EXCREMENT OF WAR

EXCREMENT OF WAR 'Demo'

Excrement Of War, E.O.W. , were an English Punk band that ran their course from, roughly, 1990 until 1995. They went through a few line up changes and put out a split 7" (w/ Dischange) & a 7" with the first line up and put out 2 split 7"s (with Beyond Description & Deformed Conscience) and a full length 12" with their last known line up. I very much prefer the first line up (the 2nd was also good, i just prefer the first 2 7"s).
Anyway, to the task at hand, namely, this demo tape. Its their second demo tape (i also have the first, i just wanted to post this one first for some reason). Im not sure the year of this, but it has the 2nd line  up, so I'm going to guess the year as 1992 or 1993. Most of the songs were rerecorded for the Cathode Ray Coma LP. The production value is, again, right where we (me, you, and the rest of the maniacs who visit my blog) like it. RAW! It starts with one of my fave EOW songs, their namesake, Excrement Of War.
The family tree, the punk lineage, of this band is long, legendary and extensive. Members played (or play in) bands ranging from DOOM, Sore Throat, ENT, The Wankys, DIRT, the list goes on and on. Legend and Legion!

BOTOX

BOTOX 'Demo'

Australian Post-Punk/Synth Punkers BOTOX with their 2014 6song demo tape.  I love this tape. I feel if some of the songs got a little more attention and a little more love (and better production {tell no one i said that!!}) , i think they could be radio hits, they could even be long lost demo songs from bands like (a Punker) Pet Shop Boys or (a Hardcore version of) Erasure. But don't let that throw you off, this is a great, gritty demo of good songs. Unfortunately, they haven't done anything since.

EXITHIPPIES/EXTINTOS

EXITHIPPIES/EXTINTOS 'Underground Derby Vol 2" Split Cassette

2006 split cassette with one song from Exithippies and one song from Extintos on the great Bastard Rock records. This is the second installment of the Underground derby series, the first also feared Exithippies & Le Fait Tuer (a band I believe part of the Japanese micro scene, something Bastard Rock records excelled in. Maybe Tom M. from Lexington can help here, Tom?). Anyway, back to the task at hand.
If you follow this blog, you should know Exithippies, a favorite around here. They have done this song before, as Exithippies are won't to do. The production value isn't great, but right where we like it, no?
Extintos are also a Japanese HC band who worship at the alter of 1980's Chilean Hardcore, especially Bastardos Sin Nombre, Crimen Impune, Herpes & more (notably bands from the two great 80's Colombia comps "Estamos En La Sima" & "La Ciudad Podrida Vol 1").
Again, each band does One song. More for the purists n collectors, but good all the same.

Also, the tape came in this canvas slip, so instead of scanning it, i just took pics off Discogs.

LEFT FIELD SUNDAY

PINK TURNS BLUE 'If Two Worlds Kiss'

Cologne, Germany's Pink Turns Blue. A criminally underrated band. These guys started a band to play New Wave, but ended up playing Dark Wave, and some say, were the originators. To me, this is just as much punk, post-punk, goth and new wave as it is dark wave. Influential. Creative. Harsh at times, soft and beautiful at others. This is a very good LP, and again, underrated. They also have a very extensive catalog. Roughly a dozen records and as many singles. I believe they are still playing.

Choice cuts: Walking On Both Sides (my fave), I Coldly Stare Out, When It Rains, If Two Worlds Kiss, & Missing You. The whole LP is amazing though.

SUFFER DAMAGE

SUFFER DAMAGE 'Demo'

Suffer Damage. Belgian's In It For Lifer's. Some of this lot have been playing in amazing Punk bands as far as back as 1988, shit maybe earlier. Anyway, this is Suffer Damage's 2013 demo. Nine songs of brain drill Noise Punk that pays homage to the originators, notably Disorder, Chaotic Discord, & the Kyushu Island maniacs of the 80's. They did an LP after this thats as good. Also, the production on this demo is pretty fucking tiptop.
Members have played in Private Jesus Detector, Hiatus (I think), Katastrophobia (with the fella from KTAOABC, so there is the punk lineage I mentioned), the little known (in the US) Chronic Disease, & more.
One of my favorite demos from 2013! Give it a go, you WILL NOT be disappointed, I promise!

