Top Sounds - D
THE D4 - Out Of My Head {Flying Nun} Sophomore full-lengther from not just NZ's premier snotty rock 'n' rollers, but one of the planet's best. These guys take the classic THUNDERS and the HEARTBREAKERS premise of all you need for great, trashy rock 'n' roll is a sneer, 3 chords, suss and attitude and infuse it with an early SAINTS adrenalin rush while adding some primal PAGANS aggression. Yep, awesome flat out Punk Rock 'n' Roll. It's good to hear some sound variation on this disc, something the debut album kinda lacked. Here, you get the slower power burn of 'Too Stupid' and the pulsating, downer blues of 'Stops Me Cold' juxtaposed against noxious, sleazy and ferocious rockers like the single, 'What I Want' + 'Peepshow', 'Trust Nobody' and the ode to Japanese alcohol annihilation, 'Sake Bomb'. Throw in an old LIME SPIDERS cover and you're looking at a great Punk Rock Party disc. It's great to see bands like D4 taking THUNDERS basics and not just employing plagiarism, but taking those basics, twisting and contorting them and coming up with something exciting and vital for today. Highly recommended.
DAILY VOID - Identification Code {Dead Beat} This is the new scuzzy slice of nihilism from ¾ of FUNCTIONAL BLACKOUTS. It’s a much more focused, less arty contemptuous noise - and better for it. The BLACKOUTS’ penchant for fuzzed vocals and garage production is still there, as is the GERMS influence, only here it is combined with the aggression of ‘Blood, Guts and Pussy’-era DWARVES and the snotty brashness of KILLJOYS. Lyrically, it’s a bleak slab of noxious pessimism which is mirrored in the harsh black and white graphics of the sleeve and the band stating, “In the world of DAILY VOID, there is no colour.” There’s not a duffer on the disc but the most chilling moments of bleak Garage core are ‘Man W/O A Face’, ‘You’ve Been Erased’ and ‘Time Stops!’ Vocally vindictive and scintillatingly scathing, this is no first date album - it’s more the acrimonious break-up, hate-fuck, last date album.
DAN – Thology {Boss Tuneage} Jeez, this a virtual box-set! A double-CD package, total of 64 tracks, 20-page booklet featuring all the lyrics, all the shows this UK band played, sleeve notes and photos! Best of all, the band was pretty damn great too. For those that don’t know, DAN was a band from Darlington, UK that played for about 5 years or so in the mid-late 80s. The band featured a female vocalist and played a brand of snappy HC that was melodic with a sense of the Anarcho scene about it also. This monster release compiles everything the band recorded including the three studio albums, a live album, the debut single and the band’s never-previously-released John Peel session. There’s too much to highlight here, although the band’s second album, ‘An Attitude Hits’ was probably the best release. Members went onto form and join the likes of SOFAHEAD, BLYTH POWER and RUGRAT. A great release for anyone who remembers the band from its original incarnation and a very worthwhile education lesson for those wanting a taste of ‘the old days’!
DASH RIP ROCK - Hee Haw Hell {Alternative Tentacles} Quite a strange one that mixes Southern Rock, Country and odd moments of Punk Rockery - Cowpunk I guess. The band hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, apparently, has been together for over 20 years! This is a ‘concept’ album based on Dante’s poem, ‘The Divine Comedy’. It’s an interesting and frequently amusing listen but didn’t have the backbone to hook me in the way the LONG RYDERS did. It’s better than Lynyrd Skynyrd and probably better still with ½ a bottle of JD consumed and a hog roasting on the BBQ. MOJO DIXON and Jello Biafra both make guest appearances but if I’m gonna listen to Southern Country-fried blues, I’ll make it GREEN ON RED.
DAS OATH - s/t {Dim Mak} Now this is Hardcore as it should be played - fast, aggressive, inventive, captivating and with a complete disregard for anything bar the band’s own vision. These guys have a decent pedigree too having members formally in CHARLES BRONSON, DEVOID OF FAITH and OIL. You get 16 tracks that fly past in 27 minutes combining the feel and urgency of early Dischord releases with the musical muscle of BLACK FLAG and the light speed ferocity of either LOS CRUDOS or DS-13. Highlights are many - take your pick from such screaming detonations of snotty HC as opener ‘The Kult Starts (Some W)Here’, ‘Leaning Tower Of Pisa Crap’ or ‘Blood Oranges’ through to slashing, nihilistic hyperblasts such as closer ‘The Virtue Of Elitism’, ‘A Biggot Is A Spic’ or the 33-seconds of fury that make up ‘Disney Surgery’. I’m convinced you won’t hear a better Hardcore record all year.
