Artcore #40 zine + NOTA 7″

Description

Issue #40 is the 35 year anniversary issue of Artcore and features in depth interviews with STRIKE ANYWHERE and VICIOUS DREAMS from the US, Finlands KOHTI TUHOA, and DIAZ BROTHERS, THE CHISEL and DEALING WITH DAMAGE from the UK. Vaultage uncovers the history of legendary Boise thrashers SEPTIC DEATH, features an unpublished JAWBREAKER interview from 1991, Californian peace punks ICONOCLAST, and last but not least KRNVAPEN ATTACK – SWEDISH HARDCORE HISTORY, a 10,000 word article put together by Helge Schreiber exclusively for Artcore featuring interviews with TOTALITR, MOB 47, CRUDE SS, ANTI CIMEX, RVSVETT, AVSKUM, THE BRISTLES, PROTES BENGT, FILTHY CHRISTIANS and THE BEDRVLERS. To round off this 40 page printed zine there are the usual warped record and zine reviews.

Artcore proudly presents the official reissue of the Moscow 7 EP by N.O.T.A., a true hardcore punk classic from Oklahoma in 1984. The EP features four songs remixed from the original tapes by Martin Halstead, who made the original recordings; This Country (Once Was Free), The Enemy, Taking Away Your Rights, and Moscow. The recordings were also then remastered to breathe new life and power into this gem of U.S. hardcore history. The original sleeve has been expanded into a 12 page booklet containing the original lyric sheets, photos, flyers and band history, the 7 is on random colour vinyl (charcoal grey/black) and contains a download code of the blazing digital versions. Finally, to top off the release there is the option of a short run of N.O.T.A. Moscow t-shirts, white print on black Gildan Ultra shirts that are only available with the zine and extremely limited blue vinyl version 7 from Boss Tuneage while stocks last (sold out).

Our take: This came out a few months ago, but yall snapped up our copies in just a couple of days and I wasnt able to write about it. Fortunately Artcore made some more copies, because this package is well worth your time. First up, you get the latest issue of the long-running UK zine Artcore. Welly notes in his intro that its the 35th anniversary of Artcore, which is incredible. If youve seen Artcore before, this issue sticks to their standard format, which focuses on very detailed band interviews (Strike Anywhere, the Chisel, Septic Death, Jawbreaker, and more) with another healthy chunk devoted to the Vaultage section, which features historical / archaeological pieces like this issues lengthy article on 80s Swedish hardcore. A few review round things out. The last few issues of Artcore have come with a bonus 7 EP, and this time its a reissue of Oklahoma hardcore band N.O.T.A.s 1984 7 Moscow. For me, Moscow is a top-shelf 80s USHC banger. Its loud and fast all the way through, and each of its four tracks has something unique to offer, whether its the anthemic Take Away Your Rights or the title tracks second wave UK punk groove, which sounds like something Toxic Reasons might have done in their early days. The reissue says its remixed and remastered, but I A/Bd it with my original pressing and it doesnt sound too different, which is a good thing because the original is already a great record. The EPs jacket is expanded to a booklet that reproduces the original artwork, but adds a heap of photos, flyers, and a detailed band history. A top-notch music zine and a classic record? Whats not to love?