BLACK FLAG - TV PARTY EP, CLEAR RED

Got this in an extremely cheap Ebay visit. I love it when the listing is so badly written no one even knows the record is actually for sale! Anyway $2 for this reissue of the classic Flag ep is worth being rather pleased about! Comes on standard clear red and is hopefully the start of more coloured Flag vinyl!

FINAL CONFLICT - SELF TITLED EP, TEST PRESS

Another pretty impressive score with this ep. This Final Conflict hailed from Minneapolis (home of Husker Du) and should not be confused with the other Californian Final Conflict! Now that my introductions have been made I can tell you that this ep was part of the first wave of US hardcore and was released in 1983 on Reflex Records which was part owned by Bob Mould of Husker Du. If Negative Approach had hailed from Minneapolis they would have sounded like this! Not too sure how many were pressed but It'll be low. I've very rarely seen this on trade lists etc so it's definitely in the hard to find category. I guess if you look at it that say 500 were originally pressed in 83 then by the year 2009 I'm sure less than half of that number will actually still exist. Below is a test of this very record which was created at Rainbo Records, California. A truely underrated classic.


Check Final Conflict out here:
http://www.7inchpunk.com/?p=427

WHITE CROSS - SELF TITLED EP

Been after this gem for a while now and luckily got a decent score on this one. Raw as hell hardcore that would sit well with your Negative Approach records. Also features a fella that went on to be a part of the spectacle that is GWAR! This record typifies the hardcore spirit in music and aesthetics, raw and simple. Infact I'm sure if my memory serves me right that this was actually recorded live. If you haven't heard White Cross do yourself a favour and soulseek them, this is raging!

BAD RELIGION - RECORD STORE DAY

To coincide with the world record store day and to honour the fact that the first Bad Religion ep was sold primarily through small indie records stores Epitaph have reissued this ep in a press of 400 records per colour worldwide. I do know it has been pressed on black, white, clear red (US pressing), pink and red (Euro pressing), but I don't know of the numbers. Anyway a nice addition to my collection and its already selling for 2 times the amount I bought if for on Ebay! score!
Update - Thanks to Marcus I now have the US pressing on white and oddly enough it comes in a fold out poster sleeve and also with a lyric sheet which makes it totally different to the hard card sleeve of the European version.

And another addition is the European press on Hot pink wax. Nice!!!!!!

WOLFSBLOOD, SILVER LABELS

So I was browsing through records at what can only be described as a pretty crap record fair when I came across a very small Misfits section hidden amongst a plethora of hideous rock records being sold by a guy that could only be described as the worlds biggest Beach Boys fan!!! Anyway after checking the vinyl I instantly noticed that this was a German first press version of the Earth Ad, but with the hard to find silver labels! I couldn't believe my luck because not only is this scarce in numbers but the seller had priced it at £15 which considering I've seen it sell on Ebay between $120 - $150 was an absolute bargain. Not being phased I calmly took the record in my hands and approached the seller and said "hey I'll give you £10 for this, its a German bootleg"! He looked at me and I thought haha he may be stupid for selling it at a ridiculously small price to start with but he really isn't that stupid! He said "ok" and I quickly paid up, left the fair and laughed! Its times like this that makes record collecting so much fun. The real info on this record is that has 15,000 copies were pressed. This pressing is available with two different center labels: a common black label with silver writing, and a less common silver label with black writing.

EDGEWISE - SILENT RAGE EP, CLEAR

Phillys Edgewise were one of those bands that emerged late 80s and put on their release in 1990. Not a bad band by any means but nothing groundbreaking or particularly outstanding. Still worthy of a spot in my collection although being honest I think the last time I spun this record was in the 90s also! The poster sleeve is awesome and compliments the clear vinyl. I also scored on of those horrendous paper stickers with this record. What is the purpose of those damn things, absolutely useless! Ordered this direct from the label when it came out and it took about 3 months to arrive. Aaahhhh the good old days!!!

