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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
“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.
i hate hate, jesus was a communist, in the thirsty hour, etc
Days before the band left for London, while still in Louisville, I sent Nico a note regarding how much I appreciated the spreadsheets he made for the upcoming Reagan Youth European Tour. He told me he was going to file that under “things he never thought a singer would say”. I then told him I was to be on bail while playing the next nine overseas shows. So much for breaking the mold.
Late July was a disaster. I had ten grand and two felonies hanging over my head. So I did what any reasonable person would have done. I caught a flight to Heathrow Airport in London on August 5th, 2014 to spread Dave’s gospel and better understand our world the best I could.
All the love in the world to my folks and brother who helped me all the way to the airport as opposed to awaiting jail sandwiches and juice boxes. I love you three goofballs. I really do.
postcard from the edge
The Flights and London, England
After tying up loose ends before leaving the country for fifteen daze, goodbyes and all, I was flown to O’Hare Airport in Chiraq. En route to London I noticed I was surrounded by young missionaries from the Church of Latter Day Saints (read Mormons). We chatted regarding beliefs, both mine and theirs. It was agreed the words of any good book makes sense and I was proud of them for taking on a two year mission across the Atlantic. They got Rome as their station, which should be interesting with the Vatican and all. I remember it was said “it is interesting at what lengths people will go for what they believe”. So true I thought as I tied up my turban and fell asleep.
The waiting room at Heathrow airport at 8am was not enticing. The bus to downtown London, however, was screaming my name. I was the first to land that morning, so I decided to see some sights. I had to visit Buckingham Palace and see those guards with those insane hats while keeping the notion of monarchy alive. I made friends on the coach and we went to watch people from all over the world as they gazed upon the palace. As I finished a cigarette under Queen Victoria Statue, I flicked the butt up over the steps and onto the sidewalk. All the faces from all over the world were now gazing at me. It was here I learned how Europe frowns upon littering and my first lesson on why the world finds America obnoxious. Turns out they kinda hit that one right on the head.
jet lagged and together in camden, england
Camden, England
I mixed up everything and thought the first show was the following day. Turns out it was in a few hours. Meanwhile I got deeper into London than planned and fell out on a park bench. Everyone was meeting at Nico’s Dad’s flat and enough time had passed where I should have been in touch with the band. Without a phone, I caught a bus back to Buckingham in hope of finding a free computer in a cafe or something. While making a bus transfer, I noticed a brand new iPhone on the sidewalk right where the bus let off. Fukkin’ brilliant! I mention this only because THAT BECAME MY LIFELINE FOR THE ENTIRE TOUR. Paul has said more than once that God must be a Reagan Youth fan because things like this happen all the time on tour. My inbox was full of emails telling me “I hope you landed ‘cuz the show is today!” and “where the fukk are you?” etc…. Well, let’s rush along to Camden and start this crazy thing.
testing… now what does sound check mean again??
I arrived early at The Underworld and led backstage to properly crash out. Next thing I heard New York accents asking “is that Trey??” My sore eyes were glad to have seen Tibbie-X, Staten Island Greg, and Paul Cripple. We quickly caught up then went for a stroll along the streets to visit the shops before sound check. Well, we plug up and play, but the clubs still call it sound check. I was pleased to be around more or my own kind as Paul got into a dispute with a French shop owner after knocking over a display in search of a price tag. On the sidewalk he began to scream “nobody shop here!” oh so loud over and over again. Christ RY has landed in England. I met Tom, Nico’s father, and understood where my man Nico was coming from a tad bit more than before. Dr. Tom wrote very detailed volumes of Turkish history. Paul and Tom chatted so much pre-World War I Europe all I could do was listen in awe.
This gig was the first time we had all played since June with the Dead Kennedys. Plus we were sharing the stage with some old acquaintances, the Street Dogs. We caught up and laughed a bit. Tibbie began talking about prescription pills as I brewed this Somalian bodega tea in a coffee maker, which was acquired earlier that day. It caused me to pack and unpack my bag relentlessly for no good reason. We noticed that the bands were watching us in a quiet backstage area. Two new members replacing deceased originals while having meltdowns on substances must be difficult to ignore. Tib’z and I noticed this along the way in England, but when you are in a punk band from another land, what did we expect??
a pack of rolled cigarettes is how much?
The show was amazing with a huge Wednesday night crowd, lots of love, and best of all, we played very well. Thank God we played the songs correctly, but then again I or the band won’t let the music or Dave’s message down; we respect it far too much. Afterwards Mike from Prague offered me a beer outside the venue. I had to say yes as he was the first European to openup about life in this new continent, its customs, and ways of the land. After the gig we caught the train and a cab to Dr. Tom’s, where we fell asleep in preparation for Blackpool and RebellionFest.
here’s another clue for you all, the walrus was never paul
Northbound Transit & Blackpool, England
I awoke on the floor, sat up to overlook the front window, and was told the black van outside was here for the band. Tom Saunders, our driver and colleague, was here to take us within a hundred miles of the Scottish border, to a city near Manchester. Blackpool was its name and where RebellionFest was held. We said our goodbyes while boarding and… lights out. We got caught in traffic sometime later right as we hit Birmingham, the home of BLACK SABBATH!!! Hours later the sight and smells of the ocean were in the air when we entered, as Tom said, the Las Vegas of England.
