KING OF CLUBZ & PROVIDENCE - Beatdown Hardcore Split 2011

KING OF CLUBZ & PROVIDENCE - "TIME OF GRIEVANCE (SPLIT)"
("Ratel Records"; CD):

Yeahr, finally some great split CD stuff that's crossing the starting line here again. If you're not a total nutjob than I would bet that you know both bands or at least the almighty KING OF CLUBZ already (if not, hm, then where the fuck did you lived the last years... at least if you say about yourself that you would be into Hardcore...), and that for some good reasons. And KING OF CLUBZ also start things off here. And how they do it? Fucking great! Mosh Tough Guy Beatdown Hardcore (with some but only very few metallic notes to it all) packed up full with great brutal and pretty diverse and more then 'just' well-versed guitar work, a pure gold and totally bulldozer going rampage rhythm section, incredible fat crew shouts, great lead vocals by two different singers (one brutal grunting shouter, one aggressive "Fuck you all! screaming shouter), spoken word samples, to the point tight and direct played breaks and beatdowns, suprising and demolishing grooves and mosh parts, fist in the air chorus/refrain parts, grapping songwriting with interesting and just great changes of rhythm, pace and structure of the songs, and truly damn fucking good technical skills of the musicians. It's all here, and that's really just awesome! To compare KING OF CLUBZ with other bands would be ridiculous, I mean, this band became some sort of a role model for a huge bunch of other bands like CIRCLE OF DEATH and many, many more, but like the old story goes the original (which means KING OF CLUBZ) remains unbeaten and still stands stronger than all, so they've left their giant mark on a whole style and scene and so I think I don't need to say any word more. If you've still did not got it: This is great! The lyrics rock and rule also, about standing your ground, not giving in to anyone or anything, keep up the fight, living by your own rules, and yes, also on the lyrical front everything is fine. The production sound is a monster, like the music, like the songs, like the lyrics... like the whole damn fucking band: KING OF CLUBZ, period. KING OF CLUBZ (btw, two songs they do give us here) do get ten out of ten points here, point and fact. Next up are PROVIDENCE. I'm not sure, I mean that I pretty much think that I've never listened to anything of them before is true and I'm pretty sure about this, but somehow the name of the band says something to me anyway... Okay, anhow, what we get from PROVIDENCE here? Exactly, Beatdown Hardcore with big Tough Guy guts, some metallic marks to it and some few Mosh potential in it, and down paced Beatdowns over down paced Beatdowns. And exactly here's what's going wrong with PROVIDENCE (as well as with a lot of other Beatdown Hardcore bands of today), they simply just didn't understand that songwriting means more than just row Beatdowns and Gangshouts on Beatdwons and Gangshouts and so on and on, and just some short a little bit up tempo going parts aren't enough to loosen it all up and to give the Beatdowns back their full power, force and potential. But okay, so bad like it now may sound PROVIDENCE aren't anyhow but they aren't also anyway some sort of a 'rival' or so for KING OF CLUBZ. But the forceful pushing guitar riffing, the tight and ultra-hard rhythm section, the brutal lead vocal shouts and also often the beatdowns and gangshouts work at least okay if not a good dose better than that. But it's just your ordinary Beatdown Hardcore band of today, really not bad and truly definitely solid good stuff, but also nothing that would make you start to think that you desperately need to have it anyhow. We get also two songs from them, lyrically your good old Beatdown Hardcore stuff, and the production sound is a nice little dirty gem. All in all PROVIDENCE get seven out of ten points. With the CD and the artwork (but why all the guys on the cover seem to be some sort of a local KKK chapter going nuts and/or rampage, haha;-)...?!?) "RATEL RECORDS" done a great job, period. So, anyhow, at least because of the almighty KING OF CLUBZ stuff you need to call this pretty great 7'' here your damn fucking own (but don't overlook PROVIDENCE" for so long), so go and get it asap. Great! (8,5 of 10 points)

(PS: Ah, and there's also an 7'' version of this release floaing around that I've totally missed out on, but maybe you're search will be a little bit more succesful... And it's prett cool that there's also a CD version of this split is floating around- add for all what I know it was released earlier than the CD version- beause you know my opinion, that split records should be first and foremost be released via vinyl, period. But, okay, at least get the CD version, if you have the same luck like me with getting your hands on the 7'', period, too.)

(http://www.ratelrecords.com/)
(http://www.myspace.com/kingofclubz)
(http://www.myspace.com/xprovidencex)

ACTIVATOR - "UNFORTUNATE LOVELY" (Metallic Hardcore in 2011 on "AFRO PUNK RECORDS")

ACTIVATOR - "UNFORTUNATE LOVELY EP"

("Afro Punk Records"; MP3-Download):

Whoa, that's a great band and release. For all what I know this album was recorded some few years ago and was meant to be released on a different label but that all didn't work(ed) out and so it's now finally in 2011 released via "AFRO PUNK RECORDS" and for all what I know solely as a MP3-Download and that offically and for free authorized by the band as well as the label (you can download it at the Bandcamp site of ACTIVATOR, you just have to get registered by "AFRO PUNK RECORDS" which means that they ask to save your e-mail-contact-data in their system and that's all, and I can calm your mood down, since I was registered there was no spam or what so ever by "AFRO PUNK RECORDS" contaminating my e-mail-systems), and like you know it in cases like this I will give you the link at the end of this review. ACTIVATOR are a great band that was totally unknown to me before this one here (and thanks to the almighty "AVERSIONLINE" blog that I stumbled upon them while I was searching through the web a while ago - http://www.aversionline.com/blahg) and what shall I say: They totally rule!!! Late 1990's metallic Hardcore full of crunchy and destructive riffs, full of force and power, a massive and full rhythm section at work, awesome heavy emotional scream-shout vocals, devastating grooves and mosh parts, atomizing up tempo high speed parts, truck loads full of atmosphere and spirit, passion and dynamic-energy, amazing songwriting (damn grapping and interesting) and really great technical skills. That's all so damn great, period. And it's all so fresh, young, dynamic and new done, no boring retro shit on it, even if this is so great that it could have also been recorded back then some-time around in between 1997 to 1999. Awesome!!! What's making this band so even far more great is how brilliant they work totally suprising stuff into their songs as very marking elements, like brutal Death Metal riffs, catchy Melodic Death Metal leads, anthemic straight and 'punky' and fluffy forward rockin' arrangements and parts, aggressive sawing Black Metal guitars, old school Thrash Metal riffs and solos, and downward taking hypnotical Doom Metal grooves, here you'll find so much what's just damn great that you'll go nuts (in every positive way of going nuts), just great!!! To talk about the artwork... okay, no real artwork as a part of this download, just the picture you can see above at the left. But a nice picture anyhow, pretty free of your typical Hardcore clichès, cool. The production sound is raw and earthy, dirty and heavy, just a brilliant done production job, point and fact. The lyrics are pretty cool stuff, take some intense listening sessions and you'll get it. So, all in all, hopefully much more stuff of ACTIVATOR will soon see the light of the day and maybe then it will be also a proper physical release. Until(l) this day, don't think twice, just get this one here!!! Awesome shit, just damn fucking great!!! (9 of 10 points)

(Okay, okay, not the Bandcamp site of ACTIVATOR- I was wrong with that- but the Bandcamp site of "AFRO PUNK RECORDS", but who cares, right?!? = http://downloads.afropunk.com/album/activator-unfortunate-lovely-ep)

(http://www.myspace.com/activatorwins)

(Note: I've changed the picture of this post and now you see- what I would say- is the real artwork of this album- and it's btw a truly cool motif- and I've also will after this words add two official bandpictures and THANKS a lot for Jared for posting them here and the damn good informations he'd given me and you and us here in the comment section, THANKS man, and I can't wait for your new album to come out!!! A great band!!! All the best from Germany to you guys and keep in touch, Andy!!!)

