59 Times The Pain come across as sounding like a typical Straight Edge HC band very similar to Gorilla Biscuits/CIV and all the rest, the only thing is these boys aren't SxEx. So starting off on a positive note this album is really cool, powerful and hook-laden with not too much metal which is where the GB similarities run true. 59 Times' lyrics are also well written and compliment what is a rather fine album reminiscent of early Revelation bands.

88 FINGERS LOUIE - Behind Bars CD (Bad Taste Records>PHD)

Chicago punkers 88 Fingers who came over last year to the UK and played a series of fine gigs, defied death in the Europe, survived on tour with Funbug, finally see the Euro issue of the excellent 1995 album Behind Bars. Fast, melodic, uncompromising harmonies and top catchy tunes all add up to the excellent 88 Fingers and a great 12 track album worthy of anyone's record collection.

ABSCONDED - Five Year Plan CD (We Bite Records>PHD)

This is Absconded's first album and includes material that they've been playing for the last 5 years. Absconded are influenced by old US HC bands like Circle Jerks, DRI, Descendents, Agent Orange, White Flag, etc and this comes across very strongly along with another influence I'd suggest being Bad Religion. This is a fine series of tracks and there's another release planned for latter this year which I'll look forward to hearing. This album doesn't bowl you over but it's fast, melodic, enjoyable and obviously holds promise of future things.

ASSORTED JELLY BEANS - S/T MC (Kung Fu Records)

Let them eat Jelly Beans... by god! Snotty in-yer-face skankin' punkin' Yankee doodle dandy top fodder. Fast and hard Assorted Jelly Beans are more like Operation Ivy than OP IVY were (?!) and with tracks like 8th grade nerd, Braindead and Punk Rock Jock, you just know you are in for some cracking tunes and adrenaline kicking music to bop the night away. Yeah! Get sorted and let them eat... Assorted Jelly Beans.

BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT - S/T DEMO (Flat 2/2, 34 Hillfoot Street, Dennistown, Glasgow, G31 2LT, Scotland)

BRACKET - E is For Everything CD (Fat Wreck Chords)

E is for... Excellent actually Bracket are a top band and can be best described as a more prolific Green Day. This 10 tracks CD represents all the stuff they put out with Fat and the boys knock out some class ditties here. Multi-harmonies, powerful production and class pop song writing gives you a whacking great compilation of top tunage. E is everything, excitement, energy.

BRAINDANCE - Can of Worms CD (We Bite Records>PHD)

Norwich punkers Braindance have been around for six years now and have had their fair share of releases before this release five 7"s, two LPs and been on various compilation albums. Braindance are a good band with some really good songs that remind me of alot of the 80s punk bands. The cover artwork is also excellent. Leather, Bristles Studs and Acne.

BROWN LOBSTER TANK - Overflow EP 7" (Ground Zero Records, PO BOX 533, Nottingham, NG3 5NH, UK)

This is a new label from Nottingham and what a debut release to have the infinitely cool Brown Lobster Tank. It's a real shame these guys have called it a day but never-the-less this wax is a hot 4 tracker in a melodious Lemonheads way. Each tracks has cool vocals, a great tune and a good production - what more can you ask for ? Great full colour packaging and for a mere o2.50 inc. post. Send your dosh now.

THE BOLLWEEVILS - Weevilive CD (Dr Strange Records)

An obvious parody of the Misfits album sees the Bollweevils surprise, surprise - Live! This gig is at the Metro in Chicago from 1995, famous for not allowing people to get on stage etc. and includes material from the excellent Heavyweight album along with other 'weevils numbers. I'm not too keen of live albums, I'd rather see and hear the bands live the sound is never quite the same. There's a bit of a fight between the band and bouncers half way through a song which is explained in the inlay, we all know the light-handedness of bouncers don't we ? Also includes a fine cover of Naked Ragun's Rat Patrol.

