DISMAY - self titled (7") M13 #02 & TPOS 1995 (& compilation track)

This 7" came out before their fulllength and featured - again - three songs which are released on the demo tape and cd ("untitled") and the cd ("death of a planet" and "uncivilization"), so it makes no sense if you own the cd. But I wouldn't be a record collector if... guess what. This record was distributed by the famous TPOS label/ record store (you will know the label if you know GG Allin, Violent Children (pre-Youth Of Today), Charles Manson, Reflex From Pain, 76% Uncertain, Far Cry (pre-Battery), Antiseen or Agathocles). The label also did some crazy stuff like 8-track cartridges (I'd like to hear those stuff from Violent Children, GG Allin and Charles Manson - please help out!) or those famous 80ies tape compilations ("war between the states" etc.)

Although the pressing quality is shitty I am quite angry that all the other stuff wasn't released on vinyl: it just gives Dismay's music the right power due to the sound.

Yes, the cover is cheesy.

DISMAY - self titled (7") M13 #02 & TPOS 1995

side a:
1. untitled

side b:
2. death of a planet
3. uncivilization
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]



Since Dismay had only a few songs some of them made their way onto compilations. Two of them are Endless Fight's "over the edge vol.2" which I sadly do not own and this compilation (which I bought for other reasons back then: Jasta 14, Blood Runs Black, Botch, Asphalt and Dissolve):



V/A -Psycho Civilized (CD) Elevator Music #09 1995
8. In Doubt (Of The Absolute Truth)
[password: antithesis]

And a friend of mine mailed me the demo tape version, that was posted on Middle Aged Youth. Thanks!



DISMAY - demo 1994 (Tape)
1. nowhere
2. in doubt
3. madness
4. another day in the life
[password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

DISMAY - in doubt (CD) We Bite #121 1995

This was a real blast to me. Dismay's album on We Bite Records - a European label is the last thing you will do to become more known (although their stuff was distributed by Victory back then (before the big clash)) - has a better production and the new songs (all songs from the demo are on this cd too) add a lot more diversity to the previous stuff. Adding Quicksand to the huge Burn influence. The songwriting is elaborate not just a sequence of riffs and parts, just the guitar solos are sometimes annoying.

If you dig Quicksand, Burn, Fahrenheit 451, Orange 9mm, 454 Big Block (with members of Wrecking Crew), Only Living Witness or newer - so called "modern hardcore"? - bands like Soul Control or I Rise you have to love "In Doubt". You can get this cd for cheap at Ebay, Amazon etc. and it was also released as cassette in the States.

In my opinion it's better than Burn's reunion 12". By the way the producer of the recording is later doing stuff by Snapcase or Boy Sets Fire's "After the Eulogy".

DISMAY - in doubt (CD) We Bite #121 1995

1. catch 22
2. waiting
3. untitled
4. death of a planet
5. uncivilization
6. king for a day
7. madness
8. overseer
9. in doubt
10. onlooker
11. grasshopper
[OGG Vorbis, quality settings, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

DISMAY - demo (Tape) Rockhouse Productions #?? 1994

Dismay's demo was released in several versions with different song orders and some with different covers (one version was featured at Middleagedyouth, but this blog is gone now). Their 1995 version is listed at Discogs.com and I am very interested in it since it features different songs. Besides the stuff I own Dismay also released a demo in 1991 and I am very interested in it. I can also remember seeing live recordings from that time in tape trading lists but the MP3 just killed it.

Dismay hailed from Wilton a small town in Connecticut - about 16. or 17.000 inhabitants - and dissolved too early. They only recorded a few songs which all appeared overlapping on different releases, which I will post now. I don't know why they never became more well known. The time - 1994/1995 - was just right for this well played mid tempo hardcore. The production is right, the singer does a great job and the half personal half critical lyrics are well written. Of course one band comes directly to your mind/ear: Burn (sometimes Eye For An Eye too). Dismay just sound like Burn did never stop to exist - until their reunion. Where Burn left a breach Dismay was filling it for me and they did my expectations justice. 14 years later I can still listen to this and enjoy it.
If you have any more informations on Dismay please leave a comment. Thanks.