ALONE IN A CROWD - SELF TITLED EP, MINT GREEN

Contrast Records re-released this classic a few years back. Obviously I had to have one even though I already had the og Flux press, I was interested to see how this would compare and another plus was the fact it came on colour. AIAC was basically Jules (Side By Side) progression band that has stood the test of time and whose anthem "is anybody there" covered by a ton of bands. Infact circa 2004 in the UK there must have been at least 4 bands covering this song at the same time! And I remember one gig when two bands covered the song in their sets!!!! Great record with possibly one of the most charismatic front men to grace the hardcore scene. This reissue has been done well and the vinyl looks great. Luckily I was one of the 170 to get the 1st press variant although there is a rarer green, light green, clear green swirl variant of 30.

BURN - THE LAST GREAT SEA

Taken from the Rev Records site. Shortly before the demise of Burn in 1992, the band recorded three songs which were never released. These recordings became highly sought after by fans and tenth generation dubs have been circulating the underground scene for years. Burn were one of those bands that were too talented to be a hardcore band if you get my drift. Complex song structures and a groove that was against the grain in a scene were talent wasn't really a badge of honour! Two words ALAN CAGE!!! Packaging is a bit sparse but I love the insert pic of the band. Great shot of them in a non live environment.

KORO - SPEED KILLS LP, CLEAR BLUE

Ah Koro what a wonderful band and for the most and only for those "in the know" hardcore geeks! Koro release a legendary ep that is as rare as hens teeth and probably about a million times more expensive. Luckily Sorry State records released this ep for all of us that are feeling the credit crunch and it can be seen in previous posts within this blog. This LP contains 11 songs and while some of them are re-recorded versions of songs from the EP, the new ones find the band bringing even more complexity to their songwriting, even breaking the one-minute barrier on a few tracks. This LP is also exquisitely packaged with lyrics to all the tracks and a lengthy interview with Koro guitarist Carl Snow. And it comes in this second press format as a limited out of 200 clear blue. I'm so happy that this gem has been released and urge all of you hardcore purists to track what is essentially an unreleased till now record by a classic band.

DECRY - SYMPTOMS OF HATE EP

Kickass band from Los Angeles that unfortunately degenerated into a shit cock rock band by the time of their last release, the terrible "Japanese ep". This is a pretty decent ep which was the precursor to their excellent "Falling" debut Lp. Decry managed to capture that snarley, spit laden punk rock attitude with relative ease, and also without the use of hyper speed in their songs unlike most of their contemparies. Anyway below is a video (the only one I could find) of Decry in action:

HONOR ROLE - IT BLED LIKE A STUCK PIG EP

From 1984 I present to you Honor Role from Virginia. This is one of those mostly unheard gems from American Hardcores rich historical past. 9 song blast with kinda unique higher pitched vocals. I got this record along side the Public Humiliation ep from Bob Durkee, otherwise know throughout the music world as a producer/engineer (Mountain Goats) and photographer (Corrosion Of Conformity - Animosity Lp). Picked this one up at a steal for under $15 which made me happy and especially knowing it came directly from someone who was linked to the band.

SAMHAIN - UNHOLY PASSION LP, BLUE

Don't really know much about this other than its a really well done bootleg. I read somewhere that only 400 copies exist of this and knowing how rabid Misfits/Danzig collectors are this will no doubt be worth more now than what I initially paid for it. Even the small detail like the labels are done incredibly well enough to make you think its legit! Anyone with any more info on this please leave a comment.

POISON IDEA - PUNISH ME EP, PURPLE

Another kick ass Poison Idea ep that was Licensed from American Leather Records for a Euro release.This differs from the US version in that the front cover art has a border and the back cover is white on black as opposed to black on white. The US sleeve was fold-over and the vinyl pink, also got to love the cover drawing! I remember seeing Poison Idea sometime in the 90s and the local rumour circuit was rife with the fact that the club they played at apparently reinforced their stage for the gig due to the combined weight of the band members! 

