Fail-Safe Fail-Safe LP
Driving mid-tempo punk crossed with that later period BLACK FLAG psychotic sound. Lyrics are mostly in the twisted personal vein. Overall, a rather interesting combination, pretty good.
MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL
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Driving mid-tempo punk crossed with that later period BLACK FLAG psychotic sound. Lyrics are mostly in the twisted personal vein. Overall, a rather interesting combination, pretty good.
Finally, the long-awaited album by this Venice band. Basically, this hot LP showcases EXCEL’s intense HC/metal sound in a good light: very powerful tunes with personal/anti-conformity themes. A really intense album from perhaps the only Venice act who reveals some intelligence.
The long awaited album by this now defunct band and after listening to this record it’s a sad fact the band was so short-lived. They strike a lot of mid-tempo similarities with a clean, complex RITES OF SPRING sound and when combined with the diversely intense vocals, a lot of interesting sincere music is created. The lyrics are thoughtful, critical, concerned and right on! Overall, a great record that has a lot to offer!
A generally energetic pop band, though not all the songs here are really revved up. At times it’s like the REPLACEMENTS meet DOA, meaning lots of bounce and guitar/rhythm crunch. Lyrically romantic, and with an unusual cover of the BEATLES’ “Norwegian Wood”. Recorded in 1985!
They exaggerated straight edge to an absurd extreme, and it’s amazing how many people took them seriously, both pro and con. With songs against littering, in favor of rewinding video cassettes, and a “positive dental outlook”, all done in imitation of Ian, Kevin, Pat and Ray, you’ve gotta lighten up. Lots of fun.
Fun rock n roll, evolving out of paisley rockers THE MARSUPIALS. Not really too rocking, but jaunty garage stuff.
Hmm, “Ghost Riders in the Sky”-type “western” instrumental, pulsing fuzz-guitar industrial punk, 77-type dumbo punk, and yet another instrumental—all on one slab. The styles clash, but the music hangs.
A self-released 45 from NJ’s BURNT. “Social Disease” is a great garage punker with raunchy guitar, gruff but plaintive lead vocals, catchy melodies and entertaining serio-comic lyrics. The flipside is a faster anti-gurl rant with much less overall appeal. Good primitive sound.
They’re from Venice. Guess what they sound like? Right, metal/HC with not too much happening lyrically. Not the worst thing I’ve heard and not the best. Mediocre.
This is a document of one of two BIG STICK members’ tragic family separation, daughter’s death and is as anti-poverty, drug, and racism as conceivable. Musically rap, scratch, noise-a-rama (a la “Cookie Puss”) and great in its repetitiveness. But it is one of the most lyrically powerful pieces witnessed in a long time. Real and frightening.
Trendy title. And there is a song about fucking. (Plus a few anti-live ones too.) Meaning and trendiness…Oooh. Although they don’t instantly wow me this time, this LP is as demented, crunchy, and interesting as always. And the end. The end.
Great cover on this 45, with a CHEAP TRICK rip off tune/sleeve on one side and KRAFTWERK on the other. Musically, it’s crunching pop, whatever that is.
Like all spoken word records, it may be hard to listen more than once, but a good listen it will be. Jello’s in great form here, doing his satirical Lenny Bruce approach to politics, punk, culture, etc. A very scathing attack causes thought and quite a bit of laughter, and gives a really good insight into how the DK’s former guiding light views the world. A wealth of information on most of today’s attacks on freedom.
Straightforward thrash energy from these CT kids. Lyrics seem to fall in the “positive” category. Purdy good.
Hot metallic HC with topical lyrics covering apathy, self-indulgence, and oppression. Not much guitar wanking, just full-on power, a great tape.
As with their previous release, this one has some really excellent lyrics, but again fails to rise above the early 80’s UK plodpunk sound. Not that it doesn’t have power or guts, but if current bands are gonna play older styles, they should really present them with an approach that makes them sound fresh and exciting. Decent.
Simple pop punk with female vocals and sung in English and Italian. Amateurish and charming, like KLEENEX or something. Fun.
The package this band’s record comes in is actually a 36-page booklet, written in German, full of information on nukes, racism, censorship, etc. The songs are all mid-tempo punkers, most holding my interest. Obviously a committed band, definitely into it.
Good diverse punk that could use some tightening up. Lyrically, they stress intelligent themes while keeping a fun approach. Should turn into something good.
Pretty hot stuff here from this NY bunch: slow to fast HC with what sounds like good lyrics. Rather original, also worth looking into.
Hot, powerful thrash and punk with neat guitar gits from this Swedish act. Comes with a rad lyric book, but it’s in Swedish. Check this out.
You know what’s irresistible and charming about this record is that it reminds me of JOHN CALE during his best period, right down to the vocalist, and acoustic ballad and some of the crunchiest rock’n’roll with perceptive lyrics that I’ve heard since I bought Sabotage.
