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Hello and thanks for reading.

Today I am writing about two records. I have been waiting for us to get the new SVAVELDIOXID for a minute, and YELLOWCAKE totally caught me by surprise last week. The homies at Not For The Weak delivered this ripper, alongside Total Peace. I think this record is insane. I am super selective these days about what 7"s I actually buy. Even records I enjoy I may not buy cos I know I probably will never play the actual 7". Usually it’s cos they are kind of short, and obviously cos 7"s aren’t cheap as fuck anymore. When I heard this YELLOWCAKE record, it was a no-brainer for me, though. Funny enough, the last 7" I bought as also a NFTW release. YELLOWCAKE has been on my radar since they played here a few years ago. They took me by surprise back then, and they have just delivered an amazing follow-up to their debut. It’s not that they are playing anything super original or special, but the execution is just nuts. Live they had such speed and power, and they deliver just that on this EP. The first EP was great, but the sound is a bit less developed compared to the new one. It seems like they really found their sound on this one. I don’t make this comparison like ever, but they really remind me of FRAMTID with their fierce, pummeling intensity. They also do some things I would not expect. I appreciate that they don’t box in their songwriting style, but make it all fit together just right. If you missed this one, check it out!

Sweden’s SVAVELDIOXID is back with another record! I guess the last one came out about this time last year? I think there was a holdup with the artwork on this one, which delayed them, cos they recorded it in March. It still feels like they are a busy band, and I find myself enjoying each record even more than the last. They re-visited Sunlight Studios for this one, with Tomas Skogsberg on recording and mixing duties. This record sounds even more death metal than the last. Surprise, haha. I love this touch, though. While they sound pretty damn heavy, it still reminds me of traditional hardcore punk like BOMBANFALL. I might be crazy, but I feel like they are getting faster with time as well. The drummer plays so locked in… his perfect groove really hits the spot. I think the artwork on this one is great, too. I feel like I see them less these days, but I think it’s funny they chose 10" format. Ironically, I just mentioned last week when I wrote about a different one; I am pretty sure all 10"s are just 12"s cut down these days. I’m more than happy to add another to my collection, though. Check this one out if you missed it. I think we were low on stock already, but hopefully we can restock if it’s sold out by the time you’re reading. Alright, I guess it’s a short one this week cos that’s all I’ve got. Cheers and thanks for reading.

Hello and thanks for reading.

I have not found myself in the mood for writing the last week, so I apologize for the state of my staff pick. It feels like it’s been a minute since we’ve had a consistent newsletter, but there’s a bunch of great records in stock and I wanted to mention a few. I also need to go back and talk about a previous staff pick cos I learned some integral information since then. But more importantly, I need to talk about hurricane Helene first. I think most readers know about this hurricane and the devastation it has caused in the southeastern United States. I’ve had some friends from overseas hit me up cos they hear North Carolina, but we are lucky enough to have been a few hours north of the floods. I don’t want to get into how the US can afford to send billions to Israel to fund a full-on ethnic cleansing, but can’t afford adequate relief efforts to these communities that are suffering complete and total loss right now. I wanted to drop this link to our friends at RUMAH. If you are able to send some funds to help with supplies and essential items, you can find a number of trustworthy places via that link. If you live in the triangle, it’s also got information on how you can help by volunteering. If you’re in Raleigh, be sure to come out to the Halloween cover show! All the money from the door will be used in relief efforts. There is also a benefit on the 14th at Kings and Neptunes. I’m sure there will be more benefits to follow. Let’s stand together and look out for each other. The systems in place fail us, but we are not powerless without them. They need us; we don’t need them.

Last week we traveled north to bear witness to the mighty MOB 47. These guys are old. I guess Christoffer, the bassist, ain’t quite as old since he is a newer member. I think Åke said he was 62, shit. I’m not tryna talk shit by talking about their age, but give praise that they are still full-on rocking at this point in their lives. So sick. Naturally, I am a huge fan of MOB 47. I was very excited to see them. But of course, I wondered how well they would actually perform at this age. I didn’t wanna get my hopes up, but man, they were so damn good. I really didn’t expect it. After the gig we hung late at Patrick’s house, where I proceeded to grill the fuck out of Åke about MOB 47 and of course, DISCARD. I don’t want to spend too much time writing about it, but I asked Åke about the two different DISCARD sessions and where the songs were used. And most importantly, I asked him about DISCARD’s logo that rips off DISCHARGE. I was talking to him and said I knew about the art in Really Fast Vol 3, but said from my understanding they didn’t have a DISCHARGE rip-off logo until the 1990 7”. Åke corrected me and explained how they did it—in the ‘80s. I wanted to explain this cos I was so wrong when I previously wrote about DISCARD. It’s probably cheesy and unimportant to most, but it’s super significant they had done something like this so early on. Thinking back now, I wish I had asked him and Chrille even more questions, haha.

There are some reissues we have in stock I wanted to mention, cos I consider them essential. SWANKYS Very Best Of Hero has just been released by General Speech in the USA! I don’t think this band needs an introduction, and this record has been dying for a reissue for decades now. General Speech has added an additional insert that includes the history of SWANKYS. While it is brief, it is awesome to read. I didn’t quite understand the history of GAI and SWANKYS, so I really appreciated it. If you didn’t know, SWANKYS and GAI were the same band, just under different names at different times. They were initially forced to change their name to GAI, as SWANKYS had been banned at clubs due to extreme performances. General Speech did an absolutely amazing job on the reissue, down to the actual sound of the record. The packaging is almost identical to the original. It’s super nice and slick—in a good way. There are just some subtle, and tasteful, changes to denote it is a reissue. I know General Speech has more reissues lined up after this and I really can’t wait. I think this record is essential for every collection, so grab one if you have not!

I also wanted to mention this reissue I have been playing the hell out of, We Can’t Help It If We’re From Florida. The artwork and title of this compilation is hilariously awesome. Especially cos the bands fucking rip. To me, this is a whole new world. I’ve heard of two of the bands before, but never heard any of these songs. It’s funny to me they chose 10" format for this reissue. I know the original was a 7", but this one has bonus tracks so obviously it could not fit on the original format. From my understanding, these days all 10"s are just 12"s cut down to size. 12"s sell better than 7"s, and I think 10"s sell the worst. To me, I don’t care about the size, as long as it’s good. Again, this record is all new to me. I think all the bands are super cool. Maybe MORBID OPERA is one I wouldn’t jam so much, haha. I know I heard ROACH MOTEL before cos we had some 7"s come through the shop, but hearing em again on this compilation really made em stick out to me. HATED YOUTH obviously rip so fucking hard, shit. I had no idea. I’ve seen the name around forever, but my ignorant ass never checked them out. Now I need to find one of those 7"s previously released on Burrito Records. I think these compilation tracks are a different session from what was released on that 7"? I actually picked one of these 10"s up from my buddy Chris a few weeks ago cos I wasn’t sure if we’d get distro copies. He told me to check it out, and I instantly grabbed one, haha. If you don’t know shit like me, check this compilation out and you’re gunna one grab one. If you already have the original, maybe you’ll be tempted to grab it for the bonus tracks, haha. Alright, I think that sums it up for me today. Free Palestine.

