HERESY INTERVIEW

HERESY INTERVIEW THAT APPEARED IN HEADROT ZINE IN THE LATE 80'S.

HERESY are without a doubt, the No 1 UKHC band at the moment to my knowledge, & so thus, deserve some form of interview in HEADROT, & finding postal interviews dominating zines nowadays, I finally plucked up courage to put myself on the spot in a live situation. So, on the afternoon of 22nd of October 1987, I found myself in a ‘no turning back ya wimp’ situation in Kalv’s kitchen, scared out of my wits, asking the following questions. All members of the group were present, & in the 35 minutes that followed, they got the chance to put their comments on the subjects that so far (I feel anyway) they haven’t had the chance to reply to. Here we go ………..
HEADROT: What did you think about the Peel session, how did you get it, & contracts, cos I heard there were certain contracts for the Peel session?
JOHN: Yeah, there are, yeah. We got it cos John Peel showed up for our Bradford gig, which was like, the first gig we did on a tour with LARM & HEIBEL. Uh, we don’t know why he showed up, it’s apparently because his wife lives in Bradford, & it was something for him to do, so ……….. He came down, saw us, liked us, & asked if we’d wanted to do a Peel session; we agreed, BBC sent us a contract, & we took it from there really—it’s quite straight forward. The contract just means that they have the right to the Peel session, we can’t bring it out kind of thing, simple as that.
HEADROT: So do you think they’d put out the session?
JOHN: We’ve heard rumours but, I mean, I think something like, they don’t bring anything out that’s brand new, they have to wait two years.
HEADROT: So how much did you get paid for the session?
JOHN: We got £380 is what you get for the recording, & £40 for your petrol. Then after that you get £80 every time it gets played again.
HEADROT: So what do you think about the rumoured airplay of indie records being played on Gary Davies & stuff? They’re going to bring more indie records in, do you think HERESY would be played in the afternoon?
JOHN: No!
HEADROT: Would you want HERESY to be played in the afternoon?
JOHN: Well obviously, it’s kind of like, out of our hands-if somebody wants to play our record or our tape then there’s not a lot we can do about it. If they’re into it, they’re into it.
KALV: It’s like, not going to do us any harm but …. I dunno. I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually got round to it; it depends how HC takes off with this trendy sort of way it’s being approached to, liked, by the music papers & that. It’s up to them how big they’re eventually gonna make it the way they’re going on, it could get pretty big.
HEADROT: But do you think anyone would take notice of you if you were played in the afternoon, like the workers or whatever listening to it?
KALV: The workers?
HEADROT: Listening to Gary Davies or something like that ……
ALL: I doubt it, no …………!
JOHN: They’d probably laugh!
HEADROT: So do you think that would affect HERESY in any way?
KALV: It’s hard to say …
JOHN: It depends who’s listening to it & who takes notice of it. Any more of these major label types who have been ringing us a bit in the last few months, then … to be honest, I wish they wouldn’t bother, cos they’re just like, getting on our nerves.
HEADROT: What labels have been ringing you up?
JOHN: God, you don’t wanna know!
KALV: Ninja records, wasn’t it?
JOHN: Yeah, also a label called Jive, or Dive, who put out Samantha Fox records …
HEADROT: Jive, yeah.
JOHN: Yeah they rang up asking us if we were interested in sending them a tape, & we said well, no kind of thing. It’s just a pain having to deal with these kind of people.
KALV: Cos their interest’s not in the music, it’s just something they see as the next bloody marketable fashion they can make a fast buck off.
HEADROT: Yeah, cos I heard that you (Kalv) have got a real interest that HC should get more major & stuff.
KALV: Yeah, on it’s own terms.
HEADROT: But does that mean signing to major labels?
KALV: No, it just means like people for other parts of the music business come into a more ground level base to actually see what’s happening. Not to bleed the scene dry of all it’s good musicians & make them into big bands for all the wrong reasons …. Whatever.
HEADROT: So what do you think of the STUPIDS? Do you think they’ll become major & stuff?
KALV: Yeah, they have, or they’ll do anything to be.
HEADROT: So what would you do in their position? If you had the kind of effect they’ve got on the music press …..
JOHN: Take control.
KALV: It’s like, we’ve been offered things along those lines which would probably make us a bigger band but for all the wrong reasons. We’ve been offered like, big London gigs which we’ve turned down because they’re done through really dodgy people who aren’t really interested in the HC scene, only in how much money they can make at big gigs, & well, people like Ninja & Jive records who are interested in making money off us, but we know for a fact that they’re not actually interested in the band or what we’re doing, they’re just interested in how they market us & make money, so those are the wrong reasons. So perhaps if we did that, it could maybe get a little bigger like the Stupids, but it’s just lose too much.
HEADROT: Do you think they’re using themselves, they’re setting themselves up, because it’s the position they’re putting themselves in?
JOHN & KALV: Yeah.
JOHN: It’s out of laziness in a way.
KALV: Yeah, the Stupids, they’re not bothered; they’d just do anything to get big. It’s like they’ve been in so many NME, Sounds, & big music paper interviews, & they don’t say anything constructive about what’s happening in the HC scene-they just talk about themselves & how they skate & how they look rad, & how they drink root beer & complete garbage like that. I mean, if they really cared about the music scene they came from, they’d talk about what it’s like y’know? I don’t think they’ve had that much experience actually, they played a few gigs when they were a bunch of naïve little school kids who generally enjoyed playing HC; I mean, it eventually got to something where they were getting bigger & bigger, & Tommy kept it going because basically it’s Tommy’s band.
HEADROT: Yeah, it seems cos of the skate thing, the stuff in Sounds & that, that they only got in there cos of the skate thing.
JOHN & KALV: Yeah, oh, yeah.
KALV: It’s like when we were first interviewed by the NME. This guy who works for the local evening post, who works for NME as a photographer, he goes, “Right, we’ll do a photo session, so get your skateboards out” kind of thing.
JOHN (to SEVE): Yeah, he says it up to you, doesn’t he?
STEVE: Yeah, he goes “Oh, do you skate?”, & I go, well no, cos were not a skate band.
HEADROT: So none of you skate?
ALL: No.
HEADROT: That’s good.
KALV: It’s just, we get lumped in with it …………..
JOHN: Just because of the way we look ……
KALV: And because we play HC ……….
HEADROT: And because of the American sound.
JOHN: Yeah.
KALV: I’m not even sure if it’s that blatantly American ..
JOHN: Yeah.
HEADROT: So how do you think Metal Forces & that picked up on you? Was it because of the HC thing that they’re trying to get into?
JOHN: Yeah, yeah, they’re falling over themselves to get into HC.
KALV: I don’t think it’s because they want to, it’s just because they know for a fact that a lot of their readers are getting into it, & theres’s a lot of interest, so they’ve got to please whatever their readers want.
JOHN: They feel obliged to cover it.
HEADROT: It’s like through Metal Forces, Mike Exley (the guy who interviewed HERESY) knows only 2 bands in HC. It’s like, if you read the reviews, it’s DRI & The ACCUSED, that’s all it is, all the time. If he reviews NAPALM DEATH, RIPCORD, WEHRMACHT, whatever, it’s the same like …
JOHN: The English equivalent to DRI …….
KALV: Obsessed with that “Oh, these could be the English equivalent to DRI”, it’s just like when Onslaught were picked up, it’s like “These could be England’s equivalet to Metal
lica”, it’s like … we’ve got to be …..
JOHN: Let’s have an English equivalent to something …..
KALV: An English equivalent to something big. It make them feel kind of proud, they’re kind of patriotic dicks in a way.
HEADROT: So would you go in another metal magazine?
KALV: It depends; some of the smaller ones, some of the people who run them have got a genuine interest in the music, but … Metal Forces again, well, I don’t know … The last one was bad enough & Kerrang can say no outright cos they’re a helluvva lot worse. Kerrang is just a big bloody money making scheme, whereas Metal Forces, although it’s bit, I think it’s more ground level done by people who do have a genuine interest in the music.
HEADROT: I don’t think Mike Exley has much of an interest really. I mean, he’s like trying to show an interest, but he’s talking about something he knows nothing about …
KALV: I think he’s interested, it’s just, he’s just fucking backward.
JOHN: He’s just naïve or stupid.
