DRITTE WAHL - "10" (2017)

DRITTE WAHL - "10"
(Running time: 47:52 minutes; 12 songs)
("Dritte Wahl Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, good evening or good morning, how you prefer it and from where you are and where you are reading this. Anyhow, anyway… Time for another new post, at least that's how I decided it, so to say, and here and now this ,means it's time for another and a new record-review. Here and now you get my record-review on the still current full-length-album of/by the German Punk legends DRITTE WAHL (en)titled simply "10" and released via the band's very own label "DRITTE WAHL RECORDS" and this already last year in 2017 but I just got my hands on it this very year and so you still get my record-review on it also already still right now and right here in 2018, yes, and so now let's go: Thinking about it I can't really tell what was the last album of DRITTE WAHL I got and when was the last time I really listened to them, hm, a lot of water went down the river(s), so to say, and then "10" hit me pretty much from out of nowhere and really conquered me. I would never have thought that in 2018 finally again a German Punk band and album would make me cheer that enthusiastical and euphoric up to it'n'them but after this turned out to be exactly that way then it's maybe not that much of a surprise that DRITTE WAHL would/are that band to do  exactly that. This is a really and truly damn fucking strong album that really is packed up full with energy and dynamics that tear down every wall(s) and go straight over the top through the roof(s) and that's also filled with great surprises, fresh ideas, and an really incredible high level of 'thoughtfulness' and 'soulfulness' (musicwise and lyricwise) and all to the absolute maximum and all well-grown-up in a through-and-through authentic and honest and still highly energetic and just still hungry way, hell yeahr, and with a damn lot of the songs on/of "10" DRITTE WAHL really seem to speak right and direct and straight out of my heart and soul. This is right from the get-go a total and massive (German) Punk assault of the highest quality grade with strong (Hard) Rock and Metal reminiscences in it and this time heavily enriched with clear Old School Rock & Roll arrangements, rhythmes and grooves but all done very highly energetic and delivered so damn very fresh and in a pure organic way that it's just conquering again and again without taking any prisoners. Also fantastic worked out Chanty Rock rhythmes and grooves and influences are to be noticed and also some few to huge Country & Western marks in the arrangements and the compositorial work in general and also especially in the guitar work are (at least from my point of view) clearly there and this through-and-through only for the damn right reasons. And this all is melted perfectly in the still so incredible highly energetic and dynamic and totally fresh and still absolutely stand-alone done'n'delivered (German) Punk(rock) that it's nothing else and especially nothing less than mindblowing and you would expect anything but not that these fine gentlemen are now around for already 30/31 years and that this very one here was already their, yes, damn tenth full-length-album, because this is as fresh, as strong, and even greater than for example their legendary and in my personal case truly lifechanging and groundbreaking milestone "NIMM DREI" from back then in 1996. Highly diverse guitar work, multi-facetted rhythm arrangements and work, and charismatic vocals and all melted together by breathtaking melody lines, yes, this are the ingredients that turn DRITTE WAHL's "10" into a total masterpiece. All is wrapped up in brilliant, highly diverse and multi-layered as well as multi-facetted, incredible exciting and so damn grapping songwriting, and all highly emotional and intense, honest and heartfelt, and without any ridiculous clichées or pathos, it's really so damn close to perfect and it conquers and overwhelms me again and again. And this all is also to say exactly in that same way to/about the absolutely amazing and just totally fantastic lyrics. A beautiful artwork and a warm and organic and yet still clear and heavy production-sound finally round it all up. If you are into Punkrock and really should not have or even know DRITTE WAHL's "10" you really should desperately change this finally. My last words: A damn pretty much perfcet album, get it!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.dritte-wahl.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DRITTE WAHL - "SCOTTY" (2017, "10")

DRITTE WAHL - "DER HIMMEL ÜBER UNS" (2017, "10")

The ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH: Legendary patriotic American Oi! from the Motorcity of Detroit - THE SOUL OF THE STORM.

Hey guys and oh boy, yes, trust your eyes, hell yeahr, because oh fuck yes yeah', it's back, yes, the "AMERICAN Oi! HISTORY SERIES" finally and really makes its glorious (and by far too long overdue) return up here and this time it had been really freakin' fuckin' ages since the last article (paying tribute to the almighty STARS & STRIPES from Boston, MA/U.S.A.) came up here sort of damn six years ago in the late summer of 2012. I just read over the mentioned last article recently and oh boy was I wrong back then, because not only took it not only a year before this very one here finally is following it up but more or less six straight years, goddamn it, it almost feels a bit like a different life back then… okay, keeping in mind that I back then just got still a bit recently 31 years old and was just starting to go through some damn tough years to come that's maybe not that wrong after all. But anyhow six years, yes, that's still sort of a statement. (Also incredible that I still or sort of again-still run this very blog here.) How this all came to happen and so on I will here and now spare you and me, anyhow anyway, but by looking at what band this very article here and now will (finally) be paying tribute to this all is even more starting to really feel a bit 'surreal'. Like the headline/name of this article tells you (or at least should have told you already) this time here and now it will all be about no one else and/or no one less than the, yes, (al)mighty ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH, the patriotic Motorcity Madmen from the city of Detroit. This was planned already back then in 2010 and 2011 as one of the earlier posts of or in this nowadays (more or less) well aged posting series up here but was then held back by me because it was sort of meant to be published in a german printzine back then at the time but this should then ultimately never came to happen and then it sort of fell overboard… hm... and then right now, yes, it is really so much about time and already again by far too much bla-bla-bla and so now here we are and so enough of my anyhow already by far too long introducing smalltalking rambling(s), yes, and so now finally and ultimately here we go again…!!!

