Frantic Scratchings: Clowning around with Squeal on a piece he calls "Ronnie McDollars."
POSSONE
And
Here I sit, deeply positioned in my
dusty brown E-Z chair, watching the
news blast the turmoil in some out
of the way town. Why is this topic get-
ting so much attention? Why are they
wasting so much time on this minor
matter? The townspeople are up in
arms over some young individual
who has taken to hollering his beliefs
on any corner in the town. I guess
the fascinating aspect is that the
people and police of this town have
done nothing to stop him; they only
whine in the shadows, disgusted by
this disturbance of the peace. If
seems like a good solution would be
to stand at a corner opposite this
bellower and scream your head off
yourself. The situation seems so
98
mediocre. It's obvious this youth just
wants attention, which he is getting
in a major way. I grow bored. This is
trite news coverage. I shut down the
TV and turn on the radio to catch
some musical notes, but there it is
again, that young bellower getting
attention. I wonder what gives?
(A few days pass)
The media is now plagued by the
manic screamer. There is so much
attention being given here I can see
the twinkle in the capitalists' eyes.
Soon books will be out, a made for
television motion picture, talk show
appearances and on down that line
to stardom. What makes the situation
worse is that since the media has
given this youth so much coverage,
bellowers have flocked to the streets
in my own town. In fact, at this very
moment one is on the corner of my
block screaming his lungs out. I fail
to see any humor in this, especially
since the bulk of his hollering is
"Where are the TV cameras?" It has,
gotten out of control.
(More time passes)
money I have acquired in the last
week. I count the twenties on the
table and smile in my placid home,
with a set of earplugs (my new
capitalist venture) neatly tucked in-
side my ears, I read in some tabloid
that this bellowing trend is a disease
dropped upon us by an alien source.
Another tabloid said it is the work of
the CIA. I really don't care; I just have
to watch out for the competition
Earplugs are a hot item now.
no answer in the Puszone, only sonic
disturbances with musical harmon-
It's been three weeks since I saw
that initial newsclip, now the streets
are lined with screamers It has
become their new form of entertain-Could this really happen? There's
ment and employment. But I have
figured a new way to end this
madness. Well, actually, it is an oldies. Keep those discs and demos
way, though I think people forget in
their time of panic. That would
account for the huge amount of
coming. Puszone sticker for 3-254
stamps. Write Pushead, PO Box 701,
SF, CA 94101.
This is quite possibly the third
generation of Discharge, the band
that broke a lot of barriers with their
abrupt wall of sound and simplistic
yet forceful rhythms. Discharge
started the whole drive, which was
followed by a second generation of
Discharge-type bands like the
Swedish thrashers Anti-Cimex,
Crude SS and more. Now we have
a mixture of those two styles in an
English band called Doom. Not to be
confused with the Japanese outfit,
this British band brings the old days
back to mind, though their music is
laced with current thrash styles.
Saying that Doom is original would
be a far cry from the truth, but the
music is aggressive and well done
in the twenty-one songs presented
here. Bold, gruff vocals roar over a
distorted raw guitar sound in very
simple composition, and, as with
Discharge, it works to their advan
tage. Short lyrics stab right to the
point on social and political issues
The music is fast, turbulent and
reminiscent of Swedish bands that
held tight with this style. In fact the
track "Stop-Gap" sounds identical
to an Anti-Cimex song. While a lot of
hardcore bands are crossing to ex-
treme speed with metallic edges and
losing a bit of their appeal, Doom
blast forth with an atypical sound that
can wreak havoc. Doom's War,
Crimes Inhuman Beings is an in-
tense record that grabs with gusto
and shakes up the house. Too bad
it's been done before. On Peaceville,
PO. Box 17, Dewsbury, W Yorkshire
WF12 BAA England, UK
Also on Peaceville is Deviated
Instinct's Rock 'n' Roll Conformity,
a twelve-track Lp of fast, grungy
metallic hardcore thrash that beats
the drum a little too much. Accused
type vocals ride on a very Accused
sounding outfit that comes up with
a few choice riffs and even has a
COC feel at times. The raw wall of
noise production has all the elements
of a fun platter that should be suc
cessful among both crowds,
especially the speedcore maniacs
Hammy, the labels are too confusing!
Don't you hate it when bands you
really like put out utter disappoint-
ments? And when you have to review
this stuff, it makes you really sad
Since what they did in the past was
ten times better. So, welcome to
defeat. The band is Adrenalin O.D.
and the disc is the Theme From An
Imaginary Midget Western 12
While it's well played, this record
makes you wonder whether it really
is A.O.D., since the style is so dif-1
ferent. That's the A side. The B side
features two covers: Kiss' "Detroit
Rock City," which sounds so close
to the original you might as well be
listening to the original, and "Coffin
Cruiser" (originally by The Skulls)
which leaves you in an empty void.
All three tracks are very hard rock-
ing. I had no idea A.O.D. had gone
this way; they used to be fun, but this
isn't fun and it's hardly a good joke.
Sorry guys, I was bummed. On Buy
Our Records
This band has taken the public
through a hell of a lot of confusion.
They orginally called themselves
Attitude Adjustment, until some per-
sonal inner band conflicts caused an
unusual, confusing split. Now called
Attitude, this band is made up of the
original A.A. guitarist and bassist and
second A.A. singer Andy who sings
on the "American Paranoia" album.
