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Featured Releases - March 24 2022

by Daniel Lupton March 24, 2022

Warchild: A Question for Today… Not Tomorrow 12” (Black Water Records) A Question for Today… Not Tomorrow is the fifth record overall and second full-length from Umeå, Sweden’s Warchild. Given the band’s name and imagery, you might guess they play d-beat hardcore, and you wouldn’t be wrong. When I dropped the needle on A Question for Today…, the first comparison that came to mind was Totalitär. Like Totalitär, Warchild’s take on d-beat isn’t particularly heavy or noisy. The sound is powerful and clear, but the production doesn’t call attention to itself, instead asking you to focus on the riffs and songs. And they are killer! Again, like Totalitär, Warchild isn’t just banging out the gnarliest sounding chords they can find; their riffs feel well constructed, a sense of melody lurking just enough in the background to give the songs shape and character without distracting from their grittiness and power. The songs have a subtle cycle of building and releasing tension, several of them erupting in climactic guitar solos that, like the riffs, have the texture of Disclose-esque gestalt, but with that trademark sense of melody just outside the frame. A Question for Today... is an infectious record that’s almost too well done for its own good. If you’re into this particular Swedish hardcore sound, this isn’t one to miss.

Urban Sprawl: Demo 2018 7” (Convulse Records) You may know Oakland’s Urban Sprawl from their 7” last year on Revelation Records, but Denver’s Convulse Records digs into the archives to bring us their 2018 demo tape on vinyl. It’s no surprise Urban Sprawl is running with the big dogs now, because this demo is killer. How Urban Sprawl combines Negative Approach-influenced gruffness with the fist-pumping swing of War All the Time-era Poison Idea made me think of Wasted Time, and then when I pull up Urban Sprawl’s Bandcamp page the singer is wearing a Wasted Time shirt in their profile photo… so I guess that’s not a coincidence! Urban Sprawl features members of veteran bands like Torso and Wound Man, and the playing is as powerful as you might expect, though the recording here is raw and nasty. The songs are total crowd pleasers, swinging between those fist-pumping fast parts and huge breakdowns. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check this out… it’s as perfectly executed as you get.

Ex-Dom: Demo 2021 cassette (Open Palm Tapes) Ex-Dom is a multi-national band based in Bremen, Germany, with vocals alternate between German and Spanish. Those are two languages I don’t know, so I found the track listing confusing before I realized what was going on. No matter how many of the lyrics you understand, though, it’s hard to deny this is an explosive demo tape. Ex-Dom’s rhythms have an energetic pogo bounce, but the production is noisy and nasty, with the tightly wound intensity of fast, Discharge-influenced hardcore. The stylistic mix is a bit like Blazing Eye, but faster and noisier. Rather than the particular mix of styles, though, what stands out about this tape is the crazy high energy level. An excellent demo.

Gaoled: Bestial Hardcore Demo cassette (Iron Lung Records) Iron Lung Records brings us the demo tape by this hardcore band from Perth, Australia. The medieval illustration on the tape’s artwork and the term “bestial” in the title both make me think of black metal, and indeed Gaoled sounds a bit like they could be on Youth Attack Records, a label known for releases that blur the lines between underground hardcore and black metal. I don’t hear black metal influences in Gaoled’s music per se, but the emphasis on primitive execution and the grim and hopeless atmosphere are consonant with that sound. If I had to choose a band that Gaoled reminds me of musically it would be Infest. While they don’t lean on blast beats as hard as Infest (there are a few, but not a lot), Gaoled’s music has a similar power and heaviness, and it’s also dripping with eerie vibes. While a lot of hardcore can sound like it’s most at home in suburban basements and garages, Gaoled’s music seems to come from somewhere else… somewhere deeper and more frightening. Five rippers and one nightmare dirge make up this demo, which is distinctive, powerful, and well worth your time.

The Sex: The Sex Tape 2020 cassette (self-released) Scorching demo tape from this Montreal hardcore band. The sound is tightly wound hardcore with bright and punchy production that leaps out of the speakers. The Sex is great with dynamics, crafting songs packed with exciting moments where things back off for just a second in tempo or volume only to explode in your face with even more power just a few seconds later. When I listen to this tape, I think of being half-drunk at a house show where an unfamiliar band is tearing it up, each song’s whiplash change-ups connecting like well timed sucker punches. Four songs in 6 minutes, all hardcore, and just straight up ripping. Top shelf shit.

Crispy Newspaper: Судургу Тыллар (Sudurgu Tellar) 12” (World Gone Mad Records) Philadelphia’s World Gone Mad Records just brought out two full-lengths by Crispy Newspaper, a contemporary punk band from Yakutsk in Eastern Siberia. There is a small punk scene in the Sakha Republic, and when World Gone Mad learned about it they offered to release vinyl by their favorite band from the scene. While I enjoyed both full-lengths, I’ve listened more closely to Судургу Тыллар and it’s excellent. One great thing about listening to punk from far-flung reaches of the globe is that those bands often have a different relationship to the styles and trends that shape the music from parts of the world we’re more connected to. Indeed, Crispy Newspaper doesn’t sound in step with the latest punk trends. Their music is eclectic; I’d call it post-hardcore because it’s grounded in hardcore’s loud, fast, and underground aesthetic, but Crispy Newspaper isn’t afraid of melody. The scrappiness of the music and the melding of hardcore and pop aesthetics makes me think of the early Lookout! Records scene, but without the cutesiness that some of those bands had. There are also moments that remind me of post-Leatherface bands like Dillinger Four, Japan’s the Urchin, or maybe even Pinhead Gunpowder… bands who combine heaviness, dense and sophisticated musicality, and strong, memorable songwriting. While Crispy Newspaper’s style is eclectic, their playing and songwriting are strong. Those with a particular interest in punk from small, relatively isolated scenes will be stoked to hear something from a scene like that who legit rules, and even if you don’t care about where the band is from, you may find Crispy Newspaper’s music both refreshing and interesting.

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March 17 2022

by Daniel Lupton March 17, 2022

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Sorry State Records newsletter! This section is always the last part of the newsletter I write, so every week I end up commenting on the timing. Once in a while I’m on the ball and get it done super early, but this week is perhaps the latest I’ve ever turned it over to Rachel for formatting. Sorry Rachel! Everyone reading should give her a round of applause for burning the midnight oil every Thursday to make this happen. Looking at this week’s new arrivals, we’re all pretty excited about the new Agoni reissue and you can read about that in a few different parts of this week’s newsletter, but as always there’s plenty more than that to talk about. Dig in and enjoy!