KALV: I mean, most people from the metal thing are like that, stereotypes, & wrong as it may be, they just seem to be. Like last night after we played, there were a few metal kids come up to say they liked it& all of them asked for autographs … it’s only metallers. It’s like, why?
HEADROT: Yeah, it’s happened to people like the AMEBIX, people coming up & saying “Oh, you were really good, can you sign this?” & them saying, well , we’re not into all this, & they like, can’t understand why they won’t sign ….
JOHN: Yeah, I had this argument last night with this kid about that. He comes up to me with a pen goes “Sign my trouser leg” & I says, well, what’s the point, it’s like, doesn’t make any
sense. He says “Well, come on, it’s something I really want”, & I went, well, it’s something I’m not really prepared to do. And then I said I’d prefer to give you some stickers if you want something about the band, something a bit more constructive, & he says “Well, not everybody ….”, & I goes well, why do you want my autograph & he says, “Well, you’re the singer in a band”, & I goes, well, anybody can be a singer in a band if they really want to be—it’s kind of, a really useless thing to ask for.
KALV: He asked me & Baz as well, & we signed his jacket. (laughter)
KALV: This guy came up to me & said “Can you sign my jacket?, & we just laughed & went “Are you serious?!” & he says “Really”, but I mean …..
JOHN: Sometimes you do it cos you just wanna get rid of them in a way …
KALV: I know. It’s like, if you don’t, they’ll think you’re a rock star …
HEADROT: I was gonna say, if that’s what they really want …
KALV: If that’s what they really want, they can have it, it’s wrong but ….
JOHN: Yeah, it’s like, sometimes we get sent through the post “sign this autograph paper” & then we’ll do it, it’s like, if we can …
KALV: I don’t see how it’s such a big deal.
JOHN: It’s like, I’d never do it if it was a one to one situation & I had to talk my way out of it & I’d tell them my reasons why I don’t sign autographs, like last night I didn’t. But if it’s through the mail, then sometimes we’ll do it, just for the sake of it, you know & then we’ll explain the reasons why we don’t usually do this, becasue ,y’know, we don’t really look at ourselves as being a big band or anything: we don’t really see why people want our autographs.
HEADROT: But do you think the obsession with the word “mosh” & that, you’re going to get all these Anthrax fans, & that Anthrax kind of attitude, simply because of the word “mosh”?
KALV: But “mosh” was originally invented by Adrenalin O.D., it was on their 1st ep in ‘83, they were the originators of the word & it’s only the metallers who have stolen it …. It’s just a good word for slamming.
HEADROT: But could you blame people if they’re Anthrax fans, like some of the kiddies last night at Manchester, thinking of the word “mosh”, starting getting into you, thinking you have the Anthrax attitude? Could you blame them?
KALV: Couldn’t blame them, but I’d say it was extremely shortsighted on their part & I don’t see why we should stand to blame for their shortsightedness .
HEADROT: Going back to the interview, did you get things out of context & stuff?
JOHN: Well, we didn’t get things out of context, they got things out of context.
HEADROT: Yeah, that’s what I meant. (cringe you bastard reporter).
KALV: We said a lot & talked about all the positive things about the underground HC thing, how we played in Europe, they’ve got a self managed squat scene, & you can play a series of gigs & everything will be organised & we think how this is really good, positive thin, didn’t mention that, just mentioned that we played fast HC & how we might be England’s answer to bloody DRI …….it’s a load of rubbish.
HEADROT: Do you think that they didn’t print that because they felt their readers didn’t want to read about squats & the European scene?
JOHN: Yeah … it’s kind of understandable for Metal Forces, but at the same time, it was something we didn’t have much experience of at the time—we just presumed it would be a regular fanzine interview: they take what we say on tape & the print—well, they did but we also forgot at the time that Mike Exley gets paid for what he does, so he obviously has to put his own angle, so …
HEADROT: What I’ve heard is that he gets paid quite a bit …
JOHN: Yeah, so obviously it’s like, if you’re getting paid to something, you’ve got to put your own personality towards it, & uh, Mike Exley’s personality .. To me … his style of writing is not how we want to be represented.
HEADROT: I don’t think he’s clever y’know?
KALV: He’s not, you can tell that by talking to him. (laughter).
KALV: He’s like, quite a friendly guy, & I don’t really wanna slag him off. It’s just understandable coming from a background of bloody Iron Maiden & that, & trying to comprehend what HC is all about, there seems no problem to him but …
JOHN: It’s a world of difference.
KALV: But at the same time …
HEADROT: But it’s like, he’s picking up on something he knows nothing about.
KALV: Most of the things we talked enthusiastically about, just never got mentioned, & all the things we mentioned by chance like, got blown out of proportion.
HEADROT: It’s like the word ’fans’. When I saw that I thought, well, it’s not that bad, but then ’fans’ is a pretty fucking horrible word, y’know?
KALV: I agree, yeah.
JOHN: It made us out to be really carreerist , y’know, “we’re the No 1 band” & we never really said … we never really said that at all, we never think of ourselves as such. And so he’s going “Hey kids, these could be England’s DRI”.
KALV: Yeah, “They’ve got a sound like career mind & they know they’re going” & we didn’t come across like that at all.
JOHN: It’s really funny if you know us, cos we’re completely unorganised in a lot of things. We only get things done … like .. We always get things done, but it’s like .. But it’s never done easily. It’s always at the last minute, as you saw yesterday, not much co-ordination. We always get it together but it’s always at the last minute, so for him to say we’re really careerist & out for ourselves, is such a joke. The same as when people call us rockstars & stuff—to us is such a joke, because it’s like, people who don’t even know us, so it kind of pisses us off.
HEADROT: So do you think Mike Exley saw the real HERESY?
JOHN: Yeah, we spoke to him for a good hour, but he saw us & got it wrong obviously, we didn’t explain ourselves well enough, or he wasn’t interested.
KALV: We presumed he’d be able to do a magazine article well enough to present what we’re about accurately. We should’ve gone out of our way maybe to read some of his articles for Metal Forces …
JOHN: We can’t help it if he’s incompetent. (laughter).
HEADROT: And what about the NME article?
JOHN: It’s the same again.
HEADROT: Was it a glossy kind of ..
JOHN: It’s just rubbish basically, it’s rubbish.
STEVE: (Can’t make out the word) instead of metallers.
JOHN: Yeah, it’s the same.
HEADROT: And did you do the same as Metal Forces, talk for a couple of hours?
JOHN: Yeah, 3 hours … for three quotes.
KALV: Ages.
HEADROT: And how much writing did they put into it?
JOHN: What we said: they put 3 quotes, & the rest was just blurb, this band is big, you must be into them …
KALV: They make a racket, they jump around, the dress American …
JOHN: Come & watch these guys dress American, come & watch these guys jump around, it’s like really fun, ha, ha, ha. They just didn’t get the right idea at all .. Which is kind of understandable again cos NME not that much different from Metal Forces .. In the way they’re creating trends.
KALV: I guess like, more intelligent people just obsessed with new fads in music & so this is a new fad, nothing to really take serioulsy . Everything you say seriously they think “Oh what the fuck, they’re just a bunch of kids & they’re just starting out in the world”. What right have they got to, seriously, just go & see them jump about &
& make noise”?
HEADROT: Are HERESY one big happy family?
JOHN: Oh yes!
ALL: Yeah.
HEADROT: Like, can you compromise?
JOHN: Well, we don’t have to .. What, within ourselves?
KALV: We take the piss out of each other a bit sometimes.
HEADROT: I was going to say, the next question was how much humour is there in HERESY?
JOHN: Oh, a lot!
KALV: Loads!
(Steve mentions something about his hat, though I fail to work out what he said, unfortunately).
JOHN: Really, people who say that we take ourselves serioulsy, I mean we do, but we don’t. We always take the piss out of ourselves in everything we do, it’s like …
KALV: It’s stupid to take things that seriously, we’re serious about what we’re doing, but at the same time not to the point where you’re so dogmatic & …
JOHN: It’s like, each one of us has got a standing joke that somebody will always give us, you know & we don’t like to take ourselves 100% seriously.
HEADROT: It seems like the idea is, is that everyone in HERESY is really straight, it’s like we don’t wanna laugh …
JOHN: Oh god …. We laugh.
HEADROT: It’s like, you seem to be outspoken, & it’s “Oh, they obviously don’t have a sense of humour” ..
ALL: Oh, we have.
KALV: It’s just people, don’t know us. Yeah, we are a very outspoken band amongst the English HC thing, like … of all the bands, we’re in one band. Baz has mentioned before what with being in RIPCORD, you heard a lot of rumours from other bands, & we get a lot of stick from other bands.
