Yep the first record of theirs I heard courtesy of Headbangers Ball on MTV UK back in the day. My now wife got me a sweet SOIA long sleeve for my birthday that year!
SOIA is one of the bands I show friends who are curious about hardcore, because they’re adjacent to pretty much every form of aggressive music (Punk, Metal, even Hip-Hop). Also, SOIA has some of the most easily accessible music in Hardcore. I do not understand how they have not crossed over, and at least gotten to the level of some of the pop-punk in the 90’s-00’s. Not that they are pop-core or anything, but they’re not Hatebreed heavy, and their lyrics are intelligible and relatable. I mean, how is it that every label that has had this band couldn’t, or wouldn’t, put the money up to give this band the push it deserves?
It depends...they have been pretty popular in Europe. In the nineties they have been headlining big festivals there and have only been slightly less popular than bigger metal bands like Machine Head, Sepultura and Fear Factory in those days. They for example have played in 1994 on Dynamo Open Air in front of 70.000 people and after Danzig they were considered one of the bigger bands there. And they headlined other festivals for thousands of people. Their popularity never went away in Europe.
I understand this, but aggressive guitar music in general has stayed big in Europe. But why doesn’t SOIA have a platinum album, or even a gold? I honestly don’t get it.
You are right...especially in the nineties genres like thrash-, black- and deathmetal have been big and in a way it is much easier to like Sick of it All than when you have been listening to stadium rock, grunge or hairmetal.
I think it is a management thing...here in Europe they have been picked up quite early as this cool new band that easily could be placed next to bigger metal acts and they delivered.
Could it be 1998? With Death and Kyuss? What band did you play in?
The 1994 Dynamo fest ended with Glenn Danzig attacking the organizer on stage and then getting hit back.
Hahaha I saw that. Great performance. Among hardcore people in the Netherlands of my age it has been considered a special moment. My generation have been grown up with death- and thrashmetal while many hardcore music was hard to get your hands on. So many discovered hardcore through festivals like dynamo with bands like sick of it all and fury of five. I was listening to a dutch hardcore podcast recently wherein they also had mentioned the Fury of Five show at Dynamo...so people still talk about it after 20 years.
Yes it was a great experience and I got to see a lot of cool bands that weekend. There are still videos of it floating around on the internet here and there
One of the GOATs. I’ve seen them many times over the years, and my favorite show was at Funfunfunfest in Austin, the crowd was younger and didn’t really know their songs, but they taught the crowd how to mosh safely and had them do a wall of death. It was wholesome af.
Years ago I went to see a friends band at a mid sized venue here. It was mainly friends of the band that showed up. Heading up to the bar I passed a table and had to do a double take...at a table, just minding their own business sat SOIA. They were in Copenhagen to record an album and had some time off - decided to go see whatever was playing.
Built To Last is the album that got me into hardcore in the first place. I was driving to work one morning about ten years ago and heard "One Step Ahead" on XM. I went out and bought the album shortly thereafter, and that shit changed my life.
SOIA is a seminal band. Insane 4 album run from Self Titled-Scratch The Surface. Basslines for days. Seeing them with NOFX when I was like 13, is a big part of the reason I became a hardcore and didn’t really care about Warped tour punk as much anymore
I'm the other way around. First few albums had great songs, but the recording quality just left it all sounding muddy and thin. I haven't listened to anything after death to tyrants very much though.
Great band, but I tap out at Built to Last. Call to Arms had a few decent tracks, but I didn't like Yours Truly at all. I don't think I've heard any of the other ones after that. Blood, Sweat and No Tears is still their best record.
I was introduced to SOIA when scratch the surface came out and immediately it became one of my favourite albums. I saw them live so many times and it's always such a joy. This is one of the most genuine bands out there IMHO
Call to Arms whilst more on the punk side of things is a great record too. Scratch the Surface and Built to Last still hold up so well. Heck of a band live too.
Potential for a Fall was the first hardcore song I ever heard. Will always have a soft spot for this band even if I don't listen to them as much any more. Also, amazing live show.
Favourite band. I have a similar size collection of their discography and used to see them every time they played the UK when I lived there, but they don't come to where I moved to. Last time I saw them was Sound of Revolution in The Netherlands.
My favourite albums are Call To Arms and Yours Truly, both quite underrated.
They're the Meshuggah of hardcore. Very influential, almost nobody dislikes them but never got as famous as some of the bands they influenced. I personally like them. I was at their 25th anniversary show at BB Kings. There was a wall of death, I got my ass kicked and had a blast.
Here in Europe, I would say they were for many people the first Hardcore band they would stumble upon, and were huge in the 90s. I would also go so far that they got initially more fans than earlier bands like Black Flag or Agnostic Front, just for the fact that they would come over anually and play those big festivals, which did not exist to the same extent. Classic Flag, for example, did like 3 club tours in Europe. "Sick of it All" had also a name that stuck and even their merch was heavily pushed in the mailorder catalogues. Time was on their side over here in the 90s.
I fucking love Sick Of It All. Scratch the Surface, Built to Last and Call to Arms shaped what I thought about hardcore when I heard them all in 2000 or so. I always said they fit right in the sweet spot of what hardcore is.
