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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!
Sad but true, a once great band has drifted towards the wimp side. Ten glamor-pop-punk songs are drastically different from any of the band’s previous material. I hate to say it, but this album is a real let-down!! It would be interesting to see how the band would pull these cheesy songs off live. No longer “Music In Action”—now it’s music in limbo!
Excellent! A really unusual approach here—punk-rocked-out folk rock in a way, but with more drive and noise. Lots of originals as well as gnarly covers of DYLAN, EVERLY BROS., STONES, VELVETS, STOOGES, MDC, SIMPLETONES, DOVELLS, ROSIE & ORIGINALS—but all rocked out. Get it.
A raw, gritty guitar sound innervates these garagy blasts of mid-tempo funnypunk. With titles like “Grilled Cheese Sandwiches” and “Spastic and Proud,” you can infer LETHAL YELLOW’s goofoid tendencies, but there are some really good songs delivered with spunk on this one. A lot of fun.
A six-song tape that’s really well done. There’s plenty of controlled mania on the fast tunes as well as good melody on the poppier tracks. Overall: rips like crazy.
An average pop-punk release by this Boston outfit. At times reminiscent of STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, but in many ways is no comparison. LAST STAND takes a more American, roots-rock approach with a repetitious beat in the simplest and most basic form.
Fun garage punk that at times reminds me of early MODERN LOVERS or HEARTBREAKERS with a bit of early ’60s garage/surf thrown in. Enjoyable.
Quite a pleasant surprise. This tape contains seven pop/thrash tunes of high-quality tunemanship, playing, and production. Very sarcastic lyrics bite to the “core.” Worth checking out.
A collection of the best and worst from one of Oxnard’s finest. Consisting of one track from every release that this band has ever been involved with, only two new songs appear, both of them live and the outstanding tracks of the release. Typical rough Mystic production doesn’t really help, but overall this is a good sampler of one of the once classic SoCal thrash outfits.
From Seattle, where heavy metal is a big force to reckon with, comes this debut. I’m not really sure about this record yet, but they stray a line very close to mid-period BLACK FLAG while tending to go for a more infernal, personal side to their lyrics.
A catchy 14-song tape produced by this Milwaukee outfit. Several blatant metal leads are weaved into medium-paced melodic thrash, both of which are topped off with strange, echoing vocals. Lyrically, a bit on the basic side, but it doesn’t detract too much from this tape as a whole.
A half-dozen pop-punk tunes owing to ’76 East Coast proto-punk more than anything, with a touch of REPLACEMENTS. Good beat, intelligent personal lyrics, snarly vocals, occasionally lame metallish guitar, but otherwise it’s pretty rockin’.
Much more on the punk side of things than pure thrash, their most appealing material has good melody, tough guitar, and an almost PISTOLS-like quality on the better tracks (“Brainwash”). But there’s plenty of thrash too, as well as a clunker or two. Overall—pretty good, hot production, tight playing.
Punky yet metal, but not speedcore. Paced medium, this sounds more like early punk with metal guitar work at times. Same with the vocal approach, though the lyrics are pretty solidly punk.
Another one bites the dust and bites it hard. Amazingly poor ’70s power rock much in the AEROSMITH vein. At times, the songs become comedy pieces with the “Oh, baby” and “Let’s rock” lines. One or two songs find their roots in early punk, but these still aren’t enough to help this drowning puppy.
Although too many bands get compared to the BIRTHDAY PARTY/NICK CAVE these days, here you have to make that analogy again. There are these great, loopy, tribal rhythms and general trashiness that begs for the comparison. I like this record.
After a bizarre beginning, this tape launches into a thrash attack that’s raw and exciting. Recorded live, there’s some charm here overriding the obvious live recording problems and garage aspects. Definitely are hot moments.
DEAD AIM’s sound is a vigorous, coarse, grinding one with influences ranging from C.O.C. to AGNOSTIC FRONT. The metal licks are kept to a minimum and the cool vocals really hold the songs together. The lyrics, on the other hand, are the weak point and really do subtract from their potential.