Starting this all now off with the confused questions concerning the "What?" and "Why?" of/about the anyhow/anyway also still today pretty weird and for sure damn unusual (but also damn cool) bandname that there is/was the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH. The bandname came to happen like the underground-fame of the band, too, it developed over time and sort of just 'accidentitally' and so someday the band rampaged under the banner of (the) ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH just like the band someday was enthusiastically hailed in/by the underground by Oi! hardknocks and Streetpunk die-hards. They started out in the 1980's as a local Punkrock band jamming and roaring in their hometown and local suburbs with their original line-up consisting out of Danny Mason as their lead singer, the 'Big Dog' at the guitar, Pat 'Scruff' Shaw playing the bass, and Jeff Gordon beating the drums and more and more their weekly to daily practises with the band turning into rampaging parties and little/small concerts with a big bunch of friends and likeminded people/persons attending their practises in ever growing numbers and celebrating a damn good time together with the band. More or less (and again) 'accidentially' the signature sound'n'style of the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH should develop heavily during that certain time period, and it was exactly that specific and back then in their area and maybe also espcially in the U.S.A. in general very unusual or untypical sound'n'style that should cause their ongrowing underground-fame. While back then pretty much anybody and everybody was looking to come up with (more or less) melodic and fast paced Skate Punk/Hardcore/Crossover in the tradition of or like bands like BLACK FLAG and D.R.I. and such stuff the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH took the or a pretty opposite direction. First simply due to the fact that primarly their drummer simply couldn't keep up with the higher fast paced tempo they slowed down and this all 'just' to develop over time their very own sound'n'style of stoic hammering, harsh and heavy, hard stomping mid paced (Street-) Punk that further down the road should finally lead them to develop their damn own and unique interpretation of (American) Oi! musick for which they gained and gathered sort of their very own cult-following over time and their ongrowing underground-fame. To say it with the words of 'Big Dog' of the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH himself: "It was kind of like the invention of pizza. We stumbled upon it by accident and everybody seemed to dig it." The band and their ever-growing circle of friends used to even set up their own club named the "THE WEST SIDE BOOT BOYS". Their first famous signature sing-a-long chants (and anthems) like for example "Drink Beer!" and "West Side!" were brought up by Danny Mason but things really took off'n'up when Jimmy Doom joined the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH. The band went through some to a lot of ('troubled') line-up-changes that all came with some sort of controversy but should maybe finally make the band better or so to say. The clubhouse of (the) "THE WEST SIDE BOOT BOYS" was a 'landmark' in Detroit and for the local Oi!/Punk/Hardcore scene and not only more or less every day some sort of action and/or party used to take place and not only did the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH used to spend a lot of their time exactly there but it was also the place where after the bars closed their doors you could find the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH regulary up on stage playing live every friday and saturday night from 3am on. Chaos and destruction, ramapge and party where all around. And still the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH managed to make it to the big(ger) venues and shared stages with acts like THE EXPLOITED, G.B.H., the CIRCLE JERKS, and also SOCIAL DISTORTION who were all bringing (far) over 500 kids to the shows everytime (we're still to be found in the late 1980's to the early 1990's, keep that in mind) and Punk (and Hardcore and Oi!) was (/were) getting bigger and bigger and the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH were one of the many bands in the middle of it all fueling enthusiastically only even more fuel'n'fire to the flames. Things were looking nice, right, and then…

...and then "Operation Desert Storm" happened and 'it all' became 'ugly'. A lot of the scene, the people in it and the bands of it, took an anti-war standpoint and burned their flags, joined communist groups, started protesting the war (sort of without really knowing for what they were or would be protesting anyhow with protesting against the war but that's another story) and this more or less all 'simply' also to show a middle-finger to the establishment and the(ir) 'warmongering politicians'. The ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH and their "THE WEST SIDE BOOT BOYS" crew and their fans more or less in general took the exact opposite standpoint, showed that middle-finger(s) right back, waved the american flag with honour and pride, spoke out pro the troops and voiced their opinions through their musick and their lyrics loudly and proudly. Especially Jimmy Doom, who along the way replaced Danny Mason as the lead singer of the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH, wrote fantastic and very outspoken lyrics to voice the patriotic opinion of the band. In that in a 'political-sense' very overheated situation and time the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH further on sharpened their 'musical profile' with 'ongoingly' nothing but getting stronger and better all the time. And also again new band members joined the band and no matter if they stayed long or short in the ranks of the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH they left their marks and helped to develop the sound'n'style of the band further on. One or maybe even the best and most prominent example for that was/is Jiney Jim (who also played in the damn fantastic ROGUES, another great American Oi! legend from Detroit) who joined the band for a short while and took over the drums delivering that precise and harsh stomping Oi! Oi! Oi! beat that should help the band immensely and lead the band to sharpen their unique American Oi! musick even far more, despise the only short while he was with/in the band. And so the band wrote some of their biggest hymns and hits with Jiney Jim at the drums, like for example "GANGLAND" and "WORKING CLASS KIDS". It also helped surely quite a bit that the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH back then were completly into that fantastic classic English Oi! we all still love today and that all the stuff they wrote songs about were authentic, honest, and heartfelt experiences and opinions that they voiced within and throughout their ever stronger gowing musick. Soon after Jiney Jim left the band again sort of ''as soon as he joined'' the band found their new drummer in and with Cliff "born to kill" Hill and after this they step-by-step should finally reach their full prime, even a lot of ''troubled'n'troubling'' line-up-changes really took place on-and-on-again and the band for sure wasn't the band anymore that once started in the basements of Detroit (so to say) with finally "Big Dog" being the final original or founding member at the end of this development. The shows were anyhow all the time and even more'n'more pure enthusiastic mayhem and 'onslaughting' chaos unleashed filled to the absolute max with violent circle pits, ever-retreating bouncers at the shows, audiences regulary taking over the stage, flying stage divers and also flying beer-bottles all the time everywhere, rivers of beer flooding through the halls and venues, open fights, even bloody brawls at/on stage, and the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH over the years became headliners in Detroit having nation-wide far more famous acts opening for them and with having close ties to formidable legendary acts like MURPHY'S LAW. But over the years and maybe to all the madness-energy and the incredible intensity and maybe or surely also due to ever-on-going line-up-troubles the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH should finally 'die-out', (with) maybe having sort of burnt too bright and too intense for a too long while and so they faded away and the bandmembers went seperate ways and founded new bands. The most prominent and best known bands of that "followers" are for sure "Big Dog's" very own 'new' bands COLD AS LIFE and SWORN ENEMY.