HEADROT: I was going to say, does it worry you that HERESY are being used as a ‘this years band thing’ & people spreading rumours abut them?
KALV: It does in a way, because I think they’re wrong, but at the same time I think that half the people who are spreading rumours are far from perfect anyway, so I think “What the hell, is it really worth taking seriously?”
JOHN: There’s not a lot you can do about it. The rumours that are spreading are just so pathetic. It’s just “Oh, this band are American clones”, is that all they can say? Is that all people can see?
KALV: Like the SORE THROAT kind of attitude. (Sore Throat have apparently got a one second song ‘dedicated’ to HERESY & the vocalist’s lyrics are ‘Cunt’ - grow up children). It’s just so pathetic. I mean, we’d have to be really bloody stupid to take that seriously. We just laugh at it & think “Oh god, they must be a real bunch of dicks if they can say that without even knowing us”.
HEADROT: Would you like to sit down with them, & say “Right, what’s all this about then?
KALV: I don’teven know who they are, but I’d be interested in talking to them.
JOHN: I’d like to sit down with everyone who has slagged us off & say “Lets talk it out”. Only one time has somebody come up to me & questioned what this band’s about, this guy Aiden, came up to me in Birmingham & put me on the spot.
He says “Right John, what’s this song about, why do you dress like that, blah, blah, blah & for an hour we spoke, & we parted like on good terms about it & shook hands. I said “Well, at least you’ve had the guts to come up & ask us”, cos I goes “Oh, I was really shocked” & he goes “Well, loads of people talk about you, your band. Loads of people slag you down for the way your dress, how you play, what you say” & I was going “Well I never heard anything about it before”. It’s obvious they never say it to your face. I’d just love people to come up & ask us & then maybe we could set the record straight about a few things, cos often it’s really totally unjustified what they say about us, it really gets us down.
KALV: That’s probably part of the reason why we don’t get on too well with a lot of British bands, cos like, we hear rumours which are pretty much true about what they’re saying about us & then when they see you at gigs they’ll put on a false face & politeness, so you’ll keep it short cos you think “well fucking hell, you’re saying things about us, why should we go out of our way to be nice to someone who’s just putting on a false face?”. So you keep it short and bugger off, & as soon as you’ve gone, it’s like “He thinks he’s really something” y’know?
HEADROT: Yeah, I think that’s with any band …
KALV: Oh yeah, but perhaps us more so than any other English bands. Maybe the Stupids now, but they’ve got more reason to be slagged thank I think we have. Like, we’ve been offered a lot of chances the Stupids have, but we’ve turned them all down, whereas they’ve willingly gone along with anything.
JOHN: But it’s a vicious circle. People are still calling us rockstars & stuff.
KALV: You can’t win but, it’s like, it doesn't really bother me anymore … it does perhaps in a way cos I think it’s unjust & that, but there’s always gonna be a certain amount of criticism anyway, so …. It’s like, we’ve got friends & that. Most of the good people we know appreciate what we’re doing, & think what we’re doing is good cos we’re doing it for those sort of people, or anybody who’s interested, so the other people who want to spread rumours or don’t like us, then fuck ‘em. We can live without them.
JOHN: There’s always gonna be people who don’t like it anyway, no matter …. If you take a stand on anything there’s always gonna be people who disagree so as long as they can disagree constructively & not like, “Oh, I don’t like HERESY cos …….”
KALV: They’re a bunch of American fucking spoilt dicks or twats …
HEADROT: Yeah, it’s mainly cos of the American clothes, but it also seems like when John joined, that’s when all the rumours started. (to John) it seems all based around you, y’know?
JOHN: I’m to blame.
HEADROT: It’s like, no one blames you (HERESY) of Americanism, it’s just you (John). It’s like, “Oh I remember when he was in Concrete Sox, & he looked a … it’s like, people seem to think you’ve given up on everything you used to think about & stuff, & that you’ve just turned into an American clone.
JOHN: That’s completely untrue, it’s like … I don’t know, I don’t know how to answer that. To be honest, it’s not even an American clone. I’ve kinda changed since I joined HERESY, if I have cloned anything, it’s the European scene. I was so impressed with it when I first went there. I thought “This is for me”. It opened a completely new door in my life “I wanna kind of, be like that in England because it’s different”, so it’s not really a conscious … I’ve never been to America so I can’t really be a clone outright, cos I don’t know what it’s like. It could be absolute rubbish for all I know, but all I know is that I saw the German & Dutch scenes, really liked them, thought “This is great, this is what I wanna do, how I wanna be”, so I took that into the way HERESY was going at the same time, so it kind of made sense. People always look to America first like the never look to the rest of Europe.
HEADROT: Which scene do you take most interest in. European or American?
JOHN: I take a lot of interest in the European. We don’t look to one country in particular, which is another thing, we look to the whole world. We don’t just look to America & what’s coming out of it.
KALV: Different scenes are completely different; it’s like America’s a lot of business sharks conscious about how much money they can make out of it … the career interests, like the way DRI have gone, & I think originally when the whole scene sort of started taking off with Minor Threat & that, all the good people who generally put something back into what they were doing, it wasn’t all take, take, take y’know, make money & milk the scene dry. It was a real positive thing, but now in America it seems to be business sharks putting on shows, getting involved with HC like Death records, so America … I don’t know, it’s hard to say … it seems like it peaked about ‘81-’82 time, & what you’ve got now is great music but perhaps some of the people who are making it are pretty dodgy.
HEADROT: It seems like they don’t put a lot in. it’s like, I’ve got a real interest in the Italian scene & that, because you can see people working to make something, whereas America … it’s like, if you see MRR, everybody’s band has a nice drum kit & equipment because their Mum & Dad bought it for them cas they said “Can I have a new kit?” or whatever. It’s like, they don’t put a lot in, they just take a lot out …
KALV: I think a lot of them had music lessons when they were kids as well, that’s why most of them are such good musicians. It’s like, completely different middle class backgrounds, different from the rest of working class Europe.
HEADROT: There also seems like a lot of racist, sexist stuff coming out of the States, whereas you don’t tend to get that from, say, Italy, or wherever.
JOHN: Yeah.
KALV: It’s strange.
HEADROT: It’s like, Wehrmacht or whatever, with tracks like “Go Home” & stuff like that, it’s pretty dangerous?
KALV: Yeah, it’s definitely dangerous.
JOHN: It’s a load of rubbish.
KALV: Cos people accept it on a musical value system whereby “Oh, the music shreds, so it’s gotta be good”, but the underlying attitudes are just bad. It might as well be Whitesnake or something.
JOHN: That’s another thing, it’s the same people who are slagging us donw who, the next day, are buying the Wehrmacht album, the ones who are calling us rockstars.
KALV: Yeah, that’s right.
JOHN: I mean, what the fuck, take a look at yourselves, & if you’re buying a Wehrmacht album, then …
KALV: I mean, compared to Wehrmacht, we’re fucking small fish compared to a big nasty whale y’know.
JOHN: It’s a case of wrong priorities.
HEADROT: It’s the same with people who buy SOD stuff, like the MOD thing. It’s like something, something like, Noise wouldn’t touch some record, but they touched the MOD thing simply because they couldn’t hear the lyrics when they were going to license it, so they excused themselves from the sexist, racist lyrics by saying they couldn’t hear them, & were just going by the music quality. Would you expect that from a HC label? If SOD/MOD were put out by a HC label, would you expect “Oh, we can’t hear the words, therefore we don’t really care about what they’re singing about”? I mean, I’m surprised that Dig’s got anything to do with Wehrmacht as well … (cackle of laughter)
JOHN: Good question!
HEADROT: I find it strange, cos he must’ve read the lyrics to “Go Home” as well …
KALV: Oh, he knows what he’s dealing with, he’s just trying to excuse them for it, saying “Well they’re just a bunch of naïve little kids really, & they mean well but they’re just coming out with stuff like this cos they think it’s funny, which it’s not”.
