108 is the kind of hardcore I cut my teeth on back in the early 90s, particulary the Holyname EP. I missed that boat in the 80s, having been swept up in the whole hair metal thing. But when I branched out musically, hardcore vaulted to the top of my favorites list. 108 was on that list--then and now. Like Integrity and Cro-Mags, 108 hit hardcore from the metal side of the street, and brilliantly so. But they probably had more in common with the Umeå (Sweden) scene than anything here in the United States.
The band's message was of the Hare Krishna, just as Shelter's had been (and still is, by the way). I won't pretend to know a lick about that religion, though. But I do know that the band's name refers to the number of beads on the Japa mala, a sort of necklace used during the recitation of mantras.
Shoddy history lesson aside, Songs Of Separation is an album I've owned on cassette for years. Of course, I haven't owned a cassette deck for about decade. So I finally upgraded to CD. Rock! And it's just as good as I remember it. Like Christian albums, the lyrics can tend to get a bit grating. How many times can one sing about the same thing before it gets old? Not that every song on Songs Of Separation partakes in that lyrical cheese dip; when it does, however, it can be a little goofy. Each moment without You, I die, O, Krishna. Pffft! No. No, you don't. But that matters little under the glorious assault of songs like, "Noonenomore" and "Woman" and "Hostage:I." The whole album, for that matter. And, juxtaposed with the harsh vocals, guitarist Kate-O-Eight adds a welcomed dyanamic not heard in much hardcore: clean female vocals.
Overall, Songs Of Separation is a must for any hardcore fan. Not the "new" hardcore, like Hatebreed, but the classic 90s hardcore--Strife, Purusam, Doughnuts, Abhinanda. Never heard of them? Well, you suck.
Video: Opposition/Holyname (Live)
Website: http://www.weare108.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/108music
Note: Many of these links are external. In time, they may become obsolete.
2 comments:
What up? Why'd you leave the HoM board?
Because I have an "enormous ego," or so I've heard. =)
I'll come back some day. Just too busy right now. But I do still think things there got a bit too negative for my liking.
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