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

Fields of Fire - The Kids Can't Be Bought Ep

OK, I've been back in town for a bit but have been playing catch up around the house and am finally squeezing in time for a new post... this week I've got a rockin' 7" from Southern California posi band Fields of Fire.  This one came out in 2000 and features some kick ass old school sXe HC in the vein of Insted or Chain of Strength - fast and heavy but with lots of melody.  These guys came from the same scene as Life's Halt and In Control, and like those bands were bridging straight edge and nardcore somewhat.  Good stuff.

Fields of Fire - The Kids Can't Be Bought Ep

Never Conform - s/t Ep

Alright, I'm about to head out of town again - taking advantage of the holiday to do a little more traveling, but before I go here is a quick post for you guys...  This one is the sole 7" Ep from Japan's Never Conform.  This band appears to have been around for ages (Discogs says 1989-2014) but released very little recorded material.  This Ep came out in 2002 on 625 Thrashcore and features songs apparently written in 1989.  Regardless of the details, Never Conform on this record played some mean thrashy hardcore highly influenced by Never Healed-era Heresy - from the artwork to, sadly, the muddled recording production.  Despite the less than ideal sound quality, the songs are great and totally fit with the 80's U.K. HC vibe that they (and I) obviously love.  Enjoy and I'll be back in a couple of weeks with more tunes...

Never Conform - s/t Ep

I Accuse!

Ok, here is a bit more early 2000s thrashcore... this time from Detrioit, Michigan's I Accuse!  These guys played super fast, modern thrashy hardcore with an old school U.S. HC vibe - imagine Jerry's Kids meets Charles Bronson.  I Accuse! released a couple of records on Sound Pollution - a self titled 7" and a split Lp with fastcore kings Hummingbird of Death.  I've included both those records in this post, along with their split Ep with Life Set Struggle - pretty much their entire discography, aside from demo and tour cassettes.

I Accuse! - Discography

The Final Plan

Here is another short-lived early 2000s band - this time from the U.S.A.  The Final Plan hailed from Cleveland, Ohio and played pissed off, lightning fast, sXe-influenced hardcore... they had much in common with contemporaries such as Tear It Up, Haymaker, Carry On and Panic.  It looks like they only contributed two releases before calling it quits - an Ep called "Dead End Nights" and a split with Texas band My Luck.  I've included both Final Plan releases here, along with the My Luck tracks from the split as well (they are pretty great in their own right).  Check them all out below.

The Final Plan - Dead End Nights Ep and split with My Luck 

Point of Few

Here are two Eps from Dutch thrashers Point of Few, who appeared in the last post - the Four Corners compilation.  The dudes played ultra-fast, youth crew influenced, political hardcore... they released a slew of 7"ers and split Eps, in addition to contributing songs to quite a few compilations.  Presented for you here are the "Beneath the Surface" and "Silence" Eps.... great accompaniments to their tracks from the "Four Corners" record.

Point of Few - "Beneath the Surface" and "Silence" Eps      

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   

Highscore

Highscore were a straight-edge hardcore band from Germany that started up in the late 1990s and lasted until the early 2000s, releasing a couple of Eps and two Lps worth of fast, thrashy HC.  These guys had releases on 625 and Deranged Records, which should go far in describing their sound.  Other points of reference would be Dutch ragers Vitamin X, Life's Halt or the Uniform Approach Ep I posted a while back.  This post contains their two full length records - 26 tracks total.

Highscore - New Fuel and Unsuspecting Actors in a Bad Soap Opera Lps

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

Weaving the Deathbag

Alright, another Wisconsin band here... as I mentioned in the last post, Weaving the Deathbag featured a member of Defacto Oppression and formed shortly after D.O. disbanded.  Weaving... had a slightly different take on the early 2000s hardcore punk sound, playing faster and with somewhat cleaner vocals.  I've always thought WtDB would have fit well on Sound Pollution or 625 Records - their sound was reminiscent of 90s greats like Hellnation and Capitalist Casualties, with perhaps just a touch of melody.  Weaving the Deathbag released a total of four 7" Eps, each of which is collected here on their "Compendium" CD.  I picked this up from the band on one of their final tours - 26 tracks that collect all the 7"ers plus a couple of cover songs.  Great stuff from a sadly short lived and underrated band...

