Logo

Making Punk A Threat Again!

  • The long awaited debut LP from NYC’s FLOWER “Hardly A Dream” is finally set to arrive.

    FLOWER’s tedious approach to writing/creating/drawing their debut LP was carefully thought out and the result is a monumental anarcho punk /crust record. 

    “Hardly A Dream” Takes us on a bleak journey through the dark side of society. As soon as you drop the needle a dark atmosphere is immediately created with a slow intro featuring arpeggio guitar work that builds into pummeling d-beat crust. The albums vocals then leave you with a feeling of being crushed by the ever-present weight of living through our modern world of late stage capitalism that was built on the falsehoods of the so called American dream, religious hypocrisy’s, nationalism, and the greed of humankind. 

    FLOWER take many cues from predecessors and are most often (and rightfully so) compared to NAUSEA but they also take a heavy influence from ANTISECT, SACRILEGE & other greats. The artwork has a very RUDIMENTARY PENI feel and the record comes with an amazing 24.5 X 34.75 CRASS style poster jacket. All art work was meticulously hand drawn and overseen by the guitarist Willow in true DIY style and spirit. Willow was also cool enough to draw up a special shirt for the record release featuring an alternative PROFANE EXISTENCE backprint!

    CLICK HERE TO PRE ORDER LP

    CLICK HERE TO PRE ORDER LP WITH SHIRT

    CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW THE ALBUM IN ITS ENTIRETY AT THE PROFANE EXISTENCE BANDCAMP

    FLOWER will be on tour from January 2nd to the 13th

    2nd New Brunswick

    3rd Asheville

    4th Greenville

    5th Birmingham

    6th New Orleans

    7th Hattiesburg

    9th Gainesville

    10th Atlanta

    11th Durham

    12th Richmond

    13th Philadelphia 

    PO BOX 7903 PITTSBURGH PA 15216

    Crust Hardcore profane existence Punk
  • Finally, the third LP from AGNOSY has arrived! 

    AGNOSY-cover

    Dark, heavy, galloping crust from the streets of London. AGNOSY is back to present us with a ferocious beast of an album that can only be forged by the anger and frustration of living in today’s world. “When Daylight Reveals The Torture” aggressively attacks evils such the current rise of fascism and animal abuse. It intelligently and passionately touches on the Afrin invasion and the revolution in Rojava and shows nothing but utter disgust toward the arrogance of humankind’s lust for greed and power that will inevitably lead us down paths of war and environmental devastation.

    AGNOSY – Live at SCUMFEST in London. 2011

    While lyrically AGNOSY are much more politicly straight forward this time around than on previous releases, musically they have expanded on their sound to create a dark and moody atmosphere while at the same time staying crust as fuck. To say they know what they are doing would be an understatement from this band of vets whose members have played in HIATUS, HEALTH HAZARD, and BEGINNING OF THE END.

    Long galloping intros are followed up by traditional d-beat, fierce solo’s are then meet with vicious vocals and pulverizing bass in a brilliant recording captured by Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House and was mastered by Brad Boatright at Portland’s legendary Audiosiege. We then pressed on deluxe heavyweight 150-gram vinyl,  printed on reverse board jackets, and included an 11in x 22in gatefold insert to bring you a high quality and truly epic record.  

    Click this link to buy AGNOSY “When Daylight Reveals the Torture” Vinyl

    Click this link Stream or Download from our BANDCAMP page

    PROFANE EXISTENCE – PO BOX 647 – HUNTINGTON WV – 25711 – UNITED STATES
  • The legendary crust classic is now available once again!

    Authorized and released in cooperation with MISERY, S.D.S., & MCR Japan & Remastered by Jack Butcher at Enormous Door Studio we are beyond proud to make one one the most rare and sought after crust records available  once again.

    Fuck the scavengers charging punks exuberant amounts of cash on ebay and discogs. We worked meticulously with both bands and with Jack at Enormous door to bring you an updated version that kicks major audio ass while maintaining the original authenticity. 

    Released on deluxe 150 gram vinyl. With an 11×11 inner sleeve. Black Paper Jacket. Reverse Board Jacket.

    Feel free to Stream or Download at our Bandcamp page – HERE

    Buy a physical copy of the Vinyl from our webstore – HERE

    Check out Terminal Sound Nuisance for an outstanding review of the original LP. The review gives insight on not only the music but the records long lasting impact on crust music and why it remains so important to this day. – http://terminalsoundnuisance.blogspot.com/2013/06/misery-sds-pain-in-suffering-future.html
    S.D.S.
    MISERY

    Earlier this year we re-issued this legendary LP and sold over 950 copies in just 4 short months. For this second pressing we pressed 490 copies on Krystal Clear & 485 on Grey Vinyl with Black Mist.