Over their time of existence the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH never released that much of records/albums and their discography is rather short/small… very short/small. They only released (for all what I know and if I now not miss out on something) two tapes. In 1989 their tape (I think it was later on also released on vinyl as a 7'') "ALWAYS OUT OF CONTROL BUT NEVER OUT OF BEER" was released and soon becoming an underground-hit, and then in 1991 their "SOUL OF THE STORM" tape was released again causing much havok in the scene. It wasn't until 2005 when the glorious "DISCONNECTED RECORDS" finally released the fantastic "ALWAYS OUT OF CONTROL BUT NEVER OUT OF BEER - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION" CD that the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH released (or) sort of finally a proper full-length-album for their fans. And, yes, if you really still don't have that CD you should try anything to still find somewhere a copy of it for you. The ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH played a mid-paced orientated and very heavy and energetic, strong rocking and sort of a despise the anthemic and hymnal character also still pretty dark style of American Oi! filled with dirty, noisy, heavy, and strong rocking guitar work, harsh and yet still melodic delivered and highly charismatic lead vocals (also at the Right moments nicely backed up), an evil and pissed-off roaring bass at work, and forceful and onward pushing pure power drumming, delivering great done verses as well as highly addictive refrains full of huge sing-a-longs and that's still today as fresh as it (so I think) was back then for example in 1989 or 1991. It was really so damn much about time that I finally pay my heartfelt tribute and show them my honest honour and give them my enthusiastic praise up here and so this article/post really was by far too much overdue and I'm glad (and maybe even a bit sort of proud) that it really finally saw the damn light of the day right here and right now (even at minimum six years too late… how-ever, better late then never, I guess). The ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH, one of the greatest unforgotten legends in the glorious history of American Oi! and, again, by any means make sure to try your best to do everything to still find a copy of their above mentioned 2005 CD (re)release and then make sure to grab it and never let it loose again. All hail the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

So, yes, that's it or that was finally the newest and current post/article in/of the "AMERICAN Oi! HISTORY SERIES" up here. (Yes, sometimes the dead really come back.) I hope you enjoyed it, I had much fun writing it, and I especially hope that you got curious because of it for the ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH, yes, that would definitely be damn fucking great. Currently I would say that one sooner or later day this very series of articles/posts up here finally really will continue up here again. Don't ask me when but, so much I can say, it won't take again six years (not at least because if you ask me right now I wouldn't say that six years more from now on down the road I will still be doing this blog anyhow anyway, no, I really don't think so), and so just stay tuned for more of this to come in the future one sooner or later day. Until then, yes, maybe check out some of the other stuff up here you may enjoy it (as well) and never forget to always have a laugh and always have a say. Oi! Oi! Oi!

ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH - "A.L.D."

ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH - "DRINK BEER"

ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH - "MOTOR CITY TRICK OR TREAT"

ALMIGHTY LUMBERJACKS OF DEATH - "DRINK BEER" (live, reunited in 2015)

SCHLUSSAKKORD - "SPIELER ODER BAUER" (2018)

