NEWSLETTER 033
08/26/24 - let tha past b the past
SCHEME REPORT:
Yeah yo……we still doin this shit for all those haters……those disbelievas……. Sometimes we say that we want to do this, get preoccupied with other things, and then it goes on the back burner……but don’t doubt us yo, we move in silence and are constantly scheming behind the scenes. Coming soon……..a GIF of us Scheme Boyz rubbing our hands together like Birdman……once we figure out how to make GIFs. On that note, feel free to watch a video I found again recently of Birdman inviting dudes on stage for a twerk contest:
Alright but here’s what you really want…….the Scheme goin ons…TOMORROW…..after much delay (not really), we are finally dropping the new 12” EP from New Jerz's CUTDOWN. You can peep the art here (done by Carlos from MURO)
Six songs on a 12” EP… It’s got all the good stuff, none of the bad. Hardcore for the sake hardcore, unspoiled and pure. I was at a Cutdown show that they played with Wreckage and Missing Link (shout out Evan yo..) and I heard some little trouble maker say “Avery got us into this shit ..we gotta fuck it up” or something to that effect.. and if that don’t make you wanna share a hardcore bands record with the world you’re just here for the pats on the back and the free Monster.
Other Scheme bidness: HEADS WILL ROLL have new songs that will come out once hell freezes over…..we heard one practice recording and it’s got a sexy riff i.e. Who’s To Blame (kinda just exactly like Who’s To Blame….but don’t worry about it!), so be on the look out for that in three years when they finally get into the studio. (editors note: Heads Will Roll enters free agency September 30th at 11:59 PM)
RUNNIN’ HOT Demo will be out once the lead singer is forced into the studio, I think songs were tracked the other day. We will be posting the picture of him getting jumped into his old skinhead crew when he was 16 once the demo is released, so stay posted.
All WRECKAGE 7”s should be shipped out now, if you haven’t gotten yours yet, please email us so we can try to figure out what’s going on. In other Wreck news, they’ve just finished up their Japanese xcursion and returned from Californication with rave reviews….will their be a record release for the new 7”? Time will show.
COLLATERAL plays Long Island.. I think.. this Sunday with the GORILLA BISCUITS, and several other hardcore bands of note.
ALMIGHTY WATCHING a haiku:
“drummer is in BALMORA… time to break up”
MORTAL FORM: New songs in the cannon
ECHO CHAMBER face timed with Fabian today (8/26) no news.
SCHEME 7” comp…. forming. Winter is coming.
PLAYLISTS:
Kyle:
High Vis singles
Straight To Hell
Silver
Drop Nineteens (T shirt)
Existence - Pain of ..
Perils From The Sea
ROME (HBO)
DEATH OF A GAME (YOUTUBE)
Chris:
Third Eye Blind (recently discovered he song that that the nastyy man from 3EB wrote for VANESSA CARLTON....pretty fire)
Final Resting Place
High Vis
Fatal Realm
Jets to Brazil
Fountains of Wayne
SCENE REPORT:
The Scheme Boyz linked up formally at a show this past weekend seeing Revelation Records alumni CAPITAL playing a show with the young bucks in STAND STILL for their record release (s/o Gerry….damn shame he didn’t wear a back back for their set). STAND STILL is dope, you might already know em, check out their new record released by our tyrant overlord Daze, blah blah, etc. but if you take anything away from this installment: check out CAPITAL:
They have three LPs, one on Revelation, and are melodic hardcore in the truest and cool sense, and not the h*e scaring sense. The song linked above is to the point - just being a teenager and buying records and one that got him into hardcore, Revelation Record’s New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is, in a song that is basically the riff to Start Today and released on Rev. It’s oddly fitting and is done in such a cool way.
Full circle sappy bullshit - prior to us starting Scheme together, I (Albin) gifted a copy of The Way It Is (you know it had the booklet) to Kyle, and flash forwards a couple years we’re doing an old school arm in arm sing along thing to a song that specifically mentions that record. Guess this shit was meant to be.
