DRUG SHOCK - "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS" (Here's what happens when members of IRON CROSS and COPYRIGHT CHAOS join forces. Oi! Oi! Oi! fuckin' destrOi!)

DRUG SHOCK - "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS"

("REBEL SOUND MUSIC" & "JOE POGO RECORDS"; LP)

(Note: For all what I know this very one here is in this form of this particular colabortaion release of the two involved and above mentioned labels a solely vinyl release, but I would bet that there will be also a CD release in which form and via which label ever.)

(Collector informations: Worldwide limited to just 500 copies in total = 200 copies on black vinyl; 100 copies in half red and half orange with black splatter effects, this is the Band Exclusive pressing; 100 copies in half swamp green and half mustard vinyl, this is the "REBEL SOUND MUSIC" exclusive pressing; 100 copies in transparent green vinyl with yellow and purple splatter effects, this is the "JOE POGO RECORDS" exclusive pressing.)
(Running time: Twelve songs in a running time of thirty-five minutes.)
(Acknowledgement: THX to Brett Hole/"BLACK HOLE RECORDS" for sending me this album in its - complete (!!!) - digital version for reviewing it, THX very much man - one more time again.)
(Label site I, "REBEL SOUND MUSIC": http://rebelsoundmusic.limitedrun.com/)
(Label site II, "JOE POGO RECORDS": http://www.joepogorecords.com/)

Here's the for all what I know the first (full length) release of/by DRUG SHOCK, a pretty new band founded in 2012 by members who otherwise play in the almighty IRON CROSS and in the so far to me pretty unknow COPYRIGHT CHAOS, and after they played their ass' off live on stage more or less all over the States they finally entered the studio and did what they had to do, they created one hell of a dirty and heavy bad ass Oi! Punk Bastard titled "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS" that will take you by storm with hitting you straight and right direct into the face like the sharp aimed and harsh carried-out swing of or with a rusty sledgehammer, smashing it - which means your face - into bloody pieces, and anyhow still leaving you with a totally satisfied smile over what once were your lips. This is hard and heavy by great guitars dominated very powerful and at the same time in a great way catchy, rich on sing-a-longs, and melodic and also harsh rocking by heavy guitars driven Oi! Punk Music of the just damn great kind with a strong Classic U.K. Punkrock influence, but that's thankfully very fresh and lively done and so there's no annoying lame or stale retro bullshit crap to be noticed here, and that's making it all even a bit more more great. Expect heavy and mercyless forward pushing and driving guitars without end, guitars that fire out harsh riffs and cracking rockin' and very organic or natural groovin' rhythms yet also sheer outshining leads and cool solos as well all the time, and guitars that also add up heavily to the great anthemic spirit of the songs, while at the same time are above any discussions the totally mercyless bonecracking and dustdry forward pushing dominating factor of the music of DRUG SHOCK. Cultivated it is all by the hard yet smart which means really sung, and this means clean and at the same time absolutely forceful sung and not "just" shouted lead vocals, backed up great loud widescreen fat and broad crew back up chantings, that deliver great verses as well as totally supreme dominant refrains and one hell of a truckload full of really large sing a longs. Then there's a nicely present bass, heavy and forward storming with beefing up the songs strongly and without taking any prisoners, and then there's still the furious drumming beating and smashing, without regrets the songs froward flogging, that's how I like it. All is done in a great way of grapping and interesting and just sheer sparkling songwriting, delivered by very strong musicians. Imagine a very strong and cool, and also a very self-contained mixture out of G.B.H. (I think first and foremost of their "PUNK JUNKIES" days) and some only very few SEX PISTOLS with PATRIOT, U.S. CHAOS, and THE BUSINESS and adding up some ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE as well as some OXYMORON to it for good then you will surely have a pretty good impression of what DRUG SHOCK are all about. We also get strong lyrics, a really fantastic Old School styled artwork, and a first class bombing production sound. That's all, I think you know the deal, this one is highly recommended so just better go out and get it. I really hope that DRUG SHOCK will also deliver us the goods in the future, not that this great album turns out to be just another flash in the pan. But anyhow, I make it simple: Buy it!!! Promptly!!! Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi! /// Andy

(Rating: 9 of 10 points)

(Band site: https://www.facebook.com/DrugShock)

The Eagle flies again... this time over Washington D.C.

