Suede Razors "Razor Stomp"

Suede Razors

"Razor Stomp"

Pirates Press

Released: April 2017

San Francisco Bay Area legends in the making, take the pub versions of the Rolling Stones and AC/DC and mix in plenty of punk, mod and oi to give you a six pack of songs set to tear apart your local tavern.

I love the track "All Nighter", which has perfect keys. Made me flash back to reckless days at places like Wallys, the Funhouse and 4-G's in Bethlehem PA where the music and atmosphere lead the party to levels not normally witnessed. This is good time rock n roll. 

Check the video for "Bovver Girl" and prepare to enjoy yourself:

And check "Berlin or Bust" (love the part where the driver attempts to put a Suede Razors record in the car cd player):

Got my copy on orange w/white and grey and blue splatter (450 copies available).

Also available on black vinyl (100 copies) and Yellow/Orange w/White, grey and blue splatter (450 copies).

Enjoy yourself with a good stomp to let it all out! 

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Pirates Press Records
Suede Razors FB

Cock Sparrer "Forever" LP

Cock Sparrer

"Forever"

Pirates Press

Released: April 2017

Everyone who loves Cock Sparrer already has this record (CD has 4 additional tracks).

No introduction needed, if you know Cock Sparrer, and know this was coming out, there was no doubt this was going to be an album you were going to get and love.

I pre-ordered the LP in the deluxe, faux leather embossed jacket on claret and blue vinyl.

Of course I did. I have loved Cock Sparrer's punkest tunes from their 45 year career as well as their more melodic material (like "The Sun Says" - probably the first song that REALLY got me into the band oddly enough). I was in a punk covers band (Nostalgia Crisis) for many years and my favorite song to play on guitar was (and still is) "Riot Squad".

Cock Sparrer tour poster on my wall

Now. The new, sixth full length studio LP (...that I have 14 LPs in my collection is some sort of tribute to how many times I've purchased the same songs in a different format) is a classic start to finish.

Check the video for the lead off track "One By One":

Old punk and oi bands can sound tired, tedious, dated and are quite often irrelevant... tarnishing their history like a ball player who is playing out their contract but should just quit embarrassing themselves and retire.

Cock Sparrer "Forever" is appropriately titled, as this band churns out classic punk every time. Energized and energizing. Entertaining and engaging. Relevant, timely and focused... and the songs stick in your head.

I've been putting off publishing anything on this record. I had the desire to make my write up somehow as great as the record. I can't do that. Believe me, I have rewritten this review dozens of times in my head since the release back in April. Then I saw a facebook post from Pirates Press that it was three months since the release of this record, and they were asking people what their favorite track was...  That's when I got my focus, to try to convince people to get this record who haven't already done it. My favorite tracks are: "Gonna Be Alright", "Nothing Like You", "I've Had Enough" and "One By One" is one of the all-time great anthems.

There are bands like Business, Cock Sparrer and Buzzcocks who somehow are always with me. Not only do they create great songs, but they help me through this thing called life.

Cheers,
Frank FOE


Pirates Press Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer FB

Body Count "Bloodlust" LP

Body Count

"Bloodlust"

Century Media

Released: March 31, 2017

I did not buy this when it was released on March 31, 2017.

I love Ice T. Love Body Count.

I didn't buy it cuz the vinyl wasn't available yet.

In case you are a vinyl addict like me, then I just wanted to remind you that the vinyl is NOW available.

ad·dict

ˈadikt/

noun

informal

an enthusiastic devotee of a specified thing or activity.

Slayer is my all time favorite band. Has been since I first heard them. They replaced Devo on the top.

Body Count covers "Raining Blood" and "Postmortem" from the Slayer album "Reign In Blood". This video gives me freaking chills, just like the original Slayer versions. When Vincent sings "Postmortem" I lose my mind.

Check it:

Behind the scenes video:

While you are at it, check the video for "Black Hoodie":

and "No Lives Matter"...

and for fun... let's revisit Ice T and Slayer working on the Exploited...

Oh how I'd love to see Body Count live in Bethlehem PA. 