DA LOW DOWN 2024
Alright alright now ew…..enough that sentimental emo bullshit. Here’s a palate cleanser and what you REALLY want from Scheme - penned by Sean Niland of WRECKAGE, an unsubmitted entry to the recent Shining Life Fanzine Compilation (buy one now); where EVERY single 25 TA LIFE song is reviewed for your enjoyment:
“Using both sides of this sheet of paper I am going to do a nice retrospective on the discography of one of the most iconic, infamous, and oft under-appreciated NYHC bands of the 90’s and early 2000’s. The reasons I’m doing this are 1) because it’s fucking funny 2) there’s definitely some unearthed gems in the discography that need some awareness 3) I like making lists
No need for more amateur prose bullshit, let’s jump in:”
Demo 1993:
Separate Wayz - 3/4 - Great bass line, mosh call in the first 20 seconds from Rick, “fast riff” pretty awful, solo into dance part is galaxy brain. More for the pit than the pile-on.
Burned By Da Flamez - 2/4 - Kind of a classic track. Also kind of ANNOYING but first instance of one of my favorite trademark 25TL things which is going fast part > dance part > fast part without any real transition
SMAKIN’ U UP - 3/4 - one of the greatest hardcore song titles and singalongs ever. Layered vocals sound awesome. Layered guitar solos with three different things getting played is not. But hey, this isn’t fucking DREAM THEATER. Who CARES.
Inside Knowledge - 2/4 - “trying to achieve the American dream” perpetually stuck in my head. An older CT coreman once made a joke about being in the Inside Knowledge pile on despite Rick’s later wrong doings and I’ve forever associated it with this song.
Again, good for the sing along but long-winded. Saying “All you mothafuckaz MOVE IT” on a track is goated but the fact that it goes into the mosh equivalent of coasting on the lazy river at Six Flags New Jersey really fucks it all up.
That’s it for the demo. Off to a good start.
Satisfaction Guaranteed (1996, Songs 93?)
Beat Down For Existence (Live at Da Wetlands 1993) - 2/4 - Trying not to delve too deep on live shit because that’s a whole other steep and unnecessary hole but I’ll try and cover shit that never made it to real recordings. Rick’s vocals sounding different, cool and uncharacteristically consistent on this one. Not really an exciting song but the metal riff is cool.
Self-titled 7”
Short Fuse - 3/4 - Maybe my favorite track of theirs but not the best recording of it. Here enters my other favorite 25TL trope: Playing the song, add a funny interlude, then just play the whole first half again. The interlude in question this time is an awesomely bad metal solo/lead part. It does the job. I’ll expand on this song when we hit the next time.
Burned By Da Flames - 2/4 - Back to this one. The score remains. Guitar tone only marginally better this time around. Makes it hit a little harder. Octave guitar part is more pronounced but doesn’t add much. The solo is new and decent but doesn’t save anything. Song still reminds me of little Dutch guys with funny haircuts dancing around…or something
Cant Believe - 3/4 - Lots of ominous thuggery and random metal riffing here. Catchy mid tempo mosh-and-sing along chorus. Can’t beat that. “What’s up mothafuckas”
Inside Knowledge - 3/4 - alright, score bumped on this once. Re-recording makes it feel like a little more urgent AND Rick kept the mosh call in.
NY’s Hardest Comp (1995)
Keepin’ it Real - 4/4 - Fuckin all-timer. One of the best breaks ever used multiple times in the track. Vocals are perfect and varied which gives you the effect of mad people hopping on the mic. I get way too hype literally every time it hits the part where everything cuts out and it’s just the guitar playing the break.
Reality’s End - 1/4 - Never liked this one. Kinda just feels like the same 30 seconds looped 5 times with a guitar solo thrown in.
Satisfaction Guaranteed (1996, Track from 95)
Cutthroat (Live at Da Wetlands 1995) - Don’t think I’ve ever bothered listening to this one all the way through before. Starts with Rick spittin the realness about how hardcore bands shouldn’t forgot their roots after blowing up. There’s a bad IRON MAIDEN ass guitar climb that’s just distracting but it’s made up for by some good mosh. Wish it was a little more legible but maybe this one shows up again some where. Bass tone louder than everything and sick (OS). Maybe the first recorded instance of Ricky doing the guttural Roger Miret thing.
