Reviews

Bill Chamberlain

Faze Big Upsetter 12″

This record starts off with some stomping reminiscent of late ’90s/early ’00s Japanese hardcore, mixed with some of the bands that were coming out of Boston in the ’10s. Then they bring in some massive hardcore hooks and top it off with some heavy psych guitar leads. They move with ease into what I imagine an acid-induced trance would sound like with the song “Who Does Your Daddy Sell His Guns To?,” which then explodes into a massive, bass-heavy riff. Then another massive hook comes in, and so forth. A fantastic listen. This band must be a blast to see live.

Lifeless Dark Forces of Nature’s Transformation LP

This album is dark and apocalyptic, with obvious thought put into their songs. People are going to love this album. We will hear tons of SACRILEGE comparisons. For me, I definitely hear that on a couple of songs, but this hits me as more like the best of CELTIC FROST, VOIVOD, and HELLHAMMER. I would say throw a little VENOM in there with the SACRILEGE and the rest, and this is what you might get. This also has pretty good production, especially given that the band did everything themselves. I can hear everything clearly on this album, even through a pair of cheap earbuds. I really have to say what a fantastic job the band did on this. If you like crust, early ’80s metal, and dark hardcore punk like ZYGOTE or AMEBIX, then you need to buy this album. This band is great live, too.

Shafrah بنات المدينه Bnat El Medinah LP

I really don’t know anything about this band other than that they play hardcore punk. A little melodic at times, and  some real bootstompers at other times. I’d even go as far as saying that at least one of the songs reminds of the kind of hardcore that BOSTON STRANGLER is known for. They also play some fast hardcore and some well-thought-out melodic punk, kind of like what CHAIN CULT is known for now. This is a very enjoyable record and I’d love to see them live.

Acute 2006–2018 Discography CD

ACUTE is not one of the Japanese bands that is totally blown-out-sounding. Think tight,  more in the vein of BASTARD or LIP CREAM, mixed with DROPDEAD and Japanese melodies. However you want to describe it, I’m lucky I wasn’t listening in my car or I would have had a bunch of speeding tickets. Black Konflik does it yet again and gives us a fantastic discography CD.

Yellowcake A Fragmented Truth EP

Easily one of the most intense blasts of hardcore that I’ve heard put on record this year. The vocals are just as intense as the music and sound like they’re filled with passion, as does the music. It’s quite difficult for me to compare this band to anyone. Maybe they sound like a cross between DROPDEAD and ANTISCHISM, that’s intense! This record is making me seriously consider changing my already-written top ten list for the year. A fantastic record.

Sihir Ullar Akan Patuk LP

Intense hardcore, noisy at times, a little tighter and sharp at other times. Sometimes I swear that I am hearing things being broken and other times things being built, and then the music gets even more intense with one of the best song starting riffs I’ve heard in a little while. All energy and intensity. Everyone should check this out if you like hardcore.

Unjustified Violence Cyanide City LP

UNJUSTIFIED VIOLENCE has their boots laced up tight and is ready to rock. Musical kin to bands like NO TIME, NEGATIVE APPROACH, and the earliest 7″ records put out by FUCKED UP. Tough-sounding hardcore filled with melodic hooks. If that sounds like it’s up your alley, these guys might just be waiting in the shadows for you. Good hardcore punk all around.

The Apostles There Can Be No Spectators 2xLP

This is a compilation of the APOSTLES’ earliest EPs. Anarcho-punk, post-punk, a combination of both—either way, this is great stuff. I love music that has a message or that really explains how I personally feel, and the APOSTLES do it in a big way for me. Musically, it reminds me of bands like ZOUNDS, FLUX OF PINK INDIANS, SUBHUMANS, and CRASS, ranging from standard anarcho-punk anthems to well-thought-out post-punk and an experimental sound of their own making. This is an excellent collection from an excellent band and the preeminent anarcho-punk label of our time.

The Exile Don’t Tax Me EP reissue

The EXILE was a 1977–1978 punk band from Scotland  This is a reissue of their first EP, and they give us some tuneful punk influenced by the mod bands in the UK. The sound is similar to Canada’s BUREAUCRATS. This is a great listen and a piece of punk history that I had missed; I am extremely happy to be able to get this now. If you like your punk tuneful, this is a great record to get.

