January 1, 2010 distro update

Hello folks,
Happy New Year and all that stuff. This time around i've got a new cassette release on my tape label Obsolete Formats. It is a split release between Bloodkrow Butcher who are a new band from the Lowell, Massachusetts area and Gasmask Terrör from France. BKB is influenced by the likes of Discharge and Anti-Cimex while G-Terrör has more of a No Security sound to them. Complete info and description can be found below.

Release i'd like to single out this month is the "Who Cares... About The Scene?" comp tape on Abnormal Tapes. This comp came out around 1994 and is one of the many tape comps released in the 1990s that sums up what international DIY hardcore punk was all about. Some great bands, a nice DIY booklet, and a lot of little known bands that never got the chance to do much else. Comps like this really don't come out any more, so i'm left with trying to keep the distro stocked with 10-15 year old tapes, ha.

Please check out my buddy Tim's online zine and distro called Total Fucker at http://www.whokilledfucker.blogspot.com/ . Site is still being built up, but so far he's got interviews on it with The Wankys and Germ Attack as well as some distro stock. Nice stuff done with enthusiasm and sincerity. Also please check out my friend Max's new online radio thing called Radio Wolftown at http://radiowolftown.blogspot.com/ . A nice mix of bands including the likes of A/Social, Zygote, Killing Joke, Skitkids, Siege, The Replacements, and Death In June as some examples. Max has a great knowledge of various styles and is passionate about putting together quality stuff, so check it out. Both of these blogs are fully endorsed.

Further blog frivolousness: I've converted an old blog into an archive for these email distro updates. It only goes back to include updates from this early this year (older updates would be uselessly outdated). I intend to continue adding future updates to the site though which can be viewed at
http://penetration82.blogspot.com/ .

This month's extra shit at the end is an interview i recently conducted with locals Social Circkle. Not the most serious interview, but fuck it.

Full distro list and website can be viewed at http://www.socialnapalm.com/ . Past email updates can be viewed at http://penetration82.blogspot.com/ .

Please remember that PRICES ARE *NOT* POSTAGE PAID. For U.S. (domestic) customers, here are the postage rates for ordering:
$0-$15.00 = $2 shipping
$15.01-$30.00 = $3 shipping
$30.01-$65.00 = $4 shipping
$65.01-$100.00 = $5 shipping
$100.01-$135.00 = $6 shipping
Over $135, email me please.

International customers please get in touch for rates. All international orders are sent via airmail.

We can accept well concealed cash or *postal* (that you get from the post office) money orders made out to "Erik" (NOT Social Napalm). Thanks.

Paypal is accepted, but i do have to charge to include for their fees.

Address is at the end of this email.

Here's what's in stock now:


Tapes:

Bloodkrow Butcher - demo $4.00
From the Lowell, Massachusetts area, four tracks of Scandinavian influenced hardcore. Raw, but not too raw, hardcore that honestly really reminds me of Anti-Cimex and Shitlickers. What sets this band apart to me is the fact that there's actual riffs and that they use catchiness and great hooks to help convey the power of these songs instead of the standard redundant and bland drill effect. In that regard, i think it's that subtle hint of melody buried underneath it all that makes this demo much more in line with the originators of the sound and style than the imitators rehashing it and dumbing it down. I'm not saying this is as good as "Raped Ass," but it sounds more like 1984 than a 2009 band paying homage to the style. The guitar tone is more of an '80s ballsy hardcore sound using an Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive pedal with a Fuzzface for a much lighter fuzz sound rather than bands like Disclose, No Fucker, or Atrocious Madness. The one thing i will say that drives me nuts about this band is the name. To me, it reminds me of a Myspace crust band claiming Japanese influences. But looking past that, the music is excellent, and i really think people will enjoy this demo. Also the fourth song here has more of a random weirdo outsider/alienated type of vibe than any sort of Scandi influence. Recommended.

