I Never Knew You

I Never Knew You were a two-piece screamo band from Orange County, California that were around from 2010 to 2013. They only put out one release, which came out in December 2010 which is why it's sometimes listed as a 2011 release online. There's possibly also a demo floating around, but I unfortunately don't have that. End Of Seasons is absolutely fantastic and I wish I found it sooner. Impassioned and cathartic, the band melds melancholic arpeggios and crushing metalcore-ish chords and riffs into something seethingly chaotic, cleanly melodic, and remorseful. For a loose comparison, if you're into Funeral Diner, Sed Non Satiata, You And I, We Were Skeletons, L'Antietam, Xerxes, check this out. Enjoy.

 End Of Seasons (2010)

1. Beads

2. Null

3. A Frown For You

4. A Void In Hearts

5. Far

6. This Shadow Needs Me

7. Seasons Come To An End

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Gameface

Gameface are a four-piece emo/punk band from Orange County, California that formed in 1991 and disbanded in 2003, before reuniting in 2013 and remaining active to this day. They tend to fly under the radar a bit, especially for a band that's been at it as long as they have. Which is unfortunate, because they've been consistently solid over the years. They play an energetic, melodic, and refined blend of thick rhythm guitars, shimmering leads, and catchy-as-anything vocals. If you're a fan of bands such as Samiam, Hey Mercedes, Sense Field, Saves The Day, or Knapsack, this may be up your alley. There's a lot of material here to sift through, so if you're new to them, start with Every Last Time since that's generally considered their strongest album, then I'd suggest Three To Get Ready after that. Enjoy.

Gameface (1991)

1. Puzzle

2. Just Like Night

3. Noticed Too Late

4. Need

Beach Chair / Home (1992)

1. Beach Chair

2. Home

Good (1993)

1. Election Year

2. Only One

3. Organization

4. Soap

5. Backwards

6. Common Ground

7. Scared

8. Friday Matinee

9. The Last Song

10. Retraction

11. Good

12. Different Strokes

A Day In June (1995)

1. A Day In June

2. Fun

3. Thrift

Three To Get Ready (1995)

1. Start Me Over

2. Ten Blue Sticks

3. Greentree

4. Guess What

5. Only Chance We Get

6. June

7. Song

8. The Big Deal

9. Gibberish

10. Daylight Savings

11. Undone

12. Home

13. Time After Time

Cupcakes (1997)

1. Cupcakes

2. Only Souvenir

3. Somebody Save This Boy

4. Chasing The Sun

5. House

Gameface/Pinto (1998)

1. Gameface - Somebody Save This Boy

2. Gameface - Chasing The Sun

3. Pinto - Trading Places

4. Pinto - A-Song

Every Last Time (1999)

1. The Pirate Song

2. Sweet Wreck

3. My Star

4. What I Learned In School

5. Shock Tester

6. Mean

7. The Easy Way

8. If You Want My Advice

9. Last Of The Good Guys

10. Boy Wonder

11. Hey Radio

12. Everything I Do Is Wrong

13. The Difference Between Flying And Falling

14. Mercury Dimes

What's Up Bro? (2000)

1. Gameface - How Far Is Goodbye?

2. Gameface - Wartime Hero

3. Gameface - Change Of Heart

4. Errortype:11 - Ticket To Listen To Ride

5. Errortype:11 - I Got You

6. Errortype:11 - Clan MacGregor And The Drunk Boys

Always On (2000)

1. Laughable

2. The Warmest Heart Attack

3. Angels On The Wing

4. Balance

5. Anyone Can Write A Song

6. New Landscaping

7. Robots

8. Accidental Clarity

9. The Problem With Me

10. Awkward Age

Feels A Lot Better (2002)
1. Everyday I Write The Book (Elvis Costello cover)

2. Sing Your Life (Morrissey cover)

3. How Far Is October?
4. Angels On The Wing (Acoustic)

5. Song Five

Natural Selection (2003)

1. Daylight Savings

2. Friday Matinee

3. How Far Is October?

4. The Big Deal

5. Balance

Four To Go (2003)

1. This Old House

2. Everybody

3. Four Chords, Seven Years

4. When You've Had Enough

5. The Word

6. Crash Course In Polite Conversation

7. Give Me Something Real

8. Stop Anytime

9. Rescue Mission

10. How Far Is Goodbye?

11. Don't Get Me Started

12. A Test

Regular Size (2014)

1. Regular Size

2. Mirrors

Now Is What Matters Now (2014)

