Half central California acts like ASSAULT, WIMPY DICKS, AK47, and more. The other half is world punk acts. Not bad ‘tall. Half the profits go to the No More Censorship Defense Fund.
A mostly Mexican comp with MASSACRE 68, SOLUCION MORTAL, PAZUZU, HISTERIA, and DESECRATION. Sound quality is OK, material is energetic HC. Comes with booklet (all in Spanish).
Hot tunes from acts all across the globe, featuring DIRECT ACTION, SUBVERSE, OPINION ZERO, and more. Good sound quality and 60 minutes of non-stop action makes this a righteous comp.
Chunk punk here, with a garage-y edge. Lyrics cover vegetable soup, dumb stories, and more fun!
Demented. “Lunkhead” is sorta normal, “Get in the Car” is spooky and scary, and “I Forgot the Hay” is amusing. I think psychotherapy is in order here.
These guys have a tune called “Positive Hardcore” which pretty much tells the story: clean punk and thrash with optimistic words about unity and the evils of drugs and alcohol. Pretty good.
A long LP by this Aussie band, who have a pretty well-developed sound, mixing different influences into their punk tunes without losing sight of their roots. Most noticeable is the guitar work, which really holds things together. Lyrically, they deal with both personal and political subjects in an intelligent, well thought-out manner. Good.
Not a bad comp here featuring acts like A.P.P.L.E., AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, SFA, and more. Includes a variety of sounds and even some poetry. Pretty cool.
Yeah, this is another bloody noisy punk comp, including acts from all around the globe, the standouts being SICK OF IT ALL, DROWNING ROSES, and the INSTIGATORS. Good.
Non-generic punk and HC with on-target political and social words, heavy on innovation and intensity make this a hot one.
Side One is spastic and crazed punk and HC with an idiotic edge that takes potshots at just about everyone except themselves. Side Two is more industrial.
It’s from NY, it’s HC, but this isn’t the NYHC sound that has become prevalent recently. This is more garage-y (may be the production), more straightforward, with lots of different tempos.
Side One is SCHIZOID’s live weirdness: wacko HC with metal influences. Side Two is POOR WHITE TRASH, who sound similar, but includes studio stuff. Neat and worth the buck.
Spontaneous jamming, two little kids telling us about peace punks, safe sex, Tim Yohannan, and more. Amusing for short periods of time.
Metally HC with a definite garagey feel to it. Lyrically they attack issues like abortion, AIDS, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. Good.
Full-on speedmetal, but with mostly good lyrics about vivisection, war, and reality. These bozos are also fun live, but I’d only recommend this to metal fanatics.
Cool basic punk rock with words challenging the media, the military, leaders and more good garage-y fun.
Pretty tense stuff here: fierce DRI-ish thrash with herky-jerky breaks and a good amount of innovation. Lyrics cover racism, vivisection, and other evils of society. Hot stuff.
Basic punk rock and HC with a variety of lyrics, from silly to serious. Not bad, 21 tunes.
A very good debut 7” by this AZ act, eight clean, powerful songs, mostly thrash with an accent on energy. Far from generic, they have their own sound, different from any other particular band. Lyrically, the emphasis is on caring for others and working for social change. Totally great!!
Quick, rapid-fire thrash that is powerful, though a bit noisy. The slower bits, however, reveal a bit more melody and tightness. Not bad.
Very powerful HC with metallish influences and intelligent words covering war, capitalism, right wingers in the punk scene, and more. Also includes a booklet which explains their lyrics further. Pretty damn impressive.
Quick punk with a melodic edge. Relatively memorable stuff, but only three tunes.
Searing trash with tinges of that old metal stuff. Very professional (in the good sense) packaging and production, which makes for a rad tape.
A rather grungy and depressed-sounding four-songer from this committed bunch, which could be due to the gruff vocals. Musically, punk and hyperthrash are their forte, and the words seem a bit more personal this time around. Slightly different that their previous releases, but good nevertheless.
Some super-grunged out punk rock with a totally distorted guitar buzz and rockin’ crazy energy. Spazmo stuff.
No, they’re not hippies, they play basic garage-y punk and HC with socially-oriented lyrics. Pretty good lyric book included.
Basic thrash with mediocre production. Musically, nothing special, but the words are totally on-target, covering pacifism, peace, religion, etc. with intelligence. Great sentiment.
Straightforward punk and thrash with loads of energy and powerful guitarwork. Not too original, but pretty rockin’ nevertheless.
Grunge-y punk mania here, with pissed-off lyrics slagging the rest of the goony world. Great juvenile fun.
Pretty catchy melodic garage punk with a distorted guitar sound. Lyrically, I’m not sure what’s going on. OK.
Cool straightforward punk noise with lyrics about drug abuse, religion, personal issues, and more. “Family’s Only Family” stands out as a catchy tune.
Early punk sounds with fun barroom sing-along vocals. A total gas: you can almost see the beer spilling all over the place.
100% speedmetal for the SOX now, and it’s pretty good, probably their most solid release. Sounding comparable to METALLICA and the ACCUSED, they have maintained their intelligent lyrical outlook, questioning religion, inequality, greed, oppression, etc. My only gripe is the slightly trebly production, but that’s minor. This is swell!
As a tribute to their European tour, Brazil’s CÓLERA releases this live tape of their solid, powerful punk sound. Production is very clear, making this one more than worthwhile.
The second demo by this mysterious Arizona band, playing a variety of styles from straightedge HC to rap to synth silliness to speedmetal, making fun of everyone and everything, except the Master Cheez, of course. Rad shit.
Pretty hot upbeat early style punk with a good sense of melody. Four live tunes and two studio ones.
Their name could be serious, judging by the lyrics to “Girl in Red,” but it could be a parody. Anyway, this is noisy punk and thrash with a metallic edge. Lyrics cover cops, skating, and moshing.
Metallish, hard rock-ish HC with tweedle-dee leads. Lyrically, I don’t know what’s going on, but they do have a song called “Suck My Cock.”
Early-style punk with an emphasis on melody. Lyrically, I don’t know what’s going on, but the music sounds good.
Good powerful thrash tunes from this Chicago band. “Not Just My Head” is a short blast, while “One Track Head” is a bit more complex and interesting, with loads of energy. An impressive start.
So-so hardcore without too much distinction. Competent musicianship, good lyrics, but just nothing special.
Some sloppy drunken punk rock for ya, with both serious and silly lyrics. Fun, but not the sort of thing you’d listen to often.
Very solid punk and thrash with a hefty helping of innovation and originality. Sorta doomy, sorta metal-y, but all powerful. Includes a lyric book, but if you can’t read Swedish, you’re out of luck.
A comp of new (?) DC bands from rap to ’70s rock to speed metal. Acts include H.R., DOVE, PRESS MOB, and more, not much punkaroni, but one H.R. cut rocks.
These gals make the BEASTIE BOYS look like flaccid wimps, doing intelligent and hilarious acapella raps about macho goons, the FCC, poo, etc. With loads of funny between-the-songs banter. Totally rad, and the “special prizes” are yucky!
A solid comp with DISSONANCE, A.D.S., DEAD SILENCE, and more. Lots of energetic material (poetry too!!) with a message. Booklet included.
A great title, and a pretty darn good tape, too. Featuring DECLINE, SCREECHING WEASEL, DISGRACE, SOCIAL DECAY, and more US acts with fair to good sound quality. Booklet included.
All Icelandic groups here, including S.H. DRAUMUR, SOGBLETTER, and more. Mostly straightforward punk, some more experimental, some on the commercial side. Generally pretty good.
More tasty musical tidbits featuring EMILS, CHRIST ON A CRUTCH, DECLINE, and more, courtesy of Flush Productions. Lots of energetic punk tunes by hot upcoming hands!
A pretty solid comp including everything from pop-punk to speedmetal to noisethrash. High points are FEED YOUR HEAD, DOOM, and NO FRAUD. Worth a listen. All proits go to No More Censorship Defense Fund.
A pretty solid world comp of mostly wild punk and HC tuneage. Standouts included VISUAL DISCRIMINATION, EXTREMES, and more. Worth checking into. Booklet included.
Quite a diverse selection of material from acts like the STIFFS, INFECTION, F.V.K./EMG, and lots more. From slow, melodic punk to whirlwind thrash, it’s all here.
A pretty good comp here, with acts like TERVEET KÄDET, YOUTH QUAKE, INSTIGATORS, and more. Good sound quality also.
Ultra-fast speedmetal/HC with political lyrics covering the arms race, war, terrorism, and Garfield, comparable to NAPALM DEATH, but these guys are a bit more listenable, because of the tempo changes and clear production.
Quick, hyper, melodic punk with animated vocals and silly lyrics, which brings the DICKIES to mind. Super-energetic and tuneful fun.
Five powerful songs in the vein of CRUCIFIX or early RAW POWER with intelligent words questioning rape, vivisection, religion, governments, etc. Solid music and thoughtful lyrics. A great job!
Straight HC with words concerning personal issues such as equality, insincerity, and straight edge, a tad more original than the average “positive” act.
Hot uptempo punk with other influences creeping in. Powerful production; reminds me a bit of TOXIC REASONS. Good.
On Side A, B.S.L. have a fast, energetic punk sound with truly progressive lyrics. FLECKS OF DROOL suffer from rather noisy sound quality, but their thrash (with good words) is pretty god. Overall, not bad.
This NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Is from Canada and they’re pretty good, alternating between powerful thrash numbers and slower punk tunes which have a DR. KNOW feel. Lyrically, they attack porno, religion, etc. A worthwhile release.
Totally insane searing thrash with metal influences and thoughtful words which reveal intelligence and integrity, rejecting rockstar-ism, competition, mindless stupidity, etc. An incredible EP by one of Britain’s finest bands. Thank you, HERESY!!
Pretty hot straightforward HC with good lyrics concerning individuality, oppression, etc. Quite enjoyable.
Garage-y but varied songs from this bunch; from improvisational jamming to chunky punky numbers. Fair.
These guys have a garage ’77-ish toe-tappin’, finger snappin’ sound which will make you hum along happily. Four fun tunes, all energetic yet melodic, and very catchy.
After releasing a couple demos, these dudes put out a righteous slab o’ wax: probably one of the best thrash acts in the Bay Area, with good social words. A swell debut.
A pretty well-developed band, mixing punk and HC with some slow doomy breaks, metallish licks, a fair amount of innovation, and lyrics dealing with ignorance, the arms race, and personal subjects. Good stuff.
Garage-y punk with enough variation and intelligence to set it apart from the pack. Good sentiments and catchy tunes.
It seems like 7” EPs are a dying breed and it’s ones like these that remind me how good they can be: hot, tight, straightforward HC that sounds like early ’80s US thrash. Intense stuff.
Garage-y, rebellious punk & HC with youthful energy & sloppiness. Sound quality gets odd at points, but this is moderately enjoyable.
Straightforward, tight thrash and ’77-ish with male and female vocals, lyrics tackle vegetarianism, nuclear way, oppression, etc. Good.
A crack-up. I assume these guys are satirizing stupid metal bands, cuz with songs like “Shit on Your Mother’s Ass” (song title of the year, hands down!) and “I’ll Pulverize You,” they just can’t be serious. Stupidly hilarious!!
Hot uptempo melodic punk with personal lyrics. Catchy, memorable, mid-paced fun tunes with good energy. Neato.
Fun, chunky mid-tempo punk with humorous lyrics concerning the dating game, organized religion, food and more. Good production, hot material.