Sadly their singer passed away in 2007. RIP.

DISMAY - demo (Tape) Rockhouse Productions #?? 1994

side a:
1. untitled
2. lucky grasshopper
3. madness
4. another day in the life
5. overseer
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

Update:

I was able to find the former Middle Aged Youth posting at archive.org:

"About a year and a half ago, while on a 2-county musical shopping spree, I walked into a local record store that I had never been to and started up my usual A-Z browsing of CD titles. While browsing, my eyes were constantly being drawn toward the wall of cassettes they had, fully stocked and completely neglected. By the letter H, I realized that I wasn't finding a goddamn thing to buy in the CDs, so I walked over to the wall of tapes and saw the sign that said "$1.50 each, or 10 for $10". It's a well-known fact that people do not buy cassettes anymore, and this was obviously a blowout-sale of sorts. I noticed that all of the titles were old, and I started to get excited wondering what I was going to find. It didn't take long before I realized that they had tons of demo tapes in the selection - jackpot. That's a quick way to my musical heart - present me with a feast of demo tapes from unknown bands. I pilfered through the wall-rack and pulled out 20 cassettes, 15 of which were demo tapes from bands that I had never heard of. I took them home like a kid with a new video game, but ended up stashing them away after listening to only a few. I recently pulled them back out and was elated to find some really good shit in the bunch, both Hardcore and Metal.

Which brings me to Dismay. All I know about these cats is that they were a Hardcore band from Connecticut and released this demo in 1994. Other than that, they are a complete mystery to me. There must have been 500 bands called Dismay over the years, so finding any info on them has been nigh impossible. Running a few different Google searches produced nothing except the band Palehorse mentioning them in an interview with Bystander Fanzine and a kid who had this on a trade list. But this shit kills, period. The first thing that jumped out at me was how much the vocalist sounded like Chaka Malik (Burn/Orange 9mm) in his delivery. Dude is almost a dead-ringer for Chaka, but really sounds like what would happen if you could somehow splice together the voices of Malik and Anthony Comunale (Raw Deal/Killing Time). The music has an obvious Burn influence as well, though it is crossed with the CT/NJ HC sound of that era, and is a bit "laid back" at times while still being crushingly heavy. I find myself playing this thing over and over lately, especially "Nowhere" and "Madness". The part in "Madness" where it kicks in with "...there's no way out" just fucking smokes my ass, and makes me wish I had found these guys when they were around. I gobbled up this kind of stuff like it was breakfast in those days, and I still love this style of HC. One confusing thing about this demo is that the songs on the actual tape do not match the songs listed inside the cover, so I wonder if there was another demo and they got crossed, or if it was just a weird decision by the band to change songs after the covers were copied (?). Also, the tape had no labels for Side A and Side B, so I don't even know if this is the proper order for the songs. I'm hoping that someone out there knows more about them and will clue me in, because if there is anything else out there floating around by this band, I have to have that shit.

Nowhere In Doubt Madness Another Day In The Life"

THE DESCENDENTS - ride the wild / it's a hectic world (7" ) Orca & Pacific Records l-1056 1980 & 1985

I still don't get all the myths around this 7". The first version is considered to be in a 100 pieces press run but for 100 pieces it just pops up too often. My copy is supposed to be the reissue from 1985 and it states "an ORCA production for PACIFIC RECORDS INT." on the back. Is Pacific Records Int. = Pinsicato Records???? Or is this copy an even later rerelease? Also this copy has stated "recorded in 1979" on the back, which I have never seen on any other sleeves of the reissue. But who cares! The Descendents still without Milo and more into surf than punk and: I love it. I do not share the many scorchers concerning this 7".

Here is a detailed posting about the pressings but I am not wiser after reading it, especially concerning my copy.

It's a SPOT production of course. This 7" is later included on SST's "bonus fat" compilation - still available as cd, 12" or even cassette.

THE DESCENDENTS - ride the wild / it's a hectic world (7" ) Orca & Pacific Records l-1056 1980 & 1985

side a:
1. ride the wild

side b:
1. it's a hectic world
[OGG vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror1, mirror 2)

Links:
The Descendents
This 7" @ Flex!

