Runs Dry

1000 copies pressed. Recording Notes This EP was recorded entirely in one take, capturing the raw intensity and urgency of Deathreat’s sound. The session took place in June 1997 at Cotton Row Recording Studio, known for its work with underground punk and hardcore bands in the Memphis, TN scene. ⸻ Band Bio Deathreat was a politically charged hardcore punk band formed in the mid-1990s by ex-members of His Hero Is Gone, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Their sound fused fast, aggressive hardcore with raw d-beat and crust punk influences, often compared to bands like Discharge and Final Conflict. Their lyrics tackled anti-authoritarian and anarchist themes with a relentless edge. ⸻ Interesting Facts • Deathreat was part of the larger Memphis DIY punk scene that spawned bands like Tragedy and From Ashes Rise. • Members played in or went on to form other important crust/hardcore bands such as Tragedy, Severed Head of State, and Copout. • Known for minimal overdubs and a live-in-the-room recording style to capture authenticity. • Runs Dry was one of their first releases and helped cement their reputation in the global DIY scene. ⸻ Pressed at Rainbo Records (uncredited on release), identified by matrix etchings “L-49296” and “L-49296-X”, which are sequential lacquer job numbers assigned by Rainbo. The “L-” prefix followed by a 5-digit number was Rainbo’s internal job tracking system, often used to help date pressings. Rainbo Records was founded in 1939 in Los Angeles, California, and became one of the longest-running vinyl pressing plants in the United States. They operated for 80 years before officially shutting down operations in December 2019 after losing the lease to their North Hollywood facility. Over the decades, Rainbo pressed everything from early 78s to garage rock, soul, punk, and modern indie vinyl. They were especially known for serving the DIY, punk, and hardcore scenes throughout the 1990s–2000s due to their affordability and accessibility. Labels such as Prank Records, Ebullition, Gravity, Youth Attack, and early Sub Pop frequently pressed through Rainbo. While later years saw some issues with quality control during the vinyl resurgence, Rainbo remained a central hub for independent vinyl production until its closure, marking the end of an era in U.S. vinyl manufacturing.