Harnrohrer and Honkas Reissues
Harnrohrer - S/T EP
Label: Static Shock Musik; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP
It was about time someone reissued this early '80s German gem as Harnrohrer are not only criminally underrated but most likely just not very well known outside of Germany. They hailed from the small city of Freiburg Im Breisgau in South Germany, a place I am very familiar with having visited on numerous occasions when still living in Europe. Originally this killer EP was released on Berlin's Pogar Records as 001 in 1982 and all four tracks are filled with great guitar hooks, fitting choruses and simply fantastic song arrangements in a real catchy way. Since this came out in 1982 and the trend in Germany was to sound like Discharge I can assure you it's nothing like that. This is more akin to '77 Punk and the production of Music Lab producer Harris Johns is top notch as well. It is a real shame these guys didn't release more material as this is Pogo-Punk at its very best. Grosse Klasse!
Label: Static Shock Musik; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP
Another great reissue from the house of Static Shock in Berlin. Just like the Harnrohrer EP this little platter was originally released in 1982 as well, also on Pogar Records as 002. Honkas formed in 1980 in the city of Wolfsburg (Volkswagen anyone?) and were named after the rather infamous serial killer Fritz Honka. The ueberhit on this gem of an EP is "Fur Fritz", a killer track that also landed on one of the Bloodstains Across Germany Bootleg Comps. This is an interesting EP as it is hard to describe the style but it stands the test of time thanks to its raw DIY Punk charm. The vocals and the guitars are at times frantic and all over the place but never really out of place and add a lot of character. It does not come as a surprise that singer Max Mueller had relocated to Berlin in 1982 where he later formed Camping Sex and Mutter and is also the brother of Wolfgang Mueller of Die Toedliche Doris fame. The artsy and edgy approach to music was already there with the Honkas and was just the beginning for him. Also, I'd be very interested to learn how many copies Pogar at the time distributed to Fresh in the UK, Vote Vasko in Finland or Importacoes Carnaby in Brazil as these fine institutions were listed as distributors back then. I hope Iffi of Static Shock Musik will keep reissuing more of the Pogar Catalogue, such as the Marplots Ep....Sehr gut!