    Crystal Clear (Bullet belt no included)
    Grey With Black Mist (Bullet belt no included)
    PROFANE EXISTENCE – PO BOX 647 – HUNTINGTON WV – 25711
    UNITED STATES
  • Stench crust the way it was meant to be played!

    The UK crust scene of the 1980’s inspired band after band but no other band has ever reincarnated the sound of that time as well as SWORDWIELDER. Quite simply if you like crust, then this the album you have waited decades for.

    Package includes- 
    LP pressed on deluxe 150-gram vinyl. 
    Reverse board jacket 
    Printed inner sleeve 
    11×17 poster

    Stream album for free or download for a small fee here – https://profaneexistence.bandcamp.com/album/swordwielder-system-overlord-lp

    Buy Vinyl here – https://profaneexistence.bandcamp.com/album/swordwielder-system-overlord-lp

    Review by Craig Hayes from “Your Last Rites”… 
    Swordwielder – System Overlord 
    Heavyweight punk fanatics take note: System Overlord is a fucking triumph. The long-awaited sophomore album from Gothenburg stenchcore band Swordwielder is a brooding behemoth, constructed from the filthiest and heftiest strains of punk and metal. System Overlord shimmers with apocalyptic visions, and it’s overflowing with all the grim atmospherics and intimidating intensity that defines consummate crushing crust.

    Too much hype? No way… And no apologies, either. Swordwielder deal in definitive stenchcore on System Overlord, and much like their full-length debut, 2013’s Grim Visions of Battle, the band’s latest release is a knockout. Swordwielder’s harsh, gruff and dark sound owes a significant debt to old school icons like Amebix, Axegrinder, Deviated Instinct, and Antisect, and they mix and mangle their influences and leave ’em to rot on the battlefield.

    Plenty of hammering rage drives System Overlord tracks like “Violent Revolution,” “Savage Execution” and “Cyborgs,” and thundering epics like “Corrupt Future” and “Northern Lights” exhibit subtler strengths, mixing guttural growls and clean vocals with crashing percussion and dirge-laden riffs. Connoisseurs of corpse-dragging crust will love the brute-force belligerence of “Absolute Fear,” “Nuclear Winter,” and “Second Attack,” which rain down like merciless mortar barrages. As a rule, all of System Overlord‘s mammoth tracks chug and churn with grinding muscle, while reeking of squalor and decay.

    Swordwielder exudes tightly coiled aggression from start to finish here—songs rise from the ashes of desolation, and resounding calls for action and resistance ring loud. If you’re a fan of heavy-hitters like Fatum, War//Plague, Carnage, Zygome, Cancer Spreading or (insert your favorite hefty crust crew here), System Overlord‘s trampling tempo and strapping sound are bound to appeal.

    Crust profane existence swordwielder
  •  We are happy to announce our next new release

    WILT – “Self Titled” 

    WILT combine old school metal and crust in a perfect hybrid that very few others have ever achieved. Prepare for a LP thats equal parts galloping d-beat crust reminiscent of bands like HELLSHOCK, and INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL, meets old school death metal in the vein of BOLT THROWER, MEMORIAM (old) SEPULTURA.

     

    Here is a track from the upcoming LP

    https://profanexistence.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/02-sermon-for-the-bootlickers.wav

     

    “Sermon for the Bootlickers”

    Despite the inculcation of helplessness within each there remains great power. Ill at ease with such makes us ill. Learn to see the hand that feeds for what it is. You’ve been fooled if you think you’ve got no power. Refuse to be reduced to a consumer you’re a human being. Define yourself by more than wealth. Define yourself as a human. You don’t need what you’re being sold. Bend your knee to no authority but your own mind. You have the power to avoid the gilded trap. Avarice is what you’re conditioned for. Break the mold discover what’s really valuable to you. 

    WILT will be on in Europe this July / August will ELECTROZOMBIES From Chile

    Wed, July 12 Hanover / Germany / Confirmed
    Thu, July 13 Bremen  
    Fri, July 14 Mulhem / Germany / Confirmed  
    Sat, July 15 Gent, Belgium / CrustPicnic / Confirmed
    Sun, July 16 Paris / France or Amsterdam / Nederland  
    July 18 North-East France or West Germany 
    July 19 Freiburg / Germany TBC 
    July 20 Winterthur / Switzerland 
    Fri, July 21 Zurich / Switzerland
    Sat, July 22 Biel / Switzerland 
    July 23 Lausanne or Geneva / Switzerland 
    July 24 Geneva / Switzerland or Grenoble france
    July 25 Treviso (or Milano or Bologna or Verona) / Italy
    July 26 Ljubljana Slovenia Confirmed
    July 27 No Sanctuary chilling day
    Fri, July 28 NoSanctuary Confirmed
    Sat, July 29 NoSanctuary Confirmed
    July 30 Ilirska Bistrica/Slovenia or Vienna/Austria or Budapest/Hungary.
    July 31 Wiena / Austrai or Budapest or / Slovakia
    August 1 Brno / Czech Republic.
    August 2 Prague / Czech Republic
    August 3 Finsterwalde / Germany TBC
    Fri, August 4 Leipzig / Germany TBC
    Sat, August 5 Berlin / Germany / confirmed
    August 6 Dresden
    August 7 Wroclaw / Poland
    August 8 Warsaw / Poland
    August 9 Poznan / Poland
    August 10 Szczecin/Poland TBC
    Fri, August 11 Rostock / confirmed
    Sat, August 12 Hamburg TBC
     