Chicago Style Hardcore 2011: UNRECKONED's Summer Demo 2011 - Play it loud!!!

UNRECKONED - "SUMMER DEMO 2011"
("D.I.Y."; MP3-Download):

Whoa, that's cool!!! Not that long ago I reviewed the great first proper output of the young band UNRECKONED, released earlier this very year, and now this Chicago Hardcore Roughnecks are already back with their new smasher, their second proper "SUMMER DEMO 2011" titled output. Again this one is solely out to get as a MP3-Download (it's about time that a proper physical release will see the light of the day some hopfully soon/near day), officially by the band itself put up on the web for downloading for free, and as usual in cases like this I will give you the link to the site from where you can get it (it's- again- the Bandcamp site of the band) at the end of this review. Okay, the only minus point I will name you now at first: Two songs, less than five minutes playing/running time... and that's just way far too less of new material by this awesome band, period. We get the two new songs "WASTED EFFORT" und "AGONY" and they (which means UNRECKONED) cultivated their music again quite an impressive bit. They are back on the map and they are back to attack (don't say anything, I just wanted to write this little rime anyhow, that's it all with it anyway;-)...), and that's damn fucking great!!! They made their sound more round (okay, if ya can say this just by judging by two new songs... but after this two new songs are chosen to be recorded and released as their second demo this year we can maybe think that this songs are 'rolemodels' for more of UNRECKONED to come and so we should and can judge by this songs anyhow, even if it are just two new songs at and after all... I hope you got what I wanted you to get with this words...), I mean that they worked out more all the details and that it's all even more precise and onward to more of a full blast of great and truly damn fresh Hardcore music. They've cutted quite a bit the Sludge Core influences and also the Old School Thrash Core respectively Powerviolence vibe they've turned down nearly to zero and they've sticked with and stayed true to pure through and through REAL HARDCORE approach and made it all more flowing and floating perfectly into each other, forming their own Chicago Style Hardcore 2011 out of beating and stomping, punishing and every resistance down crushing New York Hardcore like it was born and bred by especially 25 TA LIFE and MADBALL and also out of totally devastating and atomizing metallic Beatdown Hardcore in the tradition of UNIT 731 or xTYRANTx, and they are doing it all with a damn fucking huge dose of their very own identity, not copying anything or anyone. The guitar work is just an sheer musical artillery inferno of damn heavy and breath-taking brutal and hard, amazing harsh and aggressive riffs, grooves, leads and rhythms, the bass is an evil sawing and cracking demolition machinery, the drum work is just a pure assault of skills, attitude, energy and dynamic, and the sheer incredible charismatic, through and through authentic and 'naturally-organic' über-brutal Hardcore lead shouts are just pure platinum. Oh yes, damn it, that's just so damn fantastic, awesome!!! The skills of the musicians involved are just above any discussions, and the songwriting is incredible tight and intense, dynamic and forceful, grapping and interesting as fuck, just for example in the song "WASTED EFFORT" in something short above two minutes way far more is going on then in songs that other bands use to stretch for more and longer than seven minutes or something like this. Great pace and rhythm work, interesting grooves, beatdowns, changes of pace, rhythm, style and structure, to say it short and precise: Awesome!!! The lyrics are also just great, pretty hard and real stuff, and just check out their bandcamp site (there you'll find them) for a read or two, the production sound is also already brilliant stuff, and the artwork (which means in this case the cover motif) fits perfectly to and/or for the music and looks just great, period. Btw, it (which means the picture) always makes my brain scream: "American Psycho!", haha;-). So, yes, what shall I say respectively write more here and now, I just hope that finally UNRECKONED will be finally releasing a proper physical record with more songs and more playing time and hopefully a good label will give them a proper deal. One of the very best young fresh new bands (Hardcore in particular, music in general) around that owns the potential to write some pages of history with and in their style of music. Just get this one asap (as well as their "VIOLENT SOCIETY" precursor release) and support and enjoy this awesome pure platinum band. Almighty and incredible great, sheer amazing and awesome band and music. Get it!!! (10 of 10 points)

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/UNRECKONED/90926285414)

(http://unreckonedhc.bandcamp.com/album/summer-demo-11)

"UNBREAKABLE" IFBB Professional Bodybuilding Masterpiece: DEXTER JACKSON a.k.a. "THE BLADE", the 2008 Mister O. is finally here!!!

Hey folks, dear readers, I know that this was a damn 'slow' month up here. I've written something to this topic already one or two weeks or so ago in the introduction to the DOC. MARTEN 'American Oi! History Series' tribute post. And I also know that latest also already the last month with just 'Record Reviews' and 'Videos' up here wasn't up to the standard that you came to know this blog for. It was a hard time for me this year, with frustration and depression while searching for a new job, giant personal dissapointments in private life, the death of a good friend, etc. pp. and a lot of other fucked up and me up fucking crap... but how-ever, since are getting better, the at first like a giant personal dissapointment seeming loss in my private life turned out to be nothing else than a long, long overdue 'free-setting' of myself, I'm incredible damn happy that I finally found a new real job and I will start my work promptly next month, tomorrow I'll be finally able again to do my sports (yes!!!), and so on and on, things are getting better and better again and even I totally don't know how Iwill have free time to spend with writing up here you can be sure that finally again more 'weighty' things will be coming up here asap again, and I've already started it with the mentioned DOC.MARTEN tribute and I will continue it with this one here, finally a new 'Sports' entry again and this time I will introduce to you and pay tribute to no one else than the mighty DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON, yes, and here we'll go for this time, let's go!

DEXTER ''THE BLADE'' JACKSON

Okay, time to get things going on again. Dexter (Tyrone) Jackson was born at the 25. of November in 1969 as the second child of his parents that used to have six children at all. Early in High School he started to get his-self worked heavily into doing sports. So he used to run track and to play football (in both sports he managed it to make it on the wall of fame of his high school), he was a fourth degree black belt, played baseball and was also a active break dancer, and beside this he also trained cheerleaders in doing tumbles (or how-ever this is be called anyhow...), and so you see that he pretty soon became pretty active and also succesful in doing sports. And until the present day he stayed and remained a huge football fan, just to let you know this here and now btw. In 1990 finally he started training in the gym and doing bodybuilding after he saw his brother again after he came home from out of a bootcamp. A few months later some friends of him convincd him trying to compete in a local bodybuilding competition, okay, they didn't convinced him at once, but after he saw a local show by himself he finally was truly convinced and the start of his professional going bodybuilding career was finally made. And so with being twenty years old he did his first show competition, in the so called Bantamweight Class. He was the first one to win not only this class but also the overall rating with being this weight class in the state of Florida. After or with this the flame was set alight, the flame that should and would lead Dexter Jackson to his succesful professional bodybuilding career. In private life he is a huge "Madden" nerd at the Playstation (II) and loves to collect and watch DVD's. Important icons for him should become out of FLEX WHEELER (for having the greatest physique in the perception of DEXTER JACKSON and becoming a supporter of him) and CHRIS CORMIER (that shoul become some kind of a mentor in bodybuilding for him). His nickname, "THE BLADE", DEXTER JACKSON received from ED PARRISO, the husband of the IFBB Pro BETTY PARRISO, due to his pretty very precise definition of his physique (especially of his back). The title he's most proud of, of all the titles he earned, is the winning of his first major show, the GNC "SHOW OF STRENGTH". He was and still is featured over his whole career in a lot of different bodybuilding magazines, like for example the legendary and mighty "FLEX", and he's also a part of a lot of several different DVD's and stuff like this. Btw, when it comes to music he's a big Rap/Hip Hop and R&B fan (so maybe we can all agree on the fact, that this blog here paying rightnow right here tribute to him is musically not really ''his'' stuff, haha;-)...). He got brown eyes and is currently living in Jacksonville, Florida and is a fathr to four kids. Oh, yes, and he's a huge BMW fan, btw.

