The Fun Never Ends

In a few days I'm going to close this multiply account. So download any that you can. Stay tuned for the new site that I'm working on. Until then, cheers!

 

For those of you who doesn't know it yet. John Stabb, singer of DC band GOVERNMENT ISSUE, was beaten by a group of thugs. He was beaten so bad he had to undergo surgery for his face. This is for you, John, and for a speedy recovery too.

My first Podcast, hopefully the start of an interesting series. No "dj-ing" on this one. I sound terrible on the mike. Just good, continous punk and hardcore music, me thinks it's better that way, hehe. Here's the tracklist:

Government Issue - Written Word
Les Thugs - Without Annie
Poison Idea - Punish Me
Marginal Man - Friend
Saccharine Trust - Effort to Waste
The Outpatients - Fight
Negative FX - Mind Control
The Subhumans (UK) - Mickey Mouse is Dead
Life Sentence - Punks for Profit
Hollywood Squares - Hillside Strangler
Dead Ends - Wasteland
Reagan Youth - USA
Minutemen - '99
The Abused - Drug Free Youth
The Cheifs - Blues
The Flys - Love and a Molotov Cocktail
Dr Know - Fear the Intruder
Wrecking Crew - My Mind's Diseased (Battalion of Saints)

The GI track sounds terrible, I know. Sorry for that one. But it's what's on the cd (Complete History I) really. My Lp track even sounds better.

I was thinking of maybe publishing this at a podcast site. Maybe later, when I get the time. Enjoy punks!

From the video "Live in NYC '91", AF with their infamous cover of American O! band IRON CROSS' Crucified. Great song!

UK Subs at the TOTP. Classic song, a very youthful Charlie Harper at that.

And another one...

Another one...

Can't stand the Rezillos...

My copy of Eastern Front Compilation 2 was on heavy rotation in my player for the last few weeks. Like Rat Music for Rat People, EF2 is a compilation of live tracks. Pretty good selection of bands and tracks. But as they say, you really can’t get enough of something you really love. So I thought of making a selection of my own. It’s not much, just a few of the live tracks that I adored over the years. I’m sure you know most of the bands here so no need for intros. A few liners maybe, check it out.

I should’ve picked an Angelic Upstart live track from their infamous live album, but I really dig this track so I picked this live release. Truly inspiring and anthemic.

The very first Anti Nowhere League song I heard was “I Hate People”, there and then I loved that track ever since. I was young, so what if I go for anti “anything” songs? But as Animal stated, “there is only one Anti Nowhere League and everyone else could eat shit”. This live album was one of my most played tapes back then, and I still have it. I just love it when I hear “People keep calling us English pigs, but we’re not really, are we?...” in a very English accent to boot. Very good rendition of Paint It Black also.

To me, The Youth are Getting Restless is one of the best live punk albums ever released. It’s sort of a “best of...”, only it’s done live. And the audio is good for a live recording. Controversial they may be, but Bad Brains still rocks!

The album Pissed and Proud was recommended by a friend back then. I’m not really a Peter and the Test Tube Babies fan, but this track is so charismatic it’s a shame not to include it. Every pinoy punk knows this song. If I’m not mistaken, besides Police Story by the Partisans, this is the most covered song in most pinoy punk gigs.

One of my very first punk albums was the Exploited’s Live at the White House. And God Save the Queen was my favorite song. I knew this track by heart. Maybe because of it’s “intelligent” lyrics. To this date, God Save the Queen still remains my most played Exploited song.

Scotland’s the Rezillos maybe out of place here, so what? I so adore this band, you've got to love Faye Fife's vocals. Only two albums across their name (a studio and a live) but their music is that exalting, it’s so addicting. My friend mentioned one time that Betrayed used to cover this song during those days. Domeng? Tito Pagz?

I first got hold of the Gross Out USA live album of UK Subs before the studio albums. So I’m more acquainted with the live versions than the studio versions. Trivia....UK Subs albums are in alphabetical order. Starting with Another Kind of Blues, Brand New Age, Crash Course, Diminished....up until World War (I think).

Haven't posted something for a while. But be ready for something special when I do. I'm sure you're gonna love it. I just hope no one else thinks of it before I post it or it won't be that special anymore, hehe. Meanwhile, here's a few discs that are on heavy rotation on my player for the past few days.

Behind Enemy Lines/The Global Cannibal - Former members of Aus Rotten and Caustic Christ. Very wicked album. If you wouldn't know they're BEL youd think they're Aus Rotten. Very political and angry release. Must have.

