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Long overdue official reissue of one of the most absolutely raging UK hardcore punk records. The first 12" from 1984 by this cult band took the ferocity, and raw sound of bands like Discharge, Disorder, and Chaos UK, and blended it with the current anarcho-punk sound, a style that continued to gain traction with excellent bands like Anti-System, A.O.A., or S.A.S. High quality, no frills, 45rpm pressing with artwork and mastering that is faithful to the original. This reissue finally makes a full lyric sheet available as well, which is made from various promo materials the band sent out with letters during the ‘80s.
All copies on black vinyl as it should be, but mailorder versions purchased directly from General Speech will come with bonus items as usual, while they last.
Our take: General Speech Records brings us a well-done official reissue of this 80s UK hardcore gem. Legion of Parasites—particularly on Undesirable Guests—always reminded me of Ultra Violent in the way their music is based on a UK82 foundation, but the band clearly aims to match the intensity and speed of the most energetic US-style hardcore. The vocals rely on simple and memorable melodies and chanted choruses, and the music is bruising, with rhythms and tempos that remind me of Germany’s Inferno on “Party Time” and “Hypocrite.” You also can’t talk about Legion of Parasites without mentioning the wild drumming. The drummer seems way more interested in doing crazy fills than holding down a steady beat (much like Jerry’s kids), and the looseness of the fast parts also reminds me of Life Sentence. The speed and rippage factors place this in the company of the fastest European and American hardcore bands of the time, yet the echoes of those older UK punk sounds give Undesirable Guests its own unique flavor. It’s also worth saying that rather than the deluxe treatment most reissues receive nowadays, General Speech opted for packaging that more closely resembles the original pressing, with a punk price to match. Indeed, Undesirable Guests doesn’t need any bells and whistles to sell it… it just rips.