GAWJ REVIEW FROM PUNK AS

Hamilton band Gawj may have flown under most radars, but that's probably the way they want it. Don't believe that? Maybe the title of their latest vinyl 7" will give it away � the charmingly named, So Far Away From Giving A Fuck That We Can't Be Seen. I actually have a CD-R version to review with no tracklist and has two six-and-a-half-minute tracks on it, even though the 7" apparently contains 15 songs packed into those 13 minutes. So forgive the lack of individual song mentions, but in the case of So Far Away..., it probably is not required in any case. This is a ferocious barrage of a release, the songs racing past at breakneck speed and full intensity all the way through. There is not the slightest concession to verses and choruses or, fuck it, even melodies. This is about mainlining despair and aggression in the purest way possible. Drums clatter frenetically, guitars feedback and vocals shriek incomprehensibly. Easy listening, this ain't. In spite of all that, while the intensity never lulls, Gawj introduce a fair amount of variety into their work. Tempo changes, samples, groove variation and more mean there is more to chew on here than sheer ferocity. If there is a criticism, it may be that Gawj have not forged their own unique sound; this release sounds like a number of other bands. But when they're doing it as well as this, who really cares? A take-no-prisoners 'fuck off' statement as blunt as its title, So Far Away From Giving A Fuck That We Can't Be Seen is a short, sharp shock meant for the die-hard fans of the genre.

IDONEUM BELLO REC. 011 - MALPARIDO & PARTY BY THE SLICE - SPLIT 7"

PARTY BY THE SLICE are Milwaukee's crushing d-beating, pizza eating, HARDCORE ripping jerks that played in KUNG-FU RICK, GET RAD, PROTESTANT and other bands before . Very much a faster version of the crusty bands you love. Talented, attractive and tougher than leather. MALPARIDO! represents the great country of New Zealand but blasts those sheepsheering stereotypes out of the water which is no big surprise as MALPARIDO! is Chris from COFFEE RAGE, Tony from DRUG PROBLEM, James from DRUG PROBLEM & SHORTLIVED and Carlos who runs EL PASO RECORDS. Non-stop CRUDOS worship blasting incl. lyrics in Spanish. This was released together with other labels as TO LIVE A LIE, EL PASO, HALO OF FLIES, UNITED BLASPHEMY and others. Comes on grey marbled vinyl!

PLASTIC BOMB REVIEWS

THE 1st COFFEE RAGE & SICK/TIRED SPLIT 7" a.k.a. MAD BLASTS OF CHAOS VOL. II REVIEW

Sick/Tired rocks on the flip side of punk/metal collaboration

By CONNOR RICE

Last updated on 08/26/2009 at 10:35 p.m.

Sick/Tired 4/5 stars
Coffee Rage 2.5/5 stars

The history of punk rock music is laden with bands that, unable to afford putting out a record themselves, seek out another band to split the costs and resulting album with.

DeKalb punk/metal band “Sick/Tired” was recently fortunate enough to do just that, recording a split seven-inch vinyl record with New Zealand punk band “Coffee Rage.” Assembled by Idoneum Bello Records from Germany, “Sick/Tired” and “Coffee Rage” have managed to collaborate on one of the best records to have a local band’s name on it in a long time.

The first side of this record is by “Sick/Tired.” Formed only last year, this is the group’s first time on record. These guys may get lumped into the “grindcore” or “powerviolence” subcategories of music, but apparently refuse to limit themselves to just one label.

In just four blistering tracks, the band proves that short and simple songs can have just as much of an impact as any double-album rock opera. By laying on plenty of R-rated lyrics, and alternating between furious thrash metal and slow, catchy jams, “Sick/Tired” has managed to put together a hook-filled record that sets them far apart from their often untalented peers. This side is perfect for people with short attention spans and a taste for intense music.

“Coffee Rage” from New Zealand is the band on the flip side of this record. Formed in 2007, broken up by late 2008, and re-formed earlier this year, the band contributed a seven-song long attack to this venture. Loaded with non-stop drumbeats and depressing yet comical lyrics, these recordings yield a solid effort of no real note. The band does not try to re-invent the wheel, but they do what they do and they do it well.

The first track, “Never Restrictions”, set the bar fairly high for the rest of the songs. Sadly, they only reach that peak, never moving past it and often only imitating it. The first few listens prove to be enjoyable, but it soon feels like it’s time to move on. The clever wordplay in the lyrics only maintains its novelty for so long without catchy riffs to back them up.

Overall, this record was pretty great. “Sick/Tired” delivers an amazing onslaught of riff-heavy hardcore punk that should have taken up the whole record, while “Coffee Rage”, though talented, fail to make any real impression on the listener. If you like fast, raging punk and metal (and own a record player), check out their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/sicktiredthrash to get more info on how to obtain a record.