Tuesday, January 3, 2012

WEBSTORE UPDATE / JANUARY 3, 2012!

First off, Happy New Years to everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are starting 2012 on a good note. I wanted to kick off my first update of the year with a full label update, but sadly that will have to wait. I'm heading out on a little vacation this weekend, then when I get home I'll be hopping in the van with COKE BUST, DOC, and TENEMENT for a week down south, so I'm a little overwhelmed and rushed this week but looking forward to getting out of town for a little bit and hopefully I'll see some friends along the way.

That being said, first thing I need to mention is that orders will NOT be shipping while I'm gone. Any orders placed in the webstore on or after this Thursday, January 5th, will not be shipped until I return (probably January 17th at the earliest). I'm going to try my hardest to make sure everything ordered by this Wednesday gets out before I leave, so if you are eyeing something in this update, don't hesitate! You will still be able to place orders while I'm gone, just keep in mind that you will have to wait a bit longer before they ship.

Second ... thanks to everyone who's placed an order over the past week. I unfortunately hit a few delays in between the holidays so I'm a little behind on shipping orders, but I hope to catch up 100% between today and Wednesday. So those of you currently waiting on orders, thanks for your patience.

Third, I put a little "special" in the webstore to ring in the new year ... 2011 was a pretty productive year for the label, so to celebrate I'm offering your choice of 1 7", 1 LP, and 1 CD from the Grave Mistake titles that were released in 2011 for only $11. I figured that would be a good opportunity if you missed one of last year's releases, or you wanted to check out one of the bands you have yet to hear, or maybe you need to pick up a late x-mas present for a friend! Please note that this package deal is for GRAVE MISTAKE releases from 2011 only, not non-GM distro stuff!  Anyways, you can check that out here (please read the description / instructions before ordering),  I will probably have it up for the next couple of weeks:

GRAVE MISTAKE 2011 RELEASE PACKAGE DEAL / 1 7", 1 LP, 1 CD FOR $11.00

Since I'm not feeling too hot this evening, I'm going to spare you the summary and cut this update short here.  I will say, there is a ton of awesome new stuff in this update ... some killer brand new releases and some other cool records from 2011 that I had yet to scoop up, so it's good to start 2012 off with some great new distro additions. I have a lot more new distro goods on there way to me over the next few weeks, so definitely expect another (and maybe a bit more detailed) update in a couple of weeks, and if I can find the time I'll fill you in on what you can expect from GRAVE MISTAKE in 2012. For now, check out the list below and pick something up!

Thanks for reading!

Alex / Grave Mistake Records
www.gravemistakerecords.com
www.facebook.com/gravemistakerecords
gravemistakerecords.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/gravemistakerex
NEW FOR 01.03.2012:
GRAVE MISTAKE WEBSTORE CAN BE FOUND HERE
NEW STUFF FOR THIS UPDATE CAN BE FOUND HERE

FRONT LINE "BASIC TRAINING" 7" (BEACH IMPEDIMENT)
After having been in limbo for the better part of 30 years, we are proud to bring you the long lost "BASIC TRAINING" E.P. by Norfolk, VA's FRONT LINE. Commonly known as the "Second Demo" by tape traders over the years, this was recorded in October of 1982 shortly before the band imploded, leading to the formation of BONESAW and eventually GOD'S WILL. "BASIC TRAINING" features 10 tracks of primal and vicious USHC not unlike fellow Virginians WHITE CROSS with whom they shared the stage many times over their brief existence. Select tracks from this session would go on to be featured on compilations like THE MASTER TAPE VOL. 2 on Paul Mahern's Affirmation Records (along side bands like MECHT MENSCH, ZERO BOYS, NO LABELS, and many more) and the legendary all Virginia TARANTULA ON MY COCK tape that guitarist Jeff Clites would release in 1983, but this is the first time all of these songs have officially appeared together the way they were meant to. Raging Southern Hardcore at it's finest. Comes in a glue pocket sleeve containing a 7"x14" insert with liner notes and a collage of photos and flyers from the band's year long run, along with a sticker and a download code.

CULO / TENEMENT - SPLIT 7" (COWABUNGA)
Tenement/Culo split 7''- Odd pairing, or a combo of the best? It can be viewed in both ways but I like the latter explanation a lot more. 2 of the USA's best bands and both hail from the neighboring states of Wisconsin and Illinois. Culo delivers 4 songs of their style of hardcore punk you've come to expect and Tenement dish out 2 songs of melodic punk with heavy riffage, pop backbeat and SST style flair. Comes with nice covers and housed in a black dust sleeve, small 1 time press of 500 ever which is criminal. Midwest is best!

NO TOLERANCE "NO REMORSE, NO TOLERANCE" 7" (YOUNGBLOOD)
Two years in the making, NO TOLERANCE storm through with 6 songs of Boston straight-edge. For fans of old Boston hardcore, featuring members of THE RIVAL MOB and MIND ERASER.

GIVE "FLOWER HEAD" 7" (YOUNGBLOOD)
Give return with another incredible offering in their series of singles.  Taking influences from rev-summer era hardcore, but with an undeniable style of their own, GIVE aren’t following trends or trying to fit in; they’re just putting music and lyrics first, and putting everything they have into their live shows.

