Portraits Of Past - "st" (LP: Repress)

The classic hardcore album that used to cost over 10,000 yen in the used market in Japan is finally being re-pressed in 2025! This is not just nostalgia, but it's real now too, as the young Skramz generation in the U.S. is also very much in favor of this album. The record sounds great too.

It's 1996, and if Portraits Of Past said, “We've time leapt from 2006,” I might believe them.

The discography of Portraits Of Past, released on Ebulliton, is a very influential and important band in the early 90's scene like INDIAN SUMMER, FINGER PRINT, EARLY GRACE, etc., despite their short activity period. The band's melancholy, weepy sound is extremely emo, and their songs are beautiful. A must-have for all Skramz listeners.

But despite the 1993-1996 time period, when you listen to the album now, it sounds surprisingly like a band from the 2000s. They were such an influence on the bands of the 2000s, and I think the bands of the Japanese scene were no exception. And who were they who created that sound in the early to mid 90's? I can't help but wonder if they might have been from the future.

tracklist;
A1 KQED Equals Volvo
A2 Bang Yer Head
A3 The Outlook Is Bleak
A4 The Control Freak
B1 Implications Of A Sinkhole Personality
B2 Snicker Snicker
B3 Something Less Than Intended