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samedi 15 février 2025

GRB : "Nazis muertos" 12" - 2024 - SPAIN, Barcelona

Absolutely brilliant!!

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There's no doubt, there are recordings that you can listen to daily without ever getting bored. This is one of them!

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Here we have the FANTASTIC 18-song 1985 Demo TAPE by GRB, pioneers of the hardcore punk scene in Barcelona as any other bands, such as ANTI-DOGMATIKS, L'ODI SOCIAL, SUBTERRANEAN KIDS and ULTIMO RESORTE.

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More, this specific Demo TAPE was one of my all time favourite recordings from Europe.

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In MRR #28 of September 1985, Tim YOHANNAN (R.I.P.) reviewed it : "Positively awesome attacking thrash Á  la DRI or MDC. This band is highly politically motivated (see Spain report this issue), and their music reflects their anger and commitment. Send $2 for the tape and $1 for their zine, Drama Del Horror. Nails". 
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Of course, those who sent the three dollars received this "killing", perfect in every way!

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Back then, I Couldn't get enough, so, I've bought their 7" and LP, but they are different recordings...

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About this new reissue version LP vinyl release, the sound quality is remarkable! But, the feat for this 3-way split labels release, from August 2024, is to put it on a Single Sided 12" (33 RPM).

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More, this is one take of the original cassette without any blanks between the songs!
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The result is a total killer fast "in your face" enjoyment of fast hardcore punk as its best!

To be honest, this is the best version that I've heard, even if the "1984-1989" (released on CD in 2000) and the A side of the "Maqueta Y Estoy Tan Contendo 7" (released on LP vinyl in 2010) versions are excellent as well...
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Now, it's time to recognize the very well effort at presenting :
One time pressing of only 200 copies pressed, all in yellow vinyl (mid opaque/transparent) with black labels. Very nice and really characterizing...
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It comes with a 2-sided poster insert, on glossy paper, with lyrics in Spanish and English + some artworks of the zine originally included in the DRAMA DEL HORROR 1985 1st run TAPE version.
The KANGAROO RECORDS copies have a one sided bonus big flyer (it could be considered as a bonus alternative sleeve), some flyers bonus and a CD bonus of the session, which has the cover of the 3 rejected test pressings 7" (with long blanks between the tracks). Only 6 test pressings without any blanks between the tracks has been pressed.
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 Tim YOHANNAN was right! So, buy this release and put it between your 1st D.R.I. 7" and 1st M.D.C. LP, in your shelf.
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 All copies have a SMILING IS NOT A CRIME RECORDS sticker's label.
Get one of the Spanish copies here :

https://smilingisnotacrimerecords.bandcamp.com/album/nazis-muertos-demo-1985

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WHO CARES ? RECORDS copies are sold out but, I, for my part, am not taking any responsibility for injuries sustained while listening this record... it totally shreds!

vendredi 14 février 2025

VIOLENT COERCION - Still time - LP - 2024 - USA, CA, San Francisco

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One year in the making since their song on the various LP "Distort the Bay (2023 Bay Area Hardcore Punk Compilation)" with the song : "Teenage Depression". It was a great challenge for these world-renowned US musicians... And it's a success cause they have managed to churn out an excellent interesting self-released hardcore punk LP : It was well worth it!

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From the looks of the photos, these are not young guys, and they’ve been around the block. Indeed, we have here David Anthony Edwardson (Bass player of Neurosis and many other bands...), Erik Thomas (Punk drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area of California for bands such as CHRONIC PLAGUE and PUBLIC ENEMA), Eric McIntire (Well known American guitarist for having played in ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, DEFACE and NEGLECTED among others...) and Ryan Sullivan (an US guitarist and bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area of California's bands such as SAMIAM, PUBLIC ENEMA and many more...).
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They know what they’re doing, and have managed to churn out a fast influenced US ’80s hardcore punk with a total catchy slight metal touch LP in 2024, even if the session is recorded in September 2023.

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This is a 9-song power-paced assault 12" (45 RPM), around 25 minutes of Pro-music!

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Yes, "PRO" is the word as this is still the brand of loud, potent powerthrash of ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, Early NEUROSIS and some of the best 80's US bands of their area (San Francisco Bay), which has now become something of a prestigious seal of quality for international people dedicated. Members put the accent here is on the force and fury. Scorching...

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And what about a nice surprise by listening this LP as I recognized some classic songs from the great VIOLENT COERCION : "house of terror" Demo TAPE 1985 such as "House of terror" itself, "Faith or fraud", "I'm paranoid", "Friend or enemy" (AKA "Friend of foe" on the cassette...), "Darkened lies" or "Attack without reason" (Only featuring on the 11-song version of the cassette).

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I understand better now why I've been "caught at the first listening!

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"PRO" is also the word about the nice packaging. The band sent me the UK version, limited to 50 copies distributed early in Europe. Thanks again for sending this one!

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It has a one color flip cover, simple but total nice attractive screen-printed one. The logo is great as well...

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Inside, you can find a one-sided lyrics on white paper + an 8-page photocopied booklet, also on white paper.

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About the lyrics, even if English isn't my native tongue, I can say that this is about horror, politics and sociability, cool and interesting as we are expecting for this kind of stuff. Note that President TRUMP takes it for his rank on "Lock him up". No reason to forget him after REAGAN, BUSH, and the others, decades after decades... This is American hardcore punk, hue!

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Regarding the booklet, it comes with a lot of old + new pictures and flyers. A lot of them are "new" for me and that's fine!

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Then, there's a huge colored poster in the "Lest We Forget" 1991 Comp. TAPE cover's style. This Comp. has been released by the cometbus fanzine and was about great old Berkeley bands, including VIOLENT COERCION, of course...

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The vinyl is a very nice Red Splattered one with both colored labels, accentuating the beauty of the whole.

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Finally, "PRO" is still the word about sound quality which is perfectly mixed and mastered.

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Good job, dudes, the rebirth of VIOLENT COERCION is indeed a very important fact of this decade in international hardcore punk scene but, please, be just faster a little bit for the next release and this will be a PERFECT heaven for myself!

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 Thanks!