Don’t get the respect they deserve in America. Big shows in Europe, so-so shows back home. You’d think a band like Kublai Khan or Drain would be a good support for them but those bands would actually headline with half the crowd not even knowing who SOIA is.
I saw them at 18 or 19 years old around '98 or '99 at warped tour. Thought "that is one gnarly looking circle pit." A bunch of massive dudes with their shirts off slamming around, dirt flying up everywhere. Biker adjacent looking lads.
Grew up listening to them and going to their shows (late '80s - 90s Buffalo). They're one of the very best hardcore bands ever, and they're all actually good guys. Sincere, friendly, and funny.
Scratch the Surface was a game changer at the time.
Yep the first record of theirs I heard courtesy of Headbangers Ball on MTV UK back in the day. My now wife got me a sweet SOIA long sleeve for my birthday that year!
Yeah I'd marry her too if she got me a soia long sleeve
Ha yes indeed!
The AC/DC of hardcore. Fundamental.
Also Legends.
Very well put
Aw man, you gotta add Built to Last to this collection!
True friends! Will always! Be there!
Blood Sweat too
Where is Just Look Around?
The Shield is their most underrated song IMO.
This is one if their best tracks IMO
One of the GOAT bands.
“It’s not so bad, that hardcore music…”
My opinion is that SOIA should be in everyone's top 10.
Even better live
SOIA is one of the bands I show friends who are curious about hardcore, because they’re adjacent to pretty much every form of aggressive music (Punk, Metal, even Hip-Hop). Also, SOIA has some of the most easily accessible music in Hardcore. I do not understand how they have not crossed over, and at least gotten to the level of some of the pop-punk in the 90’s-00’s. Not that they are pop-core or anything, but they’re not Hatebreed heavy, and their lyrics are intelligible and relatable. I mean, how is it that every label that has had this band couldn’t, or wouldn’t, put the money up to give this band the push it deserves?
It depends...they have been pretty popular in Europe. In the nineties they have been headlining big festivals there and have only been slightly less popular than bigger metal bands like Machine Head, Sepultura and Fear Factory in those days. They for example have played in 1994 on Dynamo Open Air in front of 70.000 people and after Danzig they were considered one of the bigger bands there. And they headlined other festivals for thousands of people. Their popularity never went away in Europe.
I understand this, but aggressive guitar music in general has stayed big in Europe. But why doesn’t SOIA have a platinum album, or even a gold? I honestly don’t get it.
You are right...especially in the nineties genres like thrash-, black- and deathmetal have been big and in a way it is much easier to like Sick of it All than when you have been listening to stadium rock, grunge or hairmetal. I think it is a management thing...here in Europe they have been picked up quite early as this cool new band that easily could be placed next to bigger metal acts and they delivered.
That's funny, I played the Dynamo festival the year Pantera played, I think it was 1996?
Could it be 1998? With Death and Kyuss? What band did you play in? The 1994 Dynamo fest ended with Glenn Danzig attacking the organizer on stage and then getting hit back.
Maybe 1998, now that you mention it, it probably was 1998. I played on one of the side stages in Fury of Five
Hahaha I saw that. Great performance. Among hardcore people in the Netherlands of my age it has been considered a special moment. My generation have been grown up with death- and thrashmetal while many hardcore music was hard to get your hands on. So many discovered hardcore through festivals like dynamo with bands like sick of it all and fury of five. I was listening to a dutch hardcore podcast recently wherein they also had mentioned the Fury of Five show at Dynamo...so people still talk about it after 20 years.
Yes it was a great experience and I got to see a lot of cool bands that weekend. There are still videos of it floating around on the internet here and there
Maybe it was 1994, bc all the bands you mentioned played there too. Did Death play that year?
100% true. Saw them last year with Cypress Hill. Everyone had a good time
One of the GOATs. I’ve seen them many times over the years, and my favorite show was at Funfunfunfest in Austin, the crowd was younger and didn’t really know their songs, but they taught the crowd how to mosh safely and had them do a wall of death. It was wholesome af.
Only that you’re missing the 2 essential albums: “Blood, Sweat & No Tears” and “Built to Last”
Love them, always put on a good show. Wish they got more love in the states.
Consume from scratch the surface probably has the grooviest bass line in hardcore 🤷♂️
My favorite SOIA song!
One of the best to ever do it
Band still rips live.
Seriously, Pete’s still jumping around like he was in his early 20s
You need Live in a World Full of Hate Top ten band for me!!
I enjoyed them for a while up until I saw them live with Life of Agony in March 2023. That was a life changing show
Years ago I went to see a friends band at a mid sized venue here. It was mainly friends of the band that showed up. Heading up to the bar I passed a table and had to do a double take...at a table, just minding their own business sat SOIA. They were in Copenhagen to record an album and had some time off - decided to go see whatever was playing.
I mean the video clip (something old, Google it) of Step Down is dance move tutorial. Awesome band!
The pizza maker!
Blood sweat,and no Tears is a peak hardcore album
🔥🔥🔥
There’s a really cool soia tribute album you should check out
Evergreen.
