For review and radio play consideration:
Please send vinyl (preferred), CD, or cassette releases to MRR, PO Box 3852, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. Maximum Rocknroll wants to review everything that comes out in the world of underground punk rock, hardcore, garage, post-punk, thrash, etc.—no major labels or labels exclusively distributed by major-owned distributors, no reviews of test pressings or promo CDs without final artwork. Please include contact information and let us know where your band is from!
Just when I thought the world didn’t need anymore WIRE covers, here comes a great one. BB meets WIRE is a great combo and the two on the flip are great as well. These three aren’t on the new 12″, either. BB fans won’t be disappointed.
The KINGSMEN cover is good compared to the recent DEAD BOYS release, but pales when compared to the NOMADS version. The flip too is a tame soft rock tune. Not happening.
Musically, pretty good sounding mid-fast tempo punk and HC, but when the vocals kick in, it’s a whole new thing. Unless you’re into the latter day TSOL “singing,” these voices may really bother you. Different? Yes. Annoying? Yes.
Pretty driving post-punk that gets lost in the blur. While well done, there’s no special spark of energy, hooks, or imagination to make it memorable.
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 wall of guitars and percussion on the edge of audio distortion makes these two powerful tracks surprisingly appealing. This is mid-tempo, discordant, and rather indescribable with those demented vocals and unique instrumental approach. Quite good for its genre.
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.
A benefit LP for the armed ANC resistance in South Africa, released by De Konkurrent in Holland and Mordam in the U.S. Besides coming with a really excellent (visually and content-wise) magazine, this LP contains some great stuff from SCREAM, SOCIAL UNREST, VICTIMS FAMILY, RHYTHM PIGS, and 76% UNCERTAIN in the U.S., and CHALLENGER CREW, THE EX, DEPRAVED, BGK, EVERYTHING FALLS APART, SCA, KAFKA PROCESS, and MORZELPRONK from Europe. Get this, for sure!
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…
Another in a long line of compilations put together by poet John Giornio. While his early records tended to focus on writers and poets, he now seems to put together rock bands. Not only are there some nifty things by GIORNIO and WILLIAM BURROUGHS but there are some previously unreleased pieces by the SWANS, the BUTTHOLE SURFERS, DIAMANDA GALAS, NICK CAVE, TOM WAITS, and EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN.
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.
The CIRCLE JERKS, CROWD, UXA, TSOL, BLACK FLAG, SOCIAL D, and others show off mostly ace material on this collection of previously released tracks. Uneven, but mandatory if you don’t have the original pressings of the punk acts represented.
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.
A new San Jose comp, featuring the FACTION, FRONTLINE, STIKKY, ORANGE CURTAIN, LOVING END (yech!), NO WARNING, JET CRASH MIRACLE, STEVE CABALLERO (yech again!). Wish there was more choice material from STIKKY and FRONTLINE, and NO WARNING show promise, too.
Quite a collection of many of the hottest UK hardcore bands. Includes one of each by DISORDER, CHAOS UK, CONCRETE SOX, RIPCORD, ELECTRO HIPPIES, GENERIC, STUPIDS, DEPRAVED, POTENTIAL THREAT, OI POLLOI, and many more, as well as non-UK stuff by CCM and VICIOUS CIRCLE. Rips.
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.
If you’re familiar at all with the great Smoke Seven releases during 81-’83 and don’t own them, get this LP. Nineteen of the best from REDD KROSS, BAD RELIGION, MIA, JFA, etc. All previously released but all great punk rock classics.
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.
An international sampler featuring DEPRESSION and GASH from Australia, SONS OF ISHMAEL, HALF LIFE, FAIR WARNING, and DEHUMANIZERS from N. America, FUCK GEEZ from Japan, and MOTTEK, K&T, SO MUCH HATE, and RAPED TEENAGERS from Europe. There’s little in terms of melody, lots in terms of pounding speed and intense lyrics.
A solid comp of mostly melodic garage punk and thrash. Hot tunes are by: ROT, VERMIN FROM VENUS, FOE, and TERMINAL CHOICE. Good show.
A mostly-French comp with BRAINWASH, BUTCHER, RAFF, and several more (including TOLBIAC’S TOADS, who we’ve heard nasties about), and then GOVERNMENT ISSUE. Mostly ’77 punk styles here, but Germany’s MANIACS’ thrash tune is the hottest track.
If you’re yearning for punk, garage mania without the noise element, here it is. Grinding guitar, punchy drumming, catchy melodies, slightly psycho but stark rhythms. The first track is awesome, the EP a find.
This is the underrated NJ UNDEAD featuring ex-MISFIT Bobby Steele. The cassette included all the material from their three hard-to-find EP’s plus an extra track. All great, early, style punk. Recommended!
