In the honor of our new Athenian coordinator, Lydia Athanasopoulou, and my upcoming trip to Greece, I chose to feature this criminally underrated Greek punk masterpiece. GULAG, from the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, started playing in the mid ’80s. On this platter the band charms us with its distinctly crafted guitar and vocal-driven melodies, which really are unmatched by anything, in my opinion. In the Showyard is such a dynamic album – non-formulaic, with a wide range of tempos and moods. It’s melodic, sometimes aggressive, sometimes dark, sometimes eloquent, but never boring or predictable. There’s something for everyone here, seriously. Gulag is a truly unique sounding band.

GULAG – Εθισμός (Addiction)
GULAG – Απολογία (Apology)
GULAG – Κοινωνική Στοργή (Social Affection)
GULAG – Χρώματα Θαμπά (Lustreless Colours)
GULAG – Νομάδες (Nomads)

The songs are sung in Greek, but the insert of this LP includes English translations. The lyrics seem to be honest and thoughtful and even poetic at times. It makes me wonder how much meaning is lost through the translation.

I do not know much more about the band, but I do know they also released:

Είσοδος Κινδύνου 0° C LP (Lazy Dog Records, 1987)
Big Talk 7” (Wreck-age Records, 1989)
Η Άλλη Πλευρά/Άλλες 8 Χαμένες Ώρες 7” (Lazy Dog Records, 1994)
Πάτα Γερά LP (Lazy Dog Records, 1996)

While searching for more info on Greek punk I ran across Punk.gr and discovered a great video of them playing in Athens this past march, and it seems they still have their magic!

“You can consider us a hippy band or a hardcore band or a punk band; labels don’t matter.”

So now, enjoy this time capsule from NYC’s second greatest hippy band (next to the Fugs), Reagan Youth!

(Click the image to enlarge to readable size)

BONUS! Thanks to the comment from “not u” below, we’re adding this letter Dave Insurgent wrote to MRR, published in issue #3:

Check out the Pusmort records for $5 ppd. and the “upcoming” Poison Idea Kings of Punk LP! Those Disorder mailorder ads were hand-written every month and they did a huge hand-written catalog that came out pretty regularly as well. Does anyone remember SICK BOY from Nanaimo, BC? Who’s got a copy Twin Falls, Idaho’s No Answers zine? How about a FACTION tour video?

In another 20–30 years will the young punks be doing the same thing with MRR #348? We sure hope so. But for now, let’s take the time machine back to May of 1986. Won’t you?…

Let me direct you to your local record store used bin for a cheap score! That’s right — you don’t have to spend big bucks to obtain a classic hardcore record.

In the late ’90s – early 00′s BREAD AND WATER was the beacon for the Dallas hardcore scene. Marked by never ending, incredible, melodic guitar riffs, Amie’s direct vocal attack and trademark stage swagger, and a basic, driving rhythm section, Bread and Water stood out among the legions of punk bands across the world. They played a chief role in organizing shows and events in the Dallas–Ft. Worth area and did several tours of North America. Bread and Water’s politics are spot on (heavy on the animal rights) and they were always playing benefit shows. I do remember them getting some due recognition at the time, so by posting this brilliant EP I’m hoping to make sure that they aren’t forgotten. Listen to that triumphant guitar riff on “Remember” and tell me it doesn’t get you pumped!

Listen to/download BREAD AND WATER’s Future Memories EP:
“Remember”
“Cash for Houses”
“No Compromise”
“Death Sentence”
“Fear of God”
“Will Not Argue”

In addition to this EP, BREAD AND WATER also released these other great records:
Strength in Numbers EP – 1999 (self released)
split 7″ with Reason of Insanity – 2000 (Burrito Records)
split 7″ withRussian School of Ballet” – 2001 (Systemsuck Records)
s/t LP – 2003 (Burrito Records)
Everything So Far CD discography (self released)

They recorded their swansong “Void” for the compilation CD Women in Hardcore which accompanied the zine Short, Fast, & Loud #11 – and what a great note to end on before going their separate ways. Listen to “Void” here.

