-NFT RECORD REVIEWS 2005-
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7 SHOT SCREAMERS - ‘KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE’ CD
I don’t like how loosely the term ‘Rock N Roll’ gets awarded to bands these
days who just don’t represent the real soul and furor of Rock N Roll at all
and just seem to be playing hackneyed crap. Every so often a band comes out
that truly does capture the passion of true Rock N Roll... ladies and
gentlemen I give you the 7 SHOT SCREAMERS. Keep the flame alive this
unquestionably does. This is ablaze with real Rock N Roll spirit. There’s
hints of ELVIS COSTELLO, MIKE NESS, JONATHAN RICHMAN, TIGER ARMY and THE
CLASH all mixed up into a really gritty and wild record. Fantastic
song-writing, tons of style and above all REAL Rock N Roll and did I mention
that it’s stylish? This will be spinning and spinning for ages and ages.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntdtownrecords.com
AFS - ‘TALES OF A DRUNKEN GENERATION’ CD
The debut full-length from the ARTHRITIC FOOT SOLDIERS. Old skool skaters
playing old skool punk rock. That’s it... no bullshit, just straight-forward,
old-fashioned skatepunk. The sound is a blend of American and English punk
rock/hardcore but I’ve always found skatepunk bands to never really have a
sound that you can totally categorise. It’s always been the most boundless
and uninhibited style of punk rock where the bands seem to take whatever
direction they want and AFS are no exception to that. They’re heavy, fun,
melodic, fast, uncouth, political, energetic and perceptive. This doesn’t
really sound like any other skatepunk band but then they all sound so
dissimilar which is the whole point of the genre. The emphasis is definitely
on fun here and that’s a welcome thing. When did things get so damn serious?
Voltage Records / Stranded Records
www.voltagerecords.com /
www.strandedrecords-scotland.co.uk
AGAINST ME! - 'SEARCHING FOR A FORMER CLARITY' CD
AGAINST ME! truly are one of the most original, stylish and sophisticated
contemporary punk rock bands. They are just so imaginative and that's a
fantastic thing to see because in my opinion punk rock has been going
backwards recently with a lot of bands, who I once thought were special,
churning out by-the-numbers shit. AGAINST ME! are the opposite. They keep
things edgy and innovative and they pretty much reinvent themselves and
redefine their style with every new record and that's an amazing thing
since they really nailed it on 'Reinventing Axl Rose' and could just
have stuck with that winning formula, but that's not the way AGAINST ME!
works. There is no formula. 'Searching For A Former Clarity' is a
cultivation of 'The Eternal Cowboy' just as that was an evolution of
'Reinventing Axl Rose'. It's always unmistakably AGAINST ME! but
it's never a replica. Never a carbon copy. Each record is like an
individual and unique experience and each is presented exclusively.
'Searching For A Former Clarity' is full of excitement, reaction,
astuteness, incisiveness, emotion and they fuse all those ingredients into a
real masterpiece every time around. It really is amazing. There is one thing
that is constant through all their releases... fantastic song writing.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
ALL TOMORROW'S PARTY - 'YOO DOO RIGHT, YOO DOO SLIDE' CD
Whimsical garage delivered in exceptional Japanese style, ALL TOMORROW'S
PARTY take influence from all kinds of places and judiciously blend them
together to create a speckled and hallucinogenic scene. Traces of THE VELVET
UNDERGROUND (of course), THE DOORS, PINK FLOYD, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, STONE
ROSES etc. It's all so wonderfully directionless but not in the sense that
they haven't established a sound or focus, but in the way that it's so
free. If they wanna rock out they rock out, if they wanna take you on an
enigmatic and dreamy musical journey then that's what they do and you have
no choice but to go with it. The end of every track presents a new and
impulsive beginning. It's very experimental yet totally engaged. The CD
opens with 6 minutes of shifting instrumental landscape and they make sure
that you feel every rise and fall and transition from serene to moody and
edgy and then you're thrown straight into a distorted garage fuzz and the
whole album continues in this vein. The Japanese certainly don't deliver
half-measures and with ALL TOMORROW'S PARTY it's the whole hog and the
effort is tremendous. You can tell that the end result of this release is
exactly what they were after.
Alive Records
www.alive-totalenergy.com
GG ALLIN - 'INSULT AND INJURY VOL. 2' CD
These are raw recordings of GG ALLIN with BLOODY MESS from 1986 to 1989.
Some live stuff and some accoustic stuff including the great 'Sitting In
This Room' and 'Thinking And Drinking', and also some phone conversations
which are an always cool and common feature of GG releases. There's also a
tribute song for GG by BLOODY MESS AND THE SKABS, 'Murder Groupies', that's a
really cool addition. I like to collect all the GG stuff I can get my hands
on so this excites me but it's not just for collectors or completists. It's
a true slice of raw, crude punk rock and everything GG represented. It's
basic, it's dangerous, it's frightening and it's pure punk rock. You just
don't get this anymore. This is what the kids should be listening to
because it's true rebellion... it's not safe in any way. I hope they pick up
on this and start understanding just what rock 'n' roll is about.
Black and Blue Records
www.blackandbluerecords.com
GG ALLIN AND THE MURDER JUNKIES - 'SAVAGE SOUTH' DVD
This is kinda like the follow up to the 'Raw, Brutal, Rough and Bloody'
DVD (also an MVD release) which showcased GG in 1991 and this collection of
live shows from Georgia and Texas presents a more ferocious GG in 1992
wreaking havoc across Dixie on the Savage South Tour. Both of these DVDs
(which comprise of 6 shows altogether) truly communicate the chaos of a
Murder Junkies show. The violence, the danger and the fear. These are scary
venues, scary audiences and a fuckin scary band!!! GG really had reached his
no-compromise stage where every show reached higher levels of hostility with
the Murder Junkies taking their attack up a notch. These shows are
unpredictable and turbulent and truly stand as a fundamental record of true,
adamant punk rock. I just don't know what GG would think of the punk
scene today if he was still here. This is significant and valuable footage
because aside from the 'Live and Pissed' video and the 'Hated'
documentary, it's pretty hard to get decent GG recordings and these 2 DVDs
genuinely transmit the rawness and threat of this vicious but devoted punk
rocker. I'm sure there will never be another GG Allin which is a pity
because young punk kids haven't got any real sense of danger left in rock
'n' roll. Everything is so safe these days and that sucks. Where's the
self-abuse? Where's the faeces? Where's the risk???? These DVDs are
compulsory viewing, especially for younger punks. If you think what you're
listening to is aggressive or violent think again because GG sang about it
and did it. This may frighten you and that's what it's all about.
Music Video Distributors
www.mvdb2b.com
THE ALTARBOYS - 'GREATEST HITS VOL. 2' CD
Straight-up, fast and destructive punk rock with a real Beer City feel to
it. It's old-fashioned, undiluted, antagonistic rock 'n' roll and
that's it. There's nothing else going on to get in the way of that. Now,
I don't wanna be a whining bitch about it but what the hell happened to
punk rock? Who let the fags take over? It sucked about 10 years ago what was
getting labelled as 'punk' but I never saw it getting as bad as these
days!!! The kids just don't have a fuckin clue... where's the danger? The
excitement? The volatility? Poor, poor misguided kids don't got a
clue. Well, I say fuck'em and let them be fooled and deprived and we'll
take the real thing for ourselves!!! Hell yeah. It's great to hear
something that shakes me up again, it's been too long.
Last Chance Records
www.lastchancerecords.net
AMERICAN EYES - ‘NEVER TRUST ANYTHING THAT BLEEDS!’ CD EP
AMERICAN EYES have a weird kinda blend of sound. One side is the definitive
Warped Tour sound that we’re all familiar with but then they have this
unusual other angle that’s like a kind of ‘80s / New Wave sound and we’re
definitely getting accustomed to Side One Dummy presenting us with bands
that have these strange blends of styles. I think that’s a cool direction
for them to be taking on because there are a million bands that have the
Warped sound and probing to find interesting young bands must be a pretty
demanding task because of all the clones out there. I’m down with bands
experimenting with sounds and styles and as mutated as they can get from
that Warped sound is absolutely fine with me!
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
AN EMERGENCY - 'WE ARE THE OCTAGONISTS' CD
Killer, killer artwork on this release and it's on Captains Of Industry so
you know it's gonna be off the wall. AN EMERGENCY is really edgy and
scratchy and almost reminds me of a convulsive BENDER with their disjointed
delivery and angular chords and then a touch of the DEAD MILKMEN too with
their guitar sound and style and also the MINUTEMEN and the SAILORS, so you
can image the irregularity!! It definitely has an SST vibe to it with it's
growling, arty and jittery technique. It switches from tranquillity to chaos
in a flash, melody to frenzy in a blink. The octopus on the cover (designed
by one of the singer/guitarists in the band) is pretty appropriate because
AN EMERGENCY (cool name) are unpredictable and directionless and a little
frightening, all in a good way of course, like an octopus. The erratic 8
legs are like the musician's limbs... impulsive and volatile.
Captains Of Industry
www.captainsof.com
ANGEL CITY OUTCASTS - 'LET IT RIDE' CD
These guys approach the streetpunk style from a totally different angle.
They have this 1930's gangster imagery which I really like because it's
not the same old cliched shit and they have a real rock 'n' roll, rock
and almost country edge to their sound but it's still tough as nails and
full on. It's just so different... the progressions, the guitar sounds, the
prouction and the delivery. It's like the TOY DOLLS crossed with the DROPKICKS,
KINGS OF NUTHIN', THOSE UNKNOWN and GUNS N' ROSES. 'Popeye in
Afghanistan' and 'I'm an A.C.O.' are my 2 absolute favourites but
the whole album is solid as fuck. It's so refreshing to hear things done
differently, I can't tell you. I like that there's only 10 songs in all
on this record. These guys certainly do things their own way and I love
that. They were part of the Old Skars and Upstarts skate/punk tour with DIE
HUNNS and the BLACK HALOS and they were also on the last 'Old Skars'
compilation so I think these guys will be getting bigger and bigger and
rightly fucking so.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI - 'ACCORDION POP VOL.1' CD
I first heard ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI when I found her 'I Love New York' EP in a bargain bin and I can tell you, it was one of the best finds of my life. This collection bares the caption 'hear these tunes like you've never heard 'em before!' and boy oh boy is that the case! This is accordion frenzy!!! You have tunes like BLONDIE's 'Denise', THE VELVET UNDERGROUND's 'Femme Fatale, THE BEATLES' 'Hey Jude' and so on presented solely by an accordion. Nothing else. That's brilliant. As the CD also states, 'No Drums No Bass No Vocal. Just A Little Reverb'. Let this be a lesson: the accordion is all you need. This rules.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI - ‘LOUIE LOUIE’ CD
ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI presents 12 songs for and about LOU REED. This is
the most assorted release I’ve ever heard by her but it’s still portrayed in
her totally inimitable style. There’s less accordion rawness than I was
expecting but it still maintains the wonderful ambiguity and mysteriousness
that characterises ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI. I mean, I’m a sucker for her and I
recommend all her records because she’s so open and boundless and I’m in
love with the accordion as it is so her... impulsiveness and fantastic
unpredictability united with the sound of the best instrument in the world
is a pleasure bomb for me! She gets me so deep and I urge you to go out and
get her records and breathe it all in, she rules.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI - 'THE 80'S' CD
I have such a weakness for the accordion... it's hands down THE best instrument and being from Italian descent I have been around the fantastic sound for my whole life. So here, ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI brings us songs from the 80's such as: 'Blank Generation', 'The Day John Kennedy Died', 'I'm 18' etc and puts the wonderful accordion twist on them in the way that only she knows how. It really is a beautiful noise and a totally inimitable adaptation. If you are unfamiliar with ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI then you need to alert yourself to her and if you're an accordion lover you need this ASAP!
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
ANNALISE - ‘HERE’S TO HOPE’ CD
ANNALISE are from England but fit the No Idea sound and style perfectly.
Their sound is thin yet full, and they write very sophisticated songs that
often remind me a lot of the CLASH with their blend of melody and attack
with a dose of pure freedom. I’m always really surprised that I love this
sound so much because it’s so different to the usual, chaotic noise that I
listen to, but I’ve always had a weak spot for this well-crafted,
philosophical punk rock. I’m always amazed at the song-writing and how they
merge stuff together that actually works!! Maybe I’ve become so used to the
usual three-chord clamour that any slight refinement or complexity impresses
the hell out of me!! ANNALISE blend American and English style but not in
the typical ’77 way that we hear so much of. This is imaginative and
expressive and perfectly suited to No Idea.
No Idea Records
www.noidea.com
ANONYMOUS TIP - 'GREETINGS FROM WASTELAND' CD EP
Simple and melodic punk rock with a US sound expressive of the NOFX and
BAD RELIGION type of sound, and maybe even a hint of early SCREECHING WEASEL
in there too. The main difference between the sound that English melodic punk bands
have and the sound of the American bands lies completely in the production.
This is thinner than the US stuff and that's why it's better. It's more raw
and incorporates a real edge to the melody not like the shiny, over-produced US
stuff. This is way more gritty and has great sing-a-long, catchy choruses
and a bit of Ska on 'Space Fluid'... but again, not the obvious US stuff, more
Dub-based, more LEE PERRY influenced. The songs range from mid-paced to fast
with the closing track, 'Slap Happy Bappy' being the show-stealer for me with a
bit of a RIPPING TEETH sound in there. Kids who are into melodic punk should get
into European bands and forget about all the US stuff.
Ten Past Ten Records
ANTAGONIZERS / MAIN STREET SAINTS - SPLIT CD
7 songs from each band... The ANTAGONIZERS are up first and they play streetpunk with a rock n' roll edge reminiscent of the LOWER CLASS BRATS and the vocals really remind me of Mickey Fitz. The production is pretty raw on their tracks and I like that. I'm not down with that big sound... I prefer things with a more unpolished and crude edge, especially when it comes to this type of punk rock. Like, the production the TEMPLARS have is perfect for me and I can feel a similarity to these songs. 'B.C.S' and '2 Million Voices' are my favourite of the ANTAGONIZERS tracks but they're all solid. These are the last MAIN STREET SAINTS cuts included on here from a couple of years ago and this split belongs to them. They too blend Oi!/streetpunk with rock 'n' roll but it's way more urgent and forceful than the ANTAGONIZERS. It's more outta control and impulsive. All of their song titles end with 'song' which is pretty funny... 'Breakup Song', 'Patriot Song', 'Pirate Song' ... etc, the latter of which includes Johnny Cash singing which is appropriate because the MAIN STREET SAINTS sound like a rowdy version of old rockabilly mixed with punk rock. There's a real fun spirit to these songs and this band and it's great that Street Anthem decided to release them and coupled up as a split this is a really fuckin cool release.
Street Anthem Records
www.streetanthemrecords.com
ANTiSEEN - 'BADWILL AMBASSADORS' CD
Another sick album title and cover from ANTiSEEN and of course, you know it, another great record. Totally inescapable and relentless - the new attack is in effect. Pure devastation Rock N' Roll: 'Scapegoat', 'F.T.K.', 'Ten Pounds Of Shit In A Five Pound Bag' - absolute malevolent gems. The ANTiSEEN recipe is failsafe and nobody comes close to them. They are the chiefs of annihilation and everyone else is just still learning. I'm pretty sure that if you throw this CD it will explode on impact because this is a fuckin bomb that's gotta detonate and destroy.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
ANTiSEEN - 'DEAR ABBY' 7"
A new ANTiSEEN record is always something to get excited about, something to
wake you up and agitate you. 4 tracks here... the title track from the
'Badwill Ambassadors' album and 3 live tracks recorded in both the
Carolinas: 'Sabu', 'Funk You' and 'Cactus Jack' the last 2 of which come
from the 20 year anniversary DVD. Another jewel in TKO's ANTiSEEN
treasury... you don't know how lucky you are. I really like this new style of
artwork that ANTiSEEN are going for with this 7" and the 'Badwill
Ambassadors' cover too... fucking cool and the photo in the centre of the
record hub continues from one side to the other and that's really cool too.
Mottled blue vinyl and directions to Abdullah the Butcher's House Of Ribs
and Chinese Food included.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
ARGIES - ‘AL LIMITE DE LAS UTOPIAS’ CD
I love the ARGIES. When ‘Himnos De Combate’ came out it excited me so much
and now this new full-length!!!! For anyone who doesn’t know, the ARGIES are
from Argentina (obviously) and play amazing 1977 style punk rock. I know
a lot of bands claim to have the ‘77 sound and most of them don’t come close
to capturing that magic of that early sound but the ARGIES have got it a
million times over! Imagine the CLASH with a Latin twist with the dub/reggae
side too. The singer David even reminds me of Joe Strummer vocally. They
covered the CLASH’s ‘The Prisoner’ but with Spanish lyrics on the
Argentinean ‘77 Patadas’ compilation last year and ran the show. They
really are the Latin CLASH with no exceptions. A lot of punk bands site the
CLASH as an influence but most times there’s not a trace of their style or
astuteness in the music at all, but the ARGIES nailed it and the fact that
they sing in Spanish and have the Latin approach means that this is still
fresh and original and not a CLASH rip-off. I’m extremely fond of this band
and urge you to get a hold of their stuff.
Fire And Flames Records
www.fireandflames.com
ARKANGEL - 'HOPE YOU DIE BY OVERDOSE' CD
Belgian brutality delivered through pure hardcore. This is a devoted and passionate assault and the brutality stems from dedication and steadfastness. This is not fashion anger like most US hardcore acts... this is honest and real. ARKANGEL have points to make and you can learn from them. Sure you might not agree with their points of view, but they are constructive ones, and I'd rather have a band focus on positive action rather than some street-brawl pseudo-hardcore crap. I'm into enthusiastic bands and honesty and principles through music so I dig this... not forgetting that this rocks like crazy in the process.
Private Hell Records
ASSHOLE PARADE - ‘SAY GOODBYE’ CD
This suits me just fine! 15 tracks in 12 minutes... that’s the fix I need,
shoot me up and let’s go. ASSHOLE PARADE don’t fuck around... short and fast
and ferocious. That’s how I gotta start the day! The drums are just
insane...it’s so intense and so tight and just brutal. It reminds me a lot
of 80s skate punk/hardcore especially the vocals which are sung properly and
not in some stupid growl... I hate that shit. This is old-fashioned hardcore
thrash but with a very punk rock attitude that reminds me a bit of the
QUINCY PUNX at times. Anyway, this makes me feel like a rogue kid again and
I just wanna go out and cause trouble on my skate so no work for me today!
Again!
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
ATTENT!ON - ‘2,3,1!’ 7”
Melodic yet raw and edgy, ATTENT!ON aren’t about fitting into any categories
or playing a fixed style. Their sound sputters and spits and communicates
through abrasive and jarring music layered with intelligent and adept
lyrics. This isn’t throwaway punk rock, in fact it’s not even punk rock,
it’s expanded way beyond that genus into something much more multifaceted
and concentrated. This is mature and sophisticated and I mean that in a good
way. In these days of throwaway shitty records made by ‘fashionable’ young
bands ATTENT!ON sparkle like a diamond. This has got heart and that’s
something that’s really gone astray these days.
Viking Wreckchords
www.vikingwreckchords.de
AVENGED SEVENFOLD - ‘CITY OF EVIL’ CD
I’m not going to spend too much time reviewing this piece of shit because
I’m not wasting any effort on these cunts. Immature shit. It’s shocking
that the kids like this shit so much. I guess they’re just stupid little
kids though. Pure shit. Straight out of the CD player and into the bin.
Warner Records
www.warnerbrosrecords.com
BACK CHATS - ‘PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT’ CD
Female-fronted punk rock/hardcore that sometimes reminds me a bit of
THUG MURDER, LES BATON ROUGE, DEADLINE and VICE SQUA. It’s fast,
melodic and aggressive in all the right measures and really gets you
shaking. This is sung in English and German with a great range of styles
throughout the record but it always keeps the pace fast and upbeat. It’s
always attacking but in totally the right way... it never gets over the top
or put-on... it’s just passionate and fuckin rockin.
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
BALZAC - ‘OUT OF THE LIGHT OF THE 13TH DARK NIGHT’ CD / DVD
I love how extreme Japanese punx are. They play the fastest music, they got the
tallest hawks, the most studs, the craziest names and BALZAC are no
exception. They play devilrock ala MISFITS except way faster, more chaotic and
totally wild but with all the MISFITS-style back-ups, skeleton costumes and
really long devillocks. They even have their own version of the MISFITS
skull! Fucking wild. It’s actually pretty original sounding because it’s
more like straight-up punk rock with a devilish-edge rather than
fully-fledged horror punk. It’s more like early MISFITS. It seems that a lot
of bands that fall under the devil/horror category are too fixated on that
evil image and forget about the music which usually ends up as second-rate,
boring shit and that’s where BALZAC thrive because the music is imperative
here and that’s why it’s so original sounding. It’s almost like SNUFF
covering the MISFITS. It’s fucking unique and I like it a lot. This release
also comes with a 4-video DVD and yep, you guessed it... they’re fucked up
with knives, blood, devillocks, and skeleton outfits. Cool shit and the
coolest thing is that the drummer wears the whole skeleton getup but also
has the mouth-part, like a MISFITS bandit and that just rules. Like I said,
always taking it one step further. A really, really cool release.
G-Force Records
www.g-forcerecords.de
BANE - 'THE NOTE' CD
Proper hardcore... phew! No whiny, noodley crap here and thank God for
that... can someone please tell me what the fuck has happened to hardcore
these days? I used to bitch about all the macho crap 10 years ago but I'd
take that anyday over the shit that passes for hardcore today. Metal? Emo?
Fuck all that and give me a true, old-fashioned hardcore injection like I
grew up with... BANE will bring you straight back to the old days... stripped
down, tough and chaotic but, above all, meaningful. No tortured shit, no
metal, no whining, no dual vocalists, no minute-long intros, no complex
solos just jab after jab of true Hardcore. This is the sound of MY youth but
unfortunately the hardcore that the youth of today listens to shys in
comparison. Learn yourselves something!
Equal Vision Records
www.equalvision.com
BEAUMONT HAMEL / I SPOKE - SPLIT 7”
BEAUMONT HAMEL deliver 2 tracks of very chaotic hardcore punk with screaming
vocals but not the lame kind of screaming vocals. They remind me a bit of
Jesse Luscious when he screams and I dig that. Very weird pace changes and
jabby sounds... heavy, fast and energetic fused with calmer, more relaxed
sections with long chords, jarring chords/notes and timing changes. I SPOKE
start very delicately with gentle notes, slow and eerie with the drums
creating a kind of unnerving feeling Which I like, before the whole thing
builds up into wildness. Very heavy and intense and the vocals are screamed
here too but in a kind of low and gentle way... interesting. They bring it all
right down again and they still maintain the intensity even through the
calmer parts. It’s kind of like a tempestuous journey chronicled. A wild split
here bursting with furore.
Sonic Deadline Records
www.sonicdeadline.cjb.net
THE BECKS STREET BOYS - ‘POP’S NOT DEAD’ CD
Fantastic sound! Really full sing-along melodic punk rock. No bollocks,
no facade just great punk with a really cool 70’s style and fun spirit.
The songs are mostly sung in English with a few in German and that’s
really cool to hear. It’s kinda hard to place the BECKS STREET BOYS
musically because they are so free... they just play what they want! I can
hear elements of early English punk rock like THE YOBS/THE BOYS, UNDERTONES,
COCKNEY REJECTS etc mixed with the more contemporary sounds of the
BOUNCING SOULS, NOFX and SNUFF. Really fun and really recommended!
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
THE BECKS STREET BOYS / TATORT TOILET - SPLIT 7"
Fuck what a cool 7"... punk fucking rock pouring off this record. THE BECKS
STREET BOYS with 'Fuck The Cool Kids' and 'Bored Of Life'... fast and edgy
and they have the great old English sound of the BOYS, THE DAMNED etc blended
with the convulsive style of the SHOCKS, RIP OFFS and the BRIEFS. TATORT
TOILET present 'Hey Kids' and 'Glamour Boys and Glitter Girls' and also
merge that wonderful '70s style with some spastic snot. Very impressive
split. Both bands rule and the whole thing looks great. Real cut-n-paste
edge. Fantastic.
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
BENT LEFT - ‘SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET’ CD
Young, enthusiastic and constructive political punk rock. It’s melodic yet
very edgy and at times has slight hints of the BRIGGS and the UNSEEN mixed
in with more complex guitar lines. This is something I think that kids will
definitely go for because it’s not too raw but it maintains enough agitation
to really sink it’s teeth in and embrace the youth. They could learn a lot
from a band like BENT LEFT instead of listening to all the useless crap that
most of them are into these days. This is not about whining, this is about
shaking up and shouting out, not holding it in like the wimps in most bands.
Self-Released
www.bentleft.com
BILLY NO MATES - 'WE ARE LEGION' CD
This is SNUFF's Duncan Redmonds solo project released on SNUFF's own 10 past
12 Records. Duncan does absolutely everything on this release... he plays all
the instruments, sings all the vocals/backing vocals etc... a true solo
release. It's unmistakably Duncan. We have become so accustomed to his voice,
drumming and song-writing that he's hard to escape! That's a great thing!!
This doesn't sound like SNUFF but it sounds like Duncan and you know what to
expect... great melodies and harmonies. Duncan has actually always reminded
me of Captain Sensible with his voice and singing-style. Duncan Redmonds is
pretty much a seal of approval in punk rock so you know this will be good
but don't be mistaken into thinking this is another SNUFF. This allows us to
explore Duncan wholly as an individual with all the humour and all the
sincerity.
10 past 12 Records
www.10past12records.com
THE BLACK HALOS - 'ALIVE WITHOUT CONTROL' CD
THE BLACK HALOS are back!!! A lot of people are saying this isn't as good
as their early stuff but I think this is an amazing record. That title suits
this album perfectly and I don't give a shit what anyone else says about
Billy's voice, I think it rules. Yeah, he sounds like a turbulent frog
sometimes but I like it. It's like an exaggerated Mike from the STITCHES
with a JOHNNY THUNDERS demeanour. So, I think that 'Three Sheets To The
Wind', 'Last Call St The Toothless Saloon', 'Burning Trash' and the
title track are astounding punk rock songs with excellent song writing and real
stylishness. This is a pleasure to listen to cos it's so wonderfully fucked
up. The album closes with a cover of TOM PETTY's 'I Need To Know'
which is totally cool with me and they manage to tailor it to suit the BLACK
HALOS perfectly. If you didn't know it was a cover, you'd think they
wrote it, that's how naturally they personalise it. This gets massive
thumbs up from the whole NFT family and that should be enough for you to log
off yer computer and go out to get this. You know we got taste so listen to
us.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
BLEEDER RESISTOR - ‘SIXTEEN’ CD EP
Clear-cut hardcore punk that’s absolutely soaked in the early 80s sound. It’s
assertive and melodic and youthful. No Emo, no machismo, no metal, no
breakdowns, no tortured shit, just melodic hardcore that’s got that great old
sound blended and delivered with the newer slants of bands like PENNYWISE,
STRIKE ANYWHERE, THE LAWRENCE ARMS and ANTI-FLAG. These are 6 relentless
tracks right here. It’s funny that such a familiar and deep-rooted sound can
be so refreshing. I don’t know what happened to hardcore in the past 10 years
but something really appalling seemed to take the scene over so I kinda
checked out and disassociated myself with it all but when bands like BLEEDER
RESISTOR and BULLET TREATMENT come along it shoots me straight back to when
I was 15 and I’m captivated once again by the sound. Even the
cover looks like an 80s hardcore record. We need more of this and fast!!!
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
BLISTERHEAD - ‘VIA CASILINA’ CD
2003’s ‘Punk Royale’ was a mammoth of a record. I was captivated by
BLISTERHEAD’s brand of melodic streetpunk. The songs are super catchy but
still assertive and a lot of fun. With ‘Via Casilina’ BLISTERHEAD have
further developed their streetpunk rock 'n' roll sound making this the
ultimate weekend punk record and I mean that in a great way... not some
childish shit but a real gem of punk rock anthems. It’s just so perfectly
likeable in all the right ways. BLISTERHEAD do what they wanna do and you
can tell that they have a hell of a time doing it and that’s so great. They
are not worried about fitting in to a particular niche and by doing so they
actually appeal to everyone! BLISTERHEAD rules and they are so fresh. You
need to start the weekend off with ‘Via Casilina’.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
THE BLOODY HOLLIES - 'IF FOOTMEN TIRE YOU...' CD
These guys sure cause an uproar for a three piece... it's really quite
amazing. Recorded in Detroit this record captures all the energy and thrills
of raw, stripped-down Rock 'N' Roll. It's so alive and animated and
barks and shrieks like a rabid dog. It's crude and wild and that's all I
need. It's so full-on and thick and it's nice and distorted but not overly
so. The fuzz is present but not overpowering. This is the first time I have
heard THE BLOODY HOLLIES but I'll sure as hell be tracking down their debut
'Fire At Will'. Even though they manage to communicate the spirit and
charisma of real, old-fashioned Rock 'N' Roll, they play anything but a
worn-out sound. This is fresh and original and not just musically but
stylistically too. I had no idea whatsoever what to expect from the presentation
of this album. The artwork and imagery is just bewildering and I like that
a lot. I would kill to see these guys on stage. I can image that they set
the place alight and mesmerize their audiences. The three-piece is a
challenging thing to pull off but when all the ingredients are right and the
interaction gels it's the best thing ever and that's what the BLOODY
HOLLIES are all about. This is pretty much the definitive sound of a raw
Rock 'N' Roll three-piece. They don't need anyone or anything else
because their pure straightforwardness already cuts past the bone.
Excellent.
Alive Records
www.alive-totalenergy.com
BLUE RAT - 'THE SCREAM SESSIONS' CD EP
Three tracks of raw punk rock 'n' roll from London that's a rigid two fingers up at contemporary wimpy, whiny baggy-pants children's party punk rock crap. It's unrefined and distorted yet melodic and should be what kids listen to because although it's tough and crude, it's very approachable and likeable.
www.bluerat.co.uk
BOLD - 'THE SEARCH' CD
This is the complete BOLD discography from 1985-1989. BOLD ruled and for me,
really emphasised the punk in their hardcore and in my eyes define the term
'hardcore punk'. Such rawness and such urgent, youthful energy... it's the
perfect combination for unstoppable chaos. There's elements of MINOR
THREAT, GERMS, SSD, GORILLA BISCUITS, DICKS, YOUTH OF TODAY, SCREAM,
STEPMOTHERS and much more. This record sparks of youth and the delivery is
just fantastic, it's so punk rock and perfectly hardcore. This is the shit
that excites me and I'm so happy that this discography has been released so
that the hardcore kids of today can have something to get excited about too.
This is the true NYHC sound... don't accept imitations.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
THE BOMBSHELLS - 'AUDIO WASTELAND' CD
As some of you may know when we heard the first BOMBSHELLS album we loved it
so much that we ended up being the European distributors of it so when I
heard that a second full-length was on the horizon, I started salivating.
Now it's in my player and I can't stop drooling... this is sick... the
flawless blend of the early UK and US sounds with the perfect amount of
snot. This is punk fuckin rock. It's vulgar, it's assertive and it
makes you wanna move and guess what? Yeah, you got it, we're distributing
this one too. Bursting at the seams with punk rock magic, a fantastic record
by a fantastic band.
The Bombshells, PO Box 3361, Burbank, CA 91508-3361, USA
www.thebombshellswebsite.com
THE BOMBSHELLS - 'S/T CD
This is fuckin killer. This is what punk rock is all about - snotty and fun. Remember when punk was fun? This has got balls and excitement. '70s punk rock with simple but great lyrics and killer vocals in the vein of Jesse Luscious mixed with the guy from BLANKS 77... great guitar sound. I fuckin love this. It's not boring old '77 churned out rubbish, this is right on the fuckin ball. It's vivacious, it's wild and it represents everything great about punk rock. This rules.
www.thebombshellswebsite.com
BOUNCING SOULS - 'LIVE' DOUBLE CD
If ever there was a contemporary band that should release a live record
it's the BOUNCING SOULS. Live, the SOULS are something else. The stage is
where they ignite and it's pretty rare that I say 'you HAVE to see these
guys live' but if you haven't yet YOU MUST see these guys live. I have
to say that generally I'm not the biggest fan of the live recording
because I feel that in most cases the energy of the show simply doesn't
transfer, but right from the outset, I was excited as hell about this
release because I know how enchanting their shows are. These two CDs collect
29 songs from their live sets, songs that span their long career... 'Here We
Go',' Joe Lies', 'Lamar Vannoy', 'Anchors Aweigh', 'Argyle', 'Private Radio',
'East Coast! Fuck You!', 'Night On Earth', 'Sing Along Forever', 'Gone', 'Hopeless Romantic',
'Ole', 'Kate Is Great' and the list of classic BOUNCING SOULS hits
just rolls on and on. In a way, this release is a lot like a live greatest
hits but then again, the SOULS only write hits. There's so many bands
that I love on record but when I see them live they just seem to be missing
a spark but the BOUNCING SOULS are quintessentially a live band whilst at
the same time being quintessentially a record band. They have just nailed
it and that's rare. I would rank this release with such other classic live
punk recordings as the DESCENDENTS 'Hallraker' which is really saying
something. Kung Fu just released the BOUNCING SOULS instalment of their
'Show Must Go Off' DVD series and now the band have self-released this
double CD set and I urge you to get a hold of both of these.
Chunksaah Records
www.chunksaah.com
BOUNCING SOULS - 'LIVE AT THE GLASSHOUSE' DVD
I know it's been out a while, but I recently watched the BOUNCING SOULS'
'Do You Remember?' DVD which presents the story of the band throughout
their 15 years and it just blew me away. I've always liked them but after
seeing that my admiration escalated. I can't believe they got where they
are today without giving up. Impressive stuff for sure so I was doubly
excited to watch this DVD which is part of 'The Show Must Go Off'
series. I've seen the SOULS live what seems like hundreds of times and
they consistently remain one of my favourite live acts and the set list on
this DVD is sick. There's songs from throughout their career including
'The Ballad Of Johnny X', 'Kids And Heroes', True Believers',
'Hopeless Romantic', 'Argyle', 'K8 Is Great', 'Sing Along
Forever', 'Private Radio', 'That Something Special', 'Quick
Check Girl', 'Anchors Aweigh', 'Gone' and the list goes on and
on... 25 songs long!!! There's a bunch of bonus stuff too and Brian's
artwork. Really enjoyable but that's pretty much a given with THE BOUNCING
SOULS and my favourite of this DVD series. They look like they're still
having a blast playing these songs and that's a pleasure to watch. Fuckin
great show.
Kung Fu Records
www.kungfurecords.com
BRAIN FAILURE - 'AMERICAN DREAMER' CD
These guys were one of the highlights of the last 'Give 'Em The Boot'
comp and really left me eager to hear more. BRAIN FAILURE are from Japan and
play some seriously CLASH-influenced punk rock with a lot of style. The
Japanese play punk rock very uniquely and even though there's a huge CLASH
inspiration on this record, it's all very distinctively delivered. This is
just straight-forward punk rock and that's why it's so effective. Full
of the spirit of early English punk rock blended with the style and
production of contemporary American punk and a huge dose of pure Japanese
flamboyance and that's one fucking killer cocktail. I really believe that
we'll be seeing and hearing a hell of a lot about BRAIN FAILURE in the
future. A fun and impressive record that will get a lot of people hooked.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS / DEADLINE - SPLIT LP
DEADLINE from London play melodic Oi! / streetpunk and the BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS
play streetpunk with a heavy rock 'n' roll element. Their sound is very
American and DEADLINE's style is totally English but such a nice merging on
this record. The showstealers for me are the BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS. It's not
that DEADLINE don't cut it, it's just that I find thier sound pretty
standard and can think of many similar acts. The best thing about them is
the female vocals... I dig those a lot. Six decent cuts, one of them an ON
FILE cover. The BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS also present six songs. A couple of the tracks
were included on the 'American Bastard' album (also on Haunted Town), a TOM
PETTY cover and a few more. I like thier sound a lot. It's thick, heavy and
rockin'. I remember when I first got the 'American Bastard' album. I thought
it would be pretty generic, meathead streetpunk with a hardcore edge but I
was really surprised to hear the huge rock 'n' roll presence in their sound.