His first official professional NPC (/National Physique Committee) competition show was the 1992 NPC SOUTHERN STATES CHAMPIONSHIP at which he took the third place. In 1999 he finally became a IFBB Professional Bodybuilder with competing at the "ARNOLD CLASSIC" (7th place), the "NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS" (3rd place) and the "MISTER OLYMPIA" (9th place) shows. He then moved on with doing a lot of different shows all across the globe and I'll give you a more or less hopefull pretty complete list of his show career at the end of this post. In 2007 then he scored in third at the "MISTER OLYMPIA" contest, with a little controversy around this due to many critics talking he would have scored in too high with this third place/position. Finally in 2008 at the "MISTER OLYMPIA" he was coming off big and strong with taking the title in a giant triumph and with defeating the then currently (and also again today) reigning champion JAY CUTLER (who's also already featured up here on this blog in the 'Sports' posting series). So in 2008 he became the 12th man to win this title and only the second one who should win the "MISTER OLYMPIA" trophy and the "ARNOLD CLASSIC" title both in one and the same year. Beside this major triumphes also all the year of 2008 should be a very succesful year for "THE BLADE", with also winning the Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, the New Zealand and the Russian Grand Prix. And even "THE BLADE" couldn't hold that level of triumph and succes since 2008 he's still very succesful around in the world of IFBB Pro Bodybuilding.

Some few more or less statistic-facts about "THE BLADE", yehp, that's what you will now get from me here at this place. So, da-da-da-da, here we go: He's height 5,6'', his weight during his contest period is 233 lbs. while his off season weight is around 245 lbs., and the ambit of his chest (in-season) is 45'' to 46'', the ambit of his arms (in-seaon) is around 21'' to 22'' and the one of his wast (also in-season) is around 27'' to 28''. At the bench press he's pumping around 435 lbs. with a massive amount of four to six reps. At the Barbell Curl he's doing 205 lbs. with around four to six reps., and at the Squat he's battling 550 lbs. with six to eight reps. And that's quite an impressive statement!!! Ah, and if he should describe himself with only one word it would be the one called 'humble', just that you know about it. I think it will be pretty interesting to see DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON taking it on again also this year with the supreme eigning force JAY CUTLER to beat, the incredible strong going WILLIAM "BRANCH" WARREN also on the attack, the (if you ask me) definite future Mister Olympia DENNIS WOLF making his way to the throne, with KAI GREENE doing and trying everything to overcome his bitter and dissapointing loss at the 2010 "MISTER OLYMPIA" show, and with, yes, DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON by himself in his best shape making also his heavy and massive attack again. Seems like an pretty interesting year and we will see how far it all goes and what will all 'go', and I think "THE BLADE" everyone should have pretty high on his list!!! Much respect for this great champ and hard worker!!!

Now you get a hopefully at best more at least less complete list of his career so far:

1992 NPC Southern States, Lightweight, 3rd

1995 NPC USA Championships, Light-Heavyweight, 1st

1996 NPC Nationals, Light-Heavyweight, 6th

1998 North American Championships, Light-HeavyWeight, 1st and Overall

1999 Arnold Classic, 7th

1999 Grand Prix England, 4th

1999 Night of Champions, 3rd

1999 Mr. Olympia, 9th

1999 World Pro Championships, 4th

2000 Arnold Classic, 5th

2000 Grand Prix Hungary, 2nd

2000 Ironman Pro Invitational, 3rd

2000 Night of Champions, 8th

2000 Mr. Olympia, 9th

2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd

2001 Arnold Classic, 5th

2001 Grand Prix Australia, 3rd

2001 Grand Prix England, 4th

2001 Grand Prix Hungary, 3rd

2001 Night of Champions, 2nd

2001 Mr. Olympia, 8th

2001 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd

2002 Arnold Classic, 3rd

2002 Grand Prix Australia, 2nd

2002 Grand Prix Austria, 2nd

2002 Grand Prix England, 1st

2002 Grand Prix Holland, 3rd

2002 Mr. Olympia, 4th

2002 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 3rd

2002 Show of Strength Pro Championship, 6th

2003 Arnold Classic, 4th

2003 Maximum Pro Invitational, 3rd

2003 Mr. Olympia, 3rd

2003 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 3rd

2003 Show of Strength Pro Championship, 1st

2004 Arnold Classic, 3rd

2004 Grand Prix Australia, 1st

2004 Ironman Pro Invitational, 1st

2004 Mr. Olympia, 4th

2004 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 1st

2005 Arnold Classic, 1st

2005 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 2nd

2006 Arnold Classic, 1st

2006 Mr. Olympia, 4th

2007 Arnold Classic, 2nd

2007 Mr. Olympia, 3rd

2008 Arnold Classic, 1st

2008 IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, 1st

2008 IFBB New Zealand Grand Prix, 1st

2008 IFBB Russian Grand Prix, 1st

2008 Mr. Olympia, 1st

2009 Mr. Olympia, 3rd

2010 Arnold Classic, 4th

2010 IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix, 2nd

2010 Mr. Olympia, 4th

2011 Flex Pro, 2nd

And now you get- as you know it- a few (out-) chosen video clips to shocase "THE BLADE" a little bit more intense to and/or for all of you interested out there. So, yehp, here we go:

DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON - Workout Video Clip

DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON - Training Video Clip

DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON - Chest Workout

DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON - Back Workout

DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON - ''UNBREAKABLE'' DVD Promo Video Clip

And here's the link to the official homepage of Mister DEXTER "THE BLADE" JACKSON, so if ya want ta know more about this great athlete then go their and find what ya're searching for via http://www.dexterjacksonshredded.com/.

PATRIOT - American Oi! over Europe in 1997: "To serve and protect!" "Yeah, fuck you!" - A.C.A.B.

PATRIOT - "LIVE OVER EUROPE 1997"
("Blind Beggar Records"; CD):