Here we find the East Bay’s now legendary CHRIST ON PARADE, from MRR #25, May/June 1985 — only a few months after the band formed. The interview captures quite perfectly the zeitgeist of the mid-1980s, with talk about opening kids’ eyes through punk music, how TV is lame, why religion sucks, questions like “Do you think the scene is an alternative lifestyle as well as alternative music?,” and the best bit:

MRR: Is there any general message you want to get across?
Malcolm: That we’re all just shit, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Listen to Christ On Parade – “Drop Out” MP3 from their 1985 demo tape

(click image to enlarge)

Compilations can be mixed bags — hot and cold — sometimes containing a few good songs accompanied by a bunch of throwaway tracks. Another pitfall for comps is when some or most of the songs are just pulled from bands’ releases. This can be helpful to draw you to seek out the bands’ material, but then maybe the compilation isn’t as special anymore. At least this is how I’ve felt about some punk comps in the past. With so much focus and fetishizing of punk and hardcore from places like Japan, Sweden, and Finland, I thought it would be fun to point out this unappreciated classic featuring some of Germany’s finest from 1984.

Keine Experimente! Vol.II (Weird System Records) transcends the aforementioned compilation trappings, featuring 100 percent “all killer no filler” material exclusive to this comp (well, at the time they were exclusive—some of these songs have appeared on some of the bands’ later discographies). Each band contributes two original songs, one on each side of the LP, covering a wide spectrum of punk sounds. Thus proving that West Germany had some amazing shit going on at that time!

TORPEDO MOSKAU – “Halts Maul”

TORPEDO MOSKAU kicks off the party with a solid punk tune with impressive, frantic drumming. Then AGEN 53 maintains the quick pace with great chorus-effected basslines. Next up are the CRETINS who, along with NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES, offer up the best tracks on this LP. TIN CAN ARMY and VOLXFRONT have more of a mid tempo streetpunk approach with great fist pumping shout-alongs, but still showcasing some catchy guitar melodies and world-class hooks. The absurdly named PORNO PATROL picks things up with some excellent catchy hardcore. You may recall them from the essential International Peace 2xLP comp. Then we have “SWAPOland” from NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES, which has such an incredible, melodic, dynamic, and distinct sound. NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES aren’t really matched in sound by anyone, in my opinion — a truly honest and original sounding band, which really comes through in this track and the one that kicks off side B. But not before EA80 and CHAOS Z bring their first contributions to this master slab. The former is one of the (if not the) longest running, important DIY German punk bands. German punks can attest to EA80’s importance in the scene, and staying true to DIY ethics to this day. The last track on side A is a dark, droning, moody punk gem from CHAOS Z, who at this point had begun to evolve from primitive hardcore to a gloomier, somber punk sound (members later formed FLIEHENDE STURME, further exploring and evolving this sound and still doing so today!).

PORNO PATROL - ”Reality?”

TIN CAN ARMY  – “Dead Born Babies”

Side B serves up another dose of the same quality punk, never letting up for a second. Right off the bat is a major standout track, “Alles geht Weiter” by NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES. The bass and guitar eloquently trade off complimentary melodies, almost flirting with one another, as the tuneful vocalist acts as another instrument rather than just “singing words.” Another highlight is “Reality?” by PORNO PATROL, with its crude vocal attack and mid-tempo to fast hardcore switch up. They are the only band to sing in English on this comp, aside from TIN CAN ARMY’s “Dead Born Babies,” which boasts rich bass tone and catchy guitars and growling. The closing track might be my overall favorite. I literally can’t play “Warten Auf…” by CRETINS without wanting to get up and dance around the room, every time, without fail. I have put this song on nearly every mix tape I’ve ever made. It has this brilliant infectious, bouncy, clean guitar line that commands the listener to move their ass. And the chorus is easy to pick up on — it’s just “Cretin…Cretin! – Cretin…Cretin!”