CAUSE FOR ALARM - Cheaters and The Cheated CD (Victory Records>PHD)

It really seems like the issue for the old hardcore bands to show their faces again. Cause For Alarm are another one of the old school bands and true to their original sound provide 11 tracks of hard hitting NY Hardcore that they originally played in 1982. Most of the songs on here are new and I'd much rather listen to bands like this than all those metal bands that pretend to be hardcore, crossover or what ever for those that lost the plot this is what NYHC was like - heavy, powerful but no metal; OK ?

CHINCHILLA - 101 Italian Hits CD (Crisis Records>PHD)

Four fem fatelles from San Diego indulge themselves in a sea of art-noise pop with some truly excellent vocals. This stuff is laden with cool grooves and has some likeness to Garbage only more complicated and holds some kinship with Fugazi. Chinchilla send you spiralling into the heart of a hurricane and your senses spinning while the silence between tracks offers you recovery time before the next journey into the unknown begins. Top stuff.

CLEATUS - Dirty Harris(Berin or Bust) Demo MC (20 The Meadway, Cuffley, Herts, EN6 4ES)

"...Barry, Oh Barry White..." shit, I just can't get this one out of my brain it's shear class. Cleatus come from the same lunatic asylum as Funbug, Goober Patrol, et al with their fun punk pop that's harmless and puts an involuntary smirk on your face and a coat hanger in your mouth. Cleatus are cool - 5 tracks that are basic but raw and alive!

CROWN OF THORNZ - Metally Vexed CD (Another Planet Records)

How many bands are there now that sound like Judge, etc. Even the Press Release says that they are the leaders of the NYHC revival - please spare me! I don't mean to be cruel but what's wrong with a bit of originality we'd all happily slate the 70s disco revival - what's the difference ? The only thing that saves this album is a cover of Kraut's Unemployed. This CD left me feeling mentally vexed.

THE CRUMBS - S/T CD (Lookout Records)

The Crumbs kick serious arse with a 70s punk rock/new wave bent similar to the likes of the Stooges, NY Dolls, Dead Boys, MC5, etc. Tracks like Shakespeare, No Time, Ain't No Stopping and Gotta Go Destructo all have attitude by the gallon and it's kinda of nice to hear that real simple three chord, 4 on the floor back beat sound again.

DEADGUY - Screamin' With The Deadguy Quintet CD (Victory Records>PHD)

I really loathe this kind of music - noisy, hard and totally incoherent. Marauding metal with lots of shouting - bland, boring and does absolutely nothing for me. I suggest Deadguy reference bands like Big Black for cool noise stuff and then maybe this would sound alot better.

DISGUST - World of No Beauty CD (Nuclear Blast>PHD)

Featuring ex-members of Extreme Noise Terror, Motorhead and PHD's bossman, Disgust have been through a series of line up changes since their debut release in 1994. The list of members gives a fair indication of Disgust sound even before you hear it and Dean's irrepressible vocals lend the band a strength and power that saw the like of ENT, Napalm Death, etc. gain their glory in the mid 80s. With a hint of Discharge in the guitars, Disgust lay the foundations for a gut wrenching sound that I would have been going mental to about 9 years ago, now it sounds a little dated but brings back some fine memories and is a real earslaughter-a-go-go.

EARTH CRISIS - Gomorrah's Season Ends CD (Victory Records>PHD)

The mighty Earth Crisis churn out another stompin' heavy metal dirge of chuggin' riffing. Not up my street but hey, I know many love this kinda metallic hardcore stuff. Nothing new if you like them you don't need convincing by me, anyway.

ENGINE 88 - Snowman CD (Caroline Records)

East Bay post-punkers Engine 88 release their second album for Caroline Snowman a emotion-laden journey into the depths of guitar slashing melodious music that has loads in common with Whirlpool's sound. 13 tracks of Sugar cum Husker Du influenced melancholic tunes that after a couple of listens really get hold of you. Memorable tracks include Killer Willow, Ballerina, Mustard, Snowman and Seconal.

EVERYDAY MADNESS - Preaching To The Converted CD (Bad Taste Records)

12 raging tracks from this dual vocal male and female fronted Swedish band. Everyday Madness sound similar to that great UK outfit Ripcord. fast and furious shouty hardcore that was around in force in the mid 80s. Cool stuff.

