LEBENDEN TOTEN - 8 Tracks Demo (USA, 2002)

I don't think I need to hear another single "noise punk" band at this point in my life. Call me old or jaded, but this subgenre has gotten so redundant and sterile it's probably the "screamo" of the '10s and it's only a matter of months before that shit floods second hand bins. I love noise and feedback as much as anyone, but I also need riffs, hooks, and song structures in my punk. Lebenden Toten is one of the very, very few bands of the genre I can hang with, even though they really started to shine later on in their career (I suggest checking out their 2nd LP and 8" first thing if you've never heard them.) They hadn't really found their trademark style on this demo yet – even Chanel's vocals sound pretty different from the distinctive singing style she's known for. 

LEBENDEN TOTEN - 8 Tracks Demo (USA, 2002)

DOOMSTONE - "Possessed Cemeteries" demo (USA, 1991)

I've always thought this Doomstone demo never got the recognition it deserved. Coming out right at the peak of the death metal explosion in 1991, it didn't meet many of the style criterias of the era: no Sunlight or Morrisound-like production, no super fast beats, no gore-drenched lyrics… And humorous stage names like Keeper Of The Brazilian Death Metal Albums (bass) or Cross-Turner Upside-Downer (drums) kept them from being lumped with the super serious Satanic panic to come (read: second wave black metal). Even though the vocals are deep and brutal as all hell, you can tell Doomstone's influences were firmly rooted in '80s (and even '70s) heavy metal culture. Not exactly surprising when you know the band shared two members with the excellent veteran death/thrash band Deceased. The first Doomstone album came out 3 years later but I had pretty much lost interest in death metal at that point so I can't even comment on that one. [Update: I got my hands on last year's vinyl reissue of the first Doomstone CD and I'm glad I did, it's every bit as excellent as the demo. Released by To The Death Records from Sweden. Get it!]

DOOMSTONE - Possessed Cemeteries demo (USA, 1991)

SUICIDE BOMB - Demo (USA, 2009)

This was sent to me a couple of years ago by Robert of the almighty Terminal Escape blog, who you may also know as a member of No Statik, Conquest For Death, What Happens Next?, Artimus Pyle, etc. He was in Suicide Bomb together with Will (Born/Dead, Desolation, Red Dons…) but that's about all I know. The tape says the band only lasted 3 months but I wish they'd done more as this 5-song affair is excellent. Catchy old school US hardcore with its share of mid-paced ragers and great raw but tuneful vocals. I wish the cover had lyrics printed so I could sing along. Impressive little cassette!

SUICIDE BOMB - Demo (USA, 2009)

BOSTON STRANGLER - "Outcast" demo (2010)

There's been a lot of Boston media coverage in the past few days for obvious reasons so this seems pretty appropriate. Boston Strangler needs no introduction, they've been quite hyped over the past couple of years, paying tribute to the old hardcore scene of the city, and doing it well — bands like SSD and DYS immediately come to mind upon listening to them. For some reason the LP didn't totally convince me, partly due to a rather sterile/clean production. The rawer production on this demo suits them much better IMHO.

BOSTON STRANGLER - Outcast demo (2010)

NEKROFILTH - "Filling My Blood With Poison..." demo (2008)

I can't really hang with Nekrofilth's piss-drenched atmosphere — too much fecal matter and sexual perversion for my own good, although I expect GG Allin fans to be all over this. The music, on the other hand, rips. This three-piece from Cleveland, Ohio has a couple of recordings under its belt. If you ask me, this is not exactly their strongest release. If you're new to the band, I'd suggest you check out the Worship Destruction 12" and split LP with Nun Slaughter first (both of which were originally issued as demos I believe?), two releases reminding me heavily of proto death metal gods Slaughter (Canada) with some Repulsion thrown in for good measure. If the GBH cover song isn't indicative enough, Filling My Blood With Poison is probably their punkest recording. This is a 2013 limited reprint on Home Taping Cruelties from Germany. Dog knows what the weirdos behind the label drenched the cover in (goat blood? puke?…), but I'm not sure I wanna know: this shit smells like hell. Thankfully this digital rip will save me from pulling it out too often and getting sick from the stench.

NEKROFILTH - Filling My Blood With Poison... demo (2008)

LOS CRUDOS - Live @ Bordeaux, France. 13th Dec. 1996

This one's for the diehards. Or the locals. A very rough audience recording of Los Crudos' show here in Bordeaux, France back in 1996. This tape hasn't be heard by more than a handful of people so far, for good reason I guess. Martin's vocals are way too buried in the mix... and barely audible by the end of the tape. But I swear you can hear me talk between songs at some point. Haha. The tape stops during the first encore song too, sorry about that.

Local heroes Öpstand opened for Los Crudos that night, and they even got to play twice (in case you wanna know, that's because the Crudos guys were wandering in the streets of Bordeaux while Öpstand were playing. Back to the venue they were super pissed they missed them and urged them to play again). I have both sets on that same tape, one of which ended up on the Öpstand discography CD. The other set is basically the same songs, but if there is demand I'll be happy to digitize it some day. This line up of Öpstand with Bruno (ex-Aspro 5000) drumming never recorded anything and didn't play more than a couple of shows.

But I digress... I didn't take the time to figure out the setlist so that's one large soundfile. Feel free to break down the tracklist if you feel like it, I'm sure some people would appreciate.

Last but not least, I'm proud to say that more than 16 years later, some friends and I are still booking DIY hardcore punk shows at this same venue. Old punks never die.

LOS CRUDOS - Live @ Athénée Libertaire, Bordeaux, France. 13th December 1996

CALL THE POLICE - "World Crashing In" demo (2002)

Call The Police was a short lived hardcore punk band from Portland, OR, USA that released a solid LP on Feral Ward, although this demo was their best material in my opinion (a few tracks were re-recorded for the LP.) The song title "1984 In 2002" is probably a nod to Special Duties and gives an insight of what the band was heading for, taking inspiration from UK 82 punk from the Riot City / No Future roster but also adding a fair dose of old American punk — check out the intro to "Grind To Freedom" and tell me it doesn't remind you of one of the most famous US punk songs of all times! For the record, the band had both Burdette brothers (of Tragedy and a million other bands fame) on guitar. The female vocalist was recently seen in Salted City (also featuring Grant of Talk Is Poison/Warcry) whose 7" from a couple of years back I urge you to check out – it's pretty similar in style and drive to Call The Police.

CALL THE POLICE - World Crashing In demo (2002)

INCARNIS - "Castigation" demo #2 (1992)

Kängnäve — The Return Of Laziness and Evil

Phew! It took a long time but I finally entered the 21st century digital age. Got the right cable, hooked up the stereo to the computer, and figured out how to use Audacity. Ladies and gents, time to dust and digitize the old cassette collection! I'll start with Incarnis, an early '90s demo-only death metal band from Virginia Beach, VA, USA who I used to write to (just noticed my name in the thanks list!) This is their second tape, recorded back in May 1992. Too bad this band never made it to vinyl, they were good. Not sure why or how this survived my cassette purge of the '90s, but I'm glad it did.

Every upload on here will be ripped at 320 kbps from my own collection. If you happen to be a (former) band member and want a link/post removed, just get in touch and I'll comply.

INCARNIS - Castigation demo #2 (1992)