INTEGRITY – Systems Overload (A2 / Orr mix)

integrity.so.remix

I can still remember going to Criminal Records in Atlanta to pick up Systems Overload when it came out, May 1st, 1995. Those Who Fear Tomorrow was a record that I worshiped for several years prior, countless hours spent moshing Neighbor, SauceMaster and Mike Phyte while yelling “Meeeeeeeshhhhhhaaaaaaa” in dorm rooms, living rooms, and in cars on road trips. It sounded like nothing else at the time and in the days before the internet, rumors spread of these maniacs from Cleveland which only added to the lure of the band… One tale I’d heard several times had Dwid wearing a human ear around his neck. When “Systems” came out I was mildly disappointed… it was less ‘evil’ than I had expected. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved it, but it didn’t live up to the unholy expectations I had. 18 years later Aaron Melnick has fixed this with a new mix that is insane. Insane. The vinyl showed up today. This is now the record that it originally should have been. It quite possibly the best Integrity record ever.

(Untitled)

One of the best clips ever, showcasing Pipeline from this last winter season. Every February the worlds bodyboarders flock the the Northshore in preparation for the Pipeline Pro. Literally that whole month the area is flooded with the best riders trying to get as many sessions in before the contest. I had planned to make the trek this season to compete for a wildcard spot… knowing that I wouldn’t place. Just riding in this environment with these dudes would push me to the next level. Needless to say, I didn’t make it this year. Lots of excuses, surgery, work, Pipeline almost being cancelled, none of them good. Next year my sites are set on this. It’s not about competing, it’s about immersing myself and pushing my riding further.
There is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing.

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