The Disenchanted - How Can We Lose When We're So Sincere? (1998)

A band who needs no introduction, the Disenchanted were active from 1995 to 2000 and wrote a ridiculous amount of songs in that time (hence the LP file being split in two thanks to the limitations of my hosting site) and they were all snotty as hell. From what I could gather, being that they were a little before my time, they kept Albany punk in a time when the scene had largely gone hardcore which is a ballsy feat in of itself.

The Disenchanted reunion in 2013

I usually hate to use the term "street punk" because in most cases it is cause for immediate eyerolls and sighs, but this band is not one of those corny anthem bands that came on the heels of the growing popularity of the Casualties. I'd say they took more from the school of bands like Grimple, there is a noticeable Bay Area sound to some of the riffs on this release especially. I remember having a cassette dupe of this from a friend of a friend that warbled like it had been soaking in a garbage can somewhere, but hearing this shit in the year 2000 got me stoked that there was a local band that was leagues ahead of all the Punx Unite comps I sought out so fervently. This shit gave those bands a run for their money, and it was in my own backyard!

 

Tracklist:

1. Guidelines for Revolution
2. Placebo
3. Rape Whistle
4. Admit
5. I Hate Dealing with Morons
6. 8 Eleven Madison Avenue
7. McDonald's: We Own You
8. Keeping It Virtual
9. Brand New
10. ...And You Believe Them
11. Serve & Protect
12. Do You Like Math?
13. Long Story Made Short
14. (I'm Tired of Carrying Around a Picture of My Hand in My) Wallet
15. Corpse Like
16. Two Point Five
17. Frustration, Failure, and All Points in Between
18. Picking Through Scraps
19. Capitalist Legacy, Private Riding Lessons and You
20. Something To Cry About
21. The Kids Are Out Tonight

Download URL part 1: https://sabercathost.com/9xWo/TheDisenchanted-HowCanWeLose1.zip

Download URL part 2: https://sabercathost.com/hWer/TheDisenchanted-HowCanWeLose2.zip

Legit! - SHIT SON, the Demo (2007)

Another highlight of Albany hardcore punk who were relatively short lived, Legit! was a band of local veterans who wrote some raging shit in the vein of Assfactor 4 and Articles of Faith with way more sardonic venom and catchier riffs. The lineup here is as solid as it gets with Marty (Pleasure Industry, Mary's Ugly Children) on vocals, Mike Moak (After the Fall, Postage, dozens more) Matty V (Chinese Delivery, Blazefest, among others), and Sullivan (Cancer, Murphy's Law, and yeah even more) who is easily one of my favorite drummers to see play.

They put out the Shit Happens 7" after this demo, but for nostalgia purposes I'm gonna put the demo up first because I pretty much immediately wore that shit out as soon as I got it. This will tear you to shreds and you will enjoy it.

Tracklist:

1. The Amazing New Awful
2. Fuck You, John Mayer
3. Discount Lobotomy
4. Slopetooth
5. Dylan Death Camp
6. I've Got a New Brain
7. STD Fantastic
8. The Least Painful Way to Get Fucked in the Ass

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9xWm/Legit-ShitSonDemo.zip

By The Throat - Self Titled 7" (1999)

Easily comparable to Monster X because of the presence of guitarist Nate Wilson and vocalist John Moran but I think this might stand out a little more to me, though that is just my opinion. Usually found in a dollar bin, this record is a totally underrated Albany hardcore release between the intensity of drummer Paul Henry (Acid Reflux, Limp Wrist), and the vicious guttural vocal delivery. Some of it is more straightforward hardcore, while others bring back the grindcore you came to expect from the Monster X catalog, but either way it'll scratch that itch if you need something pretty fucking harsh. This came out as a four way split release between Gloom Records, Hater of God,  Arashikage Records, and Paralogy. Aside from this EP, they have a couple killer songs on the second Albany Style 7" comp that came out in 1999 alongside Police Line, Monster X, and Devoid of Faith.

Tracklist:

1. Bought and Sold
2. Push Comes to Shove
3. Fight Back
4. Clone
5. Agenda
6. Meant to Last
7. Come to Accept
8. Lowest Form of Life

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9xWk/ByTheThroat.zip

The Verge - Habitual EP (1983)

This band I really don't know a whole lot about, but the Habitual EP is cool as hell and worth documenting as far as early Albany punk history goes. I first heard them on the Hudson Rock compilation that features other killer bands like The Morons, Lumpen Proles, The Crude, and Capitle, and they definitely stood out. Some hints of Killing Joke and Gang of Four tinge these tunes but still Punk as hell. I'm sure one of you might have more info on these guys, and it would be appreciated as it appears this 7" and their tracks on Hudson Rock are the only ones in the public eye (at least according to Discogs). Give it a listen!

