Solar Cult

not much crossover with Sheep’s and my list:

Harmony as One – white darkness 12” – 1991, post-Unseen Terror, pre-Scalplock, just fucking raging

Downfall – not your fault 7” – 1992, short lived attempt to do a Born Against clone that was much more interesting than it could have been. Notable for two reasons, 1, it was the first DIY record i ever bought (along with Nailbomb/ Wartorn split 7”), 2, 50% of the band went on to be in the highly regarded, but ultimately completely naff (but all utterly lovely people) Bob Tilton

Stand Off – worthless is the unity bought at the expense of truth 7” -1993 - southern straight edge band, embraced the mid-90s hardcore scenes idea of what metal was and became became Above All

Health Hazard – it’s not just a nightmare 7” – 1993 - i wish the demo was easily available, recorded for something like ten quid and just completely unhinged. This 7” reminds me that anger wasn’t always commodified by endless legions of bored kids with guitars  

Sedition - earth beat LP - 1993 - that one record making this a british top ten, not just an english top ten… vaguely pagan, anti-colonialist, crusty hardcore band from Glasgow. 

Voorhees – spilling blood without reason LP – 1994 - i don’t need to say anything about this record.

Wartorn – banzai 7” – 1994 - completely unknown power violence band, released by Armageddon and regulary spotted in the 25 cent section of record stores all over the US. Perpetual scene bad guy Rich Walker of Sore Throat and Solstice played guitar, Jim from Hard to Swallow, Iron Monkey, Geriatric Unit played bass (on this release only)

Underclass/ Hard to Swallow 7” – 1996 - best representation of what was going on at the time in UKHC. 1995-1998 was pretty much a golden era for me; lots of bands in the north doing genuinely interesting stuff (before the internet came and erased all acceptable difference). The scene in the north was militantly DIY, not tied to the crusty old guard of the UK and the explosion of low quality Terrorizer magazine friendly bands from the south of England had yet to really happen.

Kito – LP – 1998 - if there was a band central to that golden era mentioned above it would have to be Kito. Kito never really sounded like anyone else, on the LP they got more, uh, musical than before. Favourite front man ever, watching Rob - looking like Grigori Rasputin - rev up invisible giant machinery and carry invisible blocks of granite during extended instrumental sections was amazing, only Gus from Sedition came close to Rob in the “what the hell is that singer doing?” stakes.

Scalplock – inculcate the fear 7” – 1999 - My favourite grindcore intellectual has always been Pete Giles.

Missing but not forgotten: Canvas, Disaffect, Stalingrad, One to One, Minute Manifesto, Orrin DeForest, One by One, Urko, Headache, Kitchener, Scatha, ISM

xsheepx:

It goes without saying that you should download EVERY link on this page, it’s all gold. 

1. Canvas - Self titled

This CD was originally going to be released by sure hand (same label that released Unborn & other classics), but true to the fashion back then, it dragged on & on & never came out so the band took it to household name instead. I have to admit to be biased, these guys were my home town heros and I must’ve seen them play over 50 times over the years. Best elements of the Belgian edgemetal scene with a bit of a twist. It’s hard to see how dated this record is now because I’m so biased, but it still rocks my socks.

Sadly they seem to have fallen victim to time & none of the newer generations of hardcore kids are even aware of them. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?wylfciyqkwa9wty

2. Knuckledust - Time won’t heal this

Fortunately this band need no introduction, having long been Britain’s main hardcore export, this record even seeing a US release on thorpe (with much better artwork, it had panzers on the front!). Their best record in my opinion, raw, fast, hard hitting. I’m listening to it now and I just want to jump through the monitor, travel through the world wide web & pop out in your room & punch you in the face. Flawless. Horrible 90s artwork courtesy of Mr Goddard, but that’s par for the course i suppose. 

The only time I haven’t moshed when they’ve played was about 2000 when they played with the business in Sheffield. I was the only hardcore kid in attendance, & the room full of very big & angry skins kinda put me off my game.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5zffglgot4yuwg0

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