Here we are, back on track again to continue the American Oi! History Series for the next time, and yes, for this time we will move on to the capital city of the United States of America, to Washington D.C. and this means that this time after U.S. CHAOS and after THE EFFIGIES our next stops- yeahr, stops not stop, 'cause now we will paying tribute to two legendary, great and important bands- will be the two bands of IRON CROSS and IMMORAL DISCIPLINE from Washington D.C., so just enjoy it and get what you can get from this two bands.

So, like I've already said, after the start with U.S. CHAOS in New Jersey and the next stop with THE EFFIGIES in Chicago for this time our ride will take us straight to Washington D.C., the capital of the United States of America. Washington D.C. spilled out two very important and just pure great American Oi! bands that really made a name for themselves back in the days, and are also today still absoutely to name when it comes to bands that you must know. You'll do see, Washington D.C. not only was the birthground for a lot of great Hardcore acts, but also the Oi! and Streetpunk style established itself in Washington D.C. back in the days. First band to name ('cause they were the older ones) are the great IRON CROSS, also pretty much one of the first American Oi! bands I got known to. And beside that, they had been also one of the very first American Oi! bands in general, and the rumours go that they had been probably the first American Oi! band that recruited itself nearly solely out of Skinheads. So you can easily say that they had been pretty much the first more or less through and through pure American Skinhead Oi! band. And to point that out right from the start, the immortal hymne "CRUCIFIED" was and is a song written by IRON CROSS and not by AGNOSTIC FRONT (or whom ever else), get that clear and straight!!! IRON CROSS were founded back in 1980 by the lead singer Sab Grey ad the drum player Dante Ferrando, who also played in the band GRAY MATTER. They had all been still teenagers when they founded IRON CROSS, and the two other founding members had been the guitar player Mark Haggerty and the bass player John Falls, but very soon a lot of other, different guys should be about to play the bass in IRON CROSS. They were a part of the whole early Washington D.C. Hardcore scene, and I just name here "DISCHORD RECORDS" andhe legendary sampler "FLEX YOUR HEAD" and you all should know what I mean, if not then go and die or what so ever. Ah, and for what I know IRON CROSS never had something to do with being Straight Edge or so. Like I've already said, they had been more or less basically all Skinheads right from the start, outspoken against rascism, but it won't wonder anyone when I tell ya that they were defamed as being a Nazi band very soon, it was, is and maybe will always be the same old farce, but I tell ya nothing new at all at the end of the day. They were pretty much influenced by all the old british Streetpunk and early english Oi! bands, as well as also pretty much by the whole early U.S. Hardcore scene, just to name D.C. here. Especially IRON CROSS and the following IMMORAL DISCIPLINE are truly very good examples for the close connection between early American Oi! and old school U.S. Hardcore music. IRON CROSS used to play a damn hard and rough, raw and dirty American Oi! Oi! music style of sound, fully pumped up with power and energy, that will even today still blow you off your feet and out