BETTER THAN A THOUSAND - DISCOGRAPHY

1. Live Today
2. It Never Rains
3. Just One
4. Motivation
5. We Spoke Our Minds
6. Nightclub
7. You Were The One
8. Alternative Nation
9. When Seasons Change
10. Is It Education
11. Apology
12. Sunshine
13. Demand Independence
14. Born To Give
15. Self Worth
16. Poison In Your Brain
17. Ill Not Resist
18. Crisis Of Man
19. Once Again
20. Like The Wind
21. Power Within
22. Transformation
23. We Must Believe
24. Twelve
25. You Were There
26. I Can Make A Difference
27. Out Of Fashion
28. In Your Face (7 Seconds)
29. Bonus

AGNOSTIC FRONT - LIVE AT CBGB 2006

01 - Eliminator
02 - New Jack
03 - Victim In Pain
04 - Your Mistake
05 - Blind Justice
06 - Last Warning
07 - Strength
08 - Crucified
09 - All Is Not Forgotten
10 - Peace
11 - One Voice
12 - Over The Edge
13 - Friend Or Foe
14 - Gotta Go
15 - Riot Riot Upstart
16 - Police State
17 - Undertow
18 - Public Assistance
19 - Anthem
20 - So Pure To Me
21 - Take Me Back

AGNOSTIC FRONT - ANOTHER VOICE

01. Still Here
02. All Is Not Forgotten
03. Fall of the Parasite
04. Pride, Faith, Respect
05. So Pure to Me
06. Dedication
07. Peace
08. Take Me Back
09. Hardcore! (The Definition)
10. Casualty of the Times
11. No One Hears You
12. I Live It
13. It's for Life
14. Another Voice
15. Peace /So Pure to Me



Pass: metal

AGNOSTIC FRONT & DISCIPLINE - WORKING CLASS HEROES

-= Agnostic Front =-

01. Believe
02. Riot, Riot, Upstart
03. Sit And Watch
04. Victim In Pain
05. Last Warning
06. Rock Star
07. Sickness
08. Gotta Go
09. No Fear
10. Before My Eyes
11. United Blood
12. Police State
13. Pauly The Dog
14. Bullet On Mott St.
15. Crucified

-= Discipline =-

16. Now Or Never
17. Young & Reckless
18. Our Pride
19. Rejects Of Society
20. Neverending Story
21. Nice Boys Finish Last
22. Running Riot
23. C'mon, C'mon
24. Hooligans Heaven
25. Fuck You Anyway
26. Saturdaynight Riot
27. These Streets
28. Frontline Skins
29. Violence In Our Minds

RUINER - STILL SMILING DEMO (2004)

1. Paint Peals
2. Adhering To Superstition
3. Six By Six

BLUE MONDAY - WHAT'S DONE IS DONE

If the first thing you thought of when read this band’s name was that shitty cover that Orgy did a few years, please forfeit ten scene points and hang your head in shame. Now that we’ve gotten that out the way, I can tell you about this nice album from Vancouver’s very own, Blue Monday.

Blue Monday play a style of hardcore that gives nod to the 80’s as well as more modern bands. These guys would fit in well on the Indecision Records roster. Their no nonsense style of hardcore, with slight touch of melody here and there conjures up memories of the dearly missed Count Me Out. Yes, this is another straight edge hardcore band, but you probably already guessed that. Still, the music is enjoyable, even if the lyrics don’t mesh with your own personal beliefs. This band is just what the doctor ordered if you’re looking for something angry to let off some steam.

I think that this album could have benefited from a slight upgrade in production. Not that I want everything to be slick sounding and perfect, as overproduction can rip the heart right out of a record. I just wish this recording sounded a little crisper; the guitars in particular come off sounding a bit dull. This takes some of the energy away from a band that thrives on it. I imagine that these songs would sound much better live.

Production issues aside, if you like just about any straight up hardcore band on the Indecision roster; I can’t see any for you not to enjoy Blue Monday. Interesting side note: this band’s label used to be called Stab And Kill Records. I can’t decide if that the most awesome or most hilarious record label name, perhaps it’s both. All I know is that I have a Stab And Kill sticker on my door. Change the name back, guys, come on.




01. Play It Safe
02. Vacancy
03. Number One
04. Scars My Fade
05. Mid Course Correction
06. Run You Through
07. The Rain
08. Bite The Curb
09. The Heist
10. Step Up To The Plate
11. Above And Beyond
12. We Will Be Here Forever

CHAMPION - PROMISE KEPT

When someone says Straight Edge Hardcore, the glory days of bands like Minor Threat, and Gorilla Biscuits pop in to my head. However that statement is usually followed by someone talking about the newst metallic "Beat you face in if you don't believe what we do" hardcore band. So when one of my friends was rambling on about this band called Champion, and saying they reminded him of Youth of Today, Judge, and other punk influenced hardcore bands, I decided you check them out. After listening to one of their songs on Bridge Nine's website(The label that released "Promises Kept")I decided to pick this album up.