SCHLUSSAKKORD - "SPIELER ODER BAUER"
(Running time: 39:02 minutes; 12 songs)
("Metalspiesser Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, the newest post is coming in right for you, yes, and this time it is again (I think so since December 2017 the first) early morning post that I'm doing right after getting out of bed, right before eating breakfast, getting ready for the day, and starting off to work. I don't know how much I will be able to still get done today and already tomorrow I will be up'n'away and will be attending the "THIS IS SKA" festival so after this very one here maybe don't expect that much before next week (or we will see); okay, and after this very one here is an early morning post it's by far enough of the introducing smalltalk and now finally direct right and straight into the action, yes, so here we go: Here's my record-review on the new SCHLUSSAKKORD full-length-record "SPIELER ODER BAUER" (not sure right now if it there debut or not but Maybe that's also not that important right now and right here), a to me totally new band, released still pretty to very recently this year on CD via the to me still very new record-label "METALSPIESSER RECORDS" that also released (also still pretty recently) the strong "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" full-length-album of/by the sympathic FORMLOS that I reviewed all-in-all not that long ago also up here, and also SCHLUSSAKKORD here on and with "SPIELER ODER BAUER" deliver us a good load of German Rock musick and here and now in this very case of SCHLUSSAKKORD (and "SPIELER ODER BAUER") especially and strongly in the tradition of (a lot) FREI.WILD and (a bit) GOITZSCHE FRONT. (On the current GOITZSCHE FRONT album "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" you also already find a review on up here and for my review on the new, damn fucking strong FREI.WILD album "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" you probably and finally won't have to wait that much longer.) And with that influences already named let us also right name the pretty much only weakness of SCHLUSSAKKORD's "SPIELER ODER BAUER": I really would wish that they would work out far stronger and more explicit and precise their own identity than they do so currently because the quality of the musick and the songs and all is right there and pretty high and it is a really strong album... that just too often sounds too much like their influences (especially) FREI.WILD and (also, even far less) GOITZSCHE FRONT. But beside this, yes, SCHLUSSAKKORD's "SPIELER ODER BAUER" is a really good and strong album full of enthusiastic and highly energetic and dynamic, strong rockin', hymnal, sing-a-long-filled and heartfelt German Rock musick of the by far better kind and that I honestly can only recommend to any of you into German Rock, point and fact. Strong and pretty fresh, really strong, and massively onwards pushing (even, like more or less already mentioned shortly above, anything but unique or overly characteristic and individual) songwriting full of drive and power and an authentic gladiatorial attitude that also delivers honest emotions and different moods and this also nicely clichée-free  marks and makes the songs heavily, yes, and this songs are really strong songs that are build on a very loadable and bulky backbone consisting of beefy punching drumming and powerful buzzing bass playing and that are then built from forceful 'crushingly' rocking and slightly metallic rolling and yet very catchy and melodic guitars that deliver heavy riffs and a hard and in sort of an organic or natural grooving rhythm work as well as melodic and anthemic leads and spicy solos and that are finally crowned by harsh and nasty rough and tough and yet still pretty melodic and very hymnal delivered lead vocals, yes, and I can really nothing but recommend SCHLUSSAKKORD and "SPIELER ODER BAUER" to you. Work out more precisely your very own identity that will make you more unique and aim at writing down even stronger and even far more anthemic songs to create really hymns with your next dose and SCHLUSSAKKORD could or should and probably will become sort of the next big thing 'in all things' German Rock. Strong, outspoken, and pretty diverse lyrics, a pretty clear and surely powerful production-sound, and also an all-in-all okay artwork then round it all up. Okay, and after I already pointed out one or two times before above that I can only recommend SCHLUSSAKKORD's "SPIELER ODER BAUER" to any of you out there into German Rock musick I will now close this record-review and will eat my breakfast and then start off to work. So, yes, and now have a great day and then get SCHLUSSAKKORD's "SPIELER ODER BAUER" best right later this very day (in case you still don't know and/or have it), guys.

(8 of 10 Points)

http://www.schlussakkord.band/site/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

SCHLUSSAKKORD - "SCHWARZE SCHAFE UNTER SCHLANGEN" (2018, "SPIELER ODER BAUER")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MAY 2018: RIGHT DIRECTION - "BURY THE HATCHET"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MAY 2018:

RIGHT DIRECTION - "BURY THE HATCHET" (2000)
(Running time: 31:47 minutes; 11 songs)
("I Scream Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "SONG OF FRUSTRATION"
(02.) "STEP BACK"
(03.) "HE'S MY FRIEND"
(04.) "A PLACE LIKE THIS"
(05.) "TWIST MY WORDS AROUND"
(06.) "FIGHT VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE"
(07.) "OUT IN THE FIELDS" (GARY MOORE - cover)
(08.) "ELECTRIC GUN"
(09.) "THE BAR THAT ONCE WAS MINE"
(10.) "HEROES NEVER DIE"
(11.) "EYE IN THE SKY"

(Note: The first paragraph of this article gives you just some 'general informations' on/about what's currently going on in my real life and why it was for nearly one-and-a-half-month so damn 'silent' up here and also tries to give you a little outlook into the near future up here, so, yes, if you're not interested in it, no problem, just skip it and scroll down to the second paragraph of this very article.)

