Left for Dead

Before Burning Love, before Cursed, there was Hamilton, ON's Left for Dead in the mid-'90s. Although Left for Dead members went on to the considerably beefier and more metallic strains of the aforementioned bands, there was considerable charm in their frantic hardcore. This 20-minute album is actually their discography, released in time for a couple of quick reunion shows in January before the band bow out of action again. And that makes sense: this is definitely some teen/young-adult angst, as every tune flies past with the kind of rage that only makes sense when you're laying on the floor of a community centre screaming your guts out, which isn't something a grown man generally does with his time. This is real and sincere hardcore not diluted by metal riffing, insane production sounds (this is "insane" in the other way: raw and real) or tough-guy posturing. If the word "Chokehold" meant anything to you at one point in your life, get this.