Keepin It Real
Wise To Da Game - 4/4 - “TIME TO RISE ABOVE THE IGNORANCE” Masterclass on riff composition for keeping the floor moving. Makes me want to throw triple axel kicks on a checkered floor.
Separate Wayz - 2/4 - Re-recorded and lost all its feeling here. Some nice double bass flare tho.
End The Hate - 1/4 - First riff sucks ass. Main riffs alright. Chorus sounds like it was written by a 4 year old. Completed by more posi lyrics with some riffs straight out of the circus. I guess there’s a reason I always skip this once.
Da Low Down - 2/4 - “ur just that I can’t remember no more” sounds like one of the more passive things said about someone in a HC song. Always wanted this song to be better. A lot build up into something I can only describe as a “pogo stick mosh riff”
Short Fuse - 4/4 - We’re back. We’re so back in fact. Better recording just makes it so much better. Double bass on the funny metal lead. GANGSTA. Best of the 25TL mid tempo groove parts along with the repeated sing along. Don’t worry, we’re not done with this one.
Keepin It Real - 4/4 - “YOU FUCKING HYPOCRITES”. gospel. I never read the Bible so I just imagine it’s the lyrics to this song. Recording is different than the comp and just grimey. You can’t listen to this and tell me you don’t understand why they play it multiple times in one live set.
Strength Thru Unity (1997)
Strength Thru Unity - 4/4 - Starting the track with the album name? Awesome. Yelling “EVERYBODAYYY” in the studio like you’re trying to get people to sing along even though you’re a guy with dreads and more piercings than a stuck pig alone in a vocal booth? Awesome. Build up into the mosh is incredible. Rick’s puke vocals yelling “BRINGING IT BYACK (THRU UNITY). Incredible. I hate Unity. But that makes me want to bring It back. Through unity.
Loose Wit Da Truth - 3/4 - always thought this song title was a crazy ass way of saying people are liars. He’s got mad songs about people being liars. And he’s right….they’re bad! A lot of Very Metal Motifs going on here. Slidey-touch-the-ground-and-spin-90’s style riff needs to go on longer.
Absence of Sincerity - 2/4 - Main riff of this song always felt off to me. Fast parts feel like everyone was just making it up on the spot. Honestly, if that was the case then RESHPECT.
Turning Point - 4/4 - it’s insane how this song contains the single funniest lead guitar part in the history of hardcore and it somehow does not take away from how much the rest of the song beats ass. Dance floor is nefarious around the 2 minute mark. Typa shit where you look around and you’re just concerned for what’s next.
Loyal 2 Tha Grave - 4/4 - Penultimate HC track. Main riff is legendary. Love a good guest spot and this one has two from two of the greatest frontmen of all time (that’s right), Ezec from Crown of Thornz/Skarhead and Freddy Madball. Little bounce on the ride cymbal always did it for me too.
Took My Kindness for Weakness - 3/4 - Can never get past the lyrics for this. Delivery is way too funny. Really seems like some shit some asshole would write to make fun of hardcore. Heavy crash over the metal riff in the mid-section is diabolical. Still fuck with this song for some reason.
Make it Work (Bonus Track) - 2/4 - I don’t think I ever knew what made this a bonus track. But it’s definitely that. Kinda just repeats twice (I told you they love doing this). Rick hits a good “GOOOOO” in this one tho.
Friendship Loyalty Commitment (1999)
Let Da Past B Da Past - 4/4 - Another goddamn classic. That riff with tha hammer on. Rick commanding that the past b the past. Paul Bearer guest spots that I always think are just Rick going too fuckin crazy with it on the mic until I look up the one specific Discogs page that credits Paul (everytime).
Pain Is Temporary - 2/4 - Paul Bearer back again saying some shit in the intro and delivering some of his best vocals ever BUT Rick’s vocals and this song make me feel like I’m actually losing my fucking mind. The equivalent of sitting in your dining room and hearing your crackhead neighbors fighting in the street for the 100th time this year. Sometimes enough is enough.
