Friday, January 08, 2021

HONKAS - Lied Für Fritz EP 1982

In the city of Wolfsburg at home: Honkas, a four piece named after the German serial killer Fritz Honka from Hamburg, and consisted of Max (vocals), Christian (guitars), Dirk (bass) and André (drums). Their first sign of life was a tape with six songs on the small Silberne Ritter Kassetten label, one year later the only record Lied Für Fritz on Pogar Records with five brilliant lullabies. I own the re-release by Static Age (2019) and give you some product facts by the label plus and a short review: “Reissue of this old German obscurity with great sound and full reproduction of the original fold-out cover. While by 1982 the US had switched over to hardcore, this EP from the Honkas reminds me more of tough, first-generation European punk like the Rude Kids or PF Commando, though fans of better-known bands like the Dead Boys will also see where Honkas is coming from. The mix is odd and uneven (which, for me, adds to the charm of this era and style of punk), giving this the outsider quality I associate with the best KBD punk. They even speed things up for “Kunst,” which has a proto-hardcore sound a la Teen Idles or even Upright Citizens. A deep cut for sure, but if you love ripping, obscure punk this is well worth your time.”

“Honkas are a very raw German punk band and the production on this record only accentuates their primitivity. Some of the songs here almost degenerate into an undefined mass of guitar distortion, but others (like the title track) have more focus and drive. Pretty sharp.” (Jeff Bale (MMRR #5, March/April 1983) - I say: splendid record and five nuggets from the depths of cold wet dirty cellars, pumped with intense passion; represent on various compilations as well. Kauft das Teil solange es verfügbar ist und gebt euch nicht mit billigen mp3's zufrieden.


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