Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Former members of the New Jersey band Seasick playing rad 80's influence hardcore punk. This three-piece sounds a lot like Dinosaur Jr. and Hüsker Dü, and I mean a lot. Tons of fuzzed out guitar solos, great melodies and a killer rhythm section make this EP one of the best I've heard in a while. Tankcrimes Records released this on LP and CD, so go grab it from them (they also have this as a free download right now on the label's bandcamp).

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.

Buffalo Tom

Buffalo Tom - Self Titled

Buffalo Tom - Birdbrain

Buffalo Tom - Let Me Come Over

Buffalo Tom - Big Red Letter Day

Buffalo Tom - Sleepy Eyed

Great Boston rock band influenced by Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. The self titled debut and Birdbrain were both produced by J. Mascis and pretty much sound like Dinosaur Jr. minus the face-melting guitar solos (although J. does wail away on the track Impossible off the self titled). On Let Me Come Over the band enlisted the famed production duo of Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade and it featured a much sleeker and polished sound. For Big Red Letter Day they worked with the Robb Brothers who scored a hit with The Lemonheads' album It's A Shame About Ray. It is also the most successful Buffalo Tom album and contains the hit single "Soda-Jerk" that was used in the TV series My So Called Life. The boys also appeared in a seperate episode of the show playing the song "Late At Night". Buffalo Tom took a much rawer approach on the album Sleepy Eyed, both in production and songwriting. Its the most punk sounding of their albums since the self titled. Frequent Dinosaur Jr collaborator John Agnello recorded the album and its a real rager. This band just got better and better with each successive release. They are back together now and will have a new album out early next year. If you are a fan of 90's alternative rock i.e. Dinosaur Jr., The Lemonheads and Superchunk then you're bound to find something to like here.

Moving Targets

Moving Targets - Burning In Water

Moving Targets - Brave Noise

Boston's answer to Hüsker Dü. Moving Targets were a great punk trio who wrote catchy jams that were both forceful and melodic. Kenny Chambers wrote some great fucking songs and is one hell of a guitar player. Drummer Pat Brady is a total madman behind the kit and he hits just as hard as Chuck Buscuits and Bill Stevenson but with twice the finesse. Moving Targets influenced all the big Boston bands, from The Lemonheads to Dinosaur Jr. Lou Giordano produced both these records at Fort Apache studios and they still sound great today. If you like The Doughboys, All, Mission Of Burma and Hüsker Dü then you'll love Moving Targets.

Bullet LaVolta - The Gift

Bullet LaVolta - The Gift

One of the best Boston bands you've probably never heard of. Both Clay Tarver from Chavez and Kenny Chambers from Moving Targets (both guitar) cut their teeth in Bullet LaVolta. The Gift sounds like Black Flag, Naked Raygun, Motorhead and Dag Nasty all mixed together and was produced by Paul Q. Kolderie. Kenny and Clay just fucking wail all over this album. This was released on Taang! Records in American and Sub Pop in Europe. The band were close friends with the Lemonheads and toured Europe together in 1989, also Clay Tarver and the Lemonheads's Jesse Peretz were Harvard roommates. This album is long out of print and fucking amazing so grab this shit up.

REV 150: Past/Present

V/A - Past Present: Breaking Out The Classics

I remember when this compilation was announced like 4 years ago, and it has finally now been released. Modern(?) hardcore bands covering Revelation Records classics. A good chunk of the bands on here have broken-up, but whatever this thing is cool. Just close your eyes and pretend its 2006 and people still care about Down To Nothing and Set Your Goals. Ambitions' Bold cover is the best thing on here, but you really can't go wrong with classic Rev releases (they are classics for a reason).