Forward - While You Alive

Artist: Forward
Title: While You Alive
Release: 1998
Label: H.G.Fact

1. Melt to the Other Side
2. Penetration
3. Absolutely
4. Fight Against
5. Over the Matter of Course
6. Vomit All / Change

I've finally stopped aching from Choas in Tejas. If you've never been, it's like Christmas only way more punk.

This year's personal highlight was without a doubt Forward. I missed them the last time they came through the US in 2006 so I made it a point to see them three times. It's a good thing I have a real job this year, because at past Chaos in Tejas' I've had to make hard decisions about what bands I want to support. This year I was able to get a copy of every CD/record Forward had with them. So here's the first of the CDs, "While You Alive" from 1998. I think "Absolutely" might be my favorite Forward song.

I'll post the rest of the Forward stuff, plus some other things I picked up during Chaos in Tejas, over the next few days. This CD can still be purchased, but be prepared to pay a lot more than the standard $10!.

Here's some video's from their show in Denton a few days before Chaos in Tejas.






The last one is Forward covering G.I.S.M.'s "Endless Blockades of the Pussyfooter". Too bad it doesn't keep going, because right after that they covered "Nih Nightmare".

Download: Forward - While You Alive (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

On a kind of related note, Sugi, artist and bass player for Warhead is finally putting out an artbook through Bloodsucker Records. I had the immense honor of meeting Sugi for the first time in Denton and had several delightful conversations with him during Choas in Tejas. When he mentioned his artbook I have to admit I got a little giddy. I kind of collect things with his art on it, so an actual book with his stuff is something I've dreamed of for a long time. If you were smart you'd send Guy an email at diskshopmisery@gmail.com and order a copy.

Crow - 終焉の扉

Artist: Crow
Title: 終焉の扉
Release: 1998
Label: Crow Records

1. 終焉の扉
2. My Last Dream
3. Scapegoat

More from Crow.

Download: Crow - 終焉の扉 (LAME 3.92 V0 vbr old) Mediafire

No Way I'm in Panic

Artist: Various
Title: No Way I'm in Panic
Release: 1998
Label: Mangrove Label

Track List:
1. Freaks - Faster
2. Flux Cored Wire - Keep
3. Assfort - Ejaculation Remix

This is a pretty awesome compilation featuring three Japanese bands (or is it a three way split?). Freaks and Flux Cored Wire are both fairly typical and fairly good Japanese hardcore. Assfort is too, but their track on this is some sort of weird lo-fi remix. Not a whole lot of replay value on that side. But the Freaks/Flux Cored Wire side is fantastic.

Download: Various - No Way I'm in Panic (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Various - No Way I'm in Panic (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Four Hundred Years - Transmit Failure (reissue)

Artist: Four Hundred Years
Title: Transmit Failure (reissue)
Release: 2004 (originally 1998)
Label: Lovitt Records

Track List:
1. Power of Speech
2. Penny for Your Thoughts
3. Radio Silence
4. Transmit Failure
5. An Hour too Late
6. Motion Sickness
7. Throw Spark
8. Sequence
9. Give Us This Day
10. Line Breaker
11. Untitled

Since I had somehow never even heard of this band until two days ago I'm just going to be quoting their bio from amazon.com...

Four Hundred Years were not merely a band, but a phenomenon. A force of emo/hardcore intensity that began in Tucson, Arizona, following the end of Groundwork, they eventually migrated to Richmond, Virginia. Four Hundred Years amassed a large, frenzied, and rabid audience. Intelligent and intricate with a perfect blend of melody and dissonance in all the right places, Four Hundred Years had unparalleled abilities to captivate their listeners and turn them loose on an unsuspecting music world. Alternative Press noted, "Combined with the weight of their political views, the tension of Four Hundred Years' music is simultaneously a catharsis and a call to arms."

Four Hundred Years toured Europe, Japan, and America numerous times and played with such notables as Fugazi, Frodus, Sleepytime Trio, and many more. Upon the completion of recording The New Imperialism, their third full-length, they played four final shows on the east coast and disbanded.

This reminds me of a ton of other awesome early emo bands so if you like that kind of stuff and like me haven't heard of this band before you'll love this. "An Hour too Late" is pretty much the definition of goosebump inducing emotional release.

