KORO - SPEED KILLS LP, CLEAR BLUE

Ah Koro what a wonderful band and for the most and only for those "in the know" hardcore geeks! Koro release a legendary ep that is as rare as hens teeth and probably about a million times more expensive. Luckily Sorry State records released this ep for all of us that are feeling the credit crunch and it can be seen in previous posts within this blog. This LP contains 11 songs and while some of them are re-recorded versions of songs from the EP, the new ones find the band bringing even more complexity to their songwriting, even breaking the one-minute barrier on a few tracks. This LP is also exquisitely packaged with lyrics to all the tracks and a lengthy interview with Koro guitarist Carl Snow. And it comes in this second press format as a limited out of 200 clear blue. I'm so happy that this gem has been released and urge all of you hardcore purists to track what is essentially an unreleased till now record by a classic band.

DECRY - SYMPTOMS OF HATE EP

Kickass band from Los Angeles that unfortunately degenerated into a shit cock rock band by the time of their last release, the terrible "Japanese ep". This is a pretty decent ep which was the precursor to their excellent "Falling" debut Lp. Decry managed to capture that snarley, spit laden punk rock attitude with relative ease, and also without the use of hyper speed in their songs unlike most of their contemparies. Anyway below is a video (the only one I could find) of Decry in action:

HONOR ROLE - IT BLED LIKE A STUCK PIG EP

From 1984 I present to you Honor Role from Virginia. This is one of those mostly unheard gems from American Hardcores rich historical past. 9 song blast with kinda unique higher pitched vocals. I got this record along side the Public Humiliation ep from Bob Durkee, otherwise know throughout the music world as a producer/engineer (Mountain Goats) and photographer (Corrosion Of Conformity - Animosity Lp). Picked this one up at a steal for under $15 which made me happy and especially knowing it came directly from someone who was linked to the band.

SAMHAIN - UNHOLY PASSION LP, BLUE

Don't really know much about this other than its a really well done bootleg. I read somewhere that only 400 copies exist of this and knowing how rabid Misfits/Danzig collectors are this will no doubt be worth more now than what I initially paid for it. Even the small detail like the labels are done incredibly well enough to make you think its legit! Anyone with any more info on this please leave a comment.

POISON IDEA - PUNISH ME EP, PURPLE

Another kick ass Poison Idea ep that was Licensed from American Leather Records for a Euro release.This differs from the US version in that the front cover art has a border and the back cover is white on black as opposed to black on white. The US sleeve was fold-over and the vinyl pink, also got to love the cover drawing! I remember seeing Poison Idea sometime in the 90s and the local rumour circuit was rife with the fact that the club they played at apparently reinforced their stage for the gig due to the combined weight of the band members! 

MINOR THREAT - IN MY EYES

Here is the pressing info on this. 4000 made. First pressing (1000) on red vinyl, yellow labels, 125 of those with xerox sleeve which has the name "Gary Cousins" on it, the others have printed sleeves with "Gary Cousin". 2nd press (1000) with yellow labels and printed sleeve. 3rd press (2000) with light blue labels and heavy sleeve plus lyric sheet and sticker. Not really much to say other than if you are straight edge then this is a classic, if you are not straight edge then its still a classic. Its a classic!!!!!!! I really wish I had cool story for this record but alas it was bought off ebay for a reasonable amount. Honestly!

DEEP WOUND - DISCOGRAPHY LP, BLACK/RED FLECKS

Deep Wound Discography LP compiling the 1982 demo, self-titled 7” and the tracks from Bands That Could Be God comp. Raging hardcore and a well put together comp musically. The cover is a bit crap. Really think the label could have offered something slightly better than this! No information about numbers pressed either. My variant is black w/ a small amount of red flecks. Got to look really close up to see them though.

IQ 32

Another Necros rip roarer! Touch and Go pretty much along with dischord released most of the non west coast hardcore that in turn became legendary. This ep is no exception since its a split label release! I remember the first time I heard that there was a band called the Necros, "they must have gothic overtones" I said but boy was I wrong! Straight to the point hardcore, simplisticy all produces favourable results. A lot of peeps think that the Conquest For Death LP is better but I beg to differ. As for this pressing its the 3rd. Heres a run down of the complete pressing info. 3000 made, 3 pressings of 1000 each. 1st pressing with green labels, 2nd pressing with tan labels, 3rd pressing with white labels, all have different lyric sheets. 100 of the first pressing in special 'Skate Park' sleeve, numbered, sold at a Necros gig at Endless Summer Skate Park. + lyric sheet.

NECROS - CONQUEST FOR DEATH EP

Basically two songs with the A side being a different version to that on the LP , and the B Side is included on German license pressing of the same LP. Nice thick card sleeve with awesome artwork on the front. Another great ebay find at a reasonable price.

SOCIAL DISTORTION - ANOTHER STATE OF MIND EP

Social Distortion - Another State of Mind ep:
2000 pressed on black
1st press, 13th Story Records, released 1983




Anyone that knows me knows of my love for Social Distortion. Just something about the way they put songs together and their plethora of influences that they incorporated in them. This ep was released on the bands very own 13th story record label and the songs taken from their debut LP. Pretty slick paper cover for a self release with a glaring typo on the back. Mommy's Little Monster has turned into Mommies Little Monster!! This was also released in 89 by Triple X records on clear vinyl and ltd to just 500 copies.

NEOS - HASSIBAH GETS THE MARTIAN BRAIN SQUEEZE EP

NEOS - Hassibah Gets The Martian Brain Squeeze ep:
? pressed on black
2nd press, Ratcage Records 25, released 1983


Manic 14 song ep from the Neos. Honestly this ep is blisteringly fast for the age of it. The cover and lyric sheet are both huge fold outs with so much writing on them that you'd be hard pressed to read it all in one go! I love how witty yet intelligent the lyrics are, and for a number of reasons definatley a groundbreaking band in my opinion. This variant is the second press that was released on Ratcage Records, the original being issued on the bands very own label Alandhiscar Records. The main difference between the two is that this variant which was pressed in the UK runs at 45 where as the self released one runs at 33.

