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!
Ultra-catchy Yugoslavian pop punk appears on the tracks here — really, it’s quite a departure from the typically messy, thrashy style popular in this country. KUD IDIJOTI have great melodies on three of four tunes, with nifty choruses in a mid-to-fast tempo style. Fine record.
A rippin’ six-song job that comes bundled with the reissue of their What Happens Next LP. I don’t know if these guys are at it again, but I hope so. Ripping.
Manic vocals set to sporadic musical mayhem — sort of in the BUTTHOLES spirit. I thought you had to be from Texas to do this kinda stuff, but these lads are from Virginia. Will interest the fringe freaks and art trendies.
Three pounding metallish punk songs and one very snappy thrash tune with no metal influence whatsoever.
Edging ever-closer to rock music, GI employs a big sound, usually powerful beat, and big production to get it across. But the lack of a cohesive, unique sound and catchy tunes make the package relatively unmemorable, making them sound like just another slick band on a bigger label.
Pretty rockin’ garage type ’60s punk with a good beat, fuzzed guitar, SEEDS and ELEVATORS influences and nothing lyrics.
Power dual guitar HC with a tasteful metallic touch, this is a fantastic tape, too bad it wasn’t an LP. Nine great songs, imagine SNFU crossed with SSD, NEGATIVE APPROACH. Yeah! Damn good, get this.
These Quincy punks shared the Last Rites For… LP with MIA way back when, died, and are now back to make you gawk in disbelief at their passé stud/skull look. Equally dumbo lyrics and metallish approach make this a joke, unintentionally I’m sure.
A damn hot first tape from this Chicago band, playing power-driving punk and thrash with a sense of melody and good lyrics. Definitely worth investigating.
The two songs on the FRATRICIDE side display a punk style with certain metallish trappings, and lyrics that address the fundamental purpose of punk. On the flip, MISSION OF CHRIST are more demonstrably speedmetal in the vocals and guitars, with lyrics that are forgettable and fuzzy production. Unmemorable.
An anti-violence band with a twist. Seems like the singer is a refugee from Iran, because just about all the songs deal with life in the current regime’s grip, with one song even sung in Farsi. Musically, hardcore with metal/power influences. Interesting.
Welcome to the garage. These Tennessee turkeys play from grunged out punk’n’thrash with appropriate chunky production. Lyrics are in the personal/social vein.
An amusing combination, great stop and go HC mixed with crazed lyrics. From the enclosed photos and liner notes, these characters put on quite a stage show, but do they sleep in oxygen tents like MICHAEL JACKSON? Watch for vinyl.
One of “Live at CBGB” cassettes comes to vinyl life, and life it reverberates. Very powerful hardcore that doesn’t stop, and that might be the only complaint here — the on-going similarity of the emotion you’re being clobbered with. But if you want a dose of sledgehammer HC, you know where to find it.
A full 17 song LP from this durable Bay Area band. They’re varying the pace more these days, and in this case it really works well. Excellent recording, great passionate vocals and screams, and definitely worth a listen. Cool label, too. Support this!
More of the COLORS’ mod (JAM/JOLT) sound. Lots of power pop, power chords, etc.
“I’ll take my Chadbourne and make it a double.” Four sides as crazed and priceless as always. From goofy Martin Mull-ish “In A Sentimental Mood” to BEATLES, BURL IVES, ROGER MILLER psych-out medleys. These records feature bits and pieces of other tapes and even early lost SHOCKABILLY material. There’s the regular dose of insightful, folksy guitar — diddling, singalongs, psychedelia, and political prowess.
This live recording of the Gathering of the 5000 features a good selection of CONFLICT material plus several CRASS numbers done by CONFLICT and Steve Ignorant. For the most part, all 32 songs have a good sound, but the band does have some problems with the CRASS music. Included is a lyric booklet that contains a full explanation of the event. Both ups and downs.
Pretty decent pop ’60s punk, but this selection doesn’t have the nasty edge that their recent Stop! album had. A few tracks do manage to snarl, delivering that fuzz attack, while the rest are well done by clean.
More than competent metallish HC, another example of Europeans following up on a trend within the U.S. scene. Lots of riffing, non-melodic guitar, power rhythm, etc. Otherwise, unmemorable.
A six-song release, mainly of pounding guitar heavy rock with late-’60s Detroit power and punk influences. Lyrics are nothing, but on one song, “Shake It Loose,” the band does produce something memorable in sound.
Full speed ahead power punk and hardcore with quite a few innovative bits and jarring stops/starts and tempo changes. “One Track Head” is a mind-blowing standout.
This UK band contains Ed of the STUPIDS, and, as expected, there’s a decided American sound here, but not in the same way. The music and lyrics have a DC-type “emo” approach, a powerful but ultimately laid back sound.
The latest EP by ATTANAS shows considerably more finesse and style than before, with occasional melodic concessions, but losing none of the high-sped HC power. These songs are short and to the point, and show some songwriting quality. Very good effort.
Very loose mayhem thrash. Rapid speed dirge guitar and machine gun drumming are joined with harsh, scrambled vocals. All the songs are fast and raw, putting this band in the ranks of DISORDER, NAPALM DEATH, and CHAOS UK.
