Cause for Alarm - Beyond Birth and Death (Warzone Split)

I figured now is as good a time as any to make some actual Krishnacore-related posts. And really, there is no better place to start than Cause for Alarm's split with Warzone. This absolutely classic piece of old school hardcore history came out on Victory Records in 1995. This was a great time for hardcore, with Victory amidst its heyday being the 100% hardcore label, to the point that if it was out on Victory, you'd know it was good. So here's how I was first introduced to Krishnacore...

When I first set my eyes on this piece of 10" vinyl back in the day, I went straight ahead and bought it without second thought for two main reasons: 1. Warzone were the kings of worldwide underground hardcore that hardcore kids of the day worshipped and 2. I instantly fell in love with Cause for Alarm's side of the cover. I mean, ok I already knew that CFA was an important hardcore band and sure I wanted to check them out. But somehow, this picture just completely drew me in and it made me want to know more about whatever this stuff was.

I later learned that this classic ISKCON painting known as 'the chariot of the body', and represents the devotee's efforts to withdraw from the world of the five senses and try to control one's earthly desires. The whole scene comes from the Bhagavad Gita and Arjuna's helpless cry to Krishna: "The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna". I guess this is something we can all relate to no matter our stage of advancement in spiritual pursuits.

OK, so let's get back to the actual record and talk a little bit about what is sounds like. The Cause for Alarm contains four tracks of quintessential hardcore the old school way. There is not a single moment of filler, just all out, straight on old school hardcore punk with Keith Burkhardt's trademark vocals. We get mostly fast hardcore energy, but with a considerable amount of mid-paced groove provided by Tony Scaglione (Whiplash). Let's also note that guitar duties were executed by hardcore legend Alex Kinon (Agnostic Front). CFA's style of hardcore may be simply branded as old school, but that doesn't mean it's not fairly technical, with a slight touch of metal and some intricate song structures.

The original album comes without a lyric sheet, so for non native speakers (like me), understanding the lyrics takes a bit of an effort. However, the song titles and some repeated listens make it easy to understand that lyrics on this album are all about spirituality and freedom from material life's misery. Yes, the lyrics somewhat scoff at a life filled with material problems, but the whole message is conveyed in a spiritual and positive way. Every song has a few catchy lines that stand out, grabbing the listener and making him/her think that these guys surely know what they are talking about, and that there is shelter in a more spiritual, conscious life.

Cause for Alarm continued to be an important band for 90s hardcore through their on/off career. There are more quality albums and eps definitely talking about, which I'll get to later. In its own right, this CFA/Warzone split is super important for another reason: it introduced Krishna consciousness to many unexpecting hardcore kids who were just into Warzone, punk rock, skinhead culture and the whole prevalent hardcore lifestyle of those times. And yes, Warzone's side is equally amazing and filled with great hardcore tunes!

Gita Jayanti - Birthday of the Bhagavad Gita

 2nd December marks 2014's Gita Jayanti, the birthday of the Bhagavad Gita - perhaps Hinduism's most holy and revered scripture, and one of the world's most renowned spiritual writings. In a modern world that is filled with 'experts', the Bhagavad Gita has been a constant of 'tried and true' inspiration and guidance for spiritual seekers of all types and backgrounds.

So the Bhagavad Gita is more than a book of wisdom; it's almost like it contains a life of its own, which is full of spiritual messages, power and positive energy. A concretization of higher ideals and aspirations, the Bhagavad Gita represents various positive spiritual qualities like the effort, the unity and the love behind the actions of a sincere spiritual person.

When I personally discovered the Bhagavad Gita (more on that on another post), I was just a hardcore kid trying to make his way and learn how to live a more positive life. I needed to make a change in my life, and the Bhagavad Gita (not just the book but the noble ideal that it represents) came to instill the spirit of change and open the portal for me to be a seeker of the truth. For that, I am most grateful.

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check: www.asitis.com

This is Srila Prabhpada's version of the Bhagavad Gita. If you are someone into Krishna Consciousness, or if you like Krishnacore, you should do your best and try to find this book. It might be a big change in your life. It might challenge many of the things you know and believe, but it can be of great benefit. Prabhupada sometimes sounds a bit dogmatic, but we shouled think of him as a teacher who needs to be strict with his students who are full or ignorance, and who needs to be direct so that his advice will be clearly understood.