CRETINS – “Warten Auf…”

I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of copies of this LP out there, especially since Weird System re-released much of their original catalog, so I urge everyone to seek it out! But if you can’t find it, there are plenty of other amazing German punk/hardcore bands not featured on here that I recommend such as SLIME, RAZZIA, NORMAHL, MOTTEK, HOSTAGES OF AYATOLLAH, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, INFERNO, CERESIT, HANS-A-PLAST, BLUTTAT, VORKRIEGSJUGEND, INFERNO, MANIACS, SS ULTRABRUTAL, HONKAS, and TARGETS to name a few.

More tracks from this comp:
Chaos Z – “Ein Tropfen im Feuer”
Neurotic Arseholes – “Alles Geht Weiter”
EA80 – “Sie Werden Nie Verstehen”

Digging through some old MRRs recently turned up a whole bunch of coverage of the protests that happened around around the 1984 Democratic National Convention. That year the convention took place in San Francisco, where punk was at that time reaching a high level of political activity. It was the peak of the Reagan/Thatcher era and nuclear war was being discussed as a viable option in the Cold War. I mean, all of the good God-fearing Americans would get to go to Heaven if the whole world blew up, so what’s the big deal?

It’s inspirational to see and read about what the punks got up to in these pages of the magazine. The descriptions of the actions that took place are on one hand strangely similar to today’s Occupy protests, but on the other hand have a sense of high-spirited rage and adventure that is often missing from our tactical vocabulary nowadays. It also goes to show you that there have been many punks who fought the good fight over the years, and it is our job to continue that legacy, lest we just be a bunch of fuckin’ posers.

This is only a sample of what was found in the issues I looked through, but each new dig into the archives turns up more articles and letters about political actions during this time, so we may post more. Until then, read, learn, enjoy, and fuck shit up!…

Download the special HERE, read the playlist below, and enjoy the fuck outta this shit!

ARTIST – SONG TITLE – FROM THE RELEASE

The U-Boats – Break Out Tonight – Government Rip Off
Runnamucks – Bad Blood – Of a Different Breed
John Madden and the Electric Condoms – Don’t Spit in My Burrito – Demo 2003
Monuments to Ruins – Tomb of Modern Man -  S/T

Mor-Loks – What My Baby Wants – Single, 1966
Music Machine – Talk Talk – Single 1966
Critical Mass – Silver Screen – Single
The Eat – Communist Radio – Communist Radio
Futurisk – Army Now -  Army Now
Kill the Hostages – Mutant – S/T 7″

Reckless Deerhunters – How – Life
HECATEST – Gas the Human Waste – Stiffs Split 7″
Control De Estado -  Fashion Junkie – Vallan, y Hagan Discipulos
The Holy Mountain – Big Hands – S/T 7″
The Cursed – John Doe – S/T
Screaming Sneakers – Violent Days – Marching Orders 12″

The Essentials – Turn Off Your Radio – Fast Music in a Slow Town
Roach Motel – My Dog’s Into Anarchy – We Can’t Help It If We’re from Florida 7″
Belching Penguins – We’re the Cops – Draft Beer Not Me LP
No Fraud – Life – Demo
The Stiffs – They Live – Split 7″
Flaming Pedro Medina – Attack of the Floating Head – S/T CD

F – Coming Two – The Danger is Here
Charlie Pickett and the Eggs – Trash Fever – Cowboy Junkie Augogo
Antler Joe and the Accidents – Who Needs a Woman Like You – Go Commercial
The Wrap – He’s Not There – S/T 7″

The Greaseman – Hippie in the Way – What it Must be Like to be a Real Law Man
Foul Existence – No Interest – Demo 1987
Rat Cafeteria – Kill – We Can’t Help it if we’re From Florida
Rat Cafeteria – Tax Revolt – We Can’t Help it if we’re From Florida
EBS – Police Pricks – Cosmetic Society  7″