Bloodkrow Butcher/Gasmask Terrör split tape (Obsolete Formats #6) $4.00 ppd. USA / $4.50 Paypal USA (email outside of US for price)
Split tape between a two hardcore punk bands playing raw and distorted music. Bloodkrow Butcher from Lowell, Massachusetts are heavily influenced by Discharge and 1980s Scandinavian hardcore like Anti-Cimex. I think the thing that what sets BKB apart from many bands doing this style is that they use catchy riffs with hooks to convey an urgency and power in their music instead of just beating the listener over the head with a pounding drum beat. Their side contains a live on the radio set as well as a four song demo. Gasmask Terrör from France has been around for a while with several releases including a 12" EP already out. This tape compiles their out of print "Architects Of Death" 7", an unreleased four track recording, and a live show recording. I think their gem here is the ripping unreleased song that reminds me a lot of No Security and Totalitär. Look for a new LP out by Gasmask Terrör sometime in 2010.

Reject - "13 Tracks Demo" $4.00
New band out of Montreal, Canada featuring former and current members of Kontempt and Ilegal in the vein of Swedish hardcore punk. Raw and distorted hardcore. This one reminds me of a lot of '90s Swedish bands like Dischange, very early Disfear, Dispense, and Bombraid perhaps mixed with newer bands like Final Massakre, Decontrol, Kontempt (obviously), and other Dis groups. This is just what i get reminded of when listening to this tape. But it sounds like it's coming more from that angle than say British Discharge ripoffs like Disgust and Disaster as an example. It's all a Discharge influence in the end. Songs here are all good, and there's 13 in total as noted by the title. Lyrics are political in a way that relates to personal issues. Songs about the misery of daily life ("Solution"), lack of control over your own life ("Control"), and the overwhelming feeling of despair ("No Hope") among others. I would like to point out the fact that the word "war" is not used once in any of the lyrics which is a definite plus for any Dis band in 2009.

RIPPING THRASH / TAPES ARE COOL / M.U.T. / B.I.T.E. DISTRO releases (different labels done by the same person):
At one point, getting your band on DIY tape compilations like these was a fantastic way to get your name known internationally. These were done with a DIY spirit, in an attempt to expose people to many great new bands. Now most people just use Myspace or some other lame shit. I've always loved tape labels, and i think that Steve ran one of the best over a long period of time, so thanks to Steve Ripping Thrash for allowing me to keep these releases in print, and please check out his site at http://www.rippingthrash.com/

Active Minds/Rashit split on Tapes Are Cool (TAC006) $4.00
Rashit side features 17 tracks of angry, political hardcore punk from Istanbul, Turkey. Their first four are from their split 7" with Ask It Why and the remaining are taken from a demo. Active Minds who have been around since the late '80s have 19 tracks with the first 10 taken from various rare EPs and comps, the next 5 recorded live in Barrow-In-Furness, England in 1992, and the final 3 taken from a live set in Diest, Belgium, 1995.

Grito De Odio - s/t on Tapes Are Cool (TAC023) $4.00
Grito De Odio formed in 1992 in Spain and released an LP, two split 7"s, a split CD, and this tape. Outright political and anarchist as well as anti-organized religion, this tape contains tracks from their 1998 demo and "Ordas de Destruccion" LP. There's a ton of tracks here of angry and abrasive HC crust.

Rashit/Third World Planet split on Tapes Are Cool (TAC028) $4.00
Rashit came from Istanbul, Turkey and played interesting political punk with a wide variety of influences. Third World Shit from Canada existed from early 1995 through 1999. This tape comes in a nicely packaged fold out insert sleeve containing all the lyrics of both bands. Fourteen songs from Third World Planet and thirteen from Rashit. This tape was originally released in 1998.

V/A - "Tapes Are Still Cool!!" (MU 80) $4.00
This should probably be the title of my distro update this month, but that's cool. I know i probably won't sell a copy of any of these tapes, but i still think they're fucking cool. Fuck the rest of you. With that said, a nice, classic 1990s typical tape comp with some great bands and well... some not so great ones. In The Shit, No Fraud, Drunkard, Sanity Assassins, Senseless, A.S.R., Anger Of Bacterias, Urban DK, Kismet, Dirthead, Disorganized, Global Holocaust, W.O.R.M., Rubbish Heap, White Frogs, Ministry Of Ignorance, Sarah, The Accidents, Intervenzione, Krvavi Mandat, Konfettura, Eternit, Obnoxious Race, and Invazija all make up this comp.

