Defacto Oppression

Ok, I'm back in town and have had a little time to prepare some posts for you all.... this time out its back to the Mid-West of the USA for a short-lived Wisconsin band called Defacto Oppression.  These dudes only released a 7" and a full length CD, both of which are presented for you here.  Coming along in the late 90s and surviving into the early 2000s, Defacto Oppression's sound straddles the decades similarly... the 7" has a more 90s sound, reminiscent of the crusty hardcore you might hear on early Profane Existence records - bands like Deprived, Resist or early Defiance.  By the time their full length came out, Defacto Oppression seemed to incorporate a more "modern" sound - resembling His Hero is Gone or Tragedy, but with a flavor all their own...  the 8 minute long closing track, "The Train," is intense and a fitting closing number to both the album and their career.  One of these guys would go on to the great Weaving the Deathbag who will be featured in the next post... great stuff.

Defacto Oppression - We're Digging Our Own Graves Ep and Screen Symphony Suicide CD

Black Dove

OK, to finish off this Ohio trilogy, here is a final Dead Hate the Living related band that I've got... Black Dove featured the same three TDHTL dudes from Dismal, plus another guitarist.  Black Dove perhaps threw a bit more metal riffage into the mix, but in the main they continued on with the vicious Scandicore of Dismal.  Included here is their demo Ep - a 7" of the demo tape pressed for tour, along with their "No Future No Fate" Lp.  I don't think Black Dove released anything further, though they seemed to have soldiered on for a bit after the Lp came out.  Brandon and Carter, the bass player and drummer, appear to have formed another band, Paralyzer, after Black Dove but I've not tracked down any of their material.  Black Dove, like all their preceding bands, were great live, toured extensively and were staples of the early 2000s DIY scene in the U.S. and if you were into the previous couple of posts at all, they are well worth a listen...

Black Dove - Demo Ep and "No Future No Fate" Lp       

Various - Iron Columns 2xLp

Time for another compilation... here is a double Lp of late 90's hardcore, crust and grind from Mind Control Records.  I've posted a few Mind Control releases before, and pretty much everything this label did was great.  Iron Columns features a bevy amazing punk and hardcore from this time period and many of the greats are included - Los Crudos, Forca Macabra, Ebola, Counterblast, Extinction of Mankind, Krigshot, Disclose, Cress and one of my particular faves, Black Kronstadt.  Beyond the heavy hitters, most of the lesser known bands contribute strong tracks as well, making this a solid collection overall and a great glimpse at the state of international DIY hardcore at the time.

Various - Iron Columns 2xLp

Various - Four Two Pudding

OK, so I've been on a bit of an early 90's California punk and hardcore trip lately - playing some tunes I used to love but hadn't spun in quite a while, and the recent blog posts have reflected this.  I think I'm going to do a couple more before I move on, so sorry if you're not into the recent diversion...  Anyways, here is a CD compilation that Very Small records issued in 1993 - it represents kind of a "best of" the label at the time, culling songs from the myriad of other compilations the label produced, along with tracks from other bands' proper releases.  Very Small compilations were my first introduction, back in the day, to a lot of the California scene - bands like Samiam, Jawbreaker, Nuisance, Logical Nonsense, etc.  This compilation, bizarrely titled "Four Two Pudding," features all those bands as well as the great Corrupted Morals, 23 More Minutes, Fuel and an early effort from the Offspring.  Also, California transplants Econochrist and South Dakota greats Dissent contribute tracks.  One caveat with this selection is that Very Small did do records for quite a few weird bands that I never got into - Plaid Retina, 3 Finger Spread, the Lizards, Nar, etc., that sporadically interrupt the flow of great tracks on this collection.  Outside of those odd interjections, classic tracks are provided by Jawbreaker, Samiam, Screeching Weasel, Sleep, and others... ultimately, this CD contains some of my favorite tunes from bands like Nuisance, 23 More Minutes, Logical Nonsense, Fuel and Dissent.  Well worth the download and the inevitable skip past some filler tracks...