The Panics – I’m a Fan – S/T 7″
Murder Suicide Pact – Plague – S/T LP
Sector 4 – White House – We Can’t Help it if we’re From Florida
Spanish Dogs – Hire Every Hitman – Land that Time Forgot Comp LP
Gross National Product – Ronald McVomit – 13 Song Demo
Stevie Stiletto and the Switchblades – Party Dog – It’s A Bogus Life 7″

Chaos – A Kiss and a Fist – Demo 1980
Disorderly Conduct – How Old Are You? – Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Vol. 2
LGA – Nullified Prognosis – Demo 2003
Maggot Sandwich – My Florida – Get Off the Stage
The Greaseman – Drugged Up Freak – What it Must be Like to be a Real Law Man

HECATEST – Spoons Are For Coffee – Split 7″ with The Stiffs
TBA – Monkey See – Hillsborough County Noise Ordinance
HECATEST – Working – Split 7″ with The Stiffs
John Madden and the Electric Condoms – Billy the Bunny – Demo
The Comets – Help Me – S/T 7″
Myzfits  – Aggravation – S/T 7″
Cliff Buckosh – Confusion Corner – It Came From Florida

Voyeurs – On the Run – S/T
Scrotum Grinder – Special Purpose – Greatest Sonic Abomination Ever
Nazi Dust – Hatred Side – S/T 7″
Hated Youth – Social Obliteration – Roach Motel Split LP
Flaming Midget – Facelift – Midget Melodies

The Fans – Middle Class Blues – S/T 7″
The Visitors – Death of a Gunfighter – S/T 7″
Reckless Deerhunters – Things to do When You’re Home Alone – Life
The Reactions – In Society – Official Release
Pink Lincolns – I’ve Got My Tie On – Back From The Pink Room
Cats on Holiday – Future Shock – Land that Time Forgot Comp LP
Gay Cowboys In Bondage – A Funny Red Mustache – Owen Marshmallow Strikes Again
F  – Rotting Away – White Flag/ Peace Split  LP

Reckless Deerhunters – Stupid Rock Star  – Brandon Hardcore
DFC – Crappin Everywhere – Frank Forever Comp
Backwash – Foundation on a Good Night – We Still Can’t Help It if We’re From Florida
Dynamic Derrick and the Boogie Brigade – Boogie Shoes – S/T CD

—Golnar Nikpour

MRR Records Discography:

MRR 001 – Welcome to 1984 compilation LP (1984) Reissued in 2010. Available in our webstore. Terveet Kadet/Olho Seco/Crucifucks/Electric Deads/Inferno/Kidnap/N.O.T.A./Icons Of Filth/R.I.P./Skjit-Lars/Rattus/Raw Power/Bristles/Depression/B.G.K./The Stalin/Frites Modern/U.B.R./Mayhem/Red Tide/Moral Demolition/Huvudtvatt/Upright Citizens

MRR 002 – Turn It Around! compilation 2×7″ (1987) 3,000 pressed (?) Compiled by David Hayes. Reissued as an LP in 1991 as a benefit “bootleg” for Gilman Street on Very Small Records (1,087 pressed). Corrupted Morals/Sweet Baby Jesus/Isocracy/No Use for a Name/Crimpshrine/Operation Ivy/Stikky/Nasal Sex/Yeastie Girls/Rabid Lassie/Sewer Trout/Buggerall

MRR 003 – DEZERTER – Underground Out of Poland LP (1987) Reissued in 2010 by Nikt Nic Nie Wie.

MRR 004 – They Don’t Get Paid, They Don’t Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard! compilation LP/cassette (1989) Out of print. The Detonators/Amenity/Christ on a Crutch/Nausea/Apocalypse/Conspiracy of Equals/Screeching Weasel/Jawbox/Dissent/Downfall/Dead Silence/Cringer/Bazooka Joe/Libido Boyz

MRR 005 – NAÏVE – Switch-Blade Knaife LP (1990) Out of print.

