Hey, Hey - welcome to my first column for Happy House, hopefully the first of many!! I'll be concentrating on the more noisier, harsher side of things but I'm open to anything, so if that's not your thing I suggest you Fuck Off now.
OK, anyone still with me ???

Although I guess I'm going to be doing mainly reviews, I'm gonna try and include news, up coming gigs, interview etc. If you want anything reviewing send it through, there's a bunch of us who'll give your shit the spin and give it a Yea or Nay! (Bribes of money, alcohol, drugs, etc can sweeten the pill…) OK, OK enough waffle on with the show.

A couple of Victory Records releases up first:
Earth Crisis - The Oath That Keeps Me Free CD (Victory Records). Which is an Earth Crisis 'Best of Live' kinda affair, If I ever see anyone with the cover art as a tattoo - shit I'm gonna laugh!! Terrible, terrible but best not judge a book … musically top notch sound - Earth Crisis do the 'new' crossover of hardcore Death Metal Chugga Chugga, granted they were one of the first to do it well, but it doesn't light my fire too much, the Cream cover was good though I think as an introduction to Earth Crisis then it's good. Also gives a good idea of what to expect in this genre - mainly for die hard fan I would say. The lyrics to all the songs weren't printed either which was pretty shitty as in interviews these guys are pretty vocal about their ideals - you decide.
In Cold Blood - Hell On Earth CD (Victory Records) Wow, peacepunk crust style cover art, discharge title, hmmm… musically nothing like what you'd expect from the cover (nice rhetoric guys!). We're talking metallic influenced old NY style Hardcore, done today - crew back ups, thrash metal solos, tough guy vocals, spiteful lyrics, Ha, Ha I like it - probably because I'm a sucker for the NY stylee thing - better than Earth Crisis for me more "Hardcore" - is this ex-Integrity people ?
Hellkrusher - Wasteland CD (Bomb Factory) This is Hellkrushers first album from 1990 re-released on CD with 3 bnus tracks thrown in to make it worth your dosh… Hellkrusher came from the ashes of Hellbastard, Energetic Krusher and Debauchery, I think, and Since this LP have released a couple of 7"ers and LPs sounding more Dis-core now than on Wasteland which is A HxBx/ExRx mix with a hint of discharge thrown in. Some shouted vocals, anti war, religion, big business lyrics - and you're away!! To Tell the truth I don't see the point of this as Hellkrusher are better now than on this, so my advice to you, the punter, go for the newer stuff.
Veil - Words Vs Nothing CD (Kingfisher Records) Germanic metallic hardcore with more than a nod towards Quicksand in places. Sure it's chugga, chugga, but it does have some interesting bits to keep you interested - kinda like a post hardcore chugga band. Give 'em chance to grow a little more and they might deliver the goods, let's hear the next LP. Not bad though.
Corrupted/Noothgrush - Split CD (Reservoir) Whoa! Now we're talking tortured slow mo core hints of Black Sabbath, Eye Hate God, etc. Slow, dirgy, depressing - you know the score I'm sure. Noothgrush are from Southern California and Corrupted from Japan - who on previous releases sung in Spanish (strange but true!) what more can I say - Buy and Die!
Death & Gone - Gods Loves Everyone But You CD (Alternative Tentacles) The second LP from these Northern Californian punkers, taking off from their first 12" this continues along a well liad path. Take elements of early Neurosis, Econochrist, Dead Kennedys and Black Sabbath throw in some eerie paranois and you're away so good I bought it myself!!
16 - Blaze OF Incompetence CD (Pessimiser/Theologian) 4th full lenghter from these lads carrying on from the Drop Outs LP. 11 tracks of pulverising stoner metal meets Helmet (Meantime era) with a dash of Fudge Tunnel, add some evil lyrics distorted vocals, toke up the bong and drift away - so good my (skint) mate even sent off to the USA for it.
Sweetbelly Freakdown - S/T CD (Jade Tree) Take Swiz (what do you mean who ?) given 'em a break for a couple of years, get back together, change of name and kick out the jams together again and it's Swiz!! Some of the best DC Hardcore with a splash of Fugazi added. Only two complaints it's short, 20 odd minutes, and the production which stops the full gem shining through. But that aside get hold of this stuff if you liked Swiz or want to hear old DC stuff with a new slant.
One Minute Silence - Available in All Colours CD (Big Cat) A step away from the hardcore side of things and a delve into the rap/metal goings on. Take Dub War, Orange 9mm, Downset some funky bass mash it together and out comes One Minute Silence. Tight, good singing, up tempo and catchy, from over here too. Top notch production, so a thumbs up if this is what you like - top song title Pig Until Proven Cop. Good, a touch commercial but good.
One Minute Silence - Waste of Things To Come CDEP (Big Cat) Two tracks off the above LP and one that's not - see above. Worth getting to get an idea of what's going on.

The Godly vinyl next:
Toadliquor - Feel My Hate LP (Soledad) More slow mo depresseo core, distroted, heavy, ugly and mean. File under: Not So Easy Listening. Think Sabbath, etc on downers pounding away like a bad acid trip - if this is your thang then get looking for this one. Recorded in 1993, so quite a bit ahead of the Sabbath worship thing going on now.
Solanki - Buzz or Howl Under The Influence of Leeds 6 10" (Flat Earth) Cool title!! 10" format and think Minutemen/Firehose and that sums it up!! Made up of people from Baby Harp Seal, Polaris and Headache, so it's gonna be good!! Minutemen/Firehose stylee but with more than a sprinkle of the aforementioned characters, pretty fresh even though it's not new or vogue - check it out if you hanker for something not too common these days.
Suffer - End Construction 7" (Flath Earth) OK, Suffer are defunct and came from the ashes of Health Hazard so you know what to expect. Thrashy, fast, D-Beat punk great lyrics even one about wanking - it's done good believe me!!! Add a splash of dare I say it… emo and you're away. The best Suffer so far so check this one out.
Headache - S/T LP (Flath Earth) The inserts for this have to be seen to be believed, total colour in and out affair - great!! Hours of fun for all the family! All round crazy artwork that matches the music completely - spastic, Jazzy, Peni-esque punk ? What can I say other than mad! Cool lyrics too - "…I was so high I saw God!" Well worth checking out for those crazy moments when you want to piss the neighbours off, these French kids have this worked out so well. Production could've been a bit clearer, but hey I can wait 'till next time.
Well that's about all for from me for this issue - Just a few more things to mention. Namely bands visiting these shores in Summer/Autumn:
Detestation, Submission, Hold and Drop Dead, plus Catharsis, The Resisters, Logical Nonsense, etc. Check zines for tour dates - I was a bit pushed for time to get this off so I couldn't get the exact dates - sorry! Lastly the labels address for the reviewed releases:
Victory, PO Box 146546, Chicago, IL60614, U$A.
Bomb Factory, PO Box 21, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 7ZZ, UK. Kingfisher, Schaferstrasse 33A, 44147 Dortmund, GERMANY.
Big Cat, PO Box 3074, London, W11 4GY, UK. Jade Tree, 2310 Kennwynn Road, Wilmington, DE19810, U$A.
Reservoir, PO Box 790366, Middle Village, NY11379-0366, U$A. Alternative Tentacles, PO Box 419092, San Francisco, CA94141-9092, U$A.
Pessimiser/Theologian - PO Box 1070, Hermosa Beach, CA90254, U$A. Soledad, 120 State, NE#236, Olympia, WA98501,U$A.
Flat Earth, Bradford Music ?, PO Box 169, Bradford, BD1 2UJ, UK.
Right that's yer' lot - 'till next time…

Hate mail/freebies/reviews etc.
Bri Holmes
PO Box 47, Bradford, BD8 7TX, UK.

Thanks for reading!

Peace
Bri