The title-track is classic-sounding early R’n’B CRAMPS, while the two accompanying cuts are either Elvis-influenced or country-blues sounding and nothing too special. I’m glad they’re still at it, but this didn’t have me bouncin’ off the walls.
While musically tight and strong, and despite Keith’s continued strong singing in the face of numerous physical injuries, this LP doesn’t really kill. The JERKS may never approach the heights of that first LP (a tough standard to beat), but they’ll keep at it, on the road and on vinyl. Decent.
Pretty rockin’ pop punk that takes me back a few years. There’s a good beat with pretty complex songs, moddish at times psych at times, and despite the special effects, high production, etc., the overall impact is fairly punky and powerful. Interesting.
Counting this release, there have been three CHADBOURNE/SHOCKABILLY LPs within a month. Here, you can hear him perform your favorite spazz country/psycho/experimental ditties that he recorded on his trip to all of the finest prisons in Australia. Really.
While there is punk power here, BLATANT DISSENT doesn’t rely on it for overall impact. Their sound is almost understated, based more on melodic tunes, up-front lyrics, and clean production. Complexities at times remind me of fellow Chicagoans NAKED RAYGUN (Jeff Pezzati does production too).
Pretty poppy punk and rock stuff with somewhat twisted lyrics and occasionally bizarre instrumentation. I bet Biafra would like this one.
If this is a taste of things to come from their long-delayed LP on New Underground, then we’re in for a treat. Well-constructed, diverse, SoCal punk/thrash with good hooks, lyrics, and delivery. Gary, get that record out!
While their debut EP borrowed more heavily from early punk and basic thrash, this follow-up has ANGRY RED PLANET joining the burgeoning ranks of “early HÜSKER DÜ”-sounding hands. Actually, they also sound like latter-day HÜSKERS, with Bob Mould-type guitar and much poppier tunes.
From the opening riff rip-off of the UNDERTONES’ “It’s Going to Happen,” to a strange but cool mix of the KINKS and X, this single has all the best of those mysterious singles that pop up now and again from Texas. Great shitty production.
This band’s long-awaited record release is here, but maybe arriving just a little too late! Bad average AGRESSION music that never really holds itself together. Heavy on the ’70s rock influence with several metal riffs that add to this record’s boredom. Not too much be happening here, but I wonder if you can still skate to it.
A real mixed bag of smart and dumb lyrics hardcore, and metalcore music. It’s largely on the sharp side, though, and all the music rocks. I know Kent likes it, but she likes anything from North Carolina.
This 7″ represents the tracks ZYNTHSLAKT released on two split EPs with N.O.S. and the PAST, and the material here is gritty, catchy, and highly original. A rockin’ punk style is evident on all six songs, though I was particularly drawn to the vocal choruses on “Es Ist Krieg.” A good one.
Forceful, straight-ahead power driven with a tight, well-matched variety of harmonics and rhythms. Medium-paced for speed and melodic in charisma. Rages in similarities to TOXIC REASONS. Different than their first release.
Neither the US or Aussie band, this Japanese combo has decent and somewhat complicated rock/metal meets punk structures, but their falsetto singing really drives me up a wall. For metallers only.
This Swedish sampler dips into a variety of pop genres, from nifty pop-punk (KOTTGROTTORNA, TREDJE KONET, SPION 13), highly questionable new wave (WUTABOUT, FLYGANDE NUNNAN), and just plain rock (WHOOPS!, SCANDAL BEAUTIES). The songs vary considerably in quality, but some promising bands are represented, too.
A domestic release of two Australian powerhouse HC hands. Half of the VICIOUS CIRCLE material appeared on their Aussie 7″, while two of PERDITION’s eight tracks showed up on their 7″. Well worth picking up, this LP can only help further interest and ties between these two continents, and you’ll get some fine sides for your money, as well.
Another comp that will satisfy the tastes of all international HC fans and could possibly create some. Bands from eight countries, all of whom represent a unique sound. There are the “one-two-crash-bang ” bands and the melodic, sing-along ones. Definitely something for everybody and worth looking into. Booklet included.
