Worlds Collide

The show was at Saint Stephen's Church in Washington DC in spring 1991. The line up was Device, No Escape, Worlds Collide, Turning Point and BURN. At the time Worlds Collide was the only band I wasn't familiar with. Device and No Escape played great sets (they'll both get a post sooner or later) and we watched the next band set up...

They began to play. I would learn later that they were playing the intro to 'Object Of Desire'. We were hooked. Metallic hardcore and just the right heavy beat. As the song hit the first of a few breakdowns, a figure walked out on to the stage and stood to the left of the drums. He began paced back and forth, wringing his hands. The song went on. The tension built. What was happening? Were there vocals at all? As the third build started, the guy sprinted out from his place near the drums and jumped right into the crowd for the first line of the song "SEX! So easily caught in it's snare...".WOOOOAH.


That was my introduction to Worlds Collide. After the set they passed out free cassettes with their three song demo. And that demo was AMAZING...and is a completely different recording than what was released on their 7" or two full lengths.

An early shirt shirt, UPRISE Designs 1991

As they played more shows, out came the zine interviews as well as the critics. And the critics had a lot to discuss. While most bands offered a single shirt for sale, Worlds Collide had an assortment of designs as well as embroidered ball caps and knit beanies. They appeared on 'Hangin With Mtv' (as audience members, but pushed the band on camera). They spoke often about getting their dreams of becoming 'bigger' and the jealousy of other DC area bands who weren't as 'popular' as they were. A bit of a departure from other bands of the time period like AVAIL, Downcast or Mouthpiece to be sure...

Solace Fanzine, 1993

Still, I'll put those early shows up against any hardcore band of the period. The skill and passion was certainly there. Some of the best shows I've ever seen.

+ Download 'Object Of Desire' (7" EP) 1992
+ Download 'Pain Is Temporary' (CD) 1995
+ Download 'All Hope Abandon' (LP) 1994

AND if ANYONE happens to have a copy of that ORIGINAL demo PLEASE get in touch. And as I said before, that original demo is not included in any release. Yes, I know many people think it's part of the 'Pain In Temporary' CD, it's not. That's the EP and the 'Get Ross' Live record. The demo contained no guitar solos, talking samples or wild vocals. It was raw and reflected the live show. Because of that I didn't own any of the above records until AFTER I lost my demo in 1994. They all just paled in comparison.

Connection

It's no secret that we love Avail.  I frequently have "all Avail" days and only listen to their records.  So I figured I'd start my first post of 2010 with a little tribute to them.

The namesake of this blog is from the title of an Avail 7" that came out on Catheter-Assembly in 1992.  It was recorded, but not released before the band broke up the first time.  The guitarist Joe was either about to have a kid, or just had one, and that was that.  I don't know the in's and out's of why exactly- so I will leave it to a page from Bitch Magazine #3 (May 1992) for a first-ish hand (albeit vague) explanation:

Anyhow- I remember hearing that there was an impending break-up and a farewell show.  So on May 1st 1992, some friends and I drove down to Richmond to see them off at The Metro.  Almost 18 years later, I still vividly remember Tim Barry playing the floor tom during the song "March".  Towards the end of the song he picked up the drum and repeatedly hit his head against it.  He was a bloody mess, but totally caught up in the weight and intensity of the moment.  Fucking punk rock.  Enjoy a little recording of the song "Connection" from that show...