Hello and thanks for reading.

Surprise, I am writing about yet another Swedish band. There are still a few other recent releases from Sweden I have been jamming, but I am going to pace myself and just go one at a time. This week it’s PX-30 from Uppsala. I should have done some proper nerding before writing but unfortunately, I did not. I say that cos PX-30 has the same guitarist from HERÄTYS. That has significance to me cos I think HERÄTYS is one of the greatest contemporary bands ever to exist. I guess I should say that my definition of a contemporary band would be one who formed in 2000 or after. If you don’t know them, you can check out their 12” here. Or maybe I should call it an LP? I don’t know. It’s two different recording sessions, one on each side. My friends and I always debate which side is better, haha. My last conclusion was that the B side obviously had way better sound/production, while I still found the songs on the A side to be more memorable. Maybe that will change one day, though. Those B side riffs are really kicking around my head after this latest listen. They have a few other 7"s, and luckily for you these records are not hard to find if you’re just now hearing how excellent this band is.

Anyway, PX-30 has been on my radar since they dropped a digital version of this LP all the way back in May of last year. Insane it was that long between the recording and the record actually coming out. I think a big hold up was the artwork, but man if you ask me this super captivating, unique, thought-provoking and complex artwork they came through with in the end was definitely worth the wait! The sound of HERÄTYS can be found in PX-30 in a sense, but the bands don’t really sound the same. The riffs are unbelievably catchy and played locked-tight with the drums that are grooving hard as fuck. They have a tendency for songs to evolve into breakdowns or mid-tempo parts. Typically, this is a formula I really do not like, but every now and again there is a band like PX-30 who pulls me in deep enough for me to forget my standards on breakdowns.

The vocalist of PX-30 is named Martin, and we became friends when we played in Uppsala on our European tour in 2022. I remember when we met. He said something like, “Probably no one is going to come to the gig. I’m sorry. I will be sure you get 100 euros, though.” If I remember right, it was a bad time for a gig cos everyone was at a fest or on holiday or something. I guess we had planned that tour a little too late in the summer. I can’t remember when it was exactly, but in almost every city they told us to tour earlier in the summer next time cos so many people were away on holiday. There were a few gigs, like Uppsala, where we played totally alone. I didn’t give a fuck, though. I think I’ve mentioned before how I hold Uppsala in high regard. I guess it dates back to BOMBANFALL for me, but when I first became obsessed with Uppsala, I did not know who they were. My introduction was via Your Own Jailer, a killer label operated by Jan Jutila, who released and also played on some essential records throughout the 90s. I’ve gushed over this guy before, and I am way off topic.

So back to Uppsala, I think we played there cos we could not get a gig in Stockholm, but obviously I was very happy to visit this place that was so legendary in my mind. Yeah, we played alone, but holy shit there were like 80 people there or some shit by the time we played. After the gig, we drove to Stockholm to sleep with a mate, so we didn’t really spend much time with Martin. But I thought it was a pleasure to meet, and we kept in touch after. When I let him know of our plans for touring in Sweden again, he insisted we play Uppsala again, as it was not on the initial itinerary. Obviously, I wanted to do this, and I insisted the PX-30 play. I was so happy that in the end we played there with both GEFYR and PX-30. I can’t express how happy and grateful I am to have shared a stage with both of these bands.

This time after the gig, we hung out hard with Martin at his flat. We had a lot of good laughs, some drinks, and snacks. I learned that PX-30 is actually a paint marker that people use for graffiti. I’m sure that was obvious to others, especially with the band’s logo choice, haha. But my noob ass does not know shit. Martin gave us some PX-30 hand-dubbed promo cassettes before we parted ways at the end of tour. He also gave me a PX-30 marker that will remain un-opened, and I will cherish it until the day comes that I materialize our memories and bond of friendship in an act of vandalism. Fuck, I really have not talked about much of anything again and I need get to work. Buy this record; you won’t be disappointed. Cheers and thanks for reading. Thanks to everyone for your support. If you’re reading this Martin, Hi :)

Hello and thanks for reading.

Surprise, I am writing about yet another Swedish band. This week it’s MEANWHILE, from Eskilstuna. There is a ton of other killer shit out right now, namely a few other Swedish rippers that have my attention… but it’s too much for me to get into today. So, I will stick to MEANWHILE and I will keep it brief. MEANWHILE played Skullfest in Pittsburgh a few weekends ago. They were excellent. It was everything I could have hoped for really. We also played the fest, but we played the day before. It was crazy to see Kenko, the drummer of MEANWHILE, wearing one of our shirts on stage. It blew my mind, haha. It means he watched our set… I wonder if he bought it before or after we played? Cos I don’t think I played very well, even though I heard some encouraging feedback after our set. I guess he still decided to wear it after he saw us, which means he probably thought we were sick. Hell yeah. I had been seriously looking forward to seeing them, as I am a huge fan of MEANWHILE.

If I am going to talk about MEANWHILE, then I need to talk about DISCHANGE. Actually, I need to go a bit further back into Swedish hardcore history and mention NO SECURITY first. I was just gushing over Kenko, but in reality, it is Jallo Lehto who I have been a fanboy of since my teenage years. Jallo was the drummer of NO SECURITY. He also did Finn Records with another dude named Jari Juho. I don’t think that dude did bands, though. Jallo joined TOTALITÄR on drums after their first few EPs. This is where I first became aware of his existence. While he was not a founding member, I consider him just as original as the rest since he has played on like 85% of their releases, including every full-length LP. Finn Records did not have their first release until 1989, but I consider them pretty essential when it comes to Swedish hardcore. Aside from releasing a lot of TOTALITÄR, they released stuff from other notable bands like SVART PARAD, ASOCIAL, and DISFEAR. DISPENSE was another absolutely killer band they released. I think they are criminally underrated.

