Scanner Web Zine - The place for Punk Rock, Hardcore, Anarcho and scuzzy Garage Rock 'n' Roll

Another State Of Zine...

Scanner was born in a hail of phlegm, defiance and attitude as an A5 print zine back in the Summer of 1998, in the English hamlet of Ipswich, Suffolk. It ran for near-on five years, culminating with a 92-page whopper in January 2003, which featured the likes of AVAIL, Exene Cervenka and Winston Smith.
From small beginnings - the first issue was a comparatively small 40-page minnow - the zine grew steadily in stature with a final print run of over 1,000 and distribution throughout the UK and in various parts of Europe and America plus Australia and New Zealand with further readers in Japan and South Africa.
The zine stopped not due to my personal lack of interest in the world of Punk Rock, or any kinda burgeoning disillusionment in an overtly commercialised and tame Punk Rock scene. Admittedly, I was getting tired of generic releases from say-nothing bands and ‘Punx’ who cared more for the shade of their hair dye and brand of sneaker than they did for the ideals behind MDC or SUBHUMANS. Thankfully, this was constantly countered by bands like FOUR LETTER WORD, DILLINGER FOUR and many bands like them that released vital, energetic, intelligent and out-spoken releases. Of course, the old faithfuls - surely I don’t need to name names - always revitalised the soul and scorched the ears.
Nope, Scanner in print form stopped due to a life-changing move. In March 2004, I packed my bags and headed to New Zealand. At the time I had no idea whether it would be a long-term move. I sure wanted it to be, but due to seemingly limitless bureaucratic red tape bullshit from the Immigration Services, I had to wait a year to see if my future here in NZ could be even semi-permanent. During that year I set up this website in an attempt to continue where the zine left off.
Move forward to August 2005... My application for Residency in NZ was approved and here I remain with no plans of leaving. From here, Scanner on-line continues and will continue until I either go back to a print form zine or get so disillusioned by the whole bloody world of Punk Rock and its seemingly increasing links to the safe, corporate and sponsored world of mainstream society that I would rather vomit all over my crotch than face another tiresome safe, major label band desperately wanting to be ‘dangerous’ and/ or ‘cool’. Fuck ‘em!
Where is this website gonna go from here? Well, I hope it’s just gonna get bigger and better, just as the print version did. I did have a ‘News’ section, but due to lack of release news etc being forwarded, I ditched it. Except for a few notable labels - Fat Wreck, Revelation, Household Name, Recess and Alternative Tentacles in particular - I had no release news sent despite requests and adding myself to mailing lists.
You can forward all review material to the address above that’s shadowed by Crass. For electronic contact, hit this LINK and send me an email. If you work for EMI or Columbia, yeah, please forward me your releases. They sell well on ebay but do NOT expect a review of your corporate crapola. My review policy remains the same - all releases sent WILL be reviewed, but anything on a major label does not run parallel to my ideals of Punk Rock. Period. Get over it and concentrate on your lucre-lusting contracts.
Also hit the LINK if you wanna join the mailing list to receive emails of each and every update as it happens. OK - get on with it - self-explanation over. Enter and enjoy....

Latest Updates

     

September 1st - INTERVIEWS - With JFA
September 1st - TOP SOUNDS - Review of JFA
August 31st - TOP SOUNDS - Reviews of BROKEN BONES, BREAK IT DOWN, BOOTSCRAPER, BEAT THE RED LIGHT, BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT, BITTER PILLS and BATUSIS
August 30th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of IMPERIAL LEATHER
August 27th - TOP SOUNDS - Review of BABAR LUCK
August 27th - BLOG - Review of RED FLAG 77/ DANGER'S CLOSE/ SKA-PA live
August 27th - HOMEPAGE - Latest Hey Suburbia Podcast
August 22nd - TOP SOUNDS - Review of ANTISECT
August 20th - INTERVIEWS - Interview with SECTION 13
August 19th - TV PARTY - Review of SID VICIOUS

CD REVIEWS
WAXING CAPTORS - Pleasure! {Antigen}; VILLAIN - It's Rough {Arrest}; BEEZEWAX - A Dozen Summits, BIG DRILL CAR - A Never Ending Endeavor, DOUBLECROSS - Things Will Never Change, GREAT ST. LOUIS - In You Own Time, HARD ONS - Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform Or Die, MIDWAY STILL - Note To Self, NEW SET OF BRUISES - s/t, SLEEP - Back To Square One Again, TV SMITH - Live At The NVA, Sparkle In The Mud, SPERMBIRDS - A Columbus Feeling, VIOLENT ARREST - Minute Manifestos {Boss Tuneage}; OUTSIDERS - The Words Will Write Themselves {Deep Red}; OFF WITH THEIR HEADS - In Desolation {Epitaph}; FLATLINERS - Cavalcade, GOOD RIDDANCE - Capricorn One, NOFX - The Longest EP {Fat Wreck}; COCOCOMA - Things Are Not All Right {Goner}; DEVILS ELBOW - Sand On Chrome {Hit Your Head}; ANIHILATED - Scorched Earth Policy {Killer Metal}; BLAGGERS ITA - United Colours of Blaggers ITA {Mad Butcher}; HARLEY'S WAR - Hardcore All-Stars {MVD}; THE BOMB - Speed Is Everything, NO FRIENDS - s/t, WORN IN RED - In The Offing {No Idea}; VEEBEES - Roots 'n' Blues {Ocker}; PARANOID VISIONS - Black Operations In The Red Mist, RUBELLA BALLET - Never Mind The Day-Glo {Overground}; MURDER DISCO EXPERIENCE - Complete Discography 1997-2004, {Profane Existence}; THE GERMS - Live At The Starwood Dec 2 1980 {Rhino}; DESTRUCTORS - Politika, 999, DESTRUCTORS 666 - Quisnam Vigilo Vigilo, Pow! That's Kill Music 666 Vol. I, DESTRUCTORS 666/ SICK ON THE BUS - Split {Rowdy Farrago}; AFI - The Lowdown {Sexy Intellectual}; THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY - Public Square {Smog Veil}; CARRY ONS - Is Anyone Listening?, COURTESY MURDER - Population Control {Stik Man}; ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT - The Collection, PART TIME CHRISTIANS - Rock And Roll Is Disco {Taang!}; FAINTEST IDEA - Ignorance Is This, KIRKZ - Agroculture, VARIOUS - 3-way split {TNS}; DANGEROUS ACES - Deny All Responsibility, EAST TOWN PIRATES - s/t, NEW ENEMY - Shakedown EP, OXXON - Radio Zero, SKA-PA - Demo, TUHKAUS - Maailma Paattyy Tuhkaan {DIY};

