POISEN IDEA - Official Bootleg EP 1991

Proper release by Vinyl Solution/American Leather Records and this four track EP is damn cool and I think most of you know this combo because they released a couple of awesome records. I take over the bio from discogs: Poison Idea was started in 1980 in Portland, Oregon, by vocalist Jerry A. (Lang). Within a year, the band had a solid line-up with drummer Dean Johnson, guitarist Tom Roberts (aka Pig Champion), and bassist Glen Estes. The band was motivated by the Germs and Black Flag, and took their musical cues from bands such as Discharge and SOA. Pushing the speed limits of contemporary punk rock, they played raw and angry hardcore the likes of which had rarely been heard before (or since). Their 1983 debut EP, Pick Your King, is a classic and arguably the best hardcore record ever released. Its subsequent followup, Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes (featuring Pig Champion's substantial collection on the cover), saw Chris "Tense" replacing Glen on bass. Both were put out on the Fatal Erection label, run by Pig Champion and Malcom Conover from Eugene, Oregon. 

In 1986, Poison Idea released the aptly titled Kings Of Punk album on Pushead's Pusmort label. By this time, the band's sound had changed from manic, breakneck thrash, to a more driving, Motörhead-influenced attack - losing none of their intensity, anger, or nihilism. In the next few years, Poison Idea's lineup (mainly the rhythm section) changed several times. 1987's War All the Time was somewhat of a misstep - nowhere near as powerful as their previous output - although the two EPs released the next year both had good material. 

By 1989, Poison Idea seemed to pull it together; after trouble with record companies and distributors in the past, they started their own label, American Leather, and began by reissuing their 1982 demo. The band recorded the excellent Discontent 7" and also found their most stable lineup in years: Jerry A., Pig Champion, Myrtle Tickner, and Thee Slayer Hippie (although the second guitarist seemed to switch between "Mondo" and Aldine Strichnine). In 1990 they released the classic Feel The Darkness album, successfully combining (where so, so many others had failed) the best elements of hardcore and hard rock for a dark, powerful sound. In the next three years they put out several more records - two more full-lengths, a string of 7"s, and an LP collection of all covers. When Pig Champion decided to leave the band in 1993, Poison Idea called it quits. However, a few years later in 1996, the band briefly reformed and recorded a 7" for Taang!, who also reissued (again) most of their early catalog. An aborted tour in 1997 saw another breakup, but the band is currently back together again playing local shows, and has recently toured the US and Europe. 

Song facts: Tracks 1 and 2 recorded and mixed 5-6-89, both previously released as the 'Plastic Bomb/We Got The Beat' cassette single in 1989.  Tracks 3 and 4 recorded 6-15-90. Mixed 12-4-90.

here

THE DEMICS - Talk's Cheap 12'' 1979

Originally formed in London, Ontario in 1977, the Demics consisted of vocalist Keith Whittaker, guitarist Rob Brent, bassist Iain Atkinson-Staines and drummer J. D. Weatherstone. Through 1978, the band were rising stars in the Canadian punk scene. They recorded their debut EP in the fall of that year, and subsequently moved to Toronto to be closer to the centre of the punk scene. The EP's single, "New York City" released on Ready Records, was the band's breakthrough hit on CFNY in 1979. Brent left the band and went on to form the post punk/new wave band, "Mettle" as guitarist and synth player. Brent was replaced by Steve Koch in the Demics. The band released a self-titled full-length album in 1980, but subsequently broke up due to internal tensions. In 1996, a new CD compiling both of the band's original albums titled New York City was released domestically on Huge Records. Also that year, "New York City" was named the greatest Canadian song of all time in a reader poll by the music magazine Chart. Vocalist Keith Whittaker died of cancer 16 July 1996. Bullseye Records of Canada released singer Keith Whittaker's final recordings on a twelve-song CD called Drink To Me in August 2007. Guitarist Rob Brent died of a heart condition 5 November 2014 at the age of 57.(source: wiki)

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

here

PULLERMANN - I've Got My Role To Play EP 1989

This great band were fronted by two singers who shared the vocal duties. Pullermann came from Frankfurt and were founded in the 80s. They play varied HC-/Punk with a touch of slightly psychotic vocals. Songs like 'God Bless All Policemen' or 'I'm Not Here To Learn' shows that they are damn angry, hot and sometimes very ironic. They released two albums, a live one plus a few contributions on a couple of nice compilations (Frankfurt Hit-Collection for example), also a great live band. This EP was recorded & mixed at Hot Con Studio/Essen, in March & April 1989 and 1500 copies were made.

here

STIDLJIVA LJUBIČICA - Osvrni Se Na Mene 1981

Let's come together and unlock your eavesdroppers because it waits another example of fantastic powerpop riffs, this time by Stidljiva Ljubičica from Croatia and they were active 1980-1982 in former Yugoslavia. The band split up soon after releasing second album. Members were: Renato (vocals, organ, piano), Zlatko (guitars), Tvrtko (bass), Elvira (drums). Glorious music deserves background knowledge and I give you a bumpy translation because my Croatian is a bit rusty, but I think you can follow that, here we go:

The emergence of a new wave in the music scene, which enabled various musical styles and directions to simultaneously exist in this region at the same time. In the beginning it was underground art music created by people often without big musical experience and not much talent but with a lot enthusiasm for new ideas. There were various fusions and almost incompatible directions that created new hybrids of completely unique and original music. Combinations of rock'n'roll, punk, ska, surf, new wave created Clash, Talking Heads, Blondie, B52, Ramones and many more... in Yugoslavia by Film, Haustor, Azra (only the first two albums), Stidljiva Ljubičica and some other bands who wanted to use this boom to catch a slice of glory of the wings of a successful trend which enters the mainstream.

