The following is the September 1988 installment of Puszone

Thanks to Scott Slimm for the article.

Here I sit, deeply positioned in my dusty brown E-Z chair, watching
the news blast the turmoil in some out of the way town. Why is this topic
getting so much attention? What are they wasting so much time on this
minor matter? The townspeople are up in arms over some young individual
who has taken to hollering his beliefs on any corner in the town. I guess
the fascinating aspect is that the people and police of this town have done
nothing to stop him; they only whine in the shadows, disgusted by this
disturbance of the peace. It seems lioke a good solution would be to stand
at a corner opposite this bellower and scream your head off yourself. The
situation seems so mediocre. It's obvious this youth just wants attention,
which he is getting in a major way. I grow bored. This is trie news coverage.
I shut down the TV and turn on the radio to catch some musical notes, but
there it is again, that young bellower getting attention. I wonder what gives?

(A few days pass)

Te media is now plagued by the manic screamer. There is so much attention
being given here I can see the twinkle in the capitalists' eyes. Soon books
will be out, a made for television picture, talk show appearances and on down
that line to stardom. What makes the situation worse is that since the media
has given this youth so much coverage, bellowers have flocked to the streets
in my own town. In fact, at this very moment one is on the corner of my block
screaming his lungs out. I fail to see any humor in this, especially since
the bulk of his hollering is "Where are the TV cameras?" It has gotten out
of control.

(More time passes)

It's been three weeks since I saw that initial newsclip, now the streets are
lined with screamers. It has become their new form of entertainment and
employment. But I have figured a new way to end this madness. Well, actually,
it is an old way, though I think people forget in their time of panic. That
would account for the huge amount of money I have acquired in the last week.
I count the twenties on the table and smile in my placid home, with a set of
earplus (my new capitalist venture) netly tucked inside my ears. I read in
some tabloid that this bellowing trend is a disease dropped upon us by an
alien source. Another tabloid said it is the work of the CIA. I really don't
care; I just have to watch out for the competition. Earplugs are a hot item now.

Could this really happen? There's no answer in the Puszone, only sonic
disturbances with musical harmonies. Keep those discs and demos coming.

Ther is quite possibly the third generation of Discharge, the band that
broke a lot of barriers with their abrupt wall of sound and simplistic yet
forceful rhythms. Discharge started the whole drive, which was followed by
a second generation of Discharge-type bands like the Sweidsh thrashers Anti-
Cimex, Crude SS and more. Now we have a mixture of those two styles in an English
band called Doom. Not to be confused with the Japanses outfit, this British band
brings the old days back to mind, though their music is laced with current thrash
styles. Saying that Doom is original would be a far cry from the truth, but the
music is aggressive and well done in the twenty-one songs presented here. Bold,
gruff vocals roar over a distorted raw guitar sound in very simple composition,
and, as with Discharge, it works to their advantage. Short lyrics stab right to
the point on social and political issues. The music is fast, turbulent and reminiscent
of Swedish bands that held tight with this style. In fact the track "Stop Gap" sounds
identical to an Anti-Cimex song. While a lot of hardcore bands are crossing to
extreme speed with metallic edges and losing a bit of their appeal, Doom blast
forth with an atypical sound that can wreck havoc. Doom's War Crimes Inhuman
Beings is an intense record that grabs with gusto and hakes up the house.
Too bad it's been done before. On Peaceville.

Also on Peaceville is Deviated Instinct's Rock 'n' Roll Conformity, a
twelve-track LP of fast, grungy metallic hardcore thrash that beats the drum a
little too much. Accused type vocals ride on a very Accused sounding outfit that
comes up with a few choice riffs and even has a C.O.C. feel at times. The raw wall
of noise production has all the lements of a fun platter that should be successful
among both crowds, especially the speedcore maniacs. Hammy, the labels are too
confusing!

Don't you hate it when bands you really like put out utter disappointments? And
when you have to review this stuff, it makes you really sad since what they did in
the past was ten times better. So welcome to defeat. The band is Adrenalin O.D. and
the disc is the Theme from an Imaginary Midget Western 12". While it's well played,
this record makes you wonder whether it really is A.O.D. since the style is so
different. That's the A Side. The B Side features two covers: Kiss' "Detroit Rock
City", which sounds so close to the original you might as well be listening to the
original, and "Coffin Cruiser"(originally by The Skulls) which leaves you in an empty
void. All three tracks are very hard rocking. I had no idea A.O.D. had gone this way;
they used to be fun and it's hardly a good joke. Sorry guys, I was bummed. On Buy
Our Records.

