Ringworm "Hammer of the Witch"

Ringworm

"Hammer of the Witch"

Relapse Records

Released: March 18, 2014

"This sh*t makes me grit my teeth and want to f&3! sh$t up".

Do you need a more involved write up than that?

Ringworm is:

Human Furnace - Vocals
Matt Sorg - Guitar
John Comprix - Guitar
Ed Stephens - Bass
Danny Zink - Drums

OK. I'll try.

When I think of Cleveland, I first think of Pagans. Brutal punk rock from the late 70s. 

Then I think about the time I saw D.C.'s Government Issue in the mid 80s play a gig in "lovely" Cleveland. I think Half Life might have also played that show. I think I was pretending to be one of Half Life's roadies. Half Life is from Pittsburgh and I was living in Erie PA at the time. Half Life always treated me well.

Then I think about Cleveland's One Life Crew, especially how I thought their 1995 LP "Crime Ridden Society" was the pinnacle of hardcore hatred. No one touched that record in 1995.

Cleveland's Integrity raised the bar even more in 1996 with "Humanity is the Devil". Check my interview with Dwid in the issue of FOE from back then here. 

Whether we are talking Pagans or Ringworm, my blood starts pumping faster through my body immediately. Fight or flight response is engaged.

Well, "Hammer of the Witch", Ringworm's latest in a discography that includes all mandatory, blood boiling, metallic hardcore, takes thing up another level. 

Human Furnace's vocals convey a brutality that might be considered a weapon in a slasher flick. He yells, victims faces fall off. 

As the guitars crunch, the beats groove and drive, all I see in my head is visions of massive pits, continually circling, like a giant machine, eating up human energy, with the music endlessly fueling the pit's need for an energy source. To this day, the greatest pit I ever was a part of was the first time I saw Agnostic Front at City Gardens. I've seen Agnostic Front, more than a dozen times (easily), but that pit was in-freaking-credible. Circle from stage to bar. Everyone was in. Back then karate, kick boxing, dancers weren't yet invented... those karate dancers keep ruining my visions of awesomely powerful, majestically violent mosh pits. Damn kids get off my lawn.

Anyhow, I digress.

Refocused.

Ringworm's "Hammer of the Witch" makes me want to grit my teeth and f&3@ sh$t up.

Ringworm kicks off their tour off March 29, 2014 about an hour away from me, in Reading PA.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

The Terraces "The Season So Far"

The Terraces

"The Season So Far"

Rebel Sound

Released: March 1, 2014

Purchasing the compilation LP "Punk and Disorderly" in 1981 was one of the greatest things I ever did. 

Hand that record to anyone at the age of 15 and they probably would have had the same response I had.

I have spent the years since, tracking down everything I can by the bands on that record: Blitz, Disorder, Dead Kennedys, Abrasive Wheels, Chaos UK, GBH, Outcasts, Red Alert, UK Decay, Vice Squad, Adicts, Partisans, Demob, Insane, Disrputers & Peter and the Test Tube Babies and bands that fit that character and intensity.

The two compilation albums that followed that classic LP up were equally mesmerizing. "Punk and Disorderly - Further Charges" and "Punk and Disorderly III" included the band One Way System. Not many bands got a chance to have a track on more than one of the LPs in the series (GBH, Action Pact, Vice Squad, Disorder) and I think only the Abrasive Wheels were on all three. 

One Way System's songs always stuck with me. Powerful punk that had a sound that was original and stood out, like all of the greats. Their LPs weren't just another slab of vinyl slid into the collection like a dollar bin find. "Writing On The Wall" and "All Systems Go" are important records that helped make me who I am today.  

I mention all of this because the vocalist of The Terraces is Gary Buckley, shifting to the front from being the bassist of One Way System. So who is playing bass in The Terraces, Steve King or "Kingy" played bass with Rose Tattoo from 2000-2007 and is now holding the low end together. Being an old man myself, I love it when old guys kill it, and the Terraces certainly provide the skills, have paid their dues and bridge that gap from "Punk and Disorderly" to Rancid to today. Being old and killing it, ain't easy, but The Terraces exact perfection on "The Season So Far".

