Youth Attack Records: All releases from 2010
Technically not just one release but a multitude since they are all so good and it's very hard to pick just one. Youth Attack is the brainchild of Mark McCoy (Charles Bronson, Holy Molar, Das Oath, etc.) and a label that has become both highly revered and harshly criticized for their unapologetic attitude towards the DIY community. Ethically speaking, they love to stir the controversy pot. Do you find blatant White Power imagery offensive? How about Satanism? Or maybe the sight of a fully nude male's fully erect penis makes you uncomfortable. Those are only some of the topics that have created mixed reactions of raised eyebrows and indifferent mutterings. Youth Attack has also quickly become infamous for having an uncensored, unfiltered message board (known as the Jerkbooth) that is constantly bombarded with everything from child-like berating of YA bands to endless scrolling of text and characters (including the occasional swastika) that makes the board almost unbearably difficult to read through.
Musically, however, the label is uncompromising and mostly deals with bands whose members are shrouded in mystery (the term "mysterious guy hardcore" has been thrown around a great deal on the guestbook and brings to mind when the words "power violence" were first introduced in the '90s.) The artwork on the records is most often morbidly daunting, bizarrely introverted, and outright sexually explicit. Hardcore punk, black metal, and experimental music has been the label's focus and thus far, has only disappointed yours truly only once or twice in its nearly sixty releases so far.
I'm sure I'm not the only person who will highly praise the packaging that accompanies most of the releases: it is nothing short of stunning as far as quality and ingenuity are concerned. The label refuses to settle for anything less than perfection when it comes to the vinyl, dust sleeves, and album jackets for each and every release. But for the record, I think I could do without those shiny re-sealable bags that each record for the past three years has been shipped in: they're just simply annoying.
2010 has been a busy year for YA and saw them releasing almost ten titles: nearly all of which have sold out in a matter of days (and in some cases, a matter of minutes.) All the releases that have safely arrived at my doorstep have been worth the painfully long shipping turnaround (three weeks to a month!) and the few extra bucks that have been added to the price of each record - prices that draw several negative reactions from punks who adamantly refuse to accept anything but "punk" prices. Check out ihateyouthattack.com for available titles but don't hold your breath in finding any of these readily available.
Vile Gash: Self-titled: EP (First and second pressings)
Arts: Vault Of Heaven: LP
Sexdrome: Grown Younger: LP
Raw Nerve: Self-titled: LP
Veins: Self-titled: Cassette
Poster that came with the Raw Nerve LP. Just for yucks?
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