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).

Stäläg 13 - In Control

Stäläg 13 - In Control

Finally some more nardcore that wasn't released on Mystic Records. In Control differs from most nardcore in that it was recorded in a real studio and doesn't sound like ass. This is their only full length and it is a serious rager. Guitarist Dave Casillas went on to play in NOFX for a minute and here he seriously shreds. Stäläg 13 were influenced by Minor Threat and 7 Seconds (especially their clean vocal approach). This is not only one of the best nardcore albums, it is one of the best hardcore albums of all time. This here is the 2003 re-release of In Control that Dr. Strange Records put out and I'm pretty sure its still available, so do yourself a favour and pick it up because it seriously slays.

Ill Repute - What Happened Then

Ill Repute - What Happened Then

This release combines their classic debut 7" (Oxnard Land Of No Toilets) and their first full length (What Happens Next?) onto one disc. Classic west coast hardcore. No other band of the era was more about "Nardcore" than these dudes, their civic pride was unparalleled. Fast and furious hardcore that influenced everyone after them. Ill Repute continued releasing new music well into the new millennium, and while some of their 90's output is pretty rad they will forever be remembered for their 80's heyday. Yet another Nardcore classic released by Mystic Records.