Chaotic thrash and punk, a little on the dirty/sloppy side. Good vocals, the singer sounds convincing. Pretty good.
You know, I could bash on instruments and scream unintelligibly, also, and I can do it for free.
Jangly acoustic punk, but sometimes more fuzzed-out. The accent here is on melodies, good smooth stuff, but the vocals are a bit annoying.
With a name like that, you know it’s gonna be metalcore, and you’re right. Actually, it’s not that metally, but Satan-y vocals have gotta go. Lyrics—hmmm—I don’t want to know. Pass.
The debut tape by the most obnoxious band in the Bay Area contains covers of “Stayin’ Alive” and “Old McDonald Had A Farm” and annoying originals. Actually, these bozos are amusing, criticizing everything in sight.
Some varied punk noise here with a fuzzed-out guitar tone and harmonic female vocals. Gets a bit too folksy at points, but some tunes really jam.
Pretty standard punk and thrash without too much personality, save their catchy sing-along bits. Lyrically, I don’t know, but “Zombie Mosh” is pretty funny.
Pretty tuneless stuff here, garage punk and thrash with lots of screaming. Sixty tunes in sixty minutes, what fun!
Enjoyable punk and thrash from this West German outfit. Good lyrics, powerful, clear sound quality make this tape a hot one.
Three tunes here: Side A is a long, slow punk tune which gets a tad tedious, while the two numbers on the flip are upbeat and melodic with jangly guitars. Good.
Mostly mid-tempo punk with monotone-sung vocals which don’t fit with the music. Not bad, but nothing special.
A potpourri of musical styles (acoustic, metal, experimental, etc.), all with silly/dumb lyrics. Slightly amusing, but not a bucket of laughs.
So-so speedmetal without too much personality or distinction. One long, slow number is memorable, but the rest is passable.
Basic hardcore sounds here done with the intensity and energy of the early DC acts. Good social, political, and personal words, fun sing-alongs, and loads of spark! Good.
A potpourri of sounds here: from early DISCHARGE to SUBHUMANS-y punk to speedmetal, all with political lyrics. Pretty enjoyable, overall.
“Eleven Parts” is an instrumental which mixes metal, punk, post-punk etc. with discordant guitar noises. The two cuts on Side B sound like a cross between BLACK FLAG and a modern speed-core act. Not bad.
Disjointed metallic HC which sounds BLACK FLAG-influenced. Four tunes, all powerful and twisted. Good stuff.
A couple of new members this time around, but that hasn’t slowed down POISON IDEA’s momentum one bit; this is still their brand of loud, potent powerthrash. Slightly more metal than in the past but the accent here is on the force and fury. Scorching.
Some snappy upbeat punk tunes here with keyboards which aren’t too overbearing. Includes a couple covers (DAMNED, AEROSMITH) and eight originals. A pretty good start, somewhat of a NUNS feel.
Driving mid-tempo punk with pretty snarly female vocals which bring the AVENGERS to mind. Lots of energy here and a good sense of melody.
Chunky garage-punk from this all-gal band, good garagey tuneage, rockin’ energy, and they have a song called “Mosh”!
Hot! Discordant sounds mixing straightforward punk, jazz, post-punk, and much more, all with anti-system, anti-conformity words. Slightly reminiscent of VICTIM’S FAMILY.
ATAVISTIC, DESECRATION, and CORRUPTED MORALS are the standout acts on this above average comp. Ten acts in all, good selection of tunes, comes with ‘zine.
An above average comp of world HC/punk acts, including the VARUKERS, MANIACS, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, and more. Sound quality varies, but this is mostly good stuff.
FRATRICIDE and DEATH SENTENCE are standouts on this Canadian comp. Includes seventeen bands and a lyrics/info booklet. Good junk here.
A very appropriate title, considering this consists of an hour’s worth of ferocious Spanish trash. Acts include SUBTERRANEAN KIDS, GRB, BAP, and more. Booklet included. Hot!
Punk and HC with a very metallic guitar sound. Lyrically, no Satanic BS, but on-target lyrics slagging censorship, big business etc. Pretty good. Comes with lyric booklet.
Don’t know too much about this (no song titles, even) except that it’s pretty good; crunchy mid-tempo punk with quite a bit of experimentation. Some slow doomy stuff, too. Cool.
Punk of all speeds with some rock influences (solos, etc). Pretty interesting sound textures, a good amount of innovation. Pretty good.
Grungy, chunky punk tunes with personal/social lyrics. Lots of raw garage momentum here, good job from this long-standing outfit.
Youch! A very hot album of mostly rapid powerhouse thrash, although a few of the newer cuts show some musical growth. Lyrically, it’s mostly personal, covering honesty, individuality, etc. in an optimistic fashion, minus the “positive” rhetoric. Great debut vinyl by this upcoming band.
Strong, powerful punk and HC with a gritty metallish guitar sound. OK lyrics, fairly original, overall, a pretty impressive showing.
Pretty “dark” stuff here; gloomy pop that comes across as pretentious and commercially-oriented. No thanks.
A young thrash act here, playing it garage-y and a bit sloppy. They should improve with time. Song titles sound positive except for “Pussy on the Line,” which could be un-positive.
We forgot this one last issue, but don’t you miss out. DESECRATION (AZ) hits hard with a dozen songs reminiscent of the new UK thrash acts (HERESY, RIPCORD, etc.), with excellent caring social/political words. Canada’s SUBVERSE keeps up the momentum with a harsh, abrasive thrash sound with hoarse vocals, also possessing good sentiments. A great introduction to two of the hottest up-and-coming HC acts.
A very solid HC comp featuring the MELVINS, DIDDLY SQUAT, MR.BUNGLE, FALSE LIBERTY, ACCUSED, and loads more. Good sound quality, lots of action here.
A pretty damn hot comp here featuring KAFKA PROCESS, VOMITO SOCIAL, NO FRAUD, and OODLES. Lots of intense tunes here, and all profits fo to Greenpeace. Neat.
Pretty much a novelty item, just two guys trying to play as fast as possible for short periods of time. Humorous.
Powerful tuneage here: grinding punk and HC of all speeds with lots of anger and momentum. Good tunes.
Considerably better than the average “positive” act, these guys play mostly straight HC, but it’s got a good sense of personality. Honest, optimistic lyrics, also worth checking out.
Poppy punk with some rockin’ power and kinda annoying vocals. Watch for an upcoming LP with Bob Mould producing.
Metally HC, but often more metal than HC, with the cheesiest DEF LEPPARD/JUDAS PRIEST vocals I’ve heard in a while. Lyrically, “Nazi Baptist Commando” is good, but the rest blow. Lyric of the week: “I masturbate, ejaculate, and wipe it on the wall.”
Humorous chunky punk with metal influences (solos) which don’t fit with the music. Lots of “fuck you” attitude and lyrics, as shown by the song title of the month, “I Hate Everything.”
First off, these guys have the best logo—a rubber with a mohawk. Musically, they play thrashy punk with dumb but moderately humorous lyrics. Fun in a retarded way.
Mid-tempo punk without too much to set it apart from the pack, save their sing-along choruses. “Bell and Dagger” is the standout.
Great, great, great catchy punk tunes, with an accent on energy and momentum. Cool youthful vocals, too. Damn good stuff.
Run-of-the-mill speedmetal without anything to set it apart from the pack. Lyrics seem to be good, but, overall, this is pretty lackluster.
Relatively solid metallic punk with intelligent anti-system words. Strong material and good sentiments. I dig it.
Now that 7 SECONDS has gone on to “other things,” these guys may be able to take their place, judging by their solid thrash energy with singalong choruses and words stressing equality and social change. Really good—now watch for vinyl. P.S. Some profits go to No More Censorship Defense Fund.
Well-produced punk & thrash with metal influence. Lyrics are in the “fuck you, eat shit” vein. Pretty hot stuff within.
Four tunes here, three thrashers & one ’77-ish song. The speedy ones are moderately catchy, as is the slower tune. Pretty good.
Bouncy pop with silly words about binging, Bedrock, teepees, and such. A little too cute, but it’s fairly enjoyable, especially their cover of “The Blob” theme.
Mediocre punk of all speeds. A couple catchy choruses here and there, but not much to set it apart from the rest. Not to be confused with the U.S. CRUCIFIX.
Some grunge-y thrash from this Portuguese act. Eighteen live tunes with pretty good sound, rebellious lyrics, and loads of spirit. Cool stuff.
A pretty good debut release by this new L.A. outfit (originally out of Hawaii), alternating between quick thrash tunes and melodic punk numbers with interesting guitar work, all with thoughtful, caring lyrics. Nice job.
Obnoxious grunged out garage punk with even more obnoxious lyrics. With titles like “Dumpster Babies,” “Shelly Winter’s Thighs,” and “Crib Death,” you know what you’re in for.
Rap from hell? No pseudo-offensive BEASTIE crap rap, but harsh industrial rap with an annoying feel to it, which sounds fuckin’ great to me right now.
Here, C.C. offers six powerful songs, most not really up to the standard of those on their split LP. Still, their crunching thrash is full of force, on clear vinyl.
Pretty good garage punk but, damn it, these guys just don’t really sound too inspiring. Let’s hear some total frenzied insanity next time, OK?
Straightforward slow to mid-tempo punk with on-target political lyrics. Musically, this is nothing amazing, but the sentiments are appreciated.
Fairly strong punk & thrash without a lot of personality. Fun, but nothing amazing.
Metallic HC without much to set it apart from the rest of the pack. The energy is here, they just have to forge out their own sound.
ABOLISH AUTHORITY has a powerful sound comparable to a metal-influenced early DISCHARGE, and GENERALI continues the mania, but not as metal. Live and studio, strong material.
An OK tape by this band who mix a few different styles (post-punk, rap, thrash, etc). The tunes aren’t bad, the energy is there, but they need more personality.
Sing-along thrash not unlike early 7 SECONDS. Good personal lyrics and lots of raw energy. A band to watch for.
A German two-man band (drums, guitar, mouth) bashing out some fun, garage-y, sing-along punk rock. Sounds like some rad drinkin’ tunes to me.
Jangling pop-punk, which is a little on the “smooth” side—acoustic guitars, etc. Not bad, but could use a bit more grit and grind.
Some moderately powerful punk and thrash, nothing too out of the ordinary. Comes with a mini-lyric book. Words in German.
Yeah! Imagine early 7 SECONDS with a slight metallic tinge, add some well-thought-out positive and political words, and you got these guys: one fucking hot band!!
Very fast, tuneless ultra thrash like the first DRI LP. The slow parts are catchy, the thrash stuff is pointless. Sure, it’s really fast, but so is a blender.
Musically, this is hot Oi!-ish punk with loads of power. Lyrically, they appear confused. They seem to have a leftist/anarchist viewpoint, but also a sexist and homophobic attitude. No one rules? Duh.
Chunky garage punk with that charming raw quality. Lyrics run the gamut from personal stuff to silly sarcasm. Purdy good.
Pretty hot straightforward punk from this Bay Area act that no one hears about much. Includes some neat covers and nine originals. Fun stuff.
Pretty good mid-tempo punk with positive, optimistic words. A little similar to early DAG NASTY, but not as catchy. Worth a listen.
Fun, upbeat punk with a ’50s rock’n’roll feel to it. Lyrics are personally oriented. Hot rockin’ stuff.
Pretty lackluster stuff here: fast punk with sing-along choruses and not too much distinction. Slightly MISFITS-ish, but not as catchy. Average.
