ARCTIC FLOWERS 7"
Amazing 3 track debut from this Portland 4 piece. 2 mid tempo tunes and a rager. The dual female vocal attack sounds so good and their lyrics are just brilliant! This is some good punk to dance to. Their live set @ Red 7 during this years Chaos In Tejas fest was great as well. I WANT MORE!!!
www.myspace.com/arcticflowerspdx


BAYONETTES "GUILTY PLEASURE" 7"
I JUST LOVE THIS BAND! I have been waiting for this record for a while now and it's so worth it. 2 songs from 2005 and 2006 respectively from this Toronto power pop unit. Love/break up songs never sounded so good. Zoe has to be the best female singers and in my top 5 singers of all time! Sadly these guys and gals called it quits a couple of years ago. Limited to only 300 copies.
Deranged Records
www.derangedrecords.com


BLOODY HAMMER "APATHY IS BLISS" 7"
Debut ep from this Houston,TX 1-man band. Josh "Wolf"(of NO TALK fame)does a great job of mixing really rough sounding hardcore/punk with fast thrashers. Some tracks even have an oi-ish sound. It's a beautiful mix all around. Has a definite No Talk feel to it too,which is not a bad thing. 11 songs total. Only 250 made on colored wax=ebay gold. GET THIS NOW!
Cutthroat Records
www.myspace.com/bloodyhammer
www.myspace.com/cutthroatrecs


ROUGH KIDS S/T 7"
In my opinion this is the best band in Los Angeles at the moment! Great 3 track debut vinyl. This record bleeds KBD style punk so much it's oozing. Every track is a winner and every track also features Tsubasa displaying his guitar skills. Tight and catchy punk that ya can sing too but with the lack of an insert that might be hard to do. The vocal ending to "Why So Serious?" reminds me of Bad Religion! This band and record get a 15 out of 10.
Rough Records
thisisrough.com
www.myspace.com/roughkids


THE SCEPTRES "FLATLINE GENERATION" 7"
2 tracks of female fronted power pop from the UK. Quirky and fast punk,but not in a thrashy/hardcore way. Bryony's vocals are a real standout on these tracks. I read online comparing these Brit's to the Rezillos,but i think the Sceptres are way,way better! I wanna hear more. Comes housed in a Goner Records style sleeve.
Dire Records
direrecords.com
sceptredyouth.co.uk


SHITTY LIMITS "LAST ORDERS" 7"
The Limits are back with 2 tracks of hard edged late 70's/early 80's style garage punk. The title track is a great tune with even better lyrics. The B side is another winner but no lyrics here. I haven't heard a bad record from these UK stalwarts yet! This record is limited to only 394 copies and was pressed for Record Store Day. Sold out but try ebay. Track it down,it'll be worth it.
La Vida Es Un Mus Records
www.lavidaesunmus.com

CLOROX GIRLS "DEMO'S RARITIES & EARLY 7"S" CASSETTE
What can i say that hasn't been said about the Clorox Girls before? Probably nothing. Nevertheless here it goes. Here we get 17 tracks of pure late 70's power pop perfection! Includes classics like "Eva Braun","Novacaine",and 3 different versions of "My Home Town"(German version,Spanish version,and Portuguese version). Awesome Black Flag parody as well. This shit will make you sing and dance up a storm so make sure you clear out your bedroom before playing this gem. 250 numbered copies.
Burger Records
645-A S. State College Blvd.
Fullerton,CA 92831
burgerrecords@gmail.com
www.burgerrecords.com


CRIATURAS DEMO
This band was the big "holy shit" band for me in Texas. "Holy shit" being that i never heard or heard of these guys and gal and they just ripped it up live! 8 tracks of Spanish sung hardcore punk that is in the vein of early/mid 80's Spain.The female vocals are just killer!!! The power of intensity of their live show definitely carries into this cassette. From slower,mid tempo jams like "Sin Final" to ragers like "No Hay Futuro",this demo is amazing all around! If you care this band includes Vaaska dudes.
www.myspace.com/criaturasalpoder


IRON LUNG "EXPOSED" 1-SIDED 7"
This is a gig only 7". No mailorder,no wholesale,etc. 3 songs of patented Iron Lung brutality at it's best. Includes a Sex/Vid cover. 500 made.
Iron Lung Records
see them live and pick one up!


