2011's TOP TENS

I've been buying records for almost two decades. But at the beginning of 2011, for the first time, I've decided to make a list to keep track of all the records I've bought all the year around. Very nerdy, I know. It started with a trip in Japan back in January where I've scored a lot of classics that were in my wantlist for way too long. Other great deals were made in the next months .The picture above shows all the wax I've accumulated this year. Quality over quantity. As you might have noticed, I've bought more old stuff than new one. I must admit that few new bands got my attention this year. Anyhow, it hasn't been a bad year at all when it comes to hardcore, so here's my picks for 2011 (casual order):

7"s:
Reckless Agression "demo" 7"

Great aussie mix of Negative Approach and the best Oi! played with a provocative attitude by a bunch of ugly skins out of Melbourne. One of the best demo that came out last year that deserved to be repressed on wax, courtesy of SFU records. New ep planned for 2012. 

Cider "3rd rechord in 19 years" 7"

These guys can do no wrong. Still doing the same thing they were doing 20 years ago, still doing it in the right way. Clevo has proved to have the most consistent USHC scene ever. Cidercore never dies!

Himei 2nd 7"

This was the best surprise of this year. Female fronted japanese hardcore that could have been easily included in the ADK Records stable if they were around 25 years ago.

Fogna "demo" 7"

Even my other fave 2010 demo has been repressed on wax this year. Best band outta Italy in a looong time. I can't praise them enough and I really hope these lazy bastards will finally record their new material!! 

Haava "s/t" 7"

Kaaos worship from Japan on Overthrow Records. 'Nuff said.

Nemesis "dou-koku" 7"

This ep is so powerful that could have been the real cause of the tsunami that devastated Japan in march. Seriously, with Himei, my favourite new band out of the land of the rising sun.

Waste Management "power abuse" 7"

After the Midwest, Boston is my  favorite choice when it comes to USHC. And this band captures perfectly the essence of early 80s' Boston sound  without being another boring & useless clone band. Even better than their previous effort.

Isterismo/ Kromosom split 7" & D Clone/ Nerveskade split 7"

Both released by Hardcore Survives for the respective japanese tours that these bands made together this year. Yeah, I wish I was there, too. Japan's finest meet the international most interesting new noisy punk.

LPs:
Teargas "all the way of the flesh" lp

This record is so good that it was even able to surpass my already extremely high expectations. Perfect under every point of view. I know members are now spread in different cities but I hope they manage to record more stuff. For sure my fave 2011 lp.

Deathcage "plague of the rats"lp

Another Burning Spirits full length outta Ostralia, another winner. 

Besthoven "this means war" lp

That title track was stuck in my mind after the very first listening. Classic d-beat tribute one man band that stay extremely close to the Discharge dogma without sounding boring or lame. Great live band, too.

Double Negative "daydreamnation" lp

At first I was a bit disappointed by the second -/- full length but it slowly grown on me. For sure a band that's not scared to introduce new influences in their sound while staying close to their roots.

Low Threat Profile "product #2"lp

A bunch of old fucks in their late 40s' proved to me again that if geriatrics can play powerviolence better than  new bands, that scene is not healthy at all. Please sXe kids, go back playing metalcore.

Zines:
Chunks all issues
More Noize#7
Groin Gravy#4
Ratcharge#23
Got Myself#5
Zouo interview in MRR
 

Represses: 

(these don't need a review)
Svart Framtid "1984" 7"
Nukketeatteri "tervetuola helvettin" 7"
Zouo "the final agony" 7"
Rupture "gatecrash the orgy" 6"
Young Identities "new trend" 7"
Bannlyst "diskografi" lp

KRIGSHOT - NASUM interview 2002

Interview conducted via mail with drummer Jackob in feb, 2002. Originally featured in PM#1.

Perro: First, I'd like to know how you could be so prolific and active with your various projects without missing quality. What's your secret?Anders: We've been playing music for quite a long time and we pretty much know how to play what we play without going low quality. There's no secret really, it's in our blood!

Perro: Ok, now let's start to talk about Krigshot. How is it born? It has a huge Mob 47 influence, was your main goal to pay a tribute to them? Do you consider it only a sideproject or not?Anders: Krigshot started by a simple phonecall from Jallo, who asked me if I would join him in a new band that would play old hardcore fast as hell. I believe he got his inspiration to start the band after hearing Japan's Frigöra who play simular music. Anyway - I accepted his offer and we rehearsed once and then got into the studio just a few days later and recorded the first 7". Mob 47 is a big influence for us, being one of the best hardcore bands of all time, but speaking as a Mob 47 expert (!) there's quite a big difference in the songstructures and so forth. We are inspired by bands from that same era, everything from Minor Threat to more obscure Finnish hardcore. Krigshot is by definition a sideproject - no more, no less.

