V/A - 10000 Years Punk - A Beijing Punk Compilation

Label: Xiandai Gongren Changpian (TAM Records); Year: 1998; Format: 33RPM 7" EP

If you have been interested in worldwide punk rock then I am absolutely positive that you have come across the name Luk Haas. Luk travelled to approximately one hundred and twenty countries and started Tian An Men 89 Records in 1993 in order to document and to release punk rock from countries around the globe where many of us wouldn't even think punk rock existed. Luk got turned on to punk in the early '80s and travelled to Poland for the first time in 1983 where he made connections with local punks and bands. Later on he would travel to the former Czechoslovakia (where I was born) and the former GDR and make connections there as well. He also introduced punk rock from the former Eastern Bloc to a worldwide readership via his scene reports in MaximumRockNRoll. I tried to find out more about the story as to how this EP with four Beijing based bands came about but couldn't find anything online. I would imagine that Luk had visited Beijing in the '90s and met the bands leading up to this release, unfortunately the only release I have on TAM. I must admit that musically this isn't a record I am in awe of but let's put things into context and come to the realization that back in the '90s the bands presented on this EP were most likely the earliest when it comes to punk rock from mainland China. The two songs on side A by Wuzhengfu Zhuyi Nanhai, also known as the Anarchy Boys, are actually decent Oi Punk tracks whereas the three tracks by Nao Zhuo aka Brain Failure on the other side offer similar quality and style. The other two bands, one of which is Reflector are more in the '90s pop punk vein and not interesting, at least not for me. Reflector were apparently the first chinese band to play on US soil in 2001 and Brain Failure have releases several records in Germany since this EP. More than anything records like this one demonstrate that punk rock is and always has been a truly global phenomenon and that the quality of songs is not always what matters the most. 

Stigmathe - Suoni Puri Dalla Liberta and Lo Squardo Dei Morti EPs

Label: No Plan Records; Year: 2013; Format: 45RPM EP

Little to nothing is known to me about the history of Stigmathe, a band that hailed from the Northern City of Modena in Italy. Rest assured though that the two EPs reviewed herein though are a little different from what one would expect when it comes to '80s hardcore punk releases from Italy as neither is full-on Italian Hardcore the way we all love it. The first EP was originally self-released by the band in 1983 and the copy I own is a 2013 No Plan reissue, a label known for releasing great but mostly unknown gems. The band's first output is first and foremost very much influenced by what had musically happened in the UK underground scene from '79 to '82. The two tracks on Side A are solid UK82 influenced smashers and if they were not sung in Italian they could just as well have been recorded by the likes of GBH, Discharge or Dead Wretched. 'Italia Bruccia' on the B-Side is a little different in the sense that it is very melodic, mid-tempo and takes cues from 2nd Generation Brit bands like Angelic Upstarts, the Ruts et al. while a big Clash influence cannot be overheard either. Overall this is a great little platter. Mille grazie! 

Label: Meccano Records; Year: 1985; Format: 33RPM EP

Two years after having self-released their 1st EP Stigmathe released a 2nd EP, this time on Meccano Records from Torino. Worth mentioning is that the person behind Meccano Records, Giulio Tedeschi, was born in 1952 and could hence be considered "too old" to give a band like Stigmathe a chance but Giulio was always a man in pursuit of giving bands with a true DIY spirit a chance hence Stigmathe's 2nd EP landed with said label. Compared to the first one the 2nd EP is somewhat different yet again as the two songs on the first side are no longer just UK82 influenced but draw equally from post-punk and gothic as well creating an interesting mix with echoey vocals over dark and fast sounds while Side B is a great upbeat punky reggae track. In my opinion the 1st EP is the winner but both are equally strong outputs and  worth tracking down if said above is up your alley. 