The Terraces head right for the top when they pick The Clash's "Complete Control" to cover on "The Season So Far". It would be easy to sound like a third rate hack punk band trying to cover this legendary song. But the Terraces bring honor to the song and they deserve to cover the song.

The Terraces succeed in that they pull off a professional sound without sacrificing the energy and integrity. "The Season So Far" is a great listen from start to finish.

The video of "Perfect Company" should sell anyone on The Terraces classic punk.

Here is the vinyl pressing (all gatefold covers) information for all you vinylists.

• 200 Black vinyl
• 200 Red vinyl
• 100 Grey vinyl

Cheers,

Frank FOE 

Offenders "We Must Rebel - I Hate Myself - Endless Struggle" Southern Lord

OFFENDERS

We Must Rebel/I Hate Myself/Endless Struggle

Southern Lord

Released: March 18, 2014

Here is the deal. The Offenders were a Texas hardcore band that started out in the late 70s. The Offenders were the only band that sounded like this. They are the only band that sounds like this. A true original hardcore band. Southern Lord has issued this discography of "We Must Rebel", "I Hate Myself" and "Endless Struggle" in one double LP package. That Southern Lord is making this available is a majestic, honorable act that I appreciate and praise. I hope that a new generation of hardcore, punk and metal fans can experience this band and enjoy the Offenders as much as I do.

To help you understand how much I love the Offenders, I will let you know I already have two different versions of "We Must Rebel" (Reflex and Bitzcore) and "Endless Struggle" (Rabid Cat and Bonecrusher) on vinyl. Not sure what the values of these records are or whether they are legit or boots or originals, I just know I love the Offenders and tend to buy anything by them just because it is different than what I already own... record nerd that I am... Also the Grand Theft Audio CD "Died In Custody" has a 1983 demo and some other material that the fan I am, treasure.

I think a lot of hardcore fans got into the band through the MANDATORY 1984 "P.E.A.C.E." compilation 2xLP on R Radical Records. "Face Down In The Dirt" from that compilation and the "Endless Struggle" lp is a true classic to this day. 

I got to see the Offenders in Catasauqua PA in the early to mid 1980s. There was some issue going on with the singer not being present at the gig. The Offenders still raged performing instrumentals. 

Two of the original Offenders have passed away in recent years. Guitarist Tony "Offender" Johnson passed away peacefully on Saturday May 12, 2012 at the age of 54 after a 20-month struggle with lung cancer. Bassist Mikey Offender (also played in MDC and Sister Double Happiness) passed away in 2007. He died in his sleep from unknown causes in a Barcelona squat in 2007.

Surviving members, drummer Pat Doyle and vocalist JJ Jacobson. In honor of the band’s legacy, Doyle and Jacobson have recruited Jeff Martin (Buzzcrusher) on guitar and Craig Merritt (World Burns to Death) on bass, and have already booked a March performance celebrating re-release of their works.

I implore you to seek out Offenders "We Must Rebel/I Hate Myself/Endless Struggle" on Southern Lord and anyplace else you can find these songs.

Offenders Bandcamp
Offenders FB

Cheers,

Frank FOE

King Parrot "Bite Your Head Off" Candlelight

KING PARROT

"Bite Your Head Off"

Candlelight Records

Released: December 10, 2013

Melbourne Australia thrash metal grinders King Parrot may have an awkwardly odd name, but their delivery of punk, metal, hardcore, thrash is anything but awkward. 

Judging a book by a cover, King Parrot knows how to have fun and are full of attitude. Brutally energetic, King Parrot is cathartic. Turn it up and let the purification and purgation of emotions begin. It is impossible to have any stress left in your body after listening to this disc and watching their freakin' videos.

I love this disc.

Listen loud. 

I love these videos.

King  Parrot's video for "Sh&t on the Liver" is fantastically enjoyable, from the bizarre parking ticket intro to the Cosmic Psychos t-shirt.

Simply rules.

King Parrot is playing Allentown PA on March 28, 2014 at the Good Weekend. 

