THE SKEPTIX - Peace Force EP 1981

Second 7Inch by this StokeOnTrent band and the four are welcome guests in my house. Another well-recorded Skeptix release. They’ve contributed two more killer thrash numbers, one with some interesting drum parts (“War Drum”), the other with a metallic guitar solo (the title track). The EP is rounded out by a slower cut called “Another Day.” (Jeff Bale, MRR #14 • June 1984) That's not surprising because their sawing music is exactly my taste and they regret the fact that their first album was released via the German ROR label, today more than ever. This three track EP was released via Zenon Records and is another good one of the Skeptix and they recorded until 1983, when unfortunately Fish (guitars) left the band to join Discharge. By 1985 the Skeptix had split up.

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KALASHNIKOV - Subversion 1985

Danish four piece that were active in the mid Eighties and consisted of Charlotte (vocals), Henrik (guitars/vocals), Peter (bass/piano/vocals) and Carsten (drums/timpani/vocals). Some might remember them for the brilliant catchy song 'Schlüters Kabinet', their contribution to the P.E.A.C.E. Compilation from 1984 on R Radical Records. Added by two other fine pieces, their first EP, Laederhalse, was released on HUB Records the same year, fast paced protest Punk and a great example of the transitional moment from the early '80s anarcho/street Punk towards the sped-up energy of the thrashier Hardcore era that was waiting around the corner. The album came then the following year and was unfortunately a bit weaker than the 7Inch, despite Charlotte's appealing voice but you should find out for yourself. I guess, the band broke up in the same or the following year and in their very short life-span they at least wrote a memorable song.

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V/A - Bloodstains Across The World #7 2022

Well it's time for one more Bloodstains Compilation and this one is cheap like the other "from all over the world" (from #3) and kept in a simple CD-R format, but I'm pleased that there are always maniacs who share their things, in contrast to other arrogant Assholes who defame such small people even though they don't know them at all and believe that they contribute a part of underground culture with their so-called professional Compilations (hahaha...), they just have to get their ass kicked and I give them a big Fuck You! I prefer to take these because the originals aren't tangible and I am grateful for this and everyone who thinks the same way will be enthusiastic with this cheap but cool one.

1.Tomorrow - QUIZZ KIDS

2.Kill Me Now - LA PESTE

3.T.V. Eyes - THE TOOLS

4.I Died Four Times - THE MANSONS

5.True Love - MARCHING GIRLS

6.Living In The 80's - TRUE PETER

7.I Don't Like Girls - MINOR CLASSICS

8.Teenager In Love (Live) - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

9.Berlin - IDEAL

10.Trop Tard - ROTTERS

11.No Rule - THIRD WORLD CHAOS

12.Get The Glory - LAUGHIN' NOSE

13.An Ather Day - THE VOPO'S

14.Ogro De Ciudad - ALMEN T.N.T.

15.London - TAPPI TÍKRRASS

16.She's So Fine - STRAIGHTSHOOTER

17.Baarissa - SOS

18.What's Going On Inside Ronald Reagan's Brain? - DEFORMED!

19.Anarchy & Peace - ABGAS

20.Du Er Eit Svin - NOREGS PUNKLAG

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STRINDBERGS - Bibeln 1983

Interesting band (named after Swedish author August Strindberg) from Stockholm that create a nice New Wave sound with a guitar flashing here and there that also sounds punkie at times, but the most part the tracks stay true to the three-minute framework. At first I was a bit skeptical because of the cover and the band name, but when converting the files I became friends with them and even listened twice, you see... the stuff works. You need food: Strindberg's original members consisted of the former KSMB drummer Johan Johansson on guitar & vocals, the former the Moderns bassist Janne Borgh on vocals & bass and Johan Carlén on drums. The latter stopped after the recording of the album Bombpartyt to concentrate on art studies. He was replaced by Pär Lundström, who started playing with the band during its last tour. During Strindberg's short time, they managed to release three albums & three singles. The first album was though to be a live album from a concert @ the Ultra house in Stockholm but a mistake by the sound technician led to that nothing was recorded that day and the album Bibeln was instead recorded in studio. The mini-album Med Strindbergs Ur Tiden came about as a result of a couple of days of studio time when a new single was to be recorded, but instead the group had time to make a whole album. The sound on the album is simple and raw, and sounds more like the band could sound live. The last album, Bombpartyt, was recorded six months later. Hard tour life and private problems led a little later to the split of the band. There were two compilations released on CD: Strindbergs (1990) and Släktklenoder 82-84 (2005).

