For review and radio play consideration:
Please send vinyl (preferred), CD, or cassette releases to MRR, PO Box 3852, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. Maximum Rocknroll wants to review everything that comes out in the world of underground punk rock, hardcore, garage, post-punk, thrash, etc.—no major labels or labels exclusively distributed by major-owned distributors, no reviews of test pressings or promo CDs without final artwork. Please include contact information and let us know where your band is from!
The first French speedcore release. AGRESSOR has less speed and more tuneage, while LOUDBLAST has the speed, more wanking, and even falsetto screeches. Gore themes, with a bit of politics.
Aside from a song or two, this live LP represents their latter sound, a rock-oriented approach. The songs are less anthemic and less gripping, more prone to length and dilution. It’s hard for me to relate to this approach, especially as 7 SECONDS was my fave for many years. And given my fondness for Kevin, it’s doubly hard to say I don’t really like this period of their work, never mind the thin sound on this LP.
Very solid punk and thrash with a hefty helping of innovation and originality. Sorta doomy, sorta metal-y, but all powerful. Includes a lyric book, but if you can’t read Swedish, you’re out of luck.
A comp of new (?) DC bands from rap to ’70s rock to speed metal. Acts include H.R., DOVE, PRESS MOB, and more, not much punkaroni, but one H.R. cut rocks.
These gals make the BEASTIE BOYS look like flaccid wimps, doing intelligent and hilarious acapella raps about macho goons, the FCC, poo, etc. With loads of funny between-the-songs banter. Totally rad, and the “special prizes” are yucky!
One of many emerging post-hardcore, offbeat bands that usually signs to SST or Touch & Go. Actually, post-punk or post-hardcore may not exactly be right, sorta more like pre…something, and I’m not sure I wanna know what. Intelligent doodling.
Garage rap is here and anyone can do it. Or so prove these guys. And they are really tough with songs/raps like” “James Dean is an Overrated Asshole” (“I’d kill him if I were able”), a song about a school chum called “Billy the Scab” who they want to die for various reasons, and of course a “We’re the Warlocks” anthem that all rappers must have no matter how stupid. This record is ridiculous but pretty funny.
The third in this sorta series, another monster with 41 bands, plenty of great punk, and of course, no info on any of the bands. I’m sure a lot of these tracks date back to ’83 and are by bands long gone as well as current groups like NOFX, MANIFEST DESTINY, CRINGER (who never sent in a tape and didn’t know anything about it till they saw the LP at my house!), LIFE SENTENCE, DEHUMANIZERS, CANCEROUS GROWTH, PTL KLUB, etc., and lots of vinyl virgins.
A solid comp with DISSONANCE, A.D.S., DEAD SILENCE, and more. Lots of energetic material (poetry too!!) with a message. Booklet included.
Risto Eronen has been doing a lot for the Finnish punk scene for years, but he’s now doing even more—putting out vinyl. This first release is a one-song-each comp featuring APARTHEID, IRSTAS, KUMIKRISTUS, VAPAUTUS, YTIMENJATKE, and NOJDANKENA. Lots of hardcore styles are represented, and I found the latter band’s slow but powerful attack the most refreshing. Watch for more.
A great title, and a pretty darn good tape, too. Featuring DECLINE, SCREECHING WEASEL, DISGRACE, SOCIAL DECAY, and more US acts with fair to good sound quality. Booklet included.
All Icelandic groups here, including S.H. DRAUMUR, SOGBLETTER, and more. Mostly straightforward punk, some more experimental, some on the commercial side. Generally pretty good.
Four bands that combine “tunes and speed” says the promo sheet. Well actually, what we have are four bands (JOYCE MCKINNEY EXPERIENCE, INCEST BROS, DECADENCE WITHIN, and NOX MORTALS) that play more traditional sounding punk—melody and medium-paced tempo. Female and male vocals on two bands, neat package, good stuff.
This series’ second go-round on Sweden, covering neo-’60s garage bands. This one features the HIJACKERS, HIGH SPEED V, UNDERTAKERS, SUBTERRANEANS, PRESCHERS, BANGSTERS, CORNFLAKE ZOO, and CRIMSON SHADOWS, capturing a variety of mostly hard-edged guitar punk à la ’67.
