All In A Dream

As much as I've been excited about checking out new records from hardcore bands, there are still times when that old jaded monster comes to the surface. It has been six years since we had last heard from Praise with Leave It All Behind, and I'd assumed that the band was dead and gone... and for some reason, I was okay with that. As much as I'd really liked the past Praise records, when I heard that they had a new album being released on Revelation, it felt like a chore to have spend any time checking out their new stuff. Again, I can't explain why I was a bit put off at the thought of a new Praise record, but I was really prepared to hate on this thing.

I didn't want to like All In A Dream, and with that mindset it was easy to dismiss it after previewing a couple of songs. No thanks. I'll pass.

A couple of months later, I found myself in a more open minded attitude and wanting something fresh, so I queued up that new Praise record again. Oh damn. I've made a terrible mistake. This record is actually a good time, and once I was rolling with the vibes that this record was putting out, I was totally down with these songs. Shit. Now I needed the record, but the color vinyl appeared to be sold out everywhere.

I was checking Discogs every other day hoping to find someone that was listing a colored vinyl pressing at a reasonable price. I got lucky when I stumbled across a new listing for $23, and I didn't hesitate to grab it before someone else beat me to it. I'm not sure where I'll end up ranking this album at the end of the year, and it probably won't crack the Top 10, but it certainly has been a pleasant surprise... but I guess that's what you get when you go in with rock bottom expectations.

Pink and Purple Praise

Back in 2014, Praise released one of my favorite Hardcore albums of the year with Lights Went Out...and then we moved into 2015, and I promptly shelved it, and hadn't listened to it since.

So when it was announced that the band had a new record coming out, I was kind of excited for it...even though I couldn't really remember much about that last record that I apparently thought highly of at the time.

2016 finds me in a much different place than I was in a couple years ago. Back in 2014, all I wanted on my stereo was Metal, but these days my tastes are swinging back to early Punk and Hardcore, which puts me in a better frame of mind for this Praise record. Hell, these past few days have seen me revisiting Lights Went Out, and rediscovering that one as well.

I'm sure that some people are going to lose their mind over this record, and claim this new one as their favorite Praise album, and while I do really enjoy it, I'll still prefer their last one...mostly because the last couple of songs drag things down at the end of this new record.

You've got to give props to REACT!, because these vinyl colors look great.

150 on pink vinyl. 350 pressed on purple vinyl. 500 on black vinyl.

Clear Praise For React

Hey, remember when I used to post about Hardcore records? Those were good times, weren't they? While I may be in the middle of my biggest Metal kicks since I was 19 years old, my one Hardcore constant is React! Records. I still love that label, and they consistently put out the best shit. Such is the case with the new Praise album.

Praise started out a decent Hardcore band a few years ago when Aram released their first 7 inch back in 2010. I dug it, but it didn't really blow me away...plus, I figured that they were going to end up being a short lived deal, allowing front man, Andy Norton the chance to get some stuff off his chest. I was surprised, and really impressed with the 2 song follow up a year later, but again, I didn't expect to hear much more from the band. Three years later, Praise gives us Lights Went Out, and I'm goddamned impressed.

There are times when the songs have a strong Embrace feel, and other times when I'll listen to Andy's voice, and think "Damn, he reminds me of Hoodrack from Stick Together". Such a great blend of styles.

Great layout and design.

150 on green, 350 on blue, and 435 on black. My preorder package also came with a giant poster and cool little zine called Wig Out At Kinkos, that kind of documents the Praise history.

Keep It Clear were a Straight Edge band out of Vancouver a few years ago. They released a great demo and a 7 inch, and then disappeared. Apparently the band is back together, so React! decided to press their past recorded material onto a 12 inch, to remind people how great this band is.

I'm not sure what it is about this back cover, but it really reminds me of No For An Answer. Very cool.

100 on "smoke" colored vinyl, 350 on maroon (although mine looks more like a brownish red), and 500 black.

The promo sticker on the plastic sleeve is a new addition from React!, and looks nice with the stark black and white design of the Keep It Clear cover.

As I started pulling the vinyl out to examine the packaging for this latest React! preorder, I was disappointed to find that the corner on every single one of these was crushed. Heartbreaking. Got to see if I can get these replaced.

React! Records is cursed. They saw delay after delay from the pressing plants for these new albums, and preorders from February finally saw the light of day four months later. Some people get really uptight about this kind of wait...meh...me, not so much. Ev and the React! crew are solid, and I know they are doing all they can, and that I'll get 'em when I get 'em. Much respect.

Special Praise

When I was putting together my Top 10 list for 2011, the newest Praise 7 inch came pretty close to making the cut. In the end, I just couldn't justify a two song record on the list, so it got dropped. Still, there is no question as to how great these songs are.

For the REACT! Showcase last year, Aram, being the generous dude that he is, created two special pressings that he handed out for free to the first kids through the door. One of those records was a special pressing of the two song Praise 7 inch. Of course I wasn't at the show, so I had to resort to picking them up from Aram through eBay.

Special covers were made along with an explanation that the plant screwed up the original pressing. These were all rejected, with the exception of 88 copies which were set aside as a gift to those that attended the Showcase. Number 1 out of 88. Nice!

The second Praise record that I bought from Aram was the rejected test pressing of the Two Songs 7 inch. Sometimes I'm totally surprised at how cheap some test pressings sell for. Under $25 for a REACT! test press is a steal as far as I'm concerned.

Number 4 out of 21. There are only 5 copies of the accepted test press. Yeah, that one is going to be a little more difficult to get a hold of.

Two Songs of Praise

I received another box of records the other day, so I can cross another pre-order off the waiting list. The thing that made this order a little different from my typical REACT! pre-orders, is this one wasn't for 9 pieces of vinyl from 3 bands, and didn't cost me $80. Just a nice small order for three copies of the new Praise 7 inch.

This order included another REACT! cardboard mailer. Hey, I've received this same mailer with my past three orders. Has REACT! stopped making new ones?

This 7 inch gives us two more songs from Praise, and is appropriately titled Two Songs. The band keeps on with their Dag Nasty influenced sound, and gives us another record with a feather on the cover. You can't point fingers at these guys for following any formulas on designing their record covers.

200 pressed on white.

300 pressed on grey.

400 pressed on black.

All records come with the assorted extras that are standard with each REACT! release. Solid.