A six-song speedmetal release that is very well done. Will appeal to bangers, skaters, and crazy haircut freaks everywhere.
DAN is actually a four-piece band, and a good one at that. They play good mid-tempo pop punk with female vocals and a peace-punk edge. Well worth checking out.
Well-done and powerful, this EP has two speed tracks and two medium-paced punk tracks. Lots of oomph and good production make it stand out.
A four-song release with one ’77-type song, an upbeat pop punk tune, and two pop clunkers, not especially gripping.
Musically, this is a big change from their first LP. Their sound is now in a crunching METALLICA vein, heavy on the power, while still maintaining their intelligent lyrical outlook. Although I like this album, I was expecting a little more creativity from these guys and girl, rather than the pedestrian speedmetal fare.
A very hard-hitting release from this Australian combo. Other than the occasional wah-wah guitar, their sound hearkens back to ’70s rock and early punk. Very basic rock and roll with straightforward power and decent lyrics.
Very much in a CLASH vein without being directly imitative. They fuse early punk, pop, reggae and more into a 78 type lightweight sound. All songs in English, politically aware, comes with a free bonus single.
Not as much metal damage as I had expected, and though some of the songs are horror-oriented, the band says they’re phasing out of that towards political lyrics, which already show a strong anti-sexist, anti-fascist strain.
Sounds like an American influenced skate/slam band. Mostly quick, forceful stuff, with some “heavy” sounds thrown in. Good stuff.
BUTTHOLES-like in some ways, though mellower and artier at times.
Strong punk and thrash with both melodic and metallic influences. Lyrically, they cover both personal and rebellious topics. Although the vocals get annoying at points, this is worth checking out.
The guitarist from GRONG GRONG has a new outlet for his noise, a crypto-blues outfit. I found it pretty monotonous and uninspirational, but I know that people who go in for Down Under rantings will like it.
Catchy, driving midtempo punk tunes with memorable choruses is what you’ll find here. Lyrics cover vivisection, freedom, and the mundanity of the “working life.” Pretty good stuff here.
Japan is notorious for husky-voiced yellers, so it had to happen…a band with a name like this – who don’t have a husky-voiced singer. What they do have is a tight, melodic hardcore band with a slight metal guitar. OK.
The English equivalent of the MENTORS?
The A-side has a slight ’60s feel, while the flip is more in a ’77 vein, both with a straightahead pounding beat, pop singing, upfront guitar. Decent, but not a rave.
Pop punk, but at least there’s flair here (as compared to most of the Japanese pop punk I’ve heard recently). There’s an edge, a bit of punch in the delivery, and nice changes. Not awesome, but fun.
Horrible metal with hardly any punk influences left. Comes with poster and plastic record-carrying bag – give me a fucking break.
This new one, with a new guitar player, has a rich, pop-ish feel that the last few missed. But this polish and melody doesn’t mask the catchy hooks and rhythms these guys are capable of. Maybe it is the vocalist, but this reminds me a little of early GANG OF FOUR.
Reworkings of their songs off the Why March When You Can Riot?! comp LP. The A-side rages, a powerful fast punk tune, while the flip is a mid-slow tempo tune with a sax that failed to move me.
A one-song effort, a garage-y catchy punk/funk tune that goes on and on, but you won’t mind. Fun.
With a title like that, no review is necessary. It’s all true, and live.
From Wales, this band handles both melodic thrash and various punk styles, the latter which predominates. Lyrics are all in Welsh, a very strange looking language, but the music speaks well for itself.
A comp (whose profits go to Jello and Co.) featuring WIDE AWAKE’s powerful HC sound, BLOOD IMPULSE ACTIVISTS’ creative punk, MALCOLM TENT’s ranting poetry and more. Definitely worth getting.
A varied punk thrash and post-punk collection contains tracks from many of the bands you’ve read about in these pages. Included are ARMIA, DEZERTER, REJESTRACJA, ZENNA, SIEKIERA, ABADDON, and PROCESS. This is out on the state label, Tonpress, but might be available through…
A benefit LP for the Anthrax, the club which gave these early Connecticut hardcore bands their starts. All the songs were originally released as EP’s (long out-of-print), and included are C.I.A., VATICAN COMMANDOS, REFLEX FROM PAIN, LOST GENERATION, and VIOLENT CHILDREN. A limited edition release, this is the first for this non-profit label. Great stuff!!
A terrific idea: Mystic has decided to chronicle a series of local punk scenes in a “Sound of USA Cities” LP series, this one centering on Portland, Oregon. RANCID VAT, ANATHEMA, N.R.A., and other bands share this album, which varies severely in sound and song quality. Still, an interesting document.
UPSET NOISE specializes in mid-tempo punk with distinct speedcore influences in most of the guitar riffing and some of the wanking. Good for the style, I don’t have much of a sensitivity for this kind of punk, though I have to compliment the fine acidy album cover.