V/A - "When The Insane Rule The World" (MU64) $4.00
Strong international cassette compilation from the mid 1990s containing a bunch of great political punk, hardcore, thrash, and crust bands. This tape includes Dystopia (USA), Running Party (Croatia), Halle 54 (Germany), Toxic Narcotic (USA), Dexkoncierto (Columbia), Sanity Assassins (USA), Infesto (Columbia), Sarcasm (England), M.D.M. (England), Still The Same (Sweden), Four Past Midnight (Scotland), and In.Decision (Scotland). This tape is accompanied by two external sheets containing an insert for each band.

V/A - "How Much Evidence Do You Fucking Need?" tape on MUT/Tapes Are Cool (MU 84) $4.00
A benefit compilation for Mark Barnsley who was jailed for his animal rights activities (I'm not sure if he's still currently in jail). Interesting comp with some well known international bands and some obscure ones. Bands range from a wide range of styles and include Family, Dr. Green, Rot, E.M.S., P.U.S., Senseless, Mrtva Budoucnost, Cowboy Killers, Off Target, Acredine, Existench, Indignation, 1.5 kg Of Excellent Puree, Dikije Gitary, Cerebral Turbulency, Gozzilla & Le Tre Bambine Coii Baffi, Toxic Narotic, Rosvett, Urban Strop, Alt T.C., Bastard Son Of Fud, Age Of Chaos, Sanity Assassins, The Tutsis, Third Lung, Disculpa, and Besk. Quite a few.


ABNORMAL TAPES
"Abnormal Tapes was oriented in the punk-HC-crust-grind-noise-experimental-industrial-noise vein or whatever came out of that." -Matjaz, Abnormal Tapes

It existed from 1994-2004 and was run by Matjaz Galicic from Slovenia who is still involved in many various noise and DIY projects today. You can check out his website at: http://matjaz.jezakon.com/ . He was kind enough to allow some titles on his former label will be available from Social Napalm on a permanent basis. I'm very excited to have these tapes in the catalog as i think they are both great musically as well as represent the Do-It-Yourself and network of friends ethics of international hardcore punk.

"Who Cares... About The Scene?" tape on Abnormal Tapes $4.00 (Abnormal 01)
"Int. compilation-tape w/Força Macabra, Disclose, Agathocles, Antitude + tons more! Comes w/24-page A5 booklet! (punk-HC-grind)" -Abnormal Tapes

Scum Noise/Bloodsuckers split tape on Abnormal Tapes $4.00 (Abnormal 03)
"HC-crust/HC with metal influences! comes with lyrix sheet" -Abnormal Tapes

Disclose - "Collection '96-'98" tape on Abnormal Tapes $4.00 (Abnormal 33)
From Japan. "Includes material from 7''-es, compilations, demos! Classic raw d-beat punk!" -Abnormal Tapes

Disclose/Wind Of Pain split tape on Abnormal Tapes $4.00 (Abnormal 35)
"Japan/Finland split-tape – raw Dis-punk/crusty HC-punk!!!" -Abnormal Tapes


Here's what should be in for the next update (DO NOT ORDER YET):

Some cool releases including some stuff on La Vida Es Un Mus Discos


Other shit:

Social Circkle interview on Tuesday, October 6, 2009

All responses by guitarist and founding member Matt. Ryan declined comment.

Here's an interview i came up with for Social Circkle. I was hoping you guys would answer this for me. Please no doofus responses. Here we go...

Erik: Is it true that Ryan (drums) is not allowed in the room when Social Circkle is writing new songs because his taste in hardcore punk is so poor that he'd ruin the sound of the band?

Matt: He already ruined it, isn't that obvious? No, seriously though, he has veto rights, but he doesn't actually write anything.

Erik: If Joey Vindictive were still running VML Records and asked Social Circkle to do a VMLive release, would you say yes? I think that'd be sweet. I think Closet Fairies would have been great for a VMLive 7" too, you?

Matt: I would totally do it, we have this awful sounding set from Welfare that would be perfect. Its from Steve Quix's 40th birthday show.

Erik: I heard Neil Robinson of Tribal War Records recently sold off his personal collection. I feel like this is yet another example of the death of "hardcore for the hardcore" and anti-everything politics and DIY ethics. Now DIY hardcore punk is based so much around hype, trends, limited edition releases, and internet gossip. Social Circkle is a band that has certainly benefited from internet popularity - and i'm not insinuating that's intentional on your part or that you tried to foster internet hype because i know you guys and know you never did - but as a band with members who were actively involved in the '90s, how do you feel about how things have swung? Is there any substance to the culture anymore, or is it totally vapid and superficial at this point?

