Boxed In

Alright, here's an X-mas day post to fulfill a reader's request - more great UK hardcore from the early 2000's.  Boxed In featured members from several classic UK HC groups - most notably Sned from Generic, One By One, Health Hazard and Suffer (and also the proprietor of the long running and crucial Flat Earth Records).  Boxed In carried on in a similar vein to the most recent of those groups - thrashy, ultra fast HC, bordering on grind, with smart political lyrics.  This post is their discography CD which includes their sole 12", three Eps and a few songs from compilations.  37 tracks total, including some vital covers - including Anti Cimex, Kafka Process, Iconoclast and more.  Enjoy!  

Boxed In - 2001-2005 CD

The Horror

OK, one more blast of brutal UK hardcore from another band descended from the all-mighty Voorhees - this is The Horror.  Featuring most of the final Voorhees line-up, The Horror continued playing fast and vicious hardcore that took on a somewhat of a Youth Attack vibe - incorporating a bit from bands like Charles Bronson and Das Oath, while retaining a decidedly UK HC sound.  Here is basically their entire discography - the two "First Blood" Eps and their two Lps.  The early material is the best with "The Fear, The Terror, The Horror" 12" being my favorite release.  I must confess that I found the final Lp "Spoils of War" a little flat and uninspiring but that was perhaps in comparison to the outstanding legacy these guys had built up... overall, great stuff.

The Horror - Discography

Break It Up

Here is another blast of UK hardcore... Break It Up were a short-lived band that featured members of Voorhees and played a similar style of vicious punk, though with a pronounced early sXe influence.  They only released a demo and an Lp, both of which are included here.  The album contains an Antidote cover and the demo features an excellent version of Beyond's flawless track "Effort" - two indications of where these guys were coming from, musically.  Sean, one of the guitarists from the first incarnation of Voorhees and for Break It Up, has a new band going that is in much this same vein.  Check out My Rules if you've dug these past two posts...

Break It Up - No Sides Lp and Demo Ep   

Voorhees - Smiling at Death

OK, this one is a straight up 1990's classic... "Smiling at Death" compiled all the early Voorhees recordings onto one 69 track CD - two demos, their first 7" and Lp, compilation tracks and studio outtakes.  For those unfamiliar, Voorhees hailed from the U.K. and played vicious, primal hardcore punk reminiscent of the first wave of U.S. bands - Negative Approach, SOA, Negative FX, etc.  All of these influences are at the fore in the lyrics, artwork and the myriad of cover songs sprinkled throughout the disc.  Voorhees lasted for just over a decade, albeit with a constantly changing line-up, and ended up with a slew of 7"ers, split Eps and a couple more Lps.  I dig their entire catalog of material, but for me nothing that came after can touch this release... one of the best hardcore bands of the era for sure.

Voorhees - Smiling at Death

Various - Beautiful Music for Beautiful People 10" (Repost)

Here's the repost of another great compilation from the late 80s/early 90s... the "Beautiful Music for Beautiful People" 10".  This one features some great US bands, along with a spattering of international HC acts.  Libido Boyz and Dissent headline the US bands, but Crib Death and Tit Wrench have strong tracks as well.  Tit Wrench were bit of an odd-ball band.  Featuring Bob Barley of Vinyl Communications records, they played lightning fast techno like music with absurdly confrontational lyrics....think Pailhead or Lard.  "People Like That Should Be Spayed" is a good intro to their stuff.  I may post their discography some time since their stuff is fairly enjoyable in it's own weird way.  Anyways, the non-US bands on this comp. provide some great tracks as well... "Full Circle" is one of my fave Instigators tunes, the Scoundrels, Flitox, 16 B.U.H. also have strong tracks.  Australia's S.S.D.C. have a rousing number in "Free the Five."  The final track, from Denmark's President Fetch is the weakest, but not a bad song.  All-in-all a classic collection of HC from this time period.

V/A Beautiful Music for Beautiful People 10"

Sofa Head - More is Not A Word in Our Vocabulary

Here's another U.K. fave of mine... I've been a huge fan of Sofa Head since a buddy in high school made me a tape of their first Lp soon after the U.S. edition on Profane Existence came out 20 some-odd years ago.  I picked up this live Lp from Blacklist mailorder a year or two after that introduction and though I think it doesn't quite represent the band at the height of their powers, I've always had a soft spot for this recording.  "More..." came out on a very short-lived U.S. label called Shazbat! out of Colorado and appeared shortly after the release of their third and final album.  It documents a gig recorded several months prior and consequently there's a good mixture of songs from their entire repertoire, including decent versions of songs from their final record (Acres of Geeses), a record that I always thought suffered from a muddy mix in the studio.  Anyways, the great Boss Tuneage reissued the first two Sofa Head albums on CD a while back and I've heard rumors that they are in the process of revamping the final album for reissue as well.  Fingers crossed.  Regardless, enjoy this glimpse into their live presence...

