Don't Wait Up

It's so awesome that Bane's latest and last release has been received so well. I love this LP and I'm really happy for the band. 'Don't Wait Up' has already gone through its second pressing. At least the European version has. Still no pressing on Equal Vision in sight. I've heard that the pressing plant screwed up big time. Consequently the band didn't have any records to sell on tour, not to speak of the delayed pre-orders. Anyway, End Hits Records has been keeping busy with the aforementioned second pressing. 500 copies on clear vinyl, which I really like.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Bane test pressing my girlfriend got for my birthday, but as I've been told lately, this was only plan B. Originally she'd wanted to get me a test pressing of 'Don't Wait Up', but she didn't hear back in time from the guy running the label. He eventually got back to her and that's how I got my hands on this gem. Thanks again to my girlfriend and Oise of End Hits Records for hooking me up. A few days ago End Hits posted on their Facebook page that they were selling the remaining test pressings so if you want one, you'd better hurry and shoot Oise an e-mail.

Crucial crew shot

Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - test pressing #16/20
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - purple - 1st pressing /300
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - turquoise - 1st pressing /400
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - orange - 1st pressing /500
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - clear - 2nd pressing /500

Scratch The Surface

Another record to cross off of my want list. This record is now 20 years old and it still floors me every time I listen to it. Last one I still need is a copy on clear red.

Old Departures, New Beginnings

Another record I'd been looking forward to a lot: the latest release by Trainwreck. Hopefully not the last one, although the title of the record might indicate otherwise. Who knows.
When I heard that pre-orders were up, I put in an order immediately and messaged a couple of people I knew shoe are into this band. However, instead of paying right away as I usually do, I forgot to do so for whatever reason and didn't really think about the whole matter for a couple of weeks. Until I got a reminder by the label that - much to my shock - I hadn't paid yet. That's why I didn't get the pre-order edition with the alternate cover, but this version. Actually it's not a real version since it's the pre-order pressing vinyl with the regular pressing sleeve. Guess the label ran out of pre-order sleeves and decided to use the regular ones. I'd love to have the pre-order cover, too, since it looks really sick. Stupid record collecting thoughts aside, Trainwreck have managed to put out yet another good release. A little more melodic than their previous records maybe, but I don't mind that development. The record still has to grow on me a little I guess, but that's what it's been like with all Trainwreck releases for me. Can't wait to see this band live again, hopefully soon.

Odd and ends

Punch is one of favourite current bands. Powerful music, great lyrics and the band consists of very nice people, too. All the good markings of a good band. I missed out on the latest repress of their debut 7" Eyeless (on Discos Huelga), so I had to pick it up via discogs. This is the 5th press on olive green vinyl. If you are into fastcore and generally dig bands on 625 Thrashcore, you should check out Punch. 

I've heard a lot of people talk very euphorically about The Ropes formerly known as The Repos. I had the chance to pick up one of their 7"s from the same seller I got the Punch 7" from for cheap, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to give a listen to the band. Quite honestly, I don't get what all the hype (is there really one?) is about. The music and the singer's voice are not really my cup of tea. As with most Youth Attack releases, artwork and the overall design of the whole package are superb (custom foldout double-sided envelope sleeve that comes with a sixteen-page booklet!). But since it's still the music that a record should be all about, this is most likely the first and last The Ropes release for me.

Tides

Just Went Black is my favourite hardcore band from Germany ever. I fell in love with the band in 2006 when they played a show with Good Clean Fun at one of my favourite venues. They were so good live that I just needed to pick up their records. That's when I fell in love with the band for the second time, because they also rule on vinyl. I'm still bummed that they broke up a few years ago and that I wasn't able to make it to their last show.

My favourite release by them and one of my all-time favourite records in general is their only full-length LP Tides. This one falls into the category 'perfect record'. Not only are the music and the lyrics nothing short of great, but the artwork for the cover and the inside is so well done in my opinion, too, and fits the overall tone of the record perfectly. I also really like the colours chosen for this release. I've had the versions on clear and black vinyl for the longest time, but the marbled off-white/sperm coloured one had eluded me in what felt like forever. I contacted a few people who had one, but none of them wanted to let go off it. Quite understandably.

A few weeks back I posted a picture of my copies of the LP and the 10" they released on Instagram. In my comment I added that I was still looking for a copy of the rarest version, hoping that someone might  sell or trade me the record. A few days later someone commented the picture, saying he was the former singer of Just Went Black and that he still had a spare copy of this version. So I wrote him a message and he offered to send it to me. That alone was a really nice surprise, but what was more, he told me that he didn't want anything in return, not even for shipping. Basically he told me that the record was only collecting dust standing around on his shelf and if he could help me out with my collection, he'd be more than happy to do so. Way to make me speechless and enormously grateful at the same time. Thanks again, Sven. Life can be pretty good sometimes.

Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - marbled off-white/sperm - /90
Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - black - /700
Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - clear - /200

Catching Up 05/2014

Got a couple of current records and another repress. This Routine Is Hell already released their Howl LP last year, but I only got around to picking up the album recently. This is a 2nd press copy on blue vinyl out of 100.  I saw This Routine Is Hell when they opened for Bane in March. Didn't hear the complete set since I was chatting with a couple of people I hadn't seen in a long time, but what I heard with half an ear didn't sound bad at all, so I thought I'd check them out. And I didn't get disappointed. Howl is a really good album. Sounds very ceremony-esque, which is something good in my book. 

As mentioned before I don't like ordering only one record when I order records, so I picked up another record from the same label I ordered the This Routines Is Hell LP from. I chose A Journey In 11 Dives by Storm And Stress. Why, I couldn't tell you. I guess I liked the packaging from what I could see in the web shop. Sadly, the packaging is the best part about this record. The booklet that comes with it is awesome. 24 pages filled with the lyrics and accompanying pictures, which reflect the lyrics. I'm really digging the pictures. The music can be best described as modern hardcore and is good enough, but the singer's voice ruins this for me. Bummer.

Lastly I picked up a golden oldie. Well, at least a repress of it. Cause For Alarm were a band in the early 1980s from NYC and that's just the way they sound. Can't go wrong with that. I have no idea about the pressing info for this one. Recent repress on Victory is the best I can manage. I vaguely recall reading about or seeing a picture of another version on blue vinyl for RSD 2014.