Assault USA + Neutral Accents Fanzine (The Weekly Seizure - 7.28.13)

I'm supposed to have a logo drawn up for these things, but I ended up just doodling all weekend, and then seeing that movie 20 Feet From Stardom (it's about backup singers) and so I didn't. Here's some of what I came across this week that made life's casserole just a titch sweeter:

Send you to yer maker

ASSAULT USA Demo Tape
Self-described Chicago Spin-kick metal. Think an unbearded Ringworm and maybe The Promise or 100 Demons with a little bit of burly guitar tom-foolery thrown in. Good ish. assaultusa.bandcamp.com Not sure if there are any tapes left over. Tough titty said the kitty when the milk turned dry.

100% Tasteless

Neutral Accents Fanzine #4.5 (Austin Special)
One of the better zines currently in circulation. Throw Mobby on the cover and I'm on board. I've always liked the film reviews in this zine (Grim Cinema) and though a few people have complained about the sparse layout, I've always been into it because these zines are chock fulla readin', and I like it laid out all big n' bright. Of Course the Rival Mob interview delivers, with Brendan even getting into skateboarding. I asked him this once, about why he didn't skate anymore (long story) but the question never got answered. Big ups to NXA for digging the real dirt. I won't do it justice here, but this zine is A no. 1 and if you're not hip, then you're probably not reading this anyway. You're laminating a tour lanyard with a picture of a cat wearing Nikes on it. Go barrel roll into oncoming traffic, ya putz.

"I actually hate skateboarders who aren't on my computer or TV screen, so I take zero influence from it. If one of these talented little sexy boy pieces of shit EVER cut me the slightest bit of lip, I would smash their kneecaps into dust."
-Brendan Radigan 

WALL O' TEXT

Belief Fanzine #10
Got this one through a friend who went to Destroy LA, and while I can't hang with the main bands covered (Stretch Arm Strong and Bane) I really love the layout. This thing is from 2000 and what impresses me is the sheer volume of content. Lotsa stuff in a wall o' text format. Next issue was supposed to have inties with Dropkick Murphys and Carry On but I'm not sure it ever came out. Oh, also whoever made this must not like Ten Yard Fight very much. See the picture below. Brings to mind the excellent TYF vs In My Eyes discussions I've been having with internet friends lately.

Guess he's an IME fan?

Hammer and the Nails + Mandatory Moshing Fanzine + Fight 'Em All Fanzine (The Weekly Seizure 7.21.13)

Hey folks,
here's a new recurring column we're gonna start here at Drug Dogs HQ called the "Weekly Seizure." Get it? Like "seizure?" as in "seized at customs?" Cuz I'm a "drug dog?" Oh whatever. Essentially, it's comprised of me reviewing 3-5 items I come across that week, and then discussing their merits. Unfortunately for you guys, everything I came across was stuff I liked, so none of that insalubrious trash talking you've all come to love/hate.

1)  Hammer and the Nails - Rome is Burning B/W
Billed as "knuckle dragging reality rock" from Boston on the RRD website means I'm already on board. Couple that with the fact that I'm already a hopeless fanboy for this band and I'm sold. "Rome is Burning" is a new track and the B-side is a re-recorded version of "Product of this Modern Age." Comes with the typical RRD stamps and letters and decals...a worthwhile addition to your garbage record collection. Even more thrilling was the fact that I got this in an extremely timely manner, so things have definitely picked up in the RRD mail order camp. Good news for all. You can still get them at the RRD site.

Enjoy the Oi

 

2) Fight 'Em All #1
This is a zine done by one of the guys in Disapproval. Boasts the tagline "No posers, dick riders or trend hoppers allowed" which is pure poetry to these ears. Interviews are short, but substantial. I was especially stoked on the Cop Gestapo one, mostly because I just heard from Jesse that they'd be putting out a record on RRD in the future. Cool showcasing of some bands I'd never heard of like Altercado Espiritual and Poder Absoluto, along with Sick People and a good Spine/Sorry Excuse bit with TTD's most famous, Antonio. My favorite bit was the Disapproval tour journal because it was honest and funny and hit a lot of my home town spots and didn't try to be some dorky "a time we'll remember" scout camp diary. Also, Blind x Justice (the good one from Indiana who had to change their name) gets mentioned, that that's rad. I got my copy through a friend at Destroy LA. I'm not sure how you'll get one. Much love to the Crossed Out photo on the back.

