THE SQUIRT - Men And Their Masters 1985

The only album by this fantastic combo was released via Weird System and the four were inspired by the sound of such great bands as the Dead Kennedys, D.O.A., Black Flag, etc.... the Squirt founded at the beginning of the Eighties in Zurich and consisted of Marc (vocals/guitars), Gertjan (bass/vocals), Ueli (drums/guitars/vocals) and their aim was to become the fastest and toughest Swiss band. They recorded a demotape in 1983 with fourteen Songs and somehow it fell into the hands of the Hamburgers and they were immediately enthusiastic and decided to make an album with them, and so Men & Their Masters was recorded, followed by a Germany tour. In terms of sound, the Squirt is fast and precise, a healthy portion of Hardcore that rarely comes from the Alpine country, and the potential is strong and the level is very high, they absolutely don't have to hide behind the aforementioned bands, the four can inspire with thier record. A real smasher!

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JELLO BIAFRA with NOMEANSNO - The Sky Is Falling And I Want My Mommy 1991

Kick off March and to a record which is still fresh after more than thirty years and revitalizes the Punk in you when it's a little rusty. Well, when I bought the album in Hamburg back then, I was of course very excited and wanted to know if Jello Biafra, who had two years before jammed with D.O.A. and conjured up a superb album, would top this with his second trip to Canada, this time to Victoria where NoMeansNo was at home back then. And the result is one more musical and optical highlight in all respects. Eight energetic songs plus Jello's cynically apocalyptic words, that sums up this brilliant record. I would particularly like to mention the artwork, which was again designed by Winston Smith and connects the history with reality and let us see that not much has changed and mankind is stagnating in its actions and thinking, profit-oriented and without regard for losses, especially nature and minorities suffer vehemently and all the generations that will follow can be happy. When man entered this planet, the earth was doomed. Nevertheless, I want to close with an apt review from my favorite site for this, because they can do that:

"After working with Canada's D.O.A. on his previous collaboration album, Jello hooked up with fellow Canucks and Alternative Tentacles signees NoMeansNo for an abrasive, brilliantly skewed thrash of a record, The Sky Is Falling & I Want My Mommy. NoMeansNo, with their angular art aggression, makes for a more distinct vehicle for Jello than D.O.A., bursting with power and screwy inventiveness both. The title track alone is worth the price of admission; Jello's rant about nuclear satellites and paranoia perfectly is matched by the music, and in ways the track serves as the missing link between an older style of Punk and the work of underground '90s acts like Unwound. White-hot guitar lines scrape and snarl over the stuttering rhythm while Jello rages through as only he can. "Chew" starts with minimal guitar snarls and whines floating around a low-key rhythm before fully springing to life, alternating between epic explosions and low-key tension over the song's length. Other tracks have a more straightforward, thrash feeling but still kick along very nicely, often throwing in odd solos or other touches to prevent sound-alike disease. Jello's pithy way around any number of subjects doesn't fail him here, with everything from recontextualized religion ("Jesus Was A Terrorist") to the joys of white-knuckle trips down mountain rivers ("Ride The Flume" with its lyrics "forget log rides in amusement parks, this one's 50 miles long!"). NoMeansNo's Ramones-worshipping alter egos, the Hanson Brothers, sneak in for the song "Bad," which is delivered in appropriately quick time, though Jello avoids sounding like Joey Ramone. The album wraps up with two great stormers, "Sharks In The Gene Pool", which constantly shifts tempos and feels over its length, and "The Myth Is Real-Let's Eat", with a wickedly snarling bassline that helps carry it along. Jello lets go in full effect over both, with all of the energy that fans would come to expect." (Ned Raggett)

One note before you ask, my copy doesn't have a lyric sheet for some fucking reason... well, I think more words aren't needed. In the same year, one more short group therapy convened, Tumor Circus, and is one more pleasure at own risk.

