HEY! Got a couple new ones I'm dropping on y'all the week of the beginning of the obnoxious holiday vortex that'll unfold for the next 6 weeks or so. As abysmal as that might be, these records are both butt kickers despite being 4 decades apart in their creation. With that said, let's get on with it:
GRAVEN IMAGE - STUDIO SESSIONS: '82-'83 12"
In the summer of 1982, an already burgeoning scene in Richmond, VA saw the arrival of some new blood in the form of GRAVEN IMAGE. Taking both inspiration and influence from the hardcore punk explosion that was well underway all over the world, these youngsters who met at a local skate ramp channeled their aggression through the no bullshit hardcore punk that they churned out in their few years of existence. Having shared the stage with a veritable who's who of punk at the time (BAD BRAINS, MINOR THREAT, NECROS, C.O.C., VOID, THE FU's, etc) throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the band's explosive live performance fronted by the powerful and charismatic Dwayne Curd was evidence that they could hold their own when billed with the aforementioned titans of the genre. "THE STUDIO SESSIONS: '82-'83" features the entirety of GI's recorded studio output - first from the "YOUR SKULL IS MY BOWL" session circa fall of 1982 that became the extremely rare and sought after split tape with fellow local juvenile upstarts HONOR ROLE, and lastly from the "KICKED OUT OF THE SCENE" EP session that was recorded in 1983 and released the following year, plus some previously unreleased tracks from each of the studio outings that yielded these 22 tracks of USHC fury! Carefully transferred and restored from the original reels, each record comes with a 12 page booklet chock full of photos, flyers and even some liner notes from guitarist Nick Smilek and drummer Joey Boisineau. For admirers of early American Hardcore and not much else.
There are 100 copies on MAROON VINYL available for mailorder while they last.
EUROPE! Please purchase this one from Mendeku Diskak as they are handling the European pressing of this slab.
THE CHISEL / MESS Split 7"
Bloody fucking hell! Two of modern Oi's finest together on a slab, you say?! You bet your ass! THE CHISEL (London, England) and MESS (Guadalajara, Mexico) have teamed up to deliver quite the sonic melee of a split 7" featuring two new ones from each group that showcase the balance of proficient songwriting and brute force that both bands have gained a well deserved reputation for over the past couple years. And as the The Chisel Boys' reiterative chorus resounds through the speakers while you're spinning this platter, you'll know that it's true - you truly ain't seen nothing yet as this is but a taste of what's to come from both of these stalwarts of the genre. Featuring art and layout by the great Nicky Rat, this record is a one time pressing so snag it while ya can or don't! COME ON NOW!!!
There are 300 copies on WHITE VINYL available for mailorder while they last.
As always, both releases can be purchased here and streamed / downloaded / purchased here.
There ain't much else to report at the moment! FINGERS CROSSED we will have the INDRE KRIG 7" and VIDRO 12" ready to roll next month alongside the highly anticipated repress of the LONG KNIFE - CURB STOMP EARTH LP. Stay tuned...
Peace!
-B.I.R.