I think NO SECURITY is fairly underrated in the world in international hardcore. Most people have probably heard of them cos they did a split with DOOM in 1989. They formed in 1985, but their impact was really felt in the later 80s and into the 90s, where most notable Swedish bands existed in an earlier wave. They never had an LP, and they only released one proper 7" in 1988. The rest of their material was spread onto some cassettes and four different splits. I think this isn’t the greatest formula for releasing your stuff, but man, they are one of the greatest Swedish hardcore bands ever to exist if you ask me. Most of their stuff was released between 1987 and 1989, but they had a split 12" in 1990 and a split 7" in 1995.

Kenko joined the band in 1989 on guitar. I think he only appears on the ‘90s records, though. Before his time in NO SECURITY, he was playing in death metal bands. After he joined NO SECURITY, he and Jallo cooked up a new project: DISCHANGE. However, in this band, they switched instruments! DISCHANGE has such catchy and memorable riffs. I think this is an obvious symptom of the riffs being written by an insane drummer. Between 1989 and 1991, they weren’t really an active band, since it was just the two of them recording everything. It wasn’t until 1991 when they recruited a few more guys and started gigging live. They released a masterpiece entitled Seeing Feeling Bleeding in 1993. This full-length followed two split 7"s they had released the years prior. Oddly enough, on the center label of their 1991 split with E.O.W, they credit themselves as both DISCHANGE and “MEANWHILE.” This is the only place where I saw the name mentioned until they formally changed it in 1995, when they released their debut, Remaining Right: Silence, under the new name MEANWHILE. This LP is so damn good, just as good as the DISCHANGE LP in my mind.

Alongside their name change, there was an evolution in the sound of DISCHANGE/MEANWHILE. I associate DISCHANGE with a much heavier sound and meaner riffs. Although, that it is clearly still heard on MEANWHILE’s Remaining Right: Silence. I mean, it was at Sunlight Studios, haha. But on their following LP in 1996, The Road To Hell, you can hear them leaning super hard into the catchy side of things. I know they still have straight up DISCHARGE songs on each record; I just mean I can really hear this evolution in the guitar playing that makes the band shine even more. The way Kenko plays d-beat is so groovy, with Jallo’s super-catchy riffs, the combination is just too good. In 2000 Sound Pollution released their third LP, Same Shit, New Millennium. Their first two LPs were actually only available on CD originally. It wasn’t until 2008 that Feral Ward reissued both of those on vinyl, alongside their final LP, Reality or Nothing. Between 1995 and 2008, they released four LPs and four EPs. I think each of these records is legit excellent and worth listening to. While I favor their first LP a lot, their 2005 7" Ghostface Democracy is so unbelievably good. This one was interesting cos it really sounds like they turned the dial up to 11 on DISCHARGE, namely Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing. I’m sure anyone who has heard this record knows how damn good it is. But to be honest, I think the artwork is pretty bad and I understand if someone would pass it over based on the art, haha. While artwork may not be their strong suit, they certainly make up for it with what’s actually on the record.

Alright, well shit, it doesn’t seem like I talked about much of anything and I didn’t really talk about this reissue much either, haha. This reissue is brought to us by Fight For Your Mind Records, a killer label from France who first got on my radar with their TOTALITÄR release. While MEANWHILE records are not painfully hard to find if you look for them, I am happy this is back in print! For being such a big fan, I actually don’t have this record. This pressing of Same Shit, New Millennium has been remastered by Communichaos, which was something else that also got on my radar via TOTALITÄR. I remember seeing it often in the recording credits of their 2000s records. Communichaos is actually operated by Kenko, which is yet another reason I am such a fan of him and his bands. The original artwork for the LP wasn’t so bad, but it really took a turn for the worse with the reissue... haha. (I am sorry if the artist is reading this.) Don’t let the artwork fool you and check out the LP! These 19 raging, riff-heavy tracks will without a doubt have your fist pumping and head banging from start to finish. Cheers and thanks for reading.

Hello and thanks for reading. Today I will be briefly writing about AVKSUM, yet another band who was under the influence of DISCHARGE during the early 80s in Sweden. The EP I am writing about today, Crucified By The System, came out in 1984. However, they had already released a demo cassette in 1982, making a mark in their small city of Kristinehamnm. SKÄMS was probably the most notable band from their city at the time, with their EP coming out in 1979. Micke Blomqvist of ASTA KASK recorded the AVKSUM demo at his studio Kloakens Alternativa Antistudio. I’ve mentioned Micke before, as he deserves so much credit… at his studio legendary bands like Nyx Negative, Crude SS, Asocial, Svart Parad, Anti-Cimex, Avskum, and Rövsvett all recorded. This demo has previously been reissued on Prank actually, but it looks like it needs to be put back in print again!

Prank has also previously reissued Crucified By The System back in 2007. Before that, it had been bootlegged in the ‘90s. I am glad Prank put this back in print, cos I think this EP is absolutely essential when it comes to Swedish hardcore. AVSKUM brings a unique sound to hardcore early on, mixing super melodic and anthemic riffs with hardcore and d-beat drumming. It comes off as almost proto-stadium crust or something haha. Members had previously played in obscure punk bands DEAD CORRUPTION and ADRIAN CUBA. DEAD CORRUPTION had a very slight bit of a hardcore sound, somewhat reminiscent of super early ANTI-CIMEX or something, maybe more like DNA, actually. ADRIAN CUBA sounded much more like traditional ‘77 Svensk punk. Call me crazy, but I think this ‘77 style was super influential and apparent in the AVSKUM sound. This ADRIAN CUBA song was actually re-worked later as an AVSKUM song on their 1985 EP that never ended up coming out.

After AVSKUM released their debut 7", they hit the studio again in 1985 for another EP. They had written many notable labels to see if they’d be interested in the release, including Propaganda, MRR, and Clay Records. It was UK label Mortarhate Records who agreed to release the session as a 12" record. AVSKUM had sent them the tape and artwork, but in the end, nothing came of it and this material remained unreleased until a discography CD came out in the late ‘90s. I hate to sound so cliche, but this unreleased material is my favorite AVKSUM material. On this EP, they lean even more into their melodic tendencies, and I especially love that intro on “The End.” That is some weird shit to pull off. This discography compiled a ton of unreleased stuff that was recorded before that EP that also never came out. If you haven’t heard Crucified By The System (or their demo), you can find it on the discography of course.

AVSKUM remained a band until their breakup in 1988. It seems kinda crazy to have existed for all those years and just release on EP. I guess they got burned pretty bad by Mortarhate, so I can’t blame em. I read translations from the Crash-Mag zine where they explained trying to record once, and it resulted in the studio engineer getting into a huge argument with their producer, resulting in the producer leaving in anger, and everything falling to shit. I guess they didn’t have the best luck in the 80s. AVSKUM reformed again in the mid-90s and came back in full force. I think they had more or less the same line-up as before, but I didn’t look into that much. I think their later albums are excellent. It’s not like bands who reform and put out super boring or sterile D-beat records. AVSKUM’s later shit rips. I listen to it just as much as the 80s shit. Alright, I need to get back to work and I wrote all this shit super quick just a few hours before this newsletter is coming out. Thanks for reading me write not about much, but I hope it was an entertaining read on some level. Again, I think Crucified By The System is absolutely essential. If you don’t have a copy - grab one now!

