Youth Avoiders

What a pleasant surprise France's Youth Avoiders is. Deranged Records has hit another home run with this blistering punk release. The Youth Avoiders are very similar to some of the other "different" type bands on Deranged like Bloody Gears and Neon Piss, and that is a good thing. Let me just start off by saying that this album is really incredible. It is a very unique musical experience and really a breath of fresh air for me. I highly advise everyone to go download this for free and if you like it then buy it. The band has put all of their releases (including this LP) up for FREE DOWNLOAD on their bandcamp, so what excuse do you have to not check it out? If this isn't in all sorts of top 10 lists this year, I will be shocked. Don't sleep on this record!!!

Check out the track "Long Chains" above.

Bloody Gears S/T

Here is the limited version of Bloody Gears' s/t 7" on Deranged. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really love Bloody Gears! They are so weird, dark and unique. It is hard for me to put my finger on them exactly, but I would say their comparisons to Husker Du and Leatherface are somewhat correct. Very dark and a bit melodic without being poppy. Bloody Gears have a harder edge than those two though. Check this shit out! 

Pregnancy Scares

Vocals are everything. I wanted to like this Deranged release, but it's just not happening. The music sounds very good, but the high pitched, shrill throaty vocals are just too much for me. I got the white limited vinyl version of this release, maybe I'll trade it someday. I have a bit of a love hate thing going on with Deranged. Some of their stuff is just out of this world, but sometimes they gamble on some real oddball stuff that I just can't get into. Pregnancy Scares made a video for a song on this 7" as well, you can decide for yourself. Pretty cool video though, I must say!

Criminal Code

Here is the Criminal Code "Hollowed" EP put out by Deranged Records. Deranged sticks to its usual design scheme with over simplified art. The only place it says the bands name is on a cheesy little sticker on the poly bag. Deranged described these guys as "moody Midwest hardcore", and I would say that description is pretty accurate. To me this release almost sounds more like moody garage punk than hardcore, but it is pretty good listen whatever you call it. I won't hesitate to pick up their LP when it drops this year. These guys remind me alot of Dark Ages, which is a good thing!

It appears that Crim Code is fans of the square them as a logo. Their "Sacred Hands" 7" looks almost identical to this except it is on a black background. This is the limited vinyl version, but I have no idea how many were pressed. 

Your Rules

I kind of picked this up on a whim at a record store in the used section recently. I knew I had heard of Terminal State before, and I noticed it was a Deranged Record release... so for five bucks why not? After bringing it home and listening to it, this is actually a really excellent release. I came to find out that this Toronto band now has members in School Jerks. However, I prefer these guys all day over School Jerks. If you get a chance download this album, it is excellent early 80's style hardcore punk. Simple and to the point, but very effective in what it is trying to do.  The whole thing comes in at just over 8 minutes. 

I really like the design and layout on this. The cover art is great and I love the insert. Yeah, this could have totally came out in '82. I don't know if this had any color vinyl or anything about the pressing info.

You can listen to the whole thing here. It will only take you 8 minutes, so you might as well.

Brain Tumors - Fuck You Forever

I really wanted to like this release from Deranged. Not much is known about the band except for the explanation I read on the Deranged site, something along the lines of "fast retarded Midwest hardcore". The music on this thing sounds GREAT, it's just that the vocalist is incredibly annoying with high pitched squeally vocals. Only if they had a different singer... As for the packaging it looks fantastic. The pink vinyl is beautiful with the black and pink record cover. This would probably be more appealing to fans of Japanese hardcore I guess. I would advise giving a quick listen before buying. Why do I give up $5 so carelessly?

Girl Punk

Traditionally I have never been that into punk bands with girl singers. I'm not sexist, it's just rare that I can find girl vocals in punk that I genuinely like and can listen to more than once or twice. This band caught my attention since it was released on Deranged and I went to check out their video (below). This album from Canada's White Lung is pretty darn good. My girlfriend actually really likes it surprisingly. Maybe that has made me like it less, it seems like the music I enjoy most is the stuff that gets her irritated and annoyed in the car ("Oh my god, not Sean Price again..."). This band is definitely skilled and come with some serious heat on this release though, so don't mistake them for a novelty act. I saw something on facebook this was nominated by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the best albums of the year, but that dude had Taylor Swift at No. 2 so his list is irrelevant. I also seen some site where this was nominated for best album art of the year? I don't know about that, I don't think there is anything all that special about it but whatever. Point is, there seems to be some main stream buzz over this release so who knows, maybe they'll be all over MTV soon and I'll be able to sell this "OG" pressing White Lung and buy Bringin it Down on green or something. Yeah, keep dreaming.

And the singer is maybe light weight cute, no?

