Struggling To Find Peace

Back in January, I posted about the gold vinyl pressing of the Peace 7 inch that I'd recently received. At the end of the post, I mentioned that I was missing the 2012 Record Store Day pressing of that 7 inch. Shortly after that post, I had an email from some dude saying that he had a copy available, and offered to sell it, if I was interested.

Typically, I walk away from these sort of deals. I don't want to say that I don't trust any of you, but I do worry about someone taking advantage of the situation and rip me off. This time, I was just desperate enough to jump in with both feet, and hope for the best. We worked out a price, and I sent the money off via paypal.

A month goes by, and the record hasn't arrived. I fire off an email, and it goes unanswered. A week goes by, and I send another email. No reply. Fuck this. I open a dispute with paypal...wait the required amount of time before I escalate it to a claim...and then the guy responds. Apparently he wasn't checking that email address, and didn't know that he had received the money, but he would send the record right out. I let him know that I'd close the claim as soon as it arrived. It was painful, but I'm glad to finally have it in my hands.

Like all of the React! Record Store Day editions, this was only available at Celebrated Summer Records in Baltimore. They aren't easy to come by for those of us not in Maryland.

The RSD pressing for the Peace 7 inch comes with a special cover, and some crazy stamp on the inside.

Limited to 40 and hand numbered.

Okay, the only thing I'm missing from my Peace collection is a test pressing. Anyone out there have a copy they want to let go? I'm sure we could work something out.

Peace Of Gold

Back when REACT! released the Peace 7 inch a couple years ago, I remember seeing a picture of a gold vinyl pressing. I'm not sure what the deal was with them, but at the time, REACT! was known for pressing a limited run of 100 for the band to do with as they pleased. For the Peace 7 inch, gold was the color that was unavailable to the buying public.

So, back when I had seen the picture of that gold vinyl, I desperately wanted one. I would have spent big bucks to get one at the time. But you know how it goes, time moves on...some records move up the Want List, while you forget about others.

When I saw the gold vinyl show up on eBay recently, it reminded me that I never did get my hands on one. I knew that it was time to finally make my move.

I'm a big fan of most things that REACT! has done over the last six years, but this Peace record has to be in my top 5 from the label. To score this gold vinyl copy for about $10, makes it all the more sweet.

All this picture does is remind me that I'm missing the Record Store Day cover and the test pressing. When it comes to collecting, I'm never at peace.

Latest From REACT!: Part 2 - Back On Track

Along with the clunkers of Damages and Fell To Low, REACT! also delivered two records that are more in line with what I expect from the label...new 7 inches from Peace and Noose.

Peace feature members of The First Step, Mindset, and Praise. I'm a huge fan of all these bands, so I've been looking forward to this since REACT! first made the announcement. This does not disappoint. Straight ahead, no frills Hardcore.

200 pressed on red vinyl.

300 on white vinyl.

There were a few changes from REACT! this time around. With Hellfish managing the distribution, records no longer come with the poly sleeve. Saving some costs, I guess. Also with this four record release, REACT! has also stopped including the additional "essay insert". While I rarely gave them more than just a passing glance, it seems odd to not have them included.

400 pressed on black.

After having REACT! press their 2010 demo to vinyl, Noose is back with their follow up 7 inch, The War Of All Against All. This shit is harsh! Intense Vegan Straight Edge out of Chicago...Noose do not let up for a second.

Limited to 200 on green vinyl.

300 pressed on clear vinyl.

400 on black.

Get The Most Peace

In addition to the two Praise 7 inches, I also scored a couple more records from Aram that were limited to the REACT! Showcase last year.

Easily one of the top 5 records that will be released this year, REACT! give us the debut EP from Peace...and while this copy was available at the 2011 Showcase, pre-orders didn't ship until this year, so I'm considering it a 2012 release.

Featuring Stephen from The First Step, plus some dudes from Mindset, Peace deliver the high level of intense and passionate Hardcore that you would expect.

Limited to 100 for the Showcase with a special cover and stamped labels. It's okay not to drink!

There are plenty of other Showcase pressings from the REACT! bands, but one of the last ones that I bought from Aram in this eBay spree was for one of my favorites from the REACT! roster, Get The Most.

Like most REACT! releases, the label presses one color to a limited 100 pieces. This pressing is then provided to the band so they can sell as they see fit. Get The Most took their orange pressing of the Collection LP and sold them at the Showcase.