-NFT RECORD REVIEWS 2007-

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‘300% Cotton’ by Helen Walters
This is the third instalment in Helen Walter’s ‘% Cotton’ series presenting original and captivating T-Shirt graphics. This is a collection of artists and brands that refuse to rehash and imitate but instead push the T-Shirt into a new dominion because the T-Shirt graphic has always been exploited but never as much as today. Humorous shirts just aren’t funny anymore, punk rock graphics just don’t provoke or offend any more and it seems that laziness has taken over and artists and companies find it much easier to rework an old classic rather than put their mind to something challenging and stimulating... well, that's where ‘300% Cotton’ steps in. There’s no generic, watered-down second-hand art here, instead, you will be captivated by a collection of diverse graphics ranging from the uber-original to the stunning to the downright weird. I remember about 10 years ago being stunned by the new wave of skateboarding T-Shirts, and to me, that was the closest thing to original punk rock graphics but that too quickly lost all of it’s bite and edge turning into something very cloned very quickly and now I only get excited about the rawest punk rock designs. The simpler the better and that’s why a book like ‘300% Cotton’ really speaks to me because this is an assortment that still has bite and still has an edge, and although many of the designs may not be my style, I can certainly appreciate what they stand for and I'm so happy that this is happening. When that damn ‘FCUK’ campaign can last as long as it has we know there’s a problem, we know we’re in trouble! In my opinion, that was a huge plague on the T-Shirt graphic. It meant people didn’t have to think anymore to put any effort into what they displayed on their chests. Well, this book will hopefully fall into the right hands and start some new T-Shirt insurgency!
Laurence King Publishing
www.laurenceking.co.uk

999 - ‘DEATH IN SOHO’ CD
Brand new full-length from UK punk legends 999 with their unmistakable melancholic and melodic yet tough sound. This is a band who have been here since before the punk explosion of ’77 and still stand fuckin tough and have always held a staunch presence and haven’t changed in all these years and that’s a great thing in my opinion, why go with the flow and change with the times?? Fuck that, if you’re a pioneer, you’re a pioneer and don’t change the ingredients is what I say. This is even the original line-up apart from the bass player who’s from the LURKERS whose been with 999 for over a decade. 20-something records later, 999 still have passion and presence in spades and their fire won’t be extinguished any time soon…this band is burning fucking bright.
Overground Records
www.overgroundrecords.co.uk

A.F.S. - ‘DELIRIUM TREMORS’ CD
This is the second full-length from these UK old school skate punks whose sound is a blend of early UK punk ala UK SUBS with the later sound of LEATHERFACE and a more contemporary American twist thrown in too. As you can expect from A.F.S. they are confrontational and political but still maintaining super-strong melody in their delivery. It’s aggressive but melodic and that’s a great balance with some sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek interpretations and if you want to hear a band that truly does whatever the fuck they want, then A.F.S. are all about that - these guys have always done things entirely their own way and aren’t about to stop for anyone. A great follow up to ‘Tales Of A Drunken Generation’ with some real gems in here - ‘Trouble With Bullets’, ‘Duped’, ‘Dysfunctional’ and ‘Young Guns’ but it’s all good and a real fun while packing a tough and intelligent punch.
Voltage Records
www.voltagerecords.com

THE ACHES - S/T CD
THE ACHES from Sweden play a stripped down mix of punk, post-punk, new wave and hardcore with some brass touches and a very interesting sound it is. It reminds me of a mix of THE STROKES, PIL, ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, JOY DIVISION and THE HIVES. It’s raw and minimal and very well produced and it’s got a lot of energy and originality. The drums and bass really structure the sound and the guitar work is very selective and just comes in and out in spurts where it needs to with key chords and minimal resonance and the vocals elevate the whole thing, again, selectively and almost filling the gaps of the guitar and this works really well. The whole thing is very sharp and arty and this type of sound will appeal to a lot of different people and even different genres.
Diapazam Records
www.diapazam.se

THE AGGROLITES - ‘REGGAE HIT LA’ CD
Just in time for summer, THE AGGROLITES are back with their super-infectious and uber-talented dirty reggae…this is an awesome force…what a band. They really fill the gap between THE SLACKERS and HEPCAT…they have the smoothness and upbeat-ness of HEPCAT but with the eccentricity and imagination of THE SLACKERS and they have this whole other side that neither of those bands have…they have this very punk element to their sound even though they are strictly reggae and I’ve never heard that put across like this before…that’s something that’s unique to THE AGGROLITES and I just don’t know how that do that and still maintain this totally authentic reggae sound…unbelievable…I guess that’s why Tim appointed them as his back band on his solo album…makes sense. The album presentation even looks like a punk rock record and I love that. To convey attitude like that is quite a feat but these guys nail it. I just can’t praise these guys enough, if you haven’t heard them yet you need to get with it because this is amazing. Jesse’s voice is fanatastic…that’s a huge ingredient in their mix too…he manages to have smoothness and grit simultaneously- and that’s the AGGROLITES sound altogether. Reggae Hit LA…I think this reggae will hit the entire globe.
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com

GG ALLIN & THE MURDER JUNKIES - ‘HATED’ SPECIAL EDITION DVD
There’s are thousands and thousands of hours of GG ALLIN footage around but none have ever got as close and personal as the footage on ‘Hated’. This documentary shot by Todd Phillips fifteen years ago allows the viewer to ‘sit with’ GG, get a glimpse into his mind and composition. Not only does GG paint as clear and natural a picture of himself as the world will ever see but we get glimpses into the Kevin Allin that existed before he took on the GG form, this is where you can learn about GG’s past and what shaped him into the outlaw scumfuc that he was until his dying day. If you want to see GG in all his fucked up glory, the this DVD is for you, but if you want more that that- which I always did, then this documentary caters for that too. In fact, the first time I ever saw ‘Hated’ I thought that all the GG-haters, the people who can’t stand him and just can’t understand why he did what he did should see it. He was an artist but and artist who never stepped out of character, he believed in his work and lived by it and paid for it on several occasions. It’s easy for an artist to create an obnoxious and grotesque piece of work then wash up, change clothes and go back to reality…that’s the thing about GG, his work was his reality, there’s no clean clothes for GG….there are some quite poignant parts in the GG interviews and when would you ever hear a word like that in relation to GG Allin?? And that’s why this movie is such a unique and important piece of documentation. I’m really happy that this special edition has been released because the world needs to learn about this, there will never be another GG Allin and that’s a sad thing. The thing that has always aggravated me is that just because of the fact that GG Allin was a punk rocker, he was instantly something disgusting and repulsive, if he was an artist, however he would have been revered in the realms of Bob Flanagan, Marcus Harvey, Gottfried Helnwein, Jeff Coons or the Chapman Brothers, all of whom I think are great but nowhere near as real as GG. I guess that’s the frightening thing for society, that he was just so real and so unpredictable…Todd Phillips caught GG at the pinnacle of his psychosis, rage and hate, hence the appropriate title of the movie and you certainly see a very dark side to the man. I highly recommend this even if you’re not a GG Allin fan, just if you’re a rock ‘n’ roll fan because this is a masterpiece that will never be repeated…all you phoney ‘shock’ rockers take not and hang your heads in shame, when you contract blood poisoning from getting faeces in an open wound all caused completely by yourself, maybe we can talk. This special edition contains a whole bunch of exclusive extras including interviews with GG’s brother Merle, Dino Sex, GG’s Mon and a commentary by Todd Phillips, Merle and Dino as well as music videos and a gallery of the cover art contest. The rock ‘n’ roll world needs this to keep the fire of danger and pandemonium burning, if only someone had made a documentary about Bobby Ebz maybe we’d have had more than one GG…Very highly recommended. Oh yeah, you get the opportunity to purchase a limited edition print of the GG Allin portrait painted by John Wayne Gacy with this special release as well as some GG Allin transfer tattoos.
MVD Visual
www.mvdvisual.com

ALTERNATE ACTION - S/T 7”
These no-bullshit, tough as fuck Canadian Oi! boys are back with another 7” following their split with MARCHING ORDERS at the start of the year (also on Longshot). Four brand new tracks in their heavy punk / Oi! style reminiscent of the classic early UK sound of SHAM 69, COCKSPARRER and THE BUSINESS. They are hard-hitting and tough as fuck but they still have a lot of melody in their anthemic songs. Featuring vocalist Greg of the SUBWAY THUGS, GLORY STOMPERS and LANCASTERS, you know exactly what you’re letting yourself into with ALTERNATE ACTION…it’s gonna be robust and it’s gonna be hostile!!
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

AMBIVALENT - S/T CD
This is the new AMBIVALENT demo CD and presents 11 more tracks in their aggressive, raw and very unruly hardcore punk style. The aim of this demo is to showcase their new singer as these are the first recordings with him. Their sound mixes old school and contemporary sounds with a very evident ‘80’s skate/thrash edge and they retain some great melody through their wildness which really works well. There are certainly elements of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, AGNOSTIC FRONT and ANGRY SAMOANS but also a slight touch of 7 SECONDS melody here are there and maybe even a touch of the QUINCY PUNX ferocity and speed. I like this band a lot and their new singer is working out great and I still spin their ‘2 Wrongs Make A Right’ record a whole fuckin lot.
Broken Bonez Records
www.brokenbonezrecords.net

ANTiSEEN - ‘THE BOYS FROM BRUTALSVILLE’ CD/DVD
TKO have reissued ANTiSEEN’s 2001 comeback album that infected and solicited a new generation of destructo scumfucs and this time it’s even sicker with 4 extra tracks and an additional DVD!!! I’ve said it before, and I’m going to say it again- I’m just so happy that ANTiSEEN have had this ‘second’ wave through TKO’s releases and ‘Vaults Of ANTiSEEN’ re-releases because this is more than a band, it’s a force and it can’t be ignored…there will NEVER be another ANTiSEEN so grab a apiece of true history while you can…experience the force, fuck the imitators and be subjected to some really evil pleasure. I recently read ‘Destructo Maximus’ and what a history these guys have. Not only is ‘The Boys From Brutalsville’ a sick album it’s also a fucking important one because of the fact that it marks their comeback and could be credited as the reason they are so powerful today, of course they were already huge but the old fans were already established and now they have this whole army of youth behind them too…the DVD contains ANTiSEEN’s 2001 show from the Garage in Los Angeles as well as the videos for ‘Guns Ablazin’’ and their RAMONES cover ‘Commando’…sick, sick package that will project ANTiSEEN even further for sure.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com

ARCHAGATHUS / MESRINE - SPLIT 7"
Two Canadian thrashers delivering four tracks each on this awesome split. Both bands play fast and raw in the early NAPALM DEATH style (MESRINE cover 'Practise What You Peach') and both are in the strictly old-fashioned hardcore approach. This is unrefined and urgent shit, a real pounding assault. Bucho Disco have a slogan that reads 'grind your mind' and they're not fucking joking! This massacre is presented on clear grey wax.
Bucho Discos
www.buchodiscos.kit.net

ATARASSIA GROP - ‘THE OLD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY’ CD
This is a best of compilation showcasing Italy’s ATTRASSIA GROP’s eleven years of melodic hardcore punk chaos. Starting with a track form a 1996 demo and ending with live cuts from 2005. This is a band who really mix things up but always have strong melody and a lot of fire - whether they are doing a straight punk song or speeding things up to a more hardcore pace or even throwing some reggae in. It’s political but with a really upbeat edge- you can learn something from this but you can also dance to it and that’s a fucking important thing! Don’t forget the fun!!! They definitely do things on their own terms and really push their sound while still maintaining strong punk rock boundaries, this is a very expressive band and you’d so very well to start with this compilation if you are unfamiliar with them. There’s something so passionate that comes across in this that absorbs their sound completely.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de

BAD BRAINS - ‘LIVE AT CBGB 1982’ DVD
It’s releases like this that really make it hit home about CBGB and how things will never be the same again. This show, compiled from 3 days at the CBGB Hardcore festival, epitomises the very importance of that venue as well as the impact and ingenuity of the BAD BRAINS. They truly were pioneers in a league of their own and nothing has come close since. This show is chaos from the first chord... HR is out of control for the get go. He is wildly animated and in complete control of this show. The crowd are glued and sucked in by him and it’s all so closely contained. It’s such a varied audience and they are so into it, and it’s amazing to see. Shit would I have loved to be at this show... but I was too busy eating cookies and milk and getting my ass wiped thousands of miles away... damn being born too late and on a different continent!! But thanks again to MVD this extremely important punk rock history is documented and thrown in the faces of the youth of today who just don’t understand shit like this. This is raw and urgent and so honest and in the true sense of the word... live. Bad Brains are live full stop. They cannot be tamed and this is pure evidence of that. Even when they relax things with their reggae and dub it’s still totally fierce. The crowd connects to the band like crazy and that’s a fantastic thing to see. They are on stage and it’s out of control and it’s fun and that’s the fucking definition of punk rock. Kids learn that! Don’t forget that behind all the contemporary fashion and posing there was once fun and upheaval in punk rock!!! That’s what Bad Brains represent. This is fantastic and exactly what punk rock symbolizes to me. I want to go back to these times so badly because this stuff is in my blood and I need to witness it first hand, but until that happens (if ever) I got DVDs like this. Thanks again MVD!!!
MVD Visual
www.musicvideodistributors.com

BAD RELIGION - 'NEW MAPS OF HELL' CD
For me this album is 'How Could Hell Be Any Worse' revisited 25 years later, it's a quarter of a decade in between documents of Los Angeles and I'm certain this connection is intended- even the title and cover art harks back to that debut. Sure, there are huge differences between these records, the band are 25 years older, more mature and focussing on more sophisticated song crafting rather than assertive hardcore but make no mistake, this album lacks no energy and its focus is unwavering. BAD RELIGION certainly carved their style deeply into the scene and that's never going away and 'New Maps Of Hell' embraces that classic and trademark sound but within a way more stripped-down style and this is the best I have heard BAD RELIGION sound in years, I'm a sucker for the early stuff so it's a joy for me to hear that they've taken their music closer to their roots but still kept their progression very present. A really strong new album and definitely the direction I wanted to see BAD RELIGION in in 2007.
Epitaph Records
www.epitaph.com

‘Badge Button Pin’ by Gavin Lucas
The amount of wisdom, individuality, belonging, proclamation and assertion held in a one-inch badge is simply immeasurable…way beyond its one inch diameter and that’s what ‘Badge Button Pin’ presents Divided into 5 sections: decorative, promotional, packs, websites and art. This is a collection that really pushes the influence of the badge because in the past decade the badge has elevated itself into a new realm- the badge has always been adored and treasured but not like it is today. Today the badge is parallel to the t-shirt, and that’s a huge statement because the t-shirt has also exalted itself further than ever before, but this is an accurate declaration. If you wear, say, four badges, it’s like wearing four t-shirts. This collection showcases exactly how to use the badge and how individual each artist’s approach is: how they employ humour, repetition, vagueness, controversy and just plain eye-candy and the most wonderful thing that’s evident throughout the pages of this book is that the badge is never compromised or distorted, it remains true to itself, true to its convex one-inch. There’s some really exciting designs in here and I love the badge sets that are created to be work all together like Peter Michael Willer’s ‘Law And Order’ series and skull/poison set and George Wu / Gotta Give It Up’s ‘Buttons’ sequence where each badge actually depicts a real button. The absolute show-stealing collection in this book, for me, is the ‘Reggae Allstars’ collection by New which is a series of thirty illustrations of Jamaican reggae artists. Fantastic. Another important feature of this book is that it’s so much fun and that’s ultimately what the badge is all about. It’s for everyone and it’s fun, even when it’s making a serious point, it’s still kinds fun because of the unforgettable nostalgia and excitement of badges - I’ve worn badges pretty much from since I was about 10, now more than ever, so this book was a very exciting prospect for me and I’ve been glued to it’s pages for weeks, or perhaps pinned to it’s pages. This is great.
Laurence King Publishing
www.laurenceking.co.uk

THE BAMBOO KIDS - ‘FEEL LIKE HELL’ CD
I’m very possessive of the term ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ and it makes me sick how it just gets thrown about and stuck on any piece of shit band who just don’t represent anything of what rock ‘n’ roll is. Well, THE BAMBOO KIDS are a real rock ‘n roll band and this album excites me as much as when I first heard the EXPLODING HEARTS’ ‘Guitar Romantic’ this is the rock ‘n’ roll sound that I hold so dear and am so damn proud of. It’s raw and simple and through their straightforwardness they create an overwhelming impact and that’s the sign of a real rock ‘n’ roll band. It’s too easy to crowd the sound and over-pollute it with effects and production to hide weak song-writing but this is exposed and untreated and injects itself deep inside you. That’s real rock ‘n’ roll. To top this off, this is a three-piece and I’ve raged and raged about how much that excites me when it’s done well and THE BABMOO KIDS are pretty much the definition of the perfect three-piece. There’s only three of them so they have to be picky about what they put in and this is the key. Nothing is thrown onto the mix unnecessarily or arbitrarily. Nothing is just for the sake of it, it’s all fucking gold.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com

BIG JOHN BATES - ‘TAKE YOUR MEDICINE’ CD
BIG JOHN BATES plays straight rockabilly but with a serious punk rock influence and it’s interesting how he brings these together because he doesn’t do it in the obvious, heavy rock ‘n’ roll way. He keeps things strictly rockabilly but with a punk rock delivery and attitude. It’s too easy for bands these days to mix punk chords with a bit of twang and call themselves punk ‘n’ roll or whatever, but BJB is coming from a different direction. He’s mixing old school punk rock with even older-school rock ‘n’ roll and keeping things simple. He’s using punk as an extension of rock ‘n’ roll and that’s how it should be! It shouldn’t be too heavy. It should be straightforward and effective and that’s the track BJB is riding down.
Wolverine Records
www.wolverine-records.de

BILLY NO MATES - 'C'MONLETMESEEYOUPOGO' CD
The second full-length from Duncan from SNUFF's side-project, but things have changed since the debut 'We Are Legion' where Duncan played and sang everything himself. This has moved away from a solo-project and Duncan put 2 BILLY NO MATES bands together, one over here in England and one in Japan and 'C'monletmeseeyoupogo' is recorded with the Japanese band line-up (the UK line-up have a split 7" out and will be releasing new material later this year). What an awesome idea!! Two versions of the same band!! In pure Duncan style this is fast and frenzied yet very melodic and in pure Japanese punk rock style the music is super-frantic and fucked up! Duncan's just got one of those voices and vocal styles that lends itself so well to anything and he's instantly recognisable without being monotonous. This really fucking works.
10 past 12 Records
www.10past12records.com

THE BLACK BEAUTIES - 'CATCH A BEAT' CD
I'm astounded by this band and this album. This is unbelievable and I don't see anything else blowing me away as much as this this year, so I'm jumping the gun by 12 whole fuckin months and saying that this is my album of 2007... I'm certain that nothing will knock this... it's amazing. Wow. This is perfect rock 'n' roll and the vocals just tip the fuckin thing over the edge... they are fuckin fantastic. It's melodic but snotty and so natural and exciting as fuck. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this from start to finish and I can't wait until I hear it again (even though it's on right now). I have spun this hundreds of times and it still blows me away like the first time I played it. It was instant. There are some killer guitar parts in here and when the vocals spit all over them it's just brilliant. For example the song 'Can't Take Hold' is so outstanding with all that coming into action and with a killer middle section that's to fuckin die for... but that's just one track and they all knock me out. Another thing that's great about these guys is that it's so hard to place their era, and if I didn't know this was recorded last year I'd believe this was way, way older and that's very impressive shit. They have nailed it and driven it in so deep. They know exactly what they are doing and they should be blown away with the end result of this record themselves. I badly, badly need this band and this record. THE BLACK BEAUTIES are like PCP to me.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

BLACKPOOL ROX II - Issue 9
The new issue of Blackpool Rox (brought to you by JSNTGM Records) that also includes the second in the 'The Ugly Truth About Blackpool' compilations this time featuring 26 bands / tracks from between 1999 - 2006 including: SICK 56, KRAUL, THE TOMMYS, FES PARKER, WALTER AND THE KNOBHEADS, HIT BYAN APPLE, LIMOUSINE, THE SOUND OF SUPERSTRING, LITTERBUG, ONE WAY SYSTEM, SECTION 25, OUTL4W, THE NEON TREES, HIGGINS++, LUPUS IN FABULA, WHEN PEOPLE BECOME NUMBERS, UFX, THE STREETLIGHT, REPORTING EMILY, THE SENTON BOMBS, DANSE OF THE DEAD, EMPTY HEADED HEROES, SINISTER FOOTWEAR, EARTHLING SOCIETY, THE INTERRUPTIONS and DAS HASSELHOFFS. The zine includes interviews with Jenny Russell from H.I.T.S., ZOUNDS, THE WEAKERTHANS, ANARCHY IN HOLLYWOOD punk night at the Lava Lounge and THE GREAT ST. LOUIS. Plus loads of reviews and articles... a fucking big package for £2!!
Just Say No To Government Music
www.jsntgm.com

BLANCHE DAVIDIAN - ‘ORANGE SUNSHINE’ CD
This is the second full-length from Arizona’s BLANCHE DAVIDIAN, following 2002’s ‘Attack Of The Killer’ and presents them in full rockin’ force, this record is super guitar-heavy with a thick and solid sound, this is the ‘heaviest’ I have ever heard them and I don’t mean heavy in a metallic way, not at all, heavy in a vulgar rock ‘n’ roll way- the good kind of heavy!! Super thick JOHNNY THUNDERS riffs with some DEAD BOYS snot and BLACK HALOS glam punk…they have a pretty unique sound and the key to it is the production because they really gel all the glam, rock, psychedelia, punk etc perfectly so that it’s one huge force as opposed to a mish-mash of styles. I hear elements of early ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT and even a touch of the BUTTHOLE SURFERS in here too…but, again, I really want to stress the fact that these guys have nailed the sound and that it’s not a patchwork quilt of influences at all. This rocks in the absolute true sense of the word. Great record.
Vodka Tonic Media
www.vodkatonicmedia.com

BLUDWULF - ‘CRYPTIC REVELATIONS’ CD
New York’s BLUDWULF deliver their thrash assault in full force on ‘Cryptic Revelations’ and their amalgamation of hardcore punk rock and thrash metal is so fucking stylish and unique. These guys really are the ‘Lords Of Death Punk’ ... fuck all those half-measure bands, BLUDWULF are fully immersed and present their attack with no compromise. Mixing the hardcore of DISCHARGE, GBH, BLACK UNIFORMS, KAAOS, KLIMAX and BROKEN BONES with the punk of THE EXPLOITED, THE MISFITS and later GG ALLIN with the full-on metal edge of early METALLICA, SLAYER, VENOM etc. This is quite a fucking Molotov cocktail that you have to hear to fully understand. They fuse it all perfectly and the outcome is totally unique. It’s so punk, so hardcore, so thrash and so metal and all at the same time so the balance of all these styles creates something exceptional and totally distinct. It is so hard to place their sound time-wise and I love shit like that. There’s certainly an overwhelming ‘80’s edge to this and that’s great. I think only an East Coast band (maybe only a NY band) could do this with so much style because it’s easy to go so wrong and end up with some half-thought-out crossover bullshit. This is a fucking sick record and I sure as shit hope that BLUDWULF are planning a European tour!!!
Charged Records
www.chargedrecords.com

BOOK OF MAPS - ‘II’ CD
BOOK OF MAPS play abrupt and frenzied indie/rock that reminds me a lot of the MINUTEMEN in the way that they mutate in front of your eyes, or rather your ears, and shift and twist through styles. Actually, they have a very SST sound altogether... very undomesticated and exploratory and with this complete freedom and looseness comes a great talent because not just any band could pull this meandering creativity off. BOOK OF MAPS are tight as hell and to be able to shift and metamorphose like they do they have to be completely atuned or the whole thing would just fall apart in a clamour of bad noise. Their sound is pretty timeless in the sense that you just can’t put your finger on it because I would believe this was recorded and released in the 1970’s or the 80’s up until the present. That’s a great thing because it’s got freshness and familiarity / nostaligia all at once, which really suits a band like this because it goes hand in hand with the obscurity and peculiarity of their sound and style.
Whoa! Boat Records
www.whoaboat.com

BRAIN FAILURE / BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE - SPLIT CD
BRAIN FAILURE were always going to be the highlight of this split for me and certainly steal the show in my opinion. Their CLASH-drenched punk rock really talks to me and I'm still spinning 'American Dreamer' a shitload. They have a very interesting sound that blends Chinese, English and American styles all together and they throw in some reggae here and there too. Six really solid cuts on here. BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE need no introduction... their fast-paced skapunk is taking the world by storm. What is it with Boston and hugely successful skapunk bands??! I've never been a huge fan of this style but I gotta say these guys do it well... fans will sure be blown away with their 6 tracks. I'm sure most people will get this split because of the BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE presence and I'm certain that a lot of kids will be introduced and turned on to BRAIN FAILURE which is a great thing. I'm sure it will happen the other way around too but to a much lesser extent. Very solid split and a very interesting one with some absolutely killer artwork too.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