Keine Klasse has No Class

Here is another solid release by Deranged Records, featuring Kansas City's hardcore punk thrashers No Class, or Keine Klasse, I'm kinda confused really what their band name is. This has been out for a few years now, and I've read alot of mixed reviews on this release. Some people seem to think these dudes are the kings of midwest hardcore, others not so much. This release took me more than a few listens to get into, but I suppose it is finally starting to grow on me a little bit. The songs are short and sweet with gruff vocals and plenty of anger.

This release is out of /500 on white. Terrible cover art and lay out. I am not sure which cover art is worse, this or their cover art for Keine Klasse II. One of the things that initially turned me off from this group was this live video of them on youtube. Why, you ask? When I see a vocalist wearing extremely tight girl jeans and a Justin Bieber haircut, that is just not my get down. I just kind of have to pretend I never saw it to get into the music at all I guess. Over all a solid release, but it is not nearly as incredible as some bloggers have made it out to be.

NEON PISS and the Golden State Advantage

So it seems recently I have been posting more negative reviews than positive. Well, I'm not going to lie and make every record I buy seem like it's great. Also, since I haven't taken pictures in months, I've ran through most of the most liked records and now moving onto the second tier stuff. NEON PISS' latest LP on Deranged is by no means in that second tier category. This album has grown on me in a huge way, and Deranged never ceases to amaze me lately. If I may be so bold, this release may creep into my top 10 albums for the year! This is very similar to Bloody Gears, very dark and moody weird rock mixed with a little '77 UK punk flair. These guys are from the Bay Area (my stomping grounds) and I feel kind of embarrassed to say that I had never even seen these guys before or paid any attention to them before this came out. I hope they play some more shows soon because I am there. This copy is on plain old black vinyl and I don't know the pressing info. The artwork is pretty terrible on this, but the music is great so who cares. This release is definitely worth checking out!

Natural Law - Find the Flock

It's been a whirlwind the past week, but it's time to get back on that horse! Here's Natural Law's "Find the Flock". I have been listening to this a ton lately, but it did take some time to grow on me. The first couple listens I wasn't all that impressed, but now I am loving it. I guess I'm glad I didn't post it months ago when I first got it. This is pressed on Deranged/Katorga Works on black out of /770. I am a fan of this record, but not that big a fan of the artwork and layout. I've never been a big fan of covers without the band name on them. I know, I know, "but it says Natural Law" in the top right corner. Yeah, let me get my microscope so I can find it. Pfft. When I saw this, I thought they should have added some of the "censored" bars over the eyes of the sheep, One saying "Natural" and one saying "Law", and then the tiny writing at the top could have said "Find the Flock". That would have been freaking awesome. 

Some weird artwork and layout. It seems most of the Deranged and Katorga Works stuff is a little bit too on the artsy side for me as far as artwork goes, call me a traditionalist I guess. But man, have they been pumping out some of the best hardcore right now. Another excellent release from these powerhouse labels. Go pick it up!

Bloody Gears - We Trippy Mane!

If you clicked on my link thinking you would find something having to do with Power Trip merch then I apologize. That "We Trippy Mane" shirt just reminds me of this band, because they are very trippy, mane. Bloody Gears "Landscapes of Disease" has been getting a ton of plays from me lately. This album is so weird and out there, I can't really even compare it to anything. I've heard comparisons to Husker Du, Articles of Faith and Leatherface before which sounds closer than anything else I can think of. It's not really punk or hardcore, it's just weird and awesome. It's really dark and depressing, which is right up my alley. Life isn't all peaches and cream, you know what I'm saying? This Deranged Records release is on black vinyl, and I'm not really sure if they pressed any on color. Very good album though and it's worth checking out.

Here is the "Frozen Rain" 7" on Grave Mistake. This is the limited version on gray vinyl out of /200. These are probably 3 of my favorite songs by the band on this 7", my favorite being "Tragic Mistake". I ordered this months ago when it came out, and surprisingly this is still available on colored vinyl in the GM store. I would suggest picking one up before it's gone. Two solid releases by a great band, I am going to get their self titled 7" next and I can't wait to hear more stuff from them.

Vacant State Rules OK!

As discussed in my CREEM post, I really can't put my finger on what makes bands popular or fuels the hype. I really think it has to do with several things besides the music itself, such as: where the band is from, how often they tour, what label their on, band image and marketing, etc. I am very happy to see a band like Boston Strangler blowing up, but it confuses me why so many other great similar bands are hardly given any attention. Canada's Vacant State is one of my favorite bands right now, and all their material is really amazing. They bring that early 80's Boston hardcore with a little Oi! flavor and are pissed as all hell, with pissed off negative vocals and lots of distortion. This release came out in 2011 on Deranged Records, and according to discogs there was only 500 pressed on black. If that's true and only 500 were pressed on this, I'm amazed this is not long OOP and going for ridiculous amounts on ebay. This record is a fucking classic! At the end of the year I'll probably have to make a top 10 list for 2011 AND 2012 since I didn't do one last year, and I can't imagine ten other records in the last 2 years to keep this out of my top 10.

