Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Warners- Hit and Run LP (Onslaught Records 1988)













This LP was the debut album from Auckland band The Warners. The band was originally formed in 1984 with Jon Baker(the guitarist) and Allen Stephenson (the leather jacketed frontman) still remaining from the original line up. Both had played extensively before in early Eighties bands such as Cot Death, First Offence and Dead Image. The Warners released a 4 track EP "Elsie's Got a Gun" in 1986 by Meltdown Records before this LP came out.

The band attracted a reputation as a hard band with a hard audience as they attracted skinheads. The Warners style borrows from The Stooges and MC5. The mindless thugs' behaviour was often blamed on the band but also gave the band a notorious reputation. The Warners were banned from playing a number of Auckland venues due to the crowd they often attracted.

The Warners were often labelled a punk or heavy metal band but insisted that they were neither although claimed to be influence by both and other styles as well. They described their sound as high energy rock and roll with an emphasis on having a good time.

The Warners left Meltdown records and released a split 7" EP(which was shared with Bygone Era)

The Warners records were supposed to be pressed at Aussie band'sPainters and Dockers pressing plant. Painters and Dockers agreed to press the album but decided to sell the plant. However they wouldn't hand over the money to the new label. Onslaught records got some more money together to release the album after a four month delay.

Due to lack of venues in Auckland the band often played out of their hometown and around the North Island. The band were generally well-received except in Wellington (where like Sticky Filth they were labelled sexists and Nazis). This came about when in mid-song Allen attacked a mannequin in what was seen as a sexual manner. Allen said he was taking the piss out of headbangers and the heavy metallers on TV who sang about how big their knobs were.
Because the band were labelled a punk band, in some quarters, they were expected to be anarchists and vegetarians.

The album starts with a cover the Stooges' Loose which sets the style for the rest of the album which is high energy rock and roll. Standout tracks are: Dance Disco Dance, Peggy Suicide, Fight and Speed Trap. The LP does a good job of capturing the band's live sound. I caught the band a few times in the nineties. Once with Salad Daze and another time as a support band for Canada's Nomeansno.

After this album The Warners released the blue vinyl 1989 Satellite Surfing EP (on the Flying Nun label which is well worth seeking out for the songs Brain Like A Baseball Bat, Satellite Surfing and Bastard Sons of Rock and Roll. In 1994 Wildside records(who released heavier bands than those Flying Nun are largely renowned for) released a best of The Warners CD which features the band's material from 1984-1994. In 1995 The Warners released both a CD EP entitled Crazy Horses and an album entitled Bogans' Heroes.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Bali Bombers, Neckstretchers, Magnum Opus and Wall Of Silents Valve December 8

After seeing and enjoying the Bali Bombers and the Neckstretchers at Bar Mode in my hometown of Palmerston North there was no way I was missing this Wellington show. It wasn't that well attended but there's been so many things on in Wellington in the past two weeks. Polish metallers Behemoth and US pop punkers, The Bouncing Souls had played in town the night before and the local soccer team, Wellington played and won against Perth Glory at home(I attended this event and disregarded the others. The score was 3-0).
On the same night round the corner from Valve US band The Gossip (who I've never heard, not that means anything these days, were charging $50 a ticket to their show)were playing the San Franciso Bath House and Australian hardcore band Vae Victis were also playing in town at the Underground Arts Centre not to far from this show.
This show was $7 or $10 with a CD and DVD to get into and I'd heard and like two of the bands. Bali Bombers were the first band up and their punk rock assault is awesome. Here's a youtube clip of their song We Don't Care



Next up were metal band Magnum Opus from the Kapiti Coast. They were on the melodic side with a few death type grunts. The singer who can actually sing is something that seems to be missing from a lot of metal bands I've seen lately. They were pretty damn heavy and from what I could tell seem to be excellent musicians. They got a good crowd upfront.



Above pic: Magnum Opus

Up next were The Neck-Stretchers who are a garage-type punk rock band. This time frontman Rob Thorne was more restrained with this gymnastics compared to the Bar Mode show although he still did them. This band have to be seen live but here's a youtube clip of The Neck-stretchers from this show.



Last up were Wall of Silents who like Magnum Opus were a band I'd never seen before. They're a band with a death/grindcore type singer and a metal/rock/punk sound. Confused? Watch this clip.



They played a song called 'Fuck Off' as an encore and then thanked people for sticking around. An enjoyable night.

Beastwars - IV

After over a year off for various reasons, we have returned solely because we wanted to review the new Beastwars album. I really w...