SALTY CITY HC

When I first moved to Salt Lake City, I admit I was real snobby about their hardcore scene. This may or may not have stemmed from the fact that I saw Mental and Justice there while I was visiting colleges in 2005, and no one (but me) moshed. In time, I came to appreciate it for what it is and at this point, I really miss it. Maybe not for the hardcore, but for the mountains, the cost of living and quality burrito joints on every gridded corner of the city. Good skate spots too.

For all intents and purposes, SLC's hardcore golden age was sometime in the 90's when straight edge as a legit philosophy scared "normal" people (wrestling fans had yet to hear the term) and coremen un-ironically sported JNCOs and hair gel. You've likely heard crazy stories about the violent shit that went down in the name of drug free livin', animal lib, latent mormonism and whatever else put that scene on the map, but there's rarely any discussion of the music.

Here's a journal drawing depicting some of my favorite SLC records of times past. Fans who like a little more METAL in their core, take note. Beaver-cleaver youthcore types? Maybe not your thing, save for that Insight record. 

Xessive ForceX - Vengeance is Mine
Excessive Force - In Your Blood
XCLEARX - The Sickness Must End
XCLEARX - Deeper Than Blood
Reality - Something Hurts
Decontaminate - Cleanse and Burn
Lifeless - No Time
Triphammer - Triphammer
Insight - Standing Strong

Ball of Destruction Fanzine (European Vacation II):

Ball of Destruction #1 (Belgium)
I went to Belgium once as a kid. I liked it. My family was literally booted out of a restaurant there. That's definitely a story for another post though. (Peace to Belgium and hardcore and Rise and Fall). 

I once jokingly postulated that Madball's Ball of Destruction era logo was hardcore's closest approximation to Metallica's Master of Puppets logo. Both bands start with "M" and have a history of logos that have evolved over their various incarnations as a band. I stand by the statement, with the more immediate point being that the mind(s) behind Ball of Destruction  chose some primo boilertplate from which to cut n' paste their own tome, a hefty full-sizer with the Toxic Avenger landing a cover spot. 

I've never heard the band Grim (described as Darkside NYC by way of Bulldoze in the zine) but when asked if he's worried about becoming "just another beatdown band" Grim's singer responded with "our breaks are quite harsh." They cover Soundgarden's "4th of July" which gives me a great segue to plug an old post: here.  

Very great to see mention of Bad Trip and Mind Over Matter in the discussion of Don Fury recordings. 

The cream here was the Ramblings on Victory #2, 4 +7, a segment in which the author shot on Billingsgate's Reach Out album sleeve,  how Worlds Collide got their name (sidenote: for a great podcast in which Worlds Collide member Matt Burger plays music, talks about Worlds Collide and also some ridiculous shit about hardcore gangs, here) and Salty City's pride and joy: Insight. Nugget below about using Supertouch's gear and not saying thank u. 

Other highlights:
Who doesn't love a good old Cro-Mags interview? We know the euros love their mags (in their mags...yuk). This one was from '89 done in Seattle WA on a show with teutonic thrashers Destruction. 

The Only Living Witness interview was reprinted from Look Again Fanzine #3  and also featured Slayer in there. ("Why do people think metal is a four-letter word? They didn't learn english!" -Jonah Jenkins).

On late-period Turning Point: "Bold shirts, make way for turtlenecks and Jane's Addiction merch." 

Overall, snappy photography, great cut n' paste layout and unique, heartfelt content. All anyone could ever want in a zine in this day n' age. Glad I send abroad for this one. 

(you cannot) BUY THIS FANZINE HERE (because it is sold out). 

I is for Insight

"Caring Edge" zine? Oh brother...

Essentially the first straight edge HC band to come from Salty City, and in my opinion, one of the only ones who haven't sucked the salami. This is the part where some internet e-herb in a kangol and overalls goes "dude, Triphammer was lyke....soooo good," to which I simply shrug and say "OK. If you say so."

Not a ton of recorded output, just a 7" on Victory and then a song on those comps. At the reunion, I was told  they had some unreleased songs but it's anybody's guess as to whether or not they'll see a release. 

Minus the goofy slap bass part, "Silent Shore" is baller.

Integrity need no intro...but wasn't Head Strong the name of an early 2000's Nu-Metal band? I remember sampler discs being passed around when I was in high school.