WATCH: Sam Black Church live in Boston, 1994

This past weekend, I saw All Pigs Must Die (ex-The Hope Conspiracy, Converge). At the show I mentioned Sam Black Church, and APMD's singer Kevin overheard me. He excitedly spoke of the days of SBC being the biggest band in Boston, and how good they were live. See what he's talking about in this video of SBC playing a hemp festival in Boston. (Skip to 2:15 for the SBC footage.)

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Superchrist

Today is actually the first time I've ever listened to Superchrist, Sam Black Church's final release on Taang! Though it was released in 1995, around the time I got into the band, my CD collection never grew past Let In Life and Boston LP. On Superchrist, SBC make its most drastic move away from sounding like Bad Brains and more into the vein of Clutch or other more alternative metal bands, which a lot of Boston bands were doing at the time (i.e. 454 Big Block, Tree). It's not my favorite material by the band, but it's still SBC and it's still listentable, especially for fans of bands like Clutch, Helmet or Rollins Band.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Superchirst
Year: 1995
For fans of: Clutch, Helmet, Rollins Band

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Superchrist

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Boston EP

If you've listened to Let In Life, you've heard half the songs on this EP - "Infernal Machine" and "Big Barbecue." The self-titled EP came out on Taang! in 1994, just before Let In Life, but I honestly believe it is better production than the full-length. The highlight of the album is Sam Black Church's cover of "Disco Inferno," which they seamlessly move into at the end of "Big Barbecue." As corny as it could be, somehow it works. And understanding the time and place of the scene of which they were a part, I respect this band for never taking themselves too seriously.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Boston EP
Year: 1994
For fans of: Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Clutch

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Boston EP*
*File was removed by Mediafire

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Unincorporated

Unincorporated was the first 7" from Sam Black Church. Originally released in 1989, it was re-released with some additional tracks in 1999 by Wonderdrug Records. The original four-song 7" featured demo versions of "Big Barbecue" and "Captatin of the World" which both appear on later albums as they're the band's most standout tracks. The difference between Unincorporated and later recordings is on this album, Sam Black Church sound particularly by Bad Brains, but replace the reggae undertone with a heavy metal overtone. It is Jet's vocals, on these recordings especially, that echo H.R.'s hyper, fast-talking style on I Against I until Jet lets out a guttural roar to remind you of SBC's unique formula. The early pressings of this 7" are a gem among the hardcore-metal scene in the northeast, and there is a reason, it is brilliant. In no way to slight any of SBC's later material, in which they further discovered their own style, but this is my favorite material. It combines the finer elements of punk-hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Cro-Mags and Gang Green and throws in some speed metal. And not to forget their Appalachian roots in Greenbrier County - hence the album cover - which makes it all that much better.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Unincorporated
Year: 1989/1999
For fans of: Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Motörhead

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Unincorporated

WATCH: Sam Black Church live in Boston, 1997

Sam Black Church is one of those bands that I never got to see before the broke up that I really wish I could have. Though they are from Boston, they break from the mold of angry Beantown bands like Wrecking Crew, Blood For Blood and other bands with which they shared the stage. On stage, Jet is like a cheerleader - always with a smile on his face, he never quits moving and firing up the audience by clapping, waving and leaping. (His stage mannerisms are an obvious influence on Holden Caulfield's Dana White, who introduced me to the band in the mid-'90s.) And like one of my favorite bands Guided By Voices, the band's songs seem to come to life on stage compared to the soft-spoken versions on record. I believe these guys were in the Charleston-Huntington area in the around 1996 with Tree, and I regret not being there.

Anyway, here are a couple videos from the SBC's 10th Anniversary show in Boston. Opening for the band were Gang Green, Blood for Blood, Karma to Burn and others, which shows the respect that the scene had for these guys. In 2007, when SBC reunited for a 20th Anniversary performance, it was Madball who opened.

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Let In Life

Sam Black Church was a moderately successful band from Boston in the mid to late-'90s. Playing an original blend of metal, hardcore, thrash and even elements of jazz, the band's multifarious style allowed them to share bills with a diversity of acts such as Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Motörhead, Clutch and Helmet. The band put out three records on Boston's Taang! Records (Gang Green, Mighty Might Bosstones, Lemonheads) and a pair of other releases. But Sam Black Church was probably best known for their wild, energetic live shows - vocalist Jet's aerial acrobats and epic leaps into the crowd from atop stage speakers earned the band a reputation.

So why am I writing about a band from Boston on this blog? Because the group's core members Jet, guitarist Ben and drummer J.R. were all from Greenbrier County, West Virginia, before moving to Boston for college and forming the band, which is named after a small town in their home county. They were soon playing shows with Slapshot and Wrecking Crew before recording their first demo. Let In Life, SBC's first full-length, was releaed on Taang! in 1993, and though not the best recording quality, does well to represent the band's unique brand of dynamic metalcore that is quite underrated and also unknown to many West Virginia music fans nowadays.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Let In Life
Year: 1993
For fans of: Bad Brains, Helmet, Motörhead

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Let In Life