S.O.H. Cost to Live LP

Coming from Los Angeles, S.O.H. gives us some raging hardcore crust. This band can write a hardcore crust song while having some melody in their musical structure, and that’s not a bad thing. Their music has a lot of different textures to it, and they can take you up a mountain and then drop you off a cliff. I like it. It reminds me just a bit of some of the crust and hardcore that came out in the 1990s. This band makes their own music their own way and it sounds how they want it to. Now that’s punk!

Golpe Subisci. Conformati. Rassegnati EP

I put this on and I was greeted with a sonic explosion that I wasn’t exactly prepared for, even though I have heard this before. This is absolutely crushing modern D-beat of the highest order, fitting in nicely alongside bands like VAASKA, RAT CAGE, SCARECROW, DESTRUCT, and GUERRA FINAL. Originally released on a cassette in 2019. If you like the above bands at all, you should run out and get this today, or mail order it right now!

V/A Punx for Gaza: Benefit Compilation for Mutual Aid In Gaza cassette

As heartbreaking as the situation in Gaza is, I have to take some slight comfort in the fact that the punks have stepped up in a big way and raised a lot of money to get food and other needed things to the people of Gaza. I have seen people working tirelessly to make a difference in Gaza, and I have personally seen these punk compilations make a difference as well. I suggest that you buy this and donate what you can, it is saving lives. My favorites on here are NARKAN and GOLPE. If you like hardcore punk, then there is definitely something for you on this compilation, so buy it! Free Palestine!

Koridor Kroz Pukotine LP

This is a dark, driving album. A little hardcore, a lot of dark post-punk. Love how the guitar seems to weave all the instruments together into an epic-sounding album. To my ears, it sounds like RUDIMENTARY PENI and KILLING JOKE took their first albums and modernized everything by adding influences from a few current bands. What we end up with is a dark but pleasant album to listen to, one that seems to grow on me. I like it more and more with every listen. This band is not a one-trick pony, every song sounds different and this record is quite special. Great album!

V/A Chaos in CH, Vol. 2: A Collection of Underground Swiss Punk 1977–1984 LP

This album is an excellent collection of punk and early hardcore from Switzerland from 1977–1984, featuring seven bands. My favorite is the SQUIRT with their brand of hardcore punk influenced by DEAD KENNEDYS, D.O.A., and BLACK FLAG according to the booklet in the record, but sounding like they owe just as much of their sound to BGK or the NITWITZ. Every band on this record is good. The BASTARDS start off Side B with the instantly recognizable “Impossibilities.” What a great compilation!

The Carp Knock Your Block Off LP

The CARP is from Cleveland, and I think I can hear some of the historic Cleveland bands embedded in their sound. At first quick listen, I wasn’t paying much attention until I started noticing that the bass sounded a bit like FLIPPER. After that, I started noticing song structures not unlike DEVO. I heard someone describe this as ’77 punk, but that’s not how I would describe it. This is bass-driven punk that can evoke memories of my first time listening to FLIPPER and the FEEDERZ, along with DEVO. The sound is nice and thick, and I imagine that it would work extremely well live. I don’t want to force this band into any one subgenre of punk because they are coming at us from all directions, doing whatever they want to do. It sounds great, I was playing air drums the whole time through several listens. Total Punk gives us another great record. This did indeed knock my block off.

The Okmoniks Afterparty Fever!!! LP

The OKMONIKS give us another LP of punk-infused garage rock. What else would they call their second album, if their first is called Party Fever!!!? This band usually has a really driving beat with some great-sounding vocals, and often there is some really rocking guitar/organ interplay. My favorite on this is a song called “Next Worse Thing.” This is a great LP for fans of garage rock/punk or just having a good time.

Malakili Malakili LP

The label describes them as a mix of classic American and Swedish hardcore—that sounds extremely accurate to me. An intense-sounding record, with excellent recording. It starts off with my favorite song on the album, and it is ripping, Swedish-influenced hardcore and a quality album throughout. If you like bands like MOB 47 or DIE KREUZEN, you will probably like this one a lot.

