Chain - demo tape #2 1985

I'm thinking this must be a pretty obscure old metal tape. I mail ordered this tape directly from the band back in the metal heyday of 1985, and while this band sounds nothing like the speed or thrash metal bands that I loved at the time I found myself totally under the spell of this tape. Chain hailed from Mt Clemens Michigan and played a brand of metal that sounds like a cross between ZZ Top and Kiss, but with a more 80's metal edge. I swear I can't think if any other way to describe these dudes. Anyway, maybe this tape is a lost classic or maybe I am on my own with this one, but either way download this tape, give it a listen and let me know what you think...Dave G.

P.S. The letter that accompanied this tape says the band released a demo in 1984 and a 3rd demo in either 85 or 86. This might be a long shot, but if anyone has either demo get in touch because I'd like to hear them.

Hades - Live Videos

Dan Lorenzo (Hades guitarist) just dropped me an email bringing these videos to my attention. Dan said to spread them around so here you go. Thanks for the heads up Dan !

P.S. Dan also tipped me off to his band The Cursed which also features Bobby Blitz of Overkill on vocals. Here is a link to the bands webpage if you'd like to drop by and give them a listen http://www.the-cursed.net

Agent Orange - Blood Stains 7" 1980

I ripped this one months ago and have been sitting on it because I know you can get it from countless other blogs, but you know what it's a true punk rock classic and I think it has a place on my blog. So if you have somehow never heard this one before then grab it. If you have heard it before or own a copy then tell me a story about how much you love it or hate it...Dave G.

Manowar live on TV Nickelodeon 83-84 Gloves of Metal plus interview

Oh man this is a classic video right here. I remember taping this off of Nickelodeon many years ago. Manowar plays a full on version of Gloves of Metal to a room full of 10 year old kids and their parents. This video rules because it is completely ridiculous and very Spinal Tap-esque lol ...Leather, Spikes and Chains..... Thanks brother D for ripping this old video and posting it...Dave G.

Overkill - Live plus interview

Rip #3 in the Brother D collection hahaha. Overkill live plus an interview in a cemetery...CLASSIC. I think this might have been made as a promotional video back in the day. Anyway,this is great and you should watch it.

King Diamond - Mercyful Fate interview -

Here is rip #2 from brother D. This is an old King Diamond interview that I didn't even know I had on VHS. God knows what else brother D will uncover on these tapes...Dave G.

Rock N Roll Heaven - Clark NJ

My brother Darin bought a dvd burner recently and has started transferring our old VHS tapes over to dvd. He is also going to be posting some stuff up on youtube and this right here is the first rip that he has completed. What we have is a news segment on Channel 4 news in NY back in the 80's I guess. The segment is about Heavy Metal and the record store Rock n Roll Heaven which was owned by Johnny Z who also owned Megaforce records. Anyway, it is cool for me to see this clip after many many years, and it really brings back some memories. I used to drive over an hour 1 way to go to RnR Heaven whenI was a teenager and I bought 100's of killer metal records there back in the day. God, I wish I could go back in time for just one more shopping spree in that awesome store. Hey Jeff I know you remember this place...Dave G.

The Last Crime - st cd ep 1997

Since I posted Garden Variety yesterday I figured I would follow up that post with another mid 90's band from Long Island NY. Last Crime features Kevin Egan of Beyond and 1.6 Band fame on guitar and vocals. The closest musical comparison I can draw would be Drive Like Jehu but with a touch of a hardcore edge maybe. I saw Last Crime 1 time on the Island playing with Garden Variety and of course my brothers band Dahlia Seed who seemed to always play with Garden Variety as I mentioned before.

Garden Variety - Hedge 7" - Mint Tone Records 1992

Here is the first 7" from Long Island's Garden Variety. I saw these guys live probably 20 times, no kidding I really did. My brother’s band used to play with Garden Variety constantly in the 90's all over the NY/NJ area. GV was a great band similar in sound to Jawbreaker I suppose. Lead singer and bassist Anthony Roman went on to front Radio 4 for many years, and drummer Joe Gorlick went on to play with Seam, Bluetip and others. Over a 5 year period or so in the mid 90's GV released 2 full length Lp's and a slew of 7 inches and split 7 inches on various labels. I can honestly say that every one of their releases is worth owning so if you come across their records you should pick them up, and I bet they are cheap to boot.

