THE STRIKE - Oi! Collection 2004

This is a damn cool release from a damn cool band. The Strike never recorded an album and on this collection are songs from the Split Skin's & Punks 2 with The Betrayed, three demo cuts and all their official bastards. Unbelievable that their material was released so late because The Strike were founded in the late 70's near Inverness. Their first vinyl appearance were two songs on the Strength Thru Oi! compilation, Gang Warfare and Skinhead, both fucking good. Other compilations goodies followed but for an own album has it as I said never be enough, for whatever reason. There is an informative biography inside by Fergus (singer) so I don't wanna tell you. Musically fourteen shiny Oi! smasher with heart & power!

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ASEXUALS - Featuring: The Asexuals EP 1984

The Asexuals is a hardcore punk band from Beaconsfield that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80's before evolving into an alternative band. Their music mixed elements of hardcore as well as from more melodic punk. It was limited to a pressing of 500 copies and released on Og Music and shows a solid sound around, the Asexuals don't write songs with overwhelming catchiness, either. Pleasant pop-punk amalgam with tasty guitar riffing, with fairly quick tempos and great vocals. A successful debut of the guys from Montreal.

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O.H.M. - Cavecore EP 1986

Cavecore records present O.H.M. (Okkulte Hule Mystikere) with four trashy hardcore punkies. Probably founded in Copenhagen and they're a pretty unknown band so I can't say nothin' about further activities. They were present on a few compilations, the well known is sure the Attack Is Now Suicide record from Double A Records. Musically bit chaotic with heavy distorted guitars, two minute songs, all in beautiful Danish, raw and obscure and not so tiring you know. Overall, a solid EP and the four know how to thrash. Cool!!!

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MAGNUS UGGLA - Vittring 7'' 1978

Never heard of this man but he seems to be very popular in its home country and this 7Inch is the title track of his 4th album, a decent rock number while the B-side has a live cut which also stomping. Here's a bit info: "Magnus Uggla is a Swedish artist, composer, actor, and occasional radio host known for his satirical lyrics. Uggla was the lead singer of the hard rock band JUSO (later renamed Alexander Lucas) before going solo in the early 70's. Their influences were Black Sabbath, The Groundhogs and Alice Cooper among others. Uggla's first two glam- and art rock-inspired albums Om Bobbo Viking and Livets teater didn't sell well, the first only about 500 copies in Sweden and Livets teater even less. But his departure from glam rock with the punk and hard rock inspired gained him much popularity and the album sold about 150 000 copies. In the 1970s, several music magazines gave Magnus the name "The Swedish Ian Hunter". In 1979, he was one of the members in Magnus Uggla Band. Plastic Bertrand has recorded a French version of Magnus Uggla's song "Vittring". It's called "Rock'n'Roll je te hais" and is found on Bertrand's LP L'Album."

- Special Thx to Fredrik -

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THE ZITS - Sick On You 7'' 1981

Released on Olympic Records this is the only record by this brilliant combo. Described on the collector-scum website as: "2-chord minimalist "punk" with keyboards. Well, I found both songs are not very minimalistic, quite the opposite. Here are two awesome KBD smasher at its finest. Oblique, raw and dirty sound plus offensive lyrics gives an excellent mix. Ergo: 1A stuff!! The Zits were from Vienna/VA whose members all went to Oakton High School and they were together for only six months in 1981. Band members were Nickey Beery, Joey Rogers, Stevie Smith and Billy Sykes. "I had an idea for a band, called Nic Beery and the Zits since I lived in Boston. I even recorded one song, the long forgotten 'Pregnant and Obese' with two friends in Maryland back in 1979, but nothing came of that incarnation. Anyway, while in Boston, two seniors did a punk rock take-off for psyche class and made up the song names, 'Sick On You' and 'Beat Your Face'. That was good enough for me." (Nic Beery) - I've been looking for this a long fuckin' time and now it's here. Enjoy!!!!