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D.O.A. - Talk Minus Action Equals Zero 1991

Time for some live stuff and this little recording from Canada's D.O.A. was captured at Club Soda on December 21st 1989 in D.O.A.'s native Vancouver and released via Restless Records. I certainly don't need to tell you much about these veterans, powerful and dynamic songs with corresponding angry words characterize the music of the quartet, at this gig with Joey (vocals/guitars), Chris (guitars), Brian (bass) and Jon (drums) they deliver a perfect performance. Talk Minus Action Equals Zero is among the albums that demonstrate how exciting and vital the Canadians can be on-stage and together they prove quite riveting on such left-leaning, angrily socio-political rants. This performance was recorded eleven years after D.O.A.'s formation, and it's clear that the band softened their blow very little during those years. (Alex Henderson) - If you like tough, straightforward music in a fast, loud, and hard-hitting style with a pronounced sense of humor plus a strong progressive political stripe, then this the right sound for you.

America The Beautiful/13/Burn It Down/Murder In Hollywood/Lumberjack City/Waiting For You (Part 2)/Fuck You/Woke Up Screaming/Liar For Hire/2 + 2/Let's Wreck The Party/The Prisoner/Do Or Die/Fuck That Shit/General Strike/Race Riot

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JELLO BIAFRA with D.O.A. - Last Scream Of The Missing Neighbors 1989

When two superlatives come together, something unique has to come out of it and Last Scream is the first work, apart from The Witch Trials, numerous collaborations of Jello Biafra with quick-witted friends. With the Canadian Punx from D.O.A. he recorded this brilliant album in the late Eighties and, Hell Yeah, an absolute highlight of Punk music. Allow me to quote an excellent review from allmusic:

"The first of Jello's post-Dead Kennedys collaborations was a barnburner; hooking up with Canada's legendary DOA ensured all the punk power that fans could want would be there in a big way. Even though Joey Keithley and company aren't quite as agile as Jello's ex-bandmates, everything here is more brutally Motörhead in feel than the nervous aggro and sometimes restraint of the Kennedys, this album can't be faulted for sheer crunch. Jello himself is in fine voice throughout, tackling his favored targets with the frenetic bile that he's made his own. Some of the songs have become outdated - "Wish I Was In El Salvador" is very much of the '80s - but "Attack Of The Peacekeepers," memorably tarring NATO's forces as "the joke brigade," has had just as much of a point after Kosovo. "Power Is Boring" captures Jello at his most hilarious, pointing out how being a dictator must really stink (the job security issue alone, for one). Not much on the first side varies from song to song musically -- pounding, chunky feedback that smashes head-on, along with good gang-shout choruses from the band more than once -- but if that's the needed fix, this album provides in spades. The wild card here is a spooky, mid-paced romp through the Animals' "We Gotta Get Outta This Place," with Jello's tremulous vocals suiting the lyrics perfectly and Keithley's backup on chorus fitting in, in its own rough way. The concluding, side-long "Full Metal Jacket" takes absolutely no prisoners, elevating Last Scream from good to great. With Keithley in particular turning in some great guitar work over a steady, snaky rhythm, Jello offers up one of the most bilious, pointed slams against Washington D.C.; this album is as "city/feds-as-corrupt-institution" as you could imagine. Kennedys artist Winston Smith offers up some great cover art to top it all off." (Ned Raggett)

Worth listening, fantastic and a timeless classic!

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V/A - P.E.A.C.E. Compilation 2LP 1984

I don't think this excellent release in form of a double record set can be more topical, and as we all have to realize, mankind hasn't gotten any wiser even after almost forty years. There is always some aggressor somewhere who expresses its sick ideology with lies and blind helpers and it is appalling that no diplomacy, no system, and no sensible compromise can prevent a violent confrontation. Pathetic, disappointing & lifeless all the pursuit of power and heroism. About the record: "This massive international Hardcore/Punk compilation features fifty-five bands/songs and was organized and released by the infamous MDC on the band's own label R Radical Records. The worldwide hardcore scene was at its peak at this point, still underground enough to repel corrupting outside influences like major labels and heavy metal, but already hardened into a rigid aesthetic and political dogma that often encouraged groupthink and musical conformity. P.E.A.C.E. documents the state of "Reagan-era" Hardcore, just before the popularity of extreme music spread through decidedly non-radical camps and into the mainstream. Among the fifty-five bands on board are well-known plus the best tracks by courtesy of obscure groups of the local scenes from Argentina, South Africa to Japan. Most of the bands included retain, either through design or some bizarre quirk of ineptitude, a stamp of individuality on their sound that makes this an entertaining collection.

