PRIME

Possibly the best way to kick off the new year for me, with the new tape release from Mind Eraser. This was sold on their tour of the UK with Rival Mob late last year in reasonably limited quantities. I was pretty keen on getting my hands on this for a few weeks, and I pounced on it on Discogs when the email came through one morning that someone was selling it on there.
It's a compilation tape of a heap of their more obscure and unreleased material. A handful of it has already seen proper releases on more limited things over the years, and some of it hasn't seen the light of day to the general public until now. As most would know, this band is one of the best in my opinion, so anything they do will get two thumbs up from me. I heard talk of one last LP. Here's hoping?

BLENDING IN

One of the more solid albums to come out of the 80's DC hardcore scene was this "Joy Ride" LP from Government Issue. This is a 2010 reissue of that album from Dr. Strange Records on black vinyl. I really feel like this album and band really don't quite get the attention and recognition that they deserve, but maybe I'm wrong. Their sound had started to develop beyond their original three chord structures somewhat by the time this record came out, but it's still solid, belligerent USHC.

BIG BROTHER

Later 1986 release from Melbourne's own Depression, the "Big Brother" 7" on Cleopatra Records. By now the band had really started to turn to a faster, heavier sound, though by comparison to other metal of the time, this recording is still very punk. Some of my favourite material of theirs. A couple of releases followed this one and then they split up.

CRUMBS

Picked up this split 7" between Evolved To Obliteration and Taste Of Fear a few weeks back along with some other records. This cost me less than $10 which I find surprising. Released by Bovine Records in 1996, while Taste Of Fear is certainly a name that most punks and metal heads should at least be familiar with, I really feel like history hasn't been as kind to ETO. Early, almost foundation Power Violence that a lot of bands play these days without ever paying proper homage to this group. I guess it's probably because the missed the original first wave PV explosion of the late 80's/early 90's.

PIGS SUCK

I'm certainly no Disrupt scholar by any means of the word and I'd never heard or heard of Destroy! before I bought this split 7" of theirs a few weeks back. There is some Disrupt material that I find myself very fond of, but this record isn't it. Nothing terrible going on here, but all it really is, is badly recorded crust hardcore punk from both bands. As a relative newbie to each group, you could blindly lay either side down to play, and you wouldn't be able to pick which band was actually playing unless someone told you. Maybe Destroy! up the tempo a little more here and there, but that's about it. Pressed in 1991 by Adversity and Break The Chains Records. Someone sell me the Disrupt/Sauna split. That's the good stuff.

2013

Favourites of the last 12 months. Certainly a strong year for LP releases.

IF Photo- SIMH

LP's
Violent Reaction- "City Streets"
Iron Lung- "White Glove Test"
Magic Circle- s/t
Hatred Surge- "Human Overdose"
Mammoth Grinder- "Underworlds"
Bone Sickness- "Alone In The Grave"
Rival Mob- "Mob Justice"
Entrails- "Raging Death"
Machetazo- "Ruin"
Autopsy- "The Headless Ritual"
Agents Of Abhorrence- "Relief"
Powertrip- "Manifest Destination"
Disma- "Towards The Megalith"
Out Cold- "A Heated Display" (waiting on my copy in the mail)

EP's/Singles
Barge- "No Gain"
Vile Intent- "Skin In The Game"
The Flex- "Scum On The Run"
Death Camp- "Teenage Nightmare"
Perspex Flesh- "Ona"
ZOM- s/t
Shackles- "Disposed Of"
Violent Future- s/t
Strong Boys- s/t
Sick People- "Fakes Rule"
Obliteration- "War Is Our Destiny"
Rats Blood- "Punks Is Mutants"
No Warning- "Resurrection Of The Wolf" (waiting on my copy in the mail)
Peacebreakers- "Everyday Battle" (limited release at Not Dead Yet, wider press due soon)
Koward- s/t (waiting on my copy in the mail)
Wastoids- s/t

Splits/Comps/Reissues
Innumerable Forms/Blessed Offal- Split LP
Abused- "Loud And Clear" reissue on LP (waiting on my copy in the mail)
Mindsnare- "Hanged. Choked. Wrists Slit." LP reissue 
Vaccine/No Faith- split 7" (haven't ordered yet, postage sucks man)
No Warning- "Ill Blood" LP reissue
Slayer- "Seasons In The Abyss" LP Reissue
Slayer- "South Of Heaven" LP Reissue
Breakdown- "Runnin' Scared" Reissue (waiting on my copy in the mail)

Tapes/Demos
Vile Faith- Demo Tape
Coffin Birth- Demo (it never received a hard release, but the digital is local grind mayhem)
Social Damage- Demo II
Eternal Champion- "The Last King Of Pictdom" Demo (limited releases suck. getting a vinyl reissue next year)
Caged Grave- Demo
Genocide Pact- Demo (waiting on the vinyl reissue in the mail)
Ya Te Veo- Demo (no hard copy yet as far as I know)
Torture Chain- "Mutilating Astral Entities" (limited releases suck)
Chain Rank- Demo (waiting on my copy in the mail)
Battle Ruins- Promo Tape (limited releases suck)
Stone Dagger- "The Siege Of Jerusalem" Demo Tape (waiting on my copy in the mail)

New confirmed EP's and LP's to look forward to in 2014 from Shin To Shin, Internal Rot, Shackles, Oblivionation, Battle Ruins, Eternal Champion, Perspex Flesh, Boston Strangler, Bone Sickness, Disguise, Innumerable Forms and more I would assume.

