Peace Test are straightedge hardcore punk band from Providence, HP Lovecraft´s town hehe. But, of course they have nothing to do with the late horror writer legend, but they delivered awesome new release with angry and fast hardcore punk with short songs sounding like outbursts of angry machine gun staccato, with screaming vocals, 80-ies influenced old school hardcore with more punk than nowadays metal influenced riffs. There are six anthems of anger, fight and not giving up on this one and being an old school hardcore guy, I definitely love this record. Songs like Authority and Vegetative State will have you finger pointing and fist pumping and pogoing in no time. Marvelous record!
After decades in the making, INSIGHT unleashes the tiger with their 19 song discography, Reflection. “We never got to release a full length, we never got to release something when people could get your songs in real-time, so it’s simply amazing that 30 years later people still give a shit about INSIGHT,” admits frontman Mark Starr on the band’s discography collection, Reflection, available everywhere today via Mission Two Entertainment.
Reflection covers the hardcore outfit’s collection of vegetarian and straight-edge anthems, including the out-of-print EP What Will It Take (originally released on Victory Records in 1990), four new songs, hard-to-find compilation tracks, and a 1989 live set from New Jersey while on tour supporting Social Distortion.
Starr continues, “I’m very grateful for our fans caring. That’s why this release is so important and known it’s for the fans of INSIGHT and old-school hardcore.” INSIGHT was one of Victory Records’ first artists signed in 1989, and is rounded out by former Iceburn members – drummer Joseph ‘Chubba’ Smith, Doug Wright on bass, Jeremy Chatelain and James Holder on guitars.
“Also the fact that we have stayed friends for as long as we have been is apparent with this release. We have all succeeded in our own adventures after INSIGHT and still are able to continue with the sound and power that is INSIGHT. Thus our new songs still hold true to our sound. Reflection, the title definitely says it all,” adds Starr. “This album is a retrospect and a reflection to the history of INSIGHT.”
In 2019, INSIGHT came out of hardcore hibernation, leading them to sign with Mission Two Entertainment, the company helmed by Victory Records founder Tony Brummel. “Back in the day, we had some great shows, met some incredible people and Tony was always so stoked on INSIGHT. We stayed at his place countless times, he took us all over Chicago, even joining in a fight when some guys pulled over and started shit because of the way we looked (as referenced in the track ‘Get It’). Let’s just say that didn’t end well for them. It was a powerful sentiment having someone believe in us the way he did, especially all these years later.”
Reflection Track Listing:
Standing Strong
Believe
Walk Away
Enough
Identity Crisis
End The Cruelty
Get It
Silent Shore
Take It Back
Lost In My Pride
Reflection
Strength
Walk Away (Live)
End The Cruelty (Live)
Standing Strong (Live)
Enough (Live)
Identity Crisis (Live)
Control (Live)
Tied Down (Live)
Tracks 1-6: Originally from the 1990 release of the What Will It Take 7”.
Track 7: Previously released on the Voice Of Thousands compilation in 1990.
Track 8: Previously released on the Only The Strong compilation in 1990.
Tracks 9-12: Brand new tracks.
Tracks 13-19: Recorded live in August 1989 at City Gardens, Trenton, New Jersey.
Najveribest were already featured on the pages of this zine in the series about the bands from my hometown, who described their history in their own words. What can I say? This album was and still is one of my personal favorite records from this area, since it came out on cassette 24 years ago on now defunct Barbarian records. I also remember Najveribest having so energetic shows that I loved so much, as a fan in front of the stage and sharing the stage with my then band Corewar. They were really ahead of their time with their hardcore/crossover equally mixing metal and punk roots in their awesome songs with lyrics in Croatian and English, some about fun and bullshit, some really personally themed stuff and anti-war which was so important back in the nineties in this country. Songs like Bar nešto, Problematika, Mučenje i glupost still are my favorites but also Go!, Fuckin War or Brother Hates Brother too. Now, 24 years later, thanks to Bero from Ill in the Head Records who re-released this gem and Ivan from Kut Sobe who did remastering, also Inspirited Media who did graphic solutions and design, this gem can shine again in all its glory stronger than ever. Go get this one if you are into hardcore crossover with balls, energy and attitude.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 