THE STRAPS - s/t LP 1982

Very good debut album on Cyclops Records by The Straps, a streetpunk combo which were formed 1978 in Battersea/South London by vocalist John Grant and guitarist Dave Reeves. A bit info from wiki: The band played their first gig at the Park Tavern in Streatham on 28 September 1978 with U.K.SUBS, the Tickets and Security Risk. Their original bassist, Green, died of a heroin overdose shortly after the first show and was temporarily replaced on bass by Grant's roommate, Andi Sex Gang, for a show at the Latchmere Pub in Battersea. Stan Stammers, former Epileptics bassist, joined in 1979 and guitarist Steve MacIntosh was replaced by Andy "Heed" Forbes. Drummers in this period included Luke Rendle (previously of Crisis) and the short-lived member Cliff. Stammers and Rendle left to join the Pack, who turned into Theatre Of Hate, while Forbes left to join the Wall. The Straps enjoyed a cult following around London, and performed alongside the Damned on their 1980 Black Album tour, as well as Sham 69 and Stiff Little Fingers, before splitting in 1983. They reformed in 1991 for a one-off gig at the Brixton Academy an 2012 for the ill-fated Last Jubilee and Punk by the Sea festivals, with a new lineup of Grant, Reeves, Davies and two new members: ex-Concrete Gods guitarist Phil McDermott and Morgellons bassist Mark Geraghty. In August 2013, the band released their third studio album, Brave New Anger and they're still rockin'.

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ZARAMA - Indarrez (Por La Fuerza) 1984

Debut album by this combo from Spain on Discos Suicidas and Zarama were formed 1977 and band, spearheaded by Roberto Moso, got together at Santurze and combining for the first time punkrock and Basque language, a cultural mingling fraught with difficulties at the time. After its first steps during a period in which local punk music cohabited in the Basque Country with socio-political turmoil and violence, the band transitioned towards more sophisticated and cleaner sounds and more personal lyrics, especially after 1989. It made a comeback in 2009, following a hiatus of several years. By then, it had released five albums and two EPs. Indarrez was recorded by Roberto (vocals), Txus (guitars), Xabier (bass) and Ernesto (drums) and originally, the album was going to be recorded at the PAN BOT Studios, Bilbao, but given the little experience of the sound engineer with whom they worked, they desisted from that place. Soon, their producer Ángel Altolagirre, who also worked with Alaska and Dinarama, convinced them to go to the Tsunami Studios in San Sebastian. To be the first album of the group, the sound is very varied in terms of genres, ranging from punk, rock and new wave music of that time. Also on this album two songs were re-recorded: "Bildur Naiz" which was the group's first recorded song and "Zaramaren Erdian". It is worth mentioning that "Kazaia Kopa Eta Porno Gogorra" was reused on the basis of "Dena Niretzat", originally recorded in 1981.

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PENETRATION - Race Against Time 1979

Fuckin' cold outside so let's get hot with this charming slab, released via Clifdayn and on Side A are Demos 1977-Jan '78, the other live @ Newcastle Dec '78-Oct '79. Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976 by Pauline (vocals), Robert (bass), Chaplin (guitar) and Gary (drums). Chaplin left in March 1978 being replaced with Neale, and second guitarist Fred joining in July. The band dissolved in late 1979. Their debut single, "Don't Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets (1978), is still widely admired. They played a lot of gigs with coole bands, released two albums in the seventies and a few singles (Life's A Gamble) and 1979 they toured Europe, the US and Britain but the grueling schedule began to take its toll. A disappointing reaction to Coming Up For Air, the second album, was the final nail in the coffin of the original band. After the band split in October this official bootleg comes out as last farewell document. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members. Cool record in every way.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - Bloodstains Across The World #3 2019

I don't know how surprised you were but when I saw this new Bloodstains compilation on ebay I didn't think long after, I gave my bid immediately & won the auction. Unfortunately not as vinyl but as lame unspectacular CD-R in an edition of 100 copies. Anyway, The tracklist is interesting and I know 40% of it whose originals can be found in the blog and the rest is fuckin' new. I would say, has become an excellent result, only drawback for the poor artwork, which is capable of development and must be better. But in the end, it is nice that someone makes the effort to keep this grandiose series alive. Enjoy!

