Clear Chain

I've got a long list of records that each year I tell myself that I'd like to pick up, and each year I hardly make a dent in that list. Being one of the best Hardcore bands of all time, Chain Of Strength is on that list. I own a few Chain records, but I've always wanted to add to that collection since I started this game in 2005. Why have I made zero progress since then? Well, collecting Chain records is no joke. There will be no $10 wins with this band. If you want to throw your hat in the ring, you need to make a serious commitment. I vowed that in 2013 I would get serious with a number of items that have been on my want list year after year. First we knocked off original pressings from Fear, Black Flag and Circle Jerks, and then the Spirit LP from Up Front. I was happy with each of those purchases, but they all pale in comparison to this one.

Shit got crazy last year with the Chain reunion. Suddenly, everyone and their mother was selling Chain vinyl on eBay. I didn't want to get sucked into the hysteria, so I sat back and watched from afar. It was tough to not get caught up in the excitement. I saw the band play one of their reunion sets in NYC, and thinking back now to those opening notes of Impact, with the crowd screaming along, "I can't believe another year's gone by, and still nothing, as if we don't even try..."...all those voices rising above the volume of the band...passionate to be heard...fuck...I still get goosebumps thinking about it. Amazing.

Last month, I had some extra cash in my savings account and was looking to put it towards something big...something substantial. When I found a few Chain Of Strength records on eBay that Six Feet Under was selling for Matt Pike, I knew it was time to quit fucking around. I had a few options, but was happy to seal the deal on the clear vinyl pressing of the second Chain 7 inch. 500 pressed for the third pressing.