Punishment Of Luxury - "Puppet Life", "Engine of Excess" and "Secrets" Singles

Label: Small Wonder Records; Year: 1978; Format: 45 RPM Single

What can be said about Punishment of Luxury or also known as Punilux? Well, actually quite a lot as they certainly are a highly interesting bunch hailing from the North East of England, Newcastle to be exact. When I decided to spin the three singles I have I wanted to find out more about these fellows so I naturally reached to Alex Ogg's bible 'no more heroes' only to find out that Punilux were not included in said book. Hmm, I suppose they didn't quite make the punk cut and to be honest it is understandable as Punilux were truly not a punk band per se but incorporated aspects of punk rock into their sound and look. Luckily I also own Mario Panciera's '45 Revolutions' which is an absolute goldmine for information as you intranet geeks will surely know. Punilux were formed in 1975 by two members with theatre company backgrounds. The theatrical aspect is something that is quite unique to Punilux and plays a big part of their sound and visuals. Fittingly the band released their first single 'Puppet Life' on East London's Small Wonder Records where many interesting bands found their home and an opportunity to be heard. Both of the songs on this single are pure gold with influences ranging from psychedelic rock, glam rock and 77 punk to be heard on both songs. They were referred to as theatrical punk or art punk but call it what you want they were talented and drew from different influences equally important to them. Savage Pencil reviewing the single for Sounds back in the day wrote: "This U.K. band look and sound like your worst paranoia come to life. Punilux toy and claw at your brain with a tune that won't let go, filling your sleepless nights with fevered dreams of insanity. On top of all that it's the best British single I've heard in weeks." I couldn't agree more. 

Label: United Artists Records; Year: 1979; Format: 45 RPM Single

Just like many other small and independent English bands of the time Punilux searched for a major label deal and were eventually picked up by United Artists. Originally 'Jellyfish' was supposed to be the A-Side for their first release on UA but last minute it was dropped for 'Engine of Excess'. Gary Bushell wrote for Sounds that the band was pointless, safe and something for dated people which I suppose is true coming from someone who likes to surround himself with football hooligans. But that's not the point here as in my opinion this single is just as good as the first one on Small Wonder. Both songs continue in the weird, humorous and arty tradition of theatrical punk with 'Jellyfish' being somewhat of Punilux's stand out track. A good friend of mine back in Europe used to play this a lot when DJ-ing after gigs and it is not surprising that a lot of people were turned off as it's just not everybody's cake. Back in the day the release was received lukewarm and the sales weren't all that great either. It is a shame as it just proves that no matter what decade we are talking about most people love to just give a band a certain label and sound without going too deep. Punilux were so much more than plain punk, that's for sure. 

Label: United Artists Records; Year: 1979; Format: 45 RPM Single

Punilux's second single for UA was released in 1979 as well and is an interesting one in the sense that the two songs are quite different from each other. 'Secrets' is described by Mario Panciera as a lackluster song reminiscent of early '70s Prog Rock. Sure he is not miles off with the description but in my opinion the song does grow on you and still has elements of the weird and arty craft known to Punilux. But let's not dwell too long on the A-Side as the other side offers 'Brainbomb', a smasher on a whole different level. This is a fast and furious song mixing elements of 2nd wave punk rock and the emerging sound of NWOBHM to give you an idea, just a perfect song. Punilux disbanded twice and returned to perform in 2007 when I moved to London for some time. I saw them at a small venue in London in 2008 or 09 and they sure as hell did not disappoint. This won't be the one and only Punilux entry to this blog so stay tuned and if you haven't discovered the band yet just remember it's never too late. 

Baby's Got A Gun - Suicide Girl EP

Label: MBC Record; Year: 1987; Format: 45 RPM 12" Vinyl

Really not sure where I bought this one and when but it was without doubt decades ago. An interesting release it is though as there is little to no info at all to be found about Baby's Got A Gun from Scotland on the intranet. If my memory serves me right there was a little report about them in an old MRR but I am certainly not going to spend hours looking for it now. Should I come across it, I'll upload it here. Baby's Got A Gun existed from 1985 to 1995 and this 12" EP was their first release. Remember how 45 RPM EPs were a thing in those days. Equally interesting is the label that put out this release as MBC Records, or McDonald Brothers Corp, was the label that brought the world six volumes of Punk - A World History, a little side note I found rather interesting. There is no doubt in my mind that this Scottish bunch will not be ingrained in punk rock history but this EP is in fact actually quite good. Side A was recorded in 1987 and the B-Side a year earlier and the four songs are kind of tough to describe but if anything I would describe them as Punk-a-billy as corny as that may sound. By the time the band got together the world has seen punk rock come and go and evolving in different directions which is very much in the foreground on this record. Equally influenced by the Revillos or the Ramones '83-'86 period the four songs blend influences from punk rock to rockabilly and some goth rock into an interesting musical mash that works. I suppose there was a lot of these bands around at the time but they just weren't on my radar very much as I just about gotten into hardcore punk, and by that I mean nothing as melodic as this record. It's one of those records that if you see it somewhere for a couple of bucks grab it as I think it needs a new generation of listeners. I guess the band took their band name from the Only Ones...?

