SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - s/t LP 1983

Now a debut record by a fucking great combo that I've been carrying around with me for almost forty years, and was one of the first I buy during my active metal days. Hardcore was already an outlet for me back then and a welcome niche. To be clearer, we're talking about Suicidal Tendencies and I think, the first US band (at least for me) which is associated with the new term SkatePunk, or at least influenced/shaped this new style. The band was formed 1980 in Venice/California by vocalist Mike Muir, who is the only remaining original member of the band and after the recording of their first demo they grew in notoriety and were featured on the Slamulation compilation on Mystic Records. But the band had a rough start including being voted "Worst Band/Biggest Assholes" in Flipside in 1982 but the following year were voted "Best New Band". They signed with the independent label Frontier Records and 1983 their brilliant debut came out and involved were Mike (vocals), Grant (guitars), Louiche (bass) and Amery (drums). A milestone in my opinion with twelve classics, including "I Shot The Devil", "Memories Of Tomorrow", "Possessed", "I Saw Your Mommy" and "Fascist Pig", "I Want More".... filled with emotion, simple but deep, brash but honest and plenty of high-speed thrash onslaughts, replete with dirt simple atonal riffing, and all of this is thrown right in your face. Excellent and as exciting as the last game of the German team against Hungary.

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UPRIGHT CITIZENS - Kiss Me Now 1986

💥 Extraordinary, fantastic music which always turns me on is the sound of the Upright Citizens from Bottrop (in the north-west of the Ruhr area), founded 1979, but it wasn't until 1982 that they started to attract attention - and they differed from many other German bands of those years through their (almost entirely) English lyrics and their clear orientation towards American hardcore. This was evident with their debut Make The Future Mine & Yours, which was released in 1983 and also made the band known internationally (Jello Biafra had noticed the band early on). Two songs securing them a spot on the legendary Keine Experimente! compilation on Weird System (1983), in 1984 they were featured on the We Don't Want Your Fucking Law slab on Mortarhate and on the hugely influential Peace/War double album on R-Radical Records, the label of Dave Dictor of MDC. So it happened, very unusual for a German band, that their second album Open Eyes, Open Ears, Brains To Think & A Mouth To Speak has been published in the USA via B.Y.O., the label operated by the Stern Brothers (Youth Brigade). With the Kiss Me Now (1986) and Farewell EP (1988) followed two more records of the "classic" side of the band, which had a few other releases until the mid-nineties and also played live - but the air was out, and in 2003 the band played their last concert, and a reunion, so the clear announcement, is ruled out. Well, this mini-album sounds a bit different from the previous records and is sometimes a bit too metallic for my taste, but I still like it and after hearing it several times, it penetrates well; they have long since earned this bonus from me. A fit short review: "Despite the uninspiring cover art and the Led Zeppelin-like intro to the title song, this new release has all the bands trademarks: tight, imaginative instrumental arrangements, plaintive lead vocals, memorable hooks, and generally on-target lyrics." (Jeff Bale, MMR #44, January 1987) - Always a pleasure the four, and I love Fridays 💥

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FREIWILLIGE SELBSTKONTROLLE - Stürmer 1982

Interesting electro/synth-pop/minimal/new wave/punk combo and essential part of the German underground scene of the early eighties and since the mid 1990s more in techno and house active, numerous records were released to date; we're talking about Freiwiliige Selbstkontrolle which were formed 1980 in Munich by Wilfred (vocals, guitar, trombone), Thomas (guitar, vocals, concertina), Justin (electric piano, guitar, xylophone & vocals) and Michaela (vocals, bass + melodica). The band name is a reference to the German motion picture rating organisation F.S.K. (German self censorship institution), which uses the same acronym. Their early records (all on ZickZack Records) gave the band the reputation of being West Germany’s most intelligent art school combo and the debut Stürmer received international attention because it was able to place in the independent charts in San Francisco. Due to the "original musical approach of F.S.K - that is, to electronically underline the dialectic of German song tradition - the people of Munich classify themselves as an 'intellectual ensemble' that makes music for the German intelligentsia". In the beginning the musical influence of punk was still clearly recognizable, because the sound sounded rough and the vocals very harsh. Living in a very americanized country meant to them that they soon, in means of love and hate, started to work out structures of Euro-American heritage in their music. Not only did they so bring back the Texan Blue Yodel to its Bavarian source, they also started to add the occasional cover version of American standards and non-standards to their German repertoire. From 1985 the band was championed by British disc jockey John Peel, recording six sessions for his BBC radio show, and were themselves strongly influenced by the independent British music scene of the time.... Enjoy!

