One of the best kept secrets of Eighties California Hardcore, Target Of Demand hailed from Long Beach and consisted of Jim (vocals), Brian & Mike (guitars), AJ (bass), George (drums), and they released only this ten blast via the small Happy Hermit label and a couple Compilation tracks before disbanding. Due to their very short existence as a band, and the fact that they were much more influenced by Teen Idles or SS Decontrol and the sounds coming out of Boston and the Midwest, rather than what was going on in California at the time, this incredibly ripping is 100% pure American Hardcore. They also appear 1985 on the fantastic When Men Were Men... And Sheep Were Scared Compilation on Bemisbrain Records. They are a straight-edge band but their lyrics stay far away from the usual cliché topics of such bands, most of them are attacks on the rich, the government, positive thinking, etc... A suitable review: "This new Long Beach Hardcore group seems to have been influenced quite a bit by D.R.I. The comparison shouldn’t be exaggerated, however, because Target Of Demand adds characteristic SoCal hooks to their intense thrash attack, and the results are startlingly good. Of the songs, “The Poor Rich” takes a potshot at wealthy Malibu residents endangered by mudslides, and “Judgement” and “Plastic Bullets” are particularly savage and to the point thematically. Quintessential American ’80s thrash." (Jeff Bale, MRR #12 • March 1984) - Essential Record!
Genius US early HC Band.
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