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes, I'm still alive, still not dead yet. But... oh damn it, real life currently eats my time away - and this sort of in a 'drastic way'. If you should know me personally or if you are a reader right from the start of this little blog back then in 2010 (damn it, really eight years already… I grow old, goddamn it) then you maybe know (or probably should know) that in real life I make my living being a teacher and despise all the bullshit-clichées this is anyhow a pretty time consuming job but that's not that what I mean right now, nah, I'm working towards becoming a principal one day (and hopefully and if it all now works out the right way better sooner than later) and this all takes quite a bit of time and effort that needs to be invested (like you may can imagine) and so this all combined with the  fact that it wasn't that easy for me to keep up my normal and real social life over the last weeks due to my 'working-towards-becoming-a-principal-one-soon-day' plan it gets maybe clearer why I and with me also this very blog here was sort of like in stand-by modus since the beginning of last month. I don't know if already this month this 'mess up here' will get better again but at least I hope to bring up a handful of posts still this month. A lot is overdue (to be honest already again by far too much is now already by far to long, long overdue), this starts with record-reviews on current (and also past) records as well as this "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" post in its "MAY 2018" edition (that you now obviously get first) and ending by the two now already since a few months announced bigger posts up here and so on and so on. For this month I aim at bringing, like already mentioned shortly before/above, at least still sort of a handful of posts up here and beside this very one right now right here this means at least still the two bigger posts and at least two new record-reviews on current albums as well. But, yes, please keep in mind that this all up here is absoluetly nothing else and nothing more than  simply a through-and-through hobby, a passionate one, for sure, but still just a hobby; and so at the end of the day the priorities should be clear to anyone who's older than three times six and calls a real life his/her own. Anyhow: From the end of June 2018 and especially July 2018 on then I have summer vacation(s) for six weeks and even I will hopefully be up and away a lot and also be pretty active in this time (if all goes good and stays fine…) I still have to do a lot for my Job but I'm pretty sure that finally then again more new stuff will come up here, also more frequently and then hopefully again on a more regular basis. Just let us wait and see. But just that you know about what's-up currently in camp MANSLAUGHTER. And now, yes, finally (by far) enough of the introducing smalltalk filled with 'general informations' to the max and so now finally into the action and why you probably came here in the first place; and if you've made it so far through my egotrippin' rambling you're a champ and so now finally all breaks off and here we go…!!!

Originally this was meant to be and still is the newest (even it's already very long overdue now) "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" post in its very own "MAY 2018" edition and this time it will be and is all about the almighty RIGHT DIRECTION and their masterpiece "BURY THE HATCHET" released via the legendary "I SCREAM RECORDS" label back then eighteen years ago in 2000 and this to for all what I know so far only on CD. And all of you who are also now already a bit longer around now maybe can draw (already) some lines between the two last "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" posts that payed tribute to HARD RESISTANCE (and their "ENGINE OF HATE" masterpiece) and DEVIATE (and their "STATE OF GRACE" gift of the gods) because (at least to me and damn sure not only for me) this bands are linked (closely) together, yes, all of them being at the frontlines of what was back then one day labeled Euro Core. Hard and heavy and crushing and yet still sort of catchy Hardcore raised on a heavy New York Hardcore diet enriched with far more flavoures of Metallic Hardcore, Metal, Holy Terror Hardcore, Hardcore Punk, Punkrock, Streetpunk, Oi!, and more, yes, and all delivered by fantastic acts like the already mentioned HARD RESISTANCE and DEVIATE as well as (early) DISCIPLINE, BACKFIRE!, BRIGHTSIDE, RYKER'S, ONLY ATTITUDE COUNTS, the almighty SPIDER CREW, and BUST THE CHAIN, to name just a few, and all this bands added their own identity to it all and this with their very special own flavour. What has this all now to do with RIGHT DIRECTION? They were one of the greatest back then and their fourth full-length-album "BURY THE HATCHET" from 2000 was and still is and for sure will always remain to be nothing but a total masterpiece, hell yeahr, and they also added their very own flavour to it all and this was especially on "BURY THE HATCHET" a strong and very hymnal/anthemic and catchy, melodic Streetpunk/Oi! taste of highest quality and 'deliciousness' while remaining a heavy hitting Hardcore band all the time. Here and there also still some few metallic influences are to be noticed, hm, maybe mostly in the guitar department.

RIGHT DIRECTION started already back then in 1989 (yes, nearly already thirty years ago now) and they hailed out of the the city of Maastricht also known as M-Town in the Netherlands like also, just as a side-fact, the almighty Oi! Silverbacks of CLOSE COMBAT but that's sort of a different story (you know, different band, different story) and they called it a day ten years ago in 2008. For all what I know they are back today (also with four original members) but have so far no plans of releasing any new material. Their first album "HOW MANY MORE LIES" they've released in 1993, followed by "ALL OF A SUDDEN" in 1995. Both albums I didn't know back then and changed this then over the following years after I finally got to know RIGHT DIRECTION. My first contact with RIGHT DIRECTION was in 1998 when I was 17 years young with their phenomenal thrid full-length-album "TO RIGHT THE WRONG" and they took me by storm - just to overwhelm me even more only two years later in 2000 with their larger-than-life masterpiece "BURY THE HATCHET". In 2002 then they released their killer album "BEYOND THE BEYONDS" and this was and is so far their final output to this date. A bunch of vinyl sngles ("THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES"/1991, "NO REASON TO LAUGH"/1991, BEOWÜLF & RIGHT DIRECTION split/1994, WARZONE & RIGHT DIRECTION live split/1995, and "ALL THESE YEARS"/1996) and also the retrospection-compilation "ECHOES FROM THE PAST" (1996) they've released also over the 1990's. And then after six years of no new album since 2002 in 2008 they called it finally a day. And right now, right here we're here, yes, paying tribute to them, RIGHT DIRECTION, and their fantastic "BURY THE HATCHET" longplayer.

