Sadly, I hadn't listened to Chokehold—probably the finest metallic hardcore band that Canada has ever produced—in many years until recently, and I blame it all on the fact that the "Content With Dying" CD (their best release) included that entire album as one long track, with the "Instilled" 7" (originally released in 1994 by Bloodlink Records) tacked on as a second long track. Fucking annoying. That always drove me completely nuts, and I was actually too lazy to rip the disc and split all the songs up into separate tracks until a couple of months ago. Talk about a mistake, too, 'cause holy shit is this stuff bringing back memories. I'm certainly not the most political guy in the world, and I'd say I actually identify a little less with Chokehold's lyrics now than I did in the mid-90's, but god damn are the songs absolutely crushing. For the most part it's straight-up 90's "chugga chugga" hardcore: Thick rhythms, plunky bass runs, tactfully groove-laden breakdowns, a slight lean towards discordant metal-based riffing here and there, etc. But of course lyrically Chokehold had a hell of a lot to say, on this 7" alone promoting human and animal rights, attacking homophobia and religion, and so on. The bottom line, though, is that regardless of your feelings on such topics, the songs kick ass ("Anchor" alone is an outright classic on every level), and Chokehold definitely had their own take on everything, which was unique enough to separate them from the pack with a well-balanced style that hasn't really been matched since.
1. "Burning Bridges/Mindset"
2. "Instilled"
3. "Anchor"
4. "Culture Cease"
You won't be my guiding light in this world gone mad. I don't need fairy tales to lean on. You manipulate the mind that still has to learn. Replace their thoughts with bullshit. Deception burns. You present yourself as caring, but I can see right through. Slavery and mind control are all you quest for. I won't fall. I won't fall into your group in need of something to hold. I've got my mind and its thoughts are mine. I need no religion to prove I exist, only room for my mind to learn what's right. Not no fictitious male being, not no sexist book of lies. I never needed a crutch to make me strong or to hold on to my beliefs, and I'd never turn to such a fucking lie. I'll never be that weak.
I don't think you can still find the 7" itself anywhere, but thankfully (and much to my surprise, quite frankly) you can still score the excellent "Content With Dying" CD, which—as mentioned above—has this 7" tacked on as a bonus. I'm not sure whether or not every pressing of the disc had just those two long tracks, though!
Comments
One of my all-time favorite bands and this is my favorite release of theirs!!!
I did the splitting up of tracks a year or so ago because that CD always bothered me too. Not that there’s a track worth skipping on the whole full length, but it’s still a bother to not be able to stop the album and pick back up where you left off.
Great post!
12.11.2008 | By Dan
still one of my favorite bands ever…yes, the CD is quite annoying with the two tracks but thankfully it’s still worth listening to all the way through…the final 7” (Tooth & Nail i believe it’s called) is still my fav. release cause of the pure rawness of it
12.12.2008 | By Hil
fuck yeah all their shit is so good. I am pretty sure justin has all their shit split up and “remastered”(by himself) up on his site x43x.
12.13.2008 | By metalmike
One of the all time greats. Just avoid the first demo (This World is an Addiction), Life Goes On 7” & sp[lit 7” with Crisis of Faith- TERRIBLE. They only became great with the release of their second demo tape, More Than Ever (which is included along with a ton of extra stuff on the Prison of Hope CD). Everything after was gold- the Instilled 7”, Content With Dying & Prison of Hope LPs, Tooth and Nail 7” (awesome & underrated) and of course their killer split live LP with Left For Dead, who narrowly edge Chokehold out as my favorite Canuck hardcore band. Honorable mentions have to include Acrid, Ire, Uranus, The Swarm, One Eyed God Prophecy, Cursed, Buried Inside and Countdown to Oblivion. Post some of that shit some time.
xvx
12.14.2008 | By xYosefx
http://jawkdna.com/blog/?p=882
1.17.2009 | By JawkDNA