Stand Defiant/The Scandal split EP
DCR001
Released: August 27th, 2004

Track Listing

The Scandal
1. ill blood
2. a beautiful place to drown
3. dead skin turns to dust
4. flashbulbs blind


Stand Defiant
5. only human
6. flashpoint
7. dollars and sense
8. deadletter

Buy it!

Reviews

Punkhardcore.com.au
Review by Aidan Quinn - Oct '04
This is the first release from Hobart’s Disconnect Records and is a fantastic little release. Two of Tasmania’s finest bands, The Scandal and Stand Defiant, contribute 4 tracks each here, with some fantastic artwork to boot. The sound is straight up punk rock, the way it should be played. Raw, fast, and honest, these two bands show that there’s another side to hardcore punk. The record opens with The Scandal’s four tracks, kicking off with Ill Blood. The three-piece sound somewhere in the region of a faster version of The Nation Blue, but it’s certainly difficult to pigeonhole them. Ill Blood is certainly the highlight of this record. It’s fast as hell, the vocals are fierce, and there is even a screaming guitar solo! A Beautiful Place To Drown is a more melodic track, while Dead Skin Turns To Dust really slows down the pace, with some brilliant guitar work from both guitarists. The Scandal finish up with Flashbulbs Blind, with some soaring guitars over crashing drums, it’s a perfect end to their half of the record. Stand Defiant begin their contribution with the brooding Only Human. After a long intro, the track crashes into some brilliant vocal work, with some great singalongs included. The band’s sound is a little more melodic than The Scandal, but lose none of the intensity set down at the start of the record. Flashpoint continues the momentum, with some solid drumming driving the track. Dollars And Sense is a bit of a slower tune, and the record finishes up with the fantastic Dead Letter, a great way to finish off a great split. The most attractive facet of both these bands sound is the vocals. Setting aside the blatantly overproduced scream that is overt through a lot of the punk and hardcore scene today, the vocals in these two bands sound like the respective singers are honestly screaming their lungs out. It’s refreshing, to say the least. Definitely check this release out. It features two bands you’ve probably never heard, but will want to hear a lot more from.

Blunt Magazine

Kerrang! Magazine

The Advocate
Reviewed by Sean Fennessy
This debut release from Hobart based indi-punk label Disconnect Records
showcases the work of two of Tasmania's finest punk bands.
Former North-West lads The Scandal blast their way through the first half of
the split-ep with their dynamite brand of rasping prog-punk.
Those familiar with the Scandal's rowdy live shows will be pleased to know
the trio's energy translates well onto disc, especially on the ambitious
climax, Flashbulbs Blind.
Stand Defiant serve up a more polished, melodic sound in their contribution
to the ep, kicking off with the multi-layered epic Only Human, before
unleashing three firebrand tracks.
If this release is anything to go by, the future of Tassie punk is in good
hands.