Best of 2010

Personally it hasn't been the greatest year of my life (although definitely not the worst) but what 2010 has been is a great year for music (to these years anyway). Seriously I was talking to a mate at work who has similar musical tastes and he shared the belief-2010 was fucking awesome for music. So here's my best.

Best records of 2010.
Integrity-The blackest curse (deathwish). Best Integ release since 'to die for'. Nuff said.
Off!!-The first 4 x 7"s (vice). Awesome Keith Morris fronted supergroup. Still one of the best vocalists in hardcore.
Black breath-Heavy breathing (Southern lord) Entombed worship!!!
Cathedral-The guessing game (century media) This was a real surprise and definitely split opinions-you either loved it or hated it and I was one of the former group.
Electric wizard-Black masses (Rise above) This was always going to be great. The wizard can do no wrong (on record at least).
Ghost-Opus eponymous LP (Rise above) Another surprise-one that took a bit of getting into but once it hit the spot that was it-awesome.
Bloodtype-s/t (Cowabunga)Awesome pissed off sxe. Just straight and direct-no messing about. The way hardcore should be.

Plus many more LPs and 7"s by Heratys, Ceremony, Witchsorrow etc. Heck I'd be here all day.

Best reissues;
Chronic sick-cutest band in hardcore 12" (No way)
Brutal truth-Extreme conditions...LP (Earache)
Comus-First utterance (Rise above)

Best gigs
Unbroken/Ceremony/Disemboddied/Rot in hell-London October.
Orange goblin/Firebird/Solace-Manchester December
Urban blight-Birmingham September
Cokebust/Rot in hell-leeds October
Magrudergrind-Leeds May
Al thawra-Preston June
Bloody pheonix-Preston August

Let's hope 2011 is another great one. Happy new year everyone and all the best.

Chronic sick-Cutest band in hardcore 12" repress.

I love No way records-and I try and get the colour version of all their vinyl releases and unlike the majority of labels these days who press about a million different colours, No way do it the old way and that's by releasing the majority on black and just a few on colour making it feel exclusive-like it used to be one time.
Anyway after missing out on the Social cirkle LP on clear last year (which I still haven't scored yet) I knew I would have to be on the ball when this dropped (along with the repress of the Chronic sick 7" too). Thing is this took like forever to come out but there I was every other day checking the site-like a man with a mission. When the orders finally went up I lucked out and got both this 12" and the
7" along with the new Acid reflux 7".
I'm ashamed to say I've never heard this record before. Of course since the 1983original pressing on Mutha records is very rare and commands well over $1000 you could probably forgive me but in this digital age of downloads and file shares I have no excuse really. Well I can see what the fuss is about-this is awesome. It's as good as some of the big records by the big bands of the time (Flag, circle jerks etc) and what I found really surprising was how well played and tight musically this is as there were a lot of sloppy bands around at the time. Some of the lyrics upset a few folk at the time but it's pretty obvious they were done in irony, Irony doesn't always translate well via music or a lyric sheet though. Even though the 7" is very good this is vastly superior .
No way have come trumps again here. It looks and sounds great and nice blue colour too. Just 150 of these and they went straight away. More awesome reissues please.

Electric wizard-Black masses LP Blue

When I found out that this was getting released I was determined to snag a die hard version and I was lucky enough to do so although it hasn't turned up yet. Anyway on my way home from work yesterday I nipped in my local record shop, saw this in and couldn't resist buying another copy. There are 7 different colours of this LP in the first press and that's not including the die hard box (which is on black vinyl). No doubt Rise above records will do a second pressing (with a million more different colours)
This blue one is limited to 400 and is a nice colour me thinks. Anyway onto the music, you know what you're getting with the Wizard. Awesome doom metal. Unsurprisingly this is one of my favourite albums of this year. I've been bumping it on my Ipod for about two months but finally it's on the format in my collection that matters.
Stay tuned for a post about the die hard box (when it arrives!!)

Hellnation-At war with Emo 5"

Slapaham records are easily one of my all time favourite labels. In the 90’s I used to buy religiously anything they put out. Most of the releases are definitely what you would term as classic. I used to buy direct from the label as it was usually the only way you could get the limited colour version (which were usually in runs of 200). These were the days before paypal where you would trundle off to the travel agents or bank and exchange British money for some dollars, put them in an envelope, send them off and hope for the best. The only Slapaham record on colour from round this era I missed out on was this cute little 5” and it’s because my mate got some in for distro so I settled for a black one although I did try and wrangle the only colour copy he got sent off him. Although he wasn’t a vinyl collector nerd like me he decided to keep it, probably just to annoy me. When he finally agreed to sell or swap it me he couldn’t find it. That was his story anyway. Well, let’s skip to twelve and a half years later and I’ve finally got myself a copy. Although it’s not a pricey item or anything it has been a toughie to track down so I got lucky when someone posted a set sale list on a forum and I managed to grab it-at long fucking last.
I love the colour-I always thought it would be one of those shitty see through type yellow vinyl records but it’s a nice solid one. Although it does actually play on my deck I still hate playing records this size-a right ball ache. You missed the groove and that’s your needle fucked.
Great thrash-Hellnation always delivered the goods and you’ve gotta love the title of this record too. Emo was a bit of a problem in hardcore at the time-this was before it turned into the pseudo Goth shite that plagues society these days. Wankers!! Still have a few holes to fill in my slapaham collection including the Neanderthal 7” on purple although I’m not holding my breath for that one turning up on my doorstep anytime soon.

