Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

's self-titled 7-inch EP was their first release on

Orange County, California Orange County (officially the County of Orange; often initialized O.C.) is a county (United States), county located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population ...

, record label, Indecision Records. It was released in May, 1996 on 7-inch vinyl only. The production run was limited to 3336 on black vinyl, 330 on grey, 449 on blue and a further 100 on black vinyl with a different cover to coincide with a European tour.discography: indecision records
/ref> This was in line with Indecision Records tradition of putting out releases by new bands on colored and normal vinyl and was carried through to their next release, the '' Fall from Grace (EP)''. It was later re-released on CD as part of a

retrospective A retrospective (from Latin ', "look back"), generally, is a look back at events that took place, or works that were produced, in the past. As a noun, ''retrospective'' has specific meanings in software development, popular culture, and the arts. ...

compilation, '' Three Years Two Months Eleven Days'', in April 2000 after the band had left to join

Nitro Records Nitro Records was an American independent record label, founded in 1994 and operated by The Offspring's Dexter Holland and Greg K. Nitro is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most notab ...

in 1998.

Overview

Although the band had relocated to California in 1995, and subsequently signed to an independent label there, their musical roots were firmly back in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, or more specifically the

New York hardcore New York hardcore (also known as NYHC) is both the hardcore punk music created in New York City and the subculture and lifestyle (sociology), lifestyle associated with that music. The scene established many aspects that are fixtures of hardcore ...

scene. The songs were short and played at a frenetic pace, with ample use of a

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...

, known in the genre as a breakdown. This was to be their sound throughout their stay of three years at Indecision Records.

Track listing

#"Alzheimers" (

) – 1:24 #"Pale Horse" (Ensign) – 2:28 #"Trying Again" (Ensign, Ron Wood) – 1:56 #"Enemy Of My Enemy" (Ensign) – 2:46

Credits

* Tim Shaw – vocals * John Fraunberger – guitar * Walt Svekla – bass * Chris Ross – drums * Recorded January 11 – 15, 1996 at Sweetwood Sound,

, USA * Produced by Pete Koller * Engineered Alap Momin assisted by Keith Deblasi

References

External links

Indecision Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ensign (Ep) 1996 debut EPs Ensign (band) EPs Indecision Records EPs