V/A - Punk Lives! Let's Slam 1986

Cool Compilation on Slam Records, a sub label from my favorite label Rot Records, and you know how great their releases are. Simple, informationless presentation and limited to 1000 copies but the selection is always quite good and mostly with bands of which not much vinyl exists, with a few exceptions of course, as is the case on this record. Healthy mix that will take you forty-five minutes of your valuable time but will never get boring. Check in!

1.Inferno - ANIHILATED

2.Suffer Children - STONE THE CROWZ

3.Naytelma - RATTUS

4.Cats Eyes - POLITICAL ASYLUM

5.Bloody Road To Glory - RABID

6.Rebellious City - POISEN JUSTICE

7.Flight Of Fancy - POLITICAL ASYLUM

8.Happy But Ignorent - THROBS

9.Life To It's End - POISEN JUSTICE

10.Black Cat - RABID

11.Friendship - STONE THE CROWZ

12.40 Dumb Animals - ANIHILATED

here

ANDREA'S AUSLAUF - Schwarzer Humor [Tape] 1987

A not uninteresting audio document from the former GDR follows now and I use an excellent description that I could not write better: "A lovingly designed and detailed MajorLabel re-release of the Suhl Punk band's legendary 1987 demo tape. Comes in a sturdy inside-out gatefold cover with a 28-page, 4c LP-sized booklet, A2 poster (cover image) and download code! Limited and numbered to 600 copies, 350 in black, 250 in red vinyl. Already featured on the groundbreaking Too Much Future - Punkrock GDR 1980-1989,' a previously criminally neglected gem of GDR Punk is now finally honored: Andrea's Auslauf from Suhl (1984-1987). The band was founded in 1983/84 in the Suhl Montagskreis circle by Wolf (vocals/guitars), Andreas (bass) & Thomas (drums), musicians who had previously been active in local Punk/Wave bands. From the very beginning, the band's wave influence was striking, shaped by West German acts like Fehlfarben and Abwärts. As local scene celebrities with numerous gigs, Andrea's Auslauf released their 21-song demo tape in 1987 in a proud album format, which is released here for the first time – carefully remastered – on vinyl. Shortly after 'Schwarzer Humor', the band disbanded; some members later played with DIE BASTARDS, MESSER BANZANI and WARTBURGS FÜR WALTER. To this day, scene insiders consider 'Schwarzer Humor' to be one of the best GDR Punk releases ever. The lavish booklet contains all the song lyrics, previously unpublished and completely restored photos, as well as a comprehensive band biography and scene description, naturally from firsthand sources. A major label co-production with Trümmer Pogo, Elbtal Records and Heldenstadt Anders e.V." - Conclusion: Another great nugget of East German Punk history.

here

TYRANNA - s/t LP 2011

Superb release by RaveUp Records and this is one more obscure nugget from the golden age of Punkrock. Volume 63 was dedicated to the Canadian band Tyranna (feminine equivalent for Tyrant) from Toronto and who didn't in their short lifespan (1978-1979) made it onto vinyl. Vera Skye (a.k.a. Rabies) gathered all the musicians and wrote all the lyrics. Through a rotating cast of musicians, Vera Rabies was the one constant. Other members included John Ziegler and Dave Porter on guitars and drums, respectively in 1978; guitarist Ron Partridge, Gerry Smith on bass, and drummer Cleave Anderson who had just left the Battered Wives. Whenever Toronto’s Punk scene of the late 70s is discussed, it’s usually the Diodes and the Infamous Viletones that get name-checked, while other important bands of the era are overlooked. In some cases, there are good reasons why groups that regularly played the main Punk venues of the era like the Turning Point, Larry’s Hideaway and the Crash'N'Burn are now largely forgotten. Tyranna’s best work wasn’t released on singles at the time, and they rarely ventured outside the city during their brief run in 1978 & 1979. This explains why the energetic PopPunk crew led by the snarly Vera “Rabies” Skye, who split bills with Iggy Pop, Jane County, the Members and the Dils, isn’t better known today. They also appeared on My Girlfriend Was A Punk! Compilation with the track 'Back Off Baby'. It may be thirty years too late, but Tyranna’s long-rumoured early demos, finally being released on this nice record.

here

OTO - Anyway 12'' 1984

Superb debut 12" by this French answer to D.A.F. and OTO were formed in Nancy 1982 by Farid Dahlab and Pascal Hubert (and later joined by François Rousseau), legendary Coldwave band OTO evolved in the same path as the illustrious inspirations of the time. A spiky New Wave pop with a darker Gothic edge. Torn between the Synth-Pop of OMD and the Coldwave of Kas Product models, the duo gave birth to ten pieces soaked with electronic urgency, a fever to dance and the synthetic rage to live before throwing in the sponge in the general indifference, five years later. Released in 1984 on Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L'Acier, this goodie comes with three nice songs. This French duo learned how to understand electronic beats in the 80s, they have developed a strong love and passion for analogic music.

here

SILVERSTONE - So What 7'' 1977

Only 7Inch by the Dutch band Silverstone and was released on Negram Records. The single features two songs and the band consisted of Guus & Gradus (vocals/guitars), Paul (guitar), Jan (bass), Willem and Nico (drums). Musically, these guys craft decent rock, and whether you like it is, as always, a matter of taste. I can't always listen to it, but the A-side is quite acceptable. The B-side is well well....

here

Impressions XXXIV

 

today's holiday in brief, to clear my heart & head!!