Also this is the review of a release that used to be released many, many years ago and it's (like you may have already thought due to the title of the record) a live record by no one else than the almighty, legendary and immortal PATRIOT. Uh, and it's really for the very first time that this almighty band is becoming a part of this very blog here, and so it's truly about time, because, ha, it's hard to believe because PATRIOT are and have always been one of my very all-time favorite bands ever, no matter out of which specific genre ever, point and fact!!! With their forceful, hard and pushing, yet damn melodic, catchy (in every positive sense of this word/term) and anthemic, simply larger than life American Oi! they are really a statement of its own. (I hope you got what I wanted to say with this words.) They released three full length albums so far, besde quite an impressive amount of singles, compilation songs, etc. pp., and after Eddie is finally getting well again (THANK the gods or whom or what else for this) hopefully we will finally see the release of their new album asap. But okay, they will become a important part of the 'American Oi! History Series' up here one (maybe far away) day and so I won't say that much more about them right now. This here is their second live album (for all what I know they've released another earlier live album before this one) and it was released by the german "BLIND BEGGAR RECORDS" label. The concert was recorded back on their europe tour in 1997 over here in Germany, while this album here was just released in 1999, don't ask me why. Anyhow, it's not that important at all, what only matters is the fact that it was released anyhow anyway. Okay, we get at all 22 of their great hits and some nice introduction stuff and the journey goes from their fantastic "CADENCE FROM THE STREETS" debut all the way to their great "WE, THE PEOPLE" album (wasn't released when they played the show but they play/-ed the opener of this album, "NEW WORLD ORDER", live here, pretty cool), and so the main focus lies on their debut and on their "ANOTHER DEAD GENERATION" masterpiece. And they do play also some great cover tunes: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?" (COCK SPARRER), "WE ARE THE BOYS" (BLITZ), "LET'S BREAK THE LAW" (ANTI-NOWHERE LAGUE) and "CHAOS" (THE 4 SKINS), and all are done just awesome. You shouldn't think twice and just get this album even if you're normally not that big fan of live albums at all. Supreme American Oi!, hard stomping and fist swinging, as well as anthemic as fuck, just awesome and amazing stuff, just PATRIOT!!! I have not a single clou from where the fucking damn bloody hell you still can buy it today but if you see it then get it and maybe after I think it's pretty much sold out and over an decade old you can maybe also hope that Bernando of "THE U.S. OF Oi! OF SWEDEN" blog will finally load it up one more or less soon day, we will see, but I'm damn happy that I call it my own. The artwork looks pretty cool and the recording sound is as real as it can get and it's just great. Jackpot!!! Get it!!! Also Eddie is making some cool announcements, just btw. This is a great album by a great band, point and fact!!! Cheers & Oi! (10 of 10 points)
(http://www.myspace.com/patriotoi)

*** LIBERTY 37 - The PATRIOTS HAMMER swinging 'round, while every single traitor of the flag is shot dead with a GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD and we all get aware of the failed ambitions of the WELFARE STATE... ***

LIBERTY 37 - "UNDER SIEGE"

("B.H. Records"; CD):

Okay folks, up next is a review of a record that is already quite a big bunch of years old and so we can maybe call it a review of a classic - even a lot of you guys out there may have totally missed out on this one. Okay, to start from and with the beginning: The record is a 'baby' of the glorious 1990's and maybe we can locate it in the area of American Oi! music, at least more or less in one way or the other. The band was a 'follow-up-band' of the Detroit City based American Oi! legends ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH, the American R.A.C. band RIVAL, the American Oi!/Streetpunk band ROGUES (at least LIBERTY 37 shared some members with the mentioned bands and used to come out of that environment) and some guys of LIBERTY 37 are today around in the obscure occult Nazi White Power Metal band REBEL HELL (a White Power Nationalsocialist verion of MOTÖRHEAD mixed up with heavy doses of old school Trash Metal, for everyone of you out there who might be interestd in some stuff like this for what reasons ever...). All in all so you see that LIBERTY 37 are to be located on the right wing and pretty much already on the far corners of it. But for all what I would say then here's no WP/NS 14/88 stuff to be recognized by anyone of us (even I would bet that all the AFA homies as well as the WP dudes out there will find something to benefit their needs in handling this band), maybe beside the edition of "THE TURNER DIARIES" that they display as a part of their bandpicture (as well as a pretty cool old school KISS bandshirt, btw). Here you find 'just' patriotic (eventually nationalistic), militant, conservative, anti-liberal, anti-communist, and also 'anti-welfare-politics', 'pro-militia', 'anti-fire-weapon-control', 'anti-(mass-)immigration', 'pro-the-american-constitution', 'pro-heritage' (and I mean 'pro-heritage' and not 'pro-white') and 'anti-power-expansion-of-the-governemnt' focussed lyrics, also all very gladiatorial and - like already mentioned before - damn militant, and I have to say that they've done quite a great job with their lyrics, no matter if you like to read this here and now or not and also no matter if you may agree on everything or nothing or if you not agree, anyhow, great lyrics that also speak some good healthy doses of truth even if your standpoint may is a totally diffrent one and your consequences might also be total different ones then the one/-s of LIBERTY 37. Musically this is basically based on Oi!/Streetpunk heavy and brutal Rock music (which means also good old R.A.C. music) with some doses of Metal put into it. Ah, but the main-focus really lies on the Rock and also then after this on the Metal, not so much on the Streetpunk or Oi!, just that you know it. When I first listened to this record some years ago it blew me away right from the start, and still today it totally convinces me time and time again!!! Incredible heavy and hard and really brutal and totally real, yet damn melodic and catchy as fuck and packed up full with great suprises and all very dynamic and energetic as well as really incredible grapping, intense and interesting, just brilliant stuff, point and fact!!! Great guitar work, harsh and martial war-like riffing, as well as great melody lines and symphonic leads that really at first seem to stand opposed to the sheer aggression and the stoic brutality of the pushing and beating and battling guitar riffing but at second (and here second comes quick after first) you realize how great it's all flowing and how damn great they've melted it all together in a great and just 'made-round' way, and then there we have a pounding, forceful, very marking and present, tight and brutal rhythm section, and awesome charismatic, really hard (but still sung not shouted, maybe a little it spitted-into-the-mic) lead vocals that really shine. The pace of most of the songs is quite a pretty fast and up-tempo one but they change it clever and also the arrangements of the songs are done so damn great that none of the songs sounds the same and so really nothing gets anyhow boring, and that's just great. It graps you again and again when you listen to it. What a great band!!! I love it!!! We get 14 songs (not words, hehe;-)...) all in all on this one and my favorite ones are "ARMED OR ENSLAVED", "WELFARE STATE" (awesome, and also amazing lyrics, too), "BROKEN GLORY", "SPOILS OF WAR" (what a great intense atmosphere), "GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD", "TWO ROUNDS FOR SISTER SARAH", and the mighty stomping "PATRIOTS HAMMER", all are just pure platinum, but also the other songs are at least just pure gold, just damn fucking outstanding great, point and fact!!! To the - great - lyrics I've already said enough, the artwork (even it's pretty slim) looks really good and the earthy and dirty, yet good pushing production sound is also a hit of the jackpot. I have no idea about the obscure record label, hm, anyhow... I have no clue or idea from where the hell you might can get this one here still today but you should search it or at least keep one or two eyes open for it, and if you find or just see it then you really need to grab it because otherwise you would miss a phenomenal band and record. A stand-alone band and record!!! Awesome!!! Cheers & Oi! (10 of 10 points)
(Sorry, I wasn't able to fnd any link, Homepage, MySpace site, Facebook profile or what else ever of or to this band and I also found no other proper informations, sorry. And this is also even more extremly sad because I would love to let LIBERTY 37 become a part of the 'American Oi! History Series' here on this very blog but without more informations then the few ones I've given you here via the review this would be a stupid move to do... so if anyone knows more about this band please just let me know about it and get in contact with me on which way ever, thanks a lot guys.)

DOC. MARTEN - American Oi! History Series, finally coming to the closing chapters of the golden 1980's.