Agoni: En Röst För Fred 12” (De:Nihil Records) Sweden’s De:Nihil Records brings us the collected recordings of this early Stockholm d-beat / hardcore band. While Agoni later changed the spelling of their name to Agony and released a thrash metal record on the UK’s Under One Flag Records, they’re perhaps best known to punks for touring the UK with Anti-Cimex in 1986. I knew their name from flyers for that tour, but they released two demos in their earlier d-beat style and appeared on a couple of very hard to find cassette compilations. Actually, the second of these demos is so obscure they believed it lost, but a friend of the band turned up a copy and it appears here, where most people will hear it for the first time. If you’ve heard that first demo, you’ll be pleased to hear the second demo is just as ripping. In fact, the two sessions are so similar that it’s easy to miss when it switches from the first tape to the second on this LP. This is raw, Discharge-inspired hardcore in the vein of Agoni’s contemporaries like Mob 47, Anti-Cimex, and Shitlickers… the good shit. If you’re a Swedish d-beat fanatic, you’re going to want to hear this… I’ve had side A playing on repeat since this arrived earlier this week. The b-side features their third demo, where they transition toward their thrash metal style (I like these tracks, but they’re not the main draw here) and a live set from the d-beat era with a rough but listenable recording that captures the band sounding ferocious. The sound on the LP is great, and the gatefold features liner notes in Swedish. If you take the time to translate them (here is a link to an official translation the label provided us!), you’ll glean some interesting tidbits, like how they were frustrated with their drummer for not playing the d-beat exactly like Discharge, how they recruited their guitarist when they spotted him at a pub with Discharge painted on his leather jacket, and how the bass player (who writes the liner notes) turned up to the second demo session to find the guitarist had already recorded the bass tracks (he quit the band in protest). If you live for unearthed obscurities like this, you won’t want to miss En Röst För Fred.

Invertebrates Tape Coming Soon on Sorry State

That’s right, we have yet another new release for you! We’re stoked to bring you this demo tape from a new Richmond band called Invertebrates. Invertebrates features two members of Public Acid (as well as two members of much-loved North Carolina / Sorry State band Wriggle) and this demo tape knocked us out when the band released a small batch on their own a few months ago. Since that initial batch sold out so quickly, we asked the band to let us press up a new batch on Sorry State and they were down. Watch for this one to go up for sale next week!

Lasso: Amuo EP Up for Pre-Order

Tomorrow, March 18, is the release date for Amuo, the second EP from Brazil’s Lasso. We have the vinyl in stock now and the sleeves are en route to us, so preorders should ship next week. You can listen to a track on Sorry State’s Bandcamp site now and pre-order the record (we have copies on limited white vinyl) here.

Less than a year after their debut, Brazil’s Lasso returns with their second EP. While Lasso’s razor-sharp riffing and songwriting remain intact, this time around the sound is thicker and meaner, as if what was presaged in the first EP’s foreboding, ominous sound has finally come to pass. Indeed, as the world has slid into previously unthinkable depths of darkness and brutality, Lasso’s sound has evolved to match, a hard-won sense of steadiness now augmenting the anguish so palpable on their first record. Lasso also introduces a few new musical wrinkles here. A surf-y, Dead Kennedys-esque lead guitar elevates tracks like “Fechado Em Copas” and “Atarantado” to even higher levels of catchiness than their already-infectious debut, while “Mendaz” closes the record with an apocalyptic, mid-paced stomp. Desperate times call for desperate music, which makes Lasso the perfect soundtrack for 2022.

Lasso will be touring Europe in May 2022. Look for a full announcement with dates soon!

Headkicker’s Cassette Up for Pre-Order

We are stoked to launch a pre-order for the next release on Sorry State: the debut cassette EP from Raleigh’s Headkicker. While this is technically a pre-order because the tape doesn’t come out until March 25, the cassettes are in stock and shipping NOW with no wait. If you’re in the Raleigh area, Headkicker is playing a gig on March 26 at the Wicked Witch that will serve as the release show for the tape. Check the description below (and note the awesome packaging, which the band designed themselves) and head over to Sorry State’s Bandcamp site to hear a track.

Sorry State is proud to present the debut cassette EP from Raleigh, North Carolina’s Headkicker. Headkicker’s intense yet eclectic sound glides elegantly between several different punk styles and scenes. Opening track “The Law” is built around a sinister bass riff, the song’s punk rock snarl recalling Hank Wood & the Hammerheads’ garage bounce, while “Future” is a furious pogo tailor-made for Raleigh’s chaotic basement shows. Standout track “Televise” recalls classic 77 punk bands like the Saints and the Damned with its meaty, driving riff and infectious chorus hook, and the pop jangle of “Crafty” serves as a respite from the non-stop intensity. Through all the subtle variations in style, Headkicker’s confident playing and the EP’s crisp, warm production keep the energy level in the red, just where you want it to be. Like the best bands from Raleigh’s long tradition of punk and hardcore, Headkicker stitches the best parts of their inspirations into a sound that is classic yet wholly their own.

The Headkicker cassette is professionally duplicated with an imprinted silver cassette shell and features a lyric insert, full-color j-card, and an obi strip embossed with the band’s name in braille. Limited to 100 copies.

Peace de Résistance’s LP Up for Pre-Order

We are also very stoked to be handling distribution for the debut LP by Peace de Résistance, the solo project from Moses Brown of Institute and Glue. There’s one track streaming on PDR’s Bandcamp site now, but I’ve heard the entire record and it’s a total stunner… I have been listening to it constantly since Moses sent it to me and I am completely in love with it. Read the full description (written by me) below, and head to Sorry State’s site to place your pre-order. Vinyl should ship well before the official release date of April 13. Also, Sorry State is handling all distribution for the record, so if you have a shop or a distro please get in touch with us for wholesale copies.

Moses Brown of Texas punk bands Institute and Glue released his first cassette under the name Peace de Résistance - a solo project where he plays all the instruments - in October 2020. That cassette found Brown bouncing his growing songwriting chops off the fuzz-drenched Zamrock sound of Paul Ngozi, Witch, and Amanaz. However, Bits and Pieces - Peace de Résistance’s first full-length and first vinyl release - has a wider vista. Brown describes the sound as “demented glam rock,” and while you can hear remnants of the Zamrock influence in the sinuously melodic fuzz guitar, the more pertinent frames of reference are Diamond Dogs -era Bowie, 70s Lou Reed, and Iggy’s The Idiot and Lust for Life. Bits and Pieces recalls those records’ potent combination of artistic ambition, street-level rock and roll swagger, and pop charm, but filtered through the DIY punk aesthetics of Brown’s previous work. Lyrically, the album documents life on the fringes in a hyper-surveilled 2020s America, with songs like “Don’t 1099 Me,” “We Got the Right to Be Healthy,” and “Exploitation” wrenching plainspoken poetry from an existence that will be all too familiar to anyone at odds with capitalism. After nine timeless art-rock songs, Bits and Pieces lets us down gently with “Sitting in Disguise.” This motorik-inspired instrumental offers a rickety, dilapidated update of Neu!’s seamless futurism, implying that the only appropriate response to our predicament is to keep moving forward.