THE BULEMICS - '..STILL TOO YOUNG TO CARE' CD / DVD
Holy shit, you rogues are in for a treat... Texas's number 1 scumfucs THE BULEMICS are celebrating their 'decade of satanic, drug-fueled stupidity' by showcasing this CD collection that spans their entire career and also comes with a full-length DVD through the scums at Scarey Records!! This is too much! But too much is what I want! This is a band that is resolute in wreaking havoc and keeping rock 'n' roll evil and who the fuck can blame them? Someone has to do this before we lose rock 'n' roll altogether to the faggy mall chains!! This is just non-stop. Think of a blend of GG ALLIN, ANTiSEEN and THE DWARVES... yeah, there's gonna be nakedness and blood!! This is a band that needs to be seen as well as heard so the DVD is a perfect accompaniment to the CD. It's chaos from the get-go and there's live footage and videos and photos and everything else you need to warp yourself and get fucked up! This is so necessary it's unbelievable. There's no danger left in rock 'n' roll anymore. Everyone's calmed down or dead or signed their soul away or whatever so it's all so fucking boring now, and when you get a release like this it just ignites that reblellion and complete unpredictability. That's why I listen to rock 'n' roll. I don't wanna learn anything, I just wanna get fucked up and rock out and that's what this is all about. If this was just a CD or just a DVD it would still rule but when they're back to back like this it's something else. It's a real celebration of evil shit and dangerous music and a real package. The CD has 36 cuts on it!!! A sick collection from 1996-2006 including a whole bunch of covers too like ALICE COOPER's 'Cold Ethyl', 'THE STONES' 'Heart Of Stone', THE DEAD BOYS' 'Detention Home', FATER PUSSYCAT's 'Bathroom Wall' and loads more plus 7 live radio tracks!! If you need a fix of real rock 'n' roll, with all the blood, vomit and bile, this here's what you want.
Scarey Records
www.scareyrecords.com

THE BULLET KINGS - 'CRASH MAD' CD EP
Three more tracks from Carl from A.F.S. new project of up-front, simple melodic punk rock ala LEATHERFACE. It's rough and raw but there's a string melody running through it all... a very American punk sound actually that really fuses well with the very English LEATHERFACE-type sound and it's got an old school yet contemporary sound. There's a full-length in the works too!
Voltage Records
www.myspace.com/thebulletkings

THE BULLET KINGS - ‘PORNO PIG’ CD EP
This is Carl from A.F.S.’ new band with a more straight-forward, stripped down punk rock approach. They mix melody with hostility and always keep things simple and punk and kinda remind me of LEATHERFACE mixed with BAD RELIGION and early NOFX and SLOPPY SECONDS. There’s four tracks on here and they are all solid and I’d be interested to hear a full-length.
www.myspace.com/thebulletkings

THE BULLET KINGS - ‘REBELS WITHOUT REASON’ CD
Debut full-length following 2 EPs earlier this year from THE BULLET KINGS that features Carl from A.F.S. who represent the same old school attitude that blends aggression and melody but THE BULLET KINGS have a much rawer edge and a slightly more American approach with early NOFX-style long chords. Again, as with A.F.S., I hear a strong LEATHERFACE influence but with a more straight-forward later ‘70’s UK punk feel. Maybe a touch of earlier SNUFF in here too and the overall sound is raw and gritty which I really like, it’s got this energetic wildness to it too that I really go for. Catchy and straightforward punk rock, the way it should be.
Casket Music / Copro Productions
www.coproproductions.co.uk

CAPTAIN EVERYTHING - 'BUENA VISTA BINGO CLUB' CD
CAPTAIN EVERYTHING remind me so much of SNUFF. They have that real blend of a very English sound merged with a very American sound which is unique to a few English bands - SNUFF of course, GOOBER PATROL, SKIMMER and CONSUMED are the only ones that instantly come to mind. It's a very hard sound to describe. It's kind of like the English take on the original Fat Wreck sound which seems to turn out tougher and more assorted than the American version. Fast drums and lots of harmonies... it's very hard not to like this... CAPTAIN EVERYTHING also mix the more contemporary Fat Wreck and No Idea sound of bands like AGAINST ME!, LAWRENCE ARMS etc. This sound really defines an era for me but still completely stands up nowadays, and it's great to hear this classic, and it is classic, uniquely English pop-punk sound when it seems to have died out a little to get replaced by the floppy fringed, tight hooded tops, slip-on Vans Emo brigade... fuck that.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

CEASE UPON THE CAPITOL - S/T CD
CEASE UPON THE CAPITOL is a destructive three-piece from Tennessee and the amount of chaos and havoc they deliver for a three-piece is amazing. They rip and thrash and smash and with a lot of fucking style too. At times they remind me of FUCKED UP, the way that they alter between melody, total chaos and absent-minded soundscapes and the experience of this album is a real journey event. That’s certainly the feeling I get from FUCKED UP, but even more so with CEASE UPON THE CAPITOL, because they seem to flicker and transform more so. Fucking impressive compositions and musicianship and they have really delved into this to create something very deep, super-layered and intense.
Sonic Deadline Records
www.sonicdeadline.cjb.net

CHILLERTON - ‘BLEAK UNISON’ CD
CHILLERTON have a really interesting sound. It’s really chaotic and they have this really ‘disorganized’ style which is something I really go for. I could imagine this being released on No Idea. They have that unpredictable and very unformulaic approach with influence from LEATHERFACE, AGAINST ME!, THE LAWRENCE ARMS and JAWBREAKER and they have some serious fucking energy. They are heavy but with strong melody and they’re hardcore and punk all at once... a very unique sound indeed. There’s nothing I don’t like about this record. It’s got me really bewildered because I haven’t really heard anything like CHILLERTON before. I hear all these possible stimuli in their sound but CHILLERTON are totally unique. There have been some truly impressive punk bands coming out of the UK recently, which is such a great thing, and CHILLERTON have just leaped to the top of my list. Shit hot.
Boss Tuneage Records
www.bosstuneage.com

THE CLEAN-CUTS - 'LOLLIPOP' 7"
Excellent super-stripped down French punk rock with that fantastic and authentic early sound. It's frivolous and spastic and so much fun, it's entertaining chaos and pure punk the way punk should be. Think of a blend of THE SHOCKS, THE BRIEFS, TEENAGE HEAD, THE UNDERTONES, TRANZMITORS, HATEPINKS...they have the snot, the style and the fucking tunes...my only qualm with this record is that I WANT MORE!!!! Two songs isn't enough because now I'm addicted...thankfully, there are a couple more songs on the bands MySpace page (myspace.com/thecleancuts) so I can stretch my fix!!! Killer record and a band to really keep an eye and ear on...this shit rules.
Nerfs A Vif Records
www.myspace.com/nerfsavif

CLOROX GIRLS - 'J'AIME LES FILLES' CD
I'm still so into these guys debut self-titled album and follow-up'This Dimension' and was way excited about this third full-length offering from this really special band, and Oh my God have they re-blown me away for the third time running. This band is unstoppable and their mix of late '70's / early '80's LA punk and stripped down pop / rock 'n' roll is completely suffocating and in the most wonderful way. There's a huge French pop influence running through this record too (hence the title) which really adds to their already hugely compelling style. Comparisons to THE EXPLODING HEARTS are inescapable and that's a great thing... where's the problem with that?? And the fact that this record was produced by Pat Kearns concretes that comparison. This is so fantastically anti-punk that it's the most punk rock record you'll buy this year... and when I say anti-punk, I man anti the bullshit that punk has become in recent years. The CLOROX GIRLS don't whine and they don't have any faux-aggression (hey, I can speak a bit of French too). This is just natural, great song writing. As I said before, this is a special band that are really carving an extraordinary groove.
BYO Records
www.byorecords.com

THE CRACKDOWN V.S HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR - ‘BROKEN GUIARS AND TRASHY BARS’ SPLIT CD
Now, this I was looking forward to hearing. Canada’s THE CRACKDOWN start the mayhem off with their tough punk rock ‘n’ roll with a heavy ROSE TATTOO influence... they even cover ‘Nice Boys’. They have a real punch and some serious balls and really start this split off on the right foot. The second half of the disorder is provided by Germany’s HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR that features members of THE PUBLIC TOYS and THE REVOLVERS so you know that they are gonna tear some shit up and tear they certainly do. They have that melodic yet very forceful ’77 sound with a big dose of glam rock ‘n’ roll and THUNDERS-esque charm. You can certainly hear THE REVOLVERS in here! This is a brilliant split and the bands are well-suited even though their approaches are quite different. but that’s the whole point of a split. Great artwork too.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

THE CRAWLERS - ‘ALL MY PUNK ROCK CHILDREN EP’ 7”
Absolutely fuckin ripping hardcore punk in pure Blind Spot style... I mean, if it’s on Blind Spot it’s gonna rule, that’s my rule! Fast, raw and so fucking enthusiastic it’s insane... this is the shit I need. This gives me the feeling I used to get when I was first getting into punk as a young kid... full of excitement and danger. Where the fuck has that gone??? THE CRAWLERS got it! There’s not a reason in hell not to get this and blow yer mind... features members of THE CULPRITS who also rule and are also on Blind Spot. I can’t wait for more CRAWLERS. Green wax too and just everything you could possibly ask for. This is fantastic.
Blind Spot Records
www.noheroestheband.com

THE CRAWLERS - S/T 12”
I couldn’t wait for this after the ‘All My Punk Rock Children’ EP and shit did this blow my balls…THE CRAWLERS play fast-paced raw and old fashioned hardcore punk. Straight forward and attacking this grabs the throat and the whole thing’s dripping with that Blind Spot style…dangerous and fun, that’s a fuckin terrifying cocktail. Not only does the record sound fantastic -all six cuts are absolutely killer- but it also looks cool as fuck with a fold-out inner too and the added style of a 12” when this could have come out on a 7”. I just bought a new record player and I christened it with this fabulous piece of wax and nothing else has touched it since…Fantastic band and killer record - absolutely get this as soon as you can along with their 7” EP.
Blind Spot Records
www.blindspotrecs.com

CRAWLSPACE - 'THE SPIRIT OF '76' CD
Rather than write a long-winded review of CRAWLSPACE's 'The Spirit of '76', I decided to list 50 words that I feel truly describe the band and record better than any review. You can take all the words or just any single one and there you have a true 'review' and I tell you something, I don't fucking throw words like these around often and a good band is lucky to get one thrown in a review... so here goes: Dirty, Raw, Fucked-up, Distorted, Cyclic, Fun, Exciting, Hysterical, Dangerous, Crude, Fucked-Up, Spastic, Peculiar, Fantastic, Abnormal, Sick, Magnificent, Rudimentary, Repulsive, Striking, Astonishing, Fucked-Up, Inspired, Original, Thrilling, Turbulent, Stimulating, Pleasurable, Warped, Reckless, Fucked-Up, Exuberant, Deformed, Energetic, Live, Fucked-Up, Wild, Passionate, Intense, Violent, Essential, Uncompromising, Sharp, Inventive, Chaotic, Defiant, Fucked-Up, Obsessive, Concentrated, Necessary, Real, Potent, Disruptive, Undisciplined, Fucked-Up and Awesome.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com

THE CUMMIES - ‘LAME’ CD EP
Snotty Italian punk that’s melodic and raw with touches of SCREECHING WEASEL and THE MANGES. I love this sound and I don’t care if a million more bands do it... it still rules! THE CUMMIES actually approach it in a different way to most. They are more wild sounding and have a looser structure than you normally hear in this style and I think that’s really cool. It gets pretty fast and aggressive at times almost like a Punkcore or Charged sound to it but it still stays in that RAMONES mindset and this works really well! I mean, they cover BLACK FLAG’s ‘Wasted’ ...what other bands in this style would do that?! Cool EP.
www.thecummies.tk

D.C. OI! - ‘THE BLEEDING’ 7”
Another fuckin sick 7” from Glue Rot... super-chaotic hardcore punk with sick vocals and the perfect balance of early American hardcore and early English punk rock and really executed with a lot of style. It kinda reminds me of ‘The Anger and the Truth’ era UNSEEN but with tons more energy (and there was a lot of energy on that record). There’s a shitload of passion and drive behind this and that really cuts through, and that vitality is what makes this record so damn solid and stylish. This is how hardcore and punk rock are supposed to unite and this is the impact it is supposed to create. This is exciting stuff for sure. Very, very recommended.
Glue Rot Records
www.gluerotrecords.com

DEAD TOWN REVIVAL - ‘HASTA LA MUERTE’ CD
Punchy and melodic punk rock ‘n’ roll with elements of later SOCIAL DISTORTION, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, THE FEDS, UNION OF THE DEAD and ambitious vocals lines ala Glen Danzig. It’s heavy and adamant and the production here really pushes that especially when played loud. This record is fucking brawny and so how rock ‘n’ roll should be. There’s no skimping on here... the music is full and the vocals manifest themselves with some real presence. At times it actually really reminds me of TIGER ARMY when they do their heavier style but there’s only glimpses of this here and there. To me, this sounds like a band who has really given their all on this record and the title of this record says it all.
Sinister Muse Records
www.sinistermuse.com

DEADLINE - ‘TAKE A GOOD LOOK’ CD
With every new full-length that DEADLINE release, they push their sound a little further but always keeping the key ingredients that define them. Liz’s vocals are always great and she too has developed this further on ‘Take a Good Look’ and the album as whole is much heavier and energetic. With every release they move away from the more streetpunk vein they started in, which is a good thing because even though they did it well, that genre is always a little restrictive. Liz can lend her vocals to this heavier direction very well. She has the ability to convey a lot of power and feeling without having to force herself into that whole screechy Courtney Love / Brody Dalle style which, in my opinion, is a fucking cop-out style anyway. Anyone can screech but to be able to actually sing and not get drowned out by the music, especially when it’s this heavy is a talent for sure. This is much more straight rock than anything else DEADLINE have released and the guitars have got so much more presence than ever before but it all works well and there’s still a hell of a lot of melody. Sorry to mention Liz’s vocals again, but that is truly what does, and always has made DEADLINE.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

DEADLINE / BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS - ‘CAN’T BE BEATEN’ SPLIT CD
UK melodic streetpunk meets US street rock ‘n’ roll in this cool split that features both bands tracks from the ‘Any Fate But Submission’ split plus a couple of tracks from DEADLINE’s debut album and also the debut BRASSKNUCKLE ‘Fighting Poor’ EP and a bonus POGUES cover of ‘Thousands are Sailing’ too. Really fuckin good split here but the BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS just tip it over the edge for me and steal the split. They remind me a lot of the HUDSON FALCONS in the way that they can fuse melody with some big-assed tough rock ‘n’ roll, some real killer anthems. DEADLINE are solid as shit and this is a band who is just getting huge... every time I see them live they are better and better but I actually think that their older material is better than their more recent stuff and the cuts on here are a perfect example of that. Raw and assertive but still melodic and very punk rock. Their more recent direction is a bit ‘rock’ for my tastes so I’d always push people in the direction of this earlier stuff to get a real taste of DEADLINE’S power. They do a cool cover of Scottish Oi! rogues ON FILE’s ‘Another Day In Paradise’ and the BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS cover TOM PETTY’s ‘American Girl’ as well as the POGUES track. A really, really rock fuckin solid split.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com

DEADNECK FURY - S/T CD EP
Seven tracks of heavy rockin' with slide guitars and an old fashioned metal edge. It reminds me of a simplified early METALLICA. The guitars are very prominent and they have that thick rhythm guitar sound but it's way more stripped down and straightforward with a more hardcore punk edge or tough, heavy streetpunk sound with a lot of attack. It's like a blend of early METALLICA, HEADWOUND, HUDSON FALCONS and NIBLICK HENBANE... yeah, it's tough rockin.
www.deadneckfury.com

THE DEEP EYNDE - 'BAD BLOOD' CD
'Shadowland' was a real defining point for the DEEP EYNDE. Their sound characterized and really came to life on that record and this is a band who in my opinion, never sounded like anyone else. Sure there were influences audible in glimpses here and there but the overall sound has always been unique. Their sound got much heavier and broad on 'Shadowland' and it's got even broader and fuller on here with a hell of a lot of guitar presence which works really well. Fate's voice has always been absolutely fantastic. He has a great range and a very interesting style somewhere in between GLEN DANZING, MORRISEY and SIMON LE BON, and these are all fantastic vocalists, and this newer musical direction has allowed his vocal style to thrive even further. Their distinctive blend of dark, heavy melancholy and strong melody is superb. This is an excellent follow up to 'Shadowland' and I'm so happy for these guys who have certainly paid their dues. They rule live too.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

DEEP THROAT - ‘MOSH TO THE MASSES’ MINI CD
Heavy Italian hardcore with Paolo from MADIDO RESPIRO on vocals. Thick and fast and still with a very old-fashioned mentality which is fantastic to hear and coming from a much more thrash direction rather than a stripped down hardcore one, so the chugging guitars are very dominant and there are metallic elements running through it but employed in a great way, it’s never too metallic, it’s always verging on the hardcore side of things which is the way I like it. This is a very solid EP indeed with three interesting ‘ballads’- one for Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrat, one for James Brown and one for Neapolitan singer Mario Merola. I’d love to hear a full-length form DEEP THROAT.
Wet Breath Records
www.myspace.com/deepthroatalessandria

DERANGED INSANE / UNHOLY GRAVE - SPLIT 7"
Brazilian vs. Japanese thrash... what a fucking treat! Brazil's DERANGED INSANE open this split with 4 crude and unruly cuts of prime Brazilian hardcore and Japan's UNHOLY GRAVE rack up another split in their insanely long line with three raw covers of NAPALM DEATH, G.B.H and ANTI-CIMEX in their unmistakable grindcore style. An absolutely riotous split... this is a lot of chaos for one little 7" to contain! Comes with a really cool booklet-cover. Excellent stuff.
Bucho Discos
www.buchodiscos.kit.net

DESTRUCTION UNIT - ‘DEATH TO THE OLD FLESH’ CD
The first time I heard ‘Self-Destruction of a Man’ I had to manually shut my mouth because my jaw had dropped so far down, and their track on the ‘Tales From The Asphalt Dancefloor’ made me have to throw my fucking jeans out because I soiled them so badly... shit, I was knocked out, so reviewing this is fucking exciting for me. It’s so wonderfully deformed and fucked up and the keyboard employment is astounding. To be able to generate this much aggression and raw spitting bile through keys is awesome and I actually mean awesome. This is so warped, so repulsive and so fucking fantastic. I have this fucked up thing where I love going to the dentist because I love it when they pick around my gums with that hook and when they pierce the gum and then put it back in that same cut... I almost cream myself and that’s the same feeling I get from this. That uncomfortable and unpredictable ecstasy. This is totally erratic and exciting. As soon as they perfect cloning I think Ryan Wong should be replicated a million fucking times and then we might be able to preserve the fun, rawness and outright danger of rock ‘n’ roll for the future. Even with this, THE WONGS, THE REATARDS, DIGITAL LEATHER and TOKYO ELECTRON and whatever else he’s involved with, one Ryan Wong just ain’t enough. This is amazing.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com

DESTRUCTORS 666 – ‘MANY WERE KILLED FEW WERE CHOSEN’ CD
In case you don’t know, this is the DESTRUCTORS who originally formed in Peterborough in1977 and this CD collects their four recent EPs and a bunch of unreleased tracks too including a version of the BLANKS ‘Northern Ripper’ (the BLANKS was the band that vocalist Allen Adams joined after the DESTRUCTORS first broke up and ‘Northern Ripper; is their only single). It’s heavy mid-temp punk rock in the classic DESTRUCTORS style and in my opinion the DESTRUCTORS always stood out among their contempories in the ‘80’s because everyone else was upping the pace and I consider the DESTRUCTORS as the classic UK ’82 sound rather than DISCHARGE, BROKEN BONES etc this is a cool compilation of their recent (and very prolific) recorded output and it’s fits the full-length format well and it’s cool that they included the unreleased stuff on here too because they could’ve made another EP with those cuts. This is a band who has gone through a lot of name / member changes but still sound tough and passionate as fuck.
Rowdy Farrago Records
www.myspace.com/thedestructorsuk

DIRTY LOVE - ‘TRASHED’ CD
I was really excited to hear this full-length after last years ‘Baby You Suck’ EP. DIRTY LOVE are able to infuse tons of spit and hostility into their infectiously melodic punk rock with huge doses of rock ‘n’ roll and touches of glam. Sometimes it reminds me of a female-fronted LOWER CLASS BRATS mixed with TEXAS TERRI. Lizzi Love’s vocals are fucking great. The pre-eminent attraction of DIRTY LOVE’s sound is that they perfectly blend the classic English 1977 punk rock sound with the more-contemporary US take on that classic sound and this is something that really works. This is a balance that’s fucking difficult to get right and pull-off but they do it flawlessly. This is a fucking impressive debut and with the experience this band has behind it (features ex-members of UK SUBS, MENACE and THE STAINS amongst others) it was always going to be a force to be reckoned with. The cover is fucking great too and I can’t stop looking at it.
Shout Back Records
www.dirtylove.me.uk

DIRTY SOUTH REVOLUTIONARIES - QUEEN CITY UNDERGROUND' CD
The DIRTY SOUTH REVOLUTIONARIES unleash their debut full-length that is set on ripping yer throat open and pissing in the wound, yeah it's hostile as fuck. Their attack is structured around a hardcore punk base with touches of old-fashioned metal to thicken things up and solidify the assault. Think of a blend of ANTiSEEN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SLAYER, LEFTOVER CRACK, PANTERA, CHOKING VICTIM, GG ALLIN and HATEBREED all wrapped up into super hard-hitting short blasts, these guys do not fuck around. Two vocalists, heavy guitars and bombarding drums and bass...this is Molotov rock n' 'roll that never lets up, these guys are focussed on putting the danger and un-ease back into rock 'n' roll and thank fuck for that.
Tent City Records
www.tentcityrecords.com

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS - ‘REASONS TO REVOLT’ CD EP
Fast and energetic youthful punk rock with a real full sound. These guys are English but their sound definitely incorporates the more-contemporary US sound with touches of RANCID, and musically they remind me a lot of earlier NOFX mixed with a faster BAD RELIGION and a great sound it is. There’s a lot of power in these 6 tracks. I’m surprised a band with this much force comes from the UK!! There seems to be a real lack of energy and drive in young English punk at the moment but these guys have it in spades. They mix a lot of aggression into this melodic yet heavy sound and they do it all really well. I’m certainly impressed and would’ve really liked this to be a full-length.
Fierce Panda Records
www.fiercepanda.co.uk

D.O.A. - ‘BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED’ CD
This is the best of D.O.A. from 1978 - 1983 and originally came out in ‘83 by which time D.O.A. had released a series of 7”s and EPs including ‘Disco Sucks’,’ World War 3‘, ‘Prisoner’, ‘War On 45 ‘, ‘General Strike’, ‘Positively D.O.A ‘, ‘Right To Be Wild’ and a couple of full-lengths too in the shape of ‘Something Better Change’ and ‘Hardcore 81’ and it’s sure as shit no revelation just how influential D.O.A. were and still are. This compilation is a switchblade flashed in your face straight from the cover art to the whole presentation and, of course, the music. This is a fucking wake-up call, a wake-up siren. It’s hostile, sharp and intelligent and that’s a concoction that can’t be fucked with. Joey Shithead always knew what he was doing and still does. He’s never been afraid to question or ruffle feathers. I remember when I first heard ‘Something Better Change’, I was about 14 and I had to pick my teeth up off the floor. I mean, this was 13 years after it was released and it knocked me the fuck out. That’s the way I have always felt about D.O.A.. You just can’t fault this collection here. You need this but you also need to get all the records the songs are taken from. There’s so much great shit on here: ‘New Age’, ‘Smash The State’, ‘I Don’t Give A Shit’, ‘Rich Bithc’, ‘2+2’, ‘World War 3’, ‘D.O.A.’, Woke Up Screaming’, ‘Fucked Up Ronnie’ etc. Kids these days need to hear this to get a dose of some real ‘get up and go’ hardcore punk rock with soul and fire, a fire that's still burning so bright after nearly 30 fuckin years…I wonder how many of these popular bands of today will still be flying the banner after 3 decades...
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com

.O.A. - ‘THE BLACK SPOT’ CD
Another great and very necessary D.O.A. re-release that originally came out in 1995 following the awesome ‘Loggerheads’ and a very important time in D.O.A.’s career which presented them with all the energy and fury of the very early D.O.A.- not that D.OA. were ever weak, but the fire from the first three records never went out…it will never go out and that sprit seemed to get further fuelled with this couple of releases in the early/mid 1990’s including ‘Loggerheads’ and ‘The Black Spot’. Another very important feature of this record is that it was recorded just after drummer Ken Jensen died (replaced by NOMEANSNO’s John Wright) which makes for a testing time. ‘The Black Spot’ showcases all the elements of D.O.A. truly coming into action: all the intelligence, humor, spite, hate, aggression, astuteness, positivity and passion…it’s all here some 20 years after they originally formed (it’s all here still another 12 years down the line!!!!) and all delivered in their trademark sharp, jagged and melodic hardcore punk style. ‘The Black Spot’ is such a fucking ride, it’s so much fun from the killer ‘Blind Men’ right to the end, this record rules and has done for over a decade and still has more freshness and energy than shit coming out these days…thank God for these reissues!!!!!!!
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com

DR. NORTON - 'YOUR PLOT-THE PRISON-MY ESCAPE' CD
This Berlin foursome has a really interesting sound that seems to be structured around the really early US punk sound but then they throw in all kinds of other styles and influences and each song mutates throughout and the result is really fascinating to say the least. Aside from the obvious punk approach and attitude there's some pop, new wave, almost psychedelic '60's garage and rock integrated for good measure. It's really hard for a band to pull this type of highly-diverse and wide-ranging style off because they can get too lost in the mix and focus too heavily on certain parts, but DR. NORTON seem to be able to fuse seamlessly... very impressive. They are also able to fuse the Euro / US styles so well. There's some serious talent here that's for sure
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.com

