The Short List is a weekly dive into EPs, splits, reissues, comps, live records, etc.
EPs:
The Slads Demo MF Records
Today
Released today is an outstanding new band blessing us with their five-track demo. The Slads dwell in Philly. Their brand of rough punk/Oi! is simply outstanding. Demo-quality production, but each instrument remains clear. Distortion and tough drums abet snotty vocals. Bonecrusher, A.P.A., Combat 84, Victory, and the like quickly come to mind. Two-to-three-minute songs centered around badass bass lines is the formula here. Guitars add nuance and texture. Can’t wait for a proper recording to highlight this, especially on a track such as “Innocence.” The closer, “Real Ones United,” is a brash track of defiance. All five songs are ragers and deserve immediate attention.
Digital is out now on The Slads’ bandcamp. Demo cassette coming soon on MF Records.
War Effort Path to Glory Warthog Speak
Today
Chicago’s War Effort return! After their heavily lauded self-titled cassette was dropped last year (July 2022), War Effort hit the studio in December. After six months, the six tracks are available on cassette and seven-inch vinyl. And they rip. War Effort serve diabolical D-Beat. With a title like “What Has Your Ballot Ever Done for You?” prepare for vengeful, angry hardcore. All six songs are under two minutes and embody deafening, volatile rebellion. Production, handled by guitarist Ian Wise (Lost Legion), is lo-fi crusty splendor. Heavy and low-end saturated, War Effort’s songs are vicious throat punches blistering with urgency. The DIY approach to the cassette version and art by the band exemplifies the band’s ethos. Nothing to over-analyze here. They keep it short, so I will as well. This is great D-Beat. Dave and Bill were in The Con together. Ian and Dave are in Lost Legion. Dave and Kevin play in Slith together. So these cats know each other well in life, on stage, and the studio. The synchronicity is evident in their spirited, passionate playing.
Bill Molloy: Vocals
Dave Fortunato: Drums
Ian Wise: Guitar
Kevin Parmer: Bass
Black vinyl, 250
Cassette, 33: 11 Red, 11 White, 11 Blue
Purchase at War Effort’s bandcamp.
Follow their shenanigans on instagram.
Shop at Warthog Speak.
REISSUE:
D.O.A. War on 45 Sudden Death Records
Out Now
By 1982, British Columbia, Canadian hardcore stalwarts—arguably the progenitors of the term—had been elevating punk since their first single in 1978. Four EPs and two LPs (Something Better Change, 1980, Friends Records; Hardcore ’81, 1981, Friends Records) later, Joey Shithead and the boys were ready to record and establish another benchmark in hardcore punk.
Before going to record a new full-length, Randy Rampage had been tossed. Legendary drumming goliath, Chuck Biscuits (D.O.A., Black Flag, Danzig, Social Distortion) summoned his brother, affectionately known as Dimwit fill Rampage’s void on bass. Unfortunately for the world, this line up only lasted three months, but had managed to record seven songs at LA’s Mystic Studios. These demos never were released. That is until now as the B-Side balance of the original recordings of War on 45; which would be without Chuck Biscuits (he quit), featuring Dimwit on drums and Wimpy Roy on bass, and Dave Gregg on guitar.
This 40th Anniversary release from Sudden Death features the original record from 1982 and the demos with Biscuits and Dimwit. Also included is a “12-page booklet of unique photos, posters and an extensive history of D.O.A. at that time, written by Canada’s Godfather of punk Joey Shithead,” the booklet, “Songs of Power and Change.”
Classics here are my personal favorite “Class War,” kicked off with the charging, hostile “Liar for Hire,” “Let’s Fuck,” “War” (yes, an Edwin Starr cover), and others. Seven of the eight tracks land under three minutes. Top-notch classic hardcore punk from a band still touring and making records consistently. D.O.A. have maintained their edge perpetuating political outrage with confrontational music and lyrics. The band, led by Joey Shithead, is in its 45th year. Joey has written two books and continued to engage in social change living every word he yells into his community.
Boasting both original album covers (U.S. and U.K.) the War on 45 record is available on vinyl:
Cherry Red vinyl, 500 copies; Black vinyl; Splatter vinyl 20 copies
Buy at Sudden Death.
TRIBUTE COMPILATION:
Various Artists GODSPEED: Tribute to Pierre Kezdy (Naked Raygun) Big Minnow Records
July 28 2023
Admittedly, I did not find Naked Raygun until the late 2000s. That is when Haunted Town Records (named after another criminally underrated Chicago band, The Effigies’ 1981 EP) reissued the Naked Raygun catalog of LPs and a live record. Haunted Town was a brilliant label which I trusted, as they had released The Staggers, Kings Of Nuthin’, Templars, The Bruisers, Vanilla Muffins, Roustabouts, Brassknuckle Boys, and more, Naked Raygun were Chicago titans delivering a distinct sound and charged through 1980 until 1990 with five LPs. John Haggerty moved on and eventually formed Pegboy. Bassist Pierre Kezdy played with the band from 1986 – 1989 and also played with Trial By Fire (1982), Pegboy, and Strike Under; all classic Chicago Punk bands. He is also the younger brother of Effigies’ John Kezdy. Sadly, in 2011, Kezdy had a stroke and succumbed to cancer in 2020.
Naked Raygun were true originals. Their sound was an amalgam of different influences and eras filtered through Chicago Natives’ lenses. Attitude and sardonic observations float over pounding punk which incorporate heavy riffs, melody, bouncing energy, indie vibes and more. You can hear Circle Jerks, Effigies, D.O.A., Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69, and others all mixed and strained through a late-80’s US Punk sound which was every evolving with bands like Dag Nasty, Articles Of Faith, Husker Du, Scream, etc. Naked Raygun was a unique voice in American hardcore and simply are not mentioned enough.
Put It Here Productions and Big Minnow records have gathered some top-notch bands to pay tribute to Kezdy with some vibrant covers from the band’s catalog. Enlisted are “artists who not only love Naked Raygun, but were also influenced by them.” This includes Hot Water Music, Face To Face, Swingin’ Utters, J. Robbins (Jawbox), Josh Caterer (Smoking Popes), The Bollweevils, The Methadones, Pegboy, The Brokedowns, The Usuals, Grey Trash Aliens, Death And Memphis, The Turdles, and Stress Dreams. Each band grabs one song.
Godspeed… A Tribute to Pierre Kezdy will be released digitally and on vinyl on Friday, July 28. One-hundred percent of profits from record sales will be donated directly to the Kezdy family to honor Pierre’s legacy and inspiration that he gave to the world of punk music.
Shout out to 185 Miles South Podcast, who often reference the genius of Naked Raygun on their Super 7 Playlists.
Preorder 180 gram vinyl here or digital on bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
Side A
Hot Water Music – “Wonder Beer”
The Usuals – “Soldier’s Requiem”
J. Robbins – “Got Hurt”
Pegboy – “Vanilla Blue”
$wingin Utter$ – “Gear
Death and Memphis – “Treason”
The Methadones – “Surf Combat”
Side B
Face to Face – “I Don’t Know”
Grey Trash Aliens – “Fever Island”
The Bollweevils – “I Remember”
The Turdles – “Rat Patrol”
Josh Caterer – “Knock Me Down”
Stress Dreams – “Home of the Brave”
The Brokedowns – “Walk in Cold”