Photo Credit: Baby's Got A Gun Official FB page

Antler Joe and the Accidents - go commercial EP

Label: Feral Kid Records; Year: 2022; Format: 7" Vinyl EP

First and foremost nice to see that a Buffalo based label was involved in making this reissue of this rare Florida punk gem possible. I certainly do not remember having come across this band so when I saw some talk about it online it caught my attention and I listened to Dogshit on Youtube and instantly liked it. Little is known about Antler Joe but breakmyface.com has some info relating to the band so hop on there and read the full story, albeit brief. What you get on this originally in 1981 on Killer Sheep Records released EP are three heavily New York influenced punk rock songs which all rock in their own way. 300 copies were pressed back in the day hence needless to say it's rare as hell so hurry up and grab this reissue before it's too late yet again. In above mentioned link on breakmyface singer John elaborates on his regreting of the addition of a saxophone on 'Who needs a woman'. I absolutely disagree as I think it suits the song and is not out of place at all. X-Ray Spex have successfully done so before these guys, and I think if executed well it adds to the music. Alright, apologies for losing myself here a little bit in the world of saxophones in punk rock but if that's not your thing then don't worry as the other two tracks have none of it and are equally great. For 1981 this Fort Myers band probably sounded a bit lagging in time but I personally like that as they weren't from a big metropolitan area chasing the next trend which would have been hardcore punk at the time. If the NY Dolls or Heartbreakers are your cup of tea then you'll love this record, and if not you'll still love this record. Now go commercial and buy it!

Micro Edge - '83 Demo LP 

Label: Ugly Pop Records; Year: 2019; Format: Vinyl LP (45 RPM)

1983 was a good year for hardcore punk, there is no doubt about that. Many classic records were released said year and are raved about to this day. Here in the United States established scenes in places like Washington DC, Southern California or the Midwest had independent labels being there at the right time to document the bands and the recorded material. Unfortunately not the same can be said about Toronto, Canada which is the biggest city in Canada and boasted a small but very active hardcore punk scene in the early '80s. I say unfortunately because it is a shame the T.O. scene didn't have somebody to fill the gap with a record label at that point but at least quite a few tapes and some records ended up being released, mainly thanks to Brian of Youth Youth Youth fame who was a big supporter of Micro Edge as well. Forward to the last few years and Toronto has seen a true resurgence in activity, especially when it comes to documenting the early '80s hardcore punk scene. Micro Edge from presumably the suburb of Scarborough as the band members met at a school there, are by no means a known entity even to minor freaks like myself hence I am grateful for Ugly Pop Records having released this record as it sure as hell kicks ass. For a demo tape put on vinyl it certainly sounds great and fresh and let me tell you that in my opinion had this record been released back in the day some people would be raving about it to this day as with many other so called hardcore classics. What you get is sixteen angry, pissed off hardcore punk tracks that will remind you of early Dischord bands or certain West Coast acts such as D.O.A or Circle Jerks. I love the loud and aggressive bass sound and the equally abrasive drumming. The guitar player certainly knew how to write songs and the singer fit the bill. Not much else really needs to be said and if '83 style hardcore punk without even a hint of metal is your thing than you will love this record as much as me. Ugly Pop did a wonderful job with this release which also comes with a copy of the band produced skater fanzine Bong Out. Killer Release! 