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.
Great! These guys prove way beyond their first single that they rock hard using a neo-psyche element but with a powerful 80s style. There’s some really catchy songs here and well worth listening. Good fun. Good rock n roll.
It’s about time! This collection of tracks from 1981-2 sports a series of outstanding tunes by vintage TSOL, including one clinker (“Weathered Statues”): the rest is dynamic, upbeat, guitar-oriented TSOL at their best and near-best.
Best effort yet from these inspired French punkers. Both sides of this single exploit powerhouse guitar and vocals with absolutely irresistible riffs and melodies. Total ace!
With a name like the SWAMPSURFERS, I was expecting psychobilly weirdness, but this is relentless thrash not unlike RAWPOWER. Crazy stuff within.
Not as speedmetal as I thought their second LP might be, though there’s plenty of guitar wanking woven into the HC. At least they don’t try to come up with a gimmicky imitation of “Institutionalized” here, but the lyrical content is pretty thin, with lots of egotism. Okay, but not special, especially considering the time between albums.
Hot, energetic ’77-ish punk with a mixture of personal and horrific lyrics. At places, sounds like the MISFITS. Great stuff here.
Similar to labelmates CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN, this band manages to blend their hayseed weirdness with some wonderfully scruffy weirdness to produce a garage band that’s not afraid to try anything. SPOT is a bit more aggressive than CAMPER, however and their brand of humor less esoteric and more just plain strange
Hard to believe this band is German. The music sounds like ANGRY SAMOANS, the vocals are U.S. style snotty punk (the singer is actually an American ex-G.I.), the lyrics are sarcastic SoCal-type, but instead of sun-baked retard we get some genuine insight. Hot as hell!!
One of the better garage bands, the SICK ROSE had a single out a while back and like this LP, they’ve got the ’60s sound down but they also manage to throw in a taste of their own into the music so it’s not just an American ’60s sound, just influenced by it. Maybe somewhere between the CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND and THE SEEDS.
Fine people, these dogs, A Bay Area band that tirelessly supports their scene, play great shows and just “care” in general. They’ve added a new guitarist and lost their old singer, so they’ve got a beefier sound but they’ve lost a little of their great spazz quality. Still, this record rocks comfortably between punk and rock with a nice hayseed quality—friendly record and friendly folks.
Combining elements of punk, country, blues, rockabilly into something other than “spaghetti western” music is no easy feat for an Italian band, but they do it well. Fun, and not pretentious.
A marked improvement over their debut EP, SCREAMING BROCCOLI opt for a poppish rock approach to gently satirical material. The jaunty humor and poppish sensibilities of this record recall early ANGST, though this has a less aggressive sound.
I haven’t liked too many amelodic trash bands lately, but these guys attack their music with such enthusiasm it works. Raging vocals, pounding snappy drums, insane guitar noise, reminds me of early Brazilian HC. Definite.
This re-release of the band’s two EP’s on one record is a definite treat for those who missed out the first time around. Both sides are packed full of the intense, harsh sound that this English band was known for, as well as more of Nick Blink’s cover act. Not for tame ears or eyes.
This colorful outfit put out a couple of recent releases that we missed, this being the latest. As with their other material, this is well-crafted pop punk, accented by female vocals with somewhat feminist/radical lyrics. Underneath the colors and pretty music lies some disturbing realities worth checking out, especially for fans of X-RAY SPEX, SLITS, CRASS…
RIFLE SPORT had a record awhile back and it seemed that they had broken up. But now they’re back and while there’s still a nice, gruff Minneapolis punk sound in there, there’s also a new element. Probably due to producer Steve Albini (BIG BLACK), the sound is a little faster and more rhythmic, sort of a punkier BIG BLACK, okay?
Three songs here, exploring a faster paced punk sound with a certain lack of musical distinctiveness. I tried playing their first EP after hearing this, and the contrast is telling: the conciseness and good hooks of the old RHYTHM PIGS has been lost along the way.
Last time we saw RHINO on their own vinyl, Dangerhouse Records still existed and it was still the 70s. I guess they’ve reappeared just to prove that not every revival has to be lame. While not quite as exciting as that old single, this still cooks, though at times slumps back into rock tedium. Could have been a lot worse.
RESISTANCE can do many punk styles, and included herein one finds DOA-ish punk, 77 punk, post-punk, a punk ballad and hardcore. While none are overwhelmingly powerful or tight, with that variety they should mature into something to consider.
A powerful fast punk sound which reminds me a bit of a non-metallic MOTORHEAD. “No Time” and “These Days” are the standout cuts.