Yemen Who is Pull the Trigger? CD

YEMEN is a band that features members of GOUKA, and what we get from them is some Swedish-style D-beat in the vein of ANTI-CIMEX or DISARM. Tough and thick guitar sound with some chaos thrown in just to get it right. Good stuff. Black Konflik continually puts out good crust and D-beat releases, often CD or cassette versions of records. I’m a fan.

The Swankys The Very Best of Hero LP reissue

The SWANKYS played punk with a wild, untamed style most of the time. They range from their beginnings having some ’77-style punk influence, and then starting to play more hardcore-style while still writing songs with some melody, or just playing ripping hardcore that reminds me slightly of the BRISTLES from Sweden. This says it was mastered at Abbey Road Studios, if I’m reading it correctly. General Speech is doing a great job bringing this kind of thing to us.I have a feeling that this could be sold out by the time anyone reads this.

Fear of Extinction / Utsatt split LP

FEAR OF EXTINCTION is from Prague and plays some pretty epic crust, truly a wall of sound. They remind me of WOLFPACK and a few of the other bands that were on Distortion Records back in the ’90s, and they are a perfect pairing with UTSATT. UTSATT is from Sweden and features members of 3-WAY CUM, WARCOLLAPSE, VERDICT, EXPLOATÖR, MEANWHILE, and more. This sounds like classic Swedish hardcore, because it is. Top-notch stuff. Great album for fans of Swedish hardcore punk and crust alike.

Disarm Existence Demo 1985 LP

My first thought was that this would be DISARM from Sweden, but this band was from Virginia. They played hardcore that at times approached crossover thrash in the vein of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and sometimes early D.R.I., and even a little first album SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. There are a lot of other influences, but those stood out to me right away. I am always happy to find old bands that I haven’t heard before, so a big thanks to Beach Impediment Records for bringing this to us all. Great listen, and I immediately knew I was listening to hardcore from the ’80s.

Subdued Abattoir LP

SUBDUED is from London, and I feel a definite anarcho-punk vibe from the band—ZYGOTE and EXIT-STANCE, and maybe even a little bit of SACRILEGE immediately came to mind.  This entire album makes me feel like it’s dusk no matter what time the clock says it is. The lyrics are as thought-provoking as they are dark. They are filled with substance and not mindless songs about nothing important. This is a great album, and one of my favorites of the year.

Gefyr / Rat Cage split EP

I had only heard maybe half of a song by GEFYR before this record, and I was definitely surprised by how great this record is. They are from Sweden and you sure can hear it in the music—there is a huge ’90s influence, whether we are talking about STATE OF FEAR or any of the ’90’s bands from Sweden. I was surprised and excited by how great the GEFYR side of the record is. I moved on to the RAT CAGE side and I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, and I sure wasn’t disappointed. This is some hard-hitting hardcore punk from both of these bands. On this split, RAT CAGE sounds like they are in top form. There are a lot of influences here, but to me, they just sound like RAT CAGE. Hardcore punk with a little bit of melody like all of my favorite bands. This is another one of my favorite records this year.

Personal Damage Violent Ritual EP

I’ve heard this Los Angeles band called “snotty,” and I would say that describes them pretty well. Snotty American hardcore. Texas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Michigan. If you like American hardcore punk, you aren’t going to find many bands that can equal this record. They recently toured the US and hopefully they’ll be doing it again, so make sure you see them and by all means, buy this record!

Sinister Feeling Sinister Feeling LP

SINISTER FEELING is from Baltimore, Maryland and they play powerviolence, which I don’t usually listen to very frequently. This album, however, grabbed my attention from the start. It sounds gritty and a bit dirty (no offense meant). I guess I am trying to say that they sound like a veteran band that has been doing this through many long road trips in an old van and sleeping on people’s floors for months at a time, and they have distilled the essence of what powerviolence should be and put it into this album in all its glory. I don’t usually listen to powerviolence, but this stands on its own despite any type of categorizing.

Assistert Sj​ø​lmord Klimabombe EP

Their name translates to “assisted suicide” in English, and this is their debut 7″ (and a great one at that). The music is hardcore punk, and I stress the punk park of that description. This is modern hardcore punk of the highest order, no frills and a ton of energy. This band doesn’t exactly sound like these bands but they would fit right in with RAT CAGE, SCARECROW, VAASKA, DESTRUCT, and more. If you like those bands, then I think you will like this. It has been a little while since I have really taken notice of a Norwegian band, but this band really brings the punk.

