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This cool split collects the recorded works of two very feral and raucous Japanese hardcore bands from the '80s, Gasmask and Coward. Both bands hailed from Osaka, and originally released EPs on the Skeleton label. The Gasmask portion of this record contains their amazing 7" EP, two live songs, an unreleased track and two collaborations with Coward called Cowmask. On the Coward portion you get their 7" EP (sometimes called Voice), which was posted here way back when the Hearse first rolled out of the garage. You also get two tracks from the Ninngenn Omnibus compilation, some live stuff, and three collaborations with Gasmask called Gasward. Both bands are absolutely crazy great!
Our take: Both Gasmask and Coward released EPs on the Japanese label Skeleton (in 1985 and 1986, respectively). In 2002, Crust War paired them together and compiled them on a single LP along with unreleased live tracks from each band and additional tracks from “Cowmask” and “Gasward,” which were presumably studio collaborations between the members of the two bands. I’m unclear whether this is an official or unofficial repress of that release, so we’ll call it a “European import.” Either way, this LP is packed to the brim with classic 80s Japanese hardcore. Gasmask have a rough 80s Japanese hardcore aesthetic with simple and catchy pogo beats, Fuckheads-esque riffs, and “gargling broken glass” vocals that will remind you of G.I.S.M. Coward are faster, reminding me a lot of Systematic Death with their hyper-fast drumming and tight changes. The tracks from the original records are the star of the show, but the live tracks are strong too, as are the collaborative songs. Both bands are deep cuts for sure, but you’ve got to go a lot deeper than this before 80s Japanese hardcore stops being totally killer.