DC SNIPERS - Missile Sunset {Dead Beat} Fantastically freakish frolics from these NYC oddballs. The sound fits perfectly with the current Dead Beat trait of noisy, lo-fi Garage of bands such as THE FEELERS and TRACTOR SEX FATALITY but added to that is the staunch, vintage sound of Devoto-era BUZZCOCKS, early WIRE and a bit of ADICTS-style chants with GEZA X jamming on keyboards. That might look odd on paper but from the threatening, minimalist opener ‘Note To Self’ through to the PAGANSish ‘Get Awesome On The Street’, to the juggernaut trash of ‘Die (They All Want Me To)’ to the closing nihilism of ‘All Humans Are Garbage’, the whole disc gels and creates something fresh and adventurous while not being elitest and inaccessible. Already one of the best Dead Beat releases and one that could be hailed as a minor classic in years to come.
DEAD KENNEDYS - Bedtime For Democracy {Decay/ Manifesto} Um - how classic? This 21-song platter was the final studio album this legendary San Fran band ever recorded - and what a way to go! Just like the other releases by the DKs, this is political, fast, inventive, intelligent and angry as hell. It's not my favourite DK album, that's still 'Fresh Fruit…' but it's certainly better than the over-rated 'Frankenchrist'. Tracks? Oh, try 'Chickenshit Conformist', 'Macho Insecurity', 'Where Do Ya Draw The Line' and 'Rambozo The Clown' for starters. This disc also has a New Zealand link as NO TAG, the band that supported the DKs here in NZ, do some backing vocals. The disc has been digitally remastered too - and yep - there IS a difference! But what does seem odd is receiving this from a label other than Alternative Tentacles. The friction between Biafra and the rest of the original band members has, without a doubt, tarnished the legacy of this band. Who is ripping who off is open to conjecture - although I kinda side with Biafra - but it has to be said: East Bay Ray & co reforming minus Biafra clearly demonstrates that the material of the DKs now means nothing bar a veritable cash cow.
DEAD KENNEDYS - Mutiny On The Bay {Manifesto} I thought this was still readily available? Oh well, it's a welcome live disc to appear in the review pile, even though it's probably not as strong as it could have been had Biafra been involved with the release. What you get is 14 tracks recorded at various shows in San Fran's Bay Area dating between 1982 and 1986. Most of the obvious tracks are present with the better tracks coming from earlier in the band's career. 'California Uber Alles' is probably the disc highlight as it perfectly displays Biafra's penchant to change the lyrics of the band's songs to give them a greater social and political relevance at the time of performance. Other tracks? 'Too Drunk To Fuck', 'Moon Over Marin', 'Holiday In Cambodia', 'Police Truck', 'Hellnation'… need I go on? Let's face it, this band in its original form recorded what could be the most important and influential set of songs to fly out of the entire Punk Rock world in the whole of the 80s. With that in mind, it is no understatement to say ANY set of songs by the band is an essential purchase. Period.
DEAD POETIC - New Medicines {Golf} I note these fellas are also on Tooth and Nail Recs, which begs the question, is this yet another bunch of Christian blockheads that Golf has signed? There are certainly a few lyrics that could be viewed as obtuse religious metaphors and the wanna-have-mainstream-acceptance sound sucks on the A-hole of complacency. Imagine GRADE minus the acidic anger, MOVIELIFE minus the energised frenetics and TEXAS IS THE REASON minus the inspiration and you’ll be close to the Emo-by-numbers these guys (with, incidentally, terrible haircuts!) play. Gotta say, production is super clear and opener ‘Taste The Red Hand’ is the album stealer, possessing an effortless swagger that the other tunes so notably - and even more depressingly - lack. To put it simply, this is the kinda stuff Radiohead fans listen to when they wanna ‘cut lose’ and have some fun! I found it dismal in the extreme.