The Clean - Boodle Boodle Boodle and Tally Hoe reissues

Label: Merge Records; Year: 2021: Format 12" 45RPM EP

One of the many reasons I don't post often enough on this blog is the fact that I love listening to podcasts. Besides podcasts dedicated to politics or law or other subjects causing more headaches and an upset stomach I sometimes listen to Dynamite Hemorrhage Radio which I can highly recommend as it has introduced me to many a band I was unaware of with New Zealand's The Clean being one of them. I heard a song off of this originally in 1981 released EP on one of the shows and was instantly hooked and intrigued. Luckily Merge Records reissued this rarity last year so nobody needs to fork out some serious dosh on an original on the hugely influential Flying Nun record label. All five songs on this record are killer, and I mean it man! It's hard to describe The Clean's sound as they draw from psychedelic influences to punk and post-punk with a heavy bass driven sound. I wish I had been drawn to these type of bands earlier in life as the older I get the more I appreciate the edginess and artiness of bands like the Clean. The band formed in 1978 in Dunedin, NZ and has influenced countless bands in the indie scene throughout the years. I cannot stress enough how great this record is and that you too should get a copy. Comes with a nice reproduction of the original cartoon of the EP as pictured below. 

Label: Merge Records; Year: 2021; Format: 7" Vinyl Single

Honestly I wasn't even aware of this reissue until I saw it at my local Indie Record Store so I picked it up along the above reviewed 12" EP. Tally Ho is a punky/new wavy upbeat song that kicks serious ass with Platypus being a slower song definitely more in the post-punk vein. This is a classic two song single with two killer tracks hence you can't go wrong. I will have to make some time and dig deeper into the rich catalogue of the Clean to see how the band's sound evolved over the years and whether I will be buying and reviewing more of their records. End of rant. 

Rutto - Ei Paluuta and Ilmastoitu Painajainen EP Reissues

Rutto - Ei Paluuta EP

Label: Final Doomsday Records; Year: 2022; Format: 7" EP

When I was a teenager back in Switzerland I loved bands like Rattus, Bastards, Riistetyt et al. The sound, the Finnish language and the way the punks from this northern country looked just appealed to me on all levels. I don't remember ever hearing about Rutto, a band from the town of Tornio where also much better known Terveet Kadet came from. With Piasky filling in on bass and the original having been released in 1983 on Laja's of TK fame IKBAL Records it is pretty clear that Rutto were close to TK. What we get on this EP is mid-paced rudimentary female fronted punk rock that reminds be a bit of UK bands like Anti Pasti or Action Pact. The tracks all sound a bit alike and if there is one stand out song then I'd pick "Sa Et Haluu" which has a nice 77' punk feel to it. By no means one of those classic '80s Finnish hardcore punk records but nice to have a reissue and Final Doomsday have done a nice job in that regard. 

Rutto - Ilmastoitu Painajainen EP

Label: Final Doomsday Records; Year: 2022; Format: 7" EP

Just like above EP the second Rutto EP was originally released on IKBAL, this one in 1984. A-Side has in my opinion the best songs Rutto recorded as those thrashers are as fast, frantic and chaotic as any Terveet Kadet song to make the comparison since Piasky served on bass. Guitarist Makinen (also of Kuolema) rips through those songs while Kana struggles to keep up screaming but the end result was as good as many of the far better known acts from the land of thousand lakes. It's a shame that the B-Side is a letdown and contains a badly produced mid-tempo punk song that quite frankly should have never made it onto vinyl. Still, if you are like me and can never get enough of that chaotic '80s hardcore punk from Finland then this is worth picking up for that one side only. As mentioned above I don't think anyone will place Rutto in the same league as Rattus, TK, Kaaos et al. but these reissues are nevertheless worth your hard earned cash. 

GRB - Estoy Tan Contento! EP

Label: Self Released; Year: 1986; Format: 7" EP

GRB hailed from Catalonia's capital of Barcelona, and formed out of the ashes of Ultimo Resorte and Frenopaticss. While I am a huge fan of Ultimo Resorte I cannot say I am equally enthusiastic about GBR. This EP is by no means a bad record, but at the same time it is not a Spanish hardcore punk classic. The band surely played a major role in establishing a new hardcore scene along with bands such as the Subterranean Kids but to me this record sounds like a weird combination of hectic hardcore punk played as fast as possible with some flashy guitar parts thrown in. The result sounds like a mixture between Negazione and Iron Maiden with a poor production. The best song on this EP is by far the one where the band steers away from any Metal influence and delivers a tuneful mid-paced hardcore punk track. A shame not all seven tracks are like that, and my review would have been quite a different story. Not a horrible record per se, but just because it's rare don't be under the assumption that it's a must have.