FACE REALITY "S/T" 7" (YOUNGBLOOD)
Detroit, MI's own Face Reality return with their second EP and debut for Youngblood Records. Face Reality cite Warzone, Turning Point, Youth Of Today and Mouthpiece as influences and they've been steadily working towards becoming the straight edge powerhouse that they are now.

TOTAL WRECK "2ND EP" 7" (SLEEPYHEAD)
Final effort from this Virginia outfit. Hardcore the way it should be, loud and fast. A huge improvement over their first 7", these six songs pack the punch and anger of bands like BATTALION OF SAINTS. If modern groups like DARK AGES or STRIPMINES peak your interest, then TOTAL WRECK will be right up your alley. Small pressing of 300 with hand-stamped center labels.

WYMYNS PRYSYN "S/T" 7" (SCAVENGER OF DEATH)
"After a killer demo a year or two ago, here's the debut 7" from Atlanta's Wymyns Prysyn. These guys have something different going on than a lot of their fellow Atlanta bands... they're neither power pop or punk a la the Carbonas / Gentleman Jesse scene nor ripping HC a la Bukkake Boys. Instead, this is some raging yet hypnotic punk, recalling the Wipers/Hot Snakes school, but with a really raw recording and a more hardcore-derived energy. Basically, this is hardcore, but with much more ambitious and interesting hooks... the Scavenger of Death label has a flawless record so far and this is another rager" - sorrystaterecords.com

BOILERMAN "YIELD THE GHOST" 7" (COWABUNGA)
Fantastic 2nd EP from this Chicago pop punk band. On this their follow up to their debut EP, the band goes down a darker path musically and add more elements of the Wipers and slight UK post punk touches but not in a lame hip way, more to add elements of variety to their gruff but super catchy midwestern pop punk. I always liked the Broadways meets early Saves the Day comparison I have given them but add Dillinger Four and to my ears anyways early Shades Apart as influence too. Where they are a true midwestern pop punk band, they also have more melodic tendencies as well.

SICK/TIRED "S/T" 7" (COWABUNGA)
Sick/Tired- ST EP- Hahaha, ST could actually stand for 'Sick Tired' as much as it does 'Self Titled' which is what I meant! 7 new songs of ferocious grindcore with thrash, 80's HC and death metal influence from Chicago/Dekalb. Without a doubt this is their most intense and loudest material to date too. Recorded by Andy of Weekend Nachos at his home studio and a much better fit for the band since he has an understanding for what band's like ST should sound like plus last time they recorded with a guy who does mainly melodic punk for when they recorded their LP. Sure the LP sounds good but it wasn't mastered and just a bit empty because of that. That has been corrected this time around!

SKUNKS "CAN'T GET LOOSE" 7" (LAST LAUGH)
In the great punk-rock-lyric-as-sex-metaphor sweepstakes, 'Earthquake Shake' by the Skunks is outpaced only by 'Horizontal Action' and 'Jerkin'' by The Drive (masturbation definitely being sex with someone I love). Canonized on 'Bloodstains Across Texas' and rightly regarded as one of the Lone Star State's mightiest monsters, Austin's finest proceeded to cut a slew of other good-to-great records over the next few years; however, their best and most essential moment remains their first.  'Earthquake Shake' and the b-side 'Can't Get Loose' capture the Skunks' at their sex-obsessed peak and no punk rock collection - no matter how weekend casual - can be called complete without it.

INCREDIBLE KIDDA BAND "(WATCH OUT) THIEF) 7" (LAST LAUGH)
An incredibly gifted power-pop sextet, The Incredible Kidda Band without a doubt were the most exciting things to come out of Coventry since the Blitz (bombs in the sky, not razors in the night).  Sadly, too much, too little, too late was the fate of the majority of the band?s recordings, BUT NOW, thanks to the intervening hand of Last Laugh Records, two of the band?s best 1978 recordings are free to sing and spin at the speed at which nature had always intended:  45 rpm!  The A-side ? ?Watch Out Thief? ? is Thorstein Veblen with a brown-ale pub dance beat or perhaps the Cockney Rejects ?Badman? cast as a mod instead of a skin, while the B-side - ?You Belong To Me? ? shows exactly where the Exploding Hearts were lifting 90% of their melodic ideas.  Vintage, top-ranking Great British power pop:  first time at 45 with period appropriate picture sleeve design by Sing Sing Records dynamo Trey Lindsey and utterly essential to your life.  YOU BUY IT!

DIET COKEHEADS "OCULAR" 7" (VINYL RITES)
The A side, "M. Dumptruck", is a heavy nod to fellow Floridians HARRY PUSSY, with harsh noise, a heavy dance beat and the debut of drummer Vivienne Rohan's incredible vocals. The B side, "Gay Goters", is a six minute guitar driven dirge similar to DAZZLING KILLMEN and other noise rocking punk. More extreme, harsher, rawer and more violent then the previous recordings, this is the best Cokeheads offering yet. Split 12" with The Men (Sacred Bones Records) out next on Vinyl Rites.

BAD COYOTES "S/T" 7" (ELIS MILE HIGH)
The 7″ debut by Oakland’s bluesy rocknroll punk band BAD COYOTES. 4 explosive blues/rocknroll based punk ragers guaranteed to blow your head off. This is the first release on Mile High Records since 1984. This record is limited to 300 copies.

