Kill By Remote Control, Within These Walls, Bullets For You, In The House Of God, No Peace In Our Time, God Bless America
Audio Platter [Release date 21.10.22]
Formed in Dayton, Ohio, USA, in 1979, Toxic Reasons were a punk rock band with an aggressive sound (yet still a decent riff or two), grasping hardcore and crossover by the throat. And a cursory look online would indicate that their albums have had very limited (if any) reissues, with original vinyl demanding high prices, making these CD reissues very welcome.
The band went through a couple of line-up changes before releasing their debut Independence on Risky Records in 1982. The first CD here, Kill By Remote Control, was originally released in 1984 on Sixth International Records. The line-up consisted of Rob Lucjak (bass, guitar, vocals), Bruce Stuckey (guitar, vocals), David ‘Tufty’ Clough (bass, vocals) and JJ Pearson (drums). It’s high tempo, raw, and actually (against my pre-judgements) a very enjoyable listen. The attitude and pace yet quality make the Sex Pistols look like melodic amateurs. While it’s far from the polish of top end speed metal, it’s fast with quality, basically not as sloppy as many of these bands can be. Sometimes it just a heads down scream’n’thrash, but sometimes the riffs are quite approachable and the guitar/bass interplay is very pleasing. And with tracks like Stuck In A Rut, Limited Nuclear War and Break The Bank, there’s a little social commentary going on too.
1985’s Within These Walls showed the band’s diversity with a change in sound. Still keeping the punk roots, there was much less crossover, and a distinct nod to New Wave. Some very rhythmic tribal drumming, a bass line that’s mixed similarly to the bass on the very early U2 records, and Guns Of September is more reggae. In fact, the saxophone gives it a dark/slow end of Ska Revival feel. Overall a chunkier and more accessible album than the predecessor.
1986’s Bullets For You sees the earlier punk hardcore return. Certainly with the opener Tomorrow Tonight with the vocals and rhythms. We’re The Revolution is another high tempo track. While much is in the crossover camp, there’s a dip into thrash in places.
Skip a few albums and jump to 1993’s In The House Of God and the sound is more solid but just as fast and punky. Time has a real 1978 punk feel but given a real raw beef up. I loved Show No Mercy here, a mid paced solid song that sounds a bit rocky metal, but still has a crossover feel.
The band’s final outing (also as a 3 piece) in 1996 sees a marked update in the sound. A couple of tracks (including opener Mark 13) are, while still very punky, markedly more power metal, while Third World America is distinctly Reggae/Metal/Punk. Much as I have never ‘gotten’ reggae, this works. The bass sounds like Madness’ Mark Bedford in metal mode. Surprisingly enjoyable. Then there’s No Peace In Our Time that is a high octane crossover blast.
The last CD is a fine compilation of the above and serves as a decent intro, Two new and previously unreleased tracks to boot.
A decent mix of styles in and around the punk hardcore genre, and it seems a shame there’s been no reissue campaign before now. Three of these albums are on CD for the first time.
The music and production is good, but given the number of singles, there are no bonus tracks, and neither are there any sleevenotes. The booklets feature line-ups and lyrics, but a little more would have been nice. I’m going hazard a guess that the albums not included is due to licencing available. ****
Review by Joe Geesin
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Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024
BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024
09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023
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