Panx Romana - Antartes Poleon LP

Label: Wipe Out! Records; Year: 1989; Format: Vinyl LP

There is really not all that much I know about the Greek punk rock scene, and that is truly a shame. While I have heard some of the bands from the '80s, and am well aware that Greece always had a politically minded active punk scene, it has to be said that the records released in this southern European country were hard to get. Somehow many years ago I managed to get a copy of Panx Romana's 2nd LP in a trade, and I'm glad I did. There are just records that you haven't placed on the turntable in a long time but you remember damn well that you've always liked this record. Well, this is a prime example for one of those records, and let me tell you that the more one listens to this record the more it grows on you. Thirteen songs (one of them a Ramones cover) full of '78 punk inspired songs, and very much influenced by the likes of The Clash or Angelic Upstarts, this quartet sure knew how to write catchy yet aggressive and tuneful punk songs. The melodies are addictive, the greek language suits punk rock very well, and these guys were very gifted songwriters. The little bit I was able to learn about the band told me that Panx Romana originally started out in 1982 and the singer came from another fairly well known punk band named Stress. Panx Romana continued to record after this LP but I have never heard their '90s material. For now my aim will be to track down a copy of their 1st LP, and for all of you out there who don't own this little gem here, don't waste time and get it! Oh yes, and I nearly forgot to say that the LP comes with a nice zine, albeit in greek language.

Steve Miller - Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Rock'N'Roll in America's Loudest City

Publisher: Da Capo Press; Year: 2013; Format: Book

I am glad to have found this book very recently for close to nothing at a place I've never been to before in Manhattan. Rest assured though that the price tag does not reflect the quality of the contents in this book. I have heard about Steve Miller's book a while ago, and I certainly wanted to improve my knowledge of Detroit based Rock'N'Roll so having to read this one book one day was definitely inevitable. Many of you will know Steve Miller as the vocalist for much famed Lansing, MI hardcore punk band The Fix, or as the editor of the Touch and Go book that was published a few years back. Some of you might not know that he's actually a veteran when it comes to investigative journalism, and author of several books outside the music genre covering real crime. Needless to say that for a massive project such as writing on the rich history of Rock'N'Roll out of Detroit he was the right person to succeed at it. There are not many books that manage to cover as much ground as this book does, and let's be honest which other book will give you the pleasure to read about bands and artists such as MC5, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Mitch Ryder, Destroy All Monsters, Negative Approach, Laughing Hyenas, The Gories or the White Stripes, all at the same time? My guess is as good as yours, ladies and gentlemen. What I find really fascinating about this book is the fact that Steve has not only found a way to describe many anecdotes for the reader to feel like one is right there in the middle of the chaos, but at the same time he has done an outstanding job when it comes to the chronology of the debauchery that took place in Detroit and its surrounding towns. The only part I didn't really enjoy in this book was about Bob Seger, and this was when he was already a well known act on the national circuit. I yawned a lot through that part only to be awaken by more crazy stories from Wayne Kramer and other luminaries that were fed up with the status quo, and were starting to form new bands. And believe me, that was the only slow part in this book as the rest of it will take you through clubs such as Bookie's and bands associated with that scene, the early '80s hardcore punk explosion with Negative Approach on the forefront, the aftermath of hardcore and some crazy drugged stories involving John Brannon and Larissa Strickland of Laughing Hyenas, and the start, or shall we say return to garage rock from Detroit with The Gories and bands and scenes that evolved out of that time including Bantam Rooster, White Stripes or Von Bondies. Have I told you this book covers a lot of ground? Okay, there are two omissions I was disappointed with. For whatever reason the bands Death and Cinecyde get very little to no mention at all, and members from those two bands contributed little to nothing for this oral history. That sucked but still, it takes very little away from what this book gives the reader, and that is a detailed and at times mind blowing account of what was happening in Motown. This is widely available, and even your local library has probably a copy of this book, hence I really don't see an excuse for any of you out there for not reading this!

