Threatening Society 'Zine

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

BORN WITHOUT A FACE are a strange hardcore outfit from Michigan. While such sources as Flipside has labeled them "speedcore", we consider them to be loud, echo-ish, hardcore with some metallic tinges all combined to form a interesting yet eerie sound. They have two EP's out. Here is the enigmatic BORN WITHOUT A FACE.

THREATENING SOCIETY: How about a history of the band?
BORN WITHOUT A FACE: The band formed in early 1983, and went through a succession of drummers – twelve in all - while keeping the other original members. But the drummers… The one before him was called "Snotboy" - with good reason. The one before him was a compulsive liar. The one before him was a guy named Shirley.

Continue reading "BORN WITHOUT A FACE" »

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LOOKING BACK: SIDE BY SIDE were great. A different sound from the various "youth crew" bands kicking in NYC around this time. A youthful exuberance and less macho posturing. (It was probably hard to look too "hard" when your drummer was like 13 years olds -- and looked even younger. ANYWAY, these guys released only one record -- a 7" EP on Revelation -- but are still remembered by many hardcore fans fondly. Alex ran the great fazine with Porcell from YOUTH OF TODAY (in fact, Schism released a book with all of their issues. Get it!) Sammy Siegler when on to drum for a who's who of NYC punk: YOUTH OF TODAY, PROJECT X, GORILLA BISCUITS, JUDGE, CIV, etc.). This interview was done in the send-a-blank-tape-and-a-list-of-questions-to-the-band-and-they-send-back-recorded-answers interview style. -- Mickey

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

SIDE BY SIDE is my (Mickey's) favorite band of the New York hardcore scene. I've only seen them once, and only have one of their songs, but their energy and enthusiasm live blew me away, and judging from their track on the "Together" compilation EP, they definitely have a bright future. It took a while to track them down, but I finally nailed down their contact address. It was worthwhile, to say the least. Here's an interview with Alex, their guitarist, and Jules, their singer. Enjoy.

THREATENING SOCIETY: Who's in the band?
SIDE BY SIDE: Sammy (M) on drums, Alex (21) on guitar, Eric (17) on guitar, Jules (16) on vocals, and Billy (25) on bass.

TS: What previous bands have you been in?
JULES: None anybody would know.
ALEX: find none that anyone would admit to having played for! (laughter)
TS : Who writes your music and lyrics?
ALEX: We all kind of do it.
JULES: We all contribute.
ALEX: Everyone contributes, especially on the lyrics. The music is basically done by the guitarists, Eric and me.

Continue reading "SIDE BY SIDE" »

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

MURPHY'S LAW / SERIAL KILLERS / EAB / NOT DEAD YET / RETRIBUTOIN
Friday, Oct. 2, 1987, Club Pizazz (Phila., PA) [Tony]

What had the potential to be one of the best shows in a while turned out to be one of the worst. Don't get me wrong - all the bands were good, but a few dozen fights ruined it.

RETRIBUTOIN, a local skinhead band, was the first to play. Very good melodic thrash from these guys. I can't comment on the lyrics ('cause I couldn't understand), but judging from the almost all-skin pit, you could pretty much guess what was up. There was some trouble in the pit, where apparently some genius was going around spraying people with mace.

Continue reading "MURPHY'S LAW / SERIAL KILLERS / EAB / NOT DEAD YET / RETRIBUTOIN" »

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

TOKEN ENTRY / KRAKDOWN / THE CORRUPTED ONES (TCO)
Sept. 20, 1987 - Club Pizazz, Phila., PA [Tony]

NOT DEAD YET was originally scheduled to play, but they cancelled a few days before and INRI played instead. I did not get there to watch them play because I arrived fashionably late (yeah, right - I got lost trying to take a short cut from Sean's house).

Luckily, I got there just as THE CORRUPTED ONES began their set. T.C.O. were really cool - tight, melodic thrash with sing-along lyrics. Hopefully, we'll be seeing and hearing sore about this hot local band.

