Corrosion Of Conformity

Corrosion Of Conformity - Animosity

Corrosion Of Conformity - Technocracy EP

Raleigh, North Carolina crossover thrash legends who created an absolutely huge sound for being just three dudes: Mike Dean on vocals/bass, Reed Mullin on drums and Woody Weatherman on guitar. Metal Blade head honcho Brian Slagel signed them to Death Records in 1985 at the urging of Slayers' Jeff Hanneman who had passed along their demo tape. They went to L.A. and recorded five new songs with Bill Metoyer. Those five songs would make up the A side of Animosity, while the demo that got them signed became side B (there is a very noticeable difference in sound quality between the two sides on Animosity). The artwork for Animosity was also done by the legendary Pushead. For the Technocracy EP they added vocalist Simon Bob Sinister who at the time was the vocalist for The Ugly Americans, another great Death Records band (the version of Technocracy here is the re-release with three demos that have Mike Dean singing). After these two releases they went groove metal/hard rock (they still fucking ruled) but could never match the speed and intensity of these two releases.

Sepultura

Sepultura - Beneath The Remains

Sepultura - Arise

Sepultura are perhaps the greatest thing to have ever come out of Brazil (besides Pele and butt implants, natch). They had two rad albums before these and two after, but these two albums are their only truly essential releases. Sepultura seamlessly blend hardcore, death metal and thrash into one pissed-off assault on your eardrums. The band will always be loved and remembered because of these two albums and their radicalness. Max Cavalera has the perfect voice for heavy music, so in your face and aggressive, and on top of that guitarist Andreas Kisser just fucking shreds all over the place. Legendary Florida death metal producer Scott Burns recorded both of these albums (although only Arise was done at his Florida studio, Morrisound) and unlike a lot of his work the drums here don't sound like someone banging away at a typewriter in the least.

Dr. Know

Dr. Know - This Island Earth

Dr. Know - Wreckage In Flesh

After having released several albums and EPs on Mystic Records, Dr. Know signed to the Metal Blade subsidiary Death Records in 1986 and released their debut for the label (This Island Earth) later that year. This Island Earth is more hardcore than metal, but by the time the follow-up Wreckage In Flesh was released in 1988 they were a full-on thrash metal band. I love it when punk and hardcore bands go metal. Metal Blade's house engineer/producer Bill Metoyer even did the recording of Wreckage In Flesh. These are by no means classic releases, just rad mid-80's punk/metal albums from one of the best 80's labels, Death/Metal Blade who's roster at the time was un-fuck-withable (Cryptic Slaughter, C.O.C., D.R.I., The Mentors, Ugly Americans and Beyond Possession).

Gang Green - You Got It!

Gang Green - You Got It!

Gang Green were a Boston hardcore band who went thrash on this release. Along with SSD, DYS and The F.U.'s they were part of the first wave of hardcore in Boston during the early 80's. This is their debut for Roadrunner Records after having released albums on Taang! Records. You Got It! came out in 1987 and it featured future Mighty Mighty Bosstones bass player Joe Gittleman. Lots of songs about partying, drinking beer and getting totally rad. Their two favourite lyrical subjects were Budweisers and skateboarding.

Sacred Reich

Sacred Reich - Ignorance

Sacred Reich - Surf Nicaragua

Sacred Reich - The American Way

Sacred Reich - Independent

Sacred Reich hailed from Phoenix, AZ and were around from 1985-2000. They were signed to Metal Blade Records who released these four albums (although Surf Nicaragua is actually an EP and Independent was co-released with Hollywood Records). Their debut album Ignorance is my favourite even though the follow-up, The American Way, is widely regarded as their best. Bill Metoyer (Slayer, C.O.C. and almost every Metal Blade act) produced the hell out of Ignorance and The American Way and they both totally shred. Like most thrash acts of the time their lyrics were about politics and social unrest. Well above average thrash metal. The video for American Way was also featured in the film Encino Man, which I believe was some kind of documentary about urban cavemen.