FURY OF FIVE - No Reason To Smile CD (Gain Ground Records)

The Fury of Five who definitely have no reason to smile is an understandable statement with this generic Sepultra, Pantera and other such metal band clones. From the CD inlay to the bands tattooed, "Hard" image and lyrics like "... through us hardcore shall live, we're ready to go to war, unity deceased. Those who test our manhood will fall to defeat" - Nuff Said!

GBH - A Fridge Too Far PROMO CD (Powerage Records>PHD)

Originally this album came out of the Rough Justice label many moons ago. This is GBH as I remember them, class punk rock with attitude and no metal. This is a re-issue on Powerage another label from Plastic Head which re-issues old releases by English Dogs, Onslaught, Holy Terror, etc. Including the great See You Bleed, A Fridge Too Far, Crossfire. Nice to hear this album again.

GRISWOLD - Can't Stop Dancin' Demo MC (PO Box 362, Belfast, N. Ireland, BT7 1AY)

Griswold instantly come across as Belfast's answer to the Ramones with the opening track on this demo, No Habla Espanol. While I listen to this I can't help but smile to myself and think of Clarke W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) in that series of class films National Lampoons Vacation... Anyway back to the review this is demo has nice packaging and is well recorded but each track left me feeling that this band can offer alot more. The only real complaint was the fuckin' last run off track that drove me bloody mad! Arrrgh!

GUILT - Further CD (Victory Records>PHD)

A grey, minimalist inlay greets you with this release and also a track listing that informs you that all six tracks are called "Untitled"! This sets the scene for Guilt's atmospheric music. The music is experimental and powerful in it's delivery and reminds you of a Jazz Impro but for alternative music. This kind of stuff will either send you into a subconscious trance or bore you stupid, it has that depth of intensity. Their lyrics are very dark and deal with environmentalism, fashion Industry as well as personal maturity, economics and relationships. This heavily compliment their introspective music and you get the feeling that the band don't give a shit if you listen or not, they're playing to release feelings and emotions from within. Like they're in psychotherapy and we're the shrink. Weird, different and above all an very interesting release.

HI FI AND THE ROADBURNERS - Wine, Women and Sin CD (Victory Records>PHD)

Wailin' and a poundin' Rock 'n' Roll from Hi Fi and The Roadburners, this is adrenaline fuelin' quiffs from Chicago. This is totally cool and has a great sax too it really reminds me of alot of the new wave of rock-a-Billy stuff that came out in the 80s. The 12 bar blues really makes you want to have dancing feet, it's so alive and despite the age of this music it's timeless and changed the face of music in the 50s. Gretsch guitars, 12 bar bass and sexy sax ... Let's rock and roll.

THE HI-FIVES - ...and a whole lotta YOU! CD (Lookout Records)

Lookout are really into this 60s revisited lark along with the Phantom Surfers, etc. and who am I to complain, I love this stuff it reminds me of the all the Rock-a-Billy bands and Rock 'n' Roll greats. What's so cool about this kinda a stuff is you hear it in everything... when I was thinking of who the Hi-Fives reminded me of I came up with a list as long as your arm here's just a few: Beach Boys, Beatles, Kinks, Chuck Berry, Adam & The Ants (Decca era), Elvis Presley, The Clash, Undertones, most 70s New Wavers in fact the list is endless because Rock and Roll is at the heart of all punk. The Hi-Fives treat us to 16 tracks of 60s surf-cum-Mod-cum-garage-cum-rock 'n' roll that makes you think of summer days and dancing the night away. Includes a fine cover of Tainted Love... Who said Rock 'n' Roll was dead ?

THE HI-FIVES - It's Up To You 7" (Lookout Records)

This really sounds like the Clash meets the Kinks in a Should I Stay or Should I Go kind of fashion. The Hi-Fives are a great band and their 60s sounding punk rockin' and a rollin' is so full of energy you're just a buzzin' with it all, man!

