Smog Marines Opus LP
Formed in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood, home to acts like the SCREAMERS and the FLESH EATERS, the band known as OPUS changed their name on New Year’s Eve 1979. Adopting a snappy new moniker to better suit their punchy sound, they forged a sonic imprint that bridged the gap between the DEAD KENNEDYS and X, incorporating Jello’s exaggerated vibrato, speedy agitation, and prominent dual vocals into their brawny and eclectic compositions. The resulting melodic racket wouldn’t have been out of place on Dangerhouse Records, but that particular “what if?” scenario wasn’t to be. As the band was beginning to burn their brightest, the label was in the process of fizzling out, positioning SMOG MARINES as torchbearers of the first-wave L.A. sound. However, by the time they recorded their full-length album at Hollywood’s Mystic Studios in 1980, hardcore was on the rise and record companies were following the emerging trends. The material was ultimately shelved, and would remain buried in the sands of time for decades. After 46 years in purgatory, archival label Obsolete Universe has dug it up and delivered it straight from the original masters. Though diverse in style, the album is instantly recognizable as a product of its specific and prolific place and time, capturing the group in the midst of evolution as they embraced the harder and faster sounds of the era with their old school roots still showing. It leads with crisper recordings of the two songs from their 1979 7” that’s known for sitting prohibitively pricey on collector want lists. They cover “These Boots Were Made for Walking” with a guitar tone that reveals how the NANCY SINATRA hit likely inspired the lead-in riff to Black Flag’s “Rise Above.” They’re sometimes referred to as deathrock, the case for which is most apparent in eerie tracks like “Butterflies” and “Bright” that feature theatrical droning vocals akin to P.I.L. efforts of this era. And “Sharpen the Shears,” a wistful power pop track presented in demo quality, caps off the album with one of the most charming moments to be had here. It’s a concrete addition to the zeitgeist overall, and will surely leave some wondering how it managed to stay in the dark for so long.