The Short List is a weekly dive into EPs, Splits, Reissues, Comps, Live Records, etc.
EPs:
Hunting Lions Light Pirates Press
I’ll stop including Pirates Press releases when they stop kicking ass. I am a gigantic Roadside Bombs fan. So, when their vocalist Ben Coleman (also fronted one of my favorites, the undermentioned, The Muggers) formed yet another band with members of Swingin’ Utters, The Beltones, US Bombs, Tiger Army, and more, I pressed play.
They whip out odes to the Bay Area and Sonoma Beach areas which formed all of these dudes since the early 90’s. Light is the follow up to their St Patrick’s Day release, Dark. Each are five tracks, laced withs treet tales, some with a bright horizon and others are an opaque reflection of the storms endured. This is gruff, catchy rock and roll akin to all the prior bands, aided by a silky Hammond. Gang vocals and sing along parts hammer home what punks and skins and rockers want, to be included. Pick this and Dark up now!
Preorder at Pirates Press Shop. Limited to 250 copies; 120=-inch white vinyl w/ black silkscreened B-side, packaged in a special white fold over cover.
Follow Hunting Lions on bandcamp.
SPLITS:
Crown Court / The Enforcers split seven inch Crossbar Records
In 2014, Crown Court dropped their Trouble from London Demo. Steady as a snare marching on the battlefield, the band have released gem after gem. Some flare and sonic stretches on “Sect-59” and “On the GGs,” but mainly, the band deliver gruff and gritty proper Oi!. It has been a quiet two years, and we only get one track. But, hot damn what a track. “Rich Boy” is a two and a half-minute rager. The battery-like stomp drives the track with an urgency we’ve come to appreciate by the boys from London. Masterfully executed.
These rowdy upstarts come together to rep street life over three chords. Crown Court is simply top tier Oi!. Despite that they have dwindled their output in recent years to use as a metric, “Rich Boy” lives up to all expectations. “Quality not quantity” is the mantra. These lads have never released a mediocre song. “Rich Boy” becomes the perfect anthem for those scraping by and suffering. The opening riff is loose in and infectious contrasted with a dirty, jangly bass line. As the song moves on, you can picture booted and braced bodies piling on in front of the stage. Singalongs to this this robust track propelled by social disillusionment.
The Enforcers have been doing this punk this six years strong, raucous Oi! Their music boasts confrontational lyrics, growled vocals, and high spirited rock ‘n’ roll. Sonically, this triggers thoughts of The Corps and other Australian punk/Oi! (The Corps) mixed with aggressive US OI (Fear City, Footsoldier, Fatskins). “Collision Corpse” is anger personified. Definitely check out The Enforcers other four releases on their bandcamp; including their new LP, Rock Against Society on Lionheart Records.
Vinyl Pressing: Gold, 100; Orange, 200; Black, 200
Crossbar Records bandcamp.
Crown Court bandcamp.
The Enforcers bandcamp.
Oreyeon / Lord Elephant DOOM Sessions: Vol 8 Heavy Psych Sounds
May 5th 2023
It feels as if the reverb is still ringing in our ears from DOOM Session Vol 7, blessed by Endtime and Cosmic Reaper. But a few months later, Heavy Psych Sounds release another double feature, this time starring Oreyeon and Lord Elephant. Oreyeon flex a bold move begins this little journey with a Slo Burn cover, “Wheel Time” followed by their other song, “C10H12N2O” (the elements which combine to create Serotonin).
“Wheel Time” is under five minutes while the closer is at ten minutes. These Northern Italians, embark on a rough and tumble course, bandying with the quiet/loud dynamic. As opposed to other DOOM Sessions volumes, which have presented occult doom and grimy sludge, Oreyeon play more in the psych-stoner rock realm. The band’s 2016 debut album is Builders of Cosmos and the sophomore album from 2019, Ode to Oblivion and the third and most recent from summer of 2022, Equations for the Useless helped massage their hypnotic riffs into the audience’s psyche.
*(Those latter two are on HSP and still available) These two new offerings are great additions to their catalog. Elements of grunge and interwoven melodies provide some more depth than what one could expect from the wide ranging term, stoner rock. RIYL: Monster Magnet, Clutch, The Sword, Vol 4.
Holding down side B are Lord Elephant. Again treated with a ten minute endeavor, on “Twilight Reflexes”, fans will hear attack which ebbs and flows with intense crescendos and relieving quieter sections. The bass is fuzzed out. As the middle plods through this space/psych rock riff monster, intensity builds and rhythms engulf. Lord Elephant clearly are influenced by the proto-doom bands, channeling classic blues-rock riffs and early metal. This is a cool continuation of their debut, Cosmic Awakening. Lord Elephant’s cover is of the classic Link Wray joint, “Rumble”. Slowed down and hitting harshly, it’s a sweet interpretation. Rather brilliant as it spans it’s strewn out length of eight minutes.
Preorder at HSP USA Shop.