THE DWARVES - ‘FEFU THE DVD’ DVD
This is a DWARVES fucking feast! A bag full of surprises! It predominantly showcases the wonderful ‘Fuck, Eat and Fuck You Up’ video that unites the Dwarves with the Suicide Girls... what the fuck more could you ask for??!!! You know exactly what to expect... nakedness, blood, balaclavas, wrestling masks, deformity... the whole shebang. Yeah that’s what the ‘FEFU’ video is all about and you get the dirty and clean versions on here but don’t worry, the clean version ain’t that clean! Plus there’s the making of the video with Bob Sexton and a hilarious movie about a girl trying to lose weight so that she can get in the Dwarves video shoot and after relentless exercise resorts to blowing lunch in order to lose the weight. There’s also a whole load of live Dwarves footage spanning from 1985 - 2006!!! Footage from the Thank Heaven tour, the Must Die tour, Blood Guts and Pussy tour, Young and Goodlooking tour etc as well as the ‘I’m a Living Sickness‘ and interviews from 1992 and 2005... what a package!! Can there be a better mix of Dwarves depravity and evil blended with the Suicide Girls’ fucked up beauty? I think not!! This unity was bound to happen!! The ‘FEFU’ video is just awesome but the early stuff is what makes this DVD extra special. This is like 20 years of Dwarves wrapped into one DVD and that can only be a good thing! There will NEVER be another Dwarves so engross yourself in this shit before you miss out on the immorality and debauchery... then you’ll be sorry!!
MVD Visual
www.musicvideodistributors.com

ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK – ‘TRANSWORLD ULTRA ROCK’ CD
I’m still receiving regular thrashings from ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK’s last full-length ‘Beat Me’ so the notion of a new record was pretty exciting. So can ‘Transworld Ultra Rock’ deliver the same kind of hammering? Well, in a word: fuck yeah. This is the lunatic, overblown and bizarre ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK that we have all come to know and love. The title of this new record says it all…I mean, you can guess what this is going to sound like even if you don’t know the band, to me it screams BLACK SABBATH, AC/DC, TURBONEGRO, MC5, THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT and MOTORHEAD and that’s pretty much spot on. These guys are 100% joking and 100% serious at the same time- huge riffs, super-tight, preposterous and nonsensical lyrics and a massive wall of rock sound…how else could it be? The most important thing about EES is the fun, the wild spirit…if you’re missing that, then you’re missing the point of this Japanese party beast – go see them live and you be convulsing with fun. I’ve heard people try too hard to dissect this band and it seem to me that so many people are missing the point and deliberate retardedness. If you take them too seriously it just won’t make sense – but don’t get me wrong either- you have to take them fucking seriously too.
Double Peace Records
www.electriceelshock.com

ENEMY 13 - 'SELF DESTRUCTION IS...' CD
This was one of the standout bands on the Broken Bonez label sampler and I was looking forward to hearing this full-length. ENEMY 13 play fast and chaotic hardcore punk with a very old school edge. They deliver a fucking full-on attack that rages throughout the album's 13 tracks and it's all very unruly and fierce. This is an intese band here. They seem super-focussed at what they do and that really comes across strong. They are fucking serious and devoted to what they do: "Don't self destruct, keep soldiering on. This war that we call life can be won" is the message in their insert and that's the attitude and stance behind ENEMY 13 and it's really got that old-fashioned hardcore flavour about it all... very positive through their aggression and I like that a lot.
Broken Bonez Records
www.brokenbonezrecords.net

ESCLAVES SALARIES - ‘CA AUGURE MAL’ CD
French-Canadian political punk rock very reminiscent of a heavier and more hostile CLASH. They actually remind me a lot of THE ARGIES (Argentina’s answer to the CLASH!) with their very strong melody and group-choruses. There’s a strong ska/reggae presence in ESCLAVES SALARIES too, again, in a kind of CLASH way so it works well. This is a super-urgent sounding record and there’s a real sense of anxiety and angst about it which is great, a lot of pressure in a kind of ‘let’s get together and change things’ way and I’m down with that, and there’s a very strong anti-fascist echo throughout. There’s a lot of intelligent aggression here and that’s the best kind of aggression!! Their style takes elements from all kinds of styles and eras. There’s a definite 80’s Oi! sound as well as an early punk sound but mixed with a strong rock edge and a really contemporary punk sound too, and this blend makes this a very strong and prominent band and I’m truly impressed with this record.
Fire and Flames Music
www.fireandflames.com

THEE EXIT WOUNDS - ‘BAD DAY’ CD
“If the DEAD KENNEDYS would play Psychobilly they would sound like THEE EXIT WOUNDS” ... that’s what the press-release says and that’s pretty fuckin dead-on-balls accurate. I mean a track like ‘2 Wheeled Sinner’ is scarily close to the KENNEDYS! It reminds me a lot of a psyched up ‘Police Truck’ and that’s fine by me! Formed by members of DEMENTED ARE GO you should know what to expect! A wild blend of psychobilly, punk and rock ‘n’ roll with all the chaos and ferocity. These are guys who know what the fuck they are doing. These ain’t no new-comers, these are well-seasoned fuck ups! I’m very picky about my Psychobilly and even more so when it’s combined with punk rock because too many bands just can’t get that blend right, but THEE EXIT WOUNDS should be the definition of that sound because they have got it exactly right.
Wolverine Records
www.wolverine-records.de

THE FALLOUT - ‘THE TURNING POINT’ CD EP
This EP collects 7 covers by this band’s favourite old Ontario bands including THE VILETONES, NOBODY’S HEROES, THE ALLIES, THE RED SQUARES, THE YOUING LIONS, U.I.C. and YOUTH YOUTH YOUTH. It’s a cool little release that the band originally recorded for fun but it makes a nice break between the band’s ‘official’ releases as well as providing a history lesson for the kids! THE FALLOUT put their own twist and style into the songs and these are obviously bands and songs that had a huge influence and impact on the band members as they were growing up. The reason the EP is called ‘The Turning Point’ is because that was the name of a Toronto punk club in the ‘80’s where a lot of early bands played and where the band members spent a lot of time, so it’s quite a personal release, but it fits in perfectly in the band’s discography and I think it’s actually a pretty important release.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

FAST CARS – ‘WELL... YOU STARTED IT!’ CD
This new album from Manchester’s excellent FAST CARS features not only new tracks but also five of their classic songs from the 70’s that have been re-recorded and holy shit is it overflowing with enthusiasm and energy. Their unique blend of punk, rock and power pop merging the styles of THE CLASH, BUZZCOCKS, T-REX, DAVID BOWIE, UNDERTONES, THE JAM etc is so powerful, so open and so honest and that’s not been lost 30 years after they originally formed. A real band never loses that passion, the excitement is inescapable and this record is bursting at the seams with that exciting fire. Aside from the dates appearing beside the song titles making it obvious when each track was written, this album flows so smoothly that you wouldn’t believe that there was 24 years between some of these songs…and that’s fantastic. This is super, super necessary and sounds so young a fresh it’s frightening. This is the sound I’d kill for. This is the sound that gets me to the core and this CD just won’t leave my stereo.
Detour Records
www.detour-records.co.uk

LOS FASTIDIOS - ‘ANEJO 16 ANOS’ CD
Mad Butcher presents another Italian punk rock best of collection along with the ATARASSIA GROP compilation they just released, this time from the classic LOS FASTIDIOS marking their 16 years. With a mixture of fast-paced, stripped-down and very attacking punk rock and slight touches of reggae, there’s something very old school about their punk rock sound that I adore, it’s so solid and vigorous and like a lot of Italian bands they manage to keep a really strong melody running through their music but they lose none of the force and that’s fantastic because that is a very hard balance to get right, if it’s too melodic it loses all the fire and I lose interest but LOS FASTIDIOS never enter that territory. As well as a best-of collection, there are 2 unreleased cover cuts on here- the ANGELIC UPSTARTS’ ‘Solidarity’ and COCKSPARRERS ‘We’re Coming Back’ both played as ska versions. When Italians get punk rock right, they are fucking unstoppable, I mean there’s a whole heap of shit coming outta the boot too because they get it so fucking wrong sometimes and I know this first-hand because I’m Italian myself but if you want to hear it done so well get this and get the ATARASSIA GROP comp too.
Mad Butcher Records
www.madbutcher.de

THE FLAMING TSUNAMIS - ‘FEAR EVERYTHING’ CD
Holy shit this is fucking chaos! It’s all over the place with elements of all kinds of shit thrown together and the result, as hard as it is to place your finger on, reminds me of a blend of MR. BUNGLE, BUTTHOLE SURFERS, SLAYER, THE DICKS, VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, BIG BOYS, TRACTOR SEX FATALITY, OBITUARY, LEFTOVER CRACK and so much more! There’s metal, ska, reggae, jazz, funk, grind, punk and I think everything in between too! It’s pure fucking pandemonium from beginning to end!!! They will yo-yo between styles and paces with the greatest of ease and somehow it all flows. Fuck knows how they do it because this is all over the fucking map!! If you’re tired of generic and formulated music then you just have to get this album... it’s fucking impressive shit that’s for sure.
Kill Normal Records
www.killnormal.com

THE FLATLINERS - ‘THE GREAT AKE’ CD
Not to be confused with the Texas hardcore punks of the same name, Canada’s FLATLINERS present a very layered sound that combines melodic punk rock, with elements of hardcore and reggae at times. Their sound is very full and thick and certainly characterizes the more recent Fat Wreck style. It’s sophisticated, comprehensive and with great production to allow this type of song-writing to be conveyed correctly. There’s a lot going on but it’s easy to absorb because of the production. At times I hear a slight touch of AGAINST ME!...it’s in that vein of really rocking punk rock, it’s melodic but not poppy at all, it’s more epic and artistic and this is definitely a direction that Fat Wreck seems to be moving towards, which is cool, this is modern punk and as much as I’m a sucker for the classic, old school I can dig this.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

FRONT - 'BITTE RECHT FREUNDLICH' CD
Perfectly retro German new wave / punk with so much style and energy. They really nail that old-fashioned late '70's / early '80's sound and throw in just the right amount of spasticness and eccentricity and it works so fuckin well. Their sound is totally stripped down yet really full- great production and the songs are the perfect length to stab you and run away. The sound is so wonderfully European too...think of elements of the SHOCKS and HATEPINKS in their sound too. The songs are simple but still interesting and that's the key thing, to get that belence roght is quite an undertaking because it's easy to get too simple and it's easy to get lost and get too complex...but FRONT have the balance perfect. Excellent old fashioned European punk rock that's got balls and is fun at the same time. This is what it is all about for me. This is a very impressive record here...excellent.
Dirty Faces Records
www.dirtyfaces.de

FRONTKICK - 'THE CAUSE OF THE REBEL' CD
I really like FRONTKICK and I really noticed a progression in their sound between 'Guitars And Crime' and 'Underground Stories', and that progression continued on their split with the RADIO DEAD ONES and remains on 'Cause Of A Rebel'. It's a more melodic and solid rockin' sound. It still has a lot of the streetpunk elements but they've just developed that further to this fuller and really powerful sound that really defines them now. The evolution on style is not just because of the change of vocalist, it may have been sparked by that, but it's a deep-set development. It's a really interesting style for sure and it's full of classic and contemporary elements all mixed in the right way. I've always liked this band and they get more solid and defined with each release they do. Look out for these guys.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

THE GENERATORS - ‘WELCOME TO THE END’ CD
People Like You released this very record 10 years ago and this re-release marks the 10th anniversaries of both THE GENERATORS and People Like You Records. THE GENERATORS have really craved their sound in the scene over their 10 years, they are unmistakable and you can see how this debut album sparked all that was to follow for them. They really have racked up a loyal following and some super-solid releases with their great mix of early English punk rock and more contemporary US streetpunk. This is a hard working and passionate band and they really set their style in this first record, this is where the distinctive GENERATORS ingredients first came together and stuck for good. I really think a lot of this band because they have always done things their own way, they don’t really sound like anyone else other than THE GENERATORS and I can tell you for sure that this doesn’t sound like a decade old record…This re-release slots in just before the release of their new record "The Great Divide" that will hit at the end of Summer, so get acquainted with the old and the new simultaneously.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

THE GIZMOS - ‘LIVE IN BLOOMINGTON - 1977/1978’ DOUBLE CD
Gulcher Records has put out this sick GIZMOS live compilation from 1977 and 1978 to celebrate their 30th anniversary!! 2 CDs and 48 cuts from 7 shows. This is absolutely exciting shit right here. The first disc contains 2 shows, the only 2 shows that Ken Highland GIZMOS-incarnation ever played and they are from the Monroe County public Library and the first Cincinnati Punk Rock Festival at Bogart’s. This is the show-stealing disc and a fucking mind-blower. As a bonus there’s 3 extra tracks from Bogart’s from the original GIZMOS line-up. Disc 2 contains 27 tracks from the Ted Niemiec/Dale Lawrence embodiment recorded at 5 shows from the Monroe County public Library, Bluebird and Knightbridge Manor. I just can’t stress how exhilarating it is to hear this and it’s just such a pity that rock ‘n’ roll metamorphosised into what it did (and let’s not even talk about what happened to punk rock) with all the thrill and urgency sucked out of it. The sound on here is the sound I fucking live for... it’s so gripping and urgent and makes more sense to me today than 99.9% of contemporary rock ‘n’ roll and that’s fucking sad. I have to live real rock ‘n’ roll through records that were recorded before I was even born or from when I was a toddler because most of today’s shit is just so sterile and un-exciting. This represents everything great about rock ‘n’ roll... all the fun, all the rawness and all the electrifying energy, plus there’s some great covers here too... KISS’ ‘Deuce’ and ‘Strutter’, THE MODERN LOVERS’ ‘Gloria’ and ‘Astral Plane’, ALICE COOPER’S ‘I’m Eighteen’ and ROCK ERIKSON's ‘You're Gonna Miss Me’ ... killer stuff. Totally real and absolutely fantastic, this is uber-essential listening.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com

‘GRAFFITI TV - THE BEST OF VOLUMES 1,2 & 3’ AND ‘GRAFFITI TV - THE BEST OF VOLUME 4: FUNKY ENAMEL’ DVDs
These 2 DVDs collect the best of Graffiti TV Volumes 1-4 and both showcase some sick, raw footage of legal and illegal graffiti from all over the world. The whole thing is totally DIY and home-shot which I think rules, really gives it that street look- which it actually is- and Volume 1 starts off with some grainy night footage of some taggers writing on a cop car…fuck yeah. The legal stuff is cool and of course there’s unlimited time to shoot that stuff because there’s no pressure to be fast or to get away, but I gotta say, it’s the completely unruly illegal tagging that does it for me! That’s what it’s about! A 100% fuck-you attitude and total disrespect for everything in their path and in broad daylight- cars, vans, building, store fronts…whatever, it all gets sprayed. That’s the side of things that I come from with a background as a tagger and a progression to stenciling. There are a whole bunch of interview type segments too talking about the underground sets and possees in the graffiti scenes and there are break dancing and beat segments too. The most interesting interview is with COPE who talks about train cars and graffiti back in ’80 / ’81 and shows you how to break into fenced pens. Loads of killer, raw footage of train tracks and climbing fences and bridges, freight trains and stealing cans from shops, this will make taggers drool. There’s a really cool bit where they film themselves going into a train yard where the security guard is asleep so they have to creep past him and the ‘Hardcore Bombing’ section is sick. It’s important for kids to see this because I think way too many teenagers jump into this for a couple years and do it all half-assed and then forget all about it, but on these DVDs you see that these guys live for this and travel to do this, it’s not just a passing phase it’s completely focussed and it absorbs their time and their lives. It’s just like punk rock and skateboarding - that’s the shit that people think you’ll eventually grow out of but that will NEVER happen, it you’re dedicated you’ll be doing it until you just can’t do it anymore- until you can’t pump a ramp because you got arthritis or you can’t climb a wall anymore or you got no voice left!!!
MVD Visual
www.MVDb2b.com

THE GREAT ST. LOUIS - ‘FOREVER NOW’ CD
I have heard a lot of great things about THE GREAT ST. LOUIS so I was eager to hear this record and I can certainly understand why they’re generating such a buzz. They have a very full and layered sound but never getting too complex... it’s just very packed punk rock. They have some great melody running through it but it’s always hard-hitting. They have a sort of early Lookout! edge to their sound too and it really lies somewhere in between an American and English sound and it’s also very hard to place era-wise and that’s great. This could’ve come out 20 years ago or ten years ago or yesterday... I love it when a band can do that. I hear elements of LEATHERFACE, MANIFESTO JUKEBOX, SOCIAL DISTORTION, J CHURCH, FUGAZI, CRIMPSHRINE and SNUFF, so needless to say, this here is a very capable and interesting band. There’s some real soul in this band and this record and tons of passion. It’s been a long, long time since I was this blown away by an English band.
Just Say No To Government Music Records
www.jsntgm.com

GUFF - 'SYMPHONY OF VOICES' CD
There won't be one review of this record that doesn't mention the fact that Steve Perry from seventies rock legends JOURNEY happened to be in the studio while GUFF were recording and ended up asking them to cover and unreleased JOURNEY number- 'I Can See It In Your Eyes' and sang on it and produced it!!! That's some crazy shit huh?!! That type of thing doesn't just happen to any band! But that's not the only interesting thing about this record of GUFF...that's just and extra feature! GUFF have an interesting sound that blends a really '90s melodic punk sound of later-day DESENDENTS and BAD RELIGION but with a total rock edge too, loads of guitars and a really thick and solid sound. They have an interesting style that sounds very modern but that is also completely old school and their songs are really deeply worked- there's a lot of passion going into this music, this isn't first draft churned out stuff... Another interesting feature of this record is that the front and back covers are reversible - there are 2 separate styles so you can choose which you prefer.
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.de

CHIP HANNA & THE BERLIN THREE - S/T CD
Chip fuckin rules, not only as a musician but as a guy... he's the fuckin best. So you know the drill now... Chip plays some really old-fashioned country and rockabilly and this time he is backed by The Berlin Three, all members of contemporary psychobilly giants MAD SIN, and shit can these guys play. On here you get a mixture of some old country classics, some countrified punk and some of Chip's own originals too and it's a motherfucker of a record... what a sound. It's the fullest sound I've ever heard Chip have and those MAD SIN fuckers really up the chaos with their insane psychobilly style. Chip's the real fuckin deal... this is the shit that's in his blood so it's 100% genuine. This is the sound he grew up with and a life he can relate to, not some phoney bullshit like so many bands I could name. If you want to get educated while listening to some Grade A real rock 'n' roll then this is the ticket. This is killer.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

HARD-ONS - 'MOST PEOPLE ARE A WASTE OF TIME' CD
Wow! A new HARD-ONS record!!!!!!! If you are unaware of this band you NEED to get with the fuckin programme or hand yourself into the punk police because you're a fuckin impostor. This is Australia's number one punk rock export's 10th record in 22 years!!! When people talk about the true pop-punk greats, the ones that have really made a mark like the BUZZCOCKS, QUEERS, SCREECHING WEASEL, MR. T EXPERIENCE etc the HARD-ONS need to be included in there because they are so vital. As a punk rock kid 'Love Is A Battlefield Of Wounded Hearts' was my fuckin soundtrack because it just seemed so much more grainy and ballsy than all the American poppier stuff that I liked too, and more varied too because they'd mix all these other elements in there without losing the shape of their sound or direction. This is a fantastic record right from the amazing opener 'What Would Stiv Bators Do?'. These guys have no rules and never did, and this is another classic to chalk up on their long, long list...'Very Exciting!' released on Bomp! A few years back was killer and DO NOT miss out on this... and get their entire back catalogue too while you're boning up on the HARD-ONS.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

THE HATEPINKS - 'TETE MALADE / SICK IN THE HEAD' CD EP
Oh yeah, the French fuck-ups are back!!!! More eccentric chaos from THE HATEPINKS!! Fast, serrated and super-spastic and wonderfully sick in the head! It's always exciting to hear THE HATEPINKS and this EP is packed with their erratic and whimsical pogo punk but there's just one problem... 7 songs just isn't enough for this spastic head!!! I need more!! All the tracks rule on here and again, have killer titles like 'My City Is Sick Of Pizza', 'Should I Kill Myself Or Go Jogging?', 'Your Ass Is A Stereotype' and 'Sexual Liberation Is For Animals'... fantastic. Always a pleasure to review and hear these rascals and I hope another full-length is in the works!!!
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com

THE HEARTATTACKS - ‘HELLBOUND AND HEARTLESS’ CD
I was wondering when Hellcat would expand their sound into the more glam-style, and I think it’s really great that they have, and THE HEART ATTACKS is a fuckin cool way to start introducing this sound. I really liked their ‘Heart and Scissor Killers’ release last year and a bunch of tracks from that are on here like ‘Guilty’, ‘Heart Attack’and ‘City Sickness’ but they’ve all been made more punchy by Lars Frederiksen’s production. I’m a total sucker for this decadent, seedy hairspray rock ‘n’ roll but its got to be done well and THE HEART ATTACKS certainly pull it off. Their sound is a blend of HANOI ROCKS and early GUNS ‘N’ ROSES sleazy, glam rock ‘n’ roll delivered with JOHNNY THUNDERS debauchery and the punk rock spit of the DEAD BOYS and THE JONESES... surely that’s enough to want this!!
Hellcat Records
www.hell-cat.com

HEARTBREAK STEREO - ‘ECHO ROAD’ CD
I was really interested in hearing HEARTBREAK STEREO. I know they have a record out before this one but I haven’t heard it, but I’m going to fuckin track it down because this EP rips! It reminds me a mix of WASTED, BOMBSHELL ROCKS, DEAD BY GUN and TWOPOINTEIGHT. It’s fast, melodic and intelligent and they don’t do things by half. This is interesting and they really try some exciting stuff on here. If you used to love streetpunk but then got bored of all the generic bullshit that started crowding the scene and you want to get back to the original excitement you had, then HEARTBREAK STEREO are the ticket you need. The whole thing is very stylish from the cover art through to the music. Keep your ears open for HEARTBREAK STEREO!!!
Fast Freddie Productions
www.myspace.com/heartbreakstereo

HELLSONICS - ‘DEMON QUEEN’ CD
Heavy female-fronted rock ‘n’ roll that right from the album opener ‘U-Turn’ spits fiercely. It reminds me of TEXAS TERRI in the way that they blend heaviness and chunky riffs with raw sleaze and it’s heavy in the right way. It’s not a vulgar metallic heaviness because that’s something that I just can’t get with... this is a much more sinister, dark heaviness. At times it actually really reminds me of L7 and the vocals especially remind me of Donita Sparks. This is a very interesting approach to psychobilly / rock ‘n’ roll and it’s a real breath of fresh air to hear this done from a different angle. There are way too many copycat bands out there and the music starts to lose shape and impact and it becomes more a fashion circus than anything else, but THE HELLSONICS are all about the music and pushing the envelope. This is far from generic psychobilly... it’s all done by their own rules.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com

THE HEROINES - ‘HURTS SO GOOD’ CD
Female-fronted German punk rock with fantastic vocals... kinda remind me of Holly Ramos which is a great thing!!! I love it when female punk singers can diffuse lots of power and spirit without having to put-on some rasping vocals ala Courtney Love. There are way too many girls doing that in the scene... yawn! But Galactica’s vocals are the opposite of that. The Heroines have a very full and potent sound and the vocals really elevate the whole thing. At times there’s a touch of Texas Terri too, musically and vocally and, again, that’s fine with me! Great album!
Wolverine Records
www.wolverine-records.de

THE HOAX – ‘...AND SO IT WENT 1979 – 1981’ CD
Another spectacular and absolutely necessary release from the fantastic Bin Liner Records (the UK’S very own ‘Killed By Death’ label brought to you by Detour Records). This awesome, yes that’s right, I used the word awesome and I NEVER use that word but it’s perfectly fitting when referring to this AWESOME compilation featuring the HOAX’s first four EP’s (‘Only The Blind Can See In The Dark’ 7”, ‘So What’ 12”, ‘Blind Panic’ 7” and ‘Quiet In The Sixpennys’ 12”) plus some unreleased cuts and a couple live tracks recoded at the Mayflower in 1979. I’m sure you’re drooling by now and so you should be because this is amazing. In case you’re unaware, THE HOAX were a fantastic raw Manchester power pop / punk band – melodic and dark, unpredictable with a dangerous yet addictive and approachable edge. Very punk and very pop all at once and just brilliant. Definitely get this, and get everything on Bin Liner and Detour while you’re at it! Another blinding jewel in the Bin Liner / Detour crown.
Bin Liner Records
www.detour-records.co.uk

HOME BLITZ - S/T CD
Holy shit... I don’t know where to start with this thing…OK, let me just tell you that I’ve been listening to this for two weeks now, because I like to get the to the core of a release before I review it and I sat down 2 hours ago to do just that but instead listened to the thing twice through because I’m addicted to this record and I’m still so excited about this (even though this must be, literally, the hundredth time I’ve listened to this now) that I couldn’t write anything down- I just wanted to get absorbed into it all again. OK, snapped out of it and I gotta put some words down about this because otherwise I’ll just keep listening to it and never get anything done and as much of a compliment as that is to HOME BLITZ and Gulcher, I’m pretty sure they want an actual review! So here goes, HOME BLITZ is mind-blowing New Jersey abstract power pop noise created by 21 year old Daniel DiMaggio and this CD collects the first self-titled 7”, the second Live Outside 7", five songs from a cassette release, the new 5 track Weird Wings 12" EP and 2 bonus cuts, that makes 17 cuts in total of this wonderfully fucked up noise. It’s amazing how much melody Daniel manages to inject into his wild and odd compositions because even through their raw and undisciplined approach they are exceptionally structured pieces. This blew me away. Several times. Check out the HOME BLITZ MySpace page at www.myspace.com/homeblitz and the Gulcher website (address at the bottom of this review) – read Eddie Flowers description of HOME BLITZ and this CD because no one paints a better picture than him and get absorbed by this wonderful individual.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com