DEAN DIRG - 26 Kicks To Make The Whole World Pay {Dead Beat} Instigating a tidal wave of snotty Garage Punk from the confines of Germany come the terribly named quartet DEAN DIRG, shooting a bombardment laden with confidence, an armoury of arrogance and an entire vault of shit-hot Punk Rockin' coolness. The 26 tracks here compile the band's two LPS - s/t from 2002 and 'The Last Kid On The Block' from 2004 - and fly by in a total of 27 minutes!! MY kinda rock 'n' roll! It's incendiary shit too; imagine THE HIVES covering 'Group Sex' - CIRCLE JERKS with the spite of THE BRIEFS and a hint of MOTORHEAD and the bile of early NEW BOMB TURKS!! Yep, fast, thrashy, unpolished, noxious rock 'n' roll with serious early USHC undertones. Tracks from the latter album - 'Nailed To The Couch' and '!!!!' in particular - certainly impress the most but 'Try My Ass', 'Fuck Yeah' and 'Kill The Boss' shred the ears with equal conviction. Totally unrelenting - has rock 'n' roll ever sounded this great?
DEATHZONE - When The Punks Of The World Unite {Thought Provocation} Having officially formed back in 1981 before disbanding in 1990, this UK band is back together and sounding more vibrant than ever. The 12 tracks here range from mid-paced power Punkers like ‘Secret We Shouldn’t Share’ through to high velocity thrashy slabs of UK82 Punk like ‘Day To Day’ and ‘Use Your Mind’. I kept hearing a lot of D.O.A. in the band’s sound coupled with the uncompromising assault of early CONFLICT. It shares the raw power of those early CONFLICT discs with an added potent distorted bass that lends a vague DISCHARGE vibe. Highlights include a re-recording of 1984’s ‘Singled Out’ + ‘All Through Life’. As an additional bonus you get the original version of ‘Singled Out’ plus two tracks from a 1981 demo that have a WALL vibe. Really enjoyable listen of vintage UK Punk with a sleeve featuring some superb gravity-defying mohawks and spikes.
DECADENCE WITHIN - Reflections {Boss Tuneage} This is a massive 50-track double compilation of demos, rare and unreleased tracks recorded between 1985 and 1995 from this UKHC band. Gotta say, there’s TOO much material here to wade through in one go, but it’s interesting in small doses. It’s presented - more or less - chronologically and as each guitarist/ vocalist leaves, the new dynamic the recent member has brought is instantaneous. Musically, it’s rooted in Anarcho Punk with lyrics about hunting, war, capitalism etc. The lyrics are intelligent too - not mindless diatribes. As the band progressed, it developed into a finely-tuned HC outfit with Metal twists here and there. Packaging it top notch, featuring liner notes from bassist Ian Glasper, heaps of pics and notes about each track with lyrics printed in full. I’m not sure this is really gonna appeal to the casual listener, but for those who remember and rated the band, it makes for an interesting package.THE DECLINED – Sixes And Sevens {Misguided} A neat 7-track EP here from this Scottish quartet. Think high-paced, catchy Punk Rock somewhere between the good-time kicks of W.O.R.M. and the snottier RAMONE-O-Core of PANIC and you’ll have an idea of where these fellas are heading. Opening track ‘Song For The Misguided’ sets the mood superbly for the thrashier ‘Leaving Anyway’ and ‘Don’t Try To Play Guitar’. The disc peaks with the bittersweet ‘For You’ that features some effective call and response vocals and a few well-executed dynamics. An impressive debut release that while attempting nothing fresh, does stamp an identity onto the band already.
DENNIS MOST AND THE INSTIGATORS - Vampire City {Trash 2001} This fella is from Indiana and has been in bands since ’72. Jello Biafra is among his fan-base. This 11-tracker apparently sees he and THE INSTIGATORS (nope, not the UK band responsible for ‘Phoenix’) re-record the best moments of his long musical career. It’s OK in a Punky-Garage-Rock kinda way. If TSOL had gone Garage instead of Glam all those years ago, it may have sounded like this. The lyrics - which seem to over-rely on sex for their inspiration - can be crass and naïve, as titles like ‘Excuse My Spunk’, ‘Sex Is An Art Form’ and ‘Beneath Me Queen’ prove. And the less said about ‘Heavy Metal Thunder Child’ the better! It’s a shame the lyrics are so shite as it’s lively stuff played with a verve that brings to mind MC5. Not bad, just a little one-dimensional.
