Relapse Reco

The Great Dismal, NOTHING's new full-length album (2020) explores existentialist themes of isolation, extinction, and human behavior in the face of 2020’s vast wasteland. Closing in on the band’s ten-year mark, frontman Domenic Palermo finds himself stringing together songs of misanthropic tales of Philadelphia with a refined and refreshed take on NOTHING's classic sound. The ever progressive NOTHING keep true to their chaotic outlook on life, keeping a keen eye to avoid repetition. With a radical cast of talented contributors such as harpist Mary Lattimore, classical musician Shelley Weiss, and singer/songwriter/producer Alex G., The Great Dismal showcases yet another essential side of the band’s trademark American Post-Shoegaze.

HAYWARDxDÄLEK is the brand new collaborative album from This Heat drummer and creative force Charles Hayward and rapper/producer Will Brooks (aka MC dälek). Combining daring improvisation with hip-hop-informed sampling, the album is a thrilling trip into an uncharted new world of sound and possibility. The result is a striking body of work that traverses the lines between hip-hop, noise-rock, ambient soundscapes, and free improvisation. HAYWARDxdälek is a substantial and heavy record. At its heart, the record is a model for how collaboration can facilitate understanding and connection.

Lip Cream: - Sin - [Vinyl LP]

One of the distinctive features of LIP CREAM is their extensive participation in compilation albums and contributions to other artist’s works, in addition to their solo releases. Including live recordings and cassette tapes, they have contributed to a total of 13 compilation albums, and when combined with live videos, the number becomes staggering. THRASH TIL DEATH features tracks selected from six compilation albums released between 1986 and 1987. Featuring digitally remastered audio, the THRASH TIL DEATH jacket artwork has been newly designed. Notably, “MY MEAT’S YOUR POISON” features artwork based on the original illustration by Guy (GUDON, Blood Sucker Records). As the ultimate compilation of LIP CREAM's omnibus recordings, this release is the best of the best to date, and the long-awaited complete edition for fans worldwide is nothing short of a miracle.

LIP CREAM's first full-length album, KILL UGLY POP, is a work that can be called epoch-making in Japan's hardcore/punk scene.  The Japanese hardcore movement that emerged between 1980 and 1981 was characterized by fashion such as Trojan and spiky hair with studded jackets, and the sound was also heavily influenced by UK hardcore. However, LIP CREAM The band incorporated American hardcore into their sound, and created a uniquely Japanese-hardcore niche that was still unfamiliar to most Japanese listeners at the time. KILL UGLY POP marks the era of LIP CREAM that presented a new genre style that has since evolved uniquely in Japan. For this Relapse release, KILL UGLY POP features digitally remastered audio, preserving the band’s raw intensity.  

LIP CREAM’s third album CLOSE TO THE EDGE was released just one year later after the release of the legendary 9 SHOCKS TERROR. This album is also a masterpiece packed with songs that represent the essence of LIP CREAM. This album differs slightly from the band’s previous production style, with the band leader Minoru's intentions strongly emphasized. Minoru was deeply influenced by the works of Go Nagai at the time, according to JhaJha, particularly in terms of ideology. He sought to fuse the apocalyptic themes and worldviews found in Nagai's works, such as “Devilman” “Mao Dante” and “Guerrilla High” into LIP CREAM's musical style. The physical version of this album features an English translation of the lyric. However, LIP CREAM sincerely hopes that English-speaking listeners will also raise their fists and sing along to the phrases in Japanese. There is meaning in conveying the message in Japanese.  

Lip Cream: Big Foot Cassette [Vinyl LP]