FIGURE 4 RECORDS

ok, here you got all FIG. 4 RECORDS releases and some info from Rick who ran the label. a short (well not such a short) time ago he contacted me and asked me if I'd like to post his releases and as his releases are all great here you go... and don't forget to say thanks to Rick!

The record label came about in the normal way, I guess. I was getting more into hardcore when I went to college in a town that had a really active scene. The "twin cities" of Leominster/Fitchburg, Massachusetts had all these young people, just finishing high school, that were very talented musicians for their age. There were constant local shows, 'zines, etc. It was a pretty self-sufficient little scene just between 2 towns, and I got involved right away.

I was busy at school, but I had a real creative need to satisfy too. We basically scraped up the $$ to do a split 7", then used that "profit" to fund the next one, etc.

The records were well-liked at local shows, and thru zines and mail-order. My favorite part was trading with so many great labels and having a nice distro table at the back of every show in the area. I was even selling records while I slept! Some kids would come by the house and leave $$ in my box and take the records they wanted...!

There wasn't really a goal, just basically a need to satisfy a creative urge, and to promote my friend's bands! It started to slow down when my wife and I moved out of the little scene area, and we had done records with the whole "crew" basically...I was getting into t-shirt printing for bands, which I stuck with for a while, but Figure Four basically just lived it's life after 4 years.

The best memories were the record-stuffing sessions, studio antics, the shows we had in my living room and at the t-shirt factory, the contacts I made around the world, etc.

Keep in mind this was mid-90's, pre-internet! It was done the old-school way, no emails, websites, etc. 'Zines, word-of-mouth, mail-order...that was a great accomplishment now that I think about it! It wasn't just me, but a group effort of very generous individuals that made it all happen...that's what it was all about really, just young people doing their own thing. This was at the height of Grunge Rock and then Green-Day MTV "punk" so it was even more important to "keep it real" as they say...

I am REALLY happy (so are all the band-members) that 15 years later people are still listening to and spreading the music around. That's just incredible for just a handful of records from such a small scene so long ago.

I like to think it was part of a special time in Massachusetts Hardcore history, I know that sounds really cheesy but if you were there, you know it's true!

Thanks Mat for the awesome blog...and if anybody wants to get in touch about the "old days" there is a email address on the website www.corster.com/figurefour

-Rick MacDonald

HATCHET FACE - VOL. II 12"

I lost my own copy of the HATCHET FACE 12" years ago so if you want to sell or trade me a copy drop me a line!

IPECAC / OPPOSITION - SPLIT 7"

OPPOSITION - LIVE ON WXPL

OPPOSITION 7"

ENTROPY 7"

ENTROPY - WORLD OF DISGUST TAPE

ENTROPY / UNANSWERED - SPLIT 7"

DIVE 7"

NO WORRIES

the blog isn't dead it's just hectic here!

DEAD ABOVE THE NECK

I'm nearly 100% sure that I already had posted AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED's 2nd 7" but a blog search told me something different. so here it is (eventually here it is again). this little gem was released in 1997 and comes with 12 tracks that are among ANb's best works. even if it's drum computer GRINDCORE at it's best it's still love it or hate it. click the last pic.

MANUFACTURING KARMA

DOMESTIK DOKTRIN are hailing from Indonesia and this is their 1st 7" from 2004 if I'm not mistaken (which may or may not be the 1st S.E.-Asian PUNK/HARDCORE record that was released on a western label). 9 tracks of sick FASTCORE with some THRASH thrown in for good measure here and there.