Hardcore Rules - 1/4 - Another one that sounds like it was written by a toddler (I’ll let you guess what the main lyrics are) but with Jimmy G and Stigma on the mic. If it wasn’t apparent on the first two songs, Rick’s just doing fuckin ANYTHING on this record. Sometimes it doesn’t land but I love it. Not here though.
Backfire - 1/4 - I think this is a callback to Side By Side’s song of the same name and if I was them I would be bummed.
Positive Hardcore GO - 2/4 - Truly wild naming choice for a song by that starts with a riff that sounds like it belongs on a MALEVOLENT CREATION record. I hate to give credence to any haters but this is probably the track they play when they really want to laugh with their friends and make fun of Rick’s vocals. I’m not laughing. “Pay respect to those who remain true”
Friendship Loyalty Commitment - 2/4 - Tha title track. Roger AF all over this track. Kinda rendered ineffective because Rick was doing the same thing but way better at this point in time. The tom build into the dance part is mad hard. The rest is uhhh pretty forgettable.
The Next Level - 3/4 - Aight we’re kinda getting out of the weeds now. Intro to this song just sounds weird and crazy. Evil death metal mosh part preempted by Rick hittin a “whoaaaaaAAAA” that’s probably only been replicated by Tom from Tom & Jerry getting his tail set on fire.
Bullet for Every Enemy - 4/4 - One of my favorites by them and a sleeper hit at that. Jasta scathing as fuck on this one. Hammer on riff transition into the the break that’s like a non-palm muted slam is top tier. Been meaning to replicate that one for a minute. Last guest spot sounds like someone’s boy who just walked into the studio. Fire. S/O JAY REASON
Over the Years - 2/4 - I was wondering why this is their top played song on Spotify and then I remembered it was in Tony Hawk’s Underground. Nice bounce to it but nothing special. I think they should have put SHORT FUSE in the game instead.
Refocus - 1/4 - Wacky metal riff, wacky vocals. Breakdowns in an unimpressive way. I wouldn’t write a song like this.
Wise To Da Game - 3/4 - Great track but sounds like a demo compared to the previous version.
Da Low Down - 2/4 - Same complaints as the last time this one popped up. This time Rick sounds like he’s getting strangled when he hits the high parts and it’s kinda dope. Some good shit talking before the mosh calling out the FAKES. Definitely the better version.
Short Fuse - 5/4 - Yeah, what’s up. You know tha deal. The fucked up production and Ricky mouthing off like he’s in a 90’s wrestling promo before the metal part really elevates this one. I think this is my favorite version.
As One - 3/4 - Recorded covers are almost always cool. A harder spin on a NYHC classic by WarZone but still pretty true to the original. I’m not sure who’s doing it but the drawn out yelling is funny as fuck.
SMAKIN U UP - 4/4 - Another re-recording. Sounds like Sheer Terror covering 25 ta Life. Usually wouldn’t love this composition but great sing along and it’s kinda just fucking funny.
Best of Friends / Enemies (2003)
Fight Dirty - 4/4 - I’ve lost count but another one where they just repeat the entire song twice during the run time. Between the lyrics (SIX ON TWO…WHATCHA GONNA DO), mosh calls, and guitar tone probably derived from plugging directly into a Crate head, this song is plainly iconic. It’s like the New Age “Keepin it Real”. Or at least it was in 2003.
Best of Friendz/Enemiez - 3/4 - This has gotta be one of the more “normal” and thorough 25TL tracks. Guitar tone still awesomebad. Singalong, dancing and some funny beatdown shit going on. I gotta make one of those comp videos containing every instance of Rick saying some dope shit before a breakdown.
So Cold - 1/4 - “I’m doing a Shutdown thing” - Rick on this track, probably. Not sure why. God, how am I only 2 minutes through this track. At 4 minutes, this is an endurance test.
The Playaz and The Played - 2/4 - We got some mid tempo bounce going on. We’re back to normalcy. Thank god. Someone’s doing a funny voice all over this one too! Could be Rick again. Who fuckin knows anymore.
