Filed under: British
(26 votes, average: 3.35 out of 5)
Loading ...
WARTORN - “Banzai” EP 1994 (Crust Records)
Of the few releases that actually passed muster from the UK HC scene of the early 90’s, this one seemingly slipped under the radar, despite the fact the band were at that point the fastest and wildest the UK had to offer, challenging and surpassing their mates in VOORHEES for the crown of HC speed freaks! Both bands actually sharing the stage a number of times.
Formed by some noted European luminaries, such as Lentil of Dutch bands DISTRESS and BOYCOTT, Rich of UK bands SORE THROAT and WARFEAR, James of HARD TO SWALLOW and now GERIATRIC WARD, WARTORN existed purely to play as hard and aggressive as they could in as short a time as possible. It’s pretty obvious that their inspirations were Japans GAUZE, along with MADBALL and INFEST from the USA (In fact track 10 is a MADBALL cover from their first 7”) – but for me WARTORN were a lot heavier than your average UK band - I mean jaw droppingly heavy. They never described themselves as “Power violence” or “Grindcore” or whatever the buzzwords were back then, just plain and simple HC punk played at extreme velocity!!
I really like this 7”, its sentiments are honest, its politics pull no punches (Both Anti Nazi and Anti Communist, anti capitalist and anti fucking everything you have to offer!!) and its music is simply superb. Lentil’s drumming is superhuman, seemingly nuclear powered particuarly on “Cause & Effect”, while Rich and James handle the hyperspeed riffs on guitar and bass respectively, all topped off with the gravel throated voice of singer Ian The Merciless. Pretty damn near perfect. It’s interesting to note, that a year after the band split up there were quite a number of bands playing in this vein in the UK rather than the same old tired UK anarcho crust punk style - perhaps they helped kick the scene up the arse despite alienating the “crusties” and “straight edgers” alike for neither conforming musically or lyrically. Released on the US label Crust Records by the bloke of DROP DEAD in 1994 (But actual recorded in early 1993) it’s still an easy find for all the vinyl maniacs, so happy hunting….The cover I believe is a bastardisation of Japanese comp “GREAT PUNK HITS” in tribute to their fascination with Japanese punk god SKV.
Tracks
Pledge Of Non Allegiance/Relapse To Radicalism
Conspiracy Theory
Meltdown & Out
How To Destroy Angels
The Ivory Tower
Last Among Equals
Mission Impossible
Cause & Effect
Remember Kronstadt
Get Out
W.T.D.
Posted by: Discontrol
IMO, I don’t care about 90s hc cuz I believe hc music died after ‘86. There isn’t one 90s/Millenium hc band that has done anything original! I know Robbie Crash will disagree but he’s a piece of shit anyway!!! Only a poseur would tattoo “punk lives” on his fingers like Robbie Crash did!!!
Ouch…whois Robbie Crash anyhow? Please do tell.
“There isn’t one 90s/Millenium hc band that has done anything original”
Since when has punk/hc EVER been about being original?
Really dude, it’s just music. Who fucking cares?
i think the “hardcore died in 86″ attitude only applies to the jaded. this record isn’t good, but don’t use that as the backup for such a claim. and yeah, it’s not necessarily about being original (although that happens from time to time). its more about heart and energy in my opinion.
Contrary to popular belief, that’s not Sakevi on the cover of Great Punk Hits– it’s Charmy from Laughin’ Nose.
I used to have this (one of many I got rid of a few years back). Nice to hear it again, but it’s left me thinking exactly the same thing I thought when I bought it - they sound like a poor Ripcord copy! I also never realised that HC died in the 80’s, fuck I’d better send all those records back and get a refund! Trade descriptions and all that…
Thank the Gods I base my personal musical tastes on the misconceptions/interpretations/opinions of others, or else I wouldn’t know what to listen to, or when.
The 90’s were a pretty bleak time in Southern England for hc,i just sort of ended up listening to garage Punk,like Armitage Shanks,Headcoats,but there were a few good bands.I do hear the Ripchord thing too-and i always prefered Heresy.Still thanx for sharing!
