Top 5 Japanese Hardcore Albums

I don't exactly know what it is that makes Japanese punk music (or any of their forms of heavy music) so weird, extreme and powerful. If one was to be crass they could say that maybe it is the result of being heavily dosed with radiation after we went nuclear on their asses in World War II. Or maybe living in fear of imminent destruction at the claws of Godzilla and other such monsters inspires them to take everything to the extreme while they still can. Who knows why the Japanese do what they do? 

What isn't in question is that when it comes to Japanese hardcore there are two things that almost certainly a factor. The hallmarks of any great "Jap-core" release are speed and extremity combined with (likely intentional) hilarious English-as-second-language grammar. It seems to me that these groups received scores of bootlegged punk and extreme metal tapes and decided to take them and make it all their owm. Prepare for a Godzilla sized ear-rape from the land of the rising sun and read on!!! 

[Honorable Mention: This is a very short list of my very favorite Japanese hardcore records but there are many other amazing records and bands that don't appear here such as Disclose, Nightmare, Zouo, Systematic Death, Brain Death, Crow and especially Confuse (whose bootleg discography is well worth finding online for its Lo-Fi Disorder style thrash attack).]

1. S.O.B. - Don't Be Swindle

 "SPEAK MOUTH FUCK YOU!!!"

There is a DEFINITE reason as to why the first track is titled "Raging In Hell". Along with their debut EP "Leave Me Alone", S.O.B. (which stands for "Sabotage Organized Barbarian") created a sound that rivaled D.R.I., Siege and Napalm Death in sheer velocity. In fact, two years later (1989) they released a split EP with Napalm Death and toured with them across Japan. Following this release S.O.B. morphed into a grindcore band of world class caliber. While they also tackle some sociopolitical themes ("Look Like Devil"), some of the songs exhibit a fun loving, don't-give-a-fuck attitude that keeps them from being a downer ("Let's Go Beach"). However, even the thematically heavier songs are buoyed by the absolutely ridiculous use of the English language (see lyric sample above). This is the album that made me fall head over heels for Japanese punk music and remains my all time favorite Japanese music release.

S.O.B. ~ Raging In Hell

2. LIP CREAM - 9 Shocks Terror

 "KICK OUT JAM!!!"

Nonsensical English lyrics? Check. No sense of dynamics? Check. Horrendous artwork? Check.  Every song sounds the same? Check. Blindingly ferocious speed? Check. Unappealing name that for some reason makes me think of herpes? Check. Now, after stating all of that, one might think I was ripping this album apart out of contempt and hatred, but that is not the case. There are a million records that have had parts (or even all) of this approach put into them that have utterly failed because of that one missing thing. An 'X' factor that you cannot quantify or explain other than complete badass-ness. "9 Shocks Terror" is one of those albums where the whole of it is greater than the sum of its parts. The vocals in particular are hoarse and raw in the best way possible. Its 9 terrifying songs (or "Shocks") blend together with a fury that is absolutely overwhelming and makes for an amazing listening experience and ranks with the absolute best of what the Japanese punk scene has to offer.

Lip Cream ~ 9 Shocks Terror [Entire Album]

3. OUTO - 正直者は馬鹿を見る (AN HONEST MAN WILL SEE THE FOOL)

 "I'M A FREE MAN!!!"

Outo's 3rd release and and only full length LP is a scorcher. As with other Japanese bands, speed is a definite factor in the sonic makeup of this album but there are a few things that make this record stand out. The most obvious thing is the recording quality. The album has a remarkable amount of clarity and polish for a Japanese record where buzzing distortion, uneven levels and raw sound quality is the norm (which isn't in any way putting that approach down). Also, while this is very much a punk record there is a thrash metal influence that is very apparent and almost moves this record into the arena of crossover thrash. Outo is also not afraid to have a little fun as short joke songs like the country-esque "Mt. Osabishi Broken Fuckers" which might be more hilarious if they were in English. Also, the fact that it has some bitchin' artwork featuring a cartoon punk being devoured by little demon dudes and a rad lookin' bamboo styled logo doesn't hurt. But the true star of the show is the fast, metallic thrashcore tunes that Outo pumps out in rapid succession.

Outo ~ In My Head

4. G.I.S.(M). - Detestation

"ENDLESS BLOCKADE. ENDLESS BLOCKADE. ENDLESS BLOCKADE FOR THE PUSSYFOOTER."

"Detestation" is a decidedly ugly album by a decidedly ugly band. You don't even need to hear the songs to know that this is an ugly affair. The cover is a black & white collage that features (among other things) a Nazi parade and a skull with knives piercing both eye sockets. The songs are tastefully labeled with names such as "Death Agonies and Screams" and "(Tere [sic] Their) Syphilitic Vaginas To Pieces". But that is nothing compared to the SOUND that these metal damaged punks (or maybe punk damaged metalheads?) craft here. The bass and drums are overwhelmed by the the outrageously distorted guitars that buzz and whine like a hive of angry bees that just got smacked with a hockey stick! The vocals are gruff, guttural and raw in a way that outstrips even the most extreme grindcore vocalists. This is a tough listen at first but is a totally unique release not just in Japanese or punk music but in all of music in its entirety! [The reissue of "Detestation" has 12 bonus tracks taken from compilations and live shows for a grand total of 20 outrageous and gruesome songs.]

"Churning metal-punk, or perhaps even speed-metal, depending on where you draw the distinction. GISM are undoubtedly a heavy metal band who've been heavily influenced by hardcore, but the music is so intense and the vocals so ominous that even I'm in a state of shock. These guys make Venom sound like the Knack, especially on side one."
-Jeff Bale (from MaximumRockNRoll, July 1984)

G.I.S.(M). ~ Endless Blockades For The Pussyfooter

5. GAUZE - Equalizing Distort

"MAKE ENEMY MORE AND MORE. DON'T COMPROMISE TO LIE. BE ALIVE TO BE HATED."

As you will probably gather from the posts on this blog, world renowned artist, record company owner and Septic Death frontman Brian "Pushead" Schroeder was an immense fan of anything loud and fast. It is for this reason that he was a big supporter of the Japanese scene and in particular this band: Gauze. Just like its equally powerful predecessor "Fuck Heads", this is a Japanese thrashing assault with very little metal influence but with a high octane punk velocity and bass heavy production with whining guitar leads reminiscent of Discharge's early EPs and rawer Scandinavian d-beat. Gauze's lyrics are centered on a radical sense of fierce (and even violent) individualism in a very rigid society with tradition, capitalism and ritual on one side and gangland intrigue from the Yakuza on the other.

"Raw-edged straightforward thrash with gravel-laden vocals continuing the excitement on this second LP. Japan's answer to non-stop chaotic destruction, finely tuned and well-mixed with great back-up choruses, throwing chunks of havoc everywhere. The first LP was good, this is a great one and melts my brain at every listen."
-Pushead (from MaximumRockNRoll, June 1986)

 Gauze ~ Distort Japan