Pointed Sticks/Waiting for the Real Thing - Canadian power pop at it's best. A compilation of single releases spanning their career. Although I quite don't like the "Out of Luck" and "What do you want me to do" single versions here, it's still a killer. Found a few more good moments here like the title track, All that matters and Lies. Guitar rocks by the way.

Mike Hanopol/Awiting Pilipino - Mike Hanopol? You've gotta be kidding me! Well, I'm not. This album rocks. Pinoy Folk/Prog rock at it's best, complete with sing along choruses. I love this album, especially Baguhin ang Mundo and Kayabangan.

Totalitär/Wallbreaker - The mighty Totalitär! A compilation of their first three 7" Ep's and a live recording. Never before released on cd, now captured in this beauty. Swedish hardcore in it's most raw and brutal moments. Fuck as crust!

Terveet Kadet/Rock Lahausta Vaastan & Aareton Joulou 7" Ep's (Cd-r) - Another Scandinavian beauty. Could well be the most wicked 7"'s ever released in Finland. This guy's voice is totally sick, you'll love it. Songs are in Finnish, but who cares!?

At the Gates/Slaughter of the Soul - Dubbed as the "Reign in Blood" of the 90's. One of the pioneers of the Gothenbug sound. Tomas Lindberg's vocal's are so unique and punishing you wouldn't find another one sounding near. And those damn guitars tracks? Unbeleivable! Too bad they disbanded after this album. Some say it could have been for better, because this album is so good it's so hard to top it's greatness.

Napalm Death/Scum - Grindcore beauty. The original line-up the other half and another line-up on the other. I like Lee Dorrian's vocals better. Barney and Mitch combined can't replicate his style when singing the old songs. Truly one of a kind. This is one of the most essential grindcore albums out there. And after listening to this, slip in the brutal follow up (From Enslavement to Obliteration). That would get your earwaxes popping.

Eastern Front Compilation 2 - A live compilation of pretty good tracks from oldschool hardcore bands.Pretty good sound quality too. Good moments here include live versions of Wasted Youth's We're on Heroin, Chron Gen's Clouded Eyes, Battalion of Saints' Fighting Boys and the Fartz's Buried Alive. Fitting ending for a good compilation. They should've made this the last of this series. Part 3 sucks on a high note. Think of it as a metal version, some cheesy, some are not. Sucks still.

That said, I'm outta here. Until next time punks. Now go start your own playlist!  = >

 

A follow up post for the Sayyadina request, their 2004 realease. Featuring Nasum and General Surgery members, expect a bedlam of listening pleasure from one of the top grindcore monsters from Sweden. Remaining tracks will be posted some other time, so grab this while it's still hot.

SOB (Sabotage Organized Barbarian) is one of the pioneers of Japanese grind. Their name became known outside of Japan when they released a split album with fellow grindsters Napalm Death. Come to think of it, with ND on the other side of that plastic, who wouldn't want to check them out, right? This is their debut release back in 1986. Dig in, punks!

Ababil666 made a Sayyadina playlist request a few days ago. Unfortunately, all I have at the moment is this Solace Denied Ep, which is also available at their site, I think. You have to indulge on this first my friend as I don't have the album Fear Gave Us Wings at the moment. I'll post them as soon as possible.

Check this out, folks. A Swedish Grindcore assault. Pretty much a noisecore than grindcore to me, but what's the difference anyways, huh? A few good moments here, particularly Med Livet Som Insats, which is also included on the Fear Gave Us Wings album. I like this version better. It's faster and screamier. This band amazes me, very intense from start to finish. And the intensity never fades a bit until the last note. Seems like a jackhammer pounding inside your ears, hehe. Remarkably astounding, indeed. Enjoy, punks!

Nope, it's not a typographical error. From LA, Cali, Gayrilla Biscuits is a queercore band covering songs of straight edge bands but changing the lyrics to be about homosexuality. If you dig Limp Wrist or even Pansy Division. Musically, they are good. Check out the tracks and try to guess the originals.

A Descendents bootleg released in 1986(?). Consists of the Enjoy Promotional 7" and additional 3 tracks. Sound quality is not that good so deal with it. Oh, and by the way...Enjoy!

I stole this info from wikipedia, sorry for being lazy on this one, hehe.

"Skate punk (also known as skatepunk, skate-punk, skate-thrash, surf punk, or skate-core) was originally a derivative of hardcore punk, so named because of its popularity among skateboarders, and the fact that many members of skate punk bands were themselves skaters. Lyrics themselves will occasionally focus on, or at least reference skateboarding."

