Fizik is an interesting band from Bruges who produced two delicate 45s in the early Eighties and this is their final piece on Aaltrack Records. Members were Carl (vocals/bass), Mey (guitar), Pros (drums) and that's where my information about these gentlemen ends. Fact is, they belong to all the young bands that were founded at the beginning of the spring days in Brussels and across the country with presenting lots of new & weird music. An nice overview about this scene offer three Compilations named Antler Records Early Years which first volume was released two years ago. The A-side features a real hit: a catchy sound, echoing guitar, driving rhythms, excellent interplay, fitting vocals, and a powerful chorus. Everything fits perfectly with this 3:33 cracker and I wonder why the song never made it onto a Compilation. Even I was asleep. The flip, on the other hand, is a lame backdoor entrance adorned with pop undertones that don't really convince me. But it's all a matter of taste. Overall, an interesting record that's worth listening to at least once!
Desperate Livin' were a four piece from Stockholm and consisted of Giorgio (vocals), Lars (guitars), Mikael (bass), Bengt (drums) and made a fucking rare 7Inch of which only circa 300 copies were pressed and only a few survived. Info: "To top it all off, part of the edition was ruined by the sun. The remaining copies they sold themselves to friends and at gigs, they had no distribution. Consequently, the single is not so easy to find today. At the end of 1979, Desperate Livin’ took their first steps. Guitarist Lars had previously been in the Rapers, one of Stockholm’s very first Punk bands. Bassist Mikael and drummer Bengt (called Beppe) were on vocals. They had an Italian who had previously lived in England. His name was Giorgio, but he was called George. The influences were the usual ones, i.e. The Clash, Sex Pistols & The Stooges. The members were active in the Ormen association in Nacka and thus got many gigs, but sometimes they also arranged gigs in the city. The highlight was when they played support for Ebba Grön. The idea of making a single came a bit hastily, they saw it mostly as a fun thing and hadn't even had time to agree on which songs they would record when the time came. In retrospect, they have regretted the song choice and they themselves prefer to listen to the demo that was recorded after the single. When it came to which language the band should sing in, opinions diverged, so it became both parts. And it was these conflicts that finally caused the band to split up in the fall of 1981." (source: from the book Ny Våg) - Four solid tracks and to find on two great Compilations.
We stay in Berlin and meet a four piece called Benzin and they consisted of Anne (vocals), Phuong Vu (guitars), T. Rexilius (bass) & Denes (drums). A jagged, agile strumming guitar, a furious drum kit, pissed-off vocals, a helter-skelter sound: That's the sounds of Benzin. They founded 2019 and in the same year the first demo with seven excellent smashers was released, four years later a live tape followed. They are a HardcorePunk band with heart and songs that are centered around catchy riffs with outbursts and the zeitgeist of the Eighties HC scene. Last year they released their debut album Treibjagd on StaticAge Records and Benzin stands for distinctiveness and feels comfortable in the underground and has little interest in being "discovered". This little sucker is a blistering barrage of blazing beats and breakneck bursts and it's good to see that the Punk spirit is alive. Now I'm going out and enjoying the sun.