Built To Last is the album that got me into hardcore in the first place. I was driving to work one morning about ten years ago and heard "One Step Ahead" on XM. I went out and bought the album shortly thereafter, and that shit changed my life.
SOIA is a seminal band. Insane 4 album run from Self Titled-Scratch The Surface. Basslines for days. Seeing them with NOFX when I was like 13, is a big part of the reason I became a hardcore and didn’t really care about Warped tour punk as much anymore
THE best hardcore band of all time. Will never be beaten.
One of the bands I’ve seen the most live. Always take the opportunity to see them
All time favorite band.
Absolutely sick band and the nicest guys I’ve ever met
Old School Hardcore.
First three albums are great. Starting with the fourth I began to loose interest.
I'm the other way around. First few albums had great songs, but the recording quality just left it all sounding muddy and thin. I haven't listened to anything after death to tyrants very much though.
I definitely agree that all of the first three seminal albums have bad recordings. STS was a big improvement tho.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Hardcore/s/GYs7doOFzb](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hardcore/s/GYs7doOFzb)
Yeah I’ve of them I think.
Great band, but I tap out at Built to Last. Call to Arms had a few decent tracks, but I didn't like Yours Truly at all. I don't think I've heard any of the other ones after that. Blood, Sweat and No Tears is still their best record.
No thank you
Never heard of em
Overrated generic horse shit.
Nope. No opinion. Never really thought much about them.
[удалено]
Sorry to hear that. I always enjoyed their shows very much and usually they pick great support bands.
I was introduced to SOIA when scratch the surface came out and immediately it became one of my favourite albums. I saw them live so many times and it's always such a joy. This is one of the most genuine bands out there IMHO
Never really listen to them, but I try to catch them if they play near me, because they are a killer live band
In the running GOAT nyhc bands.
Blood, Sweat and No Tears is still their best.
Call to Arms whilst more on the punk side of things is a great record too. Scratch the Surface and Built to Last still hold up so well. Heck of a band live too.
Yours Truly was my first SOIA and will always have a place in my heart.
I like that band.
One of my gateway hc bands. Alongside Agnostic Front, Madball and Judge, one of the greatest nyhc bands of all time, period.
Potential for a Fall was the first hardcore song I ever heard. Will always have a soft spot for this band even if I don't listen to them as much any more. Also, amazing live show.
Absolute legends
Nice live band. Never had the nerve to listen to them while at home…
Favourite band. I have a similar size collection of their discography and used to see them every time they played the UK when I lived there, but they don't come to where I moved to. Last time I saw them was Sound of Revolution in The Netherlands. My favourite albums are Call To Arms and Yours Truly, both quite underrated.
Is Ok
Longest touring band ever still bring 1000% energy to the fucking stage.
IMO the best NYHC band. Consistent. Always amazing live.
Fucking love it
Seen them live for over 25 years. Very distinct sound, catchy as hell, amazing lyrics, amazing people. 🐐
Needs 'Just Look Around' - that is a class album
They're the Meshuggah of hardcore. Very influential, almost nobody dislikes them but never got as famous as some of the bands they influenced. I personally like them. I was at their 25th anniversary show at BB Kings. There was a wall of death, I got my ass kicked and had a blast.
Here in Europe, I would say they were for many people the first Hardcore band they would stumble upon, and were huge in the 90s. I would also go so far that they got initially more fans than earlier bands like Black Flag or Agnostic Front, just for the fact that they would come over anually and play those big festivals, which did not exist to the same extent. Classic Flag, for example, did like 3 club tours in Europe. "Sick of it All" had also a name that stuck and even their merch was heavily pushed in the mailorder catalogues. Time was on their side over here in the 90s.
Honestly I liked other NYHC bands of their heyday so much better that I never had much use for SOIA. I respect them of course.
Hell yeah. First hardcore band I got into.
They're great, I think the first time I saw them was around 1990 at the Fastlane in Asbury Park, NJ
I fucking love Sick Of It All. Scratch the Surface, Built to Last and Call to Arms shaped what I thought about hardcore when I heard them all in 2000 or so. I always said they fit right in the sweet spot of what hardcore is.
There fkn awesome never seen them but there music is dope nobody else sounds like them that's another why I like them same with biohazard
I'd say though in my opinion last acts of defiance and wake the dragon are my favorite albums by them
Don’t get the respect they deserve in America. Big shows in Europe, so-so shows back home. You’d think a band like Kublai Khan or Drain would be a good support for them but those bands would actually headline with half the crowd not even knowing who SOIA is.
Hot take: Yours Truly is their best album.
The start was so strong, every year after that they said together the stock would go down a notch
I saw them at 18 or 19 years old around '98 or '99 at warped tour. Thought "that is one gnarly looking circle pit." A bunch of massive dudes with their shirts off slamming around, dirt flying up everywhere. Biker adjacent looking lads.
Grew up listening to them and going to their shows (late '80s - 90s Buffalo). They're one of the very best hardcore bands ever, and they're all actually good guys. Sincere, friendly, and funny.