FOE

Monday, March 31, 2014

Iron Reagan "Spoiled Identity" EP Review

Iron Reagan

"Spoiled Identity" EP

Decibel

Released: March 31, 2014

Free download, soon to be released flexi 7"

Photo by Wendi Shwendi

In case you haven't heard, Iron Reagan released a free download today of 13 songs called the "Spoiled Identity" EP. You have no excuse. Download and enjoy the vintage thrash these Virginians play. If you don't know them, think D.R.I. meets Municipal Waste.

Of the 13 tracks, ten clock in at 26 seconds or less. Total vintage D.R.I. territory here. Brilliant.

Iron Reagan © Luz de Luna Duran

Iron Reagan makes me nuts, and I like being nuts.

Iron Reagan will have a full length release on Relapse Records later in 2014. Consider yourself teased. Consider obtaining everything else they have released as well (it's all great).

Download "Spoiled Idenity" Ep here. Just click buy now and enter 0 and the ep is yours for free.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Satanic Malfunctions "Them" review

Satanic Malfunctions

"Them"

Selfmadegod

Released: October 15, 2013

I sent cash in the mail to own the 1986 7" "Who Wants the World" by Satanic Malfunctions.

It was one of those records that proved cathartic to my mental state back in 1986. Twenty-four songs on a 7" back then was almost proof you knew what you were doing.

Satanic Malfunctions were in the same field as Protes Bengt and L'arm.

"Them" is Satanic Malfunctions' (from the UK) first full length in 22 years. These 20 songs bring in a bit more of a Concrete Sox meets Disorder or Chaos UK thrash sound and would not fit on a 7". Still averaging under two minutes, the CD lasts only 31 minutes.

Glad Satanic Malfunctions are back, keeping that 1980s chaotic hardcore punk sound alive.

I am late to the draw on "Them", unlike when I was right on time for "Who Wants the World". I also missed 2012's "Disgrace to Music" 2xcd that was their entire discography up until that point. Join me as we catch up from 1986 to 2014.

Take a listen to the track "Gospel Truth" at this link.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Beginners "who knows" song / video

Beginners

"Who Knows" from the s/t EP

"Who Knows" by Beginners captures my modern pop attention much like Santigold does.

The video captures my attention with with Jeffrey, the 50 something Venice Beach roller skater (see Roller Dreams movie).

"Who Knows" is fun, light and enjoyable. Pop.

The video and Jeffrey are amazing.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

BL'AST The Expression of Power Review

BL'AST!

"The Expression of Power"

Southern Lord

Released: March 18, 2014
digital or 3xLP

In case you missed my write up of BL'AST!'s "Blood" reissue, follow this link. Dave Grohl remastered and mixed that masterpiece.

I'm not sure what BL'AST! was thinking back in the early 1980s, but they recorded "The Expression of Power" three times before finally releasing the album in 1986 on SST Records. I suppose with a title like "The Expression of Power" you set the standard pretty high and better make sure it is indeed an expression of power.

BL'AST! with COC in the early 80s.

I'm not sure what Southern Lord was thinking in 2014 but they decided to reissue "The Expression of Power" with all three recording sessions across three LPs. Crazy? Yes. But in my book, a mandatory addition to my vinyl collection. Although I must admit, I was heartbroken when the booklet inside the triple LP with gatefold cover was.... a cd sized booklet... OMG how completely awesome would it have been to have had that booklet as a 12" or even 10" sized booklet. Those photos scream out the power, energy and unrestrained outbursts that is BL'AST!.

As a debut, BL'AST!'s "The Expression of Power" captures a chaos, raw energy that is also brutally straightforward and blunt. It is fantastic that this classic hardcore LP is reissued in this format, and as a fan, I love hearing the early versions. Knowing this record was released nearly 30 years ago it is a statement of just how great this record is as it stands strong alongside today's hardcore and metal releases.

BL'AST! is taking things out on the road! Original BL’AST! vocalist Clifford Dinsmore and guitarist Mike Neider have added Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator) on bass and drummer Hoss Wright (The Exies, Mondo Generator) and are hitting the stages in 2014.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Saturday, March 29, 2014

DROP DEAD / RUIDOSA INMUNDICIA split

DROPDEAD / RUIDOSA INMUNDICIA

SPLIT

Armageddon Label

Released: 2014

This is some of DROPDEAD's most frantic, spine-tingling, arm hair raising hardcore to date. That is saying a lot since their lengthy discography of songs started back in 1991. If this doesn't get your blood boiling and have you ready to run down the street screaming you are dead.

Dropdead do me the service of introducing me to RUIDOSA INMUNDICIA from Vienna, Austria. This female-fronted hardcore band is pure venom spitting energy. First thing I thought was Los Crudos. The press release includes that and adds the likes of Antischism. Yeah. Love it. This music makes me insane!

I want to see Dropdead and Ruidosa Inmundicia live in a squat in Philly now.

Search this out. The above photo says it all.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Whores / Rabbits split

Whores / Rabbits

Split

Eolian Empire / Brutal Panda

Released: February 18, 2014

Whores and Rabbits are two modern day noise rock bands. Unsane set the standard in my books back in the day, these two bands carry the torch mightily.

This 7" (100 on pink/400 on black) & download includes 3 Cure covers.

Yup. The Cure.

Noise rock and the Cure. I understand this. I love the Cure. Consider that Rabbits cover "Give Me It" from 1984's "The Top" and "A Reflection" from 1980's "Seventeen Seconds".

"A Reflection" is originally a moody piano/keyboard type instrumental. Here it is a doomy guitar instrumental. Want to hear something really f'd up? Play the Cure and Rabbits versions at the same time. I think my mind left my body and gave me a hazy neck massage.

Then of course, Rabbits goes into their version of "Give Me It". Consider the lyrics and you will understand how freaking brilliant it is that Rabbits gave this the brutal, harsh, violent treatment that they did.

The Cure "Give Me It"

Get away from me

Get your fingers out of my face

This room's so hot

I break the walls

Get away from me

Leave me alone

Like the pig on the stairs

Hanging

In a groovy purple shirt

Gasping for air

I'm gasping for air

I'm gasping for love

I'm gasping for air...

Slit the cats like cheese

Then eat the sweet sticky things

Suck harder!

Suck your insides

Insides out!

Blood thick swimming round your feet

As you're choking

Choking

Choking on the fleshy words

Give me it give me it give me it

Deaden my glassy mind

Give me it give me it

Make me blind

One step back and one step down

And slip the needles in my side...

My head is cold

My hands are cold

My heart is cold

My heart is black

And stops every f*cking night

Every night

I wait until it stops...

Sing birds sing birds sing birds sing

Get away...

Whores take the 1979 punky, upbeat new wavey, "Jumping Someone Else's Change" and turn it into a feedback, stoner fest that challenges the best noise from the Am Rep camp.

Yes, I am thrilled with this record!

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Friday, March 28, 2014

DROPDEAD / SYSTEMATIC DEATH SPLIT

DROPDEAD / SYSTEMATIC DEATH

"Fighting For Life" Split

Armageddon Label

Dropdead (established 1991) have long been one of my favorite hardcore bands. Dropdead, from Providence Rhode Island, has a knack for creating distinctive hardcore assaults that expound on their views of the world. I have never been disappointed with a Dropdead record and loved them when I saw them live.

Systematic Death is from Japan and began in 1983. I am embarrassed to say that Systematic Death vinyl is nowhere to be found in my collection. They rip just like Dropdead or maybe Dropdead rips just like Systematic Death, since they began almost a decade before Dropdead.