Going forward...

I've not given this blog much of my time recently and I'm getting a bit bored of it in it's current form.
As we're coming to the end of the year, I'm going to be doing a couple of big discography posts and will try and write about some other stuff. Will be including tapes too. That's all for now.

0073 - Ruined Families - S/T 7"

I think I picked up this 7" at the same time as I picked up the My First Failure LP, I wrote about a month back. I have no great excuse for the gap between posts.

This is a lovely release and has a special significance for me, as it was the first record I picked up that an OBI strip.

The sleeve itself is a nice 6-panel one, with the artwork from the front of the sleeve, carrying on throughout.

Sorry for my less than straight photos, but these were to show both the outside and the inside of the sleeve.

The back of the sleeve simply has the songs listed.

Tracklisting:-

Side A -
1. Voidealism
2. You Will Become Like Your Father

Side B -
3. Bedroom Nihilist
4. Quiet

There's a double-sided insert too, with one side showing the credits and the logos of the labels involved  in the release. They were Halo Of Flies, Dog Knights Productions, Gardens and Adagio830.

I bought the black pressing. There were two pressings of this 7" -

1st pressing - 100 on Reddish clear and 400 on Black
2nd pressing - 300 on White

For those who are unfamiliar with Ruined Families, they're from Greece and they play punk, though it's hard to classify them. Have a listen to this record below via their bandcamp page -



You can get it as a name-your-price download directly from their bandcamp page, but if you want the physical record, head to the following places -

Halo Of Flies (USA) - http://www.halooffliesrecords.com/label-releases/ruined-families-st-7/
Gardens (Greece) - http://iamgardens.bigcartel.com/product/ruined-families-self-titled-7
Adagio830 (Germany) - http://www.bisaufsmesser.com/store/records/7-/9182/ruined-families-same-7

Dog Knights Productions have sold out of their copies.

Ruined Families Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ruinedfamilies
Halo Of Flies Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HALOOFFLIESRECORDS
Dog Knights Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dogknights
Adagio830 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ADAGIO830

Gardens does not have a Facebook page.

0072 - My First Failure - S/T LP

This was the next record in my posting pile and I've been doing a bit of research into this morning and it's quite a special record for a few reasons. It was the second album from German hardcore band My First Failure. It was released on CD by Demons Run Amok Entertainment, who licenced the vinyl pressing to Dog Knights Productions and Brain Ache Records. According to the back of the record sleeve, this was the first record to be released by both labels.

Despite the fact that I can't take a straight picture, I think this record has a really attractive cover. The back of the sleeve contains the song titles and which side they're on, which is a nice touch.

Tracklist:-

Side A -
1. Alive
2. Getting Through
3. Restless
4. Until Today

Side B -
5. The Past
6. About Hearts
7. Turn The Page

In terms of the record itself, there were 250 copies pressed. The pressing should have been made up of 50 pre-order copies on black with silk-screened outer covers, 50 Euro tour copies on half-cream/half-black with silk-screened outer covers and 150 copies on clear with brown and black splatter but there was a mistake at the pressing plant and they ended up with:-

50 on black with silk-screened covers (Pre-order version)
50 on clear with brown and black splatter with silk-screened covers (Euro tour press)
150 on clear with brown and black splatter (Standard press)
(Note: If this is incorrect, please let me know)

I don't think My First Failure are active anymore.

You can stream the record at Brain Ache's bandcamp page below:-



In terms of getting hold of a copy, Dog Knights have long sold out of their copies as have Brain Ache. It looks like you'll have to rely on Discogs or the usual distros again.

Dog Knights Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dogknights
Brain Ache Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brainacherecord
Demons Run Amok Entertainment Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/demonsrunamok

0071 - Heksed - S/T LP

Now, I've been reading a lot of vinyl blogs recently, mainly Screaming For Records, Utopia Banished, Skull Fucked, Totality and others and it's made me realise that I have a long way to go to make mine as good as those ones. My main blog This Noise Is Ours takes up most of my time, but this one will always be going as long as I'm buying vinyl (which probably will be forever!).

This post follows on from my last one about the Hang The Bastard and is also a nod to xTinox of Hardcore/Metal vinyl blog, as I know he likes these types of records. It's also sort of poignant as Heksed have gone on hiatus.

I can't remember where I picked this up from but I think it was directly from the band. It's another records with no band logo on the front cover and it's black/white artwork gives a real old-school feel. It was self-released too and feature the band's take on Holy Terror hardcore.