Continue reading "TOKEN ENTRY / KRAKDOWN / THE CORRUPTED ONES (TCO)" »

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LOOKING BACK: FOD is STILL going strong. They've been playing at LEAST for 20 years. This interview was done via the mail, and what makes it so entertaining, is that their answers are completely retarded -- but someone one of the three folks ends up providing a legit answer to each question. What's more to say, except that I always liked these guys, as they have always been regular joes. A bit disturbed, often, so maybe they're more irregular. But they're righteous nonetheless. -- Mickey

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

F.O.D. is one of Philly's best bands, even though they actually are from nearby Ambler, Pennsylvania. Their debut LP, "Shatter Your Day" (Buy Our Records) has brought all attention to their brutal and unrelenting hardcore. They are also one of the most well- liked bands in the area. Here's a chat with F.O.D.

THREATENING SOCIETY: Who's in the band?
JIM: Jim, guitar and vocals.
DAVE: Dave, bass and backing vocals.
BOB: Bob, drums and backing vocals.

Continue reading "FLAG OF DEMOCRACY (FOD)" »

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

M.I.S., from Longview, Washington, formed in the summer of '86 and are Chris (20) on vocals, Tim (16) on drums, Jason (17) on bass, and Eric (15) on guitar. They don't like labels, show-offs, wanna-bes, backstabbers and liars. They like to laugh, play shows, and receive mail, so if you want to rap, drop 'em a line.

Loud and angry hardcore thrash with enough electricity to light all the houses on the block. The ultra-fast parts get a little sloppy, but the slower stuff is powerful, as the songs "Anti-Reagan" and "War No More" amply prove. This demo is an exercise in cut-throat HC - it's really worth your while. 10 tracks, with lyrics.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

GENERAL CONCERN is a positive, semi-straight hardcore band from way over in Longview, Washington. The line-up is as follows: Jay (18) on vocals, Paul (18) on guitar, Rick (16) on bass, and Keith (17) on drums. They will soon be going into a studio to record a demo.

This is some raw, pounding HC that, thankfully, is not short on mlody. G.C. packs a powerful punch - actually, crunch is a better word. Heavy, grinding fast parts and really great mid-teapo stuff, plus good lyrics (mainly positive, some political). The only problem is that the sound quality, as on all rehersals, takes away from what is otherwise a fantastic tape. This band has great potential - I can't wait to hear the demo! In the meantime, you should really check out this rehersal.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

VAN GOGH'S EAR is a Philly band that has been playing out live for about a year and a half. They are self-produced and managed and are about to go into the studio to make a better quality tape of another album's worth of material. Of course, they want to release an album, but they don't have the funds - isn't that everyone's problem these days? They are considered a great band to see live due to Aruna's {vocals) energy and inability to stand still.

"Pop with an edge" is the way my roommate described these guys. And that's the best way their sound can be described. This tape of incredibly high quality shows us a band with enomous talent and promise. Their mainstream melodious sound should appeal to many - but they're defirately not hardcore and they're far from punk, too. They're ... well, pop with an edge. And they've put out the best demo that I (Mickey) have heard yet!

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

REASON T0 BELIEVE is: Jon B. on vocals, Chris E. on guitar, Raidy K. on bass, and Rodney on drums. They have "action-wear" t-shirts for $7.

REASON TO BELIEVE, from sunny California, is a young band with a great sound. They reaind me of early 7 SECONDS with their sing-along lyrics and early DC bands with their pure, raw energy, which must translate into a good show live. Seven songs are on this tape, all of which seem to rock hard! Their message is one to be admireds -- they seem to be a very dedicated bunch.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

After reading Alexandr Solzehnitzky's A World Split Apart, I now, more than ever, strongly believe that the American media is dominated by trends. When I say media, I mean newspapers, news telecasts, information magazines, etc. From week to week, a new "news fad" will become the nation's foremost concern and will be plastered all over newspapers, Time, and Newsweek, and you will find all news programs concentrating on it. This lasts until the next fad hits, and the old one is nearly forgotten. For example, a year ago people were screaming about AIDS so much that it seemed that a plague of biblical (sorry atheists!) proportions was upon us. Shortly thereafter, the media turned its attention to teenage drug use {"Just Say No"), sex scandals, (Hart and Rice, Bakker and Hahn), and other things. From the decrease in the reporting/mentioning of AIDS, you'd think that the problem ceased to exist. But did it? (The answer is no, for those of you scoring at home.) If anything, the problem got worse, but it didn't matter because America's "news audience” (people who buy newspapers, watch the news on TV, etc.) was bored and need something new and exciting to be "most concerned” about. The only tine a single issue should dominate the media is in the case of a one-time happening or current event (for example, an earthquake, etc.).