NITWITS - great day! (7") Monitor Records #01 1994

Maybe I was too harsh concerning my Recess Records statement, since I love a lot of stuff by them (even posted it), but something by the Nitwits still captivates me. I think it's the sympathetic presumptuousness of playing this strumming punk (we Krauts call it "Schrammelpunk"). A huge middlefinger towards musical finesse - not that this concept is the biggest statement in 1994, but this nonchalant amusement meant a lot to me1.

They even deconstruct mercilessly Johnny Mercer and Rube Blooms' "Fools Rush in"2 - and I think they even intended not to do so.

Please do not confuse those Cali boys with the European Nitwits - two bands with the same name (including an "the") are known too me and both play boring punk rock. And please do not confuse those with the dutch The Nitwitz (I just know their quite nice, early but somehow way to average stuff - never heard the 90ies reunion stuff).

While comparable bands like F.Y.P. etc still exist and got a lot of fame I found nothing on Nitwits on the world wide web so this posting makes sense in preventing this record for being lost. I wonder what they were doing afterwards (I just hope they didn't improve concerning instruments and songwriting because it ruins bands like this one - I am dead serious).

NITWITS - great day! (7") Monitor Records #01 1994

side a:
1. Catalyst
2. Ankrumb
3. Mad Ratts

side b:
1. Killjoy
2. Only Fools Rush in [Johnny Mercer/Rube Bloom]
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

1 it doesn't nowadays since Youtube and Myspace offers millions of Überzeugungstäter to share their inabilities. Please do not call this Zeitgeist or I'll slap your ass.

2 Nelson's version was better than the one by Elvis!

MOHINDER & NITWITS - split (7") Stinky Feet Records #?? & Unleaded Records #?? 1994

Here is the Mohinder split 7" with Nitwits on both the bands' own labels Stinky Feet and Unleaded. Nitwits from San Jose were totally different and this split was recorded right after their demo tape (I will post their own 7" too). I liked their snotty lowfi punk more then comparable stuff from labels like Recess in the 90ies. Another band that comes to my mind is Quadiliacha1. I still wonder what amps were used by Nitwits since they make Destroyer sound like Manowar.
The three Mohinder songs might be my favourites by the band - especially "Imbalance" which has some very Swing Kids-ish moments. All tracks are even better recorded compared to the other two singles.
Companies which produced envelopes back then must have been well off in the 90ies if you consider the need by kids to buy them in huge quantities for silkscreening and hand painting them over.

MOHINDER & NITWITS - split (7") Stinky Feet Records #?? & Unleaded Records #?? 1994

side a:
Nitwits
1. Captain America
2. Walgreens Girl
3. Strawgly

side b:
Mohinder
1. Number One
2. Imbalance
3. Itch
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2)

Links:
To me known releases by Unleaded (Mohinder's own label)
7" @ Discogs

1 I wanted to post their 7" and 10" until I realised that nearly everything by them is on this page and in a good quality. I even didn't know that they had a fulllength cd but these weren't my cd buying times back then.

MOHINDER - 2nd (7") Gravity Records #13 1994

It's been a while again and I've gone through a lot of changes.

Here we go: I'll post the second Mohinder 7" and their split 7" - I was never into the first one. All the stuff was later compiled on a LP on GSL including a CD with live recordings (I am looking for this vinyl version, so help me out). If there was ever something you can call the Gravity sound Mohinder1 will be one hell of a definition. If you dig Honeywell, Angel Hair, Eurich and Han-Shan this is for you. Fast and hectic hardcore with screamed vocals and lyrics quite in the - what I call - Rainald Goetz emo vein. I am not sure, but most of the songs sound like being done in an old fashioned way: all instruments recorded together "live" and then the vocals later. When the songs have transitions it sounds like those two songs are even recorded in one take. This might lack some quality concerning the production but captures the energy better.