Jersey kooks will go nuts over these thirteen Garden State acts, featuring CRUCIAL YOUTH, CHRONIC FEAR, and more. Righteous punk tuneage from these loonies.
A good consistent compilation of HC and speedcore tuneage. Almost all U.S. acts; standouts include FEAR ITSELF, ATTITUDE, IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER, and more. Mostly unreleased stuff, with a couple live cuts. Thumbs up.
A limited edition colored vinyl comp EP with AMQA, CONDEMNED, IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER, SEA MONKEYS, and PSYCHO. Lots of gonzo thrash with slight metal bits. Not bad.
A comp of Yugoslavian punk acts, both past and present. Featured are KAOS, BLITZKRIEG, CRIST, and more. Most seem to have an energetic early punk sound. Booklet included.
An above average world comp featuring QUOD MASSACRE, DISARM, the WRETCHED, and more. Lots of scorching thrash and all profits go to various humanitarian groups. Booklet included.
A pretty hot east coast comp featuring CHEMICAL WASTE, AWARE, CRUCIAL YOUTH, and other quality acts, blasting out punk tuneage. Booklet enclosed.
A relatively solid comp featuring UK SUBS, GBH, and smaller acts like IRSTAS and BAD DRESS SENSE. Not bad, but did you have to include “Big Women”?
A pretty good comp here with DISORDER, QUOD MASSACRE, BARN AV REGNBUEN, FOLLOW FASHION MONKEYS, and more. Lotsa cool tuneage from around the globe. Booklet included.
Some pretty enjoyable sounds from Yugoslavia, ranging from ’77-ish tunes to all-out thrash. Includes QUOD MASSACRE, SOLUNSKI FRONT, and many, many more.
An above-average comp featuring acts from around the globe such as POWERAGE, SCREECHING WEASEL, POLITICAL ASYLUM, and more. Quite nice.
A damn ferocious comp featuring IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER, SHATTERED SILENCE, the UPRISE, and other fierce acts. Lotsa scorching thrash within.
Sorry, no sperm here, but there is an okay comp with the WALLMEN, A.P.P.L.E., PSYCHIC VIOLENTS, and others. Moderately enjoyable, and a great title.
A pretty good selection of English acts, from CHELSEA to CONFLICT to the STUPIDS. Sound quality varies, but the tuneage and production is good.
An hour’s worth of East Coast HC and metalcore. Bands featured are PRONG, CHRONIC FEAR, PSYCHO, LETHAL AGGRESSION, and many more. Consistently hot powercore stuff, not for the timid.
A pretty good buffet of tuneage here from experimental punk to scorching thrash. Standout acts include PSYCHO, BOURGEOIS DISEASE, and CANCEROUS GROWTH. Worth investigating.
A pretty hot comp of Yugoslav acts who play it mostly hard and fast. Standouts are 2227 and GENEV DELRET. Worth looking into.
A new one from BCT with CHALLENGER CREW, FEAR ITSELF, YOUTHQUAKE, SUBTERRANEAN KIDS, and other quality acts. A great tape and it helps this dedicated bunch to get out of debt. Buy now.
A comp of up-and-coming German bands like ALPTRAUM GMBH, BLUTSTURZ, MONEYPULIERTE, JUGEND, etc. Most are on the raw, loose punk side of things. Comes with booklet.
A pretty darn good comp of acts like CIVILISED SOCIETY?, A.D.S., DEAD SILENCE, and more, giving their views on war, animal, and human rights. Booklet enclosed, nice job.
Pretty cool melodic punk with a neat, rich guitar sound. Original tunes with unique twists and turns, gets a thumbs up from me.
Pretty intense punk and thrash with varied lyrical topics ranging from “Blood Feast” to personal subjects. Good tunes, but the words seem pointless.
Quite a variety of sounds here, from classical keyboard to punk noises, all with sung female vocals. Very diverse, I enjoyed some of this, but not all.
Two punky tunes with experimental tinges and a real smooth instrumental. Pretty good lyrics and an interesting sound.
Fairly enjoyable melodic pop punk from these French loonies. Contains live and studio material, a little stale in points, but pretty good otherwise.
Twenty-seven “songs” here (most under ten seconds) of utterly tuneless hyper-fast chaotic thrash. Good novelty, little substance; NAPALM DEATH fans take note. All profits go to ALF Bust Fund of Toronto.
A bone-crushing hybrid of metal, thrash, and the BLACK FLAG sound. Lyrically, they dwell on the horrors of modern day living. Totally mind-blowing material.
Raw, jangly pop punk with fun garage-y sound and spirit. Catchy tunes, for sure.
This band has most of their shit together: a hot display of garage-y HC and punk with metallic guitar bits. Lyrics are in the personal/social view. Good effort.
Pretty scorching, forceful HC with metallic tinges. Can’t comment on lyrics, but a couple titles (“My Bitch,” “Cops are Gay”) seem a little odd. Hmm…
With a name and title like this, I thought this would be humorcore, but this is garage-y punk and thrash with serious words covering apathy, ignorance, and exploitation. Pretty good.
A new metallic HC trio with a BULIMIA BANQUET-eer on bass. Vicious, powerful musicianship and mostly personal words add up to a darn hot tape.
Tuneful punk and thrash with personal words. A little cleaner and more melodic than their last tape, but their drive remains. Good, enjoyable stuff.
Screaming thrash with shitloads of energy. With all their hyperness, things go a bit sloppy, but this blazes fairly well.
More fun from this bunch of East Bay bozos. Chunky garage tunes about stinky feet and their punk rock lifestyle. Funny stuff.
An audiovisual introduction to El Sobrante and “Sobcore;” an hour’s worth of catchy spastic punk tunes with surprisingly serious lyrics, plus plenty of zaniness and personality. Includes a lyric booklet and miscellaneous objects from El Sobrante. You’ve heard the name, you’ve seen the pictures, now get the tape—all for the very low price of…
Extremely aggro thrash with slight metallic tinges. The guitars are fuzzed out, the lyrics are mainly social, the emphasis seems to be on the overwhelming power, which is a little squelched by the noisy production.
Pretty grunged out noise from this young act, who crank it out sloppy, loud, and aggressive. A pretty good start.
Yeah! Straightforward punk tuneage with great lyrics that show a good perspective on human relations. Hell, these guys are “harder” than most other acts who claim to be “hardcore.” Thumbs up!
A pretty appropriate band name, considering their fuzzed-out guitar tone. Good, driving punk tunes with catchy hummable melodies, and guitar leads which seem out of place. Good stuff.
Good question, don’t know if this will find the answer, but with righteous tuneage from DEVIATED INSTINCT, FRATRICIDE, LARM, & more, it certainly can’t hurt. Rad. All the proceeds go to the Toronto ALF Bust Fund.
This tape features super hot stuff from STIKKY, ELECTRO HIPPIES, DESECRATION, RIPCORD & more, but the tape has completely atrocious sound quality: recorded too low with a loud hiss throughout the whole thing.
Wow! Just about every country is represented on this world comp featuring VICIOUS CIRCLE, WRETCHED, SUBHUMANS, INFERNO and tons more. Great stuff, and comes with a book!
Yet another mega-righteous comp from the Flush folks – this one featuring NO FRAUD, SUBVERSE, SCREECHING WEASEL, and 5 more gonzo acts. Rad tuneage to the max.
All right! This is the most manic group I’ve heard in ages, featuring acts from W. Germany, Peru, UK, US, and Finland, the standouts being DESECRATION, THE ELECTRO HIPPIES, LAST OPTION, 7 IRSTAS. Amazing!!
A six (Canadian) band comp benefit for Aid To Nicaragua. Standouts include SONS OF ISHMAEL, M.S.I., and GUILT PARADE’s trashing of “Heartbreak Hotel.” A good record and an effort worth supporting. Cool.
A pretty good sampling of A.P.P.L.E., SEIZURE, THE SARCASTIC ASSHOLES, and more. All profits go to the No More Censorship Defense Fund, which is still heavily in debt.
Ninety minutes of righteous tuneage, the standouts being CANCEROUS GROWTH, SCREECHING WEASEL, and DEAD SILENCE. Well worth the moolah. Comes with booklet.
FORETHOUGHT, BLUTSTURZ, RAPED TEENAGERS and LEBERWOHLSTAND are just a few of the acts featured on this above average world comp. Lots of spirit and spark here.
Heaven (or hell?) is here if you’re a speedcore maniac, because those “jugga jugga” axes are here in full force. Acts include NO REBATE, BLOODCUM, GENERATION WASTE, and more.
A pretty damn good comp here featuring hot stuff from CORRUPTED MORALS, STIKKY, PINK LINCOLNS and more. Great selection of punk and thrash energy.
A hot comp with NO FRAUD, ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM, ARM THE INSANE, and lots more. All the proceeds go to the Toronto ALF Bust Fund.
A mega-thrashola comp with CHRIST ON A CRUTCH, BFD, THE HATES, and more. Lots of quick stuff here, and includes booklet.
Quick melodic punk with a bit of distortion to roughen things up a bit. Not bad, but the vocals and the commercial flavor kinda turns me off.
A pretty good showing by the ol’ SUBS, playing mostly energetic material with a clunker here and there. Good live recording, too.
Containing members and ex-members of WARZONE, PSYCHOS, and ULTRAVIOLENCE, these boys churn out some raw HC with a distorted guitar sound and lyrics which analyze personal and social problems. Pretty good.
Quick, melodic thrash with sing-along choruses, comparable to early 7 SECONDS. Lyrics cover war, poverty, violence, etc. An act to watch, keep up the good work!
These Aussie dudes come off with pretty good RAMONES-ish sound. Nothing happening lyrically, and not enough catchiness or power to push it over the top.
This is what suburbia does to people…forces them to form utterly psychotic thrash bands with totally deranged vocals. One question: why does the tape cover smell so fucking weird? On second thought, I don’t want to know.
Pretty basic thrash without much distinctiveness. Lyrically, they seem to dwell on depressing themes, judging by “Wanna Die” and “Self-Destruct”. Psychotic? Not really…
A split live EP from these two European acts. POLITICAL ASYLUM has a catchy, melodic punk sound with thoughtful lyrics, while the PISSED BOYS have a quick, tuneful style. Good stuff.
A very solid album of thrash and speedcore sounds, similar to a cross between MOTORHEAD, a thrash metal band, and a contemporary HC act. Can’t say this hasn’t been done before, but these guys do it pretty well.
A non-stop barrage of HC thrash with some metallic riffs creeping around here and there. Really straightforward, ferocious, aggressive stuff, especially “Negative Man.”
Some jangly pop-punk here, maybe sort of like the MONKEES. Real smooth and relaxing, but emotional. Pretty neat.
Quick thrashed out punk with lyrics which cover racism, nuclear weapons, and personal issues. Catchy tunes, well thought-out words, overall, a great job.
Although I love stupid humor, these guys go a bit too far with their anal/penile humor which gets annoying and, at times, insulting to certain people. Hey, they said it was shit, not me.
Musically, these guys totally blaze: intense, ripping thrash and speedcore. Lyrically they are hurtin’, lots of sexist bullshit, etc. Does the band outweigh the good? You decide.
Driving mid-tempo punk crossed with that later period BLACK FLAG psychotic sound. Lyrics are mostly in the twisted personal vein. Overall, a rather interesting combination, pretty good.
