Published in Sounds, 10th April 1982
PREDICTABLE SINGLE OF THE WEEK ATTAK: ‘Today’s Generation’ (No Future EP) What experts call a bona fide lotta bottle soar-throat stormer. Or indeed, a ferocious generation war cry. Hulk-like opening chords flex mighty muscles as they surge inexorably into the meat and two veg of the song proper.
Attak would rather poke you in the chest and get things out in the open than whinge about and cower behind terminal depression. Only family connections will stop Blitz suing for plagiarism however. Jai reckons New Mills council puts something in the water.
THE REST CHELSEA: ‘War Across The Nation’ (Step Forward) Gene October is finally getting it right. This is great, it boasts an infectious rhythm, vicious, prominent guitar, mucho bollocks in the production and a big rowdy chorus to boot.
And old Gene sounds cockier than than ever, totally on top of the, urn, situation with his Purseyesque ‘knoworrimeans’ and wicked laughs. I’ve got the feeling Chelsea have come of age.
Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell
THE ENEMY: ‘Fallen Hero’ (Fall-Out EP) Handsomely oi-some in the classic Sham sense, which means a strong catchy verse, a punch like a jauntier Pasti, and a nicely raucous singalong chorus. Sensible lyrics bemoan the pointless waste of war, presumably because it’s our class who do most of the dying.
THE EXPELLED: ‘Dreaming’ (Riot City EP) This sounds better than it is, by which I mean it seems nice and tuneful while it’s playing but is actually about as memorable as Roy Jenkins’ last speech. Or indeed Roy Jenkins himself. What I do remember is the band rip off ‘Babylon’s Burning’ and juicy Jo sounds a lot like Beki Bondage (shiver, cold shower, tremble, shake, etc.)
Still, with 99 per cent of young punks trying to sound like Motorhead (and never getting the guitar right) the Expelled stand out for their brightness and potential. There’s definitely a good band in here straining to get out.
By the way, the b-side features two good but basic thrashes, ‘No Life’ and ‘What Justice’, the latter starting with an Old Bill siren possibly in an attempt to get it in the Guinness Book Of Records as the most over-used cliché of punk rock history.
CRASH: ‘Fight For Your Life’ (Crash) Crash are ‘the best punk band yet from Yorkshire’ according to Crash, who though biased tender some impressive back-up for their argument with this ferocious four-track.
Here they can be found hammering through fast and furious tirades against the status quo (‘Kill The Cow’ for example is a particularly well-reasoned treatise on Mrs Thatcher’s monetarist philosophy) enriched by strong chant-choruses and spiced with plenty of mouth-foaming mania and spunky skunky spirit. They’ll be great in a decent studio. And I bet they’re fine live . . .
Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell
DEADMANS SHADOW: ‘Bomb Scare’ (Rondelet EP) I don’t believe it — a well-produced Rondelet single. This is fast, aggressive and boisterous, gleefully recalling early Ruts and early Subs (must be that ‘C.I.D’ bass line). Fine. And no mention of Action Pact either.
DIRT: ‘Object Refuse . . . ‘ (Crass) Next to Attak, thoroughly feeble. The recklessly fast rhythm section’s totally let down by the fact that the guitarist was out tilling the allotment at time of recording.
Still the squeaky Minnie Mouse vocals would have ruined it anyway. Not to mention the second-hand pose and song structures. Bet they’ve never listened to a Crass record (ho, ho). Roll on the Conflict EP.
THE UNDEAD: ‘It’s Corruption’ (Riot City) Police corruption is a worthy target but the Undead lack the punch to back up their convictions (Sweeney pun). This is too much like early ATV, and its rub lies limp.
THE SINYX: ‘Decadence’ (Reality Attack) These are apparently pronounced ‘cynics’ as opposed to ‘sinex’, and probably for a bet they’ve put out four thoroughly limp-wristed tuneless offerings which suffer from all Dirt’s production problems.
That is, there isn’t any. And there might as well not be a guitar for all the good it does. To make matters worse the singer sounds like a gumbie with a blocked up nose. Quick, call for Malcolm’s mum.
Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell
THE GONADS: ‘Pure Punk For Row People’ (Secret) The Running Dog Reactionaries who control Sounds and infest Johnny Waller’s underpants like rampant lice are trying to stop me having my say about this masterly mega-oeuvre but (Continued Hyde Park Corner).
UNPREDICTABLE SINGLE OF THE WEEK THE VIOLATORS: ‘Gangland’ (No Future) Yer average Joe Pogo might vote this a no-no cos manic thrasherama it ain’t, mate. It’s hard, sinister and driving, if anything like cantering street-level Joy Division. Oi Division?
Call it what you like all I know is it’s got real muscle and real power, a savagely stomping and stifling stroll through the teenage gangland wasteland. A Warriors requiem, a modern day drama delivered with coarse compact force.
The sort of menace music Alex and the Droogs would make if they got locked in a studio all night. I admire the Violators for this cos they could have so easily exploited Helen’s good looks via some bouncy pop work-out.
But instead of playing Smash Hits Banshees they’ve majored on the darker side of the streets with Cess in the vocal saddle singing darkly instead of hoarse-hollering. “They wanna be anti-heroes” go the fade-out chants. The Violators are mine already.
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