I thought, with that band name, that album title, that front cover and those
songtitles that it would definitely be a pretty by-the-numbers affair and
then I saw 'sandwich' tattooed on the guys knuckles and thought this is a
no-brainer but I was totally wrong! Definitely more of the HUDSON FALCONS
sound than the WRETCHED ONES/HEADWOUND/NIBLICK HENBANE thing. Rock 'n'
fuckin' roll!
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com
THE BRIEFS - ‘HIT AFTER HIT’ CD
This is the BYO reissue of the debut BRIEFS record originally released on
Dirtnap Records a few years back. This is the album that brought the
whole spastic new wave disarray back into punk rock with a million bands
following. Nobody does it like The Briefs. No bands can write like them and
their live shows are amazing... I fucking love The Briefs and they are the
coolest guys in the world. This is a fantastic debut and a killer record and
you should have this already. This is what got the major label targets on
The BRIEFS and that’s not surprising at all. I’m happy to see that they
didn’t go that way because we need them here!! I can’t imagine punk rock
without The BRIEFS now. I haven’t met anybody who doesn’t like them and
it’s great to see this amazing record out on BYO. You NEED this! Don’t ask
why, just get it and you won’t be the same.
BYO Records
www.byorecords.com
THE BRIEFS - 'SEX OBJECTS' CD
I was pretty much wetting my pants with the excitement of this new record
coming out because although last year's 'Off The Charts' was a great record,
there was a lot of old stuff on there, and with this being a totally new
record I couldn't wait. The BRIEFS are an amazing band... there's nothing
else to say. They have so much style and they are great guys. There are a
million bands doing the late 70s / early 80s punk rock thing but The BRIEFS
know how to take that sound and make it their own. This is no re-hash. This
record is pure panicky, spastic perfection and I think it's the best they
have ever sounded... and they have always sounded amazing.
BYO Records
www.byorecords.com
THE BRIEFS - ‘STEAL YER HEART’ CD
Well, it’s no surprise that I was both salivating and creaming my pants
about this new BRIEFS record coming out and this review is pretty much a
no-brainer because you all know that you need to get this. Forget about all
the other reviews of other albums that said ‘you need this’ because trust
me, you NEED this... all that other shit can wait. THE BRIEFS are just THE
BRIEFS what can I say. They have nailed that sound and just keep throwing
these jewels at us and there’s nothing we can do but enjoy it. I absolutely
can’t wait to hear and see these songs live. I’m already looking forward to
their next European tour and that’s THE BRIEFS effect. I don’t even know
when they’re next coming over but I can’t wait... I’ve already saved that day.
The opening ‘Genital General’ is fucking fantastic, grabbed by the balls as
soon as the music starts... again, that’s THE BRIEFS effect. Perfect measures
of spasticness, humour, peculiarity, joviality, quirkiness and reality with
a mind-blowing dose of energy. THE BRIEFS are unstoppable and they stole my
heart years ago.
BYO Records
www.byorecords.com
BROKEN - ‘HOMELAND INSECURITY’ CD
Great artwork and presentation. BROKEN have that 80’s hardcore punk sound
that reminds me a lot of early skatepunk too. It’s energetic and destructive
kinda like a more hardcore version of THE CLIFTONS if you can imagine that!
I can also hear hints of the QUINCY PUNX, POISON IDEA, MURPHY’S LAW,
D.O.A., FANG, LOS OLVIDADOS. This is the type of hardcore that grabs me by
the throat. This is the sound I define as ‘hardcore’, vigorous and full of
life, not some ‘standing around looking tough’ shit. I can hear little hints
of ROGER MIRET in the vocals too and I like that delivery. I can imagine
BROKEN on a label like TKO. It’s that type of hardcore sound. Very punk,
very antagonistic and very cool.
Feralette Records
www.feralette.com
BROKEN HEROES - ‘I TOLD U ONCE’ CD
New Jersey boasts the finest in Streetpunk and Oi! and it has that trademark
style that can be heard in legends like THE HUDSON FALCONS, HEADWOUND, THE
WRETCHED ONES, NIBLICK HENBANE and of course the BROKEN HEROES. The sound is
extremely tough but melodic with aggressive lyrics/vocals, group vocals and
almost touches hardcore at times... that’s the celebrated NJ recipe! It’s
gotta be hostile! I like faster-paced streetpunk like this because I can
find a lot of streetpunk/Oi! a bit slow at times and I’m like, ‘Come On!
Let’s get going!!!’, and you get a lot of streetpunk bands that make every
song some epic story with a breakdown that’s as long as the song itself and
then it rebuilds up... fuck that! I want it fast and antagonistic the whole
way through. Short and fast slices of the street with big, energetic
choruses. They already told you once so don’t make them tell you
again... just get with it.
Street Anthem Records
www.streetanthemrecords.com
BROWN PAPER BAG - 'IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OFFENSIVE' CD
I really look forward to new Broken Bonez releases. They got such a great
attitude and remind me a lot of what we're doing here at NFT. Raw, DIY music
with style and BROWN PAPER BAG are a straight-up raw punk rock band... 100%
DIY and it rules. I dig the recording and I'm so sorry to see and hear that
punk rock has become so produced. Even the so-called 'rebels' spend hours in
the studio... that sounds like geek shit to me! Not revolution! BROWN PAPER
BAG play punk rock how I define it. It's real punk rock and it may be too
raw for some people's taste but this is what we represent here.
Broken Bonez Records
www.brokenbonezrecords.com
BUCK - ‘FORMER CHILD ACTOR’ 7"
Fantastic pop-punk ala FUR or COGS with a great old-fashioned feel to it. I
love this because it’s so well-written and amiable and just so honest. I
really wanna hear a full-length by them. The B-side ‘Only Friends’ has a
terrific NICO / LOU REED touch to it with subtle melodies dripped over
beautiful pop. 2 great tracks and the record has a big hole... I recommend
this. This rules.
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com
THE BUFF MEDWAYS - ‘MEDWAY WHEELERS’ CD
WILD BILLY CHILDISH is back yet again with his brand of gritty, erratic rock
n roll. Distorted vocals, super-trebly guitars, plenty o’ fuzz, catchy vocal
lines, harmonies and all round chaos!! It’s jerky, raw and it rules and it’s
so wonderfully English. The sound of the BUFF MEDWAYS is totally honest.
This is so lo-fi and under-produced and that’s what I dig. The drums boom,
the guitars clang. This is so punk even though it’s not really at all. This
is more DIY than most of the punx who claim they are. This is in the true
punk rock spirit. It’s fun, it’s rockin and it’s crude and that’s all you
could ever ask for. This is real rock n roll.
Damaged Goods
www.damagedgoods.co.uk
BULLET TREATMENT - ‘THE BIGGER THE BETTER’ 7"
4 more tracks from the excellent and ever-changing BULLET TREATMENT. These
guys seem to be getting pretty big and that’s so great because this is the
kick the punk rock scene needs! The bigger they get the better! They play
straight-up hardcore punk that’s fast and belligerent and you can’t keep
track of these guys. It’s unpredictable and impulsive and the more I hear,
the more I wanna hear. It’s got the assertion of MINOR THREAT and the CIRCLE
JERKS and a more assertive 7 SECONDS. If you thought ‘Francisco Caberra From
Pico Rivera’ was sick, check out ‘Jose Molina From West Cobina’ on this
7"... fucking great stuff. I can’t back this shit enough, it just excites
me. It’s back to basics and it’s where we should be heading. Sick.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
BULLET TREATMENT - ‘WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?’ CD EP
Yeah! a 10-track EP!! The BULLET TREATMENT 7" on Puke N vomit blew me away
and I’m stoked to see that those tracks are included on this CD and after
having blown me away last year, they yanked me straight back just to blow me
even further away! BULLET TREATMENT are a molotov cocktail of a hardcore punk
band. They are explosive. Fantastic song-writing, playing and delivery. It’s got
volatile style and it’s unstoppable. It’s a deep breath of old-fashioned
punk rock splendor so grab a hold of this now!!
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
BUZZKILL - 'DRIVEN BY LOSS' CD
I'm definitely down with punk bands using brass instruments as long as
they're not playing ska. The RIVER CITY REBELS do that, so do the KINGS
OF NUTHIN' and ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT and so do BUZZKILL. The brass
thickens the chords and intensifies and transforms the sound into something
pretty distinctive but indefinable at the same time. It's like heavy jazz
mixed with rock 'n' roll and big band music backed by a hefty punk rock
kick. The one thing that's for sure is that the power created is indisputable.
This is loud, heavy and unruly and I'm surprised that loads more bands
don't attempt this style instead of Godforsaken ska. When I listen to this
sound it just seems so obvious to me that it works and it makes me want to
find saxophone and trumpet players for my band...
In At The Deep End Records
www.iatde.com
THE CASUALTIES - ‘EN LA LINEA DE FRENTE’ CD
This is the Spanish version of ‘On The Front Line’ and having a soft-spot
for Latin punk rock I think this kicks the arse off the English version. I
just love the fluidity of languages like Spanish and Italian in punk rock
and I think that it truly adds an exciting ingredient to the sound. There
are a billion bands singing in English, and so many great European and
South American bands sing in English, and that’s a real pity. I love to
hear bands sing in their native tongue and it’s a shame that a lot of
people aren’t interested in bands that don’t sing in English. So, hats
off to the CASUALTIES for releasing this version. You get bonus tracks
too on this version as well as a video and all new artwork which is cool
because it kinda forces you to buy it because it’s so different to ‘On
The Front Line’... so kids will be pushed to listen to foreign punk rock!!
That rules. Expand your punk rock listening!!! Learn something!
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
CENOBITES - 'SNAKEPIT VIBRATIONS' CD
CENOBITES merge punk rock with Psychobilly/Rockabilly like no one else!! This is like the EXPLOITED or GBH mixed with the METEORS or DEMENTED ARE GO... they really bring out the punk rock right to the forefront of the sound. It's such a full-on sound. They remind me a bit of MAD SIN in that respect because they too are heavily focused on the rock but CENOBITES are even more chaotic! This is fuckin raging stuff... very full-on. I'm really down with the full sound in Psychobilly because it used to be generally quite a thin sound so this has pushed it further and upped the havoc. It even sounds a tad metallic at times, maybe the slightest hint of METALLICA, even vocally at times and MOTORHEAD. If you think Psychobilly is getting pretty hackneyed, you gotta hear the CENOBITES because they approach this beast from a totally different angle.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com
JOHNNY CHEAPO - 'ROCK -N- ROLL SINNER' CD
This is sick... this is totally my bag. Unrefined, sleazy punk Rock 'N' Roll.
Great name and great cover art... it’s all perfectly my taste. It reminds me
a lot of the type of thing that would be on Beer City. There’s a touch of
the BRISTLES, the MURDERERS, BEATUTFUL BERT and also SLOPPY SECONDS. I
fuckin love this! It’s got the whole fuckin deal down... 'Dirty Minds and
Rock 'N' Roll'... this is what punk rock is about for me. It’s obnoxious and
sordid and most of all it’s fun. I recommend this so much. If yer thing is
true spirited punk rock, real rock 'n' roll then you need this bad. That’s all
I gotta say. Get this now!!!!!!
Smut Records
www.smutrecords.com
CHINABOISE - ‘THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD’ CD
Wow! This is really strange! It’s totally impulsive and unpredictable. It’s
spoken and sung against peculiar and unsystematic sounds. It’s the type of
record you have to sit down and set time aside for and just go with it... the
whole thing in one sitting. You can’t put this on in the background and wash
the dishes or exercise or do the housework. You gotta get immersed in this
outlandish experience! This is RICH STIM’s project from 1975 and it’s
just out of this world. It’s jazzy, it’s arty, it’s naked, it’s eerie, it’s
odd, it’s talented, it’s haphazard... it’s all of these things yet pretty
impossible to explain. There’s piano, saxophone, sound effects, keyboards,
guitar, recorder, bass, drums, male vocals, female vocals and bongos. This
comes under no category!!! I would file this under E for event. I’m not
going to try and explain it anymore than that. Just book some time off work
for this journey!!!!!!!
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
CHIXDIGGIT! - ‘PINK RAZORS’ CD
Five years in the making and CHIXDIGGIT! are back with a new record. I have
to confess that I don’t know too much about this band because the poppy-side
of punk rock isn’t really my bag, but as far as that goes I can appreciate
this CD. It doesn’t sound like most of the other melodic punk rock I heard.
This seems to be a lot faster-paced and a lot of the songs clock in at under
2 minutes or just over and I like that. I like short punk rock songs. The
production is very clean but it still packs a kick and I can see why so
many kids are into them. I think it’s an OK way to get into punk rock...
sure a lot of the lyrics are about girls and stuff but sometimes you need
that. Sometimes you need a break from all the tough shit, you know.
Bad Taste Records / Fat Wreck Chords
www.badtasterecords.se
www.fatwreck.com
CIVET - ‘MASSACRE’ CD
Massacre... that’s fuckin right... this is total annihilation. CIVET are very
sexy and very ferocious and that’s a molotov recipe... draw you in and fuck
you up. Beautiful danger. I think that a lot of people will compare CIVET to
the DISTILLERS but don’t settle for that. Sure there are some likenesses
but CIVET is what the DISTILLERS (and a hell of a lot of other female punk
bands) want to be... the perfect mix of seduction and hostility. They are
fuckin razor-sharp. It’s not overly aggressive or a total put-on. These
girls can write fantastic, vigorous punk rock songs... they are wild. Look at
the cover... you got 4 good-looking girls smeared in blood. It’s fucked up and
it’s sexy at the same time... that’s CIVET. Menacing beauty... very impressive
indeed. A brilliant record and just great punk rock with no bullshit.
Straightforward youthful upheaval that the kids need to hear.
Disaster Records
www.disasterecords.com
COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN - ‘THIS IS NOT AN ERECT, ALL-RED NEON BODY’ CD
42 tracks in pure COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN style... torture style! This is
documented agony!! Elaborate and non-cooperative grind consisting of
bloody slabs from their out-of-print 7"s, splits and compilation
appearances and for your further displeasure some brand new stuff too!
There is no compassion with this CD!! It’s only 26 minutes long but the
destruction caused in that short time is unbelievable... the distress is
mammoth. Super-fast tempos, incoherent lyrics, unsettling sound clips...
this is the grind-dream! And by dream I mean nightmare. ‘Eat More Blood
Money’, ‘I gotta slingshot, wanna get hurt?’. ‘Disembowelment at room
temperature’, ‘The rise of a thousand prosthetic limbs’, ‘Also comes in
red, orange and fuck you’... yer getting the picture right? This is a 100%
no-negotiation attack and yer the fuckin hostage for 26 minutes so don't try
anything funny and you might just make it.
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
COMMANDANTES – ‘LIEDER FUR DIE ARBEITERKLASSE’ CD
Fantastic political punk rock from Germany. Not fashion-politics but a
sincere message... fight capitalism, fight global dictatorship. A revolution
is long, long overdue and when bands like the COMMANDANTES can speak to
young punk rockers something can happen... one day. Sure this is just music but
you never know whose ears this falls on and what can happen, so sing loud and
struggle for what you believe in. Punk rock is teaching kids stuff... what
other musical movement educates like this? None... it’s all about fashion and
sales but punk rock has still got the significance and motivation.
So stand up! Stand up and fight!!!
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
COOPER - ‘MAKES TOMORROW ALRIGHT’ CD
COOPER remind me of punk rock like it used to be... like what I grew up
listening to... SST Records and fun stuff, and perhaps that’s because it’s
produced by Bill Stevenson, but I can really hear something that harks back
to the better days. A perfect mix of melody and power with elements of the
DESCENDENTS, BAD RELIGION, 7 SECONDS, the MINUTEMEN, FIREHOUSE and the
POLICE. It’s that odd blend of sounds and styles that creates that feeling
when punk rock was about the freedom with no strict boundaries... just do what
you gotta do!!! It’s boundless and fun and makes me want to get out my Jason
Jessee board and hit the streets!
Kung Fu Records
www.kungfurecords.com
COPPE - '8' CD
Wow, this is wonderfully bizarre. Pure Japanese individuality... this is like nothing else. Delightfully vague and unstructured COPPE takes the listener on a peculiar and curious journey of delicate and unexpected electronic compositions and sounds that can be really frenzied in their subtlety. The writing is totally unique and extremely well put together and it's really surprising just how much is going on in each piece to create this amazingly understated sound. I got lost in COPPE and it was a great experience that I highly recommend.
Mango and Sweet Rice Records
www.sweetrice.com
COUGARS - 'PILLOW TALK' CD
Intense and concentrated rock generated by 8 individuals so you can imagine
the force. It's heavy, chaotic, passionate and unregimented. COUGARS play
what they want and there's no label for them, no sub-genre, no
tag... it's just pure and simple rock. Or even Rock. There's a slight
comparison to ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT because of the way in which COUGARS
employ their brass section with thick, heavy chords but that's a very
general association. COUGARS are way less ordered. They're outright
wild!! Recorded by Steve Albini who's the definitive choice when it comes
down to a band like COUGARS. To capture the ferocity and distinctiveness of
each of these 8 COUGARS is the perfect undertaking for Albini. It's
powerful yet still untamed because if this didn't have a raw and
hysterical edge to it, it just wouldn't have the impact that it does. This
is 10 slabs of serious, ferocious Rock. Fantastic cover artwork too.
Go Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de
CURL UP AND DIE - ‘THE ONE ABOVE ALL, THE END OF ALL THAT IS’ CD
DAMAGE CASE - ‘A BATTALION OF BOMBERS IN A CHORUS OF FIRE’ CD EP
DANNY’S WEDNESDAY - ‘THIRD’ CD
DARKEST HOUR - ‘UNDOING RUIN’ CD
DAY OF CONTEMPT - ‘THE WILL TO LIVE’ CD EP
DEAD BY GUN - ‘SIX SHOOTER’ CD EP
DEADLINE - 'GETTING SERIOUS' CD
DEADMAN WALKING - 'CAN'T STOP THE DYING' CD
THE DEEP EYNDE - 'SHADOWLAND' CD
THE DENTS - 'TIME FOR BITING' CD
DINGO -'NO FLATTERY! NO FLINCH! DON'T TURN YOUR BACK!' CD
DIRTY LOVE - 'BABY YOU SUCK' CD EP
THE DISASTERS (ROGER MIRET AND) - '1984' CD
DISCIPLINE - 'DOWNFALL OF THE WORKING MAN' CD
D.O.A. - ‘SOMETHING BETTER CHANGE’ CD
D.O.A. - ‘WAR AND PEACE’ CD
THE DREAM DATES - 'MOANS ON THE PHONE' 12"
THE DWARVES - ‘FUCK YOU UP AND GET LIVE’ DVD
THE DWARVES - 'THE DWARVES MUST DIE' CD
DUFUS - NEUBORNS CD
EARLY MAN - 'CLOSING IN' CD
ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK - 'BEAT ME' CD
ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN - 'BURN BRIGHT. BURN FAST' CD
THE EPOXIES - ‘STOP THE FUTURE’ CD
THE ESCAPED - S/T CD EP
ESTRELLA NEGRA - ‘NO SCENE LIKE ME’ CD
EVEN IN BLACKOUTS - ‘FORESHADOWS ON THE WALL’ CD EP
EVEN IN BLACKOUTS - ‘ZEITGEIST’S ECHO’ CD
THE EXPLOSION - 'BLACK TAPE' CD
FALLEN WISDOM - ‘IMMORTAL’ CD
FALLOUT BOY - ‘FROM UNDER THE CORK TREE’ CD
LOS FASTIDIOS - ‘SOPRA E SOTTO IL PALCO’ CD
THE FAT CATS - 'DEADBEAT' CD
FEARLE$$ LEADER - ’GOD BLESS THE DEVIL’ CD
FIYA - ‘BETTER DAYS’ CD
FM BATS - ‘EVERYBODY OUT... SHARK IN THE WATER’ CD EP
FOUR DEADLY QUESTIONS - ‘ORAL FIXATION’ 7"
FREEDUMB - ‘THE FREEDUMB X PEDITION’ 7”
FRONTLINE ATTACK - 'MINDLESS VIOLENCE' LP
FUCK THE FACTS - ‘MULLET FEVER’ CD
FUCK YOU UPS - ‘BLACK AND BLACK AND BLACK’ CD
FUNERAL DINER - ‘THE UNDERDARK’ CD
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND - ‘HOURS’ CD
GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP - ‘BLOOD-: THE NATURAL LUBRICANT’ CD EP
GAYS IN THE MILITARY - ‘PEOPLE IS BEAUTIFUL’ CD
THE GECKO BROTHERS - 'DEMOLITION OF THE REHABILITATION' CD
THE GENERATORS - ‘THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT’ CD
THE GENERATORZ - 'BAD DEEDS' CD
GENETIC CONTROL - 'BRAVE NEW WORLD' CD
GLASS AND ASHES - 'AESTHETIC ARREST' CD
GLUEBALL - 'THE GOOD, THE BAND AND THE UGLY' CD
GO BETTY GO - ‘NOTHING IS MORE’ CD
THE GO FASTER NUNS - ‘UNDER NEON LIGHT’ CD
GOGOL BORDELLO - ‘GYPSY PUNKS: UNDERDOG WORLD STRIKE’ CD
GOLDBLADE - 'REBEL SONGS' CD
GOVERNMENT ISSUE - 'LIVE 1985’ DVD
THE GRABASS CHARLESTONS - ‘ASK MARK TWAIN’ CD
GRAVE FOR THE FIREFLIES - ‘BITTEN’ CD EP
THE GRINDOLLS - 'KILL YOUR DARLINGS' CD
H-BLOCK 101 - ‘HUMAN FLOTSAM’ CD
THE HATEPINKS - ‘PLASTIC BAG AMBITIONS’ CD
HEADWOUND - 'GINMILL' CD
HELL HOUND - 'RELEASE THE HOUNDS' CD
HELPLESS DILETANTTES - ‘DAS LEBEN IST SCHLECHT UND WIR SIND SCHLACHTER’ CD
HETTEN DES - 'ACE OF SPADES' CD
HETTEN DES - ‘COWBOYS CON COJONES’ CD
HI-FI KILLERS (THE) / LOS DRAGOS SPLIT 7"
HIT BY A SEMI - ‘FRIENDS, BOOZE AND TATTOOS’ CD
THE HOLLOW POINTS - ‘THE BLACK SPOT’ CD
HOLLYWOOD SQUARETET - 'TET-OFFENSIVE' CD
HOOK AND THE DAGGERS - 'THIS IS BALLROOM THRASH' CD
HOPESICK - 'LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE' CD
THE HORDE - ‘JOIN OR DIE’ CD
HOT BOOGIE CHILLUN - '15 REASONS TO ROCK 'N' ROLL' CD
THE HURT PROCESS - ‘A HEARTBEAT BEHIND’ CD
I-ATTACK - ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ 7”
IRA - ‘THE BODY AND THE SOIL’ CD
JACK AND THE RIPPERS - 'I THINK IT'S OVER' CD
JEUNESSE APARTRIDE - ‘LA VICTOIRE SOMMEILLE’ CD
THE JETBOYS - ‘JET PATROL’ LP
JUMP BOYS - ‘BONDAGE BABY’ 7”
KERMIT’S FINGER - ‘SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT’ CD
KILL YOUR IDOLS - 'FROM COMPANIONSHIP TO COMPETITION' CD
KILLING CALIFORNIA / THE NEEDLES - SPLIT CD
THE KILLING FLAME - 'NINE MORE LIVES' CD
KING BISCUIT TIME - 'C I AM 15' CD SINGLE
THE KORPS - ‘HELLO WORLD!’ CD
KRUM BUMS - ‘THE SOUND’ CD
THE KRUNCHIES - ‘IN DE WINKEL’ CD
KVEKS – S/T CD
LAGWAGON - 'RESOLVE' CD
LAST UNDER THE SUN - 'ALL EMPIRES CRUMBLE' CD EP
LEFT ALONE - ‘LONELY STARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS’ CD
THE LOOSE SKREWS - ‘MORE THAN A FEW’ CD
LORENE DRIVE - 'ROMANTIC WEALTH' CD
LUCIFER STAR MACHINE - ‘FIRE IN YOUR HOLE’ CD
LUMPEN - ‘IN OGNI CASO NESSUN RIMORSO’ CD
MAD SIN - 'DEAD MOON'S CALLING'
MAD SIN - ‘YOUNG, DUMB AND SNOTTY’ CD
MANHANDLERS - S/T CD
McQUEEN - ‘RUNNING OUT OF THINGS TO SAY’ CD SINGLE
MHz - ‘HARNESS THE POWER’ LP
MILLENCOLIN - 'KINGWOOD' CD
MILLIONAIRE - ‘I’M ON A HIGH’ CD SINGLE
MILLIONAIRE - 'PARADISIAC' CD
MILLIONAIRE - ‘WE DON’T LIVE THERE ANYMORE / FOR A MAID’ CD SINGLE
MISCHIEF BREW - 'BAKENAL' CD EP
THE MONISTATS - ‘LET’S DISINFECT’ CD
MONSTER SQUAD - 'STRENGTH THROUGH PAIN' LP
MOTHER NATURE’S REVENGE - S/T 7"
M.O.T.O. - ‘RAW POWER’ CD
MR. SHIRAZ - 'I'M INVINCIBLE! I'M BUILT LIKE A SHERMAN TANK. SOMEBODY TRY AND STOP ME!' CD
MURDOCK - AMPLIFICATION' CD EP
MURPHY'S LAW - 'UP WITH US... DOWN WITH THEM' DVD
MUTINY - 'RUM REBELLION' CD
NARCO - 'CONTROL OF THE STEREO' CD / 'WORTH IT' CD SINGLE
NERVOUS NELLIE - ‘DON’T THINK FEEL’ CD
THE NEW YORK REL-X - 'SOLD OUT OF LOVE' CD
NEW YORK RIFLES - ‘FARAWAY FASTER’ CD
'NO FRONT TEETH' - A RIDE PRODUCTION DVD
NO RESPECT - 'UNADJUSTED' DOUBLE CD
THE OGGS - RADIOTHERAPY’ CD
ONION FLAVORED RINGS - ‘TWO MINUTES ENLIGHTENMENT’ CD
OPPRESSED LOGIC - ‘IT’S HARASSMENT’ CD
OPPRESSED LOGIC - ‘THE PAST AIN’T GONNA CHANGE’ CD
THE ORPHANS - 'RAISE THE YOUTH' CD
ORANGE - ‘WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ORANGE’ CD
OTHER GHOST - ‘MANPIRE’ CD
OVER IT - 'TIMING IS EVERYTHING' CD
PASSPORTE - ‘FILE UNDER EXPERIMENTAL’ CD
PEGGIO PUNX - 'DISCOGRAPHY' DOUBLE CD
PERIFERIA S.A. - S/T CD
PETER PAN SPEEDROCK - ‘SPREAD EAGLE’ CD
THE DUANE PETERS GUNFIGHT - S/T CD
THE DUANE PETERS GUNFIGHT - 'GUNFIGHTER vs. HELL MARY ' 7"
PHINIUS GAGE - 'THE FEELING SOMETHING'S WRONG' CD
PITCH BLACK - 'THIS IS THE MODERN SOUND' CD
THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER - 'LOVE IN THE FASCIST BROTHEL' CD
POINTED STICKS - ‘PERFECT YOUTH’ CD
PROPAGANDHI - 'POTEMKIN CITY LIMITS' CD
PUBLIC ACCESS - ‘FLEECED’ MINI CD
‘PUNK:ATTITUDE’ DVD
PURGATORY STATE - ‘SEEK AND BETRAY’ CD EP
THE PUT-DOWNS - ‘NO WORSE OFF’ CD
QUIT YOUR DAY JOB - 'SWEDEN WE GOT A PROBLEM' CD
RADIATIONS S/T MINI CD
THE RADICTS / THE BLOODSTAINED KINGS - SPLIT 7"
RANDOM HEROES - ‘BIGGER THAN JEEBUS’ CD EP
RANDY’S RIPCORD - ‘LOVE’ CD
RATTUS - 'THE POKO RECORDINGS 1981-1984' DOUBLE LP
RAW POWER - 'FUCK AUTHORITY' DOUBLE CD
RAW POWER - ‘THE HIT LIST’ CD
THE REAL MCKENZIES - ‘10,000 SHOTS’ CD
THE REAL PILLS - 'NINE LONG YEARS' CD
THE REATARDS - 'BEDROOM DISASTERS' CD
RENO DIVORCE - ‘NAYSAYERS & YESMEN / LAUGH NOW CRY LATER’ CD
RETCHING RED - ‘GET YOUR RED WINGS’ CD
RIGHTEOUS JAMS - 'RAGE OF DISCIPLINE' CD
RINGERS - 'CURSES' CD
RIOT 99 - ‘DESTROY THE CITY’ 7”
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MONKEY AND THE ROBOTS - ‘DETROIT TRAUMA’ CD
ROGUE STEADY ORCHESTRA - ‘FEHLSTAAT’ CD
THE ROIDZ - ‘WE WERE THE ROIDZ... SO FUCK YOU!!!’
LOU RONE - ‘ALONE’ CD
THE ROTTEN FRUITS - ‘ABOMINATION’ 7”
RUMBLESEAT - ‘IS DEAD’ CD
SAMHAIN - 'LIVE 1984 STARDUST BALLROOM' DVD
SATANIC SURFERS - 'TASTE THE POISON' CD
SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS - ‘THE CITY SLEEPS IN FLAMES’ CD
SCREECHING WEASEL - 'WEASELMANIA' CD
SEND MORE PARAMEDICS / ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE - ‘TALES TOLD BY DEAD MEN’ CD
SHAI HULUD - 'A COMPRHENSIVE RETROSPECTIVE' CD
SHARK SOUP - 'FATLIP SHOWBOX' CD
THE SHOCKS - 'BANNED FROM THE USA' MINI CD
SHOP FRONTS - 'DON'T QUIT' 7"
SICK 56 / HIGGINS ++ ‘NEW DAY NEW ENEMY’ SPLIT 7”
SILVERSTEIN - 'DISCOVERING THE WATERFRONT' CD
SINAI BEACH - ’IMMERSED’ CD
THE SKEPTIX - 'LIVE AT CBGB'S' CD
THE SKEPTIX - 'SO THE YOUTH' CD
SLUDGEFEAST - ‘VIRTUA-ROCK’ CD/DVD
SNITCHES GET STITCHES - 'I LIKED YOU BETTER WHEN YOU WERE A CORPSE' CD
SNUFF - 'SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER' DOUBLE CD
SONIC BOOM SIX - 'SOUNDS TO CONSUME CHAMPION EDITION' CD
SPEED CIRCUS - 'BANDIDOS CASINO' CD SINGLE
SPIDER - ‘YOUTH INSURANCE’ CD
THE STAGGERS - ‘THE SIGHTS, THE SOUNDS, THE FEAR & THE PAIN...’ CD
STARING BACK - 'ON' CD
STATUES - ‘AUX’ CD
THE STEPMOTHERS - 'YOU WERE NEVER MY AGE... AND MORE' CD
STRAITJACKET - ‘MODERN THIEVES’ CD
STREET BRATS - 'YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE' 7"
STRETCH ARMSTRONG - 'FREE AT LAST' CD
STRYCHNINE - 'BORN IN A BAR' CD
SUFFOCATE FASTER - 'ONLY TIME WILL TELL' CD
SUFFOCATION - ‘SOULS TO DENY’ CD
SUGAR EATER - ‘NINE SONGS BY SUGAR EATER’ CD
THE SUICIDE MACHINES - ‘WAR PROFITEERING IS KILLING US ALL’ CD
SUPREME COMMANDER CD EP
TARAKANY! - 'ROCKETS FROM RUSSIA' / 'FREEDOM STREET' CDs
TEMPER TEMPER - S/T CD
THE TEMPLARS - ‘CLOCKWORK ORANGE HORRORSHOW’ CD EP
TESSMARKA - S/T CD EP
THROW RAG - ‘13 FT. AND RISING’ CD
TOMMY GUTLESS - DEATH, HONOR OR GLORY BOUND’ CD
THE TOSSERS - 'THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH' CD
TOXIC REASONS - 'DEDICATION 1979-1988' LP
TOYS THAT KILL - ‘FLYS’ CD EP
TRASH FASHION - ‘NATURISM’ CD EP
THE TURBO A.C.'S - 'AVENUE X' CD
THE TURPENTINE BROTHERS - 'WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR GOOD TIMES' CD
THE UNDERHILLS - ‘GET SMART’ CD EP
THE UNDERHILLS - 'WHAT WENT WRONG' CD EP
THE UNSEEN - ‘STATE OF DISCONTENT’ CD
VANILLA MUFFINS - ‘THE GREATEST SUGAR OI! SWINDLE’ CD
V/A - ’33 1/3 RPMS’ CD
V/A - 'BLOODY AND THE BASTARD CHILDREN - A TRIBUTE TO BLOODY F. MESS' CD
V/A - 'BROKEN BONEZ II' CD
V/A - 'DIRTY FACES VOL. 1 ½' CD
V/A - 'GIVE ‘EM THE BOOT’ DVD
V/A - 'GNARLY DUDE 2!'
V/A - ‘HATE THE STATE’ CD
V/A - 'HOW'S MY DRIVING?? VOL. 2' CD
V/A - ‘LET’S HAVE SOME GOD DAMN FUN!’ CD
V/A - 'LIQUOR BRAND VOL. 1' CD
V/A - ‘LOBSTER RECORDS JUMPS THE SHARK’ CD
V/A - ’LOOK AT ALL THE LOVE WE FOUND’ CD
V/A - 'NEVER LOSE THAT FEELING VOL. 1' CD
V/A - ‘OLD SKARS AND UPSTARTS 505’ CD
V/A - ‘OUR SMALL TRIBUTE TO BLONDIE’ CD
V/A - ‘PUNK O RAMA 10’ CD
V/A - ‘PUNK ROCK IS YOUR FRIEND #6’ CD
V/A - 'PUNKSVALL 1979-80' CD
V/A - ‘PUNX UNITE - LEADERS OF TODAY’ CD
V/A - ‘RADIO DISASTER VOL. 6’ CD
V/A - ‘RADIO DISASTER VOL. 8’ CD
V/A - 'RADIO DISASTER VOL. 9' CD
V/A - 'REBEL NOISE COMP VOL. 1' CD
V/A - ‘REDEFINING SCENES 2’ CD
V/A - ‘ROCK AGAINST FLOYD’ CD
V/A - 'SACRAMENTO SCENE REPORT' CD
V/A - 'SKANNIBAL PARTY VOL. 5' CD
V/A - ‘SMASH THE STATES’ CD
V/A - 'SOFLA, SO GOOD SO WHAT VOL. 1' CD
V/A - ‘SOUNDS AGAINST REALITY’ CD
V/A - ‘THIS JUST IN’ CD
V/A - ‘TO THE BITTER END VOL. 2’ CD
V/A - 'VANCOUVER COMPLICATION' CD
V/A - 'WARPED TOUR '05' DOUBLE CD
VENEREA - ‘ONE LOUDER’ CD
THE WAKING EYES - 'WATCH YOUR MONEY' CD SINGLE
WEEKEND WARRIORS - S/T CD
‘WHO CARES - THE DUANE PETERS STORY’ DVD
WHY NOT - 'CAUTION WET FLOOR' CD
THE W.I.N.K.S. - ‘TOO HOT TO BE THIS COOL’ CD
THE WIVES - ‘ERECT THE YOUTH PROBLEM’ CD
WORM - 'HATE' CD
WRECKING CREW - ‘ATOMIC AMBITION’ CD
'X-TREME SNOWBORAD TRAX' DVD
YELLOWCARD - 'ONE FOR THE KIDS' CD
YOUR VEGAS - 'FLYBUZZ' CD SINGLE
CURL UP AND DIE play heavy and destructive hardcore. Really fast and really
choppy with snarls and growls. A blend of old and new styles with long drawn
out chords for intense breakdowns and then straight back into the onslaught.