In 2009, the band reunited at the Peace & Love festival and on the roof of Kulturhuset together with the drummer from Hellacopters, Robert Eriksson. The gigs were so much fun that there were repeats in 2010 with two gigs @ Kulturhustaket and one @ Ögir in Köping, and 2011 with a gig again at Kulturhustaket. 2012 was the international year of Strindberg and the band then played a few exclusive gigs around Sweden, including at a sold-out Nalen in Stockholm and @ Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg. The line-up consisted of Johan Johansson, Janne Borgh and again drummer Robban Eriksson from Hellacopters. Since then, the band has repeatedly played single gigs with the same line-up.

I think, a nice record that is good for stress relief.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - 4 Per Ⓐ//ⒶⒶ Per Tutti EP 1984

Hot compilation in red vinyl from Totò Alle Prese Coi Dischi with four Italian combos. Raw Power from Poviglio with two rough wild cuts from their demo tape (1983). Then Rivolta Dell'Odio from Ancona with a track from their La Danza Del Sangue E Del Sole cassette (1983) which, with a length of three minutes, doesn't come across as brutal, and ensures peace and quiet. The other side will be opened by Rappresaglia from Milan with two mid-tempo goodies and last but not least Pedago Party from Piacenza with two candys from their L'Arte Della Rivoluzioneare tape (1983) and they're short, snotty and with nice female vocals. - All four symbolizing that season of fury that made Italian bands famous worldwide. This excessive piece of vinyl comes with a lovingly stapled insert with lyrics and infos about the bands. A review: "Like most compilations, a little spotty. Raw Power starts off and blows away all the competition. Their sound here is sooooo much better than their first LP, as they showcase their breakneck stop-and-start sound with vocals literally spit out through your speakers. Rappresaglia & Pedago Party both go for a more popular thrash sound. The other band, Rivolta Dell'Odio, has a slower art-damaged sound." (Dogtowne, MRR #22 • February 1985) - I think it's a very good EP, varied and by no means superfluous and a decent start into the weekend.

1.Fuck Authority - RAW POWER

2.Burning The Factory - RAW POWER

3.La Danza Del Sangue - RIVOLTA DELL 'ODIO

4.U.S.A. - RAPPRESAGLIA

5.Rappresaglia - RAPPRESAGLIA

6.Lo Spazio Che Ci Resta - PEDAGO PARTY

7.Morire A Beirut - PEDAGO PARTY

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DECLINO - Terra Bruciata 2LP 2017

I thought, I had already posted something from this great band, but even after checking it three times, I didn't find anything except a few compilations. Well, it's time to change that today, and the best way I can do that with a fucking great release by F.O.A.D. Records. We're talking about Declino, a four piece based in Turin, active between 1982 and 1985, and they were one of the most influential Hardcore/Punk bands in Italy. Members were Sandro (vocals), "Mungo V.R." Bertotti (guitars), Max Occhiena (guitars on A1 to A9), Silvio (bass), Orlando (drums on A1 to A6), Roberto (drums). They were featured in early MRR reports on the Italian Punk/HC scene and were also featured on the essential P.E.A.C.E. double LP compilation on Radical Records! Their style was a very energetic clash of speed, rage & creative songwriting. They were definitely the first in their area to develop a mature style that leaned more towards the intensity of full-on Hardcore than the rawness of Punk.

