Impact

I don't know much about Impact. I had only ever heard of them for the longest time (since I was a teenager), but never got my hands on a demo or saw them play since they had already disbanded at that point. All I do know, however, is that they were from California and played A LOT, according to show flyers I have seen with their name on them, and were a part of the spirit-filled hardcore entity with Focused and Unashamed and all that. It's very good stuff, even though it's extremely raw considering it's ripped from a cassette. The music is super good though, and I WISH it would have at least been digital tracks from a CD, but with old hardcore you take what you can get. I appreciated the hell out of old, shitty sounding hardcore music when I was young, and I still do! If you want to hear the one and only actually decent quality recording of Impact though, check out the Helpless Among Friends, Volume Two compilation here on the blog. Their song, "Within", is featured there. Give this entire demo a listen, definitely worth your time. I'm really surprised this band didn't get signed and put out with the same force behind them asFocused, Unashamed, Overcome, and other great Christian hardcore bands from that time did. My source who provided this rip for me may get around to doing the same for Impact's second demo (and final recording) which is called Striking Distance.

Anyway, enjoy!

Impact - First Demo (1994)

Here is an interview with Impact from a zine called Nothing Left. Pretty cool to read this.

Also, check out the Facebook page for Impact where I acquired all of the above images. Lots of info and pictures on there, as well as some of the tracks from this demo. The page is ran by a member of the band, so it's all legit.

Unashamed demo!

Unashamed - Demo (1993)



I don't have an exact release date for this demo either, so if anyone knows, please comment or email me. Otherwise, check out more Unashamed stuff in my previous posts on the band!

Centerpoint

Centerpoint - Demo (1994)
Centerpoint was a great hardcore band from Artesia, CA that played from '92 - '97, I'm told. I recently learned that when the band began, all the dudes were in high school, with the exception of their second vocalist, Michael. Their guitarist, Ryan, went on to play in a band called Redlight Halo for only a little while, and a later-added second guitarist, Curtis, is part of a worship band called Sweet Chariot.

Thanks to Michael of Centerpoint for some info on the band, as well as others on Christian Hardcore Records' Facebook page.

Outnumbered

Outnumbered - Demo (1993)

This band had ryan dennee who later went on to play in stavesacre, and eric churchill who was also played in the blamed. He drummer leonard was the older brother of justice, the drummer of bloodshed. David bahnsen from dlb management who helped tooth and nail get off the ground sang for them at one point. They were from huntington beach california. The demo was circa 1993-1994.

- Thanks Dave for commenting on the Facebook page with this info!

Thanks to the Anonymous User who emailed me these tracks. The tracks were taken from a cassette tape through computer software and a portable cassette player, so props on the hard work. I am told that the horrible sound quality is of the cassette demo itself, so you gotta deal with it. But, it's amazing hardcore music, especially of that era of sound. I much prefer this stuff over today's garbage. Unfortunately, I do not have any info on these dudes, as I never got ahold of their stuff until recently. If anyone has any input on this band, please feel free to post it below in the Comments section, or email me and I'll update the post as I receive info. I'd like to share with everyone the year this was released, where they were from, etc.

Two more Stretch Arm Strong splits!

Here are two more splits featuring Stretch Arm Strong, thanks to Nathan for the rips! Pretty excited to be able to share these splits. Not a fan of Bedlam Hour, but always been a fan of Stretch Arm Strong, therefore, this split of course is necessary to at least have listened to. Apparently, it is before vocalist, Chris, joined Stretch Arm Strong, therefore the bassist, Matt, is doing the vocals on this. Pretty cool to listen to, pretty old as well. This was released under now defunct Koogle Records. This other split is a 7" featured in an issue of the old I Stand Alone zine. I'm pretty much obsessing over this particular vinyl because not only is it Stretch Arm Strong and xDisciplex, but it is the split where Stretch Arm Strong covered a Counting Crows song, leading to a lawsuit. Also what is pretty rad about this particular split, is Mike from Brother's Keeper does guest vocals on both xDisciplex songs. Pretty awesome. Being so awesome, Nathan scanned all the pages for this zine's split release. Thanks again dude.

Stretch Arm Strong & Bedlam Hour split (1993 - Koogle Records)



I Stand Alone: Stretch Arm Strong & xDisciplex split (2000 - I Stand Alone zine)



(For those who never saw this zine, here's some scans below that Nathan included with the rip/artwork)

Zao

Zao is a band with A LOT of history. They have been around since 1993, and still play today, but their music has changed quite a bit over the years. I really only give a shit about Zao before 2000 came along when their sound went really weird, in my opinion. Originally from Parkersburg, West Virginia, Zao formed with only four guys playing what they considered to be "Christ-centered hardcore" for all the kids who felt like outcasts in their church. They released some demos; a full length record titled All Else Failed in 1995 (rereleased with different artwork in 1999 and 2000), The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation in 1997, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest in 1998; along with splits with Through and Through, Outcast (split rereleased in 1999), and Training for Utopia. Zao went from releasing records on Steadfast Records, to Tooth & Nail Records, to now on Ferret Records. Zao is notorious for going through tons of band lineups, as well as sounds. They began, and continued through the mid 90s, with a more straight up 90s hardcore sound, which was a pretty generic sound mixed with very emotional sounding parts and some rad heavy stuff. With new members came a more metal sound, becoming probably the definitive sound of Zao. Super sludgy, evil sounding metalcore with crazy vocals and the essential metaphorical, deep lyrics. When 2000 came along, with new members and a new sound, they changed a lot. Their brand of metalcore became more verse-chorus-verse structured, losing what I believe to be the spirituality of Zao's music. Anyway, for more info, check their MySpace or their Wikipedia page. Below I have posted all of their stuff, I've gotten my hands on over the years, including early demos, old splits, and all the old (good) full length records. In my opinion, their best stuff in on the Splinter Shards... record.

[sorry for the shitty pictures, no time to scan mine and can't find many online]

Conflict Demo (1994)

The Tie That Binds: Zao / Outcast Split (1995 - Steadfast Records)


(original 1995 pressing)


(artwork for 1999 rerelease)

All Else Failed (1995 - Steadfast Records)
Part One
Part Two


(artwork for original, 1995 release)


(artwork for 1999 re-release)


(artwork for final, 2000 re-release)

Treadwater: Zao / Through and Through Split (1996 - Steadfast Records)



The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation (1997 - Tooth & Nail Records)
Part One
Part Two



Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998 - Solid State Records)



Zao / Training for Utopia Split (1998 - Solid State Records)

Strongarm

AMAZING southern Florida hardcore. My all time favorite band. Strongarm was around from 1993 until 1998 I believe, performing their farewell show at Cornerstone '98 and doing a reunion show at Furnace Fest '00. Members of Strongarm came from past bands such as: Ikthus, Endure (their song "Together" was covered by Strongarm as a hidden track [unless you have a newer pressing; it is track 10] on The Advent of a Miracle record), Amboogalard, Pull, Planet X, Shai Hulud; and went on to be in bands such as Tension and Further Seems Forever. Strongarm's earlier stuff, such as their demos and their Atonement record, had a more straight up hardcore sound, almost similar to that of Strife. The Advent of a Miracle record was and always will be the greatest album ever. That album is very melodic, similar to what Shai Hulud used to play, but more emotional sounding. Strongarm has to be the most underrated and overlooked hardcore band to date, definitely check them out, if anything The Advent of a Miracle record.

The Advent of a Miracle (1997 - Tooth & Nail Records)



Atonement (1995 - Tooth & Nail Records)















These Times That Try Men's Souls Demo (1993)