Hello and thanks for reading.

I think Sweden took more influence from DISCHARGE than anywhere else in the world during the 1980s. Obviously, DISCHARGE was ground-breaking when it came to punk across the globe, but bands who took influence from them usually had their own twist on things. It seems the significance of DISCHARGE was even more evident in Sweden, with DISCHARGE-type hardcore bands forming as early as 1981. I have no idea who the first DISCHARGE worship band was in Sweden. SKITSLICKERS or ANTI-CIMEX, right? But I guess that also brings another silly, pointless, nerd question to the table; can one qualify as a DIS-band if there is no DIS in name? I think that question is up for debate.

DISTRUST is one of the earliest bands I can think of who might fit this category. However, I don’t think they really mastered the DISCHARGE sound. I am not super familiar with all their material though, so I won’t speculate too much. DISARM is a band that comes to mind quickly. Their first EP was released in 1984, followed by another in 1986. I think both of these records are exemplary when it comes Swedish hardcore in general, but they are great examples of a Swedish band taking such a massive influence from DISCHARGE. They also released material before they had the name DISARM, as TOTAL ARMSVETT. The style was significantly different, though. I’m sure they knew who DISCHARGE was in their early days, but I wonder what changed between the tapes and the first EP. I really love DISARM, but this is some of my absolute favorite Swedish shit, next to shit like TATUERADE SNUTKUKAR and NYX NEGATIV. None of these bands are really DISCHARGE worship by any means, though.

So then there is DISACCORD, a favorite of mine. DISACCORD, like many other amazing Swedish bands, never had a proper record. They released a tape in 1985 and appeared on a few compilations. I think this tape might be the first of its kind, in the sense of total DISCHARGE worship. I know SVART PARAD had already released a tape of pummeling DISCHARGE-type hardcore with gruff vocals, and shit I mean, CRUDE SS and AVSKUM were certainly already around before SVART PARAD; but to me DISACCORD pushed it to the next level. The music is a bit more brutal, the artwork is totally that of DISCHARGE, and of course their band name begins with DIS. The thing about “D-beat” and DIS-bands though, is this term is much more of a 90s phenomenon. I don’t think there were any bands in the ‘80s self-identifying as “D-beat.” I was trying to think of the first use of the word, and the earliest use I can think of is either from Jan Jutila or Kawakami. I’d love for someone to tell me their thoughts on this.

So, I am slowly getting to my staff pick here with DISCARD. DISCARD was yet another Swedish band who never had a proper record. In fact, they never even had a proper tape. They had two different recording sessions, and this stuff was only circulated amongst friends and fanatics. Most notably, in 1986, they had two songs appear on Really Fast Volume 3. It wasn’t until 1990 that DISCARD finally had a record released, which was a “reissue” of one of their 80s recording sessions. A small Swedish label called Jesus Kudd Records released this debut on 7" format and it was entitled Death From Above. Soon after, Finn Records repressed the record in Sweden. And then later, German label Rødel Records reissued it. It was put back in print most recently in 2015 by Czech label Insane Society Records. I am not sure if they just repressed it or if we got some dead stock, but we have some copies in stock now. The original pressings of this record were notably very nice, with cardstock textured sleeves. I think Insane Society did a great job on their packaging, with some nice screen printing in silver ink on black paper. As you can see in my picture up there, I have every version of this absolutely essential record. Although there is a rare version of the first pressing that I do not have, where it exists on green vinyl...

Now the thing is, DISCARD was never a real band in the first place. I read inside the Stockholm’s Mangel reissue that they played one gig, though. DISCARD was essentially just a recording project with members of MOB 47 and Per from AGONI on vocals. I have always associated DISCARD with AGONI and CRUDITY, but this is cos of the legendary Stockholm’s Mangel compilation. This compilation originally came out in 1986 on cassette format. But DISCARD was not actually on the tape. It was not until 2000 when the tape was reissued on LP and CD, and the track list was expanded to include some more projects from Stockholm who existed at the time, including DISCARD. I am pretty sure the recording session on Stockholm’s Mangel is the same session where the tracks on Death From Above came from, but the 7" is missing some tracks.

So, DISCARD first recorded six tracks in 1985. In 1986 they recorded those same six songs again, alongside five more new tracks. I think the only difference between the two sessions is who plays the guitar solos. The sound of them is very similar; sometimes it’s hard for me to tell them apart until it comes to the solo, haha. I could be totally wrong about which songs they recorded when, but I read Åke from MOB 47 recorded both sessions at his legendary Bowlingstudion. Regardless of just being a side project, these songs never get old to me. DISCARD seriously sticks out in the midst of literally every single DIS-band who has ever existed. There is no one who quite got the sound as brutal as this, while still maintaining such a stripped-down style. I think the vocals are arguably more powerful than Jonsson of ANTI-CIMEX. The lyrical content and artwork are all total DISCHARGE, and they even ripped off the DISCHARGE font for their own logo.

They might have been the first band to rip off DISCHARGE’s logo for a record. I am not really sure, but I can’t think of anyone who did it before. But like I said, their first record didn’t come out until 1990, and they did not have any artwork initially, so this complete DIS-phenomena did not happen in 1985 or 1986 when they were recording. If not for that initial pressing in 1990, who knows how the DIS-world would have formed differently. DISCARD had such a massive influence on bands like DISCLOSE and DOOM, who themselves have influenced an immeasurable number of bands. There is a certain rawness that comes with DISCARD’s stripped-down sound that is just absolutely perfect, like that of DISCHARGE. I’m sure there are plenty of readers who think this record is just as essential as I do, but I know there are tons of people out there who have seen the name DISCARD but just pass it over as just another shitty DIS-clone band. If you happen to be one of these people, I’d check them out cos it’ll likely blow your mind.

