Wednesday 31 March 2010

OPIATE RECORDS NR. 10 - OUT NOW

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SEEIN'RED/MIHOEN - split 10" - £6
The long awaited split of two bands that helped shape and define the Dutch DIY scene in the past 2 decades. MIHOEN! sadly called it quits in 2008, but SEEIN'RED are still going strong after 20+ years and long may they fucking continue. If there ever was a time where these kind of voices where needed, this is it and I know that whether still on stage or from the grave, these two will continue to inspire people to question and resist the right-wing political capitalist machine that is currently tearing the Netherlands and the world as a whole to pieces. Fittingly, with most of it's content aimed at the country's politicians and their collaborators, all lyrics on this record are in Dutch, underpinned throughout with the ultra fast and powerful blistering raw hardcore punk attack both have become known for. It's often said that great music is created in bleak and desperate times and the fact this is easily some of the absolute best stuff these two bands have ever committed to vinyl (and that's saying something), seems to be backing up that theory.
D.Boon once coined the phrase "punk is what we made it to be" - and both Seein'red & Mihoen! made/kept it something that's relevant, angry, fun, sincere, diy and political, all the while retaining a good sense of humour and a belief in the ultimate attainability of a better future. It's pretty much as close a definition you'll ever get of the way I see punk myself and so I am extremely happy to be involved with this release and for it to now finally be available.

In the time tested punk tradition of "cooperation not competition", this is a collaborative effort between Darren (Tadpole), Eduard (Trabuc), Jos, Paul & Olav (Seein'Red), Irmin, Arno, Pepijn & Rene (Mihoen!) and myself (Opiate). I wouldn't have it any other way, and I am sure neither would they.

600 copies have initially been pressed - if there's more demand after that - it'll get repressed.

thanks, opiate

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Friday 26 March 2010

27th of March 2010

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DE KIFT - yverzucht lp - red wig - £8 - SOLD OUT
...there's only a handful records that can truly be called landmark releases. De Kift's first full length undoubtably belongs in that last category. With members previously involved in Pistache BV, The Ex, Rondos, Svatsox and GRRR, they concocted an unique kind of pointed sparse punk with audible dutch lyrics, pushy melodic basslines, bouncy snarerolls, angular guitar and fanfare brass blasts. Poetic powerful lyrics were rrrrecited, spat out and crooned. A heady mix of bleak reflective explorations on the dutch mental state of the times; post WWII mentality dissected and rejected and gleeful romantic pleas for revolt with ingrained disillusionment. De Kift came of age in the dying hours of the squatter movement at the time. Playing benefits, raising funds, eyebrows and soundtracking a lifestyle on it's last legs. Alas the times were a changing. The movement discombobulated and was succeeded by a fragmented scene in turmoil. Yverzucht came out amidst that monumental confusion back in 1989 and remains one of punk's true masterpieces.

DE KIFT - 7" - £4
A fairly unknown predecessor to their debut LP Yverzucht. Now made available again thanks to Grrrt at Red Wig! Three songs of driving rhythms and volatile speech. Another testament to the uniquely prolific '80s Dutch punk/squat scene.

MOB RULES/CROWD CONTROL - split 7" - £4
UK/IRE powerviolence worship, channeling the heavy bleak sounds of the originators of yesteryear. Would painting bandnames on one's leather jacket be popular in this scene, theirs would read: Neanderthal, Man Is The Bastard and Iron Lung. I understand this is already sold out everywhere, so if you need this, best not to sleep on it.

DEAD IN THE WOODS/DIET PILLS - lp - £7
Whether it's the never ending rain or the impending doom of yet another Tory government, but inside this beautifully packaged lp there's yet more bleak heaviness from the UK. Dead In The Woods, born out of the ashes of the mighty Army Of Robots, lash out with crushingly heavy gloomy miserablism, an unholy crusty union of Neurosis, His Hero Is Gone, Swans and High On Fire. Diet Pills go for an even more twisted approach, with bands like Flipper clearly spooking through their veins.

JESUS BRUISER - 10" - £5
The 1st release by these well known crust merchants from Bristol, undoubtedly the spirital capital of said scene. Badger, who plays in this band, isone of the more active participants in the current UK punk/activist scene, and the lyrics on this release clearly back up said politics

MOURNE/WARPRAYER - 12" - £6.50
"After an insanely limited and elusive demo 12", here's the first large-scale vinyl release from Boston's Morne. Here they expand the dark, atmospheric and heavy sound on their demo by adding in some creepy-sounding organ, and it works great. For me, Morne out-Amebix-es Amebix, and that really says something." WARPRAYER features members of RIPCORD, DUMBSTUCK and GURKHA, going for a more straight forward crust punk attack that totally holds it's own.

DIVISIONS RUIN/EASPA MEASA - lp - £6.50
"Two of Ireland's finest offer up a fine split of emotionally charged crust-tinged political hardcore. Easpa Measa should be well known after their crazy 5-month-Euro-Tour back in 2005. It has been a little quiet around them since then, but now they are back with new recording. As this band has always been really important for me, i am totally happy about beeing part in this release. Divisions Ruin on the flipside have gone through some line-up changes after their debut-EP, but managed to delevop their sound further and you`ll find a handful of new songs as well as some older ones from their demo on this split LP.

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Tuesday 9 March 2010

09 March 2010

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Quick update! Just to flag I know have these gems in. All stone cold fucking classics. Some of the best hardcore punk ever committed to vinyl in fact!!
APPENDIX - "money is not my currency" - lp - £8
ASTA KASK - "rock mot svinen" - lp - £8
BASTARDS - "jarjeton maailma" - lp - £8
BASTARDS- "siberian hardcore" - lp - £8
DESTRUKTIONS - "complete destrucktions" - lp - £8
KAAOS - "totaalinen kaaos" - lp - £8
KOHU 63 - "sotaa 81/82" - lp - £8
RIISTETYT - "as a prisoner of state" - lp -£8
RIISTETYT – "skitsofrenia" - lp - £8

I also picked up a few doubles while on holiday the other week, 1 copy of each, snap them up:
BREAKFAST - "eat rice" - 7" - £4 - (Japanese hc/punk)
CITIZENS PATROL - "sick routine 7" - £3
- (terriffic 80s US hc style)
EUCALYPT/SOPHORA - 7" - £4
- (90s emo worship)
KAFKA PROCESS - discography lp - £6
- (legendary 80s Norwegian hc)
KARKABA - £3.50
- (absolutely raging raw Spanish hc punk greatness)
OUT WITH A BANG - "i'm against it" - 7" - £4
- (ex-GRABBIES)
JUPITER LANDER - 7" - £3.50
- (UK emo)
STALINGRAD/UNDERCLASS - 7" - £3.50
- (classic 90s UK hc)
WE NEED TO TALK - 7" - £3.50
- (Born Against-ish political hc)

Order: r_vergeldt (a) h0tmail (dot) com
Full list: click here Order: r_vergeldt (a) h0tmail (dot) com