DERITA SISTERS - Get Off My Property {Trash 2001} If Mike Ness had been in THE DICKIES instead of Stan Lee and Dee Dee Ramone had played bass, the resulting band may have sounded like this. And as you'd expect, the sound doesn't always work. Sure, it's fun, jolly Punk Rock that gets the foot-a-tappin' but it also gets a tad repetitive - especially over a total of 25 tracks. When the band speeds things up with some HC-influenced sounds - as on the great 'Drug War' - it's way more convincing; especially as the lyrics tackle issues instead of the frivolous outlook of most of the tracks. Probably a disc to slap on during the early hours of a Punk Rock Party, but one that doesn't have the momentum or power to carry things through for a real swingin' party.
DESCENDENTS - Cool To Be You (Fat Wreck Chords} The expectations surrounding this release seem noticeably less fervent than that of the previous 'Everything Sucks’ album, which is understandable. The band’s hiatus has been shorter this time round and this follow-up album was expected. It has to be said that this is a lesser album too, lacking the intensity of the former record. It’s far from shit of course - it IS the ‘DENTS after all. Milo’s voice is still close to perfect - it seems little changed since he ‘went to college’ in fact. The songs still stick in the head after just a couple of plays and the playing is as tight as ever. It kicks off in awesome form with ‘Talking’ - a track that’d fit perfectly on any ‘DENTS album of the past and progresses through the political, speedy and pointed single ‘‘Merican’, an ode to extreme bowel movements in ‘Blast Off’ and the fantastic ‘Mass Nerder’ which ends on an inspired GERMS pastiche. What let the album down are three rather weak and forgettable Bill Stevenson songs. They take up half of the last six tracks and both the flow of the album and my interest distinctly waned. That said, Milo’s and Karl’s tracks are great and this makes a perfect companion for ‘Enjoy’ and ‘All’.
DESOLATION - s/t {Prank} Debut disc from this San Fran band that features Will Kinser outta the superior BORN/DEAD + members of STRUNG UP and SCURVY DOGS. It’s intense stuff, taking NAUSEA Crustcore, adding a snarl borrowed from RIPCORD and an infusion of metal. It’s tight as fuck, complex in parts but, ultimately, it didn’t really convince. The ever-growling vocal really irritated by the end of the disc and some of the metal dynamics just complicated too many songs that coulda, shoulda been blazing slabs of HC. ‘No World Order’ and ‘Awake’ stole the album. The album cover is by Pushead and the feel of the whole package is distinctly HC which, in small doses, is incendiary. As a 30+ minute slab, it failed; could’ve been an awesome 7" though. Neat cover of NAUSEA’s ‘Inherit The Wasteland’ closes and wears the band’s influences on its collective sleeve.
DESTRUCTORS 666 - Sachen Lassen Mit Fremden Machten {Rowdy Farrago} Amid a slew of split releases comes a full DESTRUCTORS 7-tracker. The band is the new version of 80s UK Punk outfit DESTRUCTORS (some of the split EPs feature new recordings of oldies) and incorporate that snotty sound but with a bit of cool scuzz rock thrown in for good measure. Lyrically, it’s sci-fi oddness with a track based around Plan 9 From Outer Space and another about a gunman in a futuristic western town. Interesting, but not my thing. There’s a couple of choice covers too (Bowie and the COUNT V classic ‘Psychotic Reaction’). Solid stuff that brought to mind CRAZYHEAD/ MINDWARP greaser goop but, ultimately, lacking CRAZYHEAD’s abandon.