Phane Maniac LP

PHANE is from Vancouver, BC, and they are bringing the G.B.H.-style hardcore punk to the turntable. They’ve got it down, too—the song structure and the great guitar riffs, shouted vocals and powerful drums. If you’re a fan of UK82-style hardcore punk with some modern updates, you should rush out and grab this now.

Gee Tee Prehistoric Chrome LP

GEE TEE is from Australia and has been around for eight or so years now, and this is a compilation described by the label as “eighteen tracks from both the distant future and the nearly forgotten past.” I would describe it as lofi punk/pop that was very popular from around 2006 to 2018. Bands like the OKMONIKS, NOBUNNY, SNEAKY PINKS, HUNX AND HIS PUNX, and others—I can hear some of the same influence as the current Australian bands that are so popular right now. Rocking lo-fi.

Litige 2 Degrés EP

This EP is some really great melodic punk. I also hear some late ’70s early ’80s French power pop and new wave. Whatever you want to call it, this record makes me want to tap my toes and get up and dance. At times, the music can almost be called hardcore-influenced in the choruses of a couple of songs, reminiscent of the DILS or WEIRDOS, before settling back into some new wave power pop, something like the band LES CALAMITÉS. I want to hear more from this band.

Nyx Negativ Kalrshamns Punks 1981–1984 CD

NYX NEGATIV was a Swedsh hardore punk band who were around from 1981–1986. This compilation starts off with some good chaotic hardcore punk, and then they progress to being a fast hardcore band that seems to get their influence from This Is Boston Not L.A. and early JERRY’S KIDS. At the end of this, they are playing slower and with more melody, and then we get a couple of live tracks as well. Most of this album is pure fast hardcore and it’s great. It really does have the same type of sound that the very earliest recorded JERRY’S KIDS had—fast as hell and sounding like it could fall apart any second, but all that does is make it sound more punk.

999 The Sharpest Cuts Too LP

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a compilation album of songs by 999 from the ’90s and ’00s—I stopped listening to anything new from them somewhere around their fourth album. So wow, was this a surprise. It sounds like the 999 of the first few albums. I’m going to have to go back and listen to the album that put me off from 999. While this doesn’t exactly match the quality of the first three albums, it is really good and powerful melodic punk in the style of the first wave of UK punk bands. I really robbed myself of hearing these songs the first time because I wrote them off. Sorry about that, 999. This is definitely better than I expected, and better than most classic punk bands that had output into the ’90s and ’00s.

Knives What We See in Their Eyes LP

Dual female and male vocals with a big post-punk influence. That is not all this is, though: I hear a wide range from bouncy punk to hardcore and even some metallic guitar riffs. Make no mistake though; this isn’t metal, this is closer to post-punk than anything else. Great vibe on the dual vocals with the bass and drums hammering out a punishing, bouncy punk beat, and the guitar is working with everything else despite the fact that it is in contrast to everything else most of the time. In some ways, it reminds me of the TYRADES mixed with a very popular duo from England who play a laptop and sing. This was a really good listen and very interesting—I listened to this four times and every time I heard different things, so I will be listening to this again.

V/A Disco Charge 2023 CD

This is a compilation of bands from Japan from 2023. The styles are varied and quite different from song to song, and all of them rock pretty hard. My favorites are ASBESTOS, CRIKEY CREW, DEMIGLACE, COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS, ZTOM MOTOYAMA (who breaks up the load and fast music with some nice pedal steel playing, unorthodox for a pedal steel player but that makes it more interesting), and my absolute favorite on this compilation is GENBAHU ONABIES playing hard-driving punk—I’d buy this for that one song, so I will be on the hunt for more records by them.

Cave Sex Cave Sex 12″

CAVE SEX is from Singapore and features members of some very well-respected bands like SIAL and PROSPEXX. This time, we are treated to some outstanding post-punk. The music can be dark yet sharp and hard-hitting. They seem to play with the urgency of a straight-up fast hardcore band, while sounding more like the first couple of KILLING JOKE albums than hardcore punk. My one and only complaint about this album is that I wish it was twice as long! Wow!