HEADROT: Do you think he believes what … cos it seems to me that Wehrmacht are into what they say, if you read the lyrics to “Go ome”, they do seriously ….
JOHN: I think they actually mean it.
KALV: Yeah.
HEADROT: I think it’s different with SOD.
KALV: I can imagine them (Wehrmacht) to be a real bunch of dickhead metallers who sit around getting drunk, hanging round in gangs, & talking shit a lot, & it shows in their music. You can imagine what sort of people they are.
HEADROT: But do you think they’re any different from SOD, do you think SOD believe in what they say, or rather, Billy Milano?
JOHN: I totally agree …
KALV: Especially Milano …
JOHN: Yeah.
KALV: It’s definitely Milano I think.
JOHN: But I think the other 3 just don’t give a fuck anyway.
KALV: Yeah.
HEADROT: It’s like …. With the MOD LP, the drummer got kicked out just afterwards. He got his name on the back, but there was a statement from Milano in the press saying he was kicked out because he didn’t take it seriously. I’m in two minds to whether SOD mean & believe in what they say, or whether they’re just doing a Mykel Board kind of thing, just doing it to wind people up.
KALV: I think part of it is that, but I think that Milano actually believes in most of what he’s writing.
JOHN: Wind up stuff is like … there’s ways of winding people up, good & bad.
KALV: Nig Heist & The Meatmen, that’s wind up stuff that you can see it for the wind up it is, but I think SOD is just dangerous.
JOHN: Yeah, it’s like what I’ve said before, Bernard Manning winds people up, but he doesn’t do it in a constructive way, whereas Ben Elton winds people up in a completely constructive way, without going back to racist, sexist stereotypes.
KALV: Ask Baz a question ….
HEADROT: Um Baz, what interests lie outside the band?
JOHN: Don’t answer that one Baz …tell lies …
BAZ: Not a lot really. I don’t know, I don’t do much else really. (laughter)
BAZ: Just telling the truth ….
HEADROT: How about you Steve?
STEVE: Just the band ..
JOHN & KALV: He mows the lawn …. (laughter)
KALV: He plays the organ grinder on the sly …
STEVE: Yeah, right …
JOHN: (laughing) Oh god!
HEADROT: What about you two then?
STEVE: Don’t ask Kalv, he’ll get his black book out & show you … he’s got a big list. (laughter)
KAL: Ooh, wasted! Um … listen to music, we’re hoping to, me, John & Trev, to start up a record label soon. We want to licence good foreign bands up first, eventually get something in the bank (have I got this right Kalv? Chris) hopefully. Record good English bands, well, put our our LP first because that’s something we wanna do soon.
HEADROT: And what about you John?
JOHN: Working on “Future-Now”, HERESY takes up a lot of our time …
KALV: Yeah, it’s the predominant thing for me as a band …
JOHN: Yeah, it’s like the main thing in our lives is this band. Apart from that & the magazine, there’s not a lot of time for anything else. Going to gigs …. All the regular things to do with music really …
KALV: Most of what we do is tied in with the HC music scene.
HEADROT: So what do you think of the production of your records, cos I don’t think you quite click it in the studio ….
KALV: Yeah, I know.
HEADROT: Apart from the Peel session. I thought the Peel session was really good, but everything else is … the LP sounds tinny & stuff …
KALV: Tinny? I think the LP sounds powerful & the guitar sounds tinny. It’s just ….
STEVE: The guitar sounds shit.
KALV: It’s just, it sounds very dated for us. And the flexi, our first flexi that sounds tinny, it’s just …
HEADROT: And so are you going to produce yourselves or are you gonna let other people do it?
KALV: Over the years I think we’ve improved slightly, got more of an idea every time we go into the studio, & I think, with any luck, with this next one when we do the LP, we’ll pretty much get it right. Also, it makes a change have Baz in the band, who’s actually interested in getting a good guitar sound, whereas … he’s actually gone out of his way to get all the right equipment, & he knows what he wants, whereas with Reevsy & Mitch who’d just turn up on the day sort of & think “Well, cos this is good equipment, we’ll immediately get a good sound”, it takes a lot more than that, you have to spend a lot of time at it.
HEADROT: So you’re 100% into what you do, then?
ALL: Yeah, definitely.
HEADROT: And what about sleeve work, cos the LP sleeve work is pretty patchy …
JOHN: At that particular point … it was like thrown together, really rushed.
STEVE: We just had to get it out.
KALV: There were so many things happening, Reevsy left the baned, we were without a guitarist, this album had to come out, it was dated material, John had only just done the vocals to it which were Reevsy’s lyrics, & I don’t know, it was thrown together. A lot of it was in Dig’s hands as well.
JOHN: It was all done by Dig, the sleeve.
HEADROT: Could you have stopped it coming out?
JOHN: We didn’t actually want it to stop coming out, but looking back now, we should’ve worked at it a lot more. It’s like, not a lot we could do at the time, so that’s why we want to spend time getting the next one actually a reflection of the band as a change. We’ll be in complete control of it.
HEADROT: So do you think you’ve progressed a lot more?
KALV: Oh, I think we’ve progressed 200% on the last things we’ve done. I mean, the Peel session is like, an approach to the way we’re going.
HEADROT: Have you got any different attitudes, & how do you compromise within those attitudes?
KALV: How do you mean? Attitudes towards what?
HEADROT: Towards the band, music, & different ideals? Does politics come into the band a lot?
KALV: We have conflicts between us you mean?
HEADROT: Yeah.
KALV: I don’t think so …
JOHN: Not that much, we have slight disagreements sometimes.
KALV: I think the disagreements we have are pretty minor compared to disagreements that go on in other bands.
JOHN: We’ve all got pretty much the same ideas on the way we go as a band.
HEADROT: So no one’s arguing over politics or whatever?
JOHN: No, no.
HEADROT: Does politics come into it a lot, or …?
KALV: We’re all vegetarians, believe in basic practical common sense. I don’t know, there’s not a lot to argue about really. We don’t agree about main stream politics if that’s what you mean.
HEADROT: So there’s not one person more outspoken than the rest, you can accept a balance?
JOHN: It’s like no-one does something for the band before consulting the rest of the band, if you know what I mean. Sometimes it happens that way because we haven’t got that much co-ordination, like running all over the place ….
KALV: Like last night for instance. The gig was £2.50. We got there, I’d ike spoke to this guy on the phone, we’ve never had to deal with people from an indie/alternative background, always dealt with HC kids, so I just immediately presumed the gig would be cheap. When we got there, saw it was £2.50 & I thought “well fucking hell” … it’s just like, realising now, things like the Peel session, different people interested in us, so, in the future we’re
Gonna have to make sure we know what we’re getting ourselves into.
HEADROT: And would you play anymore gigs like the DRI gig, for that kind of money?
KALV: I don’t think £3 is that excessive for a big American band ….
HEADROT: Oh right, cos it was dearer in other places …
KALV: We’d have to look at things a lot closer the next time if we did it, but the DRI gig was a real mistake.
JOHN: Yeah, I think so.
HEADROT: But do you think that if you played more gigs like that, you’d be treated exactly the same? If you’re treated badly at the DRI gig, they’re just gonna say “Well, they’re the support band, there’re nothing anyway”?
JOHN: It’s that old rock’n’roll syndrome. Firstly, we never got the same feeling from them gigs. We never walk off the stage pleased, as we do with the gigs we like to do. We do them, & we always regret them, so from now on if we’re offered any more of them gigs, we’ll take a careful look at them before we say yes.
KALV: Yeah, definitely.
HEADROT: So how do you think you can improve HERESY in the future, what are your flaws and stuff?
KALV: There’s very few flaws, just gigs like that we’ve gotta think a little more closely about … & a good guitar sound.
HEADROT: Right, the last question, what embarrassing moments have HERESY had?
STEVE: Kalv, when he’s pissed on stage. (laughter)
KALV: I’m never really pissed on stage.
STEVE: Oh right, yeah.
JOHN: Kalv will tell you about his bass sound in Berlin.
STEVE: He was doing a sound check for an hour, wasn’t he? (laughter)
KALV: These are the sort of things we take the piss out of each other about y’see. It’s just little ‘in the band’ jokes that most people will find hard to understand reading them on paper.
JOHN: Cos we’re completely sarcastic bastards.
HEADROT: Do you have any guilty secrets then, or do you all know what’s going on with each other & that? (laughter)
JOHN: Prett much so.
(Some slanderous comment about Kalv is said, though I can’t quite make it out)
JOHN: Steve would like to tell you about his dad.
STEVE: Oh yeah, I will.
HEADROT: Go on then.
STEVE: No, he’s a great bloke my dad.
KALV: They ow the lawn together.
(LAUGHTER).

