Slipknot - s/t (1989)
I know you motherfuckers want to hear this. If youre me, then you saw this shit on the Rev catalog and saw the CoC reference and wondered what the hell it was. If youre me, you saw the cover artwork and thought "what the fuck?!". Clearly the odd man out on Revelation catalogue. This EP, if youre like me, is something you some how skipped over...
How, and why did I skip over this? I owned everything off the revelation catalogue up to Sensefields self titled reissue of their demo. I mean, everything, minus Warzone. For some reason I never got into Warzone, and before anyone cries foul, just remember that I am me and not you. Warzone didnt do it for me. Its up for debate but I may eventually warm up to it. Back to Slipknot...
Someone on the comments recently said, "Slipknot?!"
Yeah... Its not what you think. Slipknot...yeah. It has its connotations... and before I completely demonize myself, I would like to add that the first Slipknot album... the current Slipknot album or band.... whatever... the 9 piece, clown mask wearing sons of bitches... they wrote a few good metal riffs that shouldnt necessarily be ignored, they just shouldnt be lauded for it. I mean, they dressed like fucking clowns for christ sake. If you want to be taken seriously, then dont dress like a goddamn clown. Ask the Insane Clown Posse. Clowns are associated with balloon animals, perverts and John Wayne Gacy. But this is Slipknot circa 1989, from Connecticut. This Slipknot is 4 dudes playing raging, thrashy hardcore, that pretty much anyone who likes hardcore is gonna dig.
A commenter from the blog Crucified For Your Sins (proper link to follow...) said whatsup the other day and I went to visit and saw this there. I instantly jumped at the opportunity to finally, after 17 years, yes, that long, finally to check it out. This officially came out in 1989. It was one of Revelations first batch of releases, falling just around the time of Gorilla Biscuits seminal Start Today. Well, clearly I was too addled by Youth of Today, Judge and GB to quite wrap my head around a shitty cover of what looks like a faceless, dreaded guy and a CoC reference. CoC is Corrosion of Conformity, for those who want to know, and maybe it was because CoC wasnt the thrashy powerhouse that they once were at the time I first came across this, but it just seemed easy to pass by. Damn was I wrong.
Now, this isnt gonna change any lives. At this point in time the sound employed in this recording has become a staple of hardcore. Crusty, thrashy, dirty sounding hardcore. Add to that a less than stellar recording and you have an officially awesome hardcore record. Though I would hesitate to venture anywhere near the term "D-Beat" I would willingly compare this to a band like Tragedy, but with much more of an old school vibe. Thrashy is the key term here.... Dirty too, and thats all because of the crappy recording which goes towards the positive side of things. If this record was recorded well, I think it would be basic and boring... What did Revelation say in their blurb? It was something to the effect of "dont leave them alone with your pets.." Something to that effect.
While maintaining a general old school hardcore sound that was rampant at that time, Slipknot managed to imbue just enough of a scathing sort of sound to make this stand out in current times.... If only they knew at the time that so many bands would ape this style. (I am looking at you Capitalist Casualties, Scholastic Deth... I am onto your game... and I like it.)
Enjoy.
posted by blend77 at 10:54 PM
43 Comments:
they've really been around for that long? wow, almost 20 years of bad music.
did you read the post? Do me a favor and download the music. Listen to it. Get back to me...
lol
when did they decide to dress up?
:)
I love this record. Seriously. So weird being released on Rev, especially at the time. But hey - I'm not complaining.
You mentioned wanting to check this record out when I posted it on my blog back in May. Why the heck didn't you click the link then? Hehe. :)
See you this weekend? Sorry I still don't know what the deal is with food beforehand, but as soon as I know, I'll let you know.
He,he, I was very much like you at that time. I bought everything that Revelation issued at that time - and fucking single release was good. So naturally, I bought this one, too, just because they were on Rev. (Slipknot is actually Rev #13, so they had not released all that much at the time). Imagine my surprise... I can think of only one other record from the Rev catalog (at least as far as I followed them -which is probably up to Shades Apart's "Seeing things") that stands out even more as an oddity and that is "Mike Judge and Old Smoke" (does anyone have that one ripped???). At that time I was purely into straight-up hardcore, so this thrashy thing was not my cup of tea really, but still I liked this 7" (maybe because they were on Rev and I wanted to like it... who knows). It certainly made me open up to thrash a bit more...
