The Short List is a weekly dive into EPs, Splits, Reissues, Comps, Live Records, etc.
REISSUES:
Madball Droppin Many Suckers – 30th Anniversary Remastered 7″ Ltd Ed Blue (GSR)
Thirty Years. That’s a long time on NYC streets. But Madball survived and conquered. One of the biggest names in hardcore history celebrate their second release’s 30th Anniversary. While technically 1989’s Ball of Destruction EP (In Effect) was a banger and the world’s introduction (comprised of AF songs, covers and early versions), this is Madball’s first fully realized record. You can gear the band realizing that Madball was a real entity and not just a Roger side project; although Roger still recorded bass on this. But these were Madball songs in their formative, raw stages. Will, Stigma, Matt all were in place, just needed to Hoya to complete the puzzle.
These six tracks were released by Wreck-Age in October 1992. Three of the songs would end up on the band’s debut LP, Set It Off. Freddy’s eagerness and energy for performing and spitting on the mic is clear here. Great to hear the ferocity of a fresh voice which would impact NYHC and Worldwide Hardcore fo4r three more decades. The OG pressing was in marron. Here we get GSR, a legendary label from The Netherlands, supplying one version of black and a limited in blue (but you knew that…). You can also scoop the bundle. Classic songs here in their original form, produced by the icon, Don Fury, and Remastered in 2022.
On Side A, hear the fetal versions of: “Spit On Your Grave”, “Never Had It”, “Across Your Face”. Side B has tracks that were only on this: “Step To You”, “No Return”, “The Blame”. Except “The Blame” that resurfaced when the O.G. Agnostic Front came back in 1997 and did a version of this song with Jimmy G; an anthem for all outcasts and punks.
EPs:
Chubby and The Gang Presents: A Christmas Extravaganza Partisan Records
Sweeping the nation(s) and stealing hearts, Chubby and The Gang drop another EP just in time for Santa on December 14th 2022. In case you have not caught the craze, Chubby and The Gang are comprised of members of The Chisel, Big Cheese (with Chubby are the holy Trinity), Abolition, Arms Race, Crown Court, Vile Spirit. Violent Reaction, and other NWOBHC bands. London based, Chubby and The Gang throw together punk, Oi!, hardcore, and glam. Speaking of, the opening track, “Violent Night (A Christmas Story)”, goes hard on the Glam/Power-Pop sound, channeling some Slade and Sweet. Playing chords familiar to fans of peers like Suede Razors or Guida, this catchy, platform stomping, hand clapping, style of 70s radio rock is infectious. The rollicking drums and snarky riffs will get you rocking. The B-Side is a track called “” available on December 14th. The two tracks aredigital only as of now, but could end up on vinyl like the prior EP Labour of Love did back in June. Check out the band’s Partisan Records page for two of their most recent EPs, the Live in London Cassette, and their two LPs.
*** UPDATE: As of 12.1.22 Chubby’s bandcamp has the vinyl up for pre-order. It is a flexi Disc for $12.
DEMOS:
xGATEKEEPERx Demo 2022 WAR Records
xGATEKEEPERx is dead serious Straight Edge. James from Harms Way is on vocals with members from Shai Hulud, Decline, Life Force are playing crushing hardcore behind his screams. But do not expect those influences to seep into this band. The band intentionally goes toward the old school sound of SXE legends; citing influences such as A Chorus of Disapproval, SSD, Confront, Floorpunch, and Chain of Strength. It’s tough, raw, and hard as Hell. These distilled tracks embrace tough production of the five short, fast, loud songs; ranging from 0:37 to 1:21 in length. The demo gets to the point like a sledgehammer. One job to do. Smash.
First pressing on clear plexiglass. Limited out of 50.
Second pressing on white. Limited out of 50.
Limited Edition Cassette out of 150 – black
Limited Edition Cassette out of 150 – white (pre-order)
Buy on xGATEKEEPERx bandcamp
Buy at WAR Records
COMPILATIONS:
The Extermination Vol.4 Compilation – Preorders Up Now
Tradition carries on. Flatspot Records is going to drop the 4th installment in the Extermination series. If you have heard or own the prior records, you know the importance of these. Maybe these days with streaming playlists, compilations seems odd. But it pays homage to classics like Flex Your Head, Let Them Eat Jellybeans, The Way It Is, Where the Wild Things Are, This Is Boston Not LA, Process of Elimination, etc. As always the bands’ tracks are exclusive to this release. Flatspot gathers an astonishing roster with road dawgs and one of my top two choices for AOTY, EndIt! reppin’ Baltimore; Down Under’s vicious sons, Speed; Colombia’s finest and one of hardcore’s most intense, Raw Brigade; UK’s current kings, The Chisel; Chicago’s champs, Buggin’; LA’s most notorious, SECTION H8; grimy and destructive SPY fresh off that Maniac split EP; Law Of Power flex hard on this as a foreshadowing of their imminent debut LP; Ace and the boys from RVA in M.A.D.; Jivebomb who has been tearing it up on stage and the turntable with the recent Primitive Desires; and PA’s, Choice To Make.