DICKIES - Go Banana’s! {Secret} With any live album, I always ask, “Does this offer anything new?” Even though the DICKIES has already released ‘Locked ‘n’ Loaded’ this offers enough to warrant a release. Most obviously, this is the line-up that features Olga from TOY DOLLS on bass. This was recorded at Portsmouth, UK back in 2002 and features 21 DICKIES classics. Highlights have to include a frantic ‘Got It At The Store’ which sees Stan Lee struggling to keep up with the super-charged drums, ‘Wagon Train’ that’s dedicated to Joey Ramone and disc highlight ‘If Stuart Could Talk’. There’s also a take on the TOY DOLLS’ hit ‘Nellie The Elephant’ and a great Leonard quote stating, “This song is so old that, when we wrote it, the band RANCID still went by the name of THE CLASH.” Haha - classic! Definitely a disc for the Punk Rock Party Jukebox and one that serves as the perfect introductory piece to those poor souls who have yet to become DICKIES acquainted. DIOXIN - s/t {Rebel High} A distinctly UK82 influenced 13-tracker from these Dunedin fellas. It’s a good mix of ENGLISH DOGS/ ABRASIVE WHEELS Punk with the Anarcho/ anti-capitalist lyrical leanings of CONFLICT/ THE MOB. Tracks like ‘Go’ and ‘Peace Not Profit’ fly by in a blur of guitars and barked vocals while ‘Enough Is Enough’ is a musically laid-back but lyrically vicious attack on NZ’s racist tele-evangelist, God’s very own Nazi Preacher, Brian Tamaki. Neat FLUX OF PINK INDIANS cover too. The playing could be a bit more focused at times and a few tracks (closer ‘Flight Of The Dead Seagull’ in particular) would have been best left on the outtakes tape. But, given the general gnarled, grizzled Punk delivery and a lyrical direction of a classic Mortarhate band, this is a big thumbs up for NZ Punk and those who recall first album PARTISANS, ZOUNDS ideals and CHARGED GBH haircuts.
DIRTY KIRST - Doesn’t Make You Punk {4WD} Fantastically fast and frantic track from this constantly improving, ever impressive 4-piece from Cambridgeshire, UK. It’s probably faster than anything on the album below and careers along without ever loosing control, direction or effectiveness. It features the vocalist outta THE VOLUNTEERS, includes some well observed lyrics and left a scorched patch of flooring in front of the stereo’s speakers! My only moan is, it’s a fucking DOWNLOADABLE only track. Call me old fashioned, call me a laggard if you must, but this kinda sucks, especially when you consider where to access this from. Y’see, it’s available from ‘Digital Music Stores’ like HMV, Virgin and I-Tunes. Does THAT make YOU Punk guys? I sure hope you can check out the band’s own website and get the track there without having to grease the palms of Virgin.
DIRTY KIRST - I'm Not Asking, I'm Telling {4WD} Well, the potential shown on the demo below has certainly been fulfilled. This 10-track debut takes all the demo offered and adds to it to create a potent and powerful slab of melodic, modern Punk. There's definitely a nod to early GOOD RIDDANCE mixed with FACE TO FACE and given the general Brit feel of CONSUMED. For a debut disc, this is hugely confident, although the track titles leave a lot to be desired. 'Young, Dumb And Full Of Cum' seems to tackle some serious subject matter but it's lost under such a crap song title while the closing powerhouse attack of 'Wank On Your Idols' still leaves me reeling. Given how many bands attempt this slick, fast, tight and tuneful Punk, it's a testament to these 4-fellas that they make it sound so fresh, invigorating and exciting. Definitely a band to watch and if they can cut it live as they so clearly can in the studio, then those shows must be some killer gear.
DIRTY KIRST – DEMO {demo} If I had to think of the Top 50 demos I have heard over the last 15 years or so, it’s a fair guess that this would make the Top 20. These guys from Cambridge, UK have only been doing the band seriously for a few months prior to this, quite frankly, stunning 6-track demo. This is powerful stuff, frantic and muscular without being out of control or macho-metal. It certainly has the ignitable energy of early FACE TO FACE if mixed with the barbed attack of FOUR LETTER WORD. Considering the band recorded this themselves, it’s a full-on and intense sound; there’s depth and space and certainly room for dynamics. Each member seems accomplished and relaxed in the studio environment. I can’t give you track titles as a track listing has not been included with this copy but trust me, email Carl and get a piece of this exemplary UK Punk tuneage.