H-100's-Live LP

I've been a fan of Cleveland hardcore since the 90's when I discovered the greatness of Integrity et all. The h-100's were a band that seemed to stand out of that scene. Featuring local legend Tony Erba-there was just something so primal and nihilistic about them. Non-comercial records have released this historial document-a live show recording from 1995. The quality is pretty decent-as it's from a soundboard (not a shitty tape recorder like some records are). This is a supossed one off pressing of 500 with just 200 on colour and the rest on black. The screen printed sleeve is basic yet effective. Someone should put all the 7"s on one LP, surely they would sell well. Anyway I'd advise you grab one of this before they vanish. 'm glad that I did.

Bloodtype-s/t 7" Test pressing

A few posts ago I was harping about the Bloodtype 7" on Cowabunga records and I said that I had a test pressing coming and here it is. Actually it looks a bit crap, the best part is the label. Still a great 7" and nice to be in the exclusive group of owning one of these. I reckon this will be record people will be going on about in a few years time.

Strife-In this defiance LP Grey

I managed to grab this again. It marks my second copy as believe it or not somebody gave me a warzone 7" on orange for it many years ago. I have to say I've never even heard it since then let alone owned it. It's a really good record as well although not up to the standard as their debut 'One truth' which is a sXe classic. Not sure how many these were limited to. Knowing Victory back then I'd guess around 500 or below. I have good memories of seeing Strife back in the 90's when they toured the UK. The first time was with Sick of it all and they stole the show easy and the next time was at the 1 in 12 club where a fight broke out in the pit. Actually it was a beating as the guy got pummeled. It wasn't nice. This album is though and it's good to have it back in my collection.

Iron age-Constant struggle LP red

Scored this off Egay last week, it's a special pressing of Iron age's debut LP which was sold at the 10th anniversary bash for Youngblood records on red vinyl and numbered out of 225. I got this at a good price but it marks my fifth copy of this record. Sadder still,I'm missing the recent clear vinyl repress which I will have to pick up at some point. Yeah I know, I need to get out more.
Seriously though, this record is still a killer. Although I prefer their 2nd album (the sleeping eye) this is still a cracking record. I got into hardcore through metal and it was the crossover stuff that led me to where I am today and this reminds me of something I would have been listening to when I was 16-17 and yes that was quite a while ago.

DS13-Killed by the kids LP (Havoc records) Clear

Jeez I'm getting lazy with this blog. I need to sort that shit out. Anyway I got something in the post this week I'd been after for ages-the DS13 'killed by the kids' LP on clear, the most limited colour of just 100. My main reason for wanting this was to complete the set-I have the marble colour (2500 pressed) and the Thrashfest edition on orange (300) so I'm happy to get this. Cheers to Mel for the trade. DS13 were from Sweden and played straight up thrashy hardcore punk and it for a brief period in the early 00's everyone liked them although they don't seem as largely remembered as they should be. I love this LP. Everything about from the basic production, the lyrics and the awesome Pushead sleeve just scream out what hardcore punk is all about (to me anyway).

Bloodtype-s/t 7"

There's been a bunch of good shit this year, in fact it's been an awesome year for
music (and the year's not done yet). This is the debut from New Jersey's Bloodtype and it kicks fucking ass. Full throttle hardcore done to perfection-it sounds pissed off and the lyrics confirm they are. If you like Coke bust and stuff like that then get on this now. Cowabunga have pressed this and there's 100 on colour (above). I have a test press on the way too. Whoop, whoop!!!

Misery index-Heirs to theivery LP Clear

It's late and I'm tired and I have to get up at a stupid early time tomorrow even though I'm not even working so here's the new misery index LP on clear which means that being on relapse it's limited to just 100 and only relapse staff or people with the band get these. Oh and the odd ebay bidder like me.