Matt: This question goes in a bunch of different directions. I think any band that people like in 2009 is going to generate some sort of 'internet chatter,' I wouldn't call it hype or anything, its just people talking. When we started, I tried really hard to not have any talk about us on 'The Board' even though several of us posted on there because I didn't want to be a 'board band.' As far as the '90s versus now, its hard to say. I will be 30 in two months, and I was a teenager in the '90s. Obviously I'm in somewhat of a different place (somewhat) now than I was then, so my perception of the scene at large is going to be different. However, there must be something appealing about all of these because I'm still here.

Erik: Do you find it disconcerting having two members of the band who would rather have X'd up with Underdog than had a drink with the Underdogs?

Matt: I applaud your witty word play here, but do either of those dudes even listen to Underdog?

Erik: Would you rather open for the Casualties or Chronic Sick in 2009?

Matt: The Casualties, obviously. If Eric Yu was still in the band, he'd say Chronic Sick.

Erik: How come Social Circkle hasn't had any offers from any major labels yet while Scapegoat and Morne (both good bands) got asked to do records for Relapse? Are you guys gonna send a promo pack to Epitaph? The drummer in Kvoteringen also drums for Millincolin, maybe he could hook you guys up???

Matt: Scapegoat got an offer from Relapse? Hadn't heard about that. We never got any offers from anyone other than No Way and Deranged, obviously.

Erik: Perhaps you guys could do what Fucked Up does and keep jumping around to whatever the most popular big indie label is at the time in a futile attempt to maintain popularity and credibility while putting out increasingly awful records?

Matt: Perhaps we could. Seriously though, can you think of any other labels that we would fit on? As far as Fucked Up goes, I'm over it.

Erik: What if you guys featured the Vivian Girls on one of your songs? Like a guest star appearance. That'd be pretty cool, right?

Matt: I've always wanted to have 'The Song With The Saxophone,' do any of them play? I'm not sure, I'll have to check with their tour manager.

Erik: Matt, you are from New Jersey originally. Do you have any good Guido stories? And being from New Jersey, how many kids did you grow up with that now work at the dump?

Matt: No good Guido stories, but this guy I was really tight with in 6th and 7th grade went on to work for the DPW. Does that count? I'm pretty sure he still lives in our hometown.

Erik: Ryan, you are from Vermont originally. Did you lose your virginity to a sheep or a cow? Is it true you became vegan after squirting yourself in the eye milking the family goat? Did you ever perform any actions with the local ALF cell to liberate some slaughterhouses? (I'm very pro ALF for the record.)

Matt: Wow.

Erik: How good is that Epidemic 12" that Christian played on before Social Circkle? I love that record and wish he'd done more with them. Any thoughts?

Matt: We played with the Epidemic in Albany a few years ago, and Christian got tanked and pogoed. I don't think I've ever seen him go off for a band like that, except for the Zero Boys. Seeing him dancing to songs he wrote was really funny.

Erik: Why do you guys think every band that has come out of California for at least the past 10 years is so bad? There's so many fucking people in that state, you'd think they could form just one good band, but nope. Why do you think this is?

Matt: Clearly you've never heard What Happens Next, my young friend.

Erik: Can i submit this interview to MRR?

Matt: It hits a bit harder than the Al Quint interview we did. Submit it as a guest column.

Erik: Let's play Boston Punk Celebrity Death Match. Who would win:

Chris Strunk vs. Crusty Craig

Matt: Oof, the rematch? Craig was having some back problems last I saw him, so I'd give this one to Strunk.

Erik: Robin vs. "The Scene"

Matt: Is that dude still at it? Robin I guess, for his perseverance.

Erik: Mike McCarthy vs. 1998

Matt: McCarthy.

Erik: Al Quint vs. lack of motivation

Matt: I think lack of motivation is clearly winning.

Erik: Conversions vs. Vile Bodies

Matt: Haven't heard Vile Bodies yet. You tell me.

Erik: Milosz vs. his ego (no beef, just sayin')

Matt: Sylvia

Erik: Any parting words? Thanks for the interview guys. If all goes well, this'll be in next month's Barely Legal.

Matt: I hope none of these answers fall into the 'doofus' category.