Hey folks, finally things get started up ready again up here. I’m very sorry but honestly I have currently simply not that much free time to spend… and also honestly: In the rare free time I have these days I felt and feel no real need to sit at home infront of my computer screen and ‘write’ stuff down, nah, I really hated the thought especially over the last two weeks or so, but also a little bit longer, that’s the reason why especially June was a month that was just filled with ‘Record Reviews’ and ‘Videos’ posts. They just don’t take normally that much time to be written down… okay, the ‘Record Reviews’ pretty often take some time anyhow… I won’t lie to you so I can’t say anything if that (my rare free time and my motivation) will change this month so I won’t say anything about what and how much of it will be coming up this very month. It’s just like if you’re working around ten hours each day when you’re then finally at home you just don’t have the time and/or the motivation to sit down and write something, nah, I really rather do my sports, spend time with my girlfriend, play with my dog, hang around with friends and family, listen relaxed to music, go and out and have some fun, etc. pp. instead of spending my rare free time infront of my personal computer. So, okay, enough crying around or so, this here will finally be a new and the next post up here, and also the first in two weeks or so and also the first for this very month and finally the ‘American Oi! History Series’ will be continued up here by me. This entry will feature (as announced) the legendary and great DOC. MARTEN, an American Oi! band active around the mid to late 1980’s, and now onward into their history and tribute we will ride…

*** ONE LAND TO CARE FOR ***

DOC. MARTEN

*** ‘HAIL THE IRON HAND’… ‘THE STREETS ARE OURS’!!! ***

DOC. MARTEN were founded in New Jersey, NY and they formed back then by the late of the year of 1984 and they always used to have troubles to recruit a proper and reliable bass player. The band consisted of Paul Link at the drums, John Devine playing the guitar and singing, Stephano Morisi (as the most ‘consequent guy’) at the bass and also playing the saxophone, and also Brent Eaton on the second guitar. They used to play over their career several different gigs/concerts, especially and first-and-foremost in the New Jersey-New York area. Their first release was a demo D.I.Y. tape that also made them known over here in Europe and eventually led them to a deal with the then already pretty ‘prominent’ german record label of the name of “ROCK O RAMA RECORDS” where DOC. MARTEN used to release their first and for all what I know solely full length album, “ONE LAND TO CARE FOR”, released around 1989 or so. On their mentioned tape they used to do a big bunch of cover tunes of all the famous British Oi! legends, and with that demo tape recordings also a lot of other rare recordings and also live recordings you can find compiled together on a bootleg CD that was compiled by the german “FORCE OF HATE” fan-/webzine quite a while ago (but you should still be able to buy it anyhow, or download it at the “THUGROCK” blog… even it seems that this blog was taken out of the web in sometime in the not so long ago past because somehow I couldn’t visit it today and it was announced that the blog would be no more around what would really be a huge pity). Beside this releases I think that they’ve also released a 7’’ back then, but I’m not so sure if, where and when right now and I don’t call it my own anyway in contrast to their mentioned full length album. (It’s pretty hard to get some proper informations about this band, so that’s the cause why this here may seem ‘shorter’ and ‘not-so-detailed’ like the precursor posts of this posting series, just that you know it.)

DOC. MARTEN had been an American Skinhead band that always used to focuss pretty strong on a political or (how they used to call it) social side and not so much on the subcultural and Way of Life side of things, and this they’ve also propagated in interviews back then. They had a strong and pretty militant patriotic (and maybe nationalistic) and also anti-communist stance, like a lot of other more or less right wing American Oi! bands of the 1980’s due to the fact that this was the last and also pretty heated phase of the so called Cold War so that a lot of a militant potential in society was created and that also found its expressions in the different subcultures and for that DOC. MARTEN also used and still use to be a pretty good example. But they’ve always used to have some really damn strong and good lyrics, no matter if you take the issues they’ve dealt with or the way how they’ve dealt with them. And also they always stayed away for all what I would say away from any WP and/or NS stuff. (At least if we’re not talking about the back then still future to come of one of the mentioned band members…) Anyhow, great lyrics, and they’re also worth a read today and still speak really a good healthy dose of truth even still today, no matter if some now may like it or not. (If written already in the future enough about late Cold War bands and ideology and society and subculture so that I won’t repeat myself again here, just read for example th stories about the ARRESTING OFFICERS, NEW GLORY, BEST DEFENSE and/or the YOUTH DEFENSE LEAGUE, and you will know what I’m talking about.)

Musically DOC. MARTEN played some sort of a mixture out of Oi!, R.A.C., and Rock & Roll and Rock music in general. It was and is all very rockin’ and guitar dominated and also pretty melodic, yet damn heavy, and if you can imagine a great mixture out of the TEMPLARS, early R.A.C. like BRUTAL ATTACK and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN you should know pretty good how DOC. MARTEN used to sound, and they should also be interesting for fans of the dutch BADLANDS. Also musically they had and still have a lot to offer and it’s basically totally free of any Hardcore moments or Tough Guy attitude (something that was pretty unusual for American Oi! back then), and anyhow also musically DOC. MARTEN are very relevant even still today, especially when it’s about how they’ve melted symphonic melodies together with a streetcharmed heavyness and all cultivated with strong roots rockin’ impressions, something you won’t be able to listen to that often, no matter if back then or today or in-between this two time periods. So you should take care of getting your hands finally on their great “ONE LAND TO CARE FOR” full length album anyhow asap, point and fact!!! I don’t know what the bandmembers used to do after the defunction and split of DOC. MARTEN, beside the fact that Brent Eaton used to play in and for the WP NS Hate Core band AGGRAVATED ASSAULT after his career in DOC. MARTEN.

That’s it for now (like I’ve already mentioned was it a very hard to get any informations about this band so don’t wonder about the ‘shortness’ of this entry), next stop in this series will be Boston, MA and next up then will be the almighty and infamous STARS & STRIPES, so be prepared for it (but don’t ask me when it will come). Also no video clips found by now, but I will try it sometime again or I will maybe get by myself a little clip settled together or so, we will see. Keep the spirit alive!!! Oi! Oi! Oi!

THE EXPLOITED "LIVE & LOUD" as part of ''THE PUNK COLLECTORS SERIES''

THE EXPLOITED - "LIVE AND LOUD"
("Anagram Records"; CD):

I love this band and they had been one hell of an important band for me, musically and lyrically, and I will always hold them dear to my heart no matter what all the nutjobs from the left to the right may agitate against them and how far they will run their shithole mouths about them. This is a very old album from 1993 that used to push me back then in the days through even the worst school weeks and it was and is a non-regular album release and like the title pretty well says it it is a live album. It features a big bunch of their infamous classicks from their legendary debut "PUNK'S NOT DEAD" to their "HORROR EPICS" slasher and this means that it also covers songs of their two maybe most prominent albums "TROOPS OF TOMORROW" and "LET'S START A WAR". So this means that we get hard, fast, loud, heavy and aggressive U.K. '82 Hardcore Punk of its very, very best straight in our faces. Raging and sawing angry and aggressive guitar work, in-your-face screaming and spitting damn charismatic vokillz, a brutal beating and cracking bass at work and pounding and stomping massive drum playing, and all cultivated with that special battle-scarred and gladiatorial as well as sick and morbid atmosphere that always was a trademark of THE EXPLOITED that also always set them far ahead of other also great legends of this era and style of Punk like fo example the mighty G.B.H., yes, and that's why we always talk about the almighty THE EXPLOITED. All made round by the typical "Anarchy!", "Chaos!", "Violence!", "Riot!", "A.C.A.B.!", "Punk!", and also "Sex!" in your face beating and screaming lyrics, a very cool raw and dirty recording sound, and a nice artwork, ah, and that the tracks/songs are taken from different concerts and/or are compiled a little bit different then they seemed to have been played by the band at the concerts don't really damages anything here. Some tracks featured on this one are for example "LET'S START A WAR", "COP CARS", "HITLER'S IN THE CHARTS AGAIN", "ALTERNATIVE", "U.K. '82", "TROOPS OF TOMORROW", "SEX AND VIOLENCE", "DAILY NEWS", "S.P.G.", "EXPLOITED BARMY ARMY", and "I BELIEVE IN ANARCHY". You see, non-stop nothing but amazing immortal anthems of this awesome band. So, yes, I don't know if and when from where the hell you still can get this album but if you see it somewhere still being around waiting to be bought by you then you should really desperatly make sure to finally grab it. Great stuff and a great band!!! I love this shit!!! CHAOS!!! Oi! (9 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/officialtheexploited)

If you like this crap then you're reading the wrong blog, period.

