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!
RATTUS combustion, startling adrenaline speed and hammerhead blows of power. Featuring the new high-velocity rasping vocals of Annikki, RATTUS virtually sweep forth with sharp-edged earloads of riveting force and disorderly rapidity. Brilliant Finnish hardcore, unhesitant and explosive assaults of raw nitro energy.
Mutated thrash from Italy. PEGGIO PUNX play fast and have good choruses, but the most distinctive features of this EP are the clean, undistorted guitars, sudden structural shifts, and an exaggerated drum mix that sounds very bizarre. Unusual but worthwhile.
This band is aptly named—they’re one of the best I’ve heard from Europe. They present a tight all-out thrash assault with powerhouse instrumentation. Go for this today!
Like Italy’s WRETCHED, Denmark’s RAZOR BLADES play sloppy, spirited thrash. Though their hearts are in the right place, I find this tape hard to listen to. There aren’t any distinctive hooks, and the musical backing is just too undisciplined to generate body-shaking power. They need to develop a bit.
New material from some of the people formerly in South Africa’s RIOT SQUAD. Once again, the songs are vitriolic critiques of that country’s apartheid police state regime. The music consists of older-style punk and reggae, and the five RIOT SQUAD songs from the EP are also included.
An album’s worth of blistering political thrash from Canada. Structurally, there’s a lot of imaginative little quirks that serve to break up the tempo, so the high-powered songs don’t all run together. Very tight, very intelligent, and very worthwhile.
Four songs in the thrash/Oi style, faster than most but not as fast as the EXPLOITED. Two songs are in English, and their titles—”Riot in the Street” and “Abuse of Power”—give an indication of ROUGH’s thematic concerns.
A droning Finnish garage punk record. RUTTO’s songs are extremely basic and not too fast, the recording seems to be taken from a portable cassette, and there aren’t any outstanding hooks. The most exceptional thing here is the presence of a female vocalist.
Jeff, the next time you assign me to review some so-so ’77 sounding UK stuff, you better make sure it’s a 45, or I’m gonna force to sit in your room and listen to it at full volume.
A 12-song debut that showcases a basic thrash sound. In this instance, the fast cuts work a lot better than the ones that start slow and build up. There’s something lacking here, like a spark, but it’s still worth a listen.
Invigorating thrash, compliments of this three-piece Swedish barrage of chaos. Frantic flailing of whining guitar sledgehammers breakneck speed, an invasion of energetic rhythms with toppling drum mayhem. Another staggering Swedish band that delivers Herculean strength like HUVUDTVÄTT or ANTI-CIMEX.
Vancouver’s legendary SUBHUMANS deliver their first record in years, but it’s been worth the wait. An aggressive ’77-punk style melds with strong lyrics to create brilliant cuts like “America Commits Suicide” and a very catchy version of “Googolplex”; there’s even a killer cover of MENACE’s “Screwed Up” to satisfy Britpunk enthusiasts. All we can do now is hope that they get back together and tour.
When STAZIONE SUICIDA thrash, it’s a wicked noise they make. Unfortunately, they get bogged down too often in horrific post-punk depresso stuff that doesn’t do much for me. Great singer, though.
Believe it or not, TK has done it again. Although side two drags a bit (in relative terms), and the vocal and guitar mix isn’t quite as piercing as it was on their peerless Ääretön Joulu EP, this album is exhilarating in its intensity. The distinctive combination of paint-stripping vocals, flailing guitars, and tightly structured blasts of concentrated power lift TK into a realm occupied by a few awesome musical entities like INDIGESTI and DIE KREUZEN. As M. Bowles would say, this is “shredsational,” so buy the fucker immediately.
23 songs by eight of Holland’s many great thrash and punk bands. The bands include PANDEMONIUM, the HAEMORRHOIDS, ZMIV, the OUTLAWZ, NULL-A, the LAST FEW, the AMSTERDAMNED, and BGK (who have an incredibly hot debut LP of their own out), and there isn’t one lame track here. Get this today!
The cover will fool you. Stirring feedback erupts into screeching strikes of unrelenting acceleration. Amazingly fast exertions of detonating disorder from Sweden. Packs all the punches of exuberant split-second nitro blastings, with chaotic guitars wild and frenzied, savage drumming, and vociferous vocal piercings. One of the best international 7″ers out. Thanks to Jerker!