Sorry State Is Hiring

That’s right, Sorry State is hiring! We’re looking for a full-time employee to work primarily in our mail order department. Responsibilities will include:

Packing and shipping online orders
Responding to customer support requests
Managing inventory at our warehouse and retail store
Sharing your love of music through Sorry State’s social media and email newsletter
Other duties as assigned (we’re a small company so everyone pitches in with everything)

Our ideal candidate will:

Work 40 hours / 5 days per week (we’re somewhat flexible on the exact hours / days, though)
Have strong attention to detail (this is VERY important for this position!)
Have strong basic computer skills (email & office apps)
Have strong communication skills (in person and electronic / written)
Have reliable transportation
Be able to lift 30 pounds
Contribute to a positive, upbeat work environment

Since you’ll be working mostly in our mail order department, which primarily sells punk and hardcore, it would be great to find a candidate who is passionate about that music.

Starting pay is $12/hr.

To apply, email a resume and cover letter to sorrystate@gmail.com. Either in the cover letter or the body of the email, please tell us about some of your favorite music (of all time or just lately).

We will accept applications through Sunday, March 20. Sorry, you must be in the Raleigh area to do this job!

We’re back in Finland again for this week’s edition of Hardcore Knockouts. I voted for Kolla Kestää because I love them, but I must admit I haven’t spent enough time with 013. Based on the votes, it seems like I should rectify that.

Cast your vote in the next edition of Hardcore Knockouts on our Instagram stories next Tuesday!

My pick from Sorry State’s Discogs listings this week is Ugly Pop’s repress of a Canadian punk classic, the Fits’ Bored of Education EP. This one is right up there with the Viletones for ripping first-gen Canadian punk.

Remember, you can always combine your order from Sorry State’s Discogs site with your order from our webstore and save on shipping!

INVERTEBRATES IN RICHMOND - MARCH 24

HEADKICKER IN RALEIGH - MARCH 26

ZORN IN PHILLY - APRIL 1

SCARECROW IN CHAPEL HILL - APRIL 4

SCALPLE IN NYC - APRIL 20

MUTANT STRAIN IN LEXINGTON - APRIL 30

SCARECROW IN PHILLY - JUNE 16-18

MUTANT STRAIN IN ATLANTA - MARCH 25

GOLPE IN ATHENS - APRIL 1

MUTANT STRAIN IN CHARLOTTE - APRIL 20

MUTANT STRAIN IN BIRMINGHAM - APRIL 28

LASSO IN ANTWERP - MAY 14

LASSO IN ERICA - MAY 12-14

LASSO TOUR - MAY 12-29

Rudimentary Peni: Death Church 12” (Sealed Records)
Golpe: La Colpa É Solo Tua 12” (Sorry State Records)
Torso: Sono Pronto A Morire 12” (Sorry State Records)
The Chisel: Retaliation 12” (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Lasso: Amuo 7” (Sorry State Records)
Terveet Kadet: 1980-1984 photo book (Finnish Hardcore)
Agoni: En Röst För Fred 12” (De:Nihil Records)
Headkicker: Headkicker cassette (Sorry State Records)
Reckoning Force: Broken State 12” (Not for the Weak Records)
Peace Decay: Death Is Only… 12” (Beach Impediment)

This week’s chart of the best selling releases at Sorry State is dominated by our own label releases. I’m glad y’all are digging the new stuff we have coming out!

This week Beach Impediment Records released two brand new hardcore smashers. We have the demos collection from Atlanta’s Mercenary and the debut from Texas’s Peace Decay. More on these next week!

I know Usman has been waiting for the US pressing of Warchild’s new LP, A Question for Today… Not Tomorrow to drop, and the time has finally come! This comes to us courtesy of Portland’s esteemed Black Water Records, and it’s a ripper that fans of classic Swedish mängel will love.

Speaking of esteemed labels of the Pacific Northwest, Iron Lung dropped FOUR new ones on us this week. We have a new EP from DC power violence kings Brain Tourniquet, a new promo cassette from Innumerable Forms, a killer hardcore demo from Australia’s Gaoled, and a split cassette Iceland’s Daudyflin and Sweden’s X2000.

Last week I told you we would restock copies of the Rapsodie En France compilation reissue that sold out super quick, and we have made good on that promise. In the meantime, World Gone Mad also released a new demo from Philly band Soft Torture, so we grabbed copies of that too. Soft Torture features YDI bassist Chuck Meehan and they play some wild and spastic, stop on a dime hardcore for fans of Die Kreuzen.

We got in two rad new tapes from Montreal bands this week: demos from The Sex and CPU Rave.

After months in postal purgatory, Erste Theke Tonträger’s new release from Dramachine has arrived! We also restocked the excellent Powerplant LP on Erste Theke and some older titles, too.

Also in the restocks department, we got in another batch of the second single from BOSS, the glam supergroup featuring Maxime from Rixe and Jonah Falco from a million great bands. Our first batch sold out instantly, so get this while it’s hot!

Another key restock: Barren Soil’s demo tape, which we named Record of the Week a few weeks back. FFO Amebix and Axegrinder. Killer shit.

I know we mentioned this last week, but it’s worth reiterating the new Star Party LP is out now on Feel It, and as of right now we still have copies of the orange/white swirl colored vinyl in stock.

We give them a full write-up in the Featured Releases section, so please consult that for more details, but we’re stoked to have the debut 7” from New York’s Church Clothes in now.

If any of you were intrigued by the Mandy, Indiana record I wrote about in my staff pick a few weeks ago, we have copies of that in stock now. It’s on nice-looking seaglass colored vinyl too.

Descriptions and streaming links for Träumer, Fumes, Star Party, and more!