    For this in the Seattle or surrounding area you can catch WILT this Saturday April first at Highline Bar with NOOTHGRUSH from Oakland.

    Anarchist anarchist metal blackened crust Crust D-Beat death Grind Metal Punk Rock thrash wilt
  • Web Store
    • PROFANE EXISTENCE WEB STORE – Shop all (most recent items listed first)
    • PROFANE EXISTENCE 12in LP’s
    • PROFANE EXISTENCE 7in EP’s
    • PROFANE EXISTENCE CD’s
    • 12in LPs – (Other labels)
    • 7in EP’s – (Other labels)
    • 10 in Records (Other Labels)
    • CDs – (Other labels)
    • Cassette Tapes
    • Shirts
    • Patches / Pins / Koozies
    • Books and Zines
    • Store Specials (History)
  • PROFANE EXISTENCE Records
    • About PE Records
    • PE Records News
    • Disco IIII: 2013 – Present
    • Disco III: 2011-2013
    • Disco II: 2001-2010
    • Disco: 1989-2000
  • PROFANE EXISTENCE BANDCAMP
  • Profane Existence Artists
  • Features
    • Interviews
      • Chris Parry
      • Daniel Weiken
      • Sean Fitzgerald
      • Gord Hill
      • ANTISECT
      • Nesha
      • Walter Bond
      • Jake Conroy (SHAC 7)
      • DEADLY REIGN
      • Adam DeGross
      • DESPISE
      • Luk Haas
      • Gord Hill
      • KRUM BUMS
      • MISERY
      • NEUROSIS
      • PUTREFACTION
      • THE SHAME
      • SUFFERING LUNA
      • Vaudie Va-Boom
      • VARIX
      • WARTORN
      • Mike XvX
    • PDF Archives
    • Vegan Recipes!
    • Photos
    • Video
    • Reviews
  • Events
    • On Tour
    • Punk / Activist Events
  • Mailing List
  • About Us / Contact
    • General Contact Info
    • Store Contact Info

Visit the PE web store!


PROFANE EXISTENCE has a web store filled with records, shirts, zines, tapes, patches, pins, CD's and more. Check it often as we are constantly adding new items to the list and selling out of old ones.

Visit the PE web store at:
http://profaneexistence.storenvy.com

Boycott My Ass

  • May 3, 2012
  • by stinkbot
  • · Columns · PE Web Zine

BY Comrade Black

It really pisses me off when I hear some punk kid or anarchist claim they are boycotting Nike (or whichever other giant corporation). Not because I think they should be supporting Nike, but simply because it shows a lack of any understanding of what a boycott is. And if we desire to be effective, we need to have a clear understanding of what different tactics and strategies actually are.

Boycotting is a non-violent consumer tactic which is based on withdrawing support (usually financial) as a way to force ones enemy/oppressor into a compromised position in which they must negotiate with you or meet your terms in order to regain your support.  So simply not participating is not the same as actively boycotting.  Thus going Vegan is not a boycott of the meat and dairy industry for example.

There are many problems with the idea of some patched up crusty claiming to be engaging in boycott tactics against major corporations. The first of which is that in order to take part in a boycott, you must first have support to withdraw, meaning you need to be a client or customer of the target company who financially contributes to them.  Even further, you need to be open to reinvesting that financial support one the target has complied with your demands.  This differs greatly from the DIY punk ethos of making our own shit rather than giving them our money, which is actually more about creating an alternative economy, or perhaps an alternative to economy.

A second problem is that for a boycott to be effective, it needs to be strategic, meaning in part it needs to be an organized and concerted tactic. Boycotts work when a whole pile of people (customers/clients, or other contributors) simultaneously withdraw their support, while also letting the target of the boycott know their list of demands for support to be reinstated. So stating to Nike that you are organizing a boycott against them until they increase the wages to their sweatshop employees, then organizing the mass scale withdraw of support starting at X date, would be a boycott; and if you have enough people who already do buy their product who join in they may well be forced to increase that wage out of a fear of a greater loss of profits. Based on this, a boycott should truly be understood as a tactic based on economic sabotage, similar to a general strike.