So this essentiell Anthology (limited to 550 copies on black, 150 copies on ultra clear vinyl) includes all their existing studio recordings, consisting of: the debut EP (1983), Mucchio Selvaggio split tape/LP with Negazione (1984), three unreleased tracks (1984), Eresia 12″ (1985) and a complete soundboard live recording (Denmark 1985) never released before in its entirety. I know all you maniacs of angry and raw energy will love this double album, and all you others as well.

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C.C.M. - Live In SO 36 1988

It's getting loud and ecstatic on wdthtc, because an awesome live slab from Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers, or simply C.C.M. (the band name was a tribute to the Dead Boys guitarist), is waiting for you. Founded in Pisa and active from 1979 to 1987, the four were one of the first Italian Hardcore combos and part of the Tuscan Grand Duchy scene. 400 Fascists (the original is hard to find these days) was their first EP and came out 1981 via Cessofonya Records with four fantastic killers, inspired by a military parade of 400 paratroopers held in Pisa in those years. The record is now one of the very first productions of Italian hardcore punk, a genre that in those years was developing in the rest of the world. In 1983 they released a self-produced split cassette Sfregio Permanente/Permanent Scare which saw them in collaboration with I Refuse It! (later re-issued on vinyl by Children Of The Revolution Records in 1985) and in the same year a second tape called (We Are The) Juvenile Delinquency. They participated in the Last White Christmas festival which took place in Pisa on 4. December 1983, organized by the Grand Duchy Hardcore (GDHC) in the deconsecrated church of San Zeno. In 1984 they were then invited by the American R Radical Records of Dave Dictor of MDC, to be part on the International P.E.A.C.E. Benefit Compilation which was released in collaboration with the San Francisco fanzine MaximumRockNRoll. 1985 came their Furious Party, the second EP out and during a tour in the States, they recorded their Into The Void album in Indianapolis, both released on Belfagor Records. In 1987 the group disbanded after the release of this live album which was recorded in SO36, Berlin on 16th May 1987, released on Destiny Records and the last line-up was Syd Migx (vocals), Antonio (guitars), Sandro (bass), Alex (drums). That was a lot of words, and I recommend you listen to the must-have compilation The Furious Era 1979-1987, released 2017 on Area Pirata, which features all the Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers material.

Sterilized/Sorry/Strange Pain/Enemy/R.M./Romeo Juliet/Feel Like/Into The Void/Bendix Power/Secret Hate

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THE DICKS - Peace? EP 1984

Long overdue the following combo from Texas, the Dicks which were formed 1980 in Austin by Gary (vocals), Glen (guitars), Buxf (bass), Pat (drums). The four are known for their confrontational stage presence (Floyd was an open homosexual who frequently appeared in drag on stage and had no qualms about getting in the face of close-minded audience members) and raucous music. They started writing burly, blues-drenched Punk anthems and began playing raucous, shows with local heroes the Big Boys. Unlike that band’s funk-infused, high-production value drag show, the Dicks opted for a cruder but still spectacular approach. Their first masterful single Dicks Hate The Police, released in 1980, brought them much attention and is now regarded as a classic and has rightly been republished in large numbers. This EP is unlike anything else before or after, a total powerhouse of a song. The flip found the band playing faster and harder than most other US combo at the time. Peace? is their second 7Inch on MDC Dave's Radical Records label with three great numbers. In 1983, the band relocated to San Francisco. However, Glen, Buxf, and Pat soon decided to return to Austin. Floyd carried on with the Dicks' name, recruiting new members Lynn (drums), Sebastian (bass) and Tim (guitar). This line-up released the second album (These People) before calling it quits in 1986. Floyd and Lynn went on to form Sister Double Happiness. 

The group disbanded in 1986, although occasional one-off reunion shows featuring the Austin lineup occurred through the 1980s & 1990s. In 2004, Dicks began playing regular reunion concerts in Austin and elsewhere. The line-up for the shows consists of the original Dicks, with the exception of Glen, who died sadly in 1997. A documentary film, The Dicks From Texas was released in 2015 about the band, Austin & the Texas Punk scene along with a tribute album with twenty-seven bands covering twenty-eight Dicks songs. The Dicks announced that their final show would be October 30, 2016 @ Grizzly Hall in Austin however due to popular demand, a second show was added the day afterward. That's it folks!