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SSR Picks: Rachel - March 17 2022

by Rachel March 17, 2022

The Horrors: Strange House

So I know I generally talk about shitty screamo bands when I talk about my childhood, but I swear there were a few bastions of good taste somewhere in there. Now and then I remember the album Strange House by the Horrors and fall back in love with it. I think I found it shortly after it came out; there was a copy of Alt Press I got my hands on that had a very mall-gothy photo of them so I wanted to check it out. I think I was sold on the flippy hair and eyeliner, to be honest. Their music is anything but the typical mall goth/emo/whatever bullshit from 2007, so even my 12-year-old ears felt refreshed when I put it on for the first time. I guess it’s a very punk album, but I never considered it as such… I also thought My Chemical Romance was the hardest fucking band in the world, so you can’t trust my opinions.

For a while, The Horrors reigned supreme as my favorite band just from this one album. It was so unlike anything I’d heard or could find at the time. I pored over the lyrics but no matter what I never understood them; I think that’s partially what kept me coming back for more. I love how garage-y and frantic each track is. I almost didn’t need to understand the lyrics (I still tried though). Sometime in 2010-ish, the Horrors played at Cat’s Cradle on my birthday and I couldn’t have been more fucking excited. I’d spent years listening to Strange House at that point, and I needed to hear it live. I guess I vaguely knew the tour was for a new album, but I just thought I would hear more weird fuzzy music like their first album. I’ve never seen a band change genres so quickly and drastically, but I found out that night that the Horrors completely changed their sound. Even worse, they didn’t play a single song from Strange House, and I was absolutely devastated. What’s the musical equivalent of blue balls? That’s what happened to me; I went to the venue expecting to dance to songs I’ve loved for years and instead everyone stood around while boring shoegaze music blasted through the PA.

I’ve tried to listen to the Horrors’ albums after Strange House. I really have, but they don’t do it for me. Shoegaze as a genre doesn’t really do it for me, so it makes sense. At least they’ve kept up the strong aesthetics and attention to design throughout their career. The singer is an amazing visual artist and I haven’t let my distaste for shoegaze ruin that, at least! Check out Strange House and lament with me that we only got one album of this sound…

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SSR Picks: Usman - March 17 2022

by Usman March 17, 2022

Hello and thanks for reading,

I really can’t remember when I first heard “Stockholm’s Mangel” but I know I checked it out cos of MOB 47. I had no idea who the other bands were previous to my listening, but quickly AGONI, CRUDITY, and DISCARD became some of my favorite Swedish bands. At the time, I did not know all three bands shared members. The DISCARD tracks were later reissued on a 7" in 1990, and a few times again after that. The CRUDITY tracks were bootlegged a few times, once on a 7" and once on a 12" split with DISCARD. I’m not sure when they came out, but I can tell you the 7" sounds like shit haha. I remember when I got my copy I was so bummed on the sound; you can’t crank the volume at all without it distorting. My homie Chris (What up Mofo!!!) said to me he thinks the 7" was around 1997, and the split was around 2000/2001. So the 12" might have good quality sound if they used the “Stockholm’s Mangel” CD reissue from 2000 as a sound source. No idea though, maybe that boot came before the reissue. I got the CD version cos I thought I’d never secure the LP version. They don’t pop up much, especially in the USA. Well, sometime over the pandemic, I was lucky to score the LP pressing within the USA. The entire reason I bought this shit was for CRUDITY pretty much. Don’t get me wrong, I love AGONI and DISCARD, but I wanted to blast the CRUDITY tracks in specific from the vinyl pressing. That band rips so hard, it’s insane to me. Hilariously, there is a fucking error in the track list on the CRUDITY side. In the middle of their tracks, all of a sudden an AGONI song plays that already appeared. And the CRUDITY track that should be in that spot is nowhere to be found. I was so fucking bummed to discover this... hahah. I was surprised no one has noted it on the Discogs page to be honest. Getting back on track, AGONI was never reissued aside from that “Stockholm’s Mangel” LP/CD on the label Swedish Punk Classics in 2000 (which I think is just the dude from Distortion Records). I think this bit of mystery added to my obsession with the band. The tracks from “Stockholm’s Mangel” were on their own demo tape as well back in the ‘80s but I have never seen much info on it, aside from this pixelated photo of a j-card I’ve seen in a few places online. The only other stuff I’ve heard from them was when they changed their name to AGONY and they were playing metal by this time. Unfortunately I didn’t care for it but I loved their first demo so much. It stood out compared to other Swedish bands with their super blatant DISCHARGE worship. I know bands like DISCARD and SKITSLICKERS worshipped DISCHARGE, but they had their own twist. Alongside the DISCHARGE riffs and aesthetic, DISCARD brought a pummeling speed with their D-beat. And SHITLICKERS of course worshipped every element of DISCHARGE but they added an extra element of noise and chaos. To me, AGONI’s first demo is right on the nose DISCHARGE worship. The riffs, the somewhat relaxed tempo, the lyrical content, and the overall aesthetic was pure DISCHARGE. The only thing they didn’t have was a ‘Dis’ name haha. I never even knew about the existence their second demo until this reissue was announced. The record comes in a gatefold sleeve with liner notes and band photos printed inside. I was bummed to fold it out and see there wasn’t a word written in English haha. My nerdy ass was looking to do some learning... Luckily, Daniel used his phone to do this translate thing, which was amazing. However, here now I have one better for you: complete English translations direct from the label! The compilation features three demos and five tracks recorded live in 1985. Aside from the first demo which I talked about already, I had never heard any of this stuff. Well really for the second demo, I think less than twenty people ever heard it in the history of the world. We are so lucky one guy saved a copy after all these years. They explain this stuff in the liner notes I linked above. The second demo is not ‘right on the nose’ like the first one, but man is it good. You can hear some foreshadowing of the metal to come on their following tape (which starts off the B side of the compilation.) There is some more attack on the guitar picking and the riffing is a bit more complex, which pushes the second demo away from the blatant DISCHARGE elements, but man is it damn good. Damn. I am biased though. I told you how much I obsessed over the band so hearing anything unreleased like this is going to make my day. So inside the cover there is no photo for the j-card of the second tape. Maybe there never was one? They also mention there never was song titles, so they just made ‘em up for the reissue. They also used that same pixelated photo I mentioned earlier of the first demo inside the gatefold. Man, AGONI tapes must be rare as fuck if no one can muster up originals in Sweden for scans, etc. All the more reason you should just buy this now! Haha. Alright, I think that’s all? Forgive me if I bounced all over the place in my writing. I felt confident in the topic at first but later found myself second guessing what I am writing. Anyway, as always, thank you for the support and thanks for reading. Peace!

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SSR Picks: Jeff - March 17 2022

by Jeff March 17, 2022

What’s up Sorry Staters?