Haterz - 2/4 - The ‘spinkick into the crowd’ dance riff one minute in and at the end is the highlight. Would have paid actual money to watch the part where Rick is literally singing “fuckkkk hatazzzz” in the studio. Some really goofy shit going on here.
We Got The Spirit - 1/4 - “We gotta do the old school style song, man” NO YOUR ASS DOES NOT!
Minor Threat - 1/4 - You know what it is. they were really like “how can we make Minor Threat even worse”
The Eliminator - 2/4 - Always love an AF cover but I don’t think these M-Fs were really capable of playing this one. That’s okay though. That’s OS. Vocals are better than the original at least.
Lead Song (Negative Approach Cover) - 2/4 - This appears to be exclusive to the “Haterz B Damned” compilation. Pretty straight forward NA cover of one of their least appealing songs.
Live at Few Da Real (2004)
I’ve spent years not understanding what the fuck the title meant. I just tried to look deeper into it and now I have more questions than answers. It was recorded in Nagoya, Japan in 1999 and I think FEW DA REAL was a fest name. I also think this record kinda has a place in the canon even though it’s a live one. I was gonna go through it but I don’t feel like it. The recordings are good. Kinda at their peak here.
Hellbound Misery Torment (2006)
ABORT! - 2/4 - I’ve been laughing at this song for more than a decade. Spoken word intro with a cheesy ass melodic guitar. “KILLED AN UNBORN CHILD I CAN’T FORGIVE”. Yes. The song is literally about that. I just know motherfuckers at the Tiger’s Den in Brockton, MA were slaughtering people when Rick hit the ABORT in the low voice into the mosh. I would be too. Oh, this song is also almost 7 minutes long too. The last two minutes is clean guitar with a baby crying over it. It’s so fucking nuts. You gotta listen to this.
Believe In Me - 3/4 - I’ll be real. This song is kinda bad but I fuck with it. The little LOA style vocal trill he does is unironically cool. This kinda just sounds like a B-side from Sworn Enemy’s As Real As It Gets. Last riff is certifiably Not Good.
Heavenly Sleep - 2/4 - Alright this one very specifically has some kind of Agents of Man flow thing going on. They were def just pulling from recent records when they reformed to make this album. It’s fine though. This song isn’t offensive or anything. Just too long with not enough going on to warrant the length. Feels like it’s one section on a loop…AGAIN. Not even the same guys.
Question Yourself - 2/4 - Thank god this song is literally 1/3 the length of the last one. Good message. Gives me OLC vibes between the lyrics and fast riff. Pretty standard HC song in the non-bad way.
Ladyluck - 2/4 - Melodic HC parts here. Why. Kind of the title track. Really just whatever.
You Can Count on Me - 1/4 - Guitars doing some really interestingly strange shit here. Guys with scally scaps fuckin losing to the two step part in this one surely. Lyrics suck ass.
Crucified - 2/4 - Are you really NYHC if you don’t cover Crucified (by IRON CROSS for the new jacks)? I feel like they sped this shit up crazy. Rick says STRAIGHTEGDE ARMY in place of SKINHEAD ARMY at points and it’s awesome.
I Don’t Care About You - 1/4 - Fear cover. Once again, they sound a little lost on this one. Doesn’t really translate well. But the name says it all. Maybe I’m the fool.
HATERZ B DAMNED - 2/4 - This song starts and you really feel like they’re finally recapturing the darkness from their early recordings. Riff is hard and on point. And then Rick comes in some of his worst vocal work to date and just levels it. Haterz should B DAMNED tho. Between the main mid tempo riff and last riff in the song, there may have been some Kickback - Forever War plagiarizing going on here. Obviously that’s like some full circle influence shit but Rick was tapped in. It’s possible.
Promise Keeper - 2/4 - last minute of this one is unhinged and dope but the early parts is one of those funny ass up the punks palm mute parts that I cannot jive with.
Drown in Your Own Blood - 3/4 - Simple and effective breakdowns that take up half the song. Rick layering his shit talking and just repeating FUCK YOU.
