April 2020 Mailorder Update: 7"s

Blu Anxxiety - Baptized in Space 7" (Toxic State) (6 euro)
New York’s Blu Anxxiety is a three-piece consisting of drum computers, synthesizers and a singer. This is a very 1980's sounding single. To me the A-side is the winner. I’m less charmed by the flip which is too over the top for me. One of the band members used to play in Anasazi, which is not a bad reference. I can see people into Richard Papiercuts lose their shit over this single too. The artwork showcases men in blue robes on a moon landscape, bringing to mind the decorum of the Neverending Story, which probably wasn’t intended.

Hear the thing here: https://bluanxxiety.bandcamp.com/album/baptized-in-space.

Brandy - Clown Pain 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro) 

Two more tracks by this New York three-piece. I already wrote about their 12” on Monofonous Press so I’ll keep this short. 'Clown Pain' has a nice groove and cool dual vocals. The flip is a broodier and more threatening song. Both cool tracks. Time for these dudes to release a proper full-length.

Hear the thing here: https://brandynewyorkcity.bandcamp.com/album/clown-pain.

Brutal Birthday - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro) 

I confused this band with Factoryman, a Homostupids side project. WRONG! Brutal Birthday are paying hommage to Cleveland's finest, but are from Italy themselves. I was surprised how good this record is. Punchy and sloppy punk rock. What's not to like? I need to track down their other stuff!

Hear the thing here: https://brutalbirthday.bandcamp.com/album/commotion-7.

Civic - Selling Sucking Blackmail Bribes 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro) 

Scummy punk rock with an emphasis on the rawk! Lots of wild guitar work like some of the Aussie greats. These recordings seem a little rougher around the edges than their 12" on Anti-Fade, but that works fine. Lyrically Civic are stronger than most bands playing punk which is a big plus in my book.

Hear the thing here: https://civicivic.bandcamp.com/.

  

Closet Christ - You're In My World Now Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 

Hardcore punk band from Washington, DC. The guy doing drums was probably a lumber jack in a previous life. Maybe he still is? He knows one pace and that's fast. The 6 songs on this Ep are short, angry and mean, the vocals nasty. This band breathes misanthropy and hostility. Little info to be found on this release, but the music speaks for itself.

Hear the demo, of which this is the vinyl pressing, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbp_9FQuzd4.


 

Curleys - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro) 

Nothing I knew about this band before picking this record up. They're from Florida so I'm guessing they're local heroes and/or friends of Rich. Unlike most Total Punk 7"s this is not a single, but an Ep containing 6 songs. The vocals bring to mind the muppet-like vocals I love in Predator. The drumming is simple, the dual guitar work rad. Punchy and catchy punk rock. Very nice!

Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t.

  

Eke Buba - Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 

Hardcore punk from Zagreb, Croatia, in Croatian... I think? It’s a feather in Lumpy’s cap that he’s releasing bands from different parts of the world that probably wouldn’t reach the audience they now do, had their record not been released on Lumpy Rex. Eke Buba plays some really sloppy punk. I love the mess these songs are: blunt blown out bass, gnarly guitar and shrill cymbals. To say the mix is rough around the edges would be an understatement, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I bet this band is a blast live.

Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV5FzUXG-uY.

 

Haram - Where were you on 9/11? Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 

To answer the question, I was in social studies if I remember correctly, but memory is a tricky thing. Haram is a hardcore band from New York singing in Arabic. When I first heard of this band I considered them a shtick. In fact I thought they were out to bait the public like Fearless Iranians from Hell in the’80s. I wrongfully jumped to conclusions for this band has a personal story to tell and a sound to match it. Their brand of hardcore broadens the diversity of USHC, something about their sound strikes me as European somehow. The bass playing on this Ep is awesome. Translation of the lyrics are included. They read like haiku's and are political in nature. T he artwork of the sleeve and insert are top notch. Hats off to Toxic State once again! 

Hear the thing here: https://haramharam.bandcamp.com/album/where-were-you-on-9-11.

Heavy Metal - Too Oz 4 I.T. Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro)

Two-piece from Berlin that's already got FOUR albums under its belt, one of which a double Lp. It's an open door to raise questions about quality when a band produces this much music in little time, so how could I not bring the subject up? Done! Although I own Heavy Metal's first two albums and like 'm, I feel like this format suits the band better. Just songs. No filler, all killer as the cliché goes. The vocals are obnoxious and in your face, the music is silly and unpredictable. Who knows, maybe I'll buy that 2xLp at some point.

Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep.

The Inhuman - Ep (Lumpy Rex) (6 euro)  

The sticker on the sleeve plugs this record as 'Crude Bedroom Drug Punk from Tucson, AZ, circa 1983'. Two songs are offered, both dark and captivating. There's a background story included, which, if true, makes this a beautiful document. The songs work by themselves, but the context they're wrapped in takes this release to a whole other level. Highly recommended!

Hear one song here: https://soundcloud.com/lumpyrex/the-inhuman-we-will-build. 

 

IV - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro)

This band is new to me. Turns out it's got Drew of Brain Tumors and Citric Dummies in its ranks, which make me sad there's no lyric sheet included. That guy writes funny lyrics. IV - as in Ivy or HIV without the 'H' - delivers four catchy punk rock tunes with a garage bend on this Ep. Simple yet effective. I hope this won't be the last thing we hear by these guys.

Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7.

Judy and the Jerks - Music for Donuts Ep (Thrilling Living) (5 euro)

These kids did a couple of tapes before they made the move to vinyl. I read much praise for the cassettes, but this is the first time I hear their music. Judy and the Jerks play chaotic and playful hardcore punk that's a shitload of fun. Everything about this release breathes we're dealing with a bunch of friends who have a common love for punk, to which they now contribute together. This Ep shows a lot of heart and is done by kids who clearly don't take themselves too seriously. Fun, fun, fun as that one band used to sing. My only complaint is that the singer is named July in real life so why not July and the Jerks, huh?

Hear the thing here: https://thrillingliving.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-donuts.

Kaleidoscope - 2017 Ep (D4MT Labs) (6 euro) 
This New York hardcore band toured Europe with Nosferatu last year and both were devestating live. I've been following this band from the beginning. Kaleidoscope has been sailing hardcore into unchartered territory from the get go with mixed success, but that's part of the excitement. Their latest Lp is their magnum opus in my opinion, but this Ep is really good too. 'Scorched Earth' is an unexpected jam and great song. Shiva writes intelligent political lyrics. This Ep was released on the band's own label and looks great. Kaeidoscope are a special band in my book.

Hear the thing here: https://d4mtlabsinc.bandcamp.com/album/kaleidoscope-2017-7.

Knowso - Like a Buzz 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro)

This three-piece contains Nathan Ward, whose artwork is to be found on many a record on my shelves at this point. Nathan's drawings are great, but his band is worth checking out too. Herky jerky punk rock with a Cleveland flair of weirdness. The vocals remind me a bit of Perverts Again, because they're monotonously spoken too. The lyrics are stoopid and funny. Was there ever a better line to end a song on than 'You belong in a bin'? Furthermore I learned some new terms such as 'brain blink' and 'frozen hair interrogator'. Not quite sure what they mean though.

Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/like-a-buzz-7.

 

Musk - Animal Husbandry 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro)

First single by this rock band from Oakland that seems majorly influenced by the Scientists as well as AmRep bands you do like. It took Musk two albums before they dared to thread the path of the 7", but the time has come. This band's got a great rhythm section. The bass lays down the riffs and gives the guitar(s) room to do whatever. I love the insect-like sounds coming from the six string on the A-side. Great band, two dark and intense songs that leave you wanting more.

Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/animal-husbandry.

Pinocchio - Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 

Not much I knew about Pinocchio before picking this Ep except that Mary Jane of the late great Vexx is on vocals. Anybody who ever heard or saw that band live knows Mary Jane is a force to be reckoned with. In Pinocchio she's teamed up with some Toxic State veterans. Musically Pinocchio is a rock band. Members are or have been in groups as diverse as Crazy Spirit, Cheena, Slender and Anasazi, which give you an idea of their musical scope. This is a mature record, with strong songs - no less than 8 - which has me hope for a 12" later this year.

Hear the thing here: https://pinocchio1.bandcamp.com/releases.

Pobreza Mental - Ya No Me Pertenezco Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 
Raw hardcore punk in Spanish tongue from New York City. The straight forward drumming and simplicity of the songs bring to mind the original appeal of Crazy Spirit. The vocals are intense. Buzzsaw guitar not unlike some of the Mexican hardcore bands Dave Rata, who sings and plays guitar in this band, and Yecal, who’s still in Mexico, have been involved in.

