RANGSTEEN "S/T” LP DEAD BEAT


Info

Since 2002, Tokyo's RANGSTEEN have cultivated pretty deep roots in Japan's diverse Punk Rock underground. When Fifi from FIRESTARTER / TEENGENERATE started Stay Free Records over a decade ago he assigned the labels first release to RANGSTEEN's, now long out of print, debut album `Dance In Hell'. And since those early days RANGSTEEN have amassed a jaw-dropping back catalogue including 4 albums and various 7"'s most of which are out of print today. So late last year RANGSTEEN hit First Avenue Studio in Tokyo to re-record a dozen smoldering RANGSTEEN classics and tagged on a brand new, unreleased track to complete their fifth full length. This album is a raw-power, treasure trove of hooks galore and is a nice little slice of what captivated Fifi in those early days. Through buzzsaw guitars, snearning vocals and a woofer-rattling' rhythm section set to Rock `n Fuckin' Roll; RANGSTEEN's ability to seamlessly blend first wave Punk, Power Pop and Pub Rock is pretty untouchable. They were raised on bands like JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE HEARTBREAKERS, THE BOYS, NEW YORK DOLLS, EDDIE AND THE HOTRODS, THE CLASH, DEAD BOYS and THE RAMONES; and all of those bands are diffused into RANGSTEEN's sound. Every track is fired off with a heavy, sonic blitz of screeching guitars and machine gun riffin' galvanized by RANGSTEENS signature, gang-vocal attack. And many of these songs have a brute Power Pop aesthetic that's definitely more power than pop. This album is 100% raw and nasty Punk Rock from Japan, played Ransteen-style across 13 spitfire cuts of savage Rock `n Roll. The LP includes a lyrics sheet inert as well.