Various - Four Two Pudding CD

Various - They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard Lp (Repost)

Here is a repost of that great compilation from back in 1989 I referenced in the Dissent post.  Put out by Maximum Rocknroll records, here is "They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard".  14 tracks of U.S. punk and hardcore... a very representative sampling of the U.S. scene at the time.  This one has some crust (Nausea and Apocalypse),  a lot of  straight up hardcore (Christ On A Crutch, Detonators, Dead Silence), a little pop-punk (Cringer), even some ska-core (Downfall), which was all the rage at the time.  This compilation has a special place in my heart ever since a buddy of mine in high school gave me a tape with this record on one side and Christ On Parade on the other.  A very formative cassette to say the least. 

Here's the full tracklist:

The Detonators - Denied
Amenity - Follow
Christ On A Crutch - Nation of Sheep
Nausea - Clutches
Apocalypse - Techno-Doom
Conspiracy of Equals - Is It Right?
Screeching Weasel - This Bud's For Me
Jawbox - Bullet Park
Dissent - Superman
Downfall - Long Way to Go
Dead Silence - Hope
Cringer - Pay to Play
Bazooka Joe - Phoenix
Libido Boyz - Mr. Greenthumb

Everyone of these songs is great... from the best tracks ever by the Detonators, Screeching Weasel, Christ On A Crutch and Apocalypse, to hidden gems like Conspiracy of Equals, Bazooka Joe and the Libido Boyz.

Various - They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid...

Blownapart Bastards (Repost)

Here is pretty much everything from fellow North Carolinians Blownapart Bastards.  I saw these guys many times when I lived in N.C. -  BB played pretty much every show in the area back then.  Their sound was fairly lo-fi, vaguely crusty inspired HC with political lyrics - often mocking but also sometimes pointed.  Included here is their "Requestioning Violence" Ep, and their split Eps with All You Can Eat, Resol and Oi Polloi.  Fugitive Equilibrium posted two compilations featuring BB tracks as well.  My fave song of theirs was featured on the Unforseen Disasters comp., but "Requestioning Violence" stands out as their most solid release.  I've included both sides of their splits in the file.  Red went on to play for Oi Polloi and joined Rick to form the great Uwharria later on.  Awesome early 90s nostalgia.. check it out.

Blownapart Bastards - Requestioning Violence Ep, Split Ep w/ All You Can Eat, Split Ep w/ Resol, Split Ep w/ Oi Polloi

Union - Anaesthetized Ep

Up next is a 7" from the short-lived Swedish band Union.  Released in 1992 as a split between Tribal War Recs and Really Fast Records, this Ep was one of only two the band released.  Union played fairly straight-forward, fast HC with a slight crust feel and distinctive vocals.  This band seems to bridge the gap between classic Finnish HC like Terveet Kädet or Riistetyt and late 80s, early 90s U.S. bands that sought that sound, like Resist and Deprived.  This record would have been right at home on Profane Existence, both musically and lyrically.

Union - Anaesthetized Ep

Blownapart Bastards

Here is pretty much everything from fellow North Carolinians Blownapart Bastards.  I saw these guys many times when I lived in N.C. -  BB played pretty much every show in the area back then.  Their sound was fairly lo-fi, vaguely crusty inspired HC with political lyrics - often mocking but also sometimes pointed.  Included here is their "Requestioning Violence" Ep, and their split Eps with All You Can Eat, Resol and Oi Polloi.  Fugitive Equilibrium posted two compilations featuring BB tracks as well.  My fave song of theirs was featured on the Unforseen Disasters comp., but "Requestioning Violence" stands out as their most solid release.  I've included both sides of their splits in the file.  Red went on to play for Oi Polloi and joined Rick to form the great Uwharria later on.  Awesome early 90s nostalgia.. check it out.

Blownapart Bastards - Requestioning Violence Ep, Split Ep w/ All You Can Eat, Split Ep w/ Resol, Split Ep w/ Oi Polloi

Cry of Terror - s/t Ep

 OK, sorry for the silence... It was Spring Break at school so I took some time to chill and refresh for the remainder of the semester and my lack of activity spread to the blog.  Anyways, here is a great 7" from a short lived Dutch thrash band, Cry of Terror.  I first heard these guys on the In Crust We Trust comp.  Their two tracks sounded like crust meets crossover and made me think of early Concrete Sox.  This record has those two tracks from In Crust We Trust, along with two more.  Cry of Terror had 2 Lps as well.... you can get the first one here.  The Lps were more thrash metal influenced but still good.  I don't think they topped the songs from that comp. and this Ep, however. 