This is seriously high-energy and the vocals are outta control!! Very
destructive indeed... a bit of DISHARGE in there. There’s a few more
surprising parts in the album like ‘Blackout’ which has a slow and eerie
intro that’s almost rockabilly in a way which is very interesting. It’s
slower but very intense and also ‘I’m Trying To Fly To The Moon Using Two
Magnets And Willpower’ which is another slower, sludgy and highly intense
track. CUAD never get delicate which is great!!! It’s always fucking
full-on. 11 tracks... that’s a lot of brutality and if you can’t take the
assault just curl up and die because this will fucking kill you.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
6 tracks of fast and intense Texan hardcore in the true old-fashioned sense...
no gimmicks just vigour and urgency. The production is great... nice and full
and I can see why this would appeal to metal-heads as well as punks because
of the intensity and power, but it’s a pure hardcore assault. There’s no
noodley guitar solos. It’s just energy and passion the whole way and that’s
the way I gotta have it. This is old-fashioned virtuosity and a necessity
in 2005 when you gotta go too far to find the real deal because of all the
imitation hardcore pollution. Listen to the real thing. Listen to DAMAGE
CASE.
Slab-O-Wax Records
www.slab-o-wax.com
Melodic punk rock from Italy with great vocal lines and thin production
which I really like. I’m not down with the big sound, that’s not what I want
out of punk rock at all. This production reminds me of the early Lookout!
sound and that’s a great place to be thrown back to. Maybe also because
DANNY’S WEDNESDAY remind me a little of a female-fronted SCREECHING WEASEL
but only slightly. Italian’s really love that RAMONES-tinged pop punk sound
but DANNY’S WEDNESDAY do it differently to most other bands. The vocals are
really ambitious and really shape the songs and it’s really nice to hear a
girl’s voice on top of this sound and that reminds me of EVEN IN BLACKOUTS
where the voice sculpts the track. Plus there’s a hint of the PRIMITIVES,
BLONDIE and the DARLING BUDS in here too. I gotta say that I really enjoy
this sound and it’s cool to hear it played from a different approach and the
way they include the keyboard is different too. It’s not in that cutesy way
and it adds another facet to the sound.
Nicotine Records
www.nicotinerecords.com
Extremely concentrated hardcore with intricate and layered guitar parts
that gets pretty metallic at times with very full production. There’s a
lot of pace changes, switching between wildly fast and rather delicate
and even acoustic on ‘Pathos’. The vocals too flicker between screaming
and growling. The most interesting thing about DARKEST HOUR is that even
with their long intros, metallic parts (reminiscent of IRON MAIDEN at
times and METALLICA especially on ‘Tranquil’) and tons of guitars, they
still are able to preserve a serious punk rock element and that really
works. Maybe even an 80s skate punk element... really quite diverse stuff
that works for sure.
Victory Records
www.victoryrecords.com
This is a lot more straightforward than I expected. I thought this would be
very layered musically with shifting vocals and breakdowns and I’m glad that
it’s not! This clear-cut hardcore approach works for me! There’s a million
or maybe even a billion bands doing that aforementioned style so when a
release comes out that's just straightforward it’s such a breath of fresh
air. Maybe it’s because they’re Australian and not American that they stand
out and have a more distinctive approach. DAY OF CONTEMPT are along the
lines of the NERVE AGENTS and the FRISK with progressions that remind me of
BAD RELIGION or NOFX but with a more attacking delivery. This is definitely
the type of band that the kids will go crazy for and that will go down a
storm at the Warped Tour. Their style verges on the early hardcore sound
rather than metal and that’s a huge plus point for me! This is a heavy and
assertive debut release and I’m sure these guys will just get bigger and
bigger because they got what the kids want but without all the bullshit.
Epitaph Records
www.epitaph.com
OK, right away I’m a sucker for this... mohicans, pink cityscapes, splats,
scratchy writing and, most importantly, it’s from Finland so I’m
excited!! This EP rules... just straight-up punk rock 'n' roll in the vein of
RANCID, FRONTKICK, THE DISASTERS, WASTED, THE HEARTACHES, THE BASTARDS
etc and vocally it sometimes reminds me of that BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-tinged
snarl ala LARS FREDERIKSEN or HUDSON FLACONS. The song-writing is spot-on,
the presentation rules... this is just out-and-out punk rock. I am
really looking forward to and excited about a full-length from these guys.
www.deadbygun.com
DEADLINE is a band that just keeps going from strength to strength... things really are getting serious now and everyone is noticing just how potent a force they are. Their blend between raw, early UK punk rock and a more melodic, contemporary US style is spot on... it's exactly what the kids need. Fantastic vocals and vocal lines that really form a distinctive sound when layered with the music. I'm actually finding a real lack of good female vocals like this. There's too much screechy and screamy females in punk rock and they don't realize just how much power you can have without having to force a sound or style. They need to get some DEADLINE and learn the technique of power through melody and style.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
Heavy gothic punk rock like it used to be before the new type of gothic crap
took over. This is raw and assertive, not some whiny, wimpy-dick tortured
shit. DEADMAN WALKING carry the same banner as some of the newer bands doing
80s Gothic punk like THE DEEP EYNDE, LIVE NOT ON EVIL, BROKEN BOTTLES...
bands that take influence from 45 GRAVE, BAUHAUS, MISFITS etc but
don't churn out some obvious, put-on faux-gothic crap. This has got style
and soul and I wish this is what the kids would start listening to instead of
settling for bands like AFI. This rules.
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com
I was so, so happy to see this band on the last Disaster Records comp and I'm really glad that they got this full-length out. When I first heard the 'Suicide Drive' EP some years back I was hooked. There was a beautiful eeriness to it. Perfect Gothic punk. That's what they are now. Their sound has definitely got more straight-up punk, but they certainly maintain their dark and shadowy edge. 'Devilchild' is just mind-blowing and the show-stealer of this brilliant record. The songs are so beautifully crafted and produced to set a spine-chilling scene. It suggests apocalypse, evil, danger, devastation... exactly what you'd imagine a Shadowland to look and feel like. If you like dark punk, then you NEED this. It's so fresh in a time where a lot of bands are doing the 'horror' thing and doing it badly. It's full of fantasy.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
I've really been let down recently by all these punk rock 'n' roll
bands. There's so many of them and 99% of them just don't cut it. It all
feels so forced and lame with some huge production that outright sucks. THE
DENTS fall into the 1% that can actually pull this style off, grab you by
the collar and drag you around the room. This is unembellished punk rock
'n' roll with a cool poppy edge and I gotta say that because of all the
appalling bands in this genre I approached this CD with caution because I
felt another let-down on the horizon but boy, did THE DENTS blow me away.
You know, it's the same thing when someone tells me to check out a
ska-punk band that are supposedly great and I'm like, 'No way I
don't think so' and you do get 1 in every 100 that really do shine.
It's sure a pity that that's the case but I tell you what, it really
sparks excitement when you get a great band that can deliver the real deal.
I feel guilty about doubting this but I'm sure I'll keep doing that with
other bands just because it's way better to get thrilled than infuriated.
Abbey Lounge Records
www.abbeylounge.com
From that record title you could've guessed that this was Japanese!! DINGO
play a blend of fast paced, old fashioned punk rock ala early SOCIAL
DISTORTION with a dash of straightforward hardcore, but again, old style
hardcore with a youthful and urgent sound... no metal! The Japanese certainly
do things their own way and the result is usually totally unique and that
applies to DINGO who take hardcore and punk and blend them together to
create an original and imaginative sound. Now, mixing hardcore and punk is
hardly reinventing the wheel, I mean, it's been done a million times but
my point is that when a band can take a well-known concept or sound and put
a new expression on it and allow you to hear it in a different way that's
something to get excited about. The progressions DINGO use are original as
are their vocal lines which are creative too, and the way they employ the hardcore
element is the key to their sound. It's not overdone, it's just present
to make it more than punk rock but without transforming it into full-blown
hardcore. The vocals are sung and not shouted and that's great because
they could've easily ventured into that screamy type of shit and I'm
really glad they didn't because that would've shifted this from great to
just OK. Impressed I certainly am.
Punx Rules Records / T.S.O.R. Records
www.punxrules.com /
www.tsorrecords.ch
4 tracks of vigorous and melodic punk rock with a rock 'n' roll edge, DIRTY LOVE features members of UK SUBS, MENACE and 53rd & 3rd so there's no lack of experience here! But DIRTY LOVE have a different approach to the aforementioned bands. Sure there's a solid '70s /
'80s punk edge but it's mixed in with the pop style of FUR, THE PRIMITIVES, THE DARLING BUDS, THE COGS and TRANSVISION VAMP. There's a real Damaged Goods sound to DIRTY LOVE and that's really cool. It's still tough through the melodies and maintains a raw edge and glues it all together with great vocal lines and melodies and it's sexy and sleazy but charming too. I'd really like to hear a full-length...
www.dirtylove.me.uk
You know, when I first heard the DISASTERS I was so into it and I was worried that it was going to be a one-off side project - just one release and that's it and I'm so fuckin over the moon that they're here to stay. This is sick. The first album was great but '1984' takes things a step further - song-writing, playing, style... they got if for sure. Roger's voice is amazing. I've always been a fan of him. With 'Something's Gotta Give' AGNOSTIC FRONT redefined Hardcore... they have been in the game for so long that only a force like them can push and forge a style. The DISASTERS stems from that later-period AG but strips it right down to gritty punk rock. It's tough and heated street Punk Rock N Roll: 'Loud and Proud', 'Riot, Riot, Riot', 'Hooligans', 'Kill For Cash', 'Shot, Stabbed and Fooled'. The album comes to a close with 'Janie Hawk' and 'New York City' which is a great endnote... 'Janie Hawk' reminds me so much of SCREECHING WEASEL and 'New York City' is an ode to the bands capital with a bit of a DROPKICKS feel to it... a great wind-down after a sweaty battle of a CD!
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com
Ahh... European punk rock. Breathe it in. Sometimes melodic, sometimes
hardcore DISCIPLINE always deliver killer material and they rock live too.
Their sound reminds me of a mix between the REVOLVERS, TEMPLARS, LOWER CLASS
BRATS and a more melodic BONECRUSHER so you can't really fault that! Plus
you get the whole thing soaked in European style... Belgian style. Too many
kids settle for all the American shit that's getting churned out and it just
lacks effort... it's so easy to compromise. Get out there and expand yer
tastes! You'll find shit that will blow you away in yer own European
backyard.
I Scream Records
www.iscreamrecords.com
The debut D.O.A. full-length from 1980... fuck yeah. Exactly as it appeared 25
years ago. Same cover, same artwork, same track-list... nothing’s changed. Why
play with the flawlessness of this killer, killer record? I first heard this
in 1993 when I was 15 and even though that’s 13 years after it’s original
release, it still blew everything else I was listening to out of the
water. It was so spot on... the aggression, the humour, the snottiness, the
simplicity and I still feel that way about it today, another 11 years on
from when I first heard it. It’s still so damn fresh. I remember just looking
at the cover and thinking ‘this looks dangerous!’... that’s fucking exciting!
Destroy Tradition... hell yeah!! Younger punk rock kids need to hear this. You
just don’t get shit like this anymore. It’s all so safe these days. This is
raw and rough real punk rock. Something better change so that we can hear
more shit like this and destroy the tradition of all the fashion clones that
pass for punk rock these days. Something’s gotta change!
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com
OK, this is a no-brainer. This should be a compulsory purchase for every
generation of punk rocker. It’s D.O.A.’s 25th Anniversary ‘best-of’ anthology
for fuck’s sake!! For closer to 30 years D.O.A. have been spreading chaos
and disarray throughout the punk rock and hardcore scenes through
intelligence, humour and hard work. This collection includes cuts from the
‘Disco Sucks’ 7” from 1978, ‘Something Better Change’ debut full-length from
1980, the infamous and pioneering ‘Hardcore ‘81’ and ‘Positively D.O.A.’ 7”
from 1981, ‘War On 45’and ‘Right To Be Wild’ 7” from 1982, ‘General Strike’
7” from 1983, ‘Let’s Wreck The Party’ from 1985, ‘Terminal City Ricochet’
soundtrack from 1989 one of those tracks being with JELLO BIAFRA, ’13
Flavours Of Doom’ from 1992, ‘Loggerheads’ from 1993, ‘Festival Of Atheists’
from 1998 and ‘Win The Battle’ from 2001 plus a bonus track from 2001 in the
shape of ‘Mexican Holiday’. So there you have it... 26 tracks spanning their
career and presenting the path of disorder paved by Canada’s Number 1
troublemakers, plus you get a bunch of photos showing various-era D.O.A.,
discography and a family tree. If you don’t own any D.O.A. then shame on
you, but this will be a great place for you to start. It’s not too late!
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com
This is a gem of a record... fantastic Canadian punk rock from 1979. 4 songs on here (one of them a STOOGES cover). It's fast, melodic and full of early punk rock magic... fun, insolence and young brashness and energy. This is one necessary 12". Everything about it screams exhilaration... the band name, the cover photo, the artwork, the song titles and of course the music. I was excited about this from the moment I laid eyes on it. This is awesome.
Zurich Chainsaw Massacre Records / Re-Force Records
www.zcm.com /
www.re-forcerecords.de
The Dwarves... the fucking Dwarves... the only remaining real, dirty Rock N
Roll band with no compromise. This DVD portrays the chaos of a Dwarves show
and brings the disarray straight into your living room. You’re gonna have
to change the carpet after you watch this!!! It’s kinda hard to communicate
the energy of a live show on film because it can look and sound kinda tame
but this here DVD really does capture the unruliness and unpredictability of
a Dwarves show... it’s wild and choppy and altogether erratic and that’s the
excitement that I crave. The Dwarves should be enforced listening especially
for the kids today who don’t have any kind of danger left in Rock N
Roll. They need to see this. They should show this in school it’s that
Goddamn important. This is the whole excitement of Rock N Roll!! A full set
at NYC’s Continental plus a bunch of videos and extra footage this is
killer. The great thing is that The Dwarves have fucked up fans too, really
dedicated freaks that heighten the impulsiveness and danger and that’s what
kids need to see on here. Even if you got their records it’s not enough. You
need to witness the menace that is the Dwarves!! The volatility, the blood,
the obnoxiousness, the nakedness, the obsession that defines the legend of
the Dwarves so get fucked up, watch this and enjoy a real Rock N Roll
experience.
MVD Music Video Distributors
www.musicvideodistributors.com
The DWARVES might have to die but they never fuckin will. They are relentless and unavoidable and so important that if you don't own a DWARVES record you are really missing the point of the punk rock movement: the liberty, the creativity run totally amok. There is no band like the DWARVES in terms of lack of restrictions, rebellion and total chaos. 'The Dwarves must Die' takes us through punk rock, surfy/garage, hip-hop, hardcore, poppy punk, straight pop with a beautiful lack of respect. The DWARVES have always been about doing what the hell they want to do and that is in fuller effect now than ever. 'Runaway #2' is one of the best punk rock songs I've ever heard... great fuckin record.
Sympathy For The Record Industry
www.sympathyrecords.com
This is mind-blowing stuff. This is so strange and so great. It's so vague and outlandish and the lyrics are fantastic. The voice reminds me so much of the RUINERS. DUFUS is an open commune for imaginative and inspired composers. It's so free and sways from superb emptiness and ambiguity to full and uncontrollable chaos. It's raw, it's artistic, it's off the cuff and it's totally exceptional. You need to get this.
Iron Man Records
www.ironmanrecords.co.uk
This is heavy and intense and the fact that this thunderous noise is created
by just two people is remarkable as hell. A blend of rock, metal and
hardcore but never over-complex, just heavy riffs and real rock 'n'
roll. No screaming, no roaring, no guitar effects just old fashioned
distortion and talent. You catch glimpses of JUDAS PRIEST, METALLICA,
MOTORHEAD, IRON MAIDEN, AGNOSTIC FRONT, AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH, ANTHRAX with
the vocals sounding like a blend between Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford and Axl
Rose. These 2 guys work so well together that nothing else in needed. It's
so full and concentrated and an impressive as hell debut album.
Matador Records
www.matadorrecords.com
Beat Me? Yeah, this sure did... ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK take all the magic and
frenzied genius of artists like MC5, JIMI HENDRIX, THE APES, THEE MICHELLE
GUN ELEPHANT and AC/DC and mix it all into a chaos paste that spreads over
your body and paralyses you so that it can manipulate you. From the opener
'Scream For Me' to the closing BLACK SABBATH cover of 'Iron Man' 'Beat Me'
is an incredibly energetic and delightfully hectic ride right through 'Don't
Say Fuck', 'I love Fish but Fish hate Me', 'Bastard!' and 'I can Hear the
Sex Noise'. Don't miss out on this disorder... get beaten.
Demolition Records
www.demolitionrecords.com
EF are back yet again to rock yer bones and rattle yer skull! The
'high-octane/high-energy' labels get thrown about these days and mostly
attached to bands that just aren't worthy of it. But EF... these guys are the
definitives of that genre and are a truly hard working, burning passionate
force. This record is their 13th anniversary release and collects their best
tracks from all their recording sessions over their 13 year career that they
hid and re-recorded for this album... you get that?! This is not a best of
collection... sure this is their best work but it's the first time you'll ever
have heard it in its full glory!!! What a sick idea!!! Sick genius!! There's
a couple of covers thrown in of course and it's all topped off with the killer
artwork we've come to expect from these boys. ’Burn Bright, Burn Fast’ is
just the most appropriate title for this band. This is THE higest-energy,
highest-octane rock 'n' roll so get yerselves some of it.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
Oh yeah... the release of this record excited me. I still spin their debut
like crazy and I’ve been frenzied by them and raving about them for ages. Now
their second full-length is here, and on Fat too, so their audience is
going to explode which they really deserve. Kids NEED to hear the EPOXIES.
Urgently. They are eccentric, original and fun and I know that there are a
huge number of bands doing the whole New Wave thing but the EPOXIES nailed
it flawlessly. Aside from being a killer title, ‘Stop The Future’ is
thoroughly appropriate. Read it how you wanna but the way I translate it is
stop where the punk scene is headed. Stop the whining. Stop the seriousness.
Stop the trends. Stop the diluting. This is music for a time when punk rock
was exciting and unpredictable and above all FUN. This is party music. Wear
whatever you want... who cares what the fashion punx are wearing? Get your
most preposterous get-up on and jump around like a spastic... that’s what
it’s all about. Even though there are dashes of the debut, this album isn’t
a rehash of the first full-length, and even if it was I’d be cool with that.
This is unmistakably the EPOXIES and there are parts where only they know
which direction they are taking us. The b-section in ‘Radiation’ is
bizarre. It’s like electro-classical mayhem and ‘Toys’ is a truly peculiar
work of art. As expected, the lyrics are wonderfully outlandish. So, get off
the wall and get convulsive with the present sound of the past.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
Six brand new tracks from Portland’s THE ESCAPED. Their sound is a blend of
old-style hardcore in the vein of IRON CROSS mixed with a later hardcore
sound and straight-up punk rock. It’s a potent and fast assault that will
get you riled up and ready to attack!!! You may have heard THE ESCAPED on
the last Hellcat compilation with ‘Wasted Life’ from their ‘Rose City
Hardcore’ CD and I’m sure you’ll remember them because they ripped you up!!
You cannot escape from THE ESCAPED! Get this EP and get ‘Rose City Hardcore’
too, and they also feature on the new Charged ‘Punx Unite’ comp with ‘City Of
Pain’ get all the ECAPED you can!!!
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
Right from the cover and presentation I know I’m gonna dig this record...
raw, abrasive, unfriendly and high-impact and yeah, the music reflects
the art! Unpredictable and rasping and that’s how I like my punk rock! It
reminds me a lot of early Beer City recordings like the MURDERERS,
BRISTLES and VERY METAL blended with the QUINCY PUNX and early SCREECHING
WEASEL. It’s got that sound that’s just in between punk rock and hardcore
and that’s a sound I really go for. It harks back to the better days
of real punk rock and is a wonderful escape from all the bullshit
releases and bands that are churned out these days.
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
EVEN IN BLACKOUTS play the finest acoustic punk rock that will just blow
you away. 6 tracks that will leave you wanting so much more (which is
fine because their full-length ‘Zeitgeist’s Echo’ is out now) because it
sparkles with individuality and authenticity. It’s so powerful through
it’s unfussiness and so uncompromising through it’s melody. Pick up
everything you can from this band... this is what punk rock is all about.
Knock Knock Records
www.knockknockrecords.com
Wow! This is huge deep breaths of the wonderful feeling I used to get
from punk rock whilst growing up. Unsurprisingly EVEN IN BLACKOUTS released stuff
via Lookout! Records so naturally it captures that extraordinary sound
that just grabs you... that special attachment to the wonderful melody
and raw acoustic simplicity. Dual male and female vocals, total freedom and
total sincerity. I have a real soft spot for acoustic punk rock but it’s a
very tricky thing to get right and EVEN IN BLACKOUTS just nail it so
perfectly and so naturally. Not dramatized, not embellished just
instinctive and fun. 17 beautiful cuts including new versions of ‘In A
Letter Never Sent’ and ‘The Writer’ from the ‘Foreshadows On The Wall’
EP. Breathe this in because a connection like this doesn’t come around
often.
Knock Knock Records
www.knockknockrecords.com
I remember when I first got 'Flash Flash Flash' years ago and it blew my mind and I'm still listening strong to that record. The EXPLOSION are one hell of a stylish band, a band that leave you wanting more and more and now the new full-length.... and, yes, it's fantastic. The EXPLOSION were never a run-of-the-mill punk rock band. They were always very, very sophisticated and almost arty, and that's the reason I think Virgin signed them. They do their own thing. They're not one of these fashionable poppy bands, but a hugely stylish ensemble that could get so so huge, and I'd like to see that. You can hear the passion and the enthusiasm burn through the EXPLOSION and that's what I want.
Virgin Records
www.virginrecords.com
I was expecting this to be really metallic and although there certainly are
elements of metal in their sound, FALLEN WISDOM have a totally hardcore/punk
sound and approach. The metal that is present is more along the
‘chugging’ side than the complex, noodle-guitar solos so I can get with it.
The sound throughout the record is totally varied. At times it’s outright
punk rock, at times more hardcore, and at times leaning towards metal. I hear
elements of the MISFITS, BAD RELIGION, VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, DEEP EYNDE,
heavier TIGER ARMY, METALLICA, QUINCY PUNX, SHEER TERROR... I was really
surprised by this. It really works and the way they use metal is pretty
unique because they really keep the punk factor present at all times and
it’s not lost under the metallic riffs. It’s not like, ‘here’s the punk
part and here’s the metal part and now here’s the hardcore part...’ it all
gels really well. This impressed me.
www.fallenwisdom.com
Wow, these guys are just crazy. I mean c-r-a-z-y... check out their zany
album and song titles... ha ha ha who gives a fucking shit. This blows. Pure
dick sucking on CD right here. No time for this shit at all and I won’t
disrespect myself or NFT readers any longer by spending more time listening
or writing about this spunk.
Island Records
www.islandrecords.com
21 tracks recorded live in Italy (Bassano and Milan) last year. LOS
FASTIDIOS are an intelligent and fanatical band who are dedicated to pushing
their message of unity and anti-fascism and anti-racism, and what better
representation of their passion and energy than a live recoding? This CD
communicates all that with a raging streetpunk backing. LOS FASTIDIOS are a
positive and important punk rock band and a live recording suits them
perfectly. A lot of bands release live albums just for the sake of it and
most of the time there’s no real point to it other than simply getting a new
record out, but that’s not the case at all here. This is a communication
recording, a transfer of positivity. This record reminds me a lot of the
REDSKINS live record even though their sound is entirely different but the
substance is the same.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
When I first heard this it instantly reminded me of an English KINGS OF
NUTHIN' and while there are certainly associations in style the FAT CATS go
way, way deeper with many more facets blending gritty Rhythm and Blues with
straight Rock 'N' Roll, Ska, Rock and Swing with pure punk rock delivery
and attitude. They are evidently incredibly flexible musicians and I would love
to see them live. The energy on the record is enormous so I'm thinking that
that will be multiplied by about 1000 times when they play live... and that's
the type of show I wanna see!
10 past 12 Records
www.10past12records.com
This is fucking hilarious! It’s like KISS and SPINAL TAP merged with 80s
hair metal and punk rock and it kills! Fuck bands like the DARKNESS... that
sucks. That’s no fun because they don’t get it like this. This is so over
the top and truly entertaining... check a few of the song titles: ’Doin’
Donuts’, ’I Got The Stuff’, ‘Am I Goin’ Ta Hell’, ‘Toxic Crotch’, ‘She Got
Cancer’... and some of the killer lyrics: “Well I walk down the street with a
girl on each arm, I’m knockin ’em out with my masculine charms, There‘s
three more behind me checking out my strut, they just can‘t wait to get
their hands on my butt”, “Jesus is the gut with crown of thorns, Satan is
the guy with the horns”... fucking hilarious! They wear make up, glittery
waistcoats, shiny thongs and they've got flaming zebra drum kits. This is real
Rock 'N' Roll and I would absolutely love to see these guys live. It really
makes me laugh that I used to listen to bands like MOTLEY CRUE and POISON
when I was a kid and I used to take it so seriously... it’s so comical.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
10 songs in under 16 and a half minutes. Straight away this grabs me. I got
no time to hang around for repeated verses and embellished solos, I want
to get straight to the point and FIYA is all about that. I got a short
attention span and this caters for me!! Fast and melodic punk rock with
the distinctive No Idea sound. Aspects of AGAINST ME! And a bit of J
CHURCH too. It’s adamant and turbulent and all very well produced and
I’ve listened to it twice through on several occasions and that’s saying
something... over half an hour straight... whoa! FIYA have stretched my
attention span!!!
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
Distorted and impulsive, the FM BATS deliver a seriously original and
unpredictable cocktail and that’s no surprise since it involves members of
LE SHOK and I’M GONNA STAB YOU. It’s so erratic and that’s what we need!
This is kinda like an SST record in the way that it’s so creative and almost
arty but still so raw. I can hear elements of LE SHOK (of course!), TOYS
THAT KILL, MINUTE MEN, SMOGTOWN, BIG BOYS, slight BUTTHOLE SURFERS... but the
FM BATS do entirely their own thing and as soon as I think I’ve found a
style or sound similarity, they’ve transformed. This is stimulating stuff
and I’m really excited to hear a full-length, and I’d fucking love to see
these guys live. We definitely need this volatility and irregularity in
punk rock.
Vinyl Dog Records / TKO Records
www.vinyldogrecords.com /
www.tkorecords.com
Raw, chaotic and distorted garage punk that kinda reminds me of a Rip Off
band. Serious bass sculpting the structure of the songs with blasts of
distorted guitar ringing out over the rumble... it’s crude and frenzied and
muddy in a great way. There‘s an almost BUTTHOLE SURFERS feel to it
sometimes blended with the SKUDZ. I dig this a lot and all 4 tracks rule.
Great white vinyl and great cover art too.
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com
Fast and raw political hardcore punk from Norway that’s got a real old
school bite. The whole record looks like it was released in the 80s right
from the cover, the folded inlay and the music and that gets huge plus
points from me! Punk rock just ain’t like this anymore. You got to listen to
hundreds of records before you hear any soul, any passion, any
anything. It’s all so by-the-numbers these days that when a record like
this one spins, you fucking salute it... the reaction is instant. If you’re
missing the enthusiasm in punk rock and wanna get it back then get this record,
close your eyes and breathe it in and you’re right back where you wanna be!
Anti-Rock Records
www.freedumbweb.com
Nice title! I'm down with some mindless violence for sure. Hell, I just gotta
turn on the TV or that radio and the hate kicks in and I'm ready for some
mindless violence!!! This is actually a bit different to what I was
expecting. I was assuming that this would be spiky, street-pogo ala CHEAP
SEX, A GLOBAL THREAT, ACTION etc, but it's got way more of a hardcore edge
to it and I love that. There would've been nothing wrong if this was
straighforward mohican punk but the surprise was a welcome one. It's fast,
melodic, anthemic and tough... nothing amazingly pioneering but totally
enjoyable nonetheless. I’m down with this sound and the whole look. It’s
nostalgic and exuberant and FRONTLINE ATTACK manage to bring all those
elements of aggression and melody together really well. The songs are thick
and powerful without being over-the-top. 'Police Harassment', 'On The Piss',
'Let's Riot', 'Onward To Chaos'... get some beers, some gelatine, some
hairpray, stick two fingers up and enjoy. Cool record. Splattered mint green
wax to boot.
Charged Records
www.chargedrecords.com
41 tracks of brutally heavy hardcore and I mean vicious as fuck. This reminds
me of the classic Brazilian sound but FUCK THE FACTS are from Canada. This
is uncompromising hardcore... distorted, aggressive, fast and fucked up. It
stabs and growls. There’s nothing fashionable about this! This isn’t
poser-hardcore, this is staunch hostility. It’s intense and uncomfortable
and mesmerizing. The presentation is excellent... I love the artwork. It’s like
vague close-ups of an oil painting and you can see glimpses of the band
members in parts and I think that kinda relates to the music... evasive
confusion with glances of clarity. I grew up with this sound so I dig it
but I hope it scares the fuck outta kids who think they know hardcore... think
again.
Sonic Deadline Records
www.sonicdeadline.cjb.net
As much as I like the band name and cover art here, I really wasn’t sure
what to expect. Snotty punk? Hardcore? Streetpunk? Garage? In actual fact
it’s kind of a blend of all of that with a hefty dose of straight Rock ‘N’
Roll and I really like the fact that it’s kinda vague because it keeps you
fascinated. There’s no real giveaways, no obviousness and that’s reflected
in the music too. It’s very confident and assertive but not in a macho way,
as much as the band name may seem that way, it’s just powerful and uncouth
without ever getting too heavy. The pace changes from song to song but it’s
never slow. It’s always kicking and shaking and it’s definitely tough but in
the right way, not ‘tough-guy’, ‘street-brawler’ shit but more in a
dangerous way, like really ‘don’t get involved with us’ and I like that
unsafe edge they convey. A really nice surprise to get to review something
that I had no clue what to expect and believe me, that’s a rare thing these
days because 99.9% of the time you CAN judge a book (or record) by its cover
and you’re gonna be right.
Formula 13 Records
www.formula13.com
I was expecting this to be intricate and intense death metal from the
name and the cover art but it’s not at all. Intense it sure is, but it’s
a million miles from metal. This is arty, inventive and experimental. At
times I hear hints of the DEEP EYNDE, THE SMITHS, LEFTOVER CRACK,
BUTTHOLE SURFERS, THE CURE yet this sounds nothing like those bands... this
is strange... and good strange. It’s got elements of hardcore, punk and indie
and it swings from delicate to raging with all the tracks starting off
subtly and then building up into tormented and anguished sounds. You just
gotta hear this because FUNERAL DINER do what they want and it’s hard to
describe. I was really pleasantly surprised.
Alone Records
www.alonerecords.com
Oh please fuck off with your gay shit. Shit front cover, not clever or
attention-grabbing, just juvenile shit and that response carries straight
through to the music. I just don’t get this. This is so manufactured and
tired but the kids seem to lap it up. Perhaps Mattel or Fisher Price will
put a band like this together and advertise their CD in the commercial
breaks of Saturday morning kids TV. I really don’t get this weak shit at
all. The best sound I got from this disc was when I put it through the
shredder.
Atlantic Records
www.atlanticrecords.com
Wow, this is some fucked up, hectic shit. It’s so bizarre and so obnoxious
and sporadic that it excites me. What a title!! I’ve heard of these guys for
a while and I loved the name but this is the first time I actually heard
them and boy does this stimulate me. It’s so wonderfully vulgar. I mean, the
title says it all. The song titles are delightfully vile: 'Sex In Your
Mouth’, ‘No Teeth Thumbs Up’, ‘Fucking Isn’t Cheating’, ‘Shh, Put The Shiv
To My Throat’, ‘Nothing Worse Than A Whining Boy’, ‘Hey Sailor!’ and the
lyrics are totally abhorrent too and I mean that in a great way! Make people
uncomfortable, be contentious, be offensive... that shit works for me! 'Hey
Sailor Where You Goin’, Hey Sailor Who You Blowin’, ‘You Will Die From
Beatings Because Fucking Isn’t Cheating’, ‘Fuck You I Want To Fuck You’,
‘Make Then Suffer And The Pink Shall Inherit The Earth’, ‘I Want To Fuck My
Enemy’, ‘Pass The Gun We’ll Have Some Fun, I’ll Fuck Your Ass We’re One On
One’ and so on and so forth! Sick stuff for sick minds so I’m down with it!
Captains Of Industry
www.captainsof.com
“I think I’m going Crazy, but I feel Fine”... that pretty much fucking sums
these freaks up!! Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! Erratic and impulsive this shit will
keep you on edge! There’s no fucking formula, no genre, no technique, no
rules! Just distort and fuck up! Those are yer orders!! BUTTHOLE SURFERS
drenched confusion, this homo army bombs everything in site!! Shoot to kill
and play to fuck up. A true experience and a real journey into some sick,
sick minds... book yerself a ticket! Killer Bagge artwork and also some of
the best ever songtitles... “A Message For The Fans (I’m Going To Kill All The
Fans”, “AIDS Team (Dirty Version)”, “Beverly Hills Cock Part Two”... pure
fucked up and sordid and exactly to my taste.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
THE GECKO BROTHERS almost have that typical Orange County punk rock sound of BONECRUSHER, DISCONTENT, PUSHERS etc but with a huge injection of heavy rock 'n' roll. It's harsh, fast and sordid. This is a fuming record right from the start, it's like an insane roller coaster ride that lasts almost half an hour. It's scary, it's fun, it's dangerous, it's immediate and it's fucking intense and that makes a killer record. They cover MOTOREHAD and the TUMORS too and close the album with 'Tequila In The Blueglass' a banjo-soaked drunken singalong which leads into a really weird secret track that's got a dance-beat loop and distorted vocals that goes on for a while... weird shit! A very impressive full-length that will be occupying my player for quite some time.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com
I always liked the GENERATORS since the first time I heard them and a lot of
people say that they sound like the US BOMBS, FORGOTTEN etc but I really
don’t think so. I always heard a darker, melancholy edge to the GENERATORS
with a lot of minor chords and totally different delivery to the typical
Californian punk sound. That really took form on ‘Excess, Betrayal and our
Dearly Departed’ and has developed even further on this new record to the
point that they totally have their own sound, style and technique. The
GENERATORS are a hard-working band and that razes through their records and
any record of theirs you come by is a good place to start listen to them. I would
recommend the aforementioned ‘Excess, Betrayal and our Dearly
Departed’ because that’s where the GENERATORS really became the GENERATORS
and that progresses on this new album. Great stuff.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
Canada's GENERATORZ really mix things up throughout this record with punk
rock, reggae, folk and rock 'n' roll but it all flows really well
because it sounds so natural and on top of all that variation they have dual
male/female vocals too which is something I really go for... and the female
vocals especially rule on here. They're really well sung... no screaming shit like
too many girl-fronted bands. It's like most female singers think that if
they don't scream they won't get noticed... that's bullshit. I wish more
females would listen to this and stuff like DEADLINE too to see that you
don't have to force it. THE GENERATORZ really get the fusion of intensity
and melody right and the whole album sounds fresh. Even though there are
a lot of directions present, it remains focused and absorbed in real punk
rock spirit and you can bet that it's because they're Canadian and not
American that they sound so fresh.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
This is a 25 track release comprising of a live recording from 1998 when
GENETIC CONTROL reformed (including a bunch of covers of MINOR THREAT, BAD
BRAINS etc), their track from the 'Air Raid' compilation from 1984 and
the jewel of the release the first GENETIC CONTROL 7" 'First
Impressions' also from 1984 which is a legendary piece of wax that was
only available as a bootleg but not anymore!!! And as cool as the live
recording is, the inclusion of that first 7" is what you'll be wanting
this release for. This is a slice of true Canadian Reagan-era Hardcore that
we can finally own and 20 years after it was originally recorded it still
lives up to the hype. This was a short-lived but legendary band and anyone
can finally own a piece of their Hardcore history without having to bid a
million dollars on e-bay. Fuck the bootlegs and give the band some money!!!