3) Mandatory Moshing #2
I got this from Evan the Mosher when I ordered an A$$AULT USA tape. This zine is incredible and is literally all about moshing. The writing is negative. There's an interview with Bald Pig. I'm not gonna slobber over this any more. Here's some quotes to give you an idea. I have no idea how to buy one, but you should seek it out.
"I couldn't Care Less, I live in the Mosh World"
"You can join me in mosh world, or you can go back to juggling two balls with one hand on the sidelines like the fruitcake you are."

"I tried interviewing Bald Pig after Mosh World was born. It didn't work out because they are all morons."

"Just know that Bald Pig is the story of 6 friends who promised to meet each other in this very spot 1 year after prom."

"What I want people to take from my band is that it's OK to hurt yourself in the name of hardcore. It's fine to be apolitical, it's fine to want to die. It's OK to get hurt. I'm specifically influenced by Spit my Last Breath, Meat Puppets II and that No Justice last show video." -Adam Bald Pig

"Moshing, hurting people and yourself in a frenzy brought on by punk songs is the purest and realest way to be involved in hardcore. It doesn't matter how many organizations you support or how many vegan tattoos you have." -Adam Bald Pig

"The only way it could've been better was if someone died. I am not kidding. I really wish someone died and all the junkies at Treasure Town would've gotten evicted sooner. But instead the NATO summit martyred them. Regardless, we created something new and amazing that day." -Pit Tales

Just to get away

W is for War Hungry

Back in the days before Tee Til Death, I got this hairbrained idea to do a blog about hardcore shirts. I would track down the artist, ask them a bunch of questions...it only lasted for two posts (you can still see the remnants at jerkswithcoolshirts.blogspot.com) but it was cool. Here's one I did with Spoiler regarding a War Hungry shirt that was made in 2006, but I obtained in 2007. I thought it was kind of interesting and since this blog gets SLIGHTLY more traffic, thought I'd leave it here.

--------------------------

Yes I could've used a stock photo from the internet, but I decided to use MY shirt

So first things first, with the front design...I want to know, to the best of your knowledge how the exchange went in drafting the shirt.

Any War Hungry shirt I did was because of Hoodrack and me brainstorming over AIM. We'd come up with the best shit together. He always had great ideas but couldn't draw them. I don't remember who came up with what, but we decided they were going to have a mascot like Eddie for Iron Maiden, so that's the dude on top, cursing the world.

Hoodrack wanted a really metal looking shirt, but I made it borderline fantasy metal. I got a few of the ideas out of an art book. I wanted it to represent a bunch of different species being at war with each other, you know, “war hungry”, and their mascot standing over it all. Kind of a nerdy fantasy-land version of the real world.

It definitely reminds me of like...Jason and the Argonauts. Have you ever seen that? It has that theme...
I've never really heard of that before. Probably never aired in Europe where I grew up. Argonauts sounds pretty fantasy metal though.

Well War Hungry definitely has that kind of lyrical biz going on in their songs...like "Labors of Hercules" and stuff so maybe that helped…
I didn't go over any lyrics for this shirt, but maybe Hoodrack got some ideas from it. I'm sure it's all connected in his mind. 

On the back design, it's kind of a remake of an old psychedelic flier that I've seen...with the skeleton holding the peace sign. I've seen it used on an old flier....I remember you telling me that your Mom was kind of a hippie and your Dad was a metal head...is that where you got the design from?

Yea that's from a Grateful Dead flyer, on the original it's a lady holding the sign. Hoodrack sent it to me. It's not actually related to my parents though it could very well have been. I don't think they were into the Dead though, my mom is more into shit like Blue Cheer, the Who, and Black Sabbath. Way cooler than most hippies. But yea, there was plenty of weird psychedelic art and record covers in my house growing up, so that's why I like to incorporate it every now and then.

Soundgarden (OBLIG 4th of July Post)

And everywhere, no one cares the fire is spreading...

Hey y'all. So I know it's America's birthday, and truth be told I'm about to go outside, spray myself with the hose and eat popsicles til I poop funny colors...but amidst the parades and Lee Greenwood songs and fireworks and mattress sales...let's think about what's really important. This Soundgarden song.

While not a hardcore cut per-se, the band has kind of become popular again among coremen and others, and the slow-chug of this 'un, probably the most underrated track on a very popular album, seems to be having a sort of renaissance in popularity...at least among me and my uncultured friends.

So before slopping another spoonful of Jello salad into your mouth, or tying another M-80 to a neighbor's cat, take 5 minutes and let this bore it's way into your skull. It's what our forefathers, steeped in tyranny and wide-eyed with the prospect of establishing freedom for an entire nation, wanted for us all. Here's a live version that's kinda crappy but also kinda good. Studio is just as raw.