An extremely cozy 7-inch with delicate sounds of the Eighties, and I'm really surprised that there's excellent information about the young combo on discogs, which I'm happy to include here: Hardcore Punk from Spandau/West Germany. Crapscrapers from Berlin started in early 1984 as a three piece band, founded by singer and guitarist Bruno, the driving force of the band. The members were: Bruno (vocals/guitar), Blume (bass), Thomé (drums). With this line-up, they released the self-produced tape 'Alle Haben Gekotzt, Nur Ich Nicht' in 1984, followed in spring 1985 by the EP 'Don't Waste Money', recorded in October 1984. In May 1985, singer Kunterbunt joined the band as the fourth member. With this line-up, they recorded two songs co-written by Kunterbunt in the Studio Kerngehäuse in Kreuzberg in fall of 1985 for a planned compilation LP - one of them, "Next Generation", was released on the Kulturschock Attacke Vol.1 Compilation in 1986. The track "Soccer" was instead released on the German Spiel Ohne Grenzen (W.Bärlin "DDR" Sampler) tape in 1986, both tracks were also released on V/A - But This Product Is Crap ! Compilation tape in 1986. From then on, drummer Thomé was replaced at rehearsals by Marina from Subkultur due to differences in opinion. The band did not split up in 1985, as wrongly stated in the booklet of 'Spiel Ohne Grenzen' - the year 1985 merely marked significant changes in the band's line-up and with it a change in the band's style. They continued to rehearse and write new material, their sound became more compact and powerful over time - but they no longer performed live and there were no further releases. Guitarist Bruno became more and more influenced by speed/thrash metal during this time, which was noticeable in some of the newer songs from this period, e.g. "Bad Attitude" and "Rhythm Of Death". Sometime between 1986/87 they changed their name to Bad Attitude (not to be confused with the german Punk band Bad Attitude who were active at the same time). The result of all these developments was a studio recording in March 1988 of the song "Rhythm Of Death" for a planned EP under the new band name - with Marina on drums and Matze from Malinheads on bass. But there were still plenty of straight forward HardcorePunk songs, like the also new tracks "Theory" & "Abortion", as well as mid-paced punk songs - unfortunately, no material from this period was ever released. In the course of 1988, the band broke up for good. Bruno later played with Malinheads and can be heard on their 1991 split LP with MVD. Two identical pressings of 500 copies each, only the cover layout has been slightly changed for the second one. Decent board with eight noisy highlights. Cheers!
Before I dedicate myself to another self-made Compilation, we travel to England and visit a band that likes to be guests in my four walls: Penetration, known for its powerful sound and the distinctive voice of frontwoman Pauline Murray. The band was part of the emerging Punk scene & characterized itself through a blend of Punk, New Wave, and Post-Punk. "Danger Signs" is one more great record with three goodies, two of them live on the flip. Opens with the energetic title track which immediately captures your ears and demands your full attention. Murray's haunting vocals and dynamic instrumentation immediately create an enthralling atmosphere. The next highlight are the live pieces which impresses with its catchy melody and powerful rhythm. This showcases the band's ability to combine catchy hooks with an aggressive sound. The guitar work is concise and driving, while the bass and drums provide a solid foundation. Penetration manages to strike a balance between a raw Punk sound and melodic elements. Overall a strong 12Inch that showcases Penetration's evolution as a band. It cements their place in British Punk history and highlights their ability to create both powerful and insightful music. They're a band that capable of expressing the complexity of human emotions through their music.
Hotter than hell is the following rare 7Inch on No Wonder Records by a three piece from Brussels which consisted of three members: Erik (vocals/guitars), Philippe (bass), Giovanni (drums) - I'll quote a few info from the Bloodstains Compilation II: "Spermicide from Brussels was short-lived and this time we present you the title track of their 7Inch 'Femme Prothèse' (note how many punk bands were inspired by this shitty country we live in; one of them was even simply called "Belgium"). Most copies were released without a sleeve, but with an insert. They never released anything else, but a (demo) tape is circulating somewhere. "They never had a political agenda, nor was there any fighting against the police in squats. It's all a fable." (Guy Delcroix, brother of singer Eric) After Spermicide, singer/guitarist Eric, together with a new drummer and bassist, formed another band: Neo Arya, which released an mini album, Entre L'Amour Et La Haine, in 1984. Neo Arya's rhythm section remained active in various bands over the years and today plays in Europe's leading instrumental band, the Vice Barons (three albums on Demolition Derby), as well as in the mod band Supersonic." - Delicious record!
