About

This Time It's War was an important part of the Southern California hardcore scene in the early 2000s. When I built notPopular.com, I intentionally didn't include a dedicated photo section because that was This Time It's War's space. Their photos were raw, energetic, and captured moments that are impossible to put into words.

In late 2002, ThisTimeItsWar went offline, and with it disappeared thousands of photos documenting Southern California hardcore shows. In the pre-social media era, these images were often the only photographs ever taken at many of those shows.

Although the site existed for only a short time, it left a lasting impression on me. Years after ThisTimeItsWar disappeared, I received a copy of the original photo archive.

Twenty-five years later, I'm honored to help preserve this small piece of Southern California hardcore history. This site exists to preserve those photos, honor the legacy of ThisTimeItsWar.com, and provide a snapshot of the Southern California hardcore scene during 2001–2002.

— Josh Highland