Crisis of Faith - Split w/ Chokehold

Year: 1992

Label: Grinding Edge

Tracks:

Crisis of Faith side:

1. Hardline

2. Ecological? Business (Lake)

Chokehold side:

3. One Scream

4. Second Hand Murder

5. Ignorance And Oppression

Probably the only reason Crisis of Faith is still known is because they did a split with arguably the best Canadian hardcore band of the 1990s. I’m not the biggest fan of Crisis of Faith, but Chokehold’s side of this split makes it legendary, and worth a pretty penny. Unfortunately, this time Hamilton wins. The art on this record is also pretty cool, as is these dudes’ utter hatred of hardline kids. Chokehold also has an Urban Blight-esque song about the dangers of second hand smoke, some 13 years before Slow Death. It’s also great how inventive Crisis of Faith is with their record speeds. The American Dream spun at 33 revolutions per minute while this split spins at 45 miles per hour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVM2dk_ndU

Crisis Of Faith - The American Dream...A Global Nightmare

Year: 1991
Label: Ragamuffin Solider Records

Tracks:

1. Consume
2. Incest
3. Public Assistance

4. Close Your Mouths
5. Struggle For Existence
6. Doctor Of Death
7. Land Of The Free
Crisis Of Faith is better known as "that band that did a split with Chokehold". The tracks on this 7" definitely reflect the heavily political nature of '90s hardcore, with songs opening with samples, and songs reflecting critical views on Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people, the United States, meat eating, amongst other subject material. Crisis Of Faith adopts a faster, more old school sound which I feel doesn't fit the subject matter as well as Chokehold's crushing metallic sound. Still, it's a pretty honest representation of a particular point in time in Toronto's history.