Sofa Head - More is Not A Word in Our Vocabulary

Kismet HC

I'll stay in the U.K. for another post... this time out I've got two records from long running political punkers Kismet Hardcore.  Kismet HC formed in the late 80s and sporadically released records throughout the 90s and 2000s, and as recently 2011.  Included here are two of their most prominent releases - their 2001 full length "Our Message Is Of Anger...Our Voices Are Of Pain" and their self titled 10" from 2005.  The band plays fast hardcore punk which features Zanee's strong female vocals, often trading off with guitarist Scragg's gruff shouts.  The dynamic puts the band squarely in the 1990s U.K. HC sound, with the influence of older groups like Dirt apparent, along with some of their contemporaries like Disaffect or One by One.  I can also hear the incorporation of some of the U.S. crusty hardcore sound - bands such as Resist, early Defiance or even Aus Rotten.  Overall a fairly overlooked U.K. outfit who deserve a listen if any of the aforementioned groups mean anything to you.

Kismet HC - "Our Message Is Of Anger...Our Voices Are Of Pain" and self-titled 10"

Cowboy Killers - Punkers Look Like Jerks From Outer Space! (Repost)

Today I was finally able to watch Soap the Stamps, a new BBC documentary on 80s U.K. hardcore... it was a bit short but still cool and featured Beddis and the Cowboy Killers prominently, so I was inspired to re-post this early discography CD of the Welsh favorites...  Formed in the late 80s, these guys were heavily influenced by U.S. bands like Flag of Democracy and Dead Kennedys.  Their speedy tracks featured melodic leads and their singer Beddis' trademark Jello Biafra-esque wails.  This collection CD compiles their first two Lps, a couple of compilation songs and their demo.  Included amongst the tracks is a great cover of the Feeders' "Jesus Entering From the Rear" if that gives you more of a clue where they were coming from. 

Cowboy Killers had a few more releases after those chronicled on this disc - a couple of 7"ers, a live album titled "Thank You, Fuck You And Goodnight" and one final studio Lp called "Dai Laughing."  I may get around to posting some of the later material sometime... though it's not as vital as this early stuff.  Get this great disc at the link below!

Cowboy Killers - Punkers Look Like Jerks From Outer Space! CD

Karma Sutra - The Daydreams of a Production Line Worker

Next up is a record I finally picked up on vinyl a few months back after years of pining for it... Karma Sutra's one and only LP, "The Daydreams of a Production Line Worker."  Karma Sutra were a mid-80s anarcho-punk band that appeared on several classic compilation albums but released little else aside from this elusive LP.

For me, this is a quintessential anarcho-punk record, with the songs varying in style from early Crass records sounding tracks (Dirt, Flux of Pink Indians), to later, more pop and post-punk influenced numbers (a la Internal Autonomy or Indian Dream).  Accompanying the record is a 28 page lyric booklet, as to be expected in this genre.  There's quite a mix of styles and the songs often bleed into one another making for both sharp breaks in the music as well as gradual transitions... all of which make splicing the tracks for this one a bit challenging.  On the whole, "Daydreams..." has a distinctly early-Chumbawamba feel and sound and should be a must hear for fans of the first few Chumba records. 

Karma Sutra - The Daydreams of a Production Line Worker

Deviated Instinct - Nailed Ep

OK, back to one of my favorite times and places for punk/HC... the late 80s in the U.K.  Here is the Nailed 12" by the class of the early stench core/crust scene, in my book - Deviated Instinct.  This Ep was their final release before calling it quits in the early 90s.  This record was the only one from their early period omitted from the Welcome to the Orgy discography CD... not sure why.  As far as I know, it's never been re-released.  Anyways, for those in the know, Nailed picks up where Gutteral Breath left... mid-tempo (no pun intended), crushing metal riffs and vocals from hell.  As much as I love early D.I., I've always dug Mid's vocals and the slower, heavy sound that they cultivated after the first Lp. 

Like I said, after this Ep Deviated Instinct called it quits and Mid & Snapa went to do buy a drum machine and do Spinewrench and then Bait.  D.I. reunited in 2007 and has been gigging around Europe for the past few years.  Part of the reason I'm posting this one is that I just got my tickets and sorted out the details to go see D.I., along with a ton of other awesome bands at Chaos in Tejas in May... so stoked. 

