Test Press To Fade

When I was picking up that $9 Danzig record from Wanna Hear It, I felt the need to add something else to my cart. As I was scrolling through their webstore and saw a Violence To Fade test press, I figured that I'd act like the record collector that I used to be and pick it up.

Violence To Fade had ex-members of Alert, and when they released their first 7 inch in 2013, I was at the height of my record collecting mania... so of course I bought three copies of the record. Having the opportunity to buy the test press 10+ years later was just too good to pass up.

25 test pressings... numbered and with a great looking special cover.

This is a really good 7 inch, but over time it just got lost in with all the other music that I consume and I haven't listened to it a few years. Seeing this test press made me dust these songs off and it feels good to give this a spin again. Straight forward hardcore that does not disappoint.

The Mighty Violence To Fade

It has been a long time since I've gone out to a Hardcore show. Holy shit. I can't even remember when it was? We have got to be talking years. Yup...I'm that old guy now that doesn't want to leave his house, and would rather go to bed early with a good book than deal with Boston parking and see Judge play a reunion show. I hate myself.

Some newer Hardcore bands have been kicking my ass this year, and they managed to shake me from this slumber that I've been trapped in for the past few years. When Keith from Violence To Fade announced that his band was having a record release show for their new album, I committed myself to shaking off the cobwebs, and getting out to a Hardcore show.

I love a good record release cover, and the one that Violence To Fade put together does not disappoint. Keith is a huge superhero and anime fan, so to see this comic book cover for the Unstoppable Force record release version...it is a perfect fit.

There were a few bands on the bill that I was interested in checking out. Glory was the one that I was most excited to see, but Violence To Fade, Our Side, and Vantage Point were great to see as well...and Red Sun is definitely a band to keep an eye for in the future. Too bad the sound was so terrible in VFW hall that the vocals were buried in the wall of sound. Hey, I guess that I've been spoiled over the past few years with Metal bands and a decent PA.

Number 8 out of only 25 made for the show. Worth making the two and a half hour drive for this alone!

Before the record release show, my preorder for Unstoppable Force arrived from Triple B. Such a solid influence of that classic New York Hardcore sound. Another great release from Triple B.

100 pressed on blue.

Winds Of Change

I'm really not a big fan of compilations. I am, however, a big fan of REACT!. Therefore, I had to put my prejudices aside for their latest release, the Winds Of Change 7 inch comp.

Once again, Ev and the REACT! crew deliver. This time, they highlight six up and coming bands from today's Hardcore scene. Each one impresses me, and having really only heard Violence To Fade and Enough, I'm looking forward to what the others will bring to the table with future releases.

350 pressed on red vinyl.

All of the bands on this comp are great, but that Violence To Fade song is absolutely amazing.

150 on "smoke" colored vinyl, or more commonly known as "grey".

The packaging on this 7 inch is very well done. With the six panel spread, allowing to change the the band on the cover to whichever one you wish, and wrapped in a screen printed OBI strip, the label continues to deliver quality releases. Another job well done.

500 pressed on black vinyl.

Shortly before the regular pressings shipped, Ev posted on the REACT! Facebook that there was a test press available and hidden in their webstore. Like a bloodhound, I sniffed that bad boy out! The price was a little higher than I would have wanted to pay, but damn, with it staring me in the face, it was too much to resist, and I quickly added it to my cart and checked out.

Nice and clean look, with the white cardboard sleeve and the black and white screened OBI strip.

Number 24 of 24. Doesn't get much better than that.

Test press count for 2014 is at six.

Violence To Fade

I was first introduced to Keith when he was playing bass for Alert. He is a hell of a nice guy, and when I would show up to shows by myself, he was always a friendly face that was quick to come up and talk for a bit. Once Alert dissolved, I was happy that he jumped right into another band, this time singing for Violence To Fade. They played a show in Maine a few months ago, and opened their set with the intro to the song Black Sabbath. It may have been one of the best intros I've ever seen a band do.

If I learned anything from the January Record A Day challenge on Instagram, it was that I'm not alone in my dislike of splatter colored vinyl. Seems the general rule of thumb is that all collectors hate it...so why do labels still press this shit. 150 pressed on gross splatter vinyl.

Violence To Fade is a bit more raw when compared to the Youth Crew style of Keith's last band, Alert. They have a more of a rough New York Hardcore kind of sound. I can dig it.

200 on green vinyl.

I can't seem to place an order with Life To Live, and have it arrive in one piece. First, I got a badly warped piece of vinyl for Losin' it, then I had a package that was nearly destroyed from water damage...this time around, I only received the pink vinyl from my three record pre-order package. Thankfully Dan, was quick to admit his error, and shipped out the missing vinyl within the next week. Whew...crisis averted.

300 pressed on pink.