DELERIUM - "VOICE EP - AN ACOUSTIC COLLECTION"

("Network Music Group" / "Sonic Seducer Magazine"; CD):

Here's the next CD (and also a CD EP) where I wonder why the hell some may think they could make me a pleasure with giving me stuff like this as a gift... strange world we live in... Okay, like you all see this is also some sort of a "SONIC SEDUCER" release and it really seems like this magazine now-a-days also owns its very own record label or at least record distribution company. But also with this one here I don't know if it just came as a free promo CD garnish of an issue of the magazine or if this one here is also in one form or another a CD EP of the commercial kind that you can go and buy if you want to. I really don't know it. Anyhow... And as you all also may can think by now, this here is again to be located somewhere on the Gothic or what-the-fuck-else-ever side of music. Okay, first of all I wonder what should be anyhow dark here at all, and then I wonder also why to name this here any different then what it is and this is nothing else than just melancholic and 'bitterly' sweet Pop music, nothing else, and even not really anyhow good Pop music. An 'angel-like' whispering sweet female lead singing voice, relaxed chilled laid back beats and some other more or less acoustic twee gew gaws frippery, you'll find many if not all stereotypes that you now may expect on this one here. Nah, I have enough of it, and I really don't know what to write here more, maybe just that this stuff here reminds me more of mainsteam superficial snuggle chart pop shit than of anything else and even this music proclaims to be oh so packed up full with emotions, feelings and passion, etc. pp. you (will) find nothing of this in here so don't just search for anything of it. Ah, and just for the record, the artwork is okay and the production sound also, too. It's hard to believe that this really shall be the band that was formed back then in 1987 or so as a side-project of the pretty FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY, hard to believe... But after all and all in all: Nah, fuck it, this is junk, musically and lyrically, and maybe it could be possible that if you like this stuff and comparable shit then you're reading the wrong blog, period. (0 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/delerium)

Belgian Wave'n'EBM'n'what-so-else-the-bloody-fuck-ever...

ABSOLUTE BODY CONTROL - "SORROW"

("Daft Records" / "Sleepless Berlin" / "Sonic Seducer Magazine"; CD):

Okay, this is a strange sort of music for me to listen to and maybe I should ask myself why the hell ever friends of mine think to make me a pleasure with bestowing me stuff like this. Okay, I also always stood for the fact that I love THE SISTERS OF MERCY and that this very band is one of my total favorites of all time (no matter what specific particular music genre now may come to your mind) and that I also once liked (and sometimes in some cases still like) to listen to some Gothic'n'Wave and also some Industrial (and Techno Metal) styled stuff no matter of which specific sort it ever may be like for example such different favorite acts of this genre of me like THE 69 EYES, MINISTRY, KMFDM, NEW ORDER, TYPE 0 NEGATIVE, DIE KRUPPS, DAS ICH, GOETHES ERBEN, THEARTRE OF TRAGEDY, TIAMAT, and some only very few other bands like this may demonstrate (to) ya and I also always stood for it, no problems with that, but I'm really totally not familiar with this kind of music and that simply because of the simple fact that it never was, that it isn't and that it will never be a sort or genre of music that offers me something precious with weight that really gives me something (or at least anything at all) and so don't expect that much knowledge of this sort of music presented here in and with this review. So, yes, that's it, so now okay and onward to the review of this record: This CD was a bestowment (don't know if I really should say thanks anyway) and for all what I do see I would say that this was a free garnish or something like this of one of the last issues of the "SONIC SEDUCER" magazine (for all what I know- and that's not much when it's about this kind of music- it's together with the "ZILLO" magazine the longest and best established Gothic etc. pp. magazine at least here in Germany) or this zine now-a-days also owns its own record label recording company, who knows, but if not that's here some sort of a Promo CD or so. Okay, anyhow, ABSOLUTE BODY CONTROL is a duo from Belgium that's dedicated to some dark 'gothy' and especially 'wavy', melancholic Electronical Music, and so maybe we should all call it EBM (which means, at least if I'm right with that, Electronic Body Music and is maybe to describe as something like the dark variation of Techno music for the black dressed depressed and melancholic dudes called Goths and their specific sort of retarded slow-assed style of dancing to their music). So, okay, we get at all six songs but this songs are in fact four songs at all, "INTO THE LIGHT", "SATURNIA CALLING", "SHATTERED ILLUSION" and the title track "SORROW" that comes here on this one to us in three different (mostly remix/-ed) versions like btw all tracks on this one here come in remix(/-ed) versions, so that this is a remix CD EP. But after also the official EP version of "SORROW" (the only regular released song version on this one here) is also a through and through electronical affair or 'just' an EBM track the above mentioned genre description of EBM (or something like this) is a correct one. Anyhow, mostly relatively (strong) releaxed partial one upon the other laid beats and some ''sinister'n'dark'' sound dalliances and baubles and other accessorily atmospheric instrumentations are added to it to create a at most as possible close networked and condensed 'aimed to be dark' atmosphere and maybe it's also all done pretty good but if you ask me then it all just works out only with one song and that's the opener of this CD EP and that's the (official) EP version of the title track of the name of "SORROW". This one is really a cool and also a truly damn good song, I won't argue on this with anyone, but the rest is more or less terrible and bloody lethargic electronical music crap without any heart or soul or passion and also without any dynamic or energy or power and force or 'just' story-telling-abilities. The artwork of this disc is okay but also nothing special anyway (ah, btw, the cover is originally halted in black and yellow and I don't know why my scanner is spoiling it all and didn't get it done to scan it in the original colors), the lyrics are what you may expect to get from a band of this kind respectively out of this genre with song titles like "SORROW", "INTO THE LIGHT", "SATURNIA CALLING" and "SHATTERED ILLUSION", and the production sound is pretty okay. So, yehp, I know that I'm not in the target audience of this band and music, ha, and you know what, I'm damn happy about it. So, yehp, I don't know if you are into this kind of music and if you are so a part of the target audience of ABSOLUTE BODY CONTROL and acts like this, hm, then maybe check it out because maybe then this is some somehow anyhow anyway good stuff or at least something comparable to this but if not then... Okay, let me say it this way: I think it's good that this CD is more or less for free because I wouldn't waste a single cent on this one, period. (1 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/absolutebodycontrolbelgium)

A little something to listen to over the summer...