Deviated Instinct - Nailed Ep

Urko

I have to say that the U.K. produced most of my favorite hardcore from the 1990s - Voorhees, Health Hazard, Suffer, Ebola, Kitchener, Stalingrad, Hard to Swallow... the list goes on and will have to include Urko.  Playing blazing, vitriol-filled HC, these guys fit right in with the Flat Earth scene of the time.  Their split 7" with Suffer still packs a tremendous wallop after all these years.  Included here are their two Eps; "Thrash It Up" and "Fast3ChordHardcore...", along with two split Eps (with Suffer and Active Minds) and their final release - a split Lp with Minute Manifesto.  I believe the split 7" with Chineapple Punx is all I am lacking from their discography.  Unfortunately the group dissipated in 2001 after the untimely death of their bass player in a car crash. 

Urko - 2 Eps, 2 Split Eps and Split Lp w/ Minute Manifesto

Virtual Reality - Dreamstate Lp

 

OK, here's a weird one, somewhat related to the last post.  Virtual Reality was a one-off band featuring members of Doom playing a vastly different brand of music.  Really only "punk" in the widest sense - based on who was in the band and the lyrical content, VR sounded like an amalgamation of Black Sabbath and the KLF. Definitely "rock" meets techno or hip hop.... It's strange and hard to describe and has to be heard.  A product of the times, for sure.  This one came out on Flat Earth and Belgium's Genet records in 1995 and is their only release.  Several of these tracks found their way onto compilations - "Mind Pollution 2" for instance, but these 10 tracks make up their entire discography as far as I know.  Varying from groovy beats and heavy riffs to techno based tracks and white-boy rap, these guys certainly pushed the envelope of the 90s punk and HC scene.  A distinct record and one that any Doom fan should hear for the novelty alone.

Virtual Reality - Dreamstate Lp

Stalingrad - Patty We Kind Of Missed You On Your Birthday Lp

Well, a new year and finally some time for a new post.  This time out we've got some seriously twisted HC from the U.K.  Stalingrad played very sludgy, metallic hardcore.  Not really "metalcore" so to speak, they had a sound of their own - plodding but groovy and heavy as hell.  This band featured members of Disaffect, Hard to Swallow and other UK HC luminaries of the time and guest vocals on this record include members of Doom and Voorhees.  This is Stalingrad's one and only Lp; they had a few 7"ers, splits and a final 10" before calling it quits in the early 2000s.  Amongst the heaviness, insane vocals and general vitriol, this record features a killer take on Lynard Skynard's "Simple Man" which may give you an idea of where this one is coming from.  Definitely worth a listen...

Stalingrad - Patty We Kind Of Missed You On Your Birthday Lp

Coitus - Darkness on Streets Ep

 Time for another Tribal War release, this one from the U.K.'s Coitus.  These guys were around in the early to mid 90's and played some seriously metal-tinged punk.  Generally mid-tempo with a strong Celtic Frost meets Discharge vibe, Coitus were a breath of fresh air in the era of straight up Dis-clones.  A little while back someone released a 2 CD discography of their material, including this Ep and their demos and compilation tracks.  I've not gotten a copy yet but it's on my wants list for sure.  Another blog posted the Coitus demos here if you are interested.  More great stuff from the 90s.

Coitus - Darkness on Streets Ep

Active Minds/Petrograd split Lp

OK, finally some time to upload a new post.  Going off the last 12" I posted, the record this week is a split which features a band who took their name from a Cringer song and actually does a Cringer cover on this record.  Petrograd was from the tiny country of Luxembourg and evolved from a melodic punk group into a more of a DIY political pop band.  I like all of their material, even though the later stuff is more mild musically.  Still, the lyrics and intent were good and their later records are packed with good songs.  This early record is more on the pop-punk side of things.  As I mentioned, they do a Cringer cover and they are definitely heavily influenced by that sound at this point. 

On the other side we have quite a contrast in Active Minds.  A thrashy, low-fi duo (only guitars, drums and vocals), Active Minds is pretty much legendary at this point.  They've been around since the late 80s and still play manic HC to this day.  Their side of the split features their usual quality material - great lyrics and blistering tempos.  One of my favorite AM songs is on this one: "Walking Billboards."  A little slower and longer than most of their tracks, but it's got a great melodic sound to it.  Overall, a great split and interesting pairing of contrasting styles of punk.

Active Minds/Petrograd split Lp

Terminus - Going Nowhere Fast

 Well, judging from the download statistics, last week's Terminus post was fairly popular and since it was requested I will go ahead and post the band's first Lp.  Still not sure if Boss Tuneage is working on the CD reissue of these records or not but I have faith the folks who download these versions would still want to purchase the re-mastered and re-packaged collection when/if it is released.