BTW, "7inch punk" posted this about 2 years ago (it was one of the first mp3 blogs that I ever found)
uhhhh, yeah, shit, I guess I missed it when you posted it... Not sure how seeing as how I check your site mostly every week. Oh well. It all worked out in the end... Great record.
But yeah, definitely this weekend. Looking very forward to it. If you want to meet before hand that would be cool, but seeing as how you are traveling, time may be an issue.
Either way, I am gonna PM you on last.fm with my number just in case..
Revelation apparently decided a while ago that this masterpiece needs to be available on iTunes. Nevermind that other -much better- releases are not. I can't help but think that they only did it to pray on some Hot Topic Metal kids that think they found another release by the masked clowns. Not surprisingly, the customer reviews reflect the kind of confusion that you would except ("this is a long lost early recording..."; "what is this shit..."; "oh, you ignorant fools, this slipknot is not THE slipknot..." etc.) Revelation are sneaky bastards...
"raging, thrashy hardcore" thank god. i was scared for a second blend.
OOOps, "prey" not "pray" (but might work either way...)
Hehe.
Oh and Dan, I found your post on Slipknot and so I read it and then, lo and behold, a comment from me... Haha! Nice one there... I mustve gotten really psyched and then got distracted by work or something and then never thought about it again. Oh well... I look silly...
thats funny about the iTunes release of this... What gives?! Love the comments it induces though!! Haha!!
Also, I was thinking, in response to your mention of Mike Judge and Old Smoke... I also never owned Ray and Porcell and I never owned Mike Judge... also.. Iceburns Hephaestus was quite an anomaly at the time too. I love that record though... what a trip!
He, he. I really like Iceburn and Hephaestus, too, it's mostly pretty good. But come oooon, sometimes it meanders a bit. The one with Stravinsky’s "Rite of Spring" was very similar (but who am I telling this, you are probably much more versed in their oeuvre than I am...) I did not follow them anymore after they became completely improvisational and reflected that in their name change.
One the other hand I feel like I am one of a small minority who always liked the Ray and Procell 7". The drum machine was odd, and sure it was much slower than what most people expected them to do, but I really liked the songs. If that's OOP then I might post that on my blog, just to see who else has good taste ~_^
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IXCH9QCJ
there is your Mike Judge and Old Smoke - Sights
Thanks Papstar! I haven't listened to this one in ages. I remember that it reminded me of boring version of REM with Mike Judge as a singer... but maybe time (and the change in my own listening habits) were kind to this record.
speaking of OOP, Lovitt records contacted me. They were very nice and even offered to help out int he future and encouraged an open dialogue with them concerning future Lovitt topics. I have never been contacted before by a label and asked to pull something down, so needless to say this is sobering. I have hinted at some possible changes around here and I think they will begin taking effect over the course of the next month.
As a point of interest to me, I do hope that most of you that come here at least buy some records. I hope you go to shows. I know I give music away, music that I love and means a lot to me. I have always attempted to not be critical of peoples spending habits, or lack thereof, and I have always tread a cautious line of hypocrisy. The top of my blog says "If you like something BUY IT!" but in essence I am my own worst enemy in this case. I am struggling to find ways to keep this interesting for everyone who visits and bring Zen into the future and still be enjoyable and a great resource.
For the record, and not for any posturing or bragging rights, but hopefully to lead by example, I do buy a lot of records. I always have. I started collecting records officially in 1993. I download a ton of stuff and I buy a lot of what really moves me. I go see shows and I buy tees and talk with people about things I love. I dont do this because some part of me feels guilty, I dont do this to clear my conscious... I do this because it is fun. I enjoy buying records. It makes me feel 15 again. I enjoy going to shows and interacting with people. It breaks the monotony of life. I do this, because it matters to me. I dont urge anyone to clear their consciousness or to exonerate themselves to me, I only ask that you question what really matters to you. That you look inside and see what it is that drives you. And if hardcore and punk move you like they move me, than it shouldnt be much a stretch to go to see a band play, or buy an awesome looking record.
That is all... Looking forward to great things.
wait what, you're supposed to buy records? someone forgot to send the memo. i'm screwed.
haha! youre a dick. ^_~
i know, if people actually knew how many records i buy on average a month, they'd probably start wondering how i have enough money for food, drugs, and rent.
in that order.
Jaysus: This is a common misconception that the order of priorities should be food, then drugs, then rent. In fact you should consider reversing it: People can go easily without food for days, especially if they have drugs that suppress the appetite and that keep them happy at the same time. On the other hand, if you pay your rent you will have a place to cook your own crystal meth, which from what I hear is surprisingly easy. You might even have a bit to share with your friends, which then leads to extra money that can be spend on records. So everyone wins, including the record labels.
truth be told i only eat once a day, so i try to make it count. i'm no stranger to going days without food, that is the benefit of growing up poor, i would easily say i go at least two days a week without eating, not because i can't afford it, instead i just don't find the time for it. as for meth, not my style, always will be a pothead, meth can be pretty repulsive after you see what it can do to your friends. but that show breaking bad on A&E is pretty fucking awesome.
right now, however, i shouldn't be eating, smoking, or doing any drugs, as i have been up most of the night coughing up blood and mucus. hooray!!! (i just coughed some more up while posting this coment, that's punk right?)
I think so. Damaged health is a sign of excessive punkness... and anything to do with blood is extra punk in my book. Thats why I cut myself.
Speaking of Punk, I just had a very illuminating conversation with my friend and co-worker on the ideas of punk and DIY... I will get into that on monday... Also I think I have a decent enough idea on how to approach promoting new records whilst maintaining the aesthetic I strive for. Things are looking good.
I thought cutting is emo. Can you be both? AND a successful fashion designer? Just asking.
the vocalist reminds me of a much more pissed off civ. good record.
Cutting yourself because your sad is emo
Cutting yourself because you want to watch yourself bleed is punx.
I bleed into a cup and smear it on the walls when it starts to coagulate. I write things like anarchy symbols and "crust 4 lyfe!"
i used to cut myself, but then other people saw it and thought they could do it to me as well. thanks to that revelation i still wear a three inch scar on my forearm (covered now by a tat) from being slashed in my high school. as i know now as i did then, it didn't really have anything to do with me cutting myself as much as it did with me being the "white minority" in a very non-white school.
yay for racism!
it's not just for white people anymore!
i love warzone.
Once again, another great post. I actually played this for my 13 year old nephew, who needless to say was really confused. He's not really into too much of the hard/heavy stuff yet, but he's starting, and he knows what Slipknot(the clowns) sound like and was prepared to make fun of me. But he's coming around. He's borrowed some Agnostic Front and Madball from me. He's slowly using the internet to find bands like Slipknot(the Rev one), Warzone, and Sick of it all. So be happy.
And Blend, good luck with any changes you make to the blog...The free music aside, each piece you write for each post is great and well worth it. Keep up the great work.
I'm not coming back if there is no free music. If I could find a way to take the music you give me and put it on to an actual record, that would be the shit.
But seriously, I thought dance and club music was still only released on record
oh, and my money should be spent on drugs, then more drugs to interact with the first ones, then maybe a slurpee or something. paying rent isn't very punk.
Papstar: This might do the trick
http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR34618
although you probably will find cheaper dubplate cutters (and that's exactly what they are using for dance and club music BTW). You might have to cut down on the drugs for a while though, that thing isn't cheap...
And Tim, I'm not coming back either if there is no free music. I'll probably just read Rolling Stone and get my info from there.
i have a question for anyone willing to answer....is there such thing as "too much" music. i'm not saying listening to a variety or new music is wrong, but is there a limit or some self restraint on how much at one given point(lets say a month or so? according to my itunes i've downloaded over 80 albums in the last 30 days. is this too much? and i've bought 6 (3 more on the way)7"s, and a 12". am i insane, stupid or just igorant towards sitting down and enjoying one artist's work? !>>!>!meusdajomm?????!?"blewscrnofdth!>
no brad, you are running par for the course. I have times where I overload on tunes. I have been doing this for 15+ years and I never learn.
Cons: I dont get to hear some of what I grab, whether purchased or downloaded. Its all about mood. I dont delve into things as much as when I only bought a few records.
Pros: The time when I find something I over looked, be it a month or a year, and it hits me right, I am super psyched. Also, considering my extreme obsession with hearing new sounds and new melodies or whatever, considering that, no music is ever going to go to waste in my ears.
But I do understand what you mean. Last summer when we had the Uploading Storm of 07 (im looking at you Paps and Jay...) I was almost overwhelmed. This year I have taken it much slower and have been absorbing some great stuff. And some of it is stufff I downloaded two years ago!!!
Yeah, and all you guys that are playin on ditching? Yeah right... Haha! You guys are too deep into it to turn back.
^_~
yea, I often feel I blow by some albums way too quickly...but I always get around to them eventually if they are good enough. Nope, no such thing as too much music.
Yo bro, 25 ta Zen!
i agree with paps, i downloaded 125 viking metal albums in the course of one afternoon and while i am still slowly working my way through them it allowed me to discover some pretty amazing shit. it's not all good, i mean some of it is good, some is great, some is Ensifernum! Plus while on the search i was introduced to Pirate Metal which in its own rite is pretty freaking spectacular. On a side note, the ninja metal i came across was not as good, nor were there as many bands as i would have liked. but then again maybe they just live by the ninja code of invisibility and can only be seen and heard by other ninji (yes the plural form). It leads me to believe that i should start a Samurai Metal band called Ronin, and flush out the ninja menace.
That's your explanation why you only eat once a day? Respect, that truly is dedication to music.
I only eat when I don't have any pills in me to be sopped up by all that food....food just kills the buzz man.
blend, I'm very interested to know what this new paradigm of ZaAFP might be... it's something I think a lot about myself too, 'ethical blogging' I suppose you could say.
personally I spend the same on music as I normally would, I just listen to twice as much. Refusing to use the freedom of the internet would just mean I'd spend the same amount of money and listen to half as much stuff, and have half as much a creative view of music.
I did a couple of posts (Swing Kids and Q and not U) using streaming songs, but I still think it's important for people to experience albums as a whole, and not just after they buy them.
anybody happy to trust to human nature to do the right thing, and buy it if you like it, and are relatively easily able to do so?
While I also very much advocate not to rip off artists (and I would even include Metallica in my definition of artists...), I don't think it is human nature "to do the right thing". I might have a pessimistic view of human kind in that regard, but I only trust them as far as I can throw them... That being said, I still think that it could/should work out well for artists (or rather record companies) not to try to police blogs too much. And I believe that may be particularly true for small, independent artists. Metallica will probably lose more revenue than they would gain, but I am positive that most of the bands featured here on ZAFP only gained listeners (and customers) by the exposure that Tim provides them with here. But obviously it's a fine line...
in this day and age, the only people really losing money are the labels themselves, and while i firmly believe cds will be a thing of the past within the next five years, the record labels are still holding on to this last bastion of technology like fat kids holding a cake. bands these days (outside of those selling millions of records) typically find themselves trying their hardest to put out records that people will listen to, yet with the dawning of social network sites like myspace, any asshole with a keyboard or a guitar can call themselves a band while helping to continue the flooding of the market, find that it becomes a harder task than it once was. the aspect of blogs these days work as a virtual hype machine, sure the album may be downloaded for free, but when the band hits the road for tour they have fans they might not have had in the first place, and from my experience this is where the bands actually make money. touring and merchandise sales are what keeps the bands going, sure, it's nice to sell some records, but at the end of the day all the work and heart put into the recording and crafting of songs is generally turned over as a small percentage of actual sales. it's fucked up, but it's the way things will be for at least a few more years, until an even more intense version of the D.I.Y aesthetic appears and bands start realizing that labels, while in their own way are a good thing, are going to end up destroying the music world altogether in some money-hungry armageddon that will have repercussions in the creative realm where the music was once created. love is one thing, money another, and love for money is where it typically ends. and that is death in itself.
I remember seeing them at a CB's matinee. I can't remember w/who else because they were that good. Raunchy as fuck COC Animosity inspired HC. Inspired me, thats for sure.
Hey man, thanks for visiting. I slept on this release. Namely because I thought the cover was terrible. But damn, I woulda been into this heavily if I wasnt such a graphics snob. hehe..
Anyway, I can see how they inspired you. Good stuff.
i know FScott, the guitarist pretty well...hes putting a new band together ...will keep you posted
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