Finally, the long-awaited album by this Venice band. Basically, this hot LP showcases EXCEL’s intense HC/metal sound in a good light: very powerful tunes with personal/anti-conformity themes. A really intense album from perhaps the only Venice act who reveals some intelligence.
They’re from Venice. Guess what they sound like? Right, metal/HC with not too much happening lyrically. Not the worst thing I’ve heard and not the best. Mediocre.
Straightforward thrash energy from these CT kids. Lyrics seem to fall in the “positive” category. Purdy good.
Hot metallic HC with topical lyrics covering apathy, self-indulgence, and oppression. Not much guitar wanking, just full-on power, a great tape.
Good diverse punk that could use some tightening up. Lyrically, they stress intelligent themes while keeping a fun approach. Should turn into something good.
Pretty hot stuff here from this NY bunch: slow to fast HC with what sounds like good lyrics. Rather original, also worth looking into.
Hot, powerful thrash and punk with neat guitar gits from this Swedish act. Comes with a rad lyric book, but it’s in Swedish. Check this out.
Musically, this is a big change from their first LP. Their sound is now in a crunching METALLICA vein, heavy on the power, while still maintaining their intelligent lyrical outlook. Although I like this album, I was expecting a little more creativity from these guys and girl, rather than the pedestrian speedmetal fare.
Sounds like an American influenced skate/slam band. Mostly quick, forceful stuff, with some “heavy” sounds thrown in. Good stuff.
Strong punk and thrash with both melodic and metallic influences. Lyrically, they cover both personal and rebellious topics. Although the vocals get annoying at points, this is worth checking out.
Catchy, driving midtempo punk tunes with memorable choruses is what you’ll find here. Lyrics cover vivisection, freedom, and the mundanity of the “working life.” Pretty good stuff here.
A comp (whose profits go to Jello and Co.) featuring WIDE AWAKE’s powerful HC sound, BLOOD IMPULSE ACTIVISTS’ creative punk, MALCOLM TENT’s ranting poetry and more. Definitely worth getting.
A “history of” cassette, containing cuts off all their records, and a couple of live cuts. Great sounding punk and HC, well worth getting.
Innovative punk with attention keeping twists and turns, and neato guitar effects. A good mixture of power, originality, and momentum.
Five covers here: BEATLES, PINK FLOYD, etc. The originals may be sedate, but these guys totally rock out on “Ruby Tuesday” and “Comfortably Numb”. Pretty neat.
Despite their hokey name, these guys play some forceful metallic HC thrash, with anti-conformity and anti-government themes. Much better than their moniker would have you believe.
Yee…ouch! Totally searing punk and HC — sharp as hell, powerful, with a guitar sound that cuts steel! Blazing Midwest thrash.
Alright! I believe this is the first Mexican tape I’ve reviewed, and it’s great! Intense thrash similar to the Finnish ’83 style. Dirty production, but the anger, power, and energy shines through.
A damn hot first tape from this Chicago band, playing power-driving punk and thrash with a sense of melody and good lyrics. Definitely worth investigating.
Welcome to the garage. These Tennessee turkeys play from grunged out punk’n’thrash with appropriate chunky production. Lyrics are in the personal/social vein.
Full speed ahead power punk and hardcore with quite a few innovative bits and jarring stops/starts and tempo changes. “One Track Head” is a mind-blowing standout.
A way hot Aussie HC comp featuring ARM THE INSANE, NOBODY’S VICTIMS, and four more acts. Good material, booklet included. Nice job.
A pretty swell comp featuring some big names (DEAD MILKMEN, INSTIGATORS, etc.), and a host of smaller acts like BILLY & THE WILLIES, CIVILISED SOCIETY?, etc. Good stuff.
Yee…ouch! Another righteous comp from Flush Productions, featuring quality stuff from SEWER TROUT, IRSTAS, DISTORTION X, and many more. Consistently hot stuff here.
Righteous gonzocore from HEIBER, CRINGER, DISSENT, QUOD MASSACRE, and a slew of other world HC acts. Damn good sound, cool lyric book, one rad tape.
Totally enjoyable stuff from the crooks, catchy rockin’ mid-tempo punk with oodles of energy and drive. Way bitchin’.
A very on-target U.S. comp featuring tuneage by INSTED, SCREECHING WEASEL, FRONT, DIDDLY SQUAT, and more. Another righteous rad tape from this cool label.
Three bands share this tape: BACK TO BACK (CA) who have a hot clean thrash sound, YOUTH UNDER CONTROL (AZ) playing positive HC with energy, and LAST OPTION (AZ) dishing out fierce thrash with personal lyrics. Live records with booklet, great stuff!
A damn good comp of Icelandic acts ranging from straightforward punk to more conventional rock sounds. SOGBLETTIR, GULT AD INNAN, and the DAISY HILL PUPPY FARM stand out as the best.
A six band comp which features the catch punk of ALLIGATOR PARADE, HALF OFF’s powerhouse thrash, and GOV’T THRASHER’s hot noise. A hot consistent tape.
What a wicked cool comp featuring the likes of DESECRATION, SONS OF ISHMAEL, LIFE SENTENCE, and many more. Prime choice North American acts. Booklet enclosed.
Don’t let the posi-punk title scare you, cuz this fucker rocks hard with acts like PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, HALF OFF, and FALSE LIBERTY. This rocks your gizzard!
A pretty hot comp heavy on the HC and speedmetal with acts like SUBVERSE, DEATH SENTENCE, FRATRICIDE, and a slew of Canadian bands. Worth checking into.
Crossover stuff which leans a little more to the metal side. Powerful, hoarse vocals, can’t decipher the words, but “Punk Virgin” sounds a bit suspicious…
Hot straight thrash with personal lyrics. Tight, competent stuff with a good sense of melody and clean production. Good tape.
Great creative punk with loans of innovation and unique twists and turns. Angry personal and political words topped with tight instrumentation. Not generic by any means.
Insanity. 39 loony thrash tunes which would make the most serious hard-ass punker crack a smile, and at 5.1025641 cents a song, it’s a real bargain. Song title of the month: “Skinheads Move to Hungary.”
Fast energetic tuneful punk from the Aloha State, reminds me a bit of the FREEZE. Not sure about the lyrics, includes a tune called “Pussywhipped.” Hmmm.
Three straight powerful thrashers and two pounding metalchord numbers with “jugga-jugga” guitars galore. Hot shit…and a great band name, too.
Kicking off with a rad cover of the Sesame Street theme, these guys blaze out some driving melodic punk with buckets of energy present. Rad shit.
These guys claim to be inspired by DRI, but this is mostly mid-tempo metalpunk with so-so lyrics and lotsa guitar tweedling. Yeah, it’s powerful, but they should stop listening to crossover and put on early DRI for some spark.
These New Yorkers sound like New Yorkers — a vicious, angry, aggressive powerful HC assault with “fed up” words. Some metallic bits but not overbearing, just forceful NYHC.
RANCID DECAY plays tight, raging speedcore with power and complex structures, while MR. BUNGLE serves a buffet of sounds from reggae to metal to funk, etc., which totally rocks. Cool stuff here.
Here’s another Northern California act you should know about, cuz these jokers blast out a hot punk and thrash sound with honest positive lyrics and a lot of energy. Check this out.
Some basic garage thrash with socially relevant lyrics here. Punk “musicians” won’t be blown away by the talent and originality, but this is very energetic and fun.
Full-on, straightforward power chord punk very similar to the RAMONES, who seem to be a big influence. Catchy and driving stuff, so pinheads (and Steve Spinali) should take note. [I did. It’s on my Top 15 — Ed.]
Clean powerful thrash from this new Bay Area band. Can’t comment on the lyrics (none provided) but they do rip, shred, and all that.
Rather odd. If songs were sentences, these guys are spitting out fragments because their short electronic bursts come across as unfinished. Not bad, just out of the ordinary.
Pretty good garage-y punk but what rules here are the straightforward thoughtful lyrics which conquer war, religion, homophobia, and more. Good sentiments.
Some pretty hot stuff here, about half thrash, half slower melodic punk with rich guitar work. Lyrical sentiments are mostly in the “peace and freedom” category. This is AOK.
Four rather ferocious tunes here, fast angry punk with spastic high pitched vocals. Pretty hot twisted material.
With their scary/humorous moniker, I was expecting metal, but these dudes play some cool straightforward mid-tempo to slow punk tunes. Strong material.
Fucking brutal! Totally aggro cutthroat NYHC with some metallic licks thrown in. Lyrics are in the pissed off/fed up vein. Ferocious shit!
Side A is a quick, short thrasher with undecipherable screaming, while side B is an enjoyable mid-tempo basher. Not bad, but nothing overwhelming.
Yet another positive/straight-edge act from the SoCal area. You’ve probably heard something like this before, but it still sounds darn good, even to jaded ol’ me.
Okay, these dorks have been around for a bit and it’s time you heard their innovative raging thrash with silly but thoughtful words. With tunes like “Senator Hart Humped a Dumpling,” “Pollution Rules,” and “Buttman,” how can you go wrong? You can’t, get this.
Pretty solid punk and thrash here with Al Quint (of Suburban Voice zine) being the mouth at the mike spitting out the personal and social commentary. Not bad at all.
A solid third LP by this overlooked and recently reformed Jersey outfit. This is a very consistent effort: loads of driving punk with HÜSKER DÜ-ish tinges. Plenty of power, personal lyrics, well worth looking into.
This is righteous shit: rad rockin’ garage punk with lyrics about Ronnie, dumpster diving, and personal topics. There dudes blow doors, so get this!
Short energetic bursts of ’77 punk and thrash energy with an adolescent humorous “fuck you” attitude. Song title of the month: “Mommy’s Not a Heterosexual Anymore.”
Pretty intense garage-y punk’n’thrash with a fair amount of innovation. The coolest part is the ferocious female screamer. Keep up the good work.
Cool straightforward punk’n’thrash with memorable melodies. Tight, hard, yet tuneful, especially on “TV Babies” and “Self Defense”. Get this tape!
Brutal ravenous thrash with a metallic influence (mostly in the structures and leads) and lyrics concerning personal, political and horrific topics. The only setback is the noisy production which squelches the power a bit, but this still blazes.
Quick catchy punk similar to a SoCal sound, even the vocals. Reminds me of the first BAD RELIGION LP. Thumbs up for these dudes, who were great live.
This time, DAG NASTY has less punch and more melody present, bringing the DESCENDENTS’ pop sound to mind. Could be because it’s almost a whole new band, but aside from a few catchy hummable tunes like “Safe,” most of this LP struck me as ineffective and rather weak. Get back to the grind guys!
Mostly fast thrash tunes here with a couple disjointed yet powerful numbers thrown in. Good stuff, but why no lyric sheet?
Hot thrash from this new Canadian outfit. Not too generic, personal lyrics, seems to be FLAG-influenced guitarwork, eight damn good tunes.
A very NYHC sounding tape minus the metal damage. Lots of power, this knocks down the walls! Way rad.
Formerly CONDEMNED ATTITUDE, this band hits very hard with a powerful sound similar to a more metallish ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT with “reality” lyrics. Lotsa tempo changes, innovative structures. Good stuff from Andy Airplane and buds!
An interesting variety of sounds here: pile-driving punk and thrash, rap and MENTORS-ish metal rock lyrics and personal and political. Some pretty hot stuff on this one.
Straightforward basic driving thrash unaffected by other musical styles. I’d understand the words if I hadn’t failed my Spanish class. Good youthful energy.