Another in a spate of reissues, this one containing some classic retardo garage punk from 1980. Remixed a bit (not to its detriment) and powerful, it contains “Right Side of My Mind”, “You Stupid Asshole,” “Get Off the Air,” and two more gems. Get it.
This record is on a label called Heavy Metal Records, comes without a lyric sheet, sounds laden, but somehow has a glint of individuality. I had a hard time with the length of the cuts and their ponderance, but hopefully beneath all this weight and silliness lies some good lyrics and intentions. Hopefully.
WHITE FLAG has, on this live EP, documented their European tour with a clutch of fast, funny, and hard-rockin’ songs. The recording quality is adequate, no lyric sheet is provided (this band needs one), and all things considered, this is probably a good documentation on their tour. Actually enjoyable.
Three bands out of N. Ireland share this amazingly great record. ASYLUM, STALAG 17, and TOXIC WASTE absolutely kick ass, both musically and lyrically, delivery track after rack of powerful hardcore. Very convincing and necessary!
A way hot Aussie HC comp featuring ARM THE INSANE, NOBODY’S VICTIMS, and four more acts. Good material, booklet included. Nice job.
A pretty swell comp featuring some big names (DEAD MILKMEN, INSTIGATORS, etc.), and a host of smaller acts like BILLY & THE WILLIES, CIVILISED SOCIETY?, etc. Good stuff.
Yee…ouch! Another righteous comp from Flush Productions, featuring quality stuff from SEWER TROUT, IRSTAS, DISTORTION X, and many more. Consistently hot stuff here.
60 minutes of high quality HC power here. Outstanding tracks by ANGRY JOHNNY AND THE SNOTS, SHELL GAME, and CHRIST ON A CRUTCH. That’s a hint, so get this one, okay? Band info included.
Righteous gonzocore from HEIBER, CRINGER, DISSENT, QUOD MASSACRE, and a slew of other world HC acts. Damn good sound, cool lyric book, one rad tape.
Well, they’ve heard early PRETTY THINGS-type primitive R’n’B, especially the Jagger-like vocals, raw plunky guitar sound (though nowhere as grungy as the THINGS), etc. Out of Sweden.
Great thrash cover of the KINKS’ “Dandy”, a couple of slower tunes with a good snotty-sounding vocalist, and a recitation of the Gettysburg Address set to ominous sounds. Enjoyable.
The BYGONE ERA sound is just that, 78 all the way, relying on a steady and fast punk beat. WARNERS too are a blast from the past, with gruffer vocals and more rock-type guitars. Two songs each.
One of my favorite young, unknown Australian bands. They have the same kick and drive of a group like the HARD-ONS but they’re not as goofy. More somber in the style of the GUN CLUB or DREAM SYNDICATE.
Some good original singalong straightedge thrash from AZ. They mix it up well, plenty of hooks and positive lyrics you can relate to. If you like STALAG 13, UNIFORM CHOICE, etc. check em out!
Totally enjoyable stuff from the crooks, catchy rockin’ mid-tempo punk with oodles of energy and drive. Way bitchin’.
VIKTIMZ pride themselves on their highly sarcastic, “fuck-you” lyrics and high-velocity thrash attack. A variety of topics, from abortion and nuclear war to martians, is covered with adequate musical punch and fair production — but the attitude is the main attraction here.
Old fashioned punk both in musical style and lyrical content, mainly dealing with getting fucked (take that any way you want).
One track each from thirteen primal Aussie punk bands, most being off 77 era singles and most being hot! VICTIMS, RADIO BIRDMAN, ROCKS, NEWS, PSYCHO SURGEONS, RAZAR, LEFTOVERS, X, THOUGHT CRIMINALS, SCIENTISTS, and more. As many U.S. bootlegs claim Australian addresses, this release claims a U.S., but don’t be surprised if no one’s home.
A grand collection of Australian sludge/noise bands. Great names too — BUSH OYSTERS, PURPLE VULTURE SHIT, LUBRICATED GOAT. Also includes the last track ever by the now defunct GRONG GRONG.
A very on-target U.S. comp featuring tuneage by INSTED, SCREECHING WEASEL, FRONT, DIDDLY SQUAT, and more. Another righteous rad tape from this cool label.
Three bands share this tape: BACK TO BACK (CA) who have a hot clean thrash sound, YOUTH UNDER CONTROL (AZ) playing positive HC with energy, and LAST OPTION (AZ) dishing out fierce thrash with personal lyrics. Live records with booklet, great stuff!
A damn good comp of Icelandic acts ranging from straightforward punk to more conventional rock sounds. SOGBLETTIR, GULT AD INNAN, and the DAISY HILL PUPPY FARM stand out as the best.
This selection of neo-’60s bands covers Germany. Bands like LEGENDARY GOLDEN VAMPIRES, the CHUD, BEATITUDES, SHINY GNOMES, and more drop all over the turntable for your delight. Nothing too raving here, just fifty mike doses.
NEW DRUGS, the 5.6.7.8’s, SHUFFLE, and another band whose name is in Japanese present cowpunk, SHIRELLES/DOLLS-style early 60s stuff, and 77 punk. Weird mix to say the least, though the SHUFFLES’s “Working Class” has SHAM catchiness.
A six band comp which features the catch punk of ALLIGATOR PARADE, HALF OFF’s powerhouse thrash, and GOV’T THRASHER’s hot noise. A hot consistent tape.
