Originally released in 1988, BOLD’s debut album ’Speak Out’ is considered a staple in the world of straight-edge hardcore music and the youth crew movement. 35 years later, Revelation Records is reissuing the album – now remastered, pressed on color vinyl with bonus full-color, 40-page LP booklet designed by the John Scharbach (Give/Shining Life Press), packaged in an embossed gatefold jacket, as well as on limited cassette. The accompanying booklet dives through a visual history of the then young band of Matt Warnke (vocals), Tim Brooks (bass), Drew Thomas (drums), and John “Zulu” Zuluaga (guitar), through show photos, flyers, and zine clippings.
Looking back at writing and recording ’Speak Out’, vocalist Matt Warnke states: “We quickly became part of a burgeoning scene whose message, values, ideas and vision for an improved version of society was starting to take hold within a significant segment of those we were connected through within the hardcore scene. We made the decision to change the name of the band to BOLD (originally Crippled Youth) for perception reasons and wanted the album which became Speak Out to represent the name change and our overall ambitions and view of things. Talk Is Cheap, Now Or Never, Always Try and Nailed To The X were all written in ’86 and incorporated in our set. Clear, Accept The Blame and Intro/Change Within soon followed as did Wise Up, which was included on the Way It Is Comp. Still Strong and Search were written in the weeks just prior to beginning recording sessions. The songs which comprise the album were recorded at Electric Reels Studio in Pleasant Valley, NY. The four of us spent a good deal of time recording the tracks which make up this record, and feel this version gives justice to the time that we all put into it.”
John Scharbach describes the process he and the band used to design the booklet: “Speak Out always sounded perfect to me so I’m looking forward to the remaster and I would never turn down the opportunity to create a booklet for BOLD. Tried a few different things, but I eventually opted for a scrapbook style layout – no text or anecdotes, just let the visuals tell the story. I talked to [John] Zulu and got a bunch of ephemera from him. He kept a scrapbook with flyers, photos, stickers, backstage passes, etc so I wanted the booklet to reflect that. He passed along a lot of great stories too, the best being the one time BOLD came out on stage for a set at the Anthrax to the theme from Conan the Barbarian because Drew and him were huge fans of the soundtrack. Drew pushed hard for a gatefold layout in 1988 and wanted the cover to have each member showcased in quadrants modeled after the KISS Dynasty cover. Zulu also detailed the time Jordan (Cooper, Revelation Records) showed up to a gig with a multiple page typed report entitled ‘Why BOLD should go with Revelation’ after they had already made a deal with (the label) Wishingwell. I’m always dreaming about a BOLD 4-sided shirt designed with Longrie and Dubar’s direction. This record has always been extremely important to me ever since it entered my life as a youth and I’ve spent hours obsessing over it with all of my DC hardcore family. Very honored to create this.”