Heroin - Heroin | Holy Grails 1997

The Artifact:

1/14/1997
Gravity Records
Runtime: 47:04
Tracks: 19

Artifact Characteristics:

Post-Hardcore, Proto-Screamo, Noise Rock, Hardcore Punk, Emocore, Raw, Intense

Artifact Archeologists

Matt Anderson (Vocals)
Scott Bartoloni (Guitar)
Ron Johnson (Bass)
Aaron Montaigne (Drums)

Artifact Contents:

Every track from All About Heroin
Every track from their 1992 s/t
Every track from their 1993 s/t
Three original tracks

Artifact Echoes:

Legends of early 90s Proto-Screamo and one of the original bands to explore this sonic space, Heroin took the power and fury of Hardcore, illuminated it with the melody and dynamism of Emocore and added in their own Post-Hardcore fixings to craft a noisy and raw discography. The singer’s shouted screams inject the music with even more immediacy and emotion, the guitarist didorients with breakneck chord progressions and heaps of noisy dissonance; the bass packs with it a sense of danger and the drumming is frantic and chaotic, effectively putting the formula in a blender. These pieces came together to from the early blueprints of the genre.

Artifact Legacy:

Listening through this compilation album showcases the band's evolution over the two years they were active, tracking their increased use of melody, dissonance and intensity. In addition to pioneering this genre and shaking up the early 90s Hardcore scene, Heroin's direct influences reached so many early Screamo bands, especially to the influential and genre-defining Gravity Records rostermates. Their drummer would form Antioch Arrow shortly after this band broke up, adding even more chaos and unease to the developing genre. However, that experimental edge was first put to use in Heroin.

Artifact Value:

Gravity Records released this comp in 1997 with several versions, allegedly including a rainbow pressing. All four versions I could find seem to be relatively inexpensive, with the price likely lowering a few years ago after Heroin released a new compilation album.

Heroin - Heroin | The Shape of Screamo to Come

Release Information:

1992
Gravity Records
San Diego, CA (SoCal)
Runtime - 6:50
Tracks: 4

Band Members:

Matt Anderson - Vocals
Scott Bartoloni - Guitar
Ron Johnson - Bass
Aaron Montaigne - Drums

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Post-Hardcore, Proto-Screamo, Emocore, Hardcore, Noisy, Raw, Intense, Dissonant

Musical Analysis:

At times, this release showcases its prominent Punk roots with blistering and simple chord progressions, rapid-fire shouted lyrics and short song lengths. However, utilizing Emocore influences gives this EP a different tone and allows for stronger uses of melody in the guitar. Toward the end of the EP in particular, there seems to be a movement away from the simplicity of traditional Hardcore into more chaotic and emotive stuff; Blind emits some Powerviolence influence while With No Name is deliberately paced and features dynamic intensities, a staple of Screamo.

Historical Analysis:

Heroin’s self-titled 1992 7” is one of the premiere releases from Gravity Records, one of the most influential record labels with respect to Hardcore, Post-Hardcore and Screamo. San Diego was a groundswell of innovation in the scene and Heroin’s harrowing combination of Post-Hardcore, Emocore and Hardcore would influence countless bands in the area. I’d be remiss if I referred to this as proper Screamo, but their sound was trending into what early Screamo would become.

Lyrical Analysis:

*Note that because this is an old DIY release during the early 90s, I can only locate lyrics for the first two songs. As such, my lyrical analysis will focus on those. If more lyrics can be dug out, I will reevaluate the lyrical analysis*

Heroin’s direct yet poignant lyrics center around social complacency and finding your place in the world. The search for authenticity continues, especially in an increasingly self-centered world. Interestingly, Heroin’s lyrics suggest self-reflection on their own privilege in this world as “middle-class white kids,” though this does nothing to stop the existential dread.