I'm really not into most of the bands here. Some of the tracks here were shared by on-line friends. But you have got to check The Faction out. It's really the reason for this playlist. Awesome skate punk band from San Jose, California. One of the best. Fronted by Steve Caballero, all members were also accomplished skateboarders. The drummer (Craig Bosch) even had a trick named after him: The Bosch. They released an album consisting of their best songs simply entitled Collection. But word of advise: Get all their stuff if you can. Because to me, there's no such thing as a Faction "best of". Start with the truly awesome Ep Dark Room. I've said it then, and I'll say it again. This is one band you can't go wrong!

Career Suicide is a hardcore punk band from Toronto. Fast, raw and thrashy. I read somewhere that they are Circle Jerks on 45rpm. Could be.

Dayglo Abortions is a punk band from Victoria. Their album Feed us a Fetus is regarded as a cult classic.

You all know DOA of course, rising from the ashes of The Skulls, they are probably one of, if not, the best hardcore band to come out of Canada. Singer Joe Keithley also owns Sudden Death Records. I chose this track mainly because I want most punks here to know that DOA also had other songs aside from Prisoner and Unknown. Plus it's one of my personal favorites from this band.

NoMeansNo is another good band from Canada, although I'm really not into them. The album The Sky is Falling and I want my Mommy featuring Jello Biafra rocks though.

Not that much info on Personality Crisis other than they were formed way back in 1979 and they are from Winnipeg. After disbanding, some members went on to join SNFU, Subhumans, DOA and even Guns and Roses.

SNFU could well be the longest running punk act in Canada. Formed in Alberta in 1982, Society's No Fucking Use just released their latest album last 2004 and are still going strong to this day.

The Nils are from Montreal.

Lastly, The Subhumans is from Vancouver. In my opinion, could be at par or even better than the mighty DOA when it comes to Canadian punk bands. They are also often regarded as better than the anarcho punk band of the same name from the UK. Check out their Incorrect Thoughts album, awesome!

At last, a foreign punk act playing on Philippine shores. Not that there are no foreign punk bands that have already played here. What I meant was none as big as NOFX. Yep, that punk band from Frisco, California fronted by Fat Mike and Eric Melvin together with Erik Sandin and El Hefe. Their music is kinda diverse, mixing elements of punk, hardcore and ska, which made it cordial to a wide audience, punk or not punk.

As part of their Pacific Rim Job Tour, last April 18 was their Manila stint at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City. Support bands slated that night were Urbandub, The Ambassadors, Faspitch and Hong Kong Hardcore act King Ly Chee. I have to leave out the first 3 bands because I honestly am not into them. The least I can do is to give them an A for effort during their sets. Sorry guys, really not my cup of tea. Anyways, I’ve been looking forward to this date and am so excited to watch them play live. Most of my on-line friends from the US have attested that NOFX is a very good live band. And this is my chance (maybe my only chance) to see them.

After getting off work, I immediately proceeded to the venue even though the gates would not open til 8pm. The Sonic Boom staff told me to get the tickets early so as not to get mixed up with the ones who did not have a reservation. I already saw my ever present friend Rommel there with Ehman. Chatted for a while but had to say adieu shortly because I still have to change into something comfortable (I was in my corporate attire). I went home to nearby Congressional, changed and in no time was back at the venue. The place was already crawling with punks and familiar faces greeted me. Man, this gig is different in terms of audience. More seems to come from the upper class, if you know what I mean. Maybe it’s because the ticket cost a tad higher than the usual.

