I'm gonna do a long post today, because I noticed that it takes some time to get new posts out here!
First of today will be a picture of all the Steel Nation 7"s I've collected by now. Sadly enough I didn't come across test presses so far, but I've managed to get the 2 other hard-to-come-by items...
Their first 7" was "The New Nation", which was released by A389 Recordings (which is one of my favorite labels, the quality he puts out is just amazing). As far as I know there are only these two versions of it, next to the test pressing. The regular (black) pressing with the normal artwork and the pre-order version on blue vinyl and with alternative artwork /100.
Their other 7" is actually a split with Crucified, and was put out by Double Or Nothing Records (very cool label that put out their full length too, but is now defunct). There's the regular version on 3 colors (baby blue, grey /100 and clear orange /200) and the tourversion on baby blue vinyl and with alternative artwork out of 33.
Steel Nation is one of my favorite bands, their first 7" The New Nation already struck me by it's hardness, and the fact the recording is so raw that it just makes you creep... But the last full they put out (for now), Forever Wounded (on Double Or Nothing Records as well), is one of the best albums of the last years for me. The music is spot on, real hardcore, with heavy parts as well as solos and slower parts, just a fine example of how good hardcore can really be. Best thing for me about Steel Nation though are the lyrics, which are really good. Most talk about struggles in life, and do it with a sincerity rarely found in hardcore nowadays. But more on this next time, when I'll certainly cover this full album! They also have a new album in the works, so keep your eyes open...
Next up is an old band from France, called Stormcore. They were from the Rennes area, and stopped some years ago. This year though they did a few live performances (which I had to miss every time because I had to play myself with Pushed Too Far or attended to Ninjafest in London to go and see Steel Nation), but as far as rumors they won't be really restarting the band... Which is too bad because they were a great band. One of the first European bands to really get the "kickboxing-style" in the pit too, so a lot of today's bands in European hardcore should be pretty grateful.
The first album they put out was a mini-cd called To The Point (on Hardside Records), but it wasn't until they put out In For The Kill that I really started to like them. The record is really great, still has a good vibe to it today (it was released in 1997). It was released on both CD and vinyl, and those are the ones in the picture. There's the regular black vinyl, but also a nice blue vinyl with black splatter and a half green, half brown one. The blue/black one is out of 50 according to the Mad Mob Release page, but I haven't yet been able to find a source on the other pressing info... Pretty much never knew they existed until I saw them a few years back on a trading list...
After In For The Kill, they also released a live 7" called Rennes In Blood (yes, in reference to the well known Slayer song that is), which I've bought years ago on black vinyl, but found a while ago on red vinyl too. To my knowledge these are the only versions existing, but as with the In For The Kill vinyl, getting confirmation on this seems to be pretty hard!
They also put out a live split cassette with Tekken, a split 7" with the almighty Krutch (more on them later), and a 3-way split with Comin' Correct & ESIP. If memory serves me correctly the last few songs they ever recorded were included on "The nightmare remains... In this other land" compilation (a great French hardcore compilation featuring some amazing bands, think Kickback, Drowning, AWOL, ...) and a KDS crew compilation.
Anyway, if you don't know them, be sure to check them out, because the In For The Kill album is a real french hardcore classic! There's also a pretty good review on the music side of Stormcore by Hardboiled Webzine if you follow THIS LINK.
Next up is my Twitching Tongues 7" collection. I've managed to get my hands on a few bits and ends some time ago, so it's time for the family picture!
I already had the three regular versions of the Preacher Man 7" (black /300, black/clear /100 and clear /600), and now (finally) got the This Is Hardcore version /100. Finally because it took me 3 attempts (and a lot of lost cash on sketchy sellers) to finally have it delivered... Come to think of it, there's also a 2nd press of it on red vinyl (/500 if I remember correctly) that I have to buy. Best thing about this 7" without any doubt is the Candlemass cover, such a great track...
The Insane & Inhumane 7" I first bought when I saw them on their first European Tour in Liège (on a boat!), so it was the tour pressing, as at that time they didn't yet receive the covers of the regular pressing. I took a random copy out of the bin and got number 1/75, so I was pretty happy with this! I counted on ordering the regular version afterwards, but it sold out so quickly I totally missed out. Since they are a pretty popular band ever since, I never got the chance to get me a copy, until some time ago when Photobooth Records put up some copies for sale from a batch they forgot they still had or something, and I was fast enough to respond this time... Pretty happy with this one too!
The last one pictured here is the picture disc that came as a sweetener for the In Love There Is No Law album (what a great album that is). It came out on Closed Casket Activities and is limited /500, and the only bad thing to say about it is they didn't include a download code... As always with Twitching Tongues though, it has a really great artwork!
Not included on this picture is the split they put out with Wisdom In Chains (Durty Mick Records - black and splatter /300), but that one is in the picture here underneath!
By which I can immediately continue to the next topic, my new Wisdom In Chains vinyl...
All these are different versions, first and second press of the We Never Sleep 7" and the split with Twitching Tongues. I'll go deeper into these next time, as I'm still missing the color Reality Records put out exclusively because of bad communication and stuff like that, but it's on the way, so expect a new post about that soon!
While talking about completing sets, last Ieperfest I found the yellow vinyl of the second pressing of the Empire Of Rats - No Peace 7", so that one is complete now!
Sadly enough, Empire Of Rats called it quits to the same weekend... Really hate that, because their last album was my personal highlight of 2013 (out on A389 Recordings, did I tell you already what a great label that is?).
But so time moves on and bands come and go, so here's something fresh...
Seventh Circle is a newer band from the H8000 area (I know H8000 is extinct, but they are from the same region, and would perfectly fit the time and area) and play some ferocious hardcore metal or metal hardcore or whatever name makes you understand that this music is made to make you tear down the walls with your bare hands and make your enemies eat the debris after you took them with you to hell... They first put out a demo CD (DIY, regular version and release /25) which quickly after was released by Kick Out The Jams on tape (black /20, pink /20, black w/ grey case /20).
They pretty fast made a name for themselves and got a deal with Dead Chemist Records from the UK to put it out on vinyl as well. There's a regular version on black /250, as well as a test pressing out of 5. I am happy enough to know the singer and his girlfriend, and after a short negotiation managed to get my hands on #2/5... Thank you Fien!
Anyway, get to know them, because they are cool dudes, make great music, and are one of the most promising and original bands in Belgium for the moment!
Next time I'll cover some 12"s, just to keep it diverse!