HONEY DON’T - ‘DON’T ASK ME’ 7”
Wow, this is a wild mix of folk, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and punk rock with some added BLACK LIPS-style weirdness and fascinating it is. I guess there was a clue in the Carl Perkins band name that this would be rock ‘n’ roll and if I didn’t know these guys were Italian, I would truly believe this came out of the US. They have a very urgent, raw and capricious style which I absolutely adore and that’s what generates the ‘punk-ness’ of their sound. The harmonica on here is outstanding and really gels this wild, wild noise together. The sound is so free and so disobedient in such a cool way. There is no real formula to any of this and it truly works. A very impressive 7” . All three tracks are superb and I can’t wait to hear more from HONY DON’T.
Rijapov Records
www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords

HOSTAGE LIFE - 'WALKING PAPERS' CD
Canada's HOSTAGE LIFE have a modern punk sound with their roots firmly embedded in the old school, which is a very delicate balance to achieve, because if you go too modern you can lose any soul. Their sound is powerful but very approachable too and that again, shows that they have the old/new equilibrium. It's clever, humorous, cynical and very, very passionate and you can see this right from their presentation and artwork and I really like that. These guys are just doing what they want and what they know and not trying to force anything, so it all really flows naturally. This will definitely appeal to both young kids and older punks.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

THE HUMAN TARGETS - ‘YOU!’ CD EP
Guttural UK ska punk that’s fast, raw and chaotic. There’s nothing radio-friendly about this which is a good thing because it’s always a gamble with ska punk. I’m extremely strict about what I’ll listen to in the genre but THE HUMAN TARGETS are coming from a direction that I can grasp. Most importantly they haven’t got a brass section... phew!! I’m really down with the muddled rawness of it all. It reminds me a bit of THE DEAD PETS and KING PRAWN and is really pretty solid.
www.myspace.com/thehumantargets

THE JET BOYS - ‘TEENAGE THUNDER (REVISITED)’ LP
This is a re-issue of THE JET BOYS insanely killer debut ‘Teenage Thunder’ that originally came out fifteen years ago in Japan and now, thanks to Demolition Derby, not only is it available again but it’s on vinyl for the first time ever and with 2 extra vinyl-only bonus cuts!!! This is so uber-necessary it’s no joke…this is absolutely wild Japanese garage punk that’s just so out of control and so much fun. They are so stripped down but they have so much going on, they rock like fuck with killer licks and some real balls and I fucking love them. They are so nasty but no fucking nice!! The songs grab you and shake you, I remember the first time I heard these guys I was blown a-fuckin-way so I was over the moon to hear about this vinyl reissue I can tell you!! You NEED to get this and while you’re at it, get the ‘Jet Patrol’ LP too and hook yourself up with some really sleazy, untamed and absolutely rockin punk.
Demolition Derby Records
www.demderby.com

JETSET RADIO - 'FROM ASHES TO LIFE' LP
This is Germany's JETSET RADIO's debut full-length and they present a very powerful and prominent melody in the style of the BOUNCING SOULS with a touch of latter-day SCREECHING WEASEL, ALKALINE TRIO, MADCAP etc. It's that melodic sound that has some balls too. This is very well written and these guys aren't afraid to be dead honest and just put their hearts on wax. They don't need to force anything, they are proud of their catchiness and melodic-ness... you can tell that, and that's a cool thing because this has more soul than all of that put-on, uber-punk shit that really means nothing at all. Even though this is way more melodic than what I'm accustomed to, I have found myself spinning this record a hell of a lot and getting really absorbed in their harmonic and melodic riffs and vocals lines.
Wanda Records
www.wandarecords.de

THE JONESES – ‘KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES’ CD
We would all be mentioning THE JONESES in the same breath as GUNS ‘N’ ROSES if they had gotten what they truly deserved, if they were justly recognised as just how important and pioneering these sleazy fuckers were but never making it big has kept them pure. Pure feral. No matter how wild or exciting a band is, once they break it on a large scale they inevitable lose their edge…so for that reason I’m glad that THE JONESES remain an shadowy diamond. This is the dangerous, yet critically addictive flavour of real rock n’ roll…it’s raw, stripped-down and so close to the bone. It’s real and it’s thrilling with a real sense of unpredictability. You ever heard that said about G N’ R?? Or L.A.GUNS?? Didn’t fucking think so. The backbone of THE JONESES sound , style and attitude is so strictly punk rock and that tough edge is the crux of their music and teamed up with their seedy rock ‘n’ roll riffs and Jeff Drakes’ bitchy snarl this shit is untouchable. ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’originally came out in 1986, yeah that’s 21 years ago and it’s still as fresh as fuck, there’s no expiration date on real rock ‘n roll and records like this just set that in stone. This is dangerous shit, sex, drug and alcohol fuelled rock ‘n’ roll, true leaders and in those respects no one can keep up with the JONESES.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

JOSHUA JUGBAND 5 - ‘JOSHUA JUGBAND 5 / DAMASCUS DOLDRUM’ CD
This is a compilation of 2 CD-R releases, ‘Joshua Jugband 5’ and ‘Damascus Doldrum’ originally released between 2002 and 2003 (on Slippy Town and Ramadan) and comprises 7 instrumental cuts, all untitled and clocking in at over an hour long in total so lock the door, pull the curtains shut, turn out the lights and let this psyched out Swedish water wash over your sponge-brain and get heavy, trance-heavy. Super lo-fi and thickly distorted, this is an uber-intense psychedelic guitar and percussion groove. It’s cyclical, slurred and droning and all in a great way. It’s like a musical leech that locks itself on to you and slowly sucks... and as you start losing more and more blood everything seems to make more sense somehow... everything’s going blank but shit it's sure sounding good!!! This is a serious... SERIOUS jam but with some serious balls and concentration. This ain’t no ‘Interstellar Overdrive’ faggotry. This is way more deep and powerful and in all honesty, it’s the type of thing I need after listening to too much short, rasping punk rock. I think everyone needs this shit.
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com

JUDDER AND THE JACK RABBITS - ‘DEATH FOR THE DEAD’ CD SINGLE
This is fucking great... totally stripped down double-bass punk rock in the style of a much more raw TIGER ARMY blended with the NERVE AGENTS and DEEP EYNDE. I love the production on here... or even lack of production, it’s so fucking raw and edgy and totally DIY. The disc is even stencilled and spray-painted which is fucking awesome. All three tracks on here are killer. I can’t fault this in any way, these guys should be huge. They convey pure urgency and excitement and I seriously hope they are working on a full-length. It seems to me like they could have a whole bunch of labels chasing them. Keep it this raw guys!!!! Excellent shit.
www.myspace.com/judderandthejackrabbits

KEVIN K - ‘HOLLYWOOD’ CD
The unstoppable KEVIN K returns with another gem of a record. This is a man who truly represents everything great about rock ‘n’ roll - pure honesty, absolute passion and fantastic songs. This is a man who gets my soul in the same way that Joey Ramone, Stiv Bators and Joe Strummer do. There’s this deep familiarity and an instant bond from the first time I ever heard him that I can never shake off. He’s so important and I’m so thankful for his prolificness because I can never have enough of this guy. On ‘Hollywood’ Kevin is accompanied by several of his bands... THE HOLLYWOOD STARS, THE REAL KOOL KATS, THE ST.PEPE ALLSTARS and THE LOWER EAST SIDE BAND and there’s some fantastic solo-acoustic cuts on here too. ‘Hollywood’ is everything you could possibly want from KEVIN K. It’s got his unique and distinctive song-writing that fuses spit and melancholy and raw openness with grief, humor and power, but it’s way more than a fantastic KEVIN K record or, rather another fantastic KEVIN K record. It’s an absolute rock ’n’ roll diamond. It’s fucking perfect and Kevin’s just got that flowing. He’s a fountain of rock ‘n’ roll genius and he can’t help but let it all pour out of him so naturally and effectively and thank God someone’s recording this as it flows!! I love this guy...
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

KEVIN K AND THE HOLLYWOOD STARS - ‘COOL WAYS’ CD
The King of the underground is back with his 16th, yes sixteenth, album and you can bet yer ass that it’s another delicious slice of power-pop / punk rock. This time backed by the Hollywood Stars, Mr. K delivers 12 instantly addictive cuts in his unique honest, touching and fun style. This is a man who pours his life and soul into each release and he’s done that 16 times now, this is a committed and unfaltering man. Impressive as hell. ‘Cool Ways’ was recorded in California and that’s reflected in the songs, maybe the tapes were left out in the sun because this record is oozing with that Californian atmosphere, so not only is the guy an authoritative New York icon but he can nail the West Coast style too while stamping his indelible mark and style all over the music. KEVIN K’s records are just so easy to listen to, form the first listen they become a permanent fixture, they are effortless and an absolute pleasure, this is faultless song-writing here and don’t think for a second that he’s released the same record 16 times…not at all, sure the RAMONES and THUNDERS influences are permanently reoccurring but he’s a versatile musician and each release presents it’s own character. I love this guy and I hope he never slows down- sorry Kevin, but you can’t ever stop!!!
Rank Outsider Records
www.rankoutsiderrecords.com

JOE SHITHEAD KEITHLEY - ‘BAND OF REBELS’ CD
Joey Shithead proves yet again that he’s un-fuckin-stoppable and that he’s got even more strings to his bow as he delivers a whole array of styles on this solo album ranging from punk rock to rock ‘n’ roll, ska, country, some bluesy and funky shit too. There’s 14 other musicians with him on here!!! It’s so different to the Shithead we’ve become so attached to and familiar with for almost 3 decades but it’s 100%, unmistakably Shithead. He gets to really experiment with his voice and vocal lines which is really cool and even subject matter and he still maintains all the bile and fuck-you attitude that D.O.A. are and always have been about. I was really looking forward to this as soon as I heard it was under way because I knew it would present all these new elements and facets - even more than his first solo / spoken word album ‘Beat Trash’. This is just filled with so much passion and fun and it really comes across that Joey had a blast doing this and I think that if a ‘newcomer’ picked this up and knew nothing of Joey’s past and pioneering punk / hardcore importance they would be blown away- because if you know D.O.A. you will certainly draw some parallels (more than just the fact that he ‘covers’ ‘Dangerman’) but it really is a different thing altogether…and he delivers it really well and naturally. I hope that non-punks pick this up and then find out about D.O.A. so they can see how talented punk rockers are and that we just CHOOSE to play three chords. Of course get this. Joey rules.
Sudden Death Records
www.suddendeath.com

KILLING CALIFORNIA - ‘GOIN’ SOUTH’ CD
Well, it’s no secret that we really dig what KILLING CALIFORNIA represent since we helped distribute their debut full-length ‘Ropeless Romantics’ here in Europe. ‘Goin’ South’ takes their unique attack to the next level. Their sound is a truly interesting mix of rock ‘n’ roll and hardcore- they are heavy but never metallic, they have some serious riffs and tons of balls but they don’t have any needless aggression bullshit. They are forceful in all the right ways, energetic and urgent and always individual. This is a band that plays by their own rules, follows no trends and that’s very apparent in the outcome. There’s hints of BLACK FLAG and TSOL here and there and at times they remind me of BONECRUSHER or DISCONTENT but only in little bursts here and there because they have no set of rules, they just do what they do and it’s heavy, intimidating, melodic and exciting all at once…they are their own category and that’s the very definition of KILLING CALIFORNIA.
Basement Records
www.basementrecords.com

KING LOUIE AND THE LOOSE DIAMONDS - 'MEMPHIS TREET' CD
As per usual, when an Empty pack arrives there's a fight for reviews, every fucker here want to review Empty releases, with me being no exception...so when this arrived I jumped on it...it was between this CD and the LOVER! disc so I just snatched whichever I could and as much as I love that LOVER! record, KING LOUIE AND THE LOOSE DIAMONDS blew me away and blows me away every time I listen to it even though I must have spun it literally hundreds of times since I got it and I've not had it long!! This is an absolute superband featuring, of course, KING LOUIE from the EXPLODING HEARTS and KAJUN SS- with Chad Booth also from KAJUN SS, Harlan T. Bobo from VIVA L'AMERICAN DEATHRAY MUSIC , Jack Oblivian from THE OBLIVIANS and TEARJERKERS and Adam Woodward also from TEARJERKERS...so what a fucking line-up huh? These diamonds were destined to shine blindingly from the onset although this record almost didn't see the light of day because the studio the DIAMONDS were recording in caught fire and burned down but the masters survived...what the fuck does that tell you? I'm sure there were some higher powers at work there...or maybe the Memphis Grease protected them or some shit...ether way, it's definitely a sign for you to go out and get this drool-inducing album of inimitable Memphis power-pop. I can't believe this but Empty have got 2 fucking releases in our 'record pf the year' contenders...Tommy's got the LOVER! album and I'm backing this fucker.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com

KRIMINAL POGO - S/T CD
This is the RESISTORS (featured on our 'Kamikaze Broadcast' compilation last year) who have now changed their name. Raw, female-fronted punk rock that's straightforward and unadorned and the songs are all short and destructive and that's how I like my punk rock. Great group vocals too. Very crude and confrontational and totally DIY, and how could you possibly argue with that?? Sometimes it reminds me of BLATZ, in that chaotic and jarring kind of way, which is fine with me!! I love this sound because it represents real punk rock disarray to me.
Ditchdiggin' Records
www.myspace.com/theresistorsla

LEGEND OF DUTCH SAVAGE - ‘ALL WILL BE GOOD WHEN I’M GONE’ CE EP
I was excited to hear this after last year’s ‘Dirt Fist Feet’ CD and I’m glad to hear that they have kept that wildness and unpredictability running right through this release too. The way they fuse stuff together on here is unbelievable. I catch glimpses of ALICE COOPER, BLUE OYSTER CULT, THIN LIZZY and TOM PETTY but all amalgamated with a real punk rock edge and rawness. Honestly, the result doesn’t sound like anybody else and don’t take those aforementioned bands as a direct comparison because the upshot is totally unique. There’s a real SST sound to this too which I like a lot. Really refreshing to get to review and listen to something like this.
www.myspace.com/legendofdutchsavage

LEFTOVER CRACK / CITIZEN FISH - 'DEADLINE' SPLIT CD
I knew this would be an interesting follow-up split between these two bands. This is two ska/punk bands that I think really define the whole genre in both the American and European scenes. There is so much style about this and style is not generally a word I use when referring to ska/punk because way too many weak, phoney bands have blackened the whole genre, but this is a completely different league. The UK's CITIZEN FISH kick this off with their 7 tracks of unmistakable UK ska/punk with a very heavy emphasis on old fashioned punk rock that always keeps a heavy presence throughout and never gets drowned out by the brass. This is some of their strongest material to date, very riled up indeed. I was super looking forward to LEFTOVER CRACK who were always going to steal the show for me... they are just such an interesting band... so heavy and so purposely abhorrent. It's just fantastic and oozing with some real punk rock obnoxiousness. This is also some super-solid new material form this great band. What a split this is and how suited these bands are. The great thing is, both bands are political and agitated but so different in approach really. CITIZEN FISH are just quintessentially UK ska/punk and LEFTOVER CRACK are inescapably American but, as I said at the start of this review, both are at the top of their game no doubt. Great split.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE - S/T CD EP
Now this is fucking interesting... LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE have renovated and transformed death metal. I have never heard it done anything like this before. It’s arty and sophisticated but totally wild. Both the composition and production on here are totally inspiring and attention-grabbing. There’s all the intensity and hostility of death metal but not a hint of the standardization. This is certainly pushing boundaries. They call it ‘Power Death’ a blend of power violence and death metal, and shit, did they create something very exciting. It’s like jazz-metal! Yeah, it’s that fucking interesting! Granted, I’ve been out of touch with the contemporary metal scene for a while now but I truly think this is something special here. I said my goodbyes to metal a long while ago, after a long, long haul when punk rock hi-jacked me and I’ve been a hostage ever since, but this has re-sparked something deep inside... an old addiction. Very interesting indeed.
Kiss Of Death Records
www.kissofdeathrecords.com

LOBOTOMIA - S/T CD
Bucho Discos present a re-issue of LOBOTOMIA's classic, and way out of print, debut full-length from 1986 plus 6 bonus live cuts. This is a fucking special package here. Heavy Brazilian hardcore with some real style, LOBOTOMIA have a real punk rock edge to their dark thrash and, for me, really stood out as the absolute best with their classic blend Scandinavian thrash and DISCHARGE hardcore. Fantastic stuff. This re-issue comes not only with the bonus live tracks but you also get the original cover art and also lyric translations. Be fucking thankful that Bucho Discos has re-issued this so that now it's easily available, because this album falling into the realms of deletion is a real crime. Hopefully new generations will take advantage of this and get absorbed in some real, timeless Brazilian thrash.
Bucho Discos
www.buchodiscos.kit.net

LOVER! - S/T CD
OK, this I was excited about...Rich from the REATARDS / LOST SOUNDS solo psychosis and what a fucking treat this is...melodic and abrasive all at once with some real power pop jewels that blend the sounds of TEENAGE HEAD, THE REDUCERS, ADVERTS, UNDERTONES, THE HEADACHES, CAPTAIN SENSIBLE and more recently EXPLODING HEARTS, NICE BOYS and CHAZ MATTHEWS. The blend of pure melody and fucked up distorted fuzz is perfect. The whole album is totally addictive and this is a true contender for my record of the year...tracks like 'Gun In Your Face' and 'Pipe Is Too Tight' are just unbelievable and exactly how to cut a perfect power pop diamond. I could rave about this for paragraphs and paragraphs but instead I'm just going to keep it short and tell you all you need to hear: get this right now and get obsessed yourself. This is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com

LOWER CLASS BRATS - 'LOUD AND OUT OF TUNE LIVE!!!' CD / DVD
Wow... two LOWER CLASS BRATS releases in such a short time... you lucky, lucky scums. This double live release chases the tail of their still hot 'The New Seditionaries' full-length also on TKO. This is a band who deserve everything they get and what they are getting is bigger. I'm real happy for them. It seems a lot of people want a piece of these Texan droog troublemakers and rightly fuckin so. These guys so do things their won way which is why they are so many levels above so many other bands. They do Oi! with style and streetpunk with class. So, a live release... fuck yeah and the CD and DVD are recorded separately... one in Washington during 2005 and the other in California during 2006. This is a great package for sure with the DVD being the icing on the cake, because a live album would have ruled, but backed with a DVD... well, you just can't beat that. Great selection of cuts from their entire career and some cool covers too (MISFITS, RAMONES and, of course, MAD PARADE's 'Sex and Violence') and there's some killer documentary and video extra footage on the DVD too... this is not a skimpy package here. It's funny you know, because I have never been a fan of the live recording... live visual footage I've always loved, but I never really clasped onto the live audio side of things until a few years ago and then I went nuts... so now I fuckin love this shit! I think it's so damn important to chronicle live performances through both audio and video because punk rock is about energy and unpredictability and that's what these shows are all about, and with Jerry Adamowitz mastering the recordings you know this will blow you away. Of course get this.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com

LOWER CLASS BRATS - ‘THE NEW SEDITIONARIES’ CD
The LOWER CLASS BRATS truly are a different breed of streetpunk/Oi! band. They were from day one which is why they had such an impact on me when I first heard them. They have this fantastic ability to convey pure belligerence, vulgarity and malevolence but they never come across as faux-aggressive macho shit like so many bands do and that’s something that I hate... that put-on, hostile, forced bullshit... but that’s the opposite of what the LCB represent because these guys know how to have fun. The LOWER CLASS BRATS have forged a sound and style of their own and a new full-length is always an exciting thing. ‘The Plot Sickens’ still gets plenty of fuckin spins here at NFT and that was my favourite of their albums, but ‘The New Seditionaries’ jumped right up there on the first play and continues in the same vein as 'A Class Of Our Own'. I mean, the LCB have such a specific sound that if you like them, you’ll like everything they put out, but right from the opening ‘Go Insane’ this new record rips... it’s fucking great. Killer artwork on this too.
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com

LR ROCKETS - ‘LONDON GIRLS’ 7”
Abrasive, distorted and fucked up noise in pure London style. It’s arty and rasping and reminds me a bit of NEIL’S CHILDREN mixed with BENDER. It’s got that stylish abandon with jagged and spastic guitars and even more spastic vocals, and that’s something I can dig like mad. It’s got a really live and impulsive feel... an almost ‘off-the-cuff’ feel of improvisation. It’s abnormal, fun and fucked up and I’d love to hear more from these freaks.
Must Destroy Music
www.mustdestroymusic.com

MAD CADDIES - ‘KEEP IT GOING’ CD
I had never really known too much about the MAD CADDIES even though they’ve been around for quite some time and then I saw them play with THROW RAG and I was really impressed, far from a standard skapunk band, they throw in all kinds of elements and have a really unique sound. They blend ska, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, jazz and some Latin and cabaret sounds and vary paces all over this album and with such confidence and seamless ease and they sure as shit can pull this off live. They have a lot of authentic old fashioned reggae style and with a touch of MR. BUNGLE madness thrown in but it’s always very fun and unperturbed. This is certainly the direction I would push in terms of skapunk, but this is so much more that that and shouldn’t really be labelled as that because this has a lot of soul and zest and the songs are very well crafted indeed, this is pretty fucking sophisticated stuff delivered by people who can really write and play.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

MADIDO RESPIRO - ‘AN EYE ON US’ MINI CD
This is the follow up to Italy’s MADIDO RESPIRO’s self-titled release and continues in the same vein of fast and antagonistic, old school hardcore but this time sung in English instead of Italian. Straightforward and highly effective... this is how I like hardcore. No bullshitting around, no posing, no metallic nonsense, just high-impact, insistent and sharp. MADIDO RESPIRO have some serious fucking energy and represent everything great about real hardcore. This is a throwback to the better days of hardcore and the way they employ their aggression is perfect. It’s not overly assertive, it’s passionate and urgent and above all, it’s fucking honest. Great stuff.
Wet Breath Records
www.madidorespiro.it

MADIDO RESPIRO - S/T MINI CD
Fast, old school Italian hardcore that keeps things fast and wild without verging on metallic shit or bullshit breakdowns... always keeping the pace up and keeping things simple and that’s what I’m after from hardcore. The songs are short, mostly under 2 minutes and that’s another plus for me. Hardcore should be high impact, short and stabbing and that’s what MADIDI RESPIRO are all about. All sung in Italian which is cool too. At times they remind me of a mix of a more abrasive 7 SECONDS mixed with the GORILLA BISCUITS and UNION 13. This is a fucking good record.
www.madidorespiro.it

MALKOVICH - ‘KINGS N’ BOSSES’ CD
MALKOVICH is a fucking colossal Dutch Rock ‘N’ Roll force. This five-headed beast presents some real might and power. Their sound is a super-interesting mix of all kinds of rock and the combination is like nothing else really. It’s all very familiar without ever sounding cloned. To describe their sound best I’d say they remind me of ‘Angel Dust’ era FAITH NO MORE mixed with FUCKED UP and AGNOSTIC FRONT but thats doesn’t do this justice because there are so many influences coming here that it’s actually pretty impossible to accurately describe MALKOVICH. There’s some serious punk rock elements and attitude in there, some old school metal and thrash riffage ala METALLICA and some downright indescribable shit too!!! In all honesty, this is the best ‘fusion’ band I have ever heard. I’ve never heard this many styles blended so successfully. They way they switch is seamless and that’s how it has to be to work. This is impressive and rocks like mad.
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.com

MARY’S KIDS – ‘DESTROY’ CD
Fast, raw and dangerous female-fronted punk from Sweden rock very reminiscent of THE AVENGERS (they even cover ‘White Nigger’ on here) and at ti8mes there’s touches of THE SOVIETTES.. This is some really hot shit, I’m really impressed with their amazing blend of melody, aggression and unpredictability…they have this overpowering aura of everything that’s great about punk rock. It’s super-sexy and dangerously addictive and I haven’t taken this outta my stereo since I got it…this is a 10-track demo CD and every track is a fucking killer, and the AVENGERS cover rules. Check out their MySpace at the bottom of this review, you’ll fucking love it.
www.myspace.com/maryskidsmusic

THE JOYCE McKINNEY EXPERIENCE - 'LOVE SONGS FOR KIRK' DOUBLE CD
45 songs comprising the entire recorded material from this highly important melodic hardcore band. This 2-CD set includes the 'Joyce Offspring' full-length from 1988, the 'Boring Rock' 7" from 1989, the 'Cuddle This' 7" from 1990, the John Peel session from 1988 and a whole CD's worth of previously unreleased material from 1987 - 1992!!! So even if you got everything they've released you have to get this! THE JOYCE McKINNEY EXPERIENCE were something special and so damned wonderfully English. It's raw, urgent and exciting and the dual female vocals haven't been matched since! This is superb female-fronted punk rock that balances fantastic melody with aggression and attack without ever sounding strained or acted and have always reminded me of X's Exene but more turbulent. This is part of the awesome Boss Tuneage Retro Series and what a package this is, not only because of all the music but there's all the lyrics, sleeve art, photos, line-ups, flyers and liner notes from the band. Plus Welly from Artcore did the graphics for this release so you know it will rule! This is a hugely important band and an essential release. Young punks need to hear this because you simply just don't get bands like this anymore.
Boss Tuneage Records
www.bosstuneage.com

ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES - 'LOVE THEIR COUNTRY' CD
The kings of punk-rock covers are back with an album chock full of country and western tomfoolery. Just in case you are unaware of what the GIMME GIMMES are all about, they take classic songs from all eras and genres and cover them in a punk rock style and actually very successfully. In fact, so successfully that you would believe that these were original punk rock songs, which is truly impressive because the GIMME GIMMES make it their aim to choose the most ridiculous songs to cover... songs that are about as distant to punk rock as you can get. 'Love Their Country' presents 12 classic country and western cuts including DOLLY PARTON'S 'Jolene', HANK WILLIAM's 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry', WILLIE NELSON's 'On The Road Again', GARTH BROOKS's 'Much Too Young To Fell This Dam Old', 'THE DIXIE CHICKS's 'Goodbye Earl' and KENNY ROGERS's 'She Believes In Me', so you see they are not afraid to span the entire country spectrum and convert, and indeed kill these classics!! Truly though, as much as they have a blast doing this the end result is really impressive and the songs are truly transformed and that's what a cover should be all about. I hate it when covers are just a total reproduction of the original... what's the point in that?? That must be the question the GIMME GIMMES asked themselves and well, they sure as shit answered that! I mean I love HANK WILLIAMS and JOHNNY CASH but they have undoubtedly given these songs new life, especially amongst younger kids. Tons of fun.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