D.R.I. - Violent Pacification 7" - Dirty Rotten/R-Radical Records 1984

I decided to give this one a spin today after 20+ years of sitting in my record box. I really love early DRI, and can even deal with their more thrashy crossover stuff as well. I think the last DRI record I can still enjoy is probably Crossover or maybe Four of A Kind. Anyway just figured I'd record this one and share it today since it was spinning on the turntable anyway.

This one is back in print...Purchase

Okara - Months Like Years - Spectra Sonic Sound Records 1996

Purchase Okara/Mothman 7"

Here is another interesting band from the mid 90's that got lumped in with the emo movement. Again, this sounds nothing like what emo sounds like today...thank god.
I saw Okara a handful of times back in the day,and I even released a split 7" on my record label between Mothman and Okara back around 1994 or 95.

Okara play a disjointed, slightly metal, slightly punk, slightly I don't really know style of music that is still impressive to me to this day. The standout track for me on this record is track 4, which actually reminds me of the band RODAN, so give it a listen and let me know what you think. Also, the lp has 8 songs but I ripped it from vinyl and have 10 tracks, maybe I tracked this thing wrong or maybe there are more songs than listed on the Lp. I really don't know but it plays back exactly as it was put to vinyl...Dave G.

Second Layer - State of Emergency 7" 1980 Tortch Records

This is a 3 song 7" from Adrian Borland who is best known as the vocalist for The Sound. See my previous Second Layer post for more information.

Sadistik Ritual - Deal With Darkness - Demo Tape 1989

If you like obscure old school thrash metal then this post is for you. Sadistik Ritual were another band from Rockland County NY or Congers NY to be more exact. I was friends with a few of these dudes back in the day,which in all honesty probably caused me to not give them the credit they deserved at the time because I'm a dick and a shitty friend.However, looking back I think they deserved more recognition then they got, so hopefully I can help rectify this lack of recognition and lack of a current internet presence by posting this demo on my crappy blog.

Anyway, let me tell you about the music which is actually good mid-tempo thrash similiar to the likes of Testament and Overkill etc. Overall this is a respectable demo with a good vocalist, good production and thick riffing. If anyone wants to hear their 1988 demo drop a note in the comments...Dave G.

The Pop Group - She Is Beyond Good and Evil / 338 7" Radar Records 1979

I have name checked The Pop Group in a few of my older posts, so I figure it's time to post something by the band. I am completely at a loss when it comes to describing this band honestly. They play a form of post punk that mixes in elements of funk, free jazz and dub reggae. This may take a few listens for some to figure out or maybe you'll just hate it all together, but for some reason I enjoy this band very much. They have a way of finding a groove while sounding completely out of sorts and abrasive at the same time.

No Escape / Turning Point split 7" Temperance Records 1991

Here's some early 90's Jersey Shore Hardcore. No Escape come on heavy with an angry metallic sound, while Turning Point bring it down a notch and deliver more melodic hardcore typical of the recordings that they did after their harder sounding first 7" (see my older posts). Turning Point has a discography cd currently available from Jade Tree records ,and No Escape released a discography cd as well some years back which also includes their demo. You should track down these cd's if you like this post.

Which Way Records - A Generation of Hope - compilation 7"

Man I haven't listen to this record in years, and I know this next statement will probably break some hearts out there, but the only good thing about this ep is Chain of strength...period...Dave G.

Heathen - Pray for Death demo tape 1986

Here's a tape I mail ordered back in the day directly from the band. The music is typical of the 80's Bay area thrash sound. I have had this one waiting in the wings for awhile and since I haven't posted a metal demo in what feels like forever I figured it's time has come.

Necros - Conquest for Death / Take Em Up 7" 1983 T&G Records

Contains a different version of Conquest for Death then appears on the Lp, and the b-side did not appear on the U.S. version of the Lp at all. Brutal early hardcore...BE A MAN !!!!