Expecting a mediocre Hardcore punk album I threw this in my Cd player. From the moment the first track began(Well when the instruments come in) I could just tell that these guys knew how hardcore was supposed sound. You can hear the raw energy, and passion in the recording, something that is rare in most modern albums. "Promises Kept" moves at a frantic pace, with every track being in between the 1 to 2 minute marker. There really is no filler here, every song seems to fit, and add to the album.

Vocal wise you have your typical hardcore punk yell, nothing new but it goes with the album wonderfully, and I found myself singing along several times. Don't expect any gutar solos, just straight up power chords, they manage to add melody at times with out taking away from the overall attitude of the track. As with most hardcore albums the bass is audible, which is one of my favorite parts of the album, it's just something about the bass that just makes you feel the emotion and aggression in the songs. Average drum parts, but there's not much to do drum wise at least on a record like this. Now onto the pros and cons.


There are several pros about this album. First, the guitars are melodic with out taking away the overall aggression of the album. Secondly, the bass is very audible. Last, the overall feel of the album, and production is just wonderful. The cons on "Promises Kept" I would have to say are the drums, just not a whole lot of variation, and the vocal delivery, they fit the album, but just not that good.



01 Promises Kept
02 Looking Back
03 Next Year
04 Decisions Made
05 Miles To Go
06 Truth, The
07 Perspective
08 Failure
09 Decline, The
10 Break, The
11 Different Directions
12 Every Word

CHAMPION - COUNT OUR NUMBERS

If you're a fan of hardcore, theres a good chance that you've heard of Champion, but have never actually heard them. You owe it to yourself to check them out, because their infectious sing alongs and energy are well worth your time.

Seattle's Champion have been playing their brand of straightedge hardcore since '99, and with this, their second release, they expanded their fanbase, and more than pleased the current one. Taking the best parts of old school youth crew, and throwing in newer elements, they've developed a sound that helps them stand out from the pack. At 6 songs (5 originals, and a cover), its not very long, but its great while it lasts. The recording is excellent, and the guitars sound great in particular, with really strong back-up vocals accompanying each track.

This is hardcore with heart, and its actually fun. It usually makes me feel like breaking something everytime I listen to it, because the energy on this EP is contagious. If you like old school or straightedge hardcore, this is a band you need to hear.



01 The Decline
02 Fourth Of July
03 Time Slips Away
04 Monument
05 One Sixteen
06 Is Anybody There

CHAMPION - COME OUT SWINGING

01 Intro
02 Harrison and Broadway
03 Assume The Worst
04 The Insider
05 Left Your Mark
06 A Thank You Note
07 1 to 2 (Dag Nasty Cover)
08 Hidden Track

HAVE HEART - SONGS TO SCREAM AT THE SUN

On August 8th, 2006, HAVE HEART crept up and attacked the entire hardcore scene with their debut album “The Things We Carry.” The band’s first full length received positive feedback, many hailed it as the “Hardcore Album of the Year.” HAVE HEART had not only successfully created a name for themselves but for hardcore in general. Few other bands at the time were producing such energetic, youthful, honest songs at the time. The well respected straight edge five-piece from Boston, Massachusetts created one of the most faithful fan bases across not only the nation, but across the world. They were destined to be popular from the very start. Now they bring us their second full length, “Songs To Scream At The Sun.” In most cases sophomore albums are the major factor in determining whether or not the band will progress or fall apart. HAVE HEART has succeeds in creating the most personal, the most dark, and the most meaningful hardcore album written in recent years.

While hardcore itself has progressed and changed in the past 3 decades, the message has still remained true. HAVE HEART could have wrote a generic album about how they hate their jobs, or politicians, or their relationships, but instead they focus on what means most to them: their straight edge lifestyle and one influenced them to live a life of purity. Bostons is essentially a summary of the album. This song delivers some of the personal and powerful lyrics ever put into a hardcore album:

“o' your friends say boston's beautiful,
but they didn't live hard, they didn't die hard
when sons dragged out their fathers from bars.”

Not since Minor Threat started the straight edge movement, has it been so well delivered. The lyrics come out like poetry, as if it being preached, but not begged. Honestly, I can’t remember the last hardcore song that has delivered such a powerful message in three lines.