This one slipped by us somehow, so here’s the review, albeit late. One side is devoted to American bands (DOA, 76% UNCERTAIN, WHITE CROSS, etc.) in first-rate tracks mostly on other records already. The flip however, is all-French (TROTSKIDS, COLLABOS, and WARRIOR KIDS turn in especially good pop-punk efforts) and all unreleased. A very good comp; if the duplication doesn’t bother you, give it a listen.
Four bands contribute three tracks each on this comp, which is variable, but respectably workmanlike. BUNCHAFUCKINGOOFS are the only HC band represented, and provide some good satiric numbers, while LIVING PROOF shows vast improvement over their LP in a basic, rockish vein. ANIMAL STAGS specialize in mid-tempo goofoid rock, and MADHOUSE are forgettable. A 35/65 affair.
This Swedish compilation showcases a variety of newer bands, some rather promising. BEDRÖVLERZ and CRUDE SS whip away at their three songs each, while BIZARR demonstrates a pop-punk sensibility worth noting. Five other bands put in workmanlike efforts on this variable, but largely entertaining LP.
A regional compilation from Kyushu Island in the south of Japan, this baby features two or three tracks each from six bands: GAI, GEDON, GESS, NO-CUT, AGGRESSIVE DOGS, and KURO. Most all is in a hard-driving original punk style, sounding really good and straightforward. Fine musicianship and production are hallmarks in Japan, and this one is no letdown. Hot.
A well thought out and executed compilation that features not only politically conscious bands, music, and lyrics but also editorials, essays, pamphlets, contact lists, and much more! The music’s on two 90-minute tapes and features 35 groups from 14 countries. The profits go towards Greenpeace and Rape Crisis. I hope more comps lean toward this direction in the future. Recommended!
An all-Scottish sampler, starring OI POLLOI, LAST RITES, DISTEMPER, and the CONDEMNED. There’s a decidedly Oi-ish feel to this punk and skin band comp, with OI POLLOI taking the honors with “Boot Down the Door,” a killer track. Otherwise nothing startling.
Yet another concept compilation. This time the concept is “baldness”! This one features skin/Oi bands from around the world. The majority of the songs are really enjoyable, but then, the majority of the lyrics are not transcribed! One can only hope they don’t fall into the skinhead stereotype. Booklet included.
Another hot comp from Humbug, this one features mostly European bands from Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, France, etc., as well as a few from the Americas and Down Under. Hot sound quality as well.
Twelve Yugoslavian HC outfits prove their stuff on this compilation. All ranges of speed and extremely raw production, with manic thrash (Yugoslav style) add to the character of this tape, although I do feel only International HC fans will really enjoy it.
A great live comp with so much energy and solid attacks. Featuring speedy stuff from LÄRM, PANDEMONIUM, WRETCHED, NEUROOT, BOSKOPS, and aggression from the likes of MDC, BGK, AMEBIX, VARUKERS, and much more. Lots of tunes, nicely recorded, comes with a thick book, and is cheaply priced.
This tape contains about 87 million five- to thirty-second thrash raves, kind of like early NEOS. Nothing new, but a garage orgy.
An ambitious all-European sampler, with German bands predominating. The tape comes with a booklet, wherein all the lyrics are translated into English for international consumption. Bands include KGB, KINA, WUT, ANTI-HEROES, ASOCIAL, SECOND AUSCHWITZ, HOSTAGES OF AYATOLLAH, SCREAMING DEAD, and more.
A rockish energy mixes winningly with thrashy song structures on this five-tracker. The song quality is about on par with their varied debut EP, but here exhibits much more consistent power, especially on the steamroller “1984.” A solid record, worthy of your attention.
Two catchy, finger-snapping ditties make this single a worthy investment for those who might like an amalgam of textured ’60s pop and late-’70s power-pop. The slightly off-tune and off-time female vocals somehow adds to the effect as it did for the MO-DETTES long ago. Recommended.
Highly political prose and poetry make this offering a pleasant surprise. No music here, just committed, clever, and anarchic words infused with a punk idealism. A breath of fresh air. Buy it.
This gang from Switzerland has done a damn good job at fooling me with their neat 1980-’82 Los Angeles punk sound. All the songs are sung in English and, believe it or not, there’s a bit of bands like DEAD BOYS, DETOX, BIG BOYS, and early TSOL. Really cool.