HELLSHOCK - SHADOW OF THE AFTERWORLD CD

HELLSHOCK - SHADOW OF THE AFTERWORLD CD (CAHRECS059)

A cold wind blows, dark empty streets - flickering lights, today's news already blowing amongst the rubbish - now forgotten and resigned to the past. A town in any country, dark, lonely, void of feelings - be it love or humanity. Everyday life is no longer restricted to nightmares or horror novels. The anti-dote to this ragged world is the thundering charge that is HELLSHOCK.

Slowly, but surely, breaking and entering your subconscious determinded to revive you from your living nightmare.

'Shadow Of The Afterworld' is a stunning masterpiece of modern crust at it's best. Awesome recording and song quality from all those involved - the combined cv of these guys proves they know what they are doing and they do it well. For the most part it is medium paced, that alternates between fast and slow - conjuring up many a mood, atmosphere and feeling. Mettalic riffage is the order of the day, big rhythmic bass licks and guttural vox and industrial strength drumming pounding away.

'A Fathom Unknown' has a great intro, very soft and melancholy. But rips into the a burst of crust that they are well known for. 'No Dawn In Sight' has a perfect mix of AMEBIX and DISCHARGE - fast and awesome.

From the home of modern d-beat/crust, that is Portland, HELLSHOCK have been around for a few years. In the time they have perfected an already brutal sound and ooze so much energy. They have already gathered a legion of fans worldwide, drapped in filthy black clothes and hearts of gold. If you already love AMEBIX, DEVIATED INSTINCT, DISCHARGE, AXEGRINDER, CRUCIFIX, MOTORHEAD, then add HELLSHOCK to your list of must haves.

Really excellent front cover, looks like a Mid piece, graphics etc.

Where dispensible lives are ruled by consumer greed - WELCOME TO THE VOID.

$9.00 ppd USA and $14.00 ppd world.

contact: orders@cahrecords.com

www.cahrecords.com

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY RECORDS

DIRECTHIT ZINE PAPER VERSION

THIS IS #1 OF DIRECT HIT, WHICH INCLUDES THE URKO/ACTIVE MINDS - SPLIT 7".

I still have copies of the 7" on green or black vinyl, although less than 100 of each. So if you are interested, it costs £4 post paid in the UK or $10 post paid elsewhere. Yes, postage rates suck.

DIRTY MONEY

DIRTY MONEY - NO ESCAPING THIS MCD (D&G031)

Much like their label mates below, Dealt With It, DIRTY MONEY have the same musical influences - BREAKDOWN, CROMAGS etc. That's pretty much where it ends, these guys are definitely more faster and apart from the very odd breakdown - they keep the momentum from start to finish and this a plus is my book. The 7" version of this has 4 songs on it, this being the MCD it has an extra 3 from their 2006 demo - all of which are killer and no filler. Angry music for an apathetic world. If society fills you with lies, corruption and no hope how else are you going to feel? Yeah, angry and it's all here in green and black. I'm surprised more people in society are not like this. Quality recording where the power and fury just bleed from my stereo. Go get it, listen to it and then go and fuck up some shit out there.

DEAD AND GONE RECORDS, 17 DRIVER STREET, SHEFFIELD, S13 9WP, UK.

http://www.deadandgonerecords.com/

DEAL WITH IT

DEAL WITH IT - WORLD COMING DOWN 7" & MCD (D&G 028)

From the ashes of Fifty On Red and What Hope Remains, up rises the phoenix that is DEAL WITH IT - coming at you like a knuckleduster in the face. Medium paced, with huge hard and heavy pumping bass strokes and equally ferocious drumming, along with pitbull barked vocals and metallic riffage. Stomping along at a steady, but earnest, medium pace that throws a curve ball every now and again - ups a gear and all hell breaks loose. They are a straightedge band, which is definitely fine by me, but really only one song deals with this topic - so if you are anti-edge and like heavy music - hell you gotta give them a chance. I particularly like the lyrics and they get full respect from me by using the word 'plonkers' in the song "Flowers In The Attic" (great lyrics alround) - because lets face it the world is full of bloody plonkers. I wonder who the song 'Dead Weight' is about, it's got some great chunky bass licks at the start. "Last Days" is the sXe song, but if you read it - then you'll understand why. I think it's great that a band is not afraid to speak their mind, in a scene that stinks of too much hairspary/gel these days, full of passion and energy. If you are a vinyl nut, hurry up as stocks are running low. The MCD contains 4 songs from their 2006 demo, you can definitely notice their progress and the demo tracks are ace. Have you got a thing for BREAKDOWN, CROMAGS, LEEWAY, NO WARNING etc? Then hit it up with some more heavyness.

