CPG - Elusive Asylum

Christopher Gaudett is a musician from Saint Stephen, Canada, who has played guitar in numerous bands, including “Black Ice” and “Born to the Purple”. Now residing in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, he’s been recording, producing, mixing and mastering his own music at his home recording studio under the name, “CPG”.

“Elusive Asylum” is the latest 8-song release from CPG. Available on 12” vinyl, “Elusive Asylum” gets your headbanging right away. Kicking it off with “Dreams Remain”, the song delivers power chords and guitar solos with good lyrics to compliment. “Dreams remain! They stay inside, you think they died. Still they stay! Not put away what you feel is real”. CPG brings some diversity with “Holding You” and shows off some guitar skills in “T&D”, “2 X the Lie”, and “Last Breath”. My personal favorite is “Vengeance”, the song brings an old school crossover vibe to the mix. “Vengeance! My vengeance in flames. Your soul played the game. I saw what you got. A life full of shame. Vengeance! My vengeance is flames”.

“Elusive Asylum” is also available in digital format and CD, which both include an extra song, “Waterline”. If you’re into bands like Wrecking Crew, D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity, you’ll appreciate “Elusive Asylum”. Very recommended.

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First Six Dischord Records

Last year, Dischord Records announced the "mail order only" release of Dischord #200, a box set to commemorate the labels 40th anniversary. The box set features re-issues of the first six releases in their original 7″ vinyl format. The music is remastered, sleeves and lyric sheets are reproduced from the original art, and also includes a 12-page booklet. After numerous delays due to Covid outbreaks, equipment breakdowns, supply chain issues, shipping delays, and being held up at the ports, Dischord #200 is now arriving in peoples mailboxes. 

 

The first six Dischord releases are:

Dischord #1 – The Teen Idles “Minor Disturbance” 8-song EP

Dischord #2 – S.O.A. “No Policy” 10-song EP (Green Vinyl)

Dischord #3 – Minor Threat “Minor Threat” 8-song EP

Dischord #4 – Government Issue “Legless Bull” 10-song EP

Dischord #5 – Minor Threat “In My Eyes” 4-song EP (Red Vinyl)

Dischord #6 – Youth Brigade “Possible” 7-song EP

 

The box set also includes a surprise 7" with 5 never released songs by The Slinkees, the first band of Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson. The band was Mark Sullivan (Vocals), Geordie Grindle (Guitar), Ian MacKaye (Bass), and Jeff Nelson (Drums). The 7” was recorded on cassette tape in the basement of Jeff’s parents’ home in Washington, D.C. on August 21st, 1979. It comes in a collage style sleeve, insert with photos, and a written history of the band.

 “First six” is a fantastic box set with great audio and quality art. It's a great catch for those who scored a copy for $50 from Dischord.

Sick Of It All Pete - God Save Ukraine

To kick off 2022, “Pete Koller” (of the legendary NYHC band “Sick Of It All”), has released a few singles on Bandcamp as “Sick Of It All Pete”. The first few singles dish out straight up hardcore. Keeping the songs short and raw, signature SOIA style.

The latest single from “Sick Of It All Pete”, has him teaming up with brother “Lou Koller” for an adaptation of The Sex Pistols “God Save The Queen”. The lyrics have been updated by Lori Dawn, Pete, and Mei-Ling Koller, to make up their own rendition. “God save Ukraine, from Putin's regime. That evil moron, his hands on the bomb!”. The track is available on Bandcamp with the proceeds going to UNICEF to help with the people displaced by the Russian invasion.

The brothers also pay tribute to fellow NYHC alumni, Agnostic Front. Covering “With Time” from their 1984 debut album, “Victim in Pain”. On his Bandcamp page, Pete writes, “Me and my brother Lou always loved this song from Agnostic Front…. I remember when AF would play this one at CBGB’s we would get real low CREEPY CRAWLY style..” 

The Creepy Crawl dance was the rev up to the mayhem that was about to hit the dance floor. I’m looking forward to what other crazy dance styles Pete will bring back next. If you're a SOIA fan, you'll dig what "Sick Of It All Pete" is up to.

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Spike Polite & Sewage - Pandemonium

“Pandemonium” is the new 6-song CD from New York City punk rock veterans Spike Polite & Sewage. The trio includes: Spike Polite (Vocals/Guitar), Michelle Shocked (Bass/Vocals), and Anthony Romano (Drums).

“Pandemonium” kicks things off with Police Brutality, singing about the systemic abuse of authority. The song starts off a bit slow, at first I found it a bit odd for an opening track, but it quickly picked up and grabbed my attention. I soon found myself bopping my head to “Police brutality must stop! Poor minorities choked & shot!”. By the second song, I was singing along. “Rent strike! Hole in the walls. Rent strike! Mold spores. Rent strike! Roaches are bold, they don't give a fuck!” As the songs played on, the music had me reminiscing of the 1980s in New York City, mostly about the Lower East Side and the bands of the era.

Spike Polite & Sewage bring back that straight up, old school punk sound with “Pandemonium”. If your musical taste includes the likes of GBH, The Exploited, GG Allin, Nausea, (A).P.P.L.(E), you’ll definitely enjoy “Pandemonium”. The CD is available now on Rotten Bastard Records.

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Sharp Violet - On Scenic Lake Copiague

Sharp Violet is a feminist punk band from Lindenhurst, NY. The band has released a few singles since their inception in 2016. On November 13, 2021, Sharp Violet released their long-awaited debut album, “On Scenic Lake Copiague”. The album features 6 new tracks and introduces the bands new drummer C-Roll to the fold. 

“On Scenic Lake Copiague” holds nothing back. Delivering pure, raw punk, with just the right amount of distortion. Singing about revenge, strangers in your head, boys and candy, all with very catchy lyrics. “Caffeine, Caffeine, under your skin. Caffeine, Caffeine, let it sink in. Caffeine Caffeine, just let me in”. My personal favorite is the bands cover of The Nerves, "Hanging on the Telephone". Many have covered the song, most famously Blondie, but Sharp Violets take comes off like they are really having fun covering the song.

Sharp Violets greatest asset is their interplay and how they seem to anticipate each other’s moves. “On Scenic Lake Copiague” is a solid release. Volume is a must, for their sound deserves to be felt, as much as to be heard.

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