Branka's Recs: Shameless fetishization of music made by scummy dumpy-lookin’ dudes in the gr-80s

1. In honor of the growing 2011 protests


Raw Power - "State Oppression" (Screams from the Gutter, 1985)

"They keep filing us, they keep on suffocating us
They are shooting, torturing, they’re killing us
STATE OPPRESSION!
Repression is already in every corner
The bastards, the motherfuckers, are everywhere
STATE OPPRESSION!!"

Nearly 30 years since being unleashed, Raw Power’s anti-government words are as relevant as ever. This recommendation is presented in solidarity to the revolutions throughout the African continent and Arab world and in remembrance of the unmatched intensity and truly raw anger of old school Italian hardcore punk. Not much more need be said, the music and the lyrics scream (from the gutter) for themselves.

2. Unforgotten Master of death metal


Death Strike - "Mangled Dehumanization" (Fuckin’ Death, 1985)

In this day and age, it is nothing short of a delight to be a death metal fan. The resurgence of and numerous reissues of half-forgotten but inimitably influential demos and L.P.s has allowed those of us born too late to finally own copies of music recorded when we were still tottering on toddler legs.

Among those is Dark Descent Records’ upcoming vinyl re-release of Death Strike’s charmingly named L.P. Fuckin’ Death. Here, the core of thrashy proto-death metal is wholly exposed: stripped of twiddly technical playing or half-baked attempts at "shocking" brutality, and presented in all its energetic glory--thrashy riffs, rasped (but intelligible) vocals, punk attitude and all.

For those in the United States, bassist Paul Speckmann is currently on tour* with Master, his most enduring, legendary death metal project. Yours truly will be attending the 8th March date in Columbus--be there!

*EDIT: March 3, 2011 at 3:26 P.M. EST
As of March 3, Master were refused entrance into the USA because of their having incorrect visas and, as a result, were forced to cancel their 2011 U.S. tour. Branka is, to put it succinctly, livid.

3. Hard rock from the heart of Communist Yugoslavia


Divlje Jagode - "Šejla" (Motori, 1983)

As a native of the region, I’ve spent a fair amount of my musically-aware years obsessing over music from the Balkans--punk, metal, new wave and folk (of course)-- anything I could get my hands on. Among the best bands I’ve discovered, both thanks to my parents’ records and my own obsession, is the Bosnian group, Divlje Jagode.

Their brand of hard rockin’, Judas Priest-inspired proto-metal infused with true Balkan swagger brings a refreshing new approach to the tried-and-true regional preference of writing laments to lost lovers. Maybe it just speaks of my own love for questionable '80s fashion, but there are few things so charming as fluffy-haired dudes in tight clothes mourning the fading of love.

4. Before Switzerland, there was a little band from Yorkshire


Satanic Rites - "Burn in Hell" (Which Way the Wind Blows, 1985)

The phrase "satanic rites" brings to mind a certain Swiss band that pretty much every person remotely involved in the metal underground knows well. This, however, is not that band, but instead a lesser-known English band that belonged to the hugely influential NWOBHM (new wave of British heavy metal) movement. If there ever were a band that had no business bearing such a morbid sounding name, Satanic Rites are definitely that band. That said, their upbeat infectiously catchy riffing paired with female vocals makes for a standout and memorable approach to traditional metal.

Both as a reminder to myself and as guidance to anyone intrigued by this song, Shadow Kingdom Records has reissues of both of Satanic Rites’ albums. Don’t sleep on this!

5. In the event that I’m ever sipping expensive margaritas on a fancy yacht


Way of the West - "Feel the Steel" (Feel the Steel, 1984)

I stumbled across this record when flipping through a $1 record bin in a record store on Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA. Luckily, my instincts for lonely, orphaned records is consistently quite keen and, as usual, I did not disappoint myself.

Brief online research reveals that Way of the West were a mid-80s new wave band significant in the New York clubbing scene but who, unfortunately, never released a full-length. There are few things in music so lamentable as pop music that never achieves significant popularity--Way of The West really ought to be amongst the staples of '80s nights at gay clubs. Here’s to hoping a few of you pop-minded readers enjoy this smooth track!

6. Keeping the "spooky" levels appropriately elevated


Xmal Deutschland - "Qual" (Fetisch, 1983)

One of my most enduring musical weaknesses is big-haired goths who choose to put their twisted fantasies to music. My love for the likes of Sisters of Mercy and Siouxsie and the Banshees is well-documented--give me a bunch of sad bastards muttering and half-sobbing songs of devotion and mania any day of the week! This particular group fits very nicely into that precise pigeonhole and reaffirm the Germanic origins of the word "goth."

Menacing chanted singing over pointedly staccato drums speak more of the subject matter than my grasp of German can translate, but for those curious, the repeated German phrase "deine qual ist meine lust" means "your agony is my lust." If that isn’t as goth as it gets, I’ll gladly turn in every piece of black clothing I own, even if it means 80% of my wardrobe disappears.

7. Sometimes, on very rare occasion, I listen to quality stuff not from the 80s


Witchrist - "Devour the Flesh" (Beheaded Ouroboros, 2010)

Outside of friend’s bands and the few trusted distros and labels I’m loyal to, my interest in recent musical releases, especially within the present hype-saturated music market, is minimal. However, a chance Email from an acquaintance has sparked accidental interest in Witchrist, a stunning band from New Zealand that occupies that curious musical intersection of black/death metal.

The doomy filthiness of the riffing is palpable as it cracks open the ribcage and leaves its mark in the most excellently uncomfortable way--this is exactly the feeling I look for from death metal. Close listeners will hear past the massive wall of production to distinguish clever guitarwork (listen to that solo!) and drumming that teeters the fine line of chaos. Still available from Invictus Productions (Eurozone) and Hells Headbangers (USA and worldwide).


8. Crossing that line of iffy taste by finding joy in abrasive distortion


Lebenden Toten - "Buried by the Dead" (Nuclear Flowers, 2003)

As a woman involved in traditionally and staunchly male-dominated musical subcultures, it’s always a pleasure to come across excellent bands that are female-fronted or have a strong female presence. This punk band in particular brings a grin to my face both for that reason and for being so noisy and abrasive on this record that what they play remains damn near impossible to decipher aside from the vocalist’s sharp shouting--and I mean that in the best possible way.

This practically hurts to listen to, but cutting through the screeching feedback is chaotic insanity that claws at the skin and demands to be heard. In this case, it’s barely possible to push past the production--just let the nasty abrasion shred your ear drums to ribbons with a complicit smile on your face.

9. Punk distilled to its purest form: fast and raw


See You in Hell - "Umět se prodat" (Umět se prodat, 2004)

The decades have seen a continued development and mutation of what punk originally stood for and what it has become. Like the wizened genre of rock itself, it has become a huge umbrella term for a surprisingly broad array of sounds. However, the original zest to play fast and as raw as possible seems to have lived on most faithfully within the subgenre of hardcore (which itself has ultimate become an umbrella term).

The Czech Republic’s See You in Hell mirrors the country’s punk's apparent love for uncompromising speed, as exhibited by the massive growth of fests like Obscene Extreme and the sheer number of hardcore bands I keep noticing pop up from the region. There’s not much ground-breaking material here--just hardcore the way it was meant to be.

For those whose interest in good ol’ fashioned hardcore has been piqued, several See You in Hell splits and other Czech (and elsewhere!) bands’ material are available through the excellent Ohio-based distro, Solar Funeral.


10. And now for a song I hear every single day


Manilla Road - "Queen of the Black Coast" (Metal, 1982)

I did my best to stay away from recommending the same old '80s bands everyone into this genre freaks out over, but I really can’t resist. This song recounts Robert Howard’s muscle-bound warrior Conan’s exploits with the infamous pirate queen--and it doubles as the alarm I wake up to in the morning!

Nothing like hearing an ode to the "hellcat of my dreeeeaaaams" as you’re grumpily waking up to face another crummy day.

--Branka Sormaz, Web Director