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 | FangLandshark / Where the Wild Things Are1997 Boner Records 
 Review by: Notorious Gray Davis See others by this writer Fang @ Midheaven Mailorder (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 Published on October 1st 2004
Rounding out the list of semi-obscure punk bands from the glorious 80's hardcore era is Fang, a bunch of earsores from Berkeley, CA whose perturbed band history had caught up to their music. Before lead singer Sam McBride went acid-berserk, killed his girlfriend, ran from the cops for 6 months and served 6 years in prison (obviously forcing Fang into a long stint of indefinite hiatus), Fang was playing some particularly incendiary, gloomy yet creepy style of hardcore to the unwashed masses. This record, a combo re-release of two records (Landshark in 1982 and Where the Wild Things Are in 1985), is probably the most representative of their music, probably the best Fang CD, and yet the only one most widely available. You may ask: "What are the chances?!" Landshark/Where the Wild Things Are has Fang at it's best: an incidiary, yet mildly creepy and gloomy, punk rock characterized by these three factors: 1. Sam's vocal range which varied from totally-nasal, barely-audible, almost monotone moaning to a loud, fat, crusty, yet completely-thrashed voice (strangely reminiscent of Rancid's Matt Freeman). 2. Incendiary, nihilistic lyrics that projected as much rampant silliness as obscenity: "I've Got the Disease" recounts a fascination with beastiality, raping and mutilating animals with chainsaws whereas "Destroy the Handicapped" chides the crushing burden and the overbearing-societal inconvenience of accommodating the handicapped: "Gonna push 'em down the stairs, they get in my way, they make the gov't pay..." 3. The actual music which ranged from creepy dirges like "G.I. Sex," the mockingly-ghoulish " Diary Of A Mad Werrwoulf," to moaning, yet catchy pop-like songs like "The Money Will Roll Right In" (Kurt Cobain covered this song with Mudhoney once) to fast punk screeds like "Drunk Crazy," "They Sent Me to Hell C.O.D." and the dope fiend's delight "Junky Dare." "The Money Will Roll Right In" is an ode to nihilistic jealousy and resentment for materialism: "I would give you some, if you'd only treated me nice, and you'd wish you did, You'll feel pretty stupid!" "I Wanna Be on T.V.," a drum-heavy screed, is Fang's special retort to the glam-publicity-Studio 54-shit scene (also covered by Green Day on their Shenanagans CD). Indeed, Fang contributed a special flavor to the 80's hardcore scene: a flavor of punk rock that communicated sullen despair, self-mockery mixed with crude, crass banality and happenstance nihilism that spurned the ultra-sensitiveness of ultra-P.C. Berkeley, CA (i.e. "Berkeley Heathen Scum"). Recommended. People who liked this also liked:    Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
Does anyone know where I can fnd Bill Collins the guitarist. He was a teacher at the high school I went to and I want to find him. If anyone knows please contact me at behavioriststone@yahoo.com. I have very fond memories of the music, hanging out with him and Joe the drummer. Does anyone know where I can fnd Bill Collins the guitarist. He was a teacher at the high school I went to and I want to find him. If anyone knows please contact me at behavioriststone@yahoo.com. I have very fond memories of the music, hanging out with him and Joe the drummer. those first two albums really kicked cock! best shit i ever heard best shit i ever hear!!!!! The last album from the first run of Fang is "A Mi Ga Sfafas?" It is really underrated. If kids can go crazy for RKL post-"Keep Laughing", then they need to go crazy for this record. It includes one of Bill Collins' best tunes "House Wrecking Party" (also done by Special Forces) and their truly twisted cover of "Puff the Magic Dragon." Weird downbeat Fang Flipper-esque stuff mixed with metallic hardcore punk (it WAS 1987, okay?). "You Suck" "F.U.C.K. Y.O.U." "Fistfull of Wicked Women" "Severed By War", yeah this record kicks some butt also. i think malt soda records is supposed to re-release their other old albums on cd soon. i forget the names right now. a mi mas gafas? These are 2 of the best FANG records, if you've never heard them this is definitely the cd to get. The final FANG record, which came out a couple years back, is also really good, moody, fucked up, and disturbing. Check out Sammytown's newer band, The Resistoleros- their record is absolutely vital raw punk rock. Really good stuff. Plus, they're the current Fang whenever Fang goes out and plays shows. Fang is good. Thanks for posting my incendiary review about this really incendiary band called Fang. The guitarist in my band used to play with Fang all the time.....he was really good friends with Sammytown. Yeah, what the guy below me said. I've always heard things about Fang but never any actual music. i was holding my copy of the melvins' "bullhead" in my hand the other day, and i said to myself, "i wonder if boner records ever released anything else" now i know. did you mention theyre incendiary? just checkin. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes borrowed the opening riff from "The Money Will Roll Right In" for their version of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Wanna Be With You." |
