DARK DRIZZLE - Dirt Enters At The Heart 2015

Dark Drizzle are a young Post/Wave/Punk band from the almost inexhaustible cellars of Rathenow and consists of Spunk (vocals), Kotze (guitars), Micro (bass), Baschti (drums). This is their debut on SickSuck Records. As always with this label, every cover is handmade, and if you don't have an album after the 100th edition has been sold, you'll get nothing. The voice is deep and gloomy and the Eighties wave sound fused with simple minimal Punk suits the band well. The songs aren't groundbreakingly good or flashy, but they are consistently solid and develop their charm as a whole. In this way they create a dark but harmonious atmosphere, certainly not to everyone's taste (find a little threat on the Positive Energie compilation) or eat a Snickers. Interesting album in any case... try it out. 

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SELF ABUSE - Unestablished Since 1982 [2019]

Let's continue with an interesting combo and a record, which now are already hard to get. But from the beginning: Self Abuse were formed in Bournemouth 1982 at the height of the second Punk wave by Andy (vocals/bass), Dave (guitars/vocals), Roger (guitar), Steve (drums)... age 16/17 respectively. They've been trying to form a band for some time and hit it off right away when they met through a local recording studio. In the next few months they wrote their first songs. Played their first gig in Poole/Dorset and released the State Of Mind demotape on their own Abused label during that year. In March 1983 followed the second demo Teenage (again on their own label), which was recorded in the famous Poole studios and it shows that the five made technical progress: the simple, rough monotony gives way to a playful style, whereby drums, bass & guitars have an outstanding feature and only bassist and singer Andy still sings naively infantile. The improved sound also implied old songs from the 2nd demo in a better way and also ensured that they could increase their local and national awareness after the release and played in the south of England together with Screaming Dead, Amebix, Idiom Tribe, Breakout, Shock To The System, Madmass, Cult Maniax, etc.. Sound-wise they were described by fanzines as being a cross between Stiff Little Fingers & Chron Gen.

In 1984 the ‘(I Didn’t Wanna Be A) Soldier’ EP was released by the Radical Change label, the late great John Peel played it on his radio show and the record climbed to number two in the Independent charts. Two tracks from their not released ‘Third’ demo were taken for Party Pooping Punk Provocations! compilation on by Xcentric Noise records late in 1984. Despite a mostly triumphant year, there is considerable unrest between the band members and friends, with disagreements about almost everything. Self Abuse played their final gig on 29th Dec. 1984 in Bournemouth to a packed house, two days later they split up. - Twenty years later in 2004, the original line-up reformed to play a gig in Bournemouth and released the No Change EP on Abused Records and the next year saw them play the Wasted Festival [now Rebellion Festival] in Blackpool. And since then, they're still hungry, and continue to indulge in anthemic mid-tempo Punkrock and still can't get enough of the rock circus. This classic compilation was released via Mad Butcher Records, 250 copies exist, and features sixteen delicacies [Demos, EPs & Outtakes], which outline the development of the band as well.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - USA 1981 [2019]

Friends, March is rolling in and let's heat up the freezing temperatures with the following slab, which ranks among the best I've heard in a long time. It's good to see, things are happening again on the KBD / Bloodstains front and the detectives have outdone themselves with this compilation and I can recommend you the purchase without hesitation, but you have to be quick, it's "limited to 300 copies and then no more!" Nineteen bands, twenty-two rare songs and one cracker chases the other. The artwork is more colorful than what we know from the classics, but liner-notes to the bands or other infos have been saved (only all 7Inch covers on the back), too bad... two points deducted in the B-note. But that's a mosquito fartz in view of this brilliant record, because as it says here: "Why pay $500 to some gold digger for a 7Inch when you can get the whole package here?" Think about it!!

1.Guns On The Right - DV8

2.Learn To Say Goodbye - DV8

3.Amerikan Story - CULT HEROES

4.Instant Passion - DEPROGRAMMER

5.Nazi School - CRACKED ACTOR

6.Rich Girl - ROCK BOTTOM & THE SPYS

7.Annhilation - SAIGON

8.No Passion - MODERN WARFARE

9.The Baby's Dead - SOCIETY DOG

10.How Do You Feel It? - SOCIETY DOG9

11.Calling Dr. Modo - SHIT DOGS

12.Small Talk - INTERNATIONAL Q

13.Laboratory Baby - LOS REACTORS

14.Reborn - SHIT DOGS

15.Laughing Lover - THE MISFITS

16.Where'd Ya Go Sid? - THE HUGH BEAUMONT EXPERIENCE

17.Pumpkin Queen - JEMMY LEGS

18.John Wayne Was A Nazi - STAINS

19.Execution Time - SHELL SHOCK

20.God Is Dead - HEART ATTACK

21.Shotgun - HEART ATTACK

22.Shoot The Pope - RPA

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THE MIDDLE CLASS - Out Of Vogue [The Early Material] 2008