UNIT PRIDE - THEN AND NOW EP, CLEAR YELLOW

Highly underated late 80s youth crew band fron Berkley California. Featuring Eric Ozenne of Redemption 87 and Nerve Agents fame. I will testify that I also think that Chain Of Strength hijacked the start of Making A Difference and put it to their True Till Death tune. Seriously I defy anyone to tell me otherwise!!! Anyway 50 copies of this record came with a limited edition cover (commonly refered to as the "Calvin And Hobbes" cover or the "Jason Bush Can Suck It!" cover), hand-numbered on the back of the record cover and on the B-side label of the record. Regular copies are also hand-numbered on the inner dust sleeve (mine is 339 numbered out of 1,000) but I don't know if the two different numbering systems overlap or if they are independent of one another. There are also regular copies that came with a fold-out, live photo poster of the band in addition to the normal insert but the quantity made is unknown.

ARMED CITIZENS - MAKE SENSE EP

Great early NYHC here. The thing I love about record collecting is when you find a real bargain not only in price but also in quality. I got this locally about a year ago and only paid $6 for it which was a bargain. The ep and cover are in mint condition and looked like they'd hardly been touched, my gain for sure. I also love collecting small bits of US regional hardcore history and this record fits right into that mold. Although the cover is paper I like the use of the red ink on yellow, makes it stand out nicely plus the back cover drawing is immense, pure punk rock. Just imagine seeing them at the A7 or CB's in the early 80s.

KRAUT - UNEMPLOYED EP

Ah Kraut made famous by CIV who covered their classic tune "All Twisted"! and featuring soon to be Cro - Magnon Doug Holland on guitar. Anyway I picked this bad boy up in a great trade a number of years ago. I love Kraut because they have that early NYHC attitude to a tee but they were very proficient musicians and could pen tunes that were so catchy your mum would prolly like them! I guess if the Clash had been a NYHC band then Kraut would be that band! This is my fave Kraut release and the lyrics to the unreleased song Matinee are so funny. 5000 pressed which I guess back in the day that was a massive pressing run.

CRUCIFIX - 1984

3 track ep from this San Francisco based peace punk band. I guess the American equivalent to Discharge. A definite rawer precursor to their incredible Dehumanization Lp. I always found this ep to be misleading because it was released in 1982!!! This record came with a Crucifix patch which added to the overall greatness of this release. The layout has a total UK anarcho feel to it which isn't really surprising considering Crucifix's influences.

SAMHAIN - INITIUM LP

Theres definately more to Danzig than just the Misfits. This was Danzigs post Misfits outfit and criminally underated in my eyes. Released in 1984 (Plan 9 Recs) and reissued in 1986 and 89. The 1st press variant which I have is of 5000, but there was also a run of 100 white copies and 15 black w/white streaks. The 2nd press of this record was on red and limited to 500 with subsequent 3rd and 4th presses on black. I love Samahain because they were the natural progression from the Misfits, rough around the edges but with Danzigs trademark writing skills, best highlighted in the track All Murder, All Guts, All Fun which could have been a Misfits tune. Still not sure why there was a need to rename Horror Business to Horror Biz tho and quite frankly this version is far less superior than the original!!! This record is like an unfinished sketch, but you can definately see the direction that Danzig wanted to take.

CARRY NATION - FACE THE NATION EP, CLEAR

Carry Nation were regarded as a super group featuring Dan O'Mahoney and Gavin Oglesby of No For An Answer, Steve Insted and Big Frank Harrison (Nemesis Records). Named after the Hatchet-wielding champion of alcohol prohibition, these dudes produced 4 powerful semi political songs on this ep. I always laughed to myself when looking at the thick card sleeve on this record that proudly displays Carry Nation - Face The Nation 1985 - 1989. How did they only manage to record 4 songs in 4 years, that by anyones standards is pretty slow going!!!!!

MAJORITY OF ONE - RAGE EP, CLEAR YELLOW

The second MOO release on my blog and probably the better of the two. Again powerful hardcore with great lyrics and this time I got a full colour simplistic double sided cover and clear orange vinyl. I picked this up at a gig they played in Middlesbrough on their Euro tour sometime in 91. I remember that one of the MOO guitarists had went missing in Amsterdam a couple of nights earlier (apparently due to homesickness although at the time rumours were abound that he'd broke edge and ran off with a hooker!!) so they played as a 4 piece but still rocked hard.

MAJORITY OF ONE - ONE MAN EP, PHOTOCOPIED COVER

Majority Of One or MOO as most people like to call them released a couple of decent eps in the late 80's early 90's. I always thought they were underated and offered something a little different to the plethora of youth crew bands around that time. Powerful yet rocky hardcore, great lyrics and a good voice round off this record. As you can see in the pics this variant is not the standard one but came with a photocopied cover which included an explanation as to why. I remember being totally underwhelmed when I got this and thought that the label was a rip off but in hindsight I guess their reason was valid enough. The song Night train rips on this ep, prolly their best song.

EVEN SCORE = TONY VICTORY

By no means a classic record in the sense that the music will blow you away, but nonetheless an important release because this is the band that was fronted by a one Tony Victory! Yes the dude that does Victory records and is partly responsible for all of the dirge that parades it self as hardcore these days. I sent away for this record back in the day! and to be honest I've probably spun it about 10 times in the last 19 years or so! Such was the impact that this record made! Not even really sure why I kept it to be honest!