Stidljiva Ljubičica unmistakably had the characteristics of a famous new wave groups, they appear suddenly, out of nowhere. They were more than ten years younger than their competitors. They had a female drummer Elvira (not common at this time) & they were fuckin' teenagers who held their first gig at the end of 1979 in the hall of the high school center Vrbovec. Their songs are short, mostly 2-3 minutes long, varied, completely stripped of superfluous arrangements and with catchy beats. Lyrically small pop art stories. They performed in cinema halls, clubs and in smaller towns. The audience celebrated them frenetically, they played a couple of two-minute songs and ran off stage. There they were greeted by a bunch of journalists and photojournalists so they held a short press conference and told them "we release our first single via Jugoton and starting recording our first album."

In summer 1981, their debut 7Inch 'Volim Te' was released and a Yugoslavian version of Top Of The Pops invited them and the whole country became aware of the fantastic four! At that point, the band had about twenty songs ready so they go ahead and started the recordings for their first album, Osvrni Se Na Mene. Before that, they decided to celebrate their success with a promotional concert at the sports hall in Vrbovac, together Johnny Stulic and Azra, and held a concert in front of thousand people. Many gigs all over Yugoslavia were made in front of several thousand visitors & it was a great opportunity to promote the album which they recorded and mixed in seven days. Despite the praise of the media, the commercial success of the album was not as satisfactory as that of the record label.

The band decided to start immediately with the recording of the second album Jesenje Frke, with the idea, that after recording, Renato (he hasn't finished high school) as soon as possible join the army and Elvira start a job at the media and when the record is out, she will be performed again, as well as Renato's return from the army. There was very little no praise for the album, because there was not much opportunity to promote it. It was early 1984 that the group could physically reunite, but the members couldn't find the feelings of the "old" spirit, so there was only one concert in the original cast at the Pauk Hall in Zagreb. The air was finally out and Stidljiva Ljubičica history.

Don't hesitate, get it!

here

UNICEF - Käkimassaa EP 1983

"The circumstances under which Unicef was formed, as well as the later stages, are somewhat hazy. What is clear is that the founding members were Tino and Jonza. Tino played guitar, Fagey played bass and Jonza (who, at that time, used the name Danny Kaye) sang, and came up with the name for the band. This line-up probably played only one gig. The identity of the drummer is unclear, but among the people who played in Unicef before the later, better known line-up, were Eno, Pitkä, Rusina, Antsu, Hannu and Hippo. This EP was released in 1983 on Johanna Records and has three pretty nice punk böllers with an outstanding voice I would say. How the band came to end is also a bit hazy. The members are constantly changing and as Tino, Jonza and some other people from the Helsinki scene moved abroad, the story of Unicef was over. Only one single and the legend remained." (words by Mika) - Tino died in November 1995 after he fell from a scaffolding, Jonza died in April 2005 after he fell down stairs drunk. Find them as tasty fish snack on the essential Killed By Finnish Hardcore bootleg. Get it ->

here

COLD WAR EMBRYOS - Pretty Words EP 1981

Top lone release by Cold War Embryos, a band from Utrecht and they were founded somewhere in the early eighties. Classic nederpunk with eight straight candles and they a bit softer as Rakketax or The Nitwitz but if you like these bands then you will choose this fuckin' rare self-released EP too. Check a little video on YouTube. I think despite the minimalist recording, they sound refreshingly antique, as well as my dresser from 1869. Can't much say about the band, no info at all... but I think CWE is a typical example how quickly a career as a punk muse can be over, so enjoy this little document of a another hot short-lived band.

here

V/A - Bloodstains Across Virginia 2017

The latest vinyl compilation of the blessed Bloodstains series takes us this time to Virginia (southeastern US state, stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachians, with a long Atlantic coast) and was released via the Nördlinger label Prompt Critic Productions. Fifteen contemplative little numbers that hardly anyone knows come together for autumn, which slowly sneaks in, to greet him with cool beer and Ahle Worscht.

