Sickening Thought

With the garbage that passes as hardcore punk today, it was only a matter of time before someone got pissed off and stepped forward to set things straight. Venomous Concept has vowed to do just that. Playing what they describe as “outlaw punk,” VC clearly demonstrate on their debut Retroactive Abortion that they were around when punk was still punk and hardcore was still hardcore, and they were taking notes.One glimpse into their lineup explains the perfectly executed hardcore punk that VC churns out. Fronted by Kevin Sharp, the noise-obsessed throat of grind masters Brutal Truth, VC’s lineup boasts some impressive punk alumni: King Buzzo, axeman of Melvins and Fantomas fame, Shane Embury, who has slapped bass strings for Napalm Death and Brujeria, and Danny Herrera, another Napalm Death veteran whose blistering beats propel the music forward like shrapnel from a nuclear blast.

I’m sorry, did I just say “music?” Outlaw punk isn’t about music, it’s about full throttle raw noise. The production is invisible, giving the feeling of a vintage mid-80’s hardcore recording without sounding like a demo tape. Songs flow seamlessly from one to the next, like a relentless beating dished out by your stereo. The album pays homage to all the greats of underground international hardcore punk. “I Said it Before” calls to mind rockin’ Swedish hardcore, while “Infest” is a powerviolence ode to the band of the same name. The speed and precision of Japan’s Gauze can be heard throughout. Even their name is a tribute to one of America’s greatest punk bands – Poison Idea. Listen to this album, get schooled, and if its too loud, you’re just not punk.