Breakdown - Runnin' Scared LP

Breakdown's 1987 demo served as a benchmark for what was to shape New York Hardcore for years to come. As many consider 1985 / 1986 as years that shaped the second wave of NYHC. Their demo along with Raw Deal's entrance into the fray, set the bar higher than most bands could ever dream reaching. Just as
Youth of Today and select acts from the Revelation camp created an army of cookie cutter straightedge, posi-core bands. Intended or not, Breakdown opened the gates for just about every tough guy Hardcore act to follow.

Considering the impact and and downright icon status of that 87' demo. I didn't come close to breaking a sweat when it came to acquiring 'Runnin Scared', but once a the needle hit the record. I was transformed. In listening to "Dissed and Dismissed' and 'All I Ask" I came to realize that, as much as I love, support and respect Hardcore music and the community it's created. Bands have very seldom come remotely close to what Breakdown created.

'Runnin Scared' features the 1988 demo of the same name. Recorded in The Loft studios in Bronxville, near the parkway, and previously unreleased versions of 'All I Ask' and
'Hold Me Back'. The latter basically a new Breakdown song that you can’t get anywhere else but here. Also included is their second WNYU session from 1989. The record contains eighteen tracks in all and includes a 12" X 24" with rare photos and flyers as well as new liner notes by Jeff Perlin himself. First pressing of 1,000 black vinyl. Go get yourself a copy before they're gone. James Damion

Get it Here  Painkiller Records

25 Years Later. N.Y.H.C. Classics from 1989

1989 was a banner year for me. One year removed from High School. I was back in my hometown of Jackson Heights and had published a whopping thousand copies the second issue of Unite, I was in either the studio or a practice space somewhere in Queens or Manhattan and shared what was my first apartment with a couple of Gorilla Biscuits and the drummer for Beyond. My first car was on it's last leg but still kicking. I was going to shows two, three times a week at places like CBGB's, The Anthrax, The Sundance,
The Right Track Inn and The Pyramid to name just a few. Above all, it was a banner year for two music genres I found myself deeply immersed in, Hip Hop and Hardcore. As I begin to collect my very own, opinionated and albeit flawed list of favorites from 1989. I'll present you with my list of favorite LP's to come out of the bursting NYHC scene twenty five long years ago. Feel free to comment with yours. James Damion                                                             

Blackout Records - Where The Wild Things Are

Killing Time - Brightside

Leeway - Born to Expire

Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today

Sick of it All - Blood, Sweat and No Tears

Youth of Today - We're Not in this Alone

Judge - Bringin' it Down

Token Entry - Jaybird

Underdog - The Vanishing Point

Beyond - No Longer at Ease