7"/12" VINYL REVIEWS
COLT SEAVERS - s/t {Boss Tuneage}; ANTHRAX - One Last Drop {Happy Release}; COFFEE RAGE/ SICK:TIRED - Mad Blasts Of Chaos Vol. II {Idoneum Bello}; REMISSION - Absolute Power {Profane Existence};

DVD REVIEWS
SPERMBIRDS - Me And My People {Boss Tuneage}; Blank Generation {MVD}; CHEAP SEX - Dead Today {Taang!}

BOOK REVIEWS
Gimme Something Better: The Profound, Progressive and Occasionally Pointless History of Bay Area Punk from Dead Kennedys To Green Day; Now Then Gadgie; Sheriff McCoy; Trapped In A Scene UK Hardcore 1985-89, Why be Something You're Not: Detroit Hardcore 1979-1985

ZINES
Rum Lad #4, Maximum Rocknroll #322, Artcore #26, Short Fast And Loud #22, TNS #9, Beat Motel #9, Ont Road #9/ Go Fuck Yourself #1

 

HEY SUBURBIA - Podcast #17 - August 2010

Here's the latest installment of Hey Suburbia - The House Of Scanner Podcast!  You can either stream the whole hour-long show by left-clicking the link below, or if you want to save it to your hard drive to play later or burn as a CD, then right click the link and save it as you wish.  You'll probably need a Broadband connection for a moderately quick download.
Let me know what you think - and if any of you have any requests - let me know!!

HEY SUBURBIA PODCAST, #17
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS - The Eyes Of Death
FOUR LETTER WORD - To Have And To Have Not
BHOPAL STIFFS - Product
THE CASTING OUT - Before We Die
- - - -
OXXON - Radiation Baby
HEWHOCANNOTBENAMED - Superhero
FAINTEST IDEA - Dead Future
VILLAIN - Dissent
- - - -
WAXING CAPTORS - Jaywalkin’ Out Your Heart
SAMIAM - Are You Alright
DIRTY TACTICS - The Process
CHRISTIAN DEATH - Dogs
- - - -
BOOTSCRAPER - Gimme Some Time
POLITICAL ASYLUM - Do They Care?
BROKEN BONES - Death By Demand
COFFEE RAGE - Never Restrictions
- - - -
RESTLESS HABS - Finally
FLATLINERS - Here Comes Trouble
DEAD LAZLO’S PLACE - Charley’s Girls
PEGBOY - Louisiana

Previous Podcasts can be found by clicking this link here

Gone but not forgotten...

This website will forever remember those who provided inspiration and continue to inspire.  Let us never forget those that paved the way for where Punk Rock is today and made some of the most refreshing, rebellious and raucous music ever.  R.I.P. guys...

STIV BATORS, JOHNNY THUNDERS, JOEY RAMONE, DEE DEE RAMONE, JOHNNY RAMONE, JOE STRUMMER, DARBY CRASH, BOB STINSON, RANDY 'BISCUIT' TURNER, PIG CHAMPION, RON ASHETON, DAVE ALEXANDER, MALCOLM OWEN, PAUL FOX, LANCE HAHN, DENNIS DANELL, JIM CARROLL, JEFFREY LEE PIERCE, LUX INTERIOR, JERRY NOLAN, ARTHUR KANE, BILLY MURCIA, NICHOLAS 'RAZZLE' DINGLEY, STIG, DIMWIT, WILL SHATTER, RAYBEEZ, KURT COBAIN, WIZ, STEVO, MIA ZAPATA, MATTY BLAGG, TOMATA DU PLENTY, MIKEY OFFENDER DONALDSON, PAUL RAVEN, NIDGE BLITZ MILLER, D. BOON, DAVE INSURGENT, FRED 'SONIC' SMITH, ROB TYNER, NIKKI SUDDEN, PETER LAUGHNER, IAN CURTIS, SID VICIOUS, TIM YOHANNON, GREG SHAW, JOHN PEEL

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Individual hits since July 2004:

Geographical hits since October 2009