MATA MATA DEMO
Another one of those "L.A. Raw Ponx" bands. 7 tracks of really good metallic d-beat from the city of angels. Lyrics deal with just what you'd expect from a d-beat band:police brutality,hell,and more anti police banter. This tape is good but live they fucking rule!!
Crepusculo Negro(crepusculonegro@lice.com)
Silenzio Statico(staticopink@gmail.com)
www.myspace.com/matamata


RIVAL MOB "HARDCORE FOR HARDCORE" PROMO TAPE
Here's a really cool 4 song promotional mix tape of Boston's Rival Mob. The title track is insanely catchy and pissed as fuck! "Mind Closed For Life 2010" is basically a redone version from their 2007 demo with pianos added. I dig it. Also includes covers of Pearl Jam and Crippled Youth. One of the best live bands i've seen in a long time! Whatever current Boston hardcore band you name,they probably got a member or 2 from that band. Only 100 numbered copies. Go stupid!
www.myspace.com/therivalmob


THE SPITS-S/T(IV) LP
Just reissued so it's worthy of a review. 10 tracks of what the Spits are known for:great catchy tunes! Every damn song is a winner. You can skate,fight,fuck,and dance to any of these masterpieces and it'll always make sense. Standouts are "Tonight","Life Of Crime","Alienize","Flags",and "Police". For those who have never heard these freaks think Devo meets The Ramones and Black Randy & the Metrosquad in a steel cage death match(and WE are the winners). The cover shown is a limited version that also comes on red vinyl. Happy hunting!
In The Red Records
P.O.Box 50777
Los Angeles,Ca 90050
www.intheredrecords.com

WARNING/WARNING "MY WORLD" 7"
BRUTALLY insane noise punk from France. Heavy on fuzzy guitars,sharp bass lines,and crazy delay/reverb on the vocals(ala Destino Final/Invasion). 6 tracks in total. Best lyrics are from the song "Noise In My Mind":"Walking down the street/headphone in my ears/i can only think about/broken tunes and screams/in the street/i have noise in mind/and in my bed/i have noise in mind". BRILLIANT! Swankys/Gai meets Confuse worship!
Kick Rock Records(France)
www.kickrock.org
Flower of Carnage Records(Japan)
www.flowerofcarnage.com

GG KING "BABBLING VOICES" 7"
2 more tracks from these ex-Carbonas dudes. The title tracks is a pretty decent mid tempo garage track. Nothing special. The B side,"Insomnia",is one hell of a catchy and bouncy track. Dare i say it sounds like a Carbonas song? Sure! Overall a really good record.
Local Cross Records
www.localcross.com


KNIFE FIGHT "DEMO 2002" 1-SIDED 7"
5 tracks of some of the best hardcore to come out of Los Angeles in a long time! Think Negative FX,Infest,and Agnostic Front all rolled into one. Includes a great Nihilistics cover of "Black Sheep". Only 200 copies pressed,all stamped and numbered.
www.painkillerrecords.com


NERVESKADE "INSANITY/FORCED TO LIVE" 7"
2 tracks of more crazed and fuzzed out noise punk from Portland,though not as fuzzed as their first ep. Comes on gold vinyl and packaged in a brown dust sleeve which is stamped. One of the best live bands i've seen in recent years too! You'll dig on this if you like Disorder,Confuse,Gai,Lebenden Toten,etc. One time pressing of 800 copies...SO GET ON IT!
Iron Lung Records
P.O.BOX 95521
Seattle,WA 98145
ironlungrecords@hotmail.com
lifeironlungdeath.blogspot.com


TOTAL CONTROL "RETIREE/MEDS 2" 7"
Australian drum machine garage!. Reminds me allot of Digital Leather,which is a good thing. Would go perfect on the Goner Records roster. Always good to see labels put out stuff like this and not just hardcore records. Stamped blue dust sleeve and #d of 500 copies. Sadly i think it's sold out. Best of luck. SO GOOD!!!
Iron Lung Records
P.O.BOX 95521
Seattle,WA 98145
ironlungrecords@hotmail.com
lifeironlungdeath.blogspot.com


X "HOME IS WHERE THE FLOOR IS" 7"
First off i gotta say where were these songs when they played live on their recent West Coast shows? This 4 track ep done to coincide with their recent US tour features one of the best punk jams of all time in my humble opinion "Hate City". I am pretty sure this was released as a 7" before the "X-Aspirations" LP. Great and classic punk from down under!
Rocknroll Blitzkrieg!/540 Records


YOUNG LIVERS "I'M INFECTED!" 1-SIDED 7"
Nice little 1 track,1 sided 7". Great poppy tune with hints of New Bomb Turks and FIYA and a bit of Marked Men for good measure. On colored vinyl with screened and stamped covers. I think 100 were made. I definitely want to hear more.
No Idea Records
PO Box 14636
Gainesville,FL 32604
www.noidearecords.com

...back in Los Angeles...

Wow! This is my first post since August of 2009 and since I moved from Escondido,CA back to L.A. Now that i'm somewhat settled back home I will start to do this at a more regular basis. This time i will do more show reviews as I am attending shows at a comfotable rate. Also more record reviews,photo's,and interviews which I will later submit to punk zines like Maximum Rock N Roll,Razorcake,and others. I do encourage any and all comments so please feel free to leave a comment or email me. Thanks!

