Requiem

I just posted Catharsis, so I figured I'd post some Requiem as well.  I really like this record.  You can tell they took the production of it very seriously, and I appreciate that.  Very dark, very powerful melodic hardcore from North Carolina.

STORM HEAVEN

Fairy Tale People

Here's a fun and bouncy record by Japan's impeccably named PEOPLE.  There was a decently in-depth column about this band in Maximumrocknroll a few months ago, and I'm lazy, so go pick that up if you want to learn more about this shady and conspicuous group.  Until then, enjoy this blissful headache of a pop punk album.

FAIRY TALE

Citizens Arrest

New York City is a nasty place, so it would make sense that its hardcore punk would be the same.  Citizens Arrest is a fine example.  This EP is probably their best stuff and it's tough and dark and dirty and I love how black metal the cover is.

HERE

Blasphemy

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this blog really under-represents my love of metal.  The metal I most love is the filthy, nasty, deathly kind.  There are death metal bands that play really technically and impressively, and then there are death metal bands that sound like death.  I'll give you one guess at which kind I like more.  Blasphemy formed in the late 80's in Canada somewhere and they created this grotesque concoction of blackened death metal before either black or death metal were fully formed genres.  It's face-smashing pure evil and I like it a lot.  Lots of bands have taken this style of metal in interesting (and BRUTAL) directions, such as Portal, Proclamation and Diocletian, and you should check that stuff out as well.

HERE'S A DEMO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A RECORD

 

HERE'S A RECORD THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DEMO 

both rule.

Ruidosa Inmundicia

Another borrowing from Terminal Escape, I can't help it this time, though.  Ruidosa Inmundicia are one of my favorite newer hardcore bands.  They are absolutely vicious, there's just no denying their power.  They are from Austria, but the main vocalist is from Chile and sings in Spanish.  I can't wait to see them play next month, and if they are coming through your town make damn well sure you see them.  Raging.

CLICK

Age of Quarrel

This is absolutely one of the toughest (and best) hardcore records ever released!  Listen to those freaking drums.  You need this.

 FACE THE FACTS

Catharsis

Catharsis was a much loved anarchist hardcore project from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area of NC.  Their songs were intense and ambitious, borrowing from all types of metal as well as punk.  The folks involved in Catharsis went on to be in many many bands, including Requiem, Zegota, From the Depths and Paint it Black, as well as being active in the anarchist collective, Crimethinc..  Close to home, this one!

Samsara

Brother Inferior

Here's a 36 song collection from one of Oklahoma's finer exports, Brother Inferior.  Once upon a time, it was the '90s.  Enjoy!

Anthems '94-'97

S.O.B. - Don't Be Swindle

Okay this might be my last Japan post for a minute. The first record by Sabotage Organized Barbarian!  S.O.B. are one of theeeee greatest fastcore/thrash bands of all time if you were to ask me, but you didn't ask so I'll shut up.  But if you could do me a favor and not be swindle, I would really appreciate it.

SPEAK MOUTH FUCK YOU

AI

Here's a quick one, AI do burning spirits hardcore in a wild ass fashion and I like it!  This is their 3 song EP, Ain't No Slaves, from 2003. 

AIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAI

Death Side - All Is Here Now

Continuing the Japan Punk Forcefeeding.  When people talk about "burning spirits," this is what they mean.  This 5 song 7" just knocks you over.  Freakin DEATH SIDE were like Poison Idea ramming fullspeed into Iron Maiden or something.  They were definitely a punk band, but the songs sometimes take very metallic turns and the guitar playing is really really good (RIP Chelsea).  Death Side existed from '87-'94 and released 6 excellent records.  Surviving members would go on to play in Forward and Paintbox(?)   All is...

...Hear Now

G.M.I.A.S.N.M.

You should already be familiar with the Genius Intellect Sonic Masterwork that is their FIRST RECORD.  Now gash yourself upon the jagged metallic edge of this second mighty blow to ordered civilization.  I'll meet you in the rubble of what once was and we will smile.

HERE IT IS 

 

Kriegshog

D-beat's OK I guess, but what really greases my gears is "crasher" crust.  Enter: Kriegshog of Tokyo! This music is pure ferocity and desperate force and I love it.  You lucky thing! this file has their entire discography!  Get on it!  Bang thy head!

KRIEGSHOGRAPHY

The Stalin

Ooooh, this is a good and weird one.  The Stalin were a Japanese band that just played good, basic punk rock with a slightly strange style.  Vocalist and socialist activist Michiro Endo has a lot to do with the strangeness.  This CD is a compilation of their second LP (and major label debut?), Stop Jap and some other songs from some other record or something.  I don't have their earlier stuff but would love to...  Get it!

THE STALIN

Jellyroll Rockheads

Fuck it.  I'm just gonna throw a bunch of Japanese punk at you for the time being.  It's my birthday week and I can do what I want.  Jellyroll Rockheads were very fast and thrashing punk, and while their riffs aren't the most original, their precise timing and blazing speed keep me listening.  Kill Trend.