More tasty musical tidbits featuring EMILS, CHRIST ON A CRUTCH, DECLINE, and more, courtesy of Flush Productions. Lots of energetic punk tunes by hot upcoming hands!
COCKNEY REJECTS, ANGELIC UPSTARTS, and SHAM 69 from the older generation and a host of newer Oi! bands like INDECENT EXPOSURE, BRIAL, INTENSIVE CARE, SECTION 5, etc. Some OK lyrics, some shaky ones such as the Y.D.L. song, overall good catchy tuneage.
A hot comp featuring OUTO, CHICKEN BOWELS, SYSTEMATIC DEATH, GUDON, S.O.B., and LIP CREAM. Raging from start to finish, the OUTO and S.O.B. cuts are definitely the highlights, especially the latter who are unbelievable.
A pretty solid comp including everything from pop-punk to speedmetal to noisethrash. High points are FEED YOUR HEAD, DOOM, and NO FRAUD. Worth a listen. All proits go to No More Censorship Defense Fund.
This Scottish split LP (OI POLLOI and TOXIC EPHEX) has been out for several months, but I had a hell of a time finding one till recently. O.P. dish out their usual bass-heavy rage, and T.E. play melodic class punk, all of it good sounding. A fine indie product.
Their third twisted “holiday” comp, much in the vein of the previous LPs. Most of the bands are ’60s garage, blues, psych, featuring IGUANAS, GOREHOUNDS, SHARKY’S MACHINE, SENDERS, BROOD, etc., but my fave is the raunchy all-female STERILLES doing “Mrs. Claus has Menopause.”
Vol.1 of a worldwide HC comp series, with most of the songs being in a speedcore vein. Lots of the tunes have been released before, though several are re-recorded, and there are a few unreleased tracks as well. Included are VELLOCET, ACCUSED, DAMAGE (Finland), INFERNO, CAPITAL SCUM, STUPIDS (huh?), NO ALLEGIANCE, MANSON YOUTH, MANIACS, and G.R.B.
A three-song release that accompanies issue #10 of 11 Years On ‘zine. BLOOD AND THUNDER, HEAVY DISCIPLINE, and INSTIGATORS all do one, the latter being live. Last issue of this ‘zine, so pick it up now.
A pretty solid world comp of mostly wild punk and HC tuneage. Standouts included VISUAL DISCRIMINATION, EXTREMES, and more. Worth checking into. Booklet included.
Quite a diverse selection of material from acts like the STIFFS, INFECTION, F.V.K./EMG, and lots more. From slow, melodic punk to whirlwind thrash, it’s all here.
This is a No More Censorship Defense Fund benefit LP with a variety of styles and bands. On the punk side are OI POLLOI and CÁTERAN, while there are a host of aggressive-sounding post-punk bands like PASTELS, SHAMEN, MEMBRANES, PRIMEVALS, PALOOKAS, MEAT WHIPLASH, etc.
This compilation is intended as a document of the underground rock scene in Bødø, a small Norwegian town north of the Arctic Circle. The music is incredibly diverse, ranging from pop-punk to grungy hardcore to syntho-disco to experimental art-noise to jangly guitar pop. There are also some rumbling synth “mood music” tracks which are quite relaxing. Production tends to be on the muddy side, but the concept is bizarre enough to make this one interesting.
A pretty good comp here, with acts like TERVEET KÄDET, YOUTH QUAKE, INSTIGATORS, and more. Good sound quality also.
Way above average HC, but that might be because these eight songs were released way back in ’82 on Mobstyle. Just totally raging stuff, great vocals, to-the-point, no frills attack. Highly recommended.
Ultra-fast speedmetal/HC with political lyrics covering the arms race, war, terrorism, and Garfield, comparable to NAPALM DEATH, but these guys are a bit more listenable, because of the tempo changes and clear production.
When they aren’t busy weirding out into jazz, German, or la-la land, they play a mean brand of modern eclectic DC-type hardcore. Each LP cover is an original artwork done by one of 50 area artists.
Quick, hyper, melodic punk with animated vocals and silly lyrics, which brings the DICKIES to mind. Super-energetic and tuneful fun.