I hope the Easter holidays are pleasant and you can relax and unwind from the drudgery of everyday life and enjoy some good music. Today I'm coming to a rare record that's not without interest. Not necessarily a Punk classic, but an important building block of the Hanover underground scene. After the debut Inkubationszeit lead singer Bernie left the band, and the previous drummer Micha, took the mic. Thomas "Tier" Wolff of the Cretins and Blut+Eisen became the new drummer, and the second and final album was finally released on Frostschutz Records and represents a significant step in the band's development. Musically, the album oscillates between Punk, NewWave, and Post-Punk, making it an interesting document of the early Eighties. Thirteen rough and unpolished songs with an energetic guitar riffs and driving rhythms. They shine with a variety of sound textures to convey their messages, with the use of synthesizers in some tracks adding a futuristic touch. Particularly noteworthy are the catchy melodies, which exude a certain optimism despite the often dark lyrics. The words are characterized by a mixture of irony and seriousness. Topics such as alienation, social norms, and dealing with one's own identity are addressed in a direct and often provocative way. The band manages to create a connection between personal experiences and social observations, making the lyrics both relatable and thought-provoking. It sounds very authentic and passionate, which is also reflected in the energy of the recordings. Overall, a very good record with catchy melodies and a valuable piece of German music history from the early rebel years.
As part of The BBC Punk Sessions series on Captain Oi!, a Compilation featuring four Lurkers Peel Sessions from 1977 - 1979 and yeah, the west London boys kicking ass, as they were already harder and faster than most of their peers in '77 and they were part of the first wave of British Punk bands to emerge in the mid-'70s, playing tough, meat-and-potatoes rock & roll with plenty of attitude and a jaundiced eye toward the world around them. The Lurkers are one of the bands that embody the heart of British Punkrock. This Compilation offers a fascinating look at the band's musical development and influence and not only a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but also a powerful testament to the timeless energy and relevance of early UK Punk. The recordings are taken from the legendary BBC Sessions, which allowed the band to present their raw, unpolished energy in a slightly different light. The live atmosphere captured in these recordings conveys a sense of immediacy and authenticity. You can practically feel the excitement of that time, when Punk was still in its infancy and turning the music world upside down. Musically, the Lurkers are unmistakable. Their blend of catchy melodies and powerful riffs immediately captivates you. Songs like "Ain't Got A Clue" and "I Don't Need To Tell Her" are timeless earworms that still captivate even the most discerning listener today. The lyrics are direct, unvarnished, and authentic. It's this honesty that sets the Londoners apart from other bands of their time. The CD's production is of high quality, as you would expect from Captain Oi! - Another plus is the variety of songs. Their best-known hits and deep cuts, give everyone a comprehensive insight into their work. This selection is an interesting experience. Overall, a successful homage and an important documentation of Punk history. It shows how this band was not only part of a movement, but also developed its own distinctive style. A timeless piece that has lost none of its power even after all these years.
Second vinyl and only 7Inch by Rotzkotz from Hanover (active 1977-1982) on Welt-Rekord. The band emerged in the late Seventies, made a significant contribution to the German Punk & New Wave scene with their album "Much Funny." However, as with many releases from this era, there are both positives and negatives. It is characterized by a raw, energetic sound, and the instrumentation is simple but effective, distorted guitar riffs, driving drum rhythms, and a concise bass create an atmosphere that invites you to sing along and dance, complemented by the direct and forthright vocals. However, one could criticize the lack of musical complexity in some places. The melodies are catchy but often predictable, which calls into question the longevity of the songs. The lyrics reflect the spirit of the time and address everyday problems and frustrations that we are all familiar with. Nevertheless, the lyrical content sometimes remains superficial and offers little deeper insight. One could argue that the band gets lost in clichés instead of offering new perspectives. Overall, this little sunshine is an interesting time capsule, and with its energy and attitude, Rotzkotz succeeds in conveying a message that remains relevant today. However, the piece lacks the musical depth and lyrical substance to make it a timeless work in the annals of music history. For fans, the single is certainly worth a look, while other listeners may not get their money's worth.
