Reviews

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!

V/A Chaos in Europe LP

Despite a well-drawn but obnoxious macho cover with blatant evocations of violence, the third Chaos Production compilation proves to be another very strong release. This one has bands from all over Europe on if, thereby extending its range and variety. Herein one can find the standard French-style skunk (KOMINTERN SECT, REICH ORGASM, L’ENFANTS SAUVAGES, and Spain’s DECIBELIOS), catchy pop punk (AL KAPOTT, DREI ORLOK, Spain’s TNT, Holland’s NV LE ANDEREN, and a killer cut from Sweden’s ASTA KASK) pure Oi (BRUTAL COMBAT and Italy’s NABAT), and all sorts of punk (the KAMBRONES, Germany’s F.F.F. and NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES, and Sweden’s SLAM). Highly recommended.

V/A A Real Cool Time LP

By now everyone’s heard of the NOMADS, but what a pleasure to find they’re just the “tip of iceburg” as is proved by this “Distorted Sounds from the North” comp. Incredible neo-’60s punk rages forth from SHOUTLESS SLOBSTER, PYROMANIACS, CREEPS, WAYWARD SOULS, and tons more as well as aforementioned forerunners, the NOMADS. Shiver me timbers, this is awesome.

V/A Alle 24 Goed! LP

An all-Belgium comp. featuring CAPITAL SCUM, KOYAANISQUATSI, WAR RISK 3, ZYKLOME A, VORTEX, and WULPSE VARKENS. This is also an all-hardcore comp, most of which is above average and well-worth obtaining.

V/A AJZ Live Trash cassette

A 50/50 proposition. The bands, with the likes of FRITES MODERN, PORNO PATROL, MAU MAUS, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, DOA, etc. are world-class, and the songs are uniformly excellent. Unfortunately, most of the recordings were culled from hand-held walkman cassettes, which doesn’t help the sound quality. I must admit that the excitement comes through, though.

Tall Boys Final Kick 12″

Part of that unique mixture of rockabilly and ’60s punk that some modern bands are conjuring up, TALL BOYS’ blend renders a result that works. Purists of both genres might be unhappy, most rock’n’rollers will be mighty pleased. Interesting cover of “Action Woman.”

The Stalin For Never 2xLP

This is the last testament for the STALIN, a two-record live recording. Forsaking their earlier harder-edged punk and thrash, the preponderance of songs here are harder-edged post-punk/rock punk. While not a “weak” release by any means, I found myself bored at times with the long dirges, and not excited enough by the shorter slaps. I’m spoiled by their older records.

The Spikes 6 Sharp Cuts 12″

Excellent release that crosses post-punk with ’60s psych in a modern powerful way. Reminds a bit of fellow Australians LIME SPIDERS, and with this debut US release (this label will be presenting a lot of Aussie bands to the US) the SPIKES will make their mark.

S.A.S. Suave and Sophisticated? EP

Yeeouwh! This is an absolutely amazing British thrash band. SPEAK AGAINST SOCIETY manages to generate an incredible wall of guitar power and attains a level of intensity rarely heard these days from that “sceptered isle.” No doubt they’ll be panned in the British music weeklies, the surest sign of greatness. “We Don’t Need It” makes your hair stand up!

Rabatz Schockiert EP

Sadly, the wall-of-mud production detracts from this powerful band. Their songs have an obvious energy to them, which kicks along songs like “Helden” with its skittering guitar parts. All in all, not too shabby, but it would be really nice to hear them.

Perdition How to Teach Your Budgie to Talk LP

Well done punk in a more British style. There’s mostly fast punk (as opposed to thrash), with a couple of slower tunes to break the tempo. I can’t say I jumped up and down listening to this record, but fans of the Britpunk genre will be able to pogo.

O.X. Pow PolÁ­ticos 12″

Those expecting the charging thrash of their debut EP will be in for a shock. O.X. POW’s style has degenerated into a new wave pop reminiscent of a spare U2, or perhaps AIRSTRIP 1 without the catchy material. And while political pop is OK in my book, there’s no real songwriting skill in evidence here. Too bad.

Oh’ Dev 84/85 Mania cassette

Industrial post-punk hardcore? Whatever it is, it’s done with gusto and power rare for most post-punk bands. Also rare is the band’s imagination. Sort of like SONIC YOUTH meets the BUTTHOLES meets some nightmare you had after eating meat and taking acid for the first time in ten years (Ray Farrell, take note). Not noise!

Nerorgasmo Nerorgasmo EP

Three of the four songs are mid- to slow-tempo hardcore, at times verging on FLIPPERISH drones. The remaining song is a thrasher, and all the tunes are powerful and gnarly. Good production, good record.

Thee Milkshakes Thee Knights of Trashe LP

Probably the only English band to truly understand American garage trash, that wonderful mixture of R’n’B and white teen angst. These incredibly prolific guys couldn’t care less that it’s not 1963, whirling on in a world of their own fueled by surf, Mersey, DIDDLEY, KINK-dom, and KINGSMEN. Boss.

