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Staff IconDischarge - Why (Cover Artwork)

Discharge

Why (1981)
Clay

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Contributed by: BrandonSideleau
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Published on February 22nd 2005


Rarely in history has a band had more of an impact on two different music scenes than Discharge had. Discharge, easily the most talented and aggressive hardcore band to come out of the UK, created what they self-described as "noise not music." In a sense, they were right, but this noise IS music. By blending vicious hardcore with some heavier playing they managed to greatly influence both punk and metal bands for years to come. Many huge names in metal have named Discharge as an influence (Metallica, Slayer), as have some well-known punk bands (Nausea, DRI, Varukers).

Discharge had a long and varied career, which has seen its fair share of highs and lows, but in my opinion, Why is their true masterpiece. Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing may have been more popular and amazing in its own right, but nothing can match the pure raw visceral punch of this record. The guitar sound defines the description "buzzsaw" or fuzz and the vocals are some of the most unrestrained and angry in hardcore. The raw power this album delivers will definitely appeal to fans of Black Flag's Damaged or DRI's Dirty Rotten LP.

Many of Discharge's undisputed classics appear on this album: "Decontrol," "It's No TV Sketch," "Ain't No Feeble Bastard," "A Look At Tomorrow," "Tomorrow Belongs To Us" and, of course, "Why," among others. This is an essential purchase for fans of hardcore; it is on par with Minor Threat's Complete Discography and Bad Brains' S/T and, in all honesty, it makes today's hardcore bands weep.



People who liked this also liked:
Black Flag - My WarBlack Flag - Slip It InBlack Flag - DamagedFrom Ashes Rise - NightmaresHigh On Fire - Blessed Black WingsThe Misfits - Earth ADVarious - Rise Above - 24 Black Flag SongsHigh on Fire - Snakes for the DivinePropagandhi - Supporting CasteNew Mexican Disaster Squad / Western Addiction - Split

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    Anonymous (May 1, 2005)

    beyond description
    força macabra
    yeah!!!!

    by bergamo's city from italy

    Anonymous (May 1, 2005)

    beyond description
    força macabra
    yeah!!!!

    by bergamo's city from italy

    Anonymous (February 25, 2005)

    I agree with BIll on the at least one review worth reading per load up thing.

    kenjamin (February 24, 2005)

    do you have your tongue pierced?

    Anonymous (February 24, 2005)

    Speaking of not finding good records....if anyone wants to trade me their copy of the FUCK ON THE BEACH / YACOPSAE split 7", i'll personally drive over to your house and fellate you.

    -Ken

    notfeelingcreative (February 24, 2005)

    On an unrelated note I can't find my brody's militia/widespread bloodshead split. Now i'm pissed!

    notfeelingcreative (February 24, 2005)

    Just when I start to get tired of this site, someone posts a review that reminds me that not everyone on here listens to thrice!!

    Anonymous (February 23, 2005)

    o ok.....got confused sorry

    BrandonSideleau (February 23, 2005)

    no....bsd is someone else

    Anonymous (February 23, 2005)

    brandon is bsd right?

    dazed (February 23, 2005)

    This is good stuff, it's too bad so many d-beat bands have basically done tried to do the same thing cause they can't do it nearly as well.

    Anonymous (February 23, 2005)

    Indeed, mon ami's... One of my favorite all-time bands, whatever that means... Everything up to the metal era is just so fucking noisy and minimalist that today's noise bands got nothin' on it... Their first two EP's (included on the reissue) are even better.

    "SMASH TO FUCK THE FUCKING SYSTEM"

    -BSD

    gladimnotemo (February 22, 2005)

    On Hear Nothing..., the soundclip between "Cries of Help" and "The Possibilty of Life's Destruction" is just haunting. The blast right into the next song makes it perfect.

    It doesn't get any better than this and Crass, for me.

    TheOneTrueBill (February 22, 2005)

    I like the recent trend of having at least one review worth reading per load up time. I like it a lot.

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    All this review needs to say is "This band is better than your favorite band." That is all...

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    My Top 7 D-Beat bands:

    #1-Discharge (duh)
    #2-Totalitar
    #3-Wolfpack / Brigade
    #4-Skitsystem
    #5-Disfear
    #6-Uncurbed
    #7-Disclose

    -Ken

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    D-BEAT! YES!

    (And for you kids who don't know "d" stands for fucking discharge.)

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    didn't they creat d-beat?

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    I had some discharge this morning come out of my cock. It smelled like a fine cheese left out too long. I rubbed it on my toast and ate it up real fast.

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    One of the best heavy bands ever. And they're English, which is even better.

    Joe (i feel patriotic today, in spite of Tony Blair)

    BrandonSideleau (February 22, 2005)

    I'll just explain their politics here, the best I can. Discharge were a very leftist, socially concious hardcore band from England, which was unique since most English hardcore bands (with the exception of Crass) were right wing oriented. Their lyrics dealt with everything from environmental issues to nuclear holocausts, often quite graphically. That's a quick summary....there's obviously much more.

    BrandonSideleau (February 22, 2005)

    True...but the song titles speak for themselves....I should have nonetheless....point taken.

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    how could you review discharge without talking about their lyrics and politics?

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    Brandon to the rescue!

    This album is fucking brilliant. 10 all the way.

    Ramo
    (Congrats on being part of the "staff", Bran)

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    ah someone finally reviewed this primal masterpiece. brilliant brilliant band and record.
    -Janelle

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    has the circle jerks at the house of blues dvd been reviewed yet?

    joeg (February 22, 2005)

    i never really got around to hearing discharge for some reason. if you say its up there with minor threat and bad brains, i'll be sure to check em out.

    Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

    great....this album and hear nothing are really great and aggressive stuff....theres so much aggro still in it, that 99,9% of metalcore bastards can fuck off

    Psychoos231 (February 22, 2005)

    So this is what you call "punk"? hmmmm i gotta stop watching MTV....

    stevejonestherealbones (February 22, 2005)

    hey...this is a punk news site.... you know....punk...remember the early nineties?

    punk...greenday...offspring...blink...

    what is this 80's crap

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

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