Heroin was an influential hardcore band from San Diego who formed in the late 80s with a sound like no other. Members of the band also went on to play in Clikatat Ikatowi, End Of The Line, Second Story Window and Antioch Arrow. Their discography includes two 7"s, a 12", a discography CD and lastly a discography pressed on vinyl in 2023. They also appeared on numerous compilations.
The band started off with a more generic punk sound which developed over time into a chaotic hardcore sound that would really imprint their mark on the hardcore scene of the 90s.
Heroin's influential sound can be heard in countless bands throughout the 90s, however beginning in 1989, Heroin was one of the first to perfect the sound. Mixing slower, moody guitar reminiscent of Moss Icon with much faster, thrashier riffs, Heroin created a perfect balance. Alternating between half spoken-half sang vocals and just straight up screamed ones, the band really walks the line between different sounds which evidently work perfectly together.
Heroin remains one of my favourite bands in the genre, they just really knew what they were doing and had a really focused sound right from the start. They were pioneers of the up and coming post-hardcore sound the 90s would give birth to.
Matt Anderson and Ron Johnson of Heroin also founded Gravity Records in 1991 which remains one of the most important hardcore record labels of the time. There were so many great releases on the label including Unwound, Universal Order Of Armageddon, Angel Hair, Mohinder, Evergreen and so many more. Along with Ebullition, Old Glory and Gern Blandsten, Gravity is definitely one of my favourite labels.
All About Heroin 7" 1991 (Vinyl Communications, Down Side)
No comments:
Post a Comment