of your boots, I tell can tell ya easily. They were only very short lived, 'cause founded in 1980 they called it a day very soon in 1983. But they've left a huge impact, and that's still lasting to our present day. And of course, they are back again on the map, having released the great "TWO PIECES AND A BISCUIT" record some years ago (you're able to find the review of this record also on this blog, the entry is labeled 'Back with a Bang!' and should be found under the entries of march, I guess) and playing live all over the world again today. After the bandsplit back in 1983 the band members went on in several different directions, so Dante played with GRAY MATTER, Mark choosed to join the ranks of EMBRACE, and Sab decided to live in England for quite a while. Oh, yes, and Sab is also today known to be an active and gifted writer of books. Back in the days the released two now classical releases, two EP's, the first named "SKINHEAD GLORY" (1981/1982) and the second named "HATED & PROUD" (1983), and they were also featured on the legendary "FLEX YOUR HEAD" compilation record settled together by the guys in "DISCHORD RECORDS". The two EP's had been remastered (at least a little bit) and rereleased some years ago by the guys of "LOST & FOUND RECORDS" as a CD (only) release, named "CRUCIFIED FOR OUR SINS". I've reviewed this fine record quite a long while ago back in the issue no. # 01 of my respectively the "MANSLAUGHTER FANZINE BAD HARZBURG", so maybe I'll put that review on the blog here some day, time will tell. But how ever things may come or not, you should make sure that you call this record your own, if you're not do that already. Also "G.M.M. RECORDS" rereleased the old songs of IRON CROSS some years ago on a retrospective CD (which is, I think, named "LIVE FOR NOW" or something like that), and they've also added the "FLEX YOUR HEAD" songs, some rare live recordings and some also rare outtakes and demo stuff to it, to make it a complete package at the end of the day. And then in 2007 (or so) it happened and IRON CROSS came back and they came of big with their 'comeback' release "TWO PIECE AND A BISCUIT", great record, but if you want to get to know more about it just read the review ('Back with a Bang!') here on this blog and then go and make sure that you'll buy that great piece of American Bootboy Oi! Oi! music. They changed their style of sound quite a bit, the Hardcore nearly gone away out of their music, but it's still damn great stuff that you should know and call your own. Sab is also writing books, and IRON CROSS also are featured o the new "SKINHEAD CROSS CULTUR" documentary DVD as well as they are featured with a very good article in the current "Oi! THE PRINT" issue. And what shall I say more, maybe again that I think that it's a big pity that the interview I wanted to do with them somehow never came to happen... but how ever, IRON CROSS were and still are a outstanding band that's totally to find here with more than just 100% justification. Great band!!! You'll find a video of them performing their immortal larger thatn life hymne "CRUCIFIED" live on the "PUNK & DISORDERLY" festival in Berlin this year in 2010, and it's just a great song and a great performance done by a great band, so enjoy it!!! If ya want to become better known with IRON CROSS then just check out the http://www.myspace.com/ironcrosstheband and http://www.myspace.com/ironcrossthefellas links and enjoy this great and truly legendary band. Oi!