HIGHWAY CROSS "LOCKED IN" 7" (HIGHWAY CROSS)
Washington DC's Highway Cross introduces themselves with “Locked In,” a self-released, 4-song 7” featuring fast, noisy punk with no song breaking the 2.5 minute mark.  Still, they manage to cram in plenty of catchy garage rhythm, Cheetah Chrome-esque leads, and an unrelenting hi-hat punctuated by strained vocals.  Members include familiar faces, having played in bands like Majority Rule, Cloak/Dagger, and Haram, and although this lineup delivers their own signature sound, fans of any of those bands will definitely want to check this out.

HIGH SOCIETY, THE "NURNBERG SOLL BRENNEN" 7" (SEARCH FOR FAME)
After a 7" and a split 12" with LIGHTS OUT this is the third release from  THS from nürnberg. 80's punk with german lyrics, sounds a little bit like all the bands from scandinavia (NO HOPE FOR THE KIDS, etc.).

PRESS GANG / SNIFFING GLUE - SPLIT 7" (SEARCH FOR FAME)
Split 7" by two of german finest HC/punk-bands. SG deliver once more 3 perfect 80's influenced hardcore/punk tracks, PG throw in 2 fine KBD-styled punk-smasher...

VENGEANCE "THE MESSAGE IS FUCK YOU" 7" (SEARCH FOR FAME)
Late 80's influenced hardcore with a hint of punk. if you like early AGNOSTIC FRONT, CAUSE FOR ALARM... this one is for you...

VENGEANCE "ARE A BUNCH OF PC WIMPS" 7" (SEARCH FOR FAME)
Second single from vengeance, furious 80's hardcore somwhere between new york and boston, lot of power and melodies, good lyrics, perfect soundtrack to destroy your home...

AMSTERDAMNED "S/T" 7" (GUMMOPUNX)
"Here's a brand new record from the same dudes who put out the Sick Mormons newest jammer and its from Amsterdamned. TRUE 80's HC (since it is actual 80's HC) from these Dutch punks, this contains 3 unreleased songs and the ’’Als je haar maar goed zit” compilation songs as well. I am not certain of the other tracks if they are from their elusive demo tape but I'd imagine that maybe they're alt versions perhaps? I wouldn't be the guy to ask certainly. Housed in a UV coated glue pocket cover. Regardless though if you love that powerful Dutch HC sound you won't go wrong with this. A VERY welcome surprise, kudos to this reissue." - cowabungarecords.com

WANDERLUST "S/T" 7" (GUMMOPUNX)
Debut EP from this catchy Dutch hc/punk band featuring ex members of SICK MORMONS. 500 pressed.

BRILLIANT COLORS "NEVER MINE" 7" (SLUMBERLAND)
San Francisco's Brilliant Colors have staked out a unique spot in the indie music landscape. Inspired in equal parts by DIY post-punk fervor and the spiky pop of C86 and early Flying Nun / Creation label output, they hearken back to a time when the best tunes came out on 7-inch singles and weekends were spent digging through the stacks at your favorite local record shop. Their 2009 album, Introducing, is one of the finest debuts in recent memory, combining guitar buzz with dreamy melodies and rushing rhythms into some unlikely combination of The Dils and Shop Assistants. Now the band is back with their first new recordings since that great album, and boy, are they winners. "Never Mine" is two minutes of punk-pop perfection--singer/guitarist Jess Scott's spare riff underpinned by Diane Anastasio's steady thump and Michelle Hill's busy, melodic bassline. It's Brilliant Colors in a nutshell: crunchy garage punk played with total purposefulness, leavened by an instinctive pop sense. On the flip side, the pace picks up for "Kissing's Easy": all rolling snares and frantic guitar strum and Scott's echoey vocal sass. Like all the best classic punk tunes, it's over just a little too soon, leaving one no option but to turn over the record and play it all again. Recorded with DIY simplicity by Ty Segall, who knows a bit about garage pop himself, the minimal sound fits the band's tunes like a glove. This great single hones Brilliant Colors' spiky, angular crash-pop and points to a very interesting 2010 for the trio.  "Introducing Brilliant Colors is an impressive full-length debut." --LA Record

VIVIAN GIRLS "I CAN'T STAY" 7" (IN THE RED)
The latest release by Brooklyn's VIVIAN GIRLS has arrived in the form of this handsome two-song seven inch single featuring two incredible brand new songs exclusive to this release. By now their praises have been sung from Terminal Boredom to Pitchfork to the New York Times. This is one case where you can believe the hype—this is GREAT stuff.

CROW BAIT "THREE TICKLE GUYS" 7" (DIRT CULT)
"Crow Bait brings 2011 to a close with one of my favorite EPs of the year. With personnel from bands such as Iron Chic, Sister Kisser and Wax Phantom to name but a few, this conglomeration wastes no time in delivering five crisp tracks of melodic punk rock with the almost obligatory (albeit it less than some) gruff vocals ... There are moments that the guitar sounds almost Dinosaur Jr-esque with the odd well placed lead but the overwhelming positive for me is the driven nature of the music and how uplifting I find it. It’s had me bouncing up and down in my chair at work whilst I listen to the tracks over and over again eagerly awaiting the arrival of the actual vinyl version. That is what makes the record stand out above all else. Somehow Crow Bait has taken a highly popular sound and managed to breathe some life into it through the superiority of the songs and the enthusiasm in the delivery. For me that is quite a huge positive as I find much of what I hear far too generic these days, and it’s getting harder for any band to actually put that stupid grin on my face when it sounds like it’s almost a case of 'going through the motions.'" - punknews.org

RAD COMPANY "SOMEONE SHOULD BE FIRED" 7" (SMILING HANDSHAKE)
Dayton, Ohio's Rad Company are back with a new EP containing 3 gruff, Rust Belt-bred jams. Hungover, grimy punk that would fit well with bands on Newest Industry. Cover art by Ryan Gelatin. Hand-numbered.

