URBAN DOGS - New Barbarians EP 1982

Time for classic stuff, still fresh and catchy as forty years ago. We're talking about Urban Dogs from London, a collaboration between Charlie Harper (UK Subs) and Knox (The Vibrators) plus Alvin (bass) and Matthew (drums). In 1982 both bands found themselves at a loose end after some lengthy touring. Old friends Charlie and Knox got together and started making some music they shared a common love for. Along with a cover of the New York Dolls and Iggy & The Stooges, they added their own compositions that fitted. A couple of great songs emerged and already their debut EP, released on Fallout Records, is a superb three track Gassenhauer. Five albums have been released to date and I guess that wasn't all.

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VERDUN - Notre Combat EP 1987

First all re-ups are done and now to today's slab. Second EP by Verdun from Rouen on New Wave Records with four solid mid tempo anarcho-punk smasher and still with the crazy female vocals, but the music is getting more tight compared to the previous Smash The H-Blocks 12''. More political lyrics about the Apartheid and the carceral system. Founded 1981 by Eva (vocals), Jean-Luc (guitars), Karl 9000 (bass), Kurt (drums). They released two albums and two 7Inches before they finally disbanded in 1992. Any amount of compilation contributions are also be posted, some in the Blog I think, but I'm not sure.

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HARVEST - Fashion Parade 7'' 1980

Wanted-List goodie now and this is the extremely rare single by Harvest from Glasgow on Secular Records and was featured on John Peel show Feb 1981 and was performed live on Scottish Television (STV) same year on Sunday evening show. Certainly not pressed in a large edition and therefore very much sought by many record collectors and If you search for any infos/pics about the band on the web you will find: nothing! Even I wouldn't be able to hear any of the both songs from their Fashion Parade if they weren't on the list. The a-side is a cozy poppy powerpop piece which electrifies immediately and the guitar sounds like an insect that wants to mate, while the flip is clearly the winner, a catchy mid-tempo number with a tasty dose of punk ala KBD style. A fantastic record in every way, and Harvest has been honored on two unofficial CD-R compilations, should anyone have them, I'll be happy to take them and post it here. Enjoy the music and stay tuned!

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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LARZON - Hey Baby! EP 2020

Sweden’s Re-Ken Records digs up this gem by Larzon from Falun, an early eighties punk combo who never managed a release during their original lifespan and this is a re-release of their 1982 Cassette "Hey Baby!" or "Garanterad Motorsågsrock" and comes in an edition of 300 copies in green vinyl and four different colours for band name on front cover. The band consisted of Per (vocals/guitar), Roger (guitar), Ulf (bass), Kalle (drums) and their sound is rooted in seventies punk, particularly of the tougher variety. All five songs are great and worth hearing and after almost forty years still fresh and exciting. Another treasure finally rediscovered, keep it up! By the way, I'll take care of your re-upp requests next week.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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ROSTOK VAMPIRES - Transylvanian Disease 1989

Rostok Vampires is a German ThrashPunk band from Dortmund, which was founded in 1986 by Christian (vocals), Cebulla & Andy (guitars), Supe (bass), Thomas (drums), disbanded in 1993 and reunited in 2001. In October 1988 they went to the Masterplan studio and recorded twenty-one songs in three days and sent them to various labels and reached a three-album deal with Nuclear Blast. The band recorded their debut album Transylvanian Disease in 1988 and released it in the summer of the following year. The album was the label's most successful at the time. The band toured the clubs of Europe together with Impulse Manslaughter and an EP called Pay The Price was then released, which contained six songs that didn't make it on the debut. Further club tours followed and two appearances in Germany almost every weekend. In the middle of the year the band recorded the second album called Misery and released it in the fall. To promote the album, they held a tour with Suckspeed and a further EP Boring Old Fart came out. In 1991 guitarist Bulla left the band, so the group continued without him. The third album Torment Of Transformation came then in spring 1992, followed by the "The Last Crash" tour at the beginning of summer. For this purpose, the band released the Stone Dead Forever EP, on which previously unreleased material could be heard. The last gig took place on June 2nd in Karlsruhe. Since singer Christian felt too exhausted to continue working with the band, he separated from them. The band tried to replace him, but did not succeed. Therefore, the band split the following year.

After a rehearsal at the end of 2001, the band decided to play concerts again. Bulla returned to the band and bassist Supe replaced Doerfel. The comeback appearance took place on June 22nd, 2002 in Unna. In July the band recorded a demo called In The Pitch and released it in 2003. The fourth and last album New Morning came out in 2006 via Trashmark Records. - What remains? Powerful and energetic songs, the trademark of the five, always audible!

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V/A - Børnepunk 2008

A short trip north to our Danish friends leads us to this amazing compilation, limited to 500 copies, with six bands that unfortunately only made it on this slab and released no or only tapes which were presumably distributed locally only. The baby is called Børnepunk (Childrenpunk) and was released via R98 and seventeen songs in just under thirty minutes embody catchy punkrock with a decent hardcore touch as well as flair and pretension, a very interesting area and I can't spot any weak ones. The only drawback is the short playing time and if it were twice as long, I wouldn't be bored listening. Fazit: short, but crisp and authentic record.