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V/A - Trouble With A Capital T (1980s Punk & Underground Music From Florida's Capital City) 2018

End of June and we're closing this sunny month with a wonderful compilation from Panhandle Punk Productions. 500 copies were pressed on red vinyl and it includes a two-sided insert with band infos, liner notes and an essay by CA Productions co-founder George Barker. A small entry from backcover: In the Eighties Punk wasn't just infecting big cities, even a little sleepy college town in north Florida caught the bug. This collection delivers a treasure trove of vintage. Tallahassee Punk and underground music, much of it previously unreleased. It documents how during the reagen years something unexpected happened in a small southern town better known for state workers and college football than a counter-culture music scene: Trouble With A Capital T. Well, in principle everything is said with these few words, I would like to add most of the songs were taken from rare demos and rare 7Inches, the quality is consistently top and the artwork deserves full attention. An eloquent release with adequate bands/songs. Perfect in every way & a must have!

1.George Washington - SECTOR 4

2.Destroy - SECTOR 4

3.No Tomorrow - SLUT BOYS

4.Mr. Stupid - SLUT BOYS

5.Piece Of The Action - THE SHAKES

6.Media Control - GRUEL

7.Disturb The Peace - PAISLEY DEATH CAMP

8.The Pope Went Surfing - HUMAN SCARECROW

9.Unit 9 - GOTHIC PLAYGROUND

10.Beer Town - PERSIAN GULF

11.Hardcore Rules - HATED YOUTH

12.Ban The Bible - HATED YOUTH

13.Five Sides - HATED YOUTH

14.You're Not Faithful - SQUID ROW

15.Immoral Majority - THE KNOW-IT-ALLS

16.Missing Insulin - FAITH IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

17.Miss Digit And Sister Wizard - XBAND

18.Suicide - UNDESIDED

19.Celluloid Strip (Dance Dub) - INSECT FEAR

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V/A - Bollox To The Gonads - Here's The Testicles 1984

Very cool compilation on Pax Records with twelve combos, mostly from Europe, and the selection is quite okay. I mean, thirty songs on a record is not common for the time and that makes this record all more interesting. A review: "The Pax label is doing some valuable work with the best of intentions. They’ve gone international on this, the follow-up to their Punk Dead? Nah Mate compilation. This time around, they include four uropean, eight English, and one American band. Most of them are real strong and really tear it up, so don’t miss it." (Ruth Schwartz, MMR, Oct/Nov.1983) - Re-released as a cheap CD-R by Retro Records but the original is obviously better. An insert was to my knowledge not included. Enjoy!

1.Just Another Day - MAU MAUS

2.Don't Do It - SAVAGE CIRCLE

3.Dying World - LEGION OF PARASITES

4.Schoolboy - ANTI-SYSTEM

5.Yankee - P.S.A.

6.(Waiting For The) Genocide - XTRACT

7.Ingenskola - CRUDE SS

8.Say And Do - REPULSIVE ALIEN 

9.Police Power - RIOT SQUAD

10.We Don't Have To - SAVAGE CIRCLE

11.God's A Fairytale - SUBVERSION

12.Traitor - SKEPTIX

13.Nuclear Peace - P.S.A.

14.Running With The Pack - MAU MAUS

15.Monkey Man - INSTIGATORS

16.Why Should It Happen - ANTI-SYSTEM

17.Kill Yourself - SAVAGE CIRCLE

18.No Concern - MAU MAUS

19.Saufbauch - CANAL TERROR

20.Blame It On The Youth - XTRACT

21.No War - P.S.A.

22.Old Soldiers - INSTIGATORS

23.Kill Corps - SAVAGE CIRCLE

24.Legion Of The Damned - SKEPTIX

25.Death Agony - SUBVERSION

26.Suspicion - RIOT SQUAD

27.Vad Du Säger, Vad Jag Jor - CRUDE SS

28.Black Work - P.S.A.

