Monocled Alchemist

Published in Sounds, 25th September 1982

Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell | SPECIAL DUTIES: ‘Bullshit Crass’ (Rondolet); CONFLICT: ‘Conflict Live’ (Xcentric); VICE SQUAD: ‘State Of The Nation’ (EMI EP); DISCHARGE: ‘State Violence’ (Clay); THE UNDEAD: ‘Violent Visions’ (Riot City); VARIOUS ARTISTS: ‘Back On The Streets’ (Secret)

I don’t like Crass but I can’t help thinking the Duties’ attitude is at best a diversion and at worst a cynical cash-in. Thing is, Crass are obviously just round the twist; it’s like good old Nye Bevan said, asceticism warps the mind.

Rather than laugh at their ludicrous libels and utopian impracticalities, the Duties call Crass ‘reds’. REDS? Leave it out, they might make more sense if they were! Are you really a Tory Steve? You’re certainly coming across as just another false prophet and the pity is the Duties are a great band.

‘Bullshit Crass’ is bloody fine fiery thrash, with a funny piss-take intro and a cranium-crushing chorus, while the poppier barking dog B-side is even better, a cross between SLF and the old Rejects. All I’d say is have a think chaps. There’s a lot of things worth getting worked up about and Crass aren’t one of them.

Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell

Conflict meanwhile (like the Sub-Humans and Rudi Peni) prove that the, yuck, ‘Crass area’ is capable of producing talent. Here Eltham’s finest are captured in the raw with seven live tracks bundled out as rough and ready as they were played — guaranteed no overdubs! It’s a bloody racket, but a vital one, garbled and angry. The controversial ‘Exploitation’ is included, more an attack on blind fan worship than Wattle per se.

The second side with the newer songs is the better one, which is encouraging, and the only track I don’t agree with is ‘Meat Means Murder’. Sorry chums, Meat Means Dinner on Fortress Ferrier. Shame really, if I could be a ‘veggy’ everyone would think I was a jolly trendy chap, but I’d rather have steak and chips any day. Who gives a toss about cows anyway?

Vice Squad are as good as ever. A-side ‘Citizen’ displays all their myriad strengths: thinking lyrics, Beki’s big, powerful, umm, vocal attributes, the band’s compact power and solid command of hooks. But sadly I fear this won’t be one to set the charts alight. Nice try though.

Discharge, amazingly, have slowed down into third gear. You can hear the words, which is quite staggering, and to these ears it works much better for it. Don’t worry Cal fans, it’s just the thrash they’ve ditched, the power is still here in this hard punchy work-out. It’s just better used, is all . . .

The Undead meanwhile do nothing for Riot City’s ‘punk dustbin’ reputation. ‘This Place Is Burning’ is a particularly moving vinyl documentary, which though it could have been better produced, stars a great chant opening and a bold old song body.

Total Chaos | Punk 45s Reviewed by Garry Bushell

‘Back On The Streets’ is a well varied street-punk sampler worth buying for The Strike‘s Herculean ‘Victim’ alone. Angela Rippon’s Bum‘s track is a let-down (a touch wimpy chaps) while Skin Disease‘s anti-Oi! ‘I’m Thick’ is just stupid.

Any movement that produces the likes of ‘National Employers Blacklist’, ‘We Rule OK’ and ‘I Understand’ is hardly revelling in ignorance.

Venom‘s ‘Dock Green’ is funny and beefy, but it’s the East End Badoes who steal the show with their brain-bruising contribution. Already a firm office fave, ‘The Way It’s Gotta Be’ transcends normal criticism Rubbles-style, and stars the raucously off-key Terry Hayes issuing a moving Oi! manifesto.

“They always put the blame on us/And they tell the public lies/But we’ll be here for a long long time/Cos our spirit never dies/With our cockney slang and our beer in hand/We ignore the political trends/And we’ve just gotta keep on fighting/That’s the way it’s gotta be.”

Andy Russell’s Innocent, OK!