THE HUMPERS - Plastique Valentine CD (Epitaph Records)

Yeah man, this is excellent raw rock 'n' fuckin' roll! With guitars that wouldn't have been out of place in any bluesman's case and with the opening track getting the Jerry Lee Lewis treatment this album rocks your socks. Take Rocket from the Crypt and the MC5s an injection of the 70s punk and your set up for energetic session with the Humpers. Cool this is great stuff and the whole album has this lovers (?!) theme hence the title with tracks like Make-up, With A Whip, Table of Luv and For Lovers Only. Get it on with the Humpers!

LOAD KINGS - Demo MC (c/o 25 Curlew, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 3NG)

This is Stuart from the now defunct Bendy Pencil zine's band The Load Kings 3 track demo. The 1st track kicks off with a really cool chorus reminiscent of those early punk bands of the 70s like Eater or The Adverts with a hint of The Dickies in there for good measure. The opening chords of the next track are a blatant rip off of the Pistols or the Jam (depending on your preference) of Holidays in the sun or In the City but then the song cranks into a Goober Patrol sounding tune about the trials and tribulations of getting out of bed. The Load Kings are a killer pop punk outfit with pace, raw energy and an over indulgence in spot on harmonies.

LOS ASS-DRAGGERS - Abbey Roadkill CD (Crypt Records)

Take a cold garage, four rockabilly types and a healthy supply of amphets and what you get is a wild, full-on, attitude laden punk-a-billy onslaught equalling the pace of the Dead Kennedys (In God We Trust era), Angry Samoans, etc... Driven by rock 'n' roll attitudes and the loathing of NOFX and metal crossover this is a 21 track CD of speeding pubrock on Crypt Records and is fuckin' raw, man. Excellent!

LOVE 666 - Please Kill Yourself So I Can Rock CD (Amphetamine Reptile Records)

Love 666 are straight out of the late 60s early 70s rock cum psychedelia era influenced by the likes of Hendrix, Led Zep, etc. Not desperately inspiring or anywhere near as good as the afore mentioned but typical of Amp Rep releases and if this is your bag you'll love it. Great title but that's all I could drag out of this release.

LUNACHICKS - Pretty Ugly CD (Go Kart Records)

The Lunachicks are back with a fantastic new album which so much better than their past releases. Pretty Ugly is a catchy, mid paced tunage with well structure songs that have a real punk-laden attitude rather than the rockier edge that they use to play. But then the 'chicks have been around a good long while now and this album shines with their maturity and songs like Throwin It Away, Dear Dotti, Mr Lady, Gone Kissin and Wing Chun provide an end result that is a bloody good energetic album, go see them live in April.

MAJOR ACCIDENT - The Ultimate High CD (We Bite Records>PHD)

Wow, I remember this cool Darlington band in the Step Forward days of Mr Nobody and Fight To Win. This is an of new material from the band including three original members who reformed in 1995 and subsequently signed to We Bite in Germany. The band that took the Droog image like the Adicts from the infamous Clockwork Orange play a selection of raw oi-punk that probably would be called street punk these days. Wired opens this fine album with a Stiff Little Fingers sounding number and the Buzzcocks influenced Lies and Nightmare make for a series of great songs along with the reggae number Snap. Major Accident have proved their worth by producing a fine album of punk rock anthems that have progressed from their material of over fifteen years ago and not rely on their old material I take my bowler hat off to them.

MDC - Smoke Signals CD (We Bite Records>PHD)

This is such an old classic that it's about time it got a re-release. Smoke Signals was the second MDC album and includes the fantastic Chicken Squawk, Acceptable Risks, Drink To Forget, Big Picture and the cool South Africa is Free. It's great to see this and the PEACE/WAR comp out two great albums originally released on MDC's own label R Radical Records. The CD also includes two bonus unreleased tracks Bombs Not Food and Nazis Shouldn't Drive, this is a fine album still and available to a whole new generation of punkers.

MISFITS - Evilive CD (Caroline Records)

Caroline have been steadily re-releasing the Misfits back catalogue of Plan 9 releases. This is the first time outside of box sets that this famous live album has been available on CD. Featuring some of the Misfits most well known numbers like Night of the Living Dead, Horror Business, Hate Breeders, 20 Eyes and We Are 138 with Henry Rollins on guest vocals. Classic stuff.