P.S.:Things to check out(in no particular order)...Rough Kids debut 7" and live,Nobunny live,Trash Talk live,Fucked Up"Couple Tracks" uber-limited 7"(find it if you can),Love Potion new lathe 7"(out soon),Gentleman Jesse LP,Elders demo.

...reviews vol. 4...

DEAD NOISE S/T 7" EP
Hailing from Los Angeles you'd think this unit is from Japan. 5 tracks of distorted as fuck noise/hardcore. Confuse,Gai,Lebenden Toten,Disorder,Dust Noise,Sieg Heil,etc all come to mind...but the strongest comparison has to be Screaming Noise(again...from Japan). Only 200 copies were pressed with 100 on black and 100 on red. The copy you see here is the red vinyl version with the limited to 30 silk screened cover. Write the band and good luck on getting a copy!
Damaging Noise Records,Los Angeles,CA USA
www.myspace.com/deadnoisepunk


THE BOMBETTES "YOU HAVE NO CHANCE,LANCE!" 7" EP
The cutest 5 piece from Sweden are back with another winner of an ep. 4 tracks of catchy and infectious punk with a slight touch of pop thrown in for good measure! If you are into groups like Gorilla Angreb,Knugen Faller,and The Bayonettes you'll love this! All the songs are sung in English. Great follow up to the "What's Cooking..." 7" released on the Ny Vag label as well.
NY Vag Records,Sweden
www.myspace.com/nyvagrecords
www.myspace.com/thebombettes


THE AMOEBAS "GIMME A FIX/NO EMOTION" 7" 45
In my humble opinion this is the best record of 2009! 2 tracks of just perfect late 70's KBD style punk. If this was released in 78/79 it would be on numerous boots and comps and would be selling for ridiculous amounts. Distorted,catchy,well structured songs! I would go as far as saying Wire meets the Wipers!!! Do yourself a favor and try to get one. Only 250 numbered copies pressed with screened covers and defaced dust sleeves. The only downside is the lack of a lyric sheet. Other than that it's just about as perfect as a record should be!
Gimme Gimme Records,USA
www.myspace.com/gimmegimmerecords
www.myspace.com/wearetheamoebas
www.theamoebas.com


GOVERNMENT WARNING "EXECUTED" 7" EP
3 tracks of blazing hardcore from this Virginia 4 piece! 2 new ones along with a Battalions of Saints cover! Fast most of the times but can change speeds like no other.The vocals are always a plus on any Govt Warning record! An amazing band live as well. The record pictured here is the No Way Fest '09 edition of 235(long gone!),but there is a regular edition with a limited version on red wax. Get one now!
Grave Mistake Records and No Way Records,USA
www.gravemistakerecords.com
www.myspace.com/gravemistakerecords
WWW.NOWAYRECORDS.COM
www.myspace.com/nowayrecordshc
www.myspace.com/governmentwarningrva

...reveiws vol.3...

No Talk "Confusion/Outside World" 7" 45
New single by these Houston,Texas natives who pay homage to dirty and harsh punk from the early 80's! This is their 4th single,with each one being just as solid as all the others. Beau vocals really compliment the almost oi-ish punk. Great stuff...think the Dicks! This pressing is pretty much sold out as only 150 were made on clear wax but there is a European version available too!
Going Underground Records,USA
1822 G St.,Bakersfield,CA,93301
www.goingundergroundrex.com
www.myspace.com/goingunderground
www.myspace.com/notalktexas



Broken Needle s/t 7" ep
Broken Needle have been around for a while now(almost 7-8 years!)but this is only their 2nd release. This follow up to the Lengua Armada Records 12" contains 5 tracks well structered hardcore that is very remanescent to Uniform Choice,Unity,and Insted..but be sure that Broken Needle is NOT a straight edge band. Standouts are "Bring Out Your Dead" which deals with victims of war and "Trash This Place" which addresses venues that get fucked up by punks(i think we all have feelings about this topic). This version is the record release version of 89 copies with silkscreened and hand numbered copies.
Schizophrenic Records,Canada
www.myspace.com/timmyfuck
WWW.SCHIZOPHRENICREX.COM
www.myspace.com/brokenneedle



Hunx and His Punx "Teardrops on My Telephone" 7" and "Don't Cha Want Me Back?" 7" 45
Absolutely infectious punk from this San Francisco queer pop masters! "Teardrops..." is a great title track and "I Won't Get Under You" is an amazing rager! The "Don't Cha.." 45 has 2 tracks that are just as great as all their singles. Unfortunately Hunx has become somewhat of a collector band and even though all their vinyl is pretty new(less than 2 years)all 5 singles are completely sold out!!! Check record stores and distros and hopefuly you'll get lucky.
Shattered Records,USA
www.myspace.com/shatteredrecords
www.jayreatard.com
True Panther Sounds Records,USA
www.myspace.com/truepanthersounds
http://www.truepanther.com/


