tongues - Demo

Full Assault - Detroit Hardcore 1999 demo

One of the best bands to come out of the Detroit area in the '90s was Earthmover. Such an awesome band, and great guys as well... After Earthmover called it a day, the members went on to several bands, such as Bloodpact (guitarist & +/- Records boss Andy Dempz) and Walls Of Jericho (guitarist & Cloud City Studios owner Mike Hasty). Singer Lenny Adams started a new band in 1998 called Full Assault with members of other Detroit hardcore bands such as Dogz Of War. They changed their name pretty soon thereafter to Cast In Fire, and did several releases under that name. Here however is a demo they did when they were still called Full Assault. It's heavy as hell, raw as fuck, and it's got Lenny's characteristic intense vocals. If you dig Earthmover, you will dig Full Assault/Cast In Fire. All 3 songs on here would eventually be re-recorded for Cast In Fire's 'Apology' MCD. Enjoy!

Full Assault - Detroit Hardcore 1999 demo