Blog: Strange Reaction

After Debauched and the God Bullies split, vocalist Mike Hard formed Hand Over Head (and was later rejoined by drummer for the previous bands, Adam Berg). Still noisy as ever, this group actually managed some good grooves, almost making me think of a heavy metal Jesus Lizard. Great stuff if you're a fan of the Touch and Go/AmRep sound. This is their "Goliath" single from 1993 and they split the same year. I'm not sure if they're still going, but Mike Hard's latest band is/was Thrall with fellow Hand Over Head folks Scott Kodrik and Paul Tchorzynski. [...]

Another in the long line of London bands formed in 1977, Blunt Instrument released one single (actually in 1978) before changing their name to London Zoo and going the New Wave route. The a-side "No Excuse" is a bit pub rock, while "Interrogation" leans towards the Buzzcocks sound with a slightly more rock 'n' roll guitarist who likes solos. It's a solid single. No Excuse Interrogation

Random songs from the 1985 Mystic Records compilation "Covers" that amazingly enough consisted of cover versions. Sado-Nation - Back in the Saddle Membranes - Super Freak Ill Repute - Taking Care of Business Government Issue - Wild Blood Flower Leperds - Jumping Jack Flash Bonus selections in celebration of Father's Day: Derelicts - My Dad's a Fucking Alcoholic My Old Man's a Fatso

I'm not sure where this band is from or when they recorded this single, but The Backs single "Jerry Garcia's an Asshole" still entertains me 10 years after Garcia passed on. It was released on Square Wave records if anyone knows anything about that label. The feel is a little Angry Samoans. Jerry Garcia's an Asshole Girls in White Sunglasses

I couldn't decide what to post for today, so here's some random French punk rock. Les Olivensteins - Euthanasie Bulldozer - J'suis Punk Plastichke - ça Gaze Pour Moi Marie Et Les Garcons - A Bout De Souffle Les Spurts - Je Suis Fière De Mon Grand Père Warum Joe - Idi Amin

Formed from the ashes of Blatant Dissent, a band I've never actually heard if anyone wants to share some with me, Chicago's Tar has been a steady favorite, one of the few bands I can listen to at any time. Alternating between a noisy guitar din and some fantastic melodic drum/bass grooves, they put out 4 albums, EP's and a batch of singles on both Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and Go. Recommended album if you're looking to purchase: Jackson (but they're all good). RIP 1988 - 1995. Flow Plow 73 (1990, Amphetamine Reptile) Hand [...]

Another band with no history that I can find, Black Easter had a track from their "Ready To Rot" single taken and placed on Killed By Death Volume 5, which is where I first heard them. The 73 is from 1982, the band all looks like they're in their teens and it came out on Karnage Records. My scanner's still hurting, but I'll have a cover up soon (a lovely image of a man with a straight razor to his throat), most likely Monday. Anyways, early 80's UK punk rock is what this is and what it sounds like. [...]

A Lansing Michigan supergroup, Blight featured Tesco Vee on vocals (and trumpet) and Steve and Mike from the Fix. Released in 1983, their self-titled EP was recorded in 1982, before We're the Meatmen and You Suck made the Meatmen famous. It's a pretty big step away from the Crippled Children Suck sound, more a Flipper drone than hardcore. The Dream Was Dead Real World Be Stupid Bludgeon Prophet of Doom Seven Winds Over the Gobi [...]

Led by the late Tomata duPlenty, the Screamers were an odd mix of early Los Angeles punk rock with a heavy dose of synth that existed between 1977 and 1981. I'm not aware of any "proper" releases, just bootlegs and compilation appearances that are either live or demos. These tracks are from the "Demos 1977-19783 album. A classic band. The high pitched noise in the background appears to be on all copies of this record. The "Skuzzy the Death Clone Clown" demo LP is worth seeking as well. The Beat Goes On [...]