DEAD AND GONE RECORDS, 17 DRIVER STREET, SHEFFIELD, S13 9WP, UK.

http://www.deadandgonerecords.com/

GERIATRIC UNIT

GERIATRIC UNIT - LIFE HALF OVER EP CD (BTRC020)

Pure excitement, joy and glee errupted from me when I opened the packed and set eyes on this baby. I already have their 'Nuclear Accidents' CD and it has done some serious mileage on my CD player, this new one will definitely go down the same road. So in case you don't know, this band's CV boasts some og the greatest bands ever to exist: HERESY, FORCE FED, HARD TO SWALLOW, JOHN HOLMES etc, there's more pedigree in there than any old can of dog food. AND IT SHOWS. 10 songs of some best songs currently being put out under the guise of hardcore. Pure adrenalin induced, no frills, incendiary hardcore - made by the kids - played by these old fucks (ha, ha). Ripping 80's styled hardcore, done by 80's kids - yeah, they were there, they played it - christ they invented some of the best riffage from that time. This just makes me want to go completely nuts, it's amazing and I have to keep playing it again and again - that's what a good hardcore record is all about. As with their name they have a mean average of probably 200, so it's OLD-FA(S)T-LOUD! They are old, angry and jaded, but unlike a lot of the fuckers from back then - these guys are still hardcore and they have survived, albeit humour intact. A life half over and if we are lucky, we'll get plenty more from them before they kick the bucket. If you dig HERESY, POISON IDEA, FIX, NECROS, MOB 47, early GANG GREEN etc, then you will want this - it shreds. Also available on vinyl too.

http://www.bosstuneage.com/

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/GERIATRICUNIT

PUNK PEN PALS

This is for who wish to write letters to each other. An art form that has disappeared over the years. Most people only seem to write when buying records etc. So, just write a letter about yourself, your feelings, interests etc - just to write letters and make friends.

All you have to do is make a comment, with your name and address, along with a basic likes/interests etc to get the ball rolling.

DIRECTHIT DISTRO

DIRECT HIT DISTRO

12" (£7 plus postage)
ONWARD - These Words Still Pray
MAINSTRIKE - A Quest For Answers
MAINSTRIKE - No Passing Phase
EYEBALL - More Days To Come
SUBJECT TO CHANGE - What Tomorrow Brings
NO DENIAL - Soundtrack Of Decline
V/A - ONE TRACK MIND
THE DEFENSE - From The Start
ABUSIVE ACTION - S/T

7" (all £3 plus postage)
MAINSTRIKE - Times Still Here
RECTIFY - By Your Side
SPORTSWEAR - Keep It Together
TIEBREAK - Stand Hard 1998
SPORTSWEAR - It Runs Deep
TRUE BLUE - The Ice
INSURANCE RISK - How Much More
OVER THE LINE - Demo
MAINSTRIKE - S/T
ANOTHER REASON - Take Control
DAMAGE CONTROL - Can't Keep Us Down
DEATH OR GLORY - Your Choice
BLACK FRIDAY '29 - Blackout
KNOW YOUR ENEMY - S/T
AFTERLIFE - Enter The Dragon
ENFORCER - Trail Of Darkness
DOWNSLIDE - S/T
DOWNSLIDE / KNOW YOUR ENEMY - SPLIT
STRIKE FIRST - Chant Down Babyloon
GET THE MOST - Common Goals
GET THE MOST - Moment In Time
ONE VOICE - Break Free
COMMITMENT CREW - Hisingen

VOICE OF A GENERATION #2 zine & SPORTSWEAR 7" £4 plus postage.

I WANT TO SELL YOUR STUFF TOO, CONTACT ME.

TRAP THEM - SEANCE PRIME CD

TRAP THEM - SEANCE PRIME CD (DE166)

The cover has a skull on the front cover, but hell talk about an eerie beauty it has to it. Coupled with mixture of colours - black, white, green, purple (very Misfits) - really nice. I can only imagine a vinyl version of this (if it exists) being totally stunning. And yes, the music is equally and beautifully devastating as they artwork. 'Seance Prime' is a thunderbolt of articulated noise, that will knock you down, again and again while you breathlessly try to fight a losing battle. Give up, just let TRAP THEM shroud you in a blanket of some of the fericious and best combination of crust, d-beat, metal, hardcore, noise you are going to hear in a long time. Recorded on an 8 track analog tape, definitely adds an organic sound to it, which definitely draws you into the realness of it all. Awesome sound quality, layout, artwork etc. The lyrics are like the continuation of a story, with an apocalyptic theme riding through it. Their 3rd release, and I for one hope it won't be their last.

www.deathwishinc.com

www.myspace.com/trapthem

THE GREAT DECEIVER - LIFE IS WASTED ON THE LIVING

THE GREAT DECEIVER - LIFE IS WASTED ON THE LIVING CD (DEATHWISH)

The Great Deceiver is one of those bands that I look forward to hearing, especially new stuff considering their previous stuff appeared on the likes of Trustkill and Peaceville. If you've got the likes of Disfear, At The Gates etc in your cv, well then one can't not like you. 12 songs of solid, rhythmic and excellent songs. Hook laden industrial riffage is the order of the day, backed up with some deep, dark bellowed vocals and a heavy pumping sound that would make anyones heart burst with sure anticipation. Add to that some thundering metal licks and the intensity of hardcore and this is a pretty fantastic CD, the musicians confidently convey their darkest thoughts through their music. Their outlook and lyrics are pretty dark too. Take the likes of PRONG, HELMET, KILLING JOKE, FROM ASHES RISE, KYLSEA, SKITSYSTEM etc. A huge CD that will appeal to the crusties, metallers and punks out there.

http://www.deathwishinc.com/

http://www.thegreatdeceiver.com/

BITTER END - CLIMATE OF FEAR

BITTER END - CLIMATE OF FEAR CD (MAL 029)

This went completely over my head the first time I listened to it. But a few listens later and in a more laid back environment I was able to get into it more. Now don't get me wrong, this doesn't exactly make me want to run around in a pit, but more of moving my body in appreciation - but chilled at the same time. It's quite heavy, with their metallic hardcore attack. While there are some fast riffage and pummeling blast beats, it's mostly slow to mid-tempo - but played well and you can get into it. Well you have no choice. Just think of CRO MAGS, KILLING TIME, BREAKDOWN, TERROR, but cunningly enough and not really sounding like them they do create their own atmosphere in a way that NEUROSIS do to their own stuff. With a title like 'Climate Of Fear' you would be right in thinking that the songs are based on current society and how fucked up we are. The lyrics protray how certain individuals/groups deal with modern society or try to escape from it - be it religion, mad vigilantes etc, who either try to change society to their beliefs or run away from it.

WWW.MALFUNCTIONRECORDS.COM

NOT JUST WORDS RECORDS

LOSING STREAK - CRACKED 7"

LOSING STREAK - CRACKED 7" (NJW - 023)

Wow, what's with all these cool Belgian bands these days. Seems like they got over the metalcore of the 90's and I for one am more than happy about that. LOSTING STREAK are another band that make me want to jump all around the place, something all the bands on NJW records are affecting me. This is only good. Another 7" of awesome quality, in the recording and quality of songs - nothing like a great 7" (my favourite format) to clear off the cowbwebs. A mixture of old an new, brewing the likes of OUTBREAK, SHARK ATTACK and their own charm and delivering it second to none. Another fine example of playing your hearts out, positive and powerful. Just like their label mates Damaged Goods, LOSING STREAK pack a punch of great hardcore. Their lyrics are inspiring and full of plenty of sense. They are straightedge and not afraid to let you know, but hey, not in a we're better than you way - just because they are. Neat packaging too, and looking at the photos of them it makes wish they were the sound track to my pit.

NOT JUST WORDS RECORDS, DE KLING 4, 8651 CK IJLST, THE NETHERLANDS.

WWW.NJWRECORDS.COM

DAMAGED GOODS - S/T 7"

DAMAGED GOODS - S/T 7" (NJW - 022)
Ouch!!!! Wow, did that hit me. Talk about an impressive 7", consisting of most of the things that make this little platter awesome for me. Just playing this record you can tell that these four Belgian dudes love what they are doing with a passion and do it well to boot. 6 songs, that are fast, upbeat and sound totally brilliant due to the great sound - something that I totally appreciate when bands make an effort to have a good sound. Like for all they know this could be the only time that they will have to make their mark, and they certainly have. Having said that, I hope this will not be the last we hear from them because listening to this excites the hell of me and only makes me want to hear more and more by them - I can only imagine that they totally shred live. Sound wise, they harken back to the bad old days, when hardcore stuck out like a sore thumb and was able to strip off any false pretences. That's what you get with DAMAGED GOODS, hard, fast, pissed off hardcore - just the way I like it. Incorporating the NEGATIVE APPROACH, VERBAL ABUSE vibe, making it their own and letting all hell break loose. Feeling alienated and out of step? They guys certainly are and here it is in black in white - no emo shit here - just in your face anger; not jock shit - good stuff. The artwork reminds me of the days of Excel, old Suicial Tendencies and you could easily imagine it on some punk kids deck. A record definitely worthy of your attention.

