Sidetracked - Forfeit

This is the most recent Sidetracked record and the last of theirs I have to put up for the time being. I love the layout, it's like Straight Ahead but without the artwork. Very aesthetically appealing to me for some reason. This record is pretty damn wild so I'll walk you through it, the whole release is only two minutes long. It begins with a nine second instrumental... there are some pretty wild effects used on some of the tracks like "Terminal" and "Dilemma". There's a four second Nasum cover. The title track is Jay talking over super reverby 'unsnared' snare drum and tom. The entire B-side is one 15 second track half of which is the last word of a two word song echoed. If your eyebrows aren't raised yet you gotta download it. Once again Jay's vocals are getting pretty gnarl. I really enjoy it. I'm already sad I don't have more to listen to.







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Sidetracked - Wrench

I picked up this tape at the Outlook/Sidetracked record release along with a couple other releases I was long overdue in getting a hold of. Jay pointed my attention to this release foremost and told me that he had James and I in mind with it, describing it as straight forward hardcore. Tracks like "Didn't Deserve It" and "Wrench" remind me of classic Sidetracked but a lot of the others have a more jammy feel like "Severed" and "No Recollection", which are two of my favorites. I love the layered vocals in "Severed". Following Uniform Jay's vocals get more out of control aggressive, see "Nothing's Broken". This release is really fucking good and I have found myself flipping it more than the others partly because I'm so intrigued by it. Like Jay introduced it, it really has a different feel than other records of theirs. The recordings have very little bass and it has a very "scratchy" feel to it. That's the only word I can think of to describe it. Like they recorded everything and compressed it all. I guess they recorded it with a tape recorder in their jam space then did vocals over it. Keep it coming!



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Sidetracked - Uniform 7"

Holy shit, this record is way harder sounding than a lot of other releases, it's way intense. Something about the vocals and how bass-ey it is make it really aggressive. "Probable Cause" is really in your face, Jay's vocals are fucking gnarly. "Repeat" sounds and feels like you're getting beat up by the music. Those cymbal catches feel like punches. A lot of the lyrics critically address scene politics which shows in the title track. Some unique aspects of this release are that it's a one sided 7", the first three tracks are dedicate to Jay's late aunt, and the last track "Can't Relate" gets a little 'metal' at the end. Is Sidetracked going all NYC Mayhem? Just kidding, it's one riff that, as far as I can remember, is uncharted Sidetracked territory. Enjoy this release, I know I do.







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Sidetracked - HOD Split 6"

I got a batch of overdue Sidetracked releases to get up here so I'll start with the split 6" with Hummingbird of Death. The obvious comment to make would be that this is on an unusual format, especially for a split. Still, in classic Sidetracked fashion the band manages to squeeze on nine songs. Also my insert is really weird and I feel may have been a mistake? I scanned it so you can check it out. Maybe that's what they wanted for it? The songs are fucking great and the record is quickly becoming one of my favorite releases. "Cynic", "Fine Line", "Fence Rider" and "Dealt" are my standout tracks on this one. "Solitary" consists of a bass ring out and someone talking who I can't identify. "Fine Line" is beautiful in its simplicity and "Fence Rider" has... gunshots in it? Not sure what's going on there. Or maybe it's a helicopter, I'm not sure but it's a new venture for Sidetracked. "Refuse" is the shortest track to date I've been acquainted with. It goes straight into the Black Army Jacket cover so I have it ripped as a second long. Woof. Great record, definitely worth the purchase. I can't believe it took me so long to listen to it. I recognized "Fine Line" from a couple Sidetracked sets since the release of the record.







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Trainyard - New Rough Tracks

Trainyard played an impromptu set at Outlook's record release just the other day and spirits were high. Rusty sent us back two tracks to review and give input on but I want to share them with you all. The tracks are, the block which is a "new song" Trainyard Lives coupled with the two demo songs Pushed and TLMT. The second track is titled I Like My Punk With the Crust Cut Off. Fuck recording was fun. Ian's vocals sound fucking awesome and the lyrics are great. Trainyard fucking lives. It's funny that one of the lines is "Been three years and we're going on strong" when that track was written and considered new like two years ago. What took us 12 hours to record was three years in the making. Can't wait for all the tracks to be done. It's been about six years and we still have nothing to say for ourselves but sweatpants. ALIEN-NATION!

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Adjustment - Adjustment To Society Demo 2012

So we finally did it, we buckled down and recorded. Kayla found a two track tape recorder with mic inputs at goodwill for $4 and we put it to the test. Birthed from the family house, recorded entirely from ceiling mics, we bring you... the Adjustment demo. We scrapped quite a lot of songs in our short existence already but it is probably for the better. Here are the songs we chose to keep, a new song we wrote the day of and an Intensified Chaos cover. It is the best thing you will ever hear and I am fucking stoked to be playing in it. Members of FRACTURE, Bully, Scary Man, Total Disgrace, Red & Black, Sixes, Dehumanized, In Debt, ANTI-VIRUS, NISQUALLY, Trainyard, etc. etc. Olympia is putting hardcore back on the map. Lots of shows coming up. Plan on hearing tons of new songs, a tape, and more soon. If you want a physical copy email me!







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Mentally Challenged - Disappeared b/w Surveillance

Here's a release Tanar tipped me off to. Massachusetts once again is ahead of it's game with Mentally Challenged. I first heard them when Tanar played me his copy of the tape a few years ago but these two tracks really took me for a spin. This seven inch contains "Disappeared" and "Surveillance". "Disappeared" sounds downright evil, it's layers of guitars and vocals are dark and brooding. The track progresses from guitar driven speed and chaos where whispers, speech and screaming abound to a slowed down collection of sound where everything falls apart and it just feels menacing. "Surveillance" defies time. I've listened to the track over and over and it wasn't until I ripped it that I realized it was six minutes long. What the fuck. Great music I absolutely love it. I heard that this was CC of Mind Eraser's project but I'm not sure who else has a hand in it. Good work, this stuff is crazy.