After getting frisked by security, I was trooping at the end of the line going to the stadium, when I saw a familiar long haired dude. It was Percy! Great to see him again, he’s got two companions, one of whom I already met. He told me to join them and I unhesitatingly agreed considering they were already near the gates. A few minutes more and the gig started with support bands Faspitch, Urbandub and the Ambassadors doing their thing. Jeez, waiting for these bands to finish their set seemed like forever, I was there to watch only King Ly Chee and NOFX. When their set was finally over, King Ly Chee was up next. They started their set with fine guitars and a barrage of drum tracks. I was quickly fascinated by the way this band plays. They are full of energy and they play remarkably well. The other vocal (there were two) seems to growl rather than sing. Pretty awesome, considering that she’s a girl. But other than that, somehow their music didn’t make an impression on me. For me, it’s typical. But then again, maybe it’s because I’m not familiar with their material. It’s the reason too, why I bought a cd from them. Maybe after a few spins I will get to know them even better. Last song seems to be their best bet as it was the only one I remember. Unite Asia. Good title, seems a good thing to do either. Hopefully, we’d get some sense and unity in the region, right? Oh well, next up is NOFX. After the roadies did their jobs tuning and making sure the instruments are working fine, they finally came out. A few chat with the audience with Fat Mike saying that no one should spill his vodka, or he’d punch him in the face. He doesn’t get drunk with beer anymore so he keeps a glass full of vodka lodged in his mike stand, sipping as the set goes by. So lay off his vodka he says. First track: Dinosaurs Will Die. That intro made the crowd (and me) delirious and the place was rockin’ like hell. The crowd went crazy. It was fuckin’ awesome to hear that track live. It was like listening from a live cd. Only the crowd was real and you get knocked off from all angles because of the punks slamming all around. It was a wonderful experience. It was so ecstatic, I can’t even remember what song came next or when they’ve played this or that song. What I remember is that they played Philthy Phil, Bottles to the Ground, Franco Un-American, Bob, Stickin in my Eye, Pharmacist’s Daughter, Longest Line, Linoleum and Murder the Government, which is another song that brought the place down. Actually, there were more but I just don’t know the other songs that they played, maybe they were new. Sadly, they didn’t play Idiots are Taking Over. I’m sure the place would’ve exploded in wonder. It was one of the songs I was expecting to hear live. Each set was lively, not a second was a bore and the audience were animated throughout the set. The gig was entirely a blast, literally. It was a shame the gig had to end. I could still go on for a few more sets, haha. I guess they couldn’t say the same, they had to be out of the country by 6am and it was already past midnight. After the encore, the band finally bade goodbye and thanked the punks for coming to watch them live. Maybe we are the ones who’re supposed to thank them for playing here, eh? They were really a good live band. They really came to play and we in turn, got what we came for. Fulfillment, maybe for all NOFX gigs you’ll always expect the best. Heck, their set was even enough for what we paid for. I just wish there are more gigs like these. I surely won’t miss that. With this kind of experience, who would indeed?

Septic Death is artguy Pushead's (Brian Schroeder) band from Boise, Idaho. The other members are Paul Bimbaum on drums, Mike Matlock on bass and Jon Taylor on guitars. They were sometimes identified as a straight edge band, a thrash band, a skate rock band and a hardcore band. But whatever you may categorize them; it's not the point really, because Septic Death is an awesome band. This is one of their amazing releases, the first 12 incher Now that I have your attention, what do I do with it? Pretty cool for an album title huh? On its cover is an art by Pushead. A pig-tailed, skull-faced girl clad in a bikini, sitting amidst a forest full of skulls and amputated appendages. Haunting? You haven't seen anything yet, or for this matter, "heard" is the rightful term. For Septic Death delivers one of the most haunting music ever heard.

12 explosive tracks, all gruesomely crafted with ear shattering rhythms and leads, pulsating bass lines and manic pounding drums. Of course, there's always the screeching and gargling vocal of the famed Pushead, truly one of a kind. Most songs start off with agonizing bass leads and then without any hesitation would blast into frenzy. I always play this album from start to end, the tracks are so fast and volatile you wouldn't know what song is up next. I've been playing this album for so long I still don't remember which song is which. Well, maybe I know a few like Burial (w/c I made as a ring tone), Terrorain (a wicked version of the one on the Cleanse the Bacteria Comp), Quit, Thaw, Negative Threat, Child, Hardware and my favorite: Control. Honestly, I have no idea what the lyrics deal with. My copy comes with an insert but unfortunately it's a Japanese release so no go with reading the lyrics. Besides, with songs playing at a terrifyingly fast pace and undecipherable diction, I can't see how you can keep up, so to hell with the lyrics. You can even play this record backwards and the sound will hardly be any different, haha. It comes with a bonus flexi though, so yay for that.

This could well be one of the best (and rarest) record on my stack. Pusmort merchandise are almost always released on vinyl format, so seldom will you see a Septic Death cd out there. If you're into Septic Death and you happen to chance on a copy of the Crossed Out Twice cd, grab it no matter what. It's an anthology of all their recordings and is a collector's item. There's another anthology-like cd released sometime ago entitled Attention, great stuff too. In Japan (why does it always have to be Japan?), they released their own version, Chumoku which roughly translates to Attention. This of course has Pushead's approval as well as the other Japanese releases. So if you happen to be in Japan, hunt for any Septic Death stuff. It's highly recommended.

Kaaos is a hardcore band from Finland. First in Finland to ever release a record. Said to have been the pioneers of the Finnish hardcore sound.

Cadgers were also a fine Finnish band. Some members went on to form Riistetyt.

All songs were sung in their vernacular, so deal with it. The "beauty" of their music more than compromises the vocals anyways.