Fratricide 12"

FRATRICDE were an incredible crossover band from Vancouver. They happened right at the time that bands like DRI and COC got noticed for doing something unique.


FRATRICIDE were right there and judging by the flyers in the liner sheet (see below) they played with all of them. Suicidal Tendencies, Beyond Possession, the Dehumanizers, the Accused, DRI, COC, and MDC. It didn’t hurt that Jonzo’s vocals were exactly like Blain Cook of the ACCUSED.

FRATRICIDE were a force to be reckoned with. They had done a split with another local crossover band MISSION OF CHRIST which caught Pushead’s ear. He offered the band a split LP which was common for a Pusmort releases back then. FRATRICIDE were to do a split with a Dutch band called NEUROOT who were known for their speed and their politics. There is no doubt in my mind that had this record come out FRATRICIDE would have been propelled into bigger circles. But the folks in the band would go on to do big things regardless. The guitarist started STRAIN and did a well known hardcore radio show called “Flex Your Head” for decades. Jonzo has been singing for HONG KONG BLONDE and have a great ep on Ugly Pop that you can check out if you don’t believe me.

Thirty test pressings exist of the NEUROOT split and have fetched as much as $1,000 for a copy so that should say something about how good this release was. Instead this became another Canadian hardcore story about missed opportunity reminding me of the YOUNG LIONS or CHRONIC SUBMISSION. Nonetheless it is good to finally hear this material. I can say it is better than the MISSION OF CHIRST split or the Heart First ep. And Darrin Crosgrove’s artwork makes this totally look like a Pusmort release so it suits it.

The songs found on here are:

1. Blind Faith
2. Rip Wide the Sky
3. Blood Red Dream
4. Going Under
5. Grave
6. Final Solution
7. Beaten Senseless

(Schizophrenic Records -17 West 4th Street / Hamilton, ON / L9C 3M2 / Canada / http://www.schizophrenicrex.com/ // Ugly Pop Vinyl - http://uglypop.bigcartel.com/)