Follow n' Believe: A Food Not Bombs Compilation / The Quadraphonic Sounds Of The Miecia CD (1996)

    The Follow n' Believe compilation was a Food Not Bombs benefit CD released in 1996. It included 11 different yet equally amazing emo/screamo/hardcore bands like Elements Of Need, Reversal Of Man, Grade, Constatine Sankathi and Bev.Clone to name a few. 

    

    In the grand scheme of 90s D.I.Y. hardcore; compilations are easily forgotten even though they usually contained unique tracks by excellent and influential bands. In most cases these compilations were fundraisers for different charities, political organizations and righteous causes such as Food Not Bombs. I'm doing our first ever dedicated compilation post for this CD as it is one of the more unique and less remembered compilations of the time. 

    This compilation also is a bit of a curiosity because it contains a FULL ALBUM of material by a very obscure band called The Miecia; situated right after the other 10 bands songs. This album is titled "The Quadraphonic Sounds Of The Miecia" and contains 11 songs of wacky, Hose.Got.Cable esque technical punk-ramblings mixed with shrieked vocals and spoken word breaks reminiscent of bands like Native Nod and Moss Icon. 

    I wish I could tell you more about The Miecia but the truth is the only remaining context for the band is the 1 page insert included with this CD. Anyways, everything on this CD is complete D.I.Y. punk gold and you should really give it a listen!

Follow n' Believe

Follow n' Believe CD Compilation 1996 (Element Records)

Hassan I Sabbah - Discography (2000-2001)

    Hassan I Sabbah was a hardcore band from Watertown, Massachusetts who were active from 2000-2001. The band includes members of Force Fed Glass, Puritan, Prevail and Rinse. During their active years the band released a 7", a split 7" with Usurp Synapse, a demo tape and appeared on 5 compilations. All of their songs have now been digitally compiled as a discography.

    Hassan I Sabbah is the epitome of the word "emoviolence", with their ear splitting volume levels and chaotic sound. I would compare them to Reversal Of Man and Kwisatz Haderach or even Lost Lost But Not Forgotten in their piercing vocal style and the abrasive instrumentals. 

    Hassan I Sabbah is probably one of my favourite hardcore bands of the early 2000s because of their consistent energy and evident passion for what they were doing. Not all of the bands from this time were capable of matching their energy and it shows. 

    The band members other projects also put out some great stuff, particularly Puritan who remains one of the heaviest bands I've ever heard. 

Discography

S/T 7" 2000 (Robodog Records, Robotic Empire)

Usurp Synapse / Hassan I Sabbah split 7" - Just Do It! 2000 (Electric Human Project)

S/T demo 2000 (Self-released)

Antipodes compilation 7" 2000 (Level Plane Records)

Ochre - Discography (1995-1996)

Photos by Chad Stroup

    Ochre was a hardcore/powerviolence band from Goleta, California. The band featured members of Embassy, Strictly Ballroom, Jeffery And The .6 System and Incurable Complaint. In their active period, sometime between 1994 and 1996; Ochre released one 7", a split with Canadian legends Left For Dead (both on the legendary Phyte Records label) and a demo tape. Ochre was a welcome addition to the influential Goleta hardcore scene; one that was filled to the prim with excellent, hard hitting and extremely political bands like Downcast, Jara, Manumission, Ex-Ignota and Torches To Rome. 

    With satirical songs like Crisis (Earth), Ochre's lyrics and packaging bravely spat in the face of the straight-edge tough guy scene and (like Ottawa) showed that the "emo" kids could do their sound just as well. Judging by their charged and mocking lyrics it seems like the band was created as an anti-thesis to the violent and hypocritical major label hardcore bands that where dominating at the time. Ochre created some incredibly blistering, heavy and energetic songs that fit right in with the likes of split mates Left For Dead, I would even go as far as to call them the Goleta counterpart of LFD. 

    Unfortunately even with the bands impressive line-up and associations, it seems like Ochre has been nearly forgotten in the scope of 90s D.I.Y. hardcore. If you are a fan of heavy, political hardcore and powerviolence; I would definitely recommend checking out Ochre.

Discography

Divedowndeepnine 7" 1995 (Phyte)

Left For Dead Split 1997 (Phyte)

Demo 1995?