Why Harley Flangan is My Actual Favorite Cro-Mag

I didn't expect to begin February 2016 with 2 people independently suggesting I check out a new Harley Flanagan record but brother (or sister), that's exactly how it shook out. Here's 5 reasons why, after listening to Cro-Mags 10 times in a row, Harley is my actual favorite Cro-Mag.

1. Cro-Mags is essentially a diss record.  No, not a "Dis" record, but we'll get to that in a minute. Harley's beefs are the stuff of legend, hilarity and an occasional headline news story and frankly that's what makes this record so interesting. Sure, it's petty and a little childish, and regardless of where you stand on his antics, you've got to admit the dude's been through a lot in the past 5 (10?) years. Great music rarely comes from a place of serenity and in this case, Harley's demons helped him make a kick-ass solo joint on some surprisingly contemporary source material.  

2. It's also Dis Record. Kinda. OK, like not full on Motö-Charge here, but close enough for my taste. Discharge comparisons aplenty, 12 songs in 24 minutes. Whatever it is, it's punk AF. Kinda makes you remember that amidst all the Myspace buffoonery and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the dude has been sniffin' around since punk's year zero. (or at least since you been swimmin in your Daddy's nuts...so to speak). Plus, I've read that the record is kind of a tribute to Lemmy, so there's that. 

3. Age of Quarrel. Yes, it's the consummate 'Mags record and the measuring stick by which all NYHC would be measured to come. If we're lumping in the entire Cro-Mags discog, side projects and all, Cro-Mags comes the closest to replicating that original sound. Aggressive punk metal blasts intercut with some guitar work I can only describe as "explosive." Like, you'd think Alpha and Omega or Near Death Experience might be a better pairing for a late-era Harley solo project, but it's not. Trust me. 

4. Beef (is for Pussies). If we're actually keeping a Cro-Mags tally, we'd likely surmise that the last decade has been way harder on Harley than it has on John Joseph. The latter has branded himself as the "sane" one, schilling vegan cookbooks, workouts and a biography that seems more than a little exaggerated (like all NYHC history). And while Harley certainly hasn't made things any easier on himself, he's not the one leading a semi-scab 'Mags lineup only playing songs off the first record...but writing new music. 

5. The Vocals. OK, so we all know that JJ's vocals are an inextricable topping on the Cro-Mags pizza. I also know that JJ has clowned on Harley's vocal performances in his book (how many times does Harley need to say "Oh yeahhh" on a record kinda stuff). I think Flangan sounds perfect here. Brutish. Angry. Bitter. The voice of a guy who's been battered senseless and keeps trundling forward despite the odds, and though it's never rivaled JJ's in terms of supremacy, I think it suits a 2016 record about 20 year old disputes just fine. 

Ball of Destruction Fanzine (European Vacation II):

Ball of Destruction #1 (Belgium)
I went to Belgium once as a kid. I liked it. My family was literally booted out of a restaurant there. That's definitely a story for another post though. (Peace to Belgium and hardcore and Rise and Fall). 

I once jokingly postulated that Madball's Ball of Destruction era logo was hardcore's closest approximation to Metallica's Master of Puppets logo. Both bands start with "M" and have a history of logos that have evolved over their various incarnations as a band. I stand by the statement, with the more immediate point being that the mind(s) behind Ball of Destruction  chose some primo boilertplate from which to cut n' paste their own tome, a hefty full-sizer with the Toxic Avenger landing a cover spot. 

I've never heard the band Grim (described as Darkside NYC by way of Bulldoze in the zine) but when asked if he's worried about becoming "just another beatdown band" Grim's singer responded with "our breaks are quite harsh." They cover Soundgarden's "4th of July" which gives me a great segue to plug an old post: here.  

Very great to see mention of Bad Trip and Mind Over Matter in the discussion of Don Fury recordings. 

The cream here was the Ramblings on Victory #2, 4 +7, a segment in which the author shot on Billingsgate's Reach Out album sleeve,  how Worlds Collide got their name (sidenote: for a great podcast in which Worlds Collide member Matt Burger plays music, talks about Worlds Collide and also some ridiculous shit about hardcore gangs, here) and Salty City's pride and joy: Insight. Nugget below about using Supertouch's gear and not saying thank u. 

Other highlights:
Who doesn't love a good old Cro-Mags interview? We know the euros love their mags (in their mags...yuk). This one was from '89 done in Seattle WA on a show with teutonic thrashers Destruction. 

The Only Living Witness interview was reprinted from Look Again Fanzine #3  and also featured Slayer in there. ("Why do people think metal is a four-letter word? They didn't learn english!" -Jonah Jenkins).

On late-period Turning Point: "Bold shirts, make way for turtlenecks and Jane's Addiction merch." 

Overall, snappy photography, great cut n' paste layout and unique, heartfelt content. All anyone could ever want in a zine in this day n' age. Glad I send abroad for this one. 

(you cannot) BUY THIS FANZINE HERE (because it is sold out). 

The Flexual Predator (Logo Power #9)

All Seeing Eye

In honor of the fabled Flex/Violent Reaction tour which recently hit Yankee shores, I'm inclined to unearth this guy for the second installment of Flex-based logo discussions.

The show was great, somewhat sparsely attended, but that's what I'd really expect for a hardcore house show in suburban Salt Lake City that wasn't featuring any bands on the Reaper roster *sigh*. Obstruct opened, and I'd received their No Life 7" as part of a trade I'd completed. Rippers for certain and should be sought out by all.

Here's a crappy iPhone/Picstitch shot I got, courtesy of a small room, bad lighting, and my own criminal inability to take pictures that aren't awful. Still, it should showcase SOMETHING from that night.

Top: Violent RXN/Bottom: Walk in the red light w/ the Flex

Violent Reactions set rang perfect, the inclusion of the Cro-Mags "Don't Tread on Me," an obvious hit. City Streets is a damn good LP that you should seek out.

Before the Flex had set up, I'd spent some time in the garage shilling some old T-shirts and making conversation with the singer, mostly about wrestling in the UK. Turns out he was a big Ring of Honor fan, which endeared me to the band even more, and I bought a shirt. (As the picture indicates) they played in front of some red lights, creating an ultra sinister atmosphere, and when they covered "Kickback" by Breakdown, I absolutely saw someone get moshed into (and subsequently through) a wall. Suburban discipline.

This ain't a show review though, so I'll move on to the real "meat" of the matter (i.e. cartoons in hardcore). Skinheads appropriating HC iconography shouldn't raise any eyebrows, but I like the fact that this bloke's got an eyeball drawn on the back of his hand (symbolism there? IDK man), he's planting a Union Jack into a misproportioned globe and he's carrying what's either a boxcutter or a strange looking banana. Excellente. Flexual education. Flexual deviant. Flexual reproduction. God bless a band that opens themselves up to such seamless wordplay.

World Peace Can't Be...Pun

Tommy Carroll 2012

Thoughts on Harley going to jail:

1) How long must we await the famed Harley's War album on Southern Lord?

2) JJ's mags are kewl, but those who don't acknowledge Best Wishes are (to quote the aforementioned) "pussies."

3) Is there any famed NYHC guy that uses commas on social media? Do y'all need editors? *I'd do it.*

4) Haven't heard from Rick Ta Life for a while...are we sure it wasn't him? (ever?)