A note before I go: There were a lot of Swedish bands influenced by DISCHARGE and I only named a few. It would be silly to talk about Swedish DISCHARGE worship and not mention ABSURD, so I am doing it now. Their one and only EP was recorded in 1982 and released in 1983. The artwork is super iconic, and totally that of DISCHARGE. They took a great influence from DISCHARGE, and they especially loved SKITSLICKERS. They even recorded at the same studio where GBG 1982 was recorded. Their EP really is excellent, but it took some time to grow on me when I first heard it. I guess it just was not quite what I expected based on the context, and they maybe fall a bit short with intensity compared to other bands at the time. I think that probably has to do with what was going on in the studio, though. Before I start blabbing about some other shit, I wanted to also mention Lasse (vocalist of SKITSLICKERS) oddly enough said he never had a DISCHARGE record and was never really a big fan... haha. Alright that’s all. Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.

Hi and thanks for reading.

I’m leaving work early for the weekend, so this one is probably gonna be pretty short. Some of my friends convinced me to go up to NYC to catch the FEROCIOUS X gigs. I was on the fence cos going to New York is seemingly always a pain the ass, but at least I don’t have any gear to haul or a set to play. I’m sure it will be a good time, and this is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to catch this killer band from Osaka. Anyway, this week I have been heavily spinning the new MASSACRED 7” that was just released on Active-8 Records. In between their first 7" and this one they released a promo cassette that featured a few tracks from this EP, some live shit, plus four demo versions of songs that will be on a LP. I picked one of these up when we played Boston with VIDRO last year, and I have been really looking forward to hearing the real deal 7". I am a big fan of THE MASSACRED so I am always eager to hear what they release next. Their debut 7" was delayed like two years, and I think that has backed the band’s releases up. I say that cos this EP was recorded all the way back in June 2021. I also know they have the proper LP already recorded and coming at us sometime in the future. The demo versions of the LP songs on the cassette are sick. I really can’t wait for the proper release. They sample some songs with their usual straight-forward, catchy UK82 tracks. But they also dish out this song called “Extermination” that takes us deeper in the bowels of UK82, straying away from the traditional DISCHARGE formula. This track reminds of exactly something THE EXPLOITED would do on Horror Epics or Death Before Dishonour. I love the later ‘80s EXPLOITED shit, so this track really got me going. Anyway, I’ve seen THE MASSACRED live twice now and they do not disappoint. They are so tight; like a well-tuned, oiled up fucking machine. And on the records, you can really hear how tight they play together. The guitar picking is so involved and intentional, it seriously sticks out. Mark, the guitarist, has also recorded all THE MASSACRED material to date. The records especially sound so damn good. The drums sound perfect. I asked him how he recorded their stuff and he said he uses a 1/2" 8-track. No wonder it sounds so good... he’s taking the time and effort to record in the most classic of ways, straight to tape. The time they take with their band really shows I think, with their live performance, the recordings, and especially with their packaging. I love the 7" pocket sleeve with the tabs glued on the outside, classic. I also love that they take the time to stamp the inner sleeve not just once, but twice. I think this is a killer record from a contemporary band pulling off a classic style that is kind of hard to emulate without sounding cheesy. If you haven’t heard ‘em yet, check them out! I’m sure you will wanna grab a copy of the EP. Alright that’s all for today. Cheers and thanks for reading.

Hi and thanks for reading.

Today I will write briefly about the NEGAZIONE / DECLINO split, Mucchio Selvaggio. I don’t know a ton about Italian hardcore, but this record is absolutely essential if you ask me. It seems like 80s Italian hardcore was blessed when it came to releasing killer split records, more than any other country I can think of. I am really happy there is finally an official reissue of this iconic LP, or cassette more like. Mucchio Selvaggio was originally released on cassette in 1984 as a co-production between two labels: Disforia Tapes and Ossa Rotte Tapes. Disforia was operated by members of NEGAZIONE. Ossa Rotte Tapes was a label operated by Stiv Valli and Marco Medici, who was the vocalist of CRASH BOX. These guys were well known for a fanzine they started in the early ‘80s called Teste Vuote Ossa Rotte. A few years after they stared the zine, they also started releasing cassettes under Ossa Rotte Tapes. They only had a handful of releases with this label, including the CRASH BOX demo in 1983. The label kept evolving, and in 1985 they released their first record, INDIGESTI: Osservati Dall’Inganno, under the name TVOR On Vinyl. Mucchio Selvaggio surprisingly had three different printings on cassette, and in 1986 it was finally reissued onto vinyl by UK label C.O.R. Records. I actually always thought there were only two different versions of this tape, but inside this reissue there is a copy of an advert stating “third reprint.” Crazy.

This was the record that really put DECLINO on the map for me, cos I really had no idea who they were before I heard this split. I used to think this was my favorite DECLINO shit, but I don’t think I could choose now. Their 7" debut almost sounds almost like a different band. They play a bit slower and they sound a lot less chaotic. While it was not initially what I expected, the EP quickly grew on me. Call me crazy but I think it sounds like this record could have been released on Dischord, haha. The evolution from this record to Mucchio Selvaggio is pretty wild. Their sound on that record is really how I think of them, but the evolution continues on to their LP in 1985, Eresia. The quality of recording on this record is probably the best of all their records. I am disregarding the sound of the live tracks at the end, even though those tracks don’t sound bad at all for being live. I usually associate Italian hardcore with being fast and chaotic, but on the sloppier side. This record is absolutely fast and chaotic, but played so tight. It is absolutely killer. They can build such a great tension and then fucking explode. God, and the guitar is way too good. This used to be the material I listened to the least, but if you can’t tell, I have been playing the hell out of it lately, haha.

So, this reissue was done by a new Italian label called Rocka Tapes. I have no idea anything about them really, but this is their second release. The first release was a reissue of the CRASH BOX demo! I had never heard this demo, but it was a must if you ask me. I really appreciate how the label did a cassette version of the demo alongside a proper LP version. They’ve done the same thing with Mucchio Selvaggio. For any nerds who need the original cassette format, we’ve got you covered. I am one of those nerds and needed both versions. They’ve included nice scans of the complete j-card inside the LP reissue, so you don’t really need the cassette if that’s what you’re really looking for. The sound on the LP is also great. While the packaging may not be the coolest in my eyes, I think the reissue is really well done, and it’s essential in every collection. The original LP version is getting harder to find and more expensive, so I am happy this is available again. Alright that’s about it for today. I hope Rocka Tapes plans to hit us with some more essential Italian hardcore reissues! Cheers and thanks for reading everyone.

Hi and thanks for reading.

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a newsletter cos we were on tour, and I am sure I will be rusty when it comes to writing out my thoughts. I can’t really begin my staff pick until I talk briefly about tour. It was so, so fun. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to tour Sweden and Finland, and also play K-town. I feel so lucky. We made some truly amazing new friends on this tour that I already miss. I was really looking forward to seeing some friends again that we made on our first European tour in 2022, and I also met some people for the first time that I have been chatting with online for a while. It felt really good to be welcomed by so many people overseas. And then there is VIDRO, our soulmates. I seriously cannot thank them enough for everything they’ve done for us, especially Lucas, who arranged the tour. It really sucks to part ways, cos we live so far from each other. We formed such a deep connection when we toured together last year, and this tour really strengthened this bond. We have loose plans to tour again together in 2024. Let’s see how many times we can tour together before it gets weird, haha.

