From 1993 to 1996 Anti-Matter was a fanzine published by Norman Brannon (former guitarist for Resurrection, 108, Shelter, Texas Is The Reason, and New End Original) from his New York City apartment. The zine featured interviews with many hardcore, punk, and indie bands that read more like conversations with friends rather than your run-of-the-mill interviews. Brannon also released the Anti-Matter compilation album in 1996 which featured many of the bands that graced the pages of the fanzine. I had a copy of the last issue of Anti-Matter an one point many years ago and still own the compilation CD. Brannon’s writing, music, and philosophies were influential to me so to hear that he had a book coming out was exciting news to me.
Brannon’s new book The Anti-Matter Anthology: A 1990’s Post-Punk & Hardcore Reader features many interviews that have been culled from the pages of the Anti-Matter fanzine. Included are documents of conversations between Brannon and the following: Rancid, Jawbox, Sick Of It All, Samiam, Quicksand, Rage Against The Machine, and many more. The book is insightful and bridges the gap between the well-documented hardcore and punk of the 1980’s and the Internet-spawned overexposure that so many bands of today receive. It is one last glimpse into the close-knit world of mid-nineties post-hardcore that Brannon and so many others poured their hearts into.
The book is amazing and is due out November 7th on Revelation.
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i am excited for this book/show (woohoo snapcase).