As usual, if you like it consider buying it.

Download: Four Hundred Years - Transmit Failure (reissue) (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Four Hundred Years - Transmit Failure (reissue) (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Proclamation - Straight Edge Hardcore

Artist: Proclamation
Title: Straight Edge Hardcore
Release: 1998
Label: Bridge 9 Records

Track List:
1. Straight Edge Hardcore
2. What It Takes
3. ...In the Family
4. Glorify the Lies
5. You Should Pay
6. On the Rise
7. Torn Apart
8. You Gave In

This is really cheesy straight edge hardcore (obviously) from Boston in the mid-90's. I realize that at the time this band was forming that this style of hardcore with these kind of lyrics probably wasn't quite as cliched as it is now. But that doesn't do much to keep this EP from seeming like a parody. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it, but I'd also be lying if I said it was good.

Here's some more info on Proclamation and this particular record. If you like this you can actually get it on CD as part of an early singles collection from Bridge 9 Records still. And for an extremely fair price of six dollars.

Download: Proclamation - Straight Edge Hardcore (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Proclamation - Straight Edge Hardcore (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Slave One - Full Circle

Artist: Slave One
Title: Full Circle
Release: 1998
Label: Redwood Records

Track List:
1. Full Circle
2. Blurred Vision

I think it's time for some metallic 90's hardcore. Fort Worth style.

Slave One reminds me of a bunch of different things; His Hero Is Gone, Rorschach, and even Amebix (but only a little bit). They were active from 1996 to 1999 so it's not too surprising they had a really heavy metal sound to them. Unfortunately that was a bit before my time so while they are from around these parts I can't say I know much about them. Members later went on to be in Garuda, Caddis, and Matt (guitar) is currently in Raging Boner. Next time I see them I'll be sure to ask about this band.

Download: Slave One - Full Circle (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Slave One - Full Circle (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart

Artist: The Upsets
Title: Tommy Gun Heart
Release: 1998
Label: TKO Records

Track List:
1. Tommy Gun Heart
2. Sonic Reaction
3. Vampires

Straight from the bargain bin this was a pretty awesome find. The Upsets are polished but not overproduced punk rock. More rock than punk, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Tommy Gun Heart" is catchy as hell and will get stuck in your head. I can't find anything about this band but this record is apparently still for sale at TKO Records. I got my copy for a fair bit less from End of an Ear in Austin.


Download: The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

World Class Punk (reissue)

Artist: Various
Title: World Class Punk (reissue)
Release: 1998
Label: ROIR Records

Track List:
1. E.A.T.E.R - Kriget Vancinne
2. What? - Campbells Sign
3. The Zero Point - Working Class Zero
4. Hova-Lett Nagyfero Bikini - Come of It
5. Ratos de Porao - Parasita
6. Solucion Mortal - Ni un Amigo
7. Herpes Distress - Mozak
8. Slips n' Sperma - Caos Final
9. Akutt Innleggelse - Klasse
10. Nervose - Detournement
11. Zyklome - Scapegoats
12. Dezerta - Spytaj Milicjanta
13. BGK - Gone Mad
14. Mottek - Eine Neue Nacht
15. Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers - HC Music
16. A-64 - Moment
17. Exile in the Kingdom - Freedom
18. Purrkurr Pillnikk - Surprise
19. Warriors of the Last Days - Under the Sun
20. Grisen Skriker - Dansa
21. Deja Voodoo - Jungle Out There
22. Copulation - Quicklime
23. Villa 21 - In the Darkened Night
24. Pop Guns - Shock Time for Rock
25. K4 - Six Million
26. Sort Sol - Boy/Girl
27. The Bastards - Liian Monta Turhaa Sotaa

More on this later.

Download: World Class Punk (reissue) (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: World Class Punk (reissue) (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Crow - Death of Nuclear Arms

Artist: Crow
Title: Death of Nuclear Arms
Release: 1998
Label: Crow Records

Track List:
1. 混沌神 ~Death of Nuclear Arms~ (Konton Kami, God of Chaos)
2. At Last Coming
3. Into the Void

I was pretty stoked to find a fantastically done rip of this gem from Crow. You should be too since it was hard to find and it sounds perfect.

Download: Crow - Death of Nuclear Arms (LAME 3.95 V0)