Records With History And Future

Introduction

When Edward returned from his stay in the United States of America he was under the influence of Dag Nasty and related bands. So he wanted to bring such music to Belgian and European crowds as well. So Edward and Spirit Of Youth members started the project Love, Truth and Honesty. As you can see from the record’s front cover the project lasted about six months. The played a show at the Vort’n Vis the ninth of August in the summer of 1992. Machination Records released the vinyl 7 inch.

“Edward wanted to change the character of Spirit Of Youth.“
Dominiek Denolf (interview about Spirit Of Youth done in 2010)

“I was inspired by the song texts of Dave Smalley (DYS, ALL, Dag Nasty, Down By Law), who wrote texts about interpersonal relationships. So I wrote song texts in vein of his texts as well. Nothing to do with my personal life, but prosaic.”
Edward Verhaeghe

Looking back by Edward himself

At the end of 1991, I had just finished my band Nations On Fire’s ‘Strike the Match’ Lp at
Bad Religion/Epitaph’s West Beach Recorders Studio with Donnell Cameron, when I returned
to Belgium to celebrate Christmas with my family and to prepare the release of our full length debut.
I was in full artist mode, working for the band exclusively, rehearsing, playing and writing.

During my most recent stay in the States I had been further exposed to the music of Dave Smalley,
a Boston Hardcore icon from bands like DYS or Dag Nasty who had recently moved to California
to become a member of The Descendents’ other band, ALL.
And then his next band was Down By Law who had recorded a great s/t debut LP for Epitaph Records
in Los Angeles where I also lived at the time. I was able to meet Dave, outside of a concert setting
and it was obviously inspiring to me. Furthermore, I had seen Dan O’Mahony’s band 411 live at Spanky’s
in Riverside – I was inspired by positive hardcore, you could say I had been electrified.

Back in Belgium I was around musicians every day, sharing rehearsal spaces, volunteering at
local clubs like Vorten Vis in Ypres, and it was there that the guys in Spirit of Youth and I
decided to write a bunch of new songs. I played them the music all the aforementioned positive
hardcore bands and our music became this fast, melodic and very positive hardcore
demo that was first released under the original band name but then because it raised confusion
with the band’s previous work with another vocalist that I decided it should be under another
name, hence the songs released on 7″ via Machination Records (Acme, Fabric) as Love, Truth & Honesty.

What you get is energetic positive hardcore reminiscent of Minor Threat.

Soon the touring machine that became Nations On Fire was too busy, and on the road a lot, so that we
all moved on with our bands and our tape and 7″ are all that remain. The friendship remains after all
these years and we still listen to these songs, and are still proud of them.

Written by Edward Verhaeghe July 2025, the vocalist of the band Love, Truth & Honesty

Records that were influential at that time and place

Lyrics of the record

Nothing is

About a relationship that’s ending.

You are the answer

Is about more or less the same subject as the song “Nothing Is”. Can be considered as the consequence of an ending relationship. A troubled mind or a congestion of feelings caused by a relationship. And the about the moment when this is realised.

Amnesty international

Is about the fundamental right of freedom of speech. The oppression of freedom of speech in some countries. And about the fact that we can help people by granting them amnesty in our country.

Between two people

Is about friendships that occur and the good feelings it can cause. And about the everlasting nature of it. A song dedicated to the people still hanging out at the Vort’n Vis. As is explicitly stated at the end of the lyric text.