Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye

One of my favourite releases of 2009. Crossover that leans a bit more towards 80's Metallica than the hardcore end of the spectrum. Extremely memorable riffs that you can't help but nod your head to, especially the riff about 3 minutes into dispossessed.

I saw them live when they came to London late last year and despite blowing a bass head half way through the second song that took about 10 minutes to fix, cutting the set to I think only 6 songs, it was a great show and hopefully I'll get to see them again soon.

I picked this LP up at the show and it's the UK press with the black and white cover, hand numbered out of 100 but evidence suggests there are more. I really want to get my hands on the first US press which is a double LP. I should do that before the band gets huge and the price gets out of control.

When the bass amp blew the vocalist simply said "too much power". Indeed.

UK Press Clear, 59/100

Torche - ST

Stoner pop? This is one description that has been applied to Torche. I can't say that I really like the whole "lets make a new genre for every band" thing that seems to go on heaps these days to describe bands but I guess it sort of fits. Low tuned guitars in the vein of Kyuss, with more melody and pop song structures. I'd prefer to just call them a rock band.

Debut album filled with songs that are still heavy but don't offend the girlfriend.

First Press Sunburst /130

Trap Them - Seizures In Barren Praise

I really got into Sleepwell Deconstructor when it was released. It was the first time I'd heard anything from Trap Them and I was drawn to how pissed off it sounded, especially the vocals of Ryan McKenney, which I always thought were the best thing in backstabbers Inc.

This album is different style wise, with far fewer blast beats and grind influenced songs and more old school entombed and D-beat action. This isn't surprising as it was definitely the way the band was going on the previous EP.

I ordered 3 copies from Deathwish and was lucky enough to get all 3 colours.

First Press Clear Gold with black /184

First Press Clear /700

First Press Cream with black /1000

Jacob Bannon - The Blood Of Thine Enemies

First solo release from Jacob Bannon. There has been an album in works for years, so who knows if that will ever come out. Just the one song which I've only listened to once.

The envelope style sleeve and etched vinyl both look great. I wish more bands embraced this style of packaging for 7" releases.

First Press Silver Vinyl /600

Converge - Downpour / Serial Killer

This is the only 5" record I own, so for me it is a bit of a novelty, but the material contained on here is solid.

The two tracks are Downpour, which sounds most like a When Forever Comes Crashing era track and Serial Killer, a Vio-lence cover from their Eternal Nightmare album. Vio-lence is probably best known as the band Robb Flynn from Machine Head was in before Machine Head, which is a shame as they were a great 80's thrash band that should be mentioned in the same circles as Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. Yep, it's a crazy world.

First Press White Vinyl 218/1000

Converge - Unloved and Weeded Out

This 7" was recorded only a few months before Petitioning The Empty Sky and while it isn't considered a classic like that release, Home Song and For you are both very solid songs and show the transition from their earlier material to what they would do on Petitioning.

As you can see from the pictures, this 7" came with a heap of inserts. One of them contains a thank you from Tre McCarthy who later started Deathwish Inc with Jacon Bannon. He states "...so now i'm the one putting out the record. It's time for me to give something back to all of you for all that you've done for me... hopefully there will be more to come..."

I think there have been about 200 more.

First Press Black 337/500

Converge - Petitioning The Empty Sky 7"

First released as a 7" on Ferret records, Petitioning the Empty Sky is my favourite 7" of the 90's. It has since been re-released as a full length about 25 times each adding something extra to get the kids to re-buy it. When I first got a copy of the full length I'd say I listened to it daily for probably 2 years.

I felt they stepped it up a notch on this 7" which they arguably did again on When Forever Comes Crashing and most certainly did on Jane Doe. While I still enjoy newer Converge, for me, this and Jane Doe are the highlights of their extensive back catalog.

I still get that feeling when I hear the opening notes of The Saddest Day.

It's not that easy to got hold of a copy on purple these days, so I guess I'm lucky to have one.

On Purple /100

Converge - ST

I'm a pretty big Converge fan and this was one of those items I picked up just because i didn't have it and needed it to complete my collection. Released back in 1992, musically this is more, dare I say, hard rock influenced than hardcore and Jacob Bannon's distinctive vocal style is nowhere to be seen. To be honest I haven't listened to this more than once or twice and not something that I can see myself spinning much in the future. The band probably haven't played any of these songs live for 15 years.

Still it's interesting to see a tattoo free Bannon wearing a Biohazard shirt in the inner sleeve.