Things are kept simple on the inside of the gatefold sleeve too, with no lyrics/song-titles written anywhere and just a small space used for credits.

Tracklist:-

Side A -
1. Bleeding In A Red Dress
2. Shallow
3. Mater
4. She Walks On Thorns
5. Trash Your Demons

Side B -
6. The Prophet
7. Bloodstains
8. Fracture

The artwork also features on the centre stickers. This was a one time pressing of 500 copies on black vinyl. I love it!

If anyone could point me in the direction of a Red copy of the Heksed/Deathseekers split 7" and a copy of the Revolver, Oslo cassette that Midnight Funeral pressed, I'd have a completed Heksed discography!

It terms of availability, this LP have long sold out but you may be able to pick it up from Discogs or the usual places. Good luck.

Heksed Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HEKSED

0070 - Hang The Bastard - Hang The Bastard 12"

One of first bands I properly latched onto when I started collecting records was Hang The Bastard. I'm not sure why, but I liked their music at the time and was mainly buying records from UK bands/labels then. This one formed yet another part of the 2012 TDON vinyl club. Don't worry, I do have records from other labels too!

This LP pre-dated a lot of their line-up changes and their signing with Century Media/Siege of Amida.

I like the way this sleeve has been done, with no band logo's or titles on the front or back, except for the TDON logo at the top. For the most part, the artwork is unblemished and it helps you appreciate it more I think.

All of the songs and their lyrics are printed inside the gatefold sleeve.

Tracklist:-

A1. Intro
A2. Interplanetary Portals
A3. Lesser Gods
B1. The Year Is One
B2. Rivers Edge

This is the black version, which it turns out the rarest colour-way.

Pressing info -

100 on Black vinyl
200 on Clear Red/Yellow vinyl

It's sold out now, but you might still be able to find second-hand copies floating about in the usual places.

You can stream the LP here:-



Hang The Bastard Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hangthebastard
TDON Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tdonrecords

0069 - Crossbreaker/No Reality - Split 7"

I seem to recall getting this split in a package from the 2012 TDON vinyl club (sorry I keep posting about TDON records, I have a lot!). Anyway, as I already had a copy of Lows 7" that Crossbreaker released in 2011, it was nice to complete their discography. There is due to be a discography LP release at some point, but Crossbreaker themselves are no more. No Reality also called it a day I think but have new bands. Both bands played great strands of UK hardcore/metal. This was their only official vinyl release, though they did release a full-length called Beyond The Infinite that was due to be released too, but I don't think it ever saw a release for some reason, which was a pity for the band.

This was a nice package overall, with gloomy artwork adorning the front sleeve.

Unlike the Grader 7" I posted about yesterday, this split came with a double sided lyric insert.

Tracklisting:-

Side A - Crossbreaker -
1. The Bastard Sons Of Yesterday
2. Nightmares
3. Open Lungs

Side B - No Reality -
4. The White Druid
5. March Of The Galahad
6. Born In Denial

This split was pressed onto three different colours -

200 - Clear Purple
200 - Clear Dark Green
70 - Black

These are long since sold out from TDON, but you may be able to pick copies up from Discogs or various distros.

You can stream the split here - http://tdonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crossbreaker-no-reality-split

Crossbreaker Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/crossbreakerhc
No Reality Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/n0reality
TDON Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tdonrecords

0068 - Grader - Amnesty 7"

This 7" was another one from the TDON Records 2012 vinyl club. This was Grader's first release and was the record that got me excited about them and brand of melodic hardcore. Seeing them at TDON 10 this year was great. They had tonnes of energy and put on a great set.

As with all of the TDON records I own, I really like the glued sleeve. It feels really sturdy and I think that the artwork Grader chose for this release doesn't instantly pigeonhole them, which is good.

As you can tell from the rear-sleeve shot, the 7" contains two tracks:-

1. Side A - Amnesty
2. Side B - Cheated Death

This was a pretty simple release, with no lyric insert. It was pressed on black vinyl and limited to 250 copies.

As far as I know, the 7" is long sold out but you may be able to find copies floating about on Discogs or in distros. In the meantime, you can stream Amnesty and pick it up as a name-your-price download from Grader's bandcamp page below:-



Grader Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GraderMusic
Thirty Days Of Night Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tdonrecords