RIGHT DIRECTION toured over their existence with several great ones like WARZONE, MADBALL, SICK OF IT ALL, and SLAPSHOT as well as BEOWÜLF, YUPPICIDE, EXCEL, and BITTER. They also appealed to the Metal crowd like tours with for example GOREFEST showcase(d) to the world. Their original Drummer Richard Bruinen seperated ways with them in 1992 to join BACKFIRE! in the following years. (BACKFIRE!, also one of the greatest, hell yeahr, and they will be featured up here as well for sure some day in the future.) And you can be sure that bands like WARZONE and SICK OF IT ALL as well MADBALL and SLAPSHOT had their influence on RIGHT DIRECTION as well as AGNOSTIC FRONT and for sure definitely AWKWARD THOUGHT in heavy doses, too. But they, and of course I mean RIGHT DIRECTION, owned their very own spirit and also their very special flavour and on "BURY THE HATCHET" this culminated in heavy and fresh Streetpunk/Oi! vibes that also fantastic bands like the great TECH 9 or even the immortal and larger-than-life DISCIPLINE didn't do any better back then. A special guitar tone, highly charismatic lead vocals, huge dynamics, strong emotions, and also a very own melodic/melody work really added massive amounts of a unique identity and character to it all, yes, and this for all the right reasons.

With or to this band, RIGHT DIRECTION, and especially this particular album, "BURY THE HATCHET", I have very special and just great memories very closely linked. Great times, great friends, great concerts, great parties, yes, all this and even far, far more. RIGHT DIRECTION's "BURY THE HATCHET" for damn sure is another album that holds and owns a very special place in my heart. I mean, of course it is exactly this, yes, because otherwise it would not appear here and now despise the anyhow over-all premium quality of it all. But also beside this, hell yeahr, it absolutely and totally shines with outstanding and overwhelming quality and this still today after or with now being already 18 years old. Highly charismatic lead vocals, sing-a-long chants, smashing and incredible forceful yet damn melodic guitars, thunderous drumming, and a crispy bass work made'n'make the musick and formidable and still damn fresh and very varied and intense songwriting, tons of energy and dynamics, and all never shyed away from big and honest heartfelt emotions wrapped in tight atmosphere cultivated'n'cultivates it all, with a very unique character gave'n'gives it all finally the bright shining crown. One hell of a legendary and larger than life masterpiece of an album that anyone who really should not know it so far really needs to call his/her own and so I can't praise it anyhow anyway enough.

My personal favorites here on RIGHT DIRECTION's "BURY THE HATCHET"? God-damn it, that's a hard one. Yes... a really hard one. And I mean a really, really hard one. You really ask why? Okay... simply because every damn song is purest platinum up here on this most precious gem. But, hm, okay, let's go, yes, I'm trying my best to give you or better pick for you my personal favorites… Sort of my absolute faavorites up here. I massively love the damn catchy and Streetpunk fueled "ELECTRIC GUN", the highly atmospheric and intense "HEROES NEVER DIE", the Saxophone fueled fantastic anthem "HE'S MY FRIEND" (sounds more and better like DOG EAT DOG than all what they've done after or since "PLAY GAMES" and it offers strong SKA vibes, too), the harsh hitting anti-racist tune "STEP BACK", the in all honesty damn great GARY MOORE cover "OUT IN THE FIELDS", the by crushing Oi! influenced angry Hardcore slasher "THE BAR THAT ONCE WAS MINE", the every resistance slaying harsh Hardcore wrecking ball "SONG OF FRUSTRATION", the Hardcore-ish raging Dutch Oi! beast "TWIST MY WORDS AROUND", and the purest platinum Streetpunk/Oi! monster "FIGHT VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE". Yes, nothing but the best of the best - back then and still today and probably this will never change. And don't make the mistake to think that the (anyhow only very, very few) not mentioned songs would be weak or what the hell else ever because hell no, they are also nothing but purest gold. So, yes, that's it, I think I've said so far all what I had to say right now and right here and I will now close this tribute post with saying clearly that I can only recommend RIGHT DIRECTION's "BURY THE HATCHET" to you and you should definitely know (and have) it to close a big portion of blank space in your Hardcore history and collection and it's damn good that RIGHT DIRECTION are back even if they 'only' play live. I love this stuff!!! Welcome back, guys. HEROES NEVER DIE!!!

HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

RIGHT DIRECTION - "BURY THE HATCHET" (2000) ///the complete album\\\

MALICE - "LICENSE TO KILL" (2018; Rerelease)