NOT JUST WORDS RECORDS, DE KLING 4, 8651 CK IJLST, THE NETHERLANDS.
WWW.NJWRECORDS.COM

SUBHUMANS - INTERNAL RIOT

SUBHUMANS - INTERNAL RIOT CD (BLUURG FISH 50)

Back with their first studio LP in 9 years, I for one never thought I'd hear another one again - so bless their cotton socks for making such a great release. I was a little nervous about this before I played it, but from the first note of their already famous ska/dub punk and Dick's familiar voice I knew I was going to welcome home the boys with open arms. 13 songs here and not one let down, I've listened to it over a dozen times and it still has play me again written all over it. They still have the urgency of 'The Day The Country Died' and the laid back scope of 'World Apart'. As always, their songs are upbeat, catchy, make you want to dance and have had me humming them for days on end - just like they've never been away. They sound as fresh as they did all those years ago, if some things taste better with a little age - Subhumans definitely do. And with the return of the band, I always lookforward to the mighty wordsmith that is Dick Lucas, easily one of the best lyricists to ever grace the punk scene. Tongue twisting arrangements that ride parallel to the thumping beats and skanking tunes, pure gold. He makes the most mundane subjects sound poetic, but with plenty of food for thought. He thought society was pretty fucked up when the Subumans were first going, things have definitely got worse in those years and he rightly thinks it's totally looney. "Internal Riot", "Point Of View", "This Is Not An Advert" and many more will have move you to dance, sing, shake you angry fists (probably with a smile on your face) and that readybreak glow knowing that the Subhumans are back and return with an absolutely brilliant new release. It's available on CD and vinyl, buy it and support musicians.

http://www.citizenfish.com/

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUBHUMANSUK

http://www.southern.net/

PROFANE EXISTENCE VR SERIES

https://www.profaneexistence.com/

V / A - ANTI-CAPITALISM

V/A - ANTI-CAPITALISM CD (OVER IIIVP CD)

Here we have the fourth is a series of Anarcho-punk compilations. As with the previous releases, it focuses on anarcho punk bands from the 80's, mainly early 80's at that. When listening to this, the thing that stands out is how different all the bands are and the variety of sounds from start to finish. Being a casualty from that period myself, I remember most of the bands from the various records, tapes, zines I got back then - so it's a good trip down memory lane - if you are new to it all well it will give you a bit of an idea of some of the stuff that was happening back then. All recording are excellent and the whole cd has a punchy upbeat vibe to it, considering what the bands were singing. Unfortunately no lyrics are included, but there is a bio on all the bands, with a picture of each. Bands on it are: CONFLICT, LIVING LEGENDS, CRASS, ATOMIC FILTH, ANARKA AND POPPY, D&V, COLD WAR, LEGION OF PARASITES, EPILEPTICS, RUDIMENTARY PENI, TEARS OF DESTRUCTION, DANBERT NOBACON, KULTURKAMPF, DOMINANT PATRI, CRAVATS, SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT, FREEBORN, CULTURE SHOCK, ANATHEMA, COMMITTEE, NIC TOCZEK, HEX and ANTI-SECT. A good CD to listen to while reading the Day The Country Died book.

OVERGROUND RECORDS, PO BOX INW, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE99 INW, UK.

WWW.OVERGROUNDRECORDS.CO.UK

RIPCORD

RIPCORD – LIVE AT PARKHOF ALKMAAR HOLLAND 18/09/1988 CD (BTRCRS020)
What can be said about Ripcord, that hasn’t been said before? Just one of my all time favourite bands and are totally legendary. The made some of the best hardcore songs that ever existed and all the favourites are here. All recorded live, bursting with power and really awesome quality too, covering various songs from their back catalogue of releases. The package is like that of a little LP, no plastic tray, insert like an LP insert – which is really excellent. Personally I think all CDs should be packaged something like this – they’d take up less space, cut down on unnecessary resources being used. A regular CD booklet still fits in too, so they could still be made as I like them. Anyway, it’s also available on coloured 10”. Lee Dorian guests on vocals for Walls (Siege), which is a wall of noise. This release is mandatory, whether you like vinyl or CDs – take your pick.
BOSS TUNEAGE RECORDS, PO BOX SANDY 74, SANDY, BEDS, SG19 2WB, UK.
http://www.bosstuneage.com/

TRAMPLE

THE DEFENSE

THE DEFENSE – FROM THE START CD (CRUCIAL RESPONSE 62)
How can something be hard, yet beautiful at the same time? I can only blame this Spanish band The Defense. Because, the songs inside this 10 track CD are – it’s also available as a vinyl LP too. They’ve got a ripping youth-crew /posi-core sound, which is very upbeat and full of energy. But most of the songs have truly mood catching intros, which just jump into a fast current of ripping hardcore. The song that stands out the most for me is ‘From The Start’ which is a pretty amazing song, great intro, beats and complimentary lyrics. They also include ‘Supuesta Libertad’, which was originally done by REFRAINING. They definitely are not afraid to put their hearts into it, especially the last song ‘Out Of Place’, which is deadly tuneful, melodic and gutsy. Really good lyrics, loads of action packed photos and just a good vibe all-round. For those who totally love VISION, TURNING POINT, YOUTH OF TODAY, MAINSTRIKE. Continuing the Crucial Response Records legacy, of releasing fresh, vibrant and invigorating bands, that will definitely keep you on your toes.
CRUCIAL RESPONSE RECORDS, KAISERSFELD 98, 46047 OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY.
http://www.crucialresponse.com/

DEATH IS NOT GLAMOROUS

DEATH IS NOT GLAMOROUS – UNDERCURRENTS CD (D&G025)
This has been out a while, but is still available and they are a great band, so hey. From Oslo, Norway, a country that has given birth to many great and wonderful bands and DEATH IS NOT GLAMOROUS follows suit with this inspiring tradition. 6 songs (1 extra song, compared to the 7” release of it) of fast, upbeat, catchy and tuneful hardcore. They are pretty melodic, in a good way, but the extra crunch in their playing gives them a more hardcore vibe. The vocals pretty much set them apart from a lot of hardcore bands, in that the really good and sung with passion. I just keep thinking of 7 SECONDS, SHELTER, TURNING POINT. Along with the wonderful tunes are thoughtful lyrics, that more than anything give inspiration to get up, be yourself and not worry what others think. Absolutely fabulous.
DEAD AND GONE RECORDS, 17 DRIVER STREET, SHEFFIELD, S13 9WP, ENGLAND.
http://www.deadandgonerecords.com/

