Filed under: Japan
NIGHTMARE-S/T 7″ (Selfish records AMI-7031) 1988
First 7″ by this rampaging Osaka band. Their style of slightly metallic, mid-paced, galloping punk, was what would eventually called “traditional Japanese hardcore”. With searing guitar leads, shouted choruses and hair cuts that would rival most diehard NASCAR fans, they were one of many bands to play this style and make the Japanese music scene more widely known, especially in “cross-over” friendly America in the mid to late 80’s.
They went on to release a few more singles and an LP and are still active to this day. They were suppose to tour the west coast of the USA a year or two ago, but hassels @ customs saw them not getting into the counntry. They ended up getting into to Canada and having to play some hastily arranged shows there. They have released a new-ish record that sounds pretty decent and just finished a Euro-tour. Most of their music has been compiled on a couple of cds and is still readily available( I believe) and recommended. A great band that I appreciate still being around.
Tracks
Ikasama
Caused
Otokogi
Bleak life
Fifty fifty
Omae
Never
Posted by: SurlyOldPunk
A japcore classic with out a doubt! These guys are still around… they gotta be as old as the guys in Gauze! Here’s a link with a discography and some pics http://www.kicknpunch.com/Sider/Nightmare-bio.htm
I first heard these guys on the John Peel show back in ‘88 - I think he playe Bleake Life and it totally blew me away!
Awesome stuff indeed!
wtf?yet another hc gem i’m gonna track down,seriously top shelf hc.thanx for posting!
As usual, way to go, SOP! Great record. And, I don’t believe it’s on that “recent” discography/early releases CD, so it’s an even cooler post. Not to spread rumors, but I read today on another board that the band is about to/has recently broken up.
Hi Bill, f.y.i- there are 2 discography cds from these guys, “the early years” and “the bloodsucker years” I’m pretty sure one of those has this 7″ on it, but I’ve been know to be wrong…….
saw Nightmare in Holland about 3weeks, total fuckin destruction… brilliant. Looking foward to checking out this post…
Hi Bill, f.y.i- there are 2 discography cds from these guys, “the early years” and “the bloodsucker years” I’m pretty sure one of those has this 7″ on it, but I’ve been know to be wrong…….
Comment by surlyoldpunk 07.19.06 @ 8:58 am
Hey SOP, Thanks for the info! The family and me are traveling to the old hometown (near Allentown, PA) over the weekend and I plan on hitting a great local record store (Double Decker Records. I’ll be looking for both/either of those CD’s. As ever, thanks for the great post. Hope all’s well with you. Bill
Just wanted to point out for anyone who might not know, their new CD “The Bloodsucker Years” contains 3 unreleased 1987 tracks from their glory days.
I’m still pretty pissed off at missing them twice in Japan last summer but that’s life. If you’re new to Nightmare their newer stuff is nothing like their classic works although it’s still Nightmare and still warrants a listen.
I saw this band twice in Japan in recent years and twice on their Euro tour four weeks ago. They are the 2nd best Japanese band I have ever seen live. Second only to GAUZE and just ahead of AI probably. They totally destroy live — sheer energy. Their new European 7″ “Refugee of Logical Society” is worth picking up, probably their best new vinyl output in the last ten years. It reminds me of the great mid 80s wave of Italian hardcore bands played with Japacore ferocity.
never got to see this band live…first heard them on the “Choice Is Mine” Comp tape from 1988…absolutely MINDBLOWING live tracks that STILL destroy to this day.turns out this stuff was just lifted from the “Coretic Rock Bout” MCR Video Omnibus. even better to see them on that video… missed seeing them live by 1 day back in ‘89 due to a plane arriving late when i 1st went to Japan(still have the flyer & my unused ticket somewhere)
original drummer Osamoon died right after the “Be put to Urge” ep was finished,& they then quit playing for some time,but were never really officially broken up. thankfully they started playing again in 1999 & have put out some GREAT stuff ever since. i hope they didnt break up recently, cos then i’ll probably NEVER see them live…
also, i remember most Japanese punks back then not taking this band too seriously when this EP first came out. the general attitude i sensed was they were looked at as just a cheap LIP CREAM imitation & kinda shrugged off as a result. it wasnt until the classic “Give Notice Of Nightmare” 12″ came out that they finally got their due respect.
although this ep is very special to me, i think the Split ep with the ever-boring & monotonous Concrete Sox is ,without a doubt, their best stuff ever & one of the 10 best records to ever come out the Japanese HC Scene.
the early years CD does not have this EP.
i don’t have the CD, but all info i’ve heard says they omitted this record from the recent discographies
[…] Released to coincide with a CONCRETE SOX Japanese tour, what matters most about this record is the absolutely raging NIGHTMARE tracks. Anyone that’s been around this site for any length of time knows my affinity for rampaging J-core, and NIGHTMARE are at the top of the love-fest. Existing a bit later than most of the “classic” Japanese band, these guys had the perfect mix early J-core, speed, and a touch of ….ahem -”metal”. They released a great 7″ (posted HERE), some tracks on the “thrash til death” compilation and an lp before this record, and had a couple 7″ after. Original drummer Osamoon died in the early 90’s and they took a break for awhile. They started up again in late 90’s and have been going strong ever since, with a new 7″ released in 2006 that’s pretty damn good. […]