Ulcer

Alright, Happy New Year everyone... I'll start off 2015 with post from this side of the pond, namely the 39 track (plus a live set) discography CD from Massachusetts thrashers Ulcer.  These guys were around in the early to mid 1990's and played blistering hardcore, bordering on grind, with plenty of doses of thrash and power violence thrown in the mix.  Ulcer did split records with 90's HC mainstays Capitalist Casualties and Failure Face, which should give you some further clue to their sound.  To my ears they share a lot in common with Rhode Islanders Drop Dead, but with more insane vocals - reminiscent of Septic Death or, even more closely, the Unsettled Ep I posted so long ago.  This CD collects all of Ulcer's material - an Lp, an Ep and two split 7"ers, along with the aforementioned live set.  Enjoy.

Ulcer - Discography CD    

Various - Four Corners Lp

Building on the theme of my recent posts, here is a great early 2000s compilation Lp of posi thrash and fastcore bands... "Four Corners" came out on 625 Records in the U.S. and featured 5 bands - Life's Halt from the U.S., Dead End (Sweden), Razlog Za (Croatia), German straight edgers Highscore (from the last post) and Holland's Point of Few.  Each band contributes at least 3 songs, giving each about a split 7"s worth of material...  The entire is record is killer, with Highscore and Life's Halt doing what they do best.  Dead End were short lived and didn't release much else, but their tracks are some of the best and showed a group with lots of promise.  Razlog Za are perhaps the weakest link - mostly due to the recording quality of their songs - but their contributions are by no means detrimental.  Point of Few comes out the winner, though, in my mind.  Their short, heavy and ultra-fast tracks bring to mind compatriots like Lärm and Seein' Red or perhaps a more muscular version of U.K. thrashers Active Minds.  Overall, a great collection of fast, pissed off youth crew influenced hardcore.

Various - Four Corners Lp   

All Ill - Symbols of Involution Ep

Up next is a Spanish group from the late 1990s - All Ill.  These guys played ultra fast, thrashy, straight-edge influence hardcore with perhaps a touch of power violence.  Bands for reference would be their country-mates E-150, Scholastic Deth, Exclaim or Sick Terror.  Presented here is their "Symbols of Involution" Ep that came out on Sound Pollution Records in 2000.  This one features 10 tracks, including a Project X cover (Dance Floor Justice).  It looks like All Ill released at least another CD's worth of material but I've not been able to track that one down.  Regardless, this Ep is killer and a great listen for fans of this sound and the aforementioned bands.

All Ill - Symbols of Involution 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

Luzifers Mob/Golgatha

 

OK, time to make up for some of the inattention to the blog with a big post... Here are 3 records from a couple of stalwarts of the German HC scene in the 90s.  Both were featured on the Plot compilation I posted a few weeks back.  Luzifers Mob played lightening fast HC with absolutely vicious vocals.  Golgatha were more on the metal end of things with mid-paced tracks focusing on breakdowns, leads and general heaviness.  Included here is the split Lp between the two, along with each band's 7".

Luzifers Mob/Golgatha split Lp, Luzifers Mob - s/t Ep, Golgatha - Ich Weiss Nicht.... Ep