An extensive booklet insert is packed with political rants, cartoons, and suggestions for further reading, making explicit the double-LP's theme of activism and action against a corrupt authority. Plus, each band is provided with a full page to express their ideas (and plug their wares) with printed lyrics and crudely effective collage art. Reissued on CD in 1997 by New Red Archives with bonus cuts." (Fred Beldin) - A real highlight of an international gathering that shows how it can work.

1.Up Against A Wall - ARTICLES OF FAITH

2.Endless Blockades For The Pussy Footer - G.I.S.M.

3.Ashes To Ashes - NEON CHRIST

4.Schlueters Kabinet - KALASHNIKOV

5.Time Will Tell - CAUSE FOR ALARM

6.No U.S.A. - LOCAL DISTURBANCE

7.Honour's Calling - UNWARRANTED TRUST

8.Finirà Mai? - WRETCHED

9.Drop The A-Bomb On Me - O.D.F.X

10.Here Come The Cops - THE AFFLICTED

11.Inutile Trionfo - DECLINO

12.Hope You Get Drafted - THE DICKS

13.Arms Race - B.G.K.

14.It's You - CRASS

15.Swastika Ratss - UPRIGHT CITIZENS

16.Banana Split Republic - FALSE PROPHETS

17.Nuclear Attack - MOB 47

18.Face Down In The Dirt - OFFENDERS

19.Sbarre - CONTRAZIONE

20.So Much Hate - S.C.U.M.

21.Viejos Pateticos - LOS VIOLADORES

22.Sometimes - DEADLOCK

23.Will It Ever End? - P.P.G.

24.Peace Of What? - TRASH

25.Police Brutality - VICIOUS CIRCLE

26.Gartlands Pit - CONDEMNED TO DEATH

27.Non Mi Dire - NEGAZIONE

28.America The Beautiful - D.O.A.

29.Snap - D.R.I.

30.Jump Back - PORNO PATROL

31.Drop Out - TREASON

32.Abortos - SHIT S.A.

33.Silence - SEPTIC DEATH

34.Life Of Punishment - C.C.M.

35.No Mai - PEGGIO PUNX

36.An Uneasy Peace - THE PROLETARIAT

37.From Protest To Resistance - CONFLICT

38.Battlefield (Nightmare) - ICONOCLAST

39.Pay For Shit - PANDEMONIUM

40.Kinky Sex Makes The World Go 'Rround - DEAD KENNEDYS

41.Skorbut - BOSKOPS

42.Rats - SUBHUMANS

43.Peace Officer - WHITE LIE

44.R.A.T./Pentagone - WARGASM

45.Four More Hours - SLAUGHTERHOUSE 4

46.Finale - THE EXECUTE

47.Reagan Youth - REAGAN YOUTH

48.The Man Goes On - IMPACT

49.100 Million People Dead - BUTTHOLE SURFERS

50.Ataque - KANGRENA

51.Will Amerika - PORCELAIN FOREHEAD

52.No Mercy No War - BARELY HUMAN

53.Contro La Pace Contro La Guerra - R.A.F. PUNK

54.Moment By Moment/Exiled Shadows - ZENZILE

55.Missile Destroyed Civilization - MDC

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V/A - Vancouver Evolution EP 1989

A little unofficial snack and I quote a fitting intro to it: "Many Canadian music fans would argue that during the punk and new wave eras, Vancouver was the home of the best Canadian bands, and this little piece of wax provides pretty compelling evidence." I think, many of you can confirm that without a doubt, because a lot of good bands came from this lively city. This underlines impressively the Last Call - Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988 2 CD compilation on which these four tracks originally appeared, all recorded between 1977-79 and all four are quite excellent. The Furies, from 1977, were the first Vancouver punk band. The Skulls and Stiffs both feature future D.O.A. and Subhumans members. Victorian Pork (BIZ on the Last Call CD) featured members from various Vancouver bands at various times. Nice packaging and an insert with lots of great infos about the bands and the Vancouver scene. Some copies are on blue vinyl (my copy) and these are essential '77 blasts!! - Rating: ten points from ten.

