THIS TOPIC IS STILL SUBJECT TO RESEARCH
Last week in the mail was a true H8000 classic. I’m speaking of the LIAR ‘Invictus’ LP on Genet Records. While this is LIAR’s second full length, the first (‘Falls Of Torment’) and the third (‘Deathrow Earth’) were on Good Life Recordings. If you are a smart reader of my blog you already know some details of this label switch, because it was in the LIAR interview in H8 Zine issue 5 that I reviewed. I won’t repeat myself, so look it up here or use the new search function on the right side of this page.Hans has through the years observed the hardcore scene as it is. And writes to the point lyrics about the social problems in the scene and the drug proliferation he witnesses. The band is definitely against the backbiting deeds, mainstream followers.
The cryptic lyrics are accompanied with explanations. And the music has something like; march along with us, the new born fire legions. Because instead of bringing forth doom like many other H8000 bands (which is probably just an expression of the feelings) LIAR brings forth disciplined and forward music. LIAR proves with this record that they sustain the evils of the 90’s and have all the power to resist and fight against them. LIAR has risen above them and doesn’t suffer from the sometimes frustrating battle they conduct. They bring the kids beacons in their search for justice toward every living being including theirself.
The straight-edge lifestyle struggle is described in the song ‘2000 ad’. And in the song ‘Invictus’ Hans says that LIAR despite the difficulties will defend the straight-edge lifestyle until the very end. Also the cover of this record, the invincible fire, stand for LIAR’s never ending passion for the X.
The song ‘Circle Of Blood’ -who was originally by WHEEL OF PROGRESS – deals with the compassion for living beings who can’t fight back against the killing of their species. LIAR will never accept the bloody circle of killing in the meat industry and has to break it. Liar will do this by education and information.
a modern disease
looking in the dark eyes of chaos
dimensions of weakness
and seas of blood
blinded by a painfull fear
the hard reality
this cold remorseless demon
lies, daily force-fed this society
the smell of death
the man next door never knew
but what the fack have you got it to show for
there’s no excuse, no argument, I won’t accept
and never will
this bloody circle, a viscious design
we got to break it in time
this systems circle, more blood will flow
What the fuck have you got it to show for
there’s no excuse, no argument, I won’t accept
and never will
face the blood-stained walls of the living holocaust
the tears they make my heart bleed
the screams my anger they feed
you kill, you just kill, kill
they can’t fight back, but I will instead
to end massacres in the camps of death
The dark lyrical imagery Hans uses in ‘Falls Of Torment’ is continued in this release. This is copied by many smaller H8000 bands like LEGION for instance.
As I said before this is LIAR’s most cult album, it is consequently on the cult label GENET RECORDS. So this explains it well I guess. It is cult because every kid knows these songs by heart and because Hans wrote several lyrics about the hardcore / H8000 scene he has observed troughout the years. It was well-meant of Hans for sure but these songs became cult by the listeners and numerous LIAR fanatics.
LIAR was at the time of recording ‘Invictus’:
Guitars: Josh (songwriter)
Bass: UxJx
Drums: Bert
Vocals: Hans (lyric writer)
The above picture is the BLUE version of the vinyl edition. There are only 100 made!! Don’t worry you can still buy this release in a CD + DVD format at hardcore.gl. I suggest you to do so, because you can’t miss out on this one. The package contains the full ‘Invictus’ album + no less than 12 bonus tracks, from wich 3 studio tracks and 9 live tracks and 13 DVD live tracks on a separate disc. A cool thing about the DVD is that it has live songs shown on several locations but the song just continues. This package is how I got to discover this album. And although I never had it before in my collection the songs just aren’t new to me. I have heard them in friends bedrooms or at shows and somehow they sticked with me until this very day. And this is only the beginning for me.
To be complete or to help those unfamiliar with this release I have the scan of the CD cover. This cover is different than the LP cover so that’s why I mention it. According to Hans the LP cover has a deep meaning and the CD cover is just a little fantasy.
CONCLUSION: This record shaped the mid-nineties H8000 hardcore as it was. Every song is a true battle hymn for those who seek defense in their convictions and morals like SxE and veganism or vegetarianism. The songs being battle hymns is both by the confronting and self-assured lyrics by Hans and the forward raging songwriting of Josh. This synergy made LIAR big and one of the most influential bands.
If I compare the ‘Falls Of Torment’ with ‘Invictus’, I come to the conclusion that LIAR has analysed and described problems in the ‘Falls Of Torment’ period and has come to a more convinced, stronger message and answer to them. Namely never give in and fight forever, do this with strength and convincement. I could write a lot more about this release, but I mentioned the most important.
whispering lies
are staring at me with no eyes
wicked arms hold me in a grip
breaking my wrong
breaking my right
box your demons in my heart
lying, dying, crying
making me suffer means salvation
in your own created pain
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