Slightly metallic hardcore similar to POISON IDEA, but with a real sense of drama and passion. Lyrics are heartfelt and truly progressive. Hot stuff.
Ninety minutes of enjoyable punk noise from one of Germany’s first punk bands. Lots of catchy originals, plus covers of “Paranoia,” the Bonanza theme, and more. Weeee!
A pretty solid world compilation featuring the INSTIGATORS, YOUTH QUAKE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS and more. Contains studio and live material. Good job.
This blows doors! Innovative powerful thrash with lots of spark and bite, great production, the works. My suggestion; get this tape.
Pretty good thrash from this SoCal outfit. Lyrics mostly fall in the personal category: values, friends, etc. Fans of ILL REPUTE should check this out.
Hot, hot, hot stuff here by UNSEEN FORCE, IMPACT, INFERNO, ELECTRO HIPPIES, and more. Informative booklet enclosed and this is a benefit for Animal Liberation Front. No excuses, get this!
Four Holland acts on this disc: LAITZ, BTD, KIKKERSPUUG, and LOUD WARNING. All take the hard and fast approach, with a bit of variation. Not too much originality shines through, but the intensity is present, especially on BTD’s material.
An OK European comp with THE UNACCEPTED, UNION CARBIDE, and more. Music is mostly hard and fast and comes with a booklet. Nothing special.
Some good old style pop punk from HUNGRY FOR WHAT, KDP, MOTHER’S RUIN, and three other Swiss acts. Enjoyable shit, dudes.
A mega swell comp featuring a slew of hot upcoming Bay Area bands such as STIKKY, FORETHOUGHT, SHORT DOGS GROW, ISOCRACY, and mucho more. Great sound quality, a first class effort. GOOOOO!
A nice mixture of garage punk from APPLE, SCAB, etc., and ranting poetry from Donny the Punk, David Hiberman and more. Pretty enjoyable.
An hour international comp featuring the likes of FALLOUT, 8TH ROUTE ARMY, RUDOLF’s RACHE, and many more!
Interesting title for a varied comp of mostly European acts. Music ranges from ’77-ish stuff to thrash and spacey punk. Relatively enjoyable.
A benefit tape for the Lincoln Park Peace Festival which will occur on August 1 & 2 in Chicago. This consists of 9 Chicago-area punk acts and is an effort well worth supporting.
Rather uninspiring mid-tempo punk without many memorable qualities. Not bad, but it just didn’t keep my attention.
Yeee…Ouch! Clean, vicious, scorching thrash with shitloads of power and energy. Lyrics cover personal and political sentiments. Buy this tape, you fuddy-duddy!
Stop-on-a-dime thrash and punk with strange quirky hits interspersed. The personal lyrics are pretty “punk”. Tight and hot.
…and pretty soothing vibes these guys are! Distorted melodic stuff here with a relaxing, hypnotizing effect. Very nice. I like this.
A femme Japanese RAMONES trio? They sound like it, and although the tunes all sound a bit familiar, it’s still enjoyable. Catchy stuff.
Short fast angry songs from this Spanish act. Production is a bit muffled, but the energy, power, and emotion is there.
Fun juvenile pop-punk with humorous lyrics slagging the cops, the government, and Ted Night (who does totally suck). Catchy stuff within.
These jokers play a variety of styles with punk energy. Six fun, varied tunes, all with good production and spark.
Fast punk and thrash with that grungy garage edge. But on one tune they ask “Who would ever think that a band like us would have all the pussy on a big bus?” Give it up, guys.
Six clean-sounding live tunes from this good upcoming band who have a fast melodic sound similar to early 7 SECONDS. Best cut: “Dicks Deli.”
A good showing by this West German act. The A side is a catchy mid tempo basher with good lyrics and powerful guitars, while the B side alternates between thrashy and reggae. Hot stuff.
Metal punk with more originality than your average speedcore act. Lyrics range from abstract to topical subjects. A fairly impressive showing here.
Was expecting sloppy thrash, but got powerful mid-tempo punk with driving guitar work. Strong stuff here and lyric topics very good.
Mostly slow to mid-tempo grinding, crunching power punk with quite a few speed bursts. Best comparison would be a thrashed-out version of the AMEBIX.
OK grungy metal punk with varied lyrics: Most are ok, but there’s “Tim Sucks” (Not about Bobo Yohannan, I hope) and “Anarchy Bitch” which is totally moronic.
Yahoo! This is great! Very hot, energetic, innovative, multi-influenced punk with intelligent, realistic lyrics. Definitely put this on your Christmas list.
These crazy Nevadans play poor white trashy punk with a grungy guitar sound and garage-y production. Basic but fun.
Ferocious punk and thrash from this new Canadian outfit. Lyrically, it’s mostly personal, but humor shines through on “Barbadeath” and “Punker Than Thou.” Blazing stuff!
Fun, energetic, driving mid-tempo punk with an ultra-raw guitar sound and personal lyrics dealing with love, straight edge, metal, etc. Good shit from MOO.
Much more diverse than earlier efforts, this band’s powerful, driving punk sound still remains, but both melody and metallic influences are apparent, resulting in a catchy sound which is sometimes drawn-out.
Frantic speedcore with the shrieking intensity of Italian HC. Although “Hot Rods To Hell” reveals intelligence, the rest is riddled with HM clichés: 2nd grade horror lyrics, self-indulgent musicianship, etc. Pass…
Pretty standard mid-tempo punk with some pretty catchy choruses. Nothing too fancy or excessive, just good ol’ basic punk rock.
Super-aggressive thrash with ultra-throaty vocals which makes me think of NEGATIVE APPROACH. Pretty ferocious stuff for all you rug cutters.
Straightforward, potent thrash not unlike Boston’s JERRY’S KIDS. The production is clean but powerful and the lyrics tackle war and rebellion. Searing stuff here, definitely check this out.
Grungy punk and thrash with lyrics that cover apathy, vegetarianism, and lighter topics. “Satan In My Drain” stands out as a total crack-up! Comes with booklet.
Christian hard rock not unlike STRYP…oops, wrong tape! No way, these loonies play the more urgent, frantic thrash, it’s insane. 72 songs in 60 minutes. DRI, eat your heart out.
Jolting, mind-blowing HC in the great Italian tradition which will bowl you over. Tempo changes galore, amazingly great production, and impassioned “us vs. them” lyrics. Brain-shattering music from the heart, get it!
Hot clean trash with some metallic smudges. A rad female screamer, anti-system lyrics, good job. Keep it up!
Well, my grandma lives in Concord, but she wouldn’t like these guys. Their hot, clean thrash would hurt her ears. She wouldn’t appreciate their lyrics, either, which criticize social and political problems.
Hot punk and thrash which reminds me of the 1981 East Coast sound: hard, fast, with a searing guitar sound. Lyrically, not much is happening, but this still jams.
A pretty hot collection of garage-y speedcore material here, but no Satanic crap. Lyrics are about conformity, South Africa, and “the scene” predominate. Good job.
This comp features material from CRAZY’s out of print LP and 12″, and from the sound quality I’d guess this was recorded directly off those records. Good ’77-’79 style rocking punk with political lyrics.
Frantic noise here — very abrasive and chaotic with frenzied vocals. Nothing too original, but it’s urgent and crazy stuff.
Pretty hot straightforward HC which reminds me a little of early DRI. Quick catchy tunes and a distorted guitar sound makes this one an attention-getter.
A variety of sounds here, mostly slow melodic punk and extremely catchy stuff. Side two features a digital piano. An enjoyable showing here.
A pretty solid comp with RESJESTRACJA, A.S.F., A.P.P.L.E., and more. A good variety of material with clear sound quality. Good effort.
Spastic thrash from Yugoslavian HC acts including the DISSIDENTS, S.O.R. PROGRESSIVE IDIOTS, and more. Sound quality varies immensely. Pretty good.
A solid effort here, featuring GENERIC RIPCORD, DESECRATION, and oodles more. Sound quality is swell, and a mini-booklet is included.
Six acts from NJ and PA such as DIRGE and CHRONIC FEAR shoot out two or three songs each adding up to a pretty good comp. Also includes a FOD interview and a This Zine Sucks zine for…
A well-rounded Chicago Area comp with an accent on the twisted garage-y style. Hottest tunes are by NO EMPATHY, FLY FLOOD, and INITIAL REACTION. Good job, comes with magazine.
Four acts share this tape: W.C.F. (hot, clean, thrash), INFERNO (powerful speedcore), PURE HATE (grungy punk and thrash), and THE GRUESOMES (forceful thrash). All live with a good sound quality.
A varied collection of sounds here ranging from thrash to new wavish material. Includes: STIKKY, BRIGADES, GLITTER WITCH, and much more.
A solid double cassette compilation including CRUDE SS, COLERA, SCRAPS, POLITICAL ASYLUM, and many more. Comes with a large booklet and some profits go to an animal protection group. Neat.
Four bands share this comp: WOUNDED KNEES (twisted metal thrash), RESPIRATOR (mostly strange thrash), 7 MINUTES OF NAUSEA (inaudible noise), and NO IDEA (hot powerthrash). Mostly good stuff here.
A solid U.S. comp with VERBAL ASSAULT, FALSE LIBERTY, HALF OFF, and a smorgasbord of other dandy acts. A great introduction to smaller U.S. HC bands, booklet included.
YOUTHQUAKE, FORETHOUGHT, and MORAL CRUX are the standout acts on this well-rounded comp which included sounds ranging from garage-y punk to super thrash. Great stuff here.
A solid comp of mostly melodic garage punk and thrash. Hot tunes are by: ROT, VERMIN FROM VENUS, FOE, and TERMINAL CHOICE. Good show.
Pretty solid speedcore that doesn’t really stand out from the pack. Okay lyrics about religion, war, and other topical subjects. Not bad but not amazing, either.
With a name like the SWAMPSURFERS, I was expecting psychobilly weirdness, but this is relentless thrash not unlike RAWPOWER. Crazy stuff within.
Hot, energetic ’77-ish punk with a mixture of personal and horrific lyrics. At places, sounds like the MISFITS. Great stuff here.
A powerful fast punk sound which reminds me a bit of a non-metallic MOTORHEAD. “No Time” and “These Days” are the standout cuts.
A diverse selection of noises from garage-y punk to speed metal to jazzy material all with a spacy guitar sound and personal lyrics.
Kind of a “history of…” tape consisting of material from 82-’87. Of course it’s obnoxious, snarly punk rock from these Canadian jokers.
Hot metallic thrash with mostly gloomy lyrical themes. The vocals get a bit muffled at times, but tunes like “No Future” deserve to be heard.
Very powerful, drunken punk and thrash extremely similar to POISON IDEA. Heavy on the drive and power. Good job, dudes.
More grungy street punk from these jokers. Some catchy tunes here, and “We Rule the World” is damn rockin’. Cool Stuff.
Some fast, juvenile sounding punk here with personal lyrics. Good stuff here and they have a totally cool logo: a sleeping cat!
Three cuts here: the title track being the best of the cuts, an impassioned, melodic, mid-tempo punk number with some acoustic guitar work. On the flip are two powerful, speedcore bashers with complex structures. A good 7″.
Pretty powerful stuff here, a forceful collection of hard thrash (the non-metallic variety), and slower, punk-influenced tunes. Good show, boys.
Aargh! Brutal stuff here: abrasive thrash with a chainsaw sound. Eight tunes, all gnarly. Insane shit here, dude.
Mostly basic, ripping thrash which is undeniable tight and powerful, though a bit lacking in the innovation department.