The covers for this 7" are all different since they were pictures or ads in fashion etc. magazines and thenscreenprinted. Some people list this single as "the mission" e.p. but it's just self titled - at least old Gravity flyers etc. tell so.

The members went on to play in Makara (I will post the 7"), Duster, Calm (together with Indian Summer members) and Jenny Piccolo.

I found this short description at Epitonic.com:

"1993. Cupertino, CA. Right in the heart of what was soon to become (for a time) the new economic heart of America, Silicon Valley, came a hair-raising, filling-rattling scream of rage. Hidden behind the pristine office parks and suburban strip malls, a seething force of paranoid aggression was brooding, and its name was Mohinder. For a little over a year, Mohinder captured the attention of the Bay Area's alienated hardcore underground, providing a Northern California counterpart to the burgeoning San Diego art-punk scene (Mohinder, like Heroin, Antioch Arrow, et al, was associated with the notorious Gravity Records) with their brief but absurdly powerful bursts of shambolic noise and instantly legendary live performances. By the end of 1994 Mohinder was only a memory, the brevity of the band's existence a testament to its unsustainably fierce, almost superhuman energy.

Mohinder's four members went on to form a number of noteworthy new bands, including Jenny Piccolo, The Anasazi, Calm, Duster, Valium Aggelian, Haelah, and A-Set. GSL's Discography collects Mohinder's complete musical output -- the two EPs they put out on their own Unleaded imprint, their one Gravity EP, and live performances recordeed at the Gilman in Berkeley and on KZSU Stanford radio."

MOHINDER - 2nd (7") Gravity Records #13 1994

side a:
1. the mission
2. alien
3. division
4. acceptane

side b:
1. the static cult
2. beautiful
3. one warrior
4. expiration
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2)

Links:
This 7" at Flex!

1 not to be confused with the crazy guy at Heroes.

OLD GLORY RECORDS - shirt

(front print)


(back print)

Someone who wrote a comment was missing his Old Glory Records shirt, so I give you the opportunity to at least look at it again. I got it from a friend who was clearing his closet and selling a lot of his old shirts, but I was just wearing it two times for running outside and I just got weird looks. So I think this will stay a pyjama forever. Due to the fact being a lazy retard I just managed to do one Old Glory Records posting until now although nearly all old records (and some of the later releases) by this label were hit unaccountably by the needle of my record player - just think of Assfactor 4, In/Humanity, Avail, Policy Of Three, Groove, Iconoclast or even Jerome's Dream (me being an idiot I even gave the Funeral Diner stuff away).

Old Glory Records was mentioned in a list of antisemitic and antizionistic bands and I think this shirt was also one of the reasons; but I am not able to give a lecture on the coherence since I can't remember why the label was named.

What I do remember an increbible statement by Holger Ohst who used to do Summersault and shared his flat with the owner of Old Glory Records once concerning the - let's say - mannerism of the label owner, but since I can't stand the shittalk anymore: just pull out the Plot fanzine issue and figure it out for yourself.

I just realized that some shirt pictures are really bad, so I am going to redo some of them.

DON MARTIN 3 - self titled (7") Oberon Records #?? 199?

Okay here it is: the fucking essence with only 300 copies in existence.

I am not sure if Oberon was the band's own label - I do not know any other releases by this "label" - and when it was recorded/ released. There are no detailed informations provided here - all Don Martin Three records have that in common.

This 7" must be one of my most played ones concerning the 90ies emo thing (together with Inkwell maybe) - I have an additional copy up for trade.

I am not writing that much today (I haven't the last few weeks), just let those nine and a half minutes of delightful cliché speak to you.

DON MARTIN THREE - self titled (7") Oberon Records #?? 199?

side a:
1. katahdn

side b:
1. inefficient engine
[OGG Vorbis; 256 K; password: antithesis; mirror 1, mirror 2]

I recently saw that the scans of the 12" and 7" compilation were taken for the myspace tribute page of Don Martin Three - at least: ask nicely.


Links:
Former postings 1, 2

V/A - Education (LP) Mountain Records #04 1994

Uh, back from the dead. Thanks to all those who wrote.