1.Danmark - PSYKISK HÅRDT

2.Ind I Kampen - PSYKISK HÅRDT

3.Træt - HØJSPÆNDING

4.Langsomme Reaktioner - HØJSPÆNDING

5.DSB - HØJSPÆNDING

6.Ål - SKRALD

7.Grønlændersex - SKRALD

8.Ritt Bjerregaard-Sangen - SKRALD

9.Raversvin - SKRALD

10.Genbrugsbutikker - REAKTION

11.Drop Søndage - REAKTION

12.Forurening - REAKTION

13.Nul Og Fis - GODMORGEN DANMARK

14.Sofus Syvsover - GODMORGEN DANMARK

15.Grineren - UNMODERNE

16.Faak Anders Faak - UNMODERNE

17.Kun For Sjov - UNMODERNE

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PROBLEMI - Nije Po Jus-U 2014

Holiday friends, bad weather, good times for blog visitors. I open the treasure chest with a compilation nuggets by Problemi. Founded in Zagreb, August 1978 as a result of the social economic situation and new trends (punk) spreading rapidly over the world and the first line-up consisted of Marino (vocals), Valter and Žarko (guitars), Maurizio (bass), Milenko (drums). After some line-up changes they played their first gig in September 1978 at a youth center with several young bands. Interestingly, Marino, as the youngest member, is responsible for the created punk expression of the group, in which he involved slightly older members who grew up on a fiercer, but more classical understanding of rock music. Initially, the band included in the repertoire arrangements of songs by bands such as the Sex Pistols, but they soon focused on their own songs. The music is mostly created by new guitarist Boris, while the lyrics are written by Marino. So, absolute enthusiasm and more than necessary musical foreknowledge blended into the youthful rebellion with a good dose of banter and the Pula legend was created. The band lyrically expressed itself as a voice of the people by saying publically what people thought, and encountered a resistance from the authorities.

Even though art shouldn't have boundaries, the government did a lot of silence the band by restricting public gigs and recordings. Despite this, Problemi survived for several years by changing band members, and consequently, styles of performing. However, they never compromised the message they were bringing to the public. Numerous gigs throughout Croatia and Slovenia are still remembered by fans and members of other well established bands of the time. A month after their first gig, Problemi get their first chance to play in the hottest club at the time Uljanik, which Pero remembers as a big part of that time because only the best were invited by Uljanik. 

At the beginning of the eighties they finally got the chance to record a handfull of songs at Truli, Zagreb which were published on the essential Novi Punk Val 78-80 compilation. They stopped working late 1980 (singer Marino passed away on February 2, 1981) because some members were drafted to the compulsory army, marking a period of silence for the band. 

Nije Po Jus-U is full with their complete former studio sessions and rare pieces recorded at home in Pula, June 1979, a total of fourteen rough smasher. Released via Rest In Punk in an edition of 250 copies with glossy black/white insert featuring liner notes, photos, lyrics. Fine Work!

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HOSTAGES OF AYATOLLAH - Hallo Nachbar EP 1985

Probably the first German combo that tried to translate the ideas and sound of the US hardcore and skate punk into their own songs and strongly influenced by this style were Hostages Of Ayatollah, founded 1981 in Velbert and eventually played in its permanent line-up with Jah-Jah (vocals), Jacho (guitars), Micha (bass) and Torso (drums). In 1983 the band recorded their first demo tape Aha; a year later their first EP Hallo Nachbar. In the following time the group played many concerts until the split album Kaaba Kaaba Hey, together with Manson Youth, came out on Zorro 1986. The success, however, was not what the band expected so a short temporary time out followed. In 1987 then they came back together and changed their music style and English-language words were now used. In the following year, they recorded their second slab Simply Too Much Nothing, which, however, led to some great discontent among the members. In addition, bassist Micha repeatedly had drug problems, which ultimately led to the band's final breakup in 1989.

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STOPP - Håll Käft (Demo) 1991

Obscure two man combo from Mjölby with their only recordings, I guess and Stopp were Michael (vocals/bass) and Jonny (guitars/drums) and we enjoy five rough tracks with a voice which enjoy lots of alcoholica. Håll Käft means shut up and under this motto the other songs seem to follow, but I don't. My last visit there was about twenty-five years ago and my Swedish has been rusting ever since... well, there is not much to say about the two musicians, probably a fun project, google the band themselves and you will find little and nothing. Certainly not a musical virtuosity or highlight of excessive influence and probably distributed in small editions at concerts, I think. Overall not uninteresting and for tape collectors another welcome extra. Check it out!

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ISCHJAZZ - La Kælven Leve 7'' 1981

Unfortunately only a draw yesterday and now it's going to be difficult if the SGE wants to play the Champions League, damn... nun, warten wir's ab, noch zwei Spiele und sehen welche Liga es anschließend wird. Continue with good news: It gets less on the Wanted-List and today with the second and last 7Inch by this four piece from Drangedal on Maza Records and they recorded two more difficult to classify songs. Not punk or Powerpop so remains New Wave, and I think this genre fits best into it, drawer or not. I think, they are a bit different on the way as on the debut Nyføtt, which is more powerful and I almost think the four didn't want to do dirty, snotty punkrock the way it was also created in Norway in the early eighties, and we all know Punk is emotional, colorful, versatile, impulsive, flexible, different... I guess they implemented that with their music, and back then many played fast, aggressive and loud and we like it so. Well, fact is: Ischjazz have a preference for country life; is an interesting band that immortalized music of a special kind with their both slabs for the upcoming generations; are not a warm stale beer.

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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