Wow! This is neat! Powerful energetic pop punk with a drum machine. In general, I don’t like “non-human instruments” but this is darn good!
Wow! Incredible stuff here! Metallic thrash (but not generic speedcore) with pretty good lyrics and powerful production. Get this.
A pretty good but not amazing mixture of 77ish punk and thrash tunes with both serious and silly lyrics. Most effective are “Song are Rudi,” “Punx Not Allowed,” and “Remember Auschwitz.”
Straightforward punk and hardcore with well-thought-out, intelligent, caring lyrics dealing with ignorance, oppression, and the destruction of various subcultures. Their honesty and sincerity, as shown by their cool lyric book, makes this worthwhile.
COC seems to be sidestepping the whole speedmetal/crossover scene with this new release. Their sound now takes influences from mid-period DISCHARGE and early BLACK SABBATH, but COC still has the two things most other punk/metal bands lack: originality and intelligence. Thumbs up.
Pretty good RAMONES-y punk with a hard to hear organ. Fairly enjoyable tunes but something sounds a little out of sync.
Vicious, ultra-fast thrash not unlike early D.R.I. If you’re an insane mega-thrasher, this tape is definitely for you.
Yeah! These guys are right on target; ferocious punk and thrash with angry lyrics slagging sexist goons, vigilantes, homophobes, and other lamos. Cool stuff, keep it up! Booklet enclosed.
Excerpts taken from this East Coast outfit’s four year existence. Contains live and studio material with varying sound quality, but all is powerful thrashy stuff.
Great fast punk with lyrics about TV, ignorance, etc. Very energetic stuff here with excellent production to boot. Watch for these guys.
Here is GG ALLIN with 45 minutes of raw, intense debauchery. Some may call him sexist, violent, or stupid, but some of these tunes are catchy! Not for the easily offended or “politically correct.”
These New Yorkers have finally released a record that does them justice. A collection of clean, powerful hardcore with committed positive lyrics. Not as fun as their live show and a little short on innovation, but this is still a good LP.
60 minutes of wicked thrash noise from the likes of LAST OPTION, CIRCLE OF SIG-TIU, CONDEMNED ATTITUDE, and more. Rockin’ stuff here.
Thrash to the max from a number of Swedish acts, including MOB 47, RAPED TEENAGERS, AVSKUM, and many more. Lots of brutal stuff here.
Ninety minutes of good stuff featuring many of the “Comp Tape Faves”: HALF OFF, FALSE LIBERTY, INSTED, and many more. Pick up this swell tape.
Mucho good stuff here by bands like INSTED, FALSE LIBERTY, CORRUPTED MORALS, and more. Just basically a consistently great tape.
Pretty darn good stuff here from nine US acts, including NO FRAUD, CORRUPTED MORALS, SEWER TROUT, and more. Good song selection plus clean production add up to a good comp.
A 180-minutes benefit comp for the opening of an anarchist center in SoCal. Acts include DIATRIBE, APPLE, GUERILLA URBANA, and more. Well worth buying. Booklet included.
Hot punk and thrash with slight metal influences, but not too much. Lyrics are in the personal/political view. Great stuff guys, keep it up! Lyric book enclosed.
Totally brutal!! This is the most savage, ferocious thrash I’ve heard since SIEGE. Full on confrontational power thrash back with intelligent words. Keep this away from small children.
Funny, mid-tempo melodic punk not unlike early DESCENDENTS. Lyrics have a unique personal angle also similar to the DESCENDENTS. Great stuff here.
Some intense, powerful speedmetal from this young Bay Area outfit. The big influence here seems to be SLAYER, judging from the fast straightforward approach and lyrics about ghouls and goblins. Could’ve been a bit more original, but this still blows down the walls.
Wow! Hard-ass punk and thrash with unique twists and turns thrown in. Lyrics cover this crazy fucked up stuff. Check this puppy out.
Yet another insane Italian act blasting out lunatic heartfelt thrash. Lyrics seem to be of a political nature. A definite thumbs up.
Hard-ass thrash with a hefty supply of unique twists and turns. Hyperactive lunacy at its best. Quality stuff here.
Energetic country punk: fast and furious with bouncy bass lines. Hot stuff here.
Raging distracted punk and thrash with metallic tinges and straightforward intelligent topical lyrics. Explosive stuff here.
Yahoo!! Energetic reggae/ska based material with insightful, creative lyrics by Dick (ex-SUBHUMANS). Totally great enjoyable stuff here. Watch for vinyl.
A hilarious, scathing parody of the positive outlook straight edge scene, with songs like “Positive Dental Outlook” and “Posi-Machine.” A total crackup.
This sucks! Wait, are you kidding? This is a live recording of C.O.C.’s metallic madness and NOTA’s HC barrage, with good production and comes with lyrics. Fuckin’ righteous shit, dude.
Hot!! Blazing thrash with unique embellishments and male and female vocals. A dozen songs, good stuff!
Very powerful Swedish HC with “fuck you” lyrics and attitude. Words cover conformity, Freddy Krueger, and more. Good clean fun.
These guys are as punk as their name! They play basic powerful slow-to-fast punk with angry vocals and hateful lyrics.
DRI-ish thrash with a slight shade of personality. They’re competent and possess good lyrics, but need to develop their own style.
All from Spain, most of the bands here favor a psychotic thrash sound, although a healthy dose of ska/reggae appears. Hottest tracks are from B.A.P., ANTI-DOGMATIKSS, and SUBTERRANEAN KIDS. Good job.
A good sampling of West German bands (CERESIT, CIRCLE OF SIGTIU, etc.), a few U.S. bands (SEIZURE, BURNT, etc.), and more. This is mostly forceful stuff, so pick this up.
Thrash or die, indeed! DEPRESSION, GASH, PERDITION, and five more Aussie acts blast out some rad shit, all with pretty good production. Booklet enclosed. Cool.
A comp from the garage, featuring punky and thrashed out noises from STATE OF CONFUSION, BORN WITHOUT A FACE, S.N.O.T., and more. Some good stuff here.
A solid Filipino comp with hot cuts by the BETRAYED, WUDS, and PUBLIC SCANDAL. Mostly punk, but a couple rockabilly tracks are thrown in.
Contains many “big” European acts like INFERNO, RATTUS, WRETCHED, INSTIGATORS, etc., plus smaller acts scattered around the globe. Lots of good stuff here.
A blazing hot dose of live HC by the likes of BGK, LEEWAY, FALSE LIBERTY, and many more. Sound quality is generally good. Snag up this fucker.
A way hot tape starring CLOWN ALLEY, LEEWAY, RAPED TEENAGERS, VICIOUS CIRCLE, and many more. Ninety minutes of great material, so get this, dude!
Another comp of European outfits, showcasing a variety of punk and hardcore sounds. Most notable are GEPOPEL, DISACCORD, and PLAGUE. Good selection of material here.
Relatively powerful punk with a considerable amount of gusto. Cool guitar sound, pretty rockin’ stuff here.
Mostly pretty tedious 77-ish punk with a few catchy choruses to make some cuts memorable. Lyrics are in the “personal rebellion” vein. Okay.
The RAID play basic but enjoyable garage punk with pop influence. Lyrics are in the rebellious vein. Pretty catchy stuff here.
PSYCHO has released a full album’s worth of blazing thrash which is undeniably powerful, but some tempo variations would have helped. Lyrics cover conformity, society, Ed Gein, and more. A solid, vicious release.
Totally raging obnoxious adolescent thrash with some pretty good lyrics, and some pretty bad ones. Lots of spirit and energy in these guys.
Here’s some solid garage punk with realistic lyrics covering starvation, war, the underprivileged, etc. Comes with a lyrics book with effective graphics. Great job (not the band from Pomona!)
Three French acts here: MST (basic but hot thrash), MASK HAAGAZ (more basic but not thrash), and BUTCHER (noisy thrash). Pretty good.
Yet another INSTIGATORS live tape, displaying their catchy melodic sound. There’s no doubt they’re a great band, but are all these cassettes really necessary?
Some hot thrash an enjoyable 77-ish punk from these jokers. Lyrics are mostly serious, but inject some silliness in, along with sexist overtones. Pretty good.
All right! Hot mid-tempo punk with a 50s rock’n’roll sound to it. The only set back are the long leads; otherwise, this knocks down the walls!
Totally ridiculous insanity from these dorks. With songs like “Cheddar Cheese Party” and “Annoy the Cat with a Maracca,” you just can’t go wrong. Gooncore rules!
Hot thrash with some interesting breaks, but the lyrics take the cake, covering horns, clove cigarettes, beer, and more important topics. Song title of the month: “You Can’t Eat Marx.”
Much more metallic than their demo. CLOWN ALLEY now sounds like a cross between METALLICA and C.O.C., with lyrics that range from topical to abstract. Powerful production, nice packaging, not much guitar wanking. I dig this!
Here you can get the GROWTH’s LP, some old demos, and a recent live show all on one cassette! Good, forceful HC, especially the live material.
An interesting mixture of thrash and melodic punk with topical lyrics. “McPunks” is the standout, musically and lyrically.
A great tape divided into a “then” side, 77-ish punk with reggae and pop flavorings, and a “now” side with a more HC sound, with some thrash tunes reminiscent of SOA. Excellent.
Yahoo! Great HC in the Italian tradition: powerful thrash with metallic guitar work, but much tighter than many of their peers. Excellent.
A good sampling of tunes from the APOSTLES’ vinyl offerings. A swell introduction to this English outfit’s unique sound.
Good obnoxious punk with sarcastic lyrics. Catchy choruses, adolescent rebellious attitude. Neat stuff.
Ninety minutes of acts like MDC, STATE OF MIND, A.P.P.L.E., FINAL CONFLICT, etc. all spewing out their strong lyrical sentiments. Informative booklet enclosed. Cool stuff.
A solid comp of mid-tempo garage-y punk, many with a pop influence. Twenty-five acts, all from Delaware. Pretty good.
A solid comp of recent Hungarian material: punk of all speeds with varied production and intensity. Good, but not amazing.
A sampler in the true sense of the word, with 19 NJ/NY outfits playing everything from psych to speedcore to melodic pop to 77-ish punk to comedy skits! For the diverse.
Garage-y punk and thrash from these USELESS PIECES OF SHIT. Lots of songs, grungy production, stupid punk at its best, or is that worst?
Mostly melodic punk and thrash with intricate guitar work here, save their MOTORHEAD cover. Neat lyrics book with intelligent lyrics. Swell job.
Pretty pedestrian thrash with a considerable amount of gusto. Lyrically, these guys possess a heavy anti-drug and alcohol slant. Pretty good.
A hot live set from the SUBHUMANS’ last show, with mucho songs including a great live version of “From the Cradle to the Grave.” Opening act STEVE L. plays melodic acoustic punk with smart lyrics. An excellent tape.
Powerhouse thrash with some cool melodic breaks. Only four songs, but a neat tape.
Mostly mid-tempo, driving punk with occasional ventures into SEPTIC DEATH-ish thrash. Lyrics have a desperate personal edge to them. Cool.
Punk rock with a great obnoxious “punk rock” attitude. Lyrics range from rebellious to ridiculous. About 45 minutes worth of great tunes plus a funny interview. Too great for words.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS are a new NC band who play punk and thrash with metallic tinges. Eleven songs, clean production, personal lyrics. Good job.
Superfast hyperthrash with fierce roaring vocals. Nothing too original, just 15 minutes of total insanity.