Out of the four tunes here, only “Friend Larry” cuts loose hard. The others have a decidedly rockin’ pop feel that reminds me quite a bit of NICK LOWE or UK pre-punk r’n’b/country pub rock.
Six songs that musically have a lot of roots in simple funk/dance punk, yet stick to a fast tempo and catchy rhythms. Lyrically, the band words itself very well when dealing with political subjects from a good common sense point of view mixed with pro-awareness emotion. Fun and serious at the same time. Too bad this debut vinyl comes out several months after the breakup of this Fresno band (includes an ex-MANIAC and ex-Stop Skate Harassment publisher.
Sloppy hardcore cum metal, reflecting an admirable and sincere (I think) concern for the dangers of toxic waste disposal, and more generally for all society’s ills. The record has its humorous moments, many of them unintentional. But you gotta give these guys credit for trying: to quote the ‘ZOMBIES, “punk is great, punk is cool.”
It’s been three years since their last EP, and while these two tunes maintain their catchy approach (GARY GLITTER-ish on the A-side, early wave-punk on the B), there’s not much beyond that in the way of content.
Not too hard to tell this is a DC release. From the cover art to lyrics to musical approach, this is DC all the way. The lyrics seem to have a fixation on the concept of “time,” which shows up in a couple songs. OK start.
Well done ’77-style classic punk. No real twists here, just tight, fun punk rock. Very tacky cover stuff showing food on one side and semi-naked blonde woman on the other.
Five powerful songs in the vein of CRUCIFIX or early RAW POWER with intelligent words questioning rape, vivisection, religion, governments, etc. Solid music and thoughtful lyrics. A great job!
Straight HC with words concerning personal issues such as equality, insincerity, and straight edge, a tad more original than the average “positive” act.
That’s not all female singer Ranko is shaking loose on the front cover. Both originals are rock-punk—not too bad, coulda been worse. But on the cover song, “Train Kept a Rollin’” (a song lots of bands, like the ADOLESCENTS, are doing), it gets pretty unbearable.
Hot uptempo punk with other influences creeping in. Powerful production; reminds me a bit of TOXIC REASONS. Good.
They’ve had it up to here and they’re not gonna take it anymore. So, they’re gonna bitch ‘n moan and strike out in anger. No solutions offered or recommended. The only tune that offers any emotion other than anger/revenge is “Give Respect,” which says that it’s actions that prove the person—a worthy thought. Hope to see a broadening of their range of emotions/humanity; otherwise, this is your moshable NYHC.
Insanely harsh HC with deranged shrieking vocals. Loads of energy, not the type of thing you listen to when you have a headache. Live recording.
Thrash, punk, pop, garage, all rolled into one rough EP. Four tunes, garage aesthetics, basic rock’n’roll lyrics.
Raging in a NYHC style, mixing metal and thrash along with ragged vocals, non-stop banging galore. Best song line: “Justice is like a dick’s hair on a toilet seat.”
Noisy Australian guitar-oriented pop, kind of like a punchier JESUS AND MARY CHAIN. What saves this 12” from predictability is the unexpected sick humor in the midst of the pop tunes. “She’s Gone” is a plaintive lament about a dead cat, and “Car Crash” with the immortal line “Sorry about the car crash / I hope you don’t mind / We’ve killed your family and loved ones… hope you’ve got insurance” is notable for its catchy tune and hilariously deadpan vocals.
On Side A, B.S.L. have a fast, energetic punk sound with truly progressive lyrics. FLECKS OF DROOL suffer from rather noisy sound quality, but their thrash (with good words) is pretty god. Overall, not bad.
Above-average Aussie rock’n’roll, fast and energetic. The B-side, an instrumental ode to the rubber-suited star of the movie Basket Case, wins this month’s award for the best screams on vinyl.
Speed metal from Colombia? Yep, Satan has even reared his ugly head in Juan Valdez’s backyard. Both tunes have all the characteristics you’ve come to know and love(?).
Very impressive hardcore. Tight, aggressive, with just enough flair to make it special. All the songs cook, have lots of power and jump. Lyrics are in the personal/questioning vein.
