Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Fit Of Anger - 1988-2000



Fit of Anger were a late '80s NYHC band that played heavy, ominous sounding hardcore that, to me, sounded like a darker version of Breakdown. This is a collection of 26 tracks, all restored, taken from five different recording sessions. Enjoy

Fit of Anger: 1988-2000

1988 lineup:
Nick (Grampa) - vocals
Chris Benetos - bass
Al Koos - guitar
Todd Lung - drums

With the original lineup, the band recorded their massive sounding first demo, and the 2 tracks for Freddy Alva's New Breed tape compilation. The New Breed tracks (The Oppressed and Revealing the Truth) were recorded at Monkey Hill Studios in College Point, NY on 8/27/88. Shortly after that they added a second guitar player, Nick Benetos. They played lots of shows with this lineup, with just about every '88 NYHC band you could think of. In 1989 Chris Benetos left the band and was replaced by the band's long time friend, John Boles.

1989-1991 lineup:
Nick (Grampa) - vocals
John Boles - bass
Al Koos - guitar
Nick Benetos - guitar
Todd Lung - drums

The WFMU set was recorded in January of 1989. The set here is unfortunately missing one track (the mp3 i had was cut off mid-song), an unreleased song called Changing Our Time. Also, the set in this collection is strictly the music, no banter. It was nearly impossible to find the actual songs under the wall of static and hiss i had to work with, never mind any dialogue. I'm happy with the way it came out though. It's raw and rough and heavy as shit. Some amazing bass playing on these recordings.

The band recorded another demo in 1991 which i've never heard. From what i've read it's more metallic and less heavy than the '88 demo, and sure as hell hard to find. After the second demo, Todd left and was replaced by drummer after drummer, none of which seemed to fit the band. Then Al split and the band was pretty much over by 1992.

In 1996, bass player John Boles passed away. Nick, Grampa and Chris got back together along with Vinnie (NRSV/Warzone) on drums to play a benefit show for his family. In 1998 another friend from the NY scene passed away and once again Fit of Anger got back together to play a benefit. After the show Greg from New Found Hope records who had been a longtime fan asked the band to record a full-length. Nick, Grampa and Chris hooked up with drummer Dimroc (COT, Skarhead, Stillsuit, Cold Front,Yuppicide). Each member picked their favorite tracks and went into the studio to record an album for New Found Hope Records in the US and on KingFisher in Europe. The CD, released in 2000, contained 8 newly recorded tracks of songs from both demos.


1996 lineup:
Nick (Grampa) - vocals
Chris Benetos - bass
Nick Benetos - guitar
Vinnie Verga - drums


1998 lineup:

Nick (Grampa) - vocals
Chris Benetos - bass
Nick Benetos - guitar
Dimroc - drums


All info taken from the band's official website (which hasen't been revised since early 2001).

17 comments:

  1. College Point in the house! I remember so many good times hanging out w/these guys in C.P., jamming @Monkey Hill, waiting for the bus in Queens...
    Chris Benetos kept playing in HC bands, starting up EVERYBODY GETS HURT. His brother Nick Benetos played in COLD FRONT & original bassist Paul A. (Tatu Paul) started up OI! band OXBLOOD.
    R.I.P. John Boles....

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  2. oxblood discography is awesome!

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  3. ..yo yo yo little Paul aint so little any more..Freddy you always been a good dude, God Bless..Who ever wrote this? is it you Stormy, good job its all right on..NYHC, I met alot of good folk and I met a lot of dopes..crazy shit in the shity city son..but I was there and I did it my way..Nothing stays the same and to all the youth out there doin it now FTW do it how ya wanna and rock your balls off...
    .....Strength & Honor...Nick(vocals)..

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  4. Nick, yeah i did the write-up. I got most of the info from the old FOA website. I've been a big fan of the demo since it came out in the late '80s. Thanks for the comment.

    Freddy, i have yet to check out Oxblood. I'll have to do that soon. Hope all is well.

    Vin

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  5. It's amazing that was 22 years ago! For me it was a party that lasted 3 years! I think I had too good a time. Excellent job on the write up. Thank you Stormy for keeping the memory alive!
    Todd (drums)

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  6. Todd, thanks for the comment. Hopefully you, Nick, and everyone else likes the way the sound came out. I should be getting a rip of the '91 demo soon. When i do i'll revise the file.

    Vin

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  7. great job!

    great guys since day one.

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  8. Thank You for all the support. We all had GREAT time playing together. Very smart write up. FOA Will Always Rip Shit Down. Now go listen to the CD and bust up ur room ! 1988 Suckassssssssssss. To our Boyz Stand Proud friends forever

    John Boles RIP

    Miss You Guys
    God Bless
    Chris Beee EGH

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  9. This is awesome. FOA demo is definitely a NYHC essential for me. You guys should play again. I'd love to hear By My Side live.

    Can I make a request for more demos of the harder to find bands on the New Breed comp? Stand Proud, Discipline, Direct, Show of Force, Bad Trip. etc...? I know its a lot of work for you and if that isn't possible thats cool too. Keep up the good work, this is the best blog going.

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  10. thaaaaaanks!

    cheers from Puerto Rico.

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  11. Zach, actually a Bad Trip collection is in the works, i'm just waiting on the demo. The other bands may be a bit of a problem, although Show of Force may make an appearance at some point.

    Also in the works right now:
    Release discography
    Absolution 2xCD restored discography
    Yuppicide collection
    Tribute to Sid Sludge (live Mental Abuse sets and Outgroup demos)

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  12. Does anyone have any info on the band Nick did in the early 90s or late 80s after FOA? I was trying to get info on it or perhaps even obtain a demo, but never heard anything back from the singer.

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  13. circular ruin...looking for info!

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  14. I feel sorry Vinnie Verga their 1996 drummer, his last name is a very obscene word in Spanish. I don't know if he knows what it means but it could have brought hell to him in high-school

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  15. Their logo looks like something some guy in high school could have drawn, I know that at least 2 classmates of mine in high school could have made that logo.

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  16. Cialis, i don't think that's their "official" logo. I got it from the New Breed comp, where the same artists did logos for many of the bands. Anyway, forget the art and listen to the music.

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  17. OMG! Much thanks to you for that!
    Amazingly rare and great sound!

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