WASTED - Here We Go Again {Boss Tuneage} Huge 29-track compiling this band’s first four 7"s + comp appearances. WASTED is part of the thrilling scene burgeoning outta Finland and clearly represent the Street Punk side of things, mixing a potent YOUTH BRIGADE style guitar assault with an all-out GBH style attack. The guys have an angry streak flowing through their veins also with sharply defined and often savage condemnations of the police, war, religion and social evils. ‘In God We Trust’ is a viscous and malicious, high paced attack on religious wars while ‘Suburban Kids’ offers a broader sonic dynamic. ‘White Trash Disease’ sees the recording quality noticeably improve before the conformity mauling ‘Not From Your World’ kicks in. The tracks from the 2001 7" display a fuller, more balanced sound but one which still spits vitriol. Three unreleased tracks and two CD-ROM videos set the disc apart from the usual ‘deleted-material-cash-in’.

WESTERN ADDICTION - Cognicide {Fat Wreck} A band consisting of three Fat Wreck employees releases its first album on - wait for it - Fat Wreck! WHAT a surprise! It'd be easy to be cynical about this 12-tracker, were it not for the fact that it's sooooo shit hot. This is fast, aggressive, spirited and bites with the same vicious ferocity as a pool full of piranhas attacking your scrotum. There's melody amidst the maelstrom also, with the general tone being a mix of CIRCLE JERKS speed, prime-time RANCID snot, AGNOSTIC FRONT muscle and just a splash of VERBAL ABUSE charm to round it off. 'Mailer, Meet Jim' and 'Face Cancer' take album highlights but, at a duration of just 21 minutes, the disc performs a hit-and-run before you realise it. Great lyrics also make WESTERN ADDICTION the real deal and not just 'best mates' of Fat Mike. Truly addictive.