Youth, Betrayal and the Awakening
Encyclopedia
Youth, Betrayal and the Awakening is the third album from East Los Angeles, California
hardcore punk
band, Union 13
.
It was released in September, 2000 on Epitaph Records
, and follows 1998's Why Are We Destroying Ourselves?
– also released on Epitaph Records
.
The band had lost two members in the meantime – bassist Jerry Navarro, and guitarist Ben Sandoval – and it was left to chief songwriter, José Mercado, to fill in the gaps in the studio.
This album sees a return to the Westbeach Recorders
studios where they produced their debut LP, East Los Presents...
in 1997. It also features the production work of Donnell Cameron – a well-known figure in the hardcore punk
world.
Two of the tracks, "The Game" and "Innocence", appeared on two consecutive Epitaph Records
Punk-O-Rama series compilations – one before the album was released, the other after.
More problems were to come afterwards and it took the band three years to finally release their next album, Symptoms of Humanity
, after already recording some new material in 2001. Disaster Records picked them up and released it in 2003.
inspired, instrumental introduction again gives way to blasts of short, brutal riffs and shouted vocals. However, as the personnel list had shrunk since the last episode, it was an altogether tighter sound.
The band also try their hand at slower, more melodic material, largely to good effect.
And again there are the Spanish-voiced tracks, ever true to their Hispanic-American origins, and the traditionally inspired Spanish guitar melodies. This time round, there were four such tracks.
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band, Union 13
Union 13
Union 13 is a hardcore punk band from Boyle Heights, California, USA who have, to date, released four full length albums – three on Epitaph Records and one on Disaster Records....
.
It was released in September, 2000 on Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, and follows 1998's Why Are We Destroying Ourselves?
Why Are We Destroying Ourselves?
Why Are We Destroying Ourselves? is the second album from East Los Angeles, California band, Union 13.It was released in October, 1998 on Epitaph Records, and follows their debut on the same label in 1997, East Los Presents......
– also released on Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
.
The band had lost two members in the meantime – bassist Jerry Navarro, and guitarist Ben Sandoval – and it was left to chief songwriter, José Mercado, to fill in the gaps in the studio.
This album sees a return to the Westbeach Recorders
Westbeach Recorders
Westbeach Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California famous for recording punk rock groups, such as Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, The Offspring and Pennywise. It was established in 1985 by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz and re-located to Hollywood, California in February 1987 and...
studios where they produced their debut LP, East Los Presents...
East Los Presents...
East Los Presents... is the first album from East Los Angeles, California hardcore punk band, Union 13.It was released in July, 1997 on Epitaph Records. Legend has it that Brett Gurewitz heard about the band playing to large numbers of people in L.A...
in 1997. It also features the production work of Donnell Cameron – a well-known figure in the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
world.
Two of the tracks, "The Game" and "Innocence", appeared on two consecutive Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
Punk-O-Rama series compilations – one before the album was released, the other after.
More problems were to come afterwards and it took the band three years to finally release their next album, Symptoms of Humanity
Symptoms of Humanity
Symptoms of Humanity is the fourth album from East Los Angeles, California hardcore punk band, Union 13.It was released in November 2003 on Disaster Records and follows the 2000 album, Youth, Betrayal and the Awakening....
, after already recording some new material in 2001. Disaster Records picked them up and released it in 2003.
Overview
A placid, almost thrash metalThrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
inspired, instrumental introduction again gives way to blasts of short, brutal riffs and shouted vocals. However, as the personnel list had shrunk since the last episode, it was an altogether tighter sound.
The band also try their hand at slower, more melodic material, largely to good effect.
And again there are the Spanish-voiced tracks, ever true to their Hispanic-American origins, and the traditionally inspired Spanish guitar melodies. This time round, there were four such tracks.
Track listing
- All music written by José Mercado, lyrics by José Mercado, Edward Escoto, and Louie Villareal
- "Intro" – 1:00
- "The Game (We Don't Have To Play)" – 2:32
- "Beyond The System" – 2:09
- "A Short Supply (Of Truth)" – 1:51
- "Youth, Betrayal And The Awakening" – 1:31
- "Buscando La Verdad" – 2:15
- "For Someone" – 1:21
- "To Understand" – 2:39
- "Ilusión, Violencia y Maldad" – 1:36
- "Innocence" – 2:26
- "Try" – 1:37
- "Soledad" – 2:49
- "Finding Out" – 2:47
- "Mundo Egoísta" – 3:04
- "Malice" – 2:46
- "Continue" – 1:36
- "Life, Death, Matter" – 2:49
Credits
- Edward Escoto – vocals
- José Mercado – guitar, bass
- Louie Villareal – drums
- Recorded and mixed at Westbeach RecordersWestbeach RecordersWestbeach Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California famous for recording punk rock groups, such as Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, The Offspring and Pennywise. It was established in 1985 by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz and re-located to Hollywood, California in February 1987 and...
, Hollywood, USA - Produced by Union 13Union 13Union 13 is a hardcore punk band from Boyle Heights, California, USA who have, to date, released four full length albums – three on Epitaph Records and one on Disaster Records....
and Donnell Cameron - Engineered by Donnell Cameron
- Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis Mastering