Atrophy

Atrophy - Socialized Hate

Atrophy - Violent by Nature

Thrash metal from Tucson, AZ. Both of these fine slabs-o-thrash were released by Roadrunner Records in the late 80's/early 90's. The band called it quits after founding guitarist (and main songwriter) Chris Lykins left to attend med-school. Quality thrash metal with all the hallmarks of the genre: Blazing solos, double-kick drumming and generic lyrics about social unrest (with the obligatory party song thrown in). This may not be on a Megadeth level of awesomeness, but it is definitely on par with anything Exodus or Testament put out. Like most old albums on Roadrunner these are long out of print.

Wasted Youth - Black Daze

Wasted Youth - Black Daze

Wasted Youth started out as a hardcore punk band in the early 80's (their singer is even on the cover of the book American Hardcore). However, on this release they went full on thrash metal. Bassist Dave Kushner went on to play guitar in Velvet Revolver and Drummer Joey Castillo went on to play with Danzig and Queens Of The Stone Age. The guitar work on this is fucking incredible, lead guitarist Rick Seccombe just shreds all over this thing with one face-melting solo after another. The musicianship overall is pretty rad and its a real shame these guys never took off. The artwork was done by Michael Seiff who also created cover art for Suicidal Tendencies, No Mercy, Excel and Beowülf.

Coffin Break

Coffin Break - Psychosis

Coffin Break - Rupture

Coffin Break - No Sleep 'Til The Stardust Motel

Coffin Break - Crawl

Coffin Break - Thirteen

Coffin Break were a late 80's/early 90's grunge band from Seattle, WA. Their first three albums (Psychosis, Rupture and No Sleep...) were released on C/Z Records. The band then signed to Epitaph Records who released their final two albums (Crawl and Thirteen). They called it quits in 1993. As fas as I know all these albums are out of print (though possibly still available). Coffin Break were a little too punk rock for the grunge crowd and a little too grunge for the punk crowd. Great tunes that any fan of 90's Seattle will definitely love. Every album from these guys was recorded by legendary grunge producer Jack Endino, and as with anything he has done it sounds raw and rad. If you like Mudhoney, The Buzzcocks and Seaweed then you'll love Coffin Break.

TGUK - There Are Rules

TGUK - There Are Rules

If you are a fan of The Get Up Kids than you'll no doubt already be in love with this release. If for some reason you never cared for them, give this new one a spin because it doesn't really sound like any other Get Up Kids album. As always the secret weapon is their rhythm section, the Pope brothers, who make even the most dull song sound incredible. This album has it all, angular buzz-saw guitars, Peter Hook basslines, 80's synths and melodies for days. If you like Bloc Party or Les Savy Fav then I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this album. The last song on There Are Rules, "Rememorable", is a total banger (I've been spinning it on repeat for days now).

Lemuria

Lemuria - The First Collection 2005-2006

Lemuria - Get Better

Lemuria - Pebble

Lemuria are a female fronted pop-punk band from Buffalo New York. They have released albums/singles on Art Of The Underground, No Idea and Asian Man Records and are now signed to Bridge Nine Records. Their early material sounds like Alkaline Trio and Jawbreaker mixed with Jimmy Eat World, which no doubt led to them being at the front of the pop punk pack. They've matured a bit on their new one, Pebble, taking a more sophisticated songwriting approach (and I can hear a definite Nada Surf influence going on). The album was produced by J. Robbins (Braid, The Promise Ring, Jets To Brazil) and it is definitely their best sounding stuff. If their is any justice in the world then this band will blow up in 2011.

The Futureheads - The Chaos

The Futureheads - The Chaos

This is their new one which was just released last spring. Great four part harmonies sung over glitchy punk rock jams. I'm a fan of everything this band has done, but this isn't their best album, it's good but not great (and that artwork, woof). This is the Japanese version with two bonus tracks that are some of the most straight-up punk songs the band has ever recorded. Last year the band also released a Christmas single, "Christmas Was Better In The 80's" which is one of the best Christmas songs I've ever heard. So as an added bonus here is that single, it's three minutes of pure pop heaven.