Perro: Since now you released stuff only through Sound Pollution. Did it happen 'coz is the only label that offered to put out K. stuff or is your own decision? Are you satisfied about working with them?Anders: Well, Sound Pollution was one of the first labels who showed interest in Krigshot when we sent out a tape with the first recording and since things worked out great he released the LP/CD and then we more or less decided to continue to work with Ken on a regular basis. He's the greatest guy.

Perro: What could we expect for the upcoming new album?Anders: I think it's a bit rougher than the first LP but it is really intense, really fast and really cool. I love it!

Perro: The lyrics of "Beaten (by the cops)" and "Crush the Elite" from "Och Hotet Kvarstar" 7" could be the perfect soundtrack for the fight of Goteborg happened last year. What's your opinion about that and the violence carried out by police in Genoa? What's happened to the guy who has been shot in Goteborg after that?Anders: The new LP was recorded just a few weeks before the Gothenburg thing so some of the lyrics are about the issues that was discussed in connection to the big meeting. Anyway - the whole Gothenburg incident shocked Sweden, because we rarely have these kind of situations and the "normal" people felt for the cops, not knowing what really happened. Sick stuff. I believe that the police should be capable to sort out right from wrong, but when the police clearly does the wrong thing it's so bad. We've all seen the pictures about the killing of that guy in Genoa and it's really sick sick sick and disgusting. About that guy who got shot in Gothenburg - can you believe it? HE was charged for attacking the police while the policemen involved in the shooting were freed! It so sick! The guy - Hannes Westberg - threw a couple of rocks nowhere near the police and they shot him in the stomach. And then the police made some videotapes public where they claimed the police were attacked by a large group of people. The problem is that the sound on the videotapes were edited! The sound were from a completely different location, so once again they did the wrong thing!

Perro: "Fucked by Dope" points out some unquestionable arguments against the abuse of heroin, but don't you think that anyone should be free to do whatever he/she wants with life, even ruin it? Do you think that the governments have the right to control such a personal choice?Anders: Well, being straight edge and TOTALLY against all drugs I can't see anything good in the use of drugs. Of course people can do whatever they like with their lives, but using drugs is SO FUCKING STUPID! So fuck the dope! 

Perro: Does K. plays gigs? If the answer is positive, how has been the better ones? If the answer is negative, why?Anders: No. Never had, never will. We're not that kind of band. We're just a little project existing maybe once a year to record something. We're busy with other stuff.

Perro: I know you guys are tired about all the people who ask you the meaning of "Nasum" and if is a swedish word, so what about "Krigshot"?Anders: Krigshot is Swedish for "threat of war". It's a songtitle by Mob 47. It's supposed to be pronounced "Krics-hoot", but people usually say Krigg-Shot, which is quite funny, but OK.

Perro: Now let's go to Nasum. You have toured in Japan, USA and Europe. Have you noticed any particular difference between the crowd and the scene in these places? What's the craziest place you've played in?Anders: From my experience the crowds are different in all countries basically. The craziest crowds are the one in Japan without doubt. Everything you've heard is true! The crowds are totally devoted, polite and just plain wild. There's a little similarity to the crowds in Spain who also have that devotion. But all crowds are good crowds.

Perro: Your gig here in Milan has been totally crazy, did you enjoy it? Can we expect some new gigs from you or your other bands down here?Anders: Actually I don't remember much about the gig itself. I remember the place clearly and especially the extremely disgusting shower and that the PA broke down like 3-4 times during the Napalm death gig! I also remember we had one of the better evenings when it came down to selling merchandize, so I guess we did a pretty good gig! Unfortunately I believe that we did too few gigs in Italy (only 3) to really get a hang of what Italy is like. Sooner or later we'll come back to play some more Swedish grind for you.

Perro: "Human 2.0" came out a while ago, how has been the response since now? How many copies does it sold? After this time, is there something you would like to change on it?Anders: The response has been outstanding. I think it's sold over 10 000 copies (I don't know really, but counting the LP version and the "Human 2.01" (Japan version) we should be over 10 000) by now, which is cool. But of course there are LOTS of things that I would like to change - some vocal parts, some drums parts, some songs should have been played another way, some songs should have been excluded and stuff like that. There's no escape from not being satisfied with your stuff.

Perro: What happens to the 5" box set that may be out on Clean Plate?Anders: Who knows? It should have been out ages ago and the Clean Plate dude is nowhere to be seen. I would really like to hear from him so I could ask to get the DAT and artwork in return because there's no point in releasing that one now.