Just recently they got Eric (ex-D.R.I.)
to join as permanent drummer, but
he hasn't appeared on any discs yet.
As far as vinyl goes, Attitude has
released two platters on a German
label. When the first 12" was re-
leased they went to Germany to tour
where they recorded this new 12",
The Good, The Bad, The Obnox-,
lous. Four of the five tracks are cover
tunes which give you an idea of some
of Attitude's roots. Not overly fast,
cracklin' metallic edges and a kick
in the teeth hardcore approach is the
Attitude sound. Andy's vocals on
these tracks are raspier, and he
shows a wider vocal range-maybe
the cover tunes help bring out the
character in his voice. Side A hums
with a bluesy yet uptempo rendition
of AC/DC's Kicked In The Teeth."
which doesn't sound that much like
the original, but rather a powerful
smash with some original twists put
in. The B side features a very AA-ish
U.K.
Subs "Warhead" and
Discharge's "It's No TV Sketch." The
four cover tunes come across real
well. One original track, "Freak," is
dirgy and doesn't grab at anything,
falling a bit short of the quality put
forth in the covers. Attitude has a
powerhouse of ideas behind them:
they're worth a listen by any rock
music lover On We Bite Records,
Saarstrabe 18, 7400 Tubingen 6, West
Germany.
We've said it before and I'm sure
it will be said again: the Revelation
label is putting out some great 7"
releases in the tradition of early hard-
core Ep's. First up on the turntable
is Sick Of It All, a forceful, grinding
power band that reminds me of old
NY.H.C. acts like Antidote and the
Abused. Raging fury runs rampant
here with a thick distorted guitar
sound that shreds the decibels.
Rough, projected vocals penetrate
into the forefront over this hearty
hardcore mix. Side A dominates with,
the instro intro of "It's Clobberin'
Time" running into "Just Lies," which
really gives you a feel for the Sick Of
It All attack-fast, efficient, musical
and overall fun. Their music brims
with aggression and vigor, but none
of the elements really overrun
themselves. The 9, 10, and 11 tracks
are also potent and highly enjoyable.
A good Revelation release.
Next up on the Revelation front is
Side by Side, a band very similar to
Youth of Today in their music and
their message. A weak mix
dissipates some of the band's power,
but they still have a lot of energy.
which comes more to focus in
"Living A Lie," the last track of side
A. Fast aggressive hardcore with up
front chanting vocals characterize
this You're Only Young Once...
seven-track Ep. Compositions rise
and fall here with sporadic beats and
heavy changes in tempo, all backed
by a buzzsaw guitar that fuzzes out
a bit, losing some chord definition.
Side by Side blitz the atmosphere
with a continual barrage of activity
that is rocking and well assembled.
Last in the Revelation line-up is No
For An Answer's You Laugh Ep.
This Orange County based band,
fresh out of that area's latest straight-
edge movement, resembles Uniform
Choice. Rapid selections of cata-
pulting hardcore, again with up front
chanting vocals are based on
social/personal issues and beliefs.
These six songs show youthful vigor
and stamina that drives mean and
turbulent. A lot of bands of this type
are popping up again, and all of them
seem to deliver well. All three
releases are available through
Revelation, PO Box 1454, New
Haven, CT 06506-1454.
Some members of Gudon and
Chicken Bowels quit their old units
to form this new Hiroshima tsunami
Called Half Years, this Japanese
thrash assault combines frantic
speed with crazed action for a
zoomfest of thunderous chords. The
cover of this 7", which is titled Power
is a real throwback. It's just a photo
of a Japanese girl rubbing her fingers
through her hair. She looks like a pop
star and this looks like a pop 7". Boy.
will people be fooled if they buy it on
that assumption, since this is
feverous, brain-scorching hardcore.
Zigyaku (ex-Gudon) on guitar con-
tinues his creative stamina and fiery
licks. He pulls out a vicious sound,
even though it's lost in the mix a bit.
Hall Years come forth with a dynamic
debut-once again the Japanese still
deliver the goods.
The undisputed kings of Japanese
noise return with another 7" after a
lengthy absence. Their first two
releases showed the crazed,
wreckless abandon of uncontrolled
feedback and distortion gone mad.
Confuse made quite a mark, and
now with their third release Spend
ing Loud Night, Confuse goes
beyond the limits, decibel wise. Most
of the time it's intolerable because
of poor recording. The noise destroys
while the sledge-hammer guitar
rams all chords together, it's beyond
mayhem and it will disrupt any
household. I'm sure that's what they
desire. Confuse's lyrics, however,
really make a statement. The noise
Confuse creates is loud, fast and true.
to the rebellious nature of punk. It's
a wicked venture of grinding gears
four tracks that continue the chaos.
On King World Records. Confuse is
definitely the Jesus and Mary Chain
of the hardcore world.
Confused? Need an attitude ad-
justment? Overwhelmed by an im-
pending sense of doom? Don't take
no for an answer, order a Puszone
t-shirt today. Just send $10.75
(postage and handling included) to:
THRASHER Magazine, Puszone
T-shirt, PO Box 884570 San Fran
cisco, CA 94188-4570.