The Bluest West

A couple years ago, I discovered that Third Age had a second 7 inch, released in 1994, and I quickly got my hands on the clear vinyl pressing. There is no greater feeling than discovering a long lost gem like that, I was definitely stoked to find that record so long after its initial release.

As I was discovering that Third Age had released a second 7 inch, Discogs also informed me that the band's first 7 inch had seen a blue vinyl pressing that I was unaware of. Back in the day, I had picked up the black vinyl somewhere along the way, and I didn't give it a second thought. As soon as I found out that a colored vinyl version existed, I needed to get my hands on a copy right quick. When I found one for only $3, I rushed to add it to my cart.

Third Age totally fit that Northeast hardcore sound from the early 90's, sitting alongside bands like Kingpin, Temperance and Flagman. Maybe it is the nostalgia talking, but this shit it so good.

Third Age

While I've been working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I figured that I'd take the opportunity to finish loading the last of my 7 inch records into Discogs. I've had all if my albums listed in there for a while now, and I'd been slowly adding my 7 inch records, so I basically just had "Supertouch" through "Youth Of Today" to finish adding to my Discogs collecition. While I was going through those remaining records, I came across The Furthest West 7 inch from Third Age. It had probably been 20 years since I'd listened to it, and I couldn't really remember anything about the band. I dropped it on the turntable and absolutely loved it.

Since I was already on the Third Age page in Discogs, I noticed that in addition to that debut 7 inch from 1993, they also released a second one in '94. Information wasn't as easily available back then, so I wasn't even aware that this thing existed. I was having so much fun with The Furthest West record, that I immediately placed an order for their second 7 inch...I mean, it was only $3, so why the fuck not.

Third Age play a style of early 90's hardcore that has a definite nostalgia factor for me. When I was first really starting to dig into hardcore back in the day, bands like Kingpin and Temperance were local up and coming heroes in the Boston/New England scene, and Third Age have that same sound. Great driving melodic hardcore.