1.What Do You Want Me To Be - THE FURIES

2.Fucked Up Baby - THE SKULLS

3.Fuck You - THE STIFFS

4.I Don't Give A Shit - VICTORIAN PORK

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DEZERTER - Kolaboracja 1987

Let's move to east Europe and we meet one of the most famous bands there and the following info is from somewhere, here we go: SS-20 were formed in May 1981, in the Warszawa region. All four members were very young, and more or less learned to play their instruments by forming this group. The original line-up was Robert "Robal" Matera (vocals/guitar), Darek "Stepa" Stepnowski (bass) and Krzysiek Grabowski (drums). Soon after, Darek "Skandal" Hain joined on lead vocals. By the beginning of '83, the group had introduced the new name, Dezerter, at which point the members had solidified their sound, as a hardcore punk group, certainly the second generation. Sierpien 1983, Dezerter were granted the opportunity to record a EP under supervision of the state label Tonpress. The general commission selected four songs they found most lyrically acceptable. 1987 Skandal parted ways with Dezerter, and their first concert without him would be the Jarocin Festival, at which point Robal took over on lead vocals. This same year, the group's meeting with Canadian punk Joey Shithead of D.O.A. brought them the issue of their first full length, Underground Out Of Poland. Released by Maximum RockNRoll Collective,  the record consisted of live recordings from their demos, and the four tracks from their Tonpress 7", re-issued without authorization of the label. 

The case was with all punk bands to record with Tonpress, that the label usually found some way of the rights to the recording remaining in custody of the state label, and the group recieving absolutely zero royalties. This year, the group also made their first professional studio LP, Kolaboracja. The album was issued under a vinyl-club, and only available through the post. Released by the Razem Label, 5000 pressed. Today, a very rare item. Great Stuff!

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GENERICS - Societal Hemhorrage EP 1985

Posthumous release of a three-song demo tape from 1983 with an extra track by the Generics from Ontario and the following liner notes come from the great CitizenFreak site: Formed September '80 by Marc (vocals), Chris & Marylou (guitars), Kevin (bass), Billy (drums), first live gig a month later. Total lack of musical ability and young ages of members (average age 15) resulted in being initially ostracized by some of the more elitist members of the local punk "scene". Achieved instant local notoriety by being banned from the only remaining punk bar in the city (The Cedar Lounge) by the end of '80, after only six gigs. Threatened with legal action and blacklisted in attempts to organize all-ages shows, spent the better part of '81 writing new songs, becoming reasonably semi-proficient musicians, recruiting new band member (Billy, ex-Crash 80's drummer). Snuck onto the bill of an NFG gig at the Cedar Lounge in March, promptly banned again, managed to organize one all-ages show in May, otherwise unable to play locally for seven months, so concentrated on out of town gigs until August, when another local bar (Embassy Hotel) opened it's doors to punk/hardcore. Generics were welcomed at the Embassy and became regular headliners!

Attracted increasingly large crowds, resulting in an invitation to open for The Professionals in October, which in turn resulted in an invitation to open for the Forgotten Rebels at the Cedar Lounge. The unbanning lasted only one night as Marc Sahrmann, goaded by the bar owner's son, dove off the stage and attacked him. However, the ban was finally permanently lifted by the beginning of '82. Generics split up in disgust on February 27, 1982 after a particularly discouraging gig in Toronto that involved pretentious, more-hardcore-than-thou bands, neo-nazis, & knife wielding mohicans.

Generics briefly reformed in the summer of '83 (with new bassist John Ondrasek), planned as a one-off opening for D.O.A., but extended to another show with GBH, then a headliner, and finally to a cross country tour playing shows in Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver. While in Vancouver, four songs were recorded at Profile Studio. Booked dirt cheap into the studio early one afternoon at the last minute as a favour by the studio owner to D.O.A., recorded sober and hungover, the session is not a very accurate representation of the band's sound since it was only ever intended as a demo tape to send to clubs in the U.S. who were hesitant to book bands unless they had some they sounded like. One song, "Outcasts Of Society", was only chosen at the last minute because it was going to be dropped from the setlist and it seemed a good idea to get a decent studio recording before tossing it. Needless to say, a planned released record would have been done quite a bit differently.

