EHPC Best Of 2017 Oi Punk

It is in a relative order but i am not (again) scrutinizing the top 5 or whatever. These are all killer records. I definitely did not get to hear all the resurgence in real Oi! had to offer. Bet we try. I  think our list is solid.

PUNK/OI LPs:
Fuerza Bruta Verdugo Foreign Legion Chicago youths took the over world (literally - with shows in Europe) with their first LP. This bastard piece of wax sold out in minutes, instantly demanding a second press - which then sold out. Great shows in NYC and Minnesota and Chicago assert their brash fast style of gritty Oi the respect it des\erves. Sung en espanol. amazing debut.

Templars Deus Vult Randale/Pirates Press The Lords of the Sword return with a collection (of unreleased tracks) of their signature sound recorded over the prior decade. Cool vinyl packages and a flexi companion helped this fucker sell quickly. I had thought we would only hear from the mighty Templars on split 7"s . But thank christ the vaulted these tracks and gave us a proper LP. Fantastic.

Short Days s/t Destructure/No Glory Records beauty of an LP coming from Lille, France. Find on bandcamp and download for free. It's the one with cover art from Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. Melodic punk with a tough back beat; like sped up French Oi. Produced just enough... Many repeated listens. Solid back catalog too. Stellar work.

DDC Unite and Conquer Rebellion big sound, superb production. These dudes definitely stepped it up considering I have enjoyed there prior EPs and splits. The guitars have a metallic crunch; add that to robust drums, and the songs are fast and tight. You get riffs, leads and catchy parts with gang vox. Adult lyrics push this beyond any token tropes of the scene.

Concealed Blade s/t Beach Impediment - played this frequently. noisy and rough - fast tunes.

Roadside Bombs Rise Up Pirates Press - catchy and passionate Cali punk. Loved it. One of this year's best. "War on Love" and "45" are brilliant (catch those 7"s for some added vinyl love). Also peep "Nowhere CA", title track, and "Don't Bother"

Duffys Cut Killers on the Dance Floor Oi The Boat - sweaty mod, max R n B, punk Oi! whatever. Another brazen record that gets you moving. Love this.

Sweet FA Mission Accomplished Rebellion Records - stripped down Us Oi! like the late 80s/early 90s. Side project here, members of Legion 76 and Thunder and Glory. I fell in love with this one quickly.

Victory SOS Pirates Press Records, Longshot Music, Oi! The Boat Records, Rebellion Records

Tops of 2017.  Hard charging Oi!, they keep the speed of their other releases

The Abductors Coming Home Arrest Records - They pull back on the Negative Approach style but remain angry and tough. They had some more writing and musicality to their rambunctious cynicism. Good mix of CT hardcore and punk. Working class venting, done quite well.

Concrete Elite Iron Rose Rebellion / Longshot - I have been a fan since day one. They kill live. Their records are great. Little bit weird on the death metal growl for vocals, but once you adjust you realize these cats have stepped it up again. Best material to date.

The Struggle Endless Pirates Press - Experience and grit from members of Major Accident, Gimp Fist, and Crashed Out give us a smarter, mature Oi album. Very listenable, solid Oi Rock and Roll from elder statesmen.

(Not OI PUNK):

Cloak/Dagger I Want Everything Self Release - One of my favorite bands return. Not sure why it's self-released but thank christ they got this burner out. Taut, frantic paranoid punk.

Exit Order Seed of Hysteria Side Two - ex-vox of Leather Daddy, this sonic chaos is played searing and sincerely. Packs a punch!

Piss Test s/t Dirt Cult - dark and twangy, some twisted pop hooks but mostly just ominous punk a la Night Birds, Adolescents, OFF!.

Career Suicide Machine Response Deranged Records - look who's back! suprise punk hardcore fast and dirty from these Canadian fuckers. Blazing record.

Moral Panic Moral Panic Slovenly Records - Punk rock n roll. Greasy and low-fi, snotty and catchy. Grab it.

HON MENs:
Razorcut Common Enemy Longshot / Contra
Al and Brod deliver another solid LP - with two ladies in the band. Strong Australian Oi here.

Toxpack Schall & Rausch Napalm Record – they brought a grand sound through stellar songwriting and big production. Interview here. It’s a metal album by skinheads

Grade 2 Break the Routine Contra - hadn't quite listened to their prior stuff, just seemed like young punk. I was wrong. This is clean and crisp production, but also these dudes have grown older and better; mature and thoughtful songwriting and stellar musicianship. Powerful punk even if a little polished. Spain.

Gimp Fist Never Give Up On You Sunny Bastards - not quite uo there with the classics of theirs - but they announced they were done and we've gotten two LPs since. Still solid songwriting (a la Cock Sparrer) for these guys. Always something to like.

