Admiral

Admiral were a four-piece hardcore/emo band from Pennsylvania hat began in 1989 and broke up in 1991. The band took a melodic approach to the fast-paced hardcore punk that was birthed and grew in the decade prior to their existence. There's definite influence from the DC scene, with bands like Embrace and Gray Matter being good comparative points for the desperate vocal deliveries, prominent bass lines, and looser guitar chords, all with a distinctly punk rock foundation as a sociopolitical revolutionary outcry. I'm guessing there's also some Metal Circus-era Hüsker Dü influence in there, particularly with the guitar tones. In addition, Fugazi definitely played a major role in shaping the sound of Admiral (listen to the beginning of "Meter And Rule" where that influence is probably the most blatant). There's also a live bootleg out of an Admiral set from 1991, in which they played with Fugazi (the full set Fugazi set is on YouTube here if you're interested).

This is not to say that Admiral were just a by-product of a ton of other influential bands, but rather to pinpoint them as being one of the seminal turning points in the genre, who bridged the gap from the evolving hardcore of the 80's, and into the burgeoning 90's underground emo/screamo/post-hardcore/whatever scene that was just beginning to form. Many members of Admiral even went on to play in other seminal bands in this scene, including Navio Forge, Hoover, and Burning Airlines. The second (of only two) 7"'s Admiral put out was the second release ever put out by the now-legendary Ebullition Records, who went on to release albums by the likes of Still Life, Moss Icon, Portraits Of Past, Reversal Of Man, Orchid, and so many more. Thus, in only 6 songs between two 7" EPs (as well as two missing compilation tracks), Admiral left a definite mark on the changing sounds of hardcore, and dropped some incredible songs to boot. I did not plan on this post delving into what is most likely a senseless rant, but here we are. Enjoy.

Admiral (1990)

1. Brother Can You Spare A Dime

2. Horns Lay Silent

3. Seasonal

Revolving And Loading (1991)

1. Revolving And Loading

2. Fit

3. Meter and Rule

Live at Sacred Heart Church (1991)

1. Blindfold Eats My Face (Live)

2. Revolving And Loading (Live)

3. Derange, Fabrication, Brother Can You Spare A Dime (Live)

4. Lucy, Seasonal (Live)

5. Meter And Rule (Live)

6. Try To Forget (Live)

7. Comes From Nowhere (Live)

8. Wait (Live)

9. Carnival (Live)

10. Shells On Shelves (Live)