OVERBITE

There's a moment in  the opening track "Napalm" where it actually seems like this is all you get. Like OVERBITE's six song demo is just going to be noisy, anxious torture with no release. It feels like they are never going to to unleash, and you are going to be listening to forced midtempo noise for the entirety of their demo. But...they do let go, and I can assure you that it is fukkn glorious. Unpretentious outsider hardcore from Ireland, and it seems that they added a member (most likely just a track) just for noise and feedback. Tinged with the same vibe that kvlt black metallers harness, this one is dark and weird...choice track: "Burning Forever." We used to do this every Monday, y'all.

BURNING FOREVER

MINOR THREAT

Ripped these off of a tape with a bunch of killer live shit. These two tracks were tacked onto the end, labeled: "MINOR THREAT - Last two songs ever recorded." Considering there are few US punk/hardcore bands more exhaustively researched and/or consumed, I can't really imagine that these are rare unearthed artifacts or anything like that, but: 1) Ian's vocals are on fire, and kinda awkwardly delivered; 2) the guitar sound is fukkn filthy; 3) the studio banter, though brief, is a nice touch. So there you go, I'll let the historians handle it from here.

MINOR THREAT

WILFRIDO VARGAS y SUS BEDUINOS

A couple of weeks ago as we re-entered this country from Mexico after a(nother) excellent show in Mexicali, we popped into a tiny record store in downtown El Centro, CA before heading to San Diego. For quite some time now, I find that if I'm not "in the mood" to dig for records then I simply have no desire to look at all. If I'm in the mood, of course, then it's game on....but this day I was more interested in exploring the dusty and (mostly) forgotten downtown while Paul looked for Mexican psych (with some success). But...I'm still gonna cruise the tape shelves....right? Exactly. On this day, there were few things that piqued my interest, but this well worn but still shrink wrapped copy of Dolorita grabbed my eye. Never heard of Mr. Vargas, but $3 later he was in my bag of goodies, waiting to take me on a journey when I got home. The debut release from WILFRIDO VARGAS, 1973's Dolorita released on Popular label is high energy merengue tempered with swinging Latin pop. One minute it's the credit roll soundtrack to a movie you never knew you loved, and the next minute you're dancing hard to "La Grenua." Heavy on Caribbean percussion and island mosh calls, this is an first step window into a world of Dominican music that I (still) know nothing about. So I'll shut up....and you just listen. 

DOLORITA

PAGAN PISS

Why not stay dark? It's more abrasive, more to the point, more in your face, less subtle. PAGAN PISS just opens it wide and then leaves....which is sometimes what you need. Seven bursts of stark (dark) soul baring punk in just over ten minutes. Listen to "Sixteen" and ask yourself if this isn't what punk is supposed to be - I can assure you that it is. 

ALONE

UNREAL THOUGHT

Really, Halifax? Really? Must you keep leaving deadly goods for me to unearth? Here we go again, visitors....two tracks of genre specific Faith-era CURE styled up tempo brooding punk drenched in synths sandwiching "Shadows," one genre specific five minute long Faith-era CURE number that nods to that album's title track even though the guitar leads owe more to The Top and vocals throughout are more Ian that Robert. This gem is from 2013, and there are many more waiting for you if you feel like digging. I always endorse digging. 

BEHIND THE PINK HOUSE

NÃO SOMOS NADA

This one is just a straight killer, and it just gets better the more times you listen. What if I said it was like a collision AIRFIX KITS and DEAD KENNEDYS and current LA hard swingers like STRANGERS and TOZCOS? Sure, you'd say I was nuts, and I probably am. The vocals here are the real fire, just pure fukkn punk fronting an attack of clean guitars and indescribably catchy tunes. "Grande Irmão" is the banger for these ears, though I'm sure your ears will pick their own favorites...and there are no wrong decisions here, since literally every track burns. You can hear the sweat in this live recording from 2018 and if you're like me then you'll be inspired to snag the Péssimo Estado LP asap. 

AO VIVO AURORA

PUBLIC MANIFEST

Jaw dropped the first time I heard this one - raw and intense '90s dual vocal anarcho-crust with insane guitars straight out of UK82. Unnecessary flange on the bass, jaw droppingly fast drums that kinda sound like cardboard, overbearing vocals (quintessential low/high '90s growl/snarls), blast beats that don't even make sense and ugh those guitars. Like MANKIND? recorded by BLACK FUNERAL, it's primitive, unhinged and so gloriously raw....it's also really fukkn good. Check the bass break that leads to the end of "La Conquista" and you're tasting fire////listen to "Victims, The Children" on max volume and you're straight burning. 

THE TIME IS NOW

The whole thing is packaged in a DIY wraparound scavenged cardboard sleeve with the artwork glued to the front and back. Current professional bands could take a few notes.