Continue reading "GREY MATTER: Media Brainwash" »

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

TOKEN ENTRY is a fantastic young band from New York who have recently released an incredible debut LP, "From Beneath The Streets” (Positive Force). Luckily, they did a show in Philly a while back and I got the chance to talk to the bassist, John, who is one hell of a guy.

THREATENING SOCIETY: What is the current line-up?
JOHN: Timmy is on vocals, Arthur and Mickey on guitar, Ernie is on drums, and I'm the bass player, Johnny.

TS: What are your ages?
JJ: We're all 19 to 21 years old.

TS: How did TOKEN ENTRY form? Were any of you in other bands?
JJ: Yeah, me and Ernie had a band called GILLIGANS REVENGE. And with the downfall of that band, Mickey came along and we started TOKEN ENTRY.

Continue reading "TOKEN ENTRY" »

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LOOKING BACK: Somewhere on this site, I mentioned that skinheads scared me. Probably because I was a pudgy kid who couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. But for some reason, I liked the guys in THE UPRISE. I think because Rob and Scott were actually smart dudes, and were always nice to me. Plus, I dug their music. Though their lyrics were at times a little bit on the retarded side, dammit if they weren't often catchy as hell. -- Mickey

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

THE UPRISE is a young band from suburban Philadelphia. They've released is» live dews, played several big shows in the area, and mil soon be releasing an EP. They've often been misunderstood, because of their appearance {they are skins). Hopefully this interview will clarify some things.

Scott, 17, vocals
Matt (Scott's brother), 19, bass
Mike, “his age doesn't matter”, guitar
Rob, 17, drums

THREATENING SOCIETY: How did the THE UPRISE form?
ROB: We formed in June of 1986. We had a rhythm guitarist. We kicked her out in December. We put some demos out, and
then everything was going good. We had to kick Mike out because he was being a dork. We got Gavin [ex-NY HOODS, ex-SIDE BY SIDE - Ed.], then he split. Mutual departure type stuff. Musical differences.
SCOTT: Now we have the original band together, except for the guitarist.

Continue reading "THE UPRISE" »

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LOOKING BACK: I remember thinking that HOMO PICNIC was a bunch of "old heads". Hilarious. They were just young whelps. Everything's relative, I guess. In any case, these guys played a lot in Philly in the 80s, but suprisingly got little recognition outside of the area, to the best of my knowledge. It's ashame; they had really good lyrics, and a wonderfully melodic punk sound. I wish I could point you in the direction to obtain their LP, but I don't think it was ever re-released. Try eBay. Or Google 'em -- I'm sure someone out there can hook you up. -- Mickey

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

With the release of their album "Days of Grey" in July of 1987, HOMO PICNIC is making a serious attempt to break into the national music scene. This Philly trio hopes that their album will help them accomplish that goal by allowing them to reach a larger, broader audience. The following interview was done with their drummer, Tony Tigre.

Dougie B., 19, guitar, vocals
Tony Tigre, 22, drums, vocals
Beebe, age and last name unknown, bass and vocals

Continue reading "HOMO PICNIC" »

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

INITIAL REACTION is a three man, one woman HC band from Chicago's western suburbs. They started as a garage band in Jan., 1986 and have done a number of shows in the Chicagoland area. l.R. is: Mandy Clarke - vocals, Doug Roscoe - bass, Hessel - guitar, and Matt Olsen - drums.

There seems to be a disturbing trend in the scene: people disliking fast HC thrash bands because some claim it is immature. Well, just when you thought you had grown up, this Chicago quartet kicks you in the teeth. This band plays ferocious, abrasive hardcore (of the thrash variety) with a rough edge. If you think fast and heavy music is for kids, take a listen to this hot, energy-packed tape. The music is tight and raw, yet distinctly melodic at tines, and the vocals are very enjoyable and original, in that I have never heard a female HC vocalist of this ability. The ideas seem to be OK, even though I've only seen the words to a few songs and I don't want to generalize. All together, this is a very good tape (of decent sound-quality) consisting of 20 songs. INITIAL REACTION plays HC the way we like it -powerful and energetic without being noisy or sloppy. Don't miss this one.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

MASS CORRUPTION is a skinhead band from Minnesota. Their line-up is Rick Bassat on vocals, Ed Wolbank on guitar, Dan Higgins on drums, and Sean Mason on bass.

