Friends Rust's difficulty finding other bands willing to play shows with them. This division was noted in the releases' liner notes as well. Another new song, "Coffee Black", dealt with consumerism, while "Fire on 8th and 3rd" was written about a house fire that broke out across the street from where most of the band members lived. The song "Scapegoat Wets the Whistle" was written about Moyal giving up the straight-edge lifestyle and the attitude taken by his former fans once they heard the news. Release and packaging Good Life Recordings version All six songs, "Half Friend Town", "Like Strings (Spell It with a K)", "Fire on 8th and 3rd", "Coffee Black", "Scapegoat Wets the Whistle" and "Operation", were packaged by Belgian record label Good Life Recordings on a compact disc and double 7" vinyl, and released in July 1999. Good Life Recordings had previously released As Friends Rusts' The Fists of Time on compact disc and 10" vinyl and the split with Discount on compact disc and 7" vinyl. The As Friends Rust double 7" vinyl was available on a choice of clear blue and mint green (one each), limited to 500 copies, or double black, limited to 1500 copies. Good Life Recordings' compact disc version also included a one-minute silent track prior to "Operation", presenting it as a bonus track. The artwork for the Good Life Recordings version of As Friends Rust was designed by Moyal, with band photographs taken by Nicholas Forneris and Vincent Kempeneers. Although the 7" vinyl cover only bares the band name, and the compact disc jewel case spine bares the words 6-Song CD, Good Life Recordings owner Edward Verhaeghe, through a language barrier, misunderstood the releases' title to be God Hour and included the title in the press release and promotional poster. Doghouse Records version All five original As Friends Rust songs, "Half Friend Town", "Like Strings (Spell It with a K)", "Fire on 8th and 3rd", "Coffee Black", "Scapegoat Wets the Whistle", were packaged by Doghouse Records on a compact disc and 8" vinyl. The cover song "Operation" was not released to the American market until a year later. Originally scheduled for release on August 19, 1999, Doghouse Records delayed the release of As Friends Rust to brick and mortar stores to September 17, 1999; but it was available a week earlier through the record label's website and through its distributor, Lumberjack