In the second installment of the DARKEST HOUR record release show, an all-star cast of MD/DC/VA scenesters came together to put on one heck of a show. With barely much notice at all, it’s really quite humbling that so many good local acts were able to show up, but enough of the sentimism, let’s get to the music.

When PRIMARY got on stage, I knew something was up. First of all, the guys in the band looked real familiar to the guys in FOR THE LIVING. Upon closer look and sound, I realized that by golly, it was FOR THE LIVING, and they were just performing under a new name. This was a nice bonus being that I always thought FOR THE LIVING was pretty good. Brandishing some new material, I really liked what I heard – mostly this band moving away from a straight ’88 style hardcore sound to some more dynamic, metalish territory. Lyrically, FOR THE LIVING are definitely one of the better acts and this has continued to their new songs. PRIMARY are currently looking for a label to help get out their new stuff in the US (their previous label, Goodlife was in Belgium), so if you are one, please take notice.

Up next were the up and coming hardcore act, LOOKS LIKE RAIN, who continue to get better every time I see them. Vocalist Mike Riley is a real force behind the mic and his growls are clearly getting stronger as this band plays more shows. There’s nothing flashy about these guys (and gal) – just straight ahead furious hardcore, played with loads of conviction and speed aplenty. Good stuff, and not too long a set either.

CRISPUS ATTUCKS did their usual 15-20 minute set at the Wilson Center, combining fits of mayhem with short, sharp, shrapnel like blasts of ear pummelling pain. Opening with the title track of their new album, “”Red Black Blood Attack,”" and continuing to slog through their earlier material, ferocious is the only apt word to describe a CRISPUS ATTUCKS set. For those with the untrained ear for this kinda hardcore, it may appear to just be a wall of noise (in 75 seconds or less), but for those who are more well-school in such song structures and atmospherics, it’s actually a very carefully orchestrated, intricately processed field of noise. Umm yeah, right. I wonder what this band’s first practice was like. Did they actually know if their songs were sounding right or not? How do they tell that now? As said by Ralph Wiggum, “”Oh my freakin’ ears!”"

It’s been a few months since i’ve seen MAJORITY RULE, but I heard througout the summer that they were becoming the “”it”" band of the area. Well if the 200 + people closely watching their set didn’t indicate such enthusiasm I don’t know what will. HOLY CRAP this was a cool set. With the preponderance of bodies flying everywhere, massive sing alongs, dance parts, clap parts, body limb waving and so forth, it was crazy – almost as crazy as for DARKEST HOUR (but not quite). I picked up their debut disc, “”Interviews with David Frost,”" and trust me, it’s well worth it. Although their songs tend to border the 5 minute mark, the endless timing changes and gut breaking vocals keep things exceedingly fresh – and they are only a three-piece! Please, please, please check out MAJORITY RULE. They could very well be one of the best bands you’ve never heard of.

After all the hubbub that resulted from the original DARKEST HOUR record release show, it brings me great pleasure to say that this show went off without a hitch. Opening with the wicked tune, “”An Epitaph,”" from their debut Victory records disc, “”So Sedated, So Secure,”" it didn’t take long for the Wilson Center to turn into one giant plain of mosh. Essentially the entire width of the venue was fair game for those crazy dancin’ kids and it was intense! Not to mention painful given the concrete nature of the floor. These insane metal icons really now how to get things going, even when the humidity inside the venue has began to cause small levels of fog to form (the place was like a sweat sock!). Unfortunately I’m bad with song titles, but DARKEST HOUR covered good ground with tunes from both their new one, and their breakout album, “”Mark of the Judas,”" which is one your collection should certainly not be without. It’s really neat to see DH “”graduate”" from the local DC hardcore scene into bigger pastures. Fortunately it’s even better to see them rock their hometown (even if they only played for like 25 minutes). Booyah!