There is so much shit to mention from tour, and I am sure I will mention stuff here and there over the next like year. But I won’t take up too much more space with that today. Before I get into my staff pick, I still have one more thing to mention. When we got back from tour, Jeff and I released a new record on BPDT! I had mentioned this release, alongside a SCARECROW tape, before we left for tour. Instead of raving about our release again, you can just listen to it here. For anyone that is really paying attention, I must correct a mistake I made when I previously mentioned this split. I had said that GEFYR was from Hudiksvall, the same city where TOTALITÄR and NO SECURITY were from. That is wrong! NO SECURITY was from Eskilstuna… I don’t know what I was thinking. For the SCARECROW tour tape I mentioned, we have the leftovers available for mailorder now, but unfortunately, they are only available direct through BPDT. If you need one, you can grab one here while they last.

In 2022 when we played Olso, we played at this place called Club 37. Of course, I really wanted to play Blitz, cos it is a historical site as far as I am concerned, haha. But Club 37 was a fucking blast, and we made some friends who we hung out pretty late with. Well, this time around we got to play Blitz! The show was pretty fun, and a few friends we made last time came out to the gig again. Bård was one of these guys. Last time we met I was excited to learn he operated the label Cradle To Grave Records. He only did three releases; two of which I am here to write about today. If I remember right, he was surprised I knew about his label when we first met. Naturally, I knew of them already cos he had reissued some essential Norwegian hardcore records! Before we met this time, we arranged to bring back some copies of the reissues he still had. We only got fifteen of each one, so if you don’t have either one yet, don’t sleep! I am pretty sure these things are not so easy to find now.

Since I already had the BARN AV REGNBUEN LP, I will start with this one. Because they never had an LP, I knew this reissue would be a compilation of their stuff. The unfortunate side to this reissue is that it doesn’t actually explain where the tracks are pulled from, haha. But on the contrary; I think it is nicely done overall, with great liner notes including a history of the band and English translations to all the songs. I originally got this LP before I landed an OG of their EP. Aside from wanting those songs bad, I was also trying to jam their flexi on a more permanent format. Their EP rules, but man the flexi is my shiiit. Like other Norwegian bands, BARN AV REGNBUEN has the ability to get melodic yet still pummel the shit out of you at the same time. They get much more weird than other Norwegian hardcore bands I know, and they might be the nosiest one I know as well. I didn’t look into this that much, but I think the LP has the flexi and various tracks from compilations on the A side. I’m guessing it’s tracks from compilations, or maybe it’s just unreleased recordings of songs they had? I will have to ask Bård about them, haha. The B side has their EP as well as their tracks from the Tsjernobilly Boogie LP. If you don’t know this LP, check it out. It’s such an amazing, underrated compilation. Even if you have all these BARN AV REGNBUEN records, I think this reissue is essential. The sound is great, and there is plenty of bonus shit you basically can’t hear anywhere else.

Moving onto the other reissue we grabbed, SISTE DAGERS HELVETE. I did not have this one already, cos I foolishly suspected it was simply a reissue of the LP. I actually still thought it was a reissue of the LP until I took a copy for myself and listened to it. When we were hanging out, Bård explained to me the sound was not what the band intended on the original release, and this reissue was done the way the band initially wanted. I have the original LP already, but I decided I would take a copy for myself when we got back for sure after he said that. I remembered when I got my copy, I thought the OG was super compressed and lacks low end, haha. I was happy to hear the sound on the reissue. It’s got the low end intact, and the full sound gives the songs much more attack. Anyway, I am not that familiar with SISTE DAGERS HELVETE, but luckily this one has a breakdown of where each track comes from. They also gave us a history of the band and proper English translations to their songs. I found the liner notes particularly interesting on this reissue. I learned the original vocalist was a Finnish guy who was living in Norway at the time. He recorded the LP with them and moved back to Finland. For some reason, this was super interesting to discover, alongside that they were inspired mostly by USHC bands. After reading that and listening to the LP again, it seems pretty obvious, haha. After he left the band, they recorded four more tracks with the guitarist taking on vocal duties. These songs are included on the reissue as well. One of these I have heard before, on the Nå Eller Aldri 7" compilation. The other three appear on some international sampler tape with like a million bands that is probably rare as fuck. It seems like most of the tracks are not exclusive to the tape, but as far as I can see this is the only place these three SISTE DAGERS HELVETE tracks appear. Their song on Nå Eller Aldri is cool, but man, the other three are REALLY fucking good. I have no idea, but I don’t think it sounds like their track from Nå Eller Aldri was recorded at the same time as these. I’m not sure what it is about it, but it just seems like there is such a perfect chemistry happening with just the three of them. The style is noticeably different from the LP, like they weren’t going for the USHC style anymore and just playing whatever came out.

I always found it interesting that this Norwegian band’s LP was originally released on Rock-O-Rama, especially cos I don’t know any other bands from Norway on their label. In the reissue, they explain how they had a record deal with Propaganda Records in Finland, but it was released by ROR instead without their knowledge. I know Propaganda would license certain records to ROR and they would both release them, but it’s interesting that Propaganda didn’t even release it. Thinking about it again, the VAURIO LP was licensed to ROR from Propaganda but there was never a Propaganda pressing. DESTRUCKTIONS as well, but the band had broken up before this LP was released, so maybe that’s why Propaganda didn’t bother releasing it? Who knows. There was also some sketchy shit with the release of HIC SYSTEEMI LP on a ROR sub-label as well, but I will save that for another time, haha. Anyway, learning about the connection to Propaganda through their Finnish vocalist explained that one a bit, but it sucks the band got fucked over in the end. They also explain ROR gave poor English translations for their song titles, and the album name was even changed. I’m sure the band was pissed as fuck to see their record being released without their knowledge, and on top of that ROR changed the title and fucked up the sound!