While on tour, the Generics' van rolled and was totalled. Marc Sahrmann was critically injured and died from his injuries after nine months on life support. He is greatly missed. Marc's last request regarding the Generics was that the Vancouver session be released as a 7" document that we existed, so it was, including even the song that was supposed to be dropped.

Represented on some compilations, but mostly tapes or unofficial ones.

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THEE UNDERTAKERS - Crucify Me 2001

Here is another excellent example of what Friends of Network brings together: request for this record, emailed on, received: that's the way it goes! Search the net for info and here it is: Thee Undertakers from East Los Angeles first started practicing during mid-1977. They decided early on not to go for the "leather or New Wave look" and would instead wear black suits on stage to emulate their namesake. By 1978 they found Art, who became their singer. In 1979, the band hooked up with Willie Heron, from Los Illegals, who helped the band get on many bills at the Vex and other East L.A. clubs that would host punk shows. The band played heavily during 1979 through 1982 and played at clubs like the Vex, Starwood, Hong Kong Cafe, and the Whiskey to name a few. The band opened for many bands including D.O.A., Plugz, Gears, Fleasheaters and others. The band recorded their first demo in 1980 and returned to the studio in 1981 to record what was to be their first LP. The band was going to have their LP released through Tito Larriva's Fatima Records label (who released Plugz album and The Brat EP), but after a falling out between Tito and the band, the record never materialized and sat in the can for twenty years. In 2001, Grand Theft Audio released their awesome collection of studio recordings from 1980-81. Thee Undertakers from 1977-1982 were: Art Reyes (vocals), Tracy Lee (Skull) Garcia (bass), Tony (Fingers) Naranjo (guitar), and Mike Chaidez (drums) and this is a solid compilation with demo & master recordings from 1980 andreleased via Grand Theft Audio. I continue to cure my bruised ribs and so you may be able to enjoy more slices in the early afternoon. Now chilling continues and tomorrow is another day.

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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THE SUBHUMANS - Incorrect Thoughts 1980

This classic album is not new in Blogland but I listen now to it and it's so damn great. The Subhumans from Vancouver were formed in 1978 by Brian "Wimpy" Goble (vocals), Mike Graham (guitar), Gerry Hannah (bass) and Ken "Dimwit" Montgomery (drums). Shortly after their first single, Dimwit departed and was replaced by Koichi "Jim" Imagawa. This album was released via Friends Records and is decorated with fourteen flowers that smell very intensive and move through your nose up to the brain to trigger pleasant vibrations, a superb perfume! Afterwards, Hannah & Imagawa departed and were replaced by Ron Allan (bass) and Randy Bowman (drums). The new line-up signed with SST Records and recorded the "No Wishes, No Prayers" record in 1982. However, at the end of 1982, just prior to the record's release, the group split when Brian Goble left the band to join D.O.A. - On December 7, 2014, Brian Goble suffered a fatal heart attack, R.I.P. - You find lots of more excellent info about the band in the web, I must get back to Bundesliga to Hanover.

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D.O.A. - Bloodied But Unbowed 1983

Classic record now and Bloodied But Unbowed is the truth of it. D.O.A. has slogged forward from the west coast of north America, criss-crossing the continent on a shoestring, infecting friends and strangers with an alien virus, a dangerous aggressive way of viewing the world. Talk minus action equals zero. Use your brain, think for yourself, speak out, take action or let the silence bury you alive. This blazing hot quartet, led by Canada's godfather of punk Joe Shithead Keithley on vocals and guitar, along with the incredible Chuck Biscuits on drums, the rock n' roll madman Randy Rampage on bass and the outrageous Dave Gregg on guitar blazed a wide swath through western counter culture. The Damage To Date: 1978-83, Alternative Tentacles, only hits!