Sometimes, I’ll somewhat involuntarily step out my front door and take a walk around my neighborhood to clear my head. This usually takes place around midnight or so, the streets are always empty, and I often wonder if my neighbors notice me creeping alone down past their houses. Maybe I’ll get a t-shirt that says “Won’t rob you.” I tend to listen to music on headphones while I’m wandering around. I wish I could say that my listening habits on these walks were more adventurous. Maybe this is why, as the years continue to pass me by, my brain continues to devolve into mush from lack of stimulation. I usually throw on albums that capture a certain mood and that are more than anything… “comfortable” to listen to. Lately, I’ve been listening to It’s A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads to the point of ad nauseam. Like… a lot. Funny enough, unbeknownst to me and by pure coincidence, It’s A Shame About Ray just got reissued for its 30th anniversary. There’s a “standard” version and a “deluxe” version, both of which are way too expensive.

The Lemonheads are an interesting band. It’s A Shame About Ray is clearly their standout commercial success, but I was surprised to discover that their earlier releases on Taang! Records sounded more like a New England take on Husker Du or something, especially with the alternating lead vocals between Ben Deily and Evan Dando. But for whatever reason, there’s something uniquely special about It’s A Shame About Ray. It’s a decidedly softer and more light-hearted record. There’s sense of ease and breeziness, but with just a hint of melancholy buried underneath the surface. No more Ben Deily on this record, but I also just find Evan Dando to be such a magnetic, enigmatic character. I’m really not sure… was he a sad person? I’m not sure I think he’s like a genius or anything. I almost kind of find him frustrating, but also sort of accessible? As opposed to the posturing of grunge icons of the era, he seems like a pretty cool and genuine guy. He seems like a dude you could know that lives just down the street. His songs to me have more in common with like a Neil Young than say Kurt Cobain. There’s something about the easy, breezy, laid back mood of this record that really captures a true slacker’s spirit. But while maybe the songs on this album are not so bombastically lush and impressive, I think Dando writes songs that are beautifully poignant and understated. But seriously, the dude is so goddamn handsome in the traditional sense that what does he have to be depressed about? Wish I could relate. Sometimes I wish I was more intense and viciously, unrelentingly passionate. Unfortunately, here I am wandering around at night feeling lost and unmotivated, which is maybe why I’m gravitating toward this record. Lately, feeling more and more uncomfortable with my disposition in this existence as I meander around my neighborhood in the dark, I guess I do kinda feel like a ship without a rudder. I know, pretty corny.

In 1992, this record felt unfairly overshadowed by The Lemonheads becoming quite well known for the band’s cover of “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel, which was featured in the Wayne’s World soundtrack. The other night, the first notes of “Rockin’ Stroll” kicked off right as I stepped out my front door. Then when I returned, almost like the record was timed perfectly for my midnight stroll, the quiet acoustic notes of “Frank Mills” faded out right as I turned the key to unlock the door and I cut off the music just before “Mrs. Robinson” would’ve auto-played as a bonus track. Seemed fitting.

Anyway, hope I didn’t bore you with my musings of 90s-fueled nostalgic melancholia. That’s all I’ve got this week.

As always, thanks for reading.

‘Til next week,

-Jeff

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SSR Picks: Daniel - March 17 2022

by Daniel March 17, 2022

The other night we canceled Scarecrow practice last minute so we could drink beers and spin records with a bunch of our hardcore-loving homies. I had a great time, and I was stoked to rifle through other people’s boxes of old hardcore 7”s. Of course, there were some items that made me very jealous, but it also made me come home and see my box of 7”s I’ve bought in the past year or two with fresh eyes. In honor of that, here are thoughts on four 7”s I’ve listened to recently.

Desperate Children flexi (1986, Joy Riders Records)

One-off flexi from this little-known band from the noise-core hotbed of Kyushu, Japan. Like Gai and Swankys, there’s more than a little bouncy, melodic punk in Desperate Children’s sound. While they don’t have the over the top intensity of those two bands, the two a-side tracks are odd enough to hold my attention. The b-side track puts the melody center stage, and even if you prefer the noisier stuff, you gotta agree with the sentiment of the track’s title: “I Love Punk.” I always loved the cover art on this one too… the crispness of the graphic design is eye-catching and makes an interesting contrast with the music.

Śmierć Kliniczna: ASP / Jestem Ziarnkiem Piasku (1984, Tonpress Records)

A handful of old Polish punk bands got EPs out on the state-run Tonpress label, and I always pick them up when I can. They’re usually cheap, and the bands are often super interesting. Like Dezerter, Śmierć Kliniczna had already been a band for several years when they released this single, and their sound is distinctive and complex… they can play their asses off! Of course I don’t know what the lyrics are about, but the dark complexity of the music reminds me of outsider hardcore like the Crucifucks or Power of the Spoken Word. Very cool.

The Expelled: No Life No Future 7” (1982, Riot City Records)

“Dreaming” is the best song in this little batch of 7”s that I’m looking at today, a dark and hooky track with memorable guitar and vocal melodies. The other two tracks are more aggressive, but the playing is looser. That gives these songs an off the rails energy that I like, but the hooks don’t land as hard as they do on “Dreaming.” I think I’m going to spin that again right now.

Riot Squad: Don’t Be Denied 7” (1983, Rot Records)

I’m a sucker for a beater UK82 picture sleeve… something about these records just feels right when they’re all bent and dog-eared like this one. This is the third Riot Squad single I’ve picked up, nabbing their first two records at shops over the years. I think Don’t Be Denied is the best one, though… just classic-sounding UK82 punk with chanting vocals, simple riffs, and a shit-ton of punk attitude. They put the mid-paced song up front and it’s cool, but it’s the three rippers that form the balance of the record that get me going. Exploited fans are particularly encouraged to check out this EP.

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Record of the Week: Agoni - En Röst För Fred 12”

by Daniel Lupton March 17, 2022

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Featured Releases: March 17 2022

by Daniel Lupton March 17, 2022

Star Party: Meadow Flower 12” (Feel It Records) In 2020, Seattle’s Star Party released a cool noisy pop cassette on Feel It Records that took a lot of influence from the Shop Assistants (whom they also covered on that tape). Now they’re back with their debut vinyl, also on Feel It, and while it treads similar ground to the cassette, it goes in some other directions too. In fact, Meadow Flower starts with two tracks that fuse their jangly, fuzz-drenched pop with a more hardcore approach; they even cite legendary Japanese hardcore band Confuse as one of the key influences on the record. While the vocals still carry a lot of melody, “You and Me” has a blistering and chaotic guitar solo and the second track, “Living a Lie,” sounds like something that, with a few twists of the appropriate knobs on the mixing console, might fit on a label like Roach Leg. From there, the chord progressions get a little brighter and the vocals even more melodic, leaning back into that “Ramones drenched in fuzz” sound that fans of their earlier cassette will be looking for more of. With eight songs in 18 minutes, Star Party keeps things tight and snappy, every track zipping by with a rush of melodic energy. With great, memorable tunes and a sound that feels familiar yet original, Meadow Flower is another excellent pickup from the always reliable Feel It Records.

