This Polish band recently toured Yugoslavia and while there, recorded this album which was then released in France—a truly international effort. Their style is generally thrash with good tunes and out-front guitar—a more melodic approach not unlike TOXIC REASONS or N.O.T.A. They are fine musicians, and on a dub tune you can really hear that well.
Holland’s AGENT ORANGE continues to flourish with rambunctious cranks of intense mayhem. Whining guitars leap forth as a savage ensemble engages in sudden rages of rigorous combat. A whirlpool of alarming breakneck speed and forcefulness, especially in blitzing cuts like “Herpes” and “K.K.K.”
Oui, oui! This blasts and terrorizes in every form, a blitzkreig of maniac rhythms powering an assault of skillful mayhem. From France, HEIMAT-LOS combine a familiar French punk sound with a blizzard of thrash havoc, all worked extremely well and enjoyably pleasant. Sharp instrumentation, with a good mix. If you liked KIDNAP, you’ll crave HEIMAT-LOS.
This odd release features French post-punk in a sporadically interesting vein. The A-side’s brisk tempo and catchy, spare guitar riffing makes for pleasant listening, though the flip moves into a more freeform mode with disappointing results. An original effort, but this band needs much more discipline.
Moody, atmospheric post-punk on most tracks, though one (“Bapteme”) breaks out into driving powerpunk, a welcome change. Helps to understand French, as the words are way up front.
More well produced mid-tempo punk from LES CADAVRES. Most of the songs here have that chunky skunk feel, but the standout track is “Mort Á l’avance”, with its accelerated tempo and singalong choruses. Powerful, but not quite as catchy as KIDNAP.
Pretty enjoyable 77 punk with good energy and tunes. Not as tight as I’d hoped, but at least on one song, “Jo Dassin,” they sound almost like SOCIAL DISTORTION.
The first French speedcore release. AGRESSOR has less speed and more tuneage, while LOUDBLAST has the speed, more wanking, and even falsetto screeches. Gore themes, with a bit of politics.
Their second LP should dispel any doubts about SPECIAL FORCES and generic thrash. This Berkeley band hits hard and with variety, though Bill Collins’ excellent guitar work is now history for this band. Orlando was always a more interesting performer than good singer, but on this LP even that aspect seems very improved. Very hot!
So this compilation LP is apparently a tribute to the French fastcore band TEKKEN. I regret to announce I was not familiar with TEKKEN the band, but it looks as though they were around in the late ’90s and early ’00s, and with some video research, I have realized that they were pretty good! If you like to blast off with CHARLES BRONSON, SPAZZ, DAMNABLE EXCITE ZOMBIES, AGATHOCLES, or even FANTOMAS, or any bands that were forming when fastcore was really breaking into its stride, I have this recommendation for you! There’s also some really bizarre MIDI carnival music, which I must admit I am entertained by, if not perplexed.
This French sampler contains a wide variety of punk styles—classical, garage, thrash, skunk (big in France), and drum-machine/synth punk (which the French seem to have cornered the market on). HUMAN BEING and HEIMAT weigh in with some choice thrash, and there’s lots of other good stuff from R.A.S., ELECTRONAZE, LES CADAVRES, the SUB KIDS, and a dozen more. Tres bien!
Spit out that raging energy with 38 bands delivering a wad of good slugs. This two-LP French comp also features a few international acts. This collection will separate the spine into sections with the likes of S.O.D., PSYCHO, HEIMAT-LOS, SOLUCIÁ”N MORTAL, MELAKKA, BUTCHER, and more. For thrash-mongers and punk-harbours.
Quite an accomplishment. An excellent sampler of mostly not-famous bands, but bands that really put out. Lots of differing punk styles, fine choice cuts, lots of listening and most all are invigorating. Bands from Czechoslovakia, Peru, South Africa, Hungary, and just about everywhere else. Hot.
This has a nice, wild feel to it. A kind of mixture between early simple punk and eerie vocals. Similar to SUICIDE but more feel to it and definitely more guitar in there.
Mid-tempo punk with female vocals. While the lyrics are on the mark (anti-racism and anti-state abuse), the music is a bit repetitive. This is not to say it’s limp, but just that the tempo and structures are very similar on all 3 tracks, and given their length, a bit more change might’ve livened it up. Decent.
