ALBUM REVIEW: Suburban Annihilation: The California Hardcore Explosion – From the City To The Beach: 1978-1983 (Futurismo)
This 2LP or CD set is the first in a new anthology series, Altered Vision, from London-based record label Futurismo Records.
Hardcore was a DIY, anti-establishment movement which took punk rock to harder, faster and more aggressive places than it had been before, and it was happening right across the United States.
Although Minor Threat, Bad Brains and their ilk were emerging from the underground on the East Coast, Suburban Annihilation concentrates on the West Coast, and specifically California – still a hotbed of punk rock today.
With a tracklist co-curated by Henry Rollins, the collection showcases some of the most important bands from the West Coast (though strangely Black Flag aren’t included).
It does feature many of the big hitters from back in the day, from Adolescents to T.S.O.L., Germs to Social Distortion and Flipper to Suicidal Tendencies.
Side one lifts off in style with I Hate Children by Adolescents, one of four bands to have two tracks included, and their Kids Of The Black Hole rounds off the 25-track collection.
Dead Kennedys also contribute a brace of tracks, the raw, incendiary Chemical Warfare and the stone-cold classic California Über Alles, which still sends shivers down my spine, 44 years after I first heard it.
Middle Class, from Orange County, released the first record widely regarded as hardcore, and Out Of Vogue, the title track from that groundbreaking EP, is included here, along with another of its short, sharp songs, Insurgence.
Circle Jerks also get two tracks, the classic Live Fast Die Young, and Beverly Hills, both from their debut album Group Sex, and they’re a reminder, if any were needed, of what an important figure Keith Morris is in the history of hardcore.
Elsewhere we get the excellent Agent Orange with Bloodstains, Wasted Youth with Fuck Authority (not to be confused with the Pennywise song of the same name), and Channel 3 with the blistering Manzanar, which thrilled me as a teenage punk rocker, and still does.
The best thing about compilations like this is discovering bands you’ve never heard of, and being inspired to dig into their discography; I’m looking at you Eddie And The Subtitles, whose American Society was later covered by L7, and Shattered Faith, whose rumbling I Love America is one of many highlights.
As well as some great music, Suburban Annihilation features in-depth liner notes analysing the socio-political context of the hardcore movement and its impact, and images by legendary punk photographer Edward Colver.
A collection as lovingly-curated as Suburban Annihilation will appeal to long-time hardcore fans as well as those who are recent converts. I can’t wait for the next chapter. 8/10.
- Suburban Annihilation is available from your local indie record store or direct from Futurismo Records HERE.
