COUNTERBLAST- "Balance of Pain" LP
Roll over Amebix and Nuerosis- this is well-produced, spot-on heavy dark punk. Granted, some of the lyrics a bit naft (due to Swedish translation?), like "independance..get it.. get it now!" Sounds like there's a sale on it at Tesco's. But the overall sound is great, the music's moving, and the album will repeatedly boot you up the backside listening after listening. One of the best albums of 1997. (Profane Existence/Skuld Release- distribute by ACTIVE in UK) CD on: Elderberry Records c/o Hakeskog/ Karlsson/ Hermansv. 94 KV/ 554 53 Jonkopin/ SWEDEN. (Eroding Monkey)
CRESS- "Monuments" LP
Before actually hearing this band I assumed it must've been a CRASS cover band well into their greens, but upon bending my cauliflowers to the cacophony at a couple of live gigs I have seen the light. Take the infamous old-school anarcho-punk 1-2-1-2 drum tempo and chanted hard-hitting slogans and fuse it to the modern D.I.Y. punk sound (metal 'innit?) and you have Cress. Good lyrics, dark tripped-out sound effects and keyboard, loads of anger aimed at the desecrators of our earth. Punk! (Flat Earth Records/Active Distribution) Cress: 23 Cedar Ave, Lowton, LANCS, WA3 2BN, England (Eroding Monkey)
HEADACHE- LP
After their split single with Recusant this is a long-awaited manic, jazzy, punk, feeding time at the monkey house noise release of creative madness. This has something for everyone and is thus totally unlistenable in its schizophrenia. Headache are a phenomena. Bouts of punk and chaos wrestling for control. (Eroding Monkey)
HIMITSU (?) KING- unknown
Pure insanity.. noisey.. an extreme version of Headache although I never thought that that was possible. Do NOT buy anything from these utterences unless you want to release a horde of wasps upon the earth and your ears. (Eroding Monkey)
QUARANTINE- "Junction 10" 4 song single
A fucking amazing band and a good single. Strong songs from this Glasgow 3 piece. Once again this band is breaking up as well- fuckers. What is it about weegie wonder punx that they play musical chairs with the bands they play in? Seems like every few years a fucking amazing band springs up, tours, releases vinyl, breaks up, and then the members form a new band with the members of another band that did the same thing. Anyway, Quarantine rise up with powerful music and insightful lyrics- personal but not some emo whining.. powerful because they seem real and hearfelt. Available from Panoptic Vision c/o 11 Eigth St, Birkenshaw, Uddingston, G7 6BQ or U1-3U1.3U Records, Philipp Brokemp, Horneck 7, 34094 Elsendorf Germoney or Farewell, Michael Meyer, Uhlandflatz 9, 46047 Oberhausen or Borkenkafer Records, Stephan Fooker, Drosteallee 4, 46354-Sudlohn Oeding or Brutes and Savages, Simon Fox, Flat 21, 143 Elderslie St, Charing Cross G3 7AW (0141- 248 3558) (Eroding Monkey)
WITCHKNOT- "Squawk" LP
Well, you either like it or not. It certainly won't pass you by unnoticed with its harmonic female vocals laced over jazzy Eastern-sounding jangles. Reminds me of early art-punk like the Slits or, more recently, Arch Bishop Kebab.. headache.. etc. fargin freaks!! For the open-minded. (£5 postpaid form Flat Earth Records) (Eroding Monkey)
V/A- "A Means to an End"
(Contains songs by: Voorhees, Manfat, Hard to Swallow, Unborn, Solanki, Stalingrad, Tribute, Schema, Baby Harp Seal, & Bob Tilton) This comp is NOT for old-school punkers; it could be seen as a pivotal slab of the new hardcore scene. It's also a benefit for the 1 in 12 club in Bradford. Side One: A shot of adrenaline up the ol' bum cheeks, my baseball cap is forward and I'm uptight and angry.. appropriated metal riffs, baggy trousers with chains and about 10 words per song. Side Two: More emo with less distortion, arty guitar, and (ahhg!) blokes trying to actually sing! Make it stop! Actually I cried.. I think you will too. Overall: It's good the two sides are segregated so you can just listen to the on that's your 'cuppa. For side one and the fact that it's a benefit, it gets a hesitant thumbs up. (£5UK, $12 World ppd direct from: Armed with Anger Records, POBox 487 Bradford BD2 4YU, England) (Eroding Monkey)
V/A- JOBBYKRUST / VICTORS HOFNARREN Split LP