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TANT STRUL - Pappas Tant 7'' 1980

Tant Strul was one of the more significant Swedish New Wave/Punk bands and were founded 1980 by Kärsti (vox), Liten (bass), Kajsa (guitar), Malena (keys), Mikael (drums) and Göran (guitar) in Stockholm. Kajsa Grytt's plays a short time in a band called Kasern 9 which later changed its name to Pink Champagne. Tant Strul made its first debut with the single Pappas Tant which contained nice two wavie goodies. Kärsti left the band after the first two singles to become a photographer, and Mikael after the first LP (1982) and replaced with Nike Markelius. After the second album Amason (1983) was Sebastian (cello/guitar) member of the group. After the 3rd record 'Jag Önskar Dig' (1984) the group split after one last gig at Roskilde Festival 1985. During autumn 2004 they reunited the band for gigs in Stockholm and once in Gothenburg, and the spring of 2005 was a third reunion in Stockholm. Since 2011 the group plays here and there a few concerts. Musically shallower New Wave Pop which wants nothing evil.

- Special Thx to Fredrik -

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ANTIDRASH - Katastash Kindynou 1990

This band is quite awesome and their debut album is one of my favourite TOP! records, just like WBT and Anti-Band albums. And I recommend you to get this album now. Antidrash is a Hardcore/Punk band formed December 1985 in Athens, Greece. In March 1987 they released their 1st demo tape titled "Sick World" which was including 10 tracks and only 40 copies were distributed by Art Nouveau. Three months later, they released their 2nd demo tape (including 19 tracks) in 500 copies and was distributed exclusively in West Germany from the band's friends Nikos & Pavlos, who later founded Wreck-Age Records. A 3rd demo tape came out as a split with the greek punk group Stress. Their 1st official release came out in June 1989 in form from an EP called Blood In The Streets, released by Wipe Out! Records in 580 copies. This was the first ever Hardcore vinyl to be released in Greece. In Spring 1990, they entered the studio recording new songs for their first full-lenght album "Katastash Kindynou" (Danger Situation), which was released in Summer of the same year. After countless gigs, in Autumn '91, their second album Against was released. In 1996 they released their last 7" simply titled "E". In November 1998, they disbanded. After many years of absence, they reformed in 2005 and still active.

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KLOPFERBANDE - Barbarei 1981

From Selters came Die Klopferbande. "Barbarism" was published in 1981 as a tape on Datenverarbeitung and certainly one of the best releases of the group. Some titles that are later appeared on „…Und Doch So Bezaubernd“ LP can also be found here already, but much rougher and more primitive versions. The New Wave Sound is still significantly influenced by punk, but they had already found their own style and is anything as a poor imitation. The lyrics describe a life in Germany in the early 80's and are rarely overtly political, but instead quite critical of society. Cinematically implemented would have to imagine as images of gray cement suburbs on cloudy, rainy fall days. Songs like "Das ist Rekord", "Karriere", "Lachen ist Gesund" or "Brauner Rhytmus" are small wave/punk hits. This awesome record was re-released in 2003 by Was Soll Das? Schallplatten and is limited to 150 copies.

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RAFF - Six Balles Pour Un Colt! 1986

From Limoges/France came this Oi!/Punk band and this is their second album which was released at 77 Records. They were active from 1984 to 1986 and they released two singles and two albums. They play a good punk'n'roll sound with a decent tempo and the highlight is undoubtedly their cover version of Elvis' Love Me Tender. Otherwise much saxophone on all songs which I not always like, honestly I don't like this instrument at all and there are few songs in which it's mounted. Especially in the song 'Capitales', the weakest song on this Mini-LP, the blower gets on the nerves. Well, with a total of six songs one is shit I give at least 8 of possible 10 points. Raff are represented on those compilations: 1984 The 2nd and 77 Records Présente... - Fazit: not a bad album but with ups and downs.

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FEED YOUR HEAD & AND THE 8TH SIN IS CALLED POP! - Split 1990

A lot of you request this album and it's no wonder why. Two great bands from the U.K. and Germany here. A few words to both bands: Feed Your Head are a band from the Manchester area that started around 1986. The name came from a very obvious song by Jefferson Airplane the very psychedelic 'White Rabbit'. In their life time they released three demos, two singles and two full length studio LP's. Plus featured on various compilations. F.Y.H. played live and toured with most of other punk bands in the scene at the time. The songs here are originally released on side 2 of the 'Stargazer' album which was released earlier in the U.K. & this provides the best material from that record. The 8th Sin Is Called Pop! are from Kiel and they released a split EP with Agitare Bene in 1989 and this 12'' called "Crown Of Thorns". Both bands playin' a decent melodic punk guitar which are supported by violins and this is unique here. Evey song is a race to get to the chorus, perfect harmonies mixed with a dash melancholy and done is the unusual punk rock album. This record should been seen as a triumph, Yeah, I love it!!

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