Skinhead thrash with throaty vocals and AGNOSTIC FRONT-type music. Nine tracks with some pretty heavy guitar work and good production. Highly recommended if you're into being a skin, and worth a try even if you have hair. Seriously, give it a listen.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

NEGATIVE YOUTH is an anti-straight-edge band (in a humorous way) from New Jersey. The line-up features Richie Intoxication on vocals, Eric Delusion on bass, Tom Herb on guitar, and Troy Err Herr on drums.

The music on this tape is good, but it's tough to look past the "negative" lyrics. The songs deal with beer and sex and sex and beer and beer and sex (did I mention the beer?). I guess the lyrics are kind of orginal, after all, how many bands have a song called "Anti-Straight-Edge and Proud"? I think you can enjoy this tape if you don't take your music (or life) too seriously. Hey, somebody send a copy to Ian, Kevin, and Gloria Steinem.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

DIRGE is from the central shore area of New Jersey. Their current line-up is: Jim on bass, Jacko (ex-FATAL RAGE) on vocals, Eric (ex-F.C.C.) on guitar, and Dan (ex-F.C.C.) on drums. Contradictory to the name, most of DIRGE's music can be classified as thrash, though they prefer not to label themselves. Their lyrics range from religous and political hypocracy, greed and power, to the struggle against conformity, social order, and
narrowmindedness within the realms of society and the scene.

'86 demo: Some cool raging thrash with lyrics lamenting the probleas in the world. The vocals are shouted and a bit rough in some places, but still good and original. Thirteen songs total - 8 from the studio and 5 good-quality live songs. This isn't crossover, but it should be liked by both audiences. This 20 minute tape is available for $3.

"Life Force" demo: The second demo from the Jersey thrashers is a bit more polished. They change slightly - a little more riffing and guitar work, and the vocals blend in better with the music. This sounds good, even though it's lost some of its hardcore influence - except in the lyrics, where the same high level of awareness and intelligence is maintained. As of now, this tape is only availble to 'zines and labels, but you can write for more details.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

BLOOD LAKE is a hardcore band from Vista, California and features Randy on vocals, Dave on bass, Pete on guitar, and Simon on druas.

This band kicks serious butt! 13 great tunes that bridge the gap between '87 hardcore and early punk. Even though they don't include lyrics, there are some good ideas (I think) behind soae songs like "There's A Draft" and "Fight To Survive". I think this tape will appeal to anyone who's ever been into hardcore. Oh yeah, Mickey claims that they sound like the DEAD KENNEDYS around the time of "ln God We Trust Inc."

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VISUAL DIFFERENCE is a positive hardcore band from Arizona, with Steve Toledo on vocals, Dave Payne on guitar, Eric Oxbolow on bass, and Steve Baily on druas.

Man, there must be some decent shows happening in Arizona, what with bands like LAST OPTION, DESECRATION, and now, VISUAL DIFFERENCE. I really liked this tape, and that's not just because I'm a big fan of positive mosh-type stuff, but because this band is really tight and powerful, and have a good attitude, as reflected in their lyrics. 12 songs, lyrics included. By the way, they're not straight-edge, just positive.

Posted by Editor at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

PSYCHIC VIOLENTS is a five-piece band from Florida with Sam on guitar, Jorge on bass, Bill on drums, and Charles on vocals.

This tape was truly a pleasant surprise. Each song I has a different sound to it. Some thrashy, some melodic, some psychedelic, and some mixing all of these elements. The lyrics are cool too - most are personal, while others address topics such as racism ("Mayberry") and animal cruelty ("Animal Aushcwitz"). This band is very innovative - for instance, in "Embrace", instead of the usual transition from thrash to slow-mosh parts, they go from fast and heavy to slow and more mellow. All in all, 28 songs (including a few instrumentals that can only be clasified as country- psyche) in 60 minutes. Comes with lyrics and a mini-comic book. Great sound quality on most of the tracks. This tape is a must.

