625 had a huge part in my love for skateboarding, punk and combing the two into a record label.
When I first started, I wrote to Max to tell him about my new record (cassette) label called Skate Squad Records. I basically used 625 as a model to base my label (Give Praise Records) on. Max wanted me to check out a demo cassette from a band called Killed In Action. This put my record label career into maximum speed. It also created a long term friendship with Travis from Killed In Action. I ended up working with Travis on a few projects, as well as working with Max and 625 on a few projects as well.
625 really puts so many bands on the radar of many people and also the radar of your turntable. Combining skateboarding, fast hardcore, and world wide bands. Finding the raddest bands all over the world, the kids that skate and play really fast. Max really sets the precedent for fast skate thrash bands from all over the place.
625 has done this for many years and is still churning out some amazing releases, with no end in sight!
My favorite release 625 did was the Bandana Thrash comp. I listened to that constantly! I also fell (HARD) onto the bandana thrash resurgence. Well, What Happens Next? See what I did there.
My friends and I would pile on the bandanas and head to the local shows in my area, usually with our skateboards in tow, so we could hit the curbs outside on the way in, or between bands.
The early stages of Give Praise (and the ending stages of Skate Squad) were full of bandanas and skateboards and it was a most excellent time in my life.
Paul runs Give Praise Records and is the Editor at Shackle Magazine. Paul hangs out on Cape Cod in Massachusetts with his wife and son, Christopher. He also has been working at a offset print shop since 2003, and still tries to get out and skateboard on very small curbs.
