Government Warning No Moderation LP Feral Ward Records Another great record from Government Warning. Sharing members with the excellent Wasted Time and Direct Control, this band plays hardcore not dissimilar to many early southern California bands. Battalion of Saints seems to be a heavy influence on this particular album. Unfortunately, it looks like this one is out of print. I need to review this shit faster!
Dag Nasty Dag With Shawn LP Dischord Records I am long on record as not being a big fan of Dag Nasty. A lot of the things I hate about hardcore begin to trend with their Can I Say record (and Uniform Choice too, but that’s a whole different post). This record contains their earliest record, when Shawn Brown of Swiz fame was their vocalist, before Republican douchebag sellout Dave Smalley took over. Some of this record you’ve likely heard before on the “85-86” CD from the nineties, a collection of Dag Nasty odds and ends. Musically, not much changes…
Read more
Off! First EP 7” Vice Records This…is pretty good? A new band from members of Redd Kross and Circle Jerks is something that I check out with a lot of skepticism. With Mario from 411/Hot Snakes accompanying them on drums, this is short and to the point hardcore in the vein of the Group Sex LP and early Black Flag (one song opens with a riff that is slightly similar to Nervous Breakdown). These guys have a few more seven inches coming out I guess and I think I will check them out. Decent Pettibone art accompanies the record. According…
Read more
Saint Vitus-War Is Our Destiny Faith-Untitled Mouthpiece-Nothing There XKI-I Hate Everything Redd Kross-Notes & Chords Mean Nothing To Me Meat Puppets-Plateau DRI-Give My Taxes Back Adolescents-Kids Of The Black Hole Reflex From Pain-The Scream Obliteration-Fascist System (Whoops—This track got deleted while editing…sorry guys!) Christian Mistress-Poison Path Crossed Out-Force of Habit Avengers-Corpus Christi
Citizens Arrest Colossus: The Discography Double LP Nuclear War Now Records Citizens Arrest are one of the most essential bands of the late 80’s to early 90’s period when hardcore was taking a turn towards uglier, noisier, and harsher sounds. Contemporary to bands like Rorschach, Burn, and No Comment, Citizens Arrest’s sound is equal parts influenced by bands like Napalm Death and Siege, and more youth crew oriented bands like Youth of Today or Infest. This discography contains pretty much everything it could possibly contain in a very organized manner. Their lukewarm demo (includes vocals by Ted Leo, that guy…
Read more
Mind Eraser Conscious/Unconscious LP Clean Plate Records Mind Eraser continue to progress with this two song LP. Each song hits about 10 minutes in length, which some fast parts and then a lot of sludgey, ugly, slowdowns. Combined with their previous influences I am hearing a lot more of both Discharge and Eyehategod in their sound. Some elements of more metallic Japanese bands like Crow can also be heard. It looks like this record is out of print currently.
Christian Mistress Agony & Opium LP 20 Buck Spin Records The hype for this northwest band has been overwhelming in recent months. I was finally interested enough to check them out recently after hearing someone describe them as “Venom with Mia Zapata singing.” Uh, whoa, that is pretty high praise. Christian Mistress do take a lot of influences from bands like Venom and Iron Maiden, for example, with some rooting in punk rock as well. The vocals do sound a lot like Mia Zapata to an extent. There is a real urgency and authenticity to this band’s sound, which exists…
Read more
Mouthpiece Can’t Kill What’s Inside Discography CD Revelation Records What more can really be said about Mouthpiece at this point? I’m sure you know their story and how influential they were on 1990’s straight edge hardcore that didn’t sound like Pantera or some emo bullshit. This CD has everything I could ever think to include and more in reverse order, from their final recording on the Antimatter Fanzine compilation all the way back to very early live tracks that never made it to the studio. Most of Mouthpiece’s records have held up at least moderately well. Some parts of Face…
Read more
Obliteration Self Titled 7” Members of Knife Fight and Mind Eraser combine for fast D-Beat hardcore influenced by bands like Nausea, Misery, and Discharge. Noisy, ugly, hardcore which really stands out from most of the boring bands who play this style. Highly recommended.
Government Warning Arrested 7” Grave Mistake Records Government Warning have been one of the best bands of the past five years. Featuring members of Direct Control, they play fast California hardcore similar to TSOL, Adolescents, and Battalion of Saints. A few songs on here are heavy and melodic, reminding me a lot of the first Adolescents record. Other songs are faster, straight forward hardcore. This is an excellent record and a great introduction to the band for people who haven’t heard them. Still available from Grave Mistake Records.