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ANIMAL FARM - Model Soldier 7'' 1984

Three piece from London and the band consisted of Zarb (vocals/bass), P.Nut (guitars), Jik (drums) and they signed to Rot Records, home to many of the UK's gnarliest (and worst) punk bands, the single from Animal Farm sounds like it could have been recorded anywhere between 1977 and 1979. Model Soldier, their sole release, is melodic, mid-paced, cleanly (almost slickly) produced, with easily decipherable vocals (P Nut has a touch of Colin Newman's campy/sarcastic delivery) and none-too-brilliant but certainly acceptable lyrics. Somehow, in spite of its ordinariness, it's a great record. Animal Farm also issued a demo tape in 1983, including such fine material as 'Social Degeneration' and 'Lies', and big things were expected from them, but after the single and tracks on a handful of Rot compilations, they vanished. A review: "for some reason, ANIMAL FARM sound like a punkish band from the '79 era (e.g., the SHAPES). They have a certain quirky melodic quality, a clever wit, and a cleaner guitar sound than one normally finds today. "Model Soldier" is a sarcastic look at enlistees; the flip seems to be a continuation of the Jilted John/Julie story." (Jeff Bale, MMR #14, June 1984) The farmers can also be found on numerous interesting compilations, good luck.

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WILD YOUTH - Afrika 1979-1982 [2019]

There are bands whose music immediately infects me and Wild Youth is exactly such one. Arguably the first punk combo in South Africa and founded out of boredom in March 1978 by Michael (vocals/guitars), Skid (bass), Mark (drums) and they grew up in the culturally spiritually devoid and morally corrupt wasteland of Apartheid South Africa. Mark was replaced by Rubin and a single, Radio Youth, was released by their own in 1979 in an edition of 300 copies. It was to be their only slab of their short-lived history (they broke up 1980). But fortunately the three recorded more songs which are available posthumously as singles or compilations, and that was a wise decision. This fuckin' great nugget of eleven blasts came out via Patron Of The Arts in a limited edition of 188 copies, two of them in clear vinyl. Their music is raw, wild, short, dynamic and catchy. This sound is what I call punkrock, and I have to think immediately of the divine Scavengers, whose music thrills me as well and is irreplaceable for my existance. I tell you, these songs let tufts grow out of your ears and you press the repeat knob more than once and I guarantee: if you feel down, choose Wild Youth and you give a shit about the fucking gray world!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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PERZONAL WAR - The Inside 1998

Mon Dieu, washing and chopping the berries is exhausting and arduous, but the shake is yummy. But enough of the toil. Now a little trip to the Metalzone and I got to know about this band through a friend; "check this out, interesting band from Germany, they sound like a famous US metal combo which everyone knows, you will gonna like it." Said and done. And he was right! A bit info about the band: PowerThrash Metal band from Troisdorf and founded 1996 under the name Personal War by Matthias (vocals/guitar) and Martin (drums). Together they recorded a first demo. A short time later, Martin's brother Frank (bass) and Sascha (guitars) joined them and after a second demo the band appeared on Rock Hard's compilation Unerhört. As a result, the group reached a contract with Gernhart Records in 1997. They then recorded their debut and released it in early 1998 as The Inside. Over the next two years the band changed their label and signed a contract with B.Mind Records and released their 2nd album Newtimechaos in May 2000. For legal reasons the band had to change their name to Perzonal War in early 2002. More records and countless shows followed (including Chicago Powerfest USA, Sziget Festival Hungary, Summerbreeze Open Air, Rhein-Kultur Festival) and the youngsters never get tired and still wanna know and underline their independence, uncompromising songwriting, brute riffs, filigree guitar work, pushing drums and self-confident, aggressive vocals, which never lack the necessary portion of melody, have always been the hallmarks of the band. These attributes - combined with their twenty years of stage and studio experience - ensure that Perzonal War kick asses live and give the scene new impulses. Perzonal War stay at the forefront of the German underground metal scene and that's a good thing. And now on to a long EM day... enjoy!