RAD COMPANY "BOTTOM SHELF" 7" (TEAMHUMAN)
Gritty, unshaven punk that owes a lot to the reflection of the East Bay, the overwhelming futility of the Midwest, and the unapologeticness of the South. It’s aggressive and rough, unmistakably no-shore, DIY, pop-punk circa 2011.

RATIONS "HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED" 7" (RAD GIRLFRIEND)
Five new songs in 10 minutes from Long Island, NY punkers. This is the follow up to 2010’s “For Victory” LP/CD. 7” Comes packaged in a 12 page booklet w/ artwork, lyrics, and information. First stuff with Tia from Fellow Project and ex-Bridge and Tunnel on bass. The release is split label cooperation among 10 US and international DIY labels. “How Much Land Does A Man Need?” was recorded by Ian Bryn (Fellow Project), mastered by Dan Randall at Mammouth Sound (Seein’ Red, Arctic Flowers, The Credentials), with art by Righteous Indignation.

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING "SO MANY THINGS" 2XLP (GONER)
They’ve drawn comparisons to Wire, Can, The Fall, Fugazi and The Stooges. They have a singer who wears black gloves to overcome stage fright. They won the $30,000 Australian Music Prize for their 2008 album Primary Colours—then recorded the next one themselves in a few hours in their practice space and spent the dough on a photo shoot for the album cover. They do not care about you and your expectations. You could call them “fiercely independent” but they don’t seem fierce at all. Quietly, and definitely on their own terms, Eddy Current Suppression Ring has become a force in underground music. Now, after three albums, it’s time for a compilation of singles tracks, demos and other stuff they had lying round. Turns out there was lots to choose from—and even after trimming, they ended up with a double album. Goner Records is happy to provide So Many Things.

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING "RUSH TO RELAX" LP (GONER)
When Eddy Current Suppression Ring formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003, bandmates Eddy Current, Rob Solid, Danny Current, and Brendan Suppression thought they would play a few shows and perhaps record a 7-inch or two. One of their first gigs, in fact, was an employee Christmas party at the record pressing plant where they worked. Six years later, the band has racked up accolades from the likes of SPIN Magazine, London's Guardian newspaper, and the Australian Independent Record Labels Association. In March of 2009, they were awarded the $30,000 Australian Music Prize for their second album, Primary Colours. Eddy Current's third full-length, Rush to Relax, is already one of the most anticipated releases of 2010. Cut last August in a six-hour session at Melbourne's Revolver Rehearsal Studios, the album combines stripped-down post-punk sensibilities with the sheer exhilaration of a four-man musical unit that has created its own language, and will never run out of new things to say.  While Primary Colours drew on what Guardian music critic Tom Hughes described as "fast 'n' fuzzy garage rock," Rush to Relax employs a pop ethos more common to the mid-'80s Dunedin Sound of New Zealand's Flying Nun label, with cascading guitar riffs and precise rhythms shadowing the introspective lyrics from black-gloved frontman Brendan Suppression. The geographical tug is most prevalent on "Anxiety," the new album's lead single, which is a guitar-driven homage to The Clean's whimsical, scene-launching debut "Tally-Ho," twisted via Eddy Current's inimitable style. The frantic pace of "Anxiety" is somewhat of an anomaly for Rush to Relax, a shape-shifter of an album that has already garnered comparisons to Television's 1977 landmark debut Marquee Moon. Like that classic group, Eddy Current Suppression Ring harnesses tension and propulsion to blast past the barriers of everyday tedium.

REATARDS "TEENAGE HATE" 2xLP (GONER)
Goner Records presents the deluxe reissue of Jay Reatard’s first full-length LP, with a bonus album of early tracks recorded on four-track and only released on cassettes. Some songs feature Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, Oblivians) on drums! Teenage Hate / Fuck Elvis Here’s the Reatards offers a glimpse into the punk energy and rapidly developing raw talent of a teenage Reatard. The double-album features covers of Fear, The Dead Boys, Lil’ Bunnies, Buddy Holly, Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves... and The Beatles!  “Having seen Jay Reatard on the periphery of the leather-boy rock circuit a couple of years ago, I had gotten the impression that he was an arrogant shit. A real ‘Little Lord Punkleroy,’ he was. It seemed that the short path from aping the Oblivians in his bedroom to actually playing alongside of them had given him an undeserved license for haughtitude. Well, after hearing this release, I now grant him the right to be as shitty to me as he wants to be. He may ignore my ass around the club all night, because this record just spews aching beauty. It is easily the most blistering pizzunk to dribble down the leg of the raspy whore that is the ‘Memphis scene’ in a long while.   “The liner notes lack any trace of irony and spill more pubescent bile than a crippled maid cleaing up after one of Roman Polanski’s ‘hot tub ’n’ cognac’ parties. It all starts to make sense when you think of the Goner CEO’s fascination with the low-rent vitriol of The Jerry Springer Show. But this has truth, whereas Jerry has spectacle. The guests on the show—tanning bed lesbians and domestic abuse Olympians—all seem to reflect a bovine uniformity. The Reatards, while nipping from both the Oblivian and Wiper jugs, maintain a unique, strangled articulation. If ‘Ruckenraoul’ is remotely near the neighborhood of your daily thought processes, there is absolutely no reason not to rush out and get this… through three red lights, even.”