VINYL: Test Press, 15; Transparent / Green Splatter Red, 100; Neon Pink, 350; Black
Lord Elephant instagram.
Oreyeon instagram.
REISSUES:
Quicksand Slip 30th Anniversary Edition (SECOND PRESS) Iodine Recordings
May 12, 2023
One of the most influential and groundbreaking records ever got the royal treatment from Iodine and the first pressing were snatched up quickly. I snagged the Special Edition with Book and the 1/1000 from Brooklyn Vegan (Yellow in red and black marble). In case you missed one of these from Iodine, Smartpunk.com, RevHQ, Deathwish, or elsewhere, a second chance has been provided. On May 12th, The 30th Anniversary Edition of the Post-Hardcore Classic, Slip, will be available. Slip 30 has been completely remastered for vinyl using the original 1993 master tapes and includes bonus track “How Soon is Now?” (The Smiths’ cover).
“The Limited-Edition LP and 64-page hardcover book chronicles the release of this influential album. Includes a foreword by Walter Schreifels, never-before-seen photographs, original art, rare concert posters, show flyers, and more from 1990-1994. Contributions from: Anthrax, Helmet, Sepultura, Thursday, Rise Against, Refused, Youth of Today, Snapcase, Earth Crisis, Cave In, and many more. Limited to 2000 numbered copies.” – Iodine
For those unaware or only familiar with the recent Quicksand reformations and resulting LPs, dipped a more shoegaze atmosphere and tempo, Slip shook the punk and hardcore world. The second have of the 90’s would watch the floodgates open for this new sound with bands like Drive Like Jehu, Stillsuit, Glassjaw, At The Drive-In, Cave In, etc. By 1991, Youth Crew Hardcore was dead. Soon Youth Of Today would dissolve to yield a poppier, Shelter. Civ would reunite 3/4 of the Gorilla Biscuits to create, well, CIV. And what about that other quarter of GB? Walter would harness a new sound and prove his creativity and songwriting abilities could push boundaries and flourish pass the Lower East Side or Connecticut Suburbs. 1992, saw the Revelation seven inch. But Polydor would come along and give Schreifels a larger platform, studio, and budget. The beauty of Slip is the restraint. The album is filled with crushing tension. (You might say, “It’s Overflowing”) Co- Producer Steven Haigler, who would in the same year produce Clutch’s first LP and Black Train Jack; later would go on to Pixies Local H, Karma To Burn and more. NYHC legend, familiar with all members and their prior bands, Don Fury would produce three tracks. He captured the band’s unique gifts and presence in a taut atmosphere of tugging and disabling music.
Quicksand were bound to leave their untouchable imprint due to the members. Old friends from the NYHC scene. Tom Capone on guitars came from Crippled Youth, Bold, and Beyond (in the future would play in Handsome, Shelter, Antidote, Bloodclot!); Sergio Vega, bass, had played in Absolution and Moondog; then, Collapse but would be known for taking the slot in Deftones when Chi Cheng passed. And on drums was the formidable Alan Cage, came from the powerhouses Beyond and Burn and later would even play in Seaweed. Hell, even Alex Brown did the cover concept; he put out legendary NYHC Zine SCHISM with Porcell and he played in GB, Side By Side, and even Project X.
Quicksand epitomizes the phrase, “more than the sum of their parts”. Buying this CD (in a long box) was a ceremony. And playing this on my my father’s gigantic Klipsch bell speakers was church. The tape would get worn out in friends’ cars. Everyone loved this album in my group of friends. Whether more Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All or the Dischord catalog of the time, Slip simply captured hearts and the frustration of the age. Thirty years later and Iodine has provided a reverent royal treatment.
Preorder vinyl and book package at RevHQ.
Preorder vinyl and book package at Deathwish Inc.
Buy their exclusive at Newbury Comics.
Buy the digital at Iodine bandcamp.
First Pressing:
Amoeba Retail Exclusive: Bone w/Red & Black Splatter, 100 copies
Newbury Comics Exclusive: Red & Olive Green Smash vinyl, 600 copies
RevHQ (Revelation) Exclusive: Yellow vinyl, 500 copies
Project M (Revolver/Brooklyn Vegan/The Hard Times) Exclusive: Red vinyl w/ Black and Yellow Marble., 1000 copies
Deluxe Gatefold Edition: Green/White Swirl w/ Black & Red Splatter Deluxe Gatefold, 250 copies;
This Limited Deluxe Gatefold Edition includes a gold foil embossed slipcase, a gatefold jacket, and a bonus triple gatefold poster.
Deluxe Gatefold Edition: Gold Swirl Deluxe Gatefold, 750 copies;
This Limited Deluxe Gatefold Edition includes a gold foil embossed slipcase, a gatefold jacket, and a bonus triple gatefold poster.
Evergreen, 1000
Bone w/ Red/Black Splatter, 900
Second Pressing:
Red Galaxy Swirl, 1000