29.Death Watch - LEGION OF PARASITES

30.Hardcore Rules - SAVAGE CIRCLE

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V/A - Powerpearls Vol.4 1999

You certainly weren't waiting for this compi, because it's no longer a rarity in Blogland, but I almost forgot that I have a few of my own rips from this great Powerpearls series, which I wouldn't want to withhold from you. Part IV is again full with rarities of the years 1977-1981 from around planet earth and as always, the bar is set decently high because the originals are as rare as snow in July (North & South Pole area not considered). What should I write next? It's great, that are people who probably have enormous costs associated with such projects and share their collection with us mortal music freaks and therefore have the will and consistency to implement this, pull it through and let us be part of this undiscovered music & bands. I take my hat off and I share a beer or two with those, cheers! Song selection is superb and I'm going off to the weekend and look what comes next.

1.Words - TUNNELRUNNERS

2.Playing Bogart - 23 JEWELS

3.Your I's Are Too Close Together - THE ELEVATORS

4.Downtown - CUBAN HEELS

5.Isolation - THE FINGERS

6.That's Just...Someone That I Knew - THE SINGLES

7.Living In The 80's - BLUE PETER

8.Ett Gevär I Min Hand - DIESTINCT

9.One Way Love - THE INNOCENTS

10.I Don't Wanna Cry - THE KEYS

11.Do Dead People Tan? - X-CONZ

12.Geneva Street - GENEVA

13.Ice Age - BABIJ JAR

14.Gimme Cigarettes - CIGARETTES

15.Won't You Be My Girl - VICE CREEMS

16.X-Ray Proofed - PRINCES OF PEACE

17.Takeaway Love - THE RESISTORS

18.You're A Hit - STRATE JACKET

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V/A - P.E.A.C.E. Compilation 2LP 1984

I don't think this excellent release in form of a double record set can be more topical, and as we all have to realize, mankind hasn't gotten any wiser even after almost forty years. There is always some aggressor somewhere who expresses its sick ideology with lies and blind helpers and it is appalling that no diplomacy, no system, and no sensible compromise can prevent a violent confrontation. Pathetic, disappointing & lifeless all the pursuit of power and heroism. About the record: "This massive international Hardcore/Punk compilation features fifty-five bands/songs and was organized and released by the infamous MDC on the band's own label R Radical Records. The worldwide hardcore scene was at its peak at this point, still underground enough to repel corrupting outside influences like major labels and heavy metal, but already hardened into a rigid aesthetic and political dogma that often encouraged groupthink and musical conformity. P.E.A.C.E. documents the state of "Reagan-era" Hardcore, just before the popularity of extreme music spread through decidedly non-radical camps and into the mainstream. Among the fifty-five bands on board are well-known plus the best tracks by courtesy of obscure groups of the local scenes from Argentina, South Africa to Japan. Most of the bands included retain, either through design or some bizarre quirk of ineptitude, a stamp of individuality on their sound that makes this an entertaining collection.

An extensive booklet insert is packed with political rants, cartoons, and suggestions for further reading, making explicit the double-LP's theme of activism and action against a corrupt authority. Plus, each band is provided with a full page to express their ideas (and plug their wares) with printed lyrics and crudely effective collage art. Reissued on CD in 1997 by New Red Archives with bonus cuts." (Fred Beldin) - A real highlight of an international gathering that shows how it can work.

1.Up Against A Wall - ARTICLES OF FAITH

2.Endless Blockades For The Pussy Footer - G.I.S.M.

3.Ashes To Ashes - NEON CHRIST

4.Schlueters Kabinet - KALASHNIKOV

5.Time Will Tell - CAUSE FOR ALARM

6.No U.S.A. - LOCAL DISTURBANCE

7.Honour's Calling - UNWARRANTED TRUST

8.Finirà Mai? - WRETCHED

9.Drop The A-Bomb On Me - O.D.F.X

10.Here Come The Cops - THE AFFLICTED

11.Inutile Trionfo - DECLINO

12.Hope You Get Drafted - THE DICKS

13.Arms Race - B.G.K.