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THE DISHRAGS - Love/Hate 1997

A quick re-post now: When the Dishrags formed 1977 in Victoria, British Columbia, they were like the Runaways without Kim Fowley's behind the scenes machinations: three teenage girls, singer & guitarist Jade Blade, bassist Dale Powers and drummer Scout, devoted to the Ramones and the Clash and creating their own short, sharp shocks. Moving to the more punk-friendly Vancouver scene (where bands like D.O.A. and the Pointed Sticks were already defining the sound of western Canada's new wave) in 1978, the Dishrags made their debut on the now-legendary Vancouver Complication anthology. If they had never made another recording, the Dishrags would remain beloved in punk-fanboy circles for the track "I Don't Love You." 103 seconds long and built on an insistent, scratchy guitar riff and a positively crazed drum part played primarily on the ride cymbal, "I Don't Love You" is as clangorous and primitive as U.K. second-wavers like the Slits or the Desperate Bicycles, but it also features an instant-classic pure pop chorus that would do the Buzzcocks or the Undertones proud.

The Dishrags followed that up with a slightly more polished three-track EP, "Past Is Past," and following a lineup change (Powers being replaced by second guitarist Sue MacGillivray and bassist Kim Henriksen) the band traveled to London to record the EP Death In The Family. Produced by Chris Spedding and featuring a more traditional punk-pop sound akin to the Adverts' first album, Death in the Family was insistently tuneful and clever. The wistful title track seemed to have actual hit single potential, while "Love/Hate" explored a darker post-punk sound along the lines of Siouxsie & The Banshees. Though RCA's U.K. imprint released the EP, it disappeared almost immediately, and the Dishrags broke up. Over a decade and a half later, the Canadian reissue label Other People's Music gathered the complete recordings by the Dishrags -- the two tracks recorded for the Vancouver Complication sessions, including the previously unreleased "Bullshit," the single, the EP, and ten demos and live tracks including covers of Lou Reed's "Vicious," the Ramones' "I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You," and the Clash's "Janie Jones," alongside previously unheard Dishrags originals. This is a textbook example of how to do a punk-era reissue properly. Review by Stewart Mason (source: AllMusic)

- Great Thx to Dante D -

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D.O.A. - War On 45 12'' 1982

There are bands which made almost no bad records and Canada's D.O.A. are certainly one of them. Active since 1978 they are one of the longest-lived punk bands I know and they don't get tired to continue their mischief and release cool records. On this litte 12'' are eight songs on the subject of war, which has raged here on the European continent all the centuries the most. War is a human disease where only those happy who make the utensils for: the fuckin' weapon producers all over the world. And that will certainly not change in the foreseeable future. D.O.A. make clear what many of us think as well: FUCK WAR! and prefer drinking a beer, talking and decently fucking, in this sense!

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V/A - PHC Presents: Only In Canada, Eh 77-81 Vol.1

Not much to say about this fantastic compilation, the who is who of the essential Canadian punk bands of the early days for breakfast. This egg was released in 2005, perhaps one day comes Volume 2. I wish a pleasant appettite!

1.Way Down South - HOUSE OF COMMONS

2.Teenage Terrorist - THE UNKNOWNS

3.Royal Police - D.O.A.

4.Crazy Glue - DA SLYME

5.(I Do) Like The Natives - WARSAW

6.TV's On The Blink - THE ACTION

7.You're Tearing Me Apart - TEENAGE HEAD

8.She's An American - THE BUREAUCRATS

9.Gimmie Attention - ZRO4

10.Media Junkie - 63 MONROE

11.Petticoat Junction - SLANDER

12.Echos - THE NEGATIVES

13.Thinking Naturally - LOWLIFE

14.No Brains Required - SINNERS

15.Park - CHROMOSOMES

16.Tension - ANIMAL KINGDOM

17.I Broke Her Heart, She Broke My Arm - STARK NAKED & THE FLESHTONES

18.Living In Poverty - EXTROVERTS

19.Hold Up - 222'S

20.Color TV - DIEFENBAKERS

21.Overhead Projector - GENTLEMEN OF HORROR

22.I'm Vile - NOSTRILS

23.Get Away From Me - THE HOT NASTIES

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D.O.A. - The Menace Lives 7'' 1982

Yet a rare record which is an unoffical one on Sudden Death Records and I don't think you need no further words for D.O.A., my favourite canadian punk band which exist since 1980 and they're still active. They celebrate excellent punk rock and their music is still even after thirty years rough and first league. Here two killer outtakes which did not make it on the first album Something Better Change, my guess. Last year I think or was ist 2015, I don't know it excatly, I finally saw them live and it was a fuckin' great experience. I have a few classics from Shithead & Co. which I would like to post soon if I'm not become a victim of a heart attack.