Sonik's Chicken Shrimp, 4050 Berri, Montreal, Canada
I judge a lot of stuff by the cover... books, records... if the cover sucks why should you give it anymore attention? I mean if something can't initially impress you and drag you in visually it's just not worth your time or effort. So, GLASS AND ASHES... I'm pretty sure this will be the best cover of 2005. Brilliant presentation, fantastic depiction of an open-mouthed shark. 10 out of 10. So that reeled me in instantly but what about the music? Well... the music fuckin kills too. It's fast, graceful, aggressive, you know like a shark, switching from calm and melodic to outright belligerence. This is an audio shark - elegant, refined, distinguished but also a vicious, uncontrollable beast. So there you go. Judge everything by the cover and please take note of this bands... if your cover sucks it's a good indication of what you might sound like.
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
GLUEBALL play fast and chaotic punk rock whose style lies somewhere between
early UK punk and later American punk, and that's the perfect sound for me.
It's like THE EXPLOITED mixed with RANCID... just straight-up punk rock with no messing
about. The production is great because it maintains the raw energy that's so
important. All these US bands kill the urgency with production whereas this is very full-sounding
without losing the all vigor. This is powerful stuff indeed and it excites
me because it pretty much encompasses all the great things about punk rock
of the last 25 years and rolls it into one intense attack. GLUEBALL will
appeal to first-generation punks as well as newcomer punk because they have
nailed the sound perfectly.
Naked Dog Records, Top Floor 1100 Mount St, Reading RG2 OAB, UK
GO BETTY GO is an all-female punk rock band from Los Angeles and perhaps the
most diverse I have ever heard. They don’t even touch that COURTNEY LOVE or
DISTILLERS side of things that too many female punks seem to cling to and
try to imitate. Nor do they do the fuzzy, distorted garage thing that so
many others do. Instead, GO BETTY GO keep things varied and fresh by playing
original and inspired punk rock with Latin elements, touches of ska, pop and
folk with great vocals. No screaming here! They remind me slightly of the
SOVIETTES at times and also a heavier BANGLES which is great! Maybe even a
touch of heavier EVEN IN BLACKOUTS too. Very interesting stuff that I could
imagine having come out on a label like Lookout! when it was good (like
10-15 years ago) and that’s a huge compliment.
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
The much anticipated second full-length from these unique German punk
rockers that just makes you wanna move. It’s like a style blender with
elements of BLACK FLAG, THE HIVES, THE TOY DOLLS and DEVO. It’s fast, fun
and captivating... the way punk rock should be. This exemplifies the true
spirit of punk rock... the freedom, the fun and the energy. They do whatever
they wanan do and it rules. This is the best material I have heard yet from
the GO FASTER NUNS and they’ve always been great. Do yourself a favour and
expose yourself to this strange and astonishing band.
Go-Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.com
Being the pikey sonsabitch that I am I’m gonna love this for sure. Raw
and erratic Ukrainian gypsy punk... fuckin filthy chaos with crude
production so it’s not all shiny and layered. This is unrefined and edgy,
gritty and dangerous just like gypos themselves. ‘Immigrant Punk’ rules
and steals the show for me. It’s just such a weird album at times and
that’s so cool. There’s no faux-Irish crap on here, just jittery gypsy
noise. Having spent many years of my life in Italy and having been around
village accordion and mandolin bands I can really relate to this record. The
rawness of the sound is where the beauty lies. This is what it sounds
like if yer in the street in front of this nervy sound.
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
GOLDBLADE mix straight-up old fashioned punk rock with rock 'n' roll and a touch
of mod style in there too. Wonderfully English and a huge two fingers up at
modern American punk shit. This has got soul and character. You can feel
the song-writing and that it's not just some churned out shit. There's a lot
crammed into each song and they often take unpredictable and interesting
turns and that's what I mean about their approach. This harks back to the
time when English punk rock shined because it was so uninhibited and
free... great stuff.
Captain Oi! Records
www.captainoi.com
2 live shows from 1985 that originally appeared in the Flipside Video series
portraying one of the finest punk rock / hardcore bands from DC. Government
Issue’s sound was always far from the carbon copy hardcore bands and these
shows exhibit that originality. Both shows were recorded in the Summer of
‘85 in California, the first at Fenders Ballroom and the second at the
Olympic Auditorium. The first show is the more intimate of the two with
Stabb really relating and interacting with the audience but that’s not to
say that he doesn’t inject his theatrical chaos and wit into every show... a
huge auditorium being no exception. He just blows up and does his thing very
uniquely. He’s just so into it and that’s indisguisable and a pleasure to
watch. This is the perfect band for the perfect ear and you just don’t get
stuff like this anymore. This is urgent and exciting and just so borderless.
Almost an hour of wonderful hardcore nostalgia. Great liner notes by Stabb
too.
MVD Music Video Distributors
www.musicvideodistributors.com
Hailing from the same darn town as the prolifically annoying Less than Jake
isn't a great thing but, thankfully instead of delivering novelty ska pop
pap that’s lamer than your Dad on the disco floor, the Grabass Charlestons
succeed in rockin mercilessly. This rocks and in the true sense of the
word. This is real, zealous Rock N Roll. Layering 40 a day vocals over
brash crunching guitars offers a great foundation for some of punks best
song titles such as 'The Fucking Song', 'Best in Shitty' and the intriguingly
named 'Those dirty line cooks are mysterious'. Indeed they wrote a tune
called 'Crazy Plane' about a speed binge that went awry culminating 30,000
feet above the great ole' US... very 'Fear And Loathing'... very punk. They
have that great disordered sound that reminds me a lot of CRIPMSHRINE. It’s
really animated and fiery. The strange thing is there’s hints of so many
bands in here but at the same time they sound like no-one else. I can hear
traces of SCREECHING WEASEL (especially vocal-lines), ONE MAN ARMY,
CLEVELAND BOUND DEATH SENTENCE, HEARTACHES, PINHEAD GUNPOWDER... fucking
wonderfully unusual.
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
Wow, this is weird because from the band name and the style of the album
cover I was really expecting this to be one of those dark and tortured
Emo-type bands that are so damn popular. Then I flipped the CD over and
the photo of the band just didn’t fit that style at all, so bewildered I
stuck the CD in and it shot me half way across the fucking room... this is
sick!!!! Straight away I heard pre-Rollins BLACK FLAG. Disjointed, rasping
and seriously attacking and almost like a stripped-down MISFITS or AFI with
a lot of musical similarity to the CRIMINALS... those fantastic repeated
jabs. All of this mixed with an early hardcore sound. This is not tortured
at all, this outright rocks!!! Fuck me! The more I listen the more I hear
elements of all kinds of bands but this is so unique in both style and
delivery. I hear facets of the UNSEEN and the VIRUS with a vocal-delivery
style of JOHN RANSOM where the lyrics almost don’t fit the music sometimes...
I love that! It’s unpredictable and uncomfortable and keeps you jittery. The
kids will lap this up. I don’t know if these guys are playing the Warped
Tour but they should! They will steal the whole fucking festival! This is
real energy, always keeping the pace up and keeping things very impulsive.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
Wow these guys work fuckin fast. Already a follow up to 'Hate, Love and
Greed' in less than a year and THE GRINDOLLS resume their punk 'n'
roll, glam attack. With elements of RIVER CITY REBELS, HEARTACHES, THE
BONES and LOWER CLASS BRATS delivered with a real rock 'n' roll
approach, this shit will get you shaking and singing along. You can hear
influences from all kinds of eras and genres - '50s / '60s rock 'n'
roll, '70s glam rock, late '70s / '80s punk rock etc but they all boil
down to pure punk rock 'n' roll with a very contemporary feel. I know a
lot of bands attempt this blend of punk rock and rock 'n' roll but the
majority just can't get it. THE GRINDOLLS aren't about flames,
eightballs and dice. They are full and loud and all about singing along.
This is a fantastic party record... loads or drink, loads of friends and loads
of rock 'n' roll.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
Oh yeah! A collection of the best band to come out of Australia's (yep even
better than ROSE TATTOO!) EP from between 1996 and 2001. I remember the
first time I heard H-BLOCK 101. I was just a kid and they blew me away with
their style. I had never heard such free punk rock. They take influences from
all over and do what they want. There’s hints of the CLASH, HEARTBREAKERS,
CHEAP TRICK, DEAD BOYS, THE BOYS, BUZZCOCKS, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS all rolled
up into pure energy rock 'n' roll. This collects 26 tracks from 5 EP's
including covers of the CLASH, JIMMY CLIFF, ROSE TATTOO, JOHNNY THUNDERS,
THE RUTS and SPLIT ENZ. Fuckin fantastic CD here... amazing songwriting and
absolute fun. This is urgent and crucial listening!! Also comes with a
12-page killer booklet.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
Fucking great band name and killer album title too. These snotty brats hail
from France and play mouth-wateringly convulsive 70’s garage punk and when
it’s done this good... shit I’m hooked. This isn’t by the numbers,
fashionable shit, this is fresh and addictively original and that’s
impressive because it’s so easy to copycat this style and fall into the
clone category. The HATEPINKS have all the magic of bands like the RIP OFFS,
NEUROTIC SWINGERS, ZODIAC KILLERS, BRIEFS, SHOCKS and SPITS and they have
that wonderful European/American combination of snotty spasm that’s just
unbeatable. That idiotic intelligence really gets me: ‘I Am A Divorce’,
‘Microwave Drugs’, ‘Where Are The Fucks?’, ‘Girl Migraine’, ‘Fashion Is
Crime’, ‘I Piss In Your Swimming Pools’ ...this shit is mind-blowing, plus
the whole 13 track record is over in 16 and a half minutes and that’s
a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! It’s so short and sharp that it’s like a pleasurable
stabbing and I want to hear this over and over and get more and more
stabbed. This is serious fun for spastics like me and everybody needs to
get spastic. Get this!!!!!
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
Hard-hitting punk rock served up New Jersey style. Fast, powerful and
strictly no compromise! The New Jersey punk attack! All the best
characteristics of punk, Oi! and street rock 'n' roll rolled into one chaotic
weapon. New Jersey certainly boasts the toughest in punk rock and the best
thing is that it's a really exclusive sound. A lot of US bands who play Oi!
soaked punk really feed off the whole English thing, the COCKSPARRER sound,
but not the NJ bands. That's so great. The state has created it's own breed.
I'm a total sucker for this stuff so I'm bound to say it rules but it really
does. I can be pretty specific about what grabs me and I have a real problem
if a band sounds put-on, so when it done as well and sincerely as
HEADWOUND... hell I got no choice!
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com
I wasn't sure what to expect from HELL HOUND and feared that they might be full-on heavy metal but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they are, in fact, Hillbilly Rock 'N' Roll mixed with some big riffs ala KISS, THIN LIZZY, JUDAS PRIEST, T-REX, ROLLING STONES etc. Pretty hard-rockin stuff with occasional slower paced tracks that works well. I had something like CRADLE OF FILTH in mind but it's nothing like that at all. This is pure Rock 'N' Roll with a Southern soaking, kinda like if ANTiSEEN covered some of the aforementioned rock bands. Not bad at all.
www.hellhound.us
Heavily distorted chaos from Germany, the HELPLESS DILETANTTES do what
the fuck they want. There is no specific direction, only disarray! The
sound varies from melodic and almost poppy to totally out of control with
pace changes, differing vocal styles. It’s very experimental and
imaginative and is what punk rock is all about... do what you want to do no
matter what the reactions may be. If you wanna write a pop song followed
by a brutal hardcore song just do it... you don’t gotta answer to anyone
and that’s exactly what the HELPLESS DILETANTTES do. It reminds me a bit
of the DWARVES, DEAD MILKMEN and the BUTTHOLE SURFERS at times and that’s
no surprise because those are all bands who have never conformed no
matter what the scene dictates. This is original disorder.
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
Belgian rock n rollers HETTEN DES present their own, stripped-down rockabilly versions of MOTORHEAD's 'Ace Of Spades'. Now, this is a track that has been covered by hundreds, if not thousands but I guarantee that you've never heard it like this before. This is as if JOHNNY CASH or JONHHY HORTON had covered it... pure rockabilly and it works like crazy. There's even an instrumental version so you can sing along yerself and a video too. When a band takes a very well known and loved song and manages to put a whole new face on it that's impressive because, to be honest, I'm always a bit doubtful when a band covers a really famous track, but I was so pleasantly surprised here.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com
After hearing HETTEN DES’s version of ‘Ace Of Spades’ I couldn’t wait to her
their full-length. Here’s a band who can take a classic song of any style
and make it fully their own as well as being able to pen their own killer
rockabilly tunes. This 13 track CD offers up 7 originals and 7 covers from
as diverse a range as DANZIG, JOHNNY CASH, MIKE NESS, HANK WILLIAMS, NEIL
DIAMOND and MOTORHEAD (of course!!!). HETTEN DES create their own blend of
punk rock soaked country/rockabilly so comfortably that you don’t notice the
edges of each genre. It flows and it shakes, rocks and rolls so unperturbed.
This is real Rock ‘N’ Roll because it draws influence and inspiration from
all rebel walks and rolls them into one unstoppable force.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com
2 tracks from each band. First up the HI-FI KILLERS from France who play raw, distorted garage punk with a '60s pop/rock edge blended with some seriously fucked up sounds, almost BUTTHOLE SURFERS fucked up! But that's totally cool with me! It works really well. LOS DRAGOS from Italy have a more rock 'n' roll approach but are still nice and raw. They blend a pretty stripped-down sound with some serious distortion and loads of prominent bass. A really cool split of European havoc! Both bands have an original approach to the garage style rather than just playing the by-the-numbers shit that so many Americans do... Europeans got style!
Nicotine Records
www.nicotinerecords.com
HIT BY A SEMI should be huge. They play the finest in Californian punk rock
with a real Hostage/Disaster sound and they have all the best elements of
bands like US BOMBS, SMUT PEDDLERS, THE CROWD, BONECRUSHER, SWINGIN’ UTTERS,
SOCIAL DISTORTION, DISCONTENT etc and they mix it up so well without
sounding directly like any of those bands. Instead they create a fucking
original noise. This is the class of punk rock that we cream our pants for
here at NFT so it’s no surprise that HIT BY A SEMI will feature on our next
compilation and also our DVD. Like I said, these guys should be huge. It’s
just so spirited and lively without ever being tedious. They keep things
fresh throughout the whole record so keep your eyes and ears open for these
guys because they’ll impress the shit outta you for sure.
Sacred Art Records
www.hitbyasemi.com
Aside form having the best name in punk rock in years, THE HOLLOW POINTS
truly are cascading with pure style and originality, something that has been
lacking for a while and as soon as I heard their 7" I was hooked on them. This
is what I was waiting for. The song-writing is seamless... it’s fresh
yet familiar. The vocals are spot-on and the whole thing grabs you and
entangles you and it’s a brilliant feeling. It’s been a long time since I
was this excited about a band and I can’t wait to see them live so I hope
they’re planning a European tour at some stage. It’s hard to place the
HOLLOW POINTS' sound since they’re not directly comparable to anything, but
if I had to equate their style I’d say perhaps somewhere between older and
newer SOCIAL DISTORTION but with a huge dose of something else... something
new... pure HOLLOW POINTS. The sound is heavy and melodic and youthful. It’s
urgent and exciting with full-on production. Did I mention this CD excites
me?
Disaster Records
www.disasterecords.com
Free improvised jazz... welcome to the fuck you lounge,' your valet tonight is I'll park your car Fuck You!' Hell yeah, I like this place!!! I'm there and I'm ready to get fucked up by the convulsive drums, spastic saxophones and bass jabs. This is Fuck You jazz... vulgar and raw and with ridiculous amounts of style and talent. That's the most 'Fuck You' thing about this. This is super-articulate and dexterous and like a spontaneous confrontation. This is how they exchange blows in Los Angeles jazzland!! This is the Fuck You jazz offensive and it's intense and stirring. You can't handle it? Fuck you! You love it... Fuck you!! You're involved now so either get fucked or get involved in the fucking. The password is 'FUCK YOU! I'll see you there!
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
This rules. Fast and melodic like a mix between DEAD KENNEDYS, RAMONES,
SCREECHING WEASEL and CIRCLE JERKS and they somehow take all these elements
and create a noise that doesn't really sound like anybody else. The way
the vocals interrelate with the music is what defines their style. The vocal
lines and lyrics are unpredictable and stimulating and shape the songs. The
production is the key too here with the vocals always upfront. It's very
energetic and urgent and I bet they put on a killer live show. Fucking cool
stuff, very impressed.
Moodkiller Records, PO Box 11561, Olympia, WA 98508, USA
HOPESICK play fast, layered melodic hardcore with harmonic and forceful vocals interchanging over chaotic and charged music. It's very tight and it's able to do this switching successfully. It's very vigorous and the guitars do some really interesting things when you aren't expecting it which I really like. They have a blend between the older hardcore sound and the newer style and it's a really great mix and on top of that there's a big dose of punk rock which is what really makes it shine. An almost NOFX or SCREECHING WEASEL element. It's really hard to place HOPESICK and that's a great thing.
SOFLA Records
www.soflarecords.com
I’ve joined! This is vicious hardcore punk with great production really
highlighting the force and fullness of THE HORDE’s sound without polishing
it up. This maintains a concrete edge. THE HORDE, as their song suggests
‘mean business’. This is an inexorable, fiery CD and I’m addicted to it. It
makes me sweat with enthusiasm and excitement. This fuckin rules... everything
about it... the music, the production, the artwork. You have to join.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
www.1234GoRecords.com
HOT BOOGIE CHILLUN are evidently a Rock 'N' Roll band but there's so many more aspects to them. This is not some mediocre, churned out rockabilly act. This is much more refined with heavy doses of blues and rock and stylish delivery. Tracks like 'Pure', 'Send Me Your Love' and 'Love and a 45' are just sick rockabilly gems that are so unique. If you're thinking of dice and flames this ain't that at all, but if you're thinking gritty blues rock 'n' roll with flair then hell yeah, that's what HOT BOOGIE CHILLUN delivers.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com
Very intense, metallic hardcore with crazy fast drums!! Loads of double
bass drum pedal and intricate guitar parts and solos. THE HURT PROCESS
display the screaming/singing duality with harmonies that switch between
a hardcore growl and a much more subtle and melodic voice. Plenty of pace
changes but always intense. ‘A Mind With Two Faces’ is the most delicate
track keeping the melody high and the pace slow but straight away things
get crazy and intense again with ‘My Scandinavian Ride’ which has an
almost ska-like guitar part... weird but it kinda works! ‘The Night Before
The Morning After’ is another slower track and again, straight after it
things get crazy again with ‘Delicious 53’ so you can’t relax for too
long! Most tracks, however, are a blend of the wild and the melodic
though.
Golf Records
www.golfrecords.co.uk
5 tracks of raw and disordered hardcore punk and I mean disordered in a
great way. It’s kind of messy but that’s what I go for... fuck all that
production. This retains energy and urgency without being clouded by
over-dubs and effects units... totally DIY. There’s a lot of pace changes and
a lot of the time they remind me of the faster side of the DEAD KENNEDYS
(‘Short Songs’ etc) but always raw and simple and that’s what I’m looking
for from hardcore. I’m sure as shit not interested in the sophisticated,
complex sound that hardcore seems to have evolved into. Absolutely fuck
that, this is what I characterise as hardcore.
Criminal IQ Records
www.criminaliq.com
Wow this is really intense and kind of uncomfortable. You’re not really sure
which direction the music will take. A lot of the tracks start off very
calmly and vague and slowly develop and build up into heavy and distorted
sound landscapes. It’s very obscure and I like that. I like the fact that
you don’t know what is coming next and I like that the whole journey through
this CD is uneasy. It riles you up and mellows you out all the way through.
There’s a lot of organic sounds united with twisted intensity and that’s not
something you come across often... delicate intensity. Get captivated by IRA
and let them take you where they are going. Believe me, you never been there
before!
Go-Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de
I first heard JACK AND THE RIPPERS on a bootleg record of early Swiss punk
called 'Pogo Punks' that I highly recommend you grab if you come across
it. Anyway, they were on this record with 'I Fell Like A Tram' and 'No
Desire' (both tracks from their ultra-rare first single) and along with
the band SPERMA they stole the show on that record and I was hooked on their
sound. So Dirty Faces has already re-released that infamous 'No Desire'
single and now for the first time ever on CD the complete JACK AND THE
RIPPERS discography. This is an amazing piece of punk rock history. This is
raw and simple, melodic punk rock. It's a blend of the ROTTERS, RAMONES,
SEX PISTOLS and the DAMNED... right in the middle of the UK/US
sounds. Perfection! You don't need to be told that early Swiss punk rock
rules, you just need to get these legendary recordings.
Dirty Faces
www.dirtyfaces.de
French-Canadian punk rock in pure style. Straight from the cover this shit
grabs me and as soon as the first note came in... that’s it, I’m hooked. Sung
in French (apart from the STREET TRROPERS cover) but with lyrics printed in
French, Spanish and English in a fantastic booklet. This is antagonistic yet
melodic and that sound alone is what gets me, but then if you couple that
with their excellent and intelligent lyrics that are anti-capitalist,
anti-racist and ant-fascist, this is unbeatable. True solidarity and
revolution and constructive punk rock that kids should learn from. JEUNESSE
APARTRIDE means ‘Stateless Youth’ and in their eponymous song they state ‘We
Are A Stateless Youth, Without Flag, Without Nations, We Are A Stateless
Youth, Rejecting Your Laws And Conditions’ and that just sums this fantastic
band and record up. Join the Stateless Youth and fight!
Fire And Flames Records
www.fireandflames.com
This is fucking excellent... melodic, snotty and abrasive. Great pace and
relentlessly pushing you to go! go! go! This is the type of punk that every
punk rocker loves. It’s just exciting and entertaining and that’s what it
should be about after all... the fucking rock n roll - no whining, no
politics, no machismo just pure, neat punk rock. The Japanese really nail
the shit that they are into without compromise and THE JETBOYS are a
verification of that... pure style right from the cover art, the song titles
and through to the music. Fucking class A punk. It’s just so sincerely fun
and that’s their chief feature that just makes them shine. They have the
brilliant sound of 70s/80s punk rock blended with more contemporary delivery
and shit do they do it well. The 16 tracks just blaze past so
spontaneously. This is fantastic... that’s it... fucking fantastic.
Demolition Derby
www.demderby.com
The JUMP BOYS are totally chaotic. ‘Bondage Baby’ is very urgent and very
hyperactive and kind of anthemic in a very unusual way, and ‘Build A City’ is
completely frantic... I mean outta control chaos with warped guitar sounds and
all. Very youthful and very fun and it reminds me a little of a blend of the NEW
TOWN ANIMALS and the ENDS but way more hectic. I love the thin-production on
here. Nice and raw and I find them really original. Very cool shit indeed.
Rat Face Records
www.ratfacerecords.cjb.net
Old fashioned, frantic hardcore punk rock that’s fast, simple and
antagonistic... the only three ingredients in my recipe book! It’s vulgar and
asinine and that’s how I like my punk rock...I don’t wanna learn anything, I
don’t wanna be impressed by musical talents. I just wanna hear crude music
that incites and provokes me and that’s this record right here. This is raw
and unsophisticated like me but fucking hell does it cause impact. This is
the type of shit that we’re constantly backing at NFT. Everything about it
is basic and unadorned. It’s real and compelling and reminds me of when punk
rock was un-produced and urgent and most importantly sincere.
Poorest Quality Records
www.kermitsfinger.net
KILL YOUR IDOLS represent old-fashioned, real hardcore... fast, tight and aggressive. Not macho and not soulless like the bleak crap that passes for hardcore these days. I mean, the title of this record (apart from being an absolutely brilliant title) is a spot on picture of hardcore today. Here you have KILL YOUR IDOLS who have been playing real, passionate hardcore for pretty much a decade and now you have all these contemporary so-called hardcore bands that just have nothing in common with what true hardcore represents. It's like the scene has been divided and what used to be a tight family is now groups and partitions all with nothing in common. Personally, I don't really get newer hardcore. It started sucking badly towards the end of the 90s and now... yikes. KILL YOU IDOLS is the shot that the hardcore kids need. This is urgent and compelling... what hardcore is supposed to be.
Side One Dummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
Serious rock ‘n’ roll from both bands with KILLING CALIFORNIA being the
heaviest of the two and THE NEEDLES doing more straight-forward rockin’.
KILLING CALIFORNIA remind me of a heavier SMUT PEDDLERS mixed with ZEKE and
later AGNOSTIC FRONT. THE NEEDLES remind me of a blend between the NEW
AMERICAN MOB, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, DISCONTENT and the CANDYSNATCHERS. This
split is loaded with rock ‘n’ roll. With heavy riffs and serious swaggers the
band's different approaches suit each other really well making this a rock
solid and genuinely rockin’ split. Three tracks plus a cover from each band...
MOTORHEAD for KILLING CALIFORNIA and the DEADBOYS for THE NEEDLES. Cool
shit.
Major Amerikan Label
www.majoramerikanlabel.com
Punk rock with a hardcore edge from members of IGNITE, NO FOR AN ANSWER and
JUSTICE LEAGUE. It's antagonistic and changes the pace a lot throughout
but it's always fast! It smacks of the better days of hardcore punk
mixing elements of 7 SECONDS, GORILLA BISCUITS, CIRCLE JERKS, MINOR THREAT
etc. I love the vocal delivery because it's aggressive without shouting
and kind of reminds me of a mix between Civ, Ian Mackaye and Jesse Luscious
and the music is nice and simple... no long intro or breakdowns, no
overblown solos, just old fashioned youthful hardcore. Style-wise it's
kind of in the middle of early '8o's hardcore and mid-'90s
hardcore/punk which is a cool place to be. Definitely my kind of thing
because it's so burning. You can tell that these guys are older punks
because they know exactly how to transport the energy of hardcore without
fucking things up. Younger bands take note.
SOA Records
www.soarecords.it
Whoa... this is weird... beats, loops, acoustic sounds, trippy vocals, ragga
vocals... but I guess I was expecting this to be peculiar right from the
name. It reminds me slightly of SUBLIME in the way that they used to mix up
all kinds of sounds, and not only because there's the reggae/dub element
in this song but because of their approach to mixing all these sounds
together. Also a slight hint of PIL maybe. It's far from what I would
usually listen to but that's because I have a narrow punk rock mind and
that's my problem! But I did enjoy this. It's not boring and it's
very free. I could imagine a full length from KBT being a pretty wild and
boundless experience.
No Style Records
www.kingbiscuittime.co.uk
See, this is the feeling that’s missing for punk rock these days. There’s
no captivating rawness anymore, no basic rock 'n' roll that makes you wanna
shake, no real fun... no fucking style anymore. THE KORPS ‘Hello World!,
originally released in 1978 has got all that by the bucketful. Lots of pace
changes throughout the record, straight-forward rock 'n' roll, new wave,
RAMONES-tinged punk rock, rocky parts... entertaining and youthful and full
of charisma. The amusement has really been lost in punk rock. Bands who
attempt the humorous thing just get way too silly for me because they’re
trying way too hard to be ’funny’, but the KORPS have got their witty edge
and it’s so much fun without being so obvious. They’re not hooked up on
having a strictly ‘punk sound’ either and that’s why they succeed so
well. They've just got it without trying so hard. This just makes you wanna
move and have a great time, and that’s why it rocks so much.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
I was really looking forward to this full-length after hearing the ‘Cut Into
Me’ 7” on Slab-O-Wax (this CD contains two of the tracks from that 7”). The
KRUM BUMS straightforward approach to hardcore punk rock truly is ‘The
Sound’. They fuckin nail it perfectly. It’s belligerent, fast and up-front.
It’s sharp and blunt all at once. There’s no posing here. It’s incisive and
frank. Texas stoutness. They have the perfect blend of the UK ’82 sound
mixed with the later American take on that sound which is a style I really
go for. This kicks the shit out of most of the other bands doing this. This
isn’t boring at all. It’s constantly shaking you and stirring you and if this
style isn’t done properly it can be so damn clichéd and it can bore the shit
out of you with clone band after clone band so take note! This is how to
keep it fresh. They are the first band who truly suit the bandit-bandana
over the mouth with a mohican. They are explosive.
T.S.O.R. Records / Punx Rules Records
www.tsor-records.ch
www.punxrules.com
20-minutes of absolute chaos in the shape of 12 songs. THE KRUNCHIES rule.
They are fast, raw, fun and unpredictable and that should be enough to
secure your interest because real, impulsive punk rock is rare as shit so
get excited because THE KRUNCHIES will blow you away. I loved their 7” on
Criminal IQ last year and couldn’t wait for a full-length and I can tell
you, that’s a pretty rare thing. Excitement in punk rock today? It’s a
fucking infrequent pleasure so grab it when it comes your way!!! Dual male,
female vocals, convulsive punk rock and to add even more radiance they’re a
fucking 3-piece! When a 3-piece comes together like this and creates this
kind of stimulation, agitation and disarray I tell you, there’s nothing
better. Absolute style. Get this ASAP!!!!
Criminal IQ Records
www.criminaliq.com
I fuckin love Russian punk rock and when it’s done like KVEKS do it, it just
blows me away. It’s fast and raw with some great slower parts and even a
couple of Ska tracks in there, but stylish Ska, not American college crap. This
is urgent and real and you can feel the passion. It’s burning with energy
and enthusiasm and I love it. NFT says it a million times but that’s because
there’s no other way to say it... European punk rock rules. This is fantastic.
http://kveks.narod.ru
Resolve is an appropriate title for LAGWAGON's ninth album, recorded
hastily after their original drummer's suicide earlier this year. Resolve
= determination and steadfastness as well as come to a decision all of which
are reflected in this recording. This is a vital time for LAGWAGON and no
doubt a challenging time too. 'Resolve' sees LAGWAGON more stripped
down. Still fast, catchy and melodic but echoing their earlier style more
towards the DESCENDENTS and 7 SECONDS. This is a very exposed album, very
openly dedicated to the late Derrick Plourde and a super-solid record it is.
I think that it's very significant that this album was written in just a
few days after the suicide because that's a time when the band members
needed to be together and absorbed in the situation. A good thing can come
out of bad circumstances and that good thing is 'Resolve'. It's an
everlasting memory and a farewell from the rest of the band. It's
inspiring to see and hear the strength and positivity and the result is a
very impressive record.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
4 tracks of political, anti-war hardcore punk rock in total English style...
fast and chaotic and like a fist to the head. A fist with a serious message
clenched inside it... 'Fuck The Government, 'Bring Me Their Heads', 'Not In My
Name' and 'Open Fire'. This is agitated and wants to fight the ignorance and
ineffectiveness of our government. Stand up and fight with them. This will
fuel you like crazy.
Iron Man Records
www.ironmanrecords.co.uk
This reminds me of so many things. I hear elements of RANCID, OPERATION IVY,
BOUNCING SOULS, MADCAP, THE EXPLOSION, GADJITS and when fragments of these
elements all fuse together LEFT ALONE manage to have a pretty unique sound.
There are occasions where you think ‘I definitely heard this before!' but who
cares? Everyone likes a sound they can identify right? The strongest
characteristic of LEFT ALONE is the vocals. This is what allows them to
break away because I can’t really think of a comparison, and that’s a great
thing. The vocals are very sung and that’s interesting to hear because most
bands in the genre are pretty shouty, shouty, and I guess that’s where the
GADJITS, EXPLOSION and BOUNCING SOULS parallels are coming through but it’s
still very distinctive. The whole record reminds me of an early 90s Lookout
release and that’s fine by me.
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com
Antagonistic, old-fashioned hardcore punk. Burly and tough and fixed on
disorder they kinda remind me of a Beer City band along the lines of the
MOTHERFUCKERS, VERY METAL or 10-96 blended with the chaos of THE CLIFTONS
and the rock n roll approach of THE BASTARDS/ROUGHNECKS and the good old
fashioned hardcore style of AGNOSTIC FRONT. Like I said this is fuckin brawny
and hostile and such a deep breath of the good ol’ days. No whining, no
wimpy fags, no delicate tactics. 17 cuts of destructive punk rock like it
used to be served up before some skinny, noodle-arm, long-fringe pussys took
it over. Take it fuckin back with the LOOSE SKREWS.
The Loose Skrews
www.thelooseskrews.cjb.net
LORENE DRIVE definitely have the characteristic Warped Tour sound but that's not to say that they have a conventional sound. They really alternate within pace and style. It can be pretty full-on and then totally stripped down and the vocal style alternates too and I don't mean this is the common way that many bands employ these methods... LORENE DRIVE really switch things and transform. This is not as obvious as a lot of bands in this genre. At times this reminds me a lot of mid-era FAITH NO MORE blended with METALLICA and the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and an '80s pop sound too so this is far from by-the-numbers and I can guarantee that the kids will go crazy for this. It's way more sophisticated and daring than I was expecting and of course that gains huge plus points because it's so easy these days just to play what's proved to be popular and not stretch or challenge your song writing but LORENE DRIVE certainly have the drive to do this.
Lobster Records
www.lobsterrecords.com
Great fuckin title and artwork that throws you straight in at the deep end
of the squalid and sleazy world of LUCIFER STAR MACHINE. This is some
serious rock n roll. It’s heavy, sordid, loud and fuckin foul-mouthed. It’s
like a strong rock n roll cocktail made up of shots of preceding rousers
like the DEAD BOYS, NEW YORK DOLLS, JAYNE COUNTY, STOOGES, EDDIE COCHRAN,
ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, MISFITS, CRAMPS and all sorts of rogues to make
something that tastes so fuckin strong and vile but you still wanna drink
more! These ingredients are sick and evil but you like that taste!! It’s
punk and it’s glam. Their press-release screams ‘Eat Dust Emo Kids. This Is
The Real Deal’ so take note! This is not for the pussies and the posers.
This is robust and full-on, balls-out rock n roll. That’s it... it’s all about
the rock n roll.
Noisemaker Records
www.noisemaker.de
Melodic Italian streetpunk/Oi! with fantastic guitar lines and nice, full
production. This is LUMPEN’s new line up and it’s the best I have ever heard
them. If LUMPEN were American they would be absolutely huge with every label
after them, but they are European and European punk bands have to fight 1000
times harder then US bands to get half as far as all of the churned-out
American crap. LUMPEN have got it in them to fight. This is serious
passion and force and if they keep on going like this, they will be
unstoppable. The vocals are in Italian and that’s brilliant. We have more
than enough English-singing punk rock bands and it’s time more people
exposed themselves to different punk cultures... learn something!!!
