Exodus - Bonded by Blood LP

Label: Century Media/Combat; Year: 2022; Format: Gatefold Vinyl LP

Every music genre has defining records on offer and when it comes to Thrash Metal then "Bonded by Blood" by Bay Area Thrashers Exodus is one of them, and in my opinion probably the album that defines Thrash Metal at its best. If someone out there without any idea about Thrash Metal asked me to describe the genre I would simply suggest to put this record on as it is without exaggeration a masterpiece from the second the needle drops. It is almost needless to say that at one point I did own an early pressing of this album but as it goes I got rid off it in my haze believing that I would never feel the need to listen to Metal ever again. How wrong I was all those decades ago as quite a few of those albums that I sold or traded for next to nothing are collector items and hard to get these days. Well, let me not bother you for too long with my so called dilemmas as thankfully there are reissues and so I am again an owner of this album and this time it will stay with me until I drop dead I suppose. The other night I watched "Murder in the Front Row" again, a powerful and insightful documentary about the early days of Bay Area Thrash Metal. Exodus played a huge role in the development of a scene that started out around a record store where Metal Heads would meet to buy and exchange the latest imports from around the world. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal with bands like Motorhead, Iron Maiden, UFO or Saxon were the primary influence for a lot of the kids in the Bay Area and it wasn't long before bands like Venom or Discharge started to make the rounds in tape trading circles signaling a change in Metal towards a faster, more direct and more brutal sound influenced by NWOBHM and Hardcore Punk alike. I nearly laughed my head off when Gary Holt and co. were describing the scenes at Ruthie's Inn where Exodus and especially their singer Paul Baloff (RIP) would encourage to rip people's Hair Metal shirts off their bodies as to signal that only real Metal was accepted and posers were not welcomed. It brought back memories of my own youth and my buddies in Suburban Zurich, Switzerland. We acted so tough and evil without being evil and made fun of posers ourself, but to be fair we didn't advocate for any harsher actions. Speaking of Ruthie's Inn I recall reading about the club some time ago and thought it was fascinating to learn that the former owner Wesley Robinson (RIP) was an original jazzer who just happened to have an extremely open mind, a big heart and definitely a lot of patience by having opened the doors to a scene that was young, loud and obnoxious but generally speaking good natured. Back in the Mid-80s when I started to get into more extreme music "Bonded by Blood" had far more appeal to me than say the Sex Pistols or the Clash. My friends and I were looking for bands that could shock, would piss off our parents and stood apart from everything else. Exodus was one of those bands and it speaks volumes if an album can still live up to the hype nearly forty years after its original release. When I sat down to listen to the album tonight I felt pretty much the same excitement as all those years back and the nine songs were over with in no time. My favorite tracks have always been 'Bonded by Blood', 'Metal Command' and 'Piranha' but there really are no fillers on this album and in 2023 I can probably proclaim that I love this album even more than I ever had. Play loud and go wild!

V/A - The End of an Era (The Best of Rot Records) 2-LP

Label: Rot Records; Year: 1988; Format: Vinyl 2-LP

Rot Records was started in late '83 by members of Mansfield band Riot Squad and my assumption is that first and foremost the goal was to release their own music as the first three Rot Releases were Riot Squad EP's, all classics in my opinion. The label went on to release an array of interesting and diverse releases from bands such as Paranoia (see blog entry for review of their LP), Resistance 77, Varukers, English Dogs etc.. In my opinion Rot Records sought out the bands that were maybe being ignored by labels such as No Future or Riot City but were equally good as the bands on said labels. In that sense Rot Records filled a gap and had quite a few of their releases played on Radio One, such as in the case of East London Act Animal Farm who were scheduled to support New Model Army on their tour only for it to be canceled last minute. The label was also in the right place at the right time to pick up the highly talented English Dogs and releasing their excellent "To The Ends Of The Earth" 12" but ultimately losing the band to Under One Flag Records. It is needless to say that Rot Records had a good run and released a slew of under appreciated minor indie hits, but by 1988 it was all over with and the label came to an end. I remember vividly that it was in that year when I picked up my copy of this 32 track Double LP at Jama Rico Records in Zurich, Switzerland. As you can see on the photo of the back cover I even marked which tracks I liked more or less, but that was in 1988 when I was first and foremost into faster hardcore punk stuff. Yesterday I sat down to listen to all four sides and loved each and every track leading me to the conclusion that Rot's catalogue has aged rather well. While thirty five years ago for the most part I enjoyed bands like Riot Squad, Varukers, Oi Polloi, Rattus et al yesterday I made a mental note to myself that I must dig deeper into the catalogues of bands such as Reality from East Anglia, Butcher from posh coastal town Bournemouth, Picture Frame Seduction, Cult Maniax as well as above mentioned Animal Farm. Said bands have all a unique style on their own and deserve more attention in the wider sense. The truth of the matter is that most of the Rot releases have become very collectible and expensive to buy but some of the material has been reissued. I am always shocked to see the prices on Discogs and for how much these records go for, it's pure insanity. I suppose that over the decades more and more people all over the world have caught up to these records pushing up prices. My guess is that many of you folks out there don't mind streaming music and I am pretty sure you can find this Double-LP online as I highly recommend it if you are not so familiar with Rot's catalogue. Whether you like UK82 punk, more melodic '77 punk inspired '80s punk rock or Metal influenced hardcore punk you'll find plenty of it on this collection. Last but not least I think Rot Records should be more in the conversation when recollecting early '80s UK punk history as they sure as hell released some forgotten gems. Cheers!