Why not fill out the bill with Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies and Exploited.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Exterminators "Product of America"

EXTERMINATORS

"Product of America"

Slope

Released: November 2016

The biggest reason I published a zine, wrote for the Morning Call, DJ'ed countless radio shows on a half dozen stations and continue with this blog, is the satisfaction I get when I turn someone on to music that connects with them. I have always loved turning people on to music they end up loving.

Fact: In the 1980s it was difficult to find and get music. You had to research, read, listen to college radio, buy albums based on the cover artwork, send your cash in an envelope through the US postal service to get records delivered weeks later...

In 2017, if you are connected to the internet, it is easy to get music. But I think it is equally as difficult to find. Why? Because there is so much of it out there it is easy to get lost or miss something that you shouldn't miss. It is also easy to get caught up in convenience. Everything is available, which is an overload. 

So I bring you case in point, Exterminators "Product of America".

The record came out last November 2016. I never heard one peep about this record until the summer of 2017. I was turned on to "Product of America" by the band's publicity. I am so thankful they reached out to me. Now I hopefully return the favor and turn you on to Exterminators (or if you were in on this last year, remind you to listen to this again).

"Product of America" was produced by Cris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets, Exterminators were one of Phoenix Arizona's first punk bands and this LP is a recording of songs culled from a cassette tape of the band performing live in 1978 with the original lineup featuring Dan “Johnny Macho” Clark on vocals, his younger brother Doug “Buzzy Murder” Clark on guitar, Don Bolles on drums, and the late Rob Graves on bass (Kirkwood took over for the departed Graves on the new album).

Exterminators formed in 1977 and took a break in 1978 and then let these songs ferment for nearly 40 years.

If the members of Exterminators sound familiar, they are: Dan Clark (vocals) was in The Feederz and Victory Acres, guitarist Doug Clark was in The Brainz and Mighty Sphincter, drummer Don Bolles was in The Germs, Celebrity Skin and Ariel Pink and both Don and Rob Graves were in 45 Grave.

So yeah. Of course this freaking rules. I mean the Feederz, Germs and 45 Grave are three of the biggest reasons I got into Hardcore and Punk in the early 1980s... and Meat Puppets "Melons Rising".

"Product of America" is a ripper from start to finish. The sound is amazing. The intensity perfect. The riffs and guitar work is classic. The songs diverse but fit well together. Chris's bass work is of course on point.

I love Don's drumming. Always have. Precise tight and driving the songs to wherever they need to go.

Dan's vocals snarl like it was 1980. I think I'd have a heart attack at my age trying to do what he does. Hell, what the whole band is doing. It rages that much.

If you have ever liked any of the aforementioned bands (Germs, Feederz, 45 Grave...) or Circle Jerks, Dead Boys or NoMeansNo, you must obtain.  

Give "Bionic Girl", "Patriotic American", "First and Last", "Static Planet" (love this song so much), "Mechanized Death" a listen.. They are all great.


I love vinyl. Most of the time people turn me on to the digital version of their music. If I love it, I'll order the vinyl. I ordered the vinyl. A must for the physical collection. A must for the ears, eyes and mind.

ad·den·dum

əˈdendəm/

noun

1. 1.

   an item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or other publication.

Addendum: After receiving the vinyl in the mail, I realize that the writing credit for the song "I Hate You" goes to "Some Kid From The Neighborhood". Brilliant.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Slope Records
Exterminators Bandcamp
Slope Facebook
Exterminators Facebook

ZEX "No Sanctuary/No Time" 7"

ZEX

"No Sanctuary / No Time" 7"

Violated Records

Released July 2017

Zex, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, fondly brings me back to a time in the 1980s when UK punk bands, with female leads vocals like Vice Squad and The Expelled seized my attention. There was a different sound to those bands. 

I already loved female fronted bands like the Avengers, X Ray Spex and X that got their start in the 1970s, but these bands had a completely different feel. Female UK82. Vice Squad and The Expelled were female fronted bands that helped make those "Punk and Disorderly" albums remain among the best punk compilations ever released. 