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LOS VIOLADORES - s/t LP 1983

Fantastic debut album by this legendary punk band from Argentina, Los Violadores. They deserve the full description which I lending from the essential kfth page: Despite its demographic size and socio–cultural importance in Latin America, and unlike Brazil, Mexico or Colombia, Argentina didn't produce many first rate hardcore and punk bands during the 80's. But still, Los Violadores are probably among the pioneers of Punk Rock in the area. Guitarist Hari B. formed Los Testiculos in Buenos Aires in 1978, while the military dictatorship (who ruled the country between 1976 – 1983) was at the peak of their power. The regime, that in a couple of years murdered more then 30.000 left wing activists (or that were suspected to be so), saw any act of non–conformity as potentially subversive, so obviously the first generation of Argentinian punks was very much underground. But they still managed to survive.

In 1980, Hari B., together with drummer Gramatica, changed their name to Los Violadores. Due to censorship, they were unable to publicly use the new "offensive" name for a while, so they ommitted just one letter and remained "Los Voladores" for the early show fliers. About a year later, they were joined by vocalist Pil Trafa and bassist Stuka. After one of the first shows with this line up, about 200 hundred persons were arrested and the band members were charged with "political disturbance", thus gaining public notoriety and making it clear that Punk was alive in Argentina. As they put it "We wanted to make something that was punk but still rooted in our reality. We didn't want to be part of the complacent Argentinian rock scene, which was silent during the dictatorship and thus partner for the atrocities". They were one of the few bands which refused to take part in a huge rock concert sponsored by the military dictatorship as part of the Falkland/ Malvinas war propaganda campaign, even though they were surprisingly invited to participate. Ironically, many of those who did appear there were actually self professed hippies, who probably saw punk as something "violent & fascistic". Los Violadores pointed at that hypocritical "hippy ideology" as their second main enemy after the military regime.

Also in 1982 they recorded their first (self titled) LP, which could only hit the streets in late 1983, after democratic elections took place. It was released by the Argentinian independent label Umbral and it includes 12 great tracks with excellent production. Unlike the raw, thrashy hardcore produced in neighboring Brazil, Los Violadores are more '77 influenced, althought with an updated sound, kinda like Generation X meets DOA.

After the return of democracy, Hari B, who thought that the main reason of existance for the band was to fight the dictators hip, quit. He played for a short time with Argentinian's Oi! pioneers Comando Suicida, long before they became full-fledged boneheads. In 1984, Los Violadores were asked to contribute a track for the now legendary P.E.A.C.E. compilation, being the sole representatives of Latin American punk among the 40+ other bands and maybe making a small name for themselves in the international punk community. In fact, Argentinian rock magazines reported that there was lots of interest in the band from Europe and that they sold thousands of copies in the "old world", but that seems pretty unlikely.

By then, they were already changing direction towards a more commercial one, something typical for many bands from the era. Their second mini album Y Ahora Que Pasa Eh? is definately more rock/pop influenced, but in my opinion still enjoyable. They kept playing until the early 90's and even after that, they reformed several times, but their output is totally irrelevant to these pages. Their old material was reissued on CD by the major they had signed with, but their first LP was bootlegged on vinyl a couple of years ago. (source: killfromtheheart)

-  Special Thx to Reinhard -

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V/A - Killed By Death #26 1996

You know with a KBD Sampler you can't do nothing wrong, right? # 26 is a collectionn of early canadian punk from 1977 - 80. Unfortunately, this is one of the harder KBD's to find. It's also one of the best! Much of what is on here is already well known. D.O.A. (two live cuts), The Action & Viletones along with one Forgotten Rebels (Angry) are pretty. Even with the three Smash The State volumes covering a lot of the lesser known bands, a better effort than this could have been put forth. Once more a fine limited (1000 copies) Compilation from the series which I highly appreciate. Brand new and also great Bloodstains Across Canada with more rare Canada stuff.