Χαοτικό Τέλος

CHAOTIC END 'Behind Walls Of Silence' Demo Cassette

Absolutely essential Greek Crust from 1991. Inspirational, hypnotic, atmospheric, and pounding Crust Punk (how many times can you describe an album with all 4 of those adjectives?). Xaotiko Telos (Chaotic End) , & Forgotten Prophecy, for me, were the pinnacle of Greek Crust.  Chaotic End released a demo prior to this, an album in 1993 AND it looks like they just released their first LP in 24 years! Very excited to hear it! Classic & mandatory listening!

Post Script- After posting this, I went to youtube and heard the title track from their new LP. Holy Fuck!! It is AMAZING!!!! You'd be wise to do the same!

ZATSUON

ZATSUON "Violent Noiz Life" E.P.

NYC's Zatsuon (meaning Noise in Japanese). Very, very good Crasher Crust. Worshiping at the alter of (Noise for Moblish-era) Gloom, by way of Disorder & Chaos UK.They did this one e.p. and a demo prior to this (that also kills!) and called it a wrap, a crying shame really, as they were one of the best NYC bands out.
Members have played or play in bands ranging from Nerveskade, Funeral Parade, Nomad, Perdition, Indignation, Cervix, Aspects of War and more!  And that right there, ladies and gents, are some of the best Punk bands of the last 10 years, so ya know this E.P. is going to be amazing!

SUBVERSIVE RITE

SUBVERSIVE RITE '4 Song Demo' Cassette

An ABSOLUTE Scorcher! Newish NYC band SUBVERSIVE RITE and their second demo. Four songs of Take-No-Prisoners, In Your Face, vicious and ferocious female fronted Hardcore Punk! I can't stop listening to this band. This shit just slays. And the lyrics are just as potent as the music (example below). Members have spent time in a slew of bands such as Vermin, Perdition, Nomad, Pox, Process, Ectoplasm & more. My fingers are crossed for more releases, a 12" perhaps!!!? Killer Punk, and a demo like this is why you came to this blog, so dig your teeth into this snarling little fucker! NOW!!

Big Brother;
Big brother! Big brother! Im not your sister!
I won't let you catch me, I won't let you see.
Even if i tried to run you'd still catch me.

Ch/Greedy Eyes. You filthy spies.
Big brother is watching from the skies.

No one seems to notice, no one seems to care.
Big brothers perverted sense, you know he's always there.

POIKKEUS

POIKKEUS 'Reh Tape'

Top tier Hardcore from Osaka, Japan. Total Finn worship. They even sing in Finnish. Influenced by bands such as Kaaos, Tampere SS, Riistetyt & (early) Terveet Kadet. Manic, noisy Hardcore that saddles the fence of Crasher. The production value on here is EXACTLY where you (and I) want it. ...They did an e.p. after this that, if memory serves me, is the same songs, maybe minus or plus one more. They did yet another e.p. after the s/t that Ive never actually heard, as i heard it wasn't as good (but I should prolly find out myself). Anyway, this shit is of the highest order! Recommended!!

Some of the members spent time in (the equally great) DeathDust Extractor, Laukaus & Organism.

DESERT DANCES & SERPENT SERMONS

V/A "Desert Dances & Serpent Sermons" Cassette

Im not sure if this is a compilation, or a 4way split. Anyway, this is a Black Twilight release with songs from Volahn, Shataan, Arizmenda & Kallathon. As I've said repeatedly, I feel Black Metal has gone stale. How BM bands aren't doing anything fresh or new, and I feel i could've even said that about Black Twilight bands 8/9 years ago (though they were good, they just didn't necessarily bring anything new to the table). That isn't the case now, these bands have really come into their own, embraced their Mexican/Aztec heritage and have done something truly unique. The Volahn track might be the one I feel has changed the most, as their are indigenous folk instruments being utilized and ya even get an Ennio Morricone sound at times, and the same can be said about all the bands, notably Shataan (with their use of the flute & who might be my favorite act in this incestuous scene) and Kallathon. Arizmenda might be the most orthodox, but then again, it really isn't. Each song is flush with energy and emotion and just a  tad bit of general uneasiness, which, of course, one wants in a Black Metal song, no? Im so glad these acts have found their footing, because what was once good BM bands is now amazing BM bands.This is well worth your time.

