Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

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Double or Nothing Records (Nicholas Smith)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2008?

  1. Hammer Brothers - The Kids Are Dead
  2. Hour of the Wolf / Lewd Acts - Split
  3. H20 - Nothing to Prove
  4. Internal Affairs / Dälek - Triumvir 12"
  5. Years Spent Cold - Moving Heaven to Hell

What band did you discover in 2008 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Power Trip from Texas: a solid mix of thrash and crossover with a taste of modern hardcore. They really are not doing anything new; they are just doing it right. Crucified from California: fast, raw, angry Clevo-style hardcore that doesn't put me to sleep. No vintage stupid gear for some shit sandwich doom sounds, straight raw power with good songwriting. The singer let me BBQ and swim at his house for three days while I was on tour.

How will you remember 2008? (In terms of music)

As far as hardcore, I would say pretty stagnant and disconnected.

Vinyl record sales saw a significant increase this year while hard copy sales continued to dwindle. Is this a return to the glory days for vinyl or just a phase? Explain.

I believe it is a return to the glory days. People can steal as much music as they want and there is nothing we can do about it other than make the tangible product better. That includes vinyl, packaging, posters, artwork, and anything that reflects the artist that music can be combined with. Major labels are going under because everything is so niche oriented and there are people loyal to the music style they embrace. So it's only fair to make those releases more personal and artistic, rather than some mass production of a disc and paper. I think vinyl has showed throughout time it can last and I think it will be steady for a while.

What was the most memorable moment for you in 2008? (Can be in terms of anything)

Ending my six-year contract with the U.S. Army and then finding out two months later that my former unit is going to Iraq.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

More new releases than I can think of off hand. More split 7"s. More killer bands. Some new Kids Like Us/Mongoloids record covers. New Know The Score record, Stray Dogs...Hard as Fuck. Finally moving back to Cleveland. Various uncalled-for remarks on bands, labels, and people I don't much care for.

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2009?

Steel Nation, Know the Score, and Crucified

Homepage: http://www.doubleornothingrecords.com

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