The Sevens - S/T LP

Label: Feathered Apple Records; Year: 2005; Format: Vinyl LP

Sixties garage rock has started to grow on me a number of years back when I developed a strong interest in pre punk bands and the various styles of music dating back to the '50s and '60s in particular. The Sevens hailed from the wonderful border town of Basel in Switzerland, ideally located next to Germany, and France. I am not surprised that the original of this LP is on many wants lists, and can fetch several hundred dollars. Fact is that this LP is a superb collection of songs which were for the most part written by the Sevens bar three great cover versions thrown in. Thank god music fanatics started to take things into their own matters, and invested their hard earned money into reissues of records they wanted the world to hear as presented here by Switzerland's own Feathered Apple. Originally released in 1966 on the Layola Records this 2005 reissue comes with a huge and incredible two sided poster with the history of the band, and some fabulous shots from way beck when. Not only is the packaging outstanding but it is the music itself that will get you off of your lazy ass, and dancing in your living room. Each one of the original nine songs is a hit on its own, whether it be a faster garage rock smasher, or a slower and more poppy song, they are all recorded to the highest quality and will have you want to play this record over and over. Sixties garage punk aficionados consider this LP as one of the best of said genre, and I can see why. Highly recommended!

Los Violadores - s/t LP

Label: Fanclub; Year: 199?; Format: Vinyl LP

First and foremost, let me tell you that this full length has been officially reissued two years ago by Spanish label Beat Generation so there is absolutely no need to hunt down a copy of this counterfeit release which came out about fifteen years ago when I had obtained it. It's a good thing that many of those releases that were first bootlegged in the '90s are now slowly but surely seeing the light of official reissues, becoming accessible to old and new punk aficionados alike. And even though I do not support or particularly like counterfeit releases, in many cases it is, or at least was the easiest and cheapest way to hear certain releases that one has nearly no chance of landing an original copy of. Before I bore you to death about that issue though, you will probably have guessed why you need to check out the reissue of this outstanding release, because let me tell you, it is an extraordinary good punk rock record, and does not contain a single daft song, nope. Los Violadores started life in 1980 and there is an excellent write up about the history of this Argentinian band that I found online, so please feel free to click on the link provided at the end of this review. As for the twelve songs found on this platter I could write an entire book worth of praise, not kidding you. Why this LP does not appear on all these countless lists of best ever punk rock LPs really baffles me as honestly it should be plastered all over the place. If people were looking to the United States or the U.K. in 1983, when this LP was originally released, then they found mostly raging hardcore punk on one continent, or the relatively boring sounds of countless UK82 bands on the other side of the Atlantic. One only needed to have an open mind and venture south to Argentina where Los Violadores were from. If you like your punk rock fast, yet tuneful, filled with melodic hooks and a loud and caring bass guitar, then this LP will satisfy your punk rock needs 150%. Think of D.O.A. at their very best, or New York's Kraut, Finland's Lama, and so on, you get the picture. Plus let me tell you, Spanish is a great language, and it works well for punk rock, doesn't it? The band continued to release more records since the early '80s, and even as recent as 2009, but from what I have heard they really became far more mainstream in the '80s already, and only their 2nd LP is still worth a listen. Still, it's about this release here which should be in everybody's collection!