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
Shit man, MAD SIN fucking nailed it on this new album. This is MAD SIN on
absolute top form right from the artwork to the music and the production.
MAD SIN are undeniably a great live band. A wild live band. They generate
utter chaos and impulsiveness and create a very entertaining atmosphere and
that's a rare treat at shows these days I can tell you that. And all that
outrageous pandemonium runs right through this release, it's fucking
fierce!! Bands that are great both on record and on stage are a real
scarcity. Most shows I got to these days are just so middle-of-the-road,
bands just bang the songs out and it's time to go home. No effort, no
show. What happened? MAD SIN put on a proper show and it's exciting and
enjoyable so make an effort to catch them when they play in your town and
witness an authentic rock 'n' roll show.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
I always look forward to MAD SIN coming over to play. Their shows fuckin
smoke and are so much fun. If they are playing near you, you gotta go check
them out... they’ll fuck you right up! Psychobilly molestation!!! This CD
collection captures the early MAD SIN from 1988-1993 and gathers the material
that paved the way to MADSIN becoming one of the most popular Psychobilly
bands in the world. They got it right... they’re fucked up, sleazy, fun,
scary, creepy, dirty, violent, loud and fuckin unpredictable and that’s why
they’re on fire. Just go and see them live and you’ll get hooked on their
Psycho drug. They play real Psychobilly not the shit that passes for that
these days. This is the old-fashioned stuff. Remember... you gotta catch them
live if you can!!!
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
Wow, this I like. Sexy and vicious, highly distorted punk rock. More along
the lines of an extra-rancorous W.I.N.K.S. or spiteful ZODIAC KILLERS than
the CIVET-type sound. This is straightforward, venomously sexy, raw punk
rock. This just does it for me straight away. The songwriting has the perfect
balance or hostility, rawness, threat and temptation and the varying paces
work really well too. Very in control of their sound and it never comes
across as forced or over-the-top. They just nail the thing flawlessly for
me. The presentation too... I’m highly impressed by everything here. I really
like these perilous girls. They sure as shit handled me and they won’t let
go.
Criminal IQ Records
www.criminaliq.com
For some reason I was expecting this band to sound like the SUNDAYS or the
SMITHS and I don’t know where I would have got that from but it’s way
off. For one, it’s female fronted which I wasn’t expecting and secondly, it’s
very vigorous and way more along the lines of US indie/alternative than UK
indie. It’s got some serious clout and is sometimes reminiscent of HOLE, BABES
IN TOYLAND or THE DISTILLERS. Sometimes there’s a bit of a NIRVANA, SMASHING
PUMPKINS edge, but I gotta say that I was really pleasantly surprised that
this was dynamic rather than tormented and angst-ridden. It’s funny that I
was so off-track.
Furry Tongue Records
www.furrytonguerecords.com
From the cover and title of this record I was expecting this band to sound
like FUGAZI or some kind of later Dischord band, but shit was I wrong and
thank God because I don’t got the patience for that ‘sophisticated’ shit. I
like my music fast and erratic and that’s what MHZ deliver.... unpredictable
and chaotic electro new wave that shakes you and unsettles you beautifully!
I don’t wanna think, I wanna pulsate!!! Think the INFECTIONS, RIP OFFS,
TYRADES, LE SHOK, DEVO, MINUTEMEN, ZODIAC KILLERS etc but combined with a
dose of pure, sharp confusion. This record collects all of MHZ (megahertz)
recordings from 2000/1 and fuck are they frantic... unstoppable and
astonishing. Check out some of the killer song titles... ‘.Com On’, ‘Carry Thy
Coffin Slowly’, ‘Remember DVD?’, ‘Serial Project #1’. They have this
science-fiction, computerized edge to their hectic fuzz and boy do they
employ it well. All of a sudden the cover and title make perfect sense.
Highly recommended. You need this badly.
Demolition Derby
www.demderby.com
This is the most enthusiastic and powerful MILLENCOLIN release I have heard.
They have really developed their sound over the years. They still maintain a
lot of melody but this time around with a lot more force behind it and
fantastic production too, very full. I have a lot of respect for these guys
because they take the very familiar American melodic punk sound that they
grew up with and put a very unique twist on it. You can hear that they
believe in what they are doing and that they work hard and it's no wonder
that their fan-base keeps growing and growing. To gain respect you cannot
simply copycat successful bands or sounds or people will see right through
you, and that's exactly what MILLENCOLIN don't do which is why they are so
admired. This is what kids should be listening to and forget about all of
the Californian clone rubbish.
Burning Heart Records
www.burningheart.com
MILLIONAIRE... you know the drill. Chaotic and confused sounds, distorted and
sinister electronic and live layers with a shitload going on in each song.
The title track gets really fucked up after the chorus with warped, slicing
guitars and ominous vocals. MILLIONAIRE actually remind me of APHEX TWIN
merged with the edgy punk rock styles of TWISTED CHARM and THE OBJECTS. The
remix of the title track is totally bursting and convulsive and really
messed up like a fucked up BECK. There is no real definition of
MILLIONAIRE. You just gotta go with it and see what happens.
Pias Recordings
www.pias.com
Fantastic title and incredibly appropriate for MILLIONAIRE as their frenzied
sound will both fascinate and manipulate you. The whole artwork furthers
this. Distorted, fuzzy, heavy and ominous mixing live instruments with
electronic sounds MILLIONAIRE have created a distinctive rock Molotov
that's intense and layered. They have hints of that mid-punk American
sound of bands like SONIC YOUTH, MUDHONEY, early NIRVANA tangled with fresh
noise and heavy, twisted instrumental slabs all capped of with Josh
Homme's production making this a mammoth noise fest that you gotta slip
into. Slide through the layers and let the fuzzy vocals guide you. You
become like a convulsive zombie! MILLIONAIRE is the snake that bites its own
tail... taste the Paradisiac.
Pias Recordings
www.pias.com
This double A-side single produced by Josh Homme overflows with
MILLIONAIRE’s distinctive heavy yet melodic, frenzied yet refined
methodology. There’s so much going on in these songs... some serious writing
and arranging and the layers build up and up and get excitingly confusing
and unruly, and you got no choice but to go with it. It’s got that totally
contemporary yet old sound which is really hard to place, but that’s what’s
so good about it. It’s an all round bewildering experience.
Pias Recordings
www.pias.com
This is ERIK PETERSEN of THE ORPHANS acoustic project and this CD presents 5 tracks of eerie and unprocessed folk that reminds me of a mix between SHANE MACGOWAN and SHOULDERS, both of which I am a huge fan, and then doused in punk rock roughness. The song writing and lyrics are fantastic and 'Roll Me Through The Gates of Hell' is a fucking pearl. I'm sorry there's only 5 songs on here. I hope there's a full-length in the works because this ain't enough.
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com
Fast, melodic and obnoxious punk rock in the vein of early SCREECHING
WEASEL, THE NOBODYS, THE QUEERS or a more melodic QUINCY PUNX combined with
a horror edge. The band logo is written on a sanitary towel... I dig that!! It’s
amusing and it’s fun but all done in the right way with the right amount of
snottiness and bite so it still packs a fuckin punch. I dig this.
Bony Orbit Records / Pom Pom Records
www.themonistats.com
I like this band a lot and was really happy that they were included on last year's Disaster 'Old Skars' compilation but I just can't get with the band name. They sound cool, look cool but the name sucks but hey, It's just a name and it's better to sound good rather than just having a cool name. This is fast and aggressive heavily 1980's UK-influenced hardcore punk rock. Really vicious musically and lyrically dealing with politics and vehemence and that's what you want from this genre... hate fuel, no love shit, just antagonism. This is an assault of a record. It's really full-on from start to finish and I can see these guys getting pretty big in the future-,kind of like what happened with the UNSEEN. I always find the Californian variety of this genre very different to the rest of America and I think I prefer it. The presentation of this record is so great and Charged always have cool looking vinyl and this one's 2-tone yellow and red. A striking record for sure.
Charged Records
www.chargedrecords.com
Fuck yes, Los Angeles thrash that will simply fuck you up and disfigure you
and just keeps going! There is a huge punk rock presence merged with the
frenzied thrash noise so the result is a permutation of DISCHARGE, ASSHOLE
PARADE, LOS CRUDOS, M.D.C., QUINCY PUNX, DISCLOSE, EXPLOITED, GERMS etc to
make this a wild and outrageous slab of vinyl... clear vinyl. This is the
energy-explosion the kids need to wake up!!!!!! I am looking so forward to
their full-length. If 4 tracks fucks you up this much get ready for a whole
records worth!!!! Be ready to absorb the chaos!
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
M.O.T.O. play super-melodic, fun punk rock that reminds me a bit of PANSY
DIVISION and a more melodic SLOPPY SECONDS and a touch of the MANGES. The
song titles are great, check some of these out: ‘Getting It Up For Physics’,
‘Flipping You Off With Every Finger On My Hand’, ‘Let’s Nail It To The
Moon’, ‘Spend The Night On Me’, ‘All-Night Vivarin Jag’, ‘Girl Girl
Inhale’…and the band member names are hilarious too: Paul Caporino Of The
Apes, Sir Dennis Eton Spagg, Laurence Museum Of Death, Timothy Chevy Van
Ford and Garret The Pride Of Antioch Hammond who supplies the ‘keyboard
sounds at crucial momnets’. I really, really enjoyed this and to be honest I
didn’t have a clue what to expect from this album through the presentation
but I thought it would be a lot darker than it is- but I’m glad it’s not!
Just cool, melodic punk rock- simple and fun which I have a lot of time for
when it’s done well because pop-punk has sure changed since the days of the
characteristic Lookout! sound and M.O.T.O. are full of that magnetism that I
was very attached to when I was growing up so a definite thumbs up fpr this
CD with every thumb on my hand.
Criminal IQ Records
www.criminaliq.com
There's 7 people in MR. SHIRAZ (albeit that one of them just dances and sings backing vocals)... they deliver quite the confusion! There's no true direction for these guys and I don't mean that they don't know what they are doing, I mean that they are doing so much. They fuse all kinds of shit together. Sometimes it reminds me a bit of SOCIAL DISTROTION with horns, a touch of the DWARVES, FAITH NO MORE for sure (especially vocally), FISHBONE, SUBLIME, LIVING END, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, STRAY CATS, some metallic riffs, some straight rock, some reggae/ska, some pop, some funk... it's all fucked up but MR. SHIRAZ manage to somehow organise their billion influences and shape the chaos. It's like the past 30 years of rock 'n' roll cut up and pasted back together in another order and then ripped up again and glued back together... and maybe once more. I really like the parts with the sinister brass where it's all minor and kind of off-key, kinda creepy mariachi. It's fucking pandemonium and it's brimming with youth and energy.
10 Past 10 Records
I'm not sure what to make of MURDOCK. In a way I really like them because
they remind me of when I was kid listening to GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, MOTLEY
CRUE, LA GUNS and AEROSMITH and then I think that I stopped listening to
that shit because it sucked so you can see the bind I'm in. See, I fucking
hate the DARKNESS and got no time for shit like that at all but I'm drawn
to MURDOCK in a strange way. They really remind me of early GUNS N' ROSES
and that's the one band from my childhood metal days that I still got a
bit of a weak spot for, like if they're on the jukebox I might choose them
or I might turn the radio up if they're on and there are elements of this
musically and vocally that take me straight back. It's thick and heavy but
it's pretty stripped-down at the same time, like they aren't crazy on
the solos and they definitely have that straight rock 'n' roll approach
that GN'R had that sometimes verged on punk rock. So what I'm trying to
say is that I've been listening to this a lot recently, and I mean a lot
and I don't want to admit that I think I like metal again. Damn you
MURDOCK!!
The Local Cannery Recording Company
www.thelocalcannery.com
If you haven't seen MURPHY'S LAW live yet it's imperative that you do. They
don't come over to Europe all that often but whenever they do, I'm excited
as hell from the moment I know they're coming. They are like no other
band especially hardcore bands... they are pure fun. Actually, make that FUN.
It's like you're in a room with a bunch of close friends who just wanna
play music they like, drink, smoke and fuck around... it's the best time. I
have so much respect for MURPHY'S LAW because hardcore has changed
throughout the years and the fun has really been watered down and the whole
scene has turned so serious but they always stuck two fingers up at that and
even when the whole SXE thing was in full swing MURPHY'S LAW were there with
their 'Green Bud', 'Beer', 'Crucial Bar-B-Q', 'Bong Song' etc... a huge 'fuck
you' to all the serious posers. This DVD captures MURPHY'S LAW in full
effect... the chaos and the fun, the smoke and the silliness... fucking
fantastic. The coolest thing is that MURPHY'S LAW are still tough guys
without having to pose around and act macho. The emphasis is always on the
good time. Jimmy is just so in control of the crowd and the band is so
confident that the whole experience is a pleasure to watch and be a part of.
This 18 song set from New York City's Continental and Rex' Bar in
Pennsylvania throws you straight into the centre of the revved up band and
crowd with one single objective... FUN, plus there's a bunch of bonus tracks
from other shows and Jimmy Gestapo's pirate birthday bash so get some
beers, some smokes and some friends round and have a blast with MURPHY'S
LAW.
Music Video Distributors
www.mvdb2b.com
Pirate dissidents from Australia making some gypsy noise and that's what we're about at NFT! Crusty scums with accordions and fiddles and raw energy - we back this!! You get so many bands jumping on the whole 'pirate punk' ship (ha ha) who just don't get it at all... MUTINY get it! They get it like crazy. There's nothing trendy or cool about this... this is real enthusiasm. It's gritty, rough pirate folk. This recording was very hard to get a hold of until Fistolo reissued it on CD so do yourself a favour and get this because Fistolo have done you a huge favour in getting this re-released.
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com
This is fucked up sounding. It's distorted and gritty and dirty but it's
not straight forward Rip Off style garage fuzz which is what I was
expecting. It's like THE STOOGES, PIL, THE OBJECTS, HAPPY MONDAYS, MC5, THE
CRIPPLES and a huge dose of more chaos. It's wondefully random but
familiar. I wasn't expecting this at all and I'm really pleasantly surprised.
It's got a real 70's element but it's totally contemporary too which is a
weird combination and impressive that they managed to create a sound like
this... it's so dirty, it's so glam and it's so interesting and I just can't
describe it! You just gotta hear it. It's in no category!
Fume Recordings / Surface To Air Records
www.narcomusic.co.uk
Ambiguous and interesting Swedish indie/rock that creates it’s own path
through elusive notes and vague lyrics which crafts a fascinating effect.
The whole thing, including the cover art, presentation, photography and
music kinda reminds me of a psychiatric evaluation!! The cover is totally
minimal with heavy ink, non-uniform splodgy text, same on the back and the
lyric pages too. There’s also one of those ink-blob prints in there that
you’re supposed to say what you see and then there’s 2 very similar
photographs of the band in spring beds with no mattresses outdoors... see what
I’m saying!? But I really love the feel this record has... It’s so different
and appealing. Check out some of their lyrics... on ‘Home Made Phone’, ‘I will
call you on my home made phone, if you pick up please tell me to leave you
alone’ and on ‘Cancer’, ‘So you don’t even have to answer why all the little
kids are playing everyday despite their cancer’ and ‘Personal Elvis’, ‘I
could shrink my ears and all my musical fears we could celebrate our spite,
‘cause I know what’s on you mind go ahead and touch me ‘cause I’m just fine
and I know that I’m like Han if you like I’ll change my name to Sherikan
‘casue with Leia it’s always wrong’. There’s a really nice feel to their
songs and the way the words converge with the music really works. I like
this a lot. It’s very different to what I usually listen to but it’s grabbed
me and I’ll be spinning this for a long while.
Go Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de
The NEW YORK REL-X have a real gift of being able to perfectly blend the
early English punk rock sound with the more contemporary American sound and
even adding the slightest touch of hardcore in there. The combination is
perfect and that's why this record sounds so fresh. It's very easy to
imitate the early punk rock sound, especially the UK sound and that grows
stale very fast but that's not the case with the NEW YORK REL-X at all.
Erika's vocals are fantastic as usual and I always like to hear a female
front woman and I still think that there aren't enough of them! Erika's
vocals are definitely a factor in the freshness of the sound. The NEW
YORK REL-X are tough and sexy, fast and fun and vigorous. This is the shape
of contemporary punk rock.
Dirty Faces Schallplatten
www.dirtyfaces.de
Recently it’s been getting pretty hard for me to get excited about new bands
and releases because everything seems so boring these days, but the NEW YORK
RIFLES (from Portland, Oregon) really did blow me away. This is the jab I
needed and thank God because I was getting pretty lethargic about
everything. This smacks of young insurgence. It’s melodic, abrasive and it’s
got all the magic of the early punk sounds that blew me away when I was a
teenager. This is better than any skin cream, exercise or surgery... I
instantly feel ten years younger!! This really rocks and I know that it’s
easy to say that but in the true sense of the word... this honestly ROCKS.
Think the magnetism of X, abrasive B-52’s, STRANGLERS, SLITS, THE
UNDERTONES, early CURE, RAMONES, PRIMITIVES... all mixed up so that flashes
of resemblances are audible but the concoction created is totally
original. At times they are ultra-vague and at times full-blown rocking with
male/female vocals. This just rules. It’s fresh and original and full of
the sparkle that I’ve been missing for a long time.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com
First off... love the name! You know, I've always said that for the best stuff, whether it be punk rock, skateboarding, BMXing or whatever, you gotta check out Europe. We're the best. We got less but we outshine all the American balls. Check this DVD out and you'll see what I mean. This is raw and magnificent and it maintains that outcast element that is so important. You watch all these cheesy American BMXers in the sunlight and on the beaches and who cares? This is the dirty side that I'm all about. The rogue side that's totally unpredictable and wild and backed by a full-on punk rock soundtrack. This is what we're all about... fierce trials, rough streets and homemade ramps with a huge dose of UK grit.
4130 Publishing
www.4130.com
This release comprises a 13 track studio album and a 14 track live recording
from Germany's ska punx NO RESPECT and that means traditional European
2-tone brass sounds NOT the American college crap. It's a real pity that
ska/punk has got that 'silly / comedy' label now because of all that
childish US shit that the kids lap up because it used to carry a message
and, more often than not, a positive message and that's what NO RESPECT
still do. It's obvious that nothing had changed for them as the scene has
transformed into a farce and that's great to see and hear. It's so
unfortunate that the scene got polluted with clowns and dickheads but it
makes you appreciate it a hundred times more when you hear a real ska/punk
band like NO RESPECT, and I really wish the kids would get with this and
throw all those comedy records away. This is just straightforward punk rock
and ska, guitars and brass done the right way by a band that has been around
for 20 years, not some dicks that have been around for 20 minutes before
they got signed. This is real ska/punk.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
THE OGGS are very vague and organic and you have to allow the sound to flow
and develop in its own time. The OGGS can flood through heavier chords and
intense instrumental parts into subtle and formless melodies with delicate
vocals but the marriage works. It’s all unpretentiously ambiguous. You have
to permit the sound to wash over you and just experience this record. It's
kind of like a session of therapy so that title suits the release
perfectly because it’s deep and relaxing and really is an experience and
it’s really quite intimate because there’s just two members, so you can feel
quite personal. THE OGGS are sophisticatedly elusive, arty and mysterious
and not only through their music but their presentation, artwork and
photography and it all really works for me.
Valley Of 10,000 Smokes
www.10000smokes.com
This is the sound that I yearn for…the early Lookout! sound. Raw and full of
energy. The sound of OPERATION IVY, CRIMPSHRINE, CLEVELAND BOUND DEATH
SENTENCE, PINHEAD GUNPOWDER, REDMOND SHOOTING STARS, J CHURCH, EVEN IN
BLACKOUTS, MTX, PANSY DIVUSION…you know the sound I talking about right? All
these mentioned bands sounds different to each other but the essence and
soul of their sound is the same and that’s what I’m talking about here with
ONION FLAVORED RINGS. There are members of CRIMPSHRINE, SHOTWELL and
FUNYONS among others so no surprise really that they capture that
exceptional sound. Great harmonies, melodic and poppy folky punk rock with
hints of AGAINST ME! and RUMBLESEAT too…I really dig this and it shoots me
straight back 15 years to when Lookout! meant something to me and this sound
was what I lived for. Get this and get their ‘Used To It’ album too.
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
The second full-length from OPPRESSED LOGIC so you know what’s in store -
vigorous, unprocessed punk/hardcore with the classic Beer City hallmark
(this album was released by Beer City on vinyl). This is what we’re always
raving about at NFT. Keep it straightforward with a huge dose of fervour and
you got us excited! This is the sound of passion. This sound cannot be
faked. This rattles cages and ruffles feathers and causes controversy and
that’s exhilarating. There’s not much else to say about this other than it's a
fucking great record and get it. There’s a bunch of bonus stuff on this CD
including some tracks from their split with FANG and an ILL REPUTE
cover. Exciting stuff. Like I said before, fucking great record, get it.
Industrial Strength Records
www.industrialstrengthrec.com
For those of you who don’t know OPPRESSED LOGIC play raw, frantic old
fashioned hardcore punk and that’s the fuckin sound that keeps me going. This
is the characteristic Beer City sound that I crave... urgent, energetic and
highly dynamic through it’s simplicity... this is THE sound for me. This CD
collects early OPPRESSED LOGIC in the form of their first 7” ‘PC Full Of
Shit’ (Beer City), their first full-length ‘Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed’
(Beer City), the split with FANG, some alternate versions of old tracks,
some previously unreleased cuts and some live stuff too presenting 38
tracks of early OPPRESSED LOGIC from ’94-’98 that will just drive you and
shake you, so do yourself a favour and don’t miss out on this slice of
sincere, old fashioned hardcore punk.
Burnt Ramen Records
www.burntramen.com
21-track ORPHANS discography remixed and re-mastered from the mid 1990's. This is fucking great. It's raw, it's urgent and youthful and so sincere. It's passionate and chaotic and is what kids these days need to hear. This collection also includes demo tracks, live tracks and 4 new acoustic versions of old songs. Very impressive stuff that is the exact direction we follow. I can't fault stuff like this... they had everything right. Kids... please get this!!!!
Fistolo Records
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com
Now, this record I was really looking forward to since being blown away by
their track on the last ‘Give ‘Em The Boot’ comp and I’m glad to say that
through their simplicity and straight-forward punk rock they delivered well.
It’s so honest-sounding and clear-cut that you can’t help but like it. The
first 4 opening tracks are just so strong that you’re hooked right from
the get go. I can hear a lot of bands like the DISTRICT, PUBLIC TOYS,
BUZZCOCKS, THE CLASH and the DAMNED in here along with the very American
punk rock sounds of RANCID, NOFX, SOCIAL DISTORTION and BAD RELIGION, and I’m
really happy to say that the English accent is genuine!! It's reminiscent of
CAPTAIN SENSIBLE in delivery which I’m totally cool with and at times even
ROTTEN-esque. It’s fun, it’s sincere, it’s eager and it’s youthful party
punk rock (all 4 members are teenagers) and it really works for me. I’m
usually dubious of young punk rocks bands wondering if they’re just copying
the old timers still in the scene, but that’s not what’s going on here. The
vocals are really what tips it over the edge for me because you just don’t
hear vocals like this very often at all, and not any band can do this
successfully. This really works for me and I’m really happy that they kept
it so simple but still so interesting.
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com
This reminds me a lot of an SST band. It’s like the MINUTEMEN and BLACK FLAG
but with the contemporary edge of the HOT SNAKES. It’s extremely turbulent
and frenzied but extremely well-played and delivered. It’s arty, mysterious
and vague but very forceful and brings me right back to a time when punk
rock was really free and inventive. Creating huge impact through rawness.
Radio Is Down
www.radioisdown.com
Fast and frenzied but always maintaining a strong melody and glued together with some fantastic production that allows the listener to hear all the separate elements coming together and not disintegrating into a muddy mess. At times there's a hint of NOFX especially in the guitar chords and progressions but then all of a sudden the whole composition is transformed and that likeness disappears completely into a much more delicate and layered arrangement with the vocals really shaping the song. At times it's really heavy musicall, almost metallic but still with very prominent vocals directing the song. Very well written and played but the vocals are what really sets this off for me.
Lobster Records
www.lobsterrecords.com
Straight away this captures me. Fantastic DIY sleeve and presentation...
fuckin great. 25 tracks plus 6 bonus tracks of pure experimental chaos...
electronic sounds, live instruments, samples, sound-clips. This is a weird
experience!! It’s punk, it’s dancey, it’s funky, it’s jazzy, it’s
industrial, it’s folky but above all it’s pure pandemonium!! It’s so
original and free and you just have to let it take you wherever it’s
going. It’s quite a journey but as long as you have your passporte you’ll
be just fine!
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com
This is a special DVD-box presentation double CD set of Italy's legendary
hardcore punks PEGGIO PUNX. One CD is a 40-track discography containing the
tracks from their 4 EP's, 'Disastro Sonoro', 'La Citta E
Quieta Ombre Parlano', 'Ci Stanno Uccidendo Al Suono Della Nostra
Musica' and 'Cattivi Maestri' and another 13 demo tracks from
1981/'82/'83 tapes. The second CD is a live collection from shows in
Italy between 1982 and 1989 that comprises of 5 shows and 36 tracks so this
is a hell of a comprehensive package here. PEGGIO PUNX are fast, raw and
urgent with intelligent lyrics that are political, insightful and frank.
This is the lo-fi sound that I dream about at night. I love this rawness
and determination. Over-production killed punk rock and hardcore and turned
it into the travesty that it is today. Get with the past! To make this
release even more complete the DVD-sized booklet contains lyrics both in
Italian and English, photos, flyers, zine extracts, an interview and a
discography. Over two and a half hours of real, urgent hardcore punk
rock... they don't make 'em like this anymore so get yerself a piece of
history. Great artwork, great presentation and great band.
SOA Records
www.soarecords.it
These are the original members of Brazilian Sao Paolo hardcore legends RATOS DE PORAO so you know what to expect!! Yeah, it's gonna be fast and brutal and yeah it's gonna knock you out. PERIFERIA S.A. has more of a punk rock edge merged with that trademark hardcore with loads and loads of guitars, group vocals, political lyrics and outright chaos. Tracks like 'Eles', 'A Farsa Do Entretenimento' and 'Peao/Tostao' are classic raging hardcore whereas songs like 'Devemos Protestar', 'Nao Sei', 'Padre Multimidia' and 'Destruicao' have much more of a punk element and the mix of the two works really well for me. I love Brazilian hardcore so I'm down with this shit straightaway but preconceived notions aside this rules. There's a couple of extra bonus points with this release too. Three of the songs included on here were written in 1982 and originally intended for RATOS DE PORAO and there's two covers as well, 'Reality' by CHRON GEN and 'Wild Weekend' by the ZEROS... a real highlight of 2005.
Dirty Faces Records
www.dirtyfaces.de
Great record title and cover... PETER PAN SPEEDROCK are back to fuck shit up
with their energetic rough, gritty and heavy rock 'n' roll a'la MOTORHEAD,
ZEKE, TURBONEGRO, ANTiSEEN etc. This is fucking filthy and dangerous and
won’t let you sit still. This demands your attention and shakes and beats
you like a fucking hostage! There’s no negotiating! You're here for the
long-haul!!!! PETER PAN SPEEDROCK just got all the ingredients and the
right doses to make this as explosive as it is... it’s fucking unstoppable.
It’s aggressive and fun and everything about rock 'n' roll. It’s music to
party to, to fuck shit up to, to drink to, to get arrested to, to fuck to
and to fuck yourself up to. So, get this record and go do all those things
and you’ll never look back!!!!
Suburban Records / BitzCore Records
www.suburban.nl /
www.bitzcore.de
I can’t get enough of this guy... it’s funny. He’s hitting mid 40s and he’s
got more get-up-and-go than all the new young punk bands. This is so
energetic and earnest, it’s like the guy has lived so fast that his body has
aged but his head is still 18!!!! What the fuck is the matter with punk kids
today?!! Why are they so whiny? Where’s the vigour? It’s all so boring and
apathetic and the kids really need a dose of real punk spirit and Duane is
the master of that. Choose any of his bands and get with it. Duane’s always
Duane and he’s always gonna be but all his projects are different. This
doesn’t sound like the BOMBS or the HUNNS or the FUCK DOLLS. I’m sure a lot
of people will say that it does and even if they think it does, who gives a
fuck? Those bands all kill. Like the BOMBS are out-and-out 1977 punx, the
HUNNS are rogue pirates, the GUNFIGHT are rock n roll cowboys. 6 of the
bastards!! Duane’s bands are never skimpy on the back-ups so you can imagine
the clamour this bunch cause!! It’s like the guy can’t form enough bands to
play what’s pouring outta him and that’s fine by me. If he starts another 10
bands I say bring it on!! I love the guy and truly back him because he stays
so true to the spirit of real punk rock and skateboarding and delivers
such high-quality material that even if I hated him I would have to love his
music. I mean, ‘Hell Mary’... what an intro, what a vocal line, what a
chorus... ’Blow My Brains’, ‘Smoke ‘Em’, ‘War With You’ and the list goes on
and on and in pure style. You don’t need to be told that this rules.
Disaster Records
www.disasterecords.com
This is getting crazy... another DP project and yet again it totally rules. This
guy is a punk rock genius fountain! He's unstoppable. A lot of people say
that the HUNNS sounds like the BOMBS but I don't know where their ears are
at, and I'm sure people will say that the GUNFIGHT sounds like both of them
but it doesn't. For the DP connoisseurs, you will hear the diversity and
subtleties and this will blow you away. A six-piece punk rock force with the
most dominant back-ups in the scene!! I'm looking so forward to the
full-length later this month and I honestly can't remember the last time I
was this excited about a band. This is pure, exciting punk rock and just goes
to prove, yet again, that the youth don't know shit!
Disaster Records
www.disasterecords.com
I've been hearing a lot about PHINIUS GAGE recently and was eager to hear
what all the excitement was about. I have to say that I was surprised
because I was expecting some tortured emo-type deal, but what I found was
great paced elaborate punk rock with a lot of flair. A lot happens in these
songs... there's some serious writing going on here. There's pace changes,
layers, style changes, heaviness, intricaty, subtleness and it's very
stylish in total English fashion. Although there is obviously a huge
American influence (which is pretty much inescapable in all punk rock today),
PHINIUS GAGE maintain a staunch English approach and attitude and that's
great. This is not wimpy or whiny at all. It reminds me of a mixture of
STRUNG OUT and SNUFF.
Deck Cheese Records
www.deckcheese.com
PITCH BLACK have a really interesting sound that's like punk mixed with a huge dose of big riff rock and then something else that's hard to place, and it's no wonder because this band contains ex-members of SCREW 32 whom I used to love. They truly have a huge element of their sound in here and also the NERVE AGENTS who are interesting as hell, so you know this rocks for sure, and is anything but everyday, mundane punk rock. PITCH BLACK push the boundaries of the typical sound and create something much fuller and more assorted and the progressions and production are great. This is a direction that I'd like to see more bands take - the interesting route through song-writing and delivery rather than just churning out the first thing that comes to their heads.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
Fantastic band name, fantastic alum title and amazing artwork throughout this release. Now, the music = complete chaos, 100% disorder! Stunning confusion and extreme upheaval. These guys can play like crazy. There's a wonderful discomfort to the whole sound... an edgy panic and real 'fuck you' attitude which is perfect for a scum like me. THE PLOT is like a confrontational piece of art that society wishes was never painted. They are so vulgar and free and that will scare people who don't get it. It's arty and it's tough and that's a mix you don't get too often. Usually arty means a bit wimpy. There's nothing that creates more impact and anxiety than tough art! You need to get this... this is what it's all a fucking bout.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
These guys were one of the main highlights of the ‘Vancouver Complication’
compilation. Their sound is a blend of pop melody, punk enjoyment and
freedom and straight-out rock ‘n’ roll. They remind me a bit of the DICKIES,
20/20 and CHEAP TRICK in that way. Just great music that’s impossible not to
like. The production is perfect and I can be a bit fussy with how I like
keyboards produced in punk rock because sometimes they can steal the focus
of the music, but not here! This is perfect! This album was originally
released in 1980 - that’s 26 years ago and it sounds so fresh it’s unreal.
This is the sound that a lot of bands are going for these days but you
simply cannot beat an original. This is totally natural sounding whereas a
lot of contemporary bands doing this style can sound a little contrived, again,
especially with the keys, but the POINTED STICKS have the ideal
balance. This re-issue comes with 4 extra bonus tracks too. I love the name,
the music, the artwork and the production. This is a brilliant record.
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com
Four years in the making the new PROPAGANDHI record is here, so what took so
long? Well, PROPAGANDHI aren't your average band and never were. They
certainly aren't about churning out songs / records for the sake of it, or
for the money or even for the fans. They are about significance and belief
and sculpting their music to distribute their politics and message in their
proficient '80s-drenched hardcore punk. PROPAGANHDI have been thrashing
for almost 20 years and they are fucking serious about their politics and
their punk rock which is why when they take over 4 years to record and
release a new record it's no surprise. There aren't many bands these days
that are so dedicated or passionate and compared to the 1980's political
punk / hardcore is thin on the ground so you have to grab a band like
PROPAGANDHI and sink your teeth in becasue they are a rarity these days. Too
many bands just seem to churn out the same boring, formulated shit becasue
it sells, is easy and the kids like it. That's all fair enough I guess,
but I get excited about bands that push themselves and prove themselves.
Bands that don't fade. This is full of that early punk rock magic... the
magic I was lucky enough to have plenty of when I was a teenager, so kids
listen up and don't miss out on this, 'Potemkin City Limits' is the
PROPAGANDHI masterpiece.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
No matter what your opinion is on ska-punk you’ve never heard it done like
PUBLIC ACCESS do it. They mix punk, hardcore and ska together and the result
reminds me of a cocktail of the NERVE AGENTS, LEFTOVER CRACK, AGNOSTIC
FRONT, THE FRISK, NY CITIZENS, BAD RELIGION, PENNYWISE, SUICIDE MACHINES,
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS... see what I’m saying!? This ain’t no usual breed of
ska-punk. It’s more ska-hardcore but with a menacing edge. This sure ain’t
whiny, college shit! This is heavy and energetic and maybe that’s because
they come from New York that they keep it swift and tough and that’s a
direction that really works for me.
Pocketful Of Change
www.pocketfulofchange.com
This is Don Letts’ movie of the history of punk rock and it’s by far the
most extensive and complete documentary I have ever seen on the topic. This
starts at the Rock N Roll roots that would spark the punk rock movement
decades on... the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley and
through onto the Velvet Underground/Nico/Warhol, the MC5 and the Stooges,
the Sonics, ? and the Mysterions and the Count. This is the story of the
pre-punk attitudes and sounds developing into what became the full-blown
punk rock movement of the mid/late ’70s and further progressed into what we
now call punk rock. It’s sure been a fucked up and twisted journey since
it’s inception and Letts documents all that with the assistance of pioneers
and leaders including Tommy Ramone, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Jello Biafra,
Henry Rollins, Captain Sensible, Siouxsie Sioux, James Chance, Wayne Kramer,
Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Pete Shelly, Roger Miret, Thurston Moore, Dick
Manitoba, Glenn Branca, John Cale, Pat Smear, Sylvain Sylvain, David
Johansen and loads more. An absolutely star-studded cast all giving
first-hand reports. The sequence of this documentary is chronological and
clear-cut and if they taught punk rock in school this would be the film they
would use. It would be part of the syllabus it’s that all-inclusive. Usually
punk rock documentaries focus either too much on the English side of things
or too much on the American side of things but Letts really documents this
history well and that’s because it’s his history. He incorporates the Clash,
Bad Brains, Black Flag, The Damned, Rancid, Sex Pistols, Generation X, The
Germs, Green Day, Stooges, New York Dolls, Buzzcocks, Agnostic Front, PIL,
Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Screamers, Exploited, Ramones, Patti Smith, Minor
Threat and the list goes on and on. Letts has been as wide-ranging as he
possibly can be without making this a 5-hour movie! It’s a real pleasure to
watch this movie... all the legends, all the stories.... and it doesn’t stop
there, The special features include family trees of bands including The
Clash, 101ers, Dead Boys, The Damned, The Boys, Generation, London SS and
loads more as well as an update of what all the guests in the movie are up
to these days and a whole load who aren’t in the movie too. A fucking great
package that’s an essential purchase for every punk rocker young or old but
especially for the young kids so that they can see where the roots of
today’s so-called ‘punk’ come from, and to witness the development from a time
when punk rock was dangerous to a time when it’s accepted from every
shopping mall to every TV station, radio station. Witness the REAL punk
attitude.
