Down Foundation - This Time Is Ours MCD

Down Foundation was a short-lived band from Albany, NY. They were quite popular within the Albany scene, but I don't believe they got a lot of recognition outside of it. They played posi hardcore, something which I don't usually go for, but with a heavier edge, and it works remarkably well. I love this MCD, great stuff that just flows really well and I'm sure their live shows were a ton of fun.

Down Foundation released a demo in early '98 which was followed later that year by a split 7" with Dead Thirteen, and this MCD, which was released on local label Losing Face Records. Down Foundation also appeared on the Losing Face compilation CD which I posted here. After the band folded, members moved on to bands like Endicott and Once And For All (not to be confused with the late 80s band that did a 7" on Nemesis Records).

Down Foundation - This Time Is Ours MCD

Rebirth - 1996 demo

Not to be confused with the current and excellent Melbourne, Australia based band of the same name (do check em out!), Rebirth was an obscure and short-lived band from the Upton/Uxbridge, MA area in the mid 90s. As far as I know they did just one demo, in 1996, which I've uploaded here. It's a good slice of 90s metallic hardcore that mixes a heavier sound with more melodic/punkier parts, with vocals that match this mix of styles, alternating between screams and semi-sung vocals. Me being me, I love the heavier parts more than the melodic parts tho, haha, tracks like 'Nothing To Gain' and 'Seeds Of My Downfall' are simply great.

Unfortunately, I know very little more about the actual band itself, but some members of Rebirth went on to another relatively obscure but solid melodic 90s hardcore band called Uplift. Most/all of the Uplift recordings can be listened to and downloaded on their bandcamp btw, so check that out as well! To add even more of a 90s hardcore flavor to this post, several members from Uplift (not Rebirth tho) moved on to a more well-known 90s MA HC band called Fortydaysrain, as well as Cannae. Rebirth singer Jason is now a film maker who wrote and directed a couple of low-budget horror movies including 2011's 'Blood Was Everywhere', in case yer into indie horror. So there... Enjoy!

Rebirth - 1996 demo

Rise Up compilation tape

Earlier this week I got an email from a OnexPath reader regarding my post on Withdrawal from Florida, if I had anything else by them. As mentioned in the post, it just so happens they appeared on a compilation that my old band also appeared on, so yeah... Here's that comp, it's called 'Rise Up' and was released by True Strength Records in 1998. I can't remember how we got on that comp or who was behind the label, but I'm fairly certain that the old alt.music.hardcore newsgroup had something to do with it, hah... Those were the days... I don't think True Strength did many releases after this comp, if any.

Anyways, as the subtitle suggests, this is indeed a worldwide hardcore compilation, even if 8 of the 14 bands are from the States.The bands on here are, in order of appearance: Withdrawal (USA), Implicate (USA, I wrote about them here), Advertencia (Puerto Rico), Hoods (USA), Gat Rot (USA), Staydown (Spain), Sludge! (USA), Everybody Gets Hurt (USA), Self (Denmark), Step Down (USA), D.S.M. (New Zealand), Concrete (the Netherlands), Relentless (USA) and Disdain (the Netherlands, my old band, I did the vocals). Stylistically this comp showcases a good mix of hardcore punk, old school hardcore and more heavier and harder styles of hardcore/metalcore. A solid comp from start to finish. Enjoy!

Rise Up compilation tape

Life Support - Where It Goes... 7"

In an early OnexPath post I wrote a bit about Naked Angels, a North-Carolina hardcore band fronted by Rob R Rock, the first sXe hardcore rapper. After Naked Angels ended he didn't quit hardcore altogether tho. In 1997 Rob, together with some friends, recorded a demo under the name Life Support. That demo was put out on vinyl later the following year on Groovecore Records, a local label which had also put out some of the Naked Angels records.

In some ways Life Support was a 'Groovecore NC HC all-star' band, besides Rob R Rock it also had Bryan Scorch from Empire Falls on guitar (before he became an ultra-conservative right-wing nut I presume), L. Grant Meadows on drums (Naked Angels, Shatterhed) and Owen Threatt on bass (Line Drive). All of these bands had released records on Groovecore already, hah... Anyways, the 7" has 4 songs of solid crunchy hardcore with Rob's distinct vocals, some cool gang backups, and lyrics dealing with environmental issues as well as never giving up in trying to make a change. Life Support would record a few more covers for some compilations, but aside from that this is their only release. Check it out!

Here's a video of 'Biosphere' from the demo/7" btw:

Life Support - Where It Goes... 7"

Face - Losin' Control CD

There's not lot I can tell you about Face from New Jersey. They self-released their 'Losin' Control' CD in 1997, which also includes their 1996 'Face It' demo. The band played decent groovy NJHC that alternates between old school hardcore and almost rapcore-like hardcore, a combination that probably worked really well live. I can't find anything about the band online however, so I have no idea if these 2 recordings are the only ones they did, or what the band members did before or after Face. If anybody knows more about this band, please leave a comment!

Face - Losin' Control CD

Cease Fire - The Blind Lead The Blind, It's The Democratic Way 7"

Another somewhat random 7" from my collection. Cease Fire was a short-lived band from Lockport, NY that did, aside from demo's, only this 'The Blind Lead The Blind, It's The Democratic Way' 7". The 7", taking its title from a quote by American author Henry Miller, was released on Fetus Records in 1995. Cease Fire played a heavy mix of hardcore and (thrash) metal with gruff and throaty vocals belting out angry socio-political lyrics. Really solid stuff overall, even if it's nothing new or original. I have no idea if the band members did any bands before or after Cease Fire.

BTW, I numbered the tracks according to how they appear on the 7", not the incorrect order listed on the back/insert.

Cease Fire - The Blind Lead The Blind, It's The Democratic Way 7"

Poems Of Manhood comp 7"

The relatively obscure 'Poems of Manhood' compilation 7" was released by Vapor Records back in 1993. Vapor Records was based in Lake Mary, FL and this comp showcases 4 bands from their local area. Of those bands, Bloodlet is probably the most well-known band for OnexPath readers, they went on to become a relatively big 90s name with a bunch of full-length releases on Victory records (before that label went to shit). This is one of their early recordings, this track also ended up on their 1st 7" on Smorgasbord Records. Awesome track. Their bassist at the time also played in Adventures In Immortality, another band on this comp, playing a pretty good melodic/emotive hardcore/punk style. They did a few more 7"s on Vapor Records, maybe they were also running the label, does anybody know? The Holsteins were a skapunk band, with the emphasis on ska. Not my thing at all, I'm sorry to say. Claimjumper were a female-fronted trio that played decent and quirky off-beat powerpop/punk with ditto vocals, and they also shared a member with Adventures In Immortality. All in all a wide mix of styles, and quality, on this slab of vinyl.

Poems Of Manhood comp 7"