Chaos UK / Extreme Noise Terror – Earslaughter
re-released on Boss Tuneage / Farewell Records, 2013 (yellow with black splatter vinyl)

The cover of this record, a giant radioactive label, is an appropriate warning for the raw noise and sickening sounds contained within. Arguably one of the most important splits to come out the the UK punk scene in the 80s, this record features two bands that were hugely influential on hardcore punk and crust bands for decades to come.

Side A introduces Extreme Noise Terror, this record being their first recording as well as their most punk sounding release. Long before this band would veer off into metal, this record contains hardcore punk played raw and fast, with urgent vocals hoarsely shouted by their dual frontmen (appropriately labeled as “Chainsaw” and “Concrete Mixer” on the back sleeve). Known for their deeply held political beliefs, the lyrics deal with common ENT themes including animal rights, class struggle and a general middle finger to the status quo.  The music maintains a relentless speed without becoming grindy (Napalm Death would pioneer that sound the following year), sounding closer to international hardcore punk like Mob 47, Wretched and Lärm (who is credited as the origin of their name). The original recording ends in a complete cacophony called “Only In It For The Music…”, but this re-release also features two bonus tracks from “The North Atlantic Noise Attack” comp.

Chaos UK continues the theme by opening with a bomb raid siren before dropping into the scathing anti-religious anthem “A Month of Sundays.” By 1986 Chaos UK already had a few solid releases under their studded belts, and despite the fact that only one original member remained at this point, their side of this split sees them in very fine form. This is relentless hardcore punk with basic riffs that still manage to sound interesting and catchy, with their trademark pounding drums punctuated with lots of rolls to help propel the music along. It’s hard not to bounce up and down while listening to these fuzzed out fist-bangers. Once they get in your head, these songs are stickier than the bags of glue the band were most likely huffing. “Depression” even manages to slow down the pace a smidge without losing any of the intensity. “Hope You Got a Fuckin’ Headache” is an appropriate closer to the Chaos UK side both thematically and musically, with a classic chorus of “AAAAH! AAAAH! AAAAH! AAAAH!” that has been reprised by countless other noise punk bands. The closing moments threaten yet another version of Chaos UK’s trademark tune “Farmyard Boogie”, but much to my relief it is cut short by a barrage of gunfire followed by a bomb blast before that obnoxious slab of cheeky aural masochism kicks in.

This reissue is a must-have if you’re interested in the hardcore punk sound that originated in the UK, and these two groups stand beside Discharge and Disorder as some of the most influential bands to pioneer this genre. Hell, I’m sure Chaos UK alone is the inspiration for the start of literally hundreds of punk bands, considering that in addition to their constant domestic gigging they were also the first English punk band to tour Japan. And ENT (along with their fellow countrymen Antisect) helped lay the template for the dual vocal high/low approach that so many other crustcore bands have followed. This re-release comes on transparent yellow vinyl with black splatter (fitting in with the cover aesthetic nicely), and comes with a heavy stock insert featuring lyrics as well as some fun drawings and photos of the bands. Overall, a killer release that I often find myself flipping over again and again and again before managing to take it off the turntable.