SOLDIER DOLLS - What Do They Know? EP 1983 + A Taste Of Blood EP 1984

Next double pack with two rare goodies from the Soldier Dolls, a classic punk combo originally formed in Wales 1982 and on these two singles have Fester (vocals), David (guitar), Jamie (bass/piano), Morph (drums) decent solid mid-tempo songs recorded, which I like from the UK. They have a number of releases to their credit, a few self-released and on various labels with a musical style that mixes original eighties UK punk and U.S. hardcore. Info: Despite two very strong singles, the Soldier Dolls remain one of the more internationally obscure of the Welsh punk bands from the early eighties, probably because they only played outside of Wales once – and that was their final show! The Soldier Dolls formed in 1981 (after a short period under the unfortunate moniker of Animation), and played their first show in September of 1982 – a show they actually gatecrashed rather than were invited to play at.

This seemed something of a trademark for the band, seeing as decent gigs were few and far between at the time. The original line-up recorded two tapes, the ‘Ten Track Sampler’ and the ‘From The Cradle To The Grave’ demos, and it was apparent even from these earliest studio efforts that the Soldier Dolls had a lot of potential. Soon after the second tape was in the can, Evo and Bob left for musical pastures anew, taking with them much of the metallic edge enjoyed by the band’s first incarnation. They were replaced by – respectively – Matt ‘Morph’ Gray (who eventually ended up playing guitar in The Darling Buds!) and Jamie Richards. This line-up was the one that appeared on the band’s two subsequent EPs and at the majority of the shows they played. In 1983, the Soldier Dolls self-released their debut EP, ‘What Do They Know?’, on their very own Scream Records, the label being ran by guitarist DKA. A three-song affair, featuring the tracks ‘Gotham City Is Dead’ and ‘Be Like You’ alongside the anthemic title track, it showcased the band’s high-speed gruff-vocal approach to decent effect, but they weren’t particularly happy with how it turned out and only bothered with a bare minimum of promotion. Later that year, they recorded their second EP, which was unleashed by Scream late in ‘85. Partially funded this time around by Revolver/Cartel, who were handling distribution duties, ‘A Taste Of Blood’ was to be the band’s defining moment, and was pressed on an appropriately garish red wax. Their first release to be blessed with a solid, thick sound, all four tracks tore along with a vengeance, but it was on ‘Iron Curtain’ that the Soldier Dolls found an intensity so urgent it was breathtaking. After hitting such a peak, the only way was down, and the band slowly disintegrated. Puhhh.... enough?

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

here

TOPPER - Once A Punk, Always A Punk 7'' 2000

From Stockholm comes this combo and this is their debut 7inch on MNW Records. They describe their sound as '77 punk style and the two cuts here are excellent Clash punk with singalongs in a good late 70s Britpunk tradition. "Once A Punk, Always A Punk" became a national success and climbed into the singles chart at number 23, not bad for a punk song. In Autumn 2000 the band was planning to take a first full-length, but their record company MNW went bankrupt shortly before the scheduled recording session. Luckily they get a new contract with Corruption Records and in 2006 finally the debut album with ten songs was released. Topper play at a very high level with brilliant compositions and if you like these two goodies you must buy the record. This 7inch was limited to 2000 copies. In 2009 the 2nd album 'Punk Don't Death (Just Get Through It)' came out and is again full with classic old school punkrock, very solid with strong melodies that crash in immediately. TOP!!

here

A.B.H. - Don't Mess With The SAS EP 2017

Last post today brings us old classics back in revised new versions, and this is called "Oi! The Collectors Series" from Evil Records. The serie is running since 2015 and most of them are limited editions, this EP (EVIL 018) has been pressed 350 times. A.B.H. is a band from Lowestoft/Suffolk  and were formed early 1981 by Pete (vocals), Steve (guitar), Nigel (bass), Tony (drums) and in their active lifespan, you can discover them only on compilations, apart from their demo tape in 1984. Captain Oi! released in 1998 a split CD, togehter with Subculture, with a few recordings and that's it. Here are four acceptable Oi!/Punk pieces from the good old days.... see you tomorrow.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

here

V/A - The Quest Tapes 1982

This rare compilation from Quest Records features six bands that didn't appear very much in the music scene or do anything on vinyl, the only exception are School Ties, who released two singles and their version of the Animals classic is worth buying this slab, they trimmed this in a moderate Ska version, superb. The rest of the sound moves between pop, rock & new wave, a little saxophone here, a little synthezier there, just shallow complex catchy songs. Interesting for collectors and not uninteresting for music junkies.