IN FLAMES - "EIGHT SONGS"

("Century Media Records" / "Fighter Streets Records" / "Rock Hard Magazine"; CD):

This is a new promotional album CD by the swedish 'megasellers' of IN FLAMES. This CD comes as a free garnish of the current issue of the german "ROCK HARD" magazine and maybe it's for you a reason (or another reason) to buy it but maybe also not and if you're anyhow interested in it you may just choose to grab this CD anyhow and take it with you... Who knows? Anyhow, back in the 1990's IN FLAMES became totally over the top going Metal 'megasellers' with their melodic Death Metal the swedish trademark and style (or Göteborg Death Metal) and together with DARK TRANQUILITY they became something like the pioneers of what we today can maybe call the second wave of swedish Death Metal (second, after DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED, UNLEASHED, etc. pp.) and especially IN FLAMES really grew big and bigger over the last nearly two decades, from their breakthrough album "THE JESTER RACE" to their current full length album release "SONGS OF A PLAYGROUND FADING" (for all what I know released recently this month/-s), hm, and I have to admit that I really "NEVER!" was a fan of IN FLAMES, no: "NEVER!". But I have also to admit that things really changed heavily and what IN FLAMES do today is quite different compared with what they've done back then. From the sweet and catchy and totally annoying 'poppy' Girly Death Metal they seemed to have moved into a heavy yet still pretty melodic Modern Metal or Metalcore music direction (and this 'seems' not only so), all on a pretty high level of quality but also all maybe not oh too creative and stand-alone to judge by the two brandnew songs featured here on this one. Maybe some hardknock fans would still discuss it controversy (but after the change of direction was also started some albums and so many years back in time maybe only some total morons would start this 'controversial discussion' still today), maybe the Metal and or Metalcore writers would (or will) write about some oh so fresh and creative new wind blowing and howling through your speakers, hm, but I have just to say that this here is really good done stuff but it's also nothing anyone should give only one of his/her legs for. It's pretty funny that beside the almighty AT THE GATES also a band like IN FLAMES was undeniable a very important influence for the Metalcore and/or Modern Metal 'superstars' of today like for exapmle KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and also SOILWORK, and that now it seems like things have changed to 180° and that now the once influenced became the influence for the once that were back then primarly the source of influence. (I hope you know what I mean...) And if you like this bands in particular and other bands like this in general then you will also like (if not love) the new material that IN FLAMES give us here (at least via two new songs). Nice rhythm arrangements with some good and clever twists and turns in the structure and architecture of the songs, very heavy yet damn catchy and melodic guitar work (powerful and distorting riffs go hand in hand with symphonic goosepimple leads and some nice solo parts), great forceful work of the rhythm section, all settled together by damn good songwriting, all pretty interesting and grapping arranged and structured, and to play their instruments IN FLAMES use to know anyhow for many, many years already now. All made round by the typical ingredients of the Modern Metal and/or Metalcore genre that you may like or not but that all of you should know already pretty good anyway. Without a doubt it's all really, really good done and it all just sounds not all too enthusiastic because it's pretty much heard over and over again in some today only a little bit varying variations also if you're not a fan at all of Metalcore and Modern Metal (and I'm by myself not a fan of this music after all) so that I really don't know what to write here more and on. We get two brandnew songs ("DELIVER US" and "ENTER TRAGEDY") and both are really good stuff with a more sinister and melancholic, a pretty intense feeling to it and lyrics that are also probably some stuff like this (sinister and melancholic) but aren't printed and so I won't say anything definite, and then we get six more old songs, "DISCOVER ME LIKE EMPTINESS", "OUR INFINITE STRUGGLE", "DEAD ENTRY", "ANOTHER DAY IN QUICKSAND", "ONLY FOR THE WEAK" (live) and "CLOUD CONNECTED" (live), and I like especially "DISCOVER ME LIKE EMPTINESS" and "OUR INFINTE STRUGGLE" that are both pretty forceful smashers, and also the two live songs are really great stuff coming with a lot of nice suprises like the (pretty good done) clean vocals and so on. The lyrics are what seem typical today for IN FLAMES (what-ever this now may mean, especially after I'm and I was everything but a fan on this band), and the artwork looks pretty cool as well as the production sound hits the score. So, you see, for fans of the band or the mentioned bands and genres this one here (and so the new full length of IN FLAMES) should be necessary stuff but also all other interested in Modern Metal or Metalcore or modern metallic heavy yet melodic music in general should risk an ear here anyhow by grabbing this CD or buying the "ROCK HARD" issue or something like this and so I would say that this promotional CD at the end of the day truly fullfilled its destiny. Ah, btw, after I lost IN FLAMES after their "COLONY" release at the end of the 1990's or so totally out of sight (but not because I thought or think this album was or would be total garbage, no, instead of this I would still name it a pretty good album, no, but this band and I never found together- or I found never to this band and never will- and so I lost totally any at all even pretty small interested in them and lost them totally out of sight) I really have to admit that the development that they've taken is really a impressive one, respect for this anyhow. (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/inflames)

(http://www.inflames.com/)

We're looking at the world through a barrel of a gun? Are you ready? ...

Yes, last post for today (and this very week) and now comes a 'Videos' posting for ya with that I want to give ya one of the great old UK Punk bands that rule since the late 1970's without any weak periods, and here and now this means the great and legendary UK SUBS and you get now my personal favorite of them (musically and lyrically) and this is no other song than their awesome anthem "WARHEAD". The music is just great British Punkrock music of its very best and with a special feeling to it and a certain spirit in it and creating just a great intense atmosphere that oh so many Punk bands of today fail over and over again to do so. And the lyrics are outspoken and just totally great, pissing off any sides and speaking wise words of truth and wisdom and are today even more true then back then and also this is why you finally get with this post the lyrics of the song again (after the clip) and so now just enjoy this great band and song and then I wish ya all a good night because now finally I will go to bed and fall hopefully pretty soon a-sleep. Cheers & Oi!

U.K. SUBS - "WARHEAD"

U.K. SUBS - "WARHEAD" (the lyrics):

Soldiers of Islam are loading their guns

They're getting ready
but the Russian tanks are mowing them down
They're getting ready
There's children in Africa with tommy guns
Getting ready
While the Islam armies are beckoning on
They're getting ready

[Chorus]
There's a burning sun
And it sets in the western world
But it rises in the east
And pretty soon
It's gonna burn your temples down

While the heads of state are having their fun
Are they ready?
We're looking at the world through the barrel of a gun
Are we ready?
And you stand there beating on your little war drum
Are you ready?
And it won't be long before your time has come
Are you ready?

[Repeat Chorus]

[Repeat Chorus]

Warhead, warhead, warhead
Warhead, warhead, warhead
Warhead, warhead, warhead
Warhead, warhead, warhead

Well I don't know what it is but i feel something coming
Stuck in the middle of the Yankees and the Russians
Better get moving guns are getting loaded
Fast to the border where the tanks are a rolling
There's a nation in fear another nation crying
One nation killing and another nation dying
Talk about guns and escalation bye bye planet let alone a nation

HOST from Leeds - UK Hardcore Machinery 2011

HOST - "DEMO 2011"
("D.I.Y."; MP3-Download):