MALICE - "LICENSE TO KILL"
(Running time: 39:23 minutes; 9 songs)
("Rock Candy"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, next load and dose is already coming right in aimed @ you and so without any further smalltalking words of introduction right into the action and this action is here and now the fabulous 2018 rerelease version (delivered via the great "ROCK CANDY" label) of the glorious second full-length-album of/by Los Angeles' finest MALICE's titled "LICENSE TO KILL" that was originally released back then @ the 12th of January of 1987. I did not know MALICE before but "ROCK CANDY" were known to me due to their great rereleases of fantastic (Hard) Rock albums like for example WINGER's breathtaking "IN THE HEART OF THE YOUNG", STONE FURY's glorious "BURNS LIKE A STAR", or VALENTINE's brilliant self-titled killer record, yes, and so I was instantly damn fucking curious when I saw MALICE's "LICENSE TO KILL" and it was very soon absolutely clear to/for me that I would desperately need to have it and call it my own and so it finally very soon came to happen. MALICE hailed, like already mentioned, from out of Los Angeles and their second full length output was/is to the max filled with brilliant and just totally fantastic Hard Rock fueled incredible powerful yet damn catchy and hymnal/anthemic Heavy Metal/Power Metal that melts perfectly British Heavy Metal and U.S. American Power Metal via heavy doses of Hard Rock to something truly just outstanding with a great, street raised snotty and nasty very own identity, somewhere sitting between JUDAS PRIEST (clearly the biggest influence, at least so I would say) and W.A.S.P. on the first two sides of thir 'triangle of influences' and ALICE COOPER on the third side with some very slight'n'few MÖTLEY CRÜE marks and RIOT notes thrown into the mix for good, and somehwere in the middle of this all MALICE sat/sit on their pretty own position and this made/make manifest with "LICENSE TO KILL". Absolutely everything and everyone killing razor sharp cutting and precise aimed heavy kicking and always full throttle high octane onwards pumping and pushing fantastic guitars that deliver brilliant riffs and first class and multi-layered rhythm arrangements as well as absolute killer leads and massively rampaging solos were/are in combination with the pure power, clean and clear sung very charismatic and just pure fantastic lead vocals that sounded/sound like a snotty and nasty, 'punky' version of JUDAS PRIEST's very own Rob Halford surely the biggest trademarks of MALICE and all is backed up by a highly dynamic and energetic rhythm section consisting out of a fantastic walking'n'talking bass and stunning thundering drumming. Fantastic songwriting, very intense, rousing, grapping and through'n'through exciting, delivered by high skilled musicians surely was/is also one hell of an outstanding trademark of MALICE's "LICENSE TO KILL". Every song is a pure hymn and an absolute pure platinum anthem and for glorious and majestic songs like "AGAINST THE EMPIRE", "VIGILANTE", "CHAIN GANG WOMAN", "LICENSE TO KILL", "MURDER" and/or "BREATHIN' DOWN YOUR NECK", yes, MALICE can't be worshipped enough and by any means this band should have been far bigger than they were. Cool lyrics, a powerful production-sound, a very nice artwork, and very interesting linernotes finally make this rerelease damn round. I can nothing but recommend this masterpiece to any fan of real and authentic Heavy Metal/Power Metal and fans of smashing Hard Rock/Heavy Rock should also definitely risk one or two ears on it - or even far better get it instantly right from the get-go, too. And now... bang that head that doesn't bang!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.maliceofficial.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MALICE - "AGAINST THE EMPIRE" (1987/2018; "LICENSE TO KILL")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2018: DEVIATE - "STATE OF GRACE"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2018:

DEVIATE - "STATE OF GRACE" (1999)
(Running time: 39:00 minutes; 12 songs)
("I Scream Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "WOUNDS OF TIME"
(02.) "STATE OF GRACE"
(03.) "STEPPED OFF"
(04.) "EMPTY WORLD"
(05.) "AFTERTIME"
(06.) "CIRCLE OF FRIENDS"
(07.) "DAWN OF MANKIND"
(08.) "BURNED OUT"
(09.) "ONE BY ONE"
(10.) "BROKEN ANGEL"
(11.) "LOW-DOWN"
(12.) "WALK WITH DEATH"

Hey guys, yes, I know, I'm a bit too late with or for this very post here, the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" post in the "APRIL 2018" edition, and I'm sorry for or because of that but I just did not get it done at the 30th of April 2018 and yesterday... damn it... yesterday I was by far to 'hung-over' to say it that way and if you get what I mean... and so, yes, but anyhow now finally today it will come up for you. A little bit inspired by the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2018" post this very one here and now is, because right after my post about HARD RESISTANCE and their "ENGINE OF HATE" it was absolutely clear to me that this very one here will be the next entry in this little posting series up here and what I am talking about is the almighty 1999 full-length-release of/by no one else than the almighty DEVIATE titled "STATE OF GRACE" released back then via the legendary "I SCREAM RECORDS" label (correct me if I am now completly wrong but I think it was sort of just also due to DEVIATE that "I SCREAM RECORDS" were originally founded due to the fact that the bandmembers themselves founded this later-to-become-a-legend label back then in the first place) and DEVIATE, that like also HARD RESISTANCE hailed from Belgium (out of Brussels, to be more precise) and their "STATE OF GRACE" masterpiece album seem to me also like HARD RESISTANCE with their "ENGINE OF HATE" last month a today by far too often forgotten amazing jewel that far too many today just don't have on their radar screens anymore and this is something... god-damn it... this is something incredible unjust, unfair(ly), and undeserved in epic extent(s), yes, and so I will do my very best to pay tribute and give honour where it is more than justified and deserved, hell yeahr, and so now here we go.