1. Come On Down

2. Swing State

3. Regular Size

4. Now

5. Picture Day

6. Lifetime Achivement Award

7. Always On

8. Save Your Words

9. The Quiet Type

10. Frames

11. My Troubled Half

IOU1 (2019)

1. I Owe You One

2. Two Gunslingers

Every Last Tape (2019)

1. Everything I Do Is Wrong

2. Mean

3. Boy Wonder

4. Shock Tester

5. Last Of The Good Guys

6. If You Want My Advice

7. What I Learned In School

8. Sweet Wreck

9. The Easy Way

10. Hey Radio

11. The Difference Between Flying And Falling

12. (unlisted insane jam)

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Dystopia

Dystopia were a three-piece crust punk/sludge metal band from Orange County, California that were active from 1991 to 2008. They released three full-lengths, a demo, an EP, and a handful of splits, most of which came out in the 90's. Their first (and in my opinion most essential) album is the aptly titled Human = Garbage. It's as wonderfully misanthropic as you'd expect, with lyrics illustrating a decaying world as a result of humanity's hand. It's a series of tense, heavy riffs, noisy interludes, and sample exercepts, all with some insanely tortured vocals at the forefront. If you're looking for sludgy hardcore, this is it. Its follow-up, The Aftermath was originally released as a one-sided 12" LP consisting of four tracks. The CD version also includes the tracks from Backstabber and the Skaven and Suffering Luna splits. Since those releases are included separately here, The Aftermath version here is the vinyl-only tracks. They were mostly inactive following its release, until they dropped their final (also excellent) full-length in 2008 before calling it quits. Enjoy.

Live In The Studio Demo (1992)

1. The Beginning

2. Slave Chains

3. Green Destroyed

4. Broken Shell

5. Sleep

6. Ruptured Silence

7. Lovehate

Grief/Dystopia (1993)

1. Grief - Lifeless

2. Grief - Fucked Upstairs

3. Dystopia - Sleep

Embittered/Dystopia (1993)

1. Embittered - There's People Talkin'

2.  Embittered - Two Manipulated Bodies

3.  Embittered - New Breed

4.  Embittered - Crush (Their Fucking Power)

5.  Embittered - Embittered

6. Dystopia - The Beginning

7. Dystopia - Slave Chains

8. Dystopia - Ruptured Silence

9. Dystopia - Green Destroyed

10. Dystopia - Weed Of Wisdom

Human = Garbage (1994)

1. Stress Builds Character

2. Hands That Mold

3. Sanctity

4. Ignorance Of Pride

5. Love//Hate

Dystopia/Suffering Luna (1995)

1. Dystopia - Diary Of A Battered Child

2. Suffering Luna - La Reina Del Rosario

Dystopia/Skaven (1996)

1. Dystopia - Anger Brought By Disease

2. Dystopia - Jarhead Fertilizer

3. Dystopia - Taste Your Own Medicine

4. Dystopia - Untitled

5.Skaven - Reflective Skin

6. Skaven - Plague Wind

7. Skaven - Abscess

8. Skaven - Fleshy Curse

9. Skaven - Like The Worms That Crawl The Earth

Backstabber (1999)

1. Socialized Death Sentence

2. Backstabber

3. They Live

The Aftermath (1999)

1. Population Birth Control

2. Fathers Gun

3. Self Defeating Prophecy

4. Sleep

Dystopia (2008)

1. Now And Forever

2. Control All Delete

3. Leaning With Intent To Fall

4. The Growing Minority

5. Illusion Of Love

6. Number One Hypocrite

7. My Meds Aren't Working

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Initiate

Initiate are a five-piece hardcore band from Orange County, California that formed in 2016. They put out a demo that same year, with was followed by a full-length in 2018 and an EP in 2020. I first heard them earlier this year, with the release of their sophomore album Cerebral Circus, which dropped back in April via Triple B Records. It's been on replay ever since, as this album packs an energetic punch, with a litany of catchy and memorable moments across its 10 tracks. The band lays their groundwork hardcore influence, somewhere between Carry On, No Warning, and the start-stop riffage of a NYHC band. 

That doesn't really do them any justice though, as what they bring to the people is this vibrant and melodic take on hardcore that sounds truly unique to them. I may be way off here, but there's a slight nod to 80's glam metal in the riffs and grooves (particularly the shredding on "No Burden Of Guilt"), which make this record near-impossible to sit still to. The vocals are absolutely searing, with anthemic lyrics that rattle around in your brain while after the record's over. They're also not afraid to pull in more melodic elements head-on, with the soaring hook on "The Surface", the dreamy guitar bit on "Amend", and the Cranberries-esque closer "Transparency", which fully embraces the melodic qualities hinted at in the previous tracks. Suffice to say, this is one of my favourite hardcore releases in recent years and I highly suggest checking this out if you haven't already. Enjoy.

