Holy Shit!-K.B.D.O.O.P 10"

The midwestern party animals are back with a slew of new songs that beckon to be played over and over again. This record oozes with everything that makes Holy Shit! a great band, it showcases all their quirkiness, angst, and talent shown on previous albums all in one neat little package. K.B.D.O.O.P hits you dead on at great speeds and with every little stop, start, twist and turn you will find yourself being lifted up and down awaiting the next song. Holy Shit! has always had a sense of fun about them as a band and as people which is why I think I'm so intrigued by them, but having their musical chops down probably doesn't hurt either. This may not be a breakthrough record or the band reaching new heights but it delivers in a way only they can.

If you have yet to check out this band I suggest you get on it cause you wont find anything like this anywhere else in hardcore today. This 10" was put out by Criminal IQ records there is a limited version on colored vinyl that includes a cd.

http://www.criminaliq.com/

Insubordinates-S/T LP

Easily one of the top 5 albums of 2010. After sitting on a demo and a single on Feral Kid records the Insubs dish out this rock n roll masterpiece that transcends genres and still manages to keep everything together and whole just the way you like it. Just as many of us predicted, Rochester has blown up with these guys at the helm.

Insubordinates combine early rock n roll sounds ala the Sonics and Ventures while looking in the direction of the Adolescents. Throw in some sax and you have a record that will blow the walls right off your bedroom. The guys decided to go with a reel to reel recording that really makes the album come together, i mean it sounds like a vintage rock record, but nothing that came out back then was as demented or furious like this.

Some of the songs like the instrumental "Nagasaki" feel huge and have that surf city vibe going on and others like "Cuckoo Cass E" Really bring on the bite,slam down hard and bring to mind "Welcome to Reality". The band does all of this and still manages to keep it all together and nothing ever feels out of place. The layout is incredible as well and just seals the deal in giving the record a very retro look.

I'm not usually a fan of bands doing the skate punk/surf rock thing, it never has the level of intensity i like or just doesn't seem real but having met these guys on several occasions i can tell that they believe in what they are doing. There is a level of authenticity, I know these guys have a rock n roll mentality and they know their music shit too. So this is not just some JFA worship crap put together by some kids living off their parents dime. This is the real shit and it stands out above the rest.

The Insubordinates S/T album was put out by the superb Cowabunga Records and is still available from them and other distros. If you are looking for something different but yet very familiar then this is the thing for you, even if you're not you still need this though. 500 copies black vinyl.

www.cowabungarecords.com/store

Idi Amin And The Amputees-Disco Bitch 7"

KBD "We don't give a shit." style production never sounded so good in 2010. Idi Amin bash out 2 simple sing along hits chalk full of jr. high drop out humor lyrics that will have you flipping this record over again and again. You know what to expect, fuzz tone guitars and snot nosed vocals that have a real retro vibe. You can probably tell your friends this is some lost 1978 gem you scored at the dollar store and chances are they will believe you. Not too shabby for a quick side project.

Idi Amin And The Amputees was release by Going Underground Records 500 were pressed. Find it in any distro.

Masshysteri-S/T LP

Masshysteri are back and sounding better then ever this time they add a second guitar player and perfect their sound to a science. This their 2nd LP combines elements from their other records and extra moody overtones creating a sound that is not unlike the Dangerhouse releases but comes off with a lot more texture. At times you can hear faint echos of Joy Division, and something else that i cant quite put into words...it reminds me of the mid to late 80's when everybody was experimenting and a lot of "New Wave" bands were popping up and bands that had been around were adding these little twist to their music.

Masshysteri take their time with this album and work you into it song by song and before you know it you are completely drawn in and i personally found myself a drift in every layered track. They got tons going on here but it works out in a way thats not too overwhelming. I can see some people turning away from this since its not really an intense punk thing like The Vicious were and it is somewhat on the long side but i feel like those who are already invested in the group will be very pleased.

So i have come to love this group and cant stop playing this album. 10 tracks of phenomenal, well thought of and layered punk inspired pop. Masshysteri's S/T album was put out on Ny Vag and Feral Ward records and can be found in your favorite distros.

http://www.myspace.com/masshysteri
www.feralward.com

Total Abuse-Mutt LP

Taking things slowly off the deep end Total Abuse come back with another full length that may not be as surprising as the last but to me comes off just as good.

When this thing first hit there was a lot of talk of the band expanding far beyond anything they had done in the past and leaving their old sounds behind. All though the band does add some changes this time around its nothing major. For the most part I believe this album would please fans of the last LP, overall it continues where they left off and makes for a good sequel.

The recording strikes me as a little more on the lo-fi side and reminds me of the demo/sex pig recordings. The vocals are more gruff and the guitars and bass blend together a littler more which makes some songs have a "wall of sound" effect. The lyrics continue to be stripped and come off like chants more than anything.

"Mutt" may not be a hit after hit kind of record but its got some great jams on it that come off familiar but aren't exact replicas of past songs. I still think the Lp debut is more intense as I feel it almost tells a story all the way through, while this one kind of lacks that sense of direction.

So all in all id say "Mutt" is a good record without any major weak points and Total Abuse continue to focus on perfecting their sound. It may not hit quite as hard as the previous LP but it certainly has its moments and should have you coming back to enjoy your favorites.

Released on PPM with 100 on white wax and 900 on black. Comes with a booklet, download code and not so good artwork.
available from various distros and best buy(no joke).

http://www.myspace.com/totalabuse

Iron Lung-Exposed 7"

Iron Lung is probably one of the only bands that deserves all the hype that surrounds them. On this one sided 7" they burn through 3 songs like they were made of napalm with all the best starts, stops, breakdowns and noise you crave.

Two original songs with lyrics that are a true homage to the sadness, hate, fear, and rottenness that fills up in the world every single day. The other song is a Sex/Vid cover which could be a tribute to their friends or an attempt to put them to shame, either way its a success.

A band made up of two dudes never sounded so full. Got a chance to see them live two times this past month on their tour with Slices and i can say that they are probably one of the best bands I have seen so far this year. Speaking of live shows that is the only way to get this puppy i believe it is a "Gig Only" vinyl, now on its second(?) press on red wax.

http://lifeironlungdeath.blogspot.com/

Thieves-Positive Vibrations 7"

Thieves is a newer band playing out of Raleigh NC, where recently a lot of kids have been inspired by bands old and new and are creating bands of their own as well as running a terrific scene that hosts some great shows.

Thieves wear their inspirations and influences on their sleeve and i can sense that there is a lot that they want to cover, this can be good or bad. Positive Vibrations is all over the place and i found the a-side kind of hard to follow, the songs just don't seem to go anywhere. The b side however comes together quite well and its the stronger side by far. It just seems to fit the band and the sound of the record better.

The production on Positive vibrations is probably my favorite part it comes across loud and chalk full of power while staying clean enough to suit the bands more melodic moments, the overall sound reminded me of the better Youth Brigade songs. Id give the a side on this thing a 2/5 and the b side a 3.5/5. If your looking for something thats abrasive with a little bit of melody and some fast thrashy parts that comes off with a real in your face attitude then this might be your thing.

Despite some flaws I have faith that this band can go on to do great things and i look forward to their next effort. Positive Vibrations was released by To Live a Lie records and Suburbanite records, 500 copies were pressed.

http://www.myspace.com/suburbaniterecords
http://www.tolivealie.com/