My current faves, STALINS WAR from Santa Cruz. Check’em out!

http://www.stalinswar.org
http://www.myspace.com/stalinswarx
http://www.purevolume.com/stalinswar

Wow, what energy! And the hardcore male/melancholic female vocals work so damned well.

A new documentary entitled “American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock 1980 - 1986” was shown at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, and will have a limited theatrical release this fall. The movie is based on the book “American Hardcore: A Tribal History” by Steven Blush (which I’ve been meaning to read for a long time). Both book and film document U.S. hardcore punk scenes during the 1980s and feature lots of famous bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, et al. “American Hardcore” looks like a pretty good flick judging from the trailer. I definitely want to see it as soon as possible. Maybe the eventual DVD will join my punk-rock movie collection. (I’m still waiting for “The Decline of Western Civilization” to finally come out.)

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Legendary Portland, Oregon punk band Poison Idea had just finished recording a new album when guitarist Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts died of apparent kidney failure in January 2006.

Entitled “Latest Will and Testament” at Pig’s suggestion, the album is probably their last. Poison Idea has performed live without Pig before, and may continue, but it seems doubtful that the band will write any more original material. LWT is a solid late-period recording with great mid-tempo punk-rock songs, and is certainly required listening for PI fans. LWT was released by the German label Farewell Records and can be had in the Amerikan Homeland through Profane Existence.

Beginners should start at the beginning with PI’s incredible 1983 (!!) “Pick Your King” 7 inch and then work through their entire catalog. PI is one of those rare bands who’ve never put out a bad record.

Let us know! Or discuss any other music-related business.