14.It's You - CRASS

15.Swastika Ratss - UPRIGHT CITIZENS

16.Banana Split Republic - FALSE PROPHETS

17.Nuclear Attack - MOB 47

18.Face Down In The Dirt - OFFENDERS

19.Sbarre - CONTRAZIONE

20.So Much Hate - S.C.U.M.

21.Viejos Pateticos - LOS VIOLADORES

22.Sometimes - DEADLOCK

23.Will It Ever End? - P.P.G.

24.Peace Of What? - TRASH

25.Police Brutality - VICIOUS CIRCLE

26.Gartlands Pit - CONDEMNED TO DEATH

27.Non Mi Dire - NEGAZIONE

28.America The Beautiful - D.O.A.

29.Snap - D.R.I.

30.Jump Back - PORNO PATROL

31.Drop Out - TREASON

32.Abortos - SHIT S.A.

33.Silence - SEPTIC DEATH

34.Life Of Punishment - C.C.M.

35.No Mai - PEGGIO PUNX

36.An Uneasy Peace - THE PROLETARIAT

37.From Protest To Resistance - CONFLICT

38.Battlefield (Nightmare) - ICONOCLAST

39.Pay For Shit - PANDEMONIUM

40.Kinky Sex Makes The World Go 'Rround - DEAD KENNEDYS

41.Skorbut - BOSKOPS

42.Rats - SUBHUMANS

43.Peace Officer - WHITE LIE

44.R.A.T./Pentagone - WARGASM

45.Four More Hours - SLAUGHTERHOUSE 4

46.Finale - THE EXECUTE

47.Reagan Youth - REAGAN YOUTH

48.The Man Goes On - IMPACT

49.100 Million People Dead - BUTTHOLE SURFERS

50.Ataque - KANGRENA

51.Will Amerika - PORCELAIN FOREHEAD

52.No Mercy No War - BARELY HUMAN

53.Contro La Pace Contro La Guerra - R.A.F. PUNK

54.Moment By Moment/Exiled Shadows - ZENZILE

55.Missile Destroyed Civilization - MDC

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PARANOIA - 1984 [2020]

Now a DDR legend from Dresden with old original recordings and for the first time on vinyl! Paranoia was founded in Dresden in 1982 and consisted of Fleck (vocals), Olaf (guitars), Jörg (bass), Oliver (drums) and quickly became the focus of the small underground scene in Dresden and played concerts throughout the GDR. The group maintained contact with the west punkscene through fanzines and letters. In December 1984 they recorded the Here We Are for Everyone Who Needs A Cult Band tape and a friend from Bremen spread the demo in her city. One copy also came to Weird System, but they refused to sell the sixty minute tape due to the quality of the sound. Further demos and live recordings were made, which were distributed in the GDR scene via tape trading. 

In 1948 George Orwell completed his novel "1984". An impressive work, which is fascinating and frighteningly outlines the emergence of a totalitarian state structure. The sole ruler rules omnipresent "Big Brother" through total surveillance, manipulation, disinformation, monopoly on force & true to its proclamations: War means peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. Orwell's novel had a long history in what was then the GDR oppressive reflection found in reality.  Conditions as described by Orwell half a century ago long before the era of the so-called "other bands" were the breeding ground for bands like Namenlos, Schleim-Keim or Paranoia. These groups radically expose theirs of anger, dissatisfaction and a hopeless message was transformed into rough and unpolished punk music with the same texts. Things were called by their name in an unadorned and uncompromising way. Soon followed by fines for appearing without permission to play and an operational process by the Stasi, which took place in 1985 the imprisonment of two band members led to the "smashing of the illegal band Paranoia". Some members then founded the band Kaltfront, whose repertoire still includes some Paranoia songs.

"From the original tapes were seventeen best pieces selected and re-mastered and released in 2007, of course in an authentic and usable sound (not for high-tech cyberpunx). The album title "1984" consciously connects the band biography with Orwell's novel, and unfortunately that makes more sense today than ever."

