ABECEDARIANS
Eureka
Southwest Audio Reproductions
S.A.R. is a relatively new outfit
quickly hitting the market with an
outstanding Lp. Drums and synth
guitar are at the forefront for this
quiet, melodic creation with a less
prominent bass and smoothly voiced
lyrics. The sound is well-polished and
very full. Don't let their gloomy, sad
tone and plain jacket scare you off.
Paul Birnbaum
THE BRIGADE
The Dividing Line
Better Youth Records
It's not funk, it's not dance music,
it's not The Cult, it's Youth Brigade
with a new name, a new sound and
a new, very talented bassist. The last
7 was only a transitional stage
which leads us to this, 9 new songs
of sheer enjoyment. The dividing line
has been crossed and it has been
done with taste and talent. The
evolving vocals of Shawn Stern have
reached a high point with this
release. Come to think of it, he
sounds a lot like Dave Vanian of the
Damned. A bit less distorted and
abrasive, the guitar, bass and drums
are still the dominating instruments
Although new things are tried,
nothing is overdone or too monoton
ous. The Stern brothers, plus one,
aren't
getting
too serious on us and that some
craziness still exists. P.S. Check the
guest appearance of Jane Weidlin
(ex Go-Go's).
RAW POWER
After Your Brain
Paul Birnbaum
Quick, fluent spirits of speedcore!
hardcore bring us to and through the
latest Raw Power effort. The tempo
is very heavy at times, but is quickly
sped up as the guitarist tips out
crazy, manic leads. A lot of interest-
ing hooks to keep you on your toos at
all times. The intensity never stops.
AGENT ORANGE
This Is The Voice
Enigma Records
Paul Birnbaum
There's no stopping this trio. Listen
to their very first release featuring
the anathematized "Bloodstains.
then listen to this and you'll be sayin',
"Whoa! Curb yer tongue." A.O. has
come a long way. Their latest release,
is well produced (should be, it took
long enough), wel orchestrated, well
played and most naturally well sung.
Mike's pipes are seasoned from
many years of hollerin' in clubs and
dives across this land. The first of two
five-number-sides totes a roarous,
"Voices In The Night, in vintage
Agent Orange style. The words
force their way through Mike's bottom
teeth. "It's In Your Head" carries the
punchy tempo, reminiscent of the
style of the early Jam. "Say It Isn't
True" flies in at total harmonious
banter over a driving back up by
James and Scott. On Fire In The
Rain" the production is a bit reminis
cent of Martin Hannett's style on the
knobs. Crisp and simple, a fragile
state of power still persists. Side one
ends with "In Your Dreams Tonight"
This regimented, serious lullaby-
sounding arrangement makes you
wanna march over a hill into the
sunset, or something.
With side two's "Tearing Me Apart"
and "So Strange," you'll swear
you've heard these songs before
in your dreams and nightmares.
Soundtracks for a rock 'n roll
locomotive. "Bite the Hand That
Feeds You (Part 1) is a haunting
piece. An underlying early King
Crimson sound spooks this one.
Kill Spies could've been from the
soundtrack of the 007 movie
Goldfinger, This Is Not The End,
finishing off this amazing disc, grabs
you like a 1996 version of Bruce
Springsteen's "Born To Run." Good
job guys.
TSOL
Revenge
Enigma Records
Damien Pythias
TSOL, like Agent Orange, have
travelled nearly the same stops in
the past few years. As with Agent
Orange, TSOL draw no comparisons
with their long-gone former selves.
These ten whiskey-rock, growling
numbers tear back a lot of top-soil,
exposing a fresh foundation for their
ensuing brand of rock 'n roll.
Certainly a big favorite for myself, is
"Memories," a long time regular in
their live set. There's a few hot
torchers, like "Madhouse" and
"Everybody's a Cop." If Marty
Robbins, or Johnny Cash were
startin' their careers in this time
period they would have written
TSOLS Revenge. A rock gunfighter
sounding song. TSOL still producing
the faith.
SMASH
Damien Pythias
Skate Rock Vol. 4
High Speed Productions
What can be said? This album is
weird. A skate Twilight Zone, Le. Skip
Engblom's poem The Other Side
The blood tasted sweet, cause
it was your blood... Potatoe (Skate
Master Tate) pops with "Skate Rock
Rap," Stacy Peralta is a friend of
mine, met him at Skatopia back in
79... Cargo Cult, featuring Biskut,
ex-Big Boys Vocalist, deliver the
eerie feeling "Amusement Park
Disasters, and "Cargo Cult. Mr.