MG-15 Derecho a la Vida EP

Growling guitar havoc highlights this four-song Spanish EP with a sound similar to OLHO SECO. Power chords laced with chaotic-paced grinding makes for an interesting effect. Lyrics are translated on the inner sleeve, but the vocals are harsh with a rough edge that delivers the same bite as the guitar. A good dose to crank it up for raw vibrations.

Jonee Jonee Blár Azzurro 7″

An eerie, sullen filled slice of blue from Iceland with opposing male and female vocals. Very JOY DIVISION-ish in its attempt at a gloom-laden melody. Nice packaging as are all EPs through Diavlery Productions. Interesting and moody.

The Jesus and Mary Chain You Trip Me Up / Just Out of Reach 7″

Scott says they sound like a cross between psychedelia and a trebly FLIPPER. Dogtowne says they’re pretentious pretenders to the VELVET UNDERGROUND’s second LP. Whatever, they do combine pop tunes with incredibly abrasive guitar noise and feedback to produce a highly listenable product.

Hype Life is Hard… Then You Die! LP

Smoking speedcore attack from Canada. Never expected this. Fast punching rhythms with metallic leads and mayhemic chord changes. Good vocals and drum smashing prove this LP to be one of the classic records that you can always pull out and play. First S.N.F.U., then DIRECT ACTION, and now HYPE—the Canadian assault is upon us!

Hungry for What …And the War Goes On LP

HUNGRY FOR WHAT’s approach is molded by ’77 punk, but a certain sleekness of production imparts a contemporary feel to their songs. There’s some good music here; still, H.F.W. see-saw between moments of power and a sedate professionalism, with the latter winning out in most cases. A strong, yet unmoving release.

Herbärds Eu! Se Bois LP

Thrashin’ Oi sounds from Germany. These tuneful tunes are delivered competently and powerfully, although there is definitely an amateurish garage quality to the playing, too. Can’t say anything about the lyrics, but I can say they’re definitely into their boots and rolled-up jeans.

Generic Join the Conspiracy cassette

Wall-to-wall, highly produced, powerfully delivered, and tightly played stop-and-go thrash. That sound generic enough? Nonetheless, these guys are good, do feature almost post-punk guitar work at times plus the tape comes with mini-zine Rancid Humanity.

The Fall Couldn’t Get Ahead / Rollin’ Dany 7″

The FALL are getting easier and easier to take on the first listen. This 45 chronicles a day in the life of a terminal loser over a scrappy, howling song with blasts of harmonica. This flip has the first cover tune they’ve ever done, and it draws more of a rockabilly sound out of this line-up.

Disgust Trash Back!! cassette

Aaagh! It’s t-h-r-a-s-h, not t-r-a-s-h! Okay, now that that’s clear, onto the music. Most of the songs here are really well recorded, though there’s a few live ones with a slightly tinny sound. But all the songs shred—very powerful thrash!

Discharge Ignorance / No Compromise 7″

The A-side is a pretty catchy, almost MOTÖRHEAD-type rockin’ metalish number with excellent lyrics. The flip is too plodding for my tastes, but again with good lyrics. While I don’t enjoy this brand of DISCHARGE as much as their earlier incarnation, at least the integrity of the thoughts is maintained.

DNI Wir Sind Lebendig EP

Upbeat German punkers with a great sense of humor. They sing about the walking dead like it was an outtake from a Disney film. Lots of sing-along-style tunes with quick step guitars. Should appeal to MISFITS fans.

Crime and the City Solution The Dangling Man EP

An interesting record from Mute, and definitely BIRTHDAY PARTY influenced. Did I say “influenced”? Why, it’s…Rowland Howard on guitar, Mick Harvey on drums, and Simon Bonny singing. There are some great tunes here: “Shaking Chill” is hopping and the rest grind on with apocalyptic moments characteristic of the style.

Cult Maniax Where Do We All Go 12″

Clean live recording of the CULT MANIAX at their finest. Powerful Britpunk with crisp vocals in a chanting form. If you haven’t heard them before, they’re not thrash, just tight melodic aggression. But this live recording is too much; great sound.

Crude SS Who’ll Survive EP

Yeeeoowzza! This disc is a flailing sonic eruption! Fast teeth-gritting grinds of raw abrasive combustion with raunchy vocals that roar out in command. Sweden’s CRUDE SS storms six numbers so chaotic with a powerful raging beat that the power is the closest thing to actual destruction. One hot Swedish platter!

Le Crap Ip 12″

Denmark’s LE CRAP wanders through bewildering territory, indeed. While the guitar sound is hard and driving, the songs on this EP work with experimental song structures and off-beat percussion, with some unpleasant results. Not unlike France’s HUMAN BEINGS.

Eugene Chadbourne The President, He is Insane LP

Unlike his former band SHOCKABILLY, Chadbourne’s solo efforts steer away from the head-first fuzzed-out psychedelic trips and goes for more personal (and political) subjects. There are some incredible lyrics here about nationalism, pornography, and criminals in coats and ties all delivered in a folky, sometimes spastic sound that really connects.

The Bollock Brothers ’77 ’78 ’79 LP

Various punk celebrities from the old days offer their talents for this album of slower, ’77-oriented material. The absence of energy in the tempos put me off initially, but there’s some very palatable SEX PISTOL-ian material here, albeit cleaner and more refined. A decent record.