- - - - - - - - - -

POWER AGE - The Last Dove EP 1987

 

Third 7Inch I think by this four piece called Power Age from Durban and it's a nice five song record with good stuff and all info you need is already on the blog. I just want to give a quick review here because I'm not in a good mood right now and I need to change some things: "This South Africa band makes another political stand that shows real courage, but the music here is the best POWERAGE has yet committed to vinyl. Simple, urgent Hardcore with a rich guitar sound is the style and it’s that combination of power and credibility that makes this a winner. Very Strong!" (Steve Spinali, MRR #51 • August 1987) Can be found on some interesting compis and overall worth listening to. Enjoy!

here

SHAM 69 - Tell Us The Truth 1978

It's time for a classic and today we meet the debut album by Sham 69 from Hersham on Polydor and the a-side was recorded live in concert, while the other was recorded in the studio. Formed 1975 by Jimmy (vocals), Neil & Billy (guitars), Albie (bass) and Johnny (drums). They played at many of the famous Punk hotspots during this time and the band name is said to have derived from a piece of graffiti that Jimmy saw on a wall. They didn't have the art school background of many English Punk bands of the time, and brought in football chant backup vocals and an implicit political populism, they attracted a large skinhead following (left wing, right wing and non-political) and their gigs were plagued by violence. Anyway, some line-up changes were made and a deal with Step-Forward Records was landed and the first 7Inch (I Don't Wanna) was finally released at a suitable time. Then they switched to Polydor (four albums were released) and this remained their label until their first dissolution in 1980. What happened next you can read for yourself, the fact is, the debut is simply brilliant and they've been cited as a major influence on the Oi! musical subgenre of UK Punk in the late 1970s, and also on the working class street Punk musical subgenre of the Eighties.

here

VAGRANTS - A Disappointment [Demo] 1989

Let's come to the Vagrants, a four-piece from the late Eighties and they were formed in El Cerrito, California/San Francisco and consisted of Brian (vocals), Nick (guitars), Craig [bass), Dave (drums) and they made three Tapes plus one 7Inch, and this band really has it and never got the attention they deserve. Even the toughest Punkrocker has a heart and goes through difficult times and that's exactly what these guys bring to the fore here, pure melancholic songs whose vocals combine excellently with the dark spirit and drive of Nick's guitar, even if it sounds pretty gruff and doesn't feel that way at all, the Vagrants are a must for every snotty person. The single is a lot more concise in this regard and I'm surprised that it's not on the blog, but that's coming soon because after they changed their name to Pot Valiant they released three singles and an album and a lot of Compilation stuff, and recently a double album was released with all that shit which I will be receiving shortly and then you get the full blast. The cover is also remarkable and reflects the fear & despair of various situations in life, especially as an adult when you know how all the shit in and around you starts to torment you and wants to rip your heart out. Must Listen!

here

STALAG 17 & TOXIC WASTE - Truth Will Be Heard 12'' 1985

Not really new in Blogland but I must post this 12'' by both of the best Anarcho Punk bands from Belfast of the Eighties with amazing lyrics and catchy tunes and this beauty was released via Warzone/Mortarhate Records in an edition of 1300 copies. Review: A split 12'' by two great Irish bands. Stalag 17 puts forth two harsh, loud songs very much in the Conflict vein. Speed plus the changeover between male and female vocals makes the three songs by Toxic Waste interesting, too. Both bands have serious, hard-hitting lyrics which center on political unrest in Northern Ireland. Recommended. (Martin Sprouse, MRR #30 • Nov. 1985) - Stalag 17 were formed by members of three other Punk combos: The Stillborns, Maimed & Paranoid, and consisted of Petesy (vocals), Gasky (guitars), Joe 1000 (bass), Mickey (drums) and they began writing their own material and covering contemporary Punk bands such as The Mekons. After several gigs in and around Belfast the band recorded their first demo and began playing in the Belfast Anarchy Centre, supporting other Anarcho Punks the Poison Girls and Crass. They havent't much vinyl outputs besides this 12'' there is only one split LP from 1986, also with Toxic Waste, called We Will Be Free on Warzone Records. Toxic Waste were formed in 1982 in Newtownards after being inspired by the Crass gig at the Anarchy Centre in Belfast. Featuring Patsy (vocals), Phil (bass), Colin on drums to then be replaced by Grub and Marty on guitar they wanted to take the D.I.Y. and Anti-Establishment ethos of Punk one step further. They played their first gig at the West Winds Roadhouse in 1982, and regularly played around Bangor/Belfast and the Ards area for the next two years, in the same scene as the Belfast band Stalag 17. In 1984 they moved to Belfast and were joined by second vocalist Roy Wallace. They gigged with Conflict in the Manhattan Club which resulted in them doing a number of recordings for Conflict's label Mortarhate. Members of the band were involved with the Belfast-based Warzone Collective, which included a vegetarian cafe called Giros, practice space for bands, and screen-printing studio. They toured Europe twice before they eventually split in 1986. Roy Wallace released Belfast in 1987, performing with Deno and Gary from DIRT to re-record old Toxic Waste tracks (as well as previously unreleased tracks). Marty and Roy used their experience from their time in Toxic Waste to form Bleeding Rectum. The band was revived briefly in 1991 for a benefit tour, with Deno from DIRT on vocals. Fazit: a magnificent, powerful record that forgives nothing.

here