Here is my copies of "Internal Conflict" on Deranged Records (red) and "State of Confusion" which was a self release. I like how State of Confusion has a cool "Vacant State" stamp on the A-side. Both of these are fantastic as hell also. I prefer "State of Confusion" between these too, it seems to have a little bit more of a raw, less polished feel to it. I would go pick up both of these if I were you though and decide for yourself. Listen below to Vacant State's title track "Fill the Void" from their LP:

Must love cats? No Problem!

Sorry for no posts the last few days, my brother and sister in law, their significant others and new born babies have all been staying at my house the last few days. So it's been non stop "activities" and bringing them all around to show what the Bay Area has to offer. Basically, hectic as all hell. So before we go to the beach, let me do a quick post. Here is No Problem's "And Now This" LP on Deranged Records. Plain old black, not sure on pressing info. Very solid '77 style punk but with a bit of a harder edge to it. I'm liking it! This is not your cookie cutter '77 punk, it's far from poppy and has some bite to it.

Here is the "Paranoid Times" 7" on black on Handsome Dan Records. 

Here's the "Your Eyes" EP on a beautiful Orange. They also have Gary Bussey on vocals, which is always a good thing. Also on Handsome Dan Records.

I'm loving the cat theme on these. I already thought highly of these but the cat them on all three record labels really sends this band out of the park for me. I need to give this more of a listen but man, just after a few spins I am loving this. I have a feeling these could grow on me to be some of my favorites, glad I picked them up! Check out the ripper below, "Paranoid Times":

Heavy CREEM

This is going to be a top ten album this year. Here is NYHC's CREEM. Early 80's Boston sounding hardcore with a little bit of Oi! influences. I am loving the revival in this type of music right now, in the past few years we have seen bands like (the almighty) 86 Mentality, Vacant State, Wasted Time, Violent Minds, Boston Strangler, Shipwrecked, Cold Stare, Reckless Aggression, Bukkake Boys, No Class, and so many more. I think this is becoming one of the most exciting eras of hardcore with this kind of revival, after so many years of just youth crew, beatdown and powerviolence styles dominating the 'core. Which is nothing wrong with that, but I grew up on Oi! and old hardcore so seeing these genre's become more and more prevalent is a great, fantastic thing. This release is FANTASTIC. I just wish it was longer, seven tracks that come out the speakers straight for the kill. No fucking around, just amazing hardcore. I'm frankly amazed that these guys aren't as blown up as Boston Strangler is right now. Either way, I would go ahead and scoop up a copy of this if you have a chance. Just listen to the track below, "Think Twice" and Think Twice about buying this record.

The Young Offenders

Here is the Young Offender's 7" that Deranged put out. The artwork and layout is pretty much a snooze fest. The front and back are exactly the same, except one side has Deranged Records 2008. It doesn't even have the band name on it or anything. What this release lacks in design, it makes up for in music. The Young Offenders are one of the Bay Area's more exciting bands in the Punk/Oi! scene, playing a similar style to other Bay Area heavyweights like Factory Minds and Sydney Ducks. Some people insist this is Oi!, but to me it is more a power pop/'77 punk band that plays with Oi! bands. This definitely reminds me of the late 90's/early 00's era TKO Records bands. Either way, these guys are really great and definitely a breath of fresh air. But check them out for yourself below:

CULO FEVER

I originally discovered this band on someone else's vinyl blog but I can't remember whose. I saw this and the great cover art and I knew I had to have it, so I headed over to Deranged and put together a $25 (now $27) for 5 seven inches shipping bundle and got these three together, as well as a Young Offenders and Violent Minds 7". Culo is from Chicago and plays fast as hell lo-fi noisy thrash style punk. I am not even really sure how to describe it, and although this typically isn't my style this seven inch is pretty good. Both of the Toxic Vision seven inches are surprisingly still available and are only out of 100 each. I suggest picking these up before they are gone for good! They also have a 12" on blue vinyl out of 100 that I really want, but since it adds almost $20 to the shipping cost I just can't justify the purchase at this time. Why the hell does a 12" add so much more to shipping from Canada to the US??? I'll probably have to pull the trigger on it soon though because I don't want to be kicking myself if this band blows up, and those blue 12"s are going for stupid amounts on ebay. 

I picked this one up as well which now appears to be OOP on Deranged (but there are some still at RevHQ), which appears on a very nice clear smoke. I'm not sure of the pressing info on this, but I think it was also out of 100. One of my fellow Bloggers Mr. Rusty Shackleford was kind enough to post download links for these, but of course go support the band and buy "Toxic Vision" before you download that one :) Below is my favorite Culo track and probably their catchiest, the title track for Toxic Vision: