Skip to content
Back in 1983 Tokyo’s NURSE released what probably is the first Japanese all female hardcore record on the cult label Incest Records (INC-002). A red 7” Flexi which showed 4 innocent looking girls on the cover but displayed an unheard amount of ferocious hard hitting hardcore punk on the 8 songs Flexi produced by Baki of EXECUTE/ GASTUNK. The Following year the almighty ADK Records added them to their roaster releasing a 5 track EP (ADK-13E ) produced by label owner Tam of TYPHUS/ STALIN fame. The speed went down a notch but the rawness and aggression was still there. Sadly that record marked the end of NURSE’s recording career. Had they released an LP they’ll be heralded as highly as COMES which usually is the first band that comes to mind to most people when thinking of female fronted Japanese bands.
After years of their recordings been deleted on vinyl, both singles becoming absolute staples on any Japanese punk want list and the band’s underground following growing, La Vida Es Un Mus decided to repress both 7”s on a heavy weight LP to make sure a new generation discover the excellence of one of the all time great under rated bands.
Our take: Discography release from this early 80s Japanese punk band. I’m an absolute sucker for Japanese bands of this era because the overall vibe is so unique. I’m not sure if it’s the way that they constructed riffs and songs, something about the production, or just the way that it all fits together, but the bands that come from this scene—particularly the ones who put out records on the great ADK label, which released Nurse’s 2nd EP—are instantly identifiable and sound like nothing else in the history of music. You won’t hear any of the big, dramatic song structures of later Burning Spirits-style bands like Death Side or Judgement, nor will you get the blazing fast hardcore of Systematic Death, the over the top noise of Confuse or the catchiness of the Stalin, but there’s something unique and valuable—if a little more understated—here nevertheless. Both of the bands EPs have been hugely collectible for some time now, and if you’re interested in 80s Japanese punk it’s pretty much certain that you have them on your want list, but also likely that you’ve never been able to track them down (particularly the first one on the Incest label, which is one of those giga-rarities). While it’s hard to see someone with only a passing interest in Japanese punk being totally blown away by Nurse, those of you who like to dig deeper than those aforementioned bands will find a whole lot to like here, particularly if, like me, you remain entranced by this magical little moment in the history of music.
After years of their recordings been deleted on vinyl, both singles becoming absolute staples on any Japanese punk want list and the band’s underground following growing, La Vida Es Un Mus decided to repress both 7”s on a heavy weight LP to make sure a new generation discover the excellence of one of the all time great under rated bands.
Our take: Discography release from this early 80s Japanese punk band. I’m an absolute sucker for Japanese bands of this era because the overall vibe is so unique. I’m not sure if it’s the way that they constructed riffs and songs, something about the production, or just the way that it all fits together, but the bands that come from this scene—particularly the ones who put out records on the great ADK label, which released Nurse’s 2nd EP—are instantly identifiable and sound like nothing else in the history of music. You won’t hear any of the big, dramatic song structures of later Burning Spirits-style bands like Death Side or Judgement, nor will you get the blazing fast hardcore of Systematic Death, the over the top noise of Confuse or the catchiness of the Stalin, but there’s something unique and valuable—if a little more understated—here nevertheless. Both of the bands EPs have been hugely collectible for some time now, and if you’re interested in 80s Japanese punk it’s pretty much certain that you have them on your want list, but also likely that you’ve never been able to track them down (particularly the first one on the Incest label, which is one of those giga-rarities). While it’s hard to see someone with only a passing interest in Japanese punk being totally blown away by Nurse, those of you who like to dig deeper than those aforementioned bands will find a whole lot to like here, particularly if, like me, you remain entranced by this magical little moment in the history of music.