Demo 2016 (2016)

1. Intro

2. Idle

3. What's Mine

4. Step Down

5. No Cost

Before Long... (2018)

1. Begin Again

2. Won't Give In

3. Gilded

4. False Perception

5. Nothing More

6. Nasty Woman

7. Before Long

8. At Least

9. To My Friends

Lavender (2020)

1. Intro II

2. Lavender

3. Myopia

4. What You Sow

5. Beverly

6. One In The Same

Cerebral Circus (2023)

1. Waste Your Life

2. Alone At The Bottom

3. Fool

4. Amend

5. Interlude

6. Fire Starter

7. Your Own Means

8. The Surface

9. No Burden of Guilt

10. Transparency

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Farside

Farside were a four-piece punk/post-hardcore/emo band from Orange County, California that were around from 1989 to 2000. They released three full-lengths, two EP's, two demos (compiled as Scrap) and appeared on a handful of compilations. Trying to describe this band's sound is incredibly difficult, as they really don't fit into one category. The main takeaway is that they could write killer songs delivered with a ton of heart and energy, even with an ever-evolving sound. Sonically, they do owe some dues to bands like Hüsker Dü, who pioneered the catchy hooks, big, melodic chords, and an undeniable punk rock fervor. Toss that in blender with melodic hardcore influence from Descendents and Bad Religion, the early emo sound of Dag Nasty and Embrace, plus the off-kilter angularity of Quicksand and jangly full-chord sound of Big Star, and you're getting close what Farside did best. That's not to say they're just a slapped-together palate of sound, but a carefully studied band who bring in a slew of influence to make something bigger than the sum of its parts. It's rare to find a band where any album could be considered a classic (I'm partial to The Monroe Doctrine for its standout tracks, but Rigged as the most consistent). This band is incredibly underrated while having surprisingly wide appeal across a litany of genres and fanbases, so I do encourage anyone to check them out. Most of their releases (and all their full-lengths) were put out by Revelation Records. As a sidenote, as it inevitably comes up with this band, Zach de La Rocha was their guitarist for their second demo (Scrap tracks 6-10), though that doesn't outweigh the band's incredible legacy. Enjoy.

Keep My Soul Awake (1991)

1. Hero

2. Third Person Paranoia

3. Keep My Soul Awake

4. Boiling Over

Rochambeau (1992)

1. Worlds

2. Search For Ourselves

3. Rochambeau

4. Free Your Mind

5. Smarter Than Ever

6. Safe Or Sorry

7. Constant Reminder

8. Lost In Space

9. Nowhere Fast

10. Furute Days

Scrap (1994)

1. Duck And Cover

2. Search For Ourselves

3. Keep My Soul Awake

4. Take A Look

5. Payback

6. Future Days

7. Third Person Paranoia

8. Farside

9. Safe Or Sorry

10. Nowhere Fast

11. Sleepwalking

12, Smarter Than Ever

13. Hero (Acoustic)

Note: Compilation of first two demos

Rigged (1994)

1. Square One

2. Page

3. Nice

4. Buck

5. Audience

6. Gesture

7. Kill Me

8. Wait For Monday

9. Silver Anniversary

10. Someday Too Soon

Farside (1995)

1. 12/24/91

2. Lollapalooza

3. Turnip

4. Knox

5. Hardly Getting Over It (Hüsker Dü cover)

6. I'll Wait Today

Sense Field/Farside (1997)

1. Sense Field - Untitled

2. Farside - Save It For The Children

The Monroe Doctrine (1999)

1. Better Than Crying

2. I'm Not Shy, I Just Don't Like You

3. I Hope You're Unhappy

4. Seven-Day Constant

5. Statues Of Snow

6. My Man Harvey Milk

7. Moral Straightjacket

8. The Lonesome Ballad Of El Bobo The Cranky

9. Liz Hurley

10. The Fashionable Rebellion

11. Teach Me How To Die

12. Save It For The Children

13. Bled

14. This Pill Is Hard To Swallow

15. Too Much, Too Late

16. The Slowdance

17. Blue Highway

Compilation Songs

End Of A Year (Embrace cover)

Metal Man

Moral Straightjacket

Return of The Fly (Misfits cover)

Square One (Live)

Dark

Pretty Vacant (Sex Pistols cover)

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No For An Answer

No For Answer are a four-piece straight edge hardcore band from Orange Country, California that were initially from 1987 to 1989. They took influence from bands such as Youth Of Today to create their socio-politically outspoken sound, with their sole EP and LP developing a legacy and influence of their own. They've played a handful of reunion shows over the years beginning in 2009, and released a new EP in 2011. Quick fact for ya, Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against The Machine, Inside Out) was their drummer for a short while in 1988. Their other members have also been active in a ton of other bands, including Chain Of Strength, Justice League, Inside Out, Focused, 411 and Carry Nation. Enjoy.