Mostly ferocious noisy thrash but a little more metal than their flexi released last year. Good lyrics, and contains both live and studio material.
Some recent recordings by Finland’s RATTUS, showcasing a powerful hardcore sound with metallic guitar work and thoughtful lyrics. Contains live and studio material. Good job.
Here’s a Scottish act who makes a variety of noises, all with intelligent words about war, pacifism, etc. Enjoyable stuff.
Rockin’ garage-y pop punk with a fair amount of variation. Hilarious personal lyrics, too. Fun stuff here.
A new release from the new version of the NIKOTEENS. Mostly energetic HC with slight metal influences. Good job.
Fun, garage-y, varied punk with good, common sense lyrics. Good stuff, but “Terminal Dudes” and “Gay Rape Squad” stand out as prime cuts.
An interesting mixture of punk, hard rock, and reggae. MCRAD definitely has their act together, but the wanking leads go a bit overboard. Pretty good.
This band covers the “Beverly Hillbillies Theme” and does a song called “Jordache Jeans Hurt My Balls.” Yup, it’s snotty, garage-y punk and thrash at its finest. Sarcastic lyrics, of course.
Once again, the INSTIGATORS treat us to a live tape, this one recorded on their recent U.S. tour. Ten hard, melodic songs, most previously released. Good.
Hot screaming thrash and slower mosh madness. But what I really dig are the positive lyrics that aren’t to criticize the “born again straight edge” movement. Too cool! Keep it up, guys.
Powerful thrash and HC from this Indiana outfit. Straightforward, but innovation is present. Lyrics seem to be in the spooky/horror vein.
Well, not godlike, but a pretty god showing with garage-y energy and silliness. Good “Sesame Street Theme” cover. Fun.
Cool mid-tempo singalong stuff with a variety of influences. Six good songs from this Florida band (not the San Diego FRONT).
Gloomy punk but energetic, not weighted down by their “depression.” There’s definite commercial leanings a la SIOUXSIE, but this is still pretty enjoyable.
Driving, mid-tempo punk with melodic guitar work. Six songs, not overwhelming, but pretty good.
Dirty thrash with hoarse, shrieking vocals not unlike NEGAZIONE. Not too much metal damage, personal lyrics. A solid effort.
These guys have the clean, non-metallic SoCal punk sound down pat, even the vocals remind me of BAD RELIGION. Good lyrics in a neat booklet. Good job.
A solid competent demo with a focused metallic punk/thrash sound comparable to RAW POWER. Lyrics shift from smart to silly. Excellent stuff.
Another new SoCal outfit with the “straightedge sound”: Fast, clean thrash with positive lyrics. A good band, but nothing that hasn’t been done before.
Mostly garage-y punk with a melodic edge. The lyrics rise above the “garage band topics” covering capitol punishment, honesty, college radio stations, etc. Neat.
Musically, it’s a mixture of soft and harsher sounds. Lyrically, it’s all powerful, dealing with domination, revolution, and liberation. Inspiring.
Varied punk with a number of influences from this East Coast all-girl outfit. Three songs, all pretty good.
Slow to mid-tempo punk with interesting guitar work. Lyrics cover vivisection, patriotism, war, “the system”, and other subjects. Good sentiments but gets a bit tedious.
A hot, consistent album from this young Bay Area outfit, playing powerful metallic HC with smart lyrics. Sure to be a hit with the crossover crowd, and most others as well. This version of A.A. has now split into a new (original line-up) A.A. and into CONDEMNED ATTITUDE.
A consistent collection of recent Hungarian hardcore outfits. Most notable are the KRETENS and MARINA REVUE. Good stuff.
One dozen European acts are represented here, blaring out their own brands of ’77 punk and thrash noise. Among the best are RAPED TEENAGERS and INFERNO. Hot stuff.
A five band benefit for the No More Censorship Defense Fund. Most of the bands here take the hard and fast approach, so why not help out Jello and the gang?
From the land of AOD, here comes 16 more acts for you to sink your teeth into. Prime cuts are by DIRGE, X-MEN, HOGAN’S HEROES, and V.I. Great Joisy hardcore.
Possibly the fastest band in the world, playing blazing thrash with off the wall disjointed breaks. Lyrics seem to be appropriately silly. Crazy.
Forceful hardcore, but not as metallic as other recent NY acts, instead relying on powerthrash and grinding most breaks. Hot.
A hot speedcore act mixing the sounds of METALLICA and the ACCUSED. Six songs and a funny interview, one darn impressive tape.
Great garage-y punk and thrash that brings CODE OF HONOR to mind. Lyrics seem to be in the social/political vein. Good stuff, and a tasteful name, too.
The second cassette by these garage gods. This one boasts solid musicianship and thoughtful, sometimes humorous, lyrics. Quite a blast.
Was expecting gloom and doom, but got some varied innovative thrash with funny lyrics, one song being a gloom satire. Contains live and studio material.
Some great melodic SoCal-ish punk from this talented bunch. Songs are dramatic, a bit long, but someone sign these guys. Great Damned cover, too.
ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM bases their intense diverse sound around their even more intense message; speaking out against governments, war, and human exploitation. Dedicated.
A live comp of up-and-coming East Coast acts. Making appearances here are CANCEROUS GROWTH, PTL KLUB, and a handful of smaller bands. Good job.
A nice mixture of pop-punk, thrash, ’77, and even some ska punk thrown in, all delivered by Yugoslavian outfits. Comes with a booklet, neat package.
Here’s a Peruvian HC comp showcasing acts which range from frantic thrash to energetic ’77 punk, with varied sound quality. Most notable is LEUSEMIA, Peru’s answer to the RAMONES.
The Spanish equivalent of MINOR THREAT? Well, they cover “Straight Edge” and they have a fast, clean sound. Lyrics in Spanish, fucking great stuff.
Not quite as frantic as their fellow Italians NEGAZIOONE or INDIGESTI, STIGE favors a slightly melodic thrash sound, characterized by a hyperspace guitar sound. Good job.
A one-man band, believe it or not. Reminds me a little of the UK SUBHUMANS, with an energetic sound and impassioned political lyrics. Small booklet enclosed, great effort.
A searing performance from this overlooked Boston outfit. About thirty minutes of insane thrash and even a funny interview on side two.
Cleanly produced garage punk which occasionally ventures into surf, funk, etc. Lyrics seem to be quite sarcastic. A fun tape.
Fast melodic punk from these Swedish crazies. Includes five originals and a cover of “I Saw Her Standing There.” Fun.
Thrash, jazz, and funk up the butt, dude. A total crackup, right down to them saying Oi stands for Oppressed Intelligence. Too funny for words.
Don’t know much about this except that it’s produced by Tom Lyle (GI), that it has the classic D.C. sound — driving punk with powerful guitarwork and clear, expressive vocals. Great.
Another in CBGB’s live series, this one being a relentless barrage of fast punk and thrash with singalong choruses. Fucking intense!
These guys call themselves a HC ska band and that’s pretty accurate: upbeat jangly ska tunes with Oi choruses. Mostly energetic stuff here, lotsa fun.
Probably the most intense, tight, ripping act from SoCal since EXCEL, who seem to be a big influence. In fact, I’d say a number of “metalphobes” could get into these guys because of their sheer intensity. Wild.
Disjointed, dissonant punk which reminds me a little of DIE KREUZEN’s recent material. This has some rockin’ energy, and is more interesting to listen to than a lot of other bands.
Here’s yet another cool int’l comp with vicious, urgent stuff from LARM, MASS APPEAL, PESADELO, and more. Sound quality gets crunchy at times, but overall, this blasts.
A benefit tape for this Arizona fanzine. It’s short but very sweet, with absolutely raging tracks from FALSE LIBERTY, VIRULENCE, PSYCHO, and more. Explosive stuff.
Three bands here: NECROPHILIA, playing fast buzzing thrash; HERPES DISTRESS, with a straight-forward ferocious approach; and SOLUKSKI FRONT, who show more control, but still rock. Keep up the good work.
TERMINAL CHOICE have that clean melodic SoCal sound with caring, thoughtful lyrics. Only four songs but definitely worth it. Good job, guys.
Reminds me a bit of the INSTIGATORS, with a fast and powerful yet melodic sound with good lyrics. Only four songs but darn good.
This is Tim’s (ex-C2D) new project, playin rockin’ mid-tempo punk comparable to the later C2D material. Lyrics are in the horror/gore vein, of course. Fun.
This band has a basic thrash sound with a good bit of melody, but the heartfelt lyrics and good production sets this tape apart. Comes with booklet (with translated lyrics).
I could’ve guessed this trio was from NY by their thrash/metal/mosh sound, which reminds me a little of the CRUMBSUCKERS. Lyrics are in the abstract vein. Good job.
21 songs of melodic yet powerful punk, alternating between driving and lighter cuts, enhanced by anti-war lyrics. Contains studio and live material.
These guys call themselves a HC ska band and that’s pretty accurate: upbeat jangly ska tunes with Oi choruses. Mostly energetic stuff here, lotsa fun.
46 minutes of fast, energetic punk from this Czech band. Good production brings out the power of their 15 originals and 4 covers (DAMNED, RESIDENTS, etc.). Neat.
Hot upbeat melodic punk from this New England outfit. Live, but the good production brings out the power. Good up-and-coming band.
This Michigan 5-piece has a song called “Spirit of ’76″ and that gives a good idea about their sound: garage-y pop-punk with jangly guitars and personal/political words. Pretty good.
Twisted punk and thrash that reminds me of early DIE KREUZEN, but more tweaked out. Heavy power, original breaks. I like it.
Despite the lack of lyrics, pictures, etc. enclosed, this is one of the best speedcore releases to date. Not generic thrash-metal at all, this displays incredibly tight musicianship, innovative structures, and unexpected breaks which push this one over the top.
Hard-driving fast punk with a good bit of melody. Lyrics alternate between personal and silly. Lots of fun.
Face it, if you haven’t heard the INSTIGATORS yet, you’re a worm. But here’s your chance to snatch up to 13-songs of their hard melodic sound captured in a live setting. A damn fun tape.
Some pretty hot stuff here. This is straight, urgent thrash with a good amount of musical variation. Lyrics seem to concentrate on torture. Good effort.
Wow! 60 minutes of thunderous thrash with metal guitar action that blows away anything in its path. Good sound quality, tight, and “Final Fight” and In All This Shit” were real eye-openers.
A mega-cool comp with EXCEL, NO FRAUD, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, and thirteen more HC groups. Another great job from this promising and consistent new label.
A truly cool HC comp featuring the RAPED TEENAGERS, CANCEROUS GROWTH, LUDICHRIST, PSYCHO, and many more. Here the accent is on gruff thrash, but a few slower cuts break up the mayhem. Darn good.
Basically, a pretty good comp containing mostly smaller US outfits. Musical styles vary a bit, but LIFE SENTENCE, LEGION OF DOOM, and PUNKS FOR PROFIT really rock out.
ROT has a poppy SoCal beach punk sound accented by fuzzed-out guitar work and sarcastic lyrics. Ten songs of pure fun!
A dozen tunes of that forceful SoCal sound. A good mixture of thrash and melodic punk with angry vocals. Hot release.
A pretty strong blast from these Washington weirdos. This is slow to fast HC with thoughtful lyrics. My one gripe: it’s only five songs! But it still rips.
Formed from the ashes of VIOLENT COERCION, this band plays powerhouse thrash and pounding BL’AST-ish noise, accented by anti-authority lyrics. A fierce band to watch out for.