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Keep It Clear S/T 7"

I was booking a birthday show for Josh/ a New Direction Fest benefit and I wanted to put a Canada band on it. Consequence Crew was unavailable because they currently don't have a jam space so I asked Andy about Keep It Clear. I completely forgot the band existed. Andy said they are on hiatus until they find a new drummer which led me to dig this record up. You can download the demo from a previous post, this is the follow up release. Straight edge Vancouver hardcore with members of In Stride, Go It Alone, Blue Monday, etc. etc. I look forward to more shows in the future. You know the fucking deal.









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Holier Than Thou - S/T 7"

Listening to this now is bringing back so many memories. This record has been forever burned into my brain. The first time I heard it was due to Rob NLZ of Mondo Aggro fame. He used to just buy any record at a store with skateboard related artwork and stumbled across this gem. I finally scored my own copy of this record almost four years later on Sixes tour for $2. Listen to "Why" by RKL and then listen to the opening track of this record and you'll see what they're going for. The vocals are fucking great, super tight music with cool vocal timing and mega fast muted tremolo... oh yeah. Ridiculously good blend of raging skateboard hardcore punk and witty lyrics. Just listen to this: "Searching and finding, slapping and grinding, smearing and tearing without any caring, fuck up your planter cause that shit don't matter, we're ready to fight since you aren't into sharing." I was hooked immediately. We used to just listen to this record at Leone's old apartment when she lived with Rodney (of Ape Escape fame, also the dude who tattooed my head and gave a bunch of Bremerton kids HIV tattoos). We'd go skate the cut up full pipes at the dump, come back and watch thrashin, then make rat pack denims. Livin' the lyrics man. All the tracks on this release are golden. I'm still trying to figure out the lyrics to "It's a Crime", it seems like it's allegory for either grinding curbs and rails or graffiti or both I can't really tell. He makes it sound like he's talking about killing people, I dunno. It's cool though. I dare you to listen to it skating, if it doesn't make you wanna push as hard as you can then I don't know what's wrong with you. Thanks Robert.







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Snake Run - Demo 2004

This tape is the shit! Also the name rivals LQD NLZ as the best local band name. Members went on to form Vacant State which I'll put up later.



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Minority Unit - S/T 7"

Sound and Fury was a total crock of shit this year showcasing the submission of hardcore under law and the blatant consumption and business of this wonderful, wonderful music. I went to celebrate Kayla's birthday for a cool road trip and to see goddamn DYS. One silver lining in this shit storm was Minority Unit. I hadn't seen or even heard of this project yet and was blown away. Twelve people stage moshing and in your face straight edge was all I needed to be hooked. They also started their set by blitzing into "Use Your Head" by Uniform Choice. The band has an awesome concept and consists of I don't even know how many people singing. It is awesome and my only criticism is that it is way too produced. Keep the great projects coming Walter, this is seriously awesome.







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Barricade - The Weathered

I probably have more to say about this release but I can't think of it right now. This is the last material Barricade put out before breaking up. Unreleased songs and members went on to form Sojourner. I remember the first time I heard these new tracks I was driving with Luciano of Looking Up and Jared of Lead By Example to Rivalry Fest 2007 from LA. We listened to it a few times in the six hour drive and I loved it almost more than the demo songs which you can get here. Enjoy, its some pretty creative stuff.









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Stop At Nothing - Johnny Rocket's Crew

Here is an unreleased Stop At Nothing song for you all. More on Stop At Nothing here. Olympia Straight Edge Hardcore.

Fuck you dude

XSidetrackedX - Every Inch of the Way

Well I just posted embarrassing and awesome releases form Bremerton and Olympia so I think it's only fair and fitting that I turn your attention to Tacoma. Yes Sidetracked's humble beginnings were as XsidetrackedX. Look at Jay's gnarly mic-feedage! Brian with hair and some sketchy christian lyrics polish off this beautiful sidetracked release. Good music though. Enjoy this rarity. It's funny how popular straight edge was from 2002 on in the Northwest and how ridiculously unpopular it is 2008 until now. It comes and goes in waves. Maybe there will be another xsidetrackedx someday... Until then here is a moment in history.



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Vindication - Demo

Speaking of embarrassing times getting into contemporary hardcore, here is one for Olympia. I remember liking Vindication a lot in early high school because there were no other bands as aggressive at the time. TV Tentacles and Wack Job was the best you got. One of the first times I saw Vindication play was at the Capital Theater Backstage and Steven knocked all his guitar gear over. One of 'James and Steven of Outlook''s first bands. Possibly a bit embarrassing, especially lyrically. Speaking of which, I gotta put MDK up here before I forget! Pre-Stop At Nothing/Crazies.





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Ape Escape - Demo 2005

The legendary Ape Escape demo. If you are familiar with Bremerton bands but haven't heard this you need to download it right now. You know that awkward coming to know contemporary hardcore where you start are band and it's a little weird? Well this is that period for Bremerton, I mean look at that cover! Yes! I only saw Ape Escape a handful of times and got to play with them even less. I remember a new years show we played with them that they covered Papa Roach at. Good stuff. Evan's first band he sang for before Power. Also has Benn Silima of Power on the ol' drums again and Rodney who later down the road tattooed my head. Stuff like this makes me miss Bremerton and the Tiki Crew a lot.



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