The Futureheads - Christmas Was Better In The 80's

Annihilation Time

Annihilation Time - I

Annihilation Time - II

Annihilation Time - III: Tales Of The Ancient Age

Annihilation Time were a hardcore band from California with some serious rock leanings whose sound reminds me of Black Flag mixed with Thin Lizzy and Motörhead. They broke up a couple years ago, which is a total bummer. The guitar work from this band was fucking awesome and there is some serious riffing on these albums. Lots of songs about partying and getting totally rad, which I can relate to (full disclosure: I get totally rad). I'm not sure what the members are up to now but hopefully they're getting another band together. If you like RKL, Suicide File and Turbonegro then you'll no doubt be into Annihilation Time.

New Lows - Harvest Of The Carcass

New Lows - Harvest Of The Carcass

New Lows are a hardcore band out of Boston who play 90's style Clevo-hardcore mixed with Swedish death metal. This album has been posted all over the place, most likely for two reasons: It was highly anticipated and because it fucking slays. They sound like Integrity, Ringworm and Entombed mixed together. One of the best metallic hardcore albums I've heard in a very long time.

Phantom Tollbooth - Power Toy & Beard Of Lightning

Phantom Tollbooth - Power Toy

Phantom Tollbooth - Beard Of Lightning

Phantom Tollbooth are a New York art-punk band who's members went on to play in Yo La Tengo, King Missile, B.A.L.L. and Bongwater. Gerard Cosloy signed them to Homestead Records in the 80's (Gerard was J. Mascis' college roommate who now runs Matador Records) and in 1988 they released Power Toy their final and best album before breaking up. On Power Toy they sound like an East-coast Minutemen, all jazzy and punky. Beard Of Lightning is the Power Toy album but with Robert Pollard of GBV fame singing his own lyrics. Bob had boasted (while drunk one night) that if he had sung on Power Toy the band would have "ruled the fucking world". The members of Phantom Tollbooth heard this and sent Bob the instrumental tracks to sing over, which he did, and Beard Of Lightning was the result.

Polvo & New Radiant Storm King - ...And Then I'm Gone

Polvo & New Radiant Storm King - ...And Then I'm Gone

Two rad bands each contributing two songs to this split 7". Polvo are one of the pioneers of math-rock, and their 90's output is all fucking killer. I had never heard of New Radiant Storm King before this release and they play totally rad 90's indie rock that any fan of Pavement, Seam and the Pixies will dig.

Moondoggies

Moondoggies - Don't Be A Stranger

Moondoggies - You'll Find No Answers Here EP

Moondoggies - Tidelands

Moondoggies have only been around for a couple years now, but they are making some of the best country and folk-tinged rock around. Their new one, Tidelands, is ridiculously good and one of 2010's best albums. They have four-part harmonies like their Seattle neighbours in Fleet Foxes, but they combine them with driving organ-heavy classic rock. Like The Byrd's Sweetheart Of The Rodeo covered by Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band. Over the course of their three releases they have yet to write a bad song. Moondoggies are perfect for saturday night or sunday morning. If you like Fleet Foxes, Band Of Horses or Blitzen Trapper then you'll love what Moodoggies are doing.

Maserati - Pyramid Of The Sun

Maserati - Pyramid Of The Sun

Cinematic and synth-heavy instrumental rock. Pyramid Of The Sun is a melodic, driving and dark masterpiece from one of the best post-rock bands around. Zombi's Steve Moore contributes to two tracks and they both fucking slay. This whole album is dedicated to their drummer Jerry Fuchs who tragically passed away while they were making it. Whenever I listen to this band it is hard to not imagine Kurt Russell running around a scorched NYC looking for the President whose plane has just crashed, but maybe thats just me. The closing track on here, "Bye M'Friend, Goodbye", is one of the bands absolute best. Get into it.

OFF! - First Four EPs

OFF! - First Four EPs

This is one of the best hardcore releases I've heard in a long time. You should already know who these cats are, that being said, It's great to hear Keith Morris fronting a band again. This sound like classic L.A. hardcore circa 1980: fast, fun and short. Sixteen tracks in seventeen minutes and each song absolutely shreds (most of the songs for this project came from an aborted Circle Jerks album). Totally fucking rad jams here.