Fremantle Media
www.fremantlehomeentertainment.com
I am really surprised that this is English. It’s raw hardcore punk with a
very American (California) approach and style and the fact that I would
totally think this was American is a huge compliment because English punks
don’t usually do this this well... it’s raw and gritty and urgent. The female
vocals are really great and in the vein of CIVET, F-MINUS and the VOIDS and
I can really see these guys getting on a cool US label. I would really like
to hear a full-length by this band. Exciting stuff and the fact that they
are English is doubly exciting.
www.purgatorystate.com
Wow!! This is fucking brilliant! Immediately from the appearance of this
album I knew I’d like it. It's got a real Rip Off style/sound and that’s huge
praise! They’re a three-piece too which is just the icing on this sick, sick
cake! Could it get any better??!! No way!! Scratchy and urgent, snotty
garage punk rock that’s melodic and nervy kind of along the lines of the
INFECTIONS, ZODIAC KILLERS, a touch of the SHOCKS and the BRIEFS. Excited
yet?! You should be creaming yer pants!! I fucking love this record. Very
impressive and very fun. This is in my top 3 releases of this year.
Super Secret Records
www.supersecretrecords.com
I heard this being played in a record shop and I was totally captured. This is so weird and fucked up, it's kind of electro punk. A bit of DEVO, a bit of TALKING HEADS, some disco, some surf, some metallic riffs, loads of bass and eerie keys. The songs are fucking hilarious. Check out some of these song titles, 'Banzai Butterfly', 'E-Bay Ghetto', 'Sperms Are Germs', 'Erase My Face'... and some of the lyrics, 'It feels good pissing on a panda', 'I got a brain in vain, I can't feel no pain', 'I'm in the need of a video, worst case scenario, give me two because the price is low, keep me going when the nights are slow, come on baby let's go all the way to Vlado Video'... funny shit. This actually reminds me a lot of the type of release that Proud To Be Idiot might put out. There's a touch of MR. CALIFORNIA in there but this is way more funny and much less sinister. Wonderfully eccentric and fucked up. I really, really recommend this. Get it and have a blast.
Bad Taste Records
www.badtasterecords.se
Straight-up punk rock. No bullshit, just old-fashioned, snotty punk rock.
Simple and effective and fun. Check out the titles... ‘Plastic Hitlers’,
‘Kerosene’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. Totally ‘70s, totally great. European punk
rock is where it’s at. Great artwork too and it’s on one of those small CDs
too which I think look really cool. Very impressive stuff.
Self Released
www.myspace.com/radiations
I fucking love THE RADICTS. 'Rebel Sound' was one of the most important
punk rock records of my growing up. I got hooked on that straight-up punk
sound and still require daily fixes of it. 'When All Is Said And Done' just
shoots me straight back to my youth and that special feeling... excellent.
THE BLOODSTAINED KINGS deliver 'Ordinary Man' in their melodic punk rock 'n'
roll style with loads of back-ups. Of course I'm gonna dig this. Just one
song each because both bands/tracks are of such high-quality that that's all
you need to get hooked. It's strong shit! It's rock solid. A really great
split and it's on two-tone vinyl too.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
Nice and fast, catchy sing-a-long punk rock that vocally reminds me of
DISTRICT/PUBLIC TOYS but the English accent on here is genuine!! It’s a
real quick stab of an EP, a short but high-impact blast and that’s what
I’m after. The songs are snappy and sharp and youthful and it’s great to
hear some speedy stuff after all these slower-paced streetpunk bands. It’s
time to put it up a few gears!
Killer Records
www.randomheroesonline.co.uk
Heated dual-female fronted punk rock from Germany with equal measures of
melody and unruliness and reminds me in parts of THE ROTTEN APPLES, FUR, THE
SOVIETTES and CIVET, and at times slightly of the SMASHING PUMPKINS. There’s
definitely a riot girl edge to RANDY’S but it’s way more sophisticated and
stylish. This is not obvious stuff. The songs are skillfully crafted and the
fun and the devotion shine through. There’s a great diversity on the record
with no 2 tracks sounding alike yet unmistakably delivered in RR elegance.
At times, the vocals remind me slightly of the MIDNIGHT CREEPS. I’m a huge
fan of female-fronted punk and I’m glad that there’s more and more of it
surfacing all the time.
Go-Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de
I can't tell you what a pleasure this is...this is reviewers heaven...when
you spend the day listening to and trying to find something postive to say
about all the boring, churned out shit or so-called hardcore bands that
don't represent anything I recognise as hardcore or weak 'punk' band and CD
after CD of meaningless shit...then this- a thick double LP of the finest
Finnish hardcore punk shines so bright that it's blinding. Raw and
beautiful..I need to soak in this momnet for a long while becasue before I
know it I'll be reviewing more clone-American shit and awful stuff with
horns and keyboards....OK, so these compulsory slabs of wax contain, as the
title says, RATTUS's Poko Records releases from 1981-1984: 'Rattus On
Rautaa', 'Rajoitettu Ydinsota', 'WC Rajahtaa' and 'Uskonto On Vaara' - 32
tracks in all!! Plus the Pushead artwork!!! This is just amazing- it's the
sound I kill for and keep raging omn about. I know I sound like a stuck
record but this is the shit you need...this is raw, this is energetic, this
is real passionate hardcore punk rock that cannot be touched. I'm going to
spin these records a few times today and call it a day for reviewing...I
don't want to ruin my day with some wtaered-down shit that will tajke this
wonderful taste out of my mouth...fucking fantastic.
ZCM Records
www.zcmrecords.com
Infamous Italian Hardcore legends RAW POWER double CD collection presented
in a DVD box which is a style that I'm growing really fond of because the
artwork is bigger, the booklet is bigger and it's gives the release more
significance which I think is necessary for legendary bands like RAW POWER
to elevate them above the hardcore clones of today. This compilation
collects RAW POWER's studio/live material from 1983-1991 but don't think
that it stops there... these guys are still going!!! This is the true hardcore
sound... crude and fast... no posing, just stab after stab of brutal passion.
This is the hardcore sound that excites me. It's a crazy thing when
re-issues of records from 20 years ago just kick the shit out of all the new
stuff that's coming out. I just don't know where the energy and the
passion have gone but I can tell you that it's fucking alive in RAW
POWER!! Their name says it all as does the title of this release. Sudden
Death Records also recently released the RAW POWER best-of 'Hit List' so
there's no excuse not to get a hold of some serious Hardcore with a capital
'H'. A cool package that will hopefully introduce the kids to some real
hardcore so that they can go out and hear from bands that scream with energy and
fire.
SOA Records
www.soarecords.it
32-track anthology from Italy’s premier true hardcore outfits RAW POWER
spanning their 20 year history (’83-’03). This is real, ferocious hardcore...
screaming vocals, grinding guitars, pounding drums and growling bass. This is
not macho, poser, fake-aggressive shit, this is hardcore passion to the max.
It’s got a great metal influence but not overblown with chugging guitars,
immature lyrics and noodle-solos. Instead RAW POWER keep it simple and
through this technique create exactly that... Raw Power. This is not
exaggerated hardcore, this is straightforward, compelling hardcore with a
political slant and it embodies all the magic of the 80’s sound and style.
It reminds me of better days, better music, skateboarding, fun, freedom and
you don’t get many new bands communicating that experience. This rules.
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com
The tartan rogues are back! It seems to me like the MCKENZIES cultivate
their sound and style further with each release getting stronger and
stronger. They maintain such a prominent punk rock sound that is solidified
by the bagpipes and the force created is fucking hefty! I’ve always had a
soft spot for the MCKENZIES and live they are fantastic. They are just so
upbeat and stimulating and that’s so important and something that the
DROPKICK MURPHYS lost a long time ago. THE DROPKICKS are just so boring and formulaic
now but these Scottish rascals are the fucking opposite. They keep it
entertaining and fresh and I can’t wait to see them play again. This is
proper enjoyable punk rock written and played well with a big injection of
humour but this is not a gimmick. We’ll be hearing these boys for years to
come and they have made this style totally their own.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
Bursting garage with a rampant fuzz that reminds me of THE ENDS. These guys
really shift the pace of their songs within the song, its fuckin crazy! This
is by far the most convulsive and urgent garage I've ever heard and from
the look of the band I was expecting this to be quite laid back but shit was
I wrong!!! I was expecting this to sound like a mix of the KINKS and the
REAL KIDS and I guess that in a way it does sound like the KINKS on
speed!!!! Very lo-fi just like garage should be, thin and trebly production
is what I like to hear! There must be something in the water in Portland
because too many cool bands come from there. There's way too much style coming
outta Portland!! They should spread some of that shit around, move some
bands to California where things are getting pretty stale and liven things
up!! I don't see how you won't like this. It could be on Dirtnap or Rip
Off easily and that should be enough information for you to get out there
and buy it.
Mortville Records, PO Box 4263, Austin, TX 78765, USA
The REATARDS blew me away when I got 'Grown Up Fucked Up' a whole bunch of
years ago. I was still a kid and they shook me hard and they got me addicted
to raw, distorted chaos and the wonderful DIY attitude. This is perfect
youthful disorder recorded in a bedroom onto a tape player... fuckin
fantastic. It's basic and urgent and that's how I define punk rock. I don't
give a shit about great production. I want raw passion that smolders
through the speakers and shakes you like crazy. This is what I want and this
is what should be force-fed to kids these days... stop being so fucking stiff
and start moving!!!!!!! The REATARDS are everything that has been missing in
punk rock for a long time.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a band that reminds me so much of SOCIAL
DISTORTION lyrically and vocally and that’s fine by me! RENO DIVORCE play
punk with a heavy, heavy slant on Rock ‘n’ Roll with huge guitar riffs and
intense melodies just like SD. Although a lot of bands claim that sound
and cite the same influences, none do so as well as RENO DIVORCE who get the
blend of punk rock and rock ‘n’ roll so perfect and then top it off with
excellent production. Not just any band can do that and that’s a huge
compliment to RENO DIVORCE. I really go for this sound because it’s not
exaggeratedly ‘tough’ and it’s not wimpy at all. They aren’t scared to slow
things down or totally rock out and that’s a cool place to be. Forget all
the overblown bullshit out there, all the bands that force the rock ‘n’ roll
into their sound and get yerself a slice of some class A Punk Rock ‘n’
Roll.
Street Anthem Records
www.streetanthemrecords.com
OK, straight from the artwork of this album I know I’m gonna dig this like
crazy. Bleeding cunt front cover, devil punk puking back cover... good start!
So on to the music. Was I right to judge this record by the sleeve? Fuck
yeah! This is vicious female fronted hardcore punk featuring members of
OPPRESSED LOGIC and TILT so how the fuck can you go wrong? RETCHING RED are
proof that the spirit and essence of real punk rock is still alive and
screaming today. This is a repeated stabbing in the throat of contemporary
punk rock. No business shit here just thrashing energy and soul pounding and
pounding... have you got the message yet????!!!! Stop listening to whining
cunts and get with the bleeding cunt. Kill the shit that passes for punk
these days and let’s get this smeared all over our scene.
Bleeding Bitch Records
4096 Piedmont Avenue #216, Oakland, CA 94611, USA
Fantastic title that harks straight back to the days of true hardcore, the sound I have so thoroughly missed in recent years when whiny crap suddenly became interchangeable with the term hardcore. This reminds me a hell of a lot of the GORILLA BISCUITS and AGNOSTIC FRONT. It's undoubtedly real hardcore but it has that punk rock element that was such an important feature of the old sound that has been completely lost these days. This is fast, fun and powerful and screams of youth and that's the hardcore sound I believe in and that I grew up with. I really hope the kids start getting into this and forget about all the stuff that they have been told is hardcore... learn something.
Kung-Fu Records / Broken Sounds
www.kungfurecords.com /
www.brokensounds.com
Fuckin cool artwork throughout this release which is important to me because
when you're reviewing records like a motherfucker and something jumps out
of the pile it's a rare pleasure I can tell you. So thumbs up on the art
and what about the music? Well, I didn't know what to expect and that's
another plus point because from the graphics this could've been anything
and I like that when it's a surprise and what RINGERS actually play is
straight-up punk rock which is another thumbs up from me. No hardcore, no
ska, no keyboards, no pop, no new wave, no nothing but thick chords and
singalongs served up at a great pace. Cool vocals/vocal lines and aggressive
melodies and no monotony. What happened to punk like this? Why did bands
keep adding things and adding things until the punk was obscured by all the
extra shit? I like my punk rock straight forward and powerful and RINGERS
agree with me because that's what the fuck they play. If this sound
isn't your bag then punk rock isn't your bag... you're getting mixed up
with some other over-elaborate shit that you think is punk rock. Get with
it.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
www.1234gorecords.com
Nice and raw ’77 influenced punk rock from Canada with a nod to the old
English sound. Aggressive and anthemic and as they state ‘putting the
bollocks back into punk’ it sure is… urgent and uncompromising. The sound is
nice and thin which is what I go for…I don’t care for that big sound…there’s
a touch of the RADICTS, HARD SKIN and the SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN in here and the
great blend of UK and US styles…a bit of a TKO sound. They have a
full-length just out and I’m really looking forward to hearing that.
www.riot99.net
Killer distorted garage that’s totally raw and lo-fi so it’s gonna get huge
plus points from me! It’s nice and trebly and fuzzy and that’s how I like
it! I would believe that this was recorded in the 60s/70s it’s that fucking
spot on. Detroit has an incomparable sound when it comes to Rock ‘N’ Roll and
these rascals certainly encapsulate that spirit and grit and deliver it
straight to your head. It’s fucked up, grainy and untamed and that's
something that's unfortunately been lost. The wildness, the energy... you
just don't come across that too often anymore. Very impressive.
Drastic Plastic Records
www.drastic-plastic.com
This is an 8-piece rascal ensemble!! The sound can be melodic, aggressive,
offbeat and sometimes totally bizarre and that’s the result of mixing ska,
punk, reggae and swing. So you can imagine this release is pretty varied
sound-wise and pace-wise and all of the members sing as well to add to the
madness. At times they remind me of the early styles of THE SPECIALS, THE
BEAT and BAD MANNERS and then I hear the sound of the BOSSTONES and the
TOASTERS blended with the newer approach of SCRAPY and SPANKING THE MONKEY
but then there’s a whole other side as well that’s more like the KINGS OF
NUTHIN’. These are some talented musicians here! Talented at
disruptiveness!! This is boisterous and entertaining and there’s not a trace
of the American college ska/punk sound which is a huge benefit!!
Fire And Flames Records
www.fireandflames.com
Some of you may know BOOTLEG BILL by his anti-NAACP rock ‘n’ roll but
the ROIDZ was his hardcore band in the 80s. The ROIDZ played fast
hardcore with a huge dose of rock ‘n’ roll and humour and you can see the
development into his more recent recordings. This is sleazy, hostile and
everything great about hardcore. It’s fun and wild and that’s been lost
somewhere along the journey of hardcore. Sure it’s silly and juvenile at
times but that’s it’s charm... similar to GG’s charm. It’s just punk rock
because they do what they wanna do and don’t care about what anyone thinks
whether it be controversial, insulting or abusive but above all they have
fun and you can feel that in the music. This is a rare slice of
old-fashioned hardcore entertainment and just so welcome in these days of
super-serious, lacklustre ‘harcore’.
Scarey Records
http://clix.to/scareyrecords
LOU RONE plays a bizarre blend of 70s and 80s guitars and beats that
encompasses so many sounds and styles ranging from DURAN DURAN to PINK FLOYD
to 80s LEONARD COHEN backing music to MC5 and later-period CLASH to
KRAFTWERK to ROGER WATERS... and it’s a very curious experience. It’s all
instrumental and a lot of the time it sounds like an 80s movie soundtrack.
The pieces are all over 4 minutes long so it’s way longer than what I’m used
to! Punk rock has eaten my attention span! But the experience is so eerie
and vague that the length isn’t obvious. There’s serious bass lines holding
the tracks together and it’s all a mix of live sounds and programmed beats,
sometimes clean and sometimes ultra fuzzy. The keyboard sounds can sound
very ominous with the guitar whining and screaming over it. That’s about the
best I can describe it but you gotta check it out for yourself because this
is wonderfully strange and a very welcome break in my listening schedule.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com
Super-glossy, cute artwork with pink cream donuts on the back cover…THE
ROTTEN FRUITS blend this sweetness and friendliness with vulgarity and
obnoxiousness and a hefty dose of snot too and in that respect they kinda
remind me of the VANILLA MUFFINS and I like that. They even have a song
called ‘Skinhead Boys’ which seems like the most unlikely subject matter for
a band like this and that’s the point – again, reminiscent of the VANILLA
MUFFINS. This looks like a kids 7” but then it’s really fucked-up. Out of
key and absurd vocals, repellent attitude- this is my bag, it’s like a
sugar-coated fuck you. 4 tracks in all on clear yellow wax and their skull
and crossed bananas logo rules too.
Criminal IQ Records
www.criminaliq.com
Released on the prolific No Idea label in Florida 'Rumbleseat is dead'
serves as an homage to the legacy of Johnny Cash and the tradition of using
the acoustic guitar as a resonant medium for protest and the age old art of
story telling. Rough, ragged and raucous it captures the urgency of punk and
the bittersweet tales of Country whilst also indulging in some epic three
part singing which adds to the torrant of noise flooding out of the
speakers. Consistently pleasing it manages to vary pace and mood organically
acting as an hour long pilgramage rather than 13 seperate jaunts. Indeed
although at times sombre and reflective, the album is also able to celebrate
the lighter side of life. 'If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck I'd
dive to the bottom and never come up'. Overall fantastic stuff.
No Idea Records
www.noidearecords.com
This is a serious piece of rock 'n' roll history... the first ever SAMHAIN show attained by Al Flipside in 1984 at Hollywood's Stardust Ballroom. The best thing about this recording is that it's been kept 100% natural, it's fucking raw and intense. There's no effects, no sound over-dubs...vit's chaos is totally intact. The sound sometimes distorts and the picture's sometimes fuzzy but that's the beauty. Who wants a polished SAMHAIN? I sure as hell don't. I want to be as close to the disarray as I possibly can and since science hasn't cracked teleportation and time travel yet this is as close as I can ever get and it's exciting. This is the shit that's important to me because not only was I thousands of miles away from this when it happened, I was also only 6 years old so this is how I piece together the roots and history of this monster called punk rock that I love so much. Thank God for the video camera and enthusiastic and passionate people like Al who documented stuff like this so that years later it could be released for all generations of punks. The show rules. Glen looks cool as fuck, some MISFITS songs in there too but the atmosphere and the feeling it transports is the best thing ever. The kids need to know that this is where bands like AFI, BALZAC and TIGER ARMY stem from. I appreciate this so much and so should all you kids because this is another momentous punk rock chronicle brought to you by MVD.
Music Video Distributors
www.mvdb2b.com
The kings of Swedish melodic punk are back with the most energetic record I
have heard by them yet. It's faster and more vigorous and verging more on
the early US hardcore sounds of 7 SECONDS and earlier BAD RELIGION. 'Taste
The Poison' is almost like a culmination of their previous works and many
line-ups where everything has fallen into place and they have defined their
sound more than ever. This is what the SATANIC SURFERS will sound like from
now on. They have upped the hostility, picked up the pace and detonated but
still maintained their trademark technique. You can tell a mile off that
it's the SATANIC SURFERS it's just that they have never sounded this
good. Their blend of poison has never tasted this good.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk
Conflicting guitars and vocal styles merged together to create an
attacking balance of heavy chords and sophisticated guitar work layered
with melodic and abrasive vocals. The thing that really makes SCARY KIDS
SCARING KIDS stand out (apart from their killer name) is their inclusion
of keyboards. You just don’t get many bands in this genre having the
backbone to use them in this way and they really compliment the guitars
giving the whole thing a kinda ominous edge and I dig that. At times the
guitars remind me a lot of IRON MAIDEN but there’s a real scope of sound
and style on this record. It’s heavy, it’s delicate, it’s
straightforward, it’s complex, it’s melodic, it’s brutal... very impressive
for these young scary kids.
Immortal Records
www.immortalrecords.com
OK, now every review of this CD is going to tell you how important
SCREECHING WEASEL are and how much you need this 'greatest hits'
collection and to illustrate just how accurate that is I can tell you that I
own every single SCREECHING WEASEL record and I was still drooling at the
thought of this compilation. I just couldn't wait to get a hold of it and
see what tracks had been chosen and which had been left out and as the first
note of each track comes in, I can't help smiling. This is exciting
because SCREECHING WEASEL have seen me grow up. This truly is a band that
supplied the soundtrack to my childhood, to my adolescence and on through to
my adulthood. This collection takes tracks from all the SCREECHING WEASEL
releases (except for the self-titled debut that Ben hates so much, The
RAMONES cover album 'Beat Is On The Brat' and the split with BORN
AGAINST) starting at 'Boogadaboogadaboogada' and ending at 'Teen Punks
In Heat'. This must have been a seriously difficult task because this
could have easily been a 100-track 'best-of' release because SCREECHING
WEASEL are not only prolific but write absolute gems. I'm sure that every
SCREECHING WEASEL fan will want this collection even if they have all the
records because it's a piece of their history, but the most important thing
is that a new generation of punks will be introduced to the SCREECHING
WEASEL sound that sculpted so many bands. Also, the fact that Fat Wreck has
released it will mean great exposure and distribution so that it will be
really easily accessible. Hopefully this will spark a whole new wave of
SCREECHING WEASEL fascination!!!! They must never break up!!! No matter how
many times they say, it just can't happen!!!! This exceptional collection
presents all the SCREECHING WEASEL characteristics... the early hardcore
sound, the fun, the amazing melodies, the acerbic lyrics, the fun, the
melancholy, the silliness, the personality and did I mention the fun?! As
you'd come to expect there's cool liner notes and photos too. Kids
should be going crazy for SCREECHING WEASEL!! I just can't wait to get in
my car again to hear this CD once more! I gotta think of somewhere that takes a
while to get to so I can enjoy this the whole way. Fantastic, fantastic,
fantastic.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
11 track split CD: 5 songs from each band with a short interlude track
between bands. This is a fucking hysterical release. It’s pure disarray
from start to finish and while both bands are certainly suited and
comparable in many ways, they each deliver their pandemonium in a different
way. Both are fast as hell, chaotic as fuck and heavy, heavy, heavy but I
find ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE to have a more hardcore/metallic sound than SEND MORE
PARAMEDICS and that’s really no surprise since it features members of SHAI
HULUD. They deliver a more thrash-soaked bedlam at insane speeds with
bass-heavy breakdowns. SEND MORE PARAMEDICS play what is known as
‘Zombiecore’ which, when I first heard that expression, thought would be a
mixture of punk and Psychobilly, and while it does have dashes of that it’s
way heavier than I initially imagined. When I saw their show I was
stunned by the energy. They steal the show for me on here because they are
so hugely punk-saturated and present their madness so individually, but
the whole release is a fucking killer, literally. It’s dark, threatening and
sadistic and it’s so great to hear some new music full of rage and
balls. No whining here!!
In At The Deep End Records / Hell Bent Records
www.iatde.com /
www.hellbentrecords.com
This release is subtitled, 'How We Learned To Stop Working And Release Bad And Useless Recordings' and sees SHAI HULUD's departure from a very victorious role in hardcore's history. This retrospective collects demos, live tracks, practice recordings, solo tracks, member changes and studio tracks with a brilliant 20 page booklet full of liner notes, song-notes, flyers, photos etc. This compilation is not just for the SHAI HULUD collectors... this is an important lesson in hardcore prowess and endurance for anyone of any age who are into hardcore... the true spirit of hardcore. In fact, the younger the kids who get into this the better. This is what hardcore is about. Now get this CD and face your band in the same direction. As sad as it is to see them say goodbye, this package is a fantastic way to do so.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
SHARK SOUP play psychobilly/rockabilly with a cocktail of new and old
sounds. There's elements of THE LIVING END, NEKROMANTIX, DEEP EYNDE, TIGER
ARMY, STRAY CATS, KING KURT, THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT but they keep a strong
punk presence at all times and that's especially in the same style as THE
LIVING END and H-BLOCK 101. It's fast, fun and fucking wild like
Psychobilly and punk should be. Keep it fast and fierce and it's no wonder
that there's such a high punk element to SHARK SOUP because the frontman
is originally from OXYMORON. I know with new Psychobilly bands it's easy
to make all the obvious comparisons but SHARK SOUP really do bring their own
edge to the genre because of this serious punk rock ingredient. They are
the punkest Psychobilly band and the Psychobilliest of punk bands. Winter
is on the horizon so get some SHARK SOUP in yer gut to keep you warm and
wild!
BYO Records / Kung Fu Europe
www.byorecords.com /
www.kungfurecords.com
THE SHOCKS are THE most exciting band in punk rock at the moment... they are
mind-blowing. Their records are so fuckin hot that nothing can come close
and their live shows are brilliant too. They are an explosive act for sure.
There's so much style in THE SHOCKS. They manage to create such energy and
dynamism through their simplicity and that's because they have the perfect
formula... they know their fuckin ingredients!!! This CD collects the 'Banned
From The Usa' EP plus 3 extra songs, one of them being their version of THE
BRIEFS' 'C'mon Squash Me Like a Bug' entitled 'Insekt'. I remember the
feeling I got when I first heard the SHOCKS and what I felt the first time I
saw them live, and these are things I will keep with me forever. You just
don't get this kind of urgency, fun and energy in punk rock anymore... long
live the SHoCKS.
Dirty Faces Schallplatten
www.dirtyfaces.de
Fucking amazing band name, fucking amazing label and fucking amazing music.
THE SHOP FRONTS were one of my highlights of the 'Let's Have Some God Damn
Fun!' compilation with 'Watchin' You' and that's really saying
something because that was one incredible collection of killer bands. This 7"
presents three tracks... the title track 'Don't Quit', 'Just Don't
Know' and an OUTCASTS cover 'Frustration' which are all fantastic. Raw and
urgent and full of the punk rock magic that is a rare pleasure these days. I
am drooling for a full-length!! To top it all off there's great artwork, blue wax
and a big hole... what a delight of a 7".
Rapid Pulse Records
SICK 56 present ‘Losing The War’ which is relatively fast, straight punk
rock with a hint of RED FLAG 77. They have the blend of the early English
sound and the newer English sound with a lot of energy and a very anthemic
chorus. HIGGINS ++ deliver 2 tracks, the first ‘Einsatz’ is a kind of intro,
short and with really raw and peculiar vocals. Their second track is ‘Got A
Revolution’, again reminds me a bit of RED FLAG 77 but also the BRISTLES.
Medium-paced but very lively and again, the blend of the older and newer
English styles. Very suited bands and a cool split on pale yellow wax too.
JSNTGM Records
www.jsntgm.com
SILVERSTEIN's follow-up to 'When Broken Is Easily Fixed' presents a
development in style and an expansion of their combination of aggressive
vocals mixed with soaring singing, the balance seeming to be in favour of
the latter throughout this album and alongside this they produce some more
intense and melodic guitar licks all gelled to give a diverse set of sounds.
Serious production this time too further developing their layered sound.
Their instantly recognisable cocktail is in full effect straight from the
first song 'Your Sword Vs My Dagger' which is a strong opening to this record.
Lyrically the album presents that classic accompanying theme of heart-torn
hurt and hate. SILVERSTEIN have stuck to their formula only this time they
have delved deeper into what they are generating and the more established
sound shines through. Fans of TAKING BACK SUNDAY, COMEBACK KID, ALEISONFIRE
and THE BLACK MARIA will want to check out this band if they haven't
already.
Victory Records
www.victoryrecords.com
Immersed is what you become when you throw yourself into the attack that is
SINAI BEACH. You become totally absorbed by the brutality and intensity.
There is absolutely no compromise. This is hostile hardcore with a planned
assault. The CD starts with ‘Apocalypse’... you get that? It starts at the
end because SINAI BEACH are born of destruction and annihilation. You know
what to expect from Victory. A lesson in hostility, aggression and no
concession and SINAI BEACH personify that. This is heavy and fast and totally
unyielding with serious production that inflates and develops the band’s
sound. Serious stuff here...
Victory Records
www.victoryrecords.com
Wow, what a collection of live cuts. The title says 'Live at CBGB's'
but that's not all you get! That's a 16 track set from 2003 plus you get
6 live tracks from London, 2 live songs from Cambridge and one from Germany
all recorded in 1983! Live shows recorded 20 years apart on the same record...
fucking great. THE SKEPTIX are a great live band and this release captures
the energy, chaos and fun of a SKEPTIX live show. Even 20 years on they rock
like crazy and it's still the same line-up which is so cool. I have to say
that usually I'm not the hugest fan of the live recording because I find
that it can be a little 'thin' and lacking vigour but that's not the
deal here! I wish more live records would be this faithful to the live
experience! A 16-page insert accompanies this and includes a diary of their
American tour. Cool.
Puke N vomit Records / Thunk Records
www.pukenvomit.com /
www.thunkrecords.com
Classic '82 record with the classic UK '82 sound. THE SKEPTIX nailed
it... knowledge and alertness through perfect pace English punk rock. Some
people will have dismissed them as noisy, young thugs but that's just
ignorant because THE SKEPTIX were constructive and political and really did
have a message and they did and still do rule. This is the footprint sound
that you can hear everywhere today all across the world. This is it right
here!! This is where it was born and this is the best you'll ever hear it.
THE SKEPTIX were always my favourite of the UK '80s bands because they
feel so natural, not put on and forced. The music and vocals aren't
exaggerated and they're not preachy. They are just productive and fun and
those are the 2 most important punk rock ingredients. This record is nearly
25 years old but what's it's saying still relates to the world in
2005. This is fresher and more observant than most records coming out these
days. The fact is that THE SKEPTIX and a lot of other bands from the same
period truly did have a message and something to say but most of the bands
of today just pose around in their studs and spikes with 40s with nothing to
say at all. Just rehashing and lifting ideas from the originals which is
why this sound and style has sadly become so stale. Listen to THE SKEPTIX to
re-ignite the excitement!
Puke N vomit Records / Thunk Records
www.pukenvomit.com /
www.thunkrecords.com
Wow, this really surprised me because I was expecting some really heavy
stoner-rock but instead SLUDEGFEAST deliver really fuzzy and distorted,
unadorned rock n roll. Sure it’s heavy but it’s way more along the lines of
a heavier Rip Off band. It’s like they're a really over-distorted and intense
RIP OFFS, INFECTIONS, ZODIAK KILLERS with hints of THEE MICHELLE GUN
ELEPHANT and DISCONTENT. It’s just straight forward, fucked up and fuzzed
out garage rock n roll and I gotta say what a pleasant surprise. The songs
are short and concentrated and the whole album is totally overdriven and it
really works. It’s heavy, raw, uncouth and really energetic and even more
distorted! Also, this release come with a DVD too with a whole bunch of
videos and live footage and other stuff. What more do you want?!!
Must Destroy Music
www.mustdestroymusic.com
SNITCHES GET STICHES are a fucking chaos blender that throw in all kinds of
sounds and directions to create one hell of an uncontrollably boisterous
noise. It's fiercely uncomfortable and unpredictable which is fantastic... I
really go for that in music. This is No Rules! No fucking formulas! That's
what we need!! The band name is aggressive and that reflects the music. The
record title is bizarre and that echoes through the music too, and the song
titles are out of this world... 'Sweaty Legs Can't Dance', 'Hello, Rabies!',
'Wolf Eggs Appear'. This is free and feral and doesn't give a fuck. SGS do
what they wanna do and what they do fucking rules.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com
SNUFF... who the fuck doesn't like SNUFF? No-one right? Every punk rocker has
a weak-spot for SNUFF and I believe them to be consistently the best punk
rock band to come out of the UK in fuckin years. They've always been here
and they always had the true spirit of punk rock fun. Not stupid, childish
stuff like so many American bands do, but actual fun in a very English way...
more subtle than the US shit. This double CD collects SNUFF's greatest hits
(CD 1) and rare and unreleased material (CD 2) from between 1986 and 2002
and the most evident thing is hearing just how much of a sound SNUFF had
right from the start... nobody really sounds like SNUFF. I really urge you to
get this collection because SNUFF are one hell of an important band and it's
no wonder that they've attracted huge labels. This is what kids should be
listening to today and this double CD is being sold at single-CD price. What
the fuck more do you want??!!
10 past 12 Records
www.10past12records.com
If, like me, you cringe at the thought of skapunk and would like to see the
extinction of the bouncy, college friendly shit then SONIC BOOM SIX are for
you. This is real skapunk. I have never been so excited about a skapunk
band in my life and that's because I've never heard it done properly.
This is so chaotic and abrasive which are 2 words that I've never thought
I would have associated with this genre. They actually remind me of a ska
CRASS mixed with CLASH. Intelligent lyrics, aggressive music and pure
youthful energy. This should be the definitive sound of skapunk. It's full
of English style and there's not a hint of American bullshit to water it
down. It's edgy and hostile and I want more. Exciting stuff for sure.
Moon Ska Europe
www.moonskaeurope.com
Six people make up SPEED CIRCUS and you can hear all the influences that
half a dozen minds and directions would create. There's no distinct style or
formula. There's rock, indie, ska, country, garage, reggae and blues and
just whatever the hell else these guys feel like playing. The only on-going
theme is freedom. The freedom to make whatever noise they wanna make. It's
nice to hear a young band from London that dosn'y sound like the WHITE
STRIPES, THE STROKES, RAZORLIGHT, THE KILLERS, THE BRAVERY, THE LIBERTINES
etc etc
Speed Circus:
Steve@lillyventures.co.uk
Fuckin brilliant! This is the shit that I’m pushing all the time... fast,
urgent, raw and disorderly pure punk rock. SPIDER merge the classic ‘70s
punk sound with an unruly hardcore tinge and it fuckin smokes. It’s so wild
and so dominant yet it maintains a really, really raw edge and that’s
everything I want out of punk rock. It’s insistent and confident and just
gushing with genuine punk rock spirit. This is what it’s all about.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
Alright... the re-release of the STAGGERS killer debut record with a slightly
different track-listing and 3 videos too. The STAGGERS play punk rock but
with some serious Texan influence... some rock 'n' roll, some country, some
rockabilly and loads of pure punk. This time around you get bonus tracks in
the shape of ‘Rapists and Murderers’ and also 2 tracks that weren’t included
on the original release in the videos section, ‘Warm Summer Day’ and ‘It
Conquered The World’ (the 3rd video being ‘Last Man On Earth’) and left out
from the original are ‘Man With A Voice’, ‘Turning My Back’ and ‘Have A
Drink’. I got this record when it came out the first time and it still rocks
me like crazy and the fact that this re-release is quite different is a
great thing because it means you gotta get it even if you got the original!!