1.Min Musik - 57 KEZ

2.Knulla I Bangkok - BAD BOO BAND

3.Kicsinál Szódát - BIKINI

4.Another Day In The City - BRITISH JETS

5.Spectre - DARK STAR

6.I Wanna Get Married - DE CYLINDERS

7.Dogshit - ANTLER JOE & THE ACCIDENTS

8.Dead Beatles - FHAB 4

9.NFG - THE FILTERS

10.The Fuzz On My Bag - KING LOUIS & THE MEMPHIS MAFFIA

11.Haine, Haine, Haine - LA SOURIS DEGLINGUEE

12.Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand - MORDBUBEN AG

13.This Is Not A Test! - NICK PAGAN

14.Tyhjia Lauseita - NOWADAYS

15.Zerstör - SCHIZOIDS

16.Do Yo Wanna Touch My Safety Pin - SEPTIMUS

17.I Sold My Ass For Rock'N'Roll - SUBWAY SUCK

18.We Are The Same - THIRD WORLD CHAOS

19.Do You Wanna Be My Dog - TSUNEMATSU MASATOSHI

20.Colours - THE TUNNELRUNNERS

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COTZBROCKEN - Jedem Das Seine 1981

Brilliant or scrap? That's the question I'm asking myself when I listen to Cotzbrocken from Cologne. Blunt uninspired monotonous music with simply knitted lyrics or the signs of the time recognized and zack into Herbert's studio and spontaneous thirteen songs recorded. I have some Rock-O-Rama records but this one is by far the last I would buy. The band existed from 1979-1982 and consisted of Peter (vocals), Axel (guitars), Igor (bass) and Carsten (drums). Musically, this very well-known but often ridiculed record was in the German punk scene not really a highlight, too slow and monotonous; the self-contradictions in their lyrics showed hardly any irony. The album was indexed by the BPjS, which, so Moloko Plus (Fanzine), "proves that the ladies and gentlemen at the Federal Examination Office took the nonsense seriously". In 1982 the band appeared together with Der Fluch, OHL, Fasaga and Stosstrupp on the Köln-/Leverkusen compilation Die Deutschen Kommen. Stylistically, the songs are similar to those on Rock-O-Rama's published and indexed record. Although the Cotz lumps are considered embarrassing due to their simple music and lyrics - even for their time - the "Moloko Plus" described their album as "undoubtedly one of the worst records ever to have done a punk band [...] Nothing is right here: the band can not play, the singer is completely incompetent, the lyrics saudoof, the production a catastrophe", they are regarded as one of the most important German punk bands and their plays as classics. Oldpunk Karl-Heinz Stille said, "Cologne was for most of them more of an encouragement to make their own music than heroes and role models. You were SO good even after the first three rehearsals, and they already had a record outside. But just that gave the band something totally real, authentic and honest [...] punk rock in its original form, even if it did not always work out quite so with the second chord".Well, decide for yourself, because over taste can be argued, as is known.

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U.K.SUBS - Crash Course (Live) 1980

Another long-lived band are the U.K.SUBS from London who can already celebrate their 43th birthday and like the Mönchengladbacher, they don't get tired of spicing our stressful everyday life with great music & a heartwarming example is their first live slab which was recorded @ the Rainbow on 30th May 1980 (the first issue came with the free 12inch For Export Only) and it's amazing!, a look at the track list confirms that in my opinion and relevant reviews are enough available in the web. This ends a long blogging day and now out into the world.