The Extermination Vol. 4 is up for PRE-ORDER at Flatspot’s site or the labels bandcamp
VINYL PRESSINGS: Clear/Blue/Orange Tri Stripe; Red/White Split; Transparent Purple w/Blue Splatter; Green
SPLITS:
Blood/NunSlaughter Split MLP 12″ Hells Headbangers
Two death metal titans join to imprint another slash on their legacies. Cleveland’s NunSlaughter began in 1987 and Germany’s Blood in 1986. in 2022, they each jump on a side of this MLP 12″ (always a fun format). NunSlaughter are rejuvenated after an acclaimed return to form last year with Red. They spew out three tracks with runtimes considered long for the old Cleveland boys, around and over three minutes! Blood dish out four tracks of demonic speed and brutality. Sleazy, Satanic and savage it is sweet to get this split on vinyl. The digital was released in May but finally three pressing variants of vinyl and a blue cassette are available. RIP Jim Sadist.
Buy digital, MCD, blue CASSETTE or VINYL at HH’s shop or band’s bandcamp: transparent red, 100; black vinyl, 300; cloudy orange, 600
BOX SETS:
Cock Sparrer Studio 50th Anniversary 7 LP Box Set Pirates Press
Cock Sparrer. Just reading the name has a flood of memories and emotions for any fan of punk. How does one sum them up in a small paragraph when one could write a book about them? Oh wait, the drummer Steve Whale did (buy here). Starting as working class pub-rock in 1972, because no one had invented the term “punk rock” yet, Cock Sparrer began making catchy, aggressive music which would start a domino effect that influenced every subculture since. It’s been 50 years of this peerless band blessing stages and vinyl platters. No band has elicited such emotions from the toughest scarred, tattooed, boots and braces clad individuals.
They continue to evoke a passionate fanbase five decades into their career due to their personal lyrics and bold spirit. Tales from the street and scene (and the pub) have riled fans across the globe. While Pirates Press has repressed individual albums over recent years, they finally put them all snug at home in one Box Set. They include all seven studio albums; from the self-titled debut (previously easier to find as a bootleg, True Grit, Rarities, or The Decca Years); the untouchable, flawless punk/oi! masterpiece, Shock Troops; Runnin’ Riot (the band’s 3rd record with “The Sun Says”, “Price Too High to Pay”); Guilty as Charged (“Because You’re Young”, “Get a Rope”, “Bird Trouble”, “Last Train to Dagenham”), Two Monkeys (which begins with hard edge and provocative barfight anthem, “A.U.”); and their two recent LPs from the 2010’s, the fun and impressive gem, Here We Stand, and the latest, Forever.
The 50th Anniversary Box Set Special Edition Pressing have been completely remastered from the original 1/4″ analog tapes by James Bragg, and housed in a special jacket printed on brushed gold foil-laminated stock. Gorgeous record. gorgeous sound. You can buy each LP separately in a 50th Anniversary remastered edition on 180gm vinyl, each cover in gold foil.
Celtic Frost Danse Macabre Box Set BMG
Another colossus of influence, Celtic Frost gets the royal treatment from BMG. Tom G Warrior did an unboxing in this video. The sentiment and awe are easily seen on his face. You see it all in its bewildering glory in the video. For being a Major Label (which TGW explains why BMG is releasing it), BMG did a brilliant job. TGW acted as art director and all the nuances are gorgeous and meticulous. TGW explains Danse Macabre as a document of Celtic Frost’s “experimental years”. That may be, but it begins with the genre defining, iconic Morbid Tales and To Mega Therion. TGW walks through the dissolving of HellHammer and Celtic Frost’s genesis. While we all know the lore and the tales, it is cool to see with a visual aid told by the man himself. The box set is gorgeous with each piece of 12″ LP vinyl colored to reflect the album’s tones. There are rare and exclusive 7″ EPs with the story behind each. And I know at least the merchbar copy has exclusive autograph if you’re into that. Gimme Metal has them for Pre-Order, dropping 12.6.22 while Nuclear Blast has a all Glow In The Dark version.
• Morbid Tales (1LP red & black galaxy vinyl)
• To Mega Therion (1LP gatefold Silver & black swirl vinyl)
• Into The Pandemonium (1LP gatefold on orange and beige galaxy vinyl)
• Emperor’s Return (Back on vinyl for the first time in 37 years. Green & black galaxy)
• Tragic Serenades (12” EP on pink and black swirl vinyl)
• I Won’t Dance (12” EP, back on vinyl for the first time in 35 years. White & black swirl vinyl)
• The Collector’s Celtic Frost (12” single, back on vinyl for the first time in 35 years. Marble vinyl with silk screen print on Side B)
• Visual Aggression (7” single with new artwork and on grey vinyl)
• Grave Hill Bunker Rehearsals (Four track rehearsal demo cassette from 1984)
• 12” x 12” 40 page book of brand new interviews with founding member Tom G Warrior and drummer Reed St Mark. Contains rare and previously unseen photos from the era.
• ‘Heptagram’ figurine USB drive containing MP3 audio of all the albums, including bonus tracks.
• Two sided, A2 poster.
• ‘Necromaniac Union’ fan club enamel badge.
• ‘Danse Macabre’ sew on woven patch.
RIP Martin Ain
MISC:
Fishbone Angelo Moore Figure Aggronautix