MEISCE - ‘BORED OF THE DANCE’ 7”
Wow, this is a fascinating mix of folk and punk/crust. It’s much heavier than I have ever heard this style done before and it really works well! The superbly-titled ‘The Death Of Michael Flatley’ puts this intense blend in full effect with an eerie and sinister edge running through the music with hostile vocals scratched all over it. Great. The second track ‘Drunk and Alone’ varies pace from a staggering to convulsing and is dominated by the violin throughout and, again, is a hugely interesting mix. Both compositions on this 7” are extraordinary and really grabbed me and I think a full-length would floor me.
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com

THE MENTORS - ‘EL DUCE VITA’ DVD
Wow, the fucking MENTORS... what can I say??? This is something very special indeed and it’s crazy that this collection of videos, interview-clips and live footage is just getting an official release now! This is well overdue!! This is of such importance it’s unreal! This DVD presents the MENTORS home-made videos of ‘On The Rag’, ‘Forty Ouncer’, ‘Golden Showers’, ‘Donkey Dick’, ‘When You’re Horny, You’re Horny’, ‘All Women Are Insane’ and ‘Sex Slave’ and even if you’re unfamiliar with this band you know what to expect from those titles. You got it... some serious degeneracy!! The DVD also includes three live sections from Texas, Minnesota and California. The Mentors were so unique in the way that they had this real strong humor running through their material and for me, that actually adds to the danger. It seems to make this fucked-up depravity in some way accessible and that’s fucking genius!! Their videos shock but they also amuse and if you compare that to say, GG ALLIN, it’s a very different approach. GG wasn’t about humor at all, he was about absolute destruction and hate but the MENTORS are half and half. They certainly want to provoke but with hilarity and that made them very unique. El Duce is a real character and he always reminded me of a more approachable GG. This is an absolutely essential DVD. You will be blown away, sickened and amazed. This fucker has everything you need for your sleazy, corrupt mind... bloody tampons, vaginas dripping blood, pissing and ejaculating on girl faces, masturbation, oral sex, animals fucking, drug use, tons of nakedness, and of course not forgetting the rockin’ music and it’s importance in fusing metal and punk rock. This is an absolute feast of corruption and it’s just so much fun. El Duce, Sickie Wifebeater and Dr. Heathen Scum are fucking hilarious. I love the rawness and home-madeness of these videos and they really are good videos. They are thought up and edited really well and I got nothing bad to say about this DVD. This is awesome and a real fucking treat. Please do yourself a favour and get acquainted with the MENTORS if you are unfamiliar with them. Start with this DVD. You will either be repulsed or hooked and, if you’re repulsed, you’re a fucking half-measure punk. Have some serious fucking fun with this... this rules.
MVD Visual
www.mvdvisual.com

THE MENZINGERS - 'A LESSON IN THE ABUSE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY' CD
THE MENZINGERS remind me of a really out of control and much more vibrant ANTI-FLAG- I can even hear similarities in the vocals to Justin Sane but straight off the bat I think THE MENZINGERS have more energy and impact in this, their debut full-length. Than ANTI-FLAG have in their entire back catalogue. I also hear a strong similarity to Terry Hall vocally. This record is brimming with passion and soul. There's definitely an element of 'Reinventing Axl Rose'-era AGAINST ME! In here too. The production is amazing on here- all the brightness and energy is captured fantastically whilst still maintaining a wild rawness and there's a strong emphasis on fun here too which is super-important. It's all so loose in such a good way, just like AGAINST ME! used to be, they throw all kinds of things in and change direction whenever they want to and it all works so well. THE MENZINGERS really is the sound of modern punk.
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.de

THE MESSENGERS - S/T LP
This is a European re-issue of Ohio’s MESSENGERS debut full-length (originally released on Punkcore in the US) with different cover art. Female-fronted fast streetpunk with a melodic edge and they remind me a lot of a more street-ified AVENGERS mixed with a slight ouch of TEXAS TERRI rock ‘n’ roll sleaze which is fine by me! The vocals have a really great mix of aggression and melody. They are not too raspy, and I hate it when female vocalists try to be too raspy and aggressive but Shannon’s vocals on here are great. They certainly have the early English spirit burning brightly through their songs but they mix that with a much more contemporary US style too and I gotta say I really like the result. There are some really cool female-fronted punk rock and hardcore bands around these days that truly kick ass after way too many tears of Courtney Love clone-bullshit, so this is great to see and hear!!
Wanda Records
www.wandarecords.de

MILKMAN – ‘NOSTALGIATOR’ CD
Brand new 23 track album from Dutch hardcore punk stalwarts MILKMAN, ‘Nostalgiator’ their 4th full-length in ten years is a wonderful slice of ‘80’s hardcore, and I mean REAL hardcore- fast, thrashy, super-tight and super-short and fucking excellently played with a fantastic balance of aggression and power without ever being over the top or venturing too much in metallic territory, this is Hardcore with a capital H, this is the sound I grew up with that cannot be touched and MILKMAN nail that ‘80’s style perfectly, if you didn’t know that this was recorded this year you’d think it was 20 years old and that’s a fantastic accomplishment- I’m not one for pushing the punk and hardcore envelope…fuck that, I want more bands to represent the passion of earlier days and these 23 tracks in 28 minutes do that a hundred times over…this is fucking awesome. This is a fantastic record and more necessary than ever in these times of dead music that doesn’t mean shit. Get with this and feel some true passion and undying energy.
Shield Recordings
www.theshiledhardcore.com

MILLOY – ‘MORE THAN A MACHINE’ CD
Melodic but gruff English punk with hardcore elements that reminds me of LEATHERFACE with a slight American influence. There’s something about melodic English punk/hardcore bands that so unique, so English- I can never place it- it’s not just the accent, it’s this darker, rougher edge that I find lacking in so many American bands that play in the same genre. There’s something so much more real and believable about the English stuff and MILLOY are a great example of that. Another thing about English bands of this style, and MILLOY are definitely included here, is that they don’t really stick to any formula, you get a 12 track album and in no way do you get the same song a dozen times, they take you all over the place with strange sections here and there and really interesting compositions. If you require a strong melody but still want to maintain an authentic, honest and raw edge then MILLOY is all about that, these guys are inescapably passionate.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

MILWAUKEE WILDMEN - ‘STRIKE BACK’ CD
Fast and chaotic psychobilly that really nails that fine line between punk rock, rockabilly and country because, believe me, that’s a fucking hard balance to get right and so many fuck it up trying too hard to crow-bar in all elements of all those genres. THE MILWAUKEE WILDMEN have truly got that blend right on that line. They have a real urgency in their sound that gives them this frenzied style that I love and that’s something that comes from the ‘liveness’ of real rock ‘n’ roll. It’s something that’s missing in way too many bands and especially those in the rock ‘n’ roll genre. ‘Strike Back’ truly is a full-on attack and that’s what I want from rock ‘n’ roll. It’s supposed to be undisciplined, unruly and wild and psychobilly is meant to be an extreme of that, and that’s exactly what THE MILWAUKEE WILDMEN are all about without ever being over-the-top.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com

MISS 45 - S/T CD EP
Sweden's MISS 45 manage to throw together pure trashy rock 'n' roll, glam sleaze, punk snot and melody and shit does it rock... this is a fucking ripping EP and 'High-Heeled Bitches' is a fucking sick song with all those ingredients combining perfectly. They have a very interesting delivery and the way they fuse these constituents together is far from obvious. This trashy punk has become very popular recently and too many bands just don't know how to do it right because they are jumping into a scene too fast with no real soul, but MISS 45 have got the heart and this is in their blood. I can't wait to hear a full-length.
No TalentRecords
www.notalentrec.com

MONIKERS - ‘EAT YOUR YOUNG’ CD EP
I really miss this type of punk rock sound... the early Lookout! / No Idea sound. Gritty, raw and melodic in the vein of CRIMPSHRINE, J CHURCH, CLEVELAND BOUND DEATH SENTENCE etc... that coarse poppy sound that’s spewing with sentiment and honesty but also ripping shit up and all kept quite lo-fi. That’s a sound that excites me and that you just don’t get to hear to often anymore. MONIKERS have got that sound... This is their debut five track EP and it’s certainly left me wanting more. I know they have a 7” coming out soon but I’d be very excited to hear a full-length. I believe that these guys have the power to project me back 15 years to that extraordinary and indescribable feeling of punk rock excitement that Lookout! used to give me in spades.
Kiss Of Death Records
www.kissofdeathrecords.com

MOONSHINE REUNION - ‘SEX, TRUCKS AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL’ CD
Straightforward and stripped down rockabilly reminiscent of JED CLAYTON, ROGER MILLER, JOHNNY HORTON, JIMMIE DALE and EDDIE COCHRAN... just super-simple rock ‘n’ roll with no big riffs or massive production and that’s what makes the biggest impact. This is bare-bones rock ‘n’ roll with a heavy upright bass presence and the guitar sweeping and twirling around the super-prominent bass line and the drums keeping the whole thing controlled so the vocals can do what they like... and that’s real rock ‘n’ roll... it truly rocks and rolls. I like my music simple whether it be punk rock, rock ‘n’ roll, country or reggae or whatever. I don’t like over-production and over-complexity in writing to shadow the rawness and bareness of the music and that’s why MOONSHINE REUNION instantly talk to me. They are coming from that rootsy direction.
Drunkabilly Records
www.drunkabilly.com

DENNIS MOST AND THE INSTIGATORS - ‘I’M NOT DEAD YET!’ CD
DENNIS MOST sure isn’t a newcomer to this rock ‘n’ roll game, shit, he’s been thrashing around for decades... since 1972 and ‘I’m Not Dead’ shows he’s back with more stripped-down garage punk rock with his trademark dark, gothic edge. Dennis doesn’t fuck around... straightforward rock ‘n’ roll is what he’s all about and this really puts a new perspective on today’s punk rock scene, or even lack of it, lack of real punk rock. Sure there’s sacks o’ bullshit out there but real rock ‘n’ roll? No sir... haven’t heard much of that in a while now, but thanks to old timers like Dennis Most pushing this shit back in the faces of the ignorant youth, things are looking better!! ‘Vampire City’ was a great kick in the face and ‘I’m Not Dead yet’ is a real neck-stomper. Thank God Dennis isn’t dead yet.
www.dennismostinstigator.com

MOTORAMA - 'DIRT TRACK SPECIALIST' CD
This is way more stripped-down garage punk than I thought it would be, which is absolutely fine with me! I was expecting a much thicker-sounding heavy punk rock 'n' roll style from the band name and the album title. They play at a nice fast pace and with some really erratic guitars which I really like. It's got this really unpredictable frayed edge to it all that's really exciting. They sure are heavy but not in an obvious, bullshit flames and dice way... this is more of a really punked-out MOTORHEAD approach and done with some real force, and they have this really interesting underlying kind of early '90's US indie sound of MUDHONEY, JESUS LIZARD etc. I bet these guys absolutely rip shit up live...
Last Chance Records
www.lastchancerecords.net

THE MURDER JUNKIES - 'EUROPEAN INVASION 2005' DVD
It's a real fuckin shame that GG never made it over to Europe. I mean it was obviously never going to happen but fuck would that have been something... but, the next best thing fuckin did!! The Murder Junkies finally made it over here at the end of 2005 for a month-long tour to wreak their havoc on European crowds in 8 countries. The crowds are wild and you can feel the enthusiasm and excitement. This shit was a long time coming and the eagerness just seeps through the screen. Exciting stuff for sure. The footage is taken from a number of different shows on the tour and spliced together into a 'compilation' and the energy and drive is awesome. This is a full-on attack from the start and the shows are wild. Not wild in the GG sense of wild, because his replacement, the contemporary Murder Junkies vocalist, JB Beverly is sure as shit not a carbon-copy on the Outlaw Scumfuc and rightly so, no-one can replace a one-off and who the fuck could possibly fill GG's shoes? Of course the music must continue but to mimic would be a farce so JB is the most-recent Murder Junkies vocalist who took the stand with grace and dignity and picked up the torch and the music carries on surviving without raping any ghosts. Everybody knows he's not GG as well as he does and there's a lot of style in his presence and delivery and fans respect that, and you can see just how much they take to him in these shows. The sets are filled with GG classics and original Murder Junkies cuts from when GG was around up 'til their newer material and includes, 'Bite It Youe Scum', 'Die When You Die', 'Drink Fight and Fuck', 'Raw, Brutak, Rough and Bloody', 'Outlaw Scumfuc', 'Feed My Sleaze', 'Cunt Sucking Cannibal', 'Highest Power', 'I Kill Everything I Fuck', 'Mad Man's Head' and more. It really is non-stop chaos from the get go. The extra material consists of a GG spoken word performance in Allston, MA from 1989 and it's the same one that's in the 'Hated' documentary but filmed on a camcorder so it's different angles and it's un-edited and it's way more outta control than how it appears in 'Hated'... it's a classic GG assault with abuse, blood, violence and danger. GG is fuckin angry here, unpredictable and very offensive and that's GG!!! Through and through!! It's a cool piece of bonus material and you just have to include some GG in a Murder Junkies DVD even if it's after his time!!! This is yet another important release in the MVD GG Allin series. This man and his music just wasn't represented well enough until this series came out and now MVD have released 4 GG (and GG-related) DVD's! This needs to be seen! The kids need to see and hear some real rock 'n' roll, some danger and excitement!!!
MVD Visual
www.mvdvisual.com

MUTINY - ‘CO-OP BREWERY’ CD
These Australian pirate squatter rogues are back with a new full-length in their very unique approach to punk-folk. MUTINY have some true style and have crafted a very original mélange of traditional folk with a punk delivery and attitude. This is intelligent, stimulating and exciting as fuck and radiates pure grace and passion. I’m sorry and very disappointed to say that this genre has been slowly bastardized and become so gimmicky but MUTINY represent the very opposite of that. These guys believe in what they do and have been believing in it and doing it for over 15 years and you can undeniably tell that they are still so fanatical about it and that’s so fantastic. To be able to deliver a full-on attack through acoustic music and to provoke and rouse through this in the way that MUTINY do is a true talent and that is the very definition of folk-punk... vigour through sharp lyrics and gritty folk music. This is a band to absolutely absorb yourself in and I’d strongly urge you to get as much of their music as you can. Excellent stuff.
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com

THE NERDS (ROCK INFERNO) - ‘MURDER IS NOW’ CD
This follows THE NERDS’ vicious split with RUPTURE and, this their third full-length presents them more fierce and fuming then ever before. This is a full-on NERDS attack, the masters of Italian destructo rock, the European ANTiSEEN…this shit is pure sadistic rock ‘n’ roll disorder. Heavy and nasty and addictive because it rocks like a motherfucker and the reason I find myself so drawn to the NERDS sound is because they have such a pure punk edge, their music is super-heavy but it’s pretty straight forward too, it’s heavy punk and never gets metallic and that’s a great thing because the more metallic a band is, the less threat they present…this has got balls and energy. These guys are definitely getting stronger with each release.
Chorus Of One Records
www.myspace.com/chorusofonerecords

NINE ELEVEN – ‘USE YOUR DISILLUSION’ CD
I was expecting NINE ELEVEN to have a really modern and metallic hardcore sound but instead they have a much earlier sound of mid-‘90’s hardcore merged with a more modern style. It’s fast, heavy and hostile with break-downs and reminiscent of the Victory or Revelation sound of the mid- ‘90’s but with a dose of modern (and more metallic) hardcore injected into it. NINE ELEVEN hail from France and it’s that European-ness that makes for their interesting direction and approach. Europeans always have and always will do things differently, even if they are heavily influenced by American bands, which NINE ELEVEN obviously are, the end result is diverse and more original. They have that very positive early hardcore attitude- their slogan being ‘Fuck you if you have nothing to say and think!’ so they are very much in that constructive and intelligent mindset which, in my opinion, is lacking in modern hardcore.
Chorus Of One Records
www.chorusofonerecords.it

NO USE FOR A NAME - 'ALL THE BEST SONGS' CD
This 'best-of' collection commemorates 20 years of NO USE FOR A NAME with a selection of 24 tracks spanning their two decades and 2 previously unreleased tracks, 'History Defeats' and 'Stunt Double'. NO USE FOR A NAME certainly are one of the handful of bands that absolutely defined an era with their sound, there were many, many followers and imitators but NUFAN are one of the pioneers of this sound and unless you are new to the scene you will know that for years this sound absolutely defined American punk. It's a style that takes a melodic old school sound of bands like the DESCENDENTS and speeds it all up with an almost hardcore approach to the guitar delivery but always keeping a super-strong melodic presence and overtone. NUFAN along with NOFX are the authoritative bands who set this style in stone. There are still thousands of bands imitating this sound today. The interesting thing about NUFAN's sound is that, even through their intense melody they have this strong underlying melancholy and a sort of darkness too and I always heard that in NOFX too and Tony Sly's voice and delivery always reminded me slightly of Mike Patton. Whether melodic punk rock is your thing or not, it's undeniable that NO USE FOR A NAME are an crucial band that characterize American melodic skate punk and absolutely defined an era.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

NORMAN BATES AND THE SHOWERHEADS - ‘PSYCHO TOO!’ CD
This is the NORMAN BATES AND THE SHOWERHEADS discography from 1987 - 1996. I remember these guys blowing me away on the ROIR ‘Scum Rock’ tape years ago with their raw and heavy thrashy hardcore punk but that’s all I had ever heard of them. That track is included here as well as their debut self-titled LP from 1989, a live radio show from 1990, their 2 tracks from the ‘Where The Wild Thing Are’ comp and 7 unreleased studio recordings too. This totally rips and again, goes to show that new shit just can’t cut it like this shit used to. The power and energy in this is overwhelming and exciting and it’s fucking fun too and it’s not about posing around, it’s 1000% about the music. I'm really happy to have got to review this because I still listen to that live ‘Scum Rock’ tape and ‘Marlboro Man’ still excites me, and now I got to hear the studio version and all their other shit too!! Nice fat booklet too with this collection with loads of photos, notes and lyrics. Very highly recommended.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com

‘NORTHWEST PASSAGE’ DVD
“Do it yourself so you can get it done the way you want it done”- SADO-NATION’s David Corboy defines the crux of D.I.Y. in punk rock in this amazing DVD that showcases ‘The Birth Of Portland’s D.I.Y. Culture’…this is a mind-blowing one and a half hour collection including live footage from THE WIPERS, SADO-NATION, POISON IDEA, LOTEK, CLEAVERS, FIX, KNETICS, THE RATS, RUBBERS, BOP ZOMBIES, FIX, NEOBOYS, SMEGMA, STYPHNOIDS, THE BAGS, DEAD KENNEDYS and more and interviews with Pig Champion, Jello Biafra, David Corboy and John Shirley from SADO-NATION, Kristy Denning from LOTEK, Mike King from FIX, Mark Sten and Bill Mscichowski from the BOP ZOMBIES, red Cole and Toody from THE RATS, Sam Henry from The WIPERS, Brian Lee from The CLEAVERS, Eric Stewart from SMEGMA, Kurt Cobain and Kris Novaselic from NIRVANA and more. This is THE definitive Portland D.I.Y punk rock 1978-1983 anthology in great detail…this is awesome. Jello Biafra talks about the North West being so important because there were no stops between LA and NY before D.I.Y. hit the North West and places like the New Arts Centre, Long Goodbye, Earth Tavern and Urban Noize opened and allowed bands like the AVENGERS, CRIME, DEAD KENNEDYS and the WEIRDOS etc to play Portland and of course the hugely significant ’10-29-79’ compilation is covered. I just can’t stress how important this documentary is and I uber-recommend it, there needs to be way more shit like this around, it’s so in-depth and informative without ever being monotonous - in my opinion you can never go into too much detail because this is defining and exposing a massively important movement and how it changed a city forever - and Portland sure as shit doesn’t need any introduction punk-wise these days and it’s because of this early revolution that it flourished right until present day. This is fucking fantastic and the complete package is truly awesome, in the real sense of the word…Mike Lastra presents a real masterpiece here…there’s just no reason to not grab yourself a copy.
Lastra6066@comcast.net

NUDE PUBE BANGLERS - ‘NEW WAVE OF NORWEGIAN HARD ROCK’ CD
Well, the title of this record says it all…this is the New Wave of Norwegian Hard Rock…heavy and melodic like a blend of TURBONEGRO, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, HOT SNAKES, AC/DC, MOTLEY CRUE and THE HEARTBREAKERS…they have some serious guitar riffage but it never gets metallic - which is great because when that metal shit creeps in it blows the whole deal for me and they really know how to get some addictive melody in there too. Their sound is really quite captivating because they manage to bond all the styles really well - there’s a definite punk edge to the whole thing. Really fucking solid album…
Chorus Of One Records
www.myspace.com/chorusofonerecords

Oi! WARNING #5
Another killer issue of Oi! Warning, and if you are familiar with the zine you will know that they don't skimp on content! This fucker is chock-full of Oi!, punk, ska and hardcore material, this time featuring interviews with Dead Heroes (cover), The Muggers, Dead City Shakers, Lousy Break, Urban Rejects, The Jinx, Ghetto Rock mailorder, Razzapparte, Die Towerblocks, Truth In Needles, Perkele, Haine, Band Of Felons, Crossfire, Tennentz Colomco, The Angst and more plus a whole heap of reviews. This is a zine to really keep an eye out for. It's got a great attitude and it's got the DIY photocopied and stapled look to it that I love so much and you can tell that this is truly a labour of love. This is not one of those zines that you can read in half an hour and never look at again, this is something that you will find yourself constantly returning to... it's a fucking 76-page zine!! Excellent stuff.
www.myspace.com/oiwarningfanzine
PO Box 333, Clenchwarton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4WU, UK

ON FILE - ‘THE REAL McOI!’ CD
This re-release of Scotland’s ON FILE’s second album follows Step 1’s re-release of their debut album ‘Ejected From The Premises’ and as a bonus this includes the band’s rare ‘Bird’s Don’t Like Skinheads’ EP that was only available on vinyl up until now as well as two more bonus compilation tracks ‘You Don’t Live Here’ and ‘Back To The Roots’... so it’s quite a fuckin package! I love ON FILE’s stripped down Oi! Style that reminds me so much of THE TEMPLARS and I have had a special place in my heart for THE TEMPLARS from the moment I heard them. As soon as I heard ON FILE I heard a similarity like I had never heard before to a band I thought no-one could ever touch but, fuck me, ON FILE did! Honest lyrics and straightforward Oi! That’s what it’s all about... nothing too forced or ‘acted’. This is the finest in British Oi! and I urge you to get a hold of this as well as the ‘Ejected From The Premises’ re-release.
Step-1 Music
www.step1music.com

ONLY CRIME - ‘VIRULENCE’ CD
This is ONLY CRIMES’s second full-length that follows their very strong debut ‘To The Nines’ a couple of years ago. In case you are unfamiliar with ONLY CRIME, here’s a quick summary... members of this group are/have been in THE DESCENDENTS, BLACK FLAG, GOOD RIDDANCE, GWAR, BANE, ALL, HAGFISH, CONVERGE and ARMSTRONG... that’s pretty much all you need to know to get the picture! There’s a hell of a lot of punk rock history in these 5 guys. When they all bring their experience to the table you get a fuckin interesting blend and something that sounds familiar yet fresh, because you can hear elements of those bands, but when it all comes together it creates something innovative and original and that’s the best way possible to push music, and especially punk rock forward. You can’t just abandon the past sounds. You need to keep a strong rooted familiarity and push things form there which is exactly what ONLY CRIME have done. I can hear such a strong Bill Stevenson presence running through this and I love that. I am very accustomed to his style and love the fact that this shines through. This is a really strong follow up which I think thrusts that concept of roots and progress even further than ‘To The Nines’ did.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

PARASITES - ‘RETRO-POP REMASTERS’ CD
This is a best-of collection from New Jersey’s premier pop-punk / RAMONES-core outfit THE PARASITES. With elements of the classic SCREECHING WEASEL and QUEERS sounds and touches of THE DESCENDENTS and ALL thrown in, this is pop-punk perfection. I’ve always said that when people mention classic RAMONES influenced bands it’s always THE QUEERS and SCREECHING WEASEL that get all the attention, but THE PARASITES should be mentioned in the same breath because they are right up there. This is a killer collection, all the classic stuff in one here and it’s a fantastic way to get acquainted if you’re unfamiliar with THE PARASITES (shame on you). I always felt that THE PARASITES really distanced themselves from the pop-punk explosion that happned a decade or so ago and I’ve always liked that, they stepped back into the shadows rather than forward into the spotlight and that makes them even more special. That lame explosion could have ruined them, instead they flourished. Great compilation.
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.de

THE PEELERS - ‘LET’S DETONATE’ CD
THE PEELERS inject a huge dose of fun and animation into their straightforward yet interesting punk rock. At times they remind me of a much more stripped down early ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT. They have that rock ‘n’ roll style but not in the lame overblown and obvious way that way too many bands do it these days. The vocals are great. I like the singers voice a lot and he does a lot with the vocal lines too. In a way this reminds me slightly of DEVO too... there’s definitely a resemblance in the vocals and even the guitar work, and that’s absolutely fine with me!! The emphasis is definitely on enjoyment in this record and THE PEELERS certainly communicate that! This is a real party record and it’s been too long since I got one of these to review! Pure fun punk rock ‘n’ roll with none of the bullshit affectations. I’ve already wrecked my living room to this record 3 times...
Beercan Records