Weaving the Deathbag - Compendium CD

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

Go!

OK, I'm about to head out traveling for a couple of weeks but I wanted to leave you all with one last post before I lose contact for a bit... here is the bulk of the recorded output by the great New York hardcore band Go!  Emerging in the late 80s and calling it quits in the early 90s, Go! played short, fast, straight-edge style HC with a slightly rawer sound and Mike Bullshit's trademark vocals - not quite spoken, sometimes screamed but certainly never sung.  Go! definitely had a posi-vibe to them, with conscious lyrics and a decidedly pro-gay stance that stood out in the scene at the time.  They released a slew of 7" Eps which were collected onto a discography CD.  Then, in 2006 the band regrouped for a bit and released two further Eps which updated their sound and featured more of Mike BS's positive lyrics and message.  The file linked here contains the discography CD "Existence," their side of the split Ep with Bad Trip (the only original material not on the CD) and the two Eps released in the mid-2000s.  Great stuff and a band I've dug for a long time...

Go! - Discography CD, Split Ep w/ Bad Trip, Reactive Ep and What We Build Together Ep

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       

Dismal - Terra Plague Ep

Here is the Dismal Ep I mentioned in the last post... the core members of The Dead Hate the Living formed Dismal shortly after the band's demise with a different guitarist and minus TDHTL's main singer.  Dismal went in a much more Scandicore direction and the Anti Cimex influence is right on the surface of these tunes, with perhaps a half step more speed.  Unfortunately Dismal was very short lived but they did fold into the also excellent Black Dove.... their stuff coming soon.

Dismal - Terra Plague Ep

The Dead Hate the Living

Here is the complete discography of a great early 2000s band from Cincinnati, Ohio… The Dead Hate the Living.  These guys and gal played hyper speed hardcore with kind of a hybrid sound - sort of like screamy thrash with scandi-core riffage and a slight black metal influence.  I had the opportunity to see them several times on one of their east coast tours and I can attest that they killed it live.  Nice folks, too.  This file has their self-released full length demo (which came packaged in a DVD case), their 7” entitled “Take That World!” and their sole Lp “Shock and Awe.”  A couple of these guys carried on into other similar sounding projects like the short lived Dismal and, later, Black Dove.  I’ll probably be posting that material next time as all these related bands are great.  Oh, and TDHTL featured members of Memento Mori in case that interests anyone…

The Dead Hate the Living - Discography

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

The End of the Century Party - Isn't It Perfectly Fucking Delightful To Be So Goddamn Certain Lp

Next up I've got the sole Lp from Florida's End of the Century Party.  Hailing from Tampa in the mid to late 90's, End of the Century Party were part of the same scene that produced legendary thrashers Asshole Parade, and the slightly less legendary, but still killer, Palatka.  Always a bit of an anomaly in a region that seemed to be defined by No Idea records and Gainesville bands like Hot Water Music, groups like Asshole Parade, End of the Century Party and Palatka coexisted with the relatively lighter and poppier bands that populated the Florida scene at the time.  End of the Century Party played fast and furious hardcore infused with a myriad of tempo changes, intricate guitar work and intensely screamed vocals.  This record brings to mind contemporary bands like Rorschach or, most especially, South Carolina purveyors of "emo violence" In/Humanity.  EOCP's drummer, B, now pounds the skins for the amazing No Statik, out of San Francisco - if that helps provide a frame of reference.

The End of the Century Party - Isn't It Perfectly Fucking Delightful To Be So Goddamn Certain Lp

Kriegstanz

And now for something completely different... Here are a couple of records from early 2000s Dutch hardcore band Kriegstanz.  Made up of members of Seein' Red and Betercore, Kriegstanz played a heavier, more muscular, but still blazing fast, version of the Dutch thrash associated with those groups.  There is a definite His Hero is Gone or Tragedy vibe to the music, but the amped up speed endears them to me a bit more than most of the Tragedy-worship bands of the time.  I was fortunate enough to see them on their U.S. tour with Seein' Red in 2005 and pick up these records...  Included in this file are their self-titled 10" and their also self-titled 7" Ep.

