Originally released in 1985.this tape by Scott Free was the tape by first punk band in Myrtle Beach, South California. Broken Sound Tapes are rereleasing this jewel on tape and I must say, all thanks to them because otherwise this underground punk gem would lay forgotten for the new generations of punks and no one would know. We get 11 songs of political hardcore punk. The music is old school hardcore punk in the vein of all Cali punk bands of that time with Circle Jerks and Dead Kennedys coming to mind first. From the straightforward hardcore punk of All In The Family to catch melodic riff of Tuesday In November these guys deliver energy and we can surely say that this record had withstood the test of time. There are also some weirder sounding noisy songs like Bread And Water with that sharp noisy riff guitar main line. One more reggae influenced song is Sleep sounding like a crossbreed between Madness and Black Flag. In all, this is an artifact of time and a testimony to one of the undiscovered jewels of underground hardcore punk scene.
Melodic punk legends from California Lagwagon are back with brand new full length album. Five years has passed since Hang and here are 12 new songs. I fell in love with this band like 20 something years ago when I first heard their Duh and Trashed albums. Throughout the years the guys perfected their metalic skatepunk played with technical perfection and precision along with Joey Cape´s distinct awesome voice to top it off. What I love also about this band is how they can create drama and atmosphere with their music, whether darker mood, sadness, melancholy or laughter. Stealing Light and especially Surviving California pick up where the band left off with the last album. Great a bit metalised riffs, catchy melody and fantastic guitar solo on the latter song make me smile and I know Lagwagon is back. Jini is a fast skatepunk song, reminding me of early bands and first three albums with its catchy and energetic melody. Parable is for me one of the best songs on this album with atmospheric intro and guest vocals by Joey´s daughter Violet and the acoustic ending with a lot of heartfelt drama and melody in the song itself. Bubble was chosen as first single and it is absolutely one of the highlights of the album with nostalgic lyrics and travel back in time song structure. Love this one, never enough of listening to this song. The Suffering is THE song of the album, I still get goosebumps only remembering the melody and Joey˙s voice and everything after that light intro. Dark Matter just rules with its darkened melody and harmonies, making me kinda sad while listening. Fan Fiction has a great lyric theme and sound a bit more mid tempo and rockish, but piano intro marks the start of another killer song called Pray For Them, fast song with gentle lyrics and this one literally brought tears to my eye remembering recent loss that we had endure. This album is by far for me the best Lagwagon album in the last 15 years or so.
Year Of The Fist are from Oakland California and this is their latest record out with Heart On Records. There are 11 songs on this record. The music they play is fast forward energetic mix of punk and rock n roll, kinda like Black Flag or Ramones met Motorhead and jammed together for a record. But, don´t get me wrong, this band is in no way anyone˙s clone or a copy, they remained energetic, fresh, fast and a real pleasure for listening. Besides faster songs like Ghosts or Blood Bath, there are couple of more mid tempo rock n roll songs like Memory Burn which add perfectly to the whole picture. Katie´s and Squeaky˙s voices interplay perfectly with Hal9000beers´s voice creating great haunting melodies just made for you to listen them on repeat day after day. For all you punkrockers who like your punkrock energetic, raw yet melodic this is a keeper!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 