1.Nazi Training Camp - D.O.A.

2.TV's On The Blink - THE ACTION

3.Danger Boy - THE VILETONES

4.Backdoor To Hell - THE VILETONES

5.To Have Some Fun - THE UGLY

6.Shoeshine Boy - THE CURSE

7.Killer Bees - THE CURSE

8.Angry - FORGOTTEN REBELS

9.National Unity - FORGOTTEN REBELS

10.What Do You Want Me To Do? - POINTED STICKS

11.Love Is Shit (It's Goodbye) - DISHRAGS

12.Steppin' Stone - CARDBOARD BRAINS

13.Want Some Bondage - D.O.A.

14.Step Out Tonight - MODS

15.Past Is Past - DISHRAGS

16.Do The Strangle - THE ACTION

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V/A - Screaming Fists Vol.1 1996

This is another unoffical release with excellent early rare punkrock songs. Brought to light via Anarchy International Productions and the tracklist reads like a good book. Somebody should have Volume 2 then I ask for feedback. Good Night!   

1.Ain't Bin To No Music School - THE NOSEBLEEDS

2.Trash Can Baby - THE LEWD

3.Pay Or Die - THE LEWD

4.The Creeper - UNNATURAL AXE

5.Monster Au-Go-Go - SUICIDE COMMANDOS

6.Hold My Hand - THE JERKS

7.Annette - VICTIMS

8.I Want Head - VICTIMS

9.So What? - ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE

10.Kicks In Style - THE USERS

11.Radio Call Sign - LOCKJAW

12.Im A Dullard - THE SKINNIES

13.Out Of Order - THE SKINNIES

14.Work For Police - UJ3RK5

15.Kill Kill This Is Pop - D.O.A.

16.Leaders - LOWLIFE

17.White Lightning - LOWLIFE

18.So So Alone - THE RERUNS

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V/A - Ungdomshuset (Live) 2005

Ungdomshuset (literally "the Youth House") was the popular name of the building formally named Folkets Hus ("House of the People") located on Jagtvej 69 in Nørrebro/Copenhagen, which functioned as an underground scene venue for music and rendezvous point for varying autonomen and leftist groups from 1982 until 2007 when - after prolonged conflict - it was torn down, and later also for its successor, located on Dortheavej 61 in the adjacent Bispebjerg neighbourhood. Due to the ongoing conflict between the municipal government of Copenhagen and the activists occupying the premises, the building on Jagtvej was the subject of intense media attention and public debate from the mid 1990's till 2008. This awesome compilation is originally released as a two record set on their own label and all tracks were recorded live @ Ungdomshuset between 1984 and 2003. The song selection is quite delicious: punk, hardcore, ska, electronic, obscure, acoustic - a rich variety of all styles are here to hear. Damn cool.

1.Skyggernes Ambassadør - KALASHNIKOV

2.Juhuu - SKALAR

3.Abyss - SORT SOL

4.Politi-Militær - VOTE FOR TRUCKERS

5.Sally - DISNEYLAND AFTER DARK

6.Super Heroine Blond - PRESIDENT FETCH

7.Svin - CITY-X

8.Kødknuserens Vise - GRÆNSEOVERSKRIDENDE NAIVITET

9.Ingen Vits Å Gråte - KAFKA PROSESS

10.Snagen Om Vår Vidunderlige Verden - STENGTE DØRER

11.Empty - THE RAZOR BLADES

12.Mr. Right Guy - ZERO POINT

13.Militærdestruktion - CRAP

14.Gode Politimænd - PARAGRAF 119

15.Oh No Bruno - NOMEANSNO

16.Thirteen - D.O.A.

17.Porro - SNUFF

18.Move Right In - ROLLINS BAND

19.No More Cops - MDC

20.Party Till I Die - THE NOMADS

21.Hymns Til Natten - POUL DISSING & BENNY ANDERSEN

22.Jordslået - JOMI MASSAGE

23.James Bond - ALIVE WITH WORMS

24.Tazan Samba - ÆTER

25.Sand - EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN

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