THE PEERS - ‘ROCK!T REPEAT’ CD
THE PEERS are all about pure rock ‘n’ roll but they mix things up on here a lot, the pace varies between songs, some are big-riffers and some tracks are more relaxed and even poppy and they have a lot of elements of the RAMONES and all era RAMONES too, early and late. They have no exact sound but it’s always indisputably rock ‘n’ roll and they always keep things simple and straightforward which is how it should be. It’s good that it’s hard to place their sound because there’s way too many bands playing that generic rock ‘n’ roll style and all trying so hard to force all the ingredients in to sound a particular way, but THE PEERS aren’t about that at all. They just do what they want and every song comes out different to the last.
Trash 2001 Records
www.trash2001.de

THE PENITRAITORS - ‘OPERATION RAPE’ CD
It’s always a pleasure to hear THE PENITRAITORS’ raw, obnoxious and political punk rock... ’Operation Rape’ seems to have a slight metallic hardcore edge to it, more of a big-riff-presence than I have heard them have before but it works well and they still discharge their spit and bile all over their songs which is great to hear. Their sound is so characteristically English and they mix older and newer styles and throw it all together with some serious youthful revulsion and hostility. I really don’t think there’s much to shout about in contemporary UK punk rock aside from a handful of bands and THE PENITRAITORS are certainly in that handful.
www.penitraitors.com

‘The Picture Book - Contemporary Illustration’ by Angus Hyland
Through it’s 341 pages of overwhelming graphics, ‘The Picture Book’ presents a contemporary portfolio sample from 80 international illustrators and a widespread and diverse collection it is. Presented in a completely modern style, with a very friendly and laid-back approach with each artist including a self-portrait and a paragraph about themselves and their art, this is a very approachable book, totally forthcoming. This is indeed an irresistible book, from the embossed cover, weight and size this is a book that shouts out and even an initial ‘flick-through’ will guarantee astonishment and instant fascination. The wonderful thing about ‘The Picture Book’ is that it invites artists and art-lovers of all ages and realms. Even though this is a very contemporary collection, the presentation and content over-rides any boundaries. This is certainly a universal collection and a very important one at that. Of the 80 artists included, some work you will instantly recognize even if you are unfamiliar with the artist themselves, from advertisements, magazine article-accompanying art, album sleeves, posters etc and you will learn a great deal and be introduced to a wealth of new art and artists. The book captures a fountain of different styles, from the super-sketchy hand-drawn, to messy paint, to super-smooth computer graphics to screen-printing, collage, pencil work... There are no rules and that’s what makes ‘The Picture Book’ so wonderfully miscellaneous. Rather than describe the artists and their work individually I would rather depict ‘The Picture Book’ as a whole because it’s the collection of all these artists’ fantastic and distinct work that is so powerful, and that engulfs the viewer/reader. This is a collection that anyone studying any kind of art-related field at any level would do well to acquire. It’s fresh, fun and provocative and to put it mildly, I was completely blown away by this book.
Laurence King Publishing
www.laurenceking.co.uk

THE PINK SEXIES - 'ROCK 'N' ROLL MOUSTACHE RIDE' CD
Holy shit, this is amazing!!! This reminds me of a mix of THE DICKS and BIG BOYS but delivered in a really stripped down and super-fun fashion and way more rock 'n' roll. I love those two bands like crazy and I don't think I could think of anything better than a band that blends that shit together. I can't believe nobody else has done this!!! I don't think I know enough words to express my excitement about THE PINK SEXIES... I guess I could just thesaurus 'amazing' and just list those words... Listen to me, don't let this band get away. This sparks everything great and lost in punk rock and I feel fucking 15 again, and I'm not losing this feeling anytime soon because I'm gluing the headphones to my ears and locking myself in my attic. I must never forget this... this actually is awesome.
Wrecked 'Em Wreckords
www.wrecked-em.com

PISS SHIT FUCK - ‘USE YOUR DELUSION’ CD
PISS SHIT FUCK are certainly pushing boundaries and not only in a musical sense but in a confrontational and hostile manner. They spew intelligent and political lyrics and provoke and distress and are all about ruffling feathers and aggravating. These lyrics and views injected into their fast and heavy thrash punk creates a relentless impact that just can’t be ignored. It forces it’s way right down your throat. I mean, it rocks musically and that’s good enough, but coupled with the pure hate and chaos they exude throughout this album’s 9 tracks, it’s just awe-inspiring. The energy, the frustration and the power is inescapable. This is fucking awesome and PISS SHIT FUCK are truly making a mark and it’s fucking indelible. I hope the kids listen and revolution is close...
Tent City Records, 101 W. 23rd St, Box 2341, New York, NY 10011, USA

THE POPZILLAS - ‘PANDORA POP’ CD EP
THE POPZILLAS are fucking weird! They really mix things up on here. They are undoubtedly a pop band but that’s evident from their name and this release’s title, but they don’t have a fixed formula to their songs which is cool. They have a slight touch of the Damaged Goods sound at times but much cleaner and more produced, then at times they sound like the CRANBERRIES with a more indie feel and then they have these reggae and surfy elements too!! It’s all fucked up but it’s kinda cool too... interesting stuff.
Wolverine Records
www.wolverine-records.de

‘PUNK VS. PUNK’ DVD
This totally DIY documentary focuses on the contemporary San Diego punk rock scene with tons of live footage and interviews from the likes of the RESERVOIR TIPS, THE SHITGIVEITS, THE WASTRELS, SCREAMIN’ YEEHAWS, THE YUCKS, THE SHIFT, VIVA LA CHIVA, YER MOM, THE GIZZRADS, JFA, DRUNKIN PUNKIN IDIOTS, THE BOWEL TONES and OPERATION VACUSUCK. I love how cut ‘n’ paste the whole thing it, it’s 1000% DIY and that’s a great thing- this is a real documentation- honest and raw, nothing’s embellished- it’s just presented exactly as it happens. I really liked this and the highlights, although it was all good, were definitely JFA just because I’ve always had an absolute soft-spot for them, and Brian and Don just fuckin rule and are the coolest guys on here and also the YUCKS, they fuckin’ rule. I wish more documentaries like this existed…we need less focus o nall that bigger Warped Tour bullshit and more gritty, raw shit like this…this shit actually lest you into the scene via the back door, at ground level you know, like you can feel a part of the San Doego scene while watching this and that’s an important fucking thing. Who the fuck needs or wants bright fuckin lights and multi-camera angles??? That’s just beautification and that’s NOT what this DVD is about at all, this is about presenting the absolute core of the San Diego scene with all the dirt, noise, fights, humor and honesty.
www.myspace.com/punkvspunk

DIE PUNKROIBER - ‘STILL FUCKIN’ PUNKROIBER’ CD
Powerful and tough-yet-melodic punk rock that reminds me musically of later BAD RELIGION but with more balls and more drive. DIE PUNKROIBER are from Germany but sing in English for the most part and have a political edge and sure aren’t afraid to provoke and attack. They have a real force behind their music and a very clear element of confrontation and I like that a lot. They are about getting their messages across whether political, social or personal and they do this with huge enthusiasm and a strong rage. Their delivery is interesting because it’s pretty heavy and fast and almost hardcore but they have this inescapable melody running through the whole thing and really sculpting it and it really works. This is a super-solid record with some standouts being ‘Hey Industrie’ , ’No Poser Punk’, ‘Gegen Gegen’ and ‘He’s Rebel’.
Wanda Records
www.wandarecords.de

PURE COUNTRY GOLD - S/T CD
What a fantastic R & B punk noise these two gentlemen create... very impressive indeed. Super stripped down and naked, explosive rock ‘n’ roll that just can’t contain itself. It’s wild, truly wild and absolutely captivating. This is so sincere and so uncontrollably real that it’s like their hearts and souls are coming through the speakers. We fight over promos when they arrive here and I fuckin nabbed this one as soon as I saw it. It jumped out at me, firstly because it’s on Empty but secondly it looked like my kind of breed of super lo-fi, raw noise that I’m just addicted to. There’s a real skill to transmitting really raw and exposed music well because if it’s not done right it can just sound empty, thin and recorded badly but PURE COUNTRY GOLD could be the definitive example of how to do it right. Like I said, this is truly wild and I’m blown away. Fan-fuckin-tastic.
Empty Records
www.emptyrecords.com

THE QUEERS - ‘MUNKI BRAIN’ CD
Jesus Christ, THE QUEERS have still got it, even after 15 fuckin releases. They truly are the closest thing to this generations RAMONES who refuse to change their formula and good on them. That quote from a few years back that ‘The RAMONES have only recorded one good album and they’re still recording it’ applies completely to the QUEERS too. Their instantly addictive style that blends the cutest of bubblegum melody with the most malicious spiteful snot is inescapable. Nobody does it like THE QUEERS. To merge such an approachable sound with such obnoxiousness is fantastic and that’s what they’re been doing since day one. Joe King is the master of getting the perfect balance between vulgarity, sarcasm and affability and that is a fucking task and a half to get right and to play such melodic punk with such a heavy BEACH BOYS influence and still be loved by all punks is again, quite an achievement. I mean, when you go to a QUEERS show you get a complete spectrum of all kinds of punks and that’s what’s so great. The type of melodic, pop punk that the QUEERS play is the great leveller in punk rock, where everyone likes it and everyone has fun at the shows. There have only been a few bands that can really attract and be a magnet for all kinds of punks... THE RAMONES, of course and SCREECHING WEASEL are the only other 2 that instantly come to mind. Of course this is a killer record but it was never going to be anything else.
Asian Man Records
www.asianmanrecords.com

THE QUEERS - 'THE QUEERS ARE HERE' DVD
Fuck yes, THE QUEERS are here on DVD. Finally!!! This collects live footage, interview segments and videos spanning their entire career. A lot of the live footage is totally DIY, shot by hand on a camcorder and I love that shit. Raw, real and original. As it fucking happened with shakes and glitches and all. Totally live. Check out the track-listing on this motherfucker: 'We'd Have A Riot Doing Heroin', 'Don't Back Down', 'Granola Head', 'Tamara Is A Punk', 'Ursula Finally Has Tits', 'This Place Sucks', 'Punk Rock Girls', 'I Can't Get Over You', 'Like A Parasite', 'Blabbermouth', 'You're Tripping' and the list of hits just goes on and on... a total of 28 cuts!!!! Nobody does it like the QUEERS. The ability to be cute and detestable all at once is quite an accomplishment and Joe King is the master of that. To be able to write obnoxious and vile songs that people can sing along to is a real talent because THE QUEERS never compromised the rock 'n' roll... they never felt the need to be tough and aggressive, as their choice of name indicates and that's a powerful tool. It's like the Simpsons being able to be away with some really obnoxious and questionable stuff just because they are a cartoon and they slip through the net... that's the fucking QUEERS through and through. This totally obnoxious cartoon band that vomit bubblegum puke and spit jelly razorblades. This is a truly important band and I can't believe it's taken them 20 years to get a DVD out!!! But it's here now so what are you waiting for??!!! GET THEIR NEW RECORD 'Munki Brain' too while you're out getting this... The QUEERS have still got it... man have they ever got it. The QUEERS are a band with some real history and a band that just can't be shaken off. The QUEERS are indeed here and have always been and I can't imagine them ever not...
MVD Visual
www.mvdvisual.com

RADIO DEAD ONES - ‘KILLERS AND CLOWNS’ 12” EP
New EP from Berlin’s very own street rats RADIO DEAD ONES with the addition of Marti Neurotic from FRONTKICK on these 6 recordings thickening the guitar up. These guys fuse the raw, early TKO street punk sound with some thick melody and then Beverly Crime spits his throat all over it!! I love those raw, shredding vocals and they fit the sound perfectly. There’s not one bad thing about this record. I love that it’s a 12” EP... we definitely don’t get to see enough of those!! Make a serious note of this band if you are not already familiar with them because they are building up a rock solid catalogue and this 12” presents them in fantastic form. Keep an eye out because they have recorded a debut full-length ‘Rich and Sound’ that I have had the pleasure of hearing. Definitely a band to pay attention to. Get this and get their 7”s as well. Cool Clash-tribute artwork on this too.
Wanda Records
www.wandarecords.de

THE REAL DANGER – S/T CD
This is the first I had heard of THE REAL DANGER and the thoughts that came straight into my head when looking at the cover were SST and the DESCENDENTS and hell yeah, that’s what they’re going for! And that’s fine by me!! The singer even looks a lot like Milo! This is their debut full-length and is all about melodic punk rock in the old fashioned style of the DESCENDENTS / ALL – the intense and reflective melodic style, not the bratty, whiny bullshit that replaced that classic old sound. This is meaningful and emotional but never wimpy and it’s got that full, bass-heavy sound too that very evocative of ‘80’s melodic punk rock with great vocals lines and harmonies. I don’t know when melodic punk changed so much and became so meaningless but THE REAL DANGER is what it’s supposed to sound like, is you miss that classic SST melodic sound then this is for you, this will bring all of it back!!!
Shield Recordings
www.theshiledhardcore.com

RIBZY - ''81-'85 RECORDINGS' CD
Fuck yeah, I'm glad I got to review this... a selection of San Jose's RIBZY recordings from 1981 - 1985. Absolutely sick... raw hardcore punk with real style and urgency. Short, sharp and youthful and represents everything great about real, old fashioned hardcore and you certainly don't get shit like this anymore which is such a pity because this is where all the excitement, exigency and real, raw energy lies. The liner notes by Greg Oropeza are great and recount the history of RIBZY through member and name changes etc. and really gives insight into just how DIY RIBZY were and how ingenious and resourceful young punk and hardcore bands had to be in those early days to be able to make this music. Greg used a reel-to-reel recorder to get distortion and devised his own 5-string open chord tuning and one drummer even auditioned on suitcases because he showed up without a kit... absolutely fantastic stuff and that's the creativity and rawness that excites me deep, deep down. There's no question that you need to get this absolutely awesome 30-track collection of real, exciting hardcore punk.
Vinehell Records
www.vinehell.com

RINGERS - 'DETENTION HALLS' CD
So, a new RINGERS full-length comes along while I still got my teeth firmly sunk into 'Curses'... that record still rocks. Again, fantastic artwork on this baby. They actually changed the original cover art from a band shot to this more collage/cut 'n' paste style which I think suits the band and the record more. You may remember me raving about the art on 'Curses' and well, now I'm raving about the art on here. Believe me, being an artist and a reviewer makes you really meticulous and you will really learn to appreciate style and effort. Even if this wasn't a RINGERS record I would have picked it out for review just because of how it presents itself. OK, to the music. Yes this is another fantastic album in true RINGERS style. And yes, as soon as the opening 'Two Weeks' hit, I was hooked. This is a band whose sound is hard to pinpoint. The underlying theme is energy and absolute rocking but they have a vague approach which is excellent. The vocals are brilliant and at times even remind me of, and hear me out on this, a mix of Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and Phil Lynot... see what I mean? This is not a predictable band at all. They keep things simple and very effective. Just straight forward punk rock. They certainly do things their own way and this is a band who are just what we need right now. This is so fresh and the exact direction I want to move in. Get with this band.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
www.1234gorecords.com

THE RIVALS - ‘...IF ONLY’ CD
This is the fantastic debut full-length from THE RIVALS recorded between 1978 and 1981. Yeah it took a while to see the light of day and thank God for Bin Liner it’s been unleashed and incredible it is. The sound is a perfect mix of snotty teenage punk rock and melodic power pop and it packs a real punch. It's got that tough melody of THE BOYS but more stripped-down and straight up punk rock. This is the sound that I fell in love with as a young punk rock kid and it still moves me to this day. It’s got the soul and the kick I want from punk rock with youthful urgency and spite. The only thing that gets me down about releases like this is, I start to think “where the fuck has this soul gone in English punk rock these days???”. THE RIVALS is a band that stimulates and inspires and unfortunately that feeling has long gone from contemporary English punk rock and that’s a real pity. This is powerful stuff. As you know Bin Liner don’t skimp with their releases so not only do you get this rare and almost-forgotten classic, you get 5 bonus cuts and fantastic packaging as always with killer artwork, great liner notes, photos and a discography. This comes with a 20-page booklet which is the icing on top of this marvellous and highly addictive cake. Another super release from Bin liner. Go to their website and get a hold of this and as many Bin Liner releases that are still in print, because this is truly special stuff that you certainly don’t wanna miss out on.
Bin Liner Records
www.detour-records.co.uk

THE ROTTEN APPLES - ‘SNAP OUT OF IT’ 7”
I’m still loving the ‘Real Tuff’ CD that the ROTTEN APPLES recorded a while back... ’Snap Out Of It’ presents three more cuts from this all-girl Seattle garage band and it’s quirky, stripped-down and catchy as expected. It’s poppy but it’s raw and edgy and the vocals are shit hot. Also included is their cover of BLONDIE’s ‘Picture This’ that was on the Trash 2001 BLONDIE tribute compilation. A great release to tide us over until the next full-length! Great heavy two-tone vinyl too.
Trash 2001 Records
www.trash2001.de

RUPTURE / THE NERDS ROCK INFERNO - SPLIT CD
Australia's hardcore punk menaces RUPTURE are back with 15 new unruly tracks that had been retired to the lost vaults after singer Gus Chamber died 5 years ago but they were never gonna stay locked up forever!!! The vocal duties are split half and half between ANTiSEEN's Jeff Clayton and THE NERDS ROCK INFERNO's The Boss. Heavy, fast and wild... this is some really feral Rock 'N' Roll and it's awesome to hear both Jeff and The Boss's vocals backed with RUPTURE's aggressive and out of control sound... old fashioned hardcore punk rock with some real balls and absolute energy. This is something really special so appreciate it!!! THE NERD's half of the split is 6 tracks of their relentless, fast and heavy old school, hardcore punk... man, what a split. This really does present the best in Australian, European and American destructive heavy Rock 'n Roll. The energy is devastating and the attitude is so blunt. This is what punk rock is about for me, no fagging around with weak, dippy, shitty music and feeble riffs. This is some big-balls shit right here.
Scarey Records
www.scareyrecords.com

SAVAGE CITY OUTLAWS - 'TARZAN TABORDA' 7"
Here's a slice of raw Portuguese sleaze punk rock 'n' roll that echoes of mid-late era GG mixed with ANTiSEEN but way, way more raw and purposely retarded and I can dig that! They actually cover ANTiSEEN's 'Sabu' on here so are obviously influenced by them. 4 tracks of uber-rock 'n' roll sordidness and an absolute party record. It's a lot of fun and is so totally trashy and foul that it's hard not to like! Limited gold vinyl with big hole too!!
Wrecked 'Em Wreckords
www.wrecked-em.com

SENIOR DISCOUNT - ‘THERE WERE FOUR WHO TRIED’ CD
This is a super-varied CD. There are 16 songs and they all go off on different tangents although you can hear a similarity running through it too. To give it a ‘label’ for the purposes of a review I would call it melodic punk but it ventures into pop and rock. I can hear elements of later MADCAP and even a heavier PLACEBO, and the vocals actually really remind me of Brian Molko from PLACEBO mixed with Fat Mike. The songs are certainly well written and well played and you can hear that they have poured a lot of effort and passion into this album. I can definitely appreciate what they are doing and how they are experimenting and stretching boundaries, but this is way softer and way more produced than what I am usually accustomed to! But that’s just my preference... I’m addicted to super-raw hardcore punk but, like I said, I can still certainly appreciate this.
www.seniordiscountmusic.com

THE SHOEMAKERS - ‘TURN ME ON’ CD
There has been such a buzz around THE SHOEMAKERS and I’ve always liked what I heard when I caught them on comps and on the radio so I was excited to hear this full-length, and yeah, I’ll have to add to that buzz already surrounding them because this is a killer piece of punk rock. Tons of energy, great production (by Olivier of GASOLHEADS / HATEPINKS) and killer tunes. They have a very interesting sound that just hits the nail on the head from the get-go. These guys just have it, their sound is instantly classic and it’s very recognizable without being a carbon copy of anyone... very impressive. Their punk rock ‘n’ roll molotov style is like 10% STITCHES, 10% HATEPINKS, 10% DEAD BOYS, 10% PUSHERS, 10% US BOMBS, 10% BONECRUSHER, 10% SEX PISTOLS, 10% MANGES, 10% BLACK HALOS and 10% KEVIN K... it’s fucking excellent. This is a release that makes you pay attention. You will be instantly hooked on THE SHOEMAKERS.
Wanda Records
www.wandarecords.de

SICK FITS – S/T CD
I always liked the SICK FITS and boy oh boy has this debut full-length been a long time in the works but it’s finally here and it’s worth every second of the Goddamn wait…yes this is a white hot record right here that presents these Canadians in true form with style actually dripping out of the CD case…moving away from their raw early punk rock sound, but not completely and injecting a epic dose of rock ‘n’ roll with touches of psychedilia, soul and glam with backing vocals that actually make me drool…this is super sexy and has that sleazy element of danger and it’s played so fucking well with so much swagger and confidence. ‘Every Day Is Sunday’ is just an outrageously good opener and instantly sends the needle into the red on the styleometer and you know you’re gonna be in for quite a ride…I want you to hear this for yourself…they way they compose the pieces, the delivery…it’s fucking flawless. It’s gritty and catchy all at once, it’s clean and dirty at the same time and it’s simultaneously friendly and dangerous. The whole record is flawless and there are some blinding-bright diamonds on here.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

SICK56 - ‘PUNISHMENT’ CD
Fast-paced hardcore punk that fuses a typically British early ‘80s sound with a more current American sound. It reminds me of a blend of THE SKEPTIX, THE BASTARDS, SUBVERSIVES, GBH, EXPLOITED and early UNSEEN. They are very attacking and armed with provoking subject matters and intelligent lyrics and they always keep it forceful and fast which heightens the impact of their offensive and sounds fucking good at the same time. No straying or experimenting... just 1000% hardcore punk rock with no over-complexities. 12 songs in half an hour, perfect length for this full-on attack. SICK56 are one of the very few contemporary British punk rock bands to shout about.
Just Say No To Government Music
www.jsntgm.com

THE SIX STRING JETS / THE ANGEL SLUTS - SPLIT 7"
Two Memphis rock 'n' roll bands back to back on this record. THE SIX STRING JETS serve up 2 tracks of faster-paced raw rock 'n' roll that has a touch of the Rip Off sound to it, melodic and fucked up! And a strong HUMPERS presence in there too... great! THE ANGEL SLUTS deliver 3 cuts also in the punk rock 'n' roll vein but slower than THE SIX STRING JETS with a more garage feel to the whole thing... distorted vocals and a real fuzzy guitar, again cool! This is a fucking cool split right here and I was already familiar with THE SIX STRING JETS, and THE ANGEL SLUTS are a very welcome surprise!!
Wrecked 'Em Wreckords
www.wrecked-em.com

THE SKITZOS! - ‘FASTER! LOUDER! BETTER!’ 7”
Debut release from these young Canadian punks who present 4 cuts of fast-paced snotty and unruly punk rock and I really fucking like it. They have a really urgent sound that’s just the right pace for me and they mix an old school sound with a more contemporary one and it works just fine for me. I spun and spun this thing in succession about 10 times, and that’s just today - I must have spun this close to 100 times now and I still dig the shit out of it. They just have the right approach for me, they are fun and they have balls and they rock…I would LOVE to hear a full-length from these SKITZOS! Killer.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

SLEEPING PILOT - ‘PANIC SEX’ CD EP
Hysterical and sharp noise that shifts from a chaotic frenzy of abrupt and discordant hardcore to more refined and elusive arty style. It’s dark and dreamy all at once and destructive and graceful simultaneously, and done very well. To be able to benefit from a band and a release like this you have to let them lead you and take you wherever they want to go because this isn’t the type of thing you can just have on in the background while you’re working or whatever. You have to set time aside for this and listen to the thing as a whole. Get engrossed.
Sonic Deadline Records
www.sonicdeadline.cjb.net

SMOKE OR FIRE - ‘THIS SINKING SHIP’ CD
SMOKE OR FIRE have a very interesting sound that is like a blend of ANTI-FLAG, AGAINST ME!, THE EXPLOSION, AVAIL, DILLINGER FOUR and THE CURE and the vocals are just fantastic. It’s melodic post-hardcore but still very gritty and with a very thick and immense sound. This has some serious presence and the production is superb. Their sound is just so interesting because I hear so much of the old Lookout! sound and a huge No Idea edge too, and it fits perfectly in the contemporary Fat catalogue but it’s still so hard to pin-point exactly. These are some truly refined songs that have been worked and worked until everything that happens in them is fundamental and this is a hell of an impressive follow up to their debut ‘Above The City’. The band describes their music as ‘socially-conscious Southern-fried punk rock from a band that relies on our musical merits rather than imagery gimmicks or a trendy sound’ ...any arguments??!!
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

THE SNAZZY BOYS - ‘ORGANIZED OCTOPUS’ 7”
I remember I heard the title track ‘Organized Octopus’ on a German radio show and it blew me away. I just couldn’t get it out of my head and it just made such an impression on me, and there was some really great shit being played on that show. Italy’s THE SNAZZY BOYS play some of the most stylish, straightforward ’77 pogo punk ala BRIEFS, SHOCKS, HATEPINKS etc. This is a fucking fantastic record. It’s overflowing with energy and fun and holy shit can they write. The production on this thing is fantastic too. It’s so raw, stripped down and perfect. The record looks good too. These fuckers have truly got something special! Make a serious point of getting a hold of this record. If you got excited when you first heard ‘Hit By Hit’ expect to be blown a-fucking-way by this.
Rijapov Records
www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords

THE SNAZZY BOYS - ‘PLAY YOUR BOLLOCKS WITH…’ 7”
Italy’s finest punk rock spastics THE SNAZZY BOYS are back with their follow up to ‘Organized Octopus’ (also on Rijapov) and invite you to play you bollocks with four new cuts. These convulsive freaks just nail that wild new wave punk sound so well…these are some fantastic songs from the opening, and fantastically titled, ‘Beard Desire’ with it’s fast paced power pop craziness on to ‘They Came From Outer Space’ calms things down slightly but not enough to keep still!! Side B kicks off with the show-stealer of the record ‘Go Eat Worms’…indescribably superb, oozing with pure SNAZZY BOYS style and this 7” comes to a close with ‘I’d Like To Be…’ another great ‘70’s punk rock number that you can’t stop moving to. I tell you, these guys are unstoppable and I actually can’t wait until the put a full-length out and when they do, I’m certain that it will be my record of the year. Cool looking record too with a big hole and the cover comes in 2 colour variations so get them both because you’ll wear at least one out for sure.
Rijapov Records
www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords

THE SODA POP KIDS – ‘TEEN BOP DREAM’ CD
How can something be so appealing when it’s so squalid?? So addictive when you know it’s absolutely mischievous?? I don’t know either…but that’s THE SODA POP KIDS, they are heroin bubblegum, a flicknife popsicle... so catchy, so cute, so fucking tasty and so beautifully fucked up. ‘Teen Bop Dream’, their second full-length is just a superb progression from ‘Write Home’…that debut was brilliant and is still in heavy rotation here at NFT but this record just extends the attitude, fun, misbehaviour and ferocity set on that first album. Their absolutely addictive blend of 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll, 1960’s pop and 1970’s punk rock is inimitable and explosive. That’s three decades filtered down into their volatile sound. There’s no charade, no bullshit with THE SODA POP KIDS, they’re in their own Bop world and they just do what they do, which happens to blow me away and I guarantee this will excite the hell out of you too, well, if you know how to have fun it will and even if you’re a rigid prick this will loosen you up.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

SOFY MAJOR - S/T CD EP
French hardcore that incorporates a very modern, heavy and intense hardcore sound with vague and engaged broken down sections that transmit just as much intensity as the heavier parts. In that way they remind me slightly of FUCKED UP and they have this interesting sound that is very modern but also has flickers of many eras and styles past. I can actually hear a lot of 'Angel Dust' era FAITH NO MORE in here too, as well as some straight old school hardcore. They incorporate a lot into their music. They call themselves 'Noise Hardcore' and that's a fair description. They really dissect the entire hardcore spectrum and reconnect parts to build their own style.
www.sofymajor.com

SOHO ROSES – ‘WHATEVER HAPPENED TO... THE COMPLETE WORKS OF’CD
First of all, it’s great that you’re reading this review but don’t stop at that because there’s two things you have to do now. One, get this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G collection. Two, thank Josh at Full Breach Kicks for making this available for the first time ever on CD since it came out two decades ago because this never getting an official re-release is an absolute crime and for someone to have the verve to make it finally available is just fantastic. The SOHO ROSES only existed for 2 years between 1987-89 and their 20 tracks, and might I add- 20 fantastic tracks – are collected here and include their ‘Whatever Happened To’ EP, the ‘So Alone’ 7” and ‘The Third And Final Insult’ full-length as well as 3 remixes form 2006. This is such a essential compilation that I can’t even stress that enough…it’s been said before and I’m going to say it again, but THE SOHO ROSES could have and SHOULD HAVE taken the rock ‘n’ roll world by storm. Their blend of early punk rock and Glam is matchless and it’s full of that wonderful English charm that’s just disappeared. The songs are so open with a raw and touching honesty while still keeping a vulgar strut and delivered with spit and great melody too. They knew perfectly how to maintain the balance between the debauched and decadent and the gracious – there’s no exaggeration or unnecessary pomposity with the SOHO ROSES, there’s vanity for sure, but the good kind of vanity – these guys looks cool as fuck and the most important thing is just how approachable their music is while still keeping that untamed edge at the very forefront. There’s just something about so many English bands that’s so sincere…there’s no candyfloss production or affectation but so much integrity and authenticity and that’s exactly what the SOHO ROSES represent and perhaps why they never made it huge…they are too real. Fakes are afraid of what’s real. A band like THE SOHO ROSES doesn’t come by often at all and for this music to have gotten buried or existed solely in the hands of collectors and bootleggers would be awful so THANK YOU Josh! I know we don’t do star ratings but this gets 5 stars for sure. Several times over.
Full Breach Kicks
www.fullbreach77.com

SOUNDCITY HOOLIGANS - ‘WE LIVE AS BOYS SHOULD’ CD
This is the debut full-length from these Canadian heavies. Their blend of tough rock ‘n’ roll with a bluesy edge reminds me a lot of THE HUDSON FALCONS and THE BRASSKNUCKLE BOYS but this is more stripped down than that. It’s mid-paced gritty and hard-hitting and they have this kind of muddy sound ala LEATHERFACE which is really thick and layered. This is a powerful debut and I’m a complete sucker for tracks like ‘Spirit of 84’, ‘Rumble’ and ‘Last Call’ that are the show-stealers of this album. Great big-riffs, killer leads and fist in the air sing-a-long specials. Super fuckin solid.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

SOUNDCITY HOOLIGANS / HOLLYWOOD GODS - SPLIT 7”
This record continues the split 7” series that the MARCHING ORDERS / ALTERNATE ACTION opened up last year. The SOUNDCITY HOOLIGANS present their 2 tracks of heavy and chaotic Oi! rock ‘n’ roll and they are all about ripping shit up. Their sound is unapologetically aggressive and they put across a real ‘fuck you’ attitude which I like a lot. Both tracks are featured on their ‘We Live As Boys Should’ full-length and ‘Let’s Rumble’ just happens to be my favourite track from the full-length. This is the first release for Calgary’s HOLLYWOOD GODS who deliver 3 tracks of fast and rowdy hardcore punk with prominent vocals and tons of sing-along parts and back-ups, a very full sound, and reminds me of a more melodic HUDSON FALCONS. A rock solid split here in this cool series, and on blue splattered vinyl too.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

SPERMBIRDS - ‘SET AN EXAMPLE’ CD
If you aren’t familiar with Germany’s SPERMBIRDS and their melodic hardcore punk then you need to get with the program. This CD is a great place to get acquainted with these veterans of 25 fuckin years of punk rock service. ‘Set An Example’ is a reissue (originally only released in Germany) with an added bonus track. This is a seriously important band here that really did fuse aspects of the classic American hardcore and punk sounds with a really stylish European edge and their ‘Something To Prove’ full-length from a couple decades ago really did set a standard. ‘Set An Example’ presents THE SPERMBIRDS with the original line-up with all their bite and style in uncontrollable action and it’s a fucking impressive attack. There’s more energy, life and passion in these old dogs than all these dopey young punks who have no oomph at all. It’s as if the young have given up so we need the pioneers to reunite and ‘set an example’ and keep up the fight. This is excellent and is full of that fire that used to burn so blindingly bright in punk rock.
Boss Tuneage Records
www.bosstuneage.com

THE SPOOKSHOW - ‘PSYCHOSEXUAL CHAPTER 1’ CD
This is a re-release of the SPOOKSHOW’s debut full-length from last year (for Europe) and what a strong debut this is... melodic, dynamic and dark horror rock ‘n’ roll and I’m really fussy about this ‘horror/gothic’ genre because I’ve heard it done too many times so badly and over-the-top that I’ve become very skeptical about it, but THE SPOOKSHOW do it how it’s supposed to be done. It sounds natural and not affected and they keep the pace up and it’s all upbeat and that’s an important thing. There’s no fun in slow music! I truly believe that THE SPOOKSHOW work so well because of the female vocals and that’s something that I’d never usually say. I’m much more of a male-vocalist type but I sure as shit wouldn't change a thing in these ingredients because this tastes so good!! With Halloween just around the corner you need to get this and have a fucking killer party... that’s what I’m doing.
Wolverine Records
www.wolverine-records.de

STEVE E. NIX AND THE CUTE LEPERS - 'TERMINAL BOREDOM' 7"
So, the debut 7" from Steve E. Nix's new project is here and just how necessary this piece of wax is, is unbelievable. 'Terminal Boredom' is a mind-blower that spews the power pop perfection of TEENAGE HEAD, THE PROFESSIONALS and THE BOYS combined, yes it's on a par with that. This is one talented leper colony right here...the B-Side 'Prove It' is a slower paced power pop gem with a strong rock 'n' roll edge. Fans of the BRIEFS will certainly cream their pants over this and of course there are similarities with Steve singing and playing guitar and that's a great thing, but THE CUTE LEPERS are by no-means another BRIEFS, their sound is much more power-pop based and stripped-down. I've had the privilege of hearing the CUTE LEPERS full-length and oh my, this is something to get very excited about...NFT will be releasing their second 7" so get ready for that one too...this is all absolutely obligatory listening/owning.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
www.1234gorecords.com

THE STRANGER - ‘PRISON CALLED LIFE’ 7”
3 tracks of bluesy rockabilly delivered in real punk rock mind-set. This is a pretty varied 7" ...the title track is the fastest, most punk-orientated track with a kind of KINGS OF NUTHIN’ feel but way more rockabilly than them, but still packing as hard a punch. ‘Missing Link’ is the slowest track on here and is really dark and gloomy, kind of eerie but still fits in well. The record closes with a chaotic cover of NICK CAVE’s ‘Thirsty Dog’ that they put a real disorderly punk rock edge on and which closes this cool record off fantastically. Impressive and not generic at all.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com

THE STRANGER - S/T CD
Fast rockabilly and blues delivered with punk rock hostility. Very erratic and reckless and I love that. This isn't some weak punk 'n' roll shit with dice and cocktail glasses and shit... this is raw and wild and coming from a much darker place. This is gritty and untamed. At times, they remind me a lot of Texas's SHOULDERS with their sinister and ominous style and sometimes the vocals really remind me of Mike Patton. They have this almost Eastern European gypsy sound blended in with the rockabilly and that really works. They really don't sound like anyone else and that's an unbelievable accomplishment when mixing punk with rockabilly because it's been done so badly and so predictably by way too many bands, so THE STRANGER are really on to something special. This is a stunning debut full-length.
Haunted Town Records
www.hauntedtownrecords.com

STREET DOGS - 'FADING AMERICAN DREAM' CD
The third full-length from the STREET DOGS and I still think 'Savin Hill' kicks some balls but this is still a shit-solid record. I like Mike and I love the feelings and memories his voice sparks in me from when I first heard the DROPKICKS years ago when they were actually an exciting band. There's just some authenticity and validity in Mike singing about 'Common People' and unions and working class struggles. It doesn't seem put-on and like some bullshit farce. It's tough and heavy on the guitars which is great too and that's where the DROPKICKS went wrong... the guitars faded out and could only be heard in the shadows of the folk-instruments and, I mean, I'm cool with that folk sound but I need some balls in my punk rock too. There are also some really interesting cuts on here like 'Decency Police' that steps away from the streetpunk sound into a more bursting, almost DEAD KENNEDYS or CIRCLE ONE hardcore/punk style, and the acoustic 'Final Transmission' too, so they're not glued on a formula. It's just always a pleasure to hear Mike and he sounds like he's having a ball in the STREET DOGS and that's really coming across, not only on the records but live too.
Brass Tacks Records
www.brasstacksrecords.com

STRUNG OUT - 'BLACKHAWKS OVER LOS ANGELES' CD
OK, this wins the cover of the year award for sure...excellent artwork. STRUNG OUT manage to employ that technical metal approach without drowning out their melodic punk sound and that's why they have always differed and stood out amongst the standard melodic punk bands and the interesting thing is that even though the metallic-ness is so prominent all the way through their music, it's never overpowering and blends in so well that it almost goes un-noticed because it's so natural in their sound. If the metal manifested itself too much I'd have a real problem with getting over that. Although STRUNG OUT still exhibit a lot of passion and attack on 'Blackhawks..' the album as a whole has a much more deeply-rooted melody than some of their past releases like 1996's 'Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues' and that's not a bad thing, it just seems that the band is more relaxed on here, no less passionate just more at ease, after all, the band are a decade older and their music must evolve and that's fine, this is still undeniably STRUNG OUT.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.fatwreck.com

SUBCITY DWELLERS - ‘WHEN THE BEAT STARTS TO POUND’ CD
Wow, SUBCITY DWELLERS really mix things up and blend all kinds of styles together. The backbone of the sound is traditional Ska but they build on that with all kinds of styles and genres from punk rock to Latin to dub to calypso to Mariachi to reggae to soul to rock ‘n’ roll and there’s eight of these dwellers so there’s a massive scope to truly develop and extend within a composition which they do to full advantage…the end result is like a wild street festival orchestra of KINGS OF NUTHIN’, THE ETHIOPIANS, HEPCAT, THE CLASH, BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH, SUBLIME and LOS HOOLIGANS. It’s a truly wild sound and played so fuckin well too which it really has to be if a band is going to be this eclectic otherwise it can sound confused but the SUBCITY DWELLERS are the opposite- they sound focussed as hell and they clearly have a huge musical background and knowledge between them to be able to so seamlessly fuse these styles together. A very interesting and inspiring record.
Longshot Music
www.longshotmusic.com

SUBCUT / SOCIAL CHAOS - SPLIT 7"
Two Brazilian thrashers back to back on this vicious split. SUBCUT deliver a ferociously fast grindcore assault in the shape of 5 tracks of absolute chaos and Sao Paulo's SOCIAL CHAOS, who steal the show on here, deliver 3 tracks of killer Brazilian thrash. Eight tracks of untamed hardcore in the way only Brazilian's can deliver... absolutely inexorable disorder with some real style. Dark blue wax too!
Bucho Discos
www.buchodiscos.kit.net

SUICIDE BID - 'THE ROT STOPS HERE' CD
SUICIDE BID are back with their debut full-length following last year's 'This is The Generation' EP and again, they showcase their unique brand of reggae-infused punk chaos that mixes the sounds of THE CLASH, LEFTOVER CRACK, SUBLIME, SNUFF, RANCID, LEE PERRY, ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION and of course all the bands that the members are also in like THE FILAMENTS, THE KING BLUES, EX-CATHEDRA, SONIC BOOM SIX, P.A.I.N etc... this is an absolute chaos cooperative, a disorder organization. They switch from laid-back reggae, to straight full-on punk rock, to reverb-heavy dub, to traditional and contemporary ska... it's all over the place but in an intentional and very premeditated way. These guys know exactly what the fuck they are doing. Very impressive stuff that's just so large-scale in sound, concept and communication and actually works.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

THE TANK - ‘REMODEL’ CD
This is THE TANK’s second full-length and delivers their distinctive pop-punk in full force. Super-melodic and with elements of classic and more contemporary pop-punk sounds with aspects of THE DESCENDENTS, more-melodic 7 SECONDS, J CHURCH and even a touch of the QUEERS and a poppier BAD RELIGION. A hell of a lot happens in the songs. These aren’t standard, generic throw- away 3 chord tunes that most pop-punk bands have become accustomed to churning out. Instead THE TANK’s songs really are sculpted and shaped into 14 separate and individual ‘events’ and this very old school edge they have really adds something great. Personally, I can’t escape the 7 SECONDS and DESCENDENTS above all in this and I like that a lot. The thing is that it doesn’t really sound directly like any of these bands when it all comes together and that’s a great thing. This will certainly appeal to pop-punks of all ages. The older ones will get it for sure and it will definitely appeal to the younger kids too.
Boss Tuneage Records
www.bosstuneage.com

THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES - ‘EASTER’ CD
This is the second full-length from these Seattle fuck ups and their most abrasive and unsettled work to date. When I sat down to review this, I actually started describing the journey through this record pretty much track by track but then decided, fuck that, deleted it all and started again. This is wild and experimental and you don’t need to be guided through it, just get absorbed in it personally. THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES are impetuous and calculatedly reckless and this is a very eccentric yet successful blend. To be totally wild, snarling and out of control yet also disciplined enough to go off on dazed tangents and take the listener on bewildering trips... this is something nigh on fucking impossible to pull off successfully, but these guys nail it and it’s just amazing how their sound metamorphoses and mutates and not only between releases but within the records themselves, especially on ‘Easter’. It’s amazing how wild this is and at the same time how totally fixed it is. It’s uncomfortable, angular, impulsive and fucked up and played fucking well and it’s just on another level to ‘This Is Meant to Hurt You’ or ‘Oxeneers or 'The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home’. Whilst they are fucking sick records too, they just don’t have the rasping, impulsive impact that ‘Easter’ has. This is sick.
Jade Tree Records
www.jadetree.com

THIS IS A STANDOFF – ‘BE EXCITED’ CD
Melodic Canadian punk rock with a sound reminiscent of a blend of both the early and the more contemporary Fat Wreck sounds…there’s a definite NOFX feel to it, especially in the guitar work and there’s touches of THE DESCENDENTS and BAD RELIGION too and also the LAWRENCE ARMS, SNUFF and NO USE FOR A NAME and this blend makes it hard to place time-wise which I really like about it because it sounds old and new all at once and that’s cool. I‘d believe this came out ten years ago and I’d also believe it just came out…there’s a lot of power running through this record which is great to hear because melody is never an excuse for feebleness!! The production is great and really transports that power. The songs are short too which is a key thing for me and pushes the force right under the spotlight for an immediate attack. At times there’s an almost hardcore feel to it, still melodic though but insistent and this combination works really well.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

TINY Y SON – ‘EMBRACING UNCERTAINTY’ CD
Debut full-length from Germany’s TINY Y SON who play fast-paced melodic hardcore with equal measures of aggression and melody and lots of harmonies backed by pounding drums, heavy guitars and solid bass. Their attack is very full-on and at times verges on the more metallic side of the fence but never enough to drown out the melody. There’s a hell of a lot going on in all these songs so the production is spot on to convey the many parts across. Their blend is strange because at times it’s so easy to separate the punk from the hardcore from the metal- like at times I hear glimpses of ANTI-FLAG, NOFX and WASTED and STRIKE ANYWHERE but at others the genres are merged so seamlessly that the sound becomes completely it’s own style. There’s so much energy in this and as much as it’s like nothing I listen to I can appreciate where these guys are coming from and it’s got some much more fire than 99.9% of other bands in this genre I’ve heard. This special edition release also includes the band’s first six track EP ‘Conversation Zero’.
Chorus Of One Records
www.chorusofonerecords.it

TOMMY GUN AND THE BULLETS - S/T CD
After the 'Something New' 7" I was really fucking excited about this full-length because TOMMY GUN AND THE BULLETS have a really great sound. They manage to mix a great snotty '77 sound with a ballsy streetpunk style but always keeping things simple and really punchy. The vocals are fucking sick too. They have the magic of that early TKO sound but mixed in with something else too... maybe a touch of the Hostage sound too. It's like a fantastic blend of THOSE UNKNOWN, THE SMUT PEDDLERS, SWINGIN' UTTERS, BONECRUSHER, THE SORE THUMBS, SMOGTOWN, DISCONTENT etc. They really do have a killer sound and even though there's all these comparisons flying around, TOMMY GUN AND THE BULLETS truly have their own sound. There's such energy running all the way through this record. These guys have really grabbed me and I really think they're onto something special. They just make me stand to attention and it's been a shit long time since a band did that. They just do everything right... short, attacking songs, great sound, great style, real balls... excellent.
Piss And Vinegar Records
www.pissandvinegarrecords.com

TRANSMISSION 0 - ‘MEMORY OF A DREAM’ CD
Holland’s TRANSMISSION 0 remind me of FUCKED UP in a way. They are heavy as fuck, in a different way to FUCKED UP but still fucking concentrated and they also have this super-intense edge that grabs the listener by the brain and throat simultaneously and drags you into an extreme, peculiar and daunting venture. The songs coil and wind themselves around you and completely take over and that’s the only way you can immerse yourself entirely in the intensity of TRANSMISSION O. Let it all flow over you and enter every orifice. Through all the heavy concentration there are rays of melody that have a slight FAITH NO MORE feel but these are brief and you’re thrown straight back into the deep, cold black water. Each song is a separate journey and so multi-layered that you have no choice but to get lost and completely absorbed and I suggest that you go the whole hour of ‘Memory of a Dream’... don’t cut it short. Submerge yourself completely.
Go Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de

THE UNKNOWN - 'UNPOPULAR' CD
Cleveland's THE UNKNOWN have been knocking around for almost 2 decades and this is their sixth full-length that throws their persistent pop-punk in your face... but when I use the term 'pop' I'm not talking about whiny bullshit, I'm talking about the hard-hitting melody of bands like THE DESCENDENTS, 7 SECONDS, UNDERTONES and SCREECHING WEASEL, not the pussy-circus that genre has become in more recent years. There's a kind of early Lookout! blended with SST sound and that's sick. Don't be fooled... this has balls and soul and there's nothing wimpy about melodic punk rock when it's delivered like this.
Boss Tuneage Records
www.bosstuneage.com

THE USED TO BE - 'SHAMELESS SELF-DESTRUCTION' CD
These guys used to be called THE USED and it's no mystery why they changed their name... so for this, their debut album that took a decade in the making, they present themselves under their new moniker THE USED (TO BE), and a very clever moniker it is. Anyway, let's not get caught up in all the name fiasco, let's talk about the music because this motherfucker rocks. They are first and foremost a rock 'n' roll band but they come from all kinds of directions and throw all kinds of influences into the pot. They.ve got an early punk rock edge for sure with some glam touches and some straight rock too, and they have some real charisma and a very confident swagger about them. I don't often use the term 'this rocks' because it sounds so retarded when people say that, like they can't think of anything else to say... any actual words, and now I've used it twice in this review, but in all honesty, this really does. The songs are really crafted and not just thrown together. Ten years is a long time to work on a record but when the end product is 'Shameless Self-Destruction' it suddenly makes sense. This is really unique and inspiring stuff. They never go overboard with anything. The guitar presence is perfect, it's never overpowering in some bullshit 'rock' way and the vocals are ace. I wouldn't have a clue when this was released if I didn't know it, but my guess would be that it was at least 20 years old and that's a serious fucking feat they have achieved. This rocks... that's three now but it was worth it.
Wrecked 'Em Wreckords
www.wrecked-em.com

VACANT CHURCHES - ‘AS I FALL FROM GRACE’ CD
Dark, female-fronted punk rock with a strong gothic charisma and gothic in the sense of JOY DIVISON, early CURE, BAUHAUS etc, not the bullshit that the kids are calling gothic these days. This reminds of a mix of X with early MISFITS. It’s got a very early punk sound, nice and stripped with some cool keys weaving through it and darkening the whole thing but never overpowering it. It’s an interesting mix and the fact that they have kept the music pretty straightforward is the key to this working so well. It means the keys and vocals can structure the whole thing and really bring it out. I really fucking like this... I love the direction they are coming from, that early, very Californian punk sound and fused with the dark edge that they have, this shit really works.
Vinehell Records
www.vinehell.com

V/A - '1-2-3-4 GO! RECORDS STINKS!' CD
Excellent sampler CD from this excellent label. 26 tracks (most bands deliver 2 tracks each) from the likes of RINGERS, THE ST. CATHERINES, SPITTING TEETH, THE DRUNKEN BOAT, WHISKEY SUNDAY, HICKEY, BENT OUTTA SHAPE, FIFTH HOUR HERO, FOUNDATION, THE HORDE are more. I'm keeping this review short because I think you should really check this label out and get their releases. Go to their website and see what they are all about. Get involved and get this killer music. You can get this sampler CD for free, you just have to pay the postage... get off here and get on there!
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
www.1234gorecords.com

V/A - ‘BAD BOYS FOR LIFE VOL. 3’ DOUBLE DVD
This is a no-brainer. You should already have the first 2 volumes in this ‘Bad Boys For Life’ DVD series and you definitely need to get this third instalment. Again, it’s a double-DVD featuring the best shit People Like You has to offer, and this time you get videos from ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS, US BOMBS, BLACK HALOS, TOTAL CHAOS, DEADLINE, CHARLEY HORSE and more, live footage from the 2006 Bad Boys Tour featuring THE BONES, ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS, DEMENTERD ARE GO, THE SKI KING, HEARTBREAK ENGINES and more, a load of backstage shit and a bunch of interview footage too. You already know what to expect and you already know to get this. There really aren’t a great deal of cool contemporary punk rock DVDs coming, especially the compilation kind, and this series is really all about that. It’s always fuckin great and really goes to show just how strong a label PLY is.
I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

V/A - ‘BORED TEENAGERS VOL. 4’ CD
Another fantastic compilation in the ‘Bored Teenagers’ series delivering 18 British punk originals from 1977-1982 this time featuring THE MACHINES, THE ORDINARYS, THE RUNNING SORES, LOW PROFYLE, PUBLIC PISSTAKE, THE CANE, ELEVATORS, THE STEROID KIDDIES and THE INROZE. I’m a total sucker for comps like this. It’s collections like this that still excite me and the standouts on this volume are THE MACHINES with their raw and faster-paced punk rock (and what a start to the comp... excellent), THE ORDINARYS who are the show stealers of the entire comp in my opinion... the recordings are wonderfully raw and their gritty New Wave-esque melodies are fucking contagious. They almost remind me of the POINTED STICKS or the YOUNG CANADIANS. PUBLIC PISSTAKE and THE INTROZE are fucking great ...oh fuck it... it’s all fantastic!! I can’t recommend this series enough. Honestly you NEED to get a hold of these collections. This is astounding stuff. I haven’t been this excited in a long time... well, since Volume 3 actually.
Bin Liner Records, PO Box 18, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9YU, England