Kriegstanz - 10" and 7"   

Monsula

Here's one more early 90's Bay Area band for now... Monsula were another early Lookout! records group, but one that brought a significant DC hardcore influence to their sound.  This is most prevalent on their second LP, and final release, Sanitized.... there are some definite parallels to what Fugazi was doing at the time, but I also hear a good dose of Ignition and Soul Side, all with a Bay Area tinge.  All in all Monsula released one 7" and two LPs, all of which are included here.  The entire discography is great but my go-to record for them remains the final LP.  Check it all out below.

Monsula - Discography   

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

Nuisance

Well, trying to follow up that Strawman post, I decided to go with another California band with a somewhat similar sound.  Nuisance were an early Lookout! Records band that deviated from that label's, at the time, increasing dedication to signing and promoting pop-punk groups.  In many ways, Nuisance were a bit ahead of their time - grungy just before grunge broke, country influenced way before Ryan Adams and Lucero were on the scene.  Normally, I cringe at the mere mention of "country" or "cow-punk" but Nuisance brought something more to the table.  They were definitely a product of the California scene at the time and the Jawbreaker and Crimpshrine influences are audible... but also present is perhaps a later SST sensibility - Minutemen, later Meat Puppets, etc.  Throw in a dose of stoner rock (like the first Sleep Lp) and that might just define it.  Either way, Nusiance's two Lps were staples on my turntable in the 1990's.  Included here are those 12"ers: Confusion Hill and Sunny Side Down.  I've also thrown in their early Ep "Humbolt County."  Check them out below...

Nuisance - 2 Lps and an Ep   

Strawman

Staying with Allied Recordings and in the Bay Area, here is the almost complete discography of early 90's political punkers, Strawman.  Led by Tommy Strange, previously of mid-west hardcore band O.D.F.X., Strawman played anarcho-influenced rockin' punk in the vein of Stiff Little Fingers or early Clash.  They issued a self-titled Lp and several Eps before calling it quits... Tommy Strange went on to form Songs for Emma and continue on in the same vein while Jimmy Broustis moved on to found S.F. staple Shotwell Coho (later just Shotwell).  As I mentioned, this file contains just about everything Strawman produced - the Lp and three of their four Eps.

Strawman - Lp and three Eps

Various - Music for the Proletariat

This time out I've got another compilation - this one comes from the great early-90's label Allied Recordings.  Based in the Bay Area of California, Allied put out records from a diverse spectrum of bands - from Antischism to J Church to Neurosis and all points in-between.  Music for the Proletariat reflects that diversity and collects 26 songs from 90's punk and hardcore stalwarts like Resist and Jawbreaker, to lesser known, but still great in their own right, groups like Friction or Radon.  There are quite a few international bands that, at the time, were little known here in the States that received a bit of attention from their inclusion on this collection - bands like Seein' Red, Nations on Fire and Political Asylum.  This one featured early tracks from bands who would continue on to produce their own legacies (J Church, Jawbreaker, Buzzoven) as well as short lived groups who managed little else other than their contribution to this record (Schedule, Strait Up, Dogs on Ice, etc.).  However, there are hardly any missteps on this collection and that makes it one of best from this time period, to my mind.   

Various - Music for the Proletariat

Good Grief

Well, after that huge Cringer post I will stay with the Bay Area pop-punk for a minute.  Here is almost everything from a short lived band from the same era - Good Grief.  This band formed shortly after the dissolution of Cringer and featured one of their guitarists (the other being Lance who formed the prolific and long-running J Church).  Good Grief only released one 7" and a few compilation tracks.  Their sound is very Cringer-esque but with fairly gruff female vocals.  After this band, several members went on to form a new group called Buttafuoco and release a few more Eps in the same vein.  Included in this file with Good Grief's self-titled Ep are two 7" compilations that they appeared on - the "This is Fucked, This is Shit" and "There's A Faggot in the Pit" comps.  Each one features other Bay Area luminaries from the time (J Church, Filth, etc.) along with lesser known bands who are pretty great in their own right.  "This is Fucked, This is Shit" is one of my favorite comp. Eps from the early 1990s and the Good Grief song on that one is their best overall track I think.