1.Beat Your Face - THE ZITS

2.I'm So Cool - PREVARICATORS

3.Sunglass Party - LAMOUR

4.You Don't Know - THE NOYS

5.Stagnate - BARRIERS

6.Butch - BEEX

7.(My Head Is Made Of) U.S. Muscle - INSINUATIONS

8.Bo Party - THE NAROS

9.Prompt Critical - INSINUATIONS

10.Sick On You - THE ZITS

11.Go Go God - CHUMPS

12.Janie Has A Black Eye - CITIZEN 23

13.Rock Tonight - THE RATICALS

14.Wet Dream - NEXT OF KIN

15.I'm Stupid - RICKY & THE WHITE BOYS

here

KALTWETTERFRONT - Inkubationszeit 1980

Kaltwetterfront was founded 1978 in Hanover. The first label catalog (April 1980) by NO FUN is to read: "Although created in the context of the New Wave, KWF never understood itself as a pure New Wave or Punk band." Thus, the band fitted excellently into the exciting and varied catalog from NoFun Records.

On their debut album, the band members were Asche (bass+vocals) Michel Von Eye (drums+vocals), Anna (vocals+organ) and Bernie (guitar+vocals). On offer, the quartet had a mixture of Punk and German rock, although due to the simplicity of the songwriting and the sound of the former style outweighs clearly. A lot of value put the band on - politically correct - lyrics with which the musically still very limited possibilities were something caught. Inkubationszeit was immediately obvious, of course, because of the theme photo that reminds a bit of Commune 1, but the music had it all in. Powerrock ala Ton Steine Scherben with a good shot of punk was the musical recipe.

After the debut, the main writer Bernie left the band and the previous drummer Micha Von Eye switched to the micro. New drummer became Thomas "Tier" Wolff from the Cretins and Blut+Eisen. In 1982 the second album "Wenn Kaputt, Dann Wir Spaß" was released by Frostschutz Records. Then the air was out and the band broke up. Represented on some compilations, the important ones: Hannover Fun Fun Fun and KORN Live!

Inkubationszeit is a thoroughly entertaining album, even if it moves musically in a very manageable framework and is also very much in the lyrics of the zeitgeist. Not timeless, but rather a snapshot from the Federal Republic Of Germany in the year 1980. But it is also a lot of fun, because you can not help but dive into this era, including all good and bad memories.

here

Impressions XV

- - - - - - -

CHAOS GENERATION -s/t LP 1986

Now it's not hard to guess where I'm going this year and in four hours I'm in the plane so I leave you with this fantastic band and here is the full bio: In April 1982 in Athens, three friends: Thodoris (Drums), Nikos (Bass) and his cousin also Nikos (Guitar & Vocals) formed a band named Anti-Culture influenced by Punk/New Wave with political lyrics. In winter 1983 Nikos left the band. Then Costas (Guitar/Vocals) and Mars (Vocals) joined. The band renamed to Chaos Generation and became part of the early Punk scene in Athens. 

On 7.4.1983 they gave a live performance @ Sofita Club in Plaka with Ex-Humans & in October they also performed live @ Anemoni Cinema in Agia Paraskeui with Adiexodo atthat time the changed their name to CHAOS GENERATION. Before the end of the year they released along with Adiexodo the split tape "Dead End & Chaos Generation Wish You Good Appetite!" In 1984 Nikos and Mars left the band, Akis (Bass & Vocals) and Dimitris (Vocals) accordingly took their place. In Spring they got singed by Enigma Records and in July they recorded two tracks and participated to the first Greek Punk compilation, the legendary: "Disturbing The Peace" 1985 they performed a live @ Chevrolet Pub in Ioannina and in the same year with Adiexodo @ Anesis Cinema in Agrinio, the second live was recorded and distributed hand to hand through bands friends, as split tape titled "Chaos Generation & Dead End Wish You Happy Easter!"

In the early 1986 Dimitris leave the band and ?ikos became front-man of the band, it was then when they signed a one year contract with the label Right Way witch later renamed to DiDi Music, by the summer they released the self-titled debut album but the 1st press was shortly removed from the market due to bad sound an replased by a 2nd press. By autumn Akis leave the band to play bass for Parkinson Square in France, Dimitris and Alexis came in and bring new influences, the second guitar gave more volume to the audible outcome, their style went off the Punk clichés with more poetic lyrics referring to inner search of human political stance. In June 22nd they played live with Moot Point, Grover and Out Of Control @ Theatro Dasous/Thessaloniki and in November they supported The Ex & The Shrubs from Holland @ the Club 22 Autokinisi/Athens. 

In winter 1987 Theodore (Drums), Alexis (Bass), Dimitris (Guitar/Vocals), Costas (Guitar/Vocals) started recording new material and in February 1988 they supported for two live shows The EX @ the Rodon Club in Athens, and finally on Feb 20th their last live performance @ 127 db Club/Eksarxeia. By the end of Februray 1989 their second and last album Requiem was released by DiDi Music and then they broke up the same year! They performed many live gigs all over Greece, drawing alternative & anti-government audiences.

The words of the front cover is written by Akis: Thirteen Days, Thirteen Nights, and Colors Become Long-Departed Figures. Out of sight, tears flowed, and cold stones built a house with no windows, a home for the mind's lonely dance. Why should I care about the winter outside of my home? But someone freezes outside my door. And I kill him all the time, cut it, cut it. But he smiles at me, shows me a fire, invites me to go with them and dance with them.....

Enjoy the music and stay decent!

here