And if you don’t have the original... get both!! This is fantastic punk rock 'n'
roll.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com
From the presentation and the vagueness of the cover and title I was expecting this to be very minimal and restrained and to have an almost arty element but I was wrong, and that's fine with me because I'm not really into that subtle shit. This is, on the most part, heavy and chock-full of guitars and keeps a strong and catchy melody behind the music at all times even when it reaches it's heaviest. It's no surprise to see that STARING BACK are so popular because they got the mix down perfectly. They got shitloads of power, a tonne of melody, great production and loads of harmonies. Quite a package... and they're young too.
Lobster Records
www.lobsterrecords.com
Now, this doesn’t look or sound like a typical Pelado release. It’s... what’s
the right word... sophisticated. That’s it... it’s more sophisticated than the
usual snotty, ’77 flavoured Pelado punk rock that we love so much but that’s
not to say this isn’t good too. It’s got a definite CLASH and JAM feel to it
but mixed with a really melodic sound like the NEWTOWN NEAUROTICS and the
LIBRARIANS. The vocals even sound like Paul Weller and it also reminds me of
the early 80s English melodic sound. Maybe it’s because these STATUES are
Canadian that they take a different and more original approach. It’s quite
arty too, especially the vague band name, imagery and album title which
again reminds me of the English 80s style. It’s cool that it’s different but
still fits in with Pelado. It’s good different not out-of-place different
and when a label expands it’s sound that’s a great thing. I’m sure I will
have some snotty punk rock shit played at my funeral because that’s the
sound I live for and will still listen to when I’m an old bastard pissing
and shitting myself but I really enjoyed this and it’s necessary to listen
to some different sounds every now and then and this was a great change for
me.
Pelado Records
www.peladorecords.com
I absolutely love this band. THE STEPMOTHERS played punk rock by their own
rules, not worried about introducing massive melody in their music and in
that way they remind me a lot of the POINTED STICKS. Both bands have the
melodic rock edge of TOM PETTY or THIN LIZZY and I'm a sucker for that
sound. A real emphasis on the rock in punk rock. This CD collects all THE
STEPMOTHERS' Posh Boy recordings that comprise of the 'All Systems Go'
single, the 'You Were Never My Age' record, the 'Guardian Angels'
7" B-side and their compilation tracks from 'Rodney On The Roq Vol. 2'
and the Posh Boy, 'Posh Hits Vol. 2' collection plus a CD bonus track,
'(I Dream I'm) Innocent' which is a killer of a song, I mean, Wow!!
This was a truly fantastic band who wrote some of my favourite punk songs
like 'I hear a Rumble', 'Guardian Angels' and 'I Have to
Smile'... these are some amazing songs. I fell in love with this band and
this sound as soon as I first heard it almost a decade ago and, like I said,
I'm still a sucker for this and I'm so happy to see these songs
re-released so that the new generations of young punx can appreciate it.
Re-Force Records
www.g-forcerecords.de
When I heard ‘The Loudest Voice’ 7" by STRAITJACKET last year I was hooked.
I have never heard the UK 1977 sound developed so well. If I didn’t know
better, I would believe that this was a band from the heyday. STRAITJACKET
encompasses all the magic of STIFF LITTLE FINGERS and early CLASH... it’s
amazing. This is my record of 2005. It’s just spot on and not just musically
but presentation-wise and production-wise... it’s just a bomb of a debut
record. If STRAITJACKET continue in this vein they are going to be
unstoppable. You hear a lot of bands labeled as ’77 style punk rock but
most of them simply aren’t... it’s just a tag, but in the case of STRAITJACKET
it absolutely applies. This is thrilling and I can’t wait to see these guys
live.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
Bored of all the shit punk coming out? All the same streetpunk shit, same
bands, boring song, boring image? Bored of the lack of style? Me too, which
is why I wanna introduce you to the STREET BRATS who communicate that '70s
magic. Don't settle for the 1977 label just because it's pushed in your face
because, believe me, all these so-called '77 bands don't broadcast any of
that excitement or spirit. The STREET BRATS have nailed it. This is
passionate. They remind me slightly of the RIFFS who are another band who
truly diffuse that early magic and they look cool as fuck too becasue they
aren't forcing it. They're just letting it all flow naturally and they burn
boiling hot.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com
In my opinion, STRETCH ARMSTRONG are pioneers of a sound that has been so
sadly bastardised into the shit that is churned out these days by a million
bands. STRETCH ARMSTRONG take influence from old, true hardcore bands like
the GORILLA BISCUITS, AGNOSTIC FRONT and MINOR THREAT and blend it with the
later sounds of QUICKSAND, JUDGE, MADBALL, SICK OF IT ALL etc with a dose of
straight forward punk rock. No over-complication. The bands toady just
can't get the balance right. It sways way too much and most of the kids
making the music these days are way out of touch with the true old fashioned
hardcore from where this originates. New bands just can't get it right.
The melodic side is way too melodic and the heavy side is way too
heavy. Where's the style? This is how it should be done.
WPO Records
www.wporecords.com
I remember when I got 'Dead Rats And Oakland Dogs' a long time ago... that was a captivating experience and got me hooked on STRYCHNINE. A second full-length and a live record later they unveil this beautiful monster 'Born In A bar'!! This is pure STRYCHNINE - wonderful poison. This is a fuckin attack that hits you so fast and so hard and rattles you to the core. I don't think there's another band around whose name fits as much as STRYCHNINE. This does exactly what the poison does... it attacks your fuckin nervous system right through the speakers!! This is fast, stimulating, old school venom that will get you hooked like a rat.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
SUFFOCATE FASTER boast a heavy, intense sound that is a combination of true old-fashioned hardcore and real metal. Picture a blend between early AGNOSTIC FRONT and SLAYER. This is some heavy shit. It rages, it chugs and it rumbles through 10 cuts of pure, solid force. This is not the new breed. This is the true breed taking influences from the old pioneers and amalgamating a sound that is their own version of heavy, heavy hardcore and absolute power. This is not whimpy emo crap... this is not macho shit... this is just HEAVY in the old-fashioned sense of the word - real Hardcore.
Kung-Fu Records / Broken Sounds
www.kungfurecords.com /
www.brokensounds.com
The new slice of classic death metal from these legends who’s last
release was in 1998 and you can bet your ass that this will trample on
your bones and snort your dust! All the traditional death metal
ingredients are here... tempo changes, solos, super-fast drums, heavy,
chugging guitars, growling vocals. This is perhaps the most produced I’ve
ever heard SUFFOCATION but that’s not a negative thing or anything. Sure I
prefer my music as raw as you can get it but I am beginning to
appreciate the benefits of production more than I ever have before. This
is just straightforward death metal and you either like that or not. This
is what I grew up listening to so it totally speaks to me and it smacks
of the old-school so I’m down with that too.
Relapse Records
www.relapse.com
This is totally different to what I was expecting. I was assuming this to be
melodic indie along the lines of DAPHNE LOVES DERBY or STUDENT RICK for some
reason, but what I actually found is fast and jittery punk rock that reminds
me of a nervier SCREECHING WEASEL mixed with the FRISK, BAD RELIGION and a
touch of ANTI-FLAG and FELIX FRUMP. It’s a nice mix and it’s youthful,
energetic and fun. It’s not ‘silly’. It’s amusing and that’s a good thing.
This is the type of ‘pop’ punk that I like because it’s so edgy and the
vocals are too, and that’s an important thing to keep things exciting or else
you just get a watered-down ‘safe’ band and I got no time for that. I gotta
say I was really impressed with this.
Eyephat Records
www.sugareater.com
I remember when ‘Destruction By Definition’ came out I was 16 and it blew me
away. It was the perfect blend of punk rock, reggae and ska without being
wimpy or ‘funny’... it was right on for me and the lyrics were good too. Then
‘Battle Hymns’ came out a couple of years later and knocked me back even
further, right from the cover art and then the music had delved deeper into
their style and gotten heavier and more political and this was a direction I
liked a lot. Then, for some reason I lost touch with the MACHINES and I can
never figure out why. I was probably on a strict punk-only diet, so no ska,
no hardcore etc. Yeah, that sounds like me! So anyway, I’m kinda outta touch
with them since so I can’t comment on their 2 records that followed but I
sure can with this new one! They still have that unmistakable sound and it
seems that thay have further evolved the sound that they imprinted on
‘Battle Hymns’ and even the cover art and politics have evolved. I really
missed this sound. In a way, THE SUICIDE MACHINES remind me a lot of AGAINST
ALL AUTHORITY who are another ska/punk band that I have a lot of time for
who are also political and have killer artwork. I guess a whole bunch of
silly ska/punk bands and fans came along and ruined the sound for me but
the sound on this record is something I still feel. This still gets me for
sure. It’s stylish, intelligent and constructive and it sounds fuckin great
too.
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
It's funny but it's so relaxing to hear this forceful hardcore and what I mean is that I actually dread reviewing hardcore these days because I know that what the kids and labels are calling hardcore isn't what I grew up listening to. There's no guts anymore so when a band comes along that sounds like the GORILLA BISCUITS mixed with early PENNYWISE and STRAIGHT FACED I can shut my eyes and revel in it because it's a rare treat. I got a stack of so-called 'hardcore' records in my review pile and I'm dreading them and putting them off because I know that at least 80% of them won't be anything I recognise as hardcore. This is 3 tracks of straight, old-fashioned hardcore. It's fast with a melodic edge and that's it... just like Mama used to make. Tthis sound raised me, what the fuck else do you want? Breakdowns? Dual vocals? 2-minute intros? Obscure band/song titles? Not on my watch that's for sure. This is straightforward and powerful.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
I'm a huge, huge fan of Russian punk rock so I was excited to hear these
two TARAKANY! releases and I found that they don't play the typical raw,
lo-fi Russian sound but a rather melodic BAD RELIGION-esque approach which I
have never heard before from Russia. This is by far the most produced
Russian band I have ever heard and it's quite exciting to hear things done
so differently to what you'd expect. TARAKANY! would fit perfectly in the
Epitaph / Fat Wreck roster and this is like the Russian take on that very
American sound and they do it very well indeed. The band sing in both
English and Russian and I much prefer the Russian songs because firstly, I
think it's really cool when a band sings in their native tongue and,
secondly, I love the way the Russian language sounds especially in punk
rock... I think it lends itself perfectly to punk music. I'm a raw punk rock
man myself but that's not to say that I totally dismiss melody in punk
rock. I actually listen to a lot more melodic bands and I like the way
TARAKANY! do it because it feels passionate and they obviously have a deep
enthusiasm for bands like NOFX, BAD RELIGION, PENNYWISE, LAGWAGON etc and
they combine their culture with that sound and it works. I wish more kids
would get into bands like this rather than just accepting the big names and
not researching stuff in their own backyard... especially European kids. Wake
up! Support your continent! Don't just acknowledge the USA when there's
much more stirring stuff nearer home and don't shy away just because
it's sung in a foreign language and comes from a different culture... that
should excite you. TARAKANY! is a very welcoming way to get into a new type
of punk rock. Even if you know the sound, you can still learn a different
philosophy.
Zurich Chainsaw Massacre Records
www.zcmrecords.com
TENPER TEMPER certainly aren't the typical Revelation band... they haven't even got a hint of hardcore. Instead, they are arty, melodic and very unique and take influence and inspiration from all kinds of places and manage to create a blend that's like a dance-MISFITS. You gotta hear it because it's hard to describe in words and that's a good thing when a band is so innovative and imaginative that they create something that's so hard to place and the only comparisons that can be made sound ludicrous! I'm a big fan of that!! This works great and I can even throw in a bunch more elements like hints of INTERPOL, PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED, BUTTHOLE SURFERS, PINK FLOYD, some new wave, some electro, some 80s pop. These guys don't give a shit! They do what they hell they want and mix it all up creating something like you've never heard.
Revelation Records
www.revelationrecords.com
The TEMPLARS truly amaze me how they can keep their sound so fresh. They
just don’t sound like anybody else and that is not something common in Oi!
They don’t have a specific structure musically or lyrically. They do what
they want and it’s so creative and no Oi! band has even come close to the
originality of the TEMPLARS. This is not standard, predictable Oi! This
‘Clockwork Orange Horrorshow’ was originally released 10 years ago and it
still blows all contemporary Oi! away. It’s so intense and zealous through
it’s simplicity... it’s not put-on or strained. The EP features the original 6
tracks ‘Doing The Dirty’, ‘You’d Better Beware’, ‘War On The Streets’,
‘Clockwork Orange Horrorshow’, ‘Leaders Of Tomorrow’ a MAJOR ACCIDENT cover
and ‘Teenage Warning’ an ANGELIC UPSTARTS cover and there’s also the
addition of ‘Modern Day Ripper’ as a bonus track which was a show-stealer on
TKO’s ‘Punch Drunk Vol. 1’. This isn't the first release put out by Templecombe
Records which is the TEMPLARS own label. This is pioneering and inspired Oi!
No one can touch the TEMPLARS.
Templecombe Records / TKO Records
www.templecomberecords.com /
www.tkorecords.com
I was expecting this to be very UK-indie sounding, kind of slow and
distressed with elements of the SMITHS, SUEDE, STONE ROSES etc but I was
quite surprised to find a much faster, upbeat sound with quite a punk rock
presence that reminds me of SST bands like the MINUTEMEN and LEAVING TRAINS
etc. Sure, there is a definite indie existence in the music but it’s way
more on the American side of SONIC YOUTH, MUDHONEY, SMASHING PUMPKINS etc
and the blend works well. It’s youthful and animated and much closer to my
tastes than I had originally anticipated.
www.tessmarka.com
It’s been a weird story with me and THROWRAG because when I first heard them
a few years ago they just didn’t grab me at all. I kept listening to the
record but every time just felt a little let down by it. Then, a
strange thing happened. I saw them live and enjoyed the show so much and all
the songs from the record suddenly came to life and that’s never happened to
me before. The show was amazing and I still think it’s one of the best shows
I’ve ever been to. I just don’t know what happened but I immediately fell
in love with THROW RAG. Then, even stranger, the record that just didn’t
grab me suddenly grabbed me so hard that it still hasn’t let go a couple of
years later... weird shit huh? That’s never happened to me before or since
but it left me waiting so damn impatiently for this new record and boy oh
boy did I get excited when I herd this. THROW RAG is just like no other
band. They have their own idea of what Rock N Roll is and they just have no
rules. They have a washboard, jaw harp, bugle, a saw, they cover MERLE
HAGGARD they have LEMMY, JELLO BIAFRA and KIETH MORRIS as guests on
here. They just do what the fuck they want and they rule. You just gotta
check them out, especially live, and if they’re not playing your town get the
‘Show Must Go Off’ DVD and see what I’m talking about. Very exciting stuff
this THROWRAG.
Kung Fu Records
www.kungfurecords.com
Fast and burly street rock 'n' roll from Pittsburgh that’s so proficient
that’s it’s a fucking shock that this is their debut release. This reminds
me of the magic that the DROPKICKS used to have before they got ridiculous
and by that way they remind me of the STREET DOGS and the BRUISERS when Al
was still singing vigorous punk rock songs. There’s an immense rock 'n' roll
presence soaked into the thickset punk chords and the lyrics communicate
loss and pain as well as unanimity and strength, so these East Water Street
Thugs are by no means by-the-numbers, boring streetpunk clones. This isn’t
meathead shit that’s aggressive for the sake of being aggressive. This is
way more philosophical and weighty and it’s delivered and backed by an
antagonistic approach which in my opinion adds even more weight behind it.
The vocals are sung in a style not usually representative of this genre and
that’s what lifts this band above. There’s no facade, no put-ons, no
over-the-top tough-guy crap. This breed comes from JOHNNY CASH and BRUCE
SPRINGSTEEN... real singers, through to American Oi! and into it’s own
territory. These guys should get huge...
Street Anthem Records
www.streetanthemrecords.com
A departure from the usual Victory sound. THE TOSSERS play Irish folk music
with a huge POGUES edge and I know that that comparison gets thrown around
with every band like this but it truly applies here. FLOGGING MOLLY do not
sound like the POGUES, BLOOD OR WHISKEY do not sound like the POGUES. THE
TOSSERS have the same magnetism as the POGUES and the key factor is the pace
of their music and how they blend in the punk rock elements because a lot of
bands that do this, without naming any names, just can't get the blend
right. The punk sounds forced in, the folk sounds too fast and it just
feels put-on. THE TOSSERS also maintain the entertaining spirit of the style
which seems to have been lost somewhere along the way. I just think they
really gel well and the records flows naturally and I'm a sucker for this
type of stuff but too much of the time I find myself really trying to like
it and it shouldn't be that way. You shouldn't have to try and I don't
with the TOSSERS. The vocals are great too and the delivery on 'No Loot.
No Booze. No Fun' (for Dee Dee Ramone) is fantastic. This isn't Warped
Tour crap, this is passion and if you hear them, I guarantee you'll stop
listening to substandard contemporary folk bands.
Victory Records
www.victoryrecords.com
This is Indiana's hardcore punk kings TOXIC REASONS album from 1988. I always found TOXIC REASONS to have a different approach to hardcore than most other bands. They took the UK punk rock sound and merged it with the US hardcore sound and then they also had this rocky, almost metallic edge too... a lot like the characteristic style that Beer City records came to be known for (and not surprising since Beer City reissued some TOXIC REASONS stuff). It's like a blend of the SUBHUMANS (UK), VERBAL ABUSE, GBH, ZERO BOYS, EXPLOITED, AGENT ORANGE, SKEPTIX , MOTORHEAD and some serious rocking. 'Bullets For You' is still a record that I spin like crazy and I really rate TOXIC REASONS for having this different approach. Their guitar work is pretty sophisticated but still simple and that's the key. They don't chug and chug, they keep up the pace and that's what I'm after. I got no problems at all with bands having a metallic edge but they have to know how to employ it and TOXIC REASONS are proficient at that. This here is an important hardcore band that hardcore kids should be aware of so it's great that this record has been re-released (and the Beer City re-issues too) and I really dig this. It's real old-fashioned stuff that nobody seems to do anymore. Hardcore just ain't hardcore anymore so we have to rely and depend on re-releases like this.
Re-Force Records
www.re-forcerecords.de
4 songs delivered in the distinct TOYS THAT KILL style... heavy guitars,
great lyrics and vocal lines, varying-paces and soaked in ‘70s punk rock
splendour. My favourite thing about TOYS THAT KILL is their vagueness and
openness, their strange release titles, their odd artwork and
photographs, bizarre lyrics and song titles and just the fact that they
do what they feel like. They change the pace whenever they want and each
song has a life of it’s own but still preserves that individual TOYS THAT
KILL flamboyance. I’m looking forward to the next TTK full-length. This EP
just ‘flys’ by way too fast! It’s not enough!!
Asian Man Records
www.asianmanrecords.com
Uber-Synth chaos which is way beyond New Wave and New Romantic. I was expecting
something along the lines of a mix between DEVO, EPOXIES, CRIPPLES, GARY
NUMAN, PULSES etc but this is way, way more frenzied. This is super-spandex,
neon disorder. There are no limits with TRASH FASHION,no rules, just chaos.
We need chaos.
www.trash-fashion.com
They're back! The TURBO A.C.'S need no introduction, you know the drill!
Full-on fuckin punk rock n roll, melodic and chaotic. The power is seriously
concentrated. This record fuckin rocks... the speakers are jerking like
crazy!!! The TURBO A.C.'S really do play the finest in intense rock n roll.
A lot of bands play this style but none as competently as these. It seems they
improve and develop their style and sound further with each release. Very
impressive unadulterated rock 'n' roll chaos.
Bitz Core Records
www.bitzcore.de
Raw garage that's brought together perfectly. They got the right amount of fuzz, it's wonderfully vague and the vocals are spot on... not an over-forced faux-blues growl like so many bands who attempt this do. No bass... that's fine, they don't need it. The organ muddies-up the sound just right with not only bottom-end but also the top-end keyboard chaos. The most unique thing about the TURPENTINE BROTHERS is the fact that they are so upbeat and they don't welter in the usual miserable shit that so many in the genre do. This is fun and exhibits the wild spirit and flair that garage music is all about. It's crude and it's feral and that's what's so beautiful about it. 12 tracks (3 of which are covers) that truly represents the soul of unruly garage music and you know what sums them up the best?... the fact that there's a photo on the back cover that's so bright that their faces are completely shined-out and invisible, and that's brilliant. That's the vagueness I'm talking about. Spot on.
Alive Records
www.alive-totalenergy.com
Melodic, catchy RAMONES-soaked punk rock ala QUEERS, MANGES, SCREECHING
WEASEL, RETARDED etc and it was mixed by Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana so
there’s no surprise! I’m a sucker for this sound so I dig it. I can’t see
how anyone couldn’t dig this. Sure it’s a frequently heard style but who
gives a shit? Bring it on... It’s fun, nostalgic and adoring so what’s the
fucking problem? You don’t like the RAMONES? No? Fuck you then. You do like
the RAMONES? You love them?!! So quit whining and enjoy this. I tell you
what I’m bored of... all those stupid spiky street punk clones that all talk
about ‘fuck the system’ and ‘working class this and that’. Now that shit’s
boring and it’s not even a classic sound. I fucking hated the first band
that did that! Stop posing and enjoy the UNDERHILLS... I sure am.
Cabana 1 Records
www.cabana1store.websiteanimal.com
THE UNDERHILLS inhabit that perfect space between SCREECHING WEASEL and the
MANGES. Nice and melodic without ever getting too abrasive which SW did
sometimes with their hardcore punk past alwys creeping in. I prefer the pure
melody. Along with this sound, THE UNDERHILLS present a melancholy edge with
jarred chords along the lines of the McCRACKINS which works really well.
It's that strange blend of upbeat music and downhearted words fusing so
well (pioneered by the RAMONES of course). Many bands come from the same
direction as THE UNDERHILLS but very few are talented enough to get that
perfect balance but they reach it very confidently and with great style.
'What Went Wrong' documents the strains and damage that friendships will
inevitably go through and rather than asking the question of what went
wrong, this EP supplies the answers through adept lyrics and pleasurable
music. Total thumbs up.
Cabana 1 Records
www.cabana1records.com
‘The Anger And The Truth’ marked a real transformation for the UNSEEN. I had
always liked them previous to that but I really latched onto that release.
Their sound really developed and their song-writing style truly progressed.
That evolution continued on ‘Explode’ and even further on this new record.
The sound is the fullest they have ever had and the Ken Casey and Brett
Gurewitz production is bigger then ever and that’s not a bad thing. They suit
the more refined sound because there’s quite a lot going on in each song and
unless there’s some killer production behind it, it can all become a muddy
mess. This is not shiny production at all! Don’t think that!! It’s just the
cleanest and biggest the UNSEEN have sounded and I think now that the
audience will triple or quadruple and they deserve that. They’ve been
working very hard over the years and I think that people who may have
originally been intimidated or put off by their image and sound will now
find themselves drawn to the UNSEEN.
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com
For those of you who don’t know, Switzerland’s VANILLA MUFFINS are the
originators of Sugar Oi! A fantastic concept of blending Oi! and bubblegum
pop, they have those fantastic melodies that remind me a lot of DISTRICT and
the BOYS and hardly any other bands get that cocktail of antagonism and
melody right. It’s just perfect. All of the songs are so epic and I just
don’t know how that can write so many blockbuster songs! Frankie Flame
guests on the superb opener ‘Sugar Oi! C’mon’ and the following track is
engineered by Micky Fitz so you can see that these MUFFINS don’t mess
around! It’s so brilliant that they do what they want, taking the ‘toughest’
sub-genre of punk and putting an ultra-pleasant, catchy and almost cute spin
on it. Fucking fantastic. Most Oi! bands pride themselves in having pretty
hard-hitting names and these guys go and name themselves the VANILLA
MUFFINS... class. The album title is just great too. I’ve heard 3 releases by
these guys and never have they left me disappointed. Oi! is hardly the most
inspired genre, especially these days, so the fact that the VANILLA MUFFINS
can turn it on it’s head and breathe new life into what is a pretty stale
style is great.
Zurich Chainsaw Massacre Records
www.zcmrecords.com
Shit the bed... this is impressive shit right here. THE PILLZ, NEON MANIACS,
TEXAS THIEVES, THE GEE STRINGS, THE NIPPLES, THE RATTLESNAKES, SPOILED ROTTEN,
CELL BLOCK 5, IN THE RED and TRY FAILING. I don’t even know what to say about
this other than GET IT!!! You need this. This is a fantastic compilation. 30
tracks by 10 killer bands and it’s abrasive, fun, hostile, witty, quirky,
fast, raw, straightforward, melodic and just all out punk rock. It’s got
everything you could possibly need. Fantastic artwork, great
layout/presentation and flows like crazy. This is the shit that will blow you
away. Amazing.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
25 scum punk cuts in tribute to the legendary BLOODY F. MESS from ARSONICK
SCUM, THE CEDAR STREET SLUTS, THE SURFRITOS, THE PROJECTS, BEAUTIFUL BURT
AND THE B.B. SLAGS, SYNTAX ERROR, LISA AND THE LUNATICS, CHICKEN LAB and
more. This is a raw and smutty scumpunk extravaganza. It's kinda like the
GG ALLIN tribute 'Born To Raise Head' but way, way better. This is the type
of punk rock that I live for. This stuff excites me... true punk rock in all
it's filthy glory. This is strictly for the scums out there. This is 100%
not for the fake punks. This is no fashion crap... this is the real thing.
Black and Blue Records
www.blackandbluerecords.com
The second comp from killer DIYers Broken Bonez Records featuring UNDER
INVESTIGATION, AMBIVALENT, THE JUKE JOINT 45S, BIG MEAT HAMMER, BLASTMAT,
D.E.K, BLOODSHOT HOOLIGANS, HOTROD BOOGIE, EVEN LOWER, FIXED IDEA, 2ND CLASS
CITIZEN, PINK SWORDS and BROWN PAPER BAG. You got punk rock, rockabilly,
hardcore and ska all presented in true raw DIY fashion. This ain't no shiny
comp, this is the true grit, the underbelly of the scene where all the great
shit comes from. I'm a sucker for unprocessed true punk rock. I wish the
kids would get into this.
Broken Bonez Records
www.brokenbonezrecords.com
This is a collection of the EPs that Dirty Faces released this year and includes the 'Motorcity Is Burning' 7" compilation featuring DISTRICT, DIE KASSIERER, THE REVOLVERS and PUNX ARMY and what a way to open this CD with one of my all-time favourite punk bands DISTRICT with 'The Kids Just Wanna Riot'... fantastic. I love the DIE KASSIERER track too... it's very entertaining kind of folky punk... nice and raw! THE REVOLVERS need no introduction... you know they rule. Loads of guitars and great vocals and PUNX ARMY deliver the fastest and most aggressive UK-flavoured punk. The next EP featured on here is the CREEKS 'Aktion' 7". 4 tracks of punk rock n' roll from CREEKS. Stripped down and quite reminiscent of the CLASH mixed with the SHOCKS at times... cool shit for sure. The last EP included here is the KAMIKATZE self-titled 12" and I have to say that the artwork of that release is absolutely fantastic and I love that band name too. They close this great compilation with 5 tracks of blistering UK '82-style hardcore punk. Fucking great release here. Great bands and perfectly varied.
Dirty Faces Records
www.dirtyfaces.de
Documenting the eclectic talent within Hellcat's stable of artists ‘Give 'em
the Boot’ offers a glimpse into a label that has carved out a niche for
itself within contemporary music and defined punk rock in the
millenia. This release has been long, long awaited. Put together by chief
Tim Armstrong, the film collates live performances from a wide range of
Hellcat bands including RANCID, F-MINUS, US BOMBS, TIGER ARMY, ROGER MIRET
AND THE DISASTERS, NEKROMANTIX, SLACKERS and the TRANSPLANTS. Using black
and white footage to good effect Armstrong is keen to add an artistic edge
to his film and although there are times when you just wanna watch straight
up organic performances from some of the bands it does make the film stand
out. It’s pure Hellcat style through and through. The highlights of this
DVD are the acoustic performances Armstrong has included, in particular his
version of 'Rats in the Hallway' from RANCID's debut S/T and a duet with the
increasingly genderless Davey Havok on OP IVY’s 'Knowledge'. There really
are some brilliant performances here most notably an epic Matt Freeman bass
explosion on 'Maxwell Murder', some nifty tremble and shake leg work by
Duane Peters (always brilliant) and fittingly Joe Strummer delivering a
rousing version of 'Rudy Can't Fail' as if he was cruising down the Westway
in 1979. This provides an excellent insight into what I decree to be one of
the best punk rock labels around today. The only gripe I have with this film
is that I want more!! That ain‘t a bad thing! Shit they even throw IGGY POP
in for good measure to lay down an acoustic number (with Brett Reed doing a
steller job on the thigh drums!). Of course this is a necessary
purchase. It’s the punk rock big-leaguers back-to-back and you can’t argue
with that...
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com
Voltage records have once again collaborated with a bunch of skate companies to bring you this 23 track collection that covers the entire skate-music spectrum from punk rock to hardcore to pop punk to metal to hip-hop / beats to dance - the whole lot and I think that's pretty fuckin cool and ballsy because you're always going to get people complaining that it's got electronic beats or metal blah, blah, blah, but this stays true to the scene which does encompass all these genres. It's pretty fuckin rare that a comp will do this. Compilations tend to stick very stubbornly to one or two genres so it's nice and fresh to get exposed to something different even if not all of it is your cup of tea. Some of the bands featured this time around are MC RAD, WORM, THE FRACTION, AFS, K-LINE, DELTA 9, SUGARSHACK, STALEFISH, DESALVO, LOSTRIBE, THE DOWNFALL, JOE POPP, GNA, WALK THE PLANK and loads more.
Voltage Records
www.voltagerecords.com
This is the sampler compilation from Fire and Flames featuring the extremely
popular BRIGADA FLORES MAGON from France, one of my favourites, the ARGIES
from Argentina, DULCES DIABLITOS also from Argentina, JEUNESSE APARTRIDE
from Canada, OPCIO K-95 from Spain, ROGUE STEADY ORCHESTRA from Germany and
OBRINT PAS from Spain, so you can see that there’s a good variation and that
is reflected further through the music. There is streetpunk, Oi!, hardcore,
ska, folk, swing, rocksteady, ’77 punk, dub and reggae. I much prefer comps
like this that showcase a handful of bands because you
really get to experience them rather than having 30 bands who all just fly
past and nothing particularly sticks out. You really get involved with each
band’s sound and style on here and you need some time to get acquainted
with them because these are by no means standard punk rock bands! This is
very original stuff with great delivery and positivity and the best thing of
all... no fucking North American bands!!! This is a great comp and it
introduced me to some really attention-grabbing stuff and that’s the whole
point of a comp to leave you wanting more after the introduction.
Fire And Flames Records
www.fireandflames.com
Yes, yes, yes the second killer installment in the 'How's My Driving??' series from Superspeedway Music continuing from where volume 1 left off and left us begging. So get up off yer knees!! It's here!!! This time the line-up goes like this: THE CLIFTONS, THE EDDIE HASKELLS, CHINA WHITE, TEXAS THIEVES, THE LINCOLNS, VINNY-JACK AND THE JABBS, THE DESTROYED, MALAVISTA, THE RESISTOLEROS, CURBSIDE, CLAY WHEELS, THE FORGOTTEN, CROSSTOPS, FRACAS, THE FACTION and the BLACKLIST BRIGADE... what a fuckin line-up huh? Locals, newcomers, legends all rolled into one audio strike. The mix is perfect. It's raw, it's vulgar, it's melodic... all the punk rock rudiments covered. So, how IS the driving? Well, it ran me down and then reversed over me again... this is some killer shit.
Superspeedway Music
www.supersm.com
Now, I’m the hugest fan of punk comps and I always give them a huge chance
even when I have to wade through track after track by bands that just don’t
grab me, or shitty artwork, bad layout, bad fluidity, lack of variation etc.
And even when all these things are happening I still try to give the comp
the benefit of the doubt because I am just a sucker for compilations. What
can I say? So Rapid Pulse’s New York City comp... what did I have to overlook
to enjoy this comp? Fuck all! It fuckin nailed it. Killer artwork and
presentation right from the onset! They’ve grabbed me and excited me so I
couldn’t wait to get this in the player. The bands... the fucking bands. Holy
shit... THE SLEAZIES, THE STAGS, THE WEEKENDERS, THE SHEMPS, SOME ACTION, SHOP
FRONTS, THE PLUNGERS, THE YAMS, DC SNIPERS, THE DISRUPTORS, LITTLE KILLERS,
ANDY G. AND THE ROLLER KINGS, THE SWAGGERTS, ELECTRIC SHADOWS, MOD STEREO
and WORLD WAR IX... just fantastic and the variation is electrifying. This
truly is a pleasure to listen to and review. No skipping tracks, no
let-downs. There's just nothing else to say. Just get this and get blown
away. It will be the best thing you got in a long while and it will be for a
long, long time. Awesome.
Rapid Pulse Records
www.undergroundmedicine.com
A 20-track sampler brought to you by People Like You Records and Liquor
Brand Apparel featuring some of the finest contemporary punk rock, rock 'n
roll and psychobilly bands including DIE HUNNS (the vinyl bonus track 'The
Truth'), the seriously hot BLACK HALOS, the always stunning DISTRICT, the
wild MAD SIN, sexy and sleazy TEXAS TERRI, legendary pioneers THE METEORS,
both SCHLEPROCK and THE GENERATORS, BRAIN FAILURE, ANGEL CITY OUTCASTS, THE
DEEP EYNDE, THE BONES, BLOODJUNKIES, DEMENTED ARE GO and loads more. This is
a sampler CD but it plays like a fucking sick compilation. Usually with
label samplers I keep my finger on the skip button but this one just spins
and spins and I think that it's really cool that there are some special
features about this CD like the rough mix of MAD SIN, the upcoming material
and especially the HUNNS vinyl bonus track because that's something a lot
of kids won't have heard if they bought the CD version of 'Long Legs'.
I think this is a giveaway CD so seriously try and get your hands on a copy.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com /
www.liquorbrand.com
Lobster’s 12 track sampler featuring OVER IT, PARK, STARING BACK, A SMALL
VICTORY and 5 previously unreleased demo tracks from NATHANIEL’S
ENDEAVORS, LORENE DRIVE and DAYS LIKE THESE. It’s got the whole range
we’ve come to expect from Lobster... lot’s of melody and elaborate rhythms.
The unreleased tracks will attract fans of the featured bands but this is
a good introduction to Lobster’s roster for those who are looking for
this style-blend of melodic punk, hardcore, emo, rock, pop and indie.
Lobster Records
www.lobsterrecords.com
If history has told us one thing about the rugged terrain we shuffle our
boots on, its this: stop shuffling when you can shuffle at your best. You
only have to scan the most revered icons in history, Julius Ceaser, Sid
viscious and a young sparrow called Jesus to name but a few to realise that
dying in your prime guarantees a lofty status current earthlings can only
dream about which leads us to the crux. why are we so fascinated with the
idea of dying before our time? Mythology that’s why! What we know and see
helps us to understand why it’s there and what it means to us but if we
can't do either it becomes shrouded in mystery and indeed there is no better
application of this thought than in the death of musicians and the legacy
they leave behind. The sense of unfinished mysticism and unfulfilled
potential and in this hall of infamy there’s a gentleman who doesn't always
register on the average Joe's radar, SUBLIME's Bradley Nowell. Passing away
in 1996 Bradley left a band who's energy and innovation had found them cult
status within the early 90's punk and ska scene of LA. Indeed he died just
before his band released their seminal self titled LP which took the US
independent charts by storm and proclaimed SUBLIME international stars. And
so with this tribute album we find ourselves confronted with an array of
eclectic talent from the Hip Hop soul of MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD to the
slaughterhouse punk of THE VANDALS and within the impressive line up one
realises the aim of any great tribute album should be to make you wanna
listen to the original. It should revitalise your enthusiasm for a well
trodden song and allow you to approach and interpret the song from a
different perspective once it has been detached from its original source. In
many respects it serves as an ideal way to fall back in love with a band.