This band has taken the public through a hell of a lot of confusion. They originally
called themselves Attitude Adjustment, until some personal, inner band conflicts
caused an unusual, confusing split. Now called Attitude, this band is amde up of
the original A.A. guitarist and bassist and second A.A. singer Andy who sings on
the "American Paranoia" album. Just recently they got Eric (ex-D.R.I.) to join as
permanent drummer, but he hasn't appeared on any discs yet. As far as vinyl goes,
Attitude has released two platters on a German label. When the first 12" was
released they went to Germany to tour where they recorded this new 12", The Good,
The Bad, The Obnoxious. Four of the five tracks are cover tunes which gives
you an idea of some of Atitude's roots. not overly fast, cracklin' metallic edges
and a kick in the teeth hardcore approach is the Attitude sound. Andy's vocals on
these tracks are raspier, and he shows a wider vocal range-maybe the cover tunes help
bring out the character in his voice. Side A hums with a bluesy yet uptempo rendition
of AC/DC's "Kicked in the Teeth", which doesn't sound that much like the original,
but rather a powerful smash with some original twists put in. The B side features a very
AA-ish U.K. Subs 'Warhead" and Discharge's "It no TV Sketch". The four cover tunes come
across real well. One original track, "Freak," is dirgy and doesn't grab at anything,
falling a bit short of the quality put forth in the covers. Attitude has a powerhouse
of ideas behind them; they're worth a listen by any rock music lover. On We Bite
Records.

We've said it before and I'm sure it will be said again: the Revelation label
is putting out some great 7" releases in the tradition of early hardcore EP's. First
up on the turntable is Sick of It All, a forceful, grinding power band that remind me
of old N.Y.H.C. acts like Antidote and the Abused. Raging fury runs rampant here with
a thick distorted guitar sound that shreds the decibels. Rough, projected vocals
penetrate into the forefront over this hearty hardcore mix. Side A dominates with the
instro intro of "It's Clobberin' Time" running into "Just Lies", which really gives you
a feel for the Sick of It All attack-fast, efficient, musical and overall fun. Their
music brims with aggression and vigor, but none of the elements really overrun themselves.
The 9,10, and 11 tracks are also potent and highly enjoyable. A good Revelation
release.

Next up on the Revelation front is Side By Side, a band very similar to Youth
of Today in their music and their message. A weak mix dissipates some of the band's
power, but they still have a lot of energy, which comes more to focus in "Living A Lie,"
the last track of Side A. Fast aggressive hardcore with upfront chatning vocals
characterize this You're Only Young Once... seven-track Ep. Compositions rise
and fall here with sporadic beats and heavy changes in tempo, all backed by a buzzsaw
guitar that fuzzes out a bit, losing some chord definition. Side by Side blitz the
atmosphere with a continual barrage of activity that is rocking and well assembled.

Last in the Revelation line-up is No For An Answer's You Laugh EP. This
Orange County based band, fresh out of that area's latest straight-edge movement,
resembles Uniform Choice. Rapid selections of catapulting hardcore, again with up
front chanting vocals are based on social/personal issues and beliefs. These six
songs show youthful vigor and stamina that drives mean and turbulent. A lot of bands
of this type are popping up again, and all of them seem to deliver well. All three
releases are available through Revelation.

Some member of Gudon and Chicken Bowels quit their old units called Half Years, this
Japanese thrash assault combines frantic speed with crazed action for a zoomfest of
thunderous chords. The cover of this 7", which is titled Power, is a real
throwback. It's just a photo of a Japanese girl rubbing her fingers through her hair.
She looks like a pop star and this looks like a pop 7". Boy, will people be fooled if
they buy it on that assumption, since this is feverous, brain-scorching hardcore.
Zigyaku (ex-Gudon) on guitar continues his creative stamina and fiery licks. He pulls
out a vicious sound, even though it's lost in the mix a bit, Half Years comes forth
with a dynamic debut-once again the Japanese still deliver the goods.

The undisputed kings of Japanese noise return with another 7" after a lengthy absence.
Their first two releases showed the crazed wreckless abandon of uncontrolled feedback
and distortion gone mad. Confuse made quite a mark, and now with their third release
Spending Loud Night, Confuse goes beyond the limits, decibel wise. Most of the
time it's intolerable becuase of poor recording. The noise destroys while the sledge-
hammer guitar rams all chords together; it's beyond mayhem and it will disrupt any
household. I'm sure that's what they desire. Confuse's lyrics, howeer, really make a
statement. The noise Confuse creates is loud, fast and true to the rebellious nature
of punk. It's a wicked venture of grinding gears; four tracks that continue the chaos.
On King World Records. Confuse is definitely the Jesus and Mary Chain of the
hardcore world.

Confused? Need an attitude adjustment? Overwhelmed by an impending sense of doom? Don't
take no for an answer, order a Puszone t-shirt today.