Träumer: self-titled cassette (1753 Records) Demo cassette from this crusty hardcore band who (I assume) is from 1753 Records’ home base of Los Angeles. Träumer’s sound, for me, lies somewhere in the ground between gnarly, Discharge-inspired hardcore and more song-oriented UK82 punk. They have Discharge’s driving rhythms, shredded vocals, and big guitar sound, but the guitar riffs and bass lines have just a little more conventional sense of melody to them than most modern d-beat bands I hear. It’s a bit like Varukers, but a little gnarlier and with vocals drowned in echo and reverb and, thus, not as anthemic. If you’re a fan of both catchy UK82 punk and ripping d-beat, give this a try… it may scratch two itches at once.

Foil: Full Band demo cassette (Dirtbag Distro) Three-song demo from this snarling hardcore band from Kansas City. Foil sounds like a band that would be insane to see live, as their manic pogo rhythms and shredded but memorable vocals sound like a perfect fit for a sweaty and wild basement gig. The noisy guitar and in the pocket pogo rhythms might remind you of S.H.I.T. or Blazing Eye, but Foil’s vocalist spits out their lines with a snot-drenched growl that reminds me of Nicki Sicki from Verbal Abuse and Sick Pleasure. With only three short punk tracks, this tape feels like it’s over practically before it starts, but the energy level is through the roof and the songs are memorable. Excellent stuff.

Fumes: self-titled cassette (Earth Girl Tapes) Fumes is yet another band from the unlikely punk hotbed of Hattiesburg, Mississippi… home also to Judy & the Jerks, Bad Anxiety, Dumspell, and many more. Like the first two of those bands, Fumes plays 80s-inspired hardcore punk, but their sound is darker and more sinister than some of the other Hattiesburg bands. The first six tracks might remind you of any number of fast and snotty early 80s hardcore bands… some that spring to mind for me are the Worst, Attitude Adjustment, Gang Green, and Adrenalin OD. After six rippers, Fumes end things “Inherited Consequences,” a hardcore dirge that sounds just as classic as their fast stuff. While a lot of contemporary USHC-inspired bands aim for the tougher end of that sound, I love how Fumes focuses on speed, energy, and memorable songwriting. If you like the bands I referenced above, give this a shot… it’s a ripper.

God Plutonium: demo cassette (Kill Enemy Records) Pittsburgh’s Kill Enemy Records gives us another dose of nasty 80s-inspired hardcore from that city’s fertile scene. Like their labelmates in Necro Heads, Speed Plans, and Illiterates, God Plutonium sounds like a band that could have been plucked from the Flex Your Head or Process of Elmination compilations. They build their songs out of simple but catchy riffs played at warp speed, their singer is yelling themselves hoarse, and the drummer sounds like they’re hanging on for dear life. It’s on the looser and wilder end of the spectrum, so those of you who think the Untouchables or Artificial Peace are just as exciting as Minor Threat or SOA will get the most mileage out of this one. Six short and to the point hardcore punk tracks, like the good lord intended.

Church Clothes: Sacred Illusion 7” (Artifact Audio) New York’s Church Clothes has released a couple of cassettes and I’ve noticed them gigging heavily, so it’s great to see some vinyl. As befitting their enigmatic yet evocative band name and cover artwork, Church Clothes has an original style that draws from across hardcore’s history. The music is fast and riffy, which grounds it in the tradition of early 80s-inspired hardcore, but you’ll hear lots of little stylistic choices that draw from other areas… pogo beats, dive bombs, breakdowns, and even a couple of brief blast beats. Thanks to Church Clothes’ ultra tight playing and the bright, heavy, and punchy production (courtesy Artifact Audio, who has recorded a lot of your favorite punk records of the past several years), they don’t sound unfocused all, but like a band who can confidently draw from a wide range of influences. I think fans of Torso would dig Church Clothes… while Church Clothes doesn’t lean on the same d-beat and straight edge influences as Torso, the production style and the eclecticism of the approach are similar, and both bands have a roaring sound that grabs your attention and won’t let go. I love records like this that sound vital and powerful, yet determined to engage with what hardcore is today rather than leaning so heavily on older sounds and styles.

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March 10 2022

by Daniel Lupton March 10, 2022

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Sorry State Records newsletter! Last week’s edition felt a little slim on content, but we make up for it this week with a real behemoth. Whether you’re looking for a lot of words to read or a lot of great records to hear, you’ll walk away satisfied this week. Check out that LP by the Drin… I think it’s pretty special. And grab the Terveet Kadet book and the Socialcide discography tape quick if you want either of them! We’re also launching preorders this week for TWO new releases on Sorry State and a new release we are distributing exclusively (and very, very stoked on). Alright folks, let’s get into it.

The Drin : Engines Sing for the Pale Moon 12” (Drunken Sailor) I’d noticed a few people I trust hyping up this record by the Drin on Drunken Sailor, and I’m glad I took the time to check this out, because it’s a fantastic record. Originally released in a small cassette edition, Drunken Sailor plucked this gem from potential obscurity and gave it the wider release it deserved. Describing the Drin’s sound is difficult, because they don’t sound quite like anything I’ve heard before. I’ve seen a few people (including Will Fitzpatrick in the label’s official blub) mention Joy Division, but I feel like that does the Drin a disservice because they sound so completely different from the legions of Joy Division wannabees that have populated the punk scene for the past forty-odd years. Thankfully, you won’t hear any faux-Ian Curtis baritone vocals here, but you will hear a couple of tracks that have chord progressions that are familiar from Joy Division songs as well as some of the subtler elements of Joy Division’s sound, such as the heavily processed drum sounds and the steady motorik rhythms that powered so many of their greatest songs. But there are other ingredients in the stew too. I hear plenty of UKDIY pop in the Drin’s scrappy but accessible sound, and there’s a palpable (and non-cheesy) reggae influence that you hear in some of the heavy bass lines (see the standout track “Down Her Cheek a Pearly Tear”) and the frequent use of the melodica. It all adds up to a record that’s dense with distinctive atmosphere. Engines Sing for the Pale Moon really transports you to another place, and it’s a place I’ve been addicted to visiting ever since the first time I put this record on.