Band History: http://www.shit-fi.com/articles/LosVioladores

Slobodna Europa - Pakaren LP

Label: Opus; Year: 1991; Format: Vinyl LP

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and at one point this rich in history city was situated in Czechoslovakia, which was before the split, and the subsequent formation of the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Bratislava always had a small and active punk rock scene, even way before communism ended as a result of the velvet revolution in 1989. The earliest punk rock acts from Bratislava were Extip and Zona A, and Slobodna Europa developed out of those two bands when some members of Zona A left the band, and decided to form a new band around the charismatic singer Whisky. "Pakaren" is the bands's first full length album, and was released in 1991 when publishing music became possible in post-communism  CSSR. I was born in Bratislava, hence I always had a keen interest in the punk rock history of my hometown, but by no means does one have to have such close ties to the place in order to appreciate this album. Sixteen songs were packed on to this release and there is not a single song I do not like, which means something for a full length. All songs represent a great mix of early Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, and Ramones influenced songs, paired with a good dose of the bands' own style including Slovak lyrics.  The result is a great album celebrating Sex, Drugs & Rock'N'Roll in the best way possible, meaning that yes, some of the songs lyrically deal with substances that might numb you, but so what, it's a punk rock record, and some cliches are unavoidable. It is the music that is the absolute winner here, and the songs immediately grow on you, no matter whether is is the upbeat ones, or the more melancholic ones, as they all possess a way to draw you in through great song writing, such as the inclusion of a saxophone in some songs. Slobodna Europa is still going strong to this day, and has released three more albums in the meantime, developing musically and also lyrically. As often though, it is the first release that gets talked about the most, which is no different in this case. Should you have a chance to grab a copy of this record then don't hesitate if you don't want to miss out on eastern European punk'n'roll history!

Ulster - M-19 EP

Label: ABC Records; Year: 1995; Format: Vinyl 7"

You want noise? Alright, I got noise for your ears here in the most distorted and primitive way one can only imagine. But let me put things into context here before this review starts to sound like I am bashing this release, or the band. Quite the contrary because Ulster were one of the earliest bands to emerge out of Brazil, in particular out of the ABC industrial complex in Sao Paulo. The excellent KFTH website informed me that the band started as a reaction to high unemployment and socio-economical problems in their ABC area of Sao Paulo, and channelled all their anger and frustration into a visual and sonic attack. The tracks on this EP were originally all recorded during demo sessions in 1982, and as hinted above resulted in songs that will make your ears bleed. This is hardcore punk at its most primitive, but taking into consideration the circumstances and the environment these guys came from, one should quickly realize that the band did not have the same technological opportunities as bands in Europe or America, and as a result of that you get a very raw but honest sounding time document. Further to the extreme music, Ulster were aggressive and provocative in their approach of getting their message of anti-government lyrics across. The whole package of this EP tells the story of real urban struggle, and a violent three chord reaction to it. When it comes to the recorded music then this might not be top notch, but at the end of the day this is a fantastic time document from a scene that was just starting to explode at the time of these recordings.

V/A - Messthetics # 103 - DIY '77-81, Midlands, Part 1

Label: Hyped To Death; Year: 2007; Format: CD

Fans and collectors of obscure DIY punk and post-punk bands from the UK and North America will be familiar with Chuck Warner's Hyped To Death website and compilation CDs. Chuck has put an incredible amount of time and love into his little DIY empire, enabling many of us to hear the most obscure sounds of times past. This particular compilation deals with bands from the Midlands part of the UK and as Chuck put it in the CD; between 1977 and 1983 literally hundreds of bands released their own records and cassettes throughout the UK. As one can only assume, some were more talented musicians, whereas others weren't, but didn't lack anything when it comes to drive and true DIY spirit. The songs compiled on this CD sum up what was just said, offering hidden gems such as the Prefects "Things in General", or The Shapes "I saw Batman in the launderette", whereas other songs are rudimentary to the bone without lacking originality and charisma. Overall you get over twenty songs on this Messthetics volume, a great booklet with tons of information about the bands and the times where everything seemed possible. Not many people can own all the originals found on these compilations, hence I see no reason to not stocking up on these. Essential stuff!

Fred Burns: Basically, Johnny Moped - The Story of Punk Rock's Great Lost Legend

Year: 2013; Format: Limited DVD

First and foremost, I am thankful to a dear friend of mine in the UK for having sent me this limited DVD release, as some of us die-hard Johnny Moped fans like myself couldn't wait until finally seeing the light of this documentary. One of the interesting facts about this movie is that the director, Fred Burns, is the son of Captain Sensible of the Damned, and up until recently Fred had no idea at all about Johnny Moped, a band that is part of his dad's musical career. Anyhow, one day before a Crystal Palace game Fred and his dad were at a pub warming up for the game, and Johnny Moped entered the scene, much to Fred's amusement, but above all curiosity. The idea to make a documentary about Johnny Moped started then and there, and the end result is stunning. The story of this band from Croydon in South London is rich in characters, failures, success, and true punk rock spirit. In my opinion Johnny Moped has always remained a somewhat unsung hero of the first generation punk rockers, but if you were lucky to have ever seen the band live, and that includes the modern days, you know exactly what I am talking about. And I was lucky enough. As a fan you will not be disappointed by this movie, as it will not only provide you with some great early, and more recent footage, but will also connect all the dots that were missing in the history of this cult band. I am not sure whether this movie will get an official DVD release, hopefully landing the band a wider fan base and appreciation of its history. I'll go as far as saying that you don't even have to have ever heard of Johnny Moped, and you'll still get a kick out of watching this touching music documentary!

