Clearly Tragic

Despite their records being 25 years old, last year was the first time that I ever listened to Orange 9mm. As I started spinning the REV EP and Driver Not Included I was shocked at how much I loved what I was hearing. I was so excited to finally discover this band, that when my buddy Sandwell let me know that their 1996 album, Tragic, was being released for the first time ever on vinyl, I threw caution to the wind and without hearing the songs, I preordered a copy. Since I was ordering the record from Germany, and paying overseas shipping, it was a bit of a reckless move, but goddamn, sometimes you've just got to go with the impulse.

First things first, the packaging on this 25th anniversary pressing is top notch. I love the look of the new cover art, and with the red dust sleeve and clear vinyl...it is an impressive release.

While I do like what I hear on Tragic, it certainly doesn't have the same impact on me like the earlier records. To be honest, I think it all boils down to the last song, Kiss It Goodbye. The K-I-S-S-I-N-G chorus irritates me, and as this song closes out the album, it is the last impression I have of an otherwise solid record. Get that song outta there and this album fills the need when I want some unique 90's hardcore.

Rhino Gray 9mm

I'd never listened to Orange 9mm when Rev announced that they were reissuing their 1994 EP this year, but for some reason it put the thought in my head that maybe it was time to finally check the band out.

How I never managed to hear this band back when I had a steady diet of Fugazi and Quicksand, is beyond me. When I finally took the time to listen to the songs on this EP, I immediately fell in love and quickly placed an order for the reissue. I love the groove on this EP and I can't help but bounce along to these songs. Got to love 90's hardcore.

500 pressed on "rhino gray" colored vinyl.

Honestly, I'm not too impressed with the colored vinyl as it could easily be mistaken for black vinyl at a quick glance. At this point I wish that I'd just invested in an orange or green first pressing. Oh well, I'm still fucking stoked to have finally discovered this band in 2020.

Orange Vinyl 9mm

I completely missed out on Orange 9mm when they were around in the mid-90's. It is strange because when I look back at what I was listening to during '94 and '95, Orange 9mm would have fit perfectly into what I was into. Yet, for some reason I avoided them. I remember being aware of the Burn connection, but I think that I just didn't trust Revelation Records at the time. They were releasing stuff like Iceburn, Engine Kid, Whirlpool and the Mike Judge record, and none of that stuff interested me. When Rev released the Orange 9mm EP in '94, I just skipped it.

It was recently announced that Rev was reissuing that first Orange 9mm EP, and I was feeling surprisingly open minded and figured that I'd check it out.

Much to my surprise, I discovered that I not only loved that first EP, but I also checked out their first full length, Driver Not Included, and found that I loved that one as well. I can't believe that I've gone the past 25 years without somehow hearing this band.

I've got my order in for the Orange 9mm EP reissue with Revelation, but I also wanted to get my hands on the Driver Not Included album. I was torn if I should get the original pressing from 1995, which was available only on black vinyl, or if I should go for the colored vinyl option that Music On Vinyl did last year. Colored vinyl wins!

Man, I can't get over how much I am enjoying this record. There are some solid grooves here that have me bouncing, just like I did to those Shift and Sparkmarker records back in the day. Great stuff.

Numbered out of 1,000 pressed on "flame" colored vinyl.