Some news going on out there.  Looks like The Great Commission, a hardcore outfit out of Redlands/Grand Terrace, California has signed with Strike First Records (yes, you read right, Strike First), which in itself if news too.  The Great Commission had a self released demo they put out that was really good, a bit raw, but hey, it’s hardcore, isn’t that what it is all about?  DIY!  The band is heading into to the studio according to their myspace page, and plans to release a full length album in early 2009.  We wish the band the best and hope that God continues to bless them.

Strike First Records is relaunching as a subsidiary of Facedown Records and has three bands signed to the label, Through Solace, The Great Commission, and Hope for the Dying.  We wish the label the best and have lots of suggestions if they want to hook up with great Christian hardcore bands to sign.

A few releases:

Call to Preserve’s second album has been released on Facedown Records.  The title of the album is “From Isolation.”  We are big fans of Call to Preserve here at HXC Christian, and you can read a full interview with the band that was done a few months ago here .  We have not had the opportunity to pick up the album yet, so I cannot personally tell you that it is awesome, but I have heard people say that Call to Preserve has outdone themselves and the album is their best work yet.  You can purchase the album on the Facedown website. The band has also posted tour dates on their website, so if they are coming your way, go and support them.  Tell them you read about them here!

All In’s latest album “Team USA” was released on Blood & Ink Records as well, from what I have heard on their myspace page, the album is great, so you can go and pick it up from the Blook & Ink website.  They also posted a new song called “Micheal Jordan,” that they posted on their myspace page that you can go and take a listen to.  Again, a great bunch of Christian guys that are true patriots. You can read the interview they did for us here.  We wish them the best.

That’s all for now, have someone that is going to be working with me to do some interviews and posts, so look for some good upcoming stuff!

Band Name: All In
Music Style: Hardcore
Location (Home Base): Clay/Trussville/Pinson, Alabama

Q: How long has All In been playing together, how did you get together?

A: We’ve been a band for just over 3 years now. We have the same old story that every other band has as far as how we got together. We were all in other local bands. We wanted to do something else. We were friends. We had a practice. We played a show. We pretend to be a real band.

Q: Where did the name All In come from?

A: Honestly, we were just sitting around playing poker one night when the idea kind of hit me that All In would be a sweet name for a band. Everybody else really liked it too and praised me for coming up with it, so it stuck.

Q: What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

A: I’m a high school teacher. Scott delivers pizzas. Kyle delivers pizzas and goes to school and tries to meet that proverbial next girl to run away with. Clayton and Chris live down in Tuscaloosa. Clayton works out a lot…and so does Chris.

Q: What are some of the bands that influence All In?

A: Um…that’s a hard one. I really don’t listen to much heavy music at all, so when I’m usually influenced to write by the great song writers of the world like Oasis, Rocky Votolato, etc. But I think we just try to capitalize on stuff that No Warning, Carry On, Guns Up, and people like that have already done. We all really admire stuff like Life In Your Way and Killing The Dream and stuff like that…we tried to incorporate a little bit of everything like that on the new album.

Q: If someone asked you to describe the sound of All In that was not in the hardcore scene, how would you do that?

A: I would probably say that we sound like Mudvayne or something. Generally just something heavy that people didn’t understand, but didn’t fear either. Also, there’s no scientific way that the joke I just made will translate into a type-written interview.

Q: Congrats on recently signing with Blood & Ink Records, what does this mean for the band?

A: It means we are happy. They’re awesome. It means that we’ve got a label who’s going to work hard for us, and we’re gonna work hard to reciprocate that. It means that we just pumped a syringe full of patriotism into the recording industry.

Q: You have a new album called “Team U.S.A.” due out on September 23rd on Blood & Ink, can you explain the name “Team U.S.A.” and why each song is named after a professional basketball player?

A: Well, we’re all massively patriotic, so we wanted to theme all the art to reflect the rich history of the greatest nation ever formed in the long history of this world. So that lead to the title. We’re pretty much the new Team USA since it’s no longer cool to be patriotic for some stupid reason. People, for some reason, hate to talk about all the good things that this country’s given them so that they can harp on the bad things that are going on. So anyway, that’s stupid, and we’re here to praise the USA and pledge our allegiance. Also, we love basketball…especially me.