Headkicker’s Cassette Up for Pre-Order

We are stoked to launch a pre-order today for the next release on Sorry State: the debut cassette EP from Raleigh’s Headkicker. While this is technically a pre-order because the tape doesn’t come out until March 25, the cassettes are in stock and shipping NOW with no wait. If you’re in the Raleigh area, Headkicker is playing a gig on March 26 at the Wicked Witch that will serve as the release show for the tape. Check the description below (and note the awesome packaging, which the band designed themselves) and head over to Sorry State’s Bandcamp site to hear a track.

Peace de Résistance’s LP Up for Pre-Order

Lasso: Amuo EP Up for Pre-Order

Next Friday, March 18 is the release date for Amuo, the second EP from Brazil’s Lasso. The vinyl is en route to us now and we’re hoping to have it by next Friday’s release date, but if not it should be very soon after. You can listen to a track on Sorry State’s Bandcamp site now and pre-order the record (we have copies on limited white vinyl) here.

Lasso will be touring Europe in May 2022. Look for a full announcement with dates soon!

Zorn Still On Tour

Zorn’s big South / Midwest tour continues! Tonight they’re playing with Sheer Mag at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, though this newsletter will arrive in your inbox too late to tip you off for that show. There are still a few more dates, though, so don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the best live bands in today’s underground!

Sorry State Is Hiring

That’s right, Sorry State is hiring! We’re looking for a full-time employee to work primarily in our mail order department. Responsibilities will include:

Packing and shipping online orders
Responding to customer support requests
Managing inventory at our warehouse and retail store
Sharing your love of music through Sorry State’s social media and email newsletter
Other duties as assigned (we’re a small company so everyone pitches in with everything)

Our ideal candidate will:

Work 40 hours / 5 days per week (we’re somewhat flexible on the exact hours / days, though)
Have strong attention to detail (this is VERY important for this position!)
Have strong basic computer skills (email & office apps)
Have strong communication skills (in person and electronic / written)
Have reliable transportation
Be able to lift 30 pounds
Contribute to a positive, upbeat work environment

Since you’ll be working mostly in our mail order department, which primarily sells punk and hardcore, it would be great to find a candidate who is passionate about that music.

Starting pay is $12/hr.

To apply, email a resume and cover letter to sorrystate@gmail.com. Either in the cover letter or the body of the email, please tell us about some of your favorite music (of all time or just lately).

We will accept applications through Sunday, March 20. Sorry, you must be in the Raleigh area to do this job!

My pick from Sorry State’s Discogs listings this week is the debut 7” from Pittsburgh’s EEL. We carried a version of this record with a Mind Cure Records generic sleeve when it came out, but this is the version with its own custom sleeve. EEL was such an insane band. Sadly, I never got to see them live… seems like it was a trip.

Remember, you can always combine your order from Sorry State’s Discogs site with your order from our webstore and save on shipping!

ZORN ON TOUR
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 12

HUSTLER IN NYC - MARCH 10

SCARECROW & TETANUS - RALEIGH - MARCH 11

INVERTEBRATES IN RICHMOND - MARCH 24

ZORN IN PHILLY - APRIL 1

MUTANT STRAIN IN LEXINGTON - APRIL 30

SCARECROW IN PHILLY - JUNE 16-18

ILLITERATES IN PHILLY - MARCH 11

ILLITERATES - MARCH 12

MUTANT STRAIN IN ATLANTA - MARCH 25

HEADKICKER IN RALEIGH - MARCH 26

GOLPE IN ATHENS - APRIL 1

MUTANT STRAIN IN CHARLOTTE - APRIL 20

MUTANT STRAIN IN BIRMINGHAM - APRIL 28

LASSO IN ANTWERP - MAY 14

Rudimentary Peni: Death Church 12” (Sealed Records)
The Chisel: Retaliation 12” (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Golpe: La Colpe É Solo Tua 12” (Sorry State Records)
Terveet Kadet: 1980-1984 photo book (Finnish Hardcore)
Rudimentary Peni: Great War 12” (Sealed Records)
Low Life: Dogging 12” (Alter Records)
Superchunk: Wild Loneliness 12” (Merge Records)
Chain Whip: Two Step to Hell 12” (Neon Taste Records)
Various: Rapsodie En France 12” (World Gone Mad)
Illiterates: S/T 12” (Kill Enemy Records)

Wow, this week’s chart of Sorry State’s best sellers shows quite a shake-up from last week. Some older titles have gotten a new wind, and local celebrities Superchunk even make it into the rankings with a version of their new LP only available in North Carolina record stores (of which we are one). Oh, and if you missed that Rapsodie En France reissue (a predicament you share with a few of Sorry State’s employees), we’ll have more copies in stock next week!

This week we got in the new Terveet Kadet photo book on Finnish Hardcore Records! The book is beautiful, with great design and reproduction of these photos, which offer a glimpse into the scene in their hometown of Tornio in the far north of Finland. The book even features text in both English and Finnish. These are already flying off the shelves, so I encourage you to jump on it now if you want a copy.

Speaking of flying off the shelves, we only got a few copies of the discography tape from Virginia hardcore legends Socialcide on Not for the Weak Records. We’ve sold more than half our allotment already, so these will be gone soon. Fun fact: Sorry State would have released the next Socialcide record, but the band broke up before that happened. Besides the discography cassette, we also have a few more dead stock copies of Socialcide’s Unapproachable LP. All the copies have corner dings and light storage wear, but they’re super cheap.

Besides this week’s Record of the Week from the Drin, we also have another new release on Drunken Sailor Records: a reissue of the self-titled record by Australia’s Stiff Richards.

We have three new cassette releases on Chicago’s Foreign Legion Records. We cover the Nabat and Cenobite tapes in the Featured Releases section below, and we also have a demo cassette from Society’s Bane.

Poland’s Refuse Records has two new releases: a discography LP from 80s German punk band Skeezicks and a demo collection 80s Polish punks Rekrut.

We have a few copies of the new Mikey Young LP, Curtains, on Australia’s Lulu’s Sonic Disc Club. Of course you know Mikey from his bands, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Total Control. Our copies are even on limited blue vinyl!

Tomorrow sees the release of the new Star Party LP on Feel It Records. That will go live on the site tomorrow. While we were picking up the Star Party LPs, we also restocked a ton of older Feel It Records titles and those are all on the site and ready to order now.

