Direction of Things to Come | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1997 | |||
Recorded | June 1997 Trax East, S River, New Jersey | |||
Genre | Hardcore punk | |||
Length | 27:42 | |||
Label | Indecision Records | |||
Producer | Ensign & Steve Evetts | |||
Ensign chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Direction of Things to Come was the debut full-length album from New Jersey hardcore punk band Ensign. It was released on Indecision Records in November, 1997, and it followed two 7-inch vinyl EPs. As well as being released on CD, Indecision Records continued their tradition of making limited edition vinyl production runs and this release appeared on 3403 black, 515 grey and 400 purple discs, the latter released to coincide with a European tour, with a different cover. [2]
On this album, the band exhibited all the characteristics of the New York hardcore community of bands with which they were often associated, although they came from New Jersey and were signed to a Californian record label. Songs are invariably fast-paced with an intermittent slow refrain (called breakdowns). They are also of short duration with only one track lasting more than three minutes. It is basic, straightforward hardcore punk in contrast to the metalcore leanings they exhibited on later releases. Hardcore is generally defined in terms of its vocal style, short songs and lack of guitar solos and, although at times melodic, Ensign had all these traits on this release.
Senses Fail is an American rock band formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 2001. Founded by vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Garrett Zablocki and Dave Miller, and bassist James Gill ; the band has seen many lineup changes, with Nielsen being the only consistent member. The band has released eight studio albums, two EPs, and one live album. Discovered by their first manager, Heath Miller of Excess dB Entertainment, booked them on a show opening for Catch 22 at Rexplex, where the owners of Drive Thru Records saw them live for the first time and offered to sign them on November 30, 2002.
The Fartz were a hardcore punk band that was founded in 1981 and were one of the first well-known bands in their genre from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label. They were notable not only for playing incredibly fast and heavy music, but also for their politically and socially conscious song lyrics that criticized government policies, religious hypocrisy, racism, sexism, and poverty. Throughout their musical career they championed a blue collar, working class perspective on life.
Voorhees is a hardcore punk band formed in Durham, England. From early 1991 until late 2001 they released records on international record labels and toured Europe and the USA.
Hello Bastards is the second full-length album by the punk rock band Lifetime. It was recorded at Trax East Studio in New Jersey, USA, during May and June 1995 and was released by Jade Tree Records on September 25, 1995. On February 20, 2010, No Idea Records re-released the album on 12" color vinyl.
Ensign is an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey. They formed in 1995 and signed with Indecision Records in 1996. They signed to the larger label "next door", Dexter Holland's Nitro Records, in 1998 and finally came to rest at Blackout Records in 2003 after a brief sortie back to Indecision in 2000.
Cast the First Stone was the second full-length album by American band Ensign. It was released by Nitro Records in March 1999 and follows the band's debut, Direction of Things to Come which came out on Indecision Records in November 1997.
The Price of Progression is the third full-length album by the New Jersey, U.S. band, Ensign. It follows the 1999 release of Cast the First Stone and was recorded in November and December 2000 for an April 2001 release by Indecision Records.
Love the Music, Hate the Kids is American hardcore punk band Ensign's fourth full-length album. It is an album of cover versions of seminal hardcore punk songs from the early-1980s to mid-1990s. It was recorded in seven days and released in October 2003. It was the band's first album for Blackout Records after switching from Nitro Records after the release of The Price of Progression in 2001.
Three Years Two Months Eleven Days was an album of early material, often referred to as a retrospective, by the American band Ensign. Recorded in various sessions between January 1996 and July 1998 – including a live recording – and with varying members, it was released by the band's first record label, Indecision Records, in April 2000.
Ensign's self-titled 7-inch EP was their first release on Orange County, California, record label, Indecision Records. It was released in May, 1996 on 7-inch vinyl only. The production run was limited to 3336 on black vinyl, 330 on grey, 449 on blue and a further 100 on black vinyl with a different cover to coincide with a European tour. This was in line with Indecision Records tradition of putting out releases by new bands on colored and normal vinyl and was carried through to their next release, the Fall from Grace (EP). It was later re-released on CD as part of a retrospective compilation, Three Years Two Months Eleven Days, in April 2000 after the band had left to join Nitro Records in 1998.
