Blackout Records is one of those labels that is kind of confusing. They put out some monumental hardcore records in their prime but I really don't know if they changed owners or what. Although the label seems to still be working hard, the caliber of releases just isn't quite what it was when they were putting out albums like this one, THE ICEMEN "rest in peace".
I really have no idea what made me pick this cassette up many moons ago. More than likely I had just seen their name on flyers or in zines. Many times I would pick up a bands release just because so & so NYHC band thanked them and so forth. One of these is probably the case for The Icemen as well.
To tell you the truth I don't really know much about the history of the Icemen other than the fact that all of the members have been in many note worthy bands other than this. The list is probably long so maybe someone else can help clue us in on their background info and "where are they now" facts. The sound that this band was producing over 15 years ago has seriously been copied over the past few years but I doubt kids even know this is the case. Even down to the way the few records I have ("rest in peace" Cass and the "buried alive" 7" on Twilite Records) are laid out and the graphics. Many bands have copied the way the minimal color approach using only black, blue, and white, and of course the fonts & typesetting. This has been done to death in the past 5 years but I don't think enough people even know where bands like Terror, True Blue, and countless others were getting their influences from. Well folks, here it is.
This record is copywritten in 1991 and the players were: Carl Griffin - vocals, Marco - guitar, Noah Evans - bass, & Mackie Jayson - drums. You might recognize a few of those names if you're a big NYHC buff & this is Blackout Records catalog #11.
1. "Rest In Peace"
2. "Shadow Out of Time"
3. "The Harsh Truth"
4. "No Guts, No Glory"
UPDATE: Someone also posted this on the Bridge 9 board in response to my blog...
"Carl "The mosher" Griffin(hence the underdog demo "carl the mosher") actually sang for a few other bands too, one called M13 which was pre-icemen and another called Dynamo(also members of antidote) which was post icemen. I actually think the Dynamo stuff might be a tad better than the icemen stuff, which is saying alot for me becuase i consider "rest in peices" to be in top 5 nyhc albums ever. Carl was a huge icon when it came to nyhc, i'm suprised any of his bands did'nt ever get bigger than most of the old nyhc shit. I actually just found this link the other day trying to search for Dynamo shit it has a few Dynamo songs, which, for the most part are IMPOSSIBLE to find. I was lucky enough to find some M13 demo stuff, but the recording sucks so bad its not even worth listening too. anyway, i thought i was just throw a little more info about icemen in here cuz they fuckin rule big time." - three 6 mafia
21 comments:
Carl The Mosher... one of the best voices in NYHC. He ended up doing a band called DYNAMO after The Icemen that carried the same torch that The Icemen lit. DYNAMO released 2 EP's and a demo that are criminally unknown and obscure (as the same can be said for The Icemen). Easily one of hardcore's best kept secrets. A truly original NYHC band from day one. Then again, with Carl and Mackie on wax together, you can't go wrong.
the Dynamo stuff sounds good man. At least the songs are clocking in around 1:30 instead of the Icemen 4:00 + mark!
i have all dynamo mp3s, email me at xmisfitx@gmx.de if you still want them
This rules, and kicks the shit out of the Dynamo stuff in my opinion. What's up with the Ozzy sounding "Bark at the Moon" riffs in the second track, though!? Ha, ha... I'm all over this, someone needs to repress all this shit proper, god damnit.
Fucking great band, great record. This is one I would have posted myself one of these days. I got to see them at a CBs Matinee and they seriously tore the place a new asshole, damn near stealing the show from Rest In Pieces and Sick Of It All (it was the album release show for "Blood, Sweat...").
The Underdog demo w/Carl on vox is pretty damn good, as is the Dynamo stuff, though I've always preferred this record to any of that shit...
Almost forgot - Noah Evans is the son of legendary Jazz musician Gil Evans. He's an audio engineer/producer these days, working with all types of bands/musicians (even including some work on an Everlast record, as well as Breakdown and Grey Area).
And waaaaaay waaaaaay back, Noah and Mackie had a band called Frontline that only gained fame because the Beastie Boys later used a song of theirs redone as "Time For Livin'" on the "Check Your Head" album without permission. (Frontline was around in The Young And Useless days.) Noah sued and actually won royalties for the song.
