HERE THEY ARE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE VERY MODERN VIRTUAL FORMAT!
THE LEGENDARY "AUTOMANIPULATION" AND THE DEBUT LP, "SECURITY" PLUS THE "HECTIC THINKING" EP. Both available at very punk rock prices.
The other releases available on this store include 3 bands from the past 10 years of MOM guitar player Arty Shepherd, including 15 unreleased ERRORTYPE:11 songs, an INSTRUCTION acoustic ep, and the out of print debut from spazz masters, GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP. More to come in the future!
Seven years before the mainstream media was hailing screamo as the next big thing, Mind Over Matter were accidentally inventing the genre in front of floored hometown crowds. Unfortunately, the band never drew the same sort of enthusiasm outside of Long Island until after they’d broken up (and vocalist Artie Shepherd had moved on to Errortype:11 and, currently, Instruction); but it didn’t matter. Those kids from Glassjaw and Thursday who were in the crowd at Mind Over Matter’s gigs had already seen the future.
-aaron burgess
Mind Over Matter was an amazing band because they were a hardcore band that played hardcore shows, but they put a twist on their hardcore sound. No old school parts or metal breakdowns. It was more noisy and progressive. They proved that you could take hardcore and do something different and interesting with it. I think that is why they would be responsible for bands like Silent Majority, Inside, Glassjaw, Milhouse, etc for all following that path. I saw them @ a VFW hall and it was one of my first shows in 94. I got Security and an old 7" with Eddie Reyes from Taking Back Sunday on guitar. I remember being in Catholic school and hating it and the song "God Hates Me" really spoke to me. Their show was incredible and energetic. Their music was dark, heavy and noisy and their lyrics were full of meaning. I saw their last show at the PWAC w/ Inside (who were brand new at the time) and I can't remember who else. But they played a long ass set and everyone was freaking out. It was an awesome time. A few years later, I saw them again at Coney Island High for a reunion show. Their drummer, John Lafata (of Neglect and Deathcycle) couldn't make it cause he was in Madball at the time, and playing a show with them. So Pete Motive and Ben Silent Majority both took turns on the set. They eventually did a real reunion show that a band I was in got to play. We were called RunnerUp, which featured myself on drums, Justin from Milhouse on guitar, Eddie Reyes from Taking Back Sunday on guitar and two other guys. We opened the show, then Radio 4 played and then Mind Over Matter went on and fucking owned! Their best record is definitely Automanipulation. I've never heard anything like it. Musically, it's like Black Flag meets Godflesh in my opinion. Vocally, George Reynolds was just way too original to compare to anyone. Eventually these guys went on to Dayinthelife, Earthling Massive, World's Fastest Car, Error Type 11, Neglect, Instruction, god fires man, Gay for Johnny Depp and Deathcycle. Mind Over Matter was THE ultimate LIHC band of all time. - CE
The early 90's were a strange and interesting period for east coast hardcore and the traditional "hardcore" sound. Gorilla Biscuits had broken up, leaving Walter Schriefels to pursue Quicksand, Chaka from Burn was playing with Orange 9mm, and Citizens Arrest bred Hell No. Nirvana was on the radio, hair metal was on its way out post-hardcore was entering it's defining period. New York was ground zero for a large part of this musical experimentation. This breeding ground created Mind Over Matter. MOM's take an off-beat unusual sound and carved out their own niche and went on to influence countless bands. Mind Over Matters impact on Long Island hardcore cant be overstated. - DTV
Review of "Automanipulation":
Before Refused, The Mars Volta and Muse reintroduced the world to progressive rock records there was Mind Over Matter's "Automanipulation".
The siren song from this Long Island Quintet is their finest recording and one of the best offerings from the East coast HC scene. The album is a true progression from 1994's "Security" where the band showcased their ability to play traditional east coast styled HC. Where Quicksand and Burn exemplifeid that style of HC, "Automanipulation" tapped into the true potential of the genre and gave us our first true glimpse of the shape of punk to come.
George's stellar vocals and John's expert drumming served to create textured landscapes for the listener at a time when HC was still more about the message than the sound. The album's opening track "virus" curves and winds its way through several minutes of crashing, almost anthemic verses, then gives way to a barely audible breakdown and George's warning that there is a virus among us. How right he was.
This was to be Mind Over Matter's final recording. John was already the drummer for NY hatecore heroes Neglect and George moved on to work with members of Quicksand in World's Fastest Car (I think that was their name, they only played 6 or 7 shows) as well as front the band "Day in the Life".
If you enjoyed "The Shape of Punk to Come" by Refused or even Snapcase's "End Transmission" pick this up. Also look for Neglect's "Four years of hate" double disc for more of John's work.