LEFT FIELD SUNDAY

DEATH IN ROME 'Hit Parade' LP

Munich, Germany's Death In Rome. This is their first full length and it is my number one pick for 2016, my absolute favorite record of that year (just a tad bit above my fave Punk record of 2016, the S-21 demo). And its an album of cover songs!

Anyway, with a name like Death In Rome ya probably know what its gonna sound like and you would be correct. But its what songs they choose to cover that makes it special. Songs from bands ranging from Miley Cyrus to Motorhead to A-ha to Pat Benatar. The whole album is amazing, but my two favorite songs on here are their covers of Aqua & George Michael. They breathe new life into some pretty stale songs and some of them just come out haunting.

Ive been talking with Jaromir through email and they're in the studio now recording an album from start to finish of a late 80's classic goth record, i don't wanna say which one as not to ruin their surprise, but lets just say I'm ecstatic about it! Im also trying to get them to play here, so ill keep ya posted on that.

PLASMID

PLASMID "Lust For Power"

Ahhhh....Plasmid. Pre-cursor, of sorts, to Heresy. Totally inept Punk played with shitty equipment (and rumor has it) on just one microphone. Fuckin love it. FUCKING LOVE IT MAN!!
 This was Plasmid's only release (that was actually a cassette demo, that recently got the vinyl treatment). I also prefer this WAY more than I do Heresy, they just never really did it for me. Plasmid. Of the highest order.

EVILSPEAK

EVILSPEAK 'Raw-Reh' Cassette

OK. I can't find a fucking thing about this band online. What I do know. They are Japanese. This was released in 2002. I believe its their only release. It says its "Doomed Black Noise Thrash Apocalyptic Hatehuman Crust', & i dunno if that hefty moniker really makes sense, I suppose those were 'it' words in 2002, but to me, its Crasher Crust with a hint of influence from bands like Amebic, Axegrinder, etc. I also know this- This demo kills, total fucking Crasher. Also- Its three songs, but they all blend into one, so I didn't separate em.

LEFT FIELD SUNDAY

13th CHIME 'Cuts of Love' 7"

London's 13th Chime. This is their first e.p. of three. From 1981. This is what all the goth punk bands nowadays are trying to replicate in their sound. Don't get me wrong, Im loving the new resurgence in this scene, but, again, this is what they're trying to do. Goth punk genius.

DEAD SILENCE

DEAD SILENCE 'Beginning of the End' LP

I really can't imagine a more apropos LP title, cover art, & lyrics due to the current political environment. DEAD SILENCE, of Boulder, Colorado, and their 2nd LP from 1987. To me, this was the band at their apex. This LP is the one with their uber-classic song "We Turn Away', a song thats also very appropriate for todays immigration and refuge issues, in fact, it could surely be the theme song. Such a classic fucking song!

If ya don't know Dead Silence, they lasted from (roughly) 1984-1994. They put out three LP's, a split LP w/ Dissent, five e.p.'s and a split 7" with TitWrench. But , again, its this LP that stood out for me, along with the 'Hope' 7", and the great 'Hell, How Could We Make Any More Money Than This?' on Profane Existence Records (back when they were still putting out top shelf stuff) that was an indictment (& a play on words to the Bad Religion LP of similar title) on "Punk" bands selling out.

Musically, Dead Silence (along with all bands pre-internet) had their own sound, but I suppose you would lump them into the PeacePunk genre, if your making me label shit.

FRAGMENT

FRAGMENT "Demo" 2016

Halifax's own FRAGMENT. Filthy Raw D-Beat that blurs the line of Crasher. Searing guitar. Reverted bass. Manic vocals. And that D-Beat baby, that D-Beat. Nothing more to be said really. This is done by seasoned pros. Members have been making a racket, inciting riots and damaging ear drums in bands such as LIFE CHAIN, CONCRETE ASYLUM, ALIENATION, ABJECT PAX, WORD ON THE STREET, UNREAL THOUGHT, NEVER HUMAN, GRUMP, CUM RAG, NEGATIVE RAGE, CAUSTIX, CARCASS TOSS and more, many more. Now if that aint a fucking impressive resume, then what is, eh?

As always, a big thanks to Cody & Ben (& the rest of the HFX Crew). Keep up the good work!