THRASH

The Swankys

The Swankys were GAI, but were (slightly) less insane and noisy and more shitsandgiggles-y and pogo-y.  Still very very fun punk musics.  This is their bestest and most funn-y record Very Best of Hero.

Knife Will Not Open Because Rust 

GAI

It's time for GAI.  Early Japanese Noise Punk Pogo Insanity.  "Extermination" ep and "Damaging Noise" ep.  No stupid stopping, Just going and fun. One two one two.  Punk Life And Happiness.

Humans Ugly

Then, they changed their name to The Swankys and kinda stayed the same, but a little different.

DDIILLSS

No excuses, it's been too long.  Here's THE FREAKIN DILS from California.  Straight up '78 catchy good times.  This file is their 3 EPs, two from '78 which are raucous and excellent, and the third from '80, where the songs get poppier and more produced, but "Not Worth It" is a perfect song.   Local folks, Princess Thunderstorm's "Asshole" chorus  sounds pretty much exactly like "Class War" chorus from the second Dils EP.  Tell me I'm wrong.

You're Not Blank

Crimson Spectre

CRIMSON SPECTRE was from Greensboro, North Carolina, just a few hours east of home, and they described themselves as "horror punk" but actually played pretty great thrash punk...they did wear corpse paint sometimes and sing (intelligently) about horrific subjects, but typical horror punk they were not.  If you can find the lyrics anywhere, they are worth a read...definitely a notch above standard hardcore fare.  I only got to see this band once, and they were great.  I think one of them does stand up comedy now?

GHOUL PUNKS!

Damad - Rise & Fall

OOH!! One of my all time favorites!  I love DAMAD so freakin much.  KYLESA's getting all the accolades and recognition, but before KYLESA there was DAMAD and they brought the HEAVY.  Dark, gloomy, depressive sludge punk crust metal with the nastiest, gnarliest, most demented vocals to rise from the stinky, sweaty South.  Victoria goes from the most guttural lows to the screechiest highs in just a breath (she also did the awesome artwork)  Seriously, if KYLESA is a Mack truck, then DAMAD is a mile long freight train.

RISE/FALL 

Moonshine

This blog definitely under-represents my love of metal.  Here's a remedy: Baltimore's MOONSHINE.  Sludgy, doomy and evil metal from former members of the excellent WAKE UP ON FIRE and maybe future members of NUX VOMICA (?)  One time I went to see This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb at a house in town and the bass player had a broken arm, so she played a xylophone instead.  I liked TBIAPB but their bassless set lacked the "oomph" my teenage heart was craving.  Luckily I heard of a metal show across town and lo, MOONSHINE came (without xylophones) to rest my soul.  I went to bed crushed and elated that night.

OOOMPH

excuse the shitty, grainy image

Shovelfight aka Sink The Fucker

More throwback Asheville.  Shovelfight/Sink The Fucker was a band full of people I know, but I never got to see them, which is a shame because I really like this recording.  Folks in this band also played in other bands, like Kakistocracy, Ahleuchatistas, Pox Americana, Sunshine SS, Bracken, Teenage Heart and at least a billion more.  Sometimes it seems like everyone in this town always has at least two bands going and I like it.

Sink the Fucker

This is the only relevant picture I could find.  Was there really another band called Allergic to Bullshit?

 

Tent City Rollers

I'm prone to like bands from my hometown, especially when they're really good, like Tent City Rollers were.  Like so many Asheville bands, they put out just one recording, this one.  TCR had folks from Black Rainbow, Kreamy Lectric Santa, Kakistocracy, Flies Around It, Ennui, Endless Bummer, Princess Thunderstorm, Electric Damn and a bunch bunch more.  A flyer for one of their shows described Tent City Rollers as "melodic punk jams in a squeeze tube," and I think that's pretty accurate.  Thanks to Remote Outposts for the tape rip and scan.  I'm getting the hardware to rip my own stuff soon, so I'm not just bumming from others.

GET IT

Electric Deads - Anti Sex

I know nothing about this band other than they were from Denmark, only put out 3 EPs, and they absolutely rule.  Tim Yo of MRR said the vocals put him off, but rest his misguided self in peace, because the vocals are what make this stuff great.  This is Anti-Sex, their second record.

ELECTRIC DEADS

Double O

Double O was an 80's Washington, DC hardcore punk band.  Familiar story, but this is a really really good record.  If you listen to early DC punk (of course you do) then there's no reason to not enjoy this.  Don't let the weird psych-y song throw you off, stay the course, get ye with it.  I'm talking to you.

O O O O O O O O O O

Dara Puspita

Life has been getting in the way, for better and for worse...I won't bore you with the details, because two hand injuries in two weeks is making this incredibly difficult to type.  Dara Puspita was a garage pop band from Surabaya, Indonesia from '64-'72.  They toured the world for three straight years (holy hell) and as a result, didn't last too much longer after returning home.  This has been my jam lately.  It's groovy.

HERE