We knocked on the door of our new lodgings to be greeted by Jerry, very jolly and had one tooth in his head. He ran the Del Rosa Inn, which was one of many to host the Punx in town for the Festival. As dusk hit the English beach community, we went to the Winter Gardens to mingle and catch The Dickies play. But first we settled into a single room with five beds and a sink, with the WC down the hall. It was all so Eurotrip I wanted to squeal! We followed the fish & chip stands that littered the boardwalk towards the sounds of drums.
Interesting side note, if you are ever in Great Britain – THE CARS COME FROM THE LEFT AND NOT THE RIGHT. Also, as the cars sped towards me while crossing an intersection – THERE ARE NO PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY LAWS. This makes more sense in practice. I was rolling my own cigarettes at this point since tobacco was so expensive. I vaguely understood why an influx of migrants fled to the new world to grow their own. ‘Cuz they be taxin’!
10,000 years from the del rose inn
We mingled on the sidewalk as we learned the box office was closed. This meant it was too late to distribute wristbands. Yea, like this had stopped us before. Tibbie and I went out back where we ran into the Street Dogs. They slid their wristbands onto our forearms. Once more we felt like everything we said was anything but ordinary as they once again gave those baffled looks while we rambled on and on. We went inside and caught The Dickies set. Upon seeing the size of the arena (while getting lost over and over), we knew we had to up our game. When watching the band I heard a voice ask “Trey Oswald??”… Now who knows me in Blackpool? My man Mo from St Louis and Scene of Irony all the way from Missouri, that’s who! We all caught up and laughed before retiring to the Inn.
pondering mortality and the fate of atlantis
RebellionFest
Reagan Youth was the second headliner on the second main stage. We went on before Stiff Little Fingers, who headlined the main stage. I read this on the program understanding we had a few moments to breakdown after our set before they played. Wait… one moment… we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s go back to the morning on the Friday of Rebellion…
you mean to tell me frank sinitra played the gardens? sinatra??
We split up as we walked along the sunny boardwalk, where Tom and I ended up spending an afternoon together after breakfast. Tom explained some of the English’s views on the United States. It was similar in many respects, for each side saw the other as, how did we put it… hipper than the other. You know how in the States it is considered by many to be exotic to be British? Yea, same with American culture in England. We all want what we can’t have. Shame so many of our own people are so naive about a country who has such an amazing record as the British. Think about it! The sun still never sets on the English speaking empire. The country may have fared the sea more than land when you consider this. Also much respect to the country that brought us The Rolling Stones, The Who, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Sex Pistols, X, Damned, PIL, etc… point taken?? My company, the Guinness, and the Atlantic could have kept me all day but the fest awaits!!
hey pose for rebellion radio real quick. anything will do!
I entered wearing my turban, denim, bandannas, while wrapped in the religious tapestry featuring the Virgin Mary as Lady de Guadalupe. We were taken all over the Winter Gardens and thru crowds of punx in search of the onsite radio station ran by Del. He sang in Peter and the Test Tube Babies. In typical RY fashion, we were also a day late for the interview. Del was cool enough to laugh it off. It’s also only punk rock, right?? Paul and I ate food in the backstage area and afterwards got lost every time we turned down a corridor.The size of this venue cannot be emphasized enough. The punx I gave all the wristbands to from the night before met up front by the stage. OK nerves and all go out the fukkin ‘window. We plugged in before the massive auditorium, packed to the brim, guardrail and monitors and giant spotlights and all.
The punx I met out on the sidewalk the prior evening when told by the bouncers we couldn’t enter the fest due to lack of wristbands were up front cheering us on as we opened with Degenerated. We have been sporadically playing bigger rooms as the band’s stability (consisting of STI Greg, bass mater general Tibbie-X, Keith Richard’s ghost Paul) and reception has increased. Not to mention people love these songs! I had learned to jump over the camera pit and guard rail and into the crowd without landing on the railing. However the lights are still too much, and wearing a turban while wrapped in a the Lady de Guadalupe tapestry did not help. It did look good in pictures and better looks on the faces and blogs reviewing the show wondering what this was all about. God is a Reagan Youth fan, we keep telling you!