SPITS, THE "V" LP (IN THE RED)
Everyone’s favorite space-age mutant skate punks The Spits are back with their long-awaited fifth album (self-titled, as were the previous four) and these twelve new action-packed songs of apocalyptic, fuzzed-out, over-driven madness do not disappoint. Going strong now for over fifteen years, smashing the windows and tearing down the walls every time they roll through town, these truly vicious visionaries have cooked punk down to its most powerful base form, crawling like Neanderthals through the muck and creating a flaming trail of hits that’ll take quite a fit of dementia to ever forget. A perfect distillation of punk’s original open-ended weirdness and modern music’s serrated salvation, The Spits have proven themselves to be no one to fuck with, over and over again. True headliners, never to be followed and for good reason. One of the only modern bands to have several of their songs covered by their contemporaries, The Spits have already done so much but still have so much more ahead, as they continue to influence anyone with a penchant for irresistible punk music, played like there’s nothing to lose.

EXIT CONDITION "BITE DOWN HARD" LP (BOSS TUNAGE)
EXIT CONDITION were one of the finest UKHC bands from the late Eighties. “Bite Down hard/Impact Time” is the first of these releases, a 23 track LP retrospective taking in the bands recorded output of 1988 and 1989 . The album contains the original “Impact Time” demo from 1988 that led to the bands debut “Bite Down Hard” 7”EP released by Pusmort in 1989, plus six tracks recorded in 1988/1989 that appeared on various compilation LPs at the time – plus a track, “To The Rescue” that has remained criminally unreleased to this point.  With all tracks being digitally remastered, this limited edition coloured vinyl LP has a heavyweight board sleeve and printed insert containing liner notes from drummer Richard Stanier, plus photos and memorabilia from the bands personal collection, this is a must have release for fans of the whole UKHC scene. Limited to just 300 copies, red vinyl.

DEAD LANGUAGE "S/T" LP (IRON LUNG)
20 minutes of pure, ear-crippling power violence played by members of IRON LUNG, SOLUTIONS, WALLS, PIG HEART TRANSPLANT and NO COMMENT. There will never be another like this. Check and mate... P.V. R.I.P.

BRILLIANT COLORS "INTRODUCING" LP (SLUMBERLAND)
Singer / guitarist Jess Scott started Brilliant Colors in early 2007, and she's been mighty busy since then. After a steady stream of line-up changes, Scott has finally settled on a permanent line-up with the addition of East Coast transplants Diane Anastasio and Michelle Hill (a veteran of a number of Bay Area underground punk outfits, as well as touring guitarist for legendary UK punk / dub group The Slits!), in the meantime sharing bills with fellow Bay Area acts Nodzzz, Grass Widow, and Ty Segall and opening for the likes of The Urinals and The Homosexuals. Following up two sold-out singles (on Make a Mess and Captured Tracks) and mounting fervor from all corners of the pop underground blog-o-world, Brilliant Colors' debut album is as an undeniable contender for best pop record of 2009. Introducing, recorded in Portland, Oregon by Mississippi Records' Alex Yusimov, marks a great leap forward for Brilliant Colors. The band has honed their songwriting to a fine edge, delivering ten tracks of sharp, subtly catchy indie pop that finds them more assuredly rounding out the corners of their DIY-punk-meets-Shop Assistants, '78-'86 pop collision. Opener "I Searched," a fully formed pop classic, drifts through the speakers on the back a wistful, echoey vocal, while "Absolutely Anything" picks up the pace with a buzzing guitar attack and a chorus hook that would make Joey Ramone proud. The trio is at their best on "Over There" and "Yell in the Air," tunes emblematic of the perfect middle ground Scott has struck between the crunch and drive of punk and the spiky DIY melodicism of early Rough Trade and Flying Nun bands. Introducing is a sharp debut album packed with taut guitar buzz and dreamy melodies, neatly expanding on the promise of those in-demand 7-inch singles. Clocking in at barely twenty-four minutes, its focus and concision perfectly encapsulate where pop should be in 2009. Side-stepping all the indie pigeonholes, Brilliant Colors have produced a scrappy gem of a record.

HYSTERESE "S/T" LP (SEARCH FOR FAME)
Brand-new band from south-germany. their music is fast, catchy and absolutely great. male/female voices, sounds a little bit like bands like MASSHYSTERI,  GORILLA ANGREB...but with a hardcore-edge.

SNIFFING GLUE "S/T" LP (SEARCH FOR FAME)
Sniffing glue's third lp, great 80's hardcore like black flag meets jerry's kids meets circle jerks ect. , a musthave for every hc-kid!!!