Posted by Editor at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

Even though this is an independent tape, I chose not to put it in with the demos because of its high production quality and packaging. This Chicago based band (Eric Seiller on guitar, Dave Fuller on bass, Tom Brandner on guitar, Skip McGullam on vocals, and Jeff McGullam on drums) plays EXODUS-like thrash with hints of slower, power metal. Nothing of lyrical value - same old gore and death nonsense (horror lyrics CAN be done well, just ask the SERIAL KILLERS). But the music is played quite well. If you're into thrash metal, this is for you. 8 songs (35 minutes) with lyrics.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

This Venice, Cal. band has been around for a while, but this is only their first LP. Ten selections of powerful hardcore with a strong metal influence. Each song has alot of music, but its not wasted on endless guitar solos, but on some cool riffing, sometimes reminiscent of early METALLICA. The vocals are cool - kind of like Mike Muir of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES who, by the way, is the executive producer of this Suicidal/Caroline Records release. The lyrics are mostly personal (lyric sheet is enclosed, thank God!). I'll admit that the first time I gave this a spin, I wasn't too crazy about it. But by the second and third time, I really started to dig it. (Suicidal/Caroline)

Posted by Editor at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

Exotic "punk and roll" from this Texas band. Gruff vocals from a singer who I read really is Iranian. All 4 tracks are interesting, and some of them really rock. A very good EP - hopefully their new full length album will be just as good - we'll see. (Boner Records)

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

7 SECONDS really disappoints me here with their five tracks. Only one is good ("Compro"), while the others are either a second-rate LP outake, a half-hearted live song, or in the case of "Dance of Innocence", a boring practice session. WHITE FLAG is OK, with some good live tracks and a great cover of Dr. Seuss' Grinch theme song. A.O.D. rules (so what else is new?) with their four tracks, and F shows us a band that should be more popular than they are. Their 4 tunes really shine, and come close to blowing WHITE FLAG and 7 SECONDS right off the other side of the disc. All in all, a disappointing release, which should have been 1,000 times better, considering the bands on it.

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

Buy it. It's great. Three tunes that kick butt. Period. (Sammich Records)

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[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

JUSTICE LEAGUE, one of my favorite bands, kicks out another 12" (their second). A little old-HUSKER DUish sounding now, they are getting much more powerful and mature in their sound. They're very nice guys, who really know how to rock hard. A great band who should now finally gain the recognition which they've earned. But guys, you are walking the HUSKER DU thin line. Don't whimp out, OK? (Positive Force)

Posted by Editor at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

WHITE FLAG'S first LP on Positive Force is definitely their best release to date. Great new track (especially "Suicide King") are there, along with re-recorded older tunes ("Instant Breakfast" and "Face Down" for example). This band has always been very good, and deserves a greater audience. Hopefully, they will get it with this LP. (Positive Force)

Posted by Editor at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

EMBRACE was one of the greatest bands to have come out of DC (along with MINOR THREAT and DAG NASTY) in my opinion. This is another Dischord posthumous release showing how amazing this band really was. The music isn't typical DC-sounding. EMBRACE consisted of incredibly talented musicians who made their slower, very melodious sound more powerful than a dual-guitar crossover band. This is seen on its fourteen excellent tracks, the best of which are "Do Not Consider Yourself Free" and "1 Wish 1". EMBRACE has a sound that doesn't seem to take any influences from other bands - they developed a very unique sound. The lyrics are great, too, perfectly done by Ian MacKaye; his singing/yelling voice has found a place where it fits perfectly. Good messages are there, too, in tunes like "Said Gun Said Knife" and "Money." EMBRACE is one of my favorite bands ever. If you have any concept of taste, you'll like this LP. Get it and see. (Dischord)

Posted by Editor at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]

Yet another Dischord LP released after the band has broken up. In this case, it’s BEEFEATER who really shows off their great sound. It's almost an all-star album, with cameos from artists connected with Dischord or Washington D.C. But they help only a little to make BEEFEATER'S final album a screaming success. Their funky, jazzy hardcore sound with drowning, off-sounding choruses is unmistakingly BEEFEATER – very adventurous (weird?) and off-beat (bizarre?). The lyrics are very vague, but somehow almost inspiring once you find out what they mean to you. Another thing I like is that each meaber gets his own tracks where he can show off his solo stuff. (Each is very bizarre, as you could probably guess, but very interesting.) I can't say I'd reccommend it to everyone, as it is off-beat (but not alien - the hardcore hard-edge is still there), but it is still very good to me. (Dischord)

Posted by Editor at 03:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)