New York again? Yeah, I can't help it, but you'll thank me anyway. You see, I've been buggin' my man Johnnyvic for literally years to hit me up with this demo, and he finally pulled through like a true champ last weekend. Like many, I've never really had the chance to hear Merauder with their first vocalist, Minus, so here's their rare 1993 demo with Minus fronting what became the "Master Killer" lineup: Minus (vocals), Sob (guitar), Anthony (guitar), Rick (bass), and Vinnie (drums). "Life is Pain" and "Besiege the Masses" were re-recorded on "Master Killer", and "Final War" was redone on "Five Deadly Venoms", but I actually think these demo versions sound harder musically for whatever reason, with added chugging fury and a little more of a classic moshy vibe (as opposed to the token Merauder sound that the band honed in on over the next couple of years). In other words: I fuckin' love it!
1. "Life is Pain"
2. "Final War"
3. "Besiege the Masses"
4. "Fear of Sin" (only appears on some copies of the demo)
Oh, and coincidentally, right after my post about Leeway dropped, there's suddenly a shitload of news about the band circulating all over the place. Here's the gist of a comment that was posted regarding all that:
"Leeway is coming back. Eddie Sutton is currently working on a new licensing deal (that will give the band better distribution), and Leeway will be playing again in 2006. They never had a website, but all of that is changing now. You'll also be glad to hear that they'll be releasing a live CD that will be recorded in New York City at a future show. Eddie is also working on a new DVD series called 'Eddie Leeway's Haunted Hardcore' and the first volume will feature Leeway consisting of two live shows and some mp3's as well. Other bands are to follow. And if anyone is curious, Eddie has also become a historian on organized crime in New York. He has a walking tour in New York City that has become one of the most exclusive walk/talk tours that New York has to offer, and he maintains relationships with some of the former real wiseguys that became famous from movies like 'Goodfellas' and 'Donnie Brasco'."
In fact, in addition to all of that, Leeway's even rockin' a MySpace page now. Who knew!? But welcome fucking back!
Comments
I assume you have the Merauder demos with Eddie Sutton singing?
9.14.2005 | By Guav
Sab from Merauder was a big time trouble maker at shows back in the day. He used to hate on metalheads and then he grows his hair all long and shit. Strange. That said, “Life Is Pain” is a cool song.
9.14.2005 | By carlosNYC
I have some live sets if that interests you at all.
carlosnyc—“A hairstyle’s not a lifestyle”, and he’s still a troublemaker.
9.14.2005 | By Buske DNA
Yeah, I posted the demo with Sutton on vocals awhile back actually. I really dig that shit, ha, ha…
9.15.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
definitely feel this demo has more “metallic” sound than the cd recording which basically had a stock Normandy Sound thing happening.
sources have it this was done for Roadrunner after which Minus obviously bailed.
anyway…still a winner.
-jxw
9.15.2005 | By jim fucking winters
great demo
yeah and there’s alot of Leeay talk these days. Is AJ Novello still touring with John Joseph under the name Bloodclot?
9.16.2005 | By Anonymous
i dont know about bloodclot but i saw them this past spring under the name FVK (fearless vampire killers) and they were really good!
9.16.2005 | By EMS
i don’t know if buske has the live set I have, but I have an awesome set from CB’s with minus on vox. at one point he is making fun of some skinheads calling them “new jack baldies” ... it is awesome.
9.16.2005 | By Daniel Rosen
This is by far one of my favorites. I do think its sounds better than master killer. I have also had the luck of buying this demo not once but twice. Found it in a used cd store once, then Ebay the second time. By the way this is a great blog for the old school, definitly hearing some things I havnt heard in a long time and things I never heard before keep up the good work.
Dylan
PS, I found this page via a link from Dwid on myspace…
9.16.2005 | By Anonymous
Wasn’t ‘Fear Of Sin’ on that demo as well? I have a version of that song (on mp3) with Minus on vocals and clearly the same sound.
9.17.2005 | By BEN
I also have this demo as a 4 track demo, including “Fear Of Sin”. I’ll see if I can post it somewhere online. This demo is great indeed…. The one with Eddie Leeway is interesting, but his style doesn’t really fit the music if you ask me.
9.17.2005 | By New Sadist
Weird, my copy of the demo only has three tracks listed on the packaging and everything. Go figure!?
9.19.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
i WANTED TO SAY THAT i was and still am 100% hip hop/old skool rap chik from Brooklyn.well I was introduced to the hardcore scene by an old skooler herself Anne.thats mah girl..anyway she introduced me 2 Minus & merauder back then. I fell in love with the music and with Minus.that was my cutie( boyfriend) he definitly in my opinion was the heart of that band.Noone will ever sing the shit outta Life is pain like he did,he was 1 funny motherfucker too he once wore a gold lame dress at a CB’s show fucking hilarious,without him..I aint feeling them ,anthony & sob r gone too…vinnies the only one left??that IS NOT Merauder to me.
11.3.2005 | By Anonymous
Hey,
I am good friends with Minus the original singer from Merauder…I am doing him a favor,on line he has no copies of what he recorded , Do you have anything? or can get anything…I would appreciate it..
George
11.26.2007 | By Drago
Has anyone on here talked to Minus??? I was his girlfriend back in 94, I unfortunately asked him to leave the group. God do I feel guilty. Anyway, we kept in contact for years and then life just happened. I heard he moved to Florida with his girlfriend a few years back. I would love to say “hi” and see how he is doing!!! Anyone know email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks!!! ~ N
1.27.2009 | By Nichol
‘asked’ him to leave the band?
fuckin delusional…
Minus left cause he & Sob were always beefin with each other.
He wasn’t lookin to become a ‘RockSTar’ which Sob wanted so badly.. but thats another story..
RIP - SOB.
4.16.2009 | By FuckenLes718