Descriptions and streaming links for SSRI, Cenobite, Nabat and more!

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SSR Picks: Rachel - March 10 2022

by Rachel March 10, 2022

David Lynch: The Big Dream

The collection Daniel brought back from Denver is pretty freaking nuts. The amount of ‘grail’ items I’ve found… and we’re only about halfway through. All the Uncle Acid and Electric Wizard you could want? Check. Super special edition black metal? Check. A ton of Harvey Milk records? Yep. Dude even had some weird educational/spoken word/field recording records I’ve been eying on Discogs for a while. A lot of it is special editions way out of my price range, but I’ve already snagged some stuff I’m fucking ECSTATIC to finally have in my collection.

I don’t know if my coworkers heard the awful sounds that came out of my mouth when I found The Big Dream in a stack of records I was pricing the other week, but it was definitely loud and probably embarrassing. I’ve loved David Lynch ever since I watched Eraserhead in high school and binged his short films for weeks afterward. That led me to Twin Peaks and his other movies, but as I switched my major from film to printmaking while in college, I found out Lynch is also quite the accomplished lithographer! I think all of Lynch’s work is very distinctly his style, but it’s hard to put a finger on what makes something Lynchian. One of those things where I know it when I see it.

The same goes for his music. In college, a friend was playing The Big Dream in their car and I remember saying ‘this sounds like the soundtrack to a David Lynch movie’... lo and behold, he’s the singer. The whole album is ethereal and creepy. In my head, Twin Peaks is the perfect backdrop for this music. For being electronic and vocoder-y (I don’t even know if he actually used one), there’s something anachronistic about this entire album and I love the line it straddles. I don’t know any other artist besides David Lynch who could make music like this and have it work so well. When I tell people his singing voice is similar to his talking voice, I see a lot of hesitation, but LET ME TELL YOU, it works so well! If you haven’t listened to any David Lynch music but are a fan of his visual art—you have to listen to this shit.

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SSR Picks: Usman - March 10 2022

by Usman March 10, 2022

Hello and thanks for reading. I’ve been moving the past few weeks, very slowly. It’s an hour drive one way, so I only have good opportunities on the weekend. Most of my belongings have moved but only a small portion of my records are at my new spot, which is why I said “very slowly,” haha. I move just a few boxes of LPs at time, so my selection is mad limited at my new crib. I’m pretty much just diving back into shit I haven’t jammed in ages. I just got done with that first WASTED TIME compilation, and now I’m moving onto my favorite (and only) SPITS LP. I didn’t get into THE SPITS until 10+ years after this came out, but I probably would not have liked it until later in life. I remember when my friend from ATX came to visit soon after I moved to Raleigh, and he called me poser for listening to something that was not blazing HC hahah... I first fell for this band when I heard “Let Us Play Your Party” and eventually I tracked this LP down. While that song closes out the A-side of the record, I really love the B-side. It’s actually just ended, and I’ve dropped the needle on B1 again.

Anyway, we have plenty of great records (and tapes) to write about, but I will embrace my inner fanboy and write about this TERVEET KÄDET book. I’ve raved about this label Finnish Hardcore in several Staff Picks, so it’s no surprise I am thoroughly impressed with their latest release. While this book is not loaded up with interviews and liner notes, it is brimming with fucking sick (and HUGE) photos. There is still bits of info surrounding each photo, however. I am grateful again for the English translations, cos there is some cool info/trivia about TERVEET KÄDET during these early years. The book itself is over 100 pages long, and it’s hand-numbered out of 600 copies. I could be wrong, but I think most of these photos have never been released. Some of them I recognized from TK records though, and of course they mention this in the book. I know for certain this book features photos by only one person, Heikki Kemppainen, spanning from 1980 to 1984. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about this person, and there is not much to learn about their history in Tornio, Finland from what the book says in the English translations. Alright I’m jamming SKITKIDS ‘Onna For Pleasure’ now, and it’s time for me to get back to work. If you are a fan of classic Finnish HC or TK in specific, I would grab a copy of this book cos you will not be let down! It’s not like that Sakevi book that has a shit ton of garbage that came later that no one gives a fuck about, haha or that one F.O.A.D. book where the last like 15 pages were just ads from the label... the name of that book escapes me at the moment. Anyway, thanks for reading, peace.

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SSR Picks: Dominic - March 10 2022

by Dominic March 10, 2022

What’s going on everyone? I write to you today as Jeff and I listen to the theme from Rocky and Beetlejuice playing. Some 45s that were brought in yesterday. The Rocky soundtrack with music by Bill Conti is a goodie and not to be slept on. Anyway, I didn’t really have any kind of write up on a favorite album to share this week, but did want to quickly tell you about an interesting 45 that I have been playing.

The record is credited to Made For TV, the song is called So Afraid Of The Russians, and it was released on Conflict Records in 1983. Recorded in New York City and produced by John Cale who also is credited on guitar, synth percussion and transatlantic telephone. Cool.

As someone who grew up in the shadow of the cold war where drills were held in schools to prepare for nuclear attacks and the government was telling us how to protect and survive, I had a weird fascination with Russia. The 80s were the Reagan Gorbachev summits and Frankie Goes To Hollywood singing Two Tribes, CND protestors, the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, Russian spies and poisoned umbrella spikes. James Bond and Rocky all took on the might of Mother Russia. I later visited the country several times in the 1990s.

If you have watched the show The Americans, you’ll know what I mean. They did a great job of recreating that time in history for those too young to have lived through it themselves.

So, on this track, So Afraid Of The Russians, the general theme is the Russians are spying on us and all the paranoia that causes. It’s a good post-punk type of production with added intercepted Russian radio messages for good measure. On the B-side, we are treated to a cover of Unknown Soldier by The Doors. All housed in a sleeve with a painting of the Kremlin or similar Russian architecture on one side and a guy wearing a gas mask on the rear. It’s all good stuff and of course still just as topical. The John Cale connection is cool and yesterday was his 80th birthday. His body of work is full of great recordings, and this is an interesting part of it. Check it out and see what you think.

Cheers- Dom

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Invertebrates Tape Coming Soon on Sorry State

Lasso: Amuo EP Up for Pre-Order

Headkicker’s Cassette Up for Pre-Order

Peace de Résistance’s LP Up for Pre-Order

Sorry State Is Hiring

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Headkicker’s Cassette Up for Pre-Order

Peace de Résistance’s LP Up for Pre-Order

Lasso: Amuo EP Up for Pre-Order

Zorn Still On Tour

Sorry State Is Hiring