Keep Your Edge

The 7 inch from Bystander was a nice surprise at the end of 2018, and even made it's way into my Top 10 for that year. With Greg Bennick from Trial on the mic, I had high expectations, and Bystander was able to meet them. The band still sounded relevant and intense in '18. I was surprised to see the band following up that debut EP so soon, but I was still onboard and quickly preordered a copy.

Between the German pressing on Goodwill, and the US pressing from Safe Inside, there were five different pressings to choose from. I rarely order from Deathwish, but when I saw that they had the record available through their distro, I grabbed the pink vinyl pressing from them. The vinyl looks more red than pink, but it is still a good look.

150 pressed on "pink".

Bystander keep things rollin' with their newest 12 inch EP, Where Did We Go Wrong. This is hardcore, and this is what I want to listen to when I'm in the mood for hardcore. I've only listened to it a handful of times, so I can't say where it will land overall, but this is some good shit.

X bystander X

There have already been a number of solid hardcore records released this year, but let's add one more to the pile with Bystander.

I'm wary of older hardcore dudes that seem to come out of retirement and put together new bands ten or more years after their original heyday. I'm not doubting their sincerity or passion, but there are times when the whole affair just falls flat.

With Greg Bennick from Trial picking up the mic again, and fronting Bystander, I just had a feeling that this was going to be good. I was not disappointed.

This record is great, and Greg spits lyrics sounding like we are still back in the late 90's.

The packaging for this is very well done, with the fold out cover that is embossed with a nice big "X". 150 pressed on baby blue colored vinyl.