C.I.D./I Couldn't Be You/I Live In A Car/Tomorrow's Girls/Left For Dead/Kicks/Rat Race/New York State Police/Warhead/Public Servant/Telephone Numbers/Organised Crime/Rockers/Brand New Age/Dirty Girls/The Same Thing/Crash Course/Teenage/Killer/Emotional Blackmail

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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BIKINI - Kicsinál Szódát 7'' 1983

Exotic sound from Hungary by Bikini with their debut 7inch on Start. A bit info from discogs: The band was formed in 1982 by singer Feró Nagy and guitarist József Vedres after the disband of Beatrice. Bassist Alajos Németh, his brother, drummer Gábor Németh and guitarist Gábor Szűcs Antal joined them and formed Bikini. In the first years Bikini played punk music very similar to Beatrice. Frontman and songwriter Feró Nagy saw the band as a Beatrice-afterband, even covering some of their old songs. Most of their fans were the same as of Beatrice, going to concert not because of the band but because of the "Feró Nagy Phenomenon". This formation released two albums "Hova Lett..." in 1983 and "XX. Századi Híradó" in 1984 (without Gábor). Despite all similarities, Bikini and Rice were quite different, at least, seeing them retrospectively. The "ancient" Bikini members decided to strengthen the funny, rebel, "idiotic" side of Beatrice and the new band played a much more alternative and extraordinary, dadaistic hard rock-like or new wavist music with simple, nonsense lyrics, sometimes went into clear huey, assembled from interjection expressions, child poetry, blurred distopic visions about human mind control by engineering/education, or parodistic dance music quotes. Two solid tracks, in which the title track is the better one.

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HYÄNE - s/t EP 2016

May say Hello with new refreshing music from Berlin and if you don't know the label Static Age yet I strongly recommend a visit at the shop or online because their records belong to the best in the German underground in my opinion. An example of this is the young three piece combo Hyäne and with their impressive debut EP they captured me immediately. Four powerful loud smasher have they recorded there and the lusty dynamic energy injected immediately into my veins and intoxicates my senses. In 2018 they released their debut album Demontage & Zerfall which is a brilliant boost to single, listen via bandcamp, with nine more mature ecstasy pieces and I'm sure you will be as excited as me. Great stuff!

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EA80 - @ The AU, Frankfurt/Main 24.04.2016

Last but not least a great recording of the longest lasting combo in Germany: EA80 celebrating its 40th birthday this year and getting ready for the new album that will be out soon, some of them were presented in Mainz about 3½ weeks ago. The gig in the Au was a bit special, the beginning was at 17:00 on a sunday and it was still light outside and it was sort of weird to go to a concert in the afternoon. However, it was fantastic and the song selection as well. I guess it doesn't take more words. Who knows the four knows what follows, who not, will be thrilled.

Fliegen/Nr.1/A Short Story/Fort Von Krank/Hausapotheke/Tot Sind Wir Noch Lange Nicht/Häuser/Ein Tag An Meinem Fenster/Prestissimo/Balsam/Gugging/Kann Nicht Heilen/Das Erbe/Was Ist Geblieben?/Auf Wiedersehen/Grab X!/Trashfest

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THE FREEZE - Live From Cape Cod 1980

Terrific stuff now from The Freeze, punx from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and they were formed by a group of teenagers in 1978. The band is known for their dark lyrics, catchy melodies, and their longevity. A lot of their early lyrics deal with alienation, drug-use/abuse and paranoia (especially of the church, government and those exercising authority over others in general). A constant theme or thread regarding apathetic observers or people willing to give up their freedoms for fear of losing their Security is also apparent in their work. They've released nine full-length albums and ten 7inches to date and they're still alive. This goodie was recorded @ the Mill Hill Club on 12. April 1980 and released by Schizophrenic Records with a 16x24 inch poster and linernotes by Clif Hanger. Limited to 2000 copies. 1800 copies on green-black splatter vinyl and 200 copies on clear vinyl with green, red and blue splatters. I had the pleasure to see them alive in the Au on July 2009 and what happened there you can see on the basis of some small movies by clicking on the orange link. I hope they will visit us again soon. Until then, this slab must be enough.

Before I Hit The Rubber Room/The Water Tastes Funny/They Won't Unlock The Door/My Megawalki Land/We're Not The Abnormal Ones/One Sixth Of A Person/Don't Forget Me Tommy/The Duh Family Part 2/Refrigerator Heaven/I'm Too Good For You/Leap From The Edge/Uncle Fred/Rebels With A Cause/Skeletons In Your Closet/Halloween Night/One Way Conversations/They'll Be Trouble If You Hide/I Hate Tourists/So Long Ago

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