MINOR THREAT - IN MY EYES

Here is the pressing info on this. 4000 made. First pressing (1000) on red vinyl, yellow labels, 125 of those with xerox sleeve which has the name "Gary Cousins" on it, the others have printed sleeves with "Gary Cousin". 2nd press (1000) with yellow labels and printed sleeve. 3rd press (2000) with light blue labels and heavy sleeve plus lyric sheet and sticker. Not really much to say other than if you are straight edge then this is a classic, if you are not straight edge then its still a classic. Its a classic!!!!!!! I really wish I had cool story for this record but alas it was bought off ebay for a reasonable amount. Honestly!

DEEP WOUND - DISCOGRAPHY LP, BLACK/RED FLECKS

Deep Wound Discography LP compiling the 1982 demo, self-titled 7” and the tracks from Bands That Could Be God comp. Raging hardcore and a well put together comp musically. The cover is a bit crap. Really think the label could have offered something slightly better than this! No information about numbers pressed either. My variant is black w/ a small amount of red flecks. Got to look really close up to see them though.

IQ 32

Another Necros rip roarer! Touch and Go pretty much along with dischord released most of the non west coast hardcore that in turn became legendary. This ep is no exception since its a split label release! I remember the first time I heard that there was a band called the Necros, "they must have gothic overtones" I said but boy was I wrong! Straight to the point hardcore, simplisticy all produces favourable results. A lot of peeps think that the Conquest For Death LP is better but I beg to differ. As for this pressing its the 3rd. Heres a run down of the complete pressing info. 3000 made, 3 pressings of 1000 each. 1st pressing with green labels, 2nd pressing with tan labels, 3rd pressing with white labels, all have different lyric sheets. 100 of the first pressing in special 'Skate Park' sleeve, numbered, sold at a Necros gig at Endless Summer Skate Park. + lyric sheet.

NECROS - CONQUEST FOR DEATH EP

Basically two songs with the A side being a different version to that on the LP , and the B Side is included on German license pressing of the same LP. Nice thick card sleeve with awesome artwork on the front. Another great ebay find at a reasonable price.

SOCIAL DISTORTION - ANOTHER STATE OF MIND EP

Social Distortion - Another State of Mind ep:
2000 pressed on black
1st press, 13th Story Records, released 1983




Anyone that knows me knows of my love for Social Distortion. Just something about the way they put songs together and their plethora of influences that they incorporated in them. This ep was released on the bands very own 13th story record label and the songs taken from their debut LP. Pretty slick paper cover for a self release with a glaring typo on the back. Mommy's Little Monster has turned into Mommies Little Monster!! This was also released in 89 by Triple X records on clear vinyl and ltd to just 500 copies.

NEOS - HASSIBAH GETS THE MARTIAN BRAIN SQUEEZE EP

NEOS - Hassibah Gets The Martian Brain Squeeze ep:
? pressed on black
2nd press, Ratcage Records 25, released 1983


Manic 14 song ep from the Neos. Honestly this ep is blisteringly fast for the age of it. The cover and lyric sheet are both huge fold outs with so much writing on them that you'd be hard pressed to read it all in one go! I love how witty yet intelligent the lyrics are, and for a number of reasons definatley a groundbreaking band in my opinion. This variant is the second press that was released on Ratcage Records, the original being issued on the bands very own label Alandhiscar Records. The main difference between the two is that this variant which was pressed in the UK runs at 45 where as the self released one runs at 33.

UNIT PRIDE - THEN AND NOW EP, CLEAR YELLOW

Highly underated late 80s youth crew band fron Berkley California. Featuring Eric Ozenne of Redemption 87 and Nerve Agents fame. I will testify that I also think that Chain Of Strength hijacked the start of Making A Difference and put it to their True Till Death tune. Seriously I defy anyone to tell me otherwise!!! Anyway 50 copies of this record came with a limited edition cover (commonly refered to as the "Calvin And Hobbes" cover or the "Jason Bush Can Suck It!" cover), hand-numbered on the back of the record cover and on the B-side label of the record. Regular copies are also hand-numbered on the inner dust sleeve (mine is 339 numbered out of 1,000) but I don't know if the two different numbering systems overlap or if they are independent of one another. There are also regular copies that came with a fold-out, live photo poster of the band in addition to the normal insert but the quantity made is unknown.