There’s a basic “SF street punk” sound forged out by the LEWD, FUCK-UPS, etc., and this band seems to fit that classification, save their sing-along choruses. Pretty good.
A sloppy, messy version of RKL? These guys do have potential, and with time, they’ll rock like crazy.
18 short blasts of repetitious DISCHARGE-ish thrash with horrific lyrics mostly dealing with war. Neat lyric booklet, pretty good job.
Hard thrash with some speedcore tendencies. The band is tight, the lyrics are personal and social, and the tape is enjoyable, but a bit lengthy.
Dirty straight-ahead thrash not unlike POISON IDEA. A few miniscule bits of metal show through: the MOTÖRHEAD-ish power, wailing guitars, etc. Pretty rockin’.
Rockin’ garage punk with raunchy female vocals and personal lyrics. Sounds a bit like the AVENGERS, and you gotta hear grungy classes like “He’s a Slut” and “Beer Picnic.”
A way-out comp with one German band, INFERNO, and a handful of smaller LA-area outfits. All the acts are impressive, but EXCEL and FINAL CONFLICT really get the ball rolling.
Way rockin’ stuff here from two dozen Northern California bands displaying one or two songs each. Includes VICTIMS FAMILY, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, SHORT DOGS GROW, and more, contributing to 90 minutes of sheer insanity.
Fun, jangly melodic punk with common-sense political lyrics. This is also available as the NEW VULGARIANS with different words… all about rock climbing. A blast either way.
High energy here, with a slightly metallic HC flavor, not unlike RAW POWER. Nine songs, “positive” lyrics, and intense music add up to an impressive release.
The NOT have captured their exciting upbeat melodic energy well in a live setting, recorded late last year. Seven originals plus two covers add up to nine fun foot-tapping tunes. Shame they broke up.
Hot dog! These weenies play driving punk of all speeds, fueled by Kool-Aid. Six originals and fun covers of “I Got a Right” and “Good Guys Don’t Wear White.” Totally wacko.
Two bands from the Canary Islands (Spain) share this tape. ESCORBUTO CRONICO favors a hard driving mid-tempo punk sound not unlike early DOA, and GUERRILLA URBANA is more thrashed out. Pretty neat.
A short tape consisting of five rapid fire stop-and-go thrash bursts with machine gun drumwork. Lyrically, war and conformity are the focal points. A darn swell tape.
A hot, clean-sounding speedcore release with tempo changes galore. Lyrically, Satan doesn’t show his face, but personal politics do. A smoking tape from this Bay Area outfit.
This fucking rocks! The BIG GUNS play jammin’ mid-tempo punk with metallish guitar embellishments, but their sound seems to have a western feel to it. Cool.
England’s answer to the RAMONES, with a driving three-chord melodic sound. Only three songs, but damn good, especially for gabba gabba hey fanatics.
Ten ultrafast HC numbers with the vocalist spitting out urgent ideas about apathy, oppression, and manipulation, all reinforced by an informative booklet tackling the subjects of religion, vegetarianism, the arms race, pacifism, and more. Dedicated, committed, and cool.
A four-band international comp with a cool title. POLITICAL ASYLUM and NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES play fast, melodic punk on Side One, while Side Two showcases a thrashier sound with MASSACRE and SOLUCION MORTAL.
An on-target English comp with grade-A stuff from OI POLLOI, GENERIC, SUBHUMANS, and more. A consistently great tape, and comes with a lyric book, too.
Stop-on-a-dime powerhouse thrash with interesting musical tidbits here and there. A dozen songs of tight and forceful HC that is definitely worth checking out.
A pretty good tape consisting of basic, English-sounding punk and thrash. Not too complex, but a couple cuts were definitely catchy and fun.
A collection of Swiss acts from ’77 — ’79. As expected, most acts possess an older punk sound, but TNT’s “Razzia” stands out as an uptempo rocker.
What a tape! 1-1/2 hours of bands like DIATRIBE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, INSTIGATORS, PERDITION, RAZZIA, and a zillion more. Of course there are a few clunkers, but this still gets a thumbs up.
A consistently good sampler of some of Europe’s best acts, including RATTUS, SCAPEGOATS, ICONOCLASTS, BRISTLES, and RUNNING RIOT. The energy here is kept at a feverish pace, so check out this hour long thrashathon.
Here comes a good, concise comp. from Yugoslavia, featuring six acts who favor the straight forward hard and fast approach. Honorable mention goes to MRGUDI and YUGOSLAV SUN.
A hot nine-song release of hard thrash and 77-ish punk with lyrics concerning war, oppression, animal rights, etc. The standout cut is “Apathetic Reaction”, a biting critique of that scene. Cool.
A studio/live tape of speedy driving HC, comparable to AOD with sing-along vocals and catch guitar work. Lots of power, clean production, a great first effort.
Strong crash-and-bang stuff here, with lyrics in German and English. Impressive, with lots of drive and power, especially on “Weibt Du Est?”
Sounds like a more inaccessible version of the SUBHUMANS UK, combining different sounds and thoughtful lyrics. Personally, I liked the words better than the music.
Sounds like SSD in their “Get it Away” days: pile driving thrash and slower bulldozing noise with personal/positive lyrics. It rocks, and the price is right too!
Full speed ahead metalcore, with a couple straight HC numbers as well. Lots of power and tempo changes make this a hot tape from these Bay Area bangers.
Grungy marching thrash with hoarse vocals similar to NEGATIVE APPROACH. This tape contains six speedy blasts plus a slow grinder which stands out from the rest.
Insanely silly! This is rockin punk with lyrics about religious surfers, urinating, vanilla ice cream, and other topical subjects. Also memorable are the hilarious elements between songs. A total crackup!
JAN AND DEAN meets the RAMONES? Yup. Since I’m a fan of 50’s music, and that NY quartet’s ’77-ish sound, I enjoyed this, especially the silly lyrics. A whole lotta fun.
This live tape shows New York’s LUDICHRIST at their best, with wailing guitars, jarring tempo changes, and mind blowing power. Get some of this screaming intensity on vinyl.
Ultra-fast thrash similar to DRI or CAUSE FOR ALARM with personal and political words. The sound quality detracts a little, but with time, these guys could develop into an awesome force.
These guys ain’t no dorks, playing cool varied punk with an experimental edge. The lyrics are humorous and sarcastic, reminding me of the DKs or the CRUCIFUCKS. A totally great tape from the Iowan farmers.
Good ol’ punk with a good amount of spunk. Four songs, RAMONES-ish vocals… a swell job overall.
Here’s a basic angry punk attack similar to S.F.’s SICK PLEASURE, with fed-up, hateful lyrics. Sounds great if you’re totally pissed off.
Ninety minutes of hard-hitting music from 7 SECONDS, CANCEROUS GROWTH, SCARED STRAIGHT, and many more. Production and performances are generally good, so I bet even Jack Klugman will send for this!
13 bands from all over the globe spew out their own brands of rapid noise. Sound quality varies and the POLISIVALTIO and LUDICHRIST cuts stood out from the rest of the pack. Good effort.
90 minutes of melodic ’77-ish punk with serious pop tendencies, especially on side two. About 1/4 is studio material, and is pretty “smooth.” The rest is live, and packs a little more punch. Fair.
A very strong HC release possessing a hefty amount of force and innovation. This has great words, an intense female screamer, and even a cool lyric booklet! Get this or eat eggplant!
This four-song demo brings to mind larger English bands like DISCHARGE and SACRILEGE. The punchy music is suitable for headbanging and the lyrics are suitable for brainbanging. Good job.
One whole hour of droning FLIPPER-ish noise. I can get into SABBATH dirge to some extent, but this is just plain boring. The only asset is the short length of the songs (30 in all).
Good old punk with rebellious lyrics kinda like TOXIC REASONS. While this seems rather basic, PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE have a good bit of rockin’ energy.
A great consistent tape of rapid HC not unlike POISON IDEA or JERRY’S KIDS, while still maintaining some identity. Good lyrics, clean production, and lots of songs make this a necessary addition to your collection.
This outfit whips up a cool batch of fast, driving punk with a dash of metal guitar thrown in. All seven songs are undeniably tight and powerful with sociopolitical lyrics, making these dudes a blazing unit who deserves your attention.
Intense innovative thrash and HC with a CRUCIFUCKS-ian edge. Hot music and great hilarious lyrics and clean production and a good amount of experimentation equals a fucking cool band! This should be a record.
Does “horror thrash” exist? If so, FEAR ITSELF plays it well, complete with metallic tinges and spooky lyrics. This contains ten cuts of whizzing thrash with slower rockin’ parts, resembling ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT. Don’t be afraid to buy this tape.
Dizzying whirlwind thrash not unlike DRI. I’d love to see these hyperactive spastics live because they’re tight and powerful as fuck. A searing release.
Although these dudes are pretty sedate compared to modern HC outfits, they play some enjoyable twangy garage punk. The lyrics dwell on personal and political matters and “War Heroes” is destined to be an underground classic.
A pretty hot effort here. These wild Iowans unleash a harsh, driving thrash attack with social and political lyrics. The mushy production is a setback, but this is worth investigating.
While this live tape (recorded in Holland, ’86) doesn’t pack the punch of a bunch of adolescent loonies, the upbeat mid-tempo sing-along punk showcased here is pretty impressive, even by modern standards. SUBS fans will definitely dig this.
A swell mixture of vigorous thrash and enjoyable ’77-ish punk, accented by socio-political lyrics questioning oppression and war. “Extremes from Both Sides” is the standout cut, musically and wordwise.
A fitting title for this live tape, considering the noisy production that stifles this Swedish outfit’s performance. Their BROKEN BONES/DISCHARGE attack, complete with anti-war lyrics, is hot, but the recording detracts a lot. Hit or miss.
Strange. This is a mixed bag of boppy B-52’S-ish tunes, spaced-out post-punk, and Saturday morning cartoon music, all accented by a twangy hyperspace guitar sound and echoing sing-along vocals. Although the songs drag on a little too long, this comes across pretty well for what it is.
Noisy, abrasive punk in all speeds, but mostly hectic thrash. The garagy production and somewhat monotone vocals hamper things a bit, but this is a pretty decent effort, nonetheless.
A thrashaholic’s dream come true, with 17 bands blaring through two to four quick songs each. While some cuts fall into that dreaded generic category, the EXCEL, CLOWN ALLEY, and BORN WITHOUT A FACE material is worth the price alone. Hot tape!
A good introduction to today’s up-and-coming hardcore bands (most from the US), though a few lack in the innovation department. The emphasis is on thrash and speedcore, and the MAIMED FOR LIFE and LUDICHRIST cuts really caught my ear. Great effort.
Strong thrash similar to the older Boston bands. The lyrics cover straight edge, unity, and personal politics, as is expected with this genre. Although the guitar acrobatics get on my nerves, they do mosh! Contains their EP, plus new material.
A slower but tense attack Á la TSOL. The sound shifts back and forth from the melodic to the powerful, which makes for interesting listening. Didn’t think I’d like this, but it’s OK.
Seven songs of tuneful but forceful ’77-ish punk with unique guitar work in the vein of early MIA. The lyrics deal with the ups and downs of the opposite sex, and the overall product here is quite enjoyable.
Driven by a dual guitar onslaught, the BATS give us four tracks of DISCHARGE-ish power thrash with hateful, rebellious lyrics. This is the stuff you do not want to hear if you have a headache.
