DECONTROL

A collection of smashers from the lost late 1980s (even a casual observer will eventually admit that, especially in retrospect, it was the late '80s that truly languished in schlock and mediocrity while the much maligned '90s were actually a starting point for exploration and discovery within the confines of punk music and DIY community). DECONTROL were from Philly, and this relic from magnetic postal audio trading has the Born To Be Wild EP from 1986 - yes it's that "Born To Be Wild," and yes it's unnecessary, but "Joe Blow" is a nice chilled out (hair)metalpunk ripper - a live radio set from '85 and the self titled full length from '87. The full length is where they really figure it all out and seemingly realize their truest vision...which includes the dueling guitar MOLLY HATCHET-esque boogie of "Baby I'm Not Dead" and a cover of "Blue Skies" that will have you dreaming of that STEPPENWOLF cover from the single. There are moments on the LP, but this one is mostly about that radio set; total Do We Really Want To Hurt You? energy dancing on that wire between butt metal and ripping crossover hardcore. It's raw, it's loose, and there's a rough knuckle dragging undercurrent that takes me back to the time LIME CELL dedicated "You're Not Punk, You're Dirty" to me and my bandmates.

DECONTROL

Three tracks from a 1985 Kennel Club show tacked onto the end because tape traders rule. 

Also - LIME CELL weren't trying to make us feel welcome with the shout out, they were trying to intimidate us. Pretty sure it worked.