Alright, I'm a sucker for 90's hardcore. Get over it. I love that shit. In my opinion "East Coast Assault" and "East Coast Assault II" were the best compilations of that entire decade when it comes to ridiculous metallic hardcore. Yeah, there were some weak bands here and there, but there were also some completely overlooked contributors that blew me away only to vanish without a trace. To this day some of the bands on "East Coast Assault II" are absolutely fucking awesome, though it remains a mystery as to whether or not some of them ever made it past this double-CD collection. (You can now buy both of the first two ""East Coast Assault" compilations as one 3xCD set from Very Distribution, among others—pass on "East Coast Assault 3", though.) Among them: Struggle Within and the Rainmen (both from New York). I had never heard of either of these bands when I got this compilation in 1997 and I've never heard a word about them since. Contrary to many jokes made at my expense, I still say that both of these bands were incredible, and I'm dying to know if they recorded anything other than the few songs they tossed onto the first disc of "East Coast Assault II". To me, Struggle Within's brand of metallic hardcore with just the right amounts of rock and metal sounds sort of like Bold circa "Looking Back" meets Turning Point circa their split with No Escape—you just can't lose there, folks. All three of their songs absolutely rule. On the other hand, the Rainmen are just a catchier version of straight metallic hardcore with raspy vocals at times reminiscent of early Cro-Mags material. "At All Cost" is somewhat mediocre, but "Inside" is a stellar tune from start to finish. See what you think. And if anyone knows anything about these bands... please, please please fuckin' email me, as I have searched endlessly for years and come up with squat. Did they ever record other songs? Did any of these dudes end up in other bands? Anything? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
Struggle Within "Doldrums"
Struggle Within "Longer Than Life"
Struggle Within "Leave it Behind"
Rainmen "Inside"
Rainmen "At All Cost"
Comments
Wow. What a perfect description of Struggle Within. It’s a little scary how you always seem able to come up with the perfect description of a band’s sound.
I’ve never heard either of these bands before, but now I’m hooked. Thanks for another great discovery.
4.12.2005 | By Carter
Killer, thanks, and glad you liked the tunes. Seriously, I fucking love that Struggle Within stuff and would kill to hear anything else, if they ever did record any other songs!? Hopefully someone that knows more than I will stumble upon this and let me know.
4.12.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
Damn man, the first East Coast Assault Compilations turned me on to so many bands back then. It definitely helped shape my tastes in HC. I think I went out and bought releases from every band on it. I didn’t care too much for the Headcleaner track but other than that I enjoyed everything else. That Life of Agony song was priceless!
4.14.2005 | By EMS
As somebody that has been following your work for years, I truly think this is awesome! An opportunity to hear some of your favorites is a great idea. Struggle Within is an awesome discovery.
4.15.2005 | By Anonymous
goddamn!they’re good!yeah,description fits perfectly!say does anybody know where can i find the lyrics of day of the dead-the band,not the song…thanx
4.18.2005 | By Anonymous
I had never heard either of these bands, but I’m definitely into Struggle Within. I’d like to know more about them, myself. Nice.
4.19.2005 | By Anonymous
Sadly no one with any information has contacted me yet. I’m still hoping that someone who knows something will stumble across this and let me know, because I’d kill to find out more about these bands. It’s just too fucking good…
4.19.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
Hey.my pal just sent this link to me.
I was in struggle within for a few years. If you really want the skinny on us email me and ill send you to george and steve. The singer and primary writer. I can tell you that turning point was a pretty big influence. At the end we started writing some really chaotic shit and steve is a perfectionist and he expects and brings out your best, but that eventually makes people nuts.
We disbanded in the late 90’s. We took the stuff we were writing and got a new bassist from a conn hardcore band that I can’t remember the name of and we got our close friend julian who sang for stillsuit, a quirky awesome band that was on wreckage. And for a while I think we used paulie who played drums for struggle within and later went on to start sworn enemy.
We later replaced paul with this guy brandon who went on to acting after our one and only show. We called ourselves the pullman standard
After the trains in nyc.
We played one show. We slayed that shit. Steve almost passed out onstage during the set he went so crazy.fun stuff.
Steve does stuff by himself mainly.sometimes recruiting us when he needs it.
He fell in deep into melody and arranging and last I heard of him it was a project he called “the metropolitan goodkill”.
If you want some of the older stuff hit me up and ill send u the tracks. You have the 2nd demo stuff.
Thanks and happy new year.
-petethemeeeeet-
12.31.2009 | By pete