Here's a promising new and young Hardcore band from out of the UK, to say it more precise these roughnecks from HOST hailing out of the city of Leeds and they are showcasing us a great case of UK Hardcore finally seem to claiming its crown again. This is their current demo DIY release (and maybe also their debut release overall, but that I just can't tell ya that precise) and it's released (also or maybe solely, I don't know it by now, too) as an official and for free download via the Bandcamp site of the band (the link will close this very review here, as usual in cases like this) and it's again because of the great "THANKS, IT CAME AS A SET" (http://thanksitcameasaset.blogspot.com/) blog that I stumbled over this band (so "Thanx!" for that!!!), and so without any more 'stoppings' we will come to the review, yehp, that's it, so here it goes: HOST are (like I've already mentioned at the beginning of this review) a very promising and more than 'just' a damn good band. They play a massive and very bully and bulky, damn fucking hard'n'heavy and truly aggressive Hardcore style of the metallic New School kind and all is filled up with a huge Sludge Core the EYE HATE GOD style and sort of sound and not to forget some few but certain Grindcore reminiscences and also some nice swedish Old School Death Metal reminiscences when it's about the guitar riffing (think about ENTOMBED somewhere between the "LEFT HAND PATH", "CLANDESTINE" and "WOLVERINE BLUES" masterpieces of them). If you like your guitar work hard and angry, noisy and mean, crushing and devastating, your rhythm section as massive pound for pound working as it only can be, and your vocals aggressive and neurotic and really damn pretty extreme, yes, then don't think twice but get this one here instaed of just complaining that you've missed something really dfamn good at the end of the day. The songwriting is already a damn good and pretty cool affair, interesting and grapping and very skillful, and the production sound is already damn proffesional (it sounds truly not like a D.I.Y. demo release), and to play on and with their instruments HOST do know more than 'only' damn good, as well as the weird and sick cover motife really rocks. The lyrics aren't part of the download (what's a pity) and I can't tell ya exactly something precise about them but I would bet that we get some pretty sinister and heavy stuff. We get all in all three songs, and the only minus points are the facts or 'points' that it's just too short on running time and on material we get from them and that the band seems to stuck in between the decision if they want to go more into the Hardcore or more into the Sludge Core direction and that HOST currently lack a little bit the 'own identity' to solve this 'problem' in a stand-alone way like SNAKEDRIVER (just for example) did it lately. But this is all what there is to say about the maybe minus points of this one here and I really believe that all this little issues will be solved by HOST in the (hopefully very near) future. I recommend this to all of you out there that are into truly damn good and forceful Hardcore (as well as Sludge Core) music and I really hope to hear very soon more of them. Another band we should really keep an eye on this very year. So, yes: Check it out!!! (8 v. 10 P.)
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/HOST/156677597728757)
(Sorry, I was wrong, the download link comes without any Bandcamp site link but so it's just an MediaFire link and this one now comes here: http://www.mediafire.com/?ne7esd038beo4is)

NYC Skinhead Rock & Roll

Okay folks, it's about time to do finally at least a little post up here again and so I'll do it but it's damn late and I hate my alarm bell ringing in something like five hours tomorrow again and thinking about it makes me want to smash someone's head in because damn it I really desperatly need the weekend. Now you get a great live clip of the almighty 45 ADAPTERS (you know them, one of the best Skinhead Rock & Roll bands ever and one of the very best NYC Skin bands still around today, and don't miss the interview I've done back then with them and all the best greetings from me going out to the guys in the band), and you see them playing their great anthem "NOT ONE MORE DAY" (the title track of their debut 7'' and this one as well as their second 7'' I also reviewed back then up here, and you need to call both your very own, and I'm desperatly looking forward to see finally a full length album of them coming out) and it's also a damn great performance. So just check it out and then soon more again. Sleep well tonight and Cheers & Oi!, Andy!!!

45 ADAPTERS - "NOT ONE MORE DAY" (live)

San Antonio Stoner Doom Rock Metal by RAPID EXPANSION

RAPID EXPANSION - "RAPID EXPANSION"
("D.I.Y."; MP3-Download):

First of all I have to say two things: 1.) Beside the 'fact' (I just write 'fact' instead of fact because this is something where I believe- and hope- that it's the truth and true but where I really honestly don't know it- and yes, I'm currently just too lazy to go surfing and ask the almighty Google gods for their helping hands... like I'm pretty often too lazy to do this stuff) that this band is coming from San Antonio I don't know anything about them; 2.) I (also) can't tell ya where, when and how I got aware of them but somehow for quite a while now already this two track demo of them is part of my harddisc. Ah, and one third thing I can also tell ya right here and now from the very first beginning: 3.) This one here is their 'newest' demo (and maybe their debut release, but this again is something that I just can't really tell you anyhow just because I don't have a single clou), through and through D.I.Y. stuff (for all what I know) and it was also or maybe even solely released as a MP3-Download officially and for free by the band itself and you can get it by downloading it from their Bandcamp site (and as usual in cases like this the link to this their Bandcamp site I will give ya as the closing line of this review). Yehp, and that's it with every possible introduction word(s) to them and it and so now here we go again and ahead (or what the fuck else ever): RAPID EXPANSION are a (for all what I know or- maybe better- for all what I think to know) San Antonio based band that's playing some very cool and suprisingly fresh Stoner Rock and Doom Metal cocktail with huge doses of some good old yet damn fresh'n'young Drone worked into it. We get two songs on this one here, the nearly eighteen to twenty minutes long "GROTESQUE" and the around three to four minutes long "THANKSGIVING DINNER". What's great is the fact that by looking at the- btw damn disgusting cover art- you might expect some neurotic and psychotic Doom Metal cultivated with huge doses of dopesick and (self-) aggressive Sludge Core and made round by heavy and sinister Stoner Rock and massive Drone components integrated in it all...: Ha, even some of the named styles of music (forget totally about the Sludge Core) are damn right and truly to be found in RAPID EXPANSION's music and also even it's really some damn heavy and very nice and very good droning (and also 'grooving', we shouldn't forget about this component) affair, and also huge doses of some psychotic'n'neurotic sickness are to be recognized without any doubts but it's all no heroin infected downward spiral posse and (like I've already mentioned) there's absolutely no crazed'n'dopesick Sludge (Core) to be heard here. Instead of this it's all really pretty buoyant, nimble-footed, dashing and detached especially for that specific kind of music. And that's also really pretty damn cool and exciting, also somehow some sort of some truly fresh stuff. The foundament of the music of RAPID EXPANSION is heavy and very grounded, down paced and down tuned Stoner Rock that's combined with hard and massive Doom Metal notes (pretty Old School, at least that's what I would say, and so also the riffing reminds me sometimes of the legendary BLACK SABBATH even it comes without that occult sinister atmosphere for what that band became groundbreaking and- for a lot of people back then- also lifechanging) and loud and long droning moments (especially if ya take some good listens to the guitar playing). Ah, and did I already mentione(d) that RAPID EXPANSION are (at least on this one here) a pure and through and through instrumental (playing) band (beside some- totally misplaced and also pretty disturbing- "Yiah!" and "Whooaa!" chants in "THANKSGIVING DINNER" no 'vocals' are to heard here on this one)? Nah, did I not so far, ha, but okay, at least latest now. So without vocals the songwriting and the work at and with the instruments gets pushed even more into the spotlight and especially the tight and also pretty fresh and lively varying songwriting (combined with above described for this genre(s) untypical kind of atmosphere that rules the songs) really is a great done job by the band and also the guitar riffing is really damn good (a massive wall of sound, between Rock'n'Doom and rockin' and groovin' and dronin' like hell) so that all is working pretty good at the end. The rhythm section does also a really good and better job, leaving no blank space open for 'holes in the songs' so that all is totally 'filled up'. So, all in all, just thumbs up for this band and release here even it all could have been done in some way somehow more grapping and 'long-time' fascinating as well as maybe somehow even more interesting (but maybe this is also just because I usually don't like only instrumental music no matter how good or bad or maybe even great it's all may done after all, this could be possible) if you ask me but anyhow this is a damn good release by a pretty promising band that I will try to keep an eye on seriously. If you like the above described type of music then I really recommend this band and their current two track demo honestly to you and you should really desperately check it out promptly. Damn good stuff, so check it out and I'm really looking forward to hear more from them!!! Ah, just for the record I'll close this one with saying that the artwork sucks, haha;-), and that the production sound really works out damn good, ah, and also just for the record, no vocals, no lyrics, and that's it. (8 of 10 points)

(http://rapidexpansion.bandcamp.com/album/rapid-expansion)