LOG BASE

I know nothing about Rapeman other than the fact that the band was the work of Steve Albini before Shellac. I know even less about this EP. It's a live recording and I think it's a bootleg. It's interesting stuff, but the main reason I grabbed it was for the interesting artwork.

TOTAL CONTROL ZONE

This ripping new addition to the archives is the new EP from Boston's Green Beret, "The Cult Of State". Side Two Records, black vinyl. Those familiar with the bands previous efforts will not find themselves alienated here at all. Just more hasty, distorted, skandi influenced hardcore. A lightly cleaner recording than the last release, but hardly a large difference at all.

CURTAINS

I knew nothing about this new "Live on KXLU 1992" 7" release from No Comment until RevHQ put it up in their store. Admittedly it seems that Deep 6 (responsible party) emails have been going direct to my junk folder now for the better part of six months without my knowledge, and we all know that Bob and co don't really succumb to the arm pit that is social media, so that may have something to do with it.
I doubt that this thing would have much appeal to anyone outside of the fan base of the late 80's/early 90's Californian PV scene. Live recordings have never been a massive crutch of mine, and the thick layer of hiss that permeates the entirety of this recording here does nothing to alter that opinion. You can't ignore it. The fact that it's literally an exact live remake of the "Downsided" 7" may have something to do with it also. No real variance in energy, mania or aggression from that iconic 7", though I suspect this may entertain potential fans that for some far fetched reason haven't heard it. The sleeve doubles as a big fold out two sided poster though, featuring plenty of obligatory live shots and show fliers. For fan boys like me this is an essential addition, but I suspect that that's all it may be.

ON THE RUN

Rabid, crusty, hyper hardcore punk mixed with some sort of gruff Oi approach may be a way to describe Gas Rag and their 7", "Human Rights". Another product of the ever intimidating Beach Impediment Records and subject to their fair share of excitement amongst various circles at the moment, this is just well done, messy punk. All of the songs are of the faster variety, all based around simple chords and a d-beat.

COLD FACE

Another recent pick up from Life Lair Regret Records, this compilation cassette of all of the output from Melbourne powerhouse, Frozen Over. This tape consists of the bands original demo (with same artwork I think?) and their songs from their split tape with Search And Destroy. I posted about that split tape back in 2010, but I was never quick enough to grab a copy of the demo. Finely executed, hateful hardcore in the vein of Think I Care and similar acts. Very good stuff. I think the band are playing shows again, but I can't confirm.

LOUD AND CLEAR

One of the most desired records on my want list is, and has been for years now The Abused "Loud And Clear" EP. Obviously it's a similar story for many other collectors otherwise I probably would have been able to obtain it a long time ago. Radio Raheem Records, a collaborative effort between one half of Painkiller Records and Parts Unknown Records has gone about reissuing the massively influential EP in the form of this new gatefold collab LP. Also included is the bands earlier previously unreleased (but widely spread) demo recording, a live track, a 24 page glossy booklet with various fliers, photos and liner notes, and a sticker sheet. Very clean, very tidy, and at this point very sold out.

VECTOR OF DISEASE

Another excellent split 7" featuring Sewercide, this time their split with Philadelphia's Casket. Pressed by Holy Anarchy Records. Wider press of black wax. Again, Sewercide rip it up with their take on nasty Death Thrash, possibly their best song at this point. Riffs. They have a new split with Presumed Dead available for order now. Google will show you the way.
On the back of an EP and a demo, Casket play a similar style of Metal, utilising somewhat less Thrash riffs though in favour of some real rough late 80's Floridan style Death. Certainly a good intro to the band for me.

WAR ENSEMBLE

And the other Slayer LP I wanted, "Seasons In The Abyss". Again, random issuing of red and black vinyl. I scored another black record. American Recordings.

MANDATORY SUICIDE

American Recordings has just gone about reissuing some early Slayer stuff, including two of their albums that I had really been trying to get my hands on for a reasonable price. This is the repress of "South Of Heaven" on black vinyl. Apparently the pressing consists totally of randomly issued variants of red and black wax. Unsure of the numbers. Everything this band does is excellent (like that really needs a mention), this album is no different.