A Known Place

Moxa (1995-1996)

Moxa was a hardcore / punk band from Virginia Beach, Virginia who were active for a couple brief years in the 90s. The band included a member of Words A Game and Fire Is Fatal. Over their active period they released one 7", a demo tape, and a tape with the same songs as the 7" b-side.

Despite their small discography, Moxa really hits the mark. Their Bob Tilton-esque, almost sassy half-screamed vocals and angst-ridden guitar riffs make for a really interesting listen. They remind me at times of Native Nod, especially in their poetic vocal style. I had never heard the band mentioned before I found a copy of the 7" in a dusty pile of punk 7"s in Montreal and the hand stamped cover caught my eye. After listening to it, I can tell that they are definitely a band that deserves more attention, but seems to have been mostly forgotten.

Moxa's songs are incredibly catchy, their vocalist's distinct voice really sticks in my head. It's unfortunate the band never released more work because they clearly had a lot of potential. They fit right in with the rest of the Virginia Scene; Owltian Mia, The Candyland Carcrash, Channel etc. If you're a fan of those bands or Native Nod, Merel and The Crownhate Ruin I'd highly recommend checking out Moxa. Listen below!

Demo 1995 (Thrifty)

Love Destruction 7" 1996 (Coalition Approved, Dave/Amendment)

Hassan I Sabbah (1999-2000)

Hassan I Sabbah was a hardcore band from Watertown, Massachusetts who were active from 2000-2001. The band includes members of Force Fed Glass, Puritan, Prevail and Rinse. During their active years the band released a 7", a split 7" with Usurp Synapse, a demo tape and appeared on 5 compilations. All of their songs have now been digitally compiled as a discography.

Hassan I Sabbah is the epitome of the word "emoviolence", with their ear splitting volume levels and chaotic sound. I would compare them to Reversal Of Man and Kwisatz Haderach or even Lost Lost But Not Forgotten in their piercing vocal style and the abrasive instrumentals.

Hassan I Sabbah is probably one of my favourite hardcore bands of the early 2000s because of their consistent energy and evident passion for what they were doing. Not all of the bands from this time were capable of matching their energy and it shows.

The band members other projects also put out some great stuff, particularly Puritan who remains one of the heaviest bands I've ever heard.

Iodine Discography

Unity Is Dead Demo April 2000

*there are 8 unique Hassan I Sabbah songs and various demo versions of these songs with differing names

S/T 7" 2000 (Robodog Records, Robotic Empire)

Usurp Synapse / Hassan I Sabbah split 7" - Just Do It! 2000 (Electric Human Project)

S/T demo 2000 (Self-released)

Antipodes compilation 7" 2000 (Level Plane Records)

Fabric (1992-1997)

Fabric was a hardcore band from London, England who were active throughout most of the 90s. Members of the band were also in Beacon and Turbonegro. They released an impressive discography over their active period including two 12"/CDs, a live album, four 7"s, a split 7" with Greyhouse, a demo tape, as well as appearing on various compilations.

Fabric had a really interesting sound to their music that honestly took me a while to get into, but it really grew on me the more I listened to them. Fusing elements of classic rock with emo and hardcore, the band sounds like a mix of Still Life and Bob Tilton with a touch of Fugazi-esque post-hardcore. Their vocals range from strained, emotional but clean to razor sharp and screamed.

In my opinion Fabric is one of those bands that are even better live and it's evident on their incredibly raw and heavy live album. All except one song had been previously studio recorded but is heard live on their 'Sella Maris"12" sounding even better. Every song has so much more power and energy on the live recording it's hard to believe they're the same songs as the studio recordings. Listening to this album has made me fall in love with the band even more so I'd definitely suggest giving it a listen.

Fabric has a hard sound to describe to someone who hasn't heard it, but I think they really added something to the 90s hardcore scene. Out of all the branches of hardcore during this time, it's hard to really pin them down as any specific branch, they had their own thing going which is something I can always respect. Listen below!

Feel Good Hit Of The Year 1994 (Machination Records)