The Stimulators - Loud Fast Rules ! - repress

A classic NY punk rock single, originally released in 1980, and featuring a 12 or 13 year old Harley Flanagan of Cro-Mags fame on drums. The music is uptempo, fast and total old school punk. Give this one a listen if you have never heard it.

Tools - # 3 - 7" ep Subterranean Records 1981

The Tools were Mike Fox from Code of Honors pre CoH band. Honestly, everything Mike Fox touched in the early 80's is pure gold in my opinion. The Tools released 3 7" singles between 1979 - 1981 and the one I am presenting today is my least favorite of the 3, but that's like saying Show No Mercy is my least favorite Slayer album...it still RULES !!!.

The bands sound evolved into a more pop/punk/new wave direction on this their final ep, were as the first 2 ep's had a much more punk hardcore sound. Anyway, I feel that this 3rd ep is the hardest one to find so I wanted to present it to the masses.

Code of Honor - What Are We Gonna Do ? 7" Subterranean Records 1982

I am under the impression that I have posted a lot of old school punk rock/hardcore singles to the blog over the years, but as I was scrolling through my old posts today and admiring my work lol, I noticed that I really haven't posted as much punk as I thought. I think part of it is that I feel other blogs have really covered punk rock territory pretty well already, and all I will be doing is posting records that you can find elsewhere,however I think over the next few days I will post some classics on Rocket Science just because I like them.

Anyway, first off is this great Code of Honor 7" from 1982. I can't believe I haven't posted this one already as COH is one of my fav hardcore punk bands of all time. If you like this you need to get a copy of the Code of Honor / Sick Pleasure split 12" also. Actually COH and Sick Pleasure are the exact same band except they had different vocalists. Johnithin Christ who did vocals for COH was also in the excellent Society Dog as well. Anyway, this is essential raging yet catchy hardcore/punk in that old school California style that is so great.

P.S. Subterranean Records released a complete Code of Honor cd discography a few years back which I think you can still purchase right here www.subterranean.org. Also, if you’d like to hear Society Dog and Sick Pleasure just search my older posts.

At All Cost - Demo 1988 and Demo 1990 - NYHC

At All Cost were a bunch of 15 year old kids when they recorded the 1988 demo, the band kicked around the NYHC scene for a few years in the late 80's - early 90's playing a very competent brand of NYHC. I saw AAC play a few CBGB matinees, and I saw them a few times at The Anthrax as well opening for the likes of Token Entry, Vision, Raw Deal etc.

I hear a bit of a Token Entry influence on the first demo from 1988. The 1990 demo has a thicker production and therefore a harder edge..fortunately they never go off into tough guy territory. I see absolutely no web presence for this band so I figured it was time to get them out there...Enjoy Dave G.

Franklin - Sliding / Sprinkler 7" - 1993 Slug Sounds Records

Here is another Franklin 7" just because I'm a big Emo pussy lol, and Franklin are good dammit.

The Faction - Corpse In Disguise 7" IM Records 1984

My favorite 80's skate punkers, featuring Pro Skateboarder Steve Caballero on bass. I like everything The Faction ever released and you should too. I know they released 2 cd's a few years back collecting pretty much everything the band ever recorded. You should pick them up if they are still in print.

P.S. I was just advise that The Faction have plans to release a DVD with every song they ever recorded on it coming out on Beer City Records later this year. The DVD will also include bonus video footage from the 1985 US Tour, and OLD skate footage...this DVD will be absolutely essential in my opinion...so BUY IT !!!...Dave G.

Black Market Baby - Potential Suicide - Youth Crimes ep - reissue

Black Market Baby sprung up out of the early DC punk rock scene and released an absolute classic Lp in 1983 on Fountain of Youth Records called "Senseless Offerings".

The record I am presenting here is a reissue of their 1st 7" that was released in 1981 on Limp Records. The music is straight ahead catchy punk/hardcore with a singer who is really memorable. Give this one a listen...Dave G.