Zex have been around since 2014. Core members are: Guitarist and primary songwriter: Jo Capitalicide along with Vocalist: Gretchen Steel and Bassist Gab Sex. Their debut LP "Fight For Yourself" from 2015 is mandatory punk. My write up here: Zex "Fight For Yourself"

Check out the video for the A-side of this 7" and understand exactly what I am talking about.

I love Zex. One of the best punk bands in existence in 2017.

Violated Records (Philly) has released the 7" on three colors:

100 Standard Olive Green. 

250 of Splatter Easter Yellow with lots and lots of Black Splatter. 

250 of Transparent Blood Red with lots and lots of White Splatter.

FOE seal of approval affixed.

UK82 updated to ON17, ON of course being the abbreviation for Ontario.

Take care,
Frank FOE

Violated Records

Violated Records FB

Zex FB

Violated Records

Pat of Violated Records once made me a cassette of the Eater discography back in the day when you did that sort of thing. So this was B.I. (before internet). He did this for me as I was having a tough time finding all the records. Pat is the biggest Eater fan I know! Luckily I have much Eater on vinyl now. I still have that cassette, a keepsake for sure!

Pat has a few records that are coming out on his label that you should pay attention to.

First up is the Zex record. Go check out my write up of their LP "Fight For Yourself" at this link: ZEX
"No Sanctuary/Time" 7" is available now in olive green, Easter yellow and black splatter, or transparent blood red with white splatter vinyl. Pat also offers a deal if you buy all three colors.

Later in June Violated will release records by Eater and Foreign Legion!

Pat's wife Rachel is in the Droogettes and she is busy too! 

Test presses are in for a split record with The Droogettes and Vice Squad as evidenced by this photo with a test press in hand!

The Droogettes will be in Allentown PA on July 8 and will be playing the Rebellion fest this year!

Visit Violated records to order http://www.violatedrecords.com/
Visit Violated on FB at https://www.facebook.com/violatedrecordsphilly/
Visit The Droogettes on FB at https://www.facebook.com/droogettes/

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Iron Lung Friday May 26, 2017

Iron Lung

Iron Lung is playing in Bethlehem PA on Friday May 26, 2017.

I have three of their LPS (yes, on vinyl): "Sexless//No Sex", "Life - Iron Lung - Death" and "White Glove Test".

I have embedded all three albums digitally below so you can familiarize yourself with their music for Friday night.

The Lehigh Valley's Manbeast is also on the gig. I have embedded their awesome "Sore" below.

I don't know Burglary Years, but I certainly will after Friday.

Seattle-based hardcore punk band, Iron Lung, will headline the next show in Tape Swap Radio's concert series this Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem. 

Also performing at the show is Allentown hardcore punk band, Manbeast, and Boston post-punk/dream pop band, Burglary Years. 

Proceeds from the show will benefit Tabor Children's Services youth mentoring program in the Lehigh Valley. 

Formed in 1999 in Reno, Nevada, Iron Lung has since relocated to Seattle and toured extensively across the U.S., Asia, Australia, and Europe over the last 18 years. The A.V. Club has described them as "one of the heaviest, tightest, and most ambitious duos going." Vice Magazine's Noisey has praised their adventurous approach to heavy music as "bridg[ing] the ever-closing gap between hardcore punk, noise, and power electronics. Out the gate, these two dudes smoked anyone who was willing to share a stage with them." 

This will be Iron Lung's first Lehigh Valley performance in a decade since playing in Allentown in 2007.

Tape Swap Radio's concert series is part of Ice House Tonight which allows the arts, theater, and independent music to have a space at the Ice House throughout the year. "The big response we've received since announcing this show demonstrates that there is a real need to have outlets like this for independent music in the Lehigh Valley," said Tape Swap Radio co-founder Shamus McGroggan. "We're excited to be able to bring music of all kinds to the Lehigh Valley from indie folk to punk rock."

Tape Swap Radio is an original live music series which, in addition to hosting its concert series, produces a radio program that airs on WDIY 88.1 FM, Lehigh Valley's community NPR station. Since 2015, Tape Swap Radio's concert series has raised $6,543 for Lehigh Valley non-profit and community programs like The Center for Animal Health & Welfare in Easton, The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, and the Homebase Skateshop After-School Skate Program in Bethlehem.

Cheers,
Frank FOE