Cry of Terror - s/t Ep

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

V/A War Compilation

Building on my last post and the excellent one recently done by Marc at Fugitive Equilibrium focusing on Dirt, Mankind? and Final Warning, here is the War Compilation.  Released by Tribal War Asia, the Japanese branch of the label, this one features two of Neil's bands - Warning and Jesus Chrust.  Also included are some great Japanese bands of the time - T.D.F., Battle of Disarm, G.J.P.B., Crocodileskink and a couple more.  Along with Japan, the New York/New Jersey area is represented with Neil's bands, Rorschach, Merel, Hell No, Bugout Society and the underrated Huasipungo.  Sweden's Warcollapse are the only non-Japan or US based band I think. 

Anyways, most of the bands lean to the crusty side of things, particularly the Japanese groups.  "Can You Smell the Dead" might be my favorite T.D.F. track - great metal-punk that pre-dates the glut of those bands that are out there today.  Battle of Disarm, Warcollapse and Rorschach are their usual brilliant selves.  The Warning and Jesus Chrust songs are among both bands' best.  Huasipungo, Bugout Society, Merel, G.J.P.B., Urgesnake, The Denied and Crocodileskink all contribute strong tracks.

One band I was really interested to hear when I picked up this comp. was Hell No.  They featured two folks from Citizens Arrest so I had to hear the new group.  Unfortunately they were a huge let-down.  The music had decent parts but the vocals were way over-the-top.  They made me think of Life of Agony or something.  Their song on this record is one of their better tunes, however.  I bought their first album based on the better parts of this track but that record totally ended my interest in them.  Download and check it out for yourself...

V/A War Compilation

Warning - Protest and Still They Die Ep

 Here's a classic 7" from short lived NYC hardcore/crust band Warning.  Their one and only Ep, this band featured Neil of Tribal War Records and former vocalist for Nausea and Jesus Chrust.  This record has a definite early Discharge feel to it, down to the title and cover art.  A bit derivative maybe, and not quite the power of the early Nausea recordings, but still a solid Ep.  Neil went on to form Final Warning, probably his best post-Nausea project and a more evolved take on the Discharge sound.  Still, Neil's vocals are very distinctive and this Warning Ep showcases them perfectly.  Worth a listen for sure. 

Warning - Protest and Still They Die Ep

Shitfit/Human Greed Split Lp

Sorry for the long delay between posts.... I've been a bit under the weather and scrambling to catch up on work that I'd missed whilst ill.  Anyways, the post this week is split Lp of Canadian crust/grind bands which was unleashed in 1993.  Shitfit played fast paced crustcore with very distinctive vocals.  Musically they come from the Doom or Hiatus side of things but the vocals are very unique and bit hard to describe... they aren't growled in typical crust fashion, but aren't "clean" by any means.  Human Greed's side of the split is more typical crust influenced grindcore from the time.  Definite anarcho lyircs, pointed samples and crappy production should bring to mind early Disrupt or Drop Dead.  Overall a good split, especially for the uniqueness of the Shitfit tracks.  Each band had a few other releases - Eps and split Eps before calling it quits.  I need to track down the other Shitfit material.  Human Greed did have a discography CD which appeared some time in the 90s, though I don't think Shitfit ever had such a collection.  Both bands were part of the burgeoning Quebec HC scene of the 90s that spawned other greats like Immoral Squad, Seized and Dahmer.

