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What’s up Sorry Staters?
Full disclosure: This same time last week, I had in fact already returned home from being on tour. But dude, I just did not have the capacity to structure coherent thought, much less write anything down. Slowly, but surely, the effects of my dopamine withdrawal are subsiding and I’m starting to adjust back to feeling normal. The comedown post-tour is rough sometimes, dude. All that said, Operation Hardcore was a great success. We were on the frontlines, always ready for battle, and returned home relatively unscathed. Gigs were killer of course, but more than anything, it was just nice to see old friends in different cities, and have a chance catch up, talk trash, or party like a buncha dummies. So thankful for my homies in Public Acid and Invertebrates, best people I could ask to be crammed in a van with.
So, what have I missed? How’s everybody doing? Not too terrible, I hope. I feel like there’s been a handful of new punk & hardcore releases I’m still catching up on since returning. Man, how ‘bout that KOS LP? We were lucky that Public Acid and Invertebrates’ homecoming show in Richmond lined up with KOS working their way south on their tour. The gig was a stacked line-up with a bunch of homies. It was killer. KOS has had a few lineup switcheroos, but man, with this current lineup they sounded so tight and powerful. And their LP sold out in pre-order? Shiiiiii! For my money, when doing that style of heavy, Dis-beat hardcore, KOS execute it so perfectly. And to my ears, it’s not just that noisy crasher style. Especially with Trey’s vocal delivery, I think the new LP sounds a lot like Crude SS. I dunno, maybe that’s just me. Let’s seeeee, what else? We listened to the preview track of the new Rat Cage in the van while we were driving through Nebraska or wherever the fuck. Can’t fucking wait for that new LP.
And yet, once again, as I try to shed light on some current hardcore bands, what I really wanna talk about is a reissue from the 80s! Haha. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always felt drawn to this Beast Of Beast record. It’s always had this allure, feeling somewhat mysterious. I remember many years ago, probably pre-pandemic, we had an original copy come through Sorry State. I’m still kicking myself for not buying it back then. Honestly, it feels like you never see them! I’m not exactly sure how rare the record is, but I’ve only ever seen that one copy in all my years of record nerd-dom.
Beast Of Beast were from Los Angeles, and they only released this one 12” EP in 1983. And I gotta say, compared to their contemporaries, Beast Of Beast sounds so much gnarlier than a lot of LA punk bands from that early era. I mean, the record’s called Sex, Drugs… and Noise, so what’s not to like? But upon doing further research, the band has an interestingly sorted past. I’m pretty sure one of the dudes from the band was in Angry Samoans, which explains where some of the snotty, irreverent attitude comes from. But dude… the singer Virginia Macolino sang on the first Berlin LP. Yeah, THAT Berlin. Which, I will admit, me being a fan of super poppy, synth-drenched 80s new wave, I think Berlin rules. Pleasure Victim and Love Life are both certified synth pop classics, in my book. I lose interest once it gets into Top Gun territory.
But yeah dude, it’s crazy. So, I guess the story goes, Terri Nun, who’s the magnetic frontwoman most people associate with Berlin, was still technically the first singer of the band. Berlin released one single with Terri in 1979, and then she quit to pursue an acting career. Virginia joined and sang on their debut album Information, released independently in 1980. I guess not long after that, Terri rejoined Berlin, they got signed to a major label and went on to have great success and become pop stars. It’s funny to think about Virginia leaving Berlin and being like, “Fuck y’all, I’m starting a hardcore band.”
Sex, Drugs… and Noise rips dude, it’s so raw and nasty sounding. Weirdly, I’ve seen this record tagged with “death rock” as a genre. I’ve noticed this with Legal Weapon too. Do people just think that any early 80s band from LA with a woman singing all must sound like 45 Grave? WHATEVER. I mean sure, I guess I could see how the last track “Without A Right” is a bit slower, moodier and longer with reverbed out vocals. But nah dude, to me this is a hardcore record. There are a couple songs that are under a minute long that are just blazers. For me, the banger hit single on this record is “Icy Eyes.” Killer track. I don’t know what it is, I just detect this griminess that makes it stand out from other LA punk records. So grimy in fact, that Beast Of Beast is one of the few (maybe only?) West Coast bands to have a release on Mutha Records, the infamous New Jersey hardcore label. Looks like two small pressings of the Beast of Beast 12” exist, the first on the charmingly-named My Ass Records, which I assume is just Beast Of Beast self-releasing. Then the 2nd press is on Mutha. And based on what I’ve heard, it seems like the connection here is that Virginia is the sister of the singer of Chronic Sick? Can someone confirm or deny?
So yeah, Mono Records recently reissued this obscure gem of LA punk. Nice packaging with outtakes from the Ed Colver photoshoot, which one photo of course ended up being used for the original cover art. The insert has a cool collage of live photos, which I’d certainly never seen. Plus, most importantly, this reissue includes a full 10 bonus tracks of unreleased demos and rehearsals. Some of which sound pretty raw, but they are RIPPING. I don’t know if these songs ever saw the light of day on bootlegs or anything, but it’s possible you would’ve only heard them if you saw the band live in the 80s. There’s a crazy Alice Cooper cover played at hardcore speed. Pretty rad.
Wonder what Virginia’s up to these days? Anyway, hope my endorsement of this record catches your attention. I really do think it’s worth any 80s hardcore freak’s time, especially if you’re unfamiliar.
Nice to be back writing for you all. As always, thanks for humoring me.
‘Til next week,
-Jeff