Not only are the lyrics progressing, but also the song writing itself. While HAVE HEART has always had their distinctive style, they have strayed away from flat out hardcore, and it has vastly improved their sound. Their sound is more spine chilling and epic then ever before. The last album I heard that truly gave me a serious case of the goose bumps was Modern Life Is War’s “Witness.” On “Songs To Scream At The Sun,” HAVE HEART is not outfit to create such a unique sound, but they accomplish it very well. Instead of the same fast paced drumming, and lighting fast rhythm guitars, the slow it down, while still remaining as heavy as they did on their previous effort. There are no traditional breakdowns or 2-steps on this record, as they focus more on delivering a message, rather then fitting the mold. Whether it be the clean guitar intro to Hard Bark On The Family Tree or the vocal solo on The Same Sun the band is able to create a monumental piece of work while still remaining true to their hardcore background.

Overall, HAVE HEART’s “Songs To Scream At The Sun,” is not only going to be a strong contender for “Hardcore Album of the Year,” but it is arguably the best hardcore album in recent years. The only thing prevented this album from being a classic, is the fact it clocks in at around 21 minutes. You will find that this album goes by very fast, and in the blink of an eye it is gone. However the unfortunately short 21 minutes is packed with memorable songs, no fillers, meaningful lyrics, epic songwriting, and a message that is so strong it will make a binge drinker put the bottle down.



1.The Same Son
2.Bostons
3.Pave Paradise
4.On The Bird in The Cage
5.Brotherly Love
6.No Roses, No Skies
7.The Taste of The Floor
8.Reflections
9.Hard Bark on The Family Tree
10.The Same Sun

HAVE HEART - THE THINGS WE CARRY

The wait between Have Heart's EP What Counts and debut full-length The Things We Carry was long and full of impatience on my part, but as anticipated, the band have gone above and beyond my expectations. With undeniably earnest lyrics and a blistering, relentless pace, The Things We Carry sets the standards high for what modern day straight-edge hardcore albums should sound like.

For a seasoned Have Heart fan, two of the most important aspects that have changed during the two years between the band's EP What Counts and The Things We Carry are the clean production and lyrical improvement, though neither were enough of an issue in the first place to keep What Counts from being a solid EP. The Things We Carry is the product of a band who are wise beyond their years. While What Counts offered songs mostly discussing traditional hardcore material, The Things We Carry provides lyrics you don't have to claim edge or be passionate about the hardcore scene to appreciate. Hell, even a quote from E.E Cummings manages to appropriately fit into the album ("of a world that's doing its best, night and day, to make you (me) everybody else" in "Watch Me Sink").

The Things We Carry won't give you the chance to prepare for its intensity with how immediately hard-hitting the first track, "Life Is Hard Enough," is. You'll be given an opportunity to rest during the intro for "Watch Me Sink," but not for long as the track soon features stern, memorable shouts of "A breaking in spirit / a breaking in promise / a breaking in me." Another standout track soon follows with the powerful "Armed with a Mind." Lyrically the song shows off how mature the band has become through lyrics like "True beauty can't be seen with the eyes" and "Boy, your true strength sleeps behind your eyes." The words themselves don't sound overly eloquent, yet through the genuine passion and conviction in their delivery, a strong message is relayed.

Following the re-recorded, straight-edge anthem "Something More Than Ink" (originally from What Counts) is "The Machinist," featuring guest vocals from Sean Murphy of Verse which lend to the track's powerful appeal. Have Heart ends The Things We Carry at the strongest point possible with "Watch Me Rise." When you think the track is over it returns in full force to complete the message "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees." The sheer presentation of the vocals is nothing short of incredible, forceful and uplifting, while the track itself is exceptionally unique in melody.

It's impossible for words to do this album justice. The Things We Carry? Powerful, dynamic, and hard-hitting. Get into it.




1.Life Is Hard Enough
2.Watch Me Sink
3.Armed With A Mind
4.About Face
5.The Unbreakable
6.Old Man II
7.Song Of Shame
8.To Us Fools
9.Something More Than Ink
10.The Machinist
11.Watch Me Rise

HAVE HEART - WHAT COUNTS

With hardcore having somewhat of a revival, it’s almost hard to even keep track of all the bands forming and breaking up day by day. It’s even harder to keep track of bands individually with so many of them sounding identical.

With that said, Have Heart are a breath of fresh air. The band began playing in 2002, released a demo in 2003, and this EP, What Counts, in 2004. Now as they gear up to release their debut full-length through Bridge Nine, I’d like to call attention to a band who do traditional hardcore justice.