Damn good post.
i'd say that both the ICEMEN 7"s are great pieces of thrash/heavy metal. being a huge fan of old thrash bands like DEATH ANGEL, EXODUS, HIRAX, PIRANHA and such i can see where they found inspiration. carls vocal is the only link between their music and hardcore...
truly awesome band.
M-13 is weak if you want to compare it to ICEMEN or DYNAMO.... or maybe its just a quality of that demo.
Holy shit, Malik - you said "Piranha"!!! You might have just inspired a post over on my site...
>I got to see them at a CBs Matinee and they seriously tore the place...
haha... pretty sure i was @ this show also. caught many sunday matinees @ the end of the 80's.
icemen were decent but not really doing anything that almost every nyhc were doing @ the time. dropping metallic rifs, with predictable 'mosh' breaks...
come on... don't kid yrself the alleyway crew/revelation scene just hasn't stood the relative short test of time. so, so dated...
I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there, anonymous. I think most of that stuff has stood the test of time just fine so far...
That show was awesome though (July 89 I believe). Maximum Penalty was supposed to play too, but cancelled for some reason. I got "caught in a mosh" during R.I.P. and thought I was a goner, but luckily someone picked my 16-year old ass up and threw me back out of the way...
Mackie Jayson..says it all, thanks for the great post.
Allow me to clear something up here.
"Buried Alive" was Carl Griffin's attempt at continuing The Icemen on his own after being released from the original band. It's him singing with out the original members (Marco, Noah, Mackie).
How do I know this you may ask? Because I founded The Icemen, wrote all the Music, Lyrics, Artwork, etc. Unfortunately the only recordings we ever released was the R.I.P. EP.
Felt compelled to speak when I read this blog. Prefer to be remembered as we were, not tarnished by some illegitimate afterbirth.
Be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Many thanks,
MARCO
hey marco
you got an e-mail address i can contact you at? i got some questions.
Hey Marco-
There wasnt anything HARDCORE about you. We all know you would rather sit backstage and file your nails than go out into the crowd and interact with the scene. Mackie and Carl were the reason why The Icemen were hardcore. Carl reformed The Icemen with the M-13 members for that reason; to keep the hardcore spirit alive and for the scene. Don't even try to pretend that you're "keeping it real". But hey dont ask me, just ask anyone who was around back then. By the way, the last incarnation of the Icemen was Carl on Bass and Vocals, Eddie on guitar, and Shokte on Drums. The 3 also ressurected Antidote with good friend Louie Rivera on vocals and played a few shows in the tri-state back in 98.
Thanks for the comments,
Eddie | M-13 | Dynamo
Eddie,
You're kidding right? Hardcore? The only reason we were called that is Carl's inability to "sing" in tune or in time. The rest of us just wanted to rock out, it was about the music not trying to fit into some "scene". But "keeping a scene alive" is a good excuse for an imposters lack of ability.
How juvenile.
Regardless of how upset Carl was after being kicked out of The Icemen, that gave no right to what followed. Using my name (The Icemen), playing my songs, using my designs and artwork, literally stealing my creation and dragging it through the mud. Regardless of his feelings of rights and privilege from time served, these acts were reprehensible, inexcusable, and well within the domain of criminal.
If Carl or you for that matter were so passionate about hardcore the answer is simple- form a band of your own, step up to the plate, show what you've got. Taking somene else's creation and using their material fraudulently is pathetic. You speak as though proud, you should be downright ashamed, no musician worth his salt would stoop to such depths.
Stating the truth is certainly keeping it real.
I am sure this is hard for you to understand but clear for any capable of rational thought.
Best regards,
Marco
hey marco, why do you keep signing off with like "best regards", your not writing a letter dude
Dude.. Ive lost 7" and Id KILL to find a copy of the "rest in peace" ep.. any one know where to find it??
To steal the band name and material was most definitely a bitch move. I wouldn't blame anyone besides Carl though. He may have told his boys another story. But this is the kind of stuff that ruined my fave band of all time: Cro-Mags.
As Noah said: If you feel like contributing to the scene. Then start a band of you're own and write some original material. Don't steal from others.
V.
Anyone have MP3s for the Iceman/It'll Be Your Grave 7" that Reaper Records put out a couple years ago?
http://old-fast-and-loud.blogspot.com/2011/12/dynamo-demo-animal-instinct-7-police.html
Post a Comment