Anyway, this 12" also came out on Words of Warning records, back in 1990.  It collects songs from various recording sessions in different periods of the band, so the sound is a little uneven, recording quality-wise.  This record features a mix of styles - faster numbers similar to the 2nd Lp, mid-tempo rockin' punk tracks and some more somber, anarcho-punk type songs.  One of my favorites is "Hey Little Girl," a bouncy punk track with venomous lyrics aimed towards apathetic fashion punks.  As with their other material, the lyrics are overtly political and thought provoking.  While I don't enjoy this one quite as much as "Back Among the Blind," it's still a great record from a band that really did no wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Terminus - Going Nowhere Fast Lp

Terminus - Back Among the Blind

Here's another UK Hardcore fave of mine... Terminus lasted most of the 80s and into the early 90s.  "Back Among the Blind" was their second and last Lp.  Their sound was very punk based, with rocking guitars and speedy drums, interspersed with slow, moody numbers.  Released on Words of Warning Records in 1992, this record is their finest as far as I'm concerned.  It showcases the best of their sound.... fast, rocking HC numbers and great lyrics.  For reference, think Motorhead meets Political Asylum. 

The entire Terminus discography is great.  Boss Tuneage did a CD of all their singles which is certainly worth picking up, though it appears to be out of print.  I'm sure there are some copies floating around in distros somewhere.  BT are supposedly working on a CD collection of the two Lps, but I've not heard an update on that recently.  If that's not forthcoming, I may post the first Lp later since it's a awesome record in it's own right... still "Back Among the Blind" is my go-to Terminus album and one of my favorite UK HC records.

Terminus - Back Among the Blind Lp

Political Asylum

The post this time out covers a large chunk of material from Scotland's Political Asylum.  This tuneful anarcho-punk group spanned most of the 80s and made it to the early 90s before calling it a day.  Fronted by Ramsey Kanaan, the founder of AK Press, Political Asylum started out playing a variation of the prominent anarcho-punk sound of the time, but moved to a more straight forward, Hüsker Dü influenced, melodic punk/HC bent.  Kanaan's distinctive vocals, often accompanied by soaring guitar leads, were a signature part of PA's sound.  Collected for you here is their 1987 12" Ep "Someday", their Lp "Window on the World", their final release, a 10" called "How the West Was Won" and also a retrospective CD entitled "Rock, You Sucker!".  The CD includes various material from the records, as well as early tunes from cassette only releases or compilations. 

Political Asylum was another band that re-recorded the same songs several times, but even so, each record has it's own merits.  My favorite versions are probably included on the "Someday" 12".  These recordings feature the most embellished and expanded leads hovering over the driving beats.  "Window on the World" features great versions of some of the same songs and the second side of the record is a live recording with some exclusive material, including a Medley of early songs and a Wire cover.  "How the West Was Won" was a fantastic finale with one side electric and one side acoustic songs.  The electric side showcased some of their most rocking material, while the acoustic side had the band at its most melancholy.  A great cover of Hüsker Dü's "Don't Want to Know If You're Lonely" closes the record.


Political Asylum - "Someday" Ep, "Window On the World" Lp, "How the West Was Won" 10" and "Rock You Sucker!" CD

V/A Wild & Crazy Noise Merchants...

As promised, here is a double LP compilation from 1In12 records featuring a band from the last post - Indian Dream.  One of a series of "Worst of the 1In12 Club" benefit comps which served to raise money for the long running UK squat and venue, "Wild and Crazy..." features 24 tracks running the spectrum from avant folk to crust.  Highlights for me include, of course, the Indian Dream track "Our Land", which I feel is one of their very best tunes.  Also, Active Minds contribute another of my faves in "Take It Back."  Pink Turds in Space are their usual brilliant selves, even if the track is a cover.  F.U.A.L., Sofa Head, Incest Bros, Warfear, Paradox U.K. and Psycho Flowers all contribute strong tunes as well. 

V/A Wild & Crazy Noise Merchants... Invade A City Near You!! 2xLP

Indian Dream - Orca

Here's one from a more Peace Punk direction - Indian Dream hailed from the UK in the mid to late 80s and played tuneful punk with female vocals and political lyrics.  They really seem like they would have been home on Crass records and bring to mind bands from that era... Zounds, The Mob, Omega Tribe, Lost Cherrees, etc.  Another good comparison would be Internal Autonomy.  Orca was their one and only LP.  The songs are fairly long and vary from quiet and introspective to fairly rocking.  The great vocals and ultra-melodic guitars dominate on this one.  I'm including in this post a compilation Ep they appeared on with some more harsh contemporaries like Hiatus and Mushroom Attack.  I have another compilation which they appear on that I will post soon since that record features one of Indian Dream's best songs, in my opinion.  They also have at least two 7" EPs that I've been trying to track down... if anyone has MP3s I'd appreciate a copies.  Check out Orca and the Bonds of Friendship Comp. below.

Indian Dream - Orca LP + V/A Bonds of Friendship Ep