BARRERACUDAS "NOCTURNAL MISSIONS" LP (DOUCHEMASTER)
Somewhere between The Heartbreakers (Petty) and The Heartbreakers (Thunders), Atlanta five-piece The Barreracudas find a shallow well of inspiration just deep enough to produce one of the biggest foot-tappers of the year.  Nocturnal Missions blends elements of dirty ’70s glam and the radio-friendliness of Dwight Twilley and Phil Seymour. The Barreracudas’ sound shouldn’t come as a great surprise as most of these guys have been playing with Gentleman Jesse and His Men for the past couple of years. There’s no Pulitzer-worthy poetry in the lyrics, but the hooks in these songs are more infectious than encephalitis. It’s even got a sweet cover of Cheap Trick’s “Come On, Come On.”

COLA FREAKS "S/T" LP (DOUCHEMASTER)
Denmark’s COLA FREAKS sound like a scheduled, perfectly executed panic attack, employing herky-jerky song structures and frequent direction changes while commanding total attention. The six-piece has released a series of impressive singles for which they’ve garnered comparisons to legendary European KBD-era bands of yore and the likes of Jay Reatard—indeed, Mr. Reatard recruited Cola Freaks members for his backing band in his final live lineup. Douchemaster is pleased to present the release of Cola Freaks’ self-titled debut LP. Featuring eleven tracks of quick, clean and nervous new wave / punk rock, the album is as scrupulous as it is frenzied and eerie.

MISSING MONUMENTS "PAINTED WHITE" LP (DOUCHEMASTER)
Royal Pendletons, Persuaders, Bad Times, Exploding Hearts, King Louie One Man Band, Kajun SS, Loose Diamonds, Black Rose Band and likely a dozen more. King Louie Bankston’s impressive résumé has the tendency to make regular folk feel unproductive. Now, he adds Missing Monuments to the list. Painted White, the group’s debut full-length, is a testament to King Louie’s ability to master just about any style outside of rap. The album is clean, jangly, full of hooks and Bankston’s signature coarse melodies. Covering all the necessary bases, it’s got rock ’n’ roll jams, ballads, a noodley track showcasing guitarist Julian Fried’s guitar skills, and fan favorite “(It’s Like) XTC,” a song that sounds so much like The Raspberries one might wonder if it’s an obscure cover.  While many are familiar with the King Louie on stage and the King Louie that parties your town to smithereens after his set, Painted White shows King Louie as the hardest working and most talented songwriter around.

CORMANS, THEE "HALLOWEEN RECORD" LP (IN THE RED)
Fiends! Ghouls! Creeps! In the grand tradition of Frankie Stein and His Ghouls and The Deadly Ones, Thee Cormans present Halloween Record w/ Special Effects—a bona fide Halloween rock ’n’ roll album just in time for the only holiday that matters.  The Southern Californian biker / surf instrumental combo has been bashing out their brand of Davie-Allan-and-the-Arrows-meets-The-Ventures-on-meth thrash for several years now. Theirs is a sound informed by scratched-up ’60s instrumental records, KBD punk singles and exploitation B-movies chock full of monsters, bikers and mayhem. What this group of weirdos does to the surf instrumental genre is the same as what The Mummies did to Pacific Northwest ’60s rock back in the ’90s—they speed it up, drag it through the mud, pour a can of politically incorrect attitude over the top and call it a pie. In this case, the pie is filled with rubber bats, plastic fangs and novelty shrunken heads. Halloween Record w/ Special Effects will make you shriek, rattle and roll! These are spine-chilling sounds guaranteed to make you shiver. Flesh-ripping guitar playing! Skull-pulverizing drum beats! Gore-spattering bass lines! Spooky, hair-raising sound effects! The bloody horror of this record is positively sinister. You will hate yourself if you miss it! In The Red is not legally responsible for death caused by heart failure or fright as a result of listening to Halloween Record w/ Special Effects. In other words, this record is not for sissies.

DAVILA 666 "TAN BAJO" LP (IN THE RED)
Hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Davila 666 plays fierce Spanish-language garage-pop with gang vocals, tambourines, pop hooks, guitar licks and even a touch of psych here and there. Elements of early Stones, Jesus and the Mary Chain, Dead Boys and ’60s girl groups are all evident in Davila’s sound. Since their 2008 self-titled debut album, they’ve released a slew of singles and EPs on labels like HoZac, Rob’s House and Douchemaster. The album even received a coveted cassette release on Burger, a garage rock signal that “they’ve arrived” if ever there was one. Davila 666 toured the US on a mammoth three-month trek that would’ve made Black Flag weary, as well as completed a massive slog across Europe. As soon as they began recording tracks for their much anticipated follow-up, Tan Bajo, which means “so low,” the band realized the sounds they were making were darker and more psychedelic than their previous output. Though it retains the pop and rock ’n’ roll one would expect, Tan Bajo is Davila 666’s most cohesive release to date. With a team that includes In The Red, Creature Booking, Force Field PR and Vice management backing them, these Puerto Ricans are poised to turn the indie rock world on its ear. “... one of the best bands at SXSW. Period.” —The Fader “This six-man combo generates a monolithic wall of sound, and if this isn’t as frantic as some of their contemporaries in the United States, Davila 666’s better-than-average chops, potent swagger, and thorough knowledge of the cooler chapter of rock ’n’ roll history more than compensate.” —Allmusic.com “Since picking up Davila’s debut disc, I’ve refused to put it back down. On their US debut, these triple-sixers filter three decades of scuffed-up leather jackets through the Spanish-language translator. Disparate patches of Radio Birdman, The Dead Boys and rudimentary jangle pop are all threaded onto the album, the charms of which are multiplied by the fact that Davila 666 sounds like it was recorded live at a basement birthday party.” —SF Weekly

