FOE

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Ultimate Warriors "Our Gimmick Is Wrestling"

ULTIMATE WARRIORS

"OUR GIMMICK IS WRESTLING"

Digital finally available February 1, 2017

Watch the promo video here:

https://www.facebook.com/thearchivistlabel/videos/1007336489398476/

From the Archivist and Robotic Empire Post:

"Almost two decades ago in the small town of Nazarath Pennsylvania, like in many others, a crew of miscreant friends played loud music together. They called their band The Ultimate Warriors, creating a blistering fast punkmetalhardcore hybrid with lyrical content focusing entirely on wrestling.

They were extremely prolific, writing and recording nearly a hundred songs over roughly half a decade of making music under this moniker.

After The Ultimate Warriors ran it's course, splinter groups from most of the same members formed, including Pearls & Brass, The Gatecrashers and then Pissed Jeans. This same core group of dudes have passionately played many different genres of music together, slogging it out in the underground for years before finally earning some notoriety through Pissed Jeans and their albums released by Sub Pop.

But before all that, The Ultimate Warriors banged out breakneck grindcore, powerviolence and other mutant sub-forms of heavy music - entirely about wrestling. Their live performances devolved into a risky combination of rowdy moshing mixed with backyard wrestling antics. Injuries were common, and in a small circle of followers a reputation of danger & power grew.

This fueled The Ultimate Warriors songwriting and in the early aughts, after releasing many independent EPs, their sole longer player was recorded and appropriately titled "Our Gimmick Is Wrestling". Released on vinyl only, like all of their releases, it sold out quickly and has remained in obscurity since.

After 15 years of unavailability, "Our Gimmick Is Wrestling" is now out digitally, expanded with select recordings from The UWs vast discography. This 48-track collection spans the spectrum of metal, punk, hardcore, noise and everything inbetween. This can now be listened to across all main digital music platforms."

iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/our-gimmick-is-wrestling/id1173762553?app=itunes

Apple Music - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/our-gimmick-is-wrestling/id1173762553?mt=1&app=music

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/6No4jx4n1I8ldCYtfSKDHA

Oddly enough, the bandcamp page with "Our Gimmick Is Wrestling" is run by The Archivist, not to be confused with the Lehigh Valley Archivist, where a lot of the other Ultimate Warriors material can be obtained https://frankfoe.blogspot.com/p/lehigh-valley-archives.html LVA 019 contains the "Dingo Warriors" demo, "1997" demo and live at radio station WLVR (Lehigh University PA).

Between the Archivist and the Lehigh Valley Archivist you get 85 tracks of Ultimate Warrior chaos.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Pissed Jeans "The Bar Is Low"

Pissed Jeans

"The Bar Is Low" video

"Why Love Now" LP/CD/digital/cassette

Brad and Matt are two of my favorite people on the planet.

The Pissed Jeans video "The Bar is Low" is currently my favorite video on youtube.

I can't wait to actually get the LP.

Release date is February 24, 2017.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Monday, February 20, 2017

Devil Dancers Pennsylvania Bands of the 1960s

Devil Dancers:

Pennsylvania Bands of the 1960's

Volume 1 and 2

originally issued on cassette in 1984

An original compilation curated by radio professional and music collector, Neil Hever, in 1984. A treasure trove of lesser-known garage rock, psych rock, and jangly pop from around Pennsylvania in the 1960's. Contains some rare tracks that were only previously released on limited-run record releases.

Mastering / audio restoration by Matt Molchany at Shards
Published in 2016 by Tape Swap Radio to preserve this music

Tape Swap Radio:
tapeswapradio.com

https://www.facebook.com/TapeSwapRadio/

So glad Neil Hever put these 23 tracks together and Tape Swap Radio have shared this with the world.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Sunday, December 18, 2016

FOE's Musical Prescription - NOI!SE "The Real Enemy"

NOI!SE

"The Real Enemy"

Pirates Press / Randale

Released: October 21, 2016

Noi!se is a brash punk rock band from Tacoma Washington that sounds like they came out of the Oi explosion when Link Records was at the forefront of bringing these sounds to the world.

That Noi!se knows what they are doing (professional, on-point, medium-to-quick paced punk/oi/street) is known. That they are loved and respected is evidenced by those who have joined them for the assist on this record. Additional vocals on “SPD” by Gordy Carbone (THE FORGOTTEN/LARS & THE BASTARDS), on “The War Inside” by THE INTERRUPTERS and on “The Real Enemy”, by Al Barr (DROPKICK MURPHYS/THE BRUISERS).

The packaging on this LP is top notch, as expected from Pirates Press. Awesome fold out lyric sheet that resembles a newspaper, but on thick stock quality paper. Killer quality color vinyl along with multi layer album jacket sets the package apart.

Quality punk rock is alive and well in 2016.

