PHOTO ARCHIVE UPDATE: INSIGHT, BETTER WAY, MASSACRE GUYS, REVIVER, COOL YOUR JETS, BLACK FLAG IN SLC

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SLHC MUSIC ARCHIVE: BETTER WAY - A PATH TO TAKE

Better Way's 1989 demo, A Path to Take, combines a strong New York Hardcore influence with the first glimpses of the otherworldly riffing of guitarist Gentry Densley (Iceburn/Ascend/Eagle Twin).  And how awesome is the Straight Edge wolf-man cover art?

To learn more about the band see our Salt Lake Hardcore 101 article and Josh Rathbun's Salt Lake Hardcore Music Blog. Also, take a minute to thank Troy Trujillo for all of his hard work collecting and compiling Salt Lake hardcore's history... artwork courtesy of Troy's extensive SLHC record collection.

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SALT LAKE HARDCORE 101: BETTER WAY

Better Way, with the help of close-friends Insight, drafted the Utah chapter of the Youth Crew history book.  During the late '80s, the band churned out sing-along inspiring anthems, while sharing the stages of The Word and The Speedway with the likes of Insted, Slapshot and Gorilla Biscuits.

A Path to Take, the band's 1989 self-released demo, boasts strong influence from the New York Hardcore scene and some of the greatest lyrics on overcoming personal hardship this side of Break Down the Walls. (Makes sense that Ray and Porcell are mentioned in the record's thank you list.)

One thing that set A Path to Take apart from the Youth Crew crowd was its brief forays into groovy, guitar experimentation (See: The last 30 seconds of "The Fight.") These hints of technicality came to make perfect sense as guitarist Gentry Densley went on to guide Iceburn through 15 years of sonic exploration. The band threw in the towel shortly after the release of A Path to Take.

Better Way's vocalist Dustin worked at Raunch back in the day and ran his own short-lived shop on 21st South called "Rock City." Gentry Densley continues to push the limits of heavy music with Eagle Twin and Ascend. Guitarist Randy also played with local rock band Dinosaur Bones. Various members also played in fellow late-80s Salt Lake straightedge band Head Strong (if you know which ones, fill us in!).

Download Better Way's A Path To Take in our Salt Lake Hardcore Music Archive.

HUGE GCA UPDATE! THE MIX TAPE COMETH AND MORE...

The first GCA Mix Tape will be up this coming Monday, December 7th at Noon! That's 11 unreleased tracks from Utah's finest. FREE!

1. Tamerlane - Dreams

2. One Clean Life - Hey World

3. Dogwelder - Smells Like Mean Spirit

4. To A Close - Up & Black

5. Reviver - New Lows

6. Collapse - Quicksand

7. Right On Track - You Were There

8. Dead As Lions - W.A.R.

9. Reach - Before It's Lost

10. City to City - 9th & Broadway

11. Glacial - Behind Your Beard

In other GCA news, Monday will also see the launch of 3 regular columns here on the site. First, the Salt Lake Hardcore 101 section will receive a major jump start. Every Monday you'll find a new article on a classic Salt Lake City band, label, shop, zine, or venue! Look out for Deadfall 101 Monday morning!

Second, we're launching the Salt Lake Hardcore Music Archive. Updated every Wednesday, this section will host a constantly expanding database of downloadable Salt Lake Hardcore classics... past to present. Tune in next Wednesday for the chance to acquire one of Salt Lake's most-overlooked/important/excellent records, the Better Way Demo!

And finally, every single Friday you'll find a new article by the name of One Voice. It will feature a 5 question mini-interview with those who've helped shape Salt Lake Hardcore Punk. Our first voice will be from Troy Trujillo (11th Street Electric Gallery, Opened Up).

PHOTO ARCHIVE UPDATE: SPEEDWAY FLYERS

Classic flyers from Slapshot, Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today and more in SLC. Here.

DOWNLOAD BETTER WAY'S "A PATH TO TAKE"

The Salt Lake Hardcore Download Blog has posted a copy of the album A Path to Take by early Salt Lake hardcore band, Better Way. A Path to Take was released in 1989 and featured Gentry Densley (Iceburn, Form of Rocket, Smashy Smashy, Eagle Twin, Ascend) on guitar.

SALT LAKE HARDCORE 101: ICEBURN

• Iceburn at Revelation Records

Iceburn was born of Salt Lake's early straight edge hardcore scene but ventured into the deepest realms of jazz, metal, classical and avant-garde experimentation during its decade-plus existence.

The band's first line-up was an amalgam of late 80s hardcore bands Insight, Better Way, and Brainstorm. In 1990, Insight and Brainstorm played their final show together to a packed Speedway Cafe. Iceburn quickly formed in their wake, featuring Gentry Densley (Better Way, Brainstorm) on guitar, Jeremy Chatelain (Insight, Brainstorm) on vocals,  Doug Wright (Insight, Brainstorm) on bass, Chad "Chubba" Smith (Insight) on drums and James Holder (Insight) on guitar.

With this crew, Iceburn released the Burn / Fall 7" through Victory Records in 1991. Shortly after the record's release, frontman Jeremy Chatelain left the band to pursue other projects: Lumberjack, Handsome, Jets to Brazil, Cub Country... this list will undoubtedly go on. Guitarist James Holder also left the band.

Iceburn decided to move forward as a three-piece. Their next album, Firon (also on Victory), was released in 1992 and led to a record deal with another hardcore history maker, Revelation Records.

The four-track, double-LP Hephestus was released on Rev in 1994 (right there between Into Another's Creepy Eepy and the Underdog Demos). Iceburn would release an E.P., a split with Engine Kid and the album Poetry of Fire in 1995.

Ninety-six saw the band releasing Meditavolutions under its new moniker, The Iceburn Collective. Journeying deeper into experimental galaxies, 98's Power of the Lion was rumored to be inspired by quantum mechanics and was meant to be played as a musical collage.

The new millenium saw the Collective reaching ever further into avant-territory with 2000's Polar Bear Suit, which featured 2 upright basses, bass clarinet and bassoon, and 2002's mini-album Land of Wind and Ghosts.

In 2001, the band recorded a few songs meant to be released in a Southern Lord Records 7" series. The deal didn't work out but 2006 saw the songs released as a split with Italian band Zu. It was put out in Italy as a limited 500-copy 10" split. This would be Iceburn's final release.

Iceburn reunited for a few shows in 2007 but have not announced plans of future recordings or performances.

These days you can find Densley playing across the nation in the duo Eagle Twin with Tyler Smith (ex-Clear) on drums He also recently released an album with Greg Anderson of Engine Kid/Sunn O)))/Goatsnake under the name, Ascend. Doug Wright went on to play with Salt Lake's Makeshift. He now plays with up-and-coming New York City rock band, The Dirty Pearls.

Iceburn performing their version of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" at their '07 Reunion Show.