1.I Live In The Back - PRECIOUS LITTLE IDOLS

2.Insanity - SCHOOL TIES

3.Caretaker - ODD ENDS

4.Eastern Promise - PRECIOUS LITTLE IDOLS

5.Dallow Road - THE DRIVERS

6.Cake - HIGH TREASON

7.House Of The Rising Sun - SCHOOL TIES

8.The Same Old Game - THE DRIVERS

9.The Siren Song - HIGH TREASON

10.Try Again - ODD ENDS

11.Evensong - ZTORM

here

POWERAGE & COMPOS MENTIS - Backlash! EP 1987

Influenced by overseas bands such as Crass, Discharge and Chaos UK, Compos Mentis wrote politically charged songs that critiqued both mainstream New Zealand and the cliquey factions within the alternative music scene. Described by Simon Cottle of Anti-System zine as “New Zealand's ultimate political thrash band” Compos Mentis lasted for a good half of the 1980s at a time when a more politicised punk scene was emerging in Wellington. Compos Mentis began life in 1982 as the short lived Destructive Adolescents, a teenage punk band from the Hutt Valley suburb of Silverstream, formed by Craig and David A.. After the D.A's vocalist quit Peter Stitt and Heather joined the band playing their first gig at Craig's work Christmas do. By all accounts this went down with the largely older audience like a bucket of cold sick and they were forced to stop after a few songs. Shortly after this the band changed it's name to World War III for a brief period before opting for Compos Mentis which translates from Latin as “of sound mind”. Following this Peter left the band due to personality differences and Ben and Sean were recruited into the band briefly. At this time two other members, Simon and Grant, of Hutt Valley band Gotham City joined. The input from these two new members led to a tighter musical direction for the band and during 1986-1987 Compos Mentis released three 7” singles (one here), a tape compilation of early work dating back to 1984 and appeared on a number of compilations. Compos Mentis were a central band in the emergence of an openly politicized anarcho-punk scene that emerged in the 1980s. Songs such as Run for Shelter railed against Nazi-punks while Patricia Bartlett is an inspired rant against Lower Hutt's then self-appointed leader of the 'moral majority'. The band were also active in producing their own zine, Communicade.

Power Age formed in Durban, South Africa in June 1981. The first line-up was Spike (vocals), Brett & Brian (guitars), Dave (bass), Mark Pills (drums) & their first gig was on 3rd October 1981 supporting the Gay Marines. It was their first encounter with the police as well, as Spike got taken in, because some policemen didn't like his pink mohawk. In June '82 Spike arranged a benefit show and 6 punk bands played. The show was a great success. Straight after this show Brian and Dave left. Midge joined on bass and it proved better with one guitar, so it was kept to a four piece. In November '82 Mark left to go live in England. Rubin Rose (previously from South Africa’s first punk band Wild Youth and later Warspike) replaced him immediately and the band really started moving. In April '83 they put out their first 7" release ‘World War III/ Vengeance Of Youth’. At the same time Midge left the band due to musical differences. The band was stagnant for two months until Paddy joined on bass. He was a good friend of the band but had never played before, so it was like starting again. In '84 the two songs off the first 7" were released on the UK compilation ‘Beating The Meat’. At this time in Durban (and the whole of South Africa) the scene was virtually dead - Power Age were the only punk band. In June '84 they played the ‘Punk '84’ show with new bands Wild Justice and State Control. It was a fantastic success and the owner of the venue let them run it for punk shows. Things went well and a good number of bands sprung up and the scene started moving. In June '85 they put out a C-60 tape ‘Who Are You?’ - one side studio, the other live and also succeeded in getting a track ‘System’ onto a French compilation EP entitled ‘Single Ticket To Paradise’. November '85 saw the release of the now legendary 4-track EP ‘Stop Apartheid’ in France by Neg-FX Records. In May '86 the band put out another C-60 tape release ‘Ripe For Terror’. At the same time they did a benefit show for a friend in jail. The venue owner somehow heard that it was a benefit for the ANC, and called the police. The police came, smashed up the gig and it was over. Luckily no one was arrested. Then the saddest moment came... Rubin quit the band in June '86. He had warned he might have to leave due to mounting pressure from his bosses. Peter then joined on drums, but couldn't play, so the band were stagnant again for 3 months. In February '87 they put out the two song 7" tribute to Rubin ‘World Today/Waiting for the War’ (recorded in '84) on their new label Power Noize Records. At the same time Peter left to play with Screaming Foetus and their good friend Choppy replaced him. In April '87 Power Age released a 5-track EP entitled ‘The Last Dove’. June '87 saw the release of the EP ‘Backlash’, a split EP with New Zealand-band Compos Mentis released on Out Of Order Records as well as one track ‘Eat Wheat Not Meat’ on a USA compilation LP entitled ‘The ALF Is Watching And You Can't Escape’. Having played only 77 shows in their 7 year existence Powerage played their last show on the 29th of July 1988. This show was recorded and made available as the ‘Live In Durban’ LP. (source: upthepunks & discogs)