DEVIATE's "STATE OF GRACE" was and is personally for me one of those albums that sort of made me who I am today, such a huge impact it had (and still has on me) and such a lifechanging and groundbreaking album it was and is to me and such a big influence it had and continues to has on me and this not only sort of ''in a musickal way''. I think (or hope) you get what I mean, yes, because I guess we all have albums like this that sort of added massively their immense weight'n'influence to making us to or turning us into who we are today and DEVIATE's "STATE OF GRACE" is one of those albums to/for me. And also personally for me there are so immense many great memories connected to/with this album that it also really always brings a really large, huge sort of  'emotional-smile' to my face when I listen to it and this again and again and time after time. But also (and especially also) all this maybe personal emotional'n'nostalgic feelings that may pop up here and there aside DEVIATE's "STATE OF GRACE" was and is and continues to be a true and real through'n'through manifest of the purest glory Hardcore can be and can have. DEVIATE were founded back then in 1991 and their first releases ("SMALL TRACES OF LIFE"/1993 EP; "CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE"/1994; "WRECK STYLE"/1995; "COLD PREJUDICE"/1996 EP) went back then completly under my radar (again, back then) and my first encounter with DEVIATE was in 1997 with their already third full-length-album "THRON OF THE LIVING" and it conquered me right from the start and together with bands like HARD RESISTANCE, BACKFIRE!, RIGHT DIRECTION, and the RYKER'S DEVIATE quickly turned to almighty champs to/for me and when then two years later "STATE OF GRACE" hit DEVIATE turned to one of my absolute favourite bands and this within the blink of an eye. When and where "THORN OF THE LIVING" was (and is) fucking great, there was (and is) "STATE OF GRACE" nothing but overwhelming and amazing and just outstanding and simply fucking lifechanging to me. The massive amounts of energy, the honest and heartfelt battle-scarred attitiude, the on fiery wings flying and golden through the smoke and ash shining intensity, the unbroken spirit, the highly compacted very sinister and dark but yet all the time unbowed and militant and gladiatorial atmosphere, the massive'n'intense songwriting, the high levels of skills on all fronts, and the very unique identity and character of DEVIATE and especially their "STATE OF GRACE" was (and still damn is) mindblowing and heavily conquering and how they created their very own style'n'sound out of Holy Terror Hardcore like INTEGRITY and IN COLD BLOOD on the one side, traditional NYHC like MADBALL mixed with Metallic Hardcore of the New York breed'n'kind like SUBZERO and 'early' New York raised Metalcore like MERAUDER on the other side(s) was and still is and damn sure continues to be nothing but damn majestic, glorious and fucking unique - and high skilled all the time, too.

DEVIATE deliver on "STATE OF GRACE" absolutely crushing and devastating, sinister, dark, and nihilistic but at the same time ongoingly and through'n'through gladiatorial, militant, and battle-scarred by 1990's Thrash Metal and also Death Metal inspired hard as nails Metallic (Euro Core) Hardcore with a very big Holy Terror spirit breathing life into it all and this all filled with like a tank assault cannon firing and destroying shredding and smashing guitars that deliver everything atomizing riffs, thunderous grooves, forceful rhythm arrangements and just sheer tons of heavy weight power without end leaving only burned and scorched earth behind, and all done high skilled and incredible intense and also with a very special own and unique tone to it all and also there are worked an ass-load full of twists'n'turns into it all to shake it all up always at the right time(s) - and this is to say in general to/about the full force songwriting and not only to/about the guitar work, just that you know that. The drythroated, harsh, and angry shouted lead vocals, backed up by loud'n'proud backing chants, only add up to it all, while the crunchy bass work and the bonecracking and faceslashing, highly dynamic and precise drumming add truckloads of weight, punch, and power to it all. The songwriting is incrdible intense and yet 'beneath the surface' highly (to highest) dynamic and also nicely and refreshingly diverse and the songs are studded with nice little to big fresh ideas and surprising elements and moments and plenty of with full force delivered twists'n'turns all along the ride so that if you are into DEVIATE's "STATE OF GRACE" you are in for a grapping, rousing, exciting, and overwhelming ride from start to finish and this still today and time after time again and again and this after now being nearly already twenty years old and that alone says a lot (if not all). Inspirational, intersting, thought-provoking and thoughtful lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a sort of dark and raw and also smashing production-sound rounded and still round it all perfectly up, turned and still turning it all into the complete package and the real deal - and this for all the damn right reasons. No matter if you take "WOUNDS OF TIME", "STATE OF GRACE" itself, "EMPTY WORLD", "DAWN OF MANKIND", "ONE BY ONE", "LOW-DOWN", "WALK WITH DEATH", the absolute über-anthem "CIRCLE OF FRIENDS" or what-ever song else here you only find purest and most precious platinum and this still after now already nearly twenty years. And it all sounds as fresh and as relevant as back then in the good old glory days of 1999.

Exactly like last months HARD RESISTANCE's "ENGINE OF HATE" also DEVIATE's "STATE OF GRACE" is in my book and personally for me and my very own biography a through'n'through lifechanging and also groundbreaking damn masterpiece and also it is today for all what I get, see, hear, and read by much too far too often overlooked and/or even forgotten and this is (again) something I will never understand or will ever be just only able to sort of understand or what-ever and so I hope I could do my little 'to-do' up here to hopefully change this at least a very bit. I hope that if you don't or didn't know DEVIATE and especially their "STATE OF GRACE" so far you got a bit curious about them and that you will finally change this and make yourself familiar with DEVIATE and their "STATE OF GRACE" and if you should already knew them but should maybe sort of forgot them a bit over the last sort of nearly two decades then this little article here brought them maybe back to your mind and memory again and so that you can start to sort of re-discover them finally again. In my book and personally for me DEVIATE were one of the greatest and their "STATE OF GRACE" was and still is and continues to be one of the greatest moments in Hardcore and I can only highly recommend them'n'it to you right here and right now. DEVIATE called it a day back then in 2003 with their also damn great "RED ASUNDER" from 2002 being their final release and for all what I know so far there was and is no 'proper' comeback or reunion to talk of and so... yes... at least their lifechanging musick remains and so just in case maybe some former DEVIATE member reads this one day just let me say in all honesty thanks for it all guys. Much love and respect. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

DEVIATE - "STATE OF GRACE" (1999) ///the complete album\\\