Fallen Angel (2008)
Fallen Angel/R.I.P/Archie/S.I.B. - 3/4 - LIHC should be proud of this one. Song is fucked up but it works. I think he’s saying the n word a lot but I can’t decipher it. Crazy. Shoulda been shorter.
I’m Your Enemy / Fuck You - 2/4 - Song name maybe belongs in the HC Hall of Fame with SMAKIN U UP. It gets kinda disgusting at 1:40. It pretty much trails off from there. I don’t think I ever realized I like this record?
Prepare Yourself - 2/4 - Kinda just stupidly heavy. Not bad but not super interesting. Rick screechin again.
Those Day I’ll Never Forget / Hardcore Pride - 1/4 - 80’s ass rock intro into a confusing weird riff. Epic solo for no reason.
Underdogz - 2/4 - Randomly came across it but this is an Empire Falls cover and yes, it does feel vaguely racist.
We Got The Spirit - 1/4 - You gotta listen to this one just to hear Rick name drop a bunch of classic bands in the lyrics
Invisible Minority - 1/4 - Apparently a cover from a French band named JETSEX. Anchored by a straight up clown riff and a line that says MUSIC’S MY ONLY FAMILY. They were really just trying to sink this record in the second half.
Forever True Represent
Forever, True, Represent - 3/4 - Starts with an intro by who I’m assuming is Cesar from Beneath The Remains cuz he’s on the rest of the song (shout out Walden, NY). His actually spot is dope. Surprisingly decent song not taking the goofiness into account.
Always Remember / Never Forget A.C.A.B - 3/4 - I’m not into this funny anthem / Bro Hymn style HC track. Especially with the painfully on the nose ACAB sing along. But I think they were going for the anthem type song and did it well even if it’s not for me. Fuck, it’s probably even less corny than some of the other songs in their catalog. Guest spot from MEHDI of TROMATIZED YOUTH on this one. (?)
Surving You Always - 3/4 - John Inner Dam on this one. More HV recognition. Great to see. I don’t really know what the fuck he means by “surviving you always” but I guess it works. Good flow from Rick here. Double bass goin HAM and the hard parts are cool. Not some classic track but it’s fun.
True Spirit / S.I.B. For Lyfe - 3/4 - Intro/main riff is harddd. Rick shouts out like 20 different places across the world over the riff. That’s unity. I wish he didn’t say TRUE SPIRIT 70 times on this song but if I saw this live I’d be dancing for the entirety of the track.
Strength Integrity Brotherhood (2009)
Heroin Demon - 3/4 - I cannot believe this song is called HEROIN DEMON. Don’t think I’ve ever bothered with this record but this sounds like some Eulogy Records shit right off the bat.
Stay Up - 3/4 - They’re kinda doing a Hatebreed thing here and it works. Once again throwing the song title/catch phrase in there a little too much but it’s forgivable. Also realizing this record actually sounds really good from a production standpoint point. Different vocalist on here sounds like someone specific but there’s no credits anywhere.
Kept Blind - 2/4 - Kinda hitting the weird bar metal thing with this one. Not egregious but not exciting.
You Don’t Like Me I Don’t Like You - 1/4 - The classic punk rock song on the record xD
Hate when hard bands do this shit. GG Allin cover at that. Could have been cool but no.
Crazy B.N.I. - 1/4 - Maybe I should rate this higher based on Rick having the idea to repurpose classic WarZone lyrics for a song that could pass as something from the band Brand New Sin
Insults & Misery - 3/4 - Quick, melodic and short. It works. My boy Reason back in the fold!
Don’t Forget The Struggle - 2/4 - Another WarZone cover. Nothing crazy about it but respect.
Hellbound - 2/4 - Evil Dad Metal. Could really just be a Godbelow song if you changed the vocals.
We’re All Guilty - 1/4 - Lord forgive them, they have gone punk rock style once again.
Tom’s Song - 1/4 - This is just like some melodic Collective Soul riff played for 4 minutes at the end of the record for no reason.
Sophomore year at BU Joey C, Dave w and I would go to parties and tell people joeys brother was in “3EB” glad to see it’s still the colloquial way to refer to that band.
Epic post. 10/10