MRR - Imants Krumins

Gunnar Hansen / U.T.I. split LP

Gunnar Hansen were this incredible hardcore band from Hamilton that broke up in 2008 just after the first five songs on this split were recorded. The band took a few cues from 9 Shocks Terror but have a heavier sound because they had two guitarists. Having said that you get songs like "Phil's Song" which totally sounds like a song you hope FUCKED UP would write. I also love how this band has captured some great bits about Hamilton with the tribute to Phil Fader and the tribute to the city itself in the song "Hammered". It makes sense that a label from the same city is putting this out. I miss this band, but here are some recordings frm the vaults. The other three songs were recorded around the same time that the ep was recorded and I remember hearing them on our show because the band brought them in. Great to hear them on vinyl finally. There songs are:

1. To an End
2. Phil's Song
3. I Love Love You
4. Hammered
5. My Crimes
6. These Walls
7. Sk8 Song

Urinary Tract Infection are a Toronto band that have had a low profile as of late because Leah and Chad just gave birth to their daughter. On this line up the band was working with Aaron who played drums in BAD SKIN, with exception for the song A. Fish which had their originally drummer Conrad. I might also add that this is the only song frm the demo, the rest are all new. Leah's vocals project that tasmanian style of bands like the Accused and Beyond Possession. She sounds crazed. The music draws on a variety of sound sof hardcore. Like the song "Dumb then Dead" which is super fast and plays with tempo changes which sits next to a song like "Klabolitermannikin" which is slower paced and played with some heavyiness from the rhythm section while Chad runs havoc with this disharmonic guitar ringing over the top of everything. He sounds like he is playing in Articles of Faith and Youth of Today simultaneously. There songs are:

1. Commodity
2. Fake as Fuck
3. Dumb then Dead
4. Klaebouter Manniken
5. A. Fish

Hazardous Waste "Destroy" ep

This is Hazardous Waste's second ep titled "Destroy". The songs on here are:

1. Destroy
2. Preteen Junkies
3. Jock Rock
4. Skateblock

Ride at Dawn “Chrome Pillars” ep

This is the band’s third recording but their first vinyl release. The band combines buzzsaw guitars to some dirty lo fi crust to give them a sound that relies on bands like EXTREME NOISE TERROR and MOB 47 for inspiration. There is a layer of noise to what already feels like an underproduced sound which makes me think of GAS CHAMBER, particularly on the song “A Bloody Threat”, but when the songs rises out of the BASTARD NOISE like industrial sludge the song comes blazing out like a LEGION666 rager, only to digress back into a dirge. This band takes you into unpredictable places, which makes it stand out in my opinion. And the guitar sound has a particular electric frying sound that keeps your attention. This is dark and raging. (Schizophrenic Records – http://www.schizophrenicrex.com/)

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/)

MRR Reviews - Fratricide "Bind Faith" 12"

 A review from MRR of the Fratricide 12". This appeared in issue #329, which came out in October 2010. Click on image to enlarge it to a readable size.

Hammer City Records

Tonight at 8:00pm a launch party will be happening for Hamilton's newest record store. The place will be known as Hammer City Records and will be run by the folks at Schizophrenic Records and some of the dudes in Gunnar Hansen. The location of the store is 228 James St North in the Ricca Building. Refreshments and records will be served. The shop will focus on Punk & Metal vinyl but will stock select other genres and sub genres as well as sell some CDs and tapes and horror related books, DVDs, t-shirts, patches, and other accessories will also be sold direct or on consignment. Please note that the shop is located at the back of the Ricca Building and it's entrance outside of the Art Crawl launch will be from the alley off Robert Street. Opening hours coming soon! For More info please contact Craig or Leah hammercityrecords@gmail.com and 905-387-2471. Hail the new Reigning Sound.

MRR Review - Unruled "Butchers of Warfare" LP

A review from MRR of the Unruled "Butchers of Warfare" LP. This appeared in issue #326, which came out in July 2010. Click on image to enlarge it to a readable size.

Unruled "Butchers of Warfare" LP

I didn’t know much about UNRULED other than they were from Montreal. They started up back in 1982 in the glory days of Montreal hardcore along with bands like GENETIC CONTROL and NO POLICY. The band was formed by an original member of S.C.U.M., but UNRULED had more of a DISCHARGE influence to them. They got to play with DISCHARGE. In fact they got to headline for DISCHARGE, but that is a story you will get to read about in the liner notes. The band’s first ever show was opening for the DEAD KENNEDYS. The band only released a 7” called “Time is Running Out”. That ep had this amazing song on it called “Lost Cause’ that has a noticeable resemblance to BAD BRAINS “Banned in DC”. Back in 2008, Chany and Sam from INEPSY teamed up with the original guitarist and bassist to do a show and they have kept at it. They have re-recorded all the songs from the ep and written a handful of others that are pretty awesome. “Lost Cause” sounds as awesome as it did 25 years ago. And the new recording also has a load of great new songs like “Iraq Attack” “Clear the Pigs Out”, “For Our Rights”, “Riot Squad”. It is a real return to form for UNRULED. (Schizophrenic Records – 17 West 4th Street / Hamilton, ON / L9C 3M2 / Canada / www.schizoprhenicrex.com). The songs on the LP are:
1. Butchers of Warfare
2. Clear the Pigs Out
3. Forced Mistake (2009)
4. Government Games
5. Heroin
6. Hypocriticals
7. Iraq Attack
8. Lost Cause (2009)
9. For Our Rights
10. Riot Squad
11. Screams of Fear
12. Time is Running Out (2009)
13. Unruled

Unruled "Butchers of Warfare" CD

The CD is almost the same as the lp except it contains the “Time is Running Out” EP at the end. It sounds like they recorded the EP straight from a turntable because you can hear the needle drop and everything. I am sure there are better digital downloads out there of that ep, but the new line up does justice with their re-makes of the three songs. (Schizophrenic Records – 17 West 4th Street / Hamilton, ON / L9C 3M2 / Canada / www.schizoprhenicrex.com). The songs found on here are:

1. Butchers of Warfare

2. Clear the Pigs Out

3. Forced Mistake (2009)

4. Government Games

5. Heroin

6. Hypocriticals

7. Iraq Attack

8. Lost Cause (2009)

9. For Our Rights

10. Riot Squad

11. Screams of Fear

12. Time is Running Out (2009)

13. Unruled

14. Time is Running Out

15. Forced Mistake / Lost Cause

Sons of Ishmael "Hayseed Hardcore" LP

When I first started getting into North American hardcore, my next revelation was that there was a local scene. And to my amazement the local scene was as good as those records that I was mail ordering for. This SONS OF ISHMAEL 7” was one of the first records that I heard. I was floored. There was 13 songs on the 7” and they were all pretty ripping. The songs ran one into the other without a second for a break. That reminded me of the first MINOR THREAT 12”. And the duelling screaming guitars in “Another Groovy Tune” reminded me of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. And then I came to find out that these guys were from here. Well not quite here but a small town called Meaford. To this day I have no idea where Meaford is. I have heard lots of stories about this shithole that had an air force museum, but I don’t have an idea of where it is in Northern Ontario. You get the idea that it is a small place not very well known. But the opening in “Small Town Mentality” has been a rallying cry for punks who had to endure hicks. And even if you didn’t live it you get it. “Cousin Clem, what’s that horrible noise.” “Goddamn them punk rockers.” “Welcome to Meaford, hyuck hyuck”. It was punk rock retaliation. We all got it. Anyway I was never lucky enough to get a copy of the first pressing. I originally had this taped for me by loads of people. The band eventually did a second pressing and I snagged a copy of that. It is much rawer sounding then Schizophrenic’s re-issue. The 12” sounds like it has been filtered through a pillow. It is heavier in the low end, which muddles some of the subtleties in the vocals and guitars department. It’s disappointing from that standpoint. I also hate how there are no track breaks between songs. The original 7’ has track breaks. It was easier to skip through songs if you wanted to. I never really did that because listening to “Hayseed Hardcore” is a full on assault from one song to the next. That is part of the beauty of this record. Anyway, it’s a minor complaint. And is made up for it by the bonus material included on this re-issue. There are three unreleased SONS OF ISHMAEL songs and an earlier cover of Neil Young’s “Ohio”, most of which ended up on compilations. “Ohio” sounds off pitch at the end. Like someone slowed down the reel to reel tape by accident or someone warped the record. Anyway these songs represent the only other recording by the “Hayseed Hardcore” line up. The band would get new members with Tim Freeborn (real name not punk pseudonym) being the only original member and this band would release an LP, an EP and a 10”. There was good songs on each of those records, but none of them would be chocked full of end to end hardcore gems. “Hayseed Hardcore” would go on to be recognized by LARM, HERESY, Pushead and so many others. It’s fitting to see it as part of the Toronto hardcore series. (Schizophrenic Records – 17 West 4^th Street/ Hamilton, ON / L9C 3M2 / Canada / http://www.schizoprhenicrex.com/). The songs found on here are:

1. Small Town Mentality

2. Break Free!

3. "Democracy"

4. Mr. Personality

5. Governors of Death

6. Todays Victim /Tomorrows Aggressor

7. Be a Man

8. Vice on my Brain

9. Parasites

10. Explanation

11. Social Drinker

12. Condemned to Live

13. Another Groovy Tune

14. Follow the Leader

15. Service to Your Country / End to Your Life

16. Divine Deception

17. Ohio

Various Artists "No T.O." LP

This is a great idea. From the moment I heard of it I couldn’t wait to get a copy. And now I am getting to hear the final product. Taking the “Yes L.A.” comp that Dangerhouse put out and having bands from your neighbouring home town cover it. But in reading the liner notes this is as easy as it sounds. It’s only six songs, but you know how bands over commit to things and just can’t deliver on half the shit they promise be it for financial reasons, time constraints, competing schedules and whatnot. But STEF AND THE STUDS seemed to save the day, which I think may have been a makeshift project between the VAPIDS and Zoe of the defunct BAYONETTES. They do great versions of the BAGS’ “We Don’t need the English” and the ALLEYCATS’ “Too Much Junk”. CAREER SUICIDE cover the EYES’ “Disneyland”. The DANGERLOVES do the X’s “Los Angeles”. And LEGION666 take on the GERM’s “No God” appropriately enough. The vinyl is see through with a silkscreen on the underside. The record is one sided like the original I believe. And it is limited to 300 copies. (Schizophrenic Records – 17 West 4th Street / Hamilton, ON / L9C 3M2 / Canada / www.schizophrenicrex.com)

Various Artists "Toronto's Burning" LP

In the spirit of MCR's city comps Schizophrenic has done a full length comp for Toronto. This is the follow up to the Toronto City Omnibus comp, which was done a few years ago. This comp collects the next generation of Toronto bands. The generation of the Toronto scene was the last one as there is already a huge new crop of bands. that however doesn't make this an important document. There are all kinds of great bands on here half of which have broken up. But this comp captures their existence. Someone was telling me that this cover was originally made for a Buffalo comp but it never got used. The tracks are :

Side A
1. BLACK SPOKES - All My Friends work at Startek
2. BLACK SPOKES - 63A Southbound
3. BLACK SPOKES - Soapdodger / Girl I Got Your Number
4. MAD MEN - The Awakening
5. LIVING DARKNESS - Fools Hope
6. LIVING DARKNESS - Some Choose Despair
7. URINARY TRACT INFECTION - Stavrogin
8. URINARY TRACT INFECTION - Limp Generation
9. URINARY TRACT INFECTION - Schadenfreude
10. URBAN BLIGHT - Fuck Your Bullshit
11. URBAN BLIGHT - Waste

Side B
12. THE REPROBATES - Self Destruct
13. THE REPROBATES - Dead Blood
14. DANGERLOVES - Everyday
15. DANGERLOVES - You and Me
16. RAMMER - Leatherface
17. HAZARDOUS WASTE - Common Beliefs
18. HAZARDOUS WASTE - Fed Up
19. HAZARDOUS WASTE - Nothing at All
20. SCHOOL JERKS - Rock 'n Roll
21. SCHOOL JERKS - Guestlist
22. SCHOOL JERKS - High School

The Endless Blockade / Hatred Surge LP

The Endless Blockade did a split LP with Hatred Surge from Austin. This was released on Schizophrenic Records and contains the songs:

1. Abraxas

2. When There's Nothing Left To Lose
3. Dr. Stockwell
4. Tar Pit Neanderthal
5. Dawn Man
6. Pathologised
7. Don't Voice Your Opinion
8. Big City Nights
9. The Endless Blockade
10. Hex
11. 091006

Various Artists "Toronto City Omnibus" LP

CLASS ASSASSINS - Uprise

HAYMAKER - Let God Sort them Out

HAYMAKER - Could You Be So Stupid

HAYMAKER - They Breed so Fast

HAYMAKER - Misery For a Living

HAYMAKER - Commodity 182

HAYMAKER - Reagan Youth

LEGION 666 - Free Speech

LEGION 666 - Perils of Freedom

LEGION 666 - Dear Cops

SCARE TACTIC - Bullets For Breakfast

SCARE TACTIC - Gun Control

SCARE TACTIC - Sick of Fun

MURDERSQUAD T.O. - Newly Dead

MURDERSQUAD T.O. - How Can there Be Christmas If There is No Peace

CAREER SUICIDE - Dicta Flag

CAREER SUICIDE - Shut Up

CAREER SUICIDE - Metal Threat

CAREER SUICIDE - Doom Ryder

CAREER SUICIDE - Spleengenerate

CAREER SUICIDE - That Other Song

CAREER SUICIDE - Todd Killings

CAREER SUICIDE - Left Over Bonus Crap

THE BLUE DEMONS - Atomos Cajones

THE BLUE DEMONS - Hot and Heavy

RIOT99 - Decade on the Dole

RIOT99 - Destroy the City

FUCKED UP - Generation / Last Man Standing