I'm unsure of the pressing info but I've heard rumors that it's out of 1000.

Burnt By The Sun - ST

I was stoked when I found out that Burnt By The Sun would be doing one last tour of the UK before disbanding. I was less stoked when they took the stage and Mike Olender was nowhere to be seen. He is undeniably one of the best vocalists in heavy music at present and his absence really hurt the performance. That being said, musically it was still great, but it could have been so much better.

After the show I noticed they were selling copies of their debut 7" from 2001. I already have a copy on black but when I noticed they were selling the white version it was a perfect opportunity to pick one up. This, along with the split with Luddite Clone, recorded in the same session I believe, remains my favourite Burnt By The Sun material.

I also managed to pick up a set list which contained a well drawn cock.

First Press White /500

Narrows - ST

I am a big fan of botch, so when I heard that Dave Verellen would be fronting a new band I was instantly excited. I always loved his vocals so his presence was the main reason I checked out Narrows.

The results were varied. Both this EP and the full length contained some great songs and unfortunately too much filler. Still they are playing the UK later in the year and I'll most certainly be there to check them out.

First Press Pink with Brown splatter /700

Mastodon - Lifesblood

This EP was released in 2001 and I believe is just songs from Mastodon's original 9 track demo with rerecorded vocals. I have a copy of the demo and apart from the vocals it doesn't sound too different at all.

These tracks have since been released on the full length Call Of The Mastodon, making this release obsolete to say the least.

While I enjoy these songs, this is nowhere near as good as Remission.

First Press Red /500

Damaged - Passive Backseat Demon Engines

Coming from Australia I've listened to my fair share of Australian metal over the years. By far my favourite down under metal band is Damaged.

The band had numerous line up changed over the years and at one point Kevin Sharpe of Brutal Truth fame was on vocals and can be heard on the Purified in Pain full length. Unfortunately for Kevin he was replacing James Ludbrooke, one of the best vocalist in heavy music of all time. Big statement I know, but one that I consider valid.

Damaged really was a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. The drum work of Matt "Skitz" Sanders was nothing short of amazing, extremely fast, precise and innovative and when combined with the brutally heavy riffs and Ludbrooke's vocals, Damaged truly were something great.

I didn't know the band had released anything on vinyl so when I found they'd put out tracks from the Passive Backseat Demon Engines EP I had to have it. Luckily I found one on eBay and it didn't set me back too much.

Not sure of the pressing info on this one.

If you haven't heard Damaged before check out the video for "Nails" below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SGDyAmtne0

Daughters - Self Titled

As a fan of As The Sun Sets, I was excited to hear that 3 of the members would be continuing on as Daughters. They released this 4 track EP on City Of Hell Records not long after the band formed and have been hated, or on occasion loved, ever since.

Musically this 7" follows on from what As The Sun Sets did on 7744 and 8949.

4 songs, 4 minutes. Additionally about 2 of those 4 minutes are filler.

This is the tour edition on one sided pink vinyl, 127/200.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Live Infinity

A novelty live 7"! I say novelty 7", as it was pressed in such a manner that it required playing instructions, which is somewhat uncommon in the vinyl game. You see, some songs play from the outside in and others from the inside out. It's the type of innovation you need when you are releasing a live 7" that people don't really need. I guess it sucked me in.

I'm not really a big fan of live recordings and it is hard to capture the Dillinger Escape Plan live show on tape so the only reason I bought this was to complete my DEP.

Good to have a final release with Dimitri.

On White vinyl /300.

In These Black Days Volume 4

The Black Sabbath Tribute series released on Hydra Head Records during the late 90's certainly captured the hearts and imaginations of a generation. As such it's a surprise that Hydra Head still haven't released it on CD despite talking about it for over a decade. Well they talked about it a decade ago. Who knows if they still talk about it down at the Hydra Head offices? Clearly with the amount of time they need to spend on producing those Chel's list video updates there is no way they have the time to worry about a 10 year old Black Sabbath comp.

Anyway, I digress... this is Volume 4 featuring Cavity, Cable, Jesuit and Overcast. It was the only volume of the 6 to feature more than two bands and was the only volume to come as a double 7".

All the songs on this baby are solid as a rock. Actually the whole series is awesome. My favourite volume is probably volume 5 with Botch and Cave In but this isn't far behind.

I have the whole series on black and thought I should get them on colour. This is the 4th one I've picked up and only need the Converge / Brutal Truth and Soilent Green / Neurosis 7 inches to complete the set. One day...

First Press Pink and Gray /300.