And now there's still a damn good and also very legendary band to come, and I'm talking 'bout no one else than the hard stomping IMMORAL DISCIPLINE also from Washington D.C. coming. They are also a very good example for the close linking of early American Oi! and old school U.S. Hardcore. Comparable a little bit with IRON CROSS, but they somehow don't have that reputation like them and my feeling is that they got a little bit lost when it comes to remembering them. But to change this at least a little we're here, writing and reading about them. And with chage this for a lot of damn good reasons, 'cause they had always been a great band hammering out some unpolished and just hard stomping Skinhead Oi! Oi! Core music that also today knows just to triumph about the rest, so here we go!!! IMMORAL DISCIPLINE were founded in the november of the year of 1986, like IRON CROSS also roaring out of Washington D.C., with the intended goal to create something unique and self-contained, something different to the then current Underground Subculture Music Scene of that time in their environment. Founding members had been the lead singer Shawn Garard and the guitar player Bill Gerber, the line up was completed by Jimmy Wood playing the bass and the hard search for a fix drum player. Before the band really started Jimmy was murdered, and to honour him IMMORAL DISCIPLINE decided to play a tribute and benefit show for him and his family, supported by John Allen playing the bass and Bryan Kelly playing the drums. They played the memorial show at the 14th of december 1986 in the "HUNG JURY PUB" in Washington D.C., even at this time they had only six songs in their live set. After that show Bryan Kelly stayed with the band, and with Todd Greene they managed finally to find a new bass player. In this formation IMMORAL DISCIPLINE started to play plenty of shows in and around Washington D.C., and in the following time Bryan went to study to the college and was replaced by 'Bhatman' on the drums, and with Bill Meeks they also recruited a second guitar player to their line up. This IMMORAL DISCIPLINE formation finally made it's way to the studio to record their first, five songs including demo "BOOTS & BRACES - STARS & STRIPES", and two songs of that demo made their way on the legendary "THE U.S. OF Oi!" compilation released by "LINK RECORDS". After the recording of that demo Bill left the band again, got replaced by Brian Robinson on the second guitar. In this formation IMMORAL DISCIPLINE went on and recorded the two EP's "BATTLEFIELD" (1987) and "IMMORAL DISCIPLINE" (1988), both EP's were released by "SMASH RECORDS", and some songs of them were also featured on the "THE SPIRIT OF Oi! - AMERICAN STYLE" sampler released by "Oi! CORE RECORDS". They played hell a lot gigs up and down the Eastcoast of the U.S.A. with other American Oi! legends (for example with FORCED REALITY and THE ANTI-HEROS), well known Punkrock bands (like THE EXPLOITED) and a lot of Hardcore champs (for example WARZONE and BIOHAZARD). Then in the year of 1989 it was sadly enough all over, 'cause IMMORAL DISCIPLINE decided to split and to call it a day in the august of that year. Currently shall be worked on a complete retrospective CD of them, and it would be great and about time that this disc will finally see the light of the day. Their damn hard, very aggressive, grim, raw and rough combination of Oi! Oi! music and Hardcore sound, 100% authentic and full of energy and aggression and power, really makes them today to an at least 100% relevant band that you should not have missed!!! And also like IRON CROSS they had always been very outspoken against rascism without walking the fences!!! Go and check out the band by using the http://www.myspace.com/immoraldiscipline link and get better known to this great band. Shall be worth your time, especially if you beside American Oi! also a faible for some good old tymed Hardcore style of sound!!! Ah, and make sure that you check out IRON CROSS as well as IMMORAL DISCIPLINE.

