Chaos UK Extreme Noise Terror Earslaughter

Chaos UK/Extreme Noise Terror 'Earslaughter' (Manic Ears, 1986)

What a relief after the crushing disappointment of Chamberlain; this record does exactly what it says on the tin.

Chaos UK deliver a vicious onslaught of unrelenting chaos punk with a substantial amount of the light heartedness typical of the UK hardcore scene in the mid 80s. It's not quite grindcore, but it's getting there.

ENT pummel your ears from the get go with an intense dual vocalled attack. Much more influenced by Discharge and Conflict, real anger drives the intensity to higher levels than Chaos UK, ENT sound like a runaway train about to derail at any moment. It really feels like this is the new guard unceremoniously booting the has beens out of the party.

ENT famously and hilariously collaborated with electronic mavericks the KLF. I'm sure a number of you of a certain vintage will remember your jaw hitting the floor when they opened the Brits in 1991. Unfortunately, vocalist Phil Vane, the one with the long dark hair, died after having a stroke in 2011. He was only 46 which is pretty brutal.

This record is probably responsible for 50% of the bands I have played with and seen in the DIY punk scene, and for 100% of the bands I played with in Japan. I'm not entirely up on the history of crust punk, but this sounds like the clarion call for all those with spiky bleached hair and studded jackets, from Portland to Tokyo, to rise up and fill the world with stench!

I would imagine that this is collectable as it's a test/dealer press straight from The Cartel distributor. It's also the first release on the legendary Manic Ears label as you can see from the 'Ache 1' scrawled on the white label. It's unbelievable that the dealer price was only £2.43; how things have changed!

A really great and cherished record inherited from the Mighty Gorgoroth's collection.

A classic.

Peace