DAVILA 666 "S/T" LP (IN THE RED)
Hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Davila 666 is one of the biggest rock 'n' roll attractions in the country. Over the past two years, they have amassed a large local following and their shows have a reputation as must-see spectaculars. A Davila 666 set functions almost like a theatrical event, as the band presents a thematic environment in which viewers are called to interact with props and exotic dancers. According to singer Carlitos, "Davila is a living homage to the sex, drugs, and good times of rock 'n' roll we all idolize." Their sound is the combination of obvious rock 'n' roll classics like the Stones, Stooges, Velvets, and Dolls, along with less likely influences such as Mazzy Star, Li'l Wayne, and Plan B. "We are like Menudo (the group--not the soup) on lots of drugs," says Carlitos.  Davila 666, whose name combines references to a notorious Bayomon city slum with the number of the beast, recently toured the West Coast, where they made fans in every town they played and alliances with like-minded bands such as The Spits, Black Lips, and The King Khan & BBQ Show. All of their songs are sung in their native Spanish but that doesn't stop English-speaking audiences from dancing on tables and going crazy at their shows.  Davila 666 is smart, sarcastic, and aggressive--as all young bands should be.

GIRLS AT DAWN "S/T" 12" EP (CAPTURED TRACKS)
Right on the the heels of their debut 7-inch on HoZac comes this four-song 12-inch EP. Drawing from post-punk, psychedelic and ‘60s pop influences, these three girls from Brooklyn make haunting melodies bridged with there/not-there ghostly arrangements.

MUMMIES, THE "PLAY THEIR OWN RECORDS" LP (ESTRUS)
BACK IN PRINT!!! After long years in remission, THE MUMMIES’ Play Their Own Records is back in circulation. Relive those lazy hazy crazy days of the twilight years of the last century, or experience them for the very first time through the technological deviltry of reproducing sound by physically (yes, physically!) dragging a needle down a rut cut into a piece of plastic! Amazing! Marvel at the spiritual bond you will share with The Mummies themselves, as you listen to the strains of their first four singles (including five tracks you won’t find on CD) together.

DESCENDENTS "COOL TO BE YOU" LP (FAT WRECK)
With the new year comes good news, in the form of a new DESCENDENTS full length! Originally formed as a three-piece, the then boys, got the idea that adding a singer to the mix would be a good plan. History was made when the trio recruited the brainy and bespectacled frontman Milo Aukerman and the band released their breakthrough EP entitled Fat. What goes around comes around and 2004 found the Descendents releasing their latest full length, Cool To Be You on FAT! Since their inception, the fellas have all worked on different side projects, most of them musical, however latecomer and frontman Milo has long been hard at work in the world of academia, finally ending up employed as a Scientist! Lucky for punk rock fans Milo has traded in his microscope for the microphone and the punk scene can expect a triumphant return from the DESCENDENTS. Cool To Be You is 14 new songs that will undoubtedly wet the appetite of the starving scene, and is easily superior to their most recent and most commercially successful release: 1996's Everything Sucks.

BGK "A DUTCH FEAST" 2XLP (ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES)
B.G.K., or Balthasar Gerards Kommando were a 1980s Dutch punk band. The band were named after a Dutch historical figure named Balthasar Gerards, who assassinated the king of the Netherlands in 1584. Balthasar Gerards Kommando were formed in the early 1980s by members of Amsterdam punk band The Nitwitz. Rejecting the then-popular trend to emulate British Oi bands, BGK took their musical cues from American hardcore bands such as MDC, and soon developed an ultrafast style of their own. The band was also committed to following through with its leftist political stance, both in terms of the punk scene (the band set up DIY shows with low door prices, and put out affordable records on their own label) and in a wider political spectrum (they often played benefits for various causes, and helped run the Emma squat in Holland). A Dutch Feast...The Complete Recorded Works of Balthasar Gerards Kommando collects everything the Amsterdam hardcore band B.G.K. recorded, including the LPs Jonestown Aloha (1983) and Nothing Can Go Wrong (1986), the contents of the 7" single "White Male Dumbinance," a previously unreleased alternate version of "Arms Race," and a few songs the band contributed to compilations.

CLASH, THE "S/T" LP (DRASTIC PLASTIC)
The Clash, the self-titled debut by one of the most influential acts of the 20th century, and the best selling import record of all time, is finally available for the first time as an official U.S. release. With the original British track list, this release was produced from the original masters for Drastic Plastic Records by Sony Records. It has been painstakingly reproduced as a beautiful 180-gram version for collectors and casual listeners alike. In 2003 Mojo referred to The Clash as “the ultimate punk protest album. Searingly evocative of dreary late ‘70s Britain, but still timelessly inspiring.” Need we say more?