Lillingtons Stella Sapiente Fat Wreck Chords - Wow. Way beyond the years of simple (intentional) Ramones mimicry. This has mood and atmosphere driven by new angular guitar lines. Dark and some Joy Division influence. Follow me here... Parallel to third Tiger Army in that bring in new influences to their prior routine adherence to said sound. After repeated listens for a review, this album grew and grew on me. I genuinely enjoy it. Spooky; lyrics of secret societies and conspiracies. I was watching a lot of X-Files this fall when this dropped between Halloween and waiting for season 11.  And some great fast tunes too. try "K6" "Night Visions" "They Live" "Night Crawlers"

OLD GUYS: i don't know if they're 'top' but it's good to here from tall these guys.
GBH Momentum Hellcat; Varukers Damned & Defiant (2016 had new Discharge End of Days)

PUNK /OI EPs

Legion 76 Banners Fall Contra/Longshot - my top EP from the year.  Straight genuine Oi! that is passionate and well written.

RIXE Bapteme Au Feu La Vida En Mus - 3rd 7". rough and tumbly trio (w/Victor from Lions Law). brutal.

Shipwrecked s/t 7” Pretty Shitty Town - one could argue this hc, but whatever. It's mid-paced and there are strong guitar lines and melodies. Well, two songs are and then a tough ass Boston Hardcore (1982 style)  track. Amazing new shit from a phenomenal band. I hope Klas and co. give us more soon.

Battle Ruins 3 Song Cassette (self) - No Brainer. 3 new tracks from the best show of 2017. Soundtrack to annihilation. 

Epic Problem False Hopes Brass Neck Records moving beyong their Leatherface worship, they add to two of my favorite releases of the last decade (All Broken and Lines). Solemn punk that just chips at your soul. Catchy writing but meloncholy sound. Tugs at you. Loved it.

Junto Live To Tell Contra, Longshot - Back to this many times. 4 tracks from these Seattle guys. 

Lions law / Stars and Stripes Heritage Contra, Longshot - was a favorite; Lions Law covering "The Power & The Glory" and SnS doing "Heritage. plus additional track from each. brilliant.

RAS Pas Le Temps De Regretter Contra / Dirty Punks Classic French band reborn. tight.

Cliches Divide and Rule Randale Always will be on my lists. love these swedes.

Litige Fuite En Avant Destructure Records (Syndrome 81 / urban savage) blazing french oi/punk from Lyon. Female vocalist over jangly basslines and punchy drums. good riffs and leads. Time changes add some drama. 8 tracks on bandcamp

Petite II self *listen to podcast 010 to get my opinions. buy on bandcamp. 

45 Adapters They Call it Justice Pirates Press - title track is a+ plus two more. little shaky on the production but seeing it live made me realize how much i love it.

HON MEN:
Anvil Strike Tales from Border City Crowd Control Media
Unruly Boys 7” Crowd Control Media
Bromure A La Roquette Une Vie Pour Rien Vinyles – great French oi with Sax – surprise: Victor from Lions Law!,
Burden repress 7”, No escape 2016- cd; vinyl 2017

Hard Left Interview

Hard Left Interview

We Are Hard Left

Future Perfect Records

Interview with Mike (vocals) and Tim (guitar) by hutch

Hard Left are: 
Mike: exhortations 
Donna: bass, vocals 
Tim: guitar, vocals 
Stewart: drums, vocals 

In case you are unfamiliar with the skinhead subculture, or at least the full spectrum of the scene, a common mantra is “no politics”. As skinheads represent the working class of every country throughout the globe, this minute microcosm is colored by every brush of the political palette. Often, at gigs or fests or pubs, politics are eschewed in order to avoid conflict. And, to clarify, if ‘skinhead’ triggers an old stereotype, racism is not politics. The “no politics” agreement is not to encourage non-racists to shove their head in the sand while their brethren salute the Fuhrer at whim. This understanding exists so that a skinhead from France and one from Texas can share pints and discuss important things like first pressings of Alton Ellis forty-five’s or the pros and cons of different 4-Skins’ vocalists without sliding into disagreeing on the institution of social medicine. *(this said, most are intelligent adults who can discuss politics without getting out of control.)

 Hard Left throw that cordial oath aside and wave their beyond-liberal flags on the sleeves. Tim explains how the idea materialized. “Mike and I were talking that it would be fun. I’d play guitar and he said he’ll sing, which he never had. But if we would have an Oi band, it has to be left wing. For obvious reasons.”

However, the reasons were not obvious, as I had not known these guys. “We’re both left wing.” Mike expands, “our political beliefs were not a big part in prior bands. This time we want to do more than have great songs and laughs. The message is important. We love this style of music, but the scene is stridently apolitical or right wing. We wanted to be upfront about this.” This aspect has the potential to cause trepidation in the band. “I already got trolled on facebook.”