MORE GAUZE
It’s sad that so many of you folks are down onanything from the 90’s or new. There is the arguement I’ve heard for over 20 yearthat punk is’nt good past 78, 81, 84, 87 blah blah blah. I am glad to see folks playing hard fast loud no matter when it comes out. So stop your belly aching bitching cause at least there are still kids who fuck’n care to play hardcore. Go Kids GO!! You are begaining to sound like those hippy fucks my parent hung around with who used to always say music sucks past 72 back when I was buying punk records in the hardcore hayday.
I still don’t care for 90s hc and i also believe that 80s punk is better than 70s punk and i don’t care that i wasn’t there in ‘77. that’s just my fucking opinion. I ain’t being jaded either! you must have not been there in 81-84 for you to say some shit like that!
burn the old wax. you are old and frail, can’t flip off pa stacks and thrash. you are out of the loop and don’t know of todays real rippers cause you are lame and lethargic. fuck you.
Hey Mr. Ripper! I don’t care what’s going in today’s punk rock cuz it fucking sucks! This board has nothing to do with new punk and I won’t call it hardcore cuz it isn’t! 80’s HC forever.
Wow night owl, I was there in 82′ and I am glad the kids are still thrashing hard. Hell I even now have a store and sell the classics as well as the modern stuff to the kids. You just sound well, old and Out of the loop and stuck in the past. Which is cool if you want to stay there just in your memories. Thats cool you think 80’s hardcore rules cause it does for sure, but there are many a new band that can rip the arsehole out of some of the bands in the past. Sorry you feel threatened but my sympathy for ya.
whats considered hardcore today is a pretty far cry from what it was back when it was actually hardcore. now hardcore is basically about studs and leather and boots and plaid pants and all that shit. back then you wore pretty much whatever the fuck you wanted and you were basically punk as long as you liked the music and had the additude. now you need to dress up otherwise youre called a poser. so yeah, basically the original hardcore died in the 80s pretty much, but now there are all those bands like the casualties and cheap sex and all of them who are called hardcore but arent. real hardcore isnt about having a mohawk and studs and leather, its about being pissed off and hating your parents, your boss, or whoever the fuck you hate.
As one of the “kids” (born in ‘84), I agree that the “we’re-punker-than-you-because-we’re-older” opinion is childish and stupid. That being said, modern punk doesn’t hold a fucking candle to Black Flag, the Minutemen, etc., or even to Ripcord, Heresy and so forth.
If you want to stop this fucking debate, get a bunch of guys together and start playing music in this style again. As long as kids consider “mall punk” rebellious, the modern style of punk rock will never even approach the old stuff.
I agree totally to a point. There has always been mall punks even in the early 80’s. I grew up in the east LA barrio and the mall punks (hollywood kids) would poke fun at us for not looking the part and being aka “wetbacks” but whats missing here is not the point of what year anything came otu but if the music speaks to you and I think thats where many of the kids of my generation lose focus. The music is from the heart and soul. Hardcore is a great escape from the often brutal reality of life take a look to eastern europe and the south east asia now. I am just glad to be able to see kids enjoying now what so many of my friends said was dead by 1985, I still have hope in the future.
Wow lots of opinions on this one. So much going on in the world today and this is what we’ve reduced ourselves to. Which punk is best? Now that’s punk rock. Like going to the Olympic back in 85 and wondering who’s listening to the music when everyone’s fighting. I’m just glad I got a chance to listen to a record I would never have heard otherwise. thanx for posting
I’m with Mustard here, I appreciate the fact I got a chance to listen to this.
As for the debating, people will always be debating over what punk is, what’s the best punk, who’s fake, but who the fuck cares as so many have previously stated. And it goes for everything too, not just hardcore, punk, but all music, sub-cultures, etc.
If you don’t like it don’t listen to it, and if you like it then enjoy it.
Thank-you for the post, I for one enjoy it.