More people I met along the weekend were coming to the front to show support. The friendly faces made the show easy as 1-2-3 aka A-B-C. The looks on the faces when I came hurling at them was even better. The band played quite well. This was our second time together since the DK tour in June. Being on stage at a festival made it all the more exciting. I tried my best and when I lost part of a tooth while on the floor I knew I was doing something right. Since guardrails keep singers onstage at these shows, it is always well received when I go to the floor. Those bouncers did an wonderful job keeping me plugged in, and trust me, I kept them busy. Cheerio mates! Another thing about going onto the floor, it meant people danced and they usually do not at festivals. The separation between band and crowd is a real thing that can hurt a show when punx are involved. Breaking barriers worldwide and do not do it alone.
wristbands? but we are headlining! hey where did she go? come back…
Afterwards I hopped over the guardrail to walk through the ballroom in search of the main room to catch SLF. In an attempt to save time I tied my denim jacket, the religious tapestry and the turban somewhere on my body plus wore the bandannas and shirts the best I could. In what I thought was a quasi-messianic muscle car rock appeal ended up, after our set, to resemble more of a walking bodega. Loosies and all! Fukk it, I stuck out before so why not now?
guard rails protect you, not me. remember that!
Times like this I forget that I have walked into (as some have said) iconic punk status overnight (the lot of others have had less to say but only on message boards) and am not only a fan anymore. Before I could make it over the railing I was met by fans telling me this was the best set of the fest and the only one anyone danced along with. I took more pictures at my most unflattering – after the performance – where my hair is a trainwreck, my face is red, and one eye is open while the other is closed, and so on. These picture sets can now be found all over the world, I can safely say. After giving all the thanx inside me, I accompanied Conor and Nicola, who traveled from Ireland to be with us, only to see an Irish (Belfast counts right?) band play songs about inflammable material, with me. I was honored.
As the set went on and Conor’s generosity on the ciders did not subside, the band played song after song. This was cool, trust me, but the walking yard sale I had all over my body plus the daze thus far had been tiresome. So as Stiff Little Fingers played Barbed Wire Love I hit the eject button. With the help of the nearest punk, I was lifted to surf another audience only to go over the railing. I was led backstage and outside, met some Americans, some Russians, some everywhere you name its, and eventually bak with my band. With them were my new soon to be friends Ali and Colin. The couple are back and forth between the UK and Ireland. They were too impressed that some big band singer was talking with them. Please, I was honored they wanted to talk.
in full blown tour mode after only three daze
We retired to grab some more fish & chips and met more punx along the way who stopped us like we were the Rolling Stones or something. I gladly introduced myself and shared what sauces for chips I had, only to end up at the only all hours bar. I met back up with Colin and drank with the Rebellion Punx as the band caught a few hours sleep before our next flight. In company was Dickie Hammond (Leatherface & Angelic Upstarts!). OK so now I was giving the fanboy treatment and he gave me the casual, friendly approach. Touche! As the sun was rising it was time to find my bandmates, say my goodbyes, and catch a ride with Tom to the airport where we flew into Hanover, Germany, beginning the second and more grueling half of the European Tour… to be continued. What a gyp I know!!!
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I mean it took four daze to get thus far. We had to split to story in two volumes.
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-Tr’z Oswald (loudmouth, fan, sometimes a writer, lover & hater, human being, friend, brother, son, and one to never forget how lucky some can be and always one to remember how choices can get you to the top or in the gutter aka yin and yang) bids you tatty-bye.
Be on the lookout for “Profane Euro Punx Vol.2 European Redemption” coming sooner than later. Same profane time! Same profane channel!
my favorite pic of many -the author
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Next time we meet we will…
*Learn why smoking onstage is more frowned upon than sieg heiling during our theme song!!
*Understand why Americans not only speak way too quick, but are hated by most of the free world due to the decisions of their leaders!!
*Meet a skunk named Mo whom we met in Germany while being walked on a leash!!
*Discuss how the East Berlin Airport will be something I will always remember!!
*Tell tales from the Autobahn and journeys with Giovanni de Italia (love you friend I do)!!
*…and more about spreading the peace punk gospel with Dave’s right hand man and the three he has chosen to help in continuing the ministry!!
Mo’ to come
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Peace, love, unity & anarchy to the following…
Reagan Youth (Dave Insurgent, Paul Cripple, Tibbie-X, Staten Island Greg, and the others before me you are never forgotten), Ben Crew for trusting my judgement and words with the Profane site (you keep me writing despite my mounting personal turmoil), Tom Saunders for being a friend first and foremost, road dog, guide, etc, Nico and the British Westerdale family, you make it happen every time friend and we never forget it, the punx we met on the British Isle (names go on and on and we try to remember if not the name but the smiling faces), Landon and the gang at Covert Booking, the struggling masses, you, me, them, us, our dog Spot, and last if only to emphasize the point… my family aka Mom, Dad, and Zac – I’d be who knows where right now without you.
xoxo.
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Any questions, concerns, fact checks, misquotes, message boards still too impersonal, or want to simply say hello? I’m still down with the drones at Google.
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