You Laugh E.P. (1988)

1. Just Say No

2. You Laugh

3. When Will It End?

4. Without A Reason

5. Liar

6. About Face

A Thought Crusade (1989)

1. Don't Look Away

2. I Spy

3. Rusty Pipes

4. Not A Thing

5. Imperfection

6. Guiding Line

7. Answer Me

8. Matter Of Fact

9. Domino Principle

10. Without A Reason

It Makes Me Sick (2011)

1. Man Against Man

2. It Makes Me Sick

3. In The Beginning

Inside Out

Inside Out were a four-piece straight edge hardcore punk band from Orange County, California that formed in 1988 and broke up in 1991. They only released one EP, No Spiritual Surrender, which came out in 1990 on Revelation Records. The original vinyl release contained only four tracks, but subsequent CD and cassette releases contained two extra tracks ("Sacrifice" and "Redemption"). Though definitely a hardcore punk band at heart, they also contained some elements of crossover trash influence, thus the often-cited comparisons to bands like D.R.I. or Sick Of It All.

Perhaps what's most discussed about Inside Out (besides their phenomenal EP) is its alumni. Most notably, their vocalist was Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine. Funnily enough, the name of the next Inside Out album was supposed to be Rage Against The Machine, but they broke up before that could ever happen. Thus, the name was used for his new band, which formed immediately after. Additionally, Inside Out's guitarist was Vic DiCara, best known for his work with legends such as 108, Beyond, Burn, and Shelter. The band also shared members with a laundry list of other bands, including Chain Of Strength, Gorilla Biscuits, Justice League, Wool, Smile, Pitchfork, Hardstance, and Forced Down, among others. This is definitely an essential hardcore release, so get on it. Enjoy.

No Spiritual Surrender (1990)

1. Burning Fight

2. Undertone

3. By A Thread

4. No Spiritual Surrender

5. Sacrifice

6. Redemption

Fury

Fury are a five-piece hardcore punk band from Orange County, California that formed in 2014. Their sound is pretty clearly rooted in early youth crew hardcore, such as Youth Of Today. Their songs are straight up, aggressive, and to the point (as their name would suggest), with the positive outlook gang chant vocals to top it all off. Fury do an excellent job of preserving the raw power of this sound, while still giving it a refreshing new energy, and not just rehashing old tropes. Their debut LP, Paramount, came out last year on Triple B Records, which really pushed this band to a whole new level. While they were an excellent hardcore band before, this album takes the sound of hardcore punk and pushes it to its full extent, in a forward-thinking way, like a band such as Turning Point did. It's made a ton of waves, and it rightfully should. Unfortunately I'm a little late to the punch in posting this, but it's definitely one of the most noteworthy hardcore releases in recent years. Enjoy.

6-Song Demo (2014)

1. The Fury

2. Ricochet

3. Day Today

4. Big Man

5. Play (BAB)

6. The Fool

Kingdom Come (2015)

1. Royalty

2. Reality Check

3. Holy

4. End Is Nigh (It's Time)

5. Kingdom Come

Live On KXLU (2015)

1. End Is Nigh (It's Time)

2. Day Today

3. Royalty

4. Reality Check

5. The Fury

2016 Promo (2016)

1. Duality Of Man

2. Thin Line

3. No Choice

Paramount (2016)

1. Danse

2. Thin Line

3. Novo

4. Damage Is Done

5. In Extremis

6. The Fury

7. Death Yellows Life And Reason

8. Leviathan

9. Duality of Man

10. The Feeling

2017 Promo (2017)

1. America

2. Lost In The Funhouse

3. Buried (Ability)

Note: All profits go to Planned Parenthood, didn't include download link

Failed Entertainment (2019)

1. Angels Over Berlin

2. Good Time

3. Vacation

4. America

5. Inevitable Need To Reach Out

6. Birds Of Paradise

7. Mono No Aware

8. Lost In The Funhouse

9. New Years Day

10. New Years Eve

11. Crazy Horses Run Free

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