EYES ON YOU - Received With Thanks 12"

I consider Record Store Day to be mostly problematic, but that doesn't change the fact that the independent and volunteer-run stores we love get a significant spike in sales on that day. Thus, I attended a Record Store Day show at the Bay Area's best and only all volunteer-run record store, Thrillhouse Records, and this is the only record I bought. I had never seen it before, but Children Of The Revolution is a reputable label, and it was cheap, so I grabbed it. Totally cool stuff from the UK circa 1987 with the melody and punch that defined many other bands of the time and place. The bass is out of tune, but it doesn't detract much from the cool songs. It's similar to stuff like HDQ and INSTIGATORS, or DC stuff like GRAY MATTER and MARGINAL MAN. A short mention in Ian Glasper's book about UK hardcore, Trapped In A Scene, tells us that this band became FILLER, who I recall not really digging too much. Maybe it's time to revisit? The last cut on here, "Chance You Missed," is my top pick, even though the intro is a near copy of that long epic track on IRON MAIDEN's Powerslave album. Surely coincidental, right?

EYES ON YOU

MUSTA ROMANSSI - EP

So few posts lately, I know...low on steam for the blog. But since I'm feeling too tired to go out to see Funeral Cone play an Oakland basement tonight, I'm going to share this interesting Finnish EP with you. I've been hearing a trend of bands from Finland lately that are hardcore, but slip in a KILLING JOKE-esque or dark post-punk song in here and there - namely the awesome MAAILMANLOPPU, but the other day at MRR both the new RIISTETYT and VIVISEKTIO singles had such style represented. Turns out that bands were doing this in the 80s (off the top of my head KAAOS and APPENDIX) and then here's this sole release form MUSTA ROMANSSI. The EP kicks off with dark and droning "Argentiina," before launching into a series of thrashing hardcore tunes. I personally enjoy the first track the most, as much of the other material seems to borrow a little too much from thrash metal. "The Aim OF Religion" even employs the low pitch-shifter on the vocals to add a slightly more evil dynamic. Cheesy? Yeah, but obscure and interesting enough to be on a music blog. And I've almost forgotten the most important aspect of this EP: the cover art! Need more hair + makeup like this in hardcore.

MUSTA ROMANSSI EP

DROWNING ROSES - Aus Forschung Und Technik EP

Sometime around the split of the brilliant Deutcshpunk band NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES, the bass player went on to DROWNING ROSES. This EP catches them sounding a lot like N.ARSEHOLES - minus the dramatic production, but still brandishing the strong vocals and infectious guitar leads. The A side rips through the title track and "10 years," but the flip features a great slow burner called "Kein Thema Für Heut." Yes, then they did a split 7" with NOFX and 2 LPs before calling it quits. This EP stands strongest though, and seems to be a criminally overlooked German punk EP. 

DROWNING ROSES

KAFKA PROSESS - Live 1987

More live KAFKA PROSESS; same venue as the previous post, but a year later. Notable moments on here: one untitled track that I haven't heard recorded anywhere else - and a boss 7 SECONDS cover! I think I prefer the set I posted from 1986, it's a little more intense, but this one's still great and essential for my fellow Norwegian HC/Euro HC fanatics! 

KAFKA PROSESS Live '87

THE BRIGADES - Costa Del Dole LP

Let's head over to Paris today to enjoy the wonderful melodic punk from THE BRIGADES. They released several albums and EPs throughout the 80's but this is the one I'm most familiar with. There's definitely some UK Oi influences and some touches of reggae in some of the riffing and chord progressions, but the end result is much more upbeat and sing-songy than your typical gruff French Oi. This LP actually reminds me a bit of countrymen AL KAPOTT in their delivery, and will also probably appeal to folks who worship a lot of the anarcho stuff from the 80's. Great batch of tunes!

THE BRIGADES LP

SDT - Eleven Parts EP

A pretty random hardcore EP from Iowa from 1987. An internet search tells that they also had an LP a year earlier, and members went on to IOWA BEEF EXPERIENCE - I've heard neither. All I know is that side a is instrumental, "I'm Allright" is hard to fully support because of the opening drumbeat, but "In A Groove" is an unsuspecting blazer of a midwest hardcore treasure. And look at this guy airborne on the back cover! Intriguing, mildly exciting. 

 

SDT - Eleven Parts

V/A - PUNK TERRITORY VOL. 4: Italian Hardcore 1981-87

For you to obsess over throughout the course of your weekend: 33 tracks of full throttle hardcore from Italy! I love this CD because it offers some of the less celebrated names of the era, mostly from rare cassettes, and it still delivers the goods as much as a comp with WRETCHED, NEGAZIONE, CCM, and PEGGIO PUNX would. Here's the run down:

5 tracks by THE WOPS - USHC style reminding me of something like THE FIX // four tracks by WRONG BOYS - the first song is a dead rip-off of TSOL's "Superficial Love" in riffs and arrangement, while the other 3 are fast and punchy hc tunes // BLAXFEMA shreds through 3 thrashier hc tracks // 3 fast SoCal punk sounding tunes from CRAPPING DOGS, channeling DEAD KENNEDYS at times // One melodic upbeat oi/punk track from THE SKULLS // 6 catchy punk tracks by TRAUMATIC, taken from the Senza Tregua comp on BCT // 2 raw and hook-filled punk songs from WARHEAD // 3 punk tracks with a wild and expressive vocalist from DICTATRISTA // 2 rambunctious tracks from STAZIONE SUICIDA // finally, 5 more melodic and post-hardcore sounding songs from U.N.S - sort of a cross between HDQ and HEIMAT-LOS...or something...definitely the odd one of the bunch. 