This leads to the next issue I take with this… I don’t want Nike to increase wages in it’s sweatshops. I want Nike to not exist, and I want a world without sweatshops. I don’t want KFC to treat their chickens better, I want them to go bankrupt along with every other corporation and business based on selling the fried flesh of animals murdered for profits and sold back to us as poison.  I don’t want my oppressor to negotiate with my demands, my only demand is that they quit existing!  I want a world free of oppression and oppressors! Until the last CEO is hung with the entrails of the last priest, until the Lion lay with The Lamb, until we build the new world on the ashes of the old!

But seriously, a boycott if understood properly is a tactic which does not challenge the existence of the oppressor, but rather seeks to place their queen in check. If we seek to destroy the machine, then a boycott can not do that, although in some cases it could be part of a larger strategy that also incorporates other tactics as well.  By its very nature a boycott can never truly challenge the existence of our oppressor, as its goal is to leverage that oppressor into a place of hearing our demands.

So when exactly is a boycott an appropriate and effective tactic?

Well I can think of a few examples. A while back a local health food store was the target of a boycott because they continued to sell products made of dead Seals even after many animal rights activists had tried other means to get them to go Seal Free! In this case many of the activists (who all happened to be vegan) shopped at this store, and thus they had money to withdraw. Considering how small the store is, they were a target that could be effectively attacked. I do however need to question if a small health food store in a city full of fast food restaurants, butchers, and many other businesses who profit primarily from selling animal products is truly the most appropriate target and best use of ones time and energy? I mean, we have a restaurant in Victoria called PIG which sells very little other than meat, and these activists never targeted that business. Anyways, I digress, the health food store may not be the worst animal exploiter in town, but they were one in which the participants could actually have a real effect on, and actually had a real chance of winning.

Boycotts work most effectively when the party on the attack has the ability to negatively impact the target. So a bunch of DIY crusties might not be able to get Fat Mike to change his money making schemes of selling crap marketed as ‘punx’ to 13 yr olds, but those same crusties could probably force PE collective into changing a policy if Profane ever started doing stupid shit.  The difference is a question of leverage.

So basically, when the target is someone who relies on our continued support, then a boycott may be an effective tactic, but when the target is a multinational corporation who doesn’t give a shit that we exist because we are not part of their target market… We need to instead employ other tactics that have a greater chance of allowing us to impact those companies. And there are many other tactics to choose from; some of which are legal, others illegal, some are completely nonviolent, some are based on property destruction or economic sabotage, and others could even include some types of violence.  In the end, before we can begin to discuss which tactics have the most potential to be effective and are the most appropriate, we need to understand what those tactics actually are, how they function, what they require as well as what the potential risks are.

The inspiration for this article took place last night when I went to a show at a local punk house. A couple straightedge bands from Seattle were playing; Clarity, Growing Stronger, and Not Sorry. One or two of the guys in those bands were wearing Nike shoes, which was a bit of a surprise to me.  I grew up in the punk scene where name brands were so outright rejected that the idea of wearing something like Nike even second hand is seldom considered. On the odd occasion when it is, the wearer would usually at least do their best to cover or remove the mark of the beast first. These guys were all edge, and mostly vegan, so I was a bit taken back. I approached the dude at the break between bands “I got a question for ya’, and I don’t want it to come off as an attack it is just a honest question… You guys seemed to stand for something, so why the Nike shoes? I mean Nike is a horrible corporation.” His reply was a bit disheartening, he told me “sure, but all corporations are bad… Anyways I just write songs about girls and straightedge.” At least he was honest about it…  As disappointed as I was, I can only hope that I may have planted a seed, and that maybe, just maybe, sometime in the future he will consider looking for alternatives and embrace the anti-corporate or DIY ethos of punk, and maybe he will find some Clarity, so our movements can truly begin Growing Stronger.

For those interested in strategy, I would suggest looking at various effective campaigns, such as the Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty campaign. Or perhaps some of the ALF/ELF actions, many of which have been quite effective, while others have done little to change anything. The urban guerrilla group known as Direct Action (the Vancouver 5) also had some interesting insights into strategy, as did their sister group the Wimmins Fire Brigade.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Columns Comrade Black profane existence
  • « Prev
  • Next »
Leave A Comment   ↓

Comments

  1. dw May 5, 2012 · Reply

    Thanks for writing this. It’s a thoughtful response to a strange interaction that you had with this musician. I think many people don’t take a strategic approach to activism/radicalism

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

No incoming links found yet.


Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Profane Existence
    • Join 504 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Profane Existence
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: