Subhumans “Death Was Too Kind” CD

Two summers ago I got to meet Joey Shithead at a show out in Newmarket. His label had been putting out a lot of great old Vancouver landmark releases, like the “Vancouver Complications” comp and the YOUNG CANADIANS and POINTED STICKS. But there was a glaring absence from the set of re-issues – the SUBHUMANS. There was a bit of uneasiness about the question that I didn’t really understand. Actually I still don’t understand it because DOA and the SUBHUMANS were peers. In talking about the early Vancouver scene you couldn’t talk about it without mentioning both bands. Both bands had a hard rockin’ sound as applied to hardcore. Both bands had an overtly political message. In fact, the SUBHUMANS walked the talk minus action equals zero line with Gerry Useless being part of the Squamish Five. Bombing a bomb factory is pretty much sending a message to the man. So in a lot of ways I think SUBHUMANS were the more important band out of that scene. Maybe that is part of the rift. Anyway Joey said something about how he had encouraged the SUBHUMANS to talk to Alternative Tentacles about re-releasing their old material. I guess they did. And this is quite the collection of early singles and lost tracks. “Death to the Sickoids” was the band’s first ep. That came out in 1978. The B-side was the clever take on the national anthem re-written about the shit going on up here at the time. It’s amazing how little has changed. Anyway this was originally released as a self-released 7” of 500 run. So this is an act of mercy making this first ep available again. I remember NOMEANSNO covering “Oh Canaduh” and as good as NOMEANSNO are the original is better. A year later Quintessence, which was a label that would do a lot of the important Vancouver releases, would put out a 12” of four new tracks. This included “Fuck You”, which a lot of people mistake as DOA’s song and “Slave to My Dick”. These are probably the SUBHUMAN’s most best known songs with “Death to the Sickoids” and “Firing Squad” being close behind. So in a singles collection release it makes sense to include the “Firing Squad” ep too. All three of these eps are punk rock gold and I’m not referring to what they fetch on e-bay. But “Death Was Too Kind” also collects two songs recorded around the “Incorrect Thoughts” era that were lost tracks and only appeared on “Pissed Off … and with Good Reason” that Essential Noise put out in 1995. These two tracks are lost gems and it is good to see them here. It is also good to read about the motivations behind the songs. It helps put context to a band that lived Talk minus action equals zero. Anyway, I can’t recommend this release enough. I do hope that “Incorrect Thoughts” and “No Wishes, No Prayers” are being considered for the same treatment. The SUBHUMANS are one of the most under-appreciated punk bands in Canada. (Alternative Tentacles Records – P.O. Box 419092 / San Francisco, CA / 94141-9092 / USA / www.alternativetentacles.com) - SP

Rocket Reducers “Futures Lookin’ Bright” CD

This is a self released recording of four songs one of which is a STITCHES cover. This was recorded by Jimmy Vapid so it is going to have a little of that RAMONES feel to it. They are huge fans of the JOLTS from BC. But they remind me of the NEW BOMB TURKS and that’s a good thing considering that they come from a small scene in Welland influenced by other things a lot shittier. In talking to them these kids have kind of been isolated by a bunch of shitty ass peers in school, which probably gives them the right kind of fighting ambition out of adversity that most punk kids grow up with. I’m backing them. This is their second demo and they have a new recording on the way. (Kick Your Butt – 720 Metler Road / Fenwick, ON / L0S 1C0 / Canada / e-mail: rocketreducers@gmail.com) - SP

Rackshot demo 2008

Easton and Andrus from OUR FATHER / BURNING LOVE fame team up with the Bowden brothers to crank out some high energy dirty ass punk ‘n roll. This is a two song demo. The singer has a vocal delivery reminiscent of the Ian Svenonius from NATIONS OF ULYSSES – the once voted sassiest boy in America. But that should be no reflection on RACKSHOT. These guys belt out some heavy redneck brand of punk. It reminds me of STARVIN’ HUNGRY meets DANKO JONES. They have just recorded two new songs and a DEAD BOYS cover that hope to get a more official kind of release. The new recording is done in an official studio and sounds even better. (www.myspace.com/rackshot) - SP

Personality Crisis “Creatures for Awhile” LP

This is a re-issue of PERSONALITY CRISIS LP that originally came out on Mike Barbeau’s label, relative to the actress Adrienne. This was a band who spent a lot of time touring back and forth across the prairies and although they were from Murder city Winterpeg, became adopted by Calgary and Vancouver as native sons. Their story is told very well in Chris Walter’s book “Warm Beer & Wild Times” and I had never really given them the time of day. Before the book I only knew them for “Piss On You” from the “Something to Believe In” comp. Well I have been a fool. The harrowing stories of how this came about and how it was recorded in Vancouver back in 1983 using the ‘forearm technique’ by some disinterested engineer are a shame. But the energy of the band is still captured on tracks like “People in Glass”, “Wild Game”, and “The Advocate”. Although not entirely easy to peg the album serves as a document of a band that grew out of the hardcore era, which was a scene not lost on Winnipeg. The band blew away many of their contemporaries like the CIRCLE JERKS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, the DEAD KENNEDYS, and others. “Creatures from Awhile” reminds me of DOA record from back then, which does make some sense as PERSONALITY CRISIS was supported by Joey Shithead and the COLA lot. I wish there was more with this re-issue like the song by song breakdown that appears in the book or even a photocopy of the liner notes. But I will settle for just the record. (Workers Cooperative / 333 Garry Street / Winnipeg, MB / R3B 2G7 / Canada / www.waronmusic.com) - SP

Hard Charger s/t CD

This is HARD CHARGER’s first official release and they really embrace the MOTORHEAD sound similar in the way that early INEPSY did. There is a bit more d-beat to HARD CHARGER’s sound with a rougher more edgier sound. The distortion is evident and I think it is that this Fredericton trio are probably just playing way louder than they should. But it doesn’t hurt this release. It just suggests how over the top these guys can be. If you were to take MOTORHEAD and amp up the speed to a DISRUPT pace HARD CHARGER is what you get. A crustier update of MOTORHEAD. Some of the classics like “Beer Bandit” and “Hellbound” have been re-recorded for this and a host of new ones not found on the first demo. (www.nolistrecords.com) – SP

Madcowboys “Baby Steps” CD

This is part CHIXDIGGIT, part KNUCKLEHEAD. They also remind me a bit of the MINUTEMEN and the RHYTHM PIGS but not in a direct way, more in a channeled kind of thing. Lots of punk gusto with bundles of melody and a little bit of country twang, but maybe I am just hearing that because they are from Calgary. The CD has an ode to basement shows along with drinking songs and songs poking fun at rock ‘n roll. They are probably some of the nicest dudes you will ever meet. And totally humble. They deserve your attention. I don’t know how to get this so just write them at their myspace site which is www.myspace.com/madcowboys. - SP

Dichotomy demo

This is a noisey, burly, fast sounding hardcore attack from Vancouver. The fuzz is turned way up on the distortion. Think of a piercing air attack warning underneath this blazing crust blitzkrieg. At times the drum sounds as fast as a drum machine, but it is Gabriela who does double duty in MARGARET THRASHER. Her pace is must faster in this band. And there are space like noises that remind me of early Finn-core. Kind of like TERVEET KADET but with some LEBENDEN TOTEN thrown in. And also a bit of PINK TURDS IN SPACE and MEN’s RECOVERY PROJECT. There are songs about exacting revenge on vivisectors. Good to see. ($3.00 ppd – Gabriela / 638 Hawks Avenue / Vancouver, BC / V6A 3Y1 / Canada) - SP