Good Grief - s/t Ep and two compilation Eps

Cringer

I've been posting a spate of releases from the Vinyl Communications label recently, so I'll continue in that vein with what I think was the best VC band and one of my all-time favorites, San Francisco's (via Hawaii and L.A.) Cringer.  Cringer's sound was decidedly melodic, ranging from quick HC songs to tracks which bordered on "pop-punk" (before that was a dead genre).  There's a definite U.K. punk influence, which along with the lyrics leaned them towards anarcho-punk in my opinion... topics cover the revolutionary sailors of Petrograd (Kronstadt) who challenged the Bolsheviks in Russia, Situationist inspired musings, ballads about the Baader Meinhof gang and staunchly pro-feminist and pro-animal rights songs.  All very influential to me when I was young...

Included in this file is the CD reissue of their first LP "Tikki Tikki Tembo..." that incorporated their early Eps along with the 12".  Also enclosed is the "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" CD which compiled most of their remaining Eps and many of their compilation only tracks, making these two CDs cover the bulk of their official output.  I've also included the "I Take My Desires of Reality..." 12" which I posted a while back.  All those songs appear on the "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" CD but I'm partial to the high quality vinyl rip I made of that one.  Lastly, the file also contains Cringer's "Live in Europe" Ep... a 7" that is exactly what it says and their only Ep that doesn't appear on the CD reissues.

Cringer - (Almost Complete) Discography

Tit Wrench - Full Employment

 

Well, as I promised a while back, here is the early "Best Of" CD from early 90s San Diego weirdos Tit Wrench.  They appeared on the "Beautiful Music for Beautiful People" compilation I recently reposted and featured Bob Barley, proprietor of Vinyl Communications Records on vocals.  Tit Wrench played fast and abrasive electronic music with sarcastic and silly lyrics and plenty of smarmy attitude - punk bands like The Feeders, The Crucifucks or Dead Kennedys come to mind, but with a furious techno beat.  This "Best Of" collection contains virtually their entire discography, aside from their second Lp, and includes a cover of fellow San Diego and Vinyl Communications band Amenity's song "Forward Into the Past."  Not essential but a fun listen nonetheless... definitely interesting for the time period.

Tit Wrench - Full Employment CD

Amenity - Forward Into the Past (Repost)

Here is the Discography CD from Chula Vista hardcore band Amenity.  They appeared on the "They Don't Get Paid..." comp. I just re-posted and were a staple of the Southern California HC scene in the late 80s.  A straight edge band with posi lyrics and a healthy social conscience, musically they seem to me to straddle the line between bands like Ignition and Verbal Assault and the emergence of early 90s chugga-chugga style HC as practiced by groups like Groundwork and Chokehold.  Their "This Is Our Struggle" 7" was a mainstay on my turntable back then.  This CD, issued by Vinyl Communications, includes their Eps and compilation tracks, demos and some live tunes, including cool cover songs.  The sound quality on much of this collection is lacking but the early tracks, though rough, include some great HC tunes.  The later material is more mid-paced and rocking, but still powerful and the lyrics are great.  I bet these dudes were awesome live.

Amenity - Forward Into the Past 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...

Dissent

Dissent were a late 80s U.S. band from Rapid City, South Dakota that played political punk with insightful lyrics and plenty of positive energy.  Their ethos and sound put them in the emerging U.S. peace punk scene of the day and Dissent traveled in the same circles with contemporaries like Dead Silence, Libido Boyz, Cringer and Amenity, all bands that appeared along with them on the MRR comp. "They Don't Get Paid..."  Dissent released two Lps, a couple of Eps and a split Lp with Dead Silence, though the split Lp was a re-release of older tracks by both bands.  Sadly, the group dissolved when Bob Baker, their guitarist, principle songwriter and singer was killed by a drunk driver in a car crash.  Included in this file is essentially their entire discography... their eponymous first Lp, "Epitome of Democracy?" their great second Lp, along with their two 7" Eps.  The first Lp and 7" are not my favorite as I really don't like the voice of their first singer Skip.  After the first Lp he left the band Bob took over vocals, and in my opinion, the band hit their stride.  "Epitome of Democracy?" is a classic Lp of this time period for me.