Krust are god.. I'd like to lick their feet. Duo vocals and hard-fargin-cawr- guitars spit out cider-fuelled punk raawwk! Heavy, political, makes you want to go out and destroy things.. everything that punk should be. They were the highlight of Edinburgh's Punk Fest in '96. Oh yeah, side two's alright as well. Write: Jobbykrust I/S DonEgall Lane, BELFAST, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. (Eroding Monkey)
DEMOS
A.S.E.- tour demo
Bremen band rages steadily, solid sound that's straightforward but not retro. Good stuff, yah? (Eroding Monkey)
BORN UGLY- 4 song demo tape
fairly well-produced tape from this very metallic punk outfit. Song no.2 "Stalemate" stood out as a winner... besides that an over all heavy sound, the occasional wanky guitar solo, and gruntish vocals. Kind of like listening to rival tribes of Cro-Magnom battle. Pretty good. Contact: Born Ugly, 7 Alexandra Road, Skerton, Lancaster, LANCS LA1 2DS, England. (01524 846561) (Eroding Monkey)
BURNINGBOY- 4 song demo tape
very melodic punk.. speedy and hop-a-long. "Leeches" bears a strong resemblence to "We're the kids in America" much as it pains me to even recognize that.. but overall a foot tapping good time for all. Contact Tony Fleming, 464 St. George's Rd, Cowcaddens, Glasgow G3 6JP. (Eroding Monkey)
DIVIDE- "Losing Ground" 3 song demo tape
Very metal riffs.. the sing along bits remind me of traditional H.C. choruses, but this is much harder and metallic.. it's a male thing. Contact: Paul McNally, 171 Ardencraig Rd, Glasgow G45 OHG (Tel: 0141 634 8504) (Eroding Monkey)
FAULT- 3 song demo tape
Powerful and heavy as fuck. In the league of Nailbomb, Rage Against.., Korn, Sepultra, Pantera, etc.. Excellent production for a demo, although the style is tried and true.. Fuck it- it works doesn't it?! If you're angry this'll only make it worse. (All hail metallic hardcore) Includes a song called "Leech". (Eroding Monkey)
MONIAK- "Grand Mal" 5 song demo
Grungey and garagey.. Moniak are not an innovative band but they rock. Word on the street is that their yet to be released new material is shit hot. Catchy and dependable head nodding music (greasy hair optional) with strong currents of the 60's mixed with 70's ala Stooges. Good stuff. Contact 89a Comely Bank Ave, Edinburgh EH4 1EU (Tel: 0131 343 1189) (Eroding Monkey)
RECIDIVIST- "Leeching" 3 song demo tape
Is there a leech conspiracy going on here? A picture on the cover of this tape shows a bloke getting his pus paneled and this demo is the audio equivalent. Hard hitting hardcore with a dark mood to it.. there's a sombre feeling amidst all of this rage. Contact Scott @ 35 Tyndrum Place, Kirkcaldy Fife KY2 6LU (Tel: 01592 206487) or Kev @ 23 Littlehay Rd, Oxford OX4 3EG or http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.bowyer (Eroding Monkey)
RE-SISTERS- 3-song demo tape
Songs sung (or more like screamed) in hebrew, french and german (the fold-out has english translations.) Lyrics deal with women's issues (like being brainwashed as a child into acting and dressing like a woman), reminding us that we should still be boycotting all the bastards that fuck up the world- like multinationals and vivisectors and rapists. There is also a very graphic song about female masturbation that's sure to offend or embarrass or impress. Rough, angry and political punk. Address: (Eroding Monkey)
STEP TONES- "Fishlip 1" 6 song demo tape
Really catchy ska with horns and the best punk/ska has to offer. Would love to see more though= lyrics, who plays what, etc. Skanking stuff, fresh and full of.. uh.. vigor. Dropkick is the stoner ska anthem of the millenium. Contact: 26 Connaught Rd, Norwich, NR2 3BP (Tel: 01603 219190) (Eroding Monkey)
UNIQUE FREAK- "Hand-In" 6 song demo tape
Future members of WOLFBRINGER, this is the long-standing Edinburgh band's powerful ressurection (all hail Finchey! He is our master and we are but puppets.) Songs highlight the ignorant human ape tampering with things he doesn't know fuck all about.. Viruses from the devestated rainforests reeking havoc.. The world Cup.. AIDS. Face to Face meets Celtic Frost- fucking great!! Contact: (1F1) 111 Easter Road, Edinburgh EH7. (Eroding Monkey)