Sorry for the lack of updates over the weekend, I have been pretty busy lately. Hopefully we can start things off strong this week… I had been mentally debating about what to post first this week, but without further due here is the “California Hardcore: A Call to Arms” compilation. Definitely a classic release in my opinion, this record had a huge impact on me as a kid, and served as my introduction to a few bands that I was only just discovering at the time. This was also the first release from San Ramon label, Breakout Records (now defunct) back in early 1998 (this was released by Gain Ground Records in Europe).
I’ve always felt that this record was (and still is) a pretty good representation of what was happening in California at the time. Although most of this material can be found on other releases, there are some exclusive songs on here as well. The bands featured are: Hoods, Powerhouse, AFI, Forced Life, Built To Last, Redemption 87, No Innocent Victim, Downshift, Fury 66, Model American, Second Coming & Ignite.
Pretty good mix of some different styles here, while still retaining a metal-free, ‘straight up’ Hardcore feel to the record. A criminally underrated release, it’s a shame that it’s no longer in print. I’d definitely recommend this compilation to anyone interested in seeing what was happening out here in California during the late 1990’s, or just to anyone interested in tracing their Hardcore roots. Enjoy.
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i was just going through a box of old fliers, zines, etc. and found the poster for this; with eric o. diving into the crowd. great memories. thanks
ReplyDeleteJust a random note, there are two (that i know of) different layout designs for the u.s. version. One version has a black cd tray, while the other is a translucent red. I had heard the red cd tray was the original layout, but i don't know if that's true or not.
ReplyDeletejon - you are welcome man, thanks for checking out the blog! i still have that ad somewhere too...
ReplyDeletejackson - good memory man, i'm almost positive that the red trays were the first press, i think the black trays were the re-press and euro-press.
Anyway you could re-upload this?
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