PEER PRECIOUS "BLESS THIS MESS" LP (DIRT CULT)
I’m here to report that great DIY punk bands still spring up every now and again and Peer Precious is one of them. Mike Wilson (guitarist/vocalist whose spent time in bands like The Hard Feeling and Nordic Waste…not to mention filling in on tour for bands like Dead Dog and Chin Up Meriwether and roadying for the likes of Tulsa, Uh-Oh, and probably a dozen more) sent me these songs a few months ago. It only took me one listen to give him a call to ask to put this record out. Heartfelt punk rock that brings to mind Hickey, Onion Flavored Rings, Hello Shitty People, and The Stun Guns…pick up this LP. You won’t be disappointed!

RAD COMPANY / EX BOYFRIENDS "HOLD MY GLASSES" LP (RAD GIRLFRIEND)
The new split LP from Dayton, Ohio's Rad Company and the debut of Mcallen Texas' The Ex-Boyfriends.  This records rules. Pop punk with a twist of Thrashpop up your ass. Beautiful artwork and 11 tracks of fast, catchy punk rock. Best stuff to date from Rad Company and a hell of a start for The Ex-Boyfriends.

COPS - DEMO TAPE (SCAVENGER OF DEATH)
"COPS have a new demo tape floating around (via Scavenger of Death) that blasts four original numbers plus a cover of Christian Death’s “Spiritual Cramp,” which appears here as “Spiritual Cramps” (plural). There’s also a riff missing from their slapdash run through the song, giving it a manic, impulsive feel.  That jagged sense of spontaneity is precisely what sets COPS’ contemptuous, raw punk aesthetic apart from Gentleman Jesse’s more recent M.O. Backed by a rhythm section of Greg "GG" King (drums) and Ryan Bell a.k.a. Ryan Dinosaur of Bukake Boys (bass), Jesse Smith’s voice and guitar lash out with uncharacteristic aggression, and it’s refreshing in a cathartic, better-listening-through-pain sort of exercise. The clear, but home-recorded quality of the tape gives each song a motorik and unrefined edge that facilitates a specific, confrontational sound that's coming together here. They haven't quite fleshed out the true power of what they're crafting, but they're on the right track. And, after all, this is just a demo tape — a teaser for a more focused 7-inch that's due out via Rob’s House Records later this year or early in 2012." - clatl.com

LIMITED READERSHIP - ISSUE #1 ZINE
Debut issue of this incendiary UK fanzine. Includes quality interviews with NASA SPACE UNIVERSE, VEE DEE, WASTE MANAGEMENT, and MOB RULES. Quite a diverse lineup! Also featured is a history of Houston's REALLY RED, a deluge of 2010 record reviews, and a "limited viewership" section dedicated to cult film. Full size w/ cardstock outer cover, 26 pages.

LIMITED READERSHIP - ISSUE #2 ZINE
Finally, a new issue of this underrated UK zine. Features ace interviews with CONDOMINIUM, MILK MUSIC, POLLUTION, and the first part in a series of chats with Cleveland legends SPIKE IN VAIN (!) Also included is writing on X-CLAIM Records, HAWKWIND, GUT INSTINCT, a rundown of essential 2011 HC/punk records, and a second run of the "limited viewership" focus on vintage cult cinema. Holy shit, pick it up! Full size w/ cardstock outer cover, 30 pages.

MORE NOIZE - ISSUE #7 ZINE
Newest effort from this UK noize punk aficionado. This time Tony features interviews with Italy's FOGNA, Finland's KYLMA SOTA, Japan's INJECTIONS, and DEFORMITY from NYC, which is Shiva from Accept The Darkness zine's band. All this is rounded out with a killer scope of international raw/noise punk reviews, letters, and opinions. Amazing Sugi-esque cover art to boot!

RESTOCKS FOR 1/3/12:

BLOODTYPE - S/T 7"
BUKKAKE BOYS / AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER - SPLIT 7"
CAREER SUICDE - CHERRY BEACH 7"
CHEEKY - CHOKE ON A CHEESEBURGER 7"
CRITICAL MASS - SILVER SCREEN 7"
DARK AGES - VICIOUS LIE 7"
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - DEMONS DEMANDS 7"
EMBARASSMENT, THE - PATIO SET/SEX DRIVE 7"
FAR FROM BREAKING - THE IDENTITY 7"
OMEGAS - SONIC ORDER 7"
RALPH - S/T 7"
SCHOOL JERKS - CONTROL 7"
TOUCHDOWN - REACH FOR THE TOP 7"

CARBONAS - S/T LP
CHEEKY - WHAT THE HECK? LP
CHIN CHIN - SOUND OF THE WESTWAY LP
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - S/T LP
FOREIGN OBJECTS - S/T LP
FUCKED UP - DAVID COMES TO LIFE 2XLP
FUCKED UP - THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE 2XLP
GENTLEMAN JESSE - S/T LP
HELLKONTROL - WANKER WAR 10"
JAY REATARD - SINGLES 06-07 2XLP
POISON IDEA - DARBY CRASH RIDES AGAIN LP
PREDATOR - S/T LP
SPITS - IV LP
VIVIAN GIRLS - S/T LP
WIPERS - OUTTAKES LP

ATLANTA DEMOS - TAPE

COUNTERFEIT GARBAGE - ISSUE #6

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