Ripcord The Damage is Done LP
For those living under a rock, RIPCORD was a seminal hardcore punk band from the seaside town of Weston‑super‑Mare, England, active from 1984 to 1988. These lads played extremely fast hardcore punk with elements that positioned them among the first UK bands to push toward grindcore territory. Their music combined the speed and aggression of US hardcore with the rawness of UK82 punk, having been cited as one of the flagship bands of the UK’s mid‑’80s hardcore scene alongside bands such as HERESY (for whom RIPCORD’s founder Steve “Baz” Ballam played) and NAPALM DEATH. RIPCORD’s The Damage is Done was first released in 1986, originally as a flexi. From the start, The Damage Is Done doesn’t waste any time; each track barrels forward, maintaining a relentless intensity throughout its runtime. One of the standout features of this album is the band’s ability to balance chaos with structure. While the songs are undoubtedly fast and abrasive, there’s a clear sense of purpose in the way they build tension and release it. Lyrically, they don’t shy away from heavy topics: anti-authoritarianism, personal frustration, and critiques of societal hypocrisy. The production is appropriately raw, giving the album a live-wire energy that enhances its punch to the gut. It’s not polished to the point of losing any of the rough edges that make hardcore so captivating, but it’s clean enough to make every instrument shine through, even in the most chaotic moments. Overall, RIPCORD proves 39 years later that they captured the essence of punk in a way that feels timeless and entirely of this present moment. Free Ola!