MONKHOUSE - The Final Indignity CD (Rejected Records, 9 Woodlands Ave, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland.)

This is the second release for Monkhouse on the excellent Rejected Records this album has 24 tracks, fuck if that's not good value I don't know what is, of previously released 7"s and live tracks and demos etc. Anyway Monkhouse play their great Leatherface influenced barrage of energetic punk rock with total attitude, tracks like Cut Up, Say Nothing, Easily Led, Who Cares, show the sheer class of this top band.

NEGLECT - Four Years of Hate CD (Gain Ground Records)

This is a double CD of Neglect's back catalogue including demos, sessions and live tracks. Neglect are very similar to Judge both musically and vocally and this metallic edge crossover HC which rules its roost in SxEx circles is very predictable and owes more influence to Slayer and Nuclear Assault than Minor Threat and Youth of Today.

THE OFFSPRING - Ixnay On The Hombre CD (Epitaph Europe)

This band's classed as uncool these days but I have to say that despite the shite first LP I really liked Ignition and Smash. Ixnay on the Hombre continues in the same vein as Smash did. The Offspring will never win any prizes for inspired originality but never the less this is a fine album of pacy, punky anthems that allows them to basque in the fruits of their labours. There's some real nice numbers on here like I Choose which has a guitar sound reminiscent of the Cult, Amazed is another fine tune and on the whole gives a glimpse of a band who can dedicate most of their life to writing songs and the experience is paying off. The first track is a spoken bit from old Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra.

PHANTOM SURFERS - The Great Surf Crash of '97 CD (Lookout Records)

As Lookout harks back to the 60s once more for greased back hair and tuxedos the Phantom Surfers provide an album full of mainly instrumental surf music that would have put the likes of the Safaris to shame. Also this album is reminiscent of some of the fine surf material by Agent Orange. The Phantom Surfers are the surfing Shadows, there's no doubt and includes a humorous ode to the X-Files.

PULLEY - Esteem Driven Engine CD (Epitaph Records)

Sporting ex-members of Ten Foot Pole, Face To Face and two Strung Out guys, Pulley are another typical Epitaph band. But I really like this mid-paced melodic punk rock stuff with a feeling of Bad Religion - Suffer era. Good Album.

SCREECHING WEASEL - Bark Like A Dog CD (Fat Wreck Chords)

On the back of many line up changes, cynicism and bitterness of being in your mid 20s and the realisation that you're a middle age punk, Screeching Weasel now hitting the big 30 have something to prove and Bark Like A Dog is the bone to chew over. 12 tracks of Ramones influenced punk rock that proves that there's life in the old dog. ahem, Weasel yet! Great tunes, great artwork, top album.

SCREW 32 - Under The Influence of Bad People CD (Fat Wreck Chords)

This album just never seems to get going with the exception of Paint The Town Red. You're constantly waiting track after track for the one song that's going to launch this album but unfortunately you run out of tracks and it never happens. It seems like the band just can't be arsed and the music carries a bland feel to it. Despite the good lyrics and the proceeds going to Food Not Bombs it doesn't make up for what I found to be an uninteresting album.

SHUTDOWN - Icarus CD (Golf Records>PHD)

If this wasn't an English band on an English label you'd be very much mistaken to think that the band and label were of American origins, in fact to be more precise - Washington DC. This album from the inlay to the music production is so Dischord Records it's unbelievable. Shutdown are a fine UK outfit playing a great original blend of DC sounding music similar to 3, Fugazi and other incarnations on the Dischord label. I love this kind of stuff too, melodic vocal harmonies with a complicated, off kilter guitar and solid drums with subtle stick work. This really is a top release and songs like Kerbdrill, Icarus, 730 Days and Weedkiller show the bands song writing off to it's best. Great album from a great UK band.

SKANKIN' PICKLE - The Green Album CD (Dr Strange Records)

This is a 13 track covers CD which is a series of the Pickles favourite songs. Top production and pretty interesting album as all the covers are not that well known. Some that are include songs by Devo, a cool skankin' version of Gorilla Biscuits Start Today, Bad Manners and the wonderful Bad Brains' Pay To Cum.

SLEPPY PEOPLE - Paint A Ceiling On The Sky MC (Soporific Foundation, 29 Wolseley Gardens, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 1HR)

The cover of this tape wouldn't look out of place on a Pink Floyd album in fact the Sleepy People provide a dreamy acid haze cocktail of swirling flangers and wispy chorus pedals. Very much like a cross between the Cardiacs and Divine Comedy, very polished despite this apparently being a series of live recordings. 6 long tracks of nice easy listening pop with a twist of bitter lemon. If you fancy a change and something a bit different the Sleepy People are ideal for those times when you want to sit down, relax and have a bit of background music on.

SMILE - Masterlocks CDEP (Revelation Records>PHD)

Smile are a band after our own hearts, what a fine name... anyway on with the review. Masterlocks is another EP in Rev's new assault in alternative music to their usual genre and we say keep it up. Smile are a fine melodic band and it's no surprise that they've received rave reviews from "big" US magazines. You get four cool tracks of guitar frontage with harmonic vocals and laid-back solid drums.

STRAIGHT FACED - Broken CD (Fearless Records) The first thing that hit me about Straight Faced was their similarity to Uniform Choice, yeah old style SxEx the stuff I really got into when it was totally over run with metal riffs: Youth of Today, No For An Answer, Upfront, Straight Ahead, etc. This is great totally energy spewing, 14 top tracks to get you fired up to dance like a lune. Great bass sound, shouty vocals, razor-sharp guitars, tight drums and great rolls, what more can I say - buy it, OK.

SQUIRTGUN - Mary Ann EP 7" (Lookout Records)

Tell me that this is the Ramones ?! Ok it's not but it certainly comes close. Squirtgun who sport two brothers and two Matts and a drummer sound alot like the Ramones with their Rock 'N' Roll punk rock. The title track and Come On Let's Go are as near as any band is going to come to the Ramones. Top stuff - simple tunes, buzzsaw guitars and highly addictive songs.

SUB ZERO - Happiness Without Peace CD (Century Media Records>PHD)

This is more Hardcore masquerading as metal it's really kind of hard to believe that it includes and ex member of the class SxEx band Upfront as this band has more in common with Dog East Dog or Biohazard. In an era when even Metalica are producing more melodic tracks is metal hardcore taking the old metal rock's place in the music industry. It even has the generic Sepultra-ish chorused acoustic guitar intro on Once & For All before cranking in the chugging guitars and widdly guitar solos, argh! That's not hardcore that's the guitar wankery of metal at Donnington for fuck's sake.

TEN FOOT POLE - Unleashed CD (Epitaph)

The Rev album was cool but this is even better. The Pole have taken the melodic song structure from the previous release and turned their focus on that to produce an excellent new album chock full of mid paced, cool-as-they-come punk rock. They also sound more together without Scott, who now sings for Pulley and with Dennis taking over the vocal duties and now singing his own songs it all just seems to flow. Get this sucker now!

THREE O'CLOCK HEROES - Over The Dump CDEP (We Bite Records>PHD)

The Heroes return with a 4 track EP. Over the Dump includes the excellent All Shut Up from their latest album Songs and Nails along with 3 other tracks. I Want To Be A Kelly is a song of two parts the intro being Yellow Submarine by the Beatles with different lyrics before cranking into the Heroes own creation. The second track Ugly But Home an ode to their home city Frankfurt starts again with a cover intro of Country Road by Tammy Wynette or some such Country & Western nutter! The Heroes are a cool, they're sort of 77 style punkers like The Jam and SLF and we love them.

TURTLEHEAD - Back Slapping Praise From Back Stabbing Men CD (Bad Taste Records)

Following on from the excellent CDEP with that fabulous track Wall Tie Scotland's finest deliver another helping of melodious punk - simple but bloody effective. This band have achieved alot in a very short space of time, but I don't think they're some one-hit wonders their songs are well structured and so catchy. I've been playing this alot and tracks like Home add a nice touch of variety along with Medication Time. Great album worth a back slapping and gets the thumbs up from us.

VARIOUS - 200 Proof CD (Destiny Records>PHD)

On the German Destiny label this is another cheap fine compilation of many of the leading worldwide bands including some unreleased tracks and general tracks from top bands like Youth Brigade, No Fun At All, Strung Out, NOFX, Lag Wagon, Rich Kids on LSD, Millencolin, Bouncing Souls, 59 Times The Pain, No Use For A Name, etc. To appreciate this CD play loud on your stereo with a nice bottle on vodka in hand and drink to the fine tunes on 200 Proof.

VARIOUS - Anti Matter CD (Another Planet Records)

This is a great HC compilation exposing the great variety of bands around. The memorable on here are Quicksand, Game Face, Outspoken, Supertouch, Farside, 108, CIV, Garden Variety, Chamberlain, Sensefield and Lifetime. The booklet pays homage to 90s US zine Anti Matter and is written by Norm Arenas, the zine's author and also member of Texas Is The Reason. Good selection of bands which makes this a decent compilation.

VARIOUS - California Takeover ...Live CD (Victory Records>PHD)

This is a three band split compilation of live tracks from Strife, Earth Crisis and Snapcase. The usual stuff from these three top selling Victory bands, not really my scene but Strife are the best out of the three and the quality of the recording is good. Recorded on the same night in LA in 1996 this captures the bands live and loud at the infamous Whiskey-A-Go-Go.

VARIOUS - Go Kart VS The Corporate Giant CD (Go Kart Records)

This is a cool sampler of all the top bands from Go Kart Records including this issues favourite babes the Lunachicks who play two corking tracks the attitude-laden Jerk of All Trades and the track Theo mentioned in the interview Pretty Ugly. Also on here is the fuckin' excellent emotional punk-pop of Weston including an unreleased track Return To Horse Valley. Classics tracks from the great Meatmen and also fine raw numbers in the vein of the Ramones Animal Boy era from the rockin' Trick Babys. Other notable bands are Berserk who are very similar to latter day Lemonheads, the fine Templars who have a Sham 69 sound with Op. Ivy vocals! Black Velvet Flag ring out a classic with I Shot JFK which could have been by Wat Tyler in their acoustic moments. Great sampler and what's more you can win a copy of this from us just turn to page 3 like now! Don't miss out.

VARIOUS - Heide Sez CD (Lookout Records)

A pretty cool compilation from Lookout all the bands you'd expect on here including The Queers, Sweet Baby, Crumbs, Avail, Pansy Division, Mr T Experience, Phantom Surfers, Squirtgun, Fifteen, Citizen Fish, Hi-Fives, Wynona Riders and others a good sampler of the labels releases and it's nice to see Citizen Fish included too.

VARIOUS - In Flight Program CD (Revelation Records>PHD)

74 minutes of class Rev bands on a budget sampler. The In-flight Program is a starstudded CD of unreleased, rare, old and new tracks by great bands including: Texas Is The Reason, Sensefield, Farside, Chain of Strength, Body Jar, Chinchilla, Ignite, Youth of Today, No Fun At All, Shades Apart, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, Quicksand, Underdog, Bold, Burn, Into Another, Whirlpool, Shelter, Engine Kid, etc. A great selection of music from the wealth of bands that have graced the fine Revelation label and moulded many bands since the 80s. 26 excellent tracks and an ode to Revelations 50+ releases.

VARIOUS - P.E.A.C.E./WAR 2xCD (We Bite Records>PHD)

Like the re-release of MDC's second album it's cool to see this great, highly influential international compilation available again. I remember this as one of the best double LPs ever up there with Not So Quiet On the Western Front, it had a wealth of great bands in their early incarnations and was so inspirational to many including myself. Including great bands such as: Dead Kennedys, Articles of Faith, Cause For Alarm, Wretched, Declino, Dicks, BGK, Crass, Upright Citizens, False Prophets, Contrazione, Scum, Vicious Circle, Condemned To Death, Negazione, DOA, Porno Patrol, Septic Death, CCM, Peggio Punx, Conflict, Iconoclast, Subhumans, Slaugtherhouse 4, Execute, Reagan Youth, Impact, Butthole Surfers, and MDC. Buy your piece of history here and a fuckin' excellent double CD.

VARIOUS - Punk-O-Rama Vol. 2 CD (Epitaph Europe)

Another compilation of Epitaph finely tuned, primed and well honed stable of top bands. Including: The Descendents, Joykiller, Bad Religion, Pulley, SNFU, Rancid, NOFX, Millencolin, Down By Law, The Humpers, New Bomb Turks, Penny wise, Voodoo Glow Skulls, DFL to name a few. It seems Epitaph are re-issuing a load of classic bands too Poison Idea and TSOL. You know what you gonna get with Epitaph and this is a fine compilation of bands pretty much all the tracks are good.

VARIOUS - This Is Bad Taste... The Ultimate Punk Rock Party CD (Bad Taste Records>PHD)

18 tracks most of which are previously unreleased. The bands on hear are some of the fines bands that the people at Bad Taste with good taste have put out over the years. Includes the excellent Turtlehead song Wall Tie as wall as other bands like Pridebowl, 88 Fingers Louie, Intensity, the cool Astream, Misconduct, Ten Foot Pole, Everyday Madness, Loosegoats and Satanic Surfers. A great compilation of some great bands to party to, so raise your glasses to the Swedish Bad Taste.

VARIOUS - Violent World: A Tribute To The Misfits CD (Caroline Records)

I have always like the Misfits and their legendary songs and while not being to fond of tribute albums, what this one shows is that the Misfits can be placed in that special "timeless" section of music for those bands that stand the test of time. What you get here is 14 classic Misfits numbers like Where Eagles Dare, TV Casualty, Mummy..., Horror Business. Also some not so famous but just as classic ones like Return of The Fly and Last Caress. Pennywise, Shades Apart, Deadguy, Sick of it All, Tanner, Therapy?, 108, Bouncing Souls, Goldfinger, NOFX, Earth Crisis and Farside all cover their respective songs with style and only Snapcase and Prong let the album done massacring their stabs at She and London Dungeon, over all an interesting release.

WARZONE - The Sound of Revolution CD (Victory Records>PHD)

Another of the original NYHC bands Warzone who were famed for the Lower East Side Crew many moons ago put out their fifth album Sound of Revolution and this really shows how the NY sound should be. Their lyrics aren't brilliant but the music is as it should be and is very strong with chanting choruses and pisses all over bands like Earth Crisis and Snap Case.

WHIRLPOOL - Liquid Glass CD (Revelation Records>PHD)

If you're expecting Hardcore from this because this is on Revelation then turn your narrow-minded head off and open your eyes to an excellent album of something completely different. Whirpool like Sensefield and Shades Apart are another band on the prolific Rev label to be totally different from the expected genre and give a aural attack of powerful pop-ish music that takes on experimentation in the use of instrumentation while delivering exceptional vocals by Rachel Stolte and Rodney Sellers. Machine Religion is very Joy Division and all their songs are so atmospheric and emotional that they take on both a subtle sweetness before crunching into a severe strength. Insecurity is another fine driving song that is given the treatment with Rachel's Suzanne Vega-ish vocals. This is album is just brilliant both lyrically and musically and enthrals you from start to finish. Liquid Glass will set solid in your mind and form a new window to your perspective of music.

ZOINKS! - Stranger Anxiety CD (Dr Strange Records)

Any band that has a name that sounds like a line out of Scooby Doo is cool by me and Zoinks! Are fuckin' ace. Since the Bad Move, Space Cadet album have only recorded singles and this album compiles seven 7"s plus some new songs. If you haven't got the singles then this is a fucking great introduction to this band's pop-punk tunage. Classics rippers include Dirty Underwear, Roid Rage Talkshow, and Hooray!