Having made some promises that i was bringing back this nonsense, i guess it's better that i follow up to my post late than never bother again. Though i also decided that i was to talk less about new jams that i've dug out of bins or had posted to me in the mail, it never really works out that way, does it? In fact, this month has been particularly good for me and crossing some diddies off the want list, despite being on the far east of the country and away from any real choice spots to dig for some hidden gems. Scaling through the pages of the online market place every few days have turned up next to shit (as they usually do, unless you're prepared to shell out for the big "hitters"), but i still feel inclined to go scope out some things there that i might get a deal on. Who knows, sometimes people get lucky? Ok, i'll be the first to admit that most youth crew is pretty much disposable, but the fact remains that i've alway had a small spot in my collection for the first wave of these bands circa 87-89. Most i've come across casually over the years, i.e. the early presses of the Youth Of Today, first press of the Judge 7" and even some other things that would cause manic laughter amongst some more "known" collector scum. I can't help it, some of this stuff is just too great, unlike the horrible acts that followed them. But despite all this time searching, i was never able to track down a copy of the 2nd Chain Of Strength ep " What Holds Us Apart", which as it should be know, is much superior than the band's debut which i feel gets a little too much praise. Ok, so i'm lying a bit. I did find a copy for fairly cheap when i was in Japan, but being unemployed at the time and promising myself that i would buy mostly Japanese records, i decided to pass on it. But that, like many other times, was a moment i should have bit the bullet and just gone for it. No dice.
So low and behold, a few weeks ago i should find a copy newly listed on da bay from a guy who must have been selling most of his teenage phases away, judging by the other records he had listed. Not really into his insane Buy It Now prices, i decided that i would send the kid an offer which i figured he would turn down since it was more of a lowball than what i'd normally offer for a record's going rate. Well, Jr must have been hard up for bills because soon enough it was in the mailbox and on it's way to my ice cold mitts. Who says there aren't deals still to be had? Especially when you're dealing with a record that every suburban white brat is trying to get every insane variation of before he graduates high school and heads off to the frat house. Yeesh. Maybe that's why so many people were annoyed with me moshing in my friend Zoe's kitchen this summer when someone put True Til Death on the stereo? Come on douchebags, what did you really expect?
In other news, thankfully i will be leaving my small hometown dwelling soon and be unboxing my goods in my new home of Halifax. This of course would not be before i had a chance to fly back to Toronto for a week and cause some much needed trouble at my old haunts. And of course, somewhere in there i'll be quitting my shotty factory job and be looking around for something better until school starts up next fall. I think the only things i'll be missing about Truro for the time being will be (as expected) my pal Riggins, a Coffee /Hot Turkey Sandwich combo from Fletchers Diner and finally, the east coast kitchen parties with George Hardy and his terrible bottle of Wiser's whiskey in his freezer. How i hate that bottle. As for things in the city, i'll be excited to be able to get back to life in general after being in the middle of nothingness for a few months. Lotta plans, but most importantly i'm looking forward to crafting the perfect current tape that has been building in my noggin for the past few months while my records sit in the basement and my cassette deck remains unplugged. Hey, i gotta have a good soundtrack to unpack my garbage to, right? Riggins refuses to disagree...
It's funny that in a world where everything is at your disposal at your fingertips within seconds, that there's so many unknowns out there and for one reason or another, bands that came and went and were left in the dark. After spinning my copy of the Bloodstains Across California lp the other day, i came to the conclusion that the Reign Of Terror songs has to be not only one of the best on it, but personally one of my favorite tracks that's still basically unknown to folks. Maybe this has to do with the fact that they probably couldn't even give these away when they were released, hence it's scaricity or maybe it has to do with the fact that it was such a weird release for its time and location. There's no doubt about it, the A side "Don't Blame Me" is a total killer and the gem of this single, but 'having said that' (thank you Larry David) it still doesn't sound like your typical So Cal 
punk song from the early 80's. What makes this record really off from some others of its time though is the flipside "Big Things" which has more of a glam metal / hard rock feel to it. While it doesn't really sound the least bit punk, I have to say that it's still a total rager and a total oddity that compliments the A side. Released on R.O.T. records in 1983, i wouldn't be surprised if there's still a batch of these sitting around collecting dust in one or the members closets and speaking of which, one of the members possibly played along side Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag) in WURM. And if the songs weren't good enough for you, just check out the intense artwork, particularly the back cover. For the time being CRUD CRUD blog has the 2 tracks up for download which is suggest you look into after you sell me your copy of this...
