Articles
VANCOUGAR
Naughty (2007/UGLY POP)
POP-PUNK. Much like the predatory feline their name references, VANCOUGAR's music is equal parts grace and power (or rather, pop and rock 'n' roll). Crunchy rock with girl-group harmonies and pop-punk sensibilities without excessive sheen. The vocals invite comparisons to the GO-GOS and THE BANGLES but you can tell this music was born in the garage and not in an LA recording studio. On this limited release you'll get on the A-side's a timeless, raw garage-pop blast guaranteed to stick in your head for months, while the flip's an equally engaging slice of infectious punk-rock. This single will not be repressed!
VANDALS, THE
bbc sessions and other polished turds (2009/INYA FACE)
PUNK-ROCK. THE VANDALS "bbc sessions and other polished turds" represents a collection of rare tracks all sharing one thing in common in that they were recorded when the band didn't give a crap, so they are fun, funny and unpretentious. Here are some of the best from those sessions featuring some ZZ TOP, SUBLIME, QUEEN and a tear jerking piano version of the dead pet lament "canine euthanasia".
VANDALS, THE
peace thru vandalism (2009/CHI-COM)
PUNK-ROCK. As poster boys of the original Huntington Beach punk-rock scene in the very early '80s, THE VANDALS' debut release provided the soundtrack for an era of mayhem and mindless rebellion for thousands of bored teenagers from the suburbs. "peace thru vandalism" is also a must re-have part of any collection that claims to have any punk-rock in it and with the same line-up for over 20 years, THE VANDALS continue to keep this era alive.
VANDALS, THE
when in rome do as the vandals (2009/CHI-COM)
PUNK-ROCK. This is the miraculous follow-up to the classic "peace thru vandalism". We call it miraculous because after achieving the impossible by making their 1st record on Epitaph Records into a radio smash, they defied all odds by doing the exact same thing, but even bigger, on their 2nd try with "lady killer" climbing to the top of the alternative radio charts. Produced by Thom Wilson (TSOL, Adolescents, Offspring).
VANNA
the few and the far between (2013/PURE NOISE ENTERTAINMENT)
METALCORE. Boston's VANNA is set to return with their 4th album, "the few and the far between". It's another hard-hitting affair, bringing heavy, intense metalcore delivered along the same lines as PARKWAY DRIVE, EVERY TIME I DIE. Colored vinyl includes a digital download card.
VANNA INGET
allvar (2011/P. TRASH )
PUNK-ROCK. VANNA INGET deliver a catchy full-length worth of melodic, mid-tempo punk songs that go back to the early Los Angeles sound or the newer swedish bands with all intense lyrics delivered in Swedish by female lead vocals. Fans of fellow swedish punk bands like TERRIBLE FEELINGS, KNUGEN FALLER, BOMBETTES, THE VICIOUS and MASSHYSTERI will love them!
VANNA INGET
jag ska fly tills jag hittar hem (2011/ERSTE THEKE)
PUNK-ROCK. To our humble ears, the alloy of Scandinavian melancholy and perfect melodies somehow always seems to work whenever we put on Swedish bands like the BOMBETTES, TERRIBLE FEELINGS, VICIOUS or INVASIONEN. The unlocked potential of the small-town blues of Småland and the ardent post-teenage angst bundled in 10 songs that slowly burn a hole into a gray and bland surface. Singer Karolina's crystal clear and intense voice covers a tight texture of melodies that brachiate from hookline to hookline, somehow comparable to the early '80s Californian punk of THE AVENGERS.
VAPID
practically dead (2009/DERANGED)
PUNK-ROCK: Strike while the best served dish is cold, that's what they always say, right? Nearly 2 years after the "do the earthquake" 7", VAPID prove it with their debut album. Rough and bittersweet, or just plain spiteful, pop songs with a couple steamrollers thrown in for good measure. These copies are on black and white marble vinyl. Includes download coupon.
