Electric Deads - EP Reissues
Electric Deads - "Order", "Anti-Sex" and "Mind Bomb" EP Reissues
Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP
Back in 2010 Belgian label Noise and Distortion did us fans of old European hardcore punk a great favor by reissuing all three Electric Deads EPs from Denmark. I think even these reissues are now hard to get so if you do see copies grab them as quick as you can. This is the 1st of the three and was like all of them originally released by the band on Electro Static Record, this one in 1982. Out of the three it is probably the weakest, at least in my opinion, but still worth checking out. 'Order' and 'Zig Zag' are fast paced hardcore punk tracks with Bibi screaming on top of her lungs and not quite having found her style. On this EP you'll also find a slightly different version of 'Fish in a Pool', a strong track that landed the band on the much acclaimed MRR Compilation LP "Welcome to 1984" where I and surely many others have heard of the band for the first time. Good but not great is what I would say about this one.
Photo of 1st Gig in 1981 in Copenhagen. Photo Credit: Official Electric Deads Facebook Page
Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP
It is really hard to decide whether this one or the third and last of the three EPs is the strongest one as they are both fantastic in their own right, but let's focus on this one first. Unlike on the 1st EP where the recorded songs are somewhat muffled the band's second output has a much improved sound quality, better musicianship and a singer that seems to have found her voice and much more confidence. All four tracks on this EP are killer, especially '30 Years', just a fantastic Mid-Tempo punk song with somewhat of a Siouxsie and the Banshees feel to it. The other three songs are equally strong and the band might have gone through a phase where they listened to a lot of 77 punk and some early Goth as those influences definitely dominate their 2nd EP. If you like your early '80s European hardcore punk melodic, not too fast and with great vocals then you just have to love this one.
Rehearsal Space in 1982. Photo Credit Official Electric Deads Facebook Page
Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP
I suppose this is their best known EP and ultimately the one that led for the band to be included on above mentioned MRR Comp. LP. Unfortunately it was also the last output by these Danes which is a shame as they could have easily gone on to record a classic LP by the time this EP came out in 1983. Famous Danish punk rocker Johnny Concrete was the producer of this 5-song killer EP and if you ask me the band just really found their style with these recordings. It feels like they combined the ferocity of the 1st EP with the more melodic side of the 'Anti-Sex' EP and found a perfect marriage. All five songs are just mind-blowing good with that very peculiar guitar sound that in years to come influenced Norwegian bands like Kafka Process, So Much Hate or Stengte Dorer. This is classic melodic, yet powerful European hardcore at its best and has gone on to kickstart the great European hardcore scene of the '80s. True gem!
Gig Flyer from 1983. Photo Credit Official Electric Deads Facebook Page