Tracklist (though its all clumped into one track, as the songs been together)
1: Pollution Cycle
2:Abandoned, Surrounded
3:Warfare
4:Old Tyrants
5:Band Minds
6:Slow Death

Fragment Bandcamp

LEFT FIELD SUNDAY

KISS THE ANUS OF A BLACK CAT "An Interlude To The Outermost" LP

Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat (KTAOABC) , named after a Satanic Ritual, are a Gent, Belgium outfit who've been kicking around since 2004/5-ish. They have put out six LP's & two EP's. This one is my favorite, though I love them all, but this is the one I first heard and its the one that speaks to me most.

Trying to explain the sounds of KTAOABC albums is no easy feat, more so, I feel, on this LP. It's Neo-Folk in the truest form of the words, but its sounds like NO OTHER "Neo-Folk" ban, so look for no reference there.. And we continue looking for words to articulate the sounds. Discogs says "Dark Folk inspired by Religious and Shamanistic Rituals" and I can see that they would be inspired by that, but that still doesn't tell you what they sound like. I mean Grant Matthews of Rudimentary Peni was inspired by Classical Oriental music when RP made Cacophony, but that doesn't tell you what Cacophony sounds like, it's just "influenced by..." Classical Oriental. In fact, there is a correlation between KTAOABC and RP. Look at Death Church, for example, every song is so different from one another, then look at their discography, all albums are completely different in sound, scope, vision, etc. The same can be said about KTAOABC, and it can also be said about this LP "An Interlude....". In fact, Kiss the Anus cover RP on this LP, they do Beyond The Tanarian Hills from Cacophony (and let me say, they do it real fucking justice. I always liked when bands did covers in their sound, their way. Ya know, homage it, not ape it. Why mimic it? We have already heard the song done that way, so do it differently!).Anyway, KTAOABC's sound I suppose is best some up with the moniker of "Dark Folk", I guess, but its really not that. No. They clearly have Punk roots ,besides covering Peni, you can just tell in their music that they have a Punk lineage (see comment below from my old friend Steven . Thanks man!). I guess the best 'genre' to define them is by saying they belong with no genre and they shouldn't be defined. It seems they've been influenced  by Punk, Goth, New Wave, NeoFolk, Industrial, Folk and made a bastard child out of this hodgepodge stew and called it Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat. But again, they should not be defined. When was the last time you can say that about a band? They are artists which, these days, are few and far between. It seems in this thing of ours that bands haven't been uber creative as of late (since the Internet!), bands have been staying safe within their respected genres. Which is fine. But KTAOABC are the polar opposite. Creative. Unique. Vast in scope. And this album is a fucking MASTERPIECE! In fifteen years, there will bands trying to copy their sound.

Favorite tracks: None! They are all amazing and make up a goddamned Masterpiece of an album!!!

MENTAL PICTURES

PSIHOKRATIJA 'Album Mentalnih Fotografija'

1988 & sole release by this Serbian duo.  Eight songs of frigid Minimal Wave/Post Punk. A product of their times. Big brother. Genocide. War Crimes. Religious & Ethnic Cleansing. Identity.Ya know, fun times.

The music on Album Mentalnih Fotografija is as despondent as the times they were produced in. Bleak. Desperate. Cimmerian. Somber. Cold War-era Post Punk at its finest. Kinda similar to Siekiera's Nowa Alexandria, but more minimal.

You can buy the cassette at DoomTown Recs.

THE CREED

THE CREED 'Up Against A Brick Wall' CD

This album was actually one of my first posts on this blog way back in 2009! Since I deleted about 1500 posts/albums on here cuz of Mediafire nixing my account, i figure I can repost some of them now.

The Creed were a Japanese Oi band that existed in the mid to late 90's, put out this record, two 7's & a split 7". Unfortunately, thats all I know about this band. Their CD goes for a pretty penny, dunno about their 7's though, prolly them too.

Anyway, what we have here is 12 songs of nearly perfect Oi/StreetPunk. It's one of my fave CDs that I own, I just love this juicy lil nugget. The singer has the monotone voice that he uses in every song, and normally I'd hate that lack of range, but it just works so damn perfect to the songs (the gang choruses make up for the lack of range). File this next to Blitz, Gruesome, Snix, Rixe, Criminal Damage, Cockney Rejects, ya know, the best of the bunch. The last song is an amazing cover of a Humpty Dumpty song (a Japanese Oi band that preceded The Creed).

