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!
A statewide comp of varying alternative musics. There isn’t any hardcore, but most of the pop stuff here has an edge, and bands like CLAUDE PATE, HOUSE OF LARGE SIZES and SHELLGAME do have quite a bite.
Ninety minutes of righteous tuneage, the standouts being CANCEROUS GROWTH, SCREECHING WEASEL, and DEAD SILENCE. Well worth the moolah. Comes with booklet.
A weirdly conceived LP, because other than a hot and previously unreleased LAW & ORDER track, a so-so version of SCREAM’s “Solidarity,” and a live G.I. track, the rest is very commercial wave stuff. Given all the DC bands whom we haven’t seen on vinyl yet, I was disappointed with this selection.
FORETHOUGHT, BLUTSTURZ, RAPED TEENAGERS and LEBERWOHLSTAND are just a few of the acts featured on this above average world comp. Lots of spirit and spark here.
Heaven (or hell?) is here if you’re a speedcore maniac, because those “jugga jugga” axes are here in full force. Acts include NO REBATE, BLOODCUM, GENERATION WASTE, and more.
A pretty damn good comp here featuring hot stuff from CORRUPTED MORALS, STIKKY, PINK LINCOLNS and more. Great selection of punk and thrash energy.
A hot comp with NO FRAUD, ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM, ARM THE INSANE, and lots more. All the proceeds go to the Toronto ALF Bust Fund.
A mega-thrashola comp with CHRIST ON A CRUTCH, BFD, THE HATES, and more. Lots of quick stuff here, and includes booklet.
Quite an accomplishment. An excellent sampler of mostly not-famous bands, but bands that really put out. Lots of differing punk styles, fine choice cuts, lots of listening and most all are invigorating. Bands from Czechoslovakia, Peru, South Africa, Hungary, and just about everywhere else. Hot.
Rully? OK, 7 SECONDS, AOD, WHITE FLAG and F come up with 4 or 5 tunes each, oddities, versions, live takes, etc. Pretty fun selection, plus bits of goofiness and experimentation.
Quick melodic punk with a bit of distortion to roughen things up a bit. Not bad, but the vocals and the commercial flavor kinda turns me off.
A high quality DIY demo tape here, great recording quality, nice printed package, etc. Musical style varies which keeps the interest level up, I hear BUZZCOCKS, DAMNED, UK SUBHUMANS. Very listenable, good job!
A pretty good showing by the ol’ SUBS, playing mostly energetic material with a clunker here and there. Good live recording, too.
Containing members and ex-members of WARZONE, PSYCHOS, and ULTRAVIOLENCE, these boys churn out some raw HC with a distorted guitar sound and lyrics which analyze personal and social problems. Pretty good.
Very blatantly SIOUXSIE influenced material and sound. Well done for what it is, and will appear to fans of pop, wave, early punk, mood music, etc.
Quick, melodic thrash with sing-along choruses, comparable to early 7 SECONDS. Lyrics cover war, poverty, violence, etc. An act to watch, keep up the good work!
Less sludgy this time out—more jazz riffs creeping into the act here but still good enough to recommend to fans of midwest-wump like the APPLIANCES-SFB, COUCH FLAMBEAU and a little KILLDOZER. Also elements of pop and funk seeping in to draw comparisons to earlier MEAT PUPPETS and the MINUTEMEN. You decide.
A two-song, one-sided flexi that has hardcore graphics but is decidedly pop punk. Not really too jumpin’, but OK.
A six-song straightedge Y.O.T. type band that celebrates youth, innocence and hope. The songs are pretty short; the message loud, simple and progressive. Hope they can maintain their idealism as they grow. Hope they grow.
These guys had an extremely zany and attacking sound, deeply rooted in an early SEEDS mold, but rarely does that manic aspect surface anymore. Only one of the six tracks here really approaches that intensity. Instead, they settle for decent organ-dominated ’60s punk with no stinging guitar and no psychotic vocals. Too studied.
These Aussie dudes come off with pretty good RAMONES-ish sound. Nothing happening lyrically, and not enough catchiness or power to push it over the top.
Ah, finally a non-metal HC band out of Utah. Sounds like a great unknown band from ’82, but this is today and a welcome relief it is. Hot, inspired playing, tons of energy and hooks, catchy tunes and cool vocals. As you might guess, I like this a lot!
Really excellent lyrics addressing many of the problems within the whole scene, and doing it with insight and sensitivity. Musically, it’s older punk meets hardcore – very moshable.
Proving that skins anywhere are capable of making simple catchy songs and making the dumbest face poses ever. Four songs, three decent.
Good rockin’ stuff, a ’77 R&B/punk sound. Hard drivin’ pop with no let up. A good debut.
A really hot debut. Great pop hardcore, lots of punch, above average lyrics, memorable tunes. Kicks ass, so get this now.
This Ellensburg, WA band’s second LP is an exciting moment. They get more indulgent here, proving themselves a real ’80s psyche band. Intricate swooning and meaty jams with a few melodic ’60s influenced songs. But ravers like “The Pathway” make it worth living for.
Turn up the volume on this baby, and you won’t be sorry. Great production brings out the best here, and though the pace isn’t as frantic as before, the power is well directed, the hooks are there, and the energy flows hot. A welcome surprise.
Very basic hardcore that’s dominated by a crude, raw guitar. Everything else sits behind, setting forth short blasts of mayhem, not unlike the old NEOS. Enjoyable.
All the markings (long bowl-like hair, funny suits, fuzztone guitars) of a prime neo-’60s garage band. And here it’s less of the PLASTICLAND-type goofery more of slower CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND groove. No real “rave-ups,” but they’re rumoured to be a pretty hard-driving combo live so wise up, shorty.
Mid-to-fast tempo German punk abounds here, with catchy choruses (especially on “Your Escape”) and a powerful power chord guitar sound. The songs are pleasant, but there are no particular revelations here. Just good, basic, loud punk.
I made the big mistake of listening to a lot of old Ramones recently, which put this new release into perspective—a bad one. The edge is gone, the wackiness wants, and the singing normal. Outside of “I Lost My Mind” and “I’m Not Jesus,” this is really inferior material, and one can only wish they were halfway to insanity.
This is what suburbia does to people…forces them to form utterly psychotic thrash bands with totally deranged vocals. One question: why does the tape cover smell so fucking weird? On second thought, I don’t want to know.
This Irish band has been cranking out the records. Lucky for us too as even though they are kind ’60s-ish, they really rock out with a garage-y touch. Strong and slick with crunch, catchy hooks, a little of the ol reverb, and some incredible jams. This LP (and in fact the band) are a must for all garage enthusiasts.
Pretty basic thrash without much distinctiveness. Lyrically, they seem to dwell on depressing themes, judging by “Wanna Die” and “Self-Destruct”. Psychotic? Not really…
Other than the title track, this is a pretty toned-down release, offering little in the way of excitement. One neo-’60s tune, one pop rocker, and one folk tune.
A very polished very pop “progressive” post-punk band. Definitely college radio material with little bite.
“Attention young ladies. My favorite way of getting kicks—I go downtown, I hustle chicks. (Chorus) Beaver Patrol (Cruisin’ on my Beaver Patrol, I love that beaver). She’s trying to keep me happy with all her might – All you gotta do honey is make me feel alright. (Chorus) Beaver Patrol (Cruisin’ on my Beaver Patrol, I love that beaver).” Distributed by Rough Trade in the US, this is a four-song white rap/rock thing Á la BEASTIES. How embarrassing for them.
A split live EP from these two European acts. POLITICAL ASYLUM has a catchy, melodic punk sound with thoughtful lyrics, while the PISSED BOYS have a quick, tuneful style. Good stuff.
Let me guess—pop punk? Yup, five slow-medium tunes, one uptempo number. I can’t believe how many Japanese bands are going back to ’77 punk, but are showing no imagination or hindsight in how they regurgitate it.
A very solid album of thrash and speedcore sounds, similar to a cross between MOTORHEAD, a thrash metal band, and a contemporary HC act. Can’t say this hasn’t been done before, but these guys do it pretty well.
A non-stop barrage of HC thrash with some metallic riffs creeping around here and there. Really straightforward, ferocious, aggressive stuff, especially “Negative Man.”
Great young, eager group with energy and a very good sense of melody. Makes you pine for the days when “punk” wasn’t afraid to show a little melody in their songs. File this right along with the first of the REPLACEMENTS and GENERATION X and stuff like the TV PERSONALITIES, SWELL MAPS and the FRESHIES.
The A-side was too lightweight to cover, but the flip has a cool guitar sound, simple psych grunge Á la ’66. Fun from THE OUT.
Some serious Oi! produced by this dedicated Scottish band. Twelve great hard-edged melodic anthems backed by strong sing-a-longs and power production. The lyrics stick to an anti-government/pro-“skin and punk unity” stance and don’t even come close to right-wing bullshit. A good record by a band that keeps on going.
Fourth album by this very hard to describe East Bay group. Sound collection and sculpture at least gets you in the right neighborhood. Stellar line-up of guest stars includes the RESIDENTS, Garcia and Hart from the GRATEFUL DEAD and even JELLO BIAFRA. But the real stars are pieces which include an incredible punk tune, “Carbomb” and “Here.”
Some jangly pop-punk here, maybe sort of like the MONKEES. Real smooth and relaxing, but emotional. Pretty neat.
Sounds like BLONDIE or some other weak ’77 band with a “girl” singer. Get me outta here.
Pretty well crafted pop punk, though a bit too pop at times. Just when you say “no more”, they pull back from the edge and rock surprisingly.
Quick thrashed out punk with lyrics which cover racism, nuclear weapons, and personal issues. Catchy tunes, well thought-out words, overall, a great job.
