It goes without saying that you should download EVERY link on this page, it’s all gold. 

1. Canvas - Self titled

This CD was originally going to be released by sure hand (same label that released Unborn & other classics), but true to the fashion back then, it dragged on & on & never came out so the band took it to household name instead. I have to admit to be biased, these guys were my home town heros and I must’ve seen them play over 50 times over the years. Best elements of the Belgian edgemetal scene with a bit of a twist. It’s hard to see how dated this record is now because I’m so biased, but it still rocks my socks.

Sadly they seem to have fallen victim to time & none of the newer generations of hardcore kids are even aware of them. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?wylfciyqkwa9wty

2. Knuckledust - Time won’t heal this

Fortunately this band need no introduction, having long been Britain’s main hardcore export, this record even seeing a US release on thorpe (with much better artwork, it had panzers on the front!). Their best record in my opinion, raw, fast, hard hitting. I’m listening to it now and I just want to jump through the monitor, travel through the world wide web & pop out in your room & punch you in the face. Flawless. Horrible 90s artwork courtesy of Mr Goddard, but that’s par for the course i suppose. 

The only time I haven’t moshed when they’ve played was about 2000 when they played with the business in Sheffield. I was the only hardcore kid in attendance, & the room full of very big & angry skins kinda put me off my game.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5zffglgot4yuwg0

3. Hard to swallow - Underclass split 7”

Back in the 90s, no one could play their instruments. Musicianship in hardcore was diabolical. So watching HTS’ drummer (also the dummer for Iron Monkey) blew me away. He was fast, tight and hard as fuck. Listen to the start of ‘Only a glimpse of…’ and tell me that isn’t the perfect way to start a hardcore song? They’re a little on the thrashy side, but that set them apart from a lot of the other more chunky mosh bands at the time. 

I was disappointed with their full length, and always thought the output from their 7”s & splits &  comps were the best, so i’ve uploaded them for you here;

http://www.mediafire.com/?20rrlj6u8sdzlxg

4. Voorhees - spilling blood without reason

Fast, in your face & violent. In a time where everyone was downtuning & bringing the mosh, Voorhees just wanted to sound like Negative Approach. A mainstay of the UK hardcore scene for many many years, made it over the pond and toured in the states too which was unheard of at the time. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?w596cpcm79tkj8j

5. Stalingrad - picture disc

My copy of this got so worn out I had to buy a new one. Watching them live was always a good time, mainly because of their singer, he was always up in people’s faces like he wanted to kill them. I remember being 15 and having him scream in my face & thinking he was going to hit me or something. It’s a shame that the scene they played in was so PC & not mosh friendly because I don’t think I ever saw anyone mosh to these guys apart from the standard drunk dude with dreads at the 1 in 12. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?9hcqmdfm1c5crv9

6. Iron monkey - Self titled

I know these guys later went on to storm the metal scene, but they had their start in the hardcore scene, so I’ve included them here. I first saw them at the 1 in 12 (where else?) and was blown away. Jonny morrow was a mentalist of a front man, always entertaining even when he was splitting people’s heads open by throwing the monitors at them. fucking brutal. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?1wsuo4zmjh3k6nf

7. Imbalance - Spouting rhetoric

The feel good happy band of the 90s. They were often called the gorilla biscuits of the UK, although I’m not sure I agree. Good lyrics with pointed messages were one of the main reasons I was sold on this band, but they always put their all into their gigs. So many great memories, fancy dress circle pits, pile ons, loads of chaos. great guys to boot. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?q8bu0j18budy6db

8. Above all - last demo

Their 7” on surehand was awesome, the flexi was great & the full length on roadrunner was sub par, but the last demo they did before they broke up was the shit. so fucking good. Sadly, I lost it years ago & have been unable to track it down. If anyone reading this has a copy, hook me up. I will give blow jobs. 

9. Lifer

The only Scottish band to make this list. I think they were a little ahead of their time in some ways, in others it’s just a great slab on 90s metallic hardcore. I never got to see them live which sucks. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?2yuhx42rgln

10. Kito- Konstruct split 7”

Destroyingly heavy & criminally underrated. do yourself a favour and download these 2 tracks, you won’t regret it. Their 7” was average but they outdid themselves with this one. 1st track, Paymaster, has the typical 90s spoken word bits in it & IT RULES. i love 90s spoken word in the middle of songs. 2nd tracks is a pure belter. Major rager.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dpukqhc45i1bipb

11. bob tilton

Emo was a different beast back then, but these guys were the leaders of the pack, on these shores anyways. Thick rimmed glasses, anoraks & eastpak backpacks were the order of the day, along with a lot of raw emotion & rolling around on the floor. listen to this. it’s amazing. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?iyvyj31nwhi

Ok so there were 11, it was just too hard to keep it to 10!

Quite a few awesome bands just missed out on this list as their records were released in ‘00 or a little later like In the clear, canaan, thirty seconds to armageddon.. guess i’ll be doing another post about some other bands sooner or later..