Just in time for '90s Hardcore Week, a new book has come out that is relevant to our celebration of the decade.
Reports from the Frontline: Syracuse Hardcore 1991-1998 is a massive archival compilation of zines that in many cases have not been seen in over 30 years. The book includes 26 complete issues from 15 different zines. "The more well-known names would be Conviction, Focus, Peel Me a Grape, Shadows and Tall Trees, Shame of Cain, and Attack and Answer," says Eric Macom, the person behind the project.
"I’ve included Attack and Answer 3 which was never published! A couple of lesser-known zines like Poet, Upstate, and Downfall are also included. There is a definite mix of material, but they all have a common thread: straight edge and veganism."
Based in Los Angeles, Eric reached out to some '90s Hardcore heavy hitters to contribute new writings to Reports from the Frontline. "Well, I’m fortunate to have some great friends that I met when I lived in Syracuse from '93-'95. When I started this project I reached out to several of those folks and let them know what I was doing and would they want to contribute?
"The response was overwhelmingly positive. There were only a couple of folks who declined. They felt that their way of thinking had changed so much than they didn’t want to revisit that time. I completely understand and respected their decision.
"The people who did contribute totally brought their A game. Everyone looked at this for what it is, a time capsule. Not everyone looks back on those times with rose colored glasses, but they put those years in context of the time. I never asked anyone to sugar coat anything. I have to give a huge thanks to Dave Natoli and DJ Rose.
"They put me in contact with people I would never have known and that allowed this book to expand in ways I never imagined. I also want to thank Pete Wentz. I asked him if he would write a forward and he never questioned it, he was immediately on board. Someone with his career could have blown me off completely, but he is hardcore dude through and through!"
A single volume spanning over 800 pages, every order of Reports from the Frontline includes a free copy of Sponsor Me Zine, which was the skate zine of the Syracuse hardcore community. Hell yes.
I asked Eric if had any other book projects in the works. "I have a couple of ideas, but nothing definite. There’s something that I want to do that’s not hardcore-related, but has definite crossover with the hardcore/punk scene. Right now I just wanna chill!"
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Reports from the Frontline: Syracuse Hardcore 1991-1998 is available for $65.00 shipped in the US. European orders are also welcomed, if you can swing the high postage rate.
Payments via PayPal: [email protected]
DM with questions: @fvtvrewave.la
Tagged: 90s hardcore week, book