V/A - ‘BRATS ON THE BEAT’ CD
This compilation couldn’t have come at a better time, well for me anyway... my wife just had our first baby five months ago and the first item of clothing I bought him was a RAMONES baby shirt. Also, his middle name is Ramone so you see this is going be in his blood and in his brain from the start!! ‘Brats On The Beat’ is a collection of classic RAMONES songs for children... is that the best idea or what??! The RAMONES sound is certainly a sound that can communicate to kids and these songs have been simplified to really connect and all the choruses and other parts too are sung by kids!! The GABBA GABBA HEYS play the music and each track has a guest vocalist including Greg Attonito from the BOUNCING SOULS, Jim Lindberg from PENNYWISE, Jack Grisham from TSOL, Blag Dahlia from THE DWARVES, Brett Anderson from THE DONNAS and my favourite Tony Reflex from THE ADOLESCENTS doing ‘Cretin Hop’... hell yes... Tony fucking Reflex!!! This rules, there’s no two ways about it... very necessary stuff. After all it’s the next generations who can keep punk rock alive!!!
Go-Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de

V/A - 'BROKEN BONEZ III' CD
The third sampler from DIY Texas label Broken Bonez featuring 20 tracks from 11 bands and again, it's a varied compilation with punk, hardcore, ska and rockabilly. This time around bands featured are: HATE IS JUST A FEELING, WHORES 4 WAR, FIXED IDEA, FRANKENHOOKERS, AMBIVALENT, HOTROD BOOGIE,ENEMY 13, BROWN PAPER BAG, SKARNALES, SUBURBAN LOCKDOWN and D.E.K. and all the bands included are totally raw which I love but above all, I'm a sucker for raw and basic punk rock and the highlights for me are AMBIVALENT, FRANKENHOOKERS, BROWN PAPER BAG, WHORES 4 WAR and ENEMY 13. Another solid instalment and some really great bands again. Broken Bonez is definitely the type of label to back. Support them and support DIY!
Broken Bonez Records
www.brokenbonezrecords.net

V/A - ‘CHOKE ON IT’ LP
Hands down record of the year. This is a fucking mind-blower. I know it’s late in the year but even if this had come out it January it would’ve been my record of the year... shit man, this is my record of, I dunno, the past decade???!!! It’s like they took my mind and put it on vinyl and I can’t tell you how necessary this is right now. This is everything I love about punk rock and I can’t tell you just how forward I was looking to this comp to come, but after hearing the AUTISTIC YOUTH, NO HEROES, THE GOP, PLAN R, THE CULPRITS and THE BELLIGERENTS 7”s... those motherfuckers constantly fight for time of the turntable because since I got those at any given time one of those records has been on the player, and I can’t see myself not spinning them... so, ‘Choke on It’... fuck yeah, this just spits in the face and rips the balls out of all that shit out there that contaminates and destroys punk rock. Choke on it you fucking fakes because this is something you’ll never be. This has energy and threat. This is what punk rock is all about. There’s not one thing that doesn’t absolutely rule about this. It’s an LP compilation... fuck yeah, what happened to those?? Sure as shit not enough of these coming out these days... 27 fucking killer bands... 32 page booklet with lyrics, artwork and info. What the fuck else could you possibly want?? The absolute standouts on here, and believe me this is a fucking hard selection because this is gold from beginning to end, would have to be THE MANHOLES super-raw, obnoxious ‘Chuck Palahnuik Is A Fag’, NO HERORES’ raw and chaotic ‘We Ain’t No Heroes’, NIX super-snotty ‘Rag Doll’, THE GOP ‘Ready To Die’ fast and unruly hardcore punk. You know what, it’s too fuckin hard to choose. It’s all sick and there’s no punk on the planet who doesn’t need this record. Sure some kids need it real bad to give them a fucking wake up call but, seriously, we all need this because this is exciting shit. Just to list a few of the other bands included... STRAITJACKET, PLAN R, THE CULPRITS, THE FAGS, THE CLOCKED BOMBS, STATCH AND THE RAPES, RIOT COP, HELLSIDE STRANGLERS and tonnes more. Blind Spot is a true punk rock label... a label that is not afraid to have fun and cause some shit. Poke fun, antagonize, mock, provoke, annoy and it’s not afraid of being mocked or antagonized. Take note... this is the behaviour of a real punk rock label.
Blind Spot Records
www.noheroestheband.com

V/A - ‘GO-KART VS. THE CORPORATE GIANT 4’ CD
The fourth installment in Go-Kart’s ‘Vs. the Corporate Giant’ series and it’s always a pleasure! Go-Kart is positively a label that doesn’t stick to a certain sound or style and that’s a great thing. Too many labels focus solely on one side of punk rock and never venture further but you can really see from this series that Go-Kart is nothing like that. They are all so different and all really mix things up. This time around they deliver RIFU, BAMBIX, TEN FOOT POLE, THE SHOCKER, THE GO FASTER NUNS, NERVOUS NELLIE, THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, I FARM, THE VERY JOB AGENCY, PARASITES, THE ERGS, WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY, GUFF, COUGARS, IRA and TRANSMISSION 0... 22 tracks in total and a complete mixed bag. There’s nothing formulated about this collection!! The show-stealers for me are definitely THE SHOCKER, THE ERGS and RIFU but the whole thing is totally varied, interesting and enjoyable.
Go-Kart Records Europe
www.gokartrecords.de

V/A - ‘JUKEBOX YEAR BOOK 2006’ CD
Excellent comp here that collects 10 bands and tracks recorded by Greg Odell at Cat Piss Studios between 2005 and 2006. The comp begins with the fantastic ‘Shanghai’ from the HUMPERS’ SCOTT DELUX DRAKE, what a opener…next up MONEYCHANGERS with ‘Cockroach Blues’…absolutely killer keyboard-soaked garage punk. REPTILIAN CIVILIAN deliver some cool stripped down heavy rock ‘n’ roll, MUDDY RIVER NIGHTMARE BAND speed things up and inject some chaos into the comp with ‘Go’ with their wild blend of punk rock ‘n’ roll. The CRACK CITY ROCKERS brilliant demo version of ‘Fuel’ is next on here that I prefer to the final version on ‘The Good Life’. Next up is another demo track, a live one-take recording with just vocals and piano from MORGAN GRACE. THE SLIP-ITS speed things up again with their abrasive yet melodic ‘Frustrate Me’. THE ONES…the show-stealer of the comp in my opinion with their demo version of ‘Dead On My Feet, fantastic gritty power pop. This is the first time I’d heard 8 FOOT TENDER but I like it a lot…very stripped rock ‘n’ roll. The comp comes to a close with the excellent PURE COUNTRY GOLD which came close to THE ONES to stealing the show. Such a great comp with some real variation. Get this for sure.
Last Chance Records
www.lastchancerecords.net

V/A - ‘MAKE CAPITALISM HISTORY’ CD
This is a collective compilation from Fire and Flames Music, Avanti and Lucha Amada with the focus and purpose of “supporting and financing the mobilization against the G8 summit” in Germany in June this year, and it features a 16-page booklet with tons of multi-lingual information about the G8 summit. Along with transmitting this political awareness, this compilation presents 20 tracks of worldwide artists pushing the same message and it’s a very varied collection featuring punk rock and hardcore from the likes of ANTI-FLAG, JEUNESSE APATRIDE, BANDA BASSOTTI, LOS FASTIDIOS, TURBOSTAAT, ZSK, BRIGADA FLORES MAGON, OBRINT PAS and PANTEON ROCOCO, some hip-hop from CHAOZE ONE FEAT. LOTTA C, reggae and ska from MONO UND NIKITAMAN, DESECHOS, NO RESPECT, MALLACAN, DULCES DIABLITOS, SAGARROI, IRIE REVOLTES and ROGUE STEADY ORCHESTRA and some weird shit from KLEXCORE and an acoustic number from DAVID ROVICS. The whole thing is very diverse and the artists featured come from all over the globe... USA, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, France, Argentina and more, and proceeds from the compilation go towards financing the project. This is a good project to get yourself involved in and while you’re fighting a good cause you can immerse yourself in some great passionate music, and you’ll certainly learn something, not only politically but also musically and spread your awareness in many senses.
Fire and Flames Music
www.fireandflames.com

V/A - 'NOT PSYCHO ENOUGH?' VOLUMES 1, 2 & 3 7"S
This is a fucking neat 7" compilation series that pays tribute to Australian punk legends the COSMIC PSYCHOS. These are 3 separate volumes each with 4 bands per record covering COSMIC PSYCHOS cuts. The covers are all identical, only the colour of the texts changes with each volume and it's a really cool looking sequence. Volume 1 presents THE MORMONES, SLOGGY, BAD PREACHERS and SUPERHELICOPTER LTD, volume 2 includes LOTHAR, JERRY SPIDER GANG, SPANK MY JONES and THE DRY RETCH and volume 3 features HELL CRAB CITY, MEATBEATERS, INTERSTATER and GAZOONGA ATTACK. All the bands on volumes 1 & 2 are European and all the bands on volume 3 are, fittingly, from Australia. Now, you all know my fondness for the 7" compilation right? So right from the get go this already won a lot of points and the fact that it's a COSMIC PSYCHOS tribute and that it looks so cool made this really exciting. I mean, who the fuck doesn't like the COSMIC PSYCHOS?!!!?? Volume 1 came out a few years back and the last 2 editions came out together recently and you'd do yourself a favour by getting this entire series. This is fun and interesting and you'll get introduced to some new bands for sure. I hope Dull City are planning to extend this killer, killer series!!!!
Dull City Records
http://gt-john.home.online.no

V/A - 'POP PUNK'S NOT DEAD' CD
Pop punk is a funny creature and it's true that it's not dead... far from it and it will NEVER die because there's something about well-written, catchy love songs that just seems to appeal to every species of punk rocker from the crustiest dreadlocked filthys, to the three-foot mohicans, to the skins, the skatepunks right to the Ramones Clones... everyone loves Pop Punk. Go see a band like The QUEERS or THE MAGES and take a look around... at no other type of show will you see such a varied mix nor will you see so much fun being had. Pop Punk is a license to have some real fun and that's why it's not in any danger of dying out. So what about this compilation? Well, this fucking rules... it presents 30 pop punk bands from around the world including THE QUEERS, THE PARASITES (Dave Parasite put this beast together), THE ERGS, THE MANGES, TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET, THE UNLOVABLES, SQUIRTGUN, RIVER CITY HIGH, THE SPAZZYS, BORIS THE SPRINKLER, SONIC DOLLS, THE IMYS, BAMBIX, TRAVOLTAS and loads more. This is a serious dose of pop-punk and you will get hopelessly addicted. Inside every single punk rocker lives a pop-punk rocker, there are NO exceptions... just ask any Mohican with a million studs in his jacket what he started listening to and I'll bet the answer will be along the lines of THE QUEERS or SCREECHING WEASEL, and I mean come on, THE RAMONES!! If you don't like THE RAMONES, the kings of pop-punk then you just don't count for shit... this is a super-cool comp.
Go-Kart Records
www.gokartrecords.com

V/A - ‘SKA IS DEAD’ CD
This compilation documents 2 years of the Ska Is Dead Tour which went international the first time in 2006 and this CD features 23 bands who played a major role in the tour’s success. There’s the whole ska spectrum on here ranging from legends like THE TOASTERS and FISHBONE to contemporary stars like BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE and VOODOO GLOW SKULLS and everything in between. There’s the fast-paced skapunk of AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY, the totally unique and raw CHRIS MURRAY, the relaxed groove of GO JIMMY GO and tons more including THE PIETASTERS, BUCK-O-NINE, CATCH 22, THE JOHNSTONES, KING DJANGO, MUSTARD PLUG, MU330, THE FLATLINERS and more. Whichever side of this growing and wide-ranging genre you are into is covered on here. Fast? Slow? Aggressive? Tranquil? Heavy? Raw? Traditional? Contemporary? Yeah, it’s all here... Ska is so far from dead and for under five pounds you get proof of that right here in this compilation.
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk

V/A - 'TERIYAKI SUPLEXX' CD
Absolutely sick compilation presenting 'a 2007 snapshot of the Japanese underground'...this is an amazing collection with every single track a fucking killer and that's not surprising since it was compiled by Peelander-Yellow of PEELANDER-Z . Featured bands are THE PORTUGAL JAPAN (what an opening track...), MIKA BOMB, ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, ROCKET JACK VADERS, BLUE III, JET BOYS, MACH PELICAN, SPACE KUNG-FU MAN, THE PRAMBATH, COLOBA MILK BAR, DYNAMITE CLUB, SPANAM, SALADABAR, ED WOODA, MONG HANG, BIRTHDAY SUITS, DIRTRUCKS, DAS BOOT, MIDORI, JEAN PAUL YAMAMOTO and PEELANDER-Z...that's 23 sick snapshots! There's a lot of variation on here- from melodic pop-punk to gritty, distorted rock 'n' roll, right through to almost industrial-tinged noise...this is a really important contemporary collection because the Japanese scene is like no other, there's some real individuality and this comp really showcases that. Even when the Japanese play pop-punk they manage to put a unique and exciting edge to it...the melodic stuff on here is just amazing. If you feel you're lacking rock 'n' roll excitement these days then this CD is for you, this will put the spark back!
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com

V/A - ‘TKO RECORDS 2007 FREE SAMPLER’ CD
The new TKO sampler that I guess has taken the place of the ‘Punch Drunk’ series. It’s loaded with killer bands on the TKO roster and it’s fuckin free!!! 21 tracks from 20 bands including LOWER CLASS BRATS, CHELSEA, THE STITCHES, REDUCERS SF, SMOGTOWN, COCKSPARRER, ANTiSEEN, HATEPINKS, SHOCK NAGASAKI, NAZI DOGS, THE BOILS and loads more and previously unreleased tracks from THE SMUT PEDDLERS, THE TEMPLARS, POISON IDEA, BROKEN BOTTLES, GLASS HEROES, SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS and THE STITCHES…and there’s a hidden GG ALLIN acoustic version of ‘Outlaw Scumfuc’ on here too…of course you NEED to get this…TKO compilations/samplers are always ridiculously impressive that they just can’t be ignored and like I said, it’s fuckin free!!! What are you waiting for??? Get this and then get the full-lengths too…
TKO Records
www.tkorecords.com

V/A - ‘WARPED TOUR 2007’ DOUBLE CD
The annual Warped Tour comp is back and as usual it’s packed with crazy amounts of variation this time presenting 50 bands/tracks on two discs featuring TIGER ARMY, STREET DOGS, THE BRIGGS, GOGOL BORDELLO, THE CASUALTIES, THE UNSEEN, ONLY CRIME, BAD RELIGION, BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH, SMOKE OR FIRE all of whom are the highlights of the comp for me but this thing is seriously overflowing with contrast in styles which means that, as usual, there is something for everybody on here and that’s what the Warped Tour is all about. Some people will have to program the tracks to only play a handful they are into, some will be introduced to new styles and some will be able to listen to it flow from track to track as a complete compilation. I’m the first type, I don’t mind there being all this variation but I’m only into what I’m into but that’s just me- of course this is an impressive collection and does indeed present the scope and spectrum of the scene today.
SideOneDummy Records
www.sideonedummy.com

THE VERMIN - ‘A FIST FULL OF HELL’ CD
I was really hooked on THE VERMIN’s ‘Hell Or Las Vegas’ album for a long fuckin time so I was really excited to get to review this ‘best of’ compilation and fuck yeah, this rules. THE VERMIN just don’t give a fuck and that’s fantastic, and they spit out their thoughts through their snotty and obnoxious punk rock ‘n’ roll without a care to who they’ll fuck off. Brilliant. They have this great arrogance about themselves, like they are the best band around and I love that! I love that repugnant egotism and I truly believe that there’s not enough of that around in punk rock. I love the fuck you attitude and THE VERMIN totally epitomize that. They sound dangerous and sleazy and that’s a great thing too! This is a sick collection including album tracks, EP cuts, compilation songs, live stuff... everything you need to get the picture of what THE VERMIN Have been up to for the past decade and I say get this or fuck you.
Wood Shampoo Records
PO Box 27801, Las Vegas, NV 89126, USA

(VLAD AND) THE IMPALERS - ‘THIS BLOOD’S FOR YOU’ CD
Wow, I really like this record a lot. It’s one of those albums and band’s that's hard to place through their name and their presentation which is something I really like. It’s interesting before you’ve even got to listen to it... so a great start! I figured this would be a kind of gothic band from the name and album art but I was way off. I mean, that would have been fine if it was but what it actually is, is fucking great, straightforward punk rock with a kind of ‘80’s feel. It’s chaotic and melodic and really grabbed me from the first track and hooked on all the way ‘til the end and that’s remarkable. At times it progresses into a more hardcore punk territory but still with a really old school edge. It really works, and there’s a couple of stripped down ska-type songs but, again, they work too. The album flows really well and is varied enough to keep things fresh throughout and I’m really into this.
Geykido Comet Records
www.gcrecords.com

VULTURES UNITED - S/T DEMO CD
VULTURES UNITED play dark hardcore punk that reminds me of a really fucked-up CRIMINALS mixed with the NERVE AGENTS and a more abrasive MURDER CITY DEVILS - they even cover one of my favourite MCD tracks; 'Dancehall music' so they are clearly influenced by them. They have a great attack in their sound but not overly-aggressive, it's punchy and in your face without being over-the-top and they manage to combine old and new styles really well. Totally DIY too which gets massive thumbs up. Impressive shit.
www.myspace.com/vulturesunited

WHAT REMAINS - ‘DESTROYS ALL MONSTERS!’ LP
Very melodic and completely DIY Alaska indie punk with a touch of the No Idea sound. They merge electric and acoustic sounds and have no strict margins, they throw all this stuff together and sometimes it’s heavy, sometimes it’s very delicate and they certainly merge all kinds of styles…I hear elements of early ‘90’s UK Indie like NED’S ATOMIC DUSTBIN, MEGA CITY FOUR, TEENAGE FANCLUB, THE SUNDAYS etc but also touches of AGAINST ME!, THE DESCENDENTS, SMASHING PUMPKINS, CRIMPSHRINE, THE QUEERS and so much more so you see this is a very free band but they certainly have a style, it’s not all over the place or directionless at all. It’s maybe a bit too melodic for my tastes and I would rather listen to 2 or three songs at a time rather than the complete album but that’s fine.
Dave’s Bedroom Records
www.myspace.com/whatremainsak

WHISKEY REBELS - ‘CREATE OR DIE’ CD
This is a re-release of the WHISKEY REBELS’ 2004 full-length originally on GMM Records and this here is band who have a really interesting sound because they merge hardcore and punk and have some serious guitar presence but it never gets too heavy, it always stays firmly rooted on the punk side of the fence and they inject some real melody in their sound. Their sound is really tough but not over-the-top or too forced. They also have this dark, dejected element to their sound that works well. They absolutely ruled TKO’s ‘Sacto Scene Report’ comp a few years back. Big Chucks’ vocals are perfect for the music because that’s what separates the WHISKEY REBELS form a lot of other bands, not many vocalists can merge melody with aggression successfully. If you are a fan of heavy, brawny punk rock ala DUCKY BOYS, HUDSON FALCONS, STREET DOGS then the WHISKEY REBELS are for you. I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records
www.peoplelikeyourecords.com

WENDY O. WILLIAMS & THE PLASMATICS - ‘10 YEARS OF REVOLUTIONARY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL’ DVD
The title of this DVD says it all really. This along with the GG ALLIN and DWARVES DVDs that MVD put out make up an obligatory history lesson in real rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, not the bullshit phonies who just pose around, but the real dangerous, impulsive and uncontrollable naturals who just could not be tamed. Wendy O. Williams was a true one-off... a wild and outrageous being. Dangerous and violently sexy. This is an individual who put her soul and wild passion into her music and performances and truly pushed boundaries. It must be so hard for kids today to believe that rock ‘n’ roll was once a dangerous and uncontrollable thing. They are used to everything being so glossy and ‘managed’ and they’re just force-fed some bullshit about ‘danger’ and ‘controversy’ when it’s all just manufactured shit. They would be blown away by Wendy, completely floored, because the shit she and her Plasmatics were doing back then, I would say is still pushing boundaries to this very day and that’s impressive stuff. The Plasmatics were about the music and the delivery... the show. It was an event and not some bullshit Alice Cooper or Pink Floyd circus farce, but something that would excite and terrify at the same time, real adrenaline exhilaration and panic stimulation. That’s rock ‘n’ roll. Wendy introduced dangerous stunts and pyrotechnics that truly amaze and it’s all very raw and so completely thrilling and unpredictable. The fact that Wendy was female too just makes this all the more powerful and important because there’s just nobody to compare her to and her feral beauty mixed with her disobedient and ferocious attitude and threat is unmatched. I cannot stress just how impressive and utterly important this DVD is. It’s extraordinary and everyone who sees this will learn a very crucial lesson, even if you are already familiar with Wendy and the Plasmatics. You have to see this to believe it and to understand what I’m talking about.
MVD Visual
www.mvdvisual.com

WITCH HUNT - ‘THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING…’ CD
This superb CD collects the early WITCH HUNT recordings from 2002-2004 and brings together their ‘...As Priorities Decay’ full-length and demos, their self-titled 7”, tracks from their split with DEATHBAG and a cut from the Crucial Chaos radio session in 2003 (SIEGE cover ‘Conform’) ... this is an overwhelming release and there’s a fuck load of awe-inspiring shit here. If you are unfamiliar with WITCH HUNT’s very unique and distinctive approach to hardcore crust/anarcho-punk then you need to hear this because you haven’t heard it done like this before. This is powerful and intelligent and really packs some irrepressible energy and fire and some real positivity. The male/female vocals are fantastic and their communication of optimism and ambition through their explosive fury is amazing. Excellent presentation on this release too. Super-impressive shit and a real lesson you should all learn.
Fistolo Records
www.fistolo.com

WITCHES WITH DICKS - 'MANUAL' CD
This is one of those bands that it's really hard to guess what they might sound like judging by their name and album art etc... I thought this might be kind of arty, maybe a bit hardcore... TOYS THAT KILL maybe, or perhaps even a touch of THE LOCUST... well, no. I was way off track and gladly so because what this actually turned out to be is some really urgent and powerful, gritty melodic punk in the early Lookout! / No Idea style with big nods to CRIMPSHRINE, SCREECHING WEASEL, LEATHERFACE, JAWBREAKER etc and shit do they do it well... I'm a huge fan of melodic punk rock but I'm also very strict about how I like it. It has to be urgent and energetic... melody is no excuse for monotony and it has to be impulsive and WITCHES WITH DICKS certainly tick all the boxes with me. After hearing them, I can see where they were going with the name and artwork and it all fits in and works really well because this is an interesting band for sure.
Kiss Of Death Records
www.kissofdeathrecords.com

THE WRISTS - S/T 7”
Any band that covers THE BEEX is gonna get a huge thumbs up from me even before I play the record so Texas’s THE WRISTS clicked with me from the off set and their cool cover art got a lot of points too. So first impressions couldn’t be better, but are first impressions accurate? Do first impressions really count for much…well how can I put it…this record, well, this record….this record fucking RULES!!! Holy shit. Fucked up, super stripped-down abrasive noise that’s got a touch of early BUTTHOLE SURFERS mixed with the FEELERS and the REATARDS…it’s distorted, fuzzy and wild and definitely from Texas! It’s got that unpredictable danger that I fucking love. Another winner from Rijapov…
Rijapov Records
www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords

MYKAL XUL - ‘GIZMO MY WAY’ CD
Do you want to know how good this record is? I’ll fucking tell you... it’s so fucking good that it changed history because it was never supposed to be. The original idea was for Gulcher to release a GIZMOS tribute compilation but when MYKAL XUL presented his ‘tributes’ he changed fucking history and was handed the entire project to do his way. These ‘Unsung Anthems of Ken Highland and the Gizmos’ feature a bunch of AFRIKA KORPS tracks including ‘Juvenile Delinquent’, ‘Lorraine’, ’Refrigerator Rappin'’ and a whole load of unreleased songs: ‘Creem Dream’, ‘Talkin' On The Telephone ‘, ‘Hot Shot’, ‘She Put A Spell On Me’, ‘Ready Eddie ‘, ‘Ode To Adny's Discs’ and ‘Dance To The Beat’. I mean, the fact that it’s a ‘contemporary’ GIZMOS release is enough to get any pants soiled. This album comes with instructions: Play loud on cheap stereo... is there any other way?!! That’s pretty much my general rule!! Fantastic super stripped down and raw rock ‘n’ roll that is bursting with excitement and energy. Only a label like Gulcher would do something like this... something that blurs the lines between absurdity and genius and thank God!!!!
Gulcher Records
www.gulcher.gemm.com

ZATOPEKS – ‘DAMN FOOL MUSIC’ CD
In this second full-length the ZATOPEKS really showcase their pure pop-punk style that mixes the sounds of THE RAMONES, THE QUEERS and a huge dose of BUDDY HOLLY, yes it’s pop-punk with a heavy emphasis on the pop aspect and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not wimpy or brattish, it’s just very attractive and catchy- and intelligent pop. I guess it’s closer to power pop than pop-punk really especially with that 1950’s element so prominent and so damn appealing too!! It’s a hell of a lot of fun while being bright too and that’s a great balance to have and there are some real gems on here: the opener ‘Radio Maryja’ is fantastic and ‘Jumble Sale’, ’15 Ta Life’, ‘Ship To Go Down With’ and ‘Death And A Hobo’ are some real highlights of this very strong album. ZATOPEKS slogan is “Like Buddy Holly covering ‘Rocket To Russia’ “ so there you have it…are you going to argue with that?
Household Name Records
www.householdnamerecords.co.uk