Update July 2022: The documentary is currently on Netflix, but for how long I don't know. Watch it while you can! 

V/A - Vancouver Evolution EP

Label: Unknown; Year: Unknown; Format: Vinyl 7"

What we have got here is a must-have for everybody that loves early Canuck punk, or KBD punk simply because these four tracks on here are a fabulous time document of the very early Vancouver scene, including the Furies, the Skulls, the Stiffs and Victorian Pork. True fans of Canadian punk will know that the Skulls became D.O.A, and the Stiffs evolved into the Subhumans. All four tracks originally appeared on the Double-CD compilation Last Call - Vancouver Independent Music 1977 - 1988, hence my assumption is that some bootlegger just took them straight from those CDs and slapped them onto an EP, which includes a copied insert with information on the very beginnings of the Vancouver punk scene. Sure enough, an official release would have been nicer, but it is what it is, and since it's still readily available I don't see why you folks out there shouldn't own a copy of this!

Sam Sutherland: Perfect Youth - The Birth of Canadian Punk

Publisher: ECW Press; Year: 2012; Format: Book

There was a time not even all that long ago, where I was asking myself why nobody has ever written a book on punk rock from Canada. It was a time when the first serious books about punk rock started to be published, and maybe it was just too early for this great land. But patience pays off, and in 2014 there is more than one book to be had about punk rock from those crazy Canucks. This particular one here though is special, in the sense that it covers the history of punk rock from coast to coast of this vast country. Sam Sutherland has done a fine job at doing so, and I understand that it must have been one hell of an undertaking to not only track down all the bands and its former members, but to actually organize the book so that it becomes clear to people not that knowledgable with Canadian geography where in the heck these guys came from. There are nineteen chapters in this book, and each one of them concentrates on a specific scene/city/band(s). While many of us seasoned punk rock enthusiasts are familiar with the historic backgrounds of bands such as the Viletones, Subhumans, the Diodes or D.O.A, I personally enjoyed most the chapters about the scenes I had very little knowledge about, such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan or Ottawa, to name a few. Winters in those places are harsh, brutal, and long, yet even in those remote areas scenes developed and flourished. It is those chapters that make this book a really great read, and I would have bought a book about those remote scenes themselves, but that's just nerdy me. Of course you'll also get to read about the scenes in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal and anywhere else in Canada. Great stuff, and I hope there is more to come in form of books and records that delve into the rich history of Canadian punk rock.

Victimize - Where did the money go? EP

Label: Last Year's Youth; Year: 2004; Format: Vinyl 7"

Victimize were one of the very few early Welsh punk acts and this EP released a decade ago packs in both of the two official releases from '79 and '80. This reissue comes in a nice 8-page booklet summing up an interesting band history, and some nice old flyers and posters are reprinted therein too. As for the music I for one conclude that only the second single, here on the B-Side, is really worth a listen. 'Where did the money go?' and 'Innocence', an adaptation of John Cooper Clarke's 'Innocent' are great KBD smashers, underproduced but delivered with high energy, anger and conviction. The funny thing about both of those tracks is that apparently none of the original band members recorded these, but some local musicians posed as the original members. Go figure....As for the first single, which makes up the A-Side on this EP, I must say I am not convinced at all. Both songs are drawn out, and even though they are not horrible per se, it seems like at the time the band didn't know whether they wanted to be a punk rock band, or play early '70s rock. Do yourselves a favor and don't spend a fortune on an original copy of  Baby Buyer/Hi-Rising Failure as it's not worth it, at least me thinks so. Get this one cheap, especially worth for the B-Side!