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

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

LINKS TO ALL THE PAGES

Landmine Marathon (Ryan Butler)

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

  1. Trap Them - Seizers in Barren Praise
  2. Rotten Sound - Cycles
  3. Hail of Bullets - Of Frost and War
  4. Ghostlimb - Bearing and Distance
  5. Unleashed - Hammer Battalion

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?

Trap Them. They'd been around for a few years and I finally picked up some of their stuff and discovered their Entombedy goodness.

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

Somewhat bland other than the return of Martin Van Drunen to a full time band.

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.

That's a good question. Trends come and go, but I think vinyl may be a great way to keep record sales up while still giving the customer a great bang for the buck. They can get a listenable collector's item and the bands/labels can still make money. I thought a few bands were smart this year in releasing vinyl with a one time only download code with it. Pretty solid idea if you ask me. From what I hear, all the pressing plants are so backed up that some of them are even refusing new customers. So, it's definitely popular right now and just could save the music industry.

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

Man, I have no idea. We did two tours that were great fun. Other than that, it flew by!

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

We'll have a split 7" coming out with The Funeral Pyre, do some touring for "Rusted Eyes Awake," and be working on a new LP with a release somewhere around January 2010.

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

Graf Orlock - Destination Time Today, Napalm Death - Time Waits for No Slave, and I heard Asunder is putting out a new record as well.

Homepage: http://landminemarathon.blogspot.com

Related features

Alexandros Anesiadis

One Question Interviews • July 15, 2026

Alexandros Anesiadis (Tear It Down, Crossover, New Wind – author) Was there a particular record or moment that inspired the genesis of Tear It Down, about crossover? It wasn't the day I first heard the opening track on side two of the Cro-Mags' The Age of Quarrel. It wasn't when … Read more

The Drolls

One Question Interviews • July 14, 2026

Denny Bartlett (The Drolls – guitar/vocals) SPB: You’ve been in multiple bands. What is the origin story of The Drolls? What was your radioactive spider? Barltett: I hadn’t played live in almost 20 years and other people I knew from back in the day were getting back into it and … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

The Mistakes

One Question Interviews • July 13, 2026

Shane (The Mistakes) SPB: What is the most tiresome stereotype about punk rock? I think for me the biggest stereotype about punk rock music is that it's simple music for with one core message of Anarchy, but it's so much more. Punk rock is where people can get an education … Read more

Hot Pennies

One Question Interviews • July 10, 2026

Trash (Hot Pennies) SPB: What venue is your favorite to play (and why)? Trash: This is a challenging question. We have a lot of great venues in the Phoenix area. My personal favorite has gotta be Chopper John's for its wily crowd and good times. There's always a great mix … Read more

More from this section

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #3

Music / New Kids On The Block • May 8, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more