Sabbat "Finnish Demonsluaght" 7"
2 tracks from this long running Japanese metal act. This was pressed to coincide with their Euro/Finland tour. The first track,"Musta Tuli",is a great metal classic sung in Finnish and the b-side is "Mions Hill" is pretty much the same track sung in Japanese. These guysa are just plain amazing and very prolicfic with pretty much a new rlelease every month for the last 8 years!!! Limited to 1000 copies but only 924 copies were pre sold or or are label copies and band copies. The remaining copies were burned. Check out the label site for photo's. Good luck finding one.
Metal Warning Records,Finland
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~ilarle/mw
www.myspace.com/immulation
http://welcome.to/sabbat


C.O.P. "Dedicated Cop" 7" ep
8 tracks on this new ep from these Southern Cali tharshers! In my opinion it's better than the first ep. These 8 songs blaze through with a Poison Idea,Neon Christ,Mecht Mensch,DRI("Dealing With It" era)speed and unrelenting ferocity. The standout is the track "Permanent Hate"(2nd track on the b side). I would have loved to know what Josh was singing but after looking at the lyric sheet I kinda like the one that comes with the record. Another winner from...
Flat Back Records,USA
6191 Santa Catalina
Garden Grove,Ca 92845
flatbackrecords@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/flatblackrecords
www.myspace.com/citizensonpatrol1

...reveiws vol.2...

BATTLE RUINS "DEMO" TAPE
So i got this tape at the Chaos fest in Texas only because the Painkiller/Mind Eraser guys were selling it and they have never let me down on releases. I was asked later by a friend if I got "that Boston Skrewdriver cassette". Now I was even more intrigued. It actually does have a slight 'Driver feel to it,obviously without the stupid lyrics. 5 tracks of really good oi/hardcore. Track titles include "Traitors Stomped Out" and "Cut Blood Line". Get This!!
Rock 'N' Roll Disgrace Records,USA
http://www.rnrdisgrace.blogspot.com/


DEAD SECTION 7" ep
Pissed off Portland hardcore! This city cranks out one killer band after another and this is no exception. 4 rippers(including an untitled instrumental)on this ep. Insane(who was also the frontman for PDX acts Cut Throat,Blood Runs Red,and Religious War)is one of the best frontmen as far as i'm concrened. My copy comes on blue wax.
Pisseed Misanthrope Records,USA
www.myspace.com/deadsection


DISHAMMER "VINTAGE ADDICTION" LP
Where do i start. 12 tracks of some of the best punk/metal i've ever heard from these Spaniards. Tracks about pot,old school porn,the devil,werewolves,and other shit set to Motorhead meets GBH meets Discharge meets Bathory!!! Killer packaging as well that comes with a poster,gatefold embossed sleeve,inner sleeve,patch,and white wax(die hard edition of 111 copies...sold out,suckers). Black wax still available...WRITE FOR THIS!!!
Hells Headbangers Records,USA
3593 medina Rd. #109,Medina,OH,44256
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
throneoffire@hellsheadbangers.com
www.myspace.com/dishammer


HENCHMEN "DEMO 2009" TAPE
6 tracks from this new band from Boston(?). I think I would have liked this better if the singer's voice was not so nasally. Overall it's still a good hardcore demo. Check it out.
henchmen1929@gmail.com


NEVER HEALED 7" 45
2 new killer tracks of really good hardcore from the Northern cali area. Casey's snarling vocals are just brutal on this. I was told the songs are titled "Untitled #1" and "Untitled #2". Not sure how many were made but this is the Texas(Chaos fest)edition.
Painkiller Records,USA
http://www.painkillerrecords.com/
www.myspace.com/neverhealedoakland


NO TOLERANCE "BOSTON STRAIGHT EDGE" 7"
Originally released as a demo. You get exactly what the title gives you. 4 tracks of really tight sxe hardcore that is very reminiscent of the late 80's. I am not too into lyrics as they come off as pretty militant,but other than that it's a solid release. Inlcudes members of Mind Eraser.
540 Records,USA


NUNSLAUGHTER "2009 EUROPEAN EXCOMMUNICATION" 7" ep
4 cover tracks by the kings of Devil metal. They pay homage to Sathanas,Acheron,Monstrosity,and Bathym. Fucking brutal. Only 300 copies,all on colored wax,were pressed for their European tour. SOLD OUT. Try ebay.
Nunslaughter Records,USA
http://www.nunslaughter.com/
www.myspace.com/nun666slaughter