v.a. Hang The Sucker Vol. 2 LP

Another truly monstrous late 80s japanese hardcore compilation. Hang The Sucker Vol. 2 came out in 1989 on Kagai Mousou records, which also did lots of Gudon, Chicken Bowels, Googol Plex, the My Meat’s Your Poison comp. Hang The Sucker Vol. 1 was a 7“ which came our the year before.

This comp starts out with 4 songs by Death Side which kill: superfast, tight, brutal (one is a re-recorded version of Stick And Hole off Smashing Odds Ness!!). Next are Gudon, also superfast and tight but with a somewhat subdued production. Half Years are up next with a style somewhat similar to Gudon. This again is not surprising since they most of their members played in Gudon at some time. Again: superfast and tight, with a clean and powerful production. Last are Mad Conflux who are the dirtiest band on this comp, with a style that reminds me a bit of Crück. Their guitarist Ori-Chan now has the difficult job of being the present Death Side guitarist, having to follow after Chelsea’s death; as far as I know he had been a guitar student of Chelsea’s.

But who is the sucker that should be hung?

Death Side – Bet On The Possibility LP

Death Side’s 2^nd LP, released in 1991, is simply one of THE best japanese hardcore albums. The album is more refined than Wasted Dream: the tempos are slower (well, a bit maybe!), the songs are a lot heavier and more metallic, the production is tighter, and with „Burning Spirit“ it’s got the title track of an entire musical genre!

Btw. this is the early 2010s bootleg version of the album, neither the original nor the official re-release on Feral Ward.

Considering Death Side’s look „The Sight Made Our Hair Stand On End“ is just an awesome title for a song.

Death Side – Wasted Dream LP

Death Side’s first LP from 1989, one of the (many) true classics of japanese hardcore, and a defining record of the Burning Spirits style. The first time I listened to it, I was pretty overwhelmed by just how relentlessly fast, driving and powerful it is. There is not a single calm moment on the whole record, the playing is frantic yet monstrously tight, and the songs are among the best shit ever written by any japanese band. Period.

This version is the bootleg from the early 2010s, so the sound is a little bit muffled and the print quality is okayish. Too bad there was a skip in the VERY FIRST SONG of the original record.

Have you looked into mirror yet?

v.a. Starving Dog Eats Master LP

Starving Dog Eats Master, released in 1991 on Bloodsucker records, another classic japanese compilation. Death Side (some of their best tracks on this album) and Nightmare need no further introduction, and Crück are another true gem (especially considering they only ever released compilation tracks). Kathabuta only released a 2×7“ flexi and a tape beside this, Warhead Junk had a split release with Gudon, and Bandit released two albums in the early nineties.

Get it while it’s hot!

Death Side – The Will Never Die 7″

Death Side’s penultimate release, just as awesome as the rest. The title track is an anthemic smash-hit of Burning Spirits hardcore (oh damn, can I really say that?), the two following tracks on side b are faster, rawer, more primitive, no less great.

Never! Got it?

Death Side – Satisfy The Instinct 7″

Death Side’s legendary first 7“ from 1988, the (!) classic record of Burning Spirits hardcore! The songs on this 7″ were still a bit simpler and not yet as heavy, the production rawer and Chelsea’s guitar playing not yet as over the top as on later records, still this record destroys anything and everything in its path!

Over nice, all you silly ass!

v.a. Smashing Odds Ness!! 8″

Seems like somebody was pretty quick smashing the Odds Ness label, since they never got to release more than two compilations. Lame jokes aside, their first 8″ from 1987 fucking kills! Idora open Side A with simple, no-frills hardcore driven by a rumbling bass, Don Don follow up with primitive, super-fast thrash with a raspy-voiced singer. Side B has Mink Oil, who sound like they forced their singer to record 20 takes before they were satisfied; next are Crück, the greatest thrashers on earth who never had a record of their own, followed by Death Side with “Stick And Hole”, the first song ever released by the best band of all best bands: super fast shit with great heavy metal intro and interludes.

Smash it up!

Death Side – All Is Here Now 7″

I guess there is no point in debating about the best Death Side release, but their 1994 “All Is Here Now” 7″ is definitely a top contender. Unbelievable power, aggression and anger, great songs, an almost scarily tight performance, “All Is Here Now” definitely has it all! Plus, how can you top a 7″ cover where a smiling guy rips out his own entrails?

You can’t!

v.a. Game Of Death LP

This 4-band compilation LP is 50% japanese hardcore, 50% thrash metal. On the A-Side, Poison Arts and Death Side deliver the HC, while Final Bombs and the last incarnation of Ghoul are responsible for the metallic B-Side. Death Side’s “Blast In Hell” ist one of my favourite tracks of theirs. The backcover shows some great eighties hair in Ghoul and the Poison Arts, and has Ishiya of Death Side dressed from head to toe in completely tattered rags!

It also proves that the Final Bombs’ drummer had bad taste in t-shirts!

Death Side – The Will Never Die Vol. 1 LP

Death Side were such giants! How many bands have managed to name an entire genre of music with one of their songs? This LP features their songs off the compilation albums Eye Of The Thrash Guerilla, Smashing Odds Ness, Game Of Death, Hang The Sucker Vol. II and their first 7″ Satisfy The Instict.

Satisfy your instinct and get it!