Before I go; I read in an interview with Frank, the guitarist of VORKRIEGSPHASE, and he explained how they dealt with something similar when releasing a record on ROR. They had permission to release their record, but the label did not use the master tape approved by the band. Frank explained they added a ton of overdrive, distorting his guitar way too much and it took away from the impact of the drums. It’s kind of ironic they didn’t want it that distorted, cos I think their fans of today really love them for the insane guitar tone. Alright, that sums it up for me this week. I think both of these reissues are killer and they are essential for every collection. I already knew what was up on the BARN AV REGNBUEN, and I am happy to have their discography in stock at Sorry State. But, I had no idea the SISTE DAGERS HELVETE discography would rock me so hard, and I am super glad I checked it out. It feels so cool that we played in Oslo and brought thee back with us to help distro in the US. Punk!!! Alright, cheers and thanks for reading, and thanks so much for everyone’s support.

Hi and thanks for reading! Last week I totally forgot that we'd be squeezing in one more newsletter before leave for tour and I am not ready at all, whoops. While I am writing this on Friday, you will likely be reading this while we are flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Or maybe we will be in Stockholm already? Who knows. Hopefully all goes smooth, I have so much anxiety when it comes to flying. My friend Michael did give me some sound advice in the event of a plane crash. He informed me that sharks only attack white people, so I should go against my instincts and swim away from my friends if the plane were to go down. I didn't realize sharks only attack white people, but it makes perfect sense. I remember learning that sharks like light, reflective surfaces—like that of pasty white ass passengers heading to Sweden—that I will now be swimming away from. Thanks Michael.

Since I am ill-prepared, I am going to take this time and space to promote some of my own shit. In preparation for tour, SCARECROW recorded a handful of new songs and put them on a tape. This tape isn't available via mailorder yet, but you can listen to most of it here. I say most of it cos the B side is all cover songs, and you can't stream those online. I am super happy to say we bust out a fuckin HERATŸS cover. Jeff and I have obsessed over this band just as hard as TOTALITÄR. Red translated the verses to English but left the chorus and breakdown in Finnish. We also recorded a BROKEN BONES and an AGENT ORANGE cover—which the jcard obviously directly ripped off. On the A side are three totally new songs that have been written alongside like ten others. We need to write a few more and then the plan is to record for an LP. We recorded all this stuff pretty quickly in our rehearsal space. We typically record in our rehearsal space, but with much more proper equipment. This recording was done with one of those Zoom recorders. There was one mic on each cab, one mic on the kick, and only one overhead mic above the drums. Oh yes, and of course the handheld device has two mics built into it to pick up the sound of the room. Given how little Jeff had to work with on the inputs, man he really killed it with the mix. I'm really happy with the sound, it sounds good enough for a record to me, haha. Jeff rules.

When we get back from tour, we are gunna have those tapes available for mailorder alongside a brand-new release on BPDT from GEFYR and RAT CAGE! There will a Swedish pressing available at the same time from Flyktsoda. They also released the Swedish pressing of the SLAN 7" that Jeff and I previously released on BPDT. Just like SLAN, GEFYR is also from Sweden and absolutely fucking rips. Maybe they are not on anyone's radar really? But we did stock their debut LP not too long ago. It actually looks like we have a few in stock right now. This record is way too fucking good. My homie Alex Reed showed it to me, and it blew me away right out the gate. I wrote about the LP previously, but you can jam it here if you aren't familiar. These guys are from the same town where NO SECURITY was from, which is the same place where TOTALITÄR originated as well. GEFYR's origin is evident as soon as you crank this bad boy, cos all I hear is pure NO SECURITY. There is more at play of course, but they have such a thrashy, pummeling sound. I really can't get enough of GEFYR, and this LP has stayed close to my turntable since it was released. And of course, Bry of RAT CAGE was already tuned right into GEFYR, and this beautiful split is happening as a result. I don't think RAT CAGE needs an any introduction whatsoever. After countless bangers, I think RAT CAGE is known a bit across all continents. I unfortunately have yet to catch them live, but I have consistently heard they are unbelievably amazing. I am happy to say that we will have a chance to catch both GEFYR and SLAN on tour! Alright, thanks all for this week. Thanks for reading, and thanks so much for everyone's support!

Hello and thanks for reading. There are a ton of great records in stock at Sorry State this week and it’s hard to keep up! We’ve restocked that masterpiece debut LP from KRIEGSHOG, and we’ve actually got a small amount of limited color available as well!! Recently we stocked this Svart reissue of NAUSEA’s 1991 and 1992 7”s. I didn’t realize these records were getting hard to find, but I think NAUSEA deserves the Svart treatment regardless. While I strongly prefer the band’s earlier material, I still enjoy the line-up and material that most know NAUSEA for. I haven’t had any time to check one of these out yet, but I plan to. Knowing Svart, they have done these NYC crust legends justice with a deluxe booklet with trivia, photos, and flyers; but I did just check, and the shrink-wrapped jacket doesn’t feel so bulky. I will report back once I’ve cracked one open. I also wanted to mention Mono Records has just reissued this amazing 12" from L.A.’s LEGAL WEAPON. I learned about LEGAL WEAPON sometime after the pandemic, and I think No Sorrow specifically is just too damn good. This reissue is really well done. The jackets are printed really nice. They kinda have the feel of an older record, but they’ve added some subtle changes to the layout. Shit, the center labels even look super classic with their paper choice, haha. They’ve also added in a booklet with tons of photos and flyers. They also added on two unreleased tracks that were recorded live. This record has never been reissued, and I think these well sell super fast - don’t sleep!

This week the almighty Beach Impediment just dropped three new releases! One of them is a 7" from Stockholm’s VIDRO. There was a European press that was released a short while ago, and I have been jamming this EP since. The sound leans way more into their groovy side. There are four tracks, and I think they do a great job at capturing what VIDRO is like live. They groove super hard, like they truly make you want to dance. VIDRO also has this almost like trancey or hypnotic aspect. The drums will groove endlessly while the guitar riffs, but there are subtle changes in the riffs that introduce another element of percussion. Sometimes Vendela really lays into a phrase, and she repeats it a lot. This also adds another layer of percussion to their sound. I think the combination of all of this is why it’s easy to get lost and just groove with VIDRO. I love it. These four dynamic songs are over before I know it. We will tour around Ktown with VIDRO soon and I look forward to it. They are a lot of fun to hang out with and I think they are absolutely excellent live.