VAR
no one dances quite like my brother (2013/SACRED BONES)
ELECTRO/NOISE/POST-ROCK. VÅR is the project of 4 best friends from Copenhagen, Denmark. Each member of the band is involved in several other Danish bands and all four members are also accomplished visual artists. What began as the extremely lo-fi two-piece of Elias (ICEAGE) and Loke (LUST FOR YOUTH) recording on 4-track has evolved into an experimental noise/industrial and pop quartet. On this album VÅR utilize everything from acoustic guitar, power electronics, bass, trumpet, multi-tracked vocals, and various percussive instruments. It is a remarkable debut, an emotional roller coaster. This is soundtrack music for a play that has only begun to be imagined and is light years away from being consummated. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
VARUKERS, THE
another religion another war (2012/HAVOC)
HARDCORE. THE VARUKERS and DISCHARGE were the 2 most raging and intense of the UK bands to ratchet punk up to hardcore speed and power in the early '80s. This LP sees THE VARUKERS delivering top notch hardcore. The guitar tone and riffage are savage, the vocals raw and powerful. The guitar has a bit of the metallic crunch that would permeate hardcore in the future, but still remains grounded in punk. Several members of this line-up went on to form SACRILEDGE taking the heavy riffs in a more metal direction. This LP ranks with DISCHARGE "hear nothing..." as an example of '80s UK hardcore at it's very best. When Thatcher and Brezhnev had their fingers on the button to destroy mankind, you needed this kind of hardcore to stay sane.
VARUKERS, THE
killing myself to live (2009/PEACEVILLE)
HARDCORE. 2009 marks THE VARUKERS 30th anniversary and these guys show no sign of slowing down not a chance this 8 track release is a testament to that. THE VARUKERS started in 1979 and since day one hit the streets running ,never satisfied with their lot their constant hard touring, hard drinking and hard hitting music has kept them at the top of their game. This release kicks in with a no compromise dig that no matter how much you give some bastard still wants their pound of flesh! These guys give more than enough.
VARUKERS, THE
murder (2010/RODENT POPSICLE)
HARDCORE. This is the long overdue reissue of the now out-of-print "murder" LP with the mid '90s line-up. You'll get 14 tracks of the same kind of politically charged, powerful hardcore hat made them famous in the '80s. As a bonus, this release includes all 4 tracks from their "nothing's changed" 7", making this a complete collection of their '90 studio recordings digitally re-mastered for this release.
VARUKERS, THE
one struggle, one fight (2010/HAVOC)
HARDCORE. Dating from 1984 and originally on Rot Records, this was THE VARUKERS 2nd studio album. The LP went out-of-print quickly in 1985 shortly before the VARUKERS' first breakup. Unlike the band's earlier UK style, this record captures VARUKERS taking on some of the metal influence that was sweeping UK hardcore at the time. Powerful and energetic hardcore with metallic undertones, this record is more in line with ANTI-SYSTEM, ANTISECT, or SACRILEDGE than with their previous material.
VARUKERS, THE
vintage varukers: rare and unreleased 1980-1985 (2011/ANTI SOCIETY)
HARDCORE. A very nice compiled LP of there rare. The 1st four tracks were recorded in 1980 as their demo tape, tracks 5-6 were previously released as the "no hope for a future" 7" in 1984, tracks 7-8 are outtakes of the 1983 "bloodsuckers" album, tracks 9-10 were recorded in 1984 for the "we don't want your fucking war" compilation (only track 10 was included), tracks 11-13 were released on the "we don't need nuclear force" compilation and its limited bonus 7", tracks 14-15 appeared on the UK "motor city 9" compilation.
VASELINE CHILDREN
s/t (2007/THRASHBASTARD)
HARDCORE. VASELINE CHILDREN deliever american hardcore of the '80s (early D.C. infected and '88 youth-crew) phase. They got the inspiration for their name from the old band from Connecticut, Violent Children. If you really have to choose only one band that VASELIN CHILDREN resembles, that would definitely be TEAR IT UP while the vocal is the spitting image of HALFMAST and NO TIME LEFT. The 7" contains 7 own songs and a coverversion from F.P.O.. Damn good.
