First post!

Here's three very different things to get the blog started. Hopefully I'll be putting some more stuff up later tonight.

Coalesce - Last Call for the Living 10"
For those who doesn't know Coalesce, they're considered by many to be one of the three bands (along with Converge and Botch) that revolutionized hardcore back in the 90's. Utilizing lyrics that were dark, introspective, and pessimistic, and a sound that morphed hardcore into a twitchy, chaotic, nerve-wrecking beast, they stood out amongst the scene at the time, and would influence many of the math and metalcore bands that were to come.

This album is a rare 10" that was only available at their "last show" in 2000. If you haven't heard Coalesce before, go pick up their new album, OX. It's just as good as their old stuff and a bit more accessible to newcomers. If you're an old fan though, this is for you. It contains early demo tapes and unreleased material from early on their career.

The demo tapes are rough, with Sean Ingram using a whole different singing voice, melodic/jammy elements, and occasional female vocals. The second half contains alternate takes of Simulcast and Harvest of Maturity, as well as a song called On Their Behalf.


Cleveland Bound Death Sentence - Gateway Handshake EP 7"
Cleveland Bound Death Sentence is Paddy from Dillinger Four, Aaron Cometbus (of Cometbus, Crimpshrine and Pinhead Gunpowder fame), plus Spitball and Emily. They play somewhat rough, uncompromised pop-punk, similar to bands like Dillinger Four (duh), Crimpshrine (double duh), Off With Their Heads, and Toys That Kill. I don't know why this album was so hard to find, but eventually I tracked down some MP3's on an all-russian punk message board. Thank you google translator.

Mountain Man - Demo '09
Mountain Man are, without a doubt, my new favorite band. This is their demo, which has four amazing tracks clocking in at just under five minutes. Members have played in Verse, Last Lights, and I Rise, so that should give you some idea of what they sound like. Imagine all the things you love about hardcore condensed into pure awesome and pouring out your speakers - That's this album. Download, listen, and then go buy their new 10".