DISASTER STRIKES - Liberty Toast {Alternative Tentacles} Fourth release from these political Punks and the band’s first for AT (in fact, AT’s first release by a Boston band). Like the band’s other releases, this is full of twists and tunes and the only certainties about the next track is that it will be politically acerbic. Tracks shift from belligerent Punk to disdainful HC, through snippets of biting Metal and back again. Highlights include ‘Nothing To Say’ which attacks careerist, say-nothing Punk bands, the Biafra-accompanied ‘Mission Accomplished’, the spot-on attack of the education system in ‘No Chance’ and the breakneck, razor-slashing fury of closer ‘Scapegoat’. The sampled splices of Bush, Cheney etc, Winston Smith art, Steve Austin’s (TODAY IS THE DAY) bombastic production and proliferation of recommended reading all combine to make a great release and one that hits even harder on repeated listens.
DISCHARGE - Why {Captain Oi!} Where do you start in reviewing a band this great, this influential and this fucking intense? You should know Stoke-on-Trent’s DISCHARGE. The band took Punk to another level with minimalist, white-noise thrashing the speed and ferocity of which had never been heard before. ‘Why’ was originally released in 1981 and followed three singles that were stunning exercises in raw Punk Rock on their own, but only laid the foundations for the exercise in aural intensity known as ‘Why’. Its 10 tracks took no prisoners spewing out anti-war lyrics and graphic imagery while musically the likes of ‘A Look At Tomorrow’, ‘Visions Of War’ and the classic ‘Ain’t No Feeble Bastard’ literally scorched the eardrums. Besides the original ‘Why’ release, this compiles those aforementioned singles (‘Realities Of War’, ‘Fight Back’ and the angry-as-fuck ‘Decontrol’) and two live tracks recorded on the Apocalypse Punk Tour of 1981. While this was groundbreaking and its brutality previously unrivalled, it was not so much the calm before the storm, more the storm before the holocaust...
DISCHARGE - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing {Captain Oi!} The debut album, originally released in 1982, still sends me cold even though it has been a constant in my life for over 20 years. A pounding drum onslaught followed by the most vehement, organ-liquefying guitar sound ever heralds the dawn of an album that is simply captivating, alarming, defiant and unparalleled. ‘Hear Nothing...’ took all of the traits of ‘Why’ and crystallised them into an even more extreme polemic, infusing an uncompromising intensity and a severity of sound and power which is still beyond compare. Each track is a measured, focused slice of barbed, untamed Punk Rock with alarmingly graphic lyrics dealing with the futility of war. Extra tracks include the album precursor, the classic ‘Never Again’ 7" plus the ‘State Violence State Control’ 7". Guitarist Bones - whose guitar sound made this album and band so viscerally unequalled - left after this and the band began a rapid downhill slide. The first post-Bones release was the ‘Warning’ 12" and that’s included here as well. It certainly demonstrates a leaning toward Metal which would eventually be the band’s downfall. It remains probably the last truly worthwhile DISCHARGE release and, while not exactly ‘A Hell On Earth’, it does have a certain bite. This is a truly essential release; influential, belligerent and still so vital.
DISCHARGE - Never Again {Captain Oi!} Listening to the remixes of tracks from the above album that appear on this disc, I now understand how a dog must feel after it has been neutered. This was released originally by Clay Recs as a cash-in ‘Best Of...’ and to buy the band time to re-group and get new material together. It features remixes of 10 classic tracks + the ‘Warning’ 12", the ‘The More I See’ 7" and 12", the ‘The Price Of Silence’ 7" and the ‘Ignorance’ release. The remixes are polished, bass heavy, lacking the ferocious, obnoxious sound of the originals and ruin Bones’ immense guitar sound. I’ve always liked ‘The More I See’ and, though those vocals are more affected, it’s still passable. ‘The Price Of Silence’ is forgettable and ‘Ignorance’ is just fucking crap. Of all the three releases, this is by far the least essential although it does act as a statement of where things were heading and how unforgivably bad the following records were. All three of these CDs come in digipack sleeves with lyrics and liner notes written by Ian Glasper. Simply essential stuff.