Mike was already called ‘oppressive’ by a white power user. Hard Left simply want to seize the opportunity. “I think it’s great if apolitical people want to listen. But they will get a message.” Tim adds, “the apolitical aspect about fun and style is tired for me. We want to put on a different gloss. While not ‘skinheads’, we are steeped in the culture; the music, the fashion.” Sham 69 and Oi are the basis of the sound. “We are trying to unseat what it means to be working class. If you want fun and apolitical, you are missing content that could be there.”

Despite Mike citing that the left wing has a strong long history with British scenes, the hard kicking music should be heard, and not always eclipsed by the political stance of Hard Left. It is drenched in Mod and Pub Rock style. Mike revels in their intent. “We’re old, been in a bunch of bands. We wanted to be in a band with terrace rocking beats and ripping guitars full of feedback and anthem songs with great lyrics. This is the band we want to be in.” Tim shares the elation in the layers and tangents of their musical direction. Tim guides band decision on what he (and they) would like. “Would we want to see this? Yes. Let’s do it. Marching in with drums and flags? Check. Fred Perrys? Check. Anthems? Check.”

This attitude forms one hell of a record, which drops on May 12, 2015. Tim and Mike simplified the formula. Tim pushes, “We kept it simple. The mixing principle was to make the toms loud and add clapping. Make it anthemic.” Mike agrees, “everything is so pumping. I can’t picture these tunes sounding any better. I think it’s the best album I have ever heard.” Mike qualifies this bold statement. “I usually play guitar and I didn’t. So, I am removed and objective. Our drummer, Stewart , lives in Arizona. He recorded it. Tim and I worked with our bassist, Donna.  We sent Stewart demos with no drums. We went there and ran through each song, one to two times. He is an amazing drummer with great concepts. “Stewart is the right man for job. He’s English,” adds Tim. “He grew up with punk rock and all the terrace glam stuff, Slade. It is in his musical DNA.”

Mike lauds, “Stu makes it seem effortless.  Our sound can be said as, ‘77 punk. But people only think of the Clash. They’re great, but that’s not our sound. We come from the football terraces, the early Oi. That stomping punk sound with driving beats, shouting choruses. But, still, Oi does not tell the whole story.” The Pub Rock sound of early Who, Cock Sparrer, Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, and specifically early Cockney Rejects are on target. Punk bands beyond The Clash like 999, The Ruts, The Damned, and Slaughter & The Dogs fill in the rest.

Hard Left has record release shows soon. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland are on the list. Stewart will attend those shows as they are planned ahead. But Hard Left will be on the search for a drummer who is available to play out of town. Hard Left plan to visit the East Coast and the Northwest in the summer. They want to go to Europe feeling they “would be well-received,” declares Tim. “We have made good connects in UK and Germany. Our message and music will be taken seriously as a provocation in German highly politicized, in a good way.”

Oakland is the home of Tim and Mike. They find constant inspiration from their environment. They see it as “unbelievably diverse and integrated, more so than other cities,” Mike claims. “People tend to live in a checkerboard. Oakland is, it sounds hokey, but, ‘multi cultural’. The structural diversity is amazing.” Tim calls it “electric with flavor. The city is organically integrated, not due to social engineering. It’s real.”

When I think of Oakland, I think of bands like Dystopia and Neurosis; painting a crusty punk, anarchistic, squat, DIY musical landscape. Mike notes that the Oaktown is “gnarly and crusty with warehouse parts. Music is a logical reaction to it environment.” And that is where Mike distinguishes Hard Left’s music. “We are not reacting against it. We are feeding off the energy and diversity. Oakland is still a city, gritty.”  Tim continues this thought, “There is the Black Panther history. That flavor still exists. Hard Left doesn’t partake in the gutter punk thing, or garage-y, which is big here.” So, while the tones and tunes are executed differently, the message is on par.

“The band is ideologically eclectic.” Tim states. “We lean into anarchism. People who do work should benefit from it. Tradition and ideological history which holds a democratic practice is what we support; initiatives that push people working for their own emancipation. We value Marx, his analysis is important. But we are Anti-Bolshevic.” Mike explains, “Marx is super relevant right now. I was at a march the other day for teacher union labor dispute; my son is a Kindergarten teacher. Communist party was there and I was talking to them. They are mired in bureaucracy, We come from the bottom up movement and action is best embodied by anarchism.”

Even the foundation of Hard Left is a statement, just by the nature of the members. Tim notes quickly, “we have a woman; which differentiates us from bands in our genre. It is nice to have the songs be less cookie cutter with her shouts.” It adds a texture to their energetic songs. Donna is “not ornamental”.

Mike is uncompromising in her pedigree. “She is amazing bass player, powerful. It’s important, the idea of having a woman in the band.” Tim appends any notions, “her being in the band is not contrived. But, it’s great and goes with politics of self empowerment in the band. Women having a voice adds more diversity. If women aren’t free none of us free.” I note that I feel the skinhead scene, especially more than metal or hardcore or even pop, embrace the women significantly. Unless a girl proves herself to be a decoration or coat rack, female skins get concrete respect in the scene.