No Frontiers compilation Ep 1989

"No Frontiers" is actually the first comp to be posted on Terminal Sound Nuisance so it is going to be a very emotional moment for all of us. This record was released by the ever excellent Loony Tunes Records, a label you can always rely on when it comes to good political punk-rock. To be fair, I have only heard of this one recently and when I saw that Debauchery and Chaotic Subversion were included on it, I rushed to buy it for a mere 5 euros. And let me tell you that "No frontiers" does not disappoint.

First, it is recommended that you get past the rather terrible artwork and the choice of colours (seriously? Green and white?). First we have the almighty Debauchery. Those Northern mad metal punks have already had their Lp (also on Loony tunes) reviewed here and let me tell you that the song included on this Ep is probably their best one ever. It's called "Code of silence" and is even more rocking than their Lp. It is a  heavy  and groovy crust number reminiscent of a bastard child between GBH, late Antisect and Hellbastard conceived while listening to Venom and English Dogs (a glamourous vision, isn't it?). The sound is terrific and the song deal with state-sponsored torture (you know, "behind closed doors"). If current bands who claim to play "metal-punk", or "motorcrust", or even "motorcharged crust" were half as good as Debauchery, I am pretty sure the world would be a better place. After such musical glory, it is hard to be as enthusiastic about the next song, by a band called Advance Warning that I had never heard of. They were also from the North of England (like Debauchery) but don't expect booze fueled crusty punk, as Advance Warning is a much more UK82 inspired outfit. Despite them being 7 years too late, the song is actually good, quite fast and snotty as it should be and there is a slight early USHC undertone to it. The Enemy meets HDQ maybe? Anyway, their song is called "Blitz" and is about living in poverty-sticken Britain in the 80's.

Now to the other side of the Ep. First is probably my least favourite band of the comp, Bad Attitude from West Germany and their song "Inner motives". It is not bad but lies far too much on the USHC side of things for my tastes. They even have baseball caps. I am not really sure what the song is about either. Well, they don't like working and being told what to do and that's good enough for me. Next are the excellent but equally obscure TWERP (meaning Terminate With Extreme Religious Propaganda). These young lads looked like a fun bunch and they remind me of Rhetoric both musically and lyrically (serious but not too serious). They played thrashy metallic punk with snotty vocals not unlike AOA's or Active Slaughter's (anarchonistic, I know) and a great dirty sound on the guitar. I wish I knew more songs from them. The next song is from a Terminal Sound Nuisance favourite, Chaotic Subversion, aka What-Sedition-sounded-like-when-they-still-sniffed-glue, and a cracking song "Deadmeat". Unsurprisingly the song is about the evil of meat-eating and butcher shops and never have Chaotic Subversion sounded more like a vintage Italian hardcore band than here. Think Eu'Arse and Wretched with a sloppier treatment. Just magic. Finally, the last song, "Care", is from a band from Canada called Neighbourhood Watch and it is pretty standard USHC to my ears with a song about... caring. To be fair, it is raw and aggressive enough and works well in the comp.

No frontiers!