This Is Our Struggle

Next in my catch up of Indecision Records releases that I have been listening to lately is an example of the kind of record that I have been trying to not buy for the past few years... a discography.Or rather, as it is referred to here, an anthology.

The record is titled 'This Is Our Struggle' and is by an old San Diego band called Amenity. They were from San Diego and are regarded as the city's first straight edge hardcore band. I remember in the early to mid 90s I would see their 7"s in every record shop and everyone's collection, which was no doubt due ot the label that released them pressing lots of copies and keeping the records in print. Even though I own a couple of teir 7"s, I couldn't resist this slickly packaged 12".

Indecision pressed all of these on 'gold smoke' vinyl, which looks really nice as it was pressed at my favourite pressing plant, Erika.

This comes with a large glossy booklet with some words on the band by notable San Diego and Californian scenesters. What comes across clearly is that this band was hugely influential and important to people in Southern California who were (and still are) involved in the hardcore scene. And whilst the bookelt is well put together, but the content feels slightly limited compared to other similar projects.

This is a slightly odd record because an 'anthology' is not the same as a discography. This contains some (but not all) of the band's output, and what is here seems to be in a slightly odd order. But overall it's kinda cool to have an Amenity 12" on my shelf, as all their releases were on 7"s. The remastered songs also sound bigger and cleaner. If you've never listened to this band then listen to the song 'Breathe' and you will immediately understand why someone decided to put this together.