PRESSING INFO:
50pcs. - 12" Black Vinyl (Promo Version)
300pcs. - 12" Camoflauge Vinyl (Exclusive Mailorder Version)
1000pcs. - 12" Silver Vinyl (Retail Version #1)
1000pcs. - 12" White Vinyl (Retail Version #2)

Cheers,
Frank FOE

https://www.facebook.com/destinycitynoise/
http://www.piratespressrecords.com/store/12-inches-c-1_6/new-noise-the-real-enemy-12-lp-p-846.html

FOE's Musical Prescription - Mayhem "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive"

MAYHEM

"De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive"

Mayhem

Released: December 15, 2016

Black metal legendary album from 1994 released as a live performance in 2016.

Available on CD, LP, and DVD (the first 1000 copies are numbered) and all self released by the band.

They are also touring, playing this album in its entirety. Playing Philly February 16 at the TLA. North Carolina gets the Valentines Day treatment.

MAYHEM w/ Black Anvil, Inquisition:
1/20/2017 Club Solda – Montreal, QC
1/21/2017 Phoenix Theater – Toronto, ON
1/22/2017 Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
1/23/2017 Metro – Chicago, IL
1/24/2017 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
1/25/2017 Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
1/27/2017 Gothic Theater – Denver, CO
1/28/2017 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
1/30/2017 Marquee – Calgary, AB
1/31/2017 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
2/02/2017 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
2/03/2017 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
2/04/2017 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
2/06/2017 Social Hall SF – San Francisco, CA
2/07/2017 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
2/08/2017 Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
2/10/2017 Alamo Music Hall – San Antonio, TX
2/11/2017 Trees – Dallas, TX
2/13/2017 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
2/14/2017 Throne Theater – Wilmington, NC
2/15/2017 The Howard Theater – Washington, DC
2/16/2017 Theatre Of The Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
2/17/2017 The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY
2/18/2017 Royale – Boston, MA
2/19/2017 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY

To be 100% honest, I never got Mayhem... Not until their most recent album. And more specifically, until I saw their video for "Watchers"... my most watched video of 2016.

Cheers,
Frank FOE
https://www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial/?fref=ts
https://www.instagram.com/thetruemayhem

Thursday, December 15, 2016

FOE's Musical Prescription - Nomad Stones "Neighborhood Bird Dispute" EP

NOMAD STONES

"Neighborhood Bird Dispute" EP

Brutal Panda

Released: December 8, 2016

It doesn't get much better than intentionally free, great music.

So head on over to Nomad Stones bandcamp page and send them your email and they'll send you the link to download their EP.

https://nomadstones.bandcamp.com/album/neighborhood-bird-dispute-ep

Part Dickies punk rock energy.

Part vintage Adolescents California circle pit mayhem.

Part early Dinosaur Jr. fuzziness.

All great.

Plus an amazingly enjoyable version of David Bowie's "Scary Monsters".

Formed in late 2015 and led by Adam McGrath (Cave In, Zozobra, Clouds) and JR Conners (Cave In, Doomriders, ex-Goatsnake, etc) this free EP is going to make you seek out their debut, self titled LP.

Find Nomad Stones on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomadstonesbost/?fref=ts

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Sunday, December 4, 2016

FOE's Musical Prescription - RUIN "He-Ho / Fiat Lux"

RUIN

"He-Ho / Fiat Lux"

Southern Lord

Released: December 9, 2016

Southern Lord re-releases and re-packages some of the greatest music ever made.

This 2xLP package from Philadelphia's groundbreaking, truly original, ahead of their time - RUIN - is as fantastic as we have come to expect from Southern Lord.

Twenty-eight songs, an hour and a quarter worth of music that was originally released in 1984 and 1986.

I was privileged enough to have witnessed Ruin live a couple of times as I used to make weekly trips to Philadelphia throughout the early and mid 1980s.

I am lucky enough to have both originals of these LPs. Not stopping me from obtaining them again.

You may not know Ruin. You may not have the originals. You should take this opportunity to expose yourself to this amazing band and this amazing piece of art.

To a young punk rocker back then, RUIN seemed to be on a level that was unattainable. They took our rudimentary hardcore and punk rock and played it like an alien species with a talent and knowledge that exceeded our capabilites. We were unworthy. Luckily we were able to comprehend their musical productions even though we can not come close to replicating their alien music.

Please take a listen to "You", "By the By", "Make Believe", "Dionysian", "China" or "Baby Doll" or for your alien master's sake "Proof". If those don't make you order this double lp, you are reading the wrong blog.

If you love covers, Ruin has those as well. I think "White Rabbit" interpreted by Ruin is better than Jefferson Airplane. I feel as equally bullish for Ruin's version of "Famous Blue Raincoat", penned by the recently departed Leonard Cohen.

If you can get out, please treat yourself to RUIN's one off Philadelphia gig at the Barbary, December 17, 2016.