What Counts as a whole is an absolutely relentless attack on trend-hoppers, greed, and false friends. Their messages are relayed with conviction and sincerity, as portrayed in vocalist Patrick Flynn’s gravelly voice. Although the vocals are relatively unique, Have Heart throw some interesting melodies and time changes into the mix, slightly reminiscent of Youth of Today.

When it comes to the EP’s peak, the title track stands out among the rest with the lyrics “take a breath -- reawake -- call forth the dread in your way / subdue -- prevail -- triumph over every fucking day / to persevere through -- is what counts.” “Dig Somewhere Else” begins with slightly heavier vocals and more of a consistent, less melodic sound. “Reinforced,” a song originally by Outspoken, wraps up the EP.

If cheesy, two-step parts aren’t your thing, fear not: Have Heart only incorporate them once into the release, during “Something More Than Ink,” a song about the band’s lasting values, which are “something more than ink -- on a page, on a shirt, on the back of my hand / something written in stone, words we wrote in stone.” If the song material sounds cliché to the genre, don’t brush them off until you’ve heard the delivery.

Gang vocals make you want to give a stranger a black eye? Have Heart won’t overwhelm you. They appropriately scatter them throughout the release and don’t solely rely on them for appeal.

Despite What Counts only presenting four new songs with one cover and one song from their demo, it’s a powerful EP. A bit cleaner of production would have done this EP wonders, yet even without a richer, tighter sound, What Counts shows enormous amounts of potential. I can’t wait to see what Have Heart will do with more album time and a bigger production budget. Either way, Have Heart will be sure to remind you what counts in hardcore.



1. Lionheart
2. Get The Knife
3. Something More Than Ink
4. What Counts
5. Dig Somewhere Else
6. Reinforced

HAVE HEART - DEMO 2003

1. Intro / To Us Fools
2. Lionheart
3. About Face
4. The Worth
5. More Than Music (Verbal Assault)

DRUG FREE YOUTH

01 D.S.13 - If This Is Hardcore
02 7 Seconds - Drug Control
03 Judge - Bringin It Down
04 Nations On Fire - Radical But Not Cool
05 New Winds - My Choice My Life
06 Youth Of Today - Make A Change
07 Ten Yard Fight - Where I Stand
08 Straight Ahead - Straight Ahead
09 Slapshot - In Your Face
10 Diehard Youth - Posi-change
11 Minor Threat - Straight Edge
12 Bold - Nailed To The X
13 Dys - Stand Proud
14 Project X - Straight Edge Revenge
15 Negative Approach - Whatever I Do
16 Dag Nasty - Justification
17 What Happens Next - Positive Youth (its Not Just For The Kids Anymore)
18 No For An Answer - Just Say No
19 Uniform Choice - Straight And Alert
20 Good Clean Fun - Coll-edge
21 The Abused - Drug Free Youth
22 Wide Awake - Wide Awake
23 Last Rights - Out Of Our Minds
24 X Acto - Too Much Smoke
25 Side By Side - You're Only Young Once
26 SSD - Fight Back
27 Violent Children - Skate Straight
28 Unity - Positive Mental Attitude
29 Gorilla Biscuits - Breaking Free
30 Teen Idles - Sneakers
31 Chain Of Strength - True Till Death
32 The First Step - More Than Fashion (dys Cover)
33 Turning Point - Behind This Wall
34 In My Eyes - Perspective
35 Youth Brigade - Live Life
36 Time X - One Life Drug Free

LIFE IS PAIN, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE

1. Knuckledust - Burning Fight
2. Blind Sight - Sticks And Stones
3. Lair - Murder Manifesto
4. Bridge To Solace - The Dead And The Unknown
5. Enemy Ground - Serve My Hate
6. The Setup - Out Of Sync
7. Apocalypse Now - In This World
8. Ironbound NYC - Dismay
9. Zero Mentality - Traitor Of My Own
10. Black Friday 29 - Pressure Release
11. Born From Pain - Black Gold
12. Sheer Terror - Just Can't Hate Enough
13. 37 Stabwoundz - A Death, Once Victory
14. Path Of No Return - Holocaust
15. Human Demise - Unstoppable Machines
16. Strength Approach - The Greatest Guilt
17. Better Off - Burn In Hell
18. Cheap Thrills - We Are All Broken
19. Schizma - Angry God
20. Superior - Shadowwalker
21. Break And Enter - Just Like That
22. Trespass - Brotherhood
23. Redrum Inc. - Defense Line
24. Black Cloud Halo - Smell Of Fear
25. Strike First - In Fear Of Tomorrow
26. Deafness By Noise - Security

PART 1


PART 2