Q: How do you think the sound of All In has matured since the first album “Nothing To Lose” to the new album “Team U.S.A.?”

A: The difference between these two albums really can’t be put into words. I really hope that people will give this new stuff a chance, because we’re so, so proud of the way it came out. It’s drastically more mature than the last album. We incorporated more of what we really listen to with more melodic stuff, etc. “Nothing To Lose” is a pretty terrible CD to us…I personally wouldn’t advise anybody to buy it, but I love the new CD and I hope people give it a fair chance.

Q: I noticed that you guys used to have a big Republican elephant on your myspace page, are you guys Republicans/Conservatives?

A: Yeah, we’re as right as right comes. And not really for religious reasons, either. Just for common sense, economic reasons. People love to assume that if you’re both a Christian and a Conservative, then you’re a Conservative because you’re a Christian and Christian’s can’t be for abortion, etc. But it’s really got nothing to do with that. Democrats are running the country off a cliff with their economic policies. But the truth is, when we’re on tour, we always try and approach venues from the northwest so that we only have to make right turns in our van. Also, we all just wear 2 right shoes. Anyway, yeah…we’re conservatives.

“Self Proclaimed Ugliest Guys In Hardcore.” Although We Have Seen A Lot Worse!

Q: Do you consider All In a Christian hardcore band? If so, where from the bible does All In derive most of its influence?

A: We’re definitely fully, 100% a Christian hardcore band. We have no agenda but really just to love people and have fun with friends at shows. Lyrically, I don’t draw all that much influence from the Bible. I draw most of the lyrical influence from real life situations that everybody, Christian or not, can relate to. I write a lot about regret and wasting away years of my life, etc.

Q: Anyone ever give the band a hard time for being Christian and supporting America?

A: No, not really. I mean, maybe they have indirectly. Like, I know that a lot of people hate “Christian hardcore” altogether so they probably would just write us off without giving us a fair chance. And really, I don’t blame them for that. I honestly hate it when people preach and give sermons and crap like that at shows too, so they’ve been turned off by all the preaching just like I have. We don’t preach at all, though. You may not know we’re a Christian band until you sit down and really read our lyrics, so I hope that’s helped us relate to the crowd of people who are turned off by Christian hardcore.

Q: What messages do you convey through your music as it relates to Christ?

A: Oh, all kinds really. Again, we’re not preaching to anybody. We just sing about what we believe in, just like every other band weather they’re singing about how they believe in straight edge or atheism or whatever else. Like I said, I talk a lot about regret. But also, doing stupid things, letting go of your past, forgiving people who hurt you, etc. etc.

Q: Do people ever come up to you guys after a show to discuss Christ or your views?

A: Sometimes. We definitely welcome that, but mostly people just come talk to us to hang out or chill or whatever.

Q: What are some of the other bands that All In has played with? Who were the most memorable and why?

A: Tons of people, but I guess the most memorable are the ones we’ve toured with. We love the guys in Call To Preserve, The Neon Hookers, The Red Baron, xThick As Bloodx, In Irons. It’s always fun to play shows where tons of friends are hanging out.

Q: There seems to be two hot spots for Christian hardcore music right now, Southern California and the South, why do you think the South has so many great Christian hardcore bands?

A: Oh, actually I didn’t know that we did. That’s cool though, I guess.

Q: Will All In be touring with the new album release?

A: Absolutely. We’re playing weekends around the southeast in the coming months. Then, starting in mid December and January, we’re going on the road non-stop for 8 months or so. So, if you want to book us, message us at myspace.com/allinhxc

Q: What are future plans for the band?

A: Chill. Get this album out. Tour. Chill. Watch basketball. Love America. Chill. Eat as much KFC as possible.

Q: If you could give the hardcore scene one message, what would it be?

A: Don’t take yourself so seriously.
Don’t fight at shows.
Do not fear what you do not understand.

Q: Anything you want to add that I forget, or random thoughts, go ahead and add it below!