Electric Wizard-Dopethrone 2xLP

Released back in 2004-Dopethrone became an instant classic and also a very desirable collector's item. Since Electric wizard stuff on vinyl usually commands high prices and many regard this as their finest moment-it was safe to say that this in any of it's various pressings was worth a few quid-even the bog standard black vinyl went for £50+, some of the more limited colour versions were and still are demanding silly money. Thankfully Rise above have re-released this (on black) so people like me who missed out the first time don't have to pay through the nose. I picked this up from my local store (yes I'm blessed to have an independent record store just a mile away from my home). I only had a CD-r previously so I was stoked to have it on my deck in haed wax format. I'd forgotten how fucking great this album is. This is doom at it's heaviest and bleakest. You can feel the misery pouring out of the speakers. I love the track 'we hate you'. What a great title and it sums up the whole vibe of the album. No happy go songs on here.

Blacklisted-Peace on earth....7" Tour sleeve

A few weeks I caught Blacklisted in Manchester on their UK tour and very good they were too. Apart from being impressed with their live preformance I also managed to pick up a limited tour press of their almost classic 7" 'Peace on earth war on stage' which was released on Deathwish back in 2007. This version is limited to just 100 and has an alternative sleeve. On the front, it's a bit Crass like while on the back is either a nod or a diss to Ray Cappo. It's on black vinyl. I don't know how many regular copies were pressed on black but I know DW usually put everything out on colour (and about a million different colours for each release too). Anway I'm glad I got this. I love getting one off releases or special versions at gigs-it's a nice reminder and I'm not into shirts like I used to be so I'm always stoked when I manage to grab some vinyl goodies which I can play in a few years time and remember an awesome show.

Mass grave box set

Just proves that bargains can still be found on eGay every now and again-granted it doesn't happen very often to me but the other week I did get lucky and managed to score this beauty for just £11.50, not bad when it usually fetches at least 35 quid.
I'd been after this for a while and just very recently missed out on a copy when my mate sold his copy to someone else (for quite a bit more) who just beat me to the post, anyway that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I wouldn't had gone looking for this copy.
This was released my Malfunction records and limited to 150 copies and featured the last pressings of the 7"s by Barfight, Wheelbite, Count me out, Worn thin, Time flies and Give up the ghost (american nightmare), all on a gold vinyl. It's great to have this as I didn't have some of these records in the original 7" format (like I only have the Barfight one sided 12" for example) but my only gripe is although it comes with a nice little booklet why couldn't they have included the original sleeves (or any sleeves at all)? This means I still want an original Barfight 7"-any sellers?

DRI Dealing with it LP

The reissues keep coming-today's instalment is DRI's classic 'dealing with it' LP. Released back in 1985 this became an instant classic and was the band's official album debut (the previous 'LP'' was their 7" pressed onto a 12"). From start to finish this thing doesn't let up. 'My fave track is 'Nursing home blues', that still knocks me silly now whenever I hear it. I love that front cover too-as a kid it was artwork like that what defined hardcore punk for me. Beer city have done the job here-1100 on red vinyl. This is an essential album for any hardcore collection-consider yourself officially shit if you don't own it.

How much art can you take?

Went to Liverpool yesterday to see the Raymond Pettibon exhibition. I was hoping to get some of my album sleeves scribbled on by the great man but alas he wasn't around. Damn!! Anyway check out some of this stuff.

Urban blight-Total war 7" Red

Static Shock records just released the new Urban blight 7", right in time for their recent UK tour. 125 on red and 375 on black and already they're nearly gone. A repress is on the way apparently. Anyway it's good shit-more UK 82 style than US 82 I'd say. The sound is very rough and raw. It even comes housed in a old crass style poster sleeve. I caught them live in Birmingham and they ripped (see pic below).

Soul control-Fundamental forces 7" Test press

Soul Control are a band I've only just started getting into and funny enough, one of my first records by them is one of their rarest-a test pressing of the 'fundamental forces' 7" on Dead but dreaming records. This is number 12 of 18. I don't even have a regular copy to compare this to. I'm asuming that's just one sided with the one track like this one. Since this, the band have signed to and released stuff on Bridge nine so that makes them officially cool.

Black breath-Heavy breathing LP

Man, it's been a glorious year so far for new music. Some great records and one of my favourites has to be the full length debut album from Black breath. Much better than the 12" they released previously, this time around, although the Motorhead and Discharge influences are still evident, this sounds uncannily very much like the first classic Entombed album (Left hand path). It's almost as if they went to the sound guy in the studio and gave him a copy of that CD and told them that was the exact sound they wanted. Well anyway that's what they got, especially with the guitars. This is full on from start to finish. Southern lord reased this on clear and blue the first time round. The clear version was actually a European exclusive so I feel quite blessed there. I missed the blue one though until the repressing came along in blue and purple. At time of writing this, they're still available so get on it before it vanishes again. They're touring the UK in November, can't wait!!!!