Prison Cycle

Well, I'm certainly glad I decided to randomly check Vaccine's blog site that one day, and come face to face with the announcement that this swan song split was finally pressed and ready to order. Vaccine, as I have made more and more apparent, is a band that I hold very very near and dear to my heart. And this recording is sadly the final nail in the band's collective coffin. Very sad to see this band go, but I'm hoping that all the members move on to more incredible projects. Like the band who shares the other side of this record with them, No Faith, which has at least a couple members of Vaccine if I remember correctly. Here it is, the Vaccine/No Faith split, clear vinyl, 45 RPM.

Five final songs from Vaccine, still keeping the same sound that I fell in love with in tact, this time with a little tighter blasts and less minor key riffs. But the biggest surprise of all; they finally made a song over 1-minute long (orchestra sting). "Blood Money" is by far the most unique song the band has made, with it's militaristic snare beats and almost mid-tempo "verses", it's a bit jarring to hear them slow down and play an almost classic hardcore sounding song. I kind dig how that's the only little bit of progression we'll see from Vaccine. They've held on to total integrity and constant aggression through out all their records, and while these five songs are certainly not their best, they are far from being disappointing. Very happy with this. 

Now on the flip side we have a complete 180 with No Faith. One song, and it is a slow, crawling, noisy sludge tromp. I honestly only briefly skimmed over their full length LP a little while ago, so I'm really not that used to this bands material enough to say if this is good or not. While it certainly isa heavy track and shows off some pretty noisy production, it feels like it goes no where. Or rather, I feel like it would have been beneficial to include another track. Right when "Revolt" ends I want another track to just come blaring out of my speakers. But alas, tis not the case. 

Nice matte, glued sleeve, with a sturdy double sided insert. Vinyl Rites did a good job with the presentation. I was really hoping I didn't order too late, as it was advertised that the clear vinyl got sent out on a first-come-first-serve kind of way. I lucked out, there might be more. The clear vinyl is limited to 220 copies. 

~VII

Constant War

Well, we can round off the first bit of 2013 with a huge bummer. Vaccine recently played their last show, and the band has subsequently called it quits. Really pretty bummed I never got to see them live, their shows look intense as fuck. And seeing them perform the entire "Human Hatred" EP would have been incredible. Oh well, can't see em all. I finally managed to snag their latest EP, "Dead Inside", on discogs. Got the mail order color too, red vinyl, 45 RPM.

 It seems pretty unnessicary to go into great deal describing the music on here. Anyone who knows what this band is about should have a perfectly fit description for it. Fast, vicious, distorted, and hateful. Almost identical to "Human Hatred", but with more of a brighter sound. This is a band that never strayed away from their sound, which may have ended up being their creative downfall if they kept at it, but I love it. Very fast, and very short stuff. Not only do they not overstay there welcome, they barely even come in the door and stick around, but they definitely leave an impact.

Interesting cover art. I think I honestly prefer the art that was on the Cut The Cord pressing in Europe, but at least this is a bit more unique. Very nice sturdy clued sleeve too (my favorite!) on some heavy weight vinyl. Very tidy package from Painkiller records.

Apparently they have one more post-humous release coming out, which will be a split 7" with No Faith. RIP Vaccine.

~VII

Human Hatred

I'm late to the whole Vaccine thing, and I'm paying for it by no longer having access to there records. Sucks. I really don't wanna pay $15+ for their 5". The 7" that I do have however, "Human Hatred", will tide me off till I then. This thing is a fast and furious beast! Black vinyl, 45 RPM.

One of the fastest and most ferocious sXe hardcore bands that I've ever heard. On the verge of just being grindcore, but there hardcore roots are undeniably dominate. Very lo-fi and abrasive production too, the whole sound kinda reminds me of the mighty Shitstorm. Very short release too; 10 songs in about 4 minutes. This could have very well been a 1-sided 7" and you could still have had it be at 45 RPM.

The one thing I'm iffy about with this band is the lyrics. Very very very straightedge. Like, on almost militant levels. I'm have no problem with sXe people, but I can't stand trying to force beliefs, any kind of beliefs, on other people. The lyrics are pretty much unintelligible though, so it's not that much of a major issue. The music more than makes up for it.

Fold out sleeve

I'm on the lookout for affordable prices on there 5" and demo 7". Really cool band, I'm looking forward for more from them. 

~VII