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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SPERMA - s/t 12'' 1979

Before I do some essential housework today, first a fantastic reissue of late seventies by Sperma, a four piece from Zurich and active from 1978 to 1980, consisted of Peter (vocals), Päde (guitars), Tommy (bass), Turi (drums). They were cheeky, snotty and inexperienced and learned to play on stage. In their short lifespan they released four 7inches on Another Swiss Label, the same genius which brought us so many of Switzerland’s early punk releases and in August 1979 came Sperma's second record, a 12Inch, with these three songs; Pigs (Schmier), No More Love (from the first recording session) and Radio. On Pigs they demand the death to everybody in a blue uniform. The amazing thing is that this song is never the fell victim to state censorship. One has to assume that they never heard the song to this day. At No More Love, the farewell of the "Peace & Love" generation is resolutely demanded and on the song Radio the Swiss radio is attacked. This is the new edition with an informative, twenty page booklet in an edition of 100 copies in clear vinyl. Forty-two years after its first release, the Berlin label Static Age released this superb record again for the first time." Awesome sounds from a brilliant era!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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PUBLIC TOYS - Safety-Pins On Television EP 1998

Public Toys was founded in Düsseldorf 1991 by Fossi (vocals), Uwe & Guido (guitars), Roman (bass), Usenburger (drums) and they convey a whole attitude towards life that was long thought to be extinct. At the beginning of the 90s, a couple of guys from Düsseldorf get together and want to play punk. You'd heard it somewhere before - that's why various newspapers at the time associated: “The grandchildren of the Toten Hosen are now inheriting their inheritance!” But they go their own way and create their own style. "Punkrock has no idols!" and the Public Toys are certainly not a band that could be described as a copy of some punk greats. At the end of 1997 singer Fossi left the band and Pascal joined them as new singer, who from then on wrote many lyrics for the band. All in all, they have enriched the nineties with their refreshing sound and the result are three albums and a few singles (I don't even want to talk about the numerous compilation contributions). This little dittie was released through Pascal’s own label Dirty Faces and transports four catchy numbers in your house and give you peace. An Opinion: "The Public Toys are the last and only true punk heroes. So sweet that the girls lie to their feet, hard enough to hit it off with the punk scene and smart enough to write controversial lyrics that when brought together with the right music are so melodious that you don't want to withhold it from anyone..." (BUT Fanzine). Can stay like this.

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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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WRETCHED - In Nome Del Loro Potere Tutto E' Stato Fatto EP 1983

Wretched was a hardcore punk band from Milan. Along with other bands such as Indigesti, they formed the basis of the hardcore scene in Italy during the 1980s. Their music was usually fast-paced with violent and dark lyrics. The original line-up were Gianmario (vocals), Gigi (guitars), Fabio (bass) and Giancarlo (drums), these four debuted 1982 on the split EP with Indigesti. Although they originally sang in English but soon switched to their native Italian, finding it better suited to expressing their radical political message. The band took strong anti-war and pro-anarchist stands through their lyrics and imagery. They also self-released all of their records on a label that came to be known as Chaos Productions. The band lived at the infamous Milano squat Virus, which played host to many hardcore shows in the early-mid '80's. Wretched lived and breathed the DIY spirit of rebellion that they advocated in their music.

The band recorded their first EP before switching guitar players and drummers in 1984. Daniele (guitar) and Crema (drums) played on the third, Finira Mai?, and the full length. Appearances on BCT tapes comps and the international P.E.A.C.E. compilation spread the word of "Chaos Non Musica" to everywhere punk was being played. Zambo took over drums in 1985, and the band began its shift into more heavy metal territory. They recorded one more LP and a 7Inch before internal problems (including Mario's shredded vocal cords) and line-up changes forced them to call it quits. Before melting down, they played the last show at Virus with Antisect. Unfortunately, Wretched's strong commitment to doing it themselves meant that their records have always been hard to get outside of Italy. An official discography (mysteriously missing the first EP) came out some time in the mid 1990s, and the Furious Years of Italian Hardcore compilations fills in the hole. (source: killfromtheheart) - GREAT STUFF!

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