Ensign's second 7-inch EP for Indecision Records followed their self-titled 7-inch debut from May, 1996. It was released in June, 1997, on 7-inch vinyl only. The production run was limited to 4239 on black vinyl, 600 green, 225 white, 106 orange and a further 100 on black vinyl with a different cover to coincide with a European tour. This was inline with Indecision Records tradition of putting out releases by new bands on colored and normal vinyl and was carried through to their next release, Direction of Things to Come. It was later re-released on CD as part of a retrospective compilation, Three Years Two Months Eleven Days, in April 2000 after the band had left to join Nitro Records in 1998.
The Death by Stereo/Ensign split 7-inch EP was released by Indecision Records in December 2000. It was an interesting release because both bands had left the label. Ensign in 1998 to go to Nitro Records, and Death by Stereo to go to Epitaph Records. At the time, Death by Stereo were recording material for their new studio release, Day of the Death, and Ensign were in New York City producing an EP for Nitro Records, For What It's Worth. They both agreed to record extra tracks for release by the label which had arguably launched their careers.
For What It's Worth is an EP by New Jersey hardcore punk band, Ensign. It was released in October, 2000 by Nitro Records and was the band's second release for the label following their first full-length album after leaving Indecision Records, Cast the First Stone. It was recorded in June, 2000 in New York City and at the same time the band produced two further tracks which appeared on the Death By Stereo/Ensign Split 7" (EP) on Indecision Records in December, 2000. The track, "Cast In Shadows" was later re-recorded and appeared on their next album for Nitro Records, The Price of Progression. Another track, "Left Hand Syndrome", was destined for the same release, according to the inlay details, but eventually was omitted.
Killing Time is a New York hardcore band. From their beginnings in 1988, under the name Raw Deal, they went on to record two full-length albums and several EPs, singles, and compilation tracks. The band went through three hiatuses before formally disbanding in 1998. However, the band re-formed in 2006 and has been touring/playing since. Work on their third full-length album was completed in March 2009.
The Suicide File was an American hardcore punk band from Boston that formed in April 2001. The band wrote songs mostly about social and personal problems. Most of the band's output was released on the Southern California-based hardcore label Indecision Records. The band reunited in June 2006 to embark on their first European Tour. Members of the bands are or have been affiliated with The Hope Conspiracy, Death By Stereo, When Tigers Fight, Adamantium, American Nightmare, Clouds, Panic and many more. Most of these are bands with whom Alexander has drummed for short periods of time. Despite their short tenure, The Suicide File continues to be revered within the hardcore punk community for their musical output and lasting impression on the flourishing Boston hardcore scene. The band since 2006 has played a small number of successfully sized reunion sets.
Endwell is an American melodic hardcore band from Queens, New York City, formed in 2003. They have released one independent EP, one album on Victory Records; and one EP and two albums via Mediaskare Records.
Kill Your Idols is an American hardcore punk band from New York, active from 1995 through 2007 and again from 2013 to the present. They were signed to SideOneDummy Records. Their releases on SideOne were Funeral for a Feeling (2001), a split with 7 Seconds in 2004, and From Companionship to Competition (2005). Other notable releases by the band were No Gimmicks Needed and This Is Just The Beginning... which were released on Blackout! Records. The band released several 7-inch EPs, splits with other bands, multiple compilation tracks, and two full-length LPs in their 11-year run. Most of their records were released on vinyl as well as compact disc. Some were released on different colors of vinyl, different sleeve covers, hand numbered tour presses, and picture discs, making their records a favorite among collectors.
Thursday / Envy is a split EP by post-hardcore bands Thursday and Envy. It was released exclusively in a package containing the album on both 180 gram 12" vinyl and on CD — individual CDs or vinyl have not been made available. Three limited screen printed editions have been made available exclusively through web stores as of September 15, 2008. The album has since seen a limited release in cassette format, all 500 copies of which were sold exclusively through independent record label, Academy Fight Song's web store.
Good Riddance / Ensign is a split EP by the hardcore punk bands Good Riddance and the Ensign, released in 1997 through Orphaned Records. Good Riddance's "What We Have" was one of seven songs that had been demoed for their second album A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion but had been left off the record; they were recorded in a separate session from the album, with Andy Ernst at Art of Ears, and used on split EPs with Reliance, Ignite, Ill Repute, and Ensign over the following year. Their second track, "Salt", also appeared on their third album Ballads from the Revolution in 1998.
Jesuit was an American hardcore punk band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Active in the mid and late 1990s, the group released twelve songs but disbanded before recording a full-length album.