Tracklist:

1. Hypocrisy
2. Picturesque
3. Tradition
4. Understand

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9xWj/TheVerge-Habitual.zip

The Jury - I Hate The Future (2006)

This is one that was high on my priority list from the conception of this blog, a band who was truly an embodiment of the Albany punk scene in the 200Xs: dirty, drunk, chaotic, and messy. I can't say enough good things about seeing this band and playing gigs with them, not to mention them as people. I recall a semi rotating lineup in the early days had Sean Doody (End of a Year, Police Line) on drums, with Andrew Duggan (also End of a Year, Police Line) and Marcus Benamati (Brain Killer) both on second guitar at one point or another. The steadiest lineup had Albany punk staples who largely do not live in the Albany area anymore, though no one would hold it against them. Mike Kenneally on vocals, Joe Maurizio (Pointblank) on guitar, John Brisley (Pointblank) on bass, and Dan Murphy (Might, Mr. Wednesday) on drums.

I Hate The Future was their first vinyl effort put out on Gloom Records in 2006, with putting out one more 7" in 2008 and a split with Total Fury from Japan in 2007, and holds a special place in Albany history. The Jury was a healthy dose of Cleveland hardcore along the lines of Gordon Solie Motherfuckers and 9 Shocks Terror, with some Poison Idea peppered in for good measure. The lyrics were succinct and filled with darkly wry humor, with lines like "this pack a day frustration is getting me down / the only thing I could ask for is a flamethrower and a map of this town" how could you go wrong?

Tracklist:

1. I Hate The Future
2. Dog Years
3. Morris St. Blues
4. I See London, I See France
5. Sour Grapes
6. Wizards

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWcC/TheJury-IHateTheFuture.zip

JBA - Who Fucked the Culture Up? (2002)

Talk about an absolute fucking rager, Who Fucked the Culture Up is easily high up in my favorite Albany releases of all time. John Brown's Army somehow blended Japanese hardcore punk and NYHC effortlessly, rising from the ashes of Albany greats Devoid of Faith to spit this shit in our stupid faces like it was just another day. It makes sense, considering who was in the band after all: Nate Wilson (Monster X, Das Oath, By the Throat, Gloom Records), Matto LaQue (Give Up, Hail Mary, Peterwalkee Records), Eric Schou (Deathsquad), and Rob Cole (Brevator).

JBA has a CD that compiles this with their two splits they did, one with Reagan SS and one with Curtainrail, but you're only getting a copy of the LP in the download link. Do your homework if you want more, this band is totally worth it.

Tracklist:

1. Playing With Fire
2. Fitting The Mood
3. Clever Like Shit
4. Scene Through
5. Fading Like a Bad Tan
6. Though... What's That?
7. Convenience is the Conclusion
8. Another Fucking Love Song
9. Closed In
10. Beyond a Measure
11. Kill a Commie (Gang Green cover)
12. Dandy

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/qktV/JBA-WhoFuckedTheCultureUp.rar

A.D.'s - Living Downtown b/w Testing (1980)

A.D.'s were definitely one of the earliest punk bands in Albany, with this single coming out in 1980, and has since become a cult classic home and abroad thanks to it being featured on various comps like Bloodstains Across New York, and Break The Rules. Rumor is you can still find a physical copy or two for sale at the singer Jim Furlong's long running record store Last Vestige right on Quail Street. This shit is essential for you local weirdos, and catchy as hell to boot. FFO: Killed By Death comps and double parking.

Later on they released some other singles (Alone Again, and More Than Once) and the Know Hard Feelings LP, all of which have their moments for sure, but this is the slab that really stands out the most out of all of them.

Tracklist:

1. Living Downtown
2. Testing

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/qktT/ADs-LivingDowntown.rar

Capitle - Demo (1983)

It seemed appropriate to start off this blog with one of [if not] the first hardcore band[s] in Albany. As far as I can gather they started in 1981, disbanded around the mid to late '80s, and as of a few years back are active and playing gigs again.

In the days before the internet made shit like this so accessible I had always heard about the legendary Capitle demo, but it took years for me to find MP3 copies of it. The first I actually got to hear was a VHS of a basement show from around 1983 owned by Billy Harrigan (singer of Dirt Church, and the son of Billy Harrigan from Dronez/the Outpatients/New Shiny Things/and plenty others), and the excitement of seeing one of the bands responsible for the prominence of hardcore in this area blew me away. Maybe eventually he can get around to digitizing it.

Capitle has a few new EPs out showing they're still as solid as they always were. This demo has been collected with other of their recordings ranging from 1981 to 1986 on local label Cacophone Records, who were responsible for putting out other local greats like Trauma School Dropouts and 1313 Mockingbird Way.

Capitle at Larkfest (unsure of year)

Tracklist:

1. A.H.
2. Error
3. Lean on a Wall
4. Run Fun
5. Timing

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/qktS/Capitle-Demo_1983.rar