Tape Heads

I really have no use for cassette tapes these days. As a kid, cassettes were huge for me until CDs came along, and I still get a kick out of flipping through the box of old tapes that I still have, but buying new tapes doesn't make any sense to me.

When React Records released the For My Brothers tape from Ancient Heads back in 2013, I ignored it. Ugh...fucking tapes...I grabbed a download of the songs and that was good enough for me. A few years after its release, I really looked at the cover photo for this cassette... holy shit... that is me in the black No Tolerance t-shirt... goddamn, now I'm going to have to own a copy!

I finally got around to grabbing a cheap copy off Discogs last summer, but since it is a tape, I kind of tossed it in a corner and forgot about it. When I recently uncovered it from a pile of records recently, I figured that it was time to post it up on the blog. Shame that these songs only saw a cassette release as they may be the best Ancient Head songs.

React Heads

My record collecting habits have changed quite a bit over the past year or so. Part of this change has been a strong pull to listen to more and more metal, and the result of this shift has been that I find I'm not as quick to check out each and every hardcore band. I still love the music, but I haven't had the drive to chase many new bands. The second change in my behavior has been in the desire to buy each and every pressing for each new hardcore record that I like...I'm not feeling it anymore. Thanks to the constant stream of REV reissues, and Reaper shoving four new pieces of colored vinyl down our throats every six months for each Turnstile record...it lost the magic.

One of the eye opening things about focusing my attention on buying older metal records is that back in the 80's, labels at that time didn't give you ten different colors of vinyl. You want the vinyl? Here it is...black vinyl is your only option. Take it or leave it. Collecting shit from those days, the only decision you are faced with is, do you want the US pressing on Combat, or do you go for the overseas pressing from Under One Flag. Sure you could get into it deeper, and start looking at if it is a green label Combat pressing, but really, it is basically that simple. I guess that for the most part, the same could be said about hardcore bands. Somewhere over the last few years, things changed. Shit got out of hand.

Record collecting is about the love of the music, and the passion for chasing the vinyl...preserving a piece of history. When labels continually churn out different pressings of limited colored vinyl, it becomes a commodity and collecting loses the appeal...I start to feel like I'm being taken advantage of...I get bitter, say "fuck off, I'm not playing". I won't contribute, and I hope labels choke on their excess.

Now that I've had my rant, and can step off my soapbox, I'm going to post the recent release from React! Records...where I bought all three pressings that were available at the time of preorder. React, along with Youngblood, are still one of the few labels that I continue to have a love affair with. These labels still have a level of integrity, and I don't feel that they are just pushing a product. I feel there is a deep appreciation of the 'core with these labels...and while I'm not looking down on any other labels...all I'm saying is that React and Youngblood are the only two that I still feel that dedication towards, and I will step up and buy whatever it is that they are selling. No questions asked...just take my money.

Don't go looking for anything new with the latest Ancient Heads record. This is just straight forward, hoods up, x's on hands, hardcore. These young dudes are all fired up over their hardcore pride and the straight edge, and their passion is infectious. Hardcore needs bands like this.

150 pressed on red, 350 pressed on white, and 500 pressed on black vinyl.

Ancient Chain Heads

There is something about young kids playing Straight Edge Hardcore that still gets my blood pumping. Some things never get old.

Ancient Heads are one of those bands keeping that spirit alive. They aren't breaking down any barriers, and they aren't reinventing the wheel. They are just playing solid, bare bones, youth crew inspired straight edge hardcore with passion and sincerity. That's all I need.

Only 50 pressed for both the black and green vinyl.

Ancient Heads wear their influences on their sleeves. With this second pressing of their demo 7 inch, they complete their tribute to Chain Of Strength, matching the pressing for True Till Death. Silver sleeve. Clear vinyl. Green vinyl. Black vinyl. Job well done!

Ancient Heads

I first heard about Ancient Heads when I was getting ready to go to the Triple B Showcase last December. They were scheduled to play, and I'm always down to check out a new, young hardcore band, so I downloaded their two demos. I still get a charge when new bands like this come around...great Youth Crew styled hardcore.

When it was announced that Climbin' Aboard Records was releasing both demo's on one 7 inch, I was all over it. Seriously, a band name taken from a Beyond song, and a record label that takes it's name from an old Supertouch song. I love the influence.

Of course I went for the pre-order package deal. 50 with the silver sleeve, and 250 with the regular sleeve. Both on clear vinyl. What? No green vinyl pressing?