D.O.A. - The Black Spot {Sudden Death} Originally released in 1995, this 14-tracker is one D.O.A. album I have never previously heard. Besides Joe ‘Shithead’ Keithley, this line-up featured Wimpy on bass, Ford Pier on guitar and NOMEANSNO’s John Wright bashing the skins. It’s actually a really lively album with Shithead sounding in positively fine form. Highlights have to be ‘I Know Who You Are’, ‘Get Away’, the couple of Ford Pier songs (whose vocals remind me a bit of Leonard from THE DICKIES) and, best of the bunch, opener ‘Blind Men’ which wouldn’t have sounded outta place on the classic ‘Something Better Change’ album. This album does have a slightly darker feel to it than most D.O.A. releases as, in January ‘95, the band’s then drummer Ken Jensen was found dead in a house fire. This is another choice reissue; if you thought that this was a ‘filler’ D.O.A. album (as I did), then I suggest you check it out.
D.O.A. - Something Better Change {Sudden Death} Just how can an album that is rightly defined as a Punk Rock classic, that has been outta print for about 20 years and contains some of the most influential, barbarous slices of prime-time US Punkage be reviewed by my mere words? And no, that is not over emphasising the importance - or the quality - of this disc. Songs alone should suggest the disc's strength: 'New Age', 'The Prisoner', 'The Enemy', 'Thirteen', 'New Wave Sucks', the hugely underrated 'Great White Hope'… it's an endless list. To define the sound, see the review below. This is caustic, incisive, snotty Punk Rock - the way it should be. Like the disc below, this really is a mandatory purchase. Good on Mr Keithley for making his own, classic back catalogue available for public consumption.
D.O.A. - War And Peace {Sudden Death} Just as the novel is a mammoth read, this is a mammoth 26-track anthology of this band's legendary career. It dates back to the 'Disco Sucks' 7" from 1978, goes through choice tunes from classics such as 'Something Better Change', 'Hardcore 81', 'War On 45', the Jello Biafra collaboration from '89 and continues right up to 2001's 'Win The Battle' platter. It's an incredible document of a band that, even with all the praise it has received over the years, still seems rather underrated. For those who may not know D.O.A. well, just go and buy this now. You'll hear some of the finest, most rip-snorting, belligerent and exciting Punk Rock ever recorded. Not only that, but the inlay booklet contains all the lyrics, a full discography, a family tree and some awesome photos. This is quite simply a mandatory purchase - the real McCoy. My only quibble is… why no tracks from the 'Murder' album?
D.O.A. - War On 45 {Sudden Death} Now THIS brings back memories. This was the first ever DOA record I actually bought - sometime in the mid-80s - and it remains my favourite to this day. Yep, even more so than 'Bloodied... But Unbowed'. This has been subtitled, 'March To The End' and expanded to an 18-track slab of, essentially, anti-war songs. One oddity is the omission of 'Let's Fuck' from the original release - what happened there? Still 'Liar For Hire', 'America The Beautiful', the band's first foray into dub with the majestic 'War In The East' and the red-hot version of THE DILS 'Class War' are all here. Of the extras, you got 'World War 3' and 'Smash The State' as well as some stuff from latter day releases - including a really neat take on 'Eve Of Destruction'. I have to say, for those new to the band (just where have you been??), this is probably the best place start - even more so than the 'War and Peace' comp also reviewed here. Put simply, this is really fucking potent, fast and political; a bona fide classic of North American HC/Punk. Get it today.
D.O.A. - Live Free Or Die {Sudden Death} You can always rely on Joe Keithley to deliver the goods and this latest D.O.A. 20-tracker is no exception. It kicks off in classic D.O.A. style with ‘Agony And The Ecstasy’ before something quite unexpected occurs - Ska! Thankfully, Joe’s gravel-toned vocals and general abrasive attitude prevents most of the Ska stuff becoming trite and weak. Elsewhere the barbed ‘Fucked Up Bush’ is a re-worked version of the classic ‘Fucked Up Ronnie’, there are great covers of ‘Eve Of Destruction’ and Dylan’s ‘Masters Of War’ and heaps of typical D.O.A. Punk Rock ball-busters - ‘Mountains Eventually Fall’, ‘We Don’t Need No God Damn War’, ‘The Concrete Beach’... C’mon - it’s D.O.A. and the band is still kicking up a irascible, irritating stink after all these years - please Joe, don’t stop!!