Potato pops up again in the Latino
section of Tupelo Chain Sex's
'America," which is a coarse, chili-
flavored mom's apple pie type of
whopper. Chuck Treece's song.
named after his band, McShred, Ts
the fastest track on the album. A
grinding skate tune that can't be
beat. Another of his arrangements,
Taz, is almost as fast. Hot musician-
ship, as Mr. Treece plays all the
instruments on this one. When
McShred plays live, Philly's Scram
backs him up. Scram kicks off side
two of this latest in the Skate Rock
compilation series. "Fear," combines
an amalgam of styles with a hint of
ska, played a bit faster than normal.
You Will Go, another completely
solo instrumental venture, is a song
by Steve Caballero, sort of a flat-out
look at relationships. Cab is a versa.
tile guy, cranking some heavy guitar
leads as well as some smooth sing-
ing. Skate scene mover and pro
skater, Steve Steadham pounds the
skins for his band Shredded Steale,
whose Instrumental combines a
surfish beat shocked with high
voltage wires. Finishing off the diso
are those fun-lovin' rock 'n roll country
angels, the Screamin' Sirens. They
clinch this disc with "Heartbreak
Train. The opening line sums up the
song with, "He left me at the station,
without a reservation. Packed my
bags and sent me on a permanent
vacation. Real country sound at a
high, quick clip of serious pickin',
Skate Rock Vol: 4. Smash. So much
variety, it's weird.
RUN DMC
Raising Hell
Profile
Damien Pythias
Personally not one for the rap stuff,
I accidentally heard this release one
unavoidable occasion, when all of a
sudden this real familiar rock-beat
screws up my senses. What year
was it? Lo! "Walk This Way," a cover
of Aerosmith's big hit, features Joe
Perry and Steve Tyler, lending their
utensils in Run DMC's version. Quite
an awkward surprise. I actually
played it over a few times. Real loud.
Chalk one up for rap
Damien Pythias
LEAVING TRAINS
Kill Tunes
SST
Dude, you gotta hear these kill
tunes," says he. "Oh, yeah," sez 1.
"You won't believe this, it's awesome,
gnarly, etc, etc, etc... "I dumped this
guy back into his fashion show and
sat down for a long listen. Y'know,
he was right (even though he was
on the crest of a trend). This Lp is
Killer with a kapital K
Leaving Trains have been around
for awhile and this Lp is sure to leave
some wheel marks on your face. In
the best tradition of grunge, country
punk and annoying punk rock, "Kill
Tunes' blends all three into an alloy
stronger than your stylus. And L.T.'s
even do a Saints song. Yow!
A brief description? Here goes:
The Minutemen and Rank And File
meet R.E.M. on acid then the Circle
Jerks crash the party. Too twisted?,
use your own ears...
Bill Christman
THE AFFLICTED
Good News About Mental Health
Infrasonic Records
Wait, wha...yeah, The Afflicted.
After all these years of threats and
promises, these dudes finally get it
up and out. Not a bombastic release,
The Afflicted provide sloppy, funt
thrills for the aural craving. These
guys have a buncha styles all
wrapped up into one easy-to-use
musical fun-fest. O.K., O.K.! I'll
dispense with the adjectives. All the
original songs on this are way cool.
"Here Come the Cops" and "Dope
Dreams" being the best. "Schizoid
Baby" has a Bo Diddley riff which
pounds with the spirit of the Bo-dude
hisself. However, The Afflicted
versions of Led Zep's "Rock 'n Roll
and Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" really
suck (sorry guys, stick to your
originals...). A fine, noisy record.
Bill Christman
AGNOSTIC FRONT
Cause For Alarm
Combat Core Records
These guys are sposed to be
some kinda political/hardcore chaps
with the heavy message. Oh yeah?
Or was it violence at gigs...Anyway,
this is just real typical hardcore
thrash. It is polished but it stays at
one level throughout the entire Lp.
hence my eyelids get heavy real fast.
You gotta play one song then wait
for 10 minutes before playing the
next so's you don't nod. Then again,
you could put the Lp in your blender
and get the same effect.
DIE KREUZEN
October File
Bill Christman
Touch And Go Records
This is the one I've been waiting
for and I'm not disappointed! Die
Kreuzen have taken their instru-
ments and wreak havoc on every
available ear. "October File" is a
collection of fast, short, loud, slow,
long and rowdy workouts that spell
ear death. Don't run to your
drugstore for ear drops, just siddown
and gulp this mayhem. All the cuts
on this decimate, especially "Uncon-
trolled Passion' and 'Among the
Ruins." An aural brain-fry. Yum
Bill Christman
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