MRR 006 – BAD RELIGION/NOAM CHOMSKY – New World Order 7″ EP (1991) Out of print.

MRR 007 – DIESEL QUEENS/INSAINTS – split 2×7″ (1993) Out of print.

MRR 008 – THE SPOILED BRATS/BUTTAFUOCO – split 2×7″ (1994) Out of print.

MRR 009 – DIESEL QUEENS – Hooked on Moronics LP (1995) Out of print.

MRR 010 – FURIOUS GEORGE – I Gotta Gun/Burger King Is Dead 7″ (1996) Out of print.

MRR 011 – DIESEL QUEENS – The Beast with Five Heads… And a One-Track Mind! 7″ EP (1997) Out of print.

MRR 012 – THE B-SIDES – LP (1999) We still have a few copies of this. Buy one here via PayPal: Your location: US $10.50 Canada/Mexico $13.15 world $21.00 Or send $10.00 US • $12.50 Canada/Mexico • $20.00 world to MRR • PO Box 460760 • SF CA 94146 • USA Limit one per customer.

MRR 013 – STRYCHNINE – Born Too Loose LP (1999) Out of print.

MRR 014 – Public Safety compilation LP/CD (2006) Out of print. Aaritila, Career Suicide, Deadfall, Direct Control, Disease, The First Step, Formaldehyde Junkies, Framtid, Gorilla Angreb, Holy Shit, Look Back And Laugh, Limp Wrist, Nightmare, No Hope For The Kids, Observers, Pedestrians, Persevere, Regress, Regulations, Signal Lost, Sin Dios, Sleeper Cell, Smalltown, Smartut Kahol Lavan, Strung Up, Sunday Morning Einsteins

MRR 014.5 – BUM KON – Drunken Sex Sucks LP (2008) Recordings from 1983; co-released with Smooch Records. Available in our webstore.

MRR 015 – Noise Ordinance compilation LP (2011) Morpheme, Needles, Rank/Xerox, NN, Shotwell, Black Rainbow, Surrender, Conquest For Death, Acephalix, Airfix Kits, Ruleta Rusa, Face The Rail, Ecoli, Migraine, Year One, Love Songs, Suicide Bomb, Hunx and His Punx, Acts Of Sedition, Fix My Head, I Will Kill You Fucker, Duck And Cover, The Fleshies. Comes with zine insert. SOLD OUT.

Other MRR/related releases: Virus 14 – Maximum Rocknroll Presents: Not So Quiet on the Western Front compilation 2xLP – Alternative Tentacles (1982) Still available on CD through Alternative Tentacles.

MANIC HISPANIC – The Menudo Incident LP/CD (1992) The LP version was funded, at least in part, by Tim Yo, ’cause he loved it.

924 Gilman: The Story So Far… Compiled by Brian Edge It’s a Book! 400 pages, with over 200 photos and lots of first-hand stories, flyers, memorabilia, and a list of every Gilman show through 2003…awesome! We are sold out of this book, but you can still get it through AK Press.

Tape scan: Dwayne "Bonedog" Mileham

My creepazoid lurking around rad old punkers’ Facebook profiles (what?) is always bearing fruit, but never more so than today. It appears obsessive archivist and collector Dwayne “Bonedog” Mileham has uncovered quite a gem!

This is a long lost, three-track SADO-NATION basement recording from 1982/83. Details are hazy but it seems these snarly Portland ragers made a handful of copies of this recording just to send to Maximum back in the day, and the tape found its way to Dwayne’s collection via Aaron Cometbus in the mid-’80s, where it has sat in his cavernous record room ever since.

The band had long since lost their copy, but miraculously this one still plays today, and in collaboration with front lady Mish, (formerly of all-girl group, the Braphsmears) this video has been made to give people access to these amazingly good quality recordings. Mish says they may well be put out as a proper release, 31 years later!