'Look at all the love we found' documents the breadth and diversity of
Bradley's writing. OZOMANTLI deliver a Latin infused carnival anthem with
their version of 'April 29th, 1992 (Miami)' whilst AVAIL blitz in to the
reggae lilt of ‘Santeria’ but the star of the show is the acoustic trickery
of JACK JOHNSON who drops an uber-mellow medley version of ‘Badfish’ and
‘Boss DJ‘. This is an entirely refreshing album that provides its own
flavour and interpretation of a band who transcended both musical and social
boundaries delivering some of the most relevant and potent music of the
90's.
Kung Fu Records
www.kungfurecords.com
This is the first volume in a series of three collections where contemporary
bands/artists cover tracks by classic indie bands of the late '80s and
early '90s. Some of the contemporaries are TROUBLE EVERYDAY, SOUTH
AMBULANCE, THE FEELING GOOD CONSPIRACY, HELICONIA, AIR FORMATION, DOUGLAS
HEART and WINDERMERE and some of the classic bands covered are MY BLOODY
VALENTINE, CURVE, SPIRITUALIZED, ULTRA VIVID SCENE, SWERVEDRIVER, RIDE,
SLOWDIVE and LUSH. These were the bands I was into when I was 12-15 so
straight away it's going to get a thumbs up and it's so cool to hear
some of these songs again with a new twist on them too. It makes me kind of
sad that I no longer have a lot of those records anymore. I'd love to
hear NED'S ATOMIC DUSTBIN, MEGA CITY FOUR, POP WILL EAT ITSELF, THE PALE
and CARTER USM covered too! Maybe in the next volumes! It's a really cool
and fitting title for the series because it throws you right back and if
you're lucky like me, that's a cool time to get thrown back to and if I
had lost that feeling, I sure as hell got it back.
Club AC30
www.clubac30.com
Well here it is! The fifth collection in the series that unites old timers
with new blood through 30 tracks of punk, hardcore and rock ‘n’ roll. Each
instalment seems to get more and more varied sound-wise and band-wise and
that’s a great thing because it keeps the whole thing fresh and exciting. If
there’s too many similar bands all back-to-back it becomes an
indistinguishable blur but when you have a punk rock backed by a rock ‘n’
roll band backed by a hardcore band it adds an unpredictable element to the
comp and that keeps it stimulating. Also, there’s a lot of bands on here
that have a really interesting sound to begin with like THE KINGS OF
NUTHIN’, THE DISTRICT, TURBO NEGRO, EPOXIES (covering GG!!), HOLLOW POINTS,
THE STITCHES, DIE HUNNS, THE BRIEFS, THE DEEP EYNDE, MAD SIN, PRIMA
DONNA. All these bands are pretty unique and instantly recognisable adding to
the diversity. I think that Disaster just keeps getting stronger and
stronger and expanding it’s sound, especially with bands like DARLINGTON,
HOLLOW POINTS, INSAINTS and CIVET. This series of compilation really
illustrates that and I love each volume of it, but if you look at each one
individually, you can see the progression right there. You can see Disaster
expanding and developing and constantly keeping things invigorating. Other
bands on this volume include BLACK HALOS, DUCKY BOYS, THE WORTHLESS, THE
SKULLS, BLOOD FOR BLOOD, ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS, THE ORPHANS, ANGEL
CITY OUTCASTS, THE LIZZIES, THE BONES, U.S. BOMBS, AMAZOMBIES, THE DUANE
PETERS GUNFIGHT, STREET DOGS, THE ADDICTS, BAD LIEUTENANTS, RIVER BOAT
GAMBLERS, and R.X. SON. Great collection again and as always cool artwork and
this time it’s presented in a digipak style which I always like! This is one
of the only compilation series that I genuinely look forward to the next one
coming out. It never fails to impress me and I can’t wait for the 2006
instalment already.
Disaster Records
www.disasterecords.com
A BLONDIE tribute compilation…this is gonna be fun to review because I know
that all the songs on this CD rule and I always like to hear how bands are
going to take the project on and inject their own style into the music and
if it’s successful it should make for a pretty varied collection- and this
sure does that. All the covers are executed skilfully but the highlights for
me, the bands that really put their imprint on the covers are: SHARK SOUP
approach ‘Denis’ in their Psychobilly/punk style, GENEPOOL put a dark,
gothic edge on ‘War Child’, ROTTEN APPLES bring their pop melody to ‘Picture
This’, DIE TORNADOS definitely put their stamp on ‘Heart Of Glass’ with
traditional Ska- a very dofferent timing to the original, THEE FALNDERS also
transform ‘Maria’ with their Psychobilly mayhem, SKEPTIC ELEPTIC (who are mt
favourite band from this comp) put their glam punk imprint on ‘Atomic’, a
really interesting cover from WET YOUR WHISTLE who infuse their folk slant
on ‘Suzy and Jeffrey’, CUT MT SKIN do a weird rendition of ‘Call Me’ with
brass accompaniment and interesting timing, THE GUV’NORS introduce a
tougher, anthemic streetpunk edge to ‘One Way Or Another’, K-MOB put a
reggae/ ska angle on ‘Dreaming’ and on the closing track RAGAZZA puts her
trippy, minimal perspective on ‘Fade Away and Radiate’. There’s alos a bit
of a surprise in the shape of STIFF-O-MATIC FINGERDOGS that is made up of
members of THE STIFFS, THE AUTOMATICS, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, BLONDIED and
SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS who cover ‘Just Go Away’. A really cool comp because
a lot of tribute comps just seem pretty effortless- just bands knocking out
a straightforward cover but it should be more than that and that’s what this
compilation is all about.
Trash 2001 Records
www.trash2001.de
The 10th volume in the most famous punk comp series of the past decade
presented this year with a 28 track CD and 24 video DVD making that a
whopping 52 songs! As per usual it features some of the biggest names in
the game like RANCID, NOFX, BAD RELIGION, BOUNCING SOULS, DROPKICK MURPHYS,
THE OFFSPRING, PENNYWISE, TURBONEGRO etc and also displays Epitaph’s wider
angle on alternative music that isn’t necessarily punk rock sounding but is
in attitude like SAGE FRANCIS, THE ROBOCOP KRAUS, THE COUP, PETE PHILLY &
PERQUISITE, EYEDEA & ABILITIES, C. AARME, MONEYBROTHER etc. Epitaph truly has
grown as a label since it’s inception and although it’s moved further away
from its punk rock roots (that brought us THE biggest names in US punk rock
for years and years) it’s proved that it’s not afraid to spread its wings
and keep the scene fresh and interesting with no compromise. A lot of
people won’t be down with all the music/bands on the current Epitaph roster
but I think it will introduce a lot of kids to a lot of new sounds and
styles and it’s all for so little cash that everyone’s gonna want it
anyway...
Epitaph Records
www.epitaph.com
This year’s Kung Fu sampler features previously unreleased tracks from AUDIO
KARATE, USELESS ID, VS. THE WORLD, FAULTER, XDEATHSTARX, TSUNAMI BOMB, H20,
and the VANDALS and live tracks from DANCEHALL CRASHERS, BOUNCING SOULS,
THROW RAG and the CIRCLE JERKS plus a bunch more stuff too including the
GETAWAY, COOPER and UNDERMINDED. 23 tracks in all with a lot more of a
hardcore presence this time around. The highlights for me are the live
tracks and even though they are taken from ‘The Show Must Go Off’ DVD
series, they are still kind of unreleased because you get to listen to them
in a different way without the visual footage. THROWRAG especially rule and
you really gotta see them live. An interesting sampler because of the
variation and all the live cuts which is a nice touch because samplers can
get a tad mundane at times so it’s imperative to keep things fresh.
Kung Fu Records
www.kungfurecords.com
This is a collection of Sundsvall, Sweden punk bands from 1979-1980 and
includes MASMEDIA (12 tracks), VACUM (12 tracks), FORBJUDNA LJUD (2 tracks),
PIZZOAR (4 tracks), THE SAME (1 track), INVASION (1 track), BRANDA BARN (4
Tracks) and DIESTINCT (3 tracks). That's 39 tracks in total and almost an
hour and half of super lo-fi and raw punk rock and that's what I want.
That's what I need!! This is my definition of the true punk rock sound.
It's crude and under-produced and exciting. I'm not interested in the
'big' sound or super-production or tightness or whatever, I'm
interested in getting thrills from punk rock and that's what this
delivers. The whole thing has a 'dangerous' edge to it and that's
totally lost nowadays. Fantastic comp with a great booklet too. This is what
it's all about so get with it.
Mass Produktion
www.massproduktion.com
OK, this is totally my bag so it gets a huge thumbs up straight away. The
line-up is absolutely killer... check it out... THE CASUALTIES, STREET
BRATS, DAMAGE CASE, LAB RATS, THE BRIGGS, THE UNSEEN, KRUM BUMS, THE
VOIDS, THE FORGOTTEN, CHEAP SEX, TOXIC NARCOTIC, COMPLETE CONTROL,
MONSTER SQUAD, A GLOBAL THREAT, WEDNESDAY NIGHT HEROE, THE ESCAPED and
loads more... 32 tracks!!! This isn’t all spiky drunk-punk which
can start to grate after a few tracks... this has got some serious
variation with a few surprise-inclusions in there too. Having some of the
smaller bands on there is really cool to see because the big namers are
obviously going to attract the main bulk of attention. This way the
smaller bands get noticed too and that rules. Definitely one to pick up. A
really solid comp and strengthened by the variation because it’s very
easy for these type of samplers/comps to really sound like an assembly of
clones.
Charged Records / Side One Dummy Records
www.chargedrecords.com /
www.sideonedummy.com
Another fucking impressive collection from this Basement comp series
featuring 27 tracks from THE UNSEEN, RISE AGAINST, MAD PARADE, BULLET
TREATMENT, THE PUT-ONS, LAGWAGON, THREATS, THE FORGOTTEN, THE QUEERS, THE
HEROINES, BLEEDER RESISTOR, DEADBEAT SINATRA, AVOID ONE THING and STAIRWELL
to name just half the entries. A very varied and extensive collection with
some serious names on there. It’s unlikely that you’ll have records by all
the bands on here so you will definitely get exposed to some fresh shit.
This is a mammoth series of compilations that you can learn a lot from and
it’s still going strong. Fucking great.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
The new compilation from Basement Records and what a fucking impressive line
up. There’s 29 bands and so much variation, I actually think this is the
most assorted comp I’ve ever heard. There’s the whole punk rock spectrum so
this is going to appeal to every sort of punk right from the spikys to the
poppies to the fringe-over-the-facers. The highlights for me, and there are
a shit load of them, are THE BRIEFS, EDDIE HASKELLS, THE PARTISANS,
CROPKNOX, BULLET TREATMENT, THE LAWRENCE ARMS, CELLPHISH, ONLY CRIME, THE
PEACOCKS, THE TURNOFFS, NONE MORE BLACK, THE STUNNED and ROY. It’s always
the case with comps, especially with ones that have around 30 bands that
you’re not going to dig a bunch of them, and sure there are a bunch of bands
on here that don’t grab me as much as others but the way this is compiled
makes me able to listen to it from beginning to end no problem. I can’t tell
you how many comps that we get here that we keep one finger on the skip
button when we play them. If you gotta do that then the comp has failed
badly. The Radio Disaster series will introduce all kinds of punks to all
kinds of punk and that’s the goal.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
The ninth installment from Basement Records 'Radio Disaster' samplers and once again the variation is huge. 30 bands/tracks covering the whole punk rock spectrum, some big names, some up and comings and some lesser knowns and that backed with the variety makes this another solid collection. The highlights for me this time are OUTBREAK, GRAVE FOR THE FIREFLIES, THE SOVIETTES, BLEEDER RESISTOR, THE RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS, BULLET TREATMENT, USELESS INTENT, THE DRIPS, HIT THE SWITCH, VATOS LOCOS, SIDE KICK and BROKEN BONES but I find that when there's such a huge style variation that I don't find myself skipping to the tracks I prefer. I enjoy listening to the compilation all the way through and that's what a comp should make you want to do. It can't be a very successful collection if you have to keep your finger on the skip button. It's funny that that's how it works on me because there's a few bands on here that just aren't my thing at all and I would never listen to their records but presented like this I can totally enjoy it and not only because I know a band I like is coming up. I am consistently impressed with this series of comps and I think that the most important aspect of it being such a mix is that there are a bunch of bands that will definitely appeal to kids who are into the typical Warped style and they will get exposed to some great punk rock. Definitely recommended.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.net
This is a comp put out by Rebel Noise webzine and it’s a killer collection.
You got DROOL, BROSKY’S REVOLT, LOS CREEPERS, PSYCHOTIC REACTION, WHITE
TRASH DEBUTANTES, THE GIVERS, BLUE COLLAR SPECIAL, REGAL BEAGLE, THE
DEADCATS, THE TAKEDOWNS, DEADBEAT SINATRAS, FALSE ALLIANCE, BEERZONE, JOHNNY
CHEAPO, MAD PARADE, NOBODY’S FOOLS, RIOTGUN, THE COPOUTS, BLUECHANNEL, THE
DUODENUMS and BULLET TREATMENT... that’s 21 bands/tracks and not a dud in the
pack. This is a seriously impressive comp. This reminds me of the comps we
put out here at NFT in that it mixes some familiar names with lesser-knowns
and that’s a cool thing. I’m sure you know and own music by a
whole bunch of bands mentioned above but have never heard of the rest and
that’s how it should be. There’s such a variation of style on here too. You
got straight punk rock, hardcore, rock n roll, melodic punk etc... absolutely
brilliant comp here. This will be my comp of the year for sure. There’s just
no messing around on here...
Rebel Noise
www.rebelnoise.com
This is Finger Records’ new sampler featuring 16 tracks from THE SKULLS,
DEK, EL CENTRO, D.I., FIRECRACKER 500, UNIT R, NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH, OUTLIE,
CH3, THE ROLEMODELS, CIRCLE JERKS, EL NADA, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, BROKEN
BOTTLES and LIGHTWEIGHT HOLIDAY so you got a lot of legends there! Punk
rock, hardcore, rock ‘n’ roll and old school style. The tamest of the
compilation are LIGHTWEIGHT HOLIDAY who slow things down, maybe even a
little too much for me because I like things pressing and pressing!! Live
fast, eat fast, skate fast!! But all in all this is a killer comp that gets
the blood pumping fast and the feet and brain itching to roll around.
Finger Records / Dr. Strange Records
www.fingerrecords.com /
www.drstrange.com
This is the free sampler CD from Fat Wreck Chords. Although Fat has
consistently been one of the biggest and most popular independent labels,
I’ve always felt it to have a different philosophy form all the others. I
really get the feeling that Fat Mike puts out records by bands that he truly
reveres and that excite him even if they could be a bit of a gamble
reception-wise. Out of all the bigger labels I feel that Fat has expanded
the most especially with the addition of bands like the EPOXIES, SOVIETTES
and AGAINST ME! These are very individual bands that may not be immediately
accepted by a typical punk rock audience and that’s a really great thing
that Fat is actually trying to expose stimulating punk rock music to the
masses. They are in a very good position to do so and could totally
inflate a band’s audience in no time. This sampler is an impressive
collection and I think that Fat will just grow and grow and build a more
exciting roster each year. As well as the above mentioned, this sampler
showcases SMOKE OR FIRE, NO USE FOR A NAME, NOFX, THE REAL MCKENZIES, STRUNG
OUT, CHIXDIGGIT! and RISE AGAINST. Of course you should try and get a copy
of this and not just because it’s free but because there’s stuff you can
discover from this.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com
I am such a huge fan of these type of compilations. Last years 'Boston Scene Report' ruled and this year's Sacto Report is absolutely unstoppable!! This is fuckin killer! A five-way split, 2 tracks each and it goes something like this... The WHISKEY REBELS start the compilation out with their fantastic breed of sing-a-long streetpunk, followed by PRESSURE POINT who deliver burly streetpunk too, KILLING THE DREAM takes things up a couple notches with their unruly hardcore then the SECRETIONS rock n roll their way through their 2 numbers and the CD comes to a close with the ROUSTABOUTS (who have now changed their name to AMERICAN STATIC) who dispense some seriously belligerent Oi!-tinged punk rock. Absolutely faultless. This is a fantastic collection.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com
The fifth collection in this global Ska series and, again, all styles and
genres are included from ska to reggae to bluebeat to skapunk to 2-tone to
Latin ska and you get to hear a worldwide interpretation of these sounds and
how differently it is approached around the globe. The bands featured this
time are: from the US: TWO AND A HALF WHITE GUYS and FLIP THE SWITCH, from
Canada: GREG MILKE GROWE and THE BATTYMORES, from Germany: NO RESPECT and
BAD SHAKYN, from Argentina: PAPAS NI PIDAMOS and DULCES DIABLITOS, from
Spain: DINAMO, LOS DINGOS, DANDY FEVER, OBRINT PAS, SHANTY TOWN, DISCIPULOS
DE OTILIA and THE PEPPER POTS, from France: LORD SKALIPSOUL AND THE SKALIBU
ALL STARS, from the UK: TOO HOT and SUPATONES, from Russia: SKALPEL, from
Venezuela DESORDEN PUBLICO, from Columbia: COFFEE MAKERS and from Serbia:
LOST PROPELLEROS... a wide range of direction, speeds and cultures. I love
global compilations because I'm really into hearing diverse philosophies
of the underground and the 'Skannibal Party' series is a solid
representation of these distinct sub-cultures and, again, it comes with the
killer underground artwork.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de
This is the second collection from Suicide Watch that’s ‘redefining punk
rock from the South’ again collecting bands from North and South Carolina,
but this time also bands from Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida... and
it’s impressive as hell. This killer compilation collects 35 (yep 35!!!)
bands from the South and I’m gonna list them all because, like I said, this
comp kills, so here goes... MY SO-CALLED BAND, HUNGRY GHOST, OBGYN, MINORITY
PARTY, SFTM, THE GRAHZNY BRATCHNIES, NEW MEXICAN DISASTER SQUAD, MY MIND’S
MINE, THE SEMANTICS, CARRIE NATIONS, I LIVE WITH ZOMBIES, CRIMSON SPECTRE,
NUKLEHEAD, SICK SICK SICK, HAIRBALL, STATIONS, FLAMIN’ ANUS, ALLERGIC TO
BULLSHIT, U.S. POLICESTATE, THE FIGHTING MAILMEN, SOUTHSIDE PUNKS, DEAD END
HEIST, THE DEAD KINGS, NEW SCHOOL DROPOUTS, EMPIRE FALLS, SMILING FOE,
DESTROYED TRADITION, FORGOTTEN YOUTH, DONE DEAL, THE BITE, MANBAND, PERFO,
THE ASSAULT, DIRTY SOUTH REVOLUTIONARIES and AOH. A great way to learn
about the Southern punk rock underground. Get this.
Su-i-cide Watch Records
www.suicidewatchrecords.com
This is my kinda comp. It reminds me a lot of the types of comps we put out
here at NFT... varied styles and a mix of familiar names and lesser-knowns, and
that's something that we back a lot and something hugely essential in the
punk rock scene. Check out the line up: THE KNUBSKULLS, THE CRUMBS, THE
DELEGATES, RAMSHACKLES, AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY, WHY NOT, THE SKANKS,
RUNNAMUCKS, THE HANGOVERS, STAY HIT, HOPESICK, THE STOP-MOTION, HEATSEEKERS,
THE GETBACK, THE VAN ORSDELS, NO PEACE AT ALL, AC COBRA, MALICIOSO, POOL
PARTY, SOUND 4 SOUND and SPACE STATION 5... 21 fuckin tunes rolled into this
killer comp. This is what it's all about. If you get it... get this.
SOFLA Records
www.soflarecords.com
20 tracks brought to you by Matula Records featuring two tracks each from
THE BECKS STREET BOYS, BACK CHATS, ESTRELLA NEGRA, M.A.M.A., BUBONIX,
VIRAGE DANGEREUX, HELPLESS DILETTANTS, FUTURO INCIERTO, FEAR AND LOATHING
and one song each by THE INCINERATORS and THE HESTONS. Totally DIY and
totally fuckin great... this collection rules. Great artwork too. You got
punk rock, hardcore, rock 'n' roll, streetpunk, melodic punk and it’s
almost an hour long! Very impressive stuff and the show-stealers for me
are the BECKS STREET BOYS, BACK CHATS and ESTRELLA NEGRA. Buy Matula!!!
Matula Records
www.matularecords.de
This is a fantastic 30-track benefit compilation for Indy Media, an
independent, underground media collective with all the profits going to
them (check out
www.indymedia.org).
The line-up is just fantastic... TOYS THAT KILL, FLESHIES, GEISHA GIRLS,
THE SHEMPS, THE SPUNKS, LIPSTICK
PICKUPS, I FARM, ENEMY YOU, THE FRISK, BERZERK, INTROSPETC and the list
goes on... very impressive. Not only is this a killer collection of bands
and going to a worthy cause but all the songs included are either un-released,
rare or vinyl-only so it’s a real treat.... so there’s 3 reasons to
get this comp now and just the fact that it’s got so many great bands is
enough, or the fact that it supports a radical and free-thinking
organisation is a great reason to buy it, or to own tracks that you missed
the first time round and to hear brand new music from great bands. Just
finish reading this review and check out the Indy Media website then go
to the GC website and get this CD.
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com
This is the second international punk/hardcore compilation from Vinehell and
I remember saying that the first one reminded me a lot of the ‘Global
Hostility’ comp we put out here at NFT. This one continues in that vein
and I truly think that the CDs in this series are the most impressive
worldwide collection you can get and not only because of the high-quality of
the music but because I know just how much effort goes into putting a comp
like this together. All the letters/e-mails/time/flaky bands/broken
promises/postal problems. It’s so easy to give up. Too easy and the fact that
Vinehell managed to put 2 of these out that are so fucking strong is a truly
remarkable feat. Inspiring even. We wanna put out a second ‘Global
Hostility’ but we still got headaches from 2002!!!! Anyway, this volume
features ANGRY FOR LIFE, HAPPY BASTARDS, DETONATORS, ESKAPO, INVISIBLE
ENEMIES, NAKED AGGRESSION, THE CLIFTONS and LOVE SONGS from the USA, HALO
(Uruguay), AURORA (Hungary), WASTED (Finland), AGROTOXICO (Brazil), M.I.D.,
CHARTA 77, VINTERTID and TOTAL APARTI from Sweden, DODELHAIE and KAFKAS from
Germany, RESTARTS and RABIES BABIES from the UK, KALASHNIKOV (Italy), THE
PAUKI and TARAKANY from Russia, ZEMEZLUC (Czech), FREI REPUBLIK PANAMA and
ACTION FREEDOM from Poland, OKPLOIDE (France), PEAR OF THE WEST, I EXCUSE
and TAKAHSHI from Japan. 30 fuckin tracks, 14 countries. Impressive shit and a
bunch of bands we’ve worked with here as well. This will spin and spin here
at NFT and it might just push us to get into that awful state again because
the end result is just so damn worth it.
Vinehell Records
www.vinehell.com
After more that 25 years this superb compilation of Vancouver punk and new wave is re-released with bonus tracks and I can tell you this easily kills all the modern shit. This rips the shit out of all new comps. I mean, all this new stuff just seems so weak and boring when you compare it to this comp. This is what we are all about at NFT. This is raw, it's fun, it's experimental, its urgent. You know, the stuff that punk rock used to be made of. Every kid should have a copy of this and learn something. You got D.O.A, SUBHUMANS, NO FUN, THE SHADES, THE DISHRAGS, ACTIVE DOG, WASTED LIVES, POINTED STICKS, EXXOTONE, BIZ, K-TELS and more. This is the stuff. I'm taking it in in huge breaths and it feels amazing. You need this badly even if you have the original because there's 5 bonus tracks on this re-release.
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com
The Warped Tour has just began this year and to accompany it SideOneDummy
have released this double CD compilation featuring some of the bands
included and in true Warped Tour fashion there's something for every type of
punk rocker. You're going to hate some, you're going to love some, you're
going to get excited about some and you're going to hate some even more. The
Warped Tour is a real mixed bag... pop punks mixing with hardcore kids and
streetpunx. I don't think anyone who goes to the Tour likes all of the
bands playing but some will learn something and some will just get
angry. Anyway, this release features 50 tracks including FLOGGING MOLLY,
PENNYWISE, GOGOL BORDELLO, DROPKICK MURPHYS, NO USE FOR A NAME, THE
OFFSPRING, STRIKE ANYWHERE, STRUNG OUT, YOUTH GROUP, ATREYU, HOT WATER
MUSIC, STREET DOGS, THE MATCHES, MXPX, THE UNSEEN, TSUNAMI BOMB, FROM FIRST
TO LAST... and the list goes on and on and as you can see it's really fuckin
varied and I guess that's a pretty important thing. I'm kind of
old-fashioned and narrow-minded and like my punk rock gritty, but there is a
lot of stuff that grabs me on here and I even got surprised by a bunch of
bands too so I guess it works!
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com
Fast and melodic punk rock with suggestions of NOFX and BAD RELIGION mixed
with an 80s hardcore sound. It’s youthful and energetic and really reminds
me of 80s punk rock and the days when punk was still fun and bands were free
to experiment and do what they wanted to do with their sound. VENEREA are from
Sweden, not America, which is probably why that have the special edge... the
hardcore hints rather than just being a straight melodic punk band, and it’s
that edge that makes them shine above all the US stuff. Definitely what the
kids should be into.
Bad Taste Records
www.badtasterecords.se
THE WAKING EYES are a contemporary Canadian band but you'd believe they
were from Detroit in the 1960's / 70's because they radiate the raw,
garage rock 'n' roll fuzz of the STOOGES, DETROIT WHEELS, THE MC5 and the
AMBOY DUKES and I'm sure looking forward to their full-length that's due
next Summer... a great time of year for music like this. They are way more on
the heavy riff, rockin' side of things than the psychedelic side and that
works much better for me. This song is short and terse rather than droning
on and on which was the side of early garage that I could've done without.
Keep it heavy and shakin'.
Coalition Entertainment
www.coalitionent.com
It’s easy to assume a lot when it comes to the American streetpunk/Oi!
scene... well, the global scene really because there are just so many carbon
copies and imitators and you have to wade through band after band of
second-rate shit before a band stands out and grabs you. Now, with the
WEEKEND WARRIORS forget all your suppositions. These guys play fully-fledged
American streetpunk from a new direction. The opposite direction to where
most related bands come from. There’s no generic shit, no put-ons, no boring
heard-it-all-before ‘tough guy’ acts. This is fresh. There’s a huge rock n
roll and almost glam edge to the whole thing... not like SLADE or something
like that which a lot of bands have aped, but a really glam edge! Then
there’s the immensely present facet of American punk rock like ONE MAN ARMY,
PINKERTON THUGS, RANCID, SWINGIN’ UTTERS, LOWER CLASS BRATS, REDUCERS S.F.
and then there’s the pub rock style of THE BOYS, the mod approach of THE JAM
and THE UNDERTONES and the hard-hitting, straightforward rock ingredient of 20/20
too. Like I told ya, this ain’t yer standard streetpunk band!! This is the
kind of band and record that people who aren’t into punk rock will take a
shining to and that’s really cool because that certainly can’t be said about
most other streetpunk/Oi! bands that’s for sure. That’s usually a niche
market type of thing and it’s way beyond time to stretch and expand and take
the music further like this.
Street Anthem Records
www.streetanthemrecords.com
Typically when you get a documentary like this the person who it’s about is
usually dead or fucked in one way or another and without going into names I
can think of quite a few where by the end of the movie, albeit a great
movie in most cases, you’re left on a downer. That’s not the case with
Duane. Duane is unpredictable in every way. He has double-crossed life,
touched death, been the best, fucked up a million times, been loved, hated
and damaged and caused damage and still he’s fucking steering that roller
coaster and he and all the people he’s taking with him haven’t got a fucking
clue where he’s going but they can bet their lives it’s going to be exciting
and impulsive. That’s Duane. The adolescent mid-lifer, the eternal rebel.
So who cares? I fucking do because for over a decade now Duane has been the
most important influence and someone I truly am proud to look up to. He’s
stayed true and done things his own way... the hard way. Stuck to it through
all the shit and always delivered 100% style even when his own life was
trying to strangle him. The guy is pure passion and whether that’s positive
or negative passion it’s fucking unstoppable. A lot of people are given the
‘living legend’ tag and rarely do they deserve that honour, but in Duane’s
case you just can’t dispute it. He’s the best at what he does and the
enthusiasm and animation that he brings into skateboarding and punk rock is
simply inescapable. I have never met a punk rocker or skater in my life who
doesn’t love the guy. Not just like him, but love him. This is the perfect
time for this movie to come out because Duane is on a high right now so it’s
OK to see that he fucked up in the past because you know he pulls through it
all. See the toddler develop into the insurgent, see him at his best and
worst, highest and lowest, his most fucked up and his most sensitive. With a
fantastic cast of friends and family including Duane’s Mom, Steve Olson,
Steve Alba, Tony Alva, Jason Jessee, Mike Lohrman, Ricky Barnes, Corey
Parks, Lance Mountain and loads more this is a fully-comprehensive
documentary. This is the story of the guy who never gave up, never sold out
and always did things by his own rules no matter what the consequences were
and is still living that way today, perhaps slightly tamer, but definitely
never changed in integrity. The beauty of this movie is that when all the
credits have run it ain‘t over. You know Duane’s doing OK. He’s on top of
things and his ending hasn’t been written yet but I think he knows it’s
going to be a fucking happy one and a fucking deserved one too. I really hope
that some young kids see this movie and realise what real punk and
skateboarding is all about. This is raw and real, ugly and beautiful and
most probably unlike anything they are used to. This is not the safe shit of
today! Every punk rocker and skateboarder should have this DVD and reassess
what they think their scenes are all about. I remember when I first heard
the Bombs I was still a kid. I was 16 and it blew me away and from then on
I figured the youth don’t know shit and it’s 10 years on and I still think
that but instead of looking up to 30-somethings now I look up to
40-somethings!! This movie is fucking awesome. There will never be another
Duane.
Black Label Skateboards
www.blacklabelskates.com
This reminds me of a faster and more hardcore BRISTLES and that rules!! A lot!! It's got a wonderful 80's feel - rawness, passion and fun and those are the three most important things in punk rock. Who the hell wants serious, over-produced, wooden crap? I sure as hell don't. I want my punk rock urgent and unpredictable and that's what ya got here. This is for sure what No Front Teeth is all about. 18 cuts that you really should have in your life. This will be hogging the player at NFT HQ for a long, long time that's fer sure.
SOFLA Records
www.soflarecords.com
I couldn’t wait to get this disc in the player. Everything I read about
these girls excited me, I wanted this so bad. So did I hype it up too much?
Was I expecting too much? Fuck no, these girls delivered like crazy and I
still got a hard-on for their sound. A mix of the SOVIETTES, TYRADES,
SAVAGE LUCY, ENDS, RIP OFFS, THEE INDIGENTS... are you still reading? What the
fuck are you doing still looking at this? Stop reading! Stop! Get out the
house and get this CD or if you live in some shit place order it from the
label website because I guarantee you that you need this. This is sexy and
fierce and everything about punk rock in 13 songs (plus some footage) and,
as with all the aforementioned bands, the most appealing factor about the
W.I.N.K.S. is that they keep it straightforward and clear-cut, never
over-complicating or over-performing and that’s the key. This rules. Get it
for sure even if you’ve got money aside to buy another record. Forget it and
get this instead.
Super Secret Records
www.supersecretrecords.com
14 tracks in just over 25 minutes... that’s what I’m talking about! This is
frenzied as hell! It’s like the MINUTEMEN mixed with early BLACK FLAG and a
pneumatic drill. It’s commanded by the chaotic heavy rhythm section presence
(just like the MINUTEMEN). It chugs and stamps and hacks away at your
brain! This will make you sweat!! It’s angry and distorted and takes control
of you... go with it! You’ll benefit from the experience. You’ll get battered
but you’ll enjoy it.
Sweet Nothing Records
www.cargorecords.co.uk
This is a chaos blend! It's like a fusion of punk, metal, hip-hop and dance but it's not like the PRODIGY or the TRANSPLANTS or anything like that that you might be imagining - this is way more concentrated. It's more like elements of the BUTTHOLE SURFERS mixed with APHEX TWIN and THE ORB, THE DWARVES and TRICKY. The songs switch from delicate piano to wild beats and samples to heavy guitars... it's very unique. The whole band skate so perhaps this is their way of representing the exhilaration, thrill and aggravations of a session through sound rather than the obvious punk rock and that's a new approach.
Voltage Records
www.voltagerecords.com
Shit, these kids look so young. Stripped down, snotty punk rock with a slight
‘80s hardcore punk edge of early ADOLESCENTS, CIRCLE JERKS, D.O.A., YOUTH
BROGADE, JERRY’S KIDS etc. I gotta say that young punk bands usually aren’t
my bag. I like my punks old and beaten with years of disarray behind them
but WRECKING CREW have fucking impressed me. It reminds me of when young punk
bands were actually good and urgent. They got all the offensiveness, energy
and mind-set to win me over and that’s remarkable. These guys keep their
songs short too... another plus point. Wow, a young punk band blowing me away,
how about that?! The thing is that I used to love young bands but then
something happened where all the cool kids grew up and there were none to
take their place, just lame kids with no style so you gotta understand what
WRECKING CREW present to me!!! I wish there would be more young bands like
this. That would excite me like crazy.
Split/Scene Records
www.splitscenerecords.com
Remember when punk rock and skateboarding were brothers? When punk rock music and rebel sports went hand-in-hand? Before hip-hop came in and ruined everything? Yeah those were the days... Well, now they're back!! Here you have over an hour of punk rock and snowboarding mayhem going hand-in-hand, working with each other. The music on this is not just background filler, it is half of the DVD and coupled with the sick footage this is one hell of a ride. You got Pennywise, Bouncing Souls, Bad Religion, Hot Water music, The Movielife, Sugarcult and more shaping the wildness and speed of the snowboarding footage and it works really well. I like the idea of this a lot... the idea of music playing such a big role rather than being a kind of filler.
Black Diamond Films
www.blackdiamond.co.uk
This is very melodic with loads of harmonies and switches from serene to turbulent, but the most striking thing about YELLOWCARD and the thing that sets them apart from all the other bands playing this genre is their eerie sound. It's something much more sinister than you'd usually expect and they also use the violin which is very unique for this type of thing and it all works really well. They have really developed a sound and style and that's so cool to see in a time where all bands sounds the fuckin same. It seems like bands these days are scared to stray from a particular pattern for fear of not being liked. It's so energizing to see and hear a band that is not frightened to experiment, especially in a scene that is very repetitive at the moment.
Lobster Records
www.lobsterrecords.com
The title track has a really 80's feel to it mixed with an early '90s UK
indie sound with a lot of piano which I'm really down with. It's edgy
and intense. The second track is 'Salvadore' which during it's 5
minutes I expected to build up but it doesn't really and I like that. It
starts off very elegantly with piano and voice and does slowly build up with
guitars and drums by the minute and a half region and then diminishes again
and slowly builds up again with the vocals doing a lot to shape the song.
Impressive song-writing here and an original direction too. The songs are
not predictable and neither are they overcomplicated. In a sense they remind me
a bit of COLDPLAY but less formulated.
White Duke / Vital