Hellbastard
Eco-War, The Need To Kill
Selfmadegod
British crust/metal/crossover pioneers Hellbastard, along with fellow travelers like Amebix and Concrete Sox, were the missing link between first-wave UK Hardcorepunk (Crass, etc) and early British grindcore. But whereas Amebix are now de rigeur patch fodder for the discerning squatter, Hellbastard never got the same due. Hopefully that’s all about to change with this recent spurt of recording activity. The Eco-War MCD is the better of the two, with a dry recording emphasizing the simple primitivism in the riffing that’s very pleasing to these ears. Paradoxically, The Need to Kill kept reminding me of Pantera, so I’m going to have to subtract a point or two for that.
Selfmadegod: http://www.selfmadegod.com
