SLAPSHOT - STEP ON IT LP, CLEAR GREEN

Ah Slapshot...what a great band, I remember catching them on their first UK tour in 1990 at Newcastles now defunct Riverside venue. This was the gig that everyone was talking about. Would Choke hit the kids with his hockey stick, would the crusty punks v local straight edge schism kick off? Well Choke did bring his stick out and unfortunately he did not hit anyone, the crusties also did not show and all in all a good time was had by all in attendance. This is a limited (if you believe the front cover sticker) variant of the 1st press of this Lp and comes in a nice clear green. The Lp dust sleeve also acts as a lyric sheet and the front cover photograph pretty much sums up this band to a tee. Hard as nails and absolutely no frills. I believe that there were 500 pressed on this colour and I have seen another variant on clear red.

NEGATIVE FX - SELF TITLED LP, CLEAR ORANGE

The true beauty of hardcore punk is contained within this band and its releases. Six gigs (including the infamous Mission of Burma one), one 18 song Lp and a whole load of fury! I guess the grindcore and power violence genres have a lot to thank Mr Jack Kelly and co for inspiration wise. This Lp was actually recorded at Radio Beat recording studio, Boston in 1982 but didn't see the light of day until Taang put it out in 1984. Everything about Taang releases is minimalistic and this record is no exception. From the very familiar Manson cover art to the non inclusion of a lyric sheet. The vinyl is nice though! I remember hearing Neg FX for the first time and thinking to myself this is brutal, but then finding that they carried an almost neo conservative stance and I quote Choke "I would like to make hardcore a thing that I could take my mother to and not be embarrassed", you know you're on to a winner here, haha!!! Only 500 pressed on this colour with a further 500 pressed each on clear blue, clear red and clear vinyl.