Shitfit/Human Greed split Lp

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

Scorched Earth Policy - Tactics of the Lie

Here's another Texas band, Scorched Earth Policy is an early group from Jack Control, later of Severed Head of State and World Burns to Death.  This Lp is the second release on his seminal Mind Control label.  Coming from a guy who's fronted D-beat juggernauts like SHoS and WBtD you probably have a good idea of what this one entails, however, this SEP Lp is one of my favorite releases of his.  These songs are faster with a mean Scandi-core sound that I think his later bands lack.  There are a few "noise" tracks with samples and such that break up the flow a bit - similar to the Antischism Lp but fortunately they are slight detours quickly followed by raging blasts of hardcore.  A side note, Martin from Los Crudos does vocals on part of one track - interjecting some thoughts in Spanish on Peru's Marxist Shining Path guerrillas.  Another great hardcore record from the 90s.

Scorched Earth Policy - Tactics of the Lie Lp

Various - Reconstruction Lp

OK, I've got time for one more post before the hectic holidays...  Here's one last record from France for now - the Reconstruction compilation from Stonehenge Records.  This one collects all the emo "heavy-weights" - Fingerprint, Vanilla, Undone, Ivich, as well as some grind (Ultimate Disorder, Co-Exist) and crust (Autonomia Indigena) to keep things interesting.  All the bands on this one deliver, with the exception of Cause & Effect... as much as I love their 7", their track on this one is little more than a throwaway.  A shame, too, since it's the only other song they appear to have released.  All tracks seem to be exclusive to this LP.  Check it out.

V/A Reconstruction

Enola Gay/Vomit Yourself split LP

 

...And now for something completely different.  I'm a little weary of posting U.S. punk and HC for the moment, so here is a split LP of French bands - Enola Gay and Vomit Yourself.  This one dates from 1995 or so and both bands play blistering hardcore.  Enola Gay, one of a gazillion bands with that name, remind me alternately of Doom and early Extreme Noise Terror - great Euro crust-core.  Vomit Yourself are even faster, with shorter songs bordering on grindcore.  Both sides of the LP totally rip.  This one came out on the great French label Panx.  Enola Gay had a 7" and a couple of splits which I never tracked down but this record seems to be the only output of Vomit Yourself.  Download and be destroyed.

Enola Gay/Vomit Yourself split LP
 

Confrontation

 

Here's another post of some So-Cal crust - Confrontation.  This includes their two 7" Eps... "Dead Against the War" and their "1989" demo pressed on vinyl.  Dead Against the War was always my favorite... it has a great metallic, almost industrial sound to it.  One of these guys went on to form Dystopia and you can definitely see the parallel in this Ep.  The Demo 7" is more traditional crust-core - not bad at all but a very different sound from the later Ep.  There is also a Confrontation/Cantankerous split 7" out there but I've not been able to track down a copy... even a rip of it would be appreciated if someone has it.  One last note, DATW just happened to be the first release for Tribal War records... one of seminal labels of the 90s and one that will appear frequently on this blog.  Enjoy.  

 

Confrontation - "1989" Ep and "Dead Against the War" Ep
 

A//Solution

Here's some of that SoCal crust-core I mentioned in the last post.  The great A//Solution and their seminal "Butterfly" Ep.  This one came out in 1989 on Teacore records from the U.K.  These guys were definitely listening to tons of Antisect, Sacrilege and Deviated Instinct and you get some seriously crusty riffs on this one.  There's a myspace page dedicate to them which has a little info.  I know one of their singers committed suicide a few years after the band broke up.  There is also a CD from A//Solution which contains the recordings they did for an Lp that was never released.  Those tracks are good, but nearly as raging as those on this Ep.  I've gone ahead and included them here as well.  Download and enjoy:

A//Solution - Butterfly Ep and Things to Come CD

Sins of the Flesh

For the second posting I've got a great metallic hardcore band from Sacramento, CA - Sins of the Flesh.  They were around in the mid to late 80s and put out one LP and one 7", both of which are presented here for you.  The fast tempo, metallic crunch and leads, along with the overtly political lyrics really make me think of a U.S. version of Concrete Sox.  The 7" moves a bit more into crust-core territory, part of the emerging scene in California at this time (Apocalypse, A//Solution, Confrontation, Glycine Max, etc.)  This stuff is very underrated and there's not much about them I could find on the web.  Here is the one interview I was able to track down.  The LP was on Street Records out of Santa Barbara and the 7" came out on Desperate Attempt Records.  Check it out!

Sins of the Flesh Lp & "Know Your Enemy" Ep