Another band who is also playing Ktown who has also just dropped a record on Beach Impediment is Richmond’s INVERTEBRATES. It’s hard to know where to start with this record, cos I have a lot to say about it. I think this 12" is a chart-topper. It’s just so damn good. It seems to be on a ton of people’s radar cos we’ve been selling a ton of copies at Sorry State, and I’ve seen a lot of good things about it online. I thought it was funny INVERTEBRATES was announced for Ktown, cos at that time they only had a demo cassette released, haha. Well actually they had an additional promo cassette as well... Anyway, I know some of the Ktown crew had caught INVERTEBRATES live before, so they knew INVERTEBRATES are certified rippers. Aside from their debut record being all killer riffs and absolutely no filler, I think the packaging is so damn sick. The vocalist, Max, did all the artwork. There is a touch of red on the jacket and the center labels, and it really sets it off. Besides an insert, there is also a huge newsprint poster. The layout is so sick for both the jacket and poster. It appears the layout of the jacket is paying a heavy homage to BROKEN BONES with their Trader In Death 12". That record fucking rules. If you didn’t know, it originally had two different types of jackets: a standard one, and one of those pocket-sleeve jackets without a spine. The ones that are essentially an over-sized 7" sleeve, haha. I’m not sure what those are actually called? Funny enough, INVERTEBRATES also did a limited version of the pressing in these same spine-less jackets. There’s a lot of layers going on here, seeing that invertebrates don’t have spines either...

INVERTEBRATES originally started as a Covid project, with bassist Merm and drummer Chubb (PUBLIC ACID). Merm wrote some songs, but Chubb wrote the majority. Marty (PUBLIC ACID) recorded their demo cassette, with Chubb doing guitar and drums. (Fun fact, Marty also recorded SCARECROW’s demo.) Like I said, this was like a Covid project, so at one point Merm started to write lyrics with the intention of laying down some vocals. But sometime after, Will was recruited on guitar. Will is also in PUBLIC ACID, but on bass. I think Will laid down his guitar track next to Chubbs, and then Max joined after. Maybe I’m wrong about the exact timing, but I know Max joined after Will, and then the band was fuckin’ set. They released that demo at the very end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022. It ended up coming out before their first gig, cos the gig they were supposed to play in conjunction with their demo release was cancelled. In summer 2022, they released another cassette recorded by Marty. This one was a promo for their debut LP, Sick To Survive. By this point in the band, I think Will was contributing pretty heavily to the songwriting, cos he wrote a good number on the 12". I can’t find my copy of the promo tape, but if I remember right one side had a handful of new songs, and the backside had their demo tracks again. (All the songs newer songs plus one demo song were recorded again for this LP.) I think soon after that tape came out, Kai joined the band on guitar. She was a monstrous addition to the mix, and yet another member of PUBLIC ACID to join, haha. Originally, she actually was just intended to tour with the band to Skullfest on second guitar, but in time she evolved into a permanent member.

Alright, that history of the band was probably totally unnecessary, but I find things like this super interesting, especially when it’s my friends’ bands. Maybe you appreciated the bit of history… if not I am sorry for wasting your time, haha. Like, maybe some people would be interested to know that we literally tried out several vocalists for SCARECROW before we were lucky enough to land on Red? We jammed for like two years before we became a real band or released anything. We actually have an unreleased version of the demo somewhere as well. It’s an earlier recording than the one we released, and it’s got Jeff on vocals!(!!!) Anyway, thanks for reading everyone. I think when I write again, we will have just gotten back from our Swedish/Finnish tour. I am so excited. Cheers.

Hello and thanks for reading. I think the week before last I mentioned a handful of bootlegs we had just got in stock. It appears the 7"s are sold out now, but we still have a few copies of the East Punks compilation. It seems like the same person had made all three boots, but I don’t really know that for sure and I probably shouldn’t try too hard to figure it out, haha. I haven’t written about a boot in a while, and I don’t buy them often. Usually, I don’t think much of them cos more times than not an official reissue follows. I think the last boot I wrote about was the BLACK UNIFORMS Faces of Death 12". It was nicely done. It seemed just like the original. But if it’s unofficial and looks seemingly identical to the OG, I think that is a bit whack. I felt super inclined to pick up a copy of each of these Japanese boots cos I had never heard of a single band except GASMASK. This 7" split with GASMASK and BARRICADE seems like total fan club shit, haha. The idea of creating your own split for a bootleg, I mean. I will talk more about that split in a minute, as it is my actual staff pick this week. But first, the PISS 7" I know nothing about. At first, I wondered if it was this same PISS from this compilation. I had never heard of this compilation either, but it’s pretty sick. It’s also sick that all the bands are comprised of only women! Luckily, a friend informed me the PISS on the boot are from Kyushu, the same city as CONFUSE, and this recording is somewhere between 1982 and 1985. Cos of the GASMASK split 7", I thought the East Punks 12" was also a fanclub kinda layout cos I could find nothing about an original release online. I managed to find a demo of one of these bands on YouTube, ZAMZA, and it fuckin rips. But luckily again, the same friend informed me that this compilation was originally released on cassette, and it features bands from Shizuoka. The sound quality ain’t amazing, but I think it still sounds good for what it is. Who knows how good it even sounded originally. And obviously whoever made the boot sourced it from their original mega-hyper-rare cassette. The A side starts off strong as hell with this raw ass-beater shit called WILD BONVERS. The sound quality is probably best for them and ZAMZA. Regardless of the sound kinda being all over the place, it’s safe to say each band fucking rips.

Getting into the GASMASK split with BARRICADE, the GASMASK tracks were unreleased until now—what the fuck?! How did they do that? Fuck. Maybe these recordings have been passed around in some tight Japanese nerd circles, and some are not impressed. But for someone like me, I find this incredible! Haha oh shit, but now I am thinking about how Crust War previously reissued GASMASK, so maybe permission could have been granted. I think this is where I say something like ‘but I digress.’ The GASMASK tracks on this split are so damn good. I’ve just been listening on repeat. It sounds pretty much nothing like their one and only EP. Ah shit that’s a lie. On that GASMASK/COWARD split reissue Crust War did, they featured a good amount of bonus songs. One of them is an unreleased GASMASK track from 1987. That must be from the same session as the tracks on this boot 7". The sound and the style are the same. They play much faster on the material after their EP. They still have their noisy characteristics, but it comes out in a different, more chaotic fashion. Their catchy aspects evolved more into a metallic, anthemic sound. I absolutely love the evolution. I don’t think there is any relation to BARRICADE with GASMASK. I don’t think they share members, and I am pretty positive they weren’t from the same city. The BARRICADE stuff on this split is from 1983 as well. See what I mean when I said this is some total fanclub shit? Haha. Two bands from different cities, and a handful of years apart. Maybe I am just not knowledgeable enough to recognize the relation. I learned the BARRICADE stuff had been previously released on a super obscure compilation called Rock’n Roll Boogie ‘83 Now Hits. It seems they stand out unbelievably by being the only band on the LP playing hardcore punk. It’s interesting they are the only band who’s got more than one song on there too. If you hadn’t heard this shit like me, you can check a song here. Alright, I should get going actually. Thanks for reading and thanks for your support. Cheers!