music review:

Bastardos ::: "Bastardos"

punk - hard-core

Raw, grinding power chords, manic drums, gruff and raw screaming male and female vocals rail against police corruption and abuses like the 1997 murder of Roni Levi on Bondi Beach by NSW police ("blood on the sand" - with it's refrain "disarm the cops - state violence must be stopped"), uranium mining ("last dance"), apathy, the stupidity of people hating each other based on the world's geography ie. fanatical nationalism ("lines on a map"), how macho idiots ruin the hardcore and straight-edge scenes ("this abuse"), the plight of homeless people neglected & forgotten by society ("statistic"), the plight of people incarcerated and doped up because they operate a bit differently from the acceptable norm ("convinced"). This style of music isn't normally my cup of tea but I dig the raw energy and the intent behind it. It's a shame though when bands, who have good things to say, can't be understood unless you've got a lyric sheet!

12 songs of thrashing Ozcore punk spread over 25 minutes.

$6 from:

RedRag Records - po box 3043 Marrickville Metro NSW 2204.

E-mail: [email protected]