A reissue of the first two TK EPs (reviewed in MRR #3). If you missed them the first time around, here’s your big chance. An amazingly raw sensory assault.
Swirling guitars, spinning fast psychotic grinds of explosive vigor. Enter WASTE from Holland, yet another approach to quick demanding hardcore and punk, completely different than AGENT ORANGE or BGK. WASTE is aggressive; an onslaught of butchering mayhem bolts you to the electric chair with schizoid charges of outrageous fury.
Two 60-minute tapes containing all the previous and soon-to-appear Brazilian vinyl releases. These include the Grito Suburbano LP (now out of print), the Sub LP, the LIXOMANIA EP, the OLHO SECO EP, the upcoming O Começo Do Fim Do Mundo live compilation LP, and the INOCENTES EP. Anyone who can’t afford to get the individual records should send for this at once. Note: The song order listed on the insert isn’t completely accurate.
Seven bands appear on this compilation put together by Finland’s Kaaos fanzine. It contains some studio demos and some live recordings, and includes both better-known bands (TERVEET KÄDET, the BASTARDS, RIISTETYT, KAAOS) and newer up-and-coming groups like PROTESTI, TAMPERE SS, and FUCKING FINLAND. Uneven but worthwhile.
Chaos Productions presents thirteen bands from France. A multitude of different noises ranging from hardcore to skin chants. Reminiscent of English punk circa 1981, sometimes too similar. Has a lot of power and ambition, but needs more creativity.
Side one is real mediocre, with DIOXINA’s standard slow UK punk and a ska tune by ARRM, but side two is killer. ARRM returns with some blistering stuff, NABAT showcases some fast Oi, and RAPPRESAGLIA rips out strong thrash.
More great thrash from OLHO SECO. The high end of the mix is less piercing here than on the Grito Suburbano album; the guitar on “Muito Obrigado” suffers a bit for it, but the other two tracks blast along like a speeding bullet train. Hot!
The second release by Italy’s WRETCHED. Lightning fast disorder whirlpools completely unrestrained destruction, as wailing guitar bashes and shrilling raw vocals journey the cranium into a bulldozing bombardment of maniacal unhesitant crushing speed. If you’re a fan of the NEOS, TERVEET KÄDET, or DEEP WOUND, feel the colossal quickness of the WRETCHED.
The latest compilation from Propaganda varies in quality from cut to cut, but seasoned veterans like RATTUS, VARAUS, and the BASTARDS deliver thrashed-out songs close to their best material. Of the newer artists, the MARIONETTI and TAMPERE SS seem to be the most promising, especially the former’s killer “Turha Armeija.” With 35 tracks by 18 bands, you just can’t lose!
This isn’t as musically thrashed out as their great 7″ debut, but it’s still powerful as hell; in that sense, it parallels the direction that SS DECONTROL are charting out. The production here is also much improved. I’ve got a feeling that WHITE CROSS will never be as good on record as I hear they are live, but this is still a necessary addition to anyone’s hardcore collection.
SPK, perhaps the preeminent industrial ensemble in the world today, add traditional vocals to this EP of well orchestrated percussive and synthesized noise. It may be more accessible and less affecting than their groundbreaking Leichenschrei album, but it still contains extraordinary music possessed of originality and, yes, genius.
Intense adrenaline blasts with some choppy, discordant lead breaks. URBAN WASTE creates quite a guitar wall-of-sound, and the songs start to click after only a couple of listens. They also deserve to win an award for the funniest and cleverist “sexist” song in ages (“Banana-Nut Cake”). Get it.
Experimental stuff with a vague punkish sensibility and some left field BEEFHEART-like effects. It might precipitate epileptic fits, but it probably won’t appeal to the more intolerant hardcore fans. Tough! The lack of fuzzy, distorted guitars is one of END RESULT’s more distinguishing characteristics.
Finally, a frightfully fast, fierce live dose of those fiendish ghouls, the MISFITS. Captured in NY and SF, this garroting performance shreds away the bloody flesh as razor sharp fangs glisten at the power and speed from beyond the grave that truly represents the MISFITS excitement. Look out for Die, Die My Darling and Earth AD.
