Feature / Music
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (August 2006)

Posted pre-2010

Top 5 Demos That Became Albums In 2006

by Michael

1. Force of Change - The Bond We Share

The edge is strong with the members that comprise SoCal hardcore outfit Force of Change. The band packages the whole straightedge agenda quite nicely to a soundtrack of heavy metallic hardcore. Image your favorites from the mid-90's alive and breathing today - Strife, Earth Crisis, One King Down, etcâ?¦ all rolled into one. You can grab this once demo on CD format through This Blessing, This Curse Recordings or on vinyl from 6131 Records.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/forceofchange

2. Living Hell - Pavor Nocturnes

When you throw ex-members of Dead Wrong and Fear Tomorrow together, you just know the result is going to be something special. And it sure as hell is. This demo is comprised of five songs of Integrity worship, but with ever more anger. Is that possible? More evil that Dwid? There is only one way to find out. Pick this CD up from Rock Vegas Records or A389 Recordings for the vinyl.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/livinghellhc

3. Changing Face - Our Last Chance

I might be slightly biased here, but Changing Face is one of the brightest spots in the Bay Area hardcore scene. In a year or so they'll be one of those bands that is talked about all over Internet messageboards. They're just that damn promising. This crushing demo turned EP is comprised of seven tracks of hardcore that will appeal to fans of Figure Four, Terror, and Folsom. It's so good that I spent a boatload of money to put it out myself. Pick it up from Escapist Records.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/changingface

4. Holy Ghost - Holy Ghost

In 1999 Ringworm vocalist the Human Furnace started Holy Ghost with members of other Cleveland bands (Soulless and Schnauzer among others) as a creative outlet for some ideas he had that just didn't fit Ringworm's style. The result was a mixture of brooding and cryptic metal ala Neurosis and Godflesh with the abrasiveness of Ringworm. Well that demo is finally seeing the light of day. A389 Recordings will be doing the vinyl and Deathwish Inc. is covering the CD version.

Link: http://www.deathwishinc.com and/or http://www.a389records.com

5. Ambitions - Question

Sure, it's not too hard to garner attention when your band features three members of With Honor. But that isn't really relevant when you record a demo as good as this one. If you're into melodic hardcore tunes like Dag Nasty, Gorilla Biscuits, Sinking Ships and yes the last With Honor CD, you should enjoy this thoroughly. The four tracks are beings re-released with a couple of new ones through Think Fast! Records.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/ambitionhc

— words by the SPB team

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