Method - Discography (1995-1997)

    Method was a vegan, straight edge hardcore band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin active for a handful of years in the 90s. There isn't a lot of available info on the band members and what other projects they were involved in, but their vocalist had the nickname Survivor and was also in the band KILLTHESLAVEMASTER. 

    Method plays gut-wrenchingly heavy, metalcore with shrill, energy filled screams and heavy, fast instrumentals. Definitely made FFO early Converge, Order of Importance, Disembodied and Prevail to name a few. From the first guitar riff on the 7" I was immediately hooked on Method's passionate sound and energy. With pounding guitar spastic drumming they create a calculated chaos. I really like the vocal style, falling somewhere between metalcore and the typically high pitched "screamo" style. Despite their heavy and very-much-rooted-in-metalcore sound, I definitely can hear some d.i.y influence as well in their abrupt shifts from loud to slow, almost eerie guitar bits and half-spoken backing vocals. These quieter sections make the heavy parts hit even harder. 

    Rather impressively, one of the versions of Method's 7" covers is entirely handmade by the band, paper pulp was made and cut into shape before they hand stitched the sheets together. Then if that wasn't enough work, they stitched little twigs and sticks into the paper to spell out the band's name and/or various designs formed from the sticks. The one we have has a circular kind of image made from the sticks and the band name is somehow pressed into the paper. This is truly taking DIY to a new level and I am honestly inspired, though I can't imagine hand making and stitching all 100 copies of this 7". Probably takes the cake for most unique packaging on a record and I've seen some crazy ones (tin foil, paper lunch bag, stitched fabric, and even a baggy of someone's hair included in the sleeve) but the sticks and twigs really put this one up there for me. Very cool.

    Method only released a demo tape, the aforementioned 7" which did have a version with regular sleeves too, and a CDr, followed by a CD compilation of all their tracks released in June of this year. Unfortunately their discography is on the smaller side but it's a heavy hitter through and through. 

    There is unfortunately not a lot of info or photos of the band online, if anyone has anything of the sort let us know!

    Note: We have yet to find a download for their demo but currently have a lead and will update this post with it as soon as possible. 

7" and CDr

Exile / Suffer 7" 1997 (Self-released)

Alternate Cover 7"

Demo Tape 1995 (Self-released)

S/T CDr 1996 (Self-released)

In Vacuo - Discography (2008-2010)

    In Vacuo was a hardcore/grindcore band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada active in the late 2000s/early  2010s. One band member was also in Vancouver band, Crack Cloud. They released one album on 12" and one EP on 7" while active. In Vacuo's 7" was released on Just Say No Records, a label that released various grindcore records from the 2010s, and also American emo bands The Saddest Landscape / Pianos Become The Teeth split 9". 

    In Vacuo mixed hardcore and punk with elements of grindcore, screamo and even some math-rock to create a moody, atmospheric heaviness that transcends time. Falling somewhere in between the current resurgence of grindcore in Calgary, and the initial popularity of the genre in the late 90s, In Vacuo sounds kind of timeless. They are much more dynamic than your average grindcore or hardcore band, seamlessly shifting from slow to incredibly fast instrumentals and throwing in clean almost emo sounding vocals between the shrill, throaty vocals. In Vacuo is spazzy and chaotic in the best ways, while remaining calculated and accurate in their execution, creating a unique balance. 

    I had never heard of the band even though I'm from Calgary until recently when Ben dug it out of the overwhelmingly full shelves in the back of Recordland. The 12"comes with a yellow folder filled with lyrics and various texts in the format of police or legal documents, as well as an attached hand-written sticky note which reads "Attention Citizen 096, it is our intention that you will find the enclosed documents instrumental to your investigation/Assimilation - X.V." 

    Its a shame this band didn't release even more music because they stand out as something special in my hometown, especially during the 2010s which seems like a bit of a dead zone for this kind of music. I'd be curious to know where they got their inspiration from as a band. They almost remind me at times of 90s bands such as In/Humanity, Impetus Inter or Hose.Got.Cable. 

    It's interesting to see grindcore making such a comeback in Calgary right now, the scene seems to be ever expanding and reaching more and more young people which is great to see. It's nice to have something new coming out of Calgary because for a while it felt like it was all metalcore or post-punk.

Bandcamp

S/T 12" 2010 (Self-released)

You Pilot 7" 2008 (Just Say No)

Full Service Quartet - Discography (1994-1996)

    Full Service Quartet was a hardcore/emo band from Fayetteville, Arkansas who were active in the mid 90s. Members of the band also played in Generation Of Vipers, Hundred Years War, Drain, Chalk and The Shivering. During the years they were active, the band released three 7"s, each on a different label and one a split with Shake Ray Turbine.

    Full Service Quartet, who were infact, a quartet, played calculated yet intense hardcore in the vein of Ambassador 990 or Assfactor 4. Along with a handful of other Arkansas bands such as William Martyr 17, Benchmark and Generation Of Vipers, Full Service Quartet helped expand and popularize the "emo" genre in their area. Their sound mixes syncopated guitar and drums, switching tempos and rhythymns  frequently, with raw, throaty yells over top. Featuring elements of punk and hardcore, but with more complex instrumentals and a distinct reflectiveness that is prominent in "emo", Full Service Quartet makes for a great listen whether you're deep into the scene or just beginning to explore it. 

    Full Service Quartet's first 7" leans slightly more toward the punky side of things and their second 7" moves more into a refined, slow and at times melancholic sound, but still with lots of energy. Their tracks on the split fall somewhere in between the two. 

    All of this bands releases are great, I wish that they had stayed together for just a couple more years to release something else because they were headed in an interesting direction. That being said, they remain and classic and great example of the golden age of DIY hardcore bands in Arkansas in the mid-90s. 

 S/T 7"

Tetraethyl 7"

Full Service Quartet / Shake Ray Turbine Split 7"

Tetraethyl 7" 1997 (Council Records)

S/T 7" 1995 (File 13 Records)

Full Service Quartet / Shake Ray Turbine split 7" 1996 (Landmark Records)

Polaris - Discography (1993-2007)

     Polaris was a post-hardcore band from Leeds, UK. Starting out in 1993 Polaris created some incredibly atmospheric, compelling and dark music that could be likened to bands like Slint and contemporaries Bob Tilton. Polaris is often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. Too indie to fit nicely into the British hardcore scene and too obscure for American listeners; the band created a characteristic blend of slow, spidery post-hardcore, with half-whispered spoken vocals that would suddenly erupt into intense screams. As a British band, Polaris stands out as an anomaly, skillfully channeling the discordant sounds of the early '90s Louisville hardcore scene. At the same time, they add their own uniquely British influence, all while predating many of their overseas counterparts. 

    I am sure there is more Polaris material out there based on how long they were active for, if you happen to have any more of their material, or a better rip of the Belated LP, (unfortunately I just missed out on a copy) please let us know!

LPs, Demo, Live and Unreleased Session
Split 7" w/ Baby Harp Seal

Decade Of Dissidence CD Comp

Belated LP 1998 (Common Cause)

ST LP/CD 2004 (Gringo Records)

Baby Harp Seal Split 7" 1994