{"id":8780,"date":"2023-03-04T16:51:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-04T16:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=8780"},"modified":"2023-03-06T16:56:55","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T16:56:55","slug":"suburban-annihilation-revisits-the-roots-of-hardcore-punk-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=8780","title":{"rendered":"Suburban Annihilation compilation revisits the roots of hardcore punk in California"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: Suburban Annihilation: The California Hardcore Explosion – From the City To The Beach: 1978-1983 (Futurismo)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

This 2LP or CD set is the first in a new anthology series, Altered Vision, from London-based record label Futurismo Records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Side one lifts off in style with I Hate Children<\/em> by Adolescents, one of four bands to have two tracks included, and their Kids Of The Black Hole<\/em> rounds off the 25-track collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dead Kennedys also contribute a brace of tracks, the raw, incendiary Chemical Warfare<\/em> and the stone-cold classic California \u00dcber Alles<\/em>, which still sends shivers down my spine, 44 years after I first heard it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Middle Class, from Orange County, released the first record widely regarded as hardcore, and Out Of Vogue<\/em>, the title track from that groundbreaking EP, is included here, along with another of its short, sharp songs, Insurgence<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Circle Jerks also get two tracks, the classic Live Fast Die Young<\/em>, and Beverly Hills<\/em>, both from their debut album Group Sex<\/em>, and they’re a reminder, if any were needed, of what an important figure Keith Morris is in the history of hardcore.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Californian hardcore legends Circle Jerks. Pic: Ian Harper.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Elsewhere we get the excellent Agent Orange with Bloodstains<\/em>, Wasted Youth with Fuck Authority<\/em> (not to be confused with the Pennywise song of the same name), and Channel 3 with the blistering Manzanar<\/em>, which thrilled me as a teenage punk rocker, and still does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em> was later covered by L7, and Shattered Faith, whose rumbling I Love America<\/em> is one of many highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A collection as lovingly-curated as Suburban Annihilation<\/em> 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n