Reviews

X-Port Plater

Bannlyst La Dem Ikke Lure Deg EP

I reviewed their split cassette a while back and loved it. This is pretty cool fun, full of powerful speed thrash. While it’s generic to a degree, it’s really slammed home. Pretty hot, with really good translated lyrics to boot.

Barn Av Regnbuen Det E’kje Nåkka Artig Længer EP

A hot new Norwegian thrash release. It’s no secret that I am totally bored with generic thrash these days, but this release rises far above the 1986 standard by virtue of its exceptionally tight instrumentation, outstanding bass playing, and hooks. It is also raw in that cool HEADCLEANERS way.

Svart Framtid 1984 EP

This six-track EP from Norway’s SVART FRAMTID features finely arranged thrash with some trademark staccato guitar figures and lyrics touching on the basic anti-religious, anti-war themes. The highly textured sound contributes to making just about all of the songs pretty remarkable, so get it!

V/A Nå Eller Aldri EP

This is a superior hardcore release from Norway. It includes both relatively well-known bands (SISTE DAGERS HELVETE and AKUTT INNLEGGELSE) and more obscure outfits (KAFKA PROSESS, ANGOR WAT, LANDSSVIK and PSYKISK TERROR), but the musical standard is almost uniformly high. PSYKISK TERROR’s cut is particularly outstanding; it sounds a lot like TERVEET KÄDET’s better material.