Last part concerning Floodgate: the "Education" compilation on the now defunct Mountain label. Here are some notes by Jeff from Mountain Records:

"The Education compilation was Mountain's first release to focus not just on music but also address a particular social issue. The booklet that came with the LP contained liner notes for the LP as well as lengthy essays by various educators and educatees addressing the titular issue. It examined the complicated relationship that politically-minded, idealistic individuals have to education as it is and should be. All proceeds from the comp, which has now sold all 3,000 copies, went to the East Harlem Tutorial Program.

Musically, this comp is (for me) one of the key records from that period of time between the great wave of HC that spawned bands like Born Against, Rorschach, Econochrist, and the like - and the time when the word "emo" showed up on every page of every hardcore zine applied to every kind of music. Some of these bands are probably familiar to most people: Devoid of Faith, Policy of Three, and Floodgate are all fairly seminal groups. The rest of the comp is no slouch either. Coleman, one of my all time favorites, gives a slower song that spews venom and mucas. Kisses and Hugs offer a spazzcore (emoviolence?) tripcych that is nothing short of great, three short blasts of total fury. The rest of the music ranges from rocking quiet/loud stuff to more simple punk with an emphasis on screaming, bile chucking mid-tempo hardcore. As if the material in the booklet wasn't enough, all these songs address issues of education as well."

Quite self-explanatory, although I think the statements and ideas by the contributors are kinda one-sided and somehow even naive - a very strong "punk rock" view on the topic. But decide for yourself: I included the complete booklet within the zip file. Musically it's also an up and down. Outstanding tracks on this LP are - in my opinion - the Bleed track (must be one of their best), another New York hardcore mid tempo anthem by Devoid Of Faith, Policy Of Three and of course Floodgate. I also like the Citizens Arrest, Void feeling in the Dead Inside track but my favourite is Kisses And Hugs (get their LP and split 7"): three spazztic attacks within 1 minute - if you dig In/Humanity, Eurich, Palatka or the End Of The Century Party you have to love them too.

That was it - concerning Floodgate.

V/A - Education (LP) Mountain Records #04 1994

Side a:
1. DEVOID OF FAITH - I'll Keep You Safe From Me
2. BLEED - Better Days
3. KISSES AND HUGS - Lessons 1-3
4. HORACE PINKER- You Know
5. BENCHMARK - Knowledge Is Power
6. ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR - Monday
7. COLEMAN - Homage
8. OX - Channel 1

Side b:
1. FLOODGATE - Ruler
2. SILENCE EQUALS - How Does It Feel To Be The Last One Picked?
3. THREE STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION - To Some Degree
4. RAZE - Blackboard
5. DEAD INSIDE - Natural Selection
6. POLICY OF THREE - Twelve Years Down
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: antithesis, part 1, part 2, part 3]

Update:

Sendspace seems to be a bit slow: split in 3 parts -> 1, 2 and 3.

Links:
Mountain Records

VA - No Idea Fanzine - Bread, the Edible Napkin (CD) No Idea #20 1997

Okay, one of the compilations I am posting concerning Floodgate; their track "the pessimist" is otherwise unreleased and has a strong Moss Icon feel to it, but it is sadly one of their weaker tracks. But that's venial: "Bread, the Edible Napkin" is a great compilation. It was part of the No Idea fanzine - I was too lazy to scan the issue but I included the booklet of the compilation - but also available as double LP. You might still get it from No Idea records, if not you'll get it cheap second hand. The tracklist reads like a who is who of the late 90ies: Braid, Brutal Truth, Hot Water Music, Floor, Serpico, Cavity, Threadbare, Still Life, Sideshow, Moonraker, Horace Pinker, Car Vs. Driver, Locust, Christie Front Drive and so on. More than a half of the songs are otherwise unreleased and a few are my favourites by these bands especially those by Moonraker and Hope Springs Eternal. Some bands should be featured here sooner or later (later! ha ha ha): Serpico, Rhythm Collision and Gus.

If anyone has any additional tracks by The Lisa Killers which is a Floor/Dove sideproject, please write me a short e-mail!

Okay, that's it for today, after Threadbare's version of "sunstroke" I am going to spend my evening with Swiz records.


