No Matter - s/t Ep

Here is another 7" plucked from early 90s obscurity... No Matter were from a small town near Biloxi, Mississippi.  They played sloppy, fast HC with political lyrics and lots of heart.  Their sound was raw and reminds me Resist or similar straight forward US HC of that time.  Nothing ground breaking but still an enjoyable listen....

No Matter - s/t Ep

Firing Squad - s/t Ep

This week I've got another 7" from a short lived band that I have little information on.  Firing Squad's one and only release came out on Mass Media Records in California.  Aside from the lyrics and label address, there is no other band info on this record so I don't know where or even when these folks are from.  I believe, from my record collecting timeline, that this came out in the early 90s.  Anyways, these two songs have a very distinct reggae meets anarcho punk-punk sound.  This one really would fit in with the UK dub punk sound of the time - bands like Culture Shock, Rhythm-ites, AOS3 or RDF.  A more recent comparison would be The Autonomads.  The lyrics are definitely anarcho inspired and the punk parts remind me Conflict.  Both songs are great and have always left me wanting to hear more.

Firing Squad - s/t Ep

Word Made Flesh - s/t Ep

Here is an Ep which was requested recently, but that I'd already been planning on posting soon.  Word Made Flesh hailed from NYC and featured Jae, the powerful singer of A.P.P.L.E.  This 7" was their one and only release, out on Squat or Rot recs, and contained 5 tracks of rock influenced punk.  Similar to A.P.P.L.E., the tracks are mid-paced with much emphasis on Jae's amazing vocals.  I can also discern a bit of the NYC crust sound in the mix.  A definite anarcho-punk feel makes me think a bit of current bands like Arctic Flowers or Icon Gallery.  My favorite track, by far, is Rain Dance... a great, catchy upbeat track that recalls Dirt or Lost Cheeres.  This song alone makes the Ep for me.   

Word Made Flesh - s/t Ep

Urko

I have to say that the U.K. produced most of my favorite hardcore from the 1990s - Voorhees, Health Hazard, Suffer, Ebola, Kitchener, Stalingrad, Hard to Swallow... the list goes on and will have to include Urko.  Playing blazing, vitriol-filled HC, these guys fit right in with the Flat Earth scene of the time.  Their split 7" with Suffer still packs a tremendous wallop after all these years.  Included here are their two Eps; "Thrash It Up" and "Fast3ChordHardcore...", along with two split Eps (with Suffer and Active Minds) and their final release - a split Lp with Minute Manifesto.  I believe the split 7" with Chineapple Punx is all I am lacking from their discography.  Unfortunately the group dissipated in 2001 after the untimely death of their bass player in a car crash. 

Urko - 2 Eps, 2 Split Eps and Split Lp w/ Minute Manifesto