King Parrot "Epileptic Butcher".

And if all of that hasn't convinced you, you HAVE TO WATCH the video for "Dead End". Great references to the Shining, great bits of acting and once again, brutally awesome music.

LP is available through King Parrot's bigcartel page.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Buzzherd

Buzzherd is a Lehigh Valley band.

Check out their album "On Sinking Ships... Rats Drown" on bandcamp.

Check out all the Lehigh Valley locations in their video below!

I became a fan of Buzzherd back in 2011, when I first saw them on the EyeHateGod bill.
My thoughts from back then went like this...
"Buzzherd is an impressively sick band.
The vocalist reminds me of Blaine from the Accused, both with the voice and the hair.
Buzzherd was a perfect way to coil up the energy before EyeHateGod."

Buzzherd - "The Maloik" from Symitri Productions on Vimeo.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Exhumed / Iron Reagan split 12"

EXHUMED / IRON REAGAN

Split 12"

Tankcrimes

Released: January 7, 2014

I am a fan of both Exhumed and Iron Reagan. 

• Exhumed for their mastery of gore inspired death metal.
• Iron Reagan for their opportunity to further produce more thrash form the throat of Municipal Waste's Tony Foresta.

Exhumed provide four tracks, two of which are reckless death metal versions of hardcore classics. Exhumed is a friend to cover songs (see their disc "Garbage Daze Re-regurgitated" where they cover everyone from Led Zep to Siege). This is part of the reason I like them. On this split they destroy Minor Threat's "Seeing Red" and Negative Approach's "Ready to Fight" into a blurred death thrash wasteland.

Iron Reagan can simply do no wrong. As an extension of Municpal Waste, the thrash mania continues. I love everything. From the name to the vintage hardcore thrash influence. Iron Reagan creates a beautiful feeling with their music that brings to mind the greatest of pits orchestrated by the likes of DRI, RKL and any other 3 initial hardcore thrash band you can think of... and this is 2014 not 1984.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

  

Supersuckers "Get The Hell" LP review

SUPERSUCKERS

"Get The Hell"

LP on Reptilian (100 green, 300 orange, 600 white)

CD on Acetate

LP released: February 25, 2014

CD released: January 14, 2014

Supersuckers have a flow on "Get the Hell". Drop the needle anywhere on the vinyl and you will be greeted with their signature, high energy, rock meets punk meets country meets debauchery, music.

de·bauch·er·y

diˈbôCHərē

noun

1. 1.

   excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

A song title using the F-word, like "F*ck Up", may have has lost it's sting in 2014. The F-word is so commonplace it generates only a shrug along the offensive lines. But in the context of a Supersuckers song, yeah, singer Eddie Spaghetti convinces you he indeed is a f&#$ up and they have the right to use the F-word anytime they want. 

After two and half decades of existence (established in 1988), Supersuckers adhere to the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle on "Get The Hell".

KISS is an acronym for "Keep it simple, stupid"

 as a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960.

 The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple

 rather than made complex.

Supporting KISS documentation:

• Song title: "That's What You Get For Thinking". 
• Lyric from "Shut Your Face" - "you wanna get onstage you gotta start your own band and book your own damn show". Direct and to the point.
• Songs rock from start to finish in an enjoyable, hedonistic rock approach. Simple format since the inception that Supersuckers perfect with ease (simplicity). 
• This begs to be played obnoxiously loud.
• Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll. "Being Bad", "Gluttonous", "Something About You", "High Tonight"..
• Love that the album artwork has that 25 year old used record bin look, brand new.
• Rip-roaring version of "Never Let Me Down Again". I love Depeche Mode. This is a m'f'er of a classic cover.

"Get the Hell" is a raucous, hedonistic fun release. Turn it up loud (when you think it is loud, I suggest turning the volume up one more digit) and have some fun! Let the neighbors hear how much fun you are having. 

Acetate Records is offering a free download of "50,000 Middle Fingers Can't Be Wrong" EP. Click here and download it now!

Supersuckers are playing the TLA in Philly PA on April 26, with the Toadies. 

Cheers,

Frank FOE