This is a bootleg 73 from one of my favorites, the Circle Jerks. It's worth having if only for a live version of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown" with Keith on vocals. Note: the flyer above has nothing to do with the boot, I just like it and needed a Circle Jerks picture. Fortunate Son When the Shit Hits the Fan Deny Everything Making the Bombs Nervous Breakdown

The Flex page on the Active Ingredients EP "Bringing Down the Big Boys" describes it as "rough & fast HC punk with some weird effects, interesting", and that's about right. Kentucky punk from 1985. Rock Stars Service With a Smile I Hate MTV Cancer of Hypocrisy Take No Shit IC

All of these songs were taken from the Mystic Records compilation "Party Animal" that came out in 1984. Classic and not-so-classic hardcore tracks from popular and not-so-popular bands. Come on, 41 tracks on one album though! They put out a slew of compilations in the 80's and I'm hearing they're reissuing them on CD, so keep an eye out and buy them so they don't go out of print yet again. Stukas Over Bedrock - Car God Crankshaft - Crankrock Micronots - Born to Kick Ass [...]

What better to post for Memorial Day than six great tracks of 1983 hardcore from the Los Angeles area courtesy of The Patriots? If the kid second from the left looks familiar, you might have seen the movie "Suburbia" and recognized "Jack Diddley" (real name: Chris Pedersen). This is their "Land of the Free" EP. Land of the Free Nobody No More Strangling Me Can't Wait The Guilty Walk Free Bang, Bang, Bang

Eric from Something I Learned Today has hexed me into continuing a meme. If I don't answer these questions, I think my server explodes or something equally horrible happens, so here goes. Total volume of music files on my computer: 117 gigs (hey, that includes music for my daughter, wife and more so it's really more like 115 gigs) The last CD I bought was: God Bullies - War On Everybody (replacing a copy that got scratched up after a nasty fall from my shelf) [...]

For the weekend, here's some melodic hardcore courtesy of Montreal's Genetic Control. The band existed from 1983 - 1985 and released one excellent single, "First Impressions". There's a cassette of an unreleased album floating around as well that I can't locate. Much more info on the band courtesy of singer Mike "Polio Elvis" Price can be found on the Punk History Canada site. Suburban Life Urban Cowboy 1984 Love Rat Brave New World

Todays posting is the B-Side from Dumbrock Volume 5: "Tommy (In Seven Minutes)" . Bands on board for this epic undertaking: Uncle Wiggly - It's a Boy Smack Dab - Amazing Journey The Workdogs - Eyesight to the Blind Pig Pen - Christmas Lunachicks - Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Queen Artless - Fiddle About John S. Hall - Tommy Can You Hear Me? Dave the Spazz - Smash the Mirror Iron Prostate - I'm Free Dogbowl - Tommy's Holiday Camp Alice [...]

It doesn't look like Peterbough band the Blanks released much other than their 1979 "Northern Ripper" 73, which is great lo-fi punk rock. The title track is based upon serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper and includes a small section from one of the many audiotapes sent to the police from a man claiming to be the Ripper. They were all proven to be fake and I vaguely remember that they were created by an ex-policeman or something like that. The Northern Ripper Understand [...]

One of the few current Boston bands that I pay any attention to, Spitzz combine a New Bomb Turks stomp with an older punk feel. Kind of. Regardless, if you like either track, you should buy their singles and CD (produced by members of the New Bomb Turks no less). It's all good. Their website gives current updates and has their singles for purchase. Their album is available through Tarantulas Records (or Amazon). I'm Not Alive Take Me to the Hospital

New York band Nastyfacts may have only put out one single, but it's catchy as can be and hasn't left my playlist in weeks. 1981's "Drive My Car" 73 is fast, poppy and features the vocals of Cher(y)l Boyz(c)e who seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. Drive My Car Get To You Crazy 'bout You Get a little more info on the band (and some streaming live tracks) over at guitarist Brad Craig 's site.

A Bristol band that could play pretty well, The Pigs produced one self-titled 73 on New Bristol Records in 1977. Their one off includes a catchy anti-National Front song and three other garage tracks that would be at home on a Killed By Death compilation. Youthanasia They Say Psychopath National Front My scanner's currently offline, the cover above was taken from Panx .