Tenement - Bruised Music

I've never been known for my fondness of "pop punk", but I had to step up and pick up this Tenement LP when Grave Mistake announced it. I had a 7" they did with Culo that had 2 really catchy songs on it. This is more of the same... Infectious, snotty, catchy pop punk that brings me back to sitting in my room as a kid playing Tony Hawk videogames on my PS2 and listening to the same songs on the games soundtrack over and over. This is one of my current guilty pleasures that I only listen to on my commutes alone...... Hey, everyone can have a soft side every once in a while right?

This is the green version out of /220 which is now sold out.

Crown Court

Crown Court is one of the hottest things going in the Oi! world right now. This is some really raging traditional London Oi! with a bit of a modern edge to it. After downloading their three song "Trouble From London" demo last year, I was hungry for more. I had no idea this was coming out but ran across it in a distro, and it does not disappoint. As far as I know, this is their only vinyl release to date. This is a fantastic release, so if you run across it don't hesitate to pull the trigger on it. I don't know all the pressing info for it, but this copy is #155/300 on black vinyl.

Mercy Killings - Snuffed Out

Wow, no posts in a few months. I've really fallen off.... Sorry! I'll try to start posting more. I have a huge back log of stuff, I've just been real lazy and super busy with work and life in general

Anyhow, Here is my purple copy of Mercy Killing's latest EP "Snuffed Out" on Beach Impediment records. Last year, Mercy Killing released their S/T EP and it turned out to be one of my favorite records of the year. I still listen to it all the time. This EP offers more of the same, the only difference is the recording doesn't sound quite as polished. There is definitely a warmer sound on this recording with a higher level of distortion. My untrained ear tells me that this may be an analog recording, compared to the first EP being digital? The caveat to that is this does give a "harder" feel to the songs, making this an instant classic for any fan of brutal USHC.

Purple vinyl out of /150, with the black vinyl version out of /600.

Suede Razors

Suede Razors are a Bay Area side project of sorts with members of Sydney Ducks, Harrington Saints and Hounds & Harlots. They definitely lean more on the side of pure rock and roll than Oi! They remind me alot of Reducers SF or The Real Kids. The "Here She Comes" single is their debut and my favorite of the two. This version is on red vinyl and out of /200. The title track on this will get stuck in your head all damn day, so proceed with caution!

Here is their third single, "Boys Night Out" on clear vinyl out of /150. This recording sounds a little more polished, and with that a little less raw. I missed out on their second single, "Bootboy Anthems" which sold out extremely quick. Either way, I'm excited about this band and I won't be missing out on any of their future stuff. Although not an elite Oi! group like their cousins in Sydney Ducks, Suede Razors are nothing to shake a stick at.

Missionary - American Strike

Yes, I'm still alive and I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in forever. I've had alot going on that has made this blog low on my list of priorities. Anyways, here is probably my favorite release of 2014... "American Strike" by Brooklyn NY's MISSIONARY. This is pure 86 Mentality Oi/USHC worship, and they just are doing it better than anyone else right now. I feel really happy a snagged a clear copy out of /100 while I still could! And props to Utopia Banished for giving me the heads up, unless I would have slept on this.

Templars Test Presses

Templars have always been one of my favorite bands, and always will be. As a youngster I once drove 8 hours each way just to see them play.  A few years back when TKO Repressed the class "Dans Les Catacombs Du Studio de L'Acre" collection by the Templars, I was all over it. I was then able to snag the test pressing for this release, with the black and white sleeve. It comes on black vinyl with plain white labels.

The "Band Edition Test Pressing" had a red and white cover, and wasn't really a test pressing but more of a band only alternative cover. It came on the the clear vinyl with red and white black splatter which was the limited version out of /200 for the main release. There was also a bunch pressed on black vinyl for the main release.

The top left is the original pressing on Vulture Rock (clear vinyl), Top right was the main release, it is not shown that well in the picture but its like shiny tin foil front cover. Then the two test presses on the bottom.  Make sure to check out the original pressing from my 50th post...
 

TEMPLARS RULE, OK!

Poder Absoluto

Here is Valencia, Spain's PODER ABSOLUTO ("Absolute Power"). This is some awesome raging hardcore. I have always been a sucker for any punk or hardcore that is sung in Spanish. This record rules though, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite records of the year. It was put out by Fight Em All Records and this is the clear copy out of /100, with /200 also on black. Don't sleep on this record and cry later. Not sure if they are still available on clear, but it's worth a shot!

Boston Strangler - Fire

I saw this get posted on Facebook a while back as being up for sale. Apparently I've been living under a rock because I thought it was a repress of their first LP with new album artwork. I ordered a copy from my phone and went on with my day. I later realized it was in fact a brand new LP from the Stranglah. Doh! Glad I got my hands on a copy because as expected these sold at real quick. As far as I know, they followed the same recipe as their debut LP and released these all on black vinyl.

After ordering it, I scoured the internet for a free download and started listening right away. For some reason I was not as impressed by this release as their debut LP. Something about it sounded flatter than their older stuff. When I got the LP, I listened to the actual record several times and realized the digital copy I have is just not that good of quality compared to the real recordings. It gave me a sour first impression, but on further listening I have fallen in love with this record. It is without a doubt more "Oi!" than the last record, which is fine by me. I don't know if this record will live up to the same hype as their debut LP or which will stand the test of time better, but to me it's apples and oranges with both of them being fantastic.