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 lot more “rock’n’roll” than their ancient debut, this one has your metal/rock feel to it, and despite the usual dumbo lyrics, the music don’t cut it (the West Coast MEATMEN?). Amazingly, they do one “punk” tune, a cover of…BAD POSTURE’s “GDMFSOB.” Not worth the wait.
A fairly somber neo-’60s-esque A-side. The flip is reminiscent of TELEVISION, especially the vocals.Even though it’s extremely sad and gloomy, it has some nice effects.
The EX are a collective not unlike CRASS but their music is every bit as challenging as their message. This double LP takes intelligent topics and spreads them over SONIC YOUTH style drones into raw post-punk noises. With two exhaustive magazines.
Making no bones about their infatuation with melodic 60s style psych, this band blends smooth ZOMBIES type vocals with witty intricate music like ROBYN HITCHCOCK. Might be able to give off the MOFFS and DIED PRETTY a run for their money with pretty and complex pop-psych music.
Side One is “LSD,” a news story about the stuff set to a slow, psychedelic pulsing accompaniment. The flip, “Maggie,” is a slow, buzzsaw of a tune about Margaret Trudeau. Graphics insinuate Nazi b.s., but given the twisted nature of the music, I’d guess it’s just bad drugs at work.
All the songs on this EP start out quiet and pretty and quickly move into speedy but highly melodic thrash. Don’t be fooled by the “Wavish” sleeve, this one’s got punch while maintaining its tune.
Strap yourself into the old time machine and set the controls for 1977/NYC/Lower East Side. Zap! Now you’re at a CONTORTIONS and TEENAGE JESUS gig. Lots of saxes, jazz punk, screeching vocals and funky bass. If this is ’87, it must be Scotland.
Akin to TALKIN’ TO THE TOILET (see review this ish), but more on the industrial side and not as goofy. Joe Raimond and friends turn out rhythm machine slow punk with layers of noise and guitar.
Lightweight punk with surf and pop influences, sounding like the frat party-band they are. Could appeal to fans of Midwestern pop and garage bands, but they lack any real punch or zaniness.
Hot clean trash with some metallic smudges. A rad female screamer, anti-system lyrics, good job. Keep it up!
Ultra-gruff vocals and engaging (?) mid-tempo post-punk thrash. No wait, this makes no sense, but there’s both a negative feel and yet something uplifting too in the tuneage. Interesting.
Well, my grandma lives in Concord, but she wouldn’t like these guys. Their hot, clean thrash would hurt her ears. She wouldn’t appreciate their lyrics, either, which criticize social and political problems.
Hot punk and thrash which reminds me of the 1981 East Coast sound: hard, fast, with a searing guitar sound. Lyrically, not much is happening, but this still jams.
A pretty hot collection of garage-y speedcore material here, but no Satanic crap. Lyrics are about conformity, South Africa, and “the scene” predominate. Good job.
A good example of this band’s punk/ska/reggae sound, the material ranges from slow dub-mixes to upbeat tunes filtered with a wide range of tempo changes, all of which are backed up by great lyrics. The three best songs were originally on their first demo, and the remainder lack a certain catchiness.
This comp features material from CRAZY’s out of print LP and 12″, and from the sound quality I’d guess this was recorded directly off those records. Good ’77-’79 style rocking punk with political lyrics.
A posthumous release dating back to five years ago, featuring early 60s Brit-type R’n’B. Nothing particularly awesome here to warrant such a belated release, except for pure collecting purposes.
Frantic noise here — very abrasive and chaotic with frenzied vocals. Nothing too original, but it’s urgent and crazy stuff.
I guess these guys are here to give Wattie a run for his money in the dumb lyrics department, with “Up Yours,” “Boots Go Marching,” “Kick Down the Doors,” etc. I think you get the picture.
Very catchy, hard-driving psychedelic sounds in the vein of “Lucifer Sam”-era PINK FLOYD. Some pretty cool fuzzed out keyboards here, too.
Argentine Oi music, with a decided anti-capitalist bent. But there is the all-too-typical skinhead cry for “fighting” here, and too often that emotional response is poorly aimed. Musically, very credible and catchy.
CCM finally achieves their musical peak with this album, which often approaches the intensity of early GERMS — both musically and vocally. A few songs lack that total punch, but chilling numbers like “Feel Like” and the excellent title track make up for occasional weak points. Very, very good Italian HC.
The CELIBATE RIFLES’ cut, “Merry Xmas Blues” (an Aussie rarity, re-released here), is an excellent punk raver, but the flip is about as exciting as the food Martin eats. Comes with the winter ’87 issue of Pulsebeat zine.
There hasn’t been as wholesome a release in SF since BLACK HUMOR did their Love One Another LP in’82. What we’re talking here is hand made box sets” with presents in each and, well, the record. CAROLINER are one of a kind noise. Hearing is believing, love it or leave it, trash and bake, or is it hear and fry? This is for all voyeurs, acid heads, or collectors of rare species. Don’t rent…own.
A bit livelier than their debut 12″, but the accent is still on drastic lyrics, throbbing and abrasive music, and a post-punk overall feel. Very good punk indeed, a sound that harkens back but remains modern.
Speedy HC emphasizing a gritty, nasty, almost grainy sound which is quite effectively used on all four cuts. Lyrics are personal and rather chilling, making for a powerful slab of aggro.
Charging off the line full speed like the best of TOXIC REASONS or ZERO BOYS, this release has a brawny, mid-tempo punk sound complete with YOUTH BRIGADE style singalongs. Excellent new release.
Their second 7″ and a good one at that. Both songs are real punch punk, with sharp drumming, crisp bass playing and good tunes to boot. Catchy, and on the nose.
I’ve always liked BL’AST for doggedly keeping the BLACK FLAG sound alive, but unfortunately, their first release is one of the wimpiest, lamest covers I’ve heard in quite some time — like some stupid rock band down the street covering the ALICE COOPER classic. The two songs on the flip capture that classic My War grunge mix of blues and thrash.
The warning label states that it’s “not as good as Atomizer“ and that pretty much sums it up. They still do the best hammering sludgy rhythms but it seems like they’re not really challenging themselves to come up with something new.
Just when I thought the world didn’t need anymore WIRE covers, here comes a great one. BB meets WIRE is a great combo and the two on the flip are great as well. These three aren’t on the new 12″, either. BB fans won’t be disappointed.
The KINGSMEN cover is good compared to the recent DEAD BOYS release, but pales when compared to the NOMADS version. The flip too is a tame soft rock tune. Not happening.
Musically, pretty good sounding mid-fast tempo punk and HC, but when the vocals kick in, it’s a whole new thing. Unless you’re into the latter day TSOL “singing,” these voices may really bother you. Different? Yes. Annoying? Yes.
Pretty driving post-punk that gets lost in the blur. While well done, there’s no special spark of energy, hooks, or imagination to make it memorable.
Pretty hot straightforward HC which reminds me a little of early DRI. Quick catchy tunes and a distorted guitar sound makes this one an attention-getter.
A variety of sounds here, mostly slow melodic punk and extremely catchy stuff. Side two features a digital piano. An enjoyable showing here.
A wall of guitars and percussion on the edge of audio distortion makes these two powerful tracks surprisingly appealing. This is mid-tempo, discordant, and rather indescribable with those demented vocals and unique instrumental approach. Quite good for its genre.
A pretty solid comp with RESJESTRACJA, A.S.F., A.P.P.L.E., and more. A good variety of material with clear sound quality. Good effort.
A benefit LP for the armed ANC resistance in South Africa, released by De Konkurrent in Holland and Mordam in the U.S. Besides coming with a really excellent (visually and content-wise) magazine, this LP contains some great stuff from SCREAM, SOCIAL UNREST, VICTIMS FAMILY, RHYTHM PIGS, and 76% UNCERTAIN in the U.S., and CHALLENGER CREW, THE EX, DEPRAVED, BGK, EVERYTHING FALLS APART, SCA, KAFKA PROCESS, and MORZELPRONK from Europe. Get this, for sure!
Spastic thrash from Yugoslavian HC acts including the DISSIDENTS, S.O.R. PROGRESSIVE IDIOTS, and more. Sound quality varies immensely. Pretty good.
A solid effort here, featuring GENERIC RIPCORD, DESECRATION, and oodles more. Sound quality is swell, and a mini-booklet is included.
Six acts from NJ and PA such as DIRGE and CHRONIC FEAR shoot out two or three songs each adding up to a pretty good comp. Also includes a FOD interview and a This Zine Sucks zine for…
Another in a long line of compilations put together by poet John Giornio. While his early records tended to focus on writers and poets, he now seems to put together rock bands. Not only are there some nifty things by GIORNIO and WILLIAM BURROUGHS but there are some previously unreleased pieces by the SWANS, the BUTTHOLE SURFERS, DIAMANDA GALAS, NICK CAVE, TOM WAITS, and EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN.
A well-rounded Chicago Area comp with an accent on the twisted garage-y style. Hottest tunes are by NO EMPATHY, FLY FLOOD, and INITIAL REACTION. Good job, comes with magazine.
Four acts share this tape: W.C.F. (hot, clean, thrash), INFERNO (powerful speedcore), PURE HATE (grungy punk and thrash), and THE GRUESOMES (forceful thrash). All live with a good sound quality.
A varied collection of sounds here ranging from thrash to new wavish material. Includes: STIKKY, BRIGADES, GLITTER WITCH, and much more.
The CIRCLE JERKS, CROWD, UXA, TSOL, BLACK FLAG, SOCIAL D, and others show off mostly ace material on this collection of previously released tracks. Uneven, but mandatory if you don’t have the original pressings of the punk acts represented.
A solid double cassette compilation including CRUDE SS, COLERA, SCRAPS, POLITICAL ASYLUM, and many more. Comes with a large booklet and some profits go to an animal protection group. Neat.
A new San Jose comp, featuring the FACTION, FRONTLINE, STIKKY, ORANGE CURTAIN, LOVING END (yech!), NO WARNING, JET CRASH MIRACLE, STEVE CABALLERO (yech again!). Wish there was more choice material from STIKKY and FRONTLINE, and NO WARNING show promise, too.
Quite a collection of many of the hottest UK hardcore bands. Includes one of each by DISORDER, CHAOS UK, CONCRETE SOX, RIPCORD, ELECTRO HIPPIES, GENERIC, STUPIDS, DEPRAVED, POTENTIAL THREAT, OI POLLOI, and many more, as well as non-UK stuff by CCM and VICIOUS CIRCLE. Rips.