Dissent - s/t Ep, Dissent Lp, Epitome of Democracy? Lp, Expression Ep   

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"

Dead Silence - Unlearning

Here is the early discography CD of Colorado peace punks Dead Silence.  Starting up in the mid-80s, Dead Silence was active into the mid-90s, playing anarcho influenced hardcore punk with thought provoking lyrics delivered with plenty of spite and vitriol.  This CD compiles their releases through 1990, when the band was on somewhat of a hiatus, and includes their two Lps and their first two Eps.  After the release of Unlearning, Dead Silence regrouped and put out a few more Eps of material before apparently calling it a day.

Dead Silence - Unlearning CD 

Various - Stealing the Pocket Lp

This time out, I've got a relatively rare compilation 12" of mid-90s punk and hardcore called "Stealing the Pocket."  This record was produced by the very short-live Positively Punk label and, according to Discogs, was limited to 200 copies.  The covers were hand-made and consisted of a list of the bands glued on to old record covers salvaged from thrift stores... so each cover was unique.  The artwork accompanying this post and embedded in the tracks is my particular copy's.  The line-up on this comp. is a bit uneven - it includes 90s HC heavyweights like Los Crudos, Capitalist Casualties, Death Side, The Pist, etc. alongside relatively unknown and quickly forgotten groups like Chickita, Potato Justice and Bound.  A lot of these tracks made it on to discography releases of the more prolific bands - like Los Crudos, The Pist, Maximillian Colby, etc.  Others, like the Frail and Rye Coalition tracks, were left off any other release and appear to be exclusive to this obscure little record.  The stand out tracks are from Naked Aggression, Death Side, Cap Cas, Vanilla, Devoid of Faith, Los Crudos, Action Patrol, Frail, F.Y.P. and Maximillian Colby.

Various - Stealing the Pocket Lp

Frail - Make Your Own Noise

Here is the nearly complete discography of Philadelphia straight edgers Frail.  These guys were around in the mid-90s and in 1994 or so I happened to be in Richmond, VA visiting friends when Frail played a dank basement somewhere downtown.  They were great, of course.  I picked up their first two seven inchers at the show... these, along with their third Ep and a split 7" with Elements of Need are included on this disc.  Frail released a couple of compilation only tracks that don't appear on this collection but this CD covers everything else.  Their sound was definitely in the 90s emo vein, though, it seems to me, musically they bridged the gap somewhat between the metallic straight edge sound of contemporary bands like Unbroken or Catharsis and the early wave of French screamo - bands like Fingerprint or Ivich.  Members of Frail went on to found Ink & Dagger if that helps place their sound as well...

Frail - Make Your Own Noise CD 

Naturecore - With Love... Wish You Were Here! Ep (Repost)

Naturecore was a short lived Southern California anarcho-punk band from the mid 80s.  This 12" Ep was released on No Master's Voice records in 1986, though it was recorded in 1984.  The songs feature strong male/female trade off vocals over proto-crusty HC - somewhere between Dirt and Antischism if you ask me... a bit head of it's time I think.  The lyrics are strongly anarcho influenced, and deal with animal rights, exploitation of Native Americans, etc.  The combination leads me to see Naturecore as a direct influence on the coming peace punk/crust scene in the USA - Antischism, Nausea, Mankind?, etc.  Check it out for yourself...

Naturecore - With Love... Wish You Were Here! 12"

Sleeping Body - Awaken Ep

This time out I've got the sole record from a Texas band called Sleeping Body.  It was released in the early 90s on the Vermin Scum label out of Maryland - home of Moss Icon, The Hated, Universal Order of Armageddon and others with a similar take on the punk/hardcore sound.  Sleeping Body immediately brings Moss Icon to mind with the singer's pained vocals and out of tune yelps (for a while after picking this record up I was convinced that Johnathan Vance from M.I. was the actual vocalist for this band...), as well as the spastic music, lurching towards vicious crescendos.  This band definitely had a Washington DC vibe and sound and this Ep fit right in on the Vermin Scum roster.  Records like this seemed to me to be a heavy influence on the rise of the 90s Gravity records "San Diego sound" and the second wave emo and screamo scenes...
      