1.This Is South Africa - POWERAGE

2.Disgrace - POWERAGE

3.Lies - POWERAGE

4.Chase Corpse - COMPOS MENTIS

5.Rock Stars - COMPOS MENTIS

6.Patricia Bartlett - COMPOS MENTIS

here

ROTTERS - 78 French Punk EP 2016

Before I clean the windows again, every three years, first a little forgotten piece of rediscovered, with The Rotters, a punk rock group from Villefranche Sur Saône, near Lyon. They released a 7Inch in 1978 which has become almost impossible to find today. Here it is reissued, the two original tracks "Synthemar" and "Faut Pas Flipper", plus two new tracks "Tout Oublié" and "Trop Tard". These last two songs were part of an entire band but unfortunately lost... The original single was released in 1978 and not in 1979, even late 1977 because during their first concert "We already knew how to play for January 1978 while for the record, we were recorded on a tape recorder in a rotten room, we didn't even know what we were doing!" On the original cover there are only three because "we had no other photos than this at that time...". Leader Jacques Mercier has nothing to do with the member of Crisis Dynasty. This reissue of 500 copies offers three different visuals, a 180gr A3 folding paper pocket with a few photo variants and around fifteen fake badges in different colors. Four chansons that would also cause a sensation in the twenties.

- Great Thx to Nolti -

here

STIDLJIVA LJUBIČICA - Jesenje Frke 1982

The second album of the Croatian combo Stidljiva Ljubičica stands firmly in the ground like a monolith. The debut Osvrni Se Na Mene is already a powerpop opera. The album was recorded in the Jadran Film studio, but unfortunately the composer, guitarist, Zlatko and bassist, Tvrtko could not take part in the mix because they went to the army immediately after recording. Elvira and Renato attended school and Zlatko with great confidence left PIKI STANČIĆ to finish the mix, and it was agreed earlier to make an album cover. Zlatko wanted the album to be called A GIFT FROM HEAVEN and the song to be the announcement single, but that didn't happen, but the title of the song from the last album Jesenje Frke was taken as title of the second album. The release of the album was announced by a song using a live string quartet called Ne Idi, but the actual hit (promoted by the National TV show "Hit Of The Month" with the band's appearance in military uniforms) was the song Tvoj Broj. There was very little but no praise for the album because there was not much opportunity to promote it. Only at the beginning of 1984 the group was physically able to reunite in the same composition, but the members of the band could not promote the "old" album, so there was only one concert in the original lineup in Zagreb in the Pauk Hall. The group was again full of new ideas and even more interested in experimenting with rhythm and style. So all twelve songs are small melodic, energetic pop anthems and weave a fascinatingly refreshing sound.

here

F.A.K. - Grußlos 1981

F.A.K. is a post-punk band from Stuttgart and was active in the early 1980s, the band consisted of Maggie (vocals), Martin (guitars), Ulf (bass), Vic (keyboard), Simon (sax) & Alfred (drums) and 1981 their first EP Verzweiflungstat 1 appeared on Schreckschuss Schallplatten, available in any well-stocked record store at bargain price. Useless Review: A push from the Stuttgart area, which ended the 7Inch trial phase with a very pleasant work, and has difficulty in getting the hoped-for attention, but it definitely deserves to be mentioned. Playfulness and a good concept is behind it - and you can hear that. 'Grußlos' is published by the small Stuttgart Intact label and is very contemporary, the band operates with currently popular means, with straight rhythms, a slightly snotty voice, small electronic gadgets, brittle guitar sound, a saxophone that sets the right notes at the right time (Bad Charly), from time to time it gets weird, it always stays fresh and unprofessional. (Martin Sulkowsky, Sounds No.1/January 1982) - Translated this means: a convincingly real slab with potential and musically are F.A.K. snappy, angular and with an evil sound, rarely represented on compilations and what F.A.K. means remains hidden in the shadows of the microcosm, Hell...Yeah!

here

RIVAL EATERS - Det Är Kallt Men Det Är Motorväg EP 1982

Sweden again and there is not much info about this band either, just a few basics. Formed 1978 in Kissleberg, Herrestad outside Uddevalla by Thomas (vocals & guitar), Michael (guitar), Lars (bass) and Björn (drums). Clas replaced Björn in 1981 prior to this EP 'Det är Kallt Men Det Är Motorväg' issued by Last Buzz. They also had a song featured on the Big Deal! (Alternative Takes & Unreleased Tracks 1978-1988 - Vol.2) compilation from 1990. I guess, after the single they broke up to become millionaires or involved in other artistic activities. The four songs on this record aren't the wild kbd style but they professional and you can always hang up to.. enjoy!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

here

NOTHIN' - Jag Måste Ha Nån 7'' 1980

This four-piece combo from Sweden, which released their self-made single in 1980 with two rocking numbers, is largely nowhere to be found and there's no information in the web either. The band consisted of Ulf (vocals/guitar), L-G Johansson (guitar), Bo (bass), Max (drums) and both songs hiss at a moderate tempo and say hello while the coffee goes through or you enjoy a cigarette and if you wanna buy the slab you have to dig deep into your wallet.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

here