NASHGUL

NASHGUL – HUMANICIDIO CD (CAHRECS058)
A 33 track CD of thunderous grind-core, from this Spanish band, who sure know how to blast those beats. It compiles their splits from 2003 to 2006, namely split 7”s with SEWN SHUT, FROM THEASHES, WORLD FALL DOWN and the split 12” with ANTIHERO and what a combination it is. From the first riff, until the last there is no let up, or let downs for that matter. Super sonic speeds, keep in time with an awesome drummer, who knows his blast beats from his drum rolls. Manic riffage parallel to the drumming, that break downs into chunky bass filled beats that conjures up some of the best grind I’ve heard this side of the moon. They have a single vocalist, but the bellowed tortured screams alternate between gruff roars, to high painful screams and barking cries. Just think of EXTREME NOISE TERROR vocals in their 1980’s period. Musically, and I know it’s an old nutshell, but NAPALM DEATH’s SCUM would be a good starting point, coupled with more early Earache noise mongers. Seriously awesome sound quality and despite taken from 4 different releases, they keep the quality and intensity throughout. Lyrically, it’s a look at how fucked up the human race it; be it killing the planet, enslaving our souls to the daily grind of working etc. If that’s not enough, there is a video too.
Each CD is $10.00 ppd USA and $15.00 world.
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY RECORDS, PO BOX 1421, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54702, USA.
http://www.cahrecords.com/

NEGATIVE APPROACH/NECROS

INSTIGATORS

MINOR THREAT etc

NOTHING DONE

NOTHING DONE – EVERYBODY KNOWS CD (NJW021)
Their second full length, a pretty impressive follow up to their previous full length ‘Powertrip’, from Holland’s Nothing Done. Progression is a good word when it comes to these guys. No they haven’t changed all that much, but they have just got tighter and have crafted a bunch of high adrenalin soaked hardcore tunes, full of melody, power and speed when it’s needed. 10 beauties of sweat drenched songs where they give a nod to influences such as the straight ahead power of Negative Approach and early Black Flag, essential tuneful elements of Circle Jerks and Minor Threat. Plus quirky riffage, in small doses, ala Minutemen and Victims Family, but I don’t really need any references to dig this release – more just a pointer for those reading this. Every song is tight, catchy and a big plus in my book – memorable. Top notch hardcore, how I like it and I’m glad Nothing Done have proved to me that the art of song writing in hardcore bands is definitely not dead. Listening to their song ‘Cardiac Arrest’ makes me feel like they are having one. Their lyrics are straight forward, but in an open personal way. All I can say is that Nothing Done are definitely one of the most exciting bands going these days. The CD version has a complete video of their gig, from Manchester 6/4/06. The vinyl is pressed on light blue vinyl.
NOT JUST WORDS RECORDS, DE KLING 4, 8651 CK LJLST, THE NETHERLANDS.

INFEST

HERESY

old pics: PINK TURDS IN SPACE, FUAL

reviews1

SICK TERROR/MIGRA VIOLENTA - SPLIT 7"
Absolutely stunning split 7" from these two, long standing, South American bands. Both have a host of releases already behind them and this new 7" just cements how awesomely brilliant they are and how essential they are to the world wide international DIY scene. SICK TERROR, total blast beat grind/hardcore, in the vein of DROP DEAD and early NAPALM DEATH and a nod towards INFEST/MONSTER X. Really stunning heavy bass licks, tommy gun drumming, fret burning riffage and totally spazzed/tortured vocals. MIGRA VIOLENTA just power through their 5 songs, from the opening rif to the dumbstruck sound as the last song finished. Super fast blastbeat drumming, ala HERESY, RIPCORD and mouth melting bass licks akin to SIEGE and again RIPCORD. All the songs are played in the same roller coaster speed at these bands, with loads of essential breakdowns, tempo changes and the odd stop go, stop go fury to give you air to breathe. It's essentially the brutal vocals the makes MIGRA VIOLENTA sound different from these bands, where they go for the gnarly roared/spat vocals ala INFEST, and when you mix all powerhouse sounds together and given the fact that this band seriously knows how to create as kick ass tune - then if you're like me you'll playing this non stop and baying for more. Floored and stunned is what I fell, in total awe. Their lyrics deal with stereotypes (lack of love amongst those within the scene?), if you want change - then you have to do the changeing and power struggles. Each band's songs are in their native language, but translated into English. It's pressed on blood rey vinyl, but as it states on the accompanying poster, "this is not a souvenir". In true co-operation, this release is a collobration between 11 labels - it was Flox of FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND who sent me this, so I'm going to use his address this time for your contact point.
FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND, FLOX SOYEZ, 47 AVENUE GILBERT ROUX, 03300 CUSSET, FRANCE.

SOCIALIZED CRUCIFIXION - 'MORE THAN A GLANCE' 7"
A pretty special and totally inspiring little ole record from this LA band. From their pictures they look like your average gutter, patch wearing crusty punk kids. But behind the cover of this book, are the hopes and dreams of 4, articulate, vegan straight edge punk kids - who are reclaiming the edge from the jocks and adding their own blend of anarchist political lyrics. 5 songs, of mid paced, but with some nice fast hooks and brutal tempo changes contained with in. A mixture of d-beat punk, metallic crust riffage and passionate anarcho punk is the order of the day. Mainly caustic female vocals, with male backing vocals add to their potent, quality sound and their anger and passion just leap out of my stereo speakers. Some catchy metallic riffage ala AMEBIX, NAUSEA, SACRILEGE, coupled with the tuneful upbeat sounds of WITCH HUNT, CONFLICT and AUS ROTTEN, make for an awesome mix and absorbing record. Their views in their lyrics is one of caring, working together, thinking for yourself and not getting trapped by the capitalist system that enslaves so man. It's also pressed on blood red vinyl, the remains of those last drop of blood went to keeping the materialist capitalist system working. Very worthy release.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM

SEVEN GENERATIONS/GATHER - SPLIT 7"
A gathering of minds and simiar musical appreciation. Two very outspoken bands from CA, both very similar in quite a lot that is presented here. Both have two songs, play heavy chugga, chugga metallic hardcore. Which is slow to mid paced and both seem to be inspired musically be the likes of VEGAN REICH and EARTH CRISIS. I have to say SEVEN GENERATIONS have a more chunkier sound, but both bands ooze such passion you can only imagine them paring together here. Now I'll not beat around the bush, this is a genre that you either love or hate and I'll be honest when I say that both bands don't stray too far of the beaten path, but if you love it - then you'll dig this. If you don't, well there's plenty of food for thought in their lyrics. SEVEN GENERATIONS; first song is Atonement - which is their disgust at the Catholic Church, and I'm sure Christianity in general, and their destruction of cultures that differed from themselves. Their other song Rising Of The Sun - is a hatred of how capitalism is fucking up our world. GATHER; first song is New Forms, which pretty much is the go to school, work etc lifestyle, Gather question this and help you open your eyes. While Who Belongs? deals with sexism within the hardcore scene, it will make you think - hopefully it will help you change your train of thought. Both bands songs have long interesting explanations and by the time you have read them all you'll have played this record more than a few times and will definitely be hooked. It's all laid out really good, with the back page full of addresses on where you can get involved.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM

EXTINGUISH - 'DOWNFALL OF CIVILIZATION' 7"
EXTINGUISH, from Italy (I'm guessing here, as there's no postal address), with 3 songs on this clear vinyl 7". Metalcore is the order of the day. Lots of tempo changes and a ballistic sound going down. Good lyrics, with explanations on the planet, global politics and animal rights.
NEW EDEN RECORDS, PO BOX 11055, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, USA.
WWW.NEWEDENRECORDS.COM


THE SILVER SHINE - S/T 7" (COM29)
From Hungary, The Silver Shine, have already been going 10 years - but this is my first time hearing them. The guys from this band come definitely from the hardcore / youth crew scenes, are already in other bands, but here they add a difference. A grooving, psychobilly sound, coupled with some punk and hardcore sensibilities make for an interesting release to say the least. That aside, I just keep thinking of early MISFITS, it's just the way the vocals are so sung with the music. Plus these guys sing about horror movies and such (another similiarity), along with anti drugs etc themes. So if you're a lover of sXe youth crew and the Misfits, then you're gonna love this one.
COMMITMENT RECORDS, KLEIN MUIDEN 38, 1393 RL NIGTEVECHT, THE NETHERLANDS.
WWW.COMMITMENTRECORDS.NL