NEONS

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, Full Force Frank made some noise in the underground scene with his notorious murder-obsessed xeroxed fanzines called  Singin’ Dose Anti Psychotic Blues  and  Livin’ In A Powder Keg And Givin’ Off Sparks . Adam Parfrey, owner of Feral House publishing, even decided to interview him for the second edition of his cult book  Apocalypse Culture . « Frank, talk from a psychopath ». An insane man expressing his obsession towards violence, particularly mass murders, and women’s feet. At the time, a copy of his fanzine could even be traded against a pair of used women’s heels. There had been much speculations over his identity throughout the years, who can be hiding behind this mysterious figure? We don’t know much about him. According to Parfrey, Frank is a Brooklyn loner psycho, who was mentally, physically and sexually abused as a child. He grew up with a mind filled with anger and hate, not capable of any emotion....

These days are to me the Golden Age of UK hip hop, especially everything coming out of High Focus Records . Dirty Dike was and is always my favorite. He doesn't give a shit about anything, he has this edgy, crude and dark humor, plus an awesome raw flow that would murder anyone on a freestyle. In his precedent records, he was playing with his two sides that can clearly be heard on his songs. The fun side, represented by hits like ''Hi! I'm James'' , ''Ten Dike Commandments' ', or ''Pork Pie'' (with its now famous punchline during a break ''YEAH YEAH SHUT IT SLAG'' ), talking about parties, raving, drugs, graffitis, mates, dissing people for free, bragging and showing off, fucking shit up, and the other one where he makes us dive into his more personal, dark aspect of his life. And I think on this EP, the second one is way more present. There is a gloomy atmosphere throughout the entire record (Mr Boss' pr...

''Hip hop, the most progressive music in the bunch... So how's it been 40 years and all we fucking rap about is weapons?'' After a nearly perfect album, ''Mista Thug Isolation'', released in 2012, the production by Shawk Kemp (Lil Ugly Mane's alter ego. By the way, Seattle Supersonics' old school fans will appreciate the good taste of the nickname) in his last EP called ''Prelude To Panopticon'', the instrumentals evolve from a dark creepy sound close to these old 90's Memphis horrorshit, such as early Three Six Mafia, to a more eery sound, without totally leaving behind that southern touch that makes it instantly recognizable. The lyrics from the song of this seven inch, ''On Doing An Evil Deed Blues'' deal with his passion for hip hop, the recollection of working on his first beats and rhymes, putting out his tapes himself and going on stage without really making money. That's not the goal here ...

Hailing from the mutant Aussie punk scene actually have, Dribble's line up has Nathan and Tom from Gutter Gods fame. This record is perfect from the start to the end. Drug fuelled punk influenced by The Stooges or Electrics Eels,the first song ''Girl of my dreams'' is the perfect example of the mix between these two bands. Snotty but recognizable vocals, loose guitar riffs and sound. But to me, the highlight is a the B Side, because ''High St Girl'' is definitely the hit of this 7'' for me, catchy chorus, still this Electic Eels vibe and a bit of Velvet Underground sounding. Great guitar arrangements and epic final solo that ends up in larsens and noise. Wow, another great band coming out from Melbourne. What's happening there?? Cool Death / Distort. 2014. Australia.

Three tracks in less than three minutes, that's what I like to call hardcore. Raw and harsch to the point. Aggressive cover, with a man smiling in the shadow, wearing leather mask and gloves, threatening a girl with a huge ass knife on her throat. I wish the second release will include a picture of the cut bitch. It reminded me of the good Giallo films era, and this comes in a case similar to old VHS ones, even the back have a storyline-like with the lyrics and a tagline''  ..'til the blade goes dull '' . Best packaging ever. There is this menacing sound that's mind blowing, I love it, violent and dark, I really can't wait to hear their EP that will be put out by Youth Attack records, I believe. This review is as short as this demo cassette, but what else could I say? Three top notch songs to listen to while you're prowling these filthy streets. A soundtrack for human hunt. Stab and repeat. Stab and repeat. Stab and repeat. Blackout rage...

Thanks to Tor from Where Frost Reign, you can download for free some Neons and Sex Before Suicide. Click on the titles. NEONS #1 SEX BEFORE SUICIDE #3 SEX BEFORE SUICIDE # 1

I knew Meatdog via his first Groin Gravy issue, a real slap in the face. A mix of savagery, ultra violence, gratuitous nudity, sexism, misanthropy and good record reviews. Even the Lyrics from Banana Nut Cake were turned into a porn recipe. After numerous mails, emails and fanzines exchanges, i learned to know the man behind all this mess. A crazy gentleman (straight edge and way funnier than you) with a face that will make you get out of his way, tattooed from the feet to the head (on which we can find a spider and a fucking X). After a first Oi! Band,  Reckless Aggression , Meatdog founded Gutter Gods with some iceheads who were previously playing in Kicked In : A noisy and weird space-hardcore, somewhere between  Mayhem  et  YDI , brightened up by  angry shows with green lasers . He introduces us to his city, Melbourne, his prostitutes friends and all other kind of shit. One of the interesting aspect of Gutter Gods for me is this « futuristic hard...

I bought this book, Memoirs of a Sword Swallower, by chance on a depressing day. The author's name – Daniel P. Mannix – sounded very familiar, I was so sure I heard it before but I couldn't put my finger on it. Unfortunately, there was no list of his precedent works anywhere inside the book. Back home, I checked on the internet and, fuck yeah, of course I knew him! Dan Mannix is the author of many books I cherish, more particularly  ''The Hellfire Club''  (1959) and ''Freaks : We Who Are Not As Others''  (1990, Re/Search Publishing). Two jewels I strongly advise you to read. Memoirs Of a Sword Swallower gets close to the last one, since he tells his experience on the road across the USA with a traveling sideshow in the late 30s or early 40s. “ I probably never would have become America’s leading fire-eater if Flamo the Great hadn’t happened to explode that night in front of Krinko’s Great Combined Side Shows” After having witnessing t...