IRON CROSS - "CRUCIFIED" (live at the german"PUNK & DISORDERLY" festival in ther german capital Berlin this year in 2010)
Lyrics to "CRUCIFIED" of IRON CROSS:

They ask why we dress this way / Living for now don't understand today / They see the kids but don't hear what they say / They close their eyes and look the other way/ They say the end justifies the means / They'll lock us up and throw away the key // CRUCIFIED - Crucified for our sins / CRUCIFIED - Crucified for our sins // But they don't know our feelings / Our only desperate cry / They seek protection through distorted glass / They won't hear our truth because it breaks their views / We've got to learn to fight to live / Before they grind us under heel // CRUCIFIED - Crucified for our sins / CRUCIFIED - Crucified for our sins // We're the targets so easy to find / We're the ones that won't stay in line / I find myself nailed to a cross / For something that I didn't do / It's your fault you've ruined our lives / But we're the ones you crucify / You're the ones who commit the crimes / But it's always us who do the time ///

Iron Cross & Keyside Strike - 7" Split on "Koi Records"

IRON CROSS & KEYSIDE STRIKE - "SPLIT / KOI RECORDS SPLIT VOL. 5" ("Koi Records"; 7"):

Yeahr, that's cool, after their "comeback" album the mighty IRON CROSS are already back again with a fine split 7" on the very sympathic label "Koi Records" (you know, that are the guys who are also putting out the delicious releases of the great S.S.S.P.) with the british KEYSIDE STRIKE. So you can say that this fine 7" is a new representation of the old "american - british friendship" idea. From IRON CROSS we do get the both tracks "Pride & Freedom" and "I Don't Love You Anymore". Great songs, hymnal '77 Punkrock influenced American Oi! of the championsleague class, but it's a little bit pity that after something like nearly two decades of releasing nothing new we do get on this collectors 7" release just two tracks that are also already released on their "comeback" record (and of course "I Don't Love You Anymore" is also a very old song from the first days of the band, like you all should know). I mean, if you ask me, then there could have been a little bit more to it, I hope you understand what I mean. Okay, but this changes nothing when it comes to the songs as songs, the quality of the music, they are really just great songs that you really need to know!!! Also great lyrics, and this time the lyrics are also printed. Great!!! IRON CROSS do get 10 out of 10 points, no other action is possible. Then there are coming KEYSIDE STRIKE that are delivering us some Hardcore the raw and fast and noisy old school way of sound. It's good stuff that they are bringing us here to hear, but they work a little bit too frantically what averts that the songs really flow free and develop their full potential, but if they keep on working on this point then they could become also even better, after they are already a truly good band, maybe a little bit comparable to legendary SLAPSHOT from Boston. We do get also some good lyrics from them, and one guy in the band looks damn akin like Burt Reynolds, so how could you go wrong after all, haha. KEYSIDE STRIKE do get 8 out of 10 points. On top both bands deliver us there songs (we do get two from each band) in a very good production sound, then the artwork just looks awesome and damn fantastic, and the vinyl comes coloured in a purple / red / black splatter look. It rocks!!! It rules!!! I don't know something about any kinds of limitations, but I could bet that it's strictly limited, so if you have the chance to get it, then damn, just get it!!! (9 of 10 points)

(Contact: http://www.myspace.com/ironcrossthefellas)

(Contact: http://www.myspace.com/keysidestrikehc)

Back with a Bang!!!

IRON CROSS - "TWO PIECE AND A BISCUIT" ("13th State Records" / "Teenage Heart Records"; CD):

Yeahr, a legend returns!!! The great IRON CROSS are back from the dead (of course I don't really know if they were really "dead", but at least there was for eternities no new record coming out), the writers of great songs like "Crucified", "Psycho Skin", "I Don't Love You Anymore", and "You're A Rebel". Founded in 1981 (the year of my birth... you see, it was truly a damn good year!!!) in Washington D.C., and the Bandsplit came in 1983. So yeahr, over 20 years without any new songmaterial. But here they are back, and how they are back, fucking strong, proud, and powerful. Four new IRON CROSS tracks we do get to hear on this CD. Okay, two new songs. The great tracks "Pride & Freedom" and "Catch Your Grave". Both are strong and great Oi! hymns, with a strong classical Punkrock influence. And then we also get a vey cool new recorded version of the classic "I Don't Love You Anymore", and also a fine mid paced cover of the COCK SPARRER classic "Running Riot". The awesome charismatic and full vocals dictate the way the songs take, as well as the very tight and smart guitar work, backed up by a powerful rhythmsection. Great!!! Then there come three also new tracks, but not from IRON CROSS but from SAB GREY AND THE ROYAL AMERICANS (great bandname, by the way). As you all should know, Sab Grey is the singer of IRON CROSS, and this is something like his 'second' band. And they are just bringing us two awesome and one great song. They cover "Skinhead Girl" in a brilliant Country way (it will just knock you from your feet), they bring with "Ship Of Sorrow" a breathtaking Country, Folk, Rock & Roll mixture song that will give you goosepimples, and then they also hammer out a cool SOCIAL DISTORTION like Punkrock & Roll smasher named "Wasted In D.C.!" that will rock your socks off. Both bands make it simple to a damn great record that you defintely should call your own. On top we do alo get a very cool artwork, damn good lyrics (not printed, but you get them while you listen to the song), and it all comes in a very good, clean but also hard production sound. Like I've already said: Get it!!! Absolute pure and solid gold!!! Cheers & Oi! (10 of 10 points)

(Cntact: http://www.myspace.com/ironcrossthefellas)