1000 Aspirines

Dem Deutschen Volke EP (Jelly, 1993)

Terrorgruppe (Berlin, Germany) is one of those bands you are not supposed to like if you are German because they are too poppy, too populair, sell-outs and what not. I must admit I say the same about certain bands from Holland (eg. Heideroosjes) but I guess it’s just how you rerlate to certain bands. Anyway, I like Terrorgruppe for their catchy poppy sound and funny-but-not-too-funny lyrics (see the comics for lyrics below) which they called Aggropop. Terrorgruppe have been around from 1993-2005 and this was their first release with many more to follow. Two of the band members went on to form The Bottrops.

1. Die Gesellschaft Ist Schuld (lyrics)
2. Abenteuer Bundeswehr (lyrics)
3. Die Neue Schuessel (lyrics)
4. As Tears Go By

Terrorgruppe on Myspace
The Bottrops.com

I realize it’s been a while since the last post - we’ve been busy with other stuff, enjoying the summer and what not. Tomorrow h-bomb and me leave for a little trip to the USA and we’ll be posting again after we get back.

I am a big fan of Slaughter and the Dogs. One of those few bands that never get old. I have even considered getting the pic below tattooed, but it has not (yet?) come that far. When I read they were doing a US tour, including a show in CBGB’s, in the early 2000’s, I had no choice but going there. S&D in CBGB’s…

I caught them 4 times in a week time, including a monday night show for 40 people in Manitoba’s (a very small but cool bar run by H.D. Manitoba of the Dictators). The shows in CBGB’s and Manitobas were absolute highlights. CB’s because it was simply great to see them play there. Old punkrockers playing an old punk venue. Manitoba’s because the gig was incredible. The band played ‘on demand’. Everybody was well into it and shouted titles which the band would play. Even the slower songs they would normally not include in their setlist came by, like the great song ’since you went away’. I walked around NYC with goosebumps for the rest of my stay.

So here’s some of those fine live moments to listen to, taken of their two live lp’s. And while at it, I also recorded more of their records, of which I included two more songs I love.

1. the Bitch (live in Factory LP)
2. Johnny T. (live in Factory LP)
3. Mystery girls (live in Factory LP)
4. I’m mad (Rabid Dogs - live in Belle Vue Manchester LP)
5. Victim of the vampire (Rabid Dogs - live in Belle Vue Manchester LP)
6. Twist and turn (I’m Alright 12″)
7. Now I know (Slaughter - Bite Back LP, with Ed Banger of Nosebleeds on vocals )

Earache/Pass The Time EP (Rodent Popsicle, 2003)

Why do good things always have to come to an and? Without ever making it to Europe, AGT broke up late 2007. I was lucky enough to catch them live in CBGBs in 2005 and they blew me away, both on and off stage if you know what I mean ;-).

A Global Threat is a band with two faces: for a while they had the singer for the Unseen as their second singer. I really don’t like the way that guy sings so in a way, for me he spoiled the records he was on. Now, the records he wasn’t on are just so damn good, with their last and latest Where the sun never sets as the absolute highlight. Because I only knew their Unseen-like stuff I never really got into them until I heard Where the sun… and I started digging around for more. This 2003 EP has nothing of the screamo-vocals I hate from Mr. Unseen and that instantly makes this a great AGT record in my book. I can go on and on about this band but just listen to it yourself and trust me, if you know what’s good for you then go get Where the sun never sets (unfortunately a CD only release) on BYO. Some of the most original songwriting I have heard in a long, long time. If you don’t believe me, go Soulseek first and then buy it (I did the same). The Here we are… LP is almost just as good, by the way.

There’s a lot of info on Wikipedia and some more music on Myspace.

“Monday, November 19, 2007 - R.I.P. A.G.T.
It’s time. So we’re going to do it fast. It’s just like ripping off a band-aid…1…2…we broke up. A Global Threat is officially over. You can stop cheering now. So maybe your asking why? In the most diplomatic terms the breakup would probobly be characterized as a mutually agreed upon decision made by three individuals for seperate and different reasons. Too vague and impersonal? Sorry, thats all you get. This isn’t “Behind the Music”. We’ll also spare the wistful, sentimental comments on the bands history and the times spent making it. Our history is on record shelves and on worn fliers hanging on the walls of dark clubs, and our experiences and how we feel about it all will be in our heads and hearts (and maybe yours too), and in the end, that’s enough. No sense cheapening it on a myspace blog. (AGT Myspace)”

1. Earache
2. Social quarantine
3. Get in the coffin
4. Pass the time
5. Tuff crowd
6. Cardinal sin

Threats - politicians and ministers 12″ (1982, Rondelet)

While going through the great “Burning Britain” again, I read the pages written about the Threats. In the book the Threats mention their 2001 performance on Holidays In The Sun, Morecambe. Happens that Arne and me played right before them on the same stage. I remember that I watched the Threats and was blown away by their powerful show. I am never too keen about old bands picking it up again, but this performance gave me goose bumps all over. They turned out to be very nice people too, which made me fan of the “new” Threats, too.

I have always liked the ‘politicians and ministers 12″. It was one of the first punkrecords i bought; raw, sloppy and energetic, exactly what I was looking for. Listening to it nowadays, makes me realise the band is so much better today. Although the songwriting has not changed (good!) the band is way more tight making the band so much more powerful. I think the band gained a lot of popularity among the ‘new breed’ after the Casualties covered “Underground Army” and even named their 2nd lp after the song. If you dig the old stuff you should definitly pick up the newer work, and go catch the band live if you can.