Choice cuts: Easy Way or Hard Way/Nonsense/Western Leaguers/Fucking Fashion Punks. the real jewel, for me, is the cover song and "Western Leaguers".

INSANE YOUTH

INSANE YOUTH 'Burn Em Out' Demo Cassette 1991

Burning Spirits!! Raging Hardcore ala that classic late 80's/early 90's Japanese sound. Insane Youth went on to do a bunch of splits (2 with the mighty Disclose), a couple 7"s, then around 1999 they changed the name to INSANE YOUTH AD WILD THINGS and developed a more polished & accessible HC sound before changing the name once more to INSANE YOUTH AD. Four songs. 10 minutes or so. Fucking Burn Em out & Play Loud!!! (And FUCK the hoarders!!)

GLYCINE MAX

GLYCINE MAX "DEMO" Cassette

Long Beach, SoCal's Glycine Max, the Mighty Glycine Max, with their 1989 (?) Demo tape. Six songs of that killer late 80's/early 90's chugga-chugga SoCal Crusty fuckin Punk! This scene (w/ A//Solution, Apocalypse, Confrontation, Pestilence (OC), Body Count) is criminally overlooked and under appreciated these days. But back then, these maniacs sure made a stink! Members also played in Apocalypse, Dogma Mundista, Scarred for Life, Deadly Reign, and more. Top shelf stuff!

METAL MASSACRE

V/A "METAL MASSACRE" Cassette
Side A
Side B

Killer old school cassette from late 80's with a little bit of Punk, a bit of Crust and a bit Metal. The stand outs for me are, of course old faves, Axegrinder, (RipperCrust-era) Hellbastard, (early) Boltthrower. Obliteration kill it with some lo-fi inept Crusty, Doom-tinged Death Metal. Rattus are in their 'Metal Years' so thats a take it or leave it & the unknown Agressa are a King Diamond/Motley Crue but harder hybrid that i hated at first but dig now. Really the only duds are Rattus! Most people know most of these bands, if not, heres a good primer, and those in the know, a good reminder.

Also- My pal who gave me this tape all them moons ago, get ahold of me, lost your info.

S 21

S 21 "Demo Tape"

Been a long time so I'm naturally rusty at this. But here we go....

S 21 from Philly and their 2016 4 song demo tape. I wanted to post S 21 for my first post in ages for several reasons. One it wasn't on any of MRR's staff 'Best of.." lists for 2016 and thats a crying fucking shame. The other reason is this shit needs to be heard, fuckin relevant & poignant shit! Almost an all-female band, the singer just belts out these songs with a furious ire! She is Cambodian and you can hear the angst n anger n betrayal in her songs. Being Cambodian, I'm sure Khmer Rouge's terror had a direct affect on her, as the country aint that big. And you can hear it. She spits venom man! She has that same way about her that i hear in Sothira's Crucifix, just pained and pissed off. Again, poignant. Passionate. Frenzied. Pissed off like Cal's (early) Discharge & Daryl Kahan's Citizens Arrest, and shit, even DeNunzio's INFEST. The music is as serrated as the vocals, chunky and galloping at parts, but not in a Stenchcore kinda way, but in the best possibly Hardcore Punk kinda way, its dirty, its abrasive, and  is a goddamn tornado!

The first song has a clip from, I believe, Ros Serey Sothea, a 60's Cambodian pop singer who was murdered,  along with a lot of other musician "subverts" by Pol Pots Khmer Rouge. That's how this demo starts....

This demo & the e.p. "Year Zero" are my top picks for 2016!!! S 21 is what I want to hear in Punk. Angry. Meaningful. Passionate.

To me, S 21 is the most relevant band playing right now in this Dark New Age.

Words from Cella (vocals): "42 years ago, the Khmer Rouge commenced one of the most brutal genocides in history, deeming it as Year Zero, a total eradication of its own past, people, traditions, and advancement. Their four years in power claimed two million victims, including multiple members of my own family. With President-elect Trump's impending presidency and it's fear-driven politics, with threats of mass deportation, mass incarceration and innumerable attacks on black and brown bodies everyday, and taking in some of our own experiences as women of color, my bandmates and I can't help but think that another Year Zero-like era is looming. The past few months have been extremely trying for a lot of us and it's hard to fathom what the next four years will bring. It is clear we still have a lot of work to do, but with this band, I feel more empowered than ever. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported us and for giving me the courage and strength to find my voice."