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The Early Picker Harvests Fresh Kilos!

And as you can see, that's a good five kilos of fresh strawberries. I almost inclined to say the paradise is on the doorstep, this farm is about a kilometer from my girlfriend's domicile and it is always a highlight in July every year, but picking is extremely sweaty in the blazing sun and therefore best at an early hour. But it is worth the effort and afterwards I enjoy one or two delicious fresh strawberry shakes. But now a cold Weizenbier first. 😊

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V/A - Bands That Could Be God 1984

Decent Potpurri with bands from the Boston area which came out via Conflict/Radiobeat Records and we listen to a very varied selection that exactly meets my taste, solid punk songs shake hands with some dark characters who are fed up with television and finally open their hearts and float into the clubs and meet some funny people. There playing some bands fast & snotty songs who animate the crowd to pogo and sweat but also rest periods are held with stunning poetry which flows through the room and blows your head off. You need quick a drink before you step back into the crowd and exhaust yourself completely. Very satisfied with you and this great evening you get in your car and drive home at full throttle and you're ready for the British duel England versus Scotland. Cheers!

1.Blue Cheer - BUSTED STATUES

2.Changing Your Mind - MOVING TARGETS

3.Time To Stand - DEEP WOUND

4.My Word - SORRY

5.Light Blue - THE OUTPATIENTS

6.Waiting For The End - MOVING TARGETS

7.Fight - THE OUTPATIENTS

8.Harassment - BEANBAG

9.100 Million Flowers - CHRISTMAS

10.My Little Book Of Lies - CHRISTMAS

11.Sleep On Flowers - SALEM 66

12.Selfish - MOVING TARGETS

13.The Plunge - THE FLIES

14.Nautical - BUSTED STATUES

15.You're False - DEEP WOUND

16.Cat's Pajamas - BEANBAG

17.One More Step - SORRY

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KORRUPT - s/t 2x7'' 1992

Six piece from Bremen with their debut EP and Korrupt's line-up falls out of the tight punk scheme: In addition to two guitars, bass and drums, Smeagol and Sonia share the vocals, and recently a saxophone adds a certain danceability to the band's sound. Founded early nineties the band released two records and three singles plus a few tapes before they broke up at the end of the old century. The seven play solid dynamic loud punkrock, with some skabeats, fast power pieces and move lyrically, socially critical and politically with a clear form of expression. I really like their varied performance and the artwork is also great, a folded paper cover with lyrics printed on the inside and a screen printed patch plus two 7Inches. With Korrupt everything is just right. So far completely unknown to me and nice to discover such an interesting combo. Listen and start the Pogo!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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PANIK - Aujourd'Hui Plus Qu'Hier... 2018

An intense game yesterday for both teams with the happier result for France. But I noticed that these guys are unsportsmanlike, crybugs and behave like small children, top players but absolutely unsympathetic, no character and it hurts me to see such a lousy attitude. Well, I hope these Ikonomats don't win the title, they don't deserve it. This is my opinion! 

Today's Post: "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien!", exactly my motto and also of Panik LTDC, French punx from Paris and active from 1981 to 1986, reactivated and since then more or less active again. They could take the stage as legends of french spikes, but the length of their songs is probably the reason they didn' so they earned rather mediocre laurels. Their first album Les Troubadours Du Chaos came out in 1983 without the help of a label and proves this impressively. Not a bad record and now, after almost forty years, I am also more amenable to melodic long nuggets, but back then, the clocks went differently. A few tracks were often included on compilations and handmade tapes, whether they are from the period or today and 1986 the band stopped after the departure of Noel (bass) and Pierre (drums). A tape Live Au Plan followed 1991 and in 2007 the group was revived with Christian (vocals), Guy (guitar), Ben (bass), Xavier (drums) and gave an unforgettable concert in Geneva with other old heroes. 2018 marks a turning point in the history of Panik LTDC with new members and the release of the official second album Aujourd'hui Plus Qu'Hier on Combat Rock/Dirty Punk Records. Ten songs were written and thirty-five years passed between this and the debut and their style has been refined, Christian's voice kept again all its energy in and the album does us the honor of paying homage to Alain Bashung by offering a superb cover revisited from one of his iconic songs "La Nuit Je Mens". Solid record and not only interesting for us old sacks.

 - Great Thx to Fredrik -

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