Wednesday 27 March 2013

Culo - My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down EP - 7" - first press

from my mates (is he a mate or not, I've forgotten) label
CBR-55 CULO- My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down EP
Limited to 398 on clear red vinyl and a very limited 90 only on black vinyl
FIRST PRESSING
The big reason I pressed this on wax is because the 2nd demo was the 1st release done by the band I was actually into, plus its always held a place in my heart okay? The 1st demo showed some promise but left much to be desired and although Nuke Abuse was a good debut EP, I still always came back to this recording for listening of the pre-Deranged yrs. The 2nd demo filled in all the gaps for me to the 1st demo. Song writing got better, its still rough and also VERY fast and retains the punk edge. A lot of this reminds me of a scrappy but midwestern version of Negative FX. Sure the 'MY LIFE SUCKS' LP is their finest effort (you're kidding yourself to disagree) but this shows the band in the early stages and what I felt is the 1st true example of what Cülo can offer. OKAY-this comes on either Black or transparent RED wax, but BLACK is the limited version for this record and 90 were made on Black - Sick Nick - Cowabunga Records.

Tenement - Sick Nick Club Vol 3 - 7''

from my mates (is he a mate or not, I've forgotten) label
Here's the 3rd volume of the Sick Club series which is by none other then the 3 wonder boys of Wisconsin, TENEMENT. 2 brand new tracks exclusive to this 7'' single- A side written by Jesse and the B side written by Amos. A side is a more traditional 1-2 foot tapping, catchy as hell Tenement standard where the B side is a very off kilter, poppy alt rock sort of track. Its totally a Tenement song, but its also a 1st for them in this style too. 1 time press of 500, housed in a hand assembled, full color glue pocket cover to boot! - Sick Nick Cowabunga Records.

Available at   https://blitzrecords.bigcartel.com/

The Repos - Sick Nick Club Vol 4 - 7''

from my mates (is he a mate or not, I've forgotten) label
The 4th volume of the Sick Club series is filled by Chicago's own local legends THE REPOS. I feel by now I don't need to explain who this band is and what they sound like so know I am not going to. If you know and follow even just decent HC at all in the last so many years, you'd at least just know who this band is. After breaking up in 2008, but re-emerging in late 2010 as a new band called THE ROPES, the band quietly released some demos and a 7'' upon the world. Come sometime in later 2012, the band name 'THE ROPES' was already taken by some crap band from Rhode Island who of course threatened legal action since they couldn't cut it themselves and were too ego struck to let it be taken, so the guys went back to using the old REPOS moniker once more. These are 2, brand new EXCLUSIVE tracks on this Sick Club 7'' aka 'Armed and Using' and 'Hole In the Hill', and like the others in the series a 1 time press of 500 copies with no repress, records are nestled in a hand assembled glue pocket cover too designed by Chicago art stalwart Ryan Lowry - Sick Nick Cowabunga Records.

Available at   https://blitzrecords.bigcartel.com/

Sick/Tired - King Of Dirt - LP

from my mates (is he a mate or not, I've forgotten) label
Atomic orange vinyl limited to 75 only worldwide
The LP finally sees the light of day. After messed up test presses to start off with and then a long awaited 2nd set to arrive, the record def had its share of problems (not by the bands end nor mine). This also is the debut record of new vocalist Adam Jennings, whom you may know best from Winters In Osaka. Adam's brutal vocals devestate on this more lo fi but still shining recording and the fact that Robert quit the band which at the time was a downer, was almost a 'godsend' seeing they got Adam to replace him and not slow down a thing. I mean, you can't hear it but his presence breathed new life into this band and seeing them live and thus more lively in that setting is awesome. Still playing tight and well executed fast grindcore with 80's thrash, doom, death metal and punk elements interwoven into the mix. Yet with all the posi print they get despite being a hard working band they're still so underrated, maybe due to the fact they're hindered due to work not allowing em' to tour a whole lot. It'd be nice to see that change with the release of this LP, which is without a doubt the best release these guys have to date easily and to be so bold one of the best grind albums of 2013. Most copies will also come with a bonus poster insert made by Kirk and Adam. The 1st 75 for mailorder are on custom 'ATOMIC ORANGE' wax (a nod to my close friend Adam Inverted of this band, think Miami Dolphins orange) - Nick Sick Cowabunga Records.

Available at   https://blitzrecords.bigcartel.com/

Technicolor Teeth - Sage EP - 7"

from my mates (is he a mate or not, I've forgotten) label
I knew my boy Amos had drummed in bands such as Paul Collins Beat and Chinese Telephones to name but a few. Then apart from his freakishly godlike guitar skills he showcases in his certain 3 piece band by the name of Tenement, that he remains more of a drummer. But I also knew about a band he drummed in called Harlequin Kid that his local Appleton friend Zacc Baehman was also in with him. They had released a demo/EP tape sometime in 2009 on their 'house label' and I want to say broke up in 2010. Then along came Technicolor Teeth-which was both Amos and Zacc again but also now with their friend Matt instead of Justin who was in HK. I am not certain if this is a continuation of Harlequin Kid, but I got the feeling it is unofficially. Well, TT released a tape only album 'Teenage Pagans' in 2012 (may or may not see its vinyl treatment via Houseplant in 2013?) on Lets Pretend based out of Bloomington, Indiana (and home to Paul Mahern!). I had seen the band in 2011 at a Bored Straight/Leather show and fell in love there, but it wasn't until I obtained the cassette album that I had asked to do a record then knowing these guys had done something of a release. These 3 Wisconsin lads play a great shoegaze/DIY indie rock hybrid but its also very catchy, not just mired in 'dreamy' territory like most bands of the genre and thankfully done very PUNK. I mean, you can probably gather something what they sound like just from those explanatory words I imagine so I'll leave that there. Each 1 of the 3 members wrote a song here on this 3 song EP too, where each has a different feel to it which makes it so much better. One of my personal favorite records I have had the honor of releasing, if that says anything. Marble PEACH for the 1st 75 mailorders -Sick Nick Cowabunga Records.

Available at   https://blitzrecords.bigcartel.com/

Decay After Death - System Fucking Bastards EP - 7"


The newest output from this Hammond,Indiana anarchist HC punk band. Took a little while to come out for reasons I don't fully understand (apart from a 1st set of rejected & destroyed test presses that then delayed a new set for a month) but the delays are finally over and their newest record will now see the light of day. The 1st EP was amazing but the look about it turned a lot of people off, so I can only hope the cover for my record which isn't pixelated will dispell any negativity (which should have been minor at best) people had about the band prior. Musically, this record is more PUNK and a little less rockin' then the 1st one but still what I call a 'traditional DxAxDx record'. If I had to make comparisons, I'd say this one where a generic description is still apt- Varukers and Discharge crossed w early Inepsy, GBH, Guns N Roses, Burning Spirits style Japanese HC and Violent Society with slight midwestern flair. 70 copies available on Opaque WHITE wax with a Black streak - Nick Sick Cowabunga Records.

Available at   https://blitzrecords.bigcartel.com/