Uncompromising lyrics from this band that contains former NO THANKS guitarist Rob Urie. The music is disjointed thrash.
One of the most powerful new groups I’ve heard from SoCal. It’s head-on thrash meets SOCIAL DISTORTION. The production is great, and it doesn’t hurt that their lyrical commitment matches the intensity of the music.
This is good and sloppy. Youthful exuberance, chaotic instrumentation, and half-serious, half-silly themes are the main characteristics of NEGATIVE ELEMENT’s entertaining debut. The guitar could have been mixed a lot louder here, but I’ll bet they’re great live. Version Sound does it again.
Medium-speed thrash, with an occasionally quirky guitar. The vocals sound a bit like YOUTH BRIGADE and X. Good challenging lyrics.
A five-song debut by this Metropolitan-area thrash outfit. Musically, it’s not exceptional, but it has a high level of intensity that’s enhanced by a tough female singer who spits out some challenging words.
A great, great tape. I hope they release it as a record ’cause it’s as good as thrash comes. By now, you should have picked up the No Core compilation, so you’ll have some idea what they sound like.
Minimal production and instrumentation set the tone for this garage release. It sounds like classic ’77 material, dumb lyrics and all. Charming, in a retarded sort of way.
A neo-’60s band dominated by a psychedelic organ and irritating female lead vocals. Although both songs have good melody lines and rather nostalgic instrumental parts, something just doesn’t click. Haunting, but not particularly memorable.
An awesome Austin band that includes ex-MDC bassist Mike. Their music reflects that to a certain degree, but there is also a classical thrash/punk feel to this tape, not unlike MINOR THREAT and 7 SECONDS. It’s much faster than their earlier single, so watch for new vinyl this summer.
An unusual band. Amidst the thrash, there’s some post-punk influence, but not the lightweight, arty type. This tape features interesting, driving arrangements; tight, innovative playing; and a male/female singing combo that is very different.
Wow! Raw female vocals and a manic instrumental attack charge a highly distinctive album of garagey hardcore. SADO-NATION has that rare ability to write songs with thrashy energy, without sacrificing their inherent drama, as on classics like “Don’t Bother Me.” I especially admire the trebly production. Very solid and exciting.
SIN 34’s long-awaited debut album is finally here, and it’s been worth the wait. There are some serious songs and some hilarious ones, but the main difference between this release and their debut EP is the vastly-improved production. At times, these characters remind me of what the AVENGERS might have sounded like had they encountered thrash. Real neat.
This thrash band’s main distinction is that they take old songs (like “N.S.U.,” the title cut, and “Do You Love Me?”) and thrash ’em out to the max. Entertaining.
Hats off to the first American band on the Crass label, formerly known as ARSENAL. Both the music and the record cover are important here. The former is offbeat and original, with lots of effects and superior lyrics; the latter is a well-researched expose of American imperialism with poignant essays. This isn’t hardcore, it’s the hardest-core. A must.
An eight-song effort by this new half-male, half-female band. The vocals sound like those of the WRECKS; musically, it’s a mixture of garage punk and thrash. There’s lots of potential and great lyrics here. Plenty feisty.
A split EP featuring two New York bands. STRIPSEARCH present a great garage punk sound with a blistering fuzztone guitar and female vocals. This marvelous cut is paired with EMILY XYZ’s weird quasi-poetic rhythm thang which I find rather unlistenable. At least both groups are originals.
The metal side of hardcore, with occasional ventures into thrash. The guitar and drums are “heavy,” but it moves nonetheless.
I’m not sure why, but this reminds me of JEFF HILL’s old UK single, “I Want You to Dance with Me.” It’s basic guitar-heavy rock with a fuzzy synth and a spiffy sing-along chorus that’s damn hard to forget. The flip is a faster, buzzing version of the old Top 40 hit. Good no-frills music.
Three songs, sometimes FLIPPER-ish, sometimes minimalist post-punk. The lyrics are in the depressing JOY DIVISION vein.
BURNT are out of the contemporary BLACK FLAG mold, but even more metalish.