Poison Idea Feel the Darkness 2xLP reissue

POISON IDEA from Portland, Oregon are the kings of punk, and this is what many consider to be their best album. This is an all-time classic record, and when you add in that the sound on this reissue is bigger and fuller-sounding, you can’t go wrong buying this! You can hear POISON IDEA’s influence in bands like LONG KNIFE and SPAZM 151, just to name a couple that wear their POISON IDEA influence on their sleeves. The truth is that they influenced too many bands to name. POISON IDEA is equally at home playing a fast hardcore song or adding some steamroller rock to their sound. One of the best guitar sounds I have ever heard. The bonus LP includes remixes, alternate mixes, original mixes, and 7″ tracks, and it comes in a really nice gatefold jacket. This is an amazing record by an amazing band.

Buio Omega I Wanna Crash My Car (On Purpose) / Highway Star cassette

This is some rockin’ hardcore here out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. My first thought was a slightly more punk version of ANNIHILATION TIME. The first song gives me that vibe, along with reminding me of SCREAMER from England. When the second and final song came on, I was surprised since it is a cover of DEEP PURPLE’s “Highway Star.” I figured there was no way this band was going to be able to pull off that guitar solo, but they really did a fine job; I was legitimately excited by how well they did it. Nice job! Two songs, they are both fun to listen to and I can’t wait to hear more.

DMZ Lift Up Your Hood EP reissue

DMZ was part of the thriving late ’70s garage punk scene along with bands like the REAL KIDS and the LYRES. The band also included members who played or would play in the LYRES, the MODERN LOVERS, the CARS, BARRENCE WHITFIELD AND THE SAVAGES, the QUEERS, and more. This record gives us hard-hitting garage rock just a little before a punk influence really started to push its way to the forefront. At this stage of their career, they really remind me of the 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS. Perhaps that is because they both did great versions of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” but it goes beyond just that song. Real-deal garage rock from 1977. Very nice.

Alarm! Alarm! LP

ALARM! is from Stockholm, Sweden and features members of VICTIMS and OUTLAST. I hear some classic Swedish hardcore, but not just that—I also hear some burly American style in there, such as some POISON IDEA vibes. Thick guitar, powerful bass and drumming, with intense vocals. At times, it also reminds me of LOS CRUDOS on their earliest records. Despite my comparisons, their sound is uniquely their own. They venture into territories most hardcore bands don’t, and they aren’t afraid to do their own thing. A great record by people who have been around for a while.

Whippets Whippets LP

WHIPPETS have a very distinctive-sounding singer—he reminds me of a combination of the singer from ALICE DONUT, Doc Dart from CRUCIFUCKS, and maybe a little Jello Biafra. I think he sounds great. The music is mostly a dark-sounding combination of post-punk, goth, and hardcore punk, with some modern hardcore at the end of the record. Moody and moving. They’d fit well with bands like WET SPECIMENS and KILLING JOKE. Good stuff.

Yambag Mindfuck Ultra LP

YAMBAG is from Cleveland, Ohio, and they play a style that I would compare to a mix of NEOS and DROPDEAD. Mindfuck Ultra is fast and tough; YAMBAG even gives us great musicality in their songs. I genuinely love this record, whether they’re playing at 100 mph or 200 mph or giving us psychedelic merry-go-round music. This is top-notch stuff and I could go on and on about it, but instead I am just going to advise you to at least check it out online.

Invertebrates Sick to Survive LP

INVERTEBRATES are from Richmond, Virginia and include a couple of members of PUBLIC ACID. Speedy hardcore reminiscent of JERRY’S KIDS at their best—’80s-style hardcore done right, with speed, ferocity, and a little bit of melody. This record makes me want to dance and jump around the room; I can’t wait to see them live. My advice is to get this album before it’s gone, it’s great!

Schnaps Alles Verdampft LP

SCHNAPS gives us old school punk/hardcore with a lot of influences. I hear a little bit of NOFX-style guitar playing and some old school hardcore punk with a few ska parts which slow down and at times and remind me of the CLASH. I hear a lot of melody mixed in with the hardcore. If your favorite bands include the CLASH, TOY DOLLS, NOFX, RANCID, DAG NASTY, STRUNG OUT, ALL, and bands like that, you might want to check this out.