I Kill Junkies

Recently, after an 8 years long hunt, I've been finally able to cross off from my want list a record that, outside of australia, nobody seems to care about. I'm talking about the legendary Three Found Dead/ Elbow Deep split lp. Released in only 200 copies on vinyl by Youth Enrage Records, a label run by one of the 3FD guy, it was one of those uber rare records that kept eluding me for years. I wasn't even able to find it on mp3s until I've asked help to an aussie mate. When I was just resigned that I'll never own a copy of it (it wasn't even on discogs until a few months ago), I've finally found a copy for a very good price. Unfortunately there are a few skips on E.D. side but I'm quite sure they'll get fixed once I find a bloody place with one of those machine to clean vinyls. Well, at least I've been able to get a partial refund so I've ended up paying next to nothing for it.

While this record came out in 2000, it still has a strong 90s' vibe. Tons of funny samples, fat pants, wrestling & skateboard references and a lot of songs on both sides. 3FD from sydney has a strong 80s' USHC sound filtered via 90s' way of playing it. They didn't hide it at all since there are four(!) covers of US bands on their side! They kinda remind me what Jerry's Kids or Gang Green would have been if they were from downunder. Great un-PC lyrics that are always a winning point in my book, expecially from an era when it was totally uncool being cynic & sarcastic. If I'm not wrong, members went playing in other excellent bands such as Masstrauma and Deathcage. The sample at the end of their side it's probably the funniest one I've ever heard. Their side is simply perfect. If they were from the US, people would still rave about'em. On the other side we got a side project that involved Arms Reach members minus the girls. Heavy downtuned powerviolence with some metal influences. Not too different from their main band, except that ED were way less serious. Solid effort, too.

Not only this rules musically, but a lot of effort has been put also on the packaging. Gatefold cover, 3 inserts (I got also the promotional flyers) and glow-in-the-dark vinyl. The liner notes from the label's head honcho reminded me that this split lp came from an era where hardcore records were less manufactured than today and a DIY record was something more than another mere product of the hardcore industry.