The Abused + Edgegazer Fanzine + : Weekly Seizure 11.8.13

Greetings goofballs. Got some GREAT gear in this week. Still burning through some tapes and zines, but these are the ones I'm gonna focus on for the here and now. Also, not that it matters, but I tried listening to Unbroken this week and it still didn't do much for me. Now you know.

EDGE GAZE-AHHH BITCH PLEAZAH

1) Edge Gazer Fanzine
Edge Gazer is a visually impressive fanzine done by a younger coreman (with some serious photography chops) down in Texas. I dig his enthusiasm for newer core, and overall enjoyed the zine. I know there was a little bit of balking at the steep price, but in the end I figured it'd be worth it and I'm not disappointed.

BRICK CITY

This is probably the most coverage I've ever seen given to Life of Reilly so that was cool. I dug the reflection on Free Spirit as I too am bummed about the record that didn't materialize out of that awesome promo tape last year. The definite highlight for me was the Chris Corry interview (interesting nuggs about Stop & Think, WW4 and the Pain Cave). The Intent layout rules (See above). My only gripe comes with the reviews...and I know, after all the time I spend complaining about how zines never have reviews I should probably shut my yap, but hear me out. I like that they're long and heartfelt, I just think the verbiage is a little convoluted and hard to understand. Generally though it's a good read and an impressive first effort. Really impressive. I got mine straight from the source, but you can save a few bucks if you get them from Mosher's Delight here.

JUST ANOTHER FOOL

2) The Abused - Loud and Clear Reissue
I'm not gonna "review" this record because you should have heard it already. Bonafide NYHC gem. Guitar tone, riffs, art, the total package. I used that old anecdote about how these dudes got into hardcore because they stole a car and found a Minor Threat cassette in the tape deck to open up a paper in college and my professor seemed horrified. Anyway, in terms of the re-ish, this is one of the best I've seen. Super extensive booklet filled with flyers, setlists, photos and a sticker sheet. Side A has the original record on it along with a live version of "Police Reign" and side B has the demo tape on it.

To steal an exchange I had with my Oz-Barney brother BSN: "The spiciest of the reissue meatballs." If only that half-assed Krakdown reissue on State of Mind would've looked this good...

Radio Raheem is sold out for now, but there's another press coming mid-December.

Boston Strangler - Joke's On You 3 song promo: (NOT EXACTLY A) Demo Dogz #9:

DID U HEAR ABOUT THE BOSTON STRANGLAH? THE ONE THAT EVERY BODY KNOWS

Got this one from Fun With Smack and got it super quick. Super happy with it, just as I have been with everything the Strangler's done. 3 rippers, even more of a Discharge vibe and my new favorite B.S. cut "Forward into Hell." Seriously, how hard does that song rip? Good n' throaty on that melody, straight up perfect track. Love the vocals. Seriously. Writing about hardcore is stupid sometimes. You've already downloaded this, so go listen to it your damn self and try to tell me I'm wrong.

Mighty Mighty Boston

Intent Demon (Logo Power #7)

This demon mosher guy came from Edge Gazer fanzine, but I think he's all over Intent's letterhead and was probably done by Chris X based on his involvement with other Intent related ventures. I like that he's making the "Loser L" with his right hand.

Confirmation Bias Fanzine (Logo Power #6)

The pile of cocaine kind of looks like a nacho smoking a joint. Don't act like you weren't thinking it.

Found this in the satirical Confirmation Bias zine (reviewed elsewhere on 'dis blog). Too adorable to pass up. A stylized depiction of the devil's lettuce trying to screw up hardcore for everyone. NOT ON MY WATCH.
Couldn't find a credit for the artist, but again, you can get the zine here.

Confirmation Bias Fanzine (Weekly Seizure - 12.1.13)

JOKES ON YOU!

It was a good mail week. New Boston Strangler promo tape, new ish of Chump Change and two new ishes of Mosher's Delight. Expect slow and inconsistent coverage here! I wanted to shed some light on an interesting zine I picked up in a package from a european friend.

PILLS SNOT FEAR

1) Confirmation Bias Fanzine
"Confirmation Bias" is the tendency that humans generally have to gravitate towards ideas and concepts and information that favors what they already believe. That we have a "grand narrative" in our heads, and when we have experiences which confirm this grand narrative, we gravitate towards them. When we have experiences which negate this grand narrative, we ignore them or spin them until they do. It's a fascinating idea, and one that I definitely see in my own life. Anyway, I knew this one wasn't going to be a "reviews + interviews + rad old pics" zine, and I kind of expected not to like it. The zine is broken up by a litany of lists and brief essays, usually humorous ("how to survive an all-dayer" and "How to sneak into shows without paying") that in some way relate to the hardcore scene.

Like Portlandia it presents a funny satire of a subculture (in this case, hardcore/straight edge) that's supposed to be hyperbolic. It works generally (I thought the idea it presented about enacting "straight edge revenge" at shows was hilarious) but at times the jokes kind of get tired and it's hard to see if it's really a satire or genuine nerdery. The straight edge clip art page wasn't really my thing I guess.

ACTUAL CONCEPT DESIGN FOR TECH DECK T-SHIRT

Overall though, it was refreshing and kind of funny. Oh, there's also a Sectarian Violence tour journal in it. Fun read. I know there's a niche of people who'd appreciate this kind of humor. Those interested can seek them out here. It's in Europe, so make sure you account for shipping charges.

In Effect Fanzine (Logo Power #5)

RE-BOOT? LOL

Another one taken from In Effect Fazine. It was a forward-thinking article about "HARDCORE ON THE NET."