PUNK TERRITORY VOL 4

AGEN 53 - Ich Wünsch Dir Für Die Zukunft Etwas Mehr Glück Junge Welt EP

I just got back from a walk to the market, and it's a rainy and dreary morning here in the SF Mission. I'm a huge fan of clear blue skies and warm sun, but sometimes the gloomy grey climate feels appropriate for my puffy-eyed morning mood, especially when paired with the right punk EP. AGEN 53's sole EP has just the right amount of coldness found in many of my favorite German punk bands from the 80's, but with upbeat driving rhythms to keep it from being considered anything close to deathrock or gothy. The instrumentation is superb - bumbling basslines rumble up front while the guitar is set back in the mix, sort of creating a dark backdrop for the whole sound. The vocals are rarely tuneful, mostly a constant monotone blabbering, but not without a strong hook here and there. Overall it's a really interesting and overlooked EP. They also had a couple tracks on the totally essential Keine Experimente II compilation, and a 12" in 1988 (that I'd like to hear!). This one just feels right today, until the fog burns off...

AGEN 53 - EP

PARALISIS INFANTIL - DEMO '87

My knowledge about punk/hardcore from Argentina is fairly scant, aside from the Invasion 88 compilation and bands like LOS VIOLADORES and MASSACRE PALESTINA, so when I caught wind of this reissue, I had to check it out. It's so shocking to hear stuff like this and consider that it hasn't gotten a proper release until 2012, because it's so fucking excellent - leagues above most new releases by current bands in my opinion. The guitar lead on "Hijos De Burgueses" puts it in the same camp as "all time best punk songs," much like "Secret Police" by NO HOPE FOR THE KIDS, or "Kids of the Black Hole" by ADOLESCENTS, etc...Purists/collectors should still be able to track this EP down somewhere, as it was only released a few months ago. Great melodic punk to kick off the week!

PARALISIS INFANTIL - DEMO '87

GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA - Хорошо !! cassette

Here's another fine selection of GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA's distinguished brand of melancholic Russian punk. This album was recorded in 1987 but has a much more hi-fi recording quality than the Necrophilia tape that I posted previously, but it still has great material and is a great listen. I translated the song-titles into English, as I try to always do for stuff written in languages using different characters. Enjoy the tunes and the naughty pictures on the insert. 

Гражданская Оборона ‎– Хорошо !!

GULAG - Είσοδος Κινδύνου 0° C

Here's the debut record of Thessaloniki's GULAG. This 12"shows the band young and unrefined, before they became a little more upbeat and aggressive. However, the great melodies and eloquence are already there, and it's certainly right in line with other classic Greek punk stuff such as GENIA TOU XAOUS and EX-HUMANS - melodic, thoughtful, and unique, including some post-punk elements, while tense and spacious in sound. This record was actually my introduction to the band. I was on tour and a friend pulled this cheaply out of the bins at Amoeba in San Francisco - I don't even know if he knew the band, but it was a neat find, and a couple hot Texas summers later he sold it to me for taco money! Accompanying the record is a nice foldout poster and an extra English insert with translated lyrics and explanations of the photos used in the layout!

GULAG - Είσοδος Κινδύνου 0° C

Two of these tracks were re-recorded for the previously posted "Big Talk" EP. The other four are exclusive to this release. I love the cover art on this 12"....hope you enjoy the sounds!

GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA - Necrophilia

Originally hailing from Omsk (that's wayyyy deep into Russia), GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA, or "Civil Defense" in English, was the most prolific and influential punk band in Russia. Yegor Letov formed the band in 1984 after spending time in a mental ward for performing anti-authoritarian, anti-militaristic, aggressive music. GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA recorded many albums over the years, and many copied tapes exist with varying versions of songs, different sessions, etc. The earliest ones, including "Necrophilia" (recorded in 1987), were recorded by Yegor in his apartment - a space that became known as the GrOb studio. Any material against the government instantly drew attention from the KGB, so these recordings were truly dangerous, and were taped and distributed mainly in the underground circuit through friends. 

In the early 90's Letov disappointed fans by declaring that he now had joined the right wing fascist movement, but still continued to make music . He passed away in 2008 from heart failure. 

The music is raw, dark, and passionate lo-fi punk, with a heavy dose of Russian folk influence. It's really unique, and if you haven't heard it, I really suggest you start today. I have several more great GrOb tapes and related projects to post in the future! I've translated the song titles into English through a translator site.

Гражданская Оборона - Некрофилия