DOGSHIT SANDWICH - Murdering Bastards (Punk Shit) - It'd be easy to dismiss this as bog-standard, 'meat-and-two-veg', sub-82 UK Street Punk as, essentially, that is the sound of DOGSHIT SANDWICH. It would also be a huge disservice as this is furious, biting stuff laced with a vocal vitriol and an ear-slashing delivery. A few tracks delve into Irish Folk, showing main man Rich's Irish roots. 'Money N Fame' steals the Buzzcocks 'Boredom' lead line to great affect, but the 'Hey-Ho, Let's Go' Ramoneisms of 'Broad Street' don't quite hit the mark. 'Anger @ Ulster' is a fantastically enraged, while the trenchant title track parallels the American solider with Timothy McVeigh. If out-spoken, loud and proud Punk is for you, look no further. £6.50ppd from R. MacCormack, 74 Bristnallhall Road, Oldbury, West Mids, B68 9TU, UK. punkshitrecords@hotmail.com
DOOM - Rush Hour Of The Gods {arrived as a CDR without label or contact details) Jeez, this takes me back! I saw DOOM play several times in Ipswich with the likes of ENT 10 years or more ago. I hadn’t heard anything from them in years, then this appeared. And guess what? It hits like a tequila slammer intravenously injected. Awesome Crust HC with a big D-Beat vibe that sounds like ‘an enormous door slamming in the depths of hell.’ It peaks mid-way through with the double-header sucker-punch onslaught of ‘Subvertise’ and ‘Keep It Angry’. ‘Thanatophobia’ shows all those Metal fucks that have leapt onto the HC wagon just how it should be done and the closing ‘P.V.S.’ pinned me to the wall and circumcised me at the same time! The production is fantastic - everything is totally amped yet it’s all clearly, devastatingly audible - check the drums on ‘Love Song’! Yep, HC Crust with a big D-Beat deal and one I am soooooo glad to hear after too much Metalcore.
DOWINA - Brezalauspurch {DIY} Jeez, what an odd one! From the packaging, this looks like some dismal Death Metal deal - all black and white and that terrible Bathory-style logo. Musically it’s more akin to CHRON GEN with a hint of the MEMBERS and a bit of MOB dynamics coupled with a vague Metal vibe - especially in the guitar work. The band hail from Bratislava, Slovakia, sing in very capable English and make for an interesting listen but, ultimately, not one that convinces. Contact: dowina@zoznam.sk or dowina_svk@hotmail.com
D.R.I. - Live At CBGBs 1984 {Beer City} What a ripper! A blazing live set of 40 songs that lasts less than 40 minutes from a time in this legendary band's history that predated the Metal influence that infiltrated their latter recordings. Kicking off with a light-speed blast through 'I Don't Need Society' before following with the sheer warp-speed anger of 'Reaganomics', it's clear this is gonna be one helluva trip down memory lane. Production is really good (until about 7 tracks from the end when the audio switches over to that which was captured on a video camera, although it comes good for disc closer, the classic 'Violent Pacification'); it leaves the inter-song banter intact so the disc drips with atmosphere. It's easy to forget just how many incredible songs DRI had at this time - 'Stupid War', 'Money Stinks', 'War Crimes', 'Closet Punk' - and they're all here. Great stuff that'd certainly make any fucking 'Mainstream Punk' fan shit their over-baggy designer pants.
DUFUS - Dufus: Neuborns {Iron Man} A better title may be ‘Dufus: (unfortunately not) Stillborn’. A truly hideous piece of slop compiling 13 wigged-out hippie tunes of less format than a million experimentalists from the hellish days of early-70s Prog-Rock. I mean, fucking TWENTY musicians and it’s STILL this shit? Seems that not one of the tired deadheads know anything about quality control. Not only is it terrible, they’re a bunch a fucking hypocrites too. Seth Faergolzia, the band’s leader and therefore potential murder victim, states in the ridiculous press splurge that comes with this that, "I choose to avoid the media machine in order to affect chance and positivity upon my immediate environment thus sending effective change exponentially.’ What a crock of hippie hypocrisy - further through the press blurb, there are quotes eulogising the band’s greatness from The Village Voice and those corporate whores at the NME who think the band are ‘awesome live’. Need I say more? Stick to your wannabe-mainstream predilections - you ain’t fooling no one!