Perro: You recorded all the stuff of your bands at Soundlab, the studio owned by Mieszko, and I noticed that many grind/ extreme hardcore bands recorded their stuff there. Is it becoming a point of reference for the swedish scene?Anders: Well, I don't know about that really, but Soundlab has grown to be one of the most popular "smaller" studios in Sweden in many categories of musicstyles and now there's more and more foreign band coming to the studio which is really cool. There's even a band from Israel coming to the studio now! Haha!

Perro: I know Relapse is going to reprint the Genocide SS album. What's the reason of that? What do you think if they will put a sticker with written something like "featuring members of Nasum" to help the selling? Generally, are you happy with the work Relapse has done to support Nasum?Anders: The reprint is out now. Relapse have been big fans of Genocide SuperStars for quite some time now and when the GSS-guys weren't happy with what Distortion did for them they let Relapse reprint the album with the artwork and stuff to have a second go with it. I don't think Relapse will use such a sticker, but if they do it might help the sales, I don't know. Relapse is a very good label and I have nothing bad to say about them.

Perro: If you could organize a world tour, what bands would you like to include on it?Anders: Ouch - that's a tough one... The only band that comes to mind now is Tragedy. I would really like to tour with them.

Perro: Are you pro or against mp3s? What's your opinion about site like Emusic and programs like Napster?Anders: I'm all for it when it comes to downloading a couple of songs to get a taste of an album, or finding some old song that you like but probably wouldn't buy a whole album just to get, or when it comes to rare/live stuff. I'm not into the idea of downloading a whole album - I love records too much to do such a thing. But sometimes it's hard to find the actual record or you haven't got enough money to buy it. I have KaZaa for downloading music every now and then.

Perro: What could we expect from your various projects for the near future?Anders: Well, Krigshot will probably sink back into hibernation until the next time we feel like recording some stuff again, and concerning Nasum - noone knows what we will be up to in the future.

Perro: Ok, it's time to conclude. Thanks for all.Anders: Thank you! Krigshot should have a new webpage up soon at www.nasum.com/krigshot - for Nasum news just go to www.nasum.com

Norwegian Leather

I'm not pretending to be an expert of HC from Norway. I'm not ashamed to admit that, until 5 years ago, my fave band from that frozen and rich country was Mayhem. Of course I've had already heard praises about the NOHC scene of the 80s', but for some reasons I didn't find the time to dig into it. Then, after reading about it in some forum,  I've decided  it was about time to explore it. Allah bless the internet.

2011 has been a great years for represses. Expecially when it comes to norwegian hardcore. Indeed, after the repress of the Svart Framtid "1984" ep that came out few months ago, now the long delayed Bannlyst official "diskografi" lp finally saw the light after way too many years of delays. Say thanx to Norwegian Leather (a sub-label of Heartfirst, specialized in repressing 80s' norwegian hc classics). Of course it made sense to add to my order also a copy of the So Much Hate "how we feel" lp since it was repressed too from the same label back in 2007.

Bannlyst were one of norway's finest. They played your typical scandinavian brutal hardcore not too dissimilar to some of their swedish contemporaneous like Skitslickers or Anti Cimex. Same brutal sound and guttural vocals but with more original song writing. This lp compiles not only the recently bootleged "La Dem Ikke Lure Deg" 7" but also their material from legendary split tape with Angor Wat as well as a song from the cult compilation "Nå Eller Aldri"  (another record I hope Flo will repress soon) and another cover of "Louie Louie" (it's amazing how many punk/hc bands have done it over the last 30 years!). It comes with a fold out insert with lyrics, photos and a detailed discography.  Norwegian Leather also put out a Bannlyst live lp but since I'm not into live recording, I've decided to save my money for something else.

SMH seems to have taken their main influences from US hardcore. They remind me a weird EU version of Die Kreuzen meets mid period Black Flag. Lots of dissonant riffs, weird vocals and a bit of metal (in a good way)  makes this one of the most personal yet classic hardcore release that came out of europe in the eighties. Great artwork too, the back cover has a pic of some punks beating the shit out of a cop! It comes with a 8 pages zine with pics, old reviews and interviews etc...I'd have been great if they did the same with the Bannlyst lp.

To all norwegian readers: I'm really concerned about your recent butter shortage, so if you wanna trade your OG X-Port Plater records for some fine italian butter, drop me a line.

GORDON SOLIE MOTHERFUCKERS interview 2000

Here's the only GSMF interview I've ever seen. Taken from #2 of the great canadian 'zine Infection that came out around 2001 if I remember well. If someone can provide me a copy of #1, I'd really appreciate it.