Hear the thing here: https://pobrezamental.bandcamp.com/album/ya-no-me-pertenezco.

Protomartyr & Spray Paint - Irony Prompts A Party Rat Ep (Monofonous Press) (6 euro)  

Often listed as a split Ep, this record is actually a collaboration between the two groups. The A-side sounds most like a Spray Paint song, but John Casey is doing vocals. The reverse applies to the flip; it sounds like Protomartyr track, but Corey speaks his random observations over the music. This Ep is an interesting exploration into what the combined sounds of these two groups would bring about. The result should appeal to anybody into the sounds of either.

Hear the thing here: https://spraypaintmonofonus.bandcamp.com/album/protomartyr-spray-paint-irony-prompts-a-rat.

Q - Secqnd Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro)

Second Ep by this hardcore punk band from St. Louis. It seems to be a returning theme to come up with song titles that start with the letter ‘Q’ or to insert the letter ‘Q’ where there’d normally be a vowel. Example: one song is called ‘DQQr’. The odd thing is the lyrics, altough arguably a bit by the book, are pretty serious. Subjects include depression, power abuse, and anxiety among others. This Ep delivers 6 tracks that should get (circle) pits moving and knucklehads moshing. The band shifts gear in most song and the singer’s voice is incredibly hoarse, giving the songs more urgency. Bound to be a blast live and probably cool kids to hang and skate with.

Hear the thing here: https://singlerussiancuties1.bandcamp.com/album/secqnd.

Suck Lords - True Lords Ep (Edger) (5 euro)

Perhaps my favorite USHC band at the moment. Fast, sloppy and pissed. Generally I don't like bands this fast, but I like the Suck Lords a lot. So much in fact, that I'm typing this wearing a Suck Lords T-shirt. Go figure! 8 songs of which none reach the two minute mark. Half don't even make it to one. Simply GREAT!

Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oChUinE_a8.

Sweet Tooth - Sugar Rush 2009 Ep (Lumpy Rex) (6 euro) 

Originally released on cassette in 2009, this Ep celebrates the first release by Sweet Tooth, a St. Louis hardcore band that consisted of four youngsters among whom the Meyer brothers. These were Sweet Tooth's first recordings. The band would release two excellent 7"s and a flexi on the now defunct Cowabunga records after, which seem relatively unknown despite everyone’s boner for Lumpy and the Dumpers. All members of the band wrote a short epitaph for this release reminiscing the time they were fucking shit up together on and off stage. I’ll summarize: Sweet Tooth played hardcore punk as fast and loud as they could and made sure things happened at a show. Reading the booklet makes me sad I wasn’t there to witness it all live, be part of what was happening, but we do now have this document chronicling a moment in hardcore. In that sense this Ep is a reminder of the possibilities of four kids picking up an instrumant and starting a band. Members moved on to form later greats such as Lumpy and the Dumpers, BB Eye, Rüz, Rik & the Pigs and Mongoloid.

Hear the original demo, which I own on cassette - yes, I'm that cool, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kjF0tBA76o.

Tyvek - Changing Patterns of Protective Coating Ep (Selfreleased) 

After a couple of years of relative silence Detroit’s art punks are back with a new Ep containing four new tracks, all laidback and free of self-consciousness. The second on side-A is an instrumental that continues on the flip so arguably there are only three songs, but the grooves don’t lie. ‘We’re back’ sounds so familiar I thought it had been released before, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. I guess that shows how familiar their sound and songwriting has become to me yet I’m not the least bit bored by either. This record was released by the group itself and has the look of their early singles, a cool touch.

Hear the thing here: https://tyvek.bandcamp.com/album/changing-patterns-of-protective-coating.

U-nix -  Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 

Restocks of this debut Ep by Portland's U-Nix, which includes John Cardwell of NASA Space Universe fame on guitar. Dark and angry hardcore done the way I like it. Wild and chaotic drumming, a rumbling bass, good guitar riffs and a singer who expresses his disgust with the world through every line. At times he makes me think of the singer of Holy Shit! U-Nix is among my favorite current hardcore bands. For those on board I still have copies of their demo tape - probably my favorite release by the group - and 12" on Feel It Records.

Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN5Kp7-vS-Q.