Sleeping Body - Awaken Ep

Inward - Blind Ep

This time out I've got a crushing 7" from Germany's Inward.  Like many other German hardcore bands of the 1990s, Inward's sound was infused with metallic riffs, glass gargling vocals and chaotic rhythms, placing the band squarely in the musical vicinity of fellow Deutsche bands of the period Acme, ABC Diabolo, Corrosive and Golgatha.  Definitely recommended for any fans of the aforementioned bands or of metallic hardcore in general...

Inward - Blind Ep

Scorched Earth Policy - Tactics of the Lie Lp (Repost)

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

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

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

False Face - Where It Ends Ep

So last night I was able to catch current U.K. hardcore heavyweights Violent Reaction and The Flex on their trek through the U.S.A.  After watching VR dispense some sick straight edge jams, I was tempted to revisit some old school (relatively, I guess) U.K. sXe HC.  False Face was a short lived band from the Northeast of England whose sole release appears to be this 7" Ep.  Recorded by the legendary Dickie Hammond (H.D.Q., Leatherface, etc.), this Ep delivers fast, melodic HC in the vein of Uniform Choice and classic Revelation bands like Gorilla Biscuits or early Ignite... I'm not certain but I think one member of False Face went on to found, along with former members of Steadfast, the almighty Voorhees.  Regardless, a great 7" for those who dig fast sXe style hardcore, even if they're drinking a cider while listening to it....

False Face - Where It Ends Ep

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

Word Made Flesh - s/t Ep (Repost)

Word Made Flesh hailed from NYC and featured Jae, the powerful singer of A.P.P.L.E.  This 7" was their one and only release, out on Squat or Rot recs, and contained 5 tracks of rock influenced punk.  Similar to A.P.P.L.E., the tracks are mid-paced with much emphasis on Jae's amazing vocals.  I can also discern a bit of the NYC crust sound in the mix.  A definite anarcho-punk feel makes me think a bit of current bands like Arctic Flowers or Icon Gallery.  My favorite track, by far, is Rain Dance... a great, catchy upbeat track that recalls Dirt or Lost Cherrees.  This song alone makes the Ep for me.   

Word Made Flesh - s/t Ep

Various - Give Me Back Lp

 

Up next is one of my favorite compilation Lps of the 90s, "Give Me Back" on Ebullition records.  This one features a great mix of U.S. and Euro HC of the time.  In keeping with the theme of the record, many of the songs deal with gender and sexuality issues.  Among the bands featured, several contribute their best songs, in my opinion, to this record - the Spitboy, Suckerpunch, Struggle, Desiderata and Profax songs are a good as it gets.  Also featured are HC heavyweights Man Lifting Banner, Seein' Red, Born Against and Econochrist, along with a few other lesser known but still great bands from this era.  Overall, a great collection with a great message...

V/A Give Me Back Lp 

Reason of Insanity - Self Titled Lp

Louisiana's Reason of Insanity were a long-standing HC outfit that toured the Southern USA extensively during their time and released a slew of split Eps, a couple of Eps of their own, along with this self titled 12", their sole Lp.  I saw these dudes open for Rattus on the Finnish legends' amazing 2004 tour of the US and they definitely brought it, a requirement for playing before such HC royalty.  This record features 27 tracks of furious hardcore, including three covers of classic HC tunes.  No frills, all speed and killer riffs, just like I like it.

Reason of Insanity - Self Titled Lp  

Apostates - Burning World of Hate Ep (Repost)

Here is a fairly obscure release from a band on the fringe of the NY punk scene in the late 80s and early 90s.  Apostates appeared on some NY punk compilations, notably Squat or Rot, Vol. 2 - along with Jesus Chrust, Yuppicide and others.  This 7" was released soon after and featured the song from that comp. with 2 additional tracks.  Apostates had a distinctive sound and were unlike most other NYHC bands of the time.  This record has a real anarcho-punk meets folk rock feel to it.  For reference, I'd compare it to folky punk like Pollution Circus, early Terminus or even New Model Army.  Apparently the band went in a more Goth direction after this record, though I've not heard anything else from them.  They have a site with the band's history and activities these days.  Whatever became of them, this Ep is a great record with an unconventional sound.

Apostates - Burning World of Hate Ep