01 September 2009

HEX

HEX. Not exactly the most original name, although I could only find one other band Called Hex (from Italy, old), and one label with the name (Pacific Northwest, current). But in the 1980s world of UK punk, "HEX" seems to belong solely to these chaps and their pro animal, anti-government fueled hardcore punk. Like a lot of 80s UK shits, I think that this was probably a few years late at the time, but a quarter century later, this straightforward moody four chord punk suits me just fucking fine thank you. It's not all "generic" by any means, "Food To Conclude" could be an attempt at a Worlds Apart era SUBHUMANS track, and the killer "Join Hands" is mid tempo and dark with guitars drenched in reverb. "No To The Bomb" is a more basic four chord rager, which is nice, as I happen to enjoy a nice four chord rager. Four tunes here, no information on the band, except that it's made up of Pikey, Golly, Cubby and Lainy, which might be the untoughest sounding bunch of blokes I've ever come across. Total coincidence, but notice Kim Phuc in the photo on the cover, I just mentioned her a few days ago in reference to the killer demo from KIM PHUC you will find below. You should download that as soon as you are finished downloading this...

9 comments:

Henk said...

Never heard of this one. I have a demo by them titled "Poison In The System, Spanner In The Works", probably downloaded at the Nation On Fire blog or likelly, + the compilation EP "You Are Not Alone 7" and the split 7" with 'Feed Your Head' with the title "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained" - both on Words Of Warning Records 1986 and 1987 respectively.


I also downloaded another later demo last week which was stated as 'second demo', but it is in a more melodic vein like the split 7".

Have to check it out further before I know anything more about it...

Again - Thanks!!

Henk said...

If this is the same band that is, I can't tell at the moment...

the wizard said...

Curious...I also have the "Poison in the System..." demo, and then another just handwritten "demo 1987." As I suggested, I would be surprised if there weren't another band called HEX, I just didn't find them. Killer tunes regardless, now I'll go try to track down that split EP!

Anonymous said...

It's the same Hex with Lainey on bass who joined HDQ then Leatherface.....

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/uk/hdq_main.html

the wizard said...

Thanks for that! I've never heard of HDQ, and I'm rather surprised someone from this demo later did time in LETHERFACE, but England is a small island, and punk makes intetesting bedfellows...

the wizard said...

re-upped

alleywaykid said...

Thanks!!

Deranged said...

The curious may wish to know that Boss Tuneage did a recent CD compilation of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Hex demos.

And it is indeed Lainey on bass for the early demos (he later shuffled onto the drum stool for Hex, HDQ, Leatherface and as of now - the Cockney Rejects)

Deranged said...

The curious may wish to know that Boss Tuneage recently (2015) released a compilation CD of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Hex demos called "Poison in the System".

And it is indeed Lainey on bass on the early demos before he shuffled onto the drum seat - playing in HDQ, Leatherface and presently the Cockney Rejects! Dickie Hammond also plays bass on the last couple of demos.