1. politicians and minsters
2. writing on the wall
3. dead end depression
4. can’t stop me
5. underground army + 1980’s (left them as one song)

Guerilla - Virus macht 12″ (2003, Alpha Society / MSM1279 Records)

Guerilla first caught my attention when I saw the last bit of their show at the Beat ‘em Down-festival in Nürnberg, Germany in 2004. I picked up this LP and I loved it for the political message it had in the artwork, the music, the lyrics. You could critisize them for over-doing it but then again, some things just can’t be said enough.

Actually this is a topic that has been in my mind for a while now, having played tons of shows over the past 15 years where you see people come and go and yes, where you get older and observe the “new” generation and how they do things differently (or the same) as you did or still do. Without meaning to sound elitist, where I still have the romantic view of punk opening my eyes to the world around me I sometimes wonder if it still does the same for a lot of kids these days. Not that I have been on the barricades all my life but fuck me, it sometimes seems like apathy is the one and only motivation and that pisses me off.

Anyway, I don’t mean to make this sound too dramatic, but that is the reason why I really like it when a band comes with an overly political record that also rocks, and Guerilla did just that. Spring has finally hit Amsterdam so I am going to kill the computer and go out, Guerilla on the stereo! Go check out more Guerilla @ http://guerilla.antifa.net/

PS my scanner died on me today so I only hve the front cover for you.

1. Gestank
2. Widerstand
3. Industriegebiet
4. Grenzen weg
5. Freiheit für Konsum
6. Das Virus
7. Solidarität und Repression
8. Bewusst

Niels of the now retired “Eet U Smakelijk” tipped us that on the night before Queensday a number of interesting bands are playing in Amsterdam. Yes, we celebrate having a Queen, in other words: day off work and an excuse to get loaded. I never really understood what’s wrong with having a royal family

Besides Niels’ own band Sack-o’-Woes the line up features the Chemicals, Norton (with old Nitwitz/BGK member) and Frites Modern. Frites Modern? Yes! they did a reunion gig in januari, playing a couple of songs on a birthday. Seems they are enjoying what they did, so grab this chance and pogo on the bar on tunes like 1000 aspirines and Als je haar maar goed zit! So get your punk ass to Amsterdam the 29th of April! See flyer for details.

And while in Amsterdam, come check out me and Arne the day after, we play mid afternoon in front of Cafe the Minds, Spuistraat, with Gewapend Beton and many more!

Kromozom 4 - rien ne sert de gacher de la bande (split Lp w/ Heimatlos)

French ‘fun hardcore’ from the mid eighties. Got to know this through my French buddy Tiffany, about who I have been talking before. She married my best friend, who ‘unfortunately’ moved to the land of frog eaters over 15 years ago.

When listening back this record today, it (ofcourse!) brings up lot’s of memories. I always like that about listening back records that you heard in a certain period in your life. It brings up the same feel you had in those days, in a what melancholic way. And on top of that, they gave me this record the last time I visited them. So to me it’s a little gem that treasures good old memories but also seals long running friendships.

Kromozom 4 released several demo tapes and compilations, plus two split records with French hardcore outfit Heimatlos, a 7″ and this split LP. More info on their releases can be found on KFTH. I just ripped the Kromozom4 side, will do the Heimatlos side some other time. The tracks that got stuck in my head over the years and still my favourites are ‘Sharks’ and ‘Lino’. Thanks D+T!

1. Kromozom 4 bis
2. Touché coulé
3. Le pied gauche dans la merde
4. Bien vu la bave
5. Legitime défense
6. Cent thémes
7. Cling cling
8. Sharks
9. Tout fau free jazz
10. La gueule dans le gateau
11. Lino
12. Dédé le roi du valse core

I know, I know, it’s been a while. In January I lent out my record player to some friends who had their birthday party, then on that party I fell while dancing, got hurt pretty bad (left arm partially out of order), then I went on tour with Antidote and it was only last week that I got my record player back. Long and uninteresting story but the point is, hopefully I will post more regularly again.To make up for it a little, this is a double post and the follow-up to the Substandard-post I did a while back. In July 2007 I promised “I will post some more Substandard over the weekend.” I guess that’s long overdue now, shame on me…

Anyway, I still don’t know much more about Substandard than what I wrote earlier plus the comments on that post, by Substandard-members amongst others. Singer Jules is now in a band called Constant State of Terror, guitar player Notts later joined Bomb Blast Men and is now playing with Shithouse.

The problem with all three split 7″es I have by Substandard is that the split band sucks and even though I know this will get me some complaints, I am not posting the split sides, Substandard only. The records posted here are on a Dutch label called Wicked Witch.

Following h-bomb, from now on I will post thumbnails of sleeves. Just click them and you’ll see the sleeve in proper size.

Substandard / Detestation split 7″ (1996, Wicked Witch)

1. For the kids
2. Annihilate
3. Corruption comes to light

Substandard / Pink Flamingos split 7″ (1997, Wicked Witch)

1. It ain’t fucking you
2. Excuses
3. Jitterbuggery

Waste - s/t 7″ (1982, Miranda-prut 04)

If you read the Holland Scene report Arne posted, you got a nice little insight in the early ’80’s Dutch punk scene, written by Tony Nitwit.  In the end he does a “last minute update” and mentions a new single being put on the Miranda’s label.

Nice little bridge to posting this single. I do not know much about Waste. Were they from the same area as the Miranda’s? Did they do more releases? Besides that, what was release 3 on the label? Questions that some web research could not answer. It did bring up a nice photolog. Picture below is taken from that picture log from ‘Broodje’. You’ll find tons of old Dutch punkpics there. Well worth a visit! Speaking of pictures, from now on I will post thumbnails of the sleeves. just click them and you’ll see the sleeve in proper size.

1. history repeats
2. brain wash
3. blue light
4. tomorrow