No Tolerance-Boston straight edge 7" Gold vinyl.

Added a gold vinyl copy of the first No Tolerance 7" to my record collection. Numbered out of 88 like a certain Floorpunch record. Absolutely love this band. Total relentless hardcore fury. Just need a green vinyl version of the two seven inches 12" that came out on quality control a few years ago (and test pressings of everything except the second 7" on youngblood) to complete my No Tolerance collection.

Iron Chic-Radio recording 12"

Sometimes I forget how much I love Iron chic. Their music always gives me a lift even if their lyrics are a bit gloomy and cynical (just like me). I've still never seen them. Something I must do before I die. This is a self released one sided white label 12" which was sold only on their European tour (or from rare selected distros). These four tracks were recorded at the BBC studios in 2013. I guess around 30 years earlier this would have come out as a Peel sessions 12".  I could do with some new stuff but this is still a cool one to have.

Protester-European tour 12"

Just in case you were worried that I was dead or had stopped collecting records. It's ok. I'm back.. Went to see Protester last night in Liverpool with Red death. It was a great show and reminded me why I still love this shit. I picked up one of the tour 12"'s. It's basically the two seven inches pressed onto one record. Handy if you didn't have them already like myself . That cover is a bit crap but the label shows it's a European exclusive. Refuse records from Poland did this. This was a bit pricey too for a DIY hardcore release (£15) but at least it's a nice memento of a great night out. Limited to 100.

Antidote-Thou shalt not kill 7"

Here's my last big score from the end of last year. Classic record. The Bridge nine reissue is fine but nothing beats an original. Self released by the band in 1983 this is a pivotal piece of NYHC history.
 I had been pestering  someone for this for a while. I decided to leave it for a while and one day I came home from work to discover a message that he had decided to finally sell it. It was destiny I guess. This goes straight into my treasure box and into my vault of hardcore history.

Chain of strength-True till death 7" Silver sleeve

 'I can't believe another year has gone by'. I say that on an annual basis and speaking of Chain, let's start the year off with a bang with one of my last and greatest scores of 2015-the silver sleeve version of true till death. One of the holy grails of sxe and highly sought after items from Revelation records colledisnctors. and another I never actually imagined owning. I'd be lying if I didn't say I think this is one of the absolute greatest 7"s of all time. It's everything hardcore should be-raw but passionate. The fact that they were a bunch of privileged rich kids from California without no real cares in the world doesn't come into it. This is the sound of youthful angst that anybody can relate to.
 This is the third pressing. 500 were done on clear vinyl. 300 were sold on tour and 200 had a special silver sleeve made up. Legend has it that only a few got out via mailorder (or traded if you were lucky like Marcus) and the majority of them are still holed up at the rev warehouse.
 It's funny because this is really tough to track down but at least three have exchanged hands for cash (including my copy) over the past few months. One of them was even on ebay. Usually these things pop for private sale.
 Was it worth the wait (and money)? Hell yeah, it looks lovely and this is now one of the last big money items scrubbed from my wants list. It also completes my collection of this record so here's a group picture of the lads together.

Goodbye 2015!!!

Another year gone by. Many great records, many great shows and some absolutely amazing scores. This was my 2015.

Best records of 2015.

Another great year for music. I’m hoping I haven’t left anything out but this was the main stuff for me in 2015.

No Tolerance-You walk alone LP

Into another-Omens 12”

Violent Reaction-Marching on LP (Revelation)

Chain rank-Against a wall LP

B Dolan-Kill the wolf

XRepentanceX-The sickness of Eden LP

Bitter end-Illusions of dominance LP

Horisont- Odyssey LP

 

Best shows of 2015

Some amazing shows. As you can see a very varied mix. Probably the cream of the crop was seeing war at BB King club in New York. I’ve loved that band for a long time and can safely say that it was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed live.

Necro-Manchester February

Eyehategod-Manchester June

B. Dolan-Preston September

Burn-London October

War-New York October

Obituary/Carcass-Manchester October

Pentagram-Manchester November

 

Best scores of 2015

My goal at the beginning of the year was to go after some major stuff and no doubt I accomplished that big time. It was expensive and my savings account got seriously dented but I don’t regret any of it. I never imagined I’d ever own some of these records and they’re way cooler and far more interesting to look at than a figure sitting in an account.  Here’s just some of the stuff I grabbed.

 

Judge-Chung king can suck it

Chain of strength-TTD 7” Silver sleeve

V/A-Together 7” on Orange and yellow vinyl

Abused-Loud & Clear 7”

Minor threat-s/t 7” First press

Underdog-s/t 7” on blue vinyl

Infest-1^st 7” on purple vinyl

Antidote-thou shalt not kill 7" original

Minor threat-s/t 7" first press

 

The odd thing about grabbing this first press minor threat 7" is that I originally had no intention of ever owning it, in fact if it hadn't had been part of a package deal involving one of my absolute all time wants (that post is coming soon) then I more than likely would have never bothered to hunt one down as I'm not really a dischord collector and I already have a fourth press (with the blue sleeve). Saying that, when it showed up I was glad that I did make the purchase as it's a really nice item in superb condition (as well as an all time classic record).

 What makes this even cooler is a personalised note on the back of the lyric sheet by a certain Mr Rollins who used to work at the label before he moved out of DC to join Black flag. He was a go lucky happy chap even back then.

Pretty damn happy with this. I'm trying not to get pulled into the Dischord collecting game but I feel that I need to chase after a copy of 'In my eyes' on red vinyl. Maybe one for 2016?