V/A - I've Got An Attitude Problem EP

Label(s): BC Tapes & Records and Loony Tunes Records; Year: 1987; Format: 33RPM 7" EP

Back in 1987 the world seemed to be just absolutely fine. I was in the midst of discovering exciting and new sounds from around the world and bands as the ones found on this little EP ruled my little suburban world of Zurich, Switzerland. Beer, friends, gigs and thrashing in a park to the noises coming out of a cheap tape recorder was all that was needed to make me happy, that's how simple life was for a teenager like myself back then. Thirty six years later on another continent and feeling somewhat older I can still appreciate good old '80s Hardcore from Europe, which dominates this EP released as a collaboration between San Diego based BC Tapes & Records and UK label Loony Tunes Records. Seven bands from six different countries are represented and take you on a noisy ride with Side B being the winner for me. Sweden's Mob 47 actually provide two exclusive tracks for this release and as to be expected they deliver the goods in typical fashion. The real winner though are Quod Massacre from Beograd, Ex-Yugoslavia bringing you a really well crafted, melodic yet rough hardcore punk gem reminiscent of bands like HDQ or Frites Modern. Speaking of Holland Funeral Oration round off Side B with two ultra fast thrashers delivered with quality as good as Gouda cheese. Don't get me wrong, Side A is also good with Italian power horses Wretched and Raw Power pulling their weight while Boston's Psycho and UK's Satanic Malfunctions don't disappoint either. If you like myself grew up with these type of bands this will be very familiar territory for you, but should you not be as familiar with these bands pick this one up as it generally doesn't go anywhere near silly money and is a nice introduction to international '80s Hardcore Punk. 

Frites Modern - Veel, Vet, Goor En Duur LP

Label: Boy Bensdorp Platen; Year: 1984; Format: Vinyl LP

Sometimes you can't help but to miss the good ole' days of record hunting. I got my copy of this Dutch classic back in 1991 for $1.99 at the Record Peddler in Toronto on Yonge Street during my first longer spell of living in T.O. during the '90s. Unfortunately those sort of finds just don't happen anymore these days, mainly thanks to the intranet. But, let me just move on with the record as it is one of the best when it comes to European and Dutch hardcore punk. Frites Modern formed in Amsterdam in 1981 when singer/guitar player Arjan Boonacker left legendary punk act Trockener Kecks. Frites Modern contributed to the "Als Je Haar Maar Goed Zit" Compilation LP in 1982 before self-releasing the 6-Met Cassette in 1983, which has somewhat recently been reissued as a 10" and I definitely need to get. In 1984 the band released their one and only full-length and on so many levels it is just a true classic. First and foremost what strikes me as extraordinary and definitely not something that happened very often is the fact that Frites Modern were a trio yet their sound is so powerful you would think they consisted of five members. All, and I mean really all songs are well crafted, tuneful and for the most part mid-tempo punk rock smashers. There are two to three fast US hardcore influenced songs but the band never loses themselves in playing fast without melody. The other thing that strikes me is how well produced this record is just adding to the power of the songs. Maximum RockNRoll was pushing Frites Modern hard and it is no wonder they were included on the famous "Welcome to 1984" Compilation LP where I must have discovered them myself. Luckily the LP has been reissued a few years back so should you not be a lucky owner of an original copy you have absolutely no excuse not to grab a copy before they're all gone. Whether your thing is '80s hardcore or you are stuck in 1977 this record definitely ticks all the right boxes for everyone to love it. A true gem! 

Flyer stolen from the excellent Frites Modern website at www.fritesmodern.nl

the Blitzz - So Free and Go Now Single Reissues

Label: Sing Sing Records; Year: 2011; Format: 7" Single

The NYC based Sing Sing Record label (long-time defunct) reissued some great stuff about a decade ago and I was buying up everything in the very beginning but lost track after some time surely missing out on some goodies. In terms of information or any historical facts little to nothing can be found about the Blitzz from Holland. Apparently they released two singles back in '78 and that was it. Both came out originally on EMI-Holland and must have been widely available. So what you get with these two singles is not some KBD-type muzika but two well produced singles that are actually both very enjoyable. 'So Free' draws equally from glam rock, pub rock and power pop and is in my opinion just a great pop song whereas 'Degeneration' is probably the most '77 punk influenced song on either of the two singles. Think the Vibrators or the Boys and you'll get the general idea. I've seen comments on the Killed By Death website about these singles and they vary from good stuff to absolutely awful, but I sure as hell like them both hence on to the next one. 

Label: Sing Sing Records; Year: 2011; Format: 7" Single

The 'Second Single' is just as good as the first one ladies and gentlemen. 'Go Now' is definitely a power pop track with a tendency to be a bit on the cheesy side yet still delivered with enough conviction and drive hence it would be wrong to discredit it. 'You got what you want' on the other hand is a truly fantastic power pop song with a strong '77 punk influence, just a smasher of a track worth alone your hard earned money. As I had mentioned above I really don't know anything about this band so if anyone out there in the vast galactic of the intranet has any stories about these guys rocking out in their dutch klompen shoes then please go ahead and share them with the rest of us.