Raw thrash emanates from Colorado’s BUM KON. They have a frenetic instrumental attack and intense vocals, but the generally poor production doesn’t always highlight their potential—note, e.g., the variation between the muddy title song and “The Draft,” which has a much hotter sound.
Eclectic hardcore that combines power with offbeat influences, changes of pace, funky bass playing, SoCal-sounding punk vocals, and the eccentricities usually associated with Sun Belt bands. Should establish them with fringe-freaks everywhere.
Hardcore from Denver. The FRANTIX have a nice chunky guitar attack which sounds very PISTOL-ian on their mid-tempo songs especially “Sharin’ Sharon.” The semi-thrashers have an awkward feel to them, as if the band just started playing real fast, but the grungy guitar cuts through all the confusion. A nifty record in the ’77-’78 punk tradition.
Surprising. The tuneful ’77 punk on the FRANTIX’ “Face Reality” debut has given way to a grungy garage style here. The title song builds up slowly to a distorted guitar crescendo in the choruses. The other songs are equally raw, but fail to reach the same standards (except maybe “My Dad’s Dead”).
Another classic. A five-song thrasher that’s delivered like a one-two punch. The lyrics are good, whether political or just downright ridiculous. Check out “I Hate My Toes” because “they’re dirty, they stink… they’re ugly and pink.” Really hilarious.
“Twist” is mid-tempo post-punk with a quasi-psychedelic feel, but it’s neither atmospheric nor punchy enough to satisfy me. The flip remedies the latter problem with a ringing ’60s guitar, and consequently comes off better. Still, I’d wait till their next release before coming to any definite conclusions.
An amazing garage psychedelic 45. The bittersweet vocals, simple chord progressions, and crude guitar tones on “I Want…” remind one of innumerable underground classics from the mid-60s without plagiarizing any particular band. The flip is more “psychedelic” in the modern post-punk sense of the term. Great debut.