VA - No Idea Fanzine #12 - Bread, the Edible Napkin (CD) No Idea #20 1997

1. Hot Water Music - Floor
2. Floor - Who Are You?
3. No Empathy - Daddy's Got a Problem
4. Ash County Sluggers - Achiever 9
5. Brutal Truth - Eggshells
6. Christie Front Drive - Bag
7. Cavity - Wounded
8. Pung - Anthem for the Youth
9. V-Card - Strap Me Down
10. Floodgate - The Pessimist
11. Against All Authority - Corporate Takeover
12. Serpico - Double Negative
13. Elmer - Let's Get into a Fistfight
14. Gus (Canada) - Sinister Acts in Bright Sunshine
15. Moonraker - Friendly Fire
16. The Bruce Lee Band - Calling For Me
17. Horace Pinker - Sloth
18. Car vs. Driver - Generis
19. Locust - Inbred America
20. Hope Springs Eternal - Loneliness Equals Coldness
21. Jack With Killer - Stupid Heavy Metal 2--Restriction
22. King Friday - Lonnie
23. Braid - Katy Cat
24. The Lisa Killers - No One Gets Through
25. Rhythm Collision - Jack
26. Sideshow - Soar
27. Skankin' Pickle - $13,000 is a Lot of Food (live)
28. Crunch - Furioso Zapping
29. Threadbare - Sunstroke
30. The End of the Century Party - Doozer La, Doozer Do
31. Still Life - Someone Stole My Bike
32. Bombs of Cheese - White People in the Park
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

Links:
No Idea Records

FLOODGATE - Troubles A' Brewin (12") Youth Strike Chord #2 & Ebullition #13.5 1993/1994

And finally: Floodgate's 12" which was a cooperation between Ebullition and the band's own label Youth Strike Chord - a huge step forward after their 7" but I must insist: still behind the double 7". Anyway I always loved how they managed to keep their sound on the hardcore side and "6+5+4=3" and "big brother blindness" are really two great songs. The instrumental on the flip side totally reminds me of something... but I can't recall of what... Rain? You tell me.

Funny sidenote: I saw this twelve inch on some Spanish blog filed under the category "Stoner".

FLOODGATE - Troubles A' Brewin (12") Youth Strike Chord #2 & Ebullition #13.5 1993/1994

side a:
1. troubles a' brewin
2. 6+5+4=3
3. big brother blindness

side b:
1.floodgate, m.l. (instrumental)
2. eldin o'brian
3. ancient of days
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

And since it has been a while, I repost their double 7":

Click! (Here is the original posting)

FLOODGATE - shirt

(front print)

This is an original Floodgate shirt and the only one known to me. In the 90ies it was a must for every band or fanzine to have at least one Käthe Kollwitz drawing or etching for a record cover, artwork etc. (no matter if your name was Split Lip or even Earth Crisis). This motive is also on the back cover of the Floodgate 12" on Youth Strike Chord/ Ebullition.

Off topic: if you ever stop by in Berlin, please drop a bomb on the district Kollwitz used to live. You'll do the city a huge favour!

FLOODGATE - 1st (7") Youth Strike Chord #01 & Anomaly #?? 1993

It's been a while and I like to subsume the last 4 months as "hard times in an age of quarrel".

I got Floodgate's first 7" for 5 bucks lately and I will post it together with other Floodgate stuff (12", shirt and compilations) the next few hours. Their debut release - I don't know if there's a demo tape - is still a bit behind their later stuff but it has it's moments. The last song "mountain" on this 7" is one of these moments: about 5 minutes long and driving with a huge Wash D.C. feeling in it. I'd like to emphasise that not that many bands played this style in 1993!


FLOODGATE - 1st (7") Youth Strike Chord #01 & Anomaly #?? 1993

side a:
1. the organic
2. conscription

side b:
1. abusive ego
2. mountain
[OGG Vorbis; 256k; password: antithesis; mirror 1, mirror2]

Links:
Floodgate @ BandtoBand
Floodgate's double 7"
The Notorious Love Affair