A: Check out myspace.com/allinhxc – We’ll have pre-orders up really soon!
Buy our new CD.
Support Blood And Ink Records.
Support HXCChristian.com.
Check out our other bands, Nations, Year One, and Patriot.
Check out vacationterminal.com
Don’t believe what slick politicians try to tell you.
We’re back in the saddle.
5 idots who sings and plays and instruments good.
Ugliest band in hardcore.
Pimpin 07 tour.
08.

PREORDER THE ALBUM “TEAM USA” NOW AND GET A FREE ALL IN T-SHIRT FOR $15, CLICK HERE TO PREORDER YOUR COPY!

NEWS:

Arizona based Christian hardcore band Braveheart has a 4 song split CD out with Sovereign Strength from California. I am a huge fan of Braveheart. The production value on their material on the split CD is phenomenal. I highly suggest getting in touch with the band through their myspace page and paying them $5 (post paid) for a copy of the CD. Even though it is only 4 songs it is well worth it. Brandon from the band tells me that they are working on getting a full length CD out, no release date as of yet, but when they do, you can be sure I will let everyone know.

Christian hardcore act All In from Alabama is releasing their second full length album on Blood & Ink Records The album is due out September 23rd. The name of the album is “Team USA.” They have one of the new songs “Charles Barkley” up on their myspace page that you can go and check out. You will want to pick up their new album when it drops. I hope they they tour after they release “Team USA.”

Call to Preserve art work has been leaked on the internet (along with track listings) See below. Don’t forget you can listen to two new songs on their myspace page They also have an awesome blog (For All Who Seek the Truth The XCTPX Blog) for the band where you can watch their three video blogs they made while recording the new album “From Isolation.”

From Isolation Track Listings:
1. Sinking Sun
2. So Low
3. Vices
4. Dear Galatia
5. From Isolation
6. Hindsight
7. Shameless
8. Lincoln Street
9. Waiting for Dawn
10. First Light
11. Hope for the Fallen
12. Open Your Eyes

The album cover is by Dave Quiggle who was one of members of No Innocent Victim, and is currently in the band Jesus Wept. He also works for Facedown Records and does tattoo work on the side (Dave is a busy dude!)

Here are some mini-views with some bands that you have got to check out. Befriend them on myspace and top friend them!

Band: Mankind
Music Style: Hardcore
Location: Nashville, TN

Someone posted about Mankind on the www.HXCChristian.com Forums. We had a debate as to whether these guys were a Christian hardcore band or not. Their lyrics are definitely Christian. I decided to email the band to find out first hand if they are a Christian hardcore band. Greg from the bands sent me this response:

” Thanks for the kind words! I am speaking on the behalf of myself to say that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It has never been easy and I’ve gone through a lot of changes, but my faith has always remained. Jesse and I started this band with the intention of experiencing new places and sharing our lives and perspectives with the world; well, that’s where my optimism kicks in. At the center of my life is my faith. My strongest desire has been the undying search for the truth. We, Mankind, are not necessarily about labeling, seeing as how it tends to put ideas into a box, or oversimplifies something as complex as one’s faith. However, we are all believers in Christ, and we all crave to understand him more. We just have different ways of getting there.

With my heart on my sleeve,
-Greg”

You have got to go and check these guys out on Myspace, here is a link to their Myspace page You can listen to a bunch of their songs and you can download their EP for $5. If these guys come to your town, check them out!

Band Name: Debtor
Music Style: Hardcore
Location: North Wales, PA (outside Philly whoohoo!)

Alan who sings for Debtor also posts on the HXCChristian.com forum and keeps us up to date on the band and what they are up to. Having grown up in the hardcore scene in the Philly area, I know how hostile the scene can be towards Christian bands, but I think Debtor does an awesome job with their music and message. Alan posted the other day that Debtor posted a couple of new songs on their myspace page. Alan informs us that Debtor is working on a new full-length album that is due to be released very soon. The name of the album will be “Deliverance.” If you are looking for a great Christian hardcore band, these guys are it, their influences include Strongarm and Verse.

SUPPORT YOUR UNDERGROUND CHRISTIAN HARDCORE BANDS!!!

As Always, go to the HXC Christian forum and post away. We are growing and more and more people are finding us. Take care and may the God of Israel bless you!