Bit late with my welcome but just wanted to say thanks for joining our journal community; looking forward to your contributions. Great so far!

(By the way, aren't you really called Spike...?) :pssst:

No worries, less time consuming than making a blog, and more people will see it.

Floodland LP 1987

The Sisters of Mercy's second album Floodland contained the one thing that First and Last and Always was missing. The quintessential song that you could play over and over again all day long, namely"Lucretia My Reflection" a classic goth song framed around a simple 8th note baseline, reminding us that sometimes simplicity is all you need. Unfortunately, the albums sound as a whole is heavily dated, largely as a result of the bands move towards a more contemporary rock sound, accompanied by synth beats. Thus despite some quality songs, you can't escape the fact that this album is firmly entrenched in the 80's. Thumbs up *** Stars.

Lucretia, My Reflection

Vision Thing 1990

The Sisters of Mercy's final album shows signs that the bands creative juices were beginning to run dry, largely as a result of Eldritch's decision to continue to move them towards a more mainstream pop sound. Whether this was an attempt to become more commercially viable, or the fact that they were just getting old and losing their edge, Floodland comes off as a pretty standard 80's rock album, making it horribly dated. Yes the opening track is killer, and there are some good songs, but when you consider that this was the same year industrial goth legends Skinny Puppy put out Too Dark Park, it was clear it was time for the Sisters to exit the center stage. **1/2 stars thumbs sideways.

Vision Thing



When You Don't See Me




Final thoughts: The Sisters of Mercy were a good band worthy to be remembered, as they featured one of the most talented vocalists in their genre, but on a whole, they will also be remembered as a band that fell just short of brilliance, for whatever reason, they weren't able to create that timeless masterpiece. Next up, something from the 90's.

So switching gears again, as I'm in a right fuc#in sour mood, so the fluffy alternative bands like Bloc Party will have to wait. That's more Angel's music anyways....twat!

Anyhow I got sick of hardcore after doing that 6 to 8 month countdown thread but its easy for me to do... so here we go with everyone's favourite down n out band.

Blood for Blood

Before releasing their first full length CD, Blood for Blood had to small EP's, but because all the songs of worth are also on that album, I'll just jump straight to it.

Spit my Last Breath 1997

Spit my Last Breath is not a stellar release unless your a fan of 1990's NYHC (Sick of it all/Madball ect) as it is in the same vein with a Bostonian twist. The album defiantly establishes the dark brooding mood of the band, but they had not yet defined their sound that people would come to love with this exception of one track, the poetic Redemption Denied, clearly the most memorable song on the album.

Despite this, unless your a fan of beatdown oriented hardcore, I can't really recommend the album on a whole, ** stars thumbs down.

Redemption Denied

Revenge on Society 1998

There has always been class divisions in hardcore, you've got your socially conscious middle class bands, and than you've got your working class street bands. Blood for Blood of course represents the latter, as they solidified both their sound and anti social attitude with the release of Revenge on Society, an album that put them on the map with the single Wasted Youth Crew.

On a whole I like this album and think its worthy of three stars, but I don't think its good enough to draw in listeners who are not generally fans of this style of hardcore... which may be a good thing. It is however raw and real, *** stars but thumbs sideways as it depends on your personal musical taste.

wasted youth crew

Livin in Exile 1999

One of the great things about hardcore is that traditionally each region has its own distinct cultural sound. (ie NYHC, British Hardcore, Cali ect) Although this is changing somewhat with the internet and the corporate rock clones of metalcore, Rob Lind's thick east coast accent & the bands musical style is a good example of this as per the intro to this album.

No Tomorrow



As for the album itself, a bit short, but a good solid slab of three chord punk rock, including a cover of Motorhead's Ace of Spades, not as good as the original of course, but still worth the listen. Anyways *** stars thumbs up.

Livin in exile



The intro is a bit over the top, but a good punk tribute to a great band

Outlaw Anthems 2002

Okay here we go, Straight Outta of Charlestown...though I hear Charlestown has changed as much as Compton over the decades.

Thumb up **** star album. Not 4 stars in a Pink Floyd The Wall way, but in a one hell of a rippen three chord punk rock album way. It ain't prim and proper, so if you can't handle this, than you need to stay in your safe suburban home and listen to Green Day and Avenged Sevenfold...pussy!

Love Song



White Trash Anthem



Mother Dear



She's Still a Bitch (Called Hope)



The whole album

Serenity 2004

When I give a punk rock album 4 stars its because I am aware that these bands have no money, which means they can afford at the most, one or two sessions in a recording studio, meanwhile some $hit band like Nickleback gets to spend weeks if not months in a recording studio.

When they recorded this album, they hadn't even played the songs together as a band until they got into the studio. The simple passing along of tapes that jives with their work schedule to learn to play the tunes.

Real punk bands don't make any money, and they never will, I find that most people in society can't relate to the music and would prefer to keep it swept under the rug. I would love to give this album 4 stars, as it features my two favorite Blood for Blood songs, but in reality its probably 3 stars, but I'll go with ***1/2 thumbs up.

One little release for the band to go and than onto something else.

Hanging on the Corner



City Boy

Okay one last entry for one of the greatest bands to grace the stage of hardcore.

With the exception of all the dreary screamo ****, punk rock has always been pretty uplifting music. Hardcore in particular is fighting music, strap on your boots and give life the finger for trying to grind you down, never submit and never quit, no victims here.

Off their 2001 Victory records compilation

When The Storm Comes (I'll Stand Alone)