The Middle Class were an American four piece established 1976 in Santa Ana/California and consisted of Jeff (vocals), Mike (guitar), Mike P. (bass), Bruce (drums). Debate continues to this day as to whether Middle Class were the first Hardcore combo or if Black Flag or Bad Brains were. It is unlikely that Bad Brains were aware of Middle Class, however, as they were unknown outside of California. Their sound evolved from being a blistering, shouted, arty version of punk which would be extremely influential to the hardcore sound that would emerge in the years following their first release, the 1978 Out Of Vogue 7Inch. This record featured the title track along with three other songs. After this they released the Scavenged Luxury 7'' in 1980 which retained the assault of the first record while introducing the influence of UK bands Gang Of Four and Joy Division. 1982 saw the release of their first full length album, the dark Homeland. Their first seven inches were rereleased on the compilation album "Blueprint For Joy" along with several live tracks and songs they contributed to the Tooth & Nail compilation.

In the mid-1980s Mike & Bruce Atta briefly formed a soul/dance band with former The Bags vocalist Alice Bag called the Cambridge Apostles. Bassist Mike Patton went on to produce the Adolescents' first album, guitarist Mike Atta now owns and operates a vintage furniture shop in Fullerton, California called "Out Of Vogue", and drummer Bruce Atta went on to UCLA to major in Philosophy and now teaches Philosophy at Cal State University at Los Angeles. And now enjoy this fifteen track collection (Frontier Records) with their two EPs, compi tracks & rare demos.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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NORMAHL - Verarschung Total 1981

Verarschung Total is the modest debut of Normahl on Mülleimer Records, that comes up with provocative political and sometimes funny lyrics, and whose recordings, unfortunately, was produced in a thin quality but nowadays belongs to one of the classics of early D-Punk and the first edition is very sought among collectors. Normahl was founded 1978 by five high school students from Winnenden and were active until 1996, released really good albums in the early days, by that I mean their Mülleimer records, before they mutated into a Fun-Punk combo and became rather uninteresting for me. I found it surprising that this slab has been indexed by the Federal Inspection Office for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM) since August 31, 2014 ("Youth Ban" without suspicion of violating certain criminal laws) and revoked in February 2016, which I think is a joke, but some impotent Christian mutants demanded this, hahahihihoho... Well, Normahl came back in 2002 and has been on the road since then, consistently spreading its poison among the people. A review, which would make the record even more interesting for me, because the negative ones are more appealing: "Mid-tempo ’77 punk from this German hardcore band. If the guitars were turned up twice as loud and the vocals were more raspy, the Normahl might have something going here. This isn’t the case, so the results are less than satisfying. These is an appealing amateurishness evident here, but it’s not enough to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings." (Jeff Bale, MRR #3 • Nov/December 1982) - Convinced enough?

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V/A - New Wave 1979

Well, I have a feeling history is repeating itself right now, and war has unequivocally caught up with stupid humanity again. Hard times are coming and the impotence of the politicians leads to death and destruction. Anyone who still thinks that humans are intelligent beings will be disappointed once again and will have to reconsider their attitude, but I don't want to comment further on the current situation, I'm trying to concentrate on the essentials, and that's the music. - This Compilation from K-Tel Records is a nice selection of hits from bands that were slowly gaining popularity in the late 70's/early 80's and released a few catchy tunes that were heard almost everywhere which added to their notoriety. Many cheap compilations came out , because the fat major record wankers sensed easy money with this new kind of music. This is one of them and not bad at all in my opinion. Dear friends, stay fascinate, have a great weekend and enjoy the sound of this sixteen virtuosos.. wherever you are.

1.Dreaming - BLONDIE

2.Back Of My Hand - THE JAGS

3.Making Plans For Nigel - XTC

4.Toast - STREET BAND

5.Money - FLYING LIZARDS

6.Straw Dogs - STIFF LITTLE FINGERS

7.The Prince - MADNESS

8.Because The Night - PATTI SMITH

9.Rock Lobster - THE B-52's

10.Ca Plane Pour Moir - PLASTIC BERTRAND

11.King Rocker - GENERATION X

12.Nice Legs Shame About You - THE MONKS

13.Gangster - THE SPECIALS

14.Charade - THE SKIDS

15.Time For Action - SECRET AFFAIR

16.Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle - SEX PISTOLS

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N.O.S. & ZYNTHSLAKT - Och Hör Sen!! EP 1982

One more request today with this frenetic trashy EP by two Swedish combos with three songs each from the early Eighties. N.O.S. was actually the first band that together with Köping mates Zynthslakt made a record, the Och Hör Sen!! EP. Released on Commando Z, it was all done through TBV, a study circle which offered a good way to record music. "We had access to a rehearsal room through the study circle TBV... that included six hours of studio time, which we used to record the single. However, Lillis (drums) never came to the recording, he cowardly, so we had to use the study circle leader Tjabo as drummer. He ran a drum solo using a plastic cookie jar on a dustbin. Incredible man!" states Goofy (vocals/guitar). Tommy was initially as singer & frontman in N.O.S., Goofy remembered once when they played in Hallstahammar's Folkets park, "A lot of raggers were crowded at the front of the audience and Tommy shouted swear words at the rags all the time. It ended with that we were "chased" by the rags when they went back to Köping. We played an instrumental version of the Czech national anthem. Thought it was neat and cool to play. Maybe it was from that that Per Granberg's Charta 77 was born?" thinks Goofy. These recordings are their only vinyl release. About Zynthslakt you take the information from the previous posts.

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OFFENDERS - Fight Back EP 1989

The Offenders were a four piece, formed 1978 in Killeen/Texas by Davy RIP (vocals), Anthony RIP (guitars), Mikey RIP (bass) & Pat (drums). After relocating to Austin in 1980, the band became known worldwide as one of the premiere Hardcore bands out of the Lone Star state. Raw and rabid, and just as skillful in realizing their musical rebellion as, for example, their friends and drinking mates D.R.I. and MDC.

Beginning stylistically with classic Punkrock, the Four made an excellent turn to an untamed sound, which was brilliantly transformed into impetuous energy and playful sophistication with intensity and enormous passion. They ruled, without doubt the scene throughout the infamous Reagan era. This litte Sucker was brought via Hamburg based label Bitzcore and features five unprecedented quick-witted arguments, two previously released as their Lost Causes 7Inch in 1981 on Suffering Sounds plus three, probably from a demo, non-album recordings. In their eight year life-span they fabricated only two pretty cool albums, a couple of 7Inches plus loads of compilation invites. In 1986, the band dissolved much too early.

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HASS - 4 Track EP 1988

Well, the situation in Europe is extremely tense and we all know why, and probably that's why I'm posting this slab from a combo that has a strong feeling as band name. When Hass founded in 1978, they were one of the first German Punk heroes ever and with their fantastic debut from 1981 they set a grandiose sign full of aggression and offensive lyrics. After a longer creative break, the four from Marl came back with this cute 7Inch on their own label Hass Produktion. Four rare tracks who set the direction as opener for their second album a year later. Uncompromising lyrics wrapped in gruff music that inevitably trigger a feeling and make you realize that life is no amusement park. A look at the cover makes that pretty clear, I think. Hass is hard, direct and gets straight to the point, you can't evade it. Made for all the stupid brains in this world. Take care!

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CUTZ - Space In Time 7'' 1980

In early 1979 the Cutz were formed out of the ashes of the infamous Calgary rock country band the Famous Brothers. Sally (vocals) and Sandy (guitar/vocals) gathered Al (bass) and Lonnie (drums) and a litte later Don (guitar). The Cutz were along with other small bands part that made up the early Punk scene in Calgary. Their music can be described as a cross between X, Patti Smith and Jefferson Airplane, combining the energy and emotion of the late 70s Punk ethic blended in with the musicality and idealism if the late Sixties creating a hybrid that was engaging yet rebellious at the same time. Starting out like most other bands back in the day playing house parties, community halls and pretty much anywhere that would let them, The Cutz set list at first heavily influenced by choice 60s covers envolved into more and more original songs and the result was they started to find their own sound. After playing everywhere theuy could for the better part of a year the Cutz saved up their money and went into Jonathon Sound in January 1980 and recorded three songs and in April they released their only 7Inch with two goodies on Aura Records in an edition of 500 copies.

The band continued to play around Calgary as well as a few out of town gigs that would come their way. With other heroes from the Calgary scene releasing records right around the same time (The Verdix, Hot Nasties, The Sturgeons), the litte scene was starting to gather attention and build momentum. As odd as it sounds legendary blues and rock icon John Baldry saw the five play at a house party and expressed interest in taking the band into the studio to record. This is summertime 1980, with a record out, a loyal local following and endorsement from a